Ilya Zakharov
MATCH TOUR
Arsenal - Portsmouth. The calendar does not suggest an obvious match of the tour. None of the legendary derby and knockdowns of the Big Four teams. Omission of the calendar is compensated by the standings. Arsenal and Portsmouth are at the head of a large group of teams that play all places except the first two in the centigrade broth of the English championship. 11 teams fit in nine points - the density is unprecedented, as in the best times of series A. Arsenal takes third place thanks to the heroic game at Stamford Bridge and away victory over Wigan. “Portsmouth” survived a terrific start and a series of setbacks, but the team continues to stay in the Champions zone. Watching this with every round is becoming more amazing. It is not necessary to wait for the misfires from Chelsea with Manchester United on the weekend, so the winner of the pair can only strengthen his position in the table. Strengthen, to repel the fierce attacks of a dozen applicants before spring.
UNEXPECTED INTrigue
West Ham - Manchester United. Not a single minor failure has yet broken the flawless United game. A special test was prepared for the “Red Devils” the 18th round. Manchester United is visiting West Ham on Sunday, who has survived the resignation of Alan Pardew and the appointment of Alan Kerbishli this week. As a rule, the team that replaced the coach holds the next match very successfully. Pardew, perhaps, deserved the dismissal. After all, in West Ham there is someone to play. And Mascherano and Tevez could have looked better in the team. Whose fault is it, if not a coach? The outrageous attitude of the “Hammers” in the match with the leader is ensured. You can wait for the exploits from everyone without exception. No one will be surprised if Tevez scores his first goal in England against Manchester United.
DO NOT LOSE FROM THE VIEW
Goalkeepers rarely get into reviews that praise mostly field football players. However, Edwin van der Sar earned our attention with his current play for Manchester United. Usually it is customary to reinforce the reliability of kipers with numbers - for example, the number of dry matches. Edwin has eight of them this season. In addition to dry statistics for the Dutchman says the assessment of his game by Sir Alex Ferguson. Calling Edwin one of the best goalkeepers in Europe, Sir Alex convinced the club's management to extend the contract with the Dutchman for next season. Another merit of van der Sarah in his able leadership of the excellent line of defense that took shape at Manchester United. While Petr Cech is recovering from a terrible injury, Edwin is the Premier League's best goalkeeper.
IMPORTANT WORDS
“If you ask me what I think about Peter Crouch, I’ll say that this is a striker who has developed in all aspects over the past five years and has undoubtedly earned a place in the England team. You can make your own conclusions about whether I would like to see Crouch in Newcastle or not. However, I don’t understand where these rumors came from, and I can assume that Crouch is very pleased that he plays for Liverpool in the Champions League, ”Newcastle head coach Glen Raeder about the possible transfer of Peter Crouch to his team.
BEAUTIFUL NUMBERS
The next away goal will be for Manchester United 500th in the Premier League, scored outside the walls of Old Trafford. This is the best indicator of goals scored on the road among all clubs.
CHARLTON - LIVERPOOL
December 16th . The Walley, 15:45.
Judge : Howard Webb (Yorkshire).
Injuries : Traore, Thomas, Lisby / Zenden, Warnock, Sissoko, Kewell.
Disqualifications : no.
“Charlton” (version of “SPORT Today”): Carson - Young, Diavara, El-Karkuri, Hreidarsson - Holland, Kishishev, Faye, Hughes - Hasselbeink, D. Bent.
Liverpool (SPORT Today version): Reina - Finnan, Carragher, Agger, Riise - Pennant, Alonso, Gerrard, Luis Garcia - Bellamy, Kate.
Last five matches : - + - - - / = + = + +
Last year's matches : 0: 0 (Anfield Road); 2-0 (Walley).
Quotes William Hill : the victory of Charlton - 5.5, the draw - 3.3, the victory of Liverpool - 1.57.
Broadcast : NTV-Plus Football, 15:40 (direct).
ARSENAL - PORTSMUT
December 16th . Emirates, 6 p.m.
Judge : Steve Bennett (Kent).
Injuries : Henri, Lauren, Gallas, Rosicky, Diabi / Lua-Lua, Stefanovich, Cole.
Disqualifications : no.
Arsenal (version of “SPORT Today”): Lehmann - Ebouet, Jura, Colo Toure, Clichy - Fabregas, Gilberto Silva, Flamini, Jungberg - van Persie, Adebayor.
“Portsmouth” (version of “SPORT Today”): James - Johnson, Primus, Campbell, Pamaro - O'Neill, Pedro Mendes, Davis, Taylor - Mwaruwari, Kanu.
