Prematch review
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Venue: Craven Cottage Date: Sunday, 28 December Kick-off: 1400 GMT
Fulham midfielder Jimmy Bullard has a dead leg and faces a fitness test.
Centre-back Brede Hangeland is shaking off a bout of flu, while Zoltan Gera (calf), Andranik Teymourian (knee) and Diomansy Kamara (knee) are all out.
Chelsea captain John Terry sits out the second game of his three-match ban while Michael Essien (knee) and Ricardo Carvalho (knee) also miss out.
Striker Didier Drogba should be fit despite being taken off against West Brom after being kicked in the thigh.
Fulham (from): Schwarzer, Konchesky, Pantsil, Baird, Hughes, Murphy, Bullard, Dempsey, Davies, Zamora, Johnson, Zuberbuhler, Nevland, Gray, Etuhu, Stoor, Andreasen, Kallio, Hangeland.
Cheslea (from): Cech, Cudicini, Hilario, Belletti, Bosingwa, Alex, Ivanovic, A Cole, Ferreira, Bridge, Lampard, Deco, Obi, Lampard, Malouda, Kalou, Anelka, Drogba, Stoch, Mineiro, J Cole.
Fulham manager Roy Hodgson:
“We’ll approach the game like we’ve approached all the games.
“Not conceding goals has not been about dragging 11 behind the ball and kicking it into the stand, we’re trying to play as much football as the opposition.
“At home, the opposition give you more respect but that will not be the case with Chelsea. They will be thinking that three points is what they need.”
Chelsea assistant manager Ray Wilkins:
“Our away form has been very good and we just hope that can continue but it is going to be tough for us.
“Fulham won’t lie down and allow us to do what we want to do. They will give us a bit of aggravation.
“They are our closest rivals so we want to put one over on them, but they will be full of confidence after their result (0-0) against Tottenham.”
Written by Darkvader on December 27th, 2008 with no comments.
Read more articles on Prematch review.
PREMIER LEAGUE
Venue: Stamford Bridge Date: Friday, 26 December
Kick-off: 1300 GMT
Chelsea will be without skipper John Terry who starts a three-game ban after his sending off against Everton.
Defender Ricardo Carvalho could return from injury for the home side.
West Brom skipper Jonathan Greening has been passed fit after being substituted during the victory over Manchester City with a bout of double vision.
Playmaker Borja Valero (flu) looks set to miss out for the second successive match while Felipe Teixeira is unlikely to have recovered from a calf injury.
Chelsea (from): Cech, Cudicini, Hilario, Ferreira, Bosingwa, Belletti, Alex, Ivanovic, Bridge, A Cole, J Cole, Ballack, Deco, Lampard, Obi, Kalou, Stoch, Anelka, Drogba.
West Brom (from): Carson, Kiely, Zuiverloon, Hoefkens, Olsson, Meite, Donk, Barnett, Robinson, Cech, Morrison, Greening, Koren, Do-Heon, Brunt, Dorrans, Valero, Moore, Bednar, Beattie.
West Brom manager Tony Mowbray on Chelsea being without their captain John Terry:
“If they could pick a game to be missing their captain this might have been the one they would have selected.
“Not too many teams go to Stamford Bridge and give their central defenders a lot of problems.
“I watched a game recently when they were at home and they had 31 shots and the opposition only had two.
“To lose their captain when they are playing the team who are bottom of the league - I don’t think they will lose too much sleep over it.”
Make your Premier League predictions
BIG-MATCH FACTS
A draw from this lunchtime clash with bottom-of-the table West Bromwich Albion would see Chelsea climb above Liverpool and back to the top of the table for two hours at least.
Albion face the Blues on Tony Mowbray’s 800th day in charge, knowing that they will have to repeat their own record to survive. Bryan Robson’s side in 2004-05 became the first and only club to be bottom at Christmas and avoid relegation from the Premier League. That season they were five points from safety at this same stage, this season they are four points below the trap door.
The Midlanders will be buoyed by Sunday’s last ditch home win over Manchester City. Victory over the same club four seasons ago sparked a remarkable recovery during which 21 points were garnered from the last 15 games, resulting in survival.
Chelsea hold a 100% Premier League record against West Bromwich, and will look to beat them for the eighth successive time.
The Baggies have never won a Premier League match, nor picked up a single point, on Boxing Day, and travel to the Bridge on a six-game losing run away from home.
Chelsea have won 11 Premier League games so far this season; Albion have lost 11.
Chelsea have the strongest attack in the highest league (36 goals); Albion the weakest (14).
But Albion have won as many home league games as the Blues (three).
West Brom travel in search of their first top-flight win at Stamford Bridge in 30 years.
Distance between the clubs: 131 miles (211 kilometres)
CLUB FORM
CHELSEA
Club stats
2nd 38 points
Highest achievable: 1st
Lowest could fall: 2nd
Best & Worst categories in 2008-09 Premier League
1. Failed to win four of the last five Premier League matches; drawn the last two.
2. Had 46 and 52 points at the half-way stage of their two title-winning campaigns; the best they can hope for this season is 41.
3. Already beaten all three promoted clubs; all on the road.
4. Won their last five Premier League matches against Midlands clubs.
5. Drawn the last two Boxing Day fixtures, and not lost any of the last four.
6. Not won a home match for three games since the 5-0 eclipse of Sunderland on 1 November; their worst home run since the start of the 2001-02 season.
