Merseyside Story

Dmitry LONGICH

MATCH TOUR

Liverpool - Everton. On Saturday afternoon, the legendary Anfield will once again be imbued with the great spirit of English football history: Liverpool and Everton will converge in the irreconcilable centuries-old Merseyside derby. These matches have their own logic, indifferent to the momentary fuss. But because everyone has a chance of success - that of “Liverpool”, for some time simply not noticing rivals, that of “Everton”, by chance received a free week to memorize the role. In the first round was 3-0 in favor of “butterscotch”. For wards Rafa Benitez - the response. History continues to happen before our eyes.

UNEXPECTED INTrigue

Tottenham Hotspur - Manchester United. The poster of the only Sunday match of the tour indiscreetly promises the best aesthetic experience of the English gaming weekend. The intrigue is, will she cheat or not? Both teams show a bright attacking football, only with different successes. Manchester United are a confident leader, repelling Chelsea's obsessive claims. “Tottenham Hotspur” continues to rejuvenate the composition and youthfully dream of the Champions League - with each round more and more hopeless. But the match with the leader of the “spurs” will be able to tune in and give the devotee “White Hart Lane” if not a victory, then at least a sight. No, this poster does not fool.

DO NOT LOSE FROM THE VIEW

Matthew Upson was the last and most expensive (6 million pounds) winter acquisition of the sinking West Ham. The 27-year-old central defender was formed at Arsenal, at the turn of the century he was considered one of the most talented English players of his generation, even spent several matches for the national team. However, then his career lost pace, and last season Upson did help Birmingham fly out of the Premier League. Similar problems will confront him and now, their solution is the path to rebirth.

IMPORTANT WORDS

“I have to admit that moving to West Ham was not the best decision. I went through a very difficult period, but now Liverpool has appeared, and again I am full of desire and ambition with which I came to England. Rafa Benitez gave me confidence from the moment we first talked with him. Now a new page is opening in my career. I am ready to show everything I can in a club that has spent so much effort for my acquisition, "says the Argentinean Javier Mascherano , whose transition from West Ham in Liverpool has become a real football-law cal thriller, which still is not reached until the final credits.

BEAUTIFUL NUMBERS

“Blackburn” becomes the most uncompromising team in the English football winter. Since December, the wards of Mark Hughes had 12 fights, of which 6 won and 6 lost. Only the goal difference is devoid of symmetry pleasing to the eye: 17 goals scored and 19 conceded.

LIVERPOOL - EVERTON

February 3 Anfield Road, 15.45.

Judge : Alan Wiley (Staffordshire).

Injuries : Kewell, Luis Garcia, Fabio Aurelio / Boyle, Nuno Valente, McFadden, Johnson.

Disqualifications : no.

Liverpool (Sport Today version): Reina - Finnan, Agger, Carragher, Riise - Pennant, Gerard, Xabi Alonso, Zenden - Kate, Crouch.

Everton (Sport Today version): Howard - Neville, Yobo, Stubbs, Lescott - Osman, Arteta, Carsley, Cahill, van der Meide - Anichebe.

Last five matches : + + + + + / = + - = +

First round match : 0: 3.

Quotes William Hill : the victory of Liverpool - 1.53, the draw - 3.3, the victory of Everton - 6.0.

Broadcast : RTR-Sport, 19.45 (recording).

ASTON VILLA - WEST HAM

February 3 "Villa Park", 18.00.

Judge : Chris Foy (Merseyside).

Injuries : Delaney, Sutton, Laursen, L. Moore / Boyer, Ashton, Collins, E. Ferdinand, Nill, Gabbidon.

Disqualifications : no.

Aston Villa (Sport Today version): Sorensen - Bardsley, Melberg, G. Cahill, Bouma - Agbonlahor, Petrov, McKann, Barry - Young, Carew.

West Ham (Sport Today version): Carroll - Spector, Davenport, Upson, McCartney - Benayoun, Reo-Cocker, Kouache, Boa Morte - Zamora, Harwood.

Last five matches : - = - + - / - - = = -

First round match : 1: 1.

Quotes William Hill : the victory of Aston Villa - 1.8, the draw - 3.1, the victory of West Ham - 4.0.

BLACKBURN - SHEFFIELD UNITED

February 3 Ewood Park, 6 p.m.

Judge : Andre Marinner (Midland).

Injuries : Reed, Savage, Oyer / Bennet, Kilgallone.

Disqualifications : no.

Blackburn (Sport Today version): Friedel - Emerton, Ansho, Khizanishvili, Warnock - Bentley, Moken, Tugai, Pedersen - Nonda, McCarthy.

Sheffield United (Sport Today version): Kenny - Kozlak, Lucetti, Morgan, Armstrong - Gillespie, Tonj, Jagelka, S. Quinn - Stead, Hals.

Last five matches : + - + - - / + - = - +

First round match : 0-0.

Quotes William Hill : the victory of Blackburn - 1.66, the draw - 3.3, the victory of Sheffield United - 4.5.

CHARLTON - CHELSEY

February 3 The Walley, 6 p.m.

Judge : Mark Halsey (Lancashire).

Injuries : D. Bent, Gibbs, L. Young / D. Cole, Boularuz, E. Cole, Robben.

Disqualifications : no.

"Charlton" (version of "Sport Today"): Carson - Sankofa, El Karkuri, Heydarsson, Thatcher - Rommedal, Faye, B. Hughes, Holland, Thomas - M. Bent.

Chelsea (Sport Today version): Czech - Jeremy, Terry, Ricardo Carvalho, Bridge - Essien, Makelele, Lampard, Ballack - Shevchenko, Drogba.

Last five matches : + - - + = / = = + - +

First round match : 1: 2.