Last five matches : + = + - - / - + = = +
Last year's matches : 1: 1 (Fretton Park); 4-0 (Highbury).
Quotes William Hill : the victory of Arsenal - 1.33, the draw - 4, the victory of Portsmouth - 8.
Broadcast : NTV-Plus Football, 17:55 (direct).
NEWcastle - Watford
December 16th . Saint James Park, 18:00.
Judge : Martin Atkinson (Yorkshire).
Injuries : N'Zogbia, Bramble, Dyer, Harper, Parker, Duff, Moore, Bernard, Krul, Carr, Ameobi, Owen / Foster, King, Carlisle.
Disqualifications : no.
Newcastle (SPORT today): Given - Huntington, Ramaj, Taylor, Babayaro - Butt, Rossi, Pattison, Milner, Sibierski - Martins.
"Watford" (version of "SPORT today"): Lee - Chambers, Demerit, Shittu, Stuart - Smith, Frances, Bangura, Young - Boise, Henderson.
Last five matches : - + + + = / - + - = =
Last year's matches : not met.
Quotes William Hill : Newcastle victory - 1.57, draw - 3.3, victory of Watford - 5.5.
RADING - BLACKBURN
December 16th . Madeiyskiy Stadium, 18:00.
Judge : Graham Pull (Hertfordshire).
Injuries : Sel Ki Hien, Marty, Convey, Cox, Mate, Kitson, Brown / Emerton, Khizanishvili, Roberts, Reed, Enkelman, Nelson.
Disqualifications : none / Ansho.
"Reading" (version of "SPORT Today"): Hahnemann - Bike, Ingimarsson, Sonko, Shori - Oster, Harper, Sidwell, Hunt - Lita, Doyle.
“Blackburn” (version of “SPORT Today”): Friedel - Neil, Todd, Oyer, McEvli - Bentley, Savage, Mokoena, Emre - Nonda, McCarthy.
Last five matches : = - + + + / - - + - -
Last year's matches : not met.
Quotes William Hill : victory of Reading - 1.9, draw - 3.1, victory of Blackburn - 3.6.
WIGAN - SHEFFIELD UNITED
December 16th . JJ Stadium, 18:00.
Judge : Peter Walton (Northamptonshire).
Injuries : Valencia, De Zeuv, Filan, Teal, Taylor / no.
Disqualifications : no.
Wigan (SPORT today): Kirkland - Wright, Boyce, Hall, Baines - McCulloch, Landzat, Skoko, Kilbane - Camara, Heskey.
Sheffield United (SPORT today): Kenny - Kozlyuk, Bromby, Morgan, Geary - Gillespie, Jagelka, Montgomery, Queen - Hals, Webber.
Last five matches : - = + - = / - - + + =
Last year's matches : not met.
Quotes William Hill : the victory of Wigan - 1.83, the draw - 3, the victory of Sheffield United - 4.
ASTON VILLA - BOLTON
December 16th . "Villa Park", 20:15.
Judge : Mark Clattenburg (Tyne and Wyre).
Injuries : Sorensen, Laursen, Moore, Delaney, Taylor / Fortune, O'Brien.
Disqualifications : no.
Aston Villa (SPORT Today version): Kirali - Melberg, Cahill, Ridgwell, Bouma - Agbonlahor, McConn, Petrov, Davis - Sutton, Barosh.
“Bolton” (version of “SPORT Today”): Yaaskelainen - Hunt, Meite, Ben Haim, Foyut - Campo, Davis, Nolan, Speed, Diouf - Anelka.
Last five matches : = = - = = / - + - - +
Last year's matches : 1: 1 (Reebok Stadium); 2: 2 (Villa Park).
Quotes William Hill : the victory of Aston Villa - 2.15, the draw - 3, the victory of Bolton - 3.10.
Broadcast : RTR-Sport, 20:25 (recording).
Everton - Chelsea
December 17th . Goodison Park, 16:45.
Judge : Mark Halsey (Lancashire).
Injuries : Turner, McFadden, Osman, Arteta, F. Neville, Cahill, Boyle, Hibbert, Pistone / Cudicini, D. Cole, Czech.
Disqualifications : no.
“Everton” (version of “SPORTS today”): Howard - Yobo, Stubbs, Weir, Lescott - van der Meide, Davis, Carsley, Nuno Valente - Johnson, Beatty.
