Dmitry LONGICH
MATCH TOUR
Arsenal - Manchester United. Sunday's fight promises the most aesthetically attractive action that the English Premier League is capable of. A kaleidoscope of bewitching combinations, exquisite feints and powerful punches performed by world stars against the backdrop of the uncompromising stand-off of the last decade against the relentless ringing of the stands that catch every moment of the GAME - this is what the Arsenal - Manchester United match is today. In the first round, the “gunners” managed to interrupt the victorious tread of the Mankunians, and Arsene Wenger will do everything to again slow down the opponent who has gained a champion pace. “United”, in turn, is ready to overcome the opponent who got rid of uncertainty and personnel problems and pay off all debts at once. Emirates in anticipation of an epic spectacle.
UNEXPECTED INTrigue
Liverpool - Chelsea. The confrontation between Liverpool and Chelsea, in contrast to the meetings of Manchester United and Arsenal, has intensified only in the last couple of years, but it is not inferior in status to them. Among the many intrigues of the upcoming match, the unobvious ones will surely be found. Having shown the beginnings of Chelsea’s internal crisis, victory is vital for resurrecting team spirit and champion hopes. It is important for Liverpool players to convince at least themselves that they can still claim a place higher than the current one. In aesthetics, the match of the second and third teams of the championship will surely give way to the duel of the first and fourth, but never in drama. Clash of overwhelming ambitions, bare nerves and ingenious tactical moves - in the Saturday battle at the legendary Anfield.
DO NOT LOSE FROM THE VIEW
21-year-old striker Don Fanzhuo expands Manchester United's geography and is preparing to become the first Chinese to try himself at such a high level in the Premier League. Don belongs to the Mankunians for more than three years, but only now has received permission to work in England, in anticipation of which he unsuccessfully whiled away time in the Belgian "Antwerp". Sir Alex Ferguson is counting on the representative of the Celestial Empire, who has received the 21st number in Manchester United, and therefore the forward's debut in the main team is clearly not far off.
IMPORTANT WORDS
“We don’t want Jose to leave, and if necessary, the five or six best players on the team are ready to express their opinion to the management. Mourinho is the best in his business twenty years ahead. Just what Chelsea needs is the best and only the best. I’m sure that he will stay, ”-“ Blue ”captain John Terry about the coach, club philosophy and the need to combine one with the other.
BEAUTIFUL NUMBERS
50 % of the matches of the Premier League this season so far end with the success of the hosts. The shares of draws and away victories were distributed equally - 25 % each.
LIVERPOOL - CHELSEY
January 20th . Anfield Road, 15.45.
Judge : Rob Styles (Hampshire).
Injuries : Sissoko, Kewell, Luis Garcia, Zenden / D. Cole, Terry, Bularuz.
Disqualifications : none / Makelele.
Liverpool (Sport Today version): Reina - Finnan, Agger, Hyupya, Carragher - Pennant, Gerard, Xabi Alonso, Riise - Bellamy, Crouch.
Chelsea (Sport Today version): Cudicini - Jeremy, Paulo Ferreira, Ricardo Carvalho, E. Cole - Essien, Lampard, Ballack - Kalu, Drogba, Robben.
Last five matches : + - + + + / + = = = +
First round match : 0: 1.
Quotes William Hill : Liverpool victory - 2.5, draw - 2.9, Chelsea victory - 2.62.
Broadcast : RTR-Sport, 15.40 (direct).
ASTON VILLA - WATFORD
January 20th . "Villa Park", 18.00.
Judge : Peter Walton (Northamptonshire).
Injuries : Delaney, Sutton, Laursen / M. King, Carlisle.
Disqualifications : no.
Aston Villa (Sport Today version): Sorensen - A. Hughes, Melberg, Ridgwell, Barry - Agbonlahor, McConn, Petrov, S. Davis - Baroche, Angel.
"Watford" (version of "Sport today"): Foster - Chambers, Demerit, Shittu, Stuart - Smith, Bangura, Mahon, McNamey - Young, Boise.
Last five matches : - - - - = - / - - - = -
First round match : 0-0.
Quotes William Hill : the victory of “Aston Villa” - 1.57, the draw - 3.3, the victory of “Watford” - 5.5.
FULHAM - TOTTENHAM
January 20th . "Craven Cottage", 18.00.
Judge : Mike Dean (Wirral).
Injuries : Ballard, Elrich, Elliott, Pambridge, Knight, Niemi, Buba Diop / Starteri, Jenas, Dervit, King.
Disqualifications : no.
“Fulham” (version of “Sport Today”): Warner - Rosenor, J. Piers, Bocanegra, Cedrew - Foltz, Kristanval, Brown, Radzinsky - Montella, McBride.
