Ilya Zakharov
Intrigue of the day
For the first time in two years at Chelsea, Jose Mourinho won the English champions as catch-up. Manchester United's eight point gap looks like a Chelsea Christmas present to all fans of the Premier League intrigue. Defeating Newcastle in a deferred match could narrow the gap to five points. Ahead is a series of winter games in which the advantage of the “Red Devils” will either melt in the December sun or gain the strength of a block of ice, which the March sun can be dangerous. Having gained an excellent move, Newcastle (3 wins and two draws in five games), and finally playing Martins (3 goals in two games) will check Chelsea’s readiness for a new old role.
DO NOT LOSE FROM THE VIEW
Michael Essien 's goal against Arsenal on Sunday revealed a new face to Chelsea’s most inconspicuous leader. Last year, Essien was remembered for his intransigence in martial arts, bordering on excessive rigidity even for England. With his play this season, Michael convincingly proves that it was he, and not Claude Makelele, who is now the best defensive midfielder of the team - and, therefore, of Europe. He is the only one in the team who spent without replacement all 25 matches of the season. Essien could play without pauses before, but such a reading of the game, the ability to successfully take the position of the right defender and at the right time scored goals for the Ghanaian midfielder before.
IMPORTANT WORDS
“We have not yet discussed the new transfers in detail, but there will be money. If we understand that there is someone who can really strengthen the club by coming, there will be money to buy it, ” David Gill, Manchester United Executive Director, said in an interview with The Manchester Evening Post.
BEAUTIFUL NUMBERS
Chelsea did not lose 52 matches in a row in the Premier League at Stamford Bridge (42 wins and 10 draws). The last defeat with the score 1: 2 “blue” was inflicted by Arsenal on February 21, 2004.
Chelsea - Newcastle
December 13th . The Stamford Bridge, 10:45 p.m.
Judge : Mark Halsey (Lancashire).
Injuries : Cech, Cudicini, Joe Cole / Butt, Bramble, Dyer, Harper, Parker, Duff, Moore, Bernard, Krul, Carr, Ameobi, Owen.
Disqualifications : no.
Chelsea (version of SPORT Today): Hilari - Jeremy, Ricardo Carvalho, Terry, E. Cole - Essien, Makelele, Lampard, Ballack - Shevchenko, Drogba.
Newcastle (SPORT today): Given - Babayaro, Ramaj, Gate, Taylor - Milner, N'Zogbia, Solano, Emre, Sibierski - Martins.
Last five matches : = + = + - / - = + + +
Last year's matches : 1-0 (St. James Park); 3-0 (Stamford Bridge).
Quotes William Hill : the victory of Chelsea - 1.25, the draw - 4.5, the victory of Newcastle - 10.
Broadcast : RTR-Sport 00:25 (recording).
WIGAN - ARSENAL
December 13th . JJ Stadium, 22:45.
Judge : Rob Styles (Hampshire).
Injuries : De Zeuw, Valencia, Filan, Thiele, Taylor / Henry, Gallas, Rosicky, Diabi, Lauren.
Disqualifications : Sharner / no.
“Wigan” (version of “SPORT Today”): Kirkland - Wright, Boyce, Hall, Baines - Sharner, McCulloch, Skoko, Kilbane - Camara, Heskey.
Arsenal (version of SPORTS Today): Lehmann - Ebouet, Senderos, Colo Toure, Clichy - Gleb, Fabregas, Gilberto Silva, Flamini - van Persie, Adebayor.
Last five matches : = + - = + / + - - + =
Last year's matches : 4: 2 (Highbury); 2: 3 (JJ Stadium).
Quotes William Hill : Wigan 4.5 win, draw 3.3, Arsenal win 1.66.
Broadcast : NTV-Plus Football, 22:40 (direct).
NOTE : match start time is Moscow time.
TOURNAMENT TABLE
| Teams | AND | AT | N | P | Balls | Glasses |
| one | MANCHESTER UNITED | 17 | 14 | 2 | one | 38-9 | 44 |
| 2 | Chelsea | sixteen | eleven | 3 | 2 | 26-9 | 36 |
| 3 | PORTSMOUTH | 17 | eight | four | five | 23-14 | 28 |
| four | LIVERPOOL | 17 | eight | four | five | 23-15 | 28 |
| five | BOLTON | 17 | eight | 3 | 6 | 19-15 | 27 |
| 6 | READING | 17 | eight | 2 | 7 | 19-21 | 26 |
| 7 | ARSENAL | sixteen | 7 | five | four | 26-13 | 26 |
| eight | TOTTENHAM | 17 | 7 | four | 6 | 20-21 | 25 |
| 9 | ASTON VILLA | 17 | five | ten | 2 | 21-17 | 25 |
| ten | Everton | 17 | 6 | 6 | five | 20-17 | 24 |
| eleven | Wigan | sixteen | 6 | four | 6 | 20-21 | 22 |
| 12 | MANCHESTER CITY | 17 | five | five | 7 | 14-20 | 20 |
| 13 | FULHAM | 17 | five | five | 7 | 16-27 | 20 |
| 14 | NEWCASTLE | sixteen | five | four | 7 | 15-18 | nineteen |
| 15 | MIDLESBRO | 17 | four | five | eight | 14-22 | 17 |
| 17 | SHEFFIELD UNITED | 17 | four | five | eight | 13-22 | 17 |
| sixteen | BLACKBURN | sixteen | four | four | eight | 14-21 | sixteen |
| 18 | WEST HAM | 17 | four | 2 | eleven | 10-24 | 14 |
| nineteen | CHARLTON | 17 | 3 | 3 | eleven | 13-28 | 12 |
| 20 | Watford | sixteen | one | eight | 7 | 10-20 | eleven |
SNIPERS : Kanu (Portsmouth) - 9, Drogba (Chelsea) - 8, Rooney (Man. United) - 8, Doyle (Reading) - 8, Saa (Man. United) - 8, D. Bent (Charlton) - 7.
18th round. 12/16. Arsenal - Portsmouth. Aston Villa - Bolton. Charlton - Liverpool. Newcastle - Watford. Reading - Blackburn. Wigan - Sheffield United.
12/17. Everton - Chelsea. Manchester City - Tottenham Hotspur. West Ham - Man. United.
12/18. Fulham - Middlesbrough.