7. Already dropped 14 home points, which equates to the total dropped at the Bridge during the whole of the 2007-08 season.
8. End the year away to Fulham on Sunday.
Fixtures
WEST BROMWICH ALBION
Club stats
20th 15 points
Highest realistically achievable: 19th
Lowest could fall: 20th
Best & Worst categories in 2008-09 Premier League
1. Last Sunday’s victory ended a 10-match winless run.
2. Failed to score in eight of their 18 league games, and not kept a clean sheet in 11.
3. Scored in excess of a single goal in just three of their 18 league outings, including the most recent; 2-1 against Manchester City.
4. Lost seven of 10 matches against top-half clubs.
5. Lost their last 10 Premier League games against ‘Big Four’ clubs, since defeating Arsenal 2-1 at home on 15 October 2005.
6. Lost their last four top-flight matches in London, and not won a Premier League trip to the capital since a 1-4 triumph over Charlton on 19 March 2005.
7. End the year, home to Tottenham on Sunday.
Fixtures
KEY PLAYER NOTES
CHELSEA
Squad profiles
Jose BOSINGWA, Frank LAMPARD and John TERRY are the only remaining players to have started all of Chelsea’s Premier League matches this season.
Nicolas ANELKA is the top-scoring Premier League player with 16 club goals in all competitions, and is leading the race for the Barclays Golden Boot with 14 Premier League goals.
The Frenchman is the only player, whose Premier League goals total for the season is in double figures. His personal tally of league goals matches West Brom’s entire total for the season.
Petr CECH is level with Liverpool’s Jose REINA in the race for the Barclays Golden Glove. They have kept 10 clean sheets a piece.
If selected:-
ASHLEY COLE will be making his 100th appearance in a Chelsea shirt.
If on the field from the outset:-
Frank LAMPARD will be making his 400th career league start (West Ham, Swansea and Chelsea).
Suspended:-
John TERRY (three matches)
WEST BROMWICH ALBION
Squad profiles
Scott CARSON and Paul ROBINSON are the only remaining players to have been on the field for every minute of every one of West Brom’s Premier League matches this season.
If selected:-
LUKE MOORE will be making his 100th career Premier League appearance (all in Villa colours). MOORE scored for the first time for Albion in 23 attempts in league and cup, against Manchester City on Sunday,
Ishmael MILLER will be making his 50th league appearance for West Brom.
HEAD TO HEAD
West Brom have picked up just one point in six visits to Stamford Bridge since beating them 1-3 on 30 September 1978, when Cyrille Regis, John Wile and Tony Brown were all on the scoresheet. West Brom finished that season in third; Chelsea were bottom.
Chelsea sealed a record 10th consecutive away Premier League win, when they won the reverse fixture last month. The top versus bottom match was as one-sided as the 0-3 result suggests.
The Blues are now on course for a fourth consecutive ‘double’ over the Baggies.
Home and away
League (inc PL): Chelsea 45 wins, WBA 35, Draws 27
Prem: Chelsea 7 wins, WBA 0, Draws 0
at Chelsea only
League (inc PL): Chelsea 25 wins, WBA 14, Draws 14
Prem: Chelsea 3 wins, WBA 0, Draws 0
THIS SEASON’S REVERSE FIXTURE
West Bromwich Albion 0-3 Chelsea
15 November 2008 - Ref: Steve Bennett
Chelsea scorers: Bosingwa 34, Anelka 38, 45
REFEREE
Rob Styles (Waterlooville, Hampshire)
Written by Darkvader on December 24th, 2008 with no comments.
Read more articles on Prematch review.
PREMIER LEAGUE
Venue: Goodison Park Date: Monday, 22 December Kick-off: 2000 GMT
Everton strikers Victor Anichebe (back) and Louis Saha (hamstring) will both undergo fitness tests.
If neither player is available, boss David Moyes will again ask midfielder Tim Cahill to play up front.
Chelsea defender Ricardo Carvalho is recovering from a knee injury but may be held back for the Boxing Day game against West Brom.
Michael Essien (knee) and Franco Di Santo (hamstring) are out and Florent Malouda (thigh) is a doubt.
Everton assistant boss Steve Round:
“I thought Tim Cahill was outstanding up front against Manchester City.
“It does lessen the anxiety of not having a recognised forward when you’ve a player like that who can play in a multitude of positions and still perform really well.
“We knew he could do it up there. It was just giving him the opportunity to show everybody he could.”
Chelsea coach Luiz Felipe Scolari:
“We need to adapt the system to suit the characteristics of the players.
“The spirit of the players for the system is better than before. If I don’t have confidence in the system and need to get a result, it is impossible.
“This week we trained many times for the future and had more time to look at one more system.”
Everton (from): Howard, Neville, Lescott, Yobo, Jagielka, Baines, Hibbert, Arteta, Osman, Cahill, Fellaini, Anichebe, Nash, Castillo, Rodwell, Gosling, Jutkiewicz, Baxter, Pienaar, Saha, Van der Meyde.
Chelsea (from): Cech, Hilario, Cudicini, Belletti, Ferreira, Bosingwa, A Cole, Bridge, Lampard, Deco, Obi, Kalou, Stoch, Drogba, Anelka, Malouda, J Cole, Alex, Terry, Ivanovic.
Make your Premier League predictions
BIG-MATCH FACTS
Chelsea go to Everton for the Monday match, defending a 100% away record and seeking to set a new mark for consecutive away victories in top-flight football of 12 games.