Tottenham Hotspur (Sport Today): Robinson - Shimbonda, Dawson, E. Gardner, Lee Yoon Pio - Lennon, Huddlestone, Zokora, Malbranck - Berbatov, Defoe.
Last five matches : = = = = = / - + - = -
First round match : 0-0.
Quotes William Hill : the victory of “Fulham” - 2.4, the draw - 3.1, the victory of “Tottenham” - 2.6.
Broadcast : NTV-Plus Football, 00.10 (record).
MIDDLESBRO - BOLTON
January 20th . Riverside, 18.00.
Judge : Alan Wiley (Staffordshire).
Injuries : Hoot, McMahon, Bates, Parlor / O'Brien.
Disqualifications : no.
Middlesbrough (Sport Today version): Schwarzer - Abel Xavier, Woodgate, Pogatets, E. Taylor - Cattermole, Boateng, Arch, Downing - Viduka, Yakubu.
Bolton (Sport Today version): Yaaskelainen - Hunt, Meite, Dian Faye, Ben Haim - Ivan Campo, Speed, Nolan, Diouf - Anelka, K. Davis.
Last five matches : + = - + + / + + + - =
First round match : 0-0.
Quotes William Hill : victory “Middlesbrough” - 2.4, draw - 3.1, victory “Bolton” - 2.6.
NEWcastle - WEST HAM
January 20th . Saint James Park, 6 p.m.
Judge : Jurai Rainey (Yorkshire).
Injuries : N'Zogbia, Bramble, C. Moore, Bernard, Ameobi, Owen, Babayaro, Duff / Boyer, Ashton, Ferdinand, Collins, Tevez.
Disqualifications : S. Taylor / Zamora.
Newcastle (Sport Today version): Given - Solano, Huntington, Ramage, Edgar - Dyer, Parker, Butt, Milner - Sibierski, Martins.
West Ham (Sport Today version): Carroll - Spector, Davenport, Gabbidon, Konnicheski - Reo-Cocker, Benayoun, Kuashi, Boa Morte - Sheringham, Harwood.
Last five matches : + - - = + / = - - - =
First round match : 2-0.
Quotes William Hill : victory of “Newcastle” - 1.8, draw - 3.25, victory of “West Ham” - 3.8.
PORTSMOUTH - CHARLTON
January 20th . Fratton Park, 18.00.
Judge : Mark Clattenburg (Tyne and Wyre).
Injuries : Lua-Lua, Stefanovich, Pamaro, Kranjchar / D. Bent, Gibbs, E. Reed, L. Young.
Disqualifications : O'Neill / No.
Portsmouth (Sport Today version): James - Johnson, Primus, Campbell, Traore - Lauren, Pedro Mendes, S. Davis, M. Taylor - Kanu, Mwaruwari.
“Charlton” (version of “Sport today”): Carson - Sankofa, El Karkuri, Heydarsson, Thatcher - Rommedal, Faye, B. Hughes, Ambrose - M. Bent, Hasselbeink.
Last five matches : + + - = = / - = + - -
First round match : 1-0.
Quotes William Hill : the victory of “Portsmouth” - 1.57, the draw - 3.3, the victory of “Charlton” - 5.5.
RADING - SHEFFIELD UNITED
January 20th . "Madeiyskiy Stadium", 18.00.
Judge : Mark Halsey (Lancashire).
Injuries : Mate, Stack, Doyle, Gunnarson / Bennet, Kilgallone, Kenny.
Disqualifications : none / Morgan.
Reading (Sport Today version): Hahnemann - Marty, Sonko, Ingimarsson, Shorey - Little, Sidwell, Harper, Convey - Lita, Hunt.
Sheffield United (Sport Today version): Gerard - Kozlak, Lucetti, Davis, Giri - Gillespie, Jagelka, Montgomery, S. Quinn - Stead, Hals.
Last five matches : - = - + = / - - + - =
First round match : 2: 1.
Quotes William Hill : victory of “Reading” - 1.8, draw - 3.1, victory of “Sheffield United” - 4.0.
MANCHESTER CITY - BLACKBURN
January 20th . City of Manchester, 20.15.
Judge : Phil Dowd (Staffordshire).
Injuries : Dick, Mills, Onuoha / Roberts, Reed, Enkelman, Nelson.
Disqualifications : Barton / Mokoena.
Manchester City (Sport Today version): Weaver - Richards, Disten, R. Dunne, Jordan - Sinclair, Dabo, Ireland, Wassell - Samaras, Corradi.
Blackburn (Sport Today version): Friedel - Emerton, Oyer, Khizanishvili, Nill - Bentley, Savage, Tugai, Pedersen - D. Dann - McCarthy.
