Unexpected joy

Dmitry LONGICH

CENTRAL MATCH

West Ham - Chelsea. Having successfully dealt with cup affairs inside England and abroad and having skipped two rounds of the championship along the way, the Premier League flagships are returning to the fight for the championship. Chelsea are awaiting a hammer test Wednesday. Alan Kerbishli's team no longer has to choose - in order to maintain practical chances of salvation, it is necessary to interrupt the eight-match winning streak of the “blue”. At the same time, the task only seems to be impossible - matches with West Ham grandees are now better than with direct competitors, and Chelsea have not caught their breath after a 120-minute fierce battle with Blackburn.

UNEXPECTED INTrigue

Manchester United - Sheffield United. On a visit to Manchester United on the wings of inspiration from a major Saturday victory, another brave survival fighter, Sheffield, flies. At Old Trafford, Neil Warnock’s team will try to make a sensation, taking advantage of the leader’s own psychological emancipation and personnel problems. The Mankunians have a real misfortune with the defenders - Ferdinand and O'Shea, whose participation in the match is in doubt, recently added to the usual injured Neville, Sylvester and Vidich. Under these conditions, the debut of 18-year-old Craig Katcart is quite possible. However, “Manchester United”, which scored 11 goals in the last two matches, must resolve all issues in the attack. And to unravel the true role of Phil Jagelka in advance.

DO NOT LOSE FROM THE VIEW

Forward “Watford” Marlon King is back in action, although his appearance this season has not been expected. The hornets leader suffered a severe knee injury in mid-autumn and now, exactly six months later, he came on as a substitute in the cup match against Manchester United. Perhaps with King the fate of “Watford” would have developed a little differently. Now he just has to do a sad five-match ritual with the team and say goodbye to the Premier League.

IMPORTANT WORDS

“I can watch United only to see his game. He does what no one else can do at the moment. He is the best in the world. When he plays at his level, he cannot be stopped,” - Captain “Chelsea” John Terry acknowledges the merits of Cristiano Ronaldo and remains faithful to the principles of fair play and outside the football field.

BEAUTIFUL NUMBERS

The match against Sheffield will be the 500th in the Premier League for Ryan Giggs, the legend of Manchester United. Just two goals scored Welshman is not enough to the grandmaster mark of 100 goals in the English championship. Perhaps the Mancunians will help their symbol to make the anniversary double?

ARSENAL - MANCHESTER CITY (25th round)

April 17th. Emirates Stadium, 22.45.
Judge : Mark Halsey (Lancashire).
Injuries : Henry, Van Persie, Walcott / Dick, Richards.
Disqualifications : no.
Arsenal (Sport Today version): Lehmann - Ebouet, Gallas, Kolo Toure, Clichy - Gleb, Fabregas, Gilberto Silva, Rosicki, Jungberg - Adebayor.
Manchester City (Sport Today version): Isaksson - Onuoha, Disten, R. Dunn, Ball - Ireland, Song Jihai, Johnson, Barton, Beasley - Wassell.
Last five matches: - - - = + / + + = + =
First round match: 0: 1.
Quotes William Hill: the victory of Arsenal - 1.4, the draw - 3.75, the victory of Manchester City - 7.0.
Broadcast : RTR-Sport, 22.40 (direct).

MANCHESTER UNITED - SHEFFIELD UNITED (33rd round)

April 17th. Old Trafford, 23.00.
Judge : Rob Styles (Hampshire).
Injuries : Sylvester, Neville, Vidic, Saa, Park Ji Sung, O'Shea / Hals, Davis.
Disqualifications : no.
Manchester United (Sport Today version): van der Saar - Brown, Heinze, Ferdinand, Evra - Cristiano Ronaldo, Fletcher, Carrick, Giggs - Rooney, Smith.
Sheffield United (Sport Today version): Kenny - Bromby, Jagelka, Morgan, Armstrong - Gillespie, Tonj, Montgomery, S. Quinn - Kazim-Richards, Nade.
Last five matches : + + + + + - / = - - - +
First round match : 2: 1.
Quotes William Hill : victory for Manchester United - 1.14, draw - 5.5, victory for Sheffield United - 15.0.
Broadcast : NTV-Plus Football, 22.55 (direct).

BLACKBURN - WATFORD (34th round)

April 18th . Ewood Park, 23.00.
Judge : Mike Dean (Wirral).
Injuries : Reed, Savage, Oyer, Todd, Khizanishvili / no.
Disqualifications : no.
Blackburn (Sport Today version): Friedel - Emerton, Nelson, Samba, Warnock - Bentley, Tugai, Dunne, Pedersen - McCarthy, Derbyshire.
"Watford" (version of "Sport Today"): Foster - Maryappa, Demerit, Carlisle, Stuart - Smith, Mahon, Francis, Kabba - M. King, Boise.
Last five matches: - + - - - / = - - - +
First round match : 1: 2.
Quotes William Hill : the victory of Blackburn - 1.61, the draw - 3.3, the victory of Watford - 5.0.