Three points for the Londoners at Goodison Park would be their ninth straight league win on the road this term, and break Tottenham’s 48-year record for most successive away wins from the start of a top-flight season.
But three points for Everton would take their total of post war league wins to 1,000.
The Toffees have only won one league game at Goodison this season. It’s the fewest home wins by any club outside the bottom two. Victory would take their tally of all-time home points in the Premier League to 500.
Going into this round of matches, no club has scored more Premier League goals in the last 10 minutes than Everton’s seven; Chelsea is the only club not to have conceded a single goal in the closing 10 minutes.
Chelsea killed off Everton’s hopes of finishing in the top four, when they gained their 50th league victory over the Toffees in a 0-1 triumph at Goodison Park last April.
Everton have not prevailed in 20 league and cup matches against Chelsea, including four last season, since a 2-1 home league victory on 25 November 2000, when Danny Cadamarteri and Kevin Campbell got their goals.
Distance between the clubs: 221 miles (356 kilometres)
CLUB FORM
EVERTON
Club stats
Going into the weekend: 7th 25 points
Best & Worst categories in 2008-09 Premier League
(all statistics are ahead of this weekend’s round of Premier League fixtures)
1. Won two of three Premier League games, and five of the last eight.
2. Five points down on this same stage last season when sixth in the table, but one point up on the previous campaign, when 10th.
3. Won all four league games in which clean sheets have been kept.
4. Would be bottom but one in the table if only home matches counted. Their only victory from eight league games at Goodison Park was 1-0 against Fulham on 1 November.
5. Already lost as many home Premier League games as in the whole of last season (four).
5. Picked up one point out of the last available nine against ‘Big Four’ clubs, from a 1-1 home draw with Manchester United on 25 October.
6. Not won in 13 against the ‘Big Four’ quartet of Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool and Manchester United, losing 10 of them. Their only victory in 18 such matches was 1-0 at home to Arsenal on 18 March.
7. Won their last three Premier League matches against London clubs; Fulham (h), West Ham (a) and Tottenham (a).
8. Their Christmas fixtures are away to Middlesbrough on Boxing Day and home to Sunderland two days later.
Fixtures
CHELSEA
Club stats
Going into the weekend: 2nd 37 points
Best & Worst categories in 2008-09 Premier League
(all statistics are ahead of this weekend’s round of Premier League fixtures)
1. Failed to win three of the last four Premier League matches.
2. Three points up on this same stage last season when third in the table, and two points down on the previous campaign, when second.
3. Won 16 and drawn two of the last 18 away Premier League games since their only loss in 23 on the road; 1-0 against Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium on 16 December 2007.
4. The next loss will be their 100th away from home in Premier League history.
5. Not dropped a point on the road since drawing 4-4 with Tottenham at White Hart Lane on 19 March.
6. Kept six successive clean sheets away from home, and not conceded in 617 minutes (10 minutes 17 minutes) of Premier League football on the road since Robinho scored in Manchester City’s 1-3 home defeat on 13 September.
7. Another shut-out sheet will break the record of consecutive top-flight clean sheets away from home; a record they equalled at Bolton on 6 December.
8. Won their last nine top-flight trips to the North-West, since losing 2-0 to Manchester United at Old Trafford on 23 September 2007.
9. Won one of their last seven league games against Merseyside clubs; that victory being 0-1, away to Everton on 17 April 2008.
10. The Christmas fixtures are home to West Bromwich on Boxing Day and away to Fulham two days later.
Fixtures
KEY PLAYER NOTES
EVERTON
Squad profiles
Tim HOWARD and Phil JAGIELKA are the only remaining players to have been on the field for every minute of every one of Everton’s league and cup matches this season.
Tim CAHILL is a hat-trick shy of 100 goals for English clubs (Millwall and Everton).
CHELSEA
Squad profiles
Kose BOSINGWA, Frank LAMPARD and John TERRY are the only remaining players to have started all of Chelsea’s Premier League matches this season.
Nicolas ANELKA is the top-scoring Premier League player with 16 club goals in all competitions, and is leading the race for the Barclays Golden Boot with 14 Premier League goals. He is the only player, whose Premier League goals total for the season is in double figures.
HEAD TO HEAD
Chelsea have won 10 and drawn five of the last 15 Premier League matches against Everton, including five wins in the last six visits to Goodison.
The Toffees have picked up two points from a possible 21 in home league clashes with Chelsea, since their most recent victory eight years ago.
Home and away
League (inc PL): Everton 45 wins, Chelsea 50, Draws 43
Prem: Everton 4 wins, Chelsea 16, Draws 12
at Everton only
League (inc PL): Everton 33 wins, Chelsea 15, Draws 21
Prem: Everton 3 wins, Chelsea 7, Draws 6
LAST SEASON’S CORRESPONDING GAME
Everton 0-1 Chelsea
17 April 2008 - Ref: Martin Atkinson
Chelsea scorer: Essien 41
REFEREE
Phil Dowd (Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire)
Written by Darkvader on December 21st, 2008 with no comments.
Read more articles on Prematch review.
PREMIER LEAGUE
Venue: White Hart Lane Date: Sunday, 14 December Kick-off: 1600 GMT
BIG-MATCH FACTS
The West End meets the East End in a London derby at Stamford Bridge, with Chelsea playing catch-up in the race for the Premier League leadership.