Last five matches : - + + + = = - - + + + -
First round match : 2: 4.
Quotes William Hill : victory, “Manchester City” - 2.1, draw - 3.1, victory, “Blackburn” - 3.1.
Wigan - Everton
January 21st . JJ Stadium, 16.30.
Judge : Howard Webb (Yorkshire).
Injuries : Camara, Sharner, De Zeuw / Boyle, Turner, Nuno Valente, Hibbert, Pistone.
Disqualifications : no.
Wigan (Sport Today version): Kirkland - Boyce, Unsworth, Hall, Baines - McCulloch, Landzat, Skoko, Kilbane - Kotteril, Heskey.
Everton (Sport Today version): Howard - Neville, Yobo, Lescott, Naismith - Arteta, Carsley, Cahill, Osman - Johnson, Anichebe.
Last five matches : - - - - - / + = + - =
First round match : 2: 2.
Quotes William Hill : the victory of Wigan - 2.4, the draw - 3.1, the victory of Everton - 2.6.
Broadcast : RTR-Sport, 01.15 (recording).
ARSENAL - MANCHESTER UNITED
January 21st . Emirates Stadium, 19.00.
Judge : Mike Riley (Yorkshire).
Injuries : Gallas / no.
Disqualifications : Gilberto Silva / no.
Arsenal (Sport Today version): Lehmann - Ebouet, Kolo Toure, Senderos, Clichy - Gleb, Fabregas, Flamini, Rosicky - Henry, Adebayor.
Manchester United (Sport Today version): van der Sar - Neville, Vidic, Ferdinand, Evra - Park Ji Sung, Scholes, Carrick, Giggs, Cristiano Ronaldo - Rooney.
Last five matches : + + - + + / + + + = +
First round match : 1-0.
Quotes William Hill : the victory of Arsenal - 2.37, the draw - 3.0, the victory of Manchester United - 2.7.
Broadcast : NTV-Plus On-Line, 18.55 (live).
NOTE : match start time is Moscow time.
TOURNAMENT TABLE
| Club | AND | AT | N | P | M | ABOUT |
| one | MANCHESTER UNITED | 23 | 18 | 3 | 2 | 52-16 | 57 |
| 2 | Chelsea | 23 | 15 | 6 | 2 | 41-17 | 51 |
| 3 | LIVERPOOL | 23 | 13 | four | 6 | 35-16 | 43 |
| four | ARSENAL | 23 | 12 | 6 | five | 43-19 | 42 |
| five | BOLTON | 23 | 12 | four | 7 | 27-21 | 40 |
| 6 | PORTSMOUTH | 23 | ten | 7 | 6 | 34-23 | 37 |
| 7 | Everton | 23 | eight | eight | 7 | 29-23 | 32 |
| eight | TOTTENHAM | 23 | 9 | five | 9 | 28-31 | 32 |
| 9 | READING | 23 | 9 | four | ten | 31-31 | 31 |
| ten | MANCHESTER CITY | 23 | eight | 6 | 9 | 19-25 | thirty |
| eleven | NEWCASTLE | 23 | eight | five | ten | 26-30 | 29th |
| 12 | BLACKBURN | 22 | eight | four | ten | 24-31 | 28 |
| 13 | FULHAM | 23 | 6 | ten | 7 | 25-35 | 28 |
| 14 | MIDLESBRO | 23 | 7 | 6 | ten | 24-28 | 27 |
| 15 | ASTON VILLA | 23 | five | eleven | 7 | 24-28 | 26 |
| sixteen | SHEFFIELD UNITED | 23 | 6 | 6 | eleven | 18-30 | 24 |
| 17 | Wigan | 22 | 6 | four | 12 | 23-36 | 22 |
| 18 | WEST HAM | 23 | five | four | 14 | 15-36 | nineteen |
| nineteen | CHARLTON | 23 | four | four | 15 | 18-43 | sixteen |
| 20 | Watford | 21 | one | 9 | eleven | 12-29 | 12 |
SNIPERS: Drogba (Chelsea) - 14, Cristiano Ronaldo (Man. United) - 13, Doyle (Reading), van Persie (Arsenal), Yakubu (Middlesbrough) - 10, Kanu (Portsmouth), McCarthy (Blackburn) - 9.
25th round. 01/30. Arsenal - Manchester City. Portsmouth - Middlesbrough. Sheffield United - Fulham. West Ham - Liverpool. Bolton - Charlton. Reading - Wigan. 01/31. Chelsea - Blackburn. Newcastle - Aston Villa. Everton - Tottenham Hotspur. Manchester United - Watford.