Quotes William Hill : the victory of Charlton - 7.0, the draw - 4.0, the victory of Chelsea - 1.36.

Broadcast : NTV-Plus Online, 17.55 (direct).

FULHAM - NEWcastle

February 3 "Craven Cottage", 18.00.

Judge : Phil Dowd (Staffordshire).

Injuries : Ballard, Elrich, Elliott, Pambridge / N'Zogbia, C. Moore, Ameobi, Owen, Ramage, Given, Krul, Emre, Babayaro.

Disqualifications : no.

“Fulham” (version of “Sport Today”): Niemi - Rosenor, Knight, J. Piers, Kedru - S. Davis, Foltz, Brown, Radzinsky - Montella, McBride.

Newcastle (Sport Today version): Harper - Carr, Bramble, S. Taylor, Huntington - Milner, Parker, Butt, Duff - Dyer, Martins.

Last five matches : = = = = - / - = + = +

First round match : 2: 1.

Quotes William Hill : Fulham victory - 2.25, draw - 3.0, victory of Newcastle - 2.87.

MANCHESTER CITY - RADING

February 3 City of Manchester, 18.00.

Judge : Howard Webb (Yorkshire).

Injuries : Dick, Mills, Onuoha, Sinclair / Mate, Doyle, Gunnarson, Sonko.

Disqualifications : no.

Manchester City (Sport Today version): Weaver - Richards, Disten, R. Dunne, Ball - Trabelsi, Dabo, Barton, Beasley - Wassell, Corradi.

Reading (Sport Today version): Hahnemann - de la Cruz, Bickey, Ingimarsson, Marty - Little, Sidwell, Harper, Hunt - Lita, Long.

Last five matches : + + + = - / - + = + +

First round match : 0: 1.

Quotes William Hill : victory for Manchester City - 2.1, draw - 3.1, victory for Reading - 3.1.

WATFORD - BOLTON

February 3 Wickereigh Road, 6 p.m.

Judge : Rob Styles (Hampshire).

Injuries : M. King, Carlisle, Chambers / O'Brien, Anelka, C. Davis.

Disqualifications : no.

"Watford" (version of "Sport today"): Foster - Maryappa, Demerit, Mackay, Stuart - Smith, Bangura, Francis, McNamey - Henderson, Boise.

"Bolton" (version of "Sport Today"): Yaaskelainen - Hunt, Meite, Dian Faye, Ben Haim - Ivan Campo, Speed, Nolan, Diouf - Pedersen, Vaz Te.

Last five matches : = - - + - / + - = - =

First round match : 0: 1.

Quotes William Hill : the victory of Watford - 3.1, the draw - 3.1, the victory of Bolton - 2.1.

WIGAN - PORTSMUT

February 3 Anfield Road, 6 p.m.

Judge : Graham Pull (Hertfordshire).

Injuries : Scharner, de Zeuw, Heskey / Stefanovich, Traore.

Disqualifications : no.

“Wigan” (version of “Sport Today”): Kirkland - Boyce, Unsworth, Hall, Baines - Valencia, Landzat, Skoko, Kilbane - Makkalok, Agahova.

Portsmouth (Sport Today version): James - Johnson, Primus, Campbell, Pamaro - O'Neill, Pedro Mendes, M. Taylor, Lauren - Lua-Lua, Mvaruwari.

Last five matches : - - - - - / - = = - =

First round match : 0: 1.

Quotes William Hill : the victory of Wigan - 2.5, the draw - 3.1, the victory of Portsmouth - 2.5.

MIDLESBRO - ARSENAL

February 3 Riverside, 20.15.

Judge : Mike Riley (Yorkshire).

Injuries : Hoot, Bates / Gallas, Van Persie, Gleb, Diabi.

Disqualifications : no.

Middlesbrough (Sport Today version): Schwarzer - Abel Xavier, Woodgate, Pogatets, E. Taylor - Cattermole, Boateng, Arch, Downing - Viduka, Yakubu.

Arsenal (Sport Today version): Lehmann - Ebouet, Kolo Toure, Senderos, Clichy - Walcott, Fabregas, Gilberto Silva, Rosicky - Henry, Adebayor.

Last five matches : - + + + = / + - + + +

First round match : 1: 1.

Quotes William Hill : Middlesbrough win - 4.5, draw - 3.3, Arsenal win - 1.66.

Broadcast : NTV-Plus Football, 23.40 (record).

TOTTENHAM - MANCHESTER UNITED

February 4th White Hart Lane, 19.00.

Judge : Mark Clattenburg (Tyne and Wyre).

Injuries : Dervit, Bernard, L. King / no.

Disqualifications : no.

Tottenham Hotspur (Sport Today version): Robinson - Shimbonda, Dawson, Gardner, Lee Yoon Pio - Lennon, Huddlestone, Jenas, Mulbranck - Berbatov, Defoe.

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 : 0: 1.

Quotes William Hill : Tottenham win - 4.0, draw - 3.1, Manchester United win - 1.8.

Broadcast : NTV-Plus Football, 18.55 (direct).

NOTE : match start time is Moscow time.

TOURNAMENT TABLE

SNIPERS: Drogba (Chelsea) - 14, Cristiano Ronaldo (Man. United) - 13, Van Persie (Arsenal) - 11, Doyle (Reading), Yakubu (Middlesbrough) - 10, Kanu (Portsmouth), McCarthy (Blackburn) - 9.

27th round. 10.02 . Chelsea - Middlesbrough. Everton - Blackburn. Manchester United - Charlton. Newcastle - Liverpool. Portsmouth - Manchester City. Reading - Aston Villa. Sheffield United - Tottenham Hotspur. West Ham - Watford. 11.02. Arsenal - Wigan. Bolton - Fulham.