The Blues have twice as many points as West Ham (36 to 18), scored over twice as many goals (35 to 17), and conceded a quarter of their tally (six to 24).
Chelsea have a 75% points return under Luis Felipe Scolari (36 of 48); West Ham a 25% Premier League winning return under Gianfranco Zola (three of 12).
Chelsea are hoping to beat West Ham for a seventh successive time in the Premier League.
West Ham have not taken a point off Chelsea since doing the double over them in 2002-03. Paulo Di Canio got a brace in the odd goal in five triumph at Stamford Bridge on 28 September 2002 and scored the winner in the 1-0 triumph at Upton Park on 3 May 2003. However those six points were not sufficient to prevent the Hammers from dropping out of the top-flight that season.
Distance between the clubs: 13 miles (21 kilometres)
Chelsea make the shortest journey of any Premier League club this weekend.
CLUB FORM
CHELSEA
Club stats
Going into the weekend: 2nd 36 points
Best & Worst categories in 2008-09 Premier League
(all statistics are ahead of this weekend’s round of Premier League fixtures)
1. Lost one of seven Premier League games; 1-2, home to Arsenal on 30 November.
2. The joint most winning team with the strongest attack and tightest defence in the Premier League. More details
3. Kept six clean sheets in seven league games; conceding only two goals in those outings (v Arsenal).
4. Two points up on this same stage last season when third in the table.
5. Won only one of three home league games (5-0 against Sunderland on 1 November), since suffering their first defeat in 87 to Liverpool on 26 October.
6. Defeat to the Gunners was their first loss in seven London Premier League derbies.
7. Lying at the foot of this season’s table of Premier League London derbies with just one point from two games, courtesy of a 1-1 draw with Tottenham on 31 August. Their last victory in a capital clash was 2-1, home to Arsenal on 23 March 2008.
Fixtures
WEST HAM UNITED
Club stats
Going into the weekend: 16th 18 points
Best & Worst categories in 2008-09 Premier League
(all statistics are ahead of this weekend’s round of Premier League fixtures)
1. Won one of 10 Premier League matches; 0-1, away to Sunderland on 23 November.
2. Failed to score in six of the last nine league outings.
3. On the longest current sequence of 10 Premier League games since scoring more than a single goal in a match; the 1-2 away victory over Fulham on 27 September being the most recent.
4. Four points down on this same stage last season when 11th in the table.
5. Need a draw to total 250 points away from home all-time in the Premier League.
6. Picked up one point out of nine against the ‘Big Four’; the goalless draw at Liverpool on 1 December being their only return from six games against the quartet of Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool and Manchester United, since beating Liverpool 1-0 at home on 30 January 2008.
7. Lost four of the last five top-flight London derbies.
Fixtures
KEY PLAYER NOTES
CHELSEA
Squad profiles
Kose BOSINGWA, Frank LAMPARD and John TERRY are the only remaining players to have started all of Chelsea’s Premier League matches this season.
Nicolas ANELKA is the top-scoring Premier League player with 15 club goals in all competitions, and is leading the race for the Barclays Golden Boot with 13 Premier League goals. He is the only player, whose Premier League goals total for the season is in double figures.
If he scores:-
ANELKA will reach the milestone of 100 career Premier League goals (Arsenal, Liverpool, Manchester City, Bolton and Chelsea).
If selected:-
Frank LAMPARD will be facing a former club. The 30 year old England international was a West Ham trainee, making 187 appearances (148 in the league) and scoring 38 goals (24 league) for them before his £11m move to Stamford Bridge in June 2001.
JOE COLE will also will be facing former team mates. The 27 year old England international similarly started his career with the Hammers, making 149 appearances (126 in the league) and scoring 13 goals (10 league) before his £6.6m move across the capital in August 2003.
WEST HAM UNITED
Squad profiles
Robert GREEN is the only remaining player to have been on the field for every minute of every one of West Ham’s Premier League matches this season.
Valon BEHRAMI’s winner against Sunderland on 23 November is West Ham’s only goal in four games.
Lee BOWYER is a double shy of 50 career Premier League goals (Leeds, Newcastle and West Ham).
If he scores:-
Lucas NEILL will be making his 400th career league appearance (Millwall, Blackburn and West Ham).
James COLLINS will be making his 50th appearance for the Hammers.
CARLTON COLE will be facing the club where he started his professional career. The 25 year old forward made 32 appearances (25 in the league) and scored eight goals (four league) before signing for the Hammers in July 2006.
Scott PARKER will be playing against a former club. The 28 year old England international made 28 appearances (15 in the league) and scored one league goal for Chelsea between January 2004 and June 2005.
HEAD TO HEAD
Chelsea are bidding for a sixth win in seven home Premier League clashes with West Ham.
The Blues registered a 5-0 aggregate in winning home and away against the Eastenders last term. They have put 24 goals past the Hammers in nine top-flight meetings.
West Ham are one of eight clubs doubled by Chelsea last season, and Chelsea were the last of two clubs to complete the double over the Hammers - the other was Arsenal.
Home and away
League (inc PL): Chelsea 31 wins, West Ham 34, Draws 15
Prem: Chelsea 14 wins, West Ham 9, Draws 3
at Chelsea only
League (inc PL): Chelsea 20 wins, West Ham 12, Draws 8
Prem: Chelsea 8 wins, West Ham 4, Draws 1
LAST SEASON’S CORRESPONDING GAME
Chelsea 1-0 West Ham United
1 December 2007 - Ref: Howard Webb
Chelsea scorer: Joe Cole 76
REFEREE
Mike Riley (Leeds, Yorkshire)
Written by Darkvader on December 12th, 2008 with no comments.
