Stoke City face the challenge of hosting Chelsea on the opening day of the English Premier League season on Sunday. Last season’s runners up will travel to the Britannia Stadium for their first game under new manager Andre Villas-Boas, who took over at Stamford Bridge following Carlo Ancelotti’s dismissal. Chelsea began last season with a 6-0 drubbing of West Brom on the opening day, but Stoke midfielder Dean Whitehead is…
The battle for a Europa League spot for next season takes shape at Anfield on Sunday when Liverpool host Tottenham. Fifth place is the only spot on the English Premier League table on offer for the European second-tier competition, after Birmingham and Stoke wrapped up their ticket with a Carling Cup win and an FA Cup final appearance respectively. Liverpool, fifth on 58 points, are warm favourites for the final…
Tottenham will look to bounce back from their European thrashing by Real Madrid when they welcome Stoke to White Hart Lane on Saturday. Harry Redknapp’s men are without a win in the English Premier League since their 2-1 triumph over Sunderland on February 12, as the rigours of a season that has exceeded expectations begin to take their toll. On Tuesday, Redknapp’s men were hampered by the early dismissal of…
Blackpool defender Ian Evatt is confident his team can succeed where AC Milan failed against Spurs. Harry Redknapp’s high-flyers head to Bloomfield Road on Tuesday after last week’s Champions League 1-0 victory at the home of the Italian giants. But Evatt is determined to make Bloomfield Road a tough task for a Spurs side who are fourth on the English Premier League table, 10 points behind leaders Manchester United. Blackpool,…
Chelsea could have to make to without John Terry until March, as he is suffering from a back injury which can be cured only by rest. Given that Carlo Ancelotti chose not to replace Ricardo Carvalho in the summer Chelsea’s lack of depth in the centre of defence has been exposed. According to the report, Cahill is now a top target. Cahill has impressed greatly for Bolton over the past…
Birmingham hope to build on Wednesday’s 2-1 Carling Cup quarter-final win over Aston Villa when they welcome Spurs to St Andrews on Saturday. While booking a semi-final spot in the league cup will no doubt have pleased boss Alex McLeish, his side’s lowly English Premier League position – 14th, just three points outside the relegation zone – will have him more worried. In their last league game, Birmingham were held…