Chelsea (version of SPORT Today): Hilari - Jeremy, Ricardo Carvalho, Terry, E. Cole - Essien, Makelele, Lampard, Ballack - Shevchenko, Drogba.
Last five matches : - + - = - / + = + = +
Last year's matches : 3-0 (Stamford Bridge); 1: 1 (Goodison Park).
Quotes William Hill : Everton win - 6, draw - 3.4, Chelsea win - 1.5.
Broadcast : NTV-Plus Football, 16:40 (direct).
MANCHESTER CITY - TOTTENHAM
December 17th . City of Manchester, 18:00.
Judge : Rob Styles (Hampshire).
Injuries : Hamann, Weaver, Mills, Logan, Sun Jihai / Tainio, Jenas, Kin.
Disqualifications : Corrode / no.
Manchester City (SPORT Today version): Isaksson - Richards, Dunn, Disten, Thatcher - Trabelsi, Reina, Barton, Wassell - Samaras, Dikov.
Tottenham Hotspur (Sport today): Robinson - Shimbonda, Dawson, King, Lee Yoon Pio - Lennon, Huddlestone, Murphy, Mulbranco - Defoe, Berbatov.
Last five matches : - = + - + / - = - + +
Last year's matches : 2: 1 (White Hart Lane); 0: 2 (City of Manchester).
Quotes William Hill : the victory of Manchester City - 2.37, the draw - 3, the victory of Tottenham Hotspur - 2.7.
Broadcast : RTR-Sport, 20:25 (recording).
WEST HAM - MANCHESTER UNITED
December 17th . The Boleyn Ground 19:00.
Judge : Phil Dowd (Staffordshire).
Injuries : Gabbidon, Tomkins, Ashton / no.
Disqualifications : no.
West Ham (SPORT Today version): Green - Collins, Daily, McCartney, Konnichno - Mullins, Spector, Etherington, Reo-Cocker - Zamora, Tevez.
Manchester United (SPORT Today version): van der Sar - G. Neville, Ferdinand, Vidic, Heinze - Cristiano Ronaldo, Carrick, Scholes, Giggs - Rooney, Saa.
Last five matches : - - - - + / + + + + +
Last matches : 1: 0 (“Old Trafford”); 1: 2 (The Boleyn Ground).
Quotes William Hill : West Ham won 7, draw 3.75, Manchester United won 1.4.
Broadcast : NTV-Plus Football, 18:55 (direct).
FULHAM - MIDLESBRO
December 18th . Craven Cottage, 23:00.
Judge : Mike Dean (Wirral).
Injuries : Bocanegra, Niemi, Cedrew, Ballard, Elrich, Elliott, Pembridge / MacMahon, Hoot
Disqualifications : no.
"Fulham" (version of "SPORT today"): Lastuvka - Foltz, Knight, Pierce, Rosenor - Radzinsky, Brown, Buba Diop, K. Jensen, Boa Morte - McBride.
Middlesbrough (SPORT today): Schwarzer - Xavier, Woodgate, Pogatets, Taylor - Boateng, Arch, Downing, Morrison - Viduka, Yakubu.
Last five matches : - - + - + / - = - - =
Last year's matches : 1-0 (Craven Cottage); 3: 2 (Riverside).
Quotes William Hill : the victory of Fulham - 2.1, the draw - 3.1, the victory of Middlesbrough - 3.1.
Broadcast : RTR-Sport, 22:55 (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 | 17 | 12 | 3 | 2 | 27-9 | 39 |
| 3 | ARSENAL | 17 | eight | five | four | 27-13 | 29th |
| four | PORTSMOUTH | 17 | eight | four | five | 23-14 | 28 |
| five | LIVERPOOL | 17 | eight | four | five | 23-15 | 28 |
| 6 | BOLTON | 17 | eight | 3 | 6 | 19-15 | 27 |
| 7 | READING | 17 | eight | 2 | 7 | 19-21 | 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 | 17 | five | four | eight | 15-19 | 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 | 17 | one | eight | eight | 10-21 | eleven |
SNIPERS : Drogba (Chelsea) - 9, Kanu (Portsmouth) - 9, Rooney (Man. United) - 8, Doyle (Reading) - 8, Saa (Man. United) - 8.
19th round. 12/23. Arsenal - Blackburn. Aston Villa - Man. United. Fulham - West Ham. Liverpool - Watford. Manchester City - Bolton. Middlesbrough - Charlton. Newcastle - Tottenham Hotspur. Portsmouth - Sheffield United. Reading - Everton. Wigan - Chelsea.