Read more articles on Prematch review.
PREMIER LEAGUE
Venue: Reebok Stadium Date: Saturday, 6 December Kick-off: 1500 GMT
Bolton manager Gary Megson has an almost full-strength squad available for the game at the Reebok Stadium.
Midfielder Matt Taylor has shrugged off a slight thigh strain picked up during last weekend’s 4-1 win at Sunderland.
Chelsea had hoped Joe Cole would recover from an ankle injury in time to play, but the England man misses out.
Didier Drogba is still suspended, while Ricardo Carvalho (knee), Franco Di Santo (hamstring) and Juliano Belletti (ankle) remain sidelined.
Bolton (from): Jaaskelainen, Steinsson, Cahill, A O’Brien, Samuel, Nolan, Riga, McCann, Muamba, Gardner, Taylor, Davies, Elmander, Al Habsi, Shittu, Smolarek, Basham, Cohen, Fojut.
Chelsea (from): Cech, Cudicini, Hilario, Bosingwa, Ferreira, Alex, Terry, Ivanovic, Bridge, A Cole, Lampard, Ballack, Mikel, J Cole, Deco, Kalou, Malouda, Anelka, Stoch.
Bolton assistant manager Chris Evans:
“It was a very good performance against Sunderland last weekend and we are on a good run of form with four wins in our last five matches.
“We’ve been playing very well and even when results weren’t going for us, we felt that we were putting in a good shift without getting what we deserved.
“If you are consistent and have the belief then results will turn for you and that is exactly what has happened.”
Chelsea midfielder Frank Lampard:
“We might have to try and adapt to playing against defensive sides because people will see that other teams have got results doing that.
“I think it is important to mix things up if you are trying to play through a team and it is not quite working.
“There are times when you have to try different things - sometimes you can play a bit more of a direct style, sometimes you can try and get the ball wide so the team can put more balls in the box.”
Make your Premier League predictions
BIG-MATCH FACTS
Chelsea go to Bolton, where they claimed their first Premier League title in 2005, aiming to set a new top-flight record of 11 consecutive away wins; breaking the record of 10 set by Bill Nicholson’s title-winning Tottenham in 1960.
Bolton, winners of the last two, are in their highest position in an established Premier League table this season; Chelsea, without a win in two, have just been knocked off the top.
The Londoners are the only unbeaten Premier League club on the road in 2008.
Luiz Felipe Scolari’s side are the highest scorers in the Premier League and visit the Reebok, which has seen fewer top-flight goals than any other ground this season (13, six for, seven against).
This match pits the Trotters, who’ve failed to score in seven top-flight games against the Blues, who’ve kept 10 clean sheets. No other club exceeds either of those totals.
Chelsea are bidding for a sixth successive away Premier League victory over Bolton at the Reebok Stadium. They have kept clean sheets in all five previous wins.
Distance between the clubs: 219 miles (352 kilometres)
Chelsea are making the longest journey of any Premier League club this weekend.
CLUB FORM
BOLTON WANDERERS
Club stats
9th 20 points
Highest achievable after Saturday’s matches: 6th
Lowest could fall: 14th
Best & Worst categories in 2008-09 Premier League
1. Won four of the last five Premier League matches.
2. Only beaten Stoke and Manchester City in home league games this season.
3. Lost all three matches against ‘Big Four’ clubs this term; gained one point (v Chelsea) from a last possible 24 against the quartet of Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool and Manchester United, and managed just one win in 16 against them.
4. Lost their last four at the Reebok against the clubs currently holding in top four places, and beaten in six of the seven home games against the quartet; the exception being a 1-0 win over Manchester United on 24 November 2007.
5. Lost three of the last four top-flight matches against London clubs (all this season); only the 1-3 victory over West Ham at Upton Park on 5 October 2008 produced points. West Ham was also the only side beaten in six home games against clubs from the capital; 1-0 on 12 April 2008.
6. Chelsea were one of seven clubs to claim maximum points from the Reebok Stadium last season.
Fixtures
CHELSEA
Club stats
2nd 33 points
Highest achievable after Saturday’s matches: 1st
Lowest could fall: 2nd
Best & Worst categories in 2008-09 Premier League
1. Won 10 of 15 league games under Scolari.
2. Their only Premier League defeats this season were home to Liverpool and Arsenal.
3. On the longest unbeaten run away from home of any Premier League club of 17 games; won 15 and drawn two since losing 1-0 to Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium on 16 December 2007.
4. Won all seven away league games this season against Wigan, Manchester City, Stoke, Middlesbrough, Hull, Blackburn and West Brom.
5. The next loss will be their 100th away from home in Premier League history.
6. Last lost a league game outside London on 23 September 2007; 2-0 to Manchester United at Old Trafford. Lost only one of 22 subsequent away games.
7. The 1-2 defeat to Arsenal last Sunday was the first time in 23 Premier League matches that more than a single goal had been conceded in a game, and their first goals shipped in the second-half of any league game this season.
8. Bolton were one of 13 clubs they beat on their Premier League travels last season.
Fixtures
KEY PLAYER NOTES
BOLTON WANDERERS
Squad profiles
Johan ELMANDER has scored three goals in two games for Bolton.
Goalkeeper Jussi JAASKELAINEN is the only remaining player to have been on the field for every minute of every one of Bolton’s league and cup matches this season.