LIVERPOOL - MIDLESBRO (33rd round)

April 18th. Anfield Road, 23.00.
Judge : Graham Pull (Hertfordshire).
Injuries : Kewell, Luis Garcia, Fabio Aurelio, Bellamy / Bates, Arch.
Disqualifications : no.
Liverpool (Sport Today version): Reina - Finnan, Carragher, Agger, Arbeloa - Gerrard, Mascherano, Xabi Alonso, Riise - Kate, Crouch.
Middlesbrough (Sport Today version): Schwarzer - Abel Xavier, Woodgate, Hoot, Pogatets - Cattermole, Boateng, Rochemback, Downing - Viduka, Yakubu.
Last five matches : - = + + = / = - - + -
First round match : 0-0.
Quotes William Hill: Liverpool's victory - 1.4, draw - 3.75, Middlesbrough victory - 7.0.
Broadcast : RTR-Sport, 22.55 (direct).

WEST HAM - CHELSEY (33rd round)

April 18th . Upton Park, 23.00.
Judge : Mike Riley (Yorkshire).
Injuries : Upson, Ashton, Davenport, Gabbidon / Robben.
Disqualifications : no.
West Ham (Sport Today version): Green - Nill, Ferdinand, Collins, McCartney - Boyer, Reo-Cocker, Mullins, Boa Morte - Tevez, Zamora.
Chelsea (Sport Today version): Czech - Essien, Terry, Ricardo Carvalho, E. Cole - Ballack, Obi Mikel, Lampard, Joe Cole - Drogba, Kalu.
Last five matches: - + + + - / + + + + +
First round match: 0: 1.
Quotes William Hill: the victory of West Ham - 5.5, the draw - 3.6, the victory of Chelsea - 1.5.
Broadcast : NTV-Plus Online, 22.55 (direct).
NOTE : match start time is Moscow time.

TOURNAMENT TABLE

Club AND AT N P M ABOUT
Manchester United 32 25 3 four 75-23 78
Chelsea 32 23 6 3 56-19 75
Liverpool 33 18 7 eight 50-22 61
Arsenal 33 17 eight eight 54-30 59
Everton 34 14 12 eight 46-30 54
Bolton 34 sixteen 6 12 41-42 54
Portsmouth 34 13 ten eleven 42-37 49
Tottenham Hotspur 33 14 7 12 47-48 49
Reading 34 14 6 14 45-41 48
Middlesbrough 33 eleven 9 13 37-39 42
Newcastle 34 eleven eight 15 36-42 41
Manchester city 33 eleven eight 14 26-35 41
Blackburn 32 12 four sixteen 38-47 40
Aston Villa 34 eight 15 eleven 33-39 39
Wigan 34 9 eight 17 35-52 35
Fulham 34 7 14 13 34-53 35
Sheffield United 33 9 7 17 29-47 34
Charlton 34 eight eight 18 30-51 32
West ham 33 eight five 20 26-54 29th
Watford 33 four eleven 18 24-53 23

Club	AND	AT	N	P	M	ABOUT
Manchester United	32	25	3	four	75-23	78
Chelsea	32	23	6	3	56-19	75
Liverpool	33	18	7	eight	50-22	61
Arsenal	33	17	eight	eight	54-30	59
Everton	34	14	12	eight	46-30	54
Bolton	34	sixteen	6	12	41-42	54
Portsmouth	34	13	ten	eleven	42-37	49
Tottenham Hotspur	33	14	7	12	47-48	49
Reading	34	14	6	14	45-41	48
Middlesbrough	33	eleven	9	13	37-39	42
Newcastle	34	eleven	eight	15	36-42	41
Manchester city	33	eleven	eight	14	26-35	41
Blackburn	32	12	four	sixteen	38-47	40
Aston Villa	34	eight	15	eleven	33-39	39
Wigan	34	9	eight	17	35-52	35
Fulham	34	7	14	13	34-53	35
Sheffield United	33	9	7	17	29-47	34
Charlton	34	eight	eight	18	30-51	32
West ham	33	eight	five	20	26-54	29th
Watford	33	four	eleven	18	24-53	23

SNIPERS: Drogba (Chelsea) - 18, Cristiano Ronaldo (Man. United) - 16, McCarthy (Blackburn) - 13, Rooney (Man. United), Yakubu (Middlesbrough) - 12, van Persie (Arsenal), D. Bent (Charlton), Lampard (Chelsea), Anelka (Bolton), A. Johnson (Everton), Martins (Newcastle) - 11.

35th round. 04/21. Bolton - Reading. Charlton - Sheffield United. Fulham - Blackburn. Liverpool - Wigan. Manchester United - Middlesbrough. Tottenham Hotspur - Arsenal. Watford - Manchester City. West Ham - Everton. 04/22. Aston Villa - Portsmouth. Newcastle - Chelsea.