Arsenal
Arsène Wenger believes that Chelsea can still win the title. “I don’t rule out Chelsea because they have to play at home against Man United and Arsenal,” the manager said. “They have already put wins together when they have had players out.”
Played 25 Won 18 Drawn 6 Lost 1 For 52 Against 18 Points 60
Next match Monday Blackburn Rovers (h)
Manchester United
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Rodrigo Possebon, the 18-year-old Brazilian midfield player, seems set for a place in the first-team squad after being given the No 34 shirt. Possebon will continue to train with the reserve team but is eligible for senior duty.
Played 25 Won 18 Drawn 4 Lost 3 For 49 Against 12 Points 58
Next match Sunday Manchester City (h)
Chelsea
Petr Cech may have to wear a protective helmet for the rest of his career after fracturing his skull last season. “The opinion of doctors is paramount,” the goalkeeper said. “I certainly will not be able to take off my helmet for many seasons to come.”
Played 25 Won 16 Drawn 6 Lost 3 For 38 Against 17 Points 54
Next match Sunday Liverpool (h)
Everton
Steven Pienaar, the midfield player, will be out for up to three weeks after suffering an ankle injury while on international duty with South Africa at the African Cup of Nations. He had to miss his country’s 1-1 draw against Senegal last Thursday.
Played 25 Won 13 Drawn 5 Lost 7 For 40 Against 23 Points 44
Next match Saturday Reading (h)
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Liverpool
John Arne Riise hopes to end his career at Liverpool, despite his frustration at being left out of the starting line-up in recent weeks. “It’s disappointing not to be playing,” he said. “But I want to stay here. I’ve always said that and I hope it can happen.”
Played 24 Won 11 Drawn 10 Lost 3 For 40 Against 17 Points 43
Next match Sunday Chelsea (a)
Aston Villa
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Moustapha Salifou has been awarded a one-year contract extension to take him through to the end of next season. The Togo midfield player, who has made only one first-team appearance, has impressed with the reserve team.
Played 25 Won 11 Drawn 8 Lost 6 For 44 Against 33 Points 41
Next match Saturday Newcastle United (h)
Manchester City
Felipe Caicedo is due at the club today after his move from FC Basle last week. The Ecuador forward may be involved in the squad to face Manchester United on Sunday. Benjani Mwaruwari, another new signing, seems certain to start.
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Played 25 Won 11 Drawn 8 Lost 6 For 32 Against 28 Points 41
Next match Sunday Manchester United (a)
Blackburn Rovers
Steven Reid, the midfield player, who was forced to withdraw from Ireland’s friendly international against Brazil last night because he had fluid drained from his knee, is in a race to get fit in time for Monday’s match away to Arsenal.
Played 25 Won 10 Drawn 9 Lost 6 For 32 Against 31 Points 39
Next match Monday Arsenal (a)
Portsmouth
Linvoy Primus has been told that he will play again after knee surgery, but not before his contract at Fratton Park expires at the end of the season. “Realistically, I could have played my last game for Pompey,” the defender said.
Played 25 Won 10 Drawn 8 Lost 7 For 35 Against 26 Points 38
Next match Saturday Bolton Wanderers (a)
West Ham United
Julien Faubert has criticised Alan Curbishley’s management style. “We have gaps in our tactics and on the defending and positional aspects,” the midfield player said. “We rarely speak tactics at training.”
Played 24 Won 10 Drawn 6 Lost 8 For 29 Against 22 Points 36
Next match Saturday Birmingham City (h)
Tottenham Hotspur
Alan Hutton, the defender, will be cup-tied for the Uefa Cup campaign because Rangers, his former club, were relegated into the competition from the Champions League and the teams could meet.
Played 25 Won 7 Drawn 8 Lost 10 For 45 Against 41 Points 29
Next match Saturday Derby County (a)
Newcastle United
Emre Bel?zoglu, the midfield player who came close to leaving after failing to win a regular place under Sam Allardyce, the former manager, insists that he is now happy. “I love the city and I’m focused on my future here,” he said.
Played 25 Won 7 Drawn 7 Lost 11 For 28 Against 43 Points 28
Next match Saturday Aston Villa (a)
Middlesbrough
Bryan Robson, the Sheffield United manager, is no longer interested in Lee Cattermole, the midfield player who has been ruled out for the next few weeks after suffering knee ligament damage against Newcastle United last weekend.
Played 25 Won 6 Drawn 8 Lost 11 For 22 Against 38 Points 26
Next match Saturday Fulham (h)
Bolton Wanderers
Joey O’Brien, the defender, is a doubt for the match at home to Portsmouth on Saturday because of a hamstring injury. “We’re hoping it’s not too serious, but we’re really disappointed,” Gary Megson, the manager, said.
Played 25 Won 6 Drawn 7 Lost 12 For 26 Against 34 Points 25
Next match Saturday Portsmouth (h)
Wigan Athletic
Steve Bruce, the manager, is backing Chris Kirkland to become England’s first-choice goalkeeper. “He has every chance of claiming that No1 spot,” Bruce said. “He is as brave as a lion and has all the attributes to be an England player.”
Played 25 Won 6 Drawn 5 Lost 14 For 24 Against 40 Points 23
Next match Saturday Sunderland (a)
Sunderland
Roy Keane is toning down the intensity of his training sessions in an effort to stem the number of injuries among his squad. “We’re wrapping the players in cotton wool,” the manager said. “Changing the training should mean fewer injuries.”
Played 25 Won 6 Drawn 5 Lost 14 For 24 Against 45 Points 23
Next match Saturday Wigan Athletic (h)
Reading
Steve Coppell is bemused by the team’s inconsistency compared with 2006-07. “We have a Jekyll and Hyde scenario,” the manager said. “Some of the performances have been reminiscent of last season but some have been very poor.”
Played 25 Won 6 Drawn 4 Lost 15 For 30 Against 52 Points 22
Next match Saturday Everton (a)
Birmingham City
Radhi Jaidi and Mehdi Nafti could play away to West Ham United on Saturday after Tunisia’s defeat by Cameroon in the African Cup of Nations on Monday. “We’ll assess their fitness when they come back[],” Alex McLeish, the manager, said.
Played 25 Won 5 Drawn 6 Lost 14 For 24 Against 37 Points 21
Next match Saturday West Ham United (a)
Fulham
Roy Hodgson has denied that he signed seven players in January because his existing squad was not good enough. “We just had to change the profile of the squad,” the manager said. “Now we’re in a better position to get out of trouble.”
Played 25 Won 3 Drawn 10 Lost 12 For 25 Against 43 Points 19
Next match Saturday Middlesbrough (a)
Derby County
Jay McEveley, the defender, could return to action this month after the knee injury he suffered five weeks ago. “We’ll have to see if we can get him running on the pitches later this week,” Paul Jewell, the manager, said.
Played 25 Won 1 Drawn 6 Lost 18 For 13 Against 52 Points 9
Next match Saturday Tottenham Hotspur (h)