JAASKELAINEN is one of four Premier League ever-presents in the Bolton squad. The others are Kevin DAVIES, Andy O’BRIEN and Jlloyd SAMUEL.
If selected:-
SAMUEL will be making his 250th club career appearance (Aston Villa, Gillingham and Bolton).
CHELSEA
Squad profiles
Kose BOSINGWA, Frank LAMPARD and John TERRY are the only remaining players to have started all of Chelsea’s Premier League matches this season.
Nicolas ANELKA has scored eight goals in his last six Premier League appearances.
ANELKA is the top-scoring Premier League player with 14 club goals in all competitions, and is leading the race for the Barclays Golden Boot with 12 Premier League goals.
ANELKA needs a double to total 100 Premier League goals (Arsenal, Liverpool, Manchester City, Bolton and Chelsea).
If selected:-
ANELKA will be facing a former club. The 29 year old France international made 61 appearances (53 in the league) and scored 23 goals (21 league) for Bolton between August 2006 and his £8m move to Stamford Bridge in January 2008.
Paulo FERREIRA will be making his 150th appearance for the Blues.
ALEX will be making his 50th appearance for the Stamford Bridge club.
If on the field from the outset:-
Salamon KALOU will be making his 50th Premier League start in Chelsea colours.
HEAD TO HEAD
Chelsea are unbeaten in nine Premier League matches against Bolton; they have won six and drawn three since Bolton’s 1-2 win at Stamford Bridge on 13 December 2003.
The Trotters’ last home maximum over the Londoners was 1-0 on 26 October 1997, when Dean Holdsworth netted the winner.
Wanderers have not put a goal past Chelsea on home turf since Henrik Pedersen opened the scoring in a 1-1 draw on 23 November 2002.
This is the 101st League meeting between these two clubs.
Home and away
League (inc PL): Bolton 34 wins, Chelsea 39, Draws 27
Prem: Bolton 3 wins, Chelsea 10, Draws 5
at Bolton only
League (inc PL): Bolton 22 wins, Chelsea 14, Draws 14
Prem: Bolton 2 wins, Chelsea 5, Draws 2
LAST SEASON’S CORRESPONDING GAME
Bolton Wanderers 0-1 Chelsea
7 October 2007 - Ref: Alan Wiley
Chelsea scorer: Kalou 41
REFEREE
Howard Webb (Yorkshire)
Written by Darkvader on December 6th, 2008 with no comments.
Read more articles on Prematch review.
PREMIER LEAGUE
Venue: Stamford Bridge Date: Sunday, 30 November Kick-off: 1600 GMT
Chelsea’s Didier Drogba is banned and Joe Cole could miss out after suffering an ankle injury against Bordeaux.
Juliano Belletti (ankle), Michael Essien (knee), Ricardo Carvalho (knee) and Franco di Santo (hamstring) are out but Alex (groin) has been passed fit.
Arsenal expect to have Emmanuel Adebayor, Bacary Sagna (both ankle) and Samir Nasri (knee) available.
Abou Diaby (abdominal strain) is out, as are Kolo Toure (calf), Theo Walcott (shoulder) and Emmanuel Eboue (knee).
Chelsea (from): Cech, Cudicini, Hilario, Bosingwa, Ferreira, Alex, Terry, Ivanovic, Bridge, A Cole, Lampard, Deco, Ballack, Obi, Kalou, Malouda, Anelka, Sinclair, Stoch, J Cole.
Arsenal (from): Almunia, Sagna, Silvestre, Gallas, Clichy, Nasri, Denilson, Fabregas, Vela, van Persie, Adebayor, Fabianski, Song, Djourou, Ramsey, Bendtner, Gibbs, Hoyte, Wilshere.
Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger:
“We are written off. You cannot say when you are 10 points behind that we are favourites to win the championship, but you can say as well the only way we can get back into it is to believe we can.
“That is why we want to go into this game on Sunday by believing we can beat them because we know we can. That is all you want your players to do.”
Make your Premier League predictions
BIG-MATCH FACTS
The 143rd London league derby between Chelsea and Arsenal brings together two clubs who have won the Premier League title five times between them, but Chelsea’s pair were subsequent to Arsenal’s three. Indeed the Stamford Bridge club have not finished outside of the top two in five seasons, while the Gunners have not finished inside the top two in three years.
The Blues go into this match unbeaten in five and top of the table, some 10 points ahead of Arsenal, who’ve failed to win four of the last five and are scrapping to retain their top four status.
Arsenal sailed into the last 16 of the Champions League this week; stuttering Chelsea are yet to do so. They are two of the top three highest scorers in the Premier League. The Blues are chasing a fourth home win of this top-flight campaign, the Gunners a fourth away maximum.
Arsenal cross the capital in danger of suffering three successive league losses for the first time in 59 Premier League outings, since tumbling to Everton (a), Liverpool (a) and West Ham (h), between 18 March and 7 April 2007.
Chelsea complete their home fixtures against fellow ‘Big Four’ clubs, having already lost to Liverpool and been held by Manchester United at the Bridge. Arsenal have met one fellow ‘Big Four’ club so far; beating Manchester United at the Emirates Stadium.
Arsenal have won one of the last 12 meetings with Chelsea in all competitions.
Chelsea have lost more games (15), conceded more goals (47) and dropped more points (67) to Arsenal, than to any other club in the Premier League.
Distance between the clubs: 7.2 miles (13 kilometres)
CLUB FORM
CHELSEA
Club stats
Going into the weekend: 1st 33 points
Best & Worst categories in 2008-09 Premier League
(all statistics are ahead of this weekend’s round of Premier League fixtures)
1. The joint most winning team with the strongest attack and tightest defence in the Premier League. More details
2. Pocketed 13 points out of 15 without conceding a single goal.
3. Lost one of 14 Premier League games under Filipe Luiz Scolari.
4. Lost one of the last 89 home Premier League matches.
5. Not conceded in five Premier League matches, or in 530 minutes (eight hours 50 minutes). Xabi Alonso’s winner for Liverpool was the only goal shipped in seven Premier League outings.
6. Kept clean sheets in 14 of the last 21 Premier League games, and conceded just one goal in each of the other seven.
7. The only professional team in England not to have conceded a goal in the second-half of a league game this season.
8. On the longest current run in the Premier League of 22 matches, since conceding more than a single goal in a game; the 4-4 draw with Spurs at White Hart Lane on 19 March being the most recent occasion.
9. Own the best Premier League record in 2008; won 23, drawn eight and lost one, bagging 77 points from 32 games.
10. The only loss in 18 Premier League matches against London clubs was 1-0 against Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium on 16 December 2007.
Fixtures
ARSENAL
Club stats
Going into the weekend: 5th 23 points
Best & Worst categories in 2008-09 Premier League
(all statistics are ahead of this weekend’s round of Premier League fixtures)
1. Lost the last two Premier League games against Aston Villa (h) and Manchester City (a).
2. Already lost five times in this Premier League campaign - two more than they did in the whole of last season.
3. Not scored in two games or 222 minutes (three hours 42 minutes) of Premier League football since Samir Nasri netted his second in the 2-1 home win over Manchester United on 8 November.
4. Failed to score in two matches in the whole of the 2007-08 season; already missed the target in three games this term.
5. Last failed to score in three successive Premier League games in December 2005, when losing to Bolton (a), Newcastle (a) and Chelsea (h).
6. Scored five times in stoppage time in this top-flight campaign.
7. Won eight of their last 11 Premier League London derbies.
8. Won one of the last four Premier League games against fellow clubs from the capital.
9. Won two of the last nine league games against fellow ‘Big Four’ clubs.
Fixtures
KEY PLAYER NOTES
CHELSEA
Squad profiles
Kose BOSINGWA, Frank LAMPARD and John TERRY are the only remaining players to have started all of Chelsea’s Premier League matches this season.
Nicolas ANELKA has scored eight goals in his last five Premier League appearances.
ANELKA is the top-scoring Premier League player with 14 club goals in all competitions, and is leading in the race for the Barclays Golden Boot with 12 Premier League goals.
ANELKA needs a double to total 100 Premier League goals (Arsenal, Liverpool, Manchester City, Bolton and Chelsea).
If selected:-
ANELKA will be facing a former club. The 29 year old France international striker made 90 appearances (65 in the league) and scored 28 goals (23 league) for Arsenal between March 1997 and August 1999.
John Obi MIKEL will be making his 100th appearance in Chelsea colours.
Paulo FERREIRA will be making his 150th appearance for the Blues.
ALEX will be making his 50th appearance for the Stamford Bridge club.
Ashley COLE will be facing the club where he started his professional career. The 27 year old England international was a trainee with Arsenal, making 228 appearances (156 in the league) and scoring nine goals (eight league) before his move across the capital in August 2006.
ARSENAL
Squad profiles
Manuel ALMUNIA and Gael CLICHY are the only remaining players to have started all of Arsenal’s Premier League matches this season.
If selected:-
Cesc FABREGAS will be making his 150th Premier League appearance - all for the Gunners.
Kolo TOURE will be making his 300th appearance in Arsenal colours.
If on the field from the outset:-
Manu EBOUE and Robin VAN PERSIE will be making their 100th starts for Arsene Wenger’s club.
HEAD TO HEAD
Chelsea have won two of their last three home Premier League meetings with Arsenal, having failed to do so in any of the previous nine.
Until Liverpool broke their 86-match unbeaten home league record last month, Arsenal had been the last team to beat the Blues in a domestic game at the Bridge; 2-1 on 21 February 2004.
There have been 39 bookings in the last seven league and cup meetings between these clubs, excluding four red cards.
In 29 meetings in all competitions since 1998 there has been just one goalless draw; that being at Stamford Bridge in the Premier League on 20 April 2005.
This fixture produced Chelsea’s record attendance of 82,905 on 12 October 1935.
Home and away
League (inc PL): Chelsea 40 wins, Arsenal 58, Draws 44
Prem: Chelsea 6 wins, Arsenal 15, Draws 11
at Chelsea only
League (inc PL): Chelsea 23 wins, Arsenal 23, Draws 25
Prem: Chelsea 5 wins, Arsenal 5, Draws 6
LAST SEASON’S CORRESPONDING GAME
Chelsea 2-1 Arsenal
23 March 2008 - Ref: Mark Clattenburg
Chelsea scorers: Drogba 73, 82
Arsenal scorer: Sagna 59
REFEREE
Mike Dean (Wirral)
Written by Darkvader on November 29th, 2008 with no comments.
Read more articles on Prematch review.
Venue: Ewood Park
Date: Sunday, 9 November Kick-off: 1330 GMT
Blackburn’s Benni McCarthy is suspended and fellow striker Roque Santa Cruz is a major doubt with a calf tear.
Brett Emerton is also out, while Vince Grella is another doubt. Both men have hamstring injuries.
Chelsea defenders Ashley Cole (calf) and Ricardo Carvalho (hamstring) and midfielders Michael Ballack (foot) and Michael Essien (knee) are sidelined.
Brazilian midfielder Mineiro has been added to the Blues squad and could make his first Premier League start.
Blackburn (from): Robinson, Simpson, Samba, Nelsen, Ooijer, Tugay, Warnock, Villanueva, Roberts, Fowler, Santa Cruz, Derbyshire, Pedersen, Olsson, Andrews, Brown, Khizanishvili, Treacy.
Chelsea (from): Cech, Cudicini, Hilario, Ferreira, Bridge, Mikel, Ivanovic, Alex, Terry, Lampard, Mineiro, Drogba, Belletti, Anelka, Malouda, Stoch, Kalou, Deco, Bosingwa, J Cole.
Blackburn striker Jason Roberts:
“
Chelsea first-team coach Ray Wilkins:
“We spoke about what went wrong in Rome, and the lads know what went wrong.
“It has got to be forgotten, as the Liverpool game was. Someone will beat every team every now and then, and it is how you react to it.
“As far as the ambience goes, though, it has been spot on - and we are ready.”
BIG-MATCH FACTS
The Premier League’s draw specialists host the pacesetters, as Blackburn prepare to receive Chelsea, on the 60th birthday of Blues’ manager Luis Felipe Scolari.
The match brings together the weakest defence and sharpest attack in the highest league (going into this 12th round of fixtures).
The Londoners have twice as many points as Blackburn (26 to 13), and are aiming to uphold the Premier League’s one remaining 100% away record, and the only unbeaten top-flight away record in 2008.
Chelsea are undefeated in six league and cup matches with Blackburn over the past two seasons.
Distance between the clubs: 234 miles (377 kilometres)
CLUB FORM
BLACKBURN ROVERS
Club stats
Going into the weekend: 13th 13 points
2008-09 Premier League performance - best and worst categories in the league
(all statistics are ahead of this weekend’s round of Premier League fixtures)
1. Vying for a first win in six Premier League matches.
2. Claimed three points out of 15 since beating Newcastle 1-2 at St James’ Park on 27 September.
3. Only beaten Fulham in home league matches; 1-0 on 20 September.
4. That was also their only clean sheet in 11 home Premier League games.
5. Without victory in 13 matches against the ‘Big Four’. Picked up four points from the available 39 against the quartet of Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool and Manchester United, and failed to score in seven of the last nine such matches.
6. One draw shy of 150 all-time in the Premier League.
7. Gained a first win in 10 Premier League matches against London clubs in the most recent opportunity; 1-0, home to Fulham on 20 September 2008.
8. That was also their first maximum in seven top-flight matches at Ewood Park against clubs from the capital.
9. Chelsea were one of four clubs to leave Ewood Park with maximum points last season.
Fixtures
CHELSEA
Club stats
Going into the weekend: 1st 26 points
2008-09 Premier League performance - best and worst categories in the league
(all statistics are ahead of this weekend’s round of Premier League fixtures)
1. Won the last two Premier League games with an aggregate of 8-0, since their only defeat in 11 league games this season.
2. The 0-1 home loss to Liverpool on 26 October is their only defeat in 32 Premier League matches.
3. Not conceded in 260 minutes (four hours 20 minutes) of Premier League football. Xabi Alonso’s winner for Liverpool was the only goal shipped in six Premier League outings.
4. On the longest current run in the Premier League of 19 matches, since conceding more than a single goal in a game.
5. The only league club in all four divisions, yet to concede a second half goal this season.
6. Won all five away league games this season, and the last eight, since being held to a 4-4 draw by Spurs at White Hart Lane on 19 March.
7. Undefeated in an unmatched 15 away Premier League outings; dropped just four points out of 45 on the road since losing 1-0 to Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium on 16 December 2007.
8. Won their last seven Premier League matches in the North-West since losing 2-0 to Manchester United at Old Trafford on 23 September 2007.
9. Blackburn were one of 13 clubs they beat away from home last season.
Fixtures
KEY PLAYER NOTES
BLACKBURN ROVERS
Squad profiles
David DUNN is a double shy of 50 club career goals.
If on the field from the outset:-
Roque SANTA CRUZ will be making his 50th start in a Rovers’ shirt.
Suspended:-
Benni McCARTHY (one match)
CHELSEA
Squad profiles
Goalkeeper Petr CECH leads the race for the Barclays Golden Glove jointly with Jose REINA of Liverpool. Both have kept six clean sheets.
If selected:-
Joe COLE will be playing the day after his 27th birthday.
Michael BALLACK will be making his 50th Premier League appearance for Chelsea.
HEAD TO HEAD
Chelsea are undefeated in six league and cup matches with Blackburn over the past two seasons. Blackburn scored just one goal in those six games.
The Londoners have lost only one of their last eight Premier League visits to Ewood Park.
Last season’s first league meeting between these clubs, a goalless draw at Stamford Bridge on 15 September 2007, turned out to be Jose Mourinho’s last game in charge of the Blues.
Home and away
League (inc PL): Blackburn 32 wins, Chelsea 36, Draws 26
Prem: Blackburn 11 wins, Chelsea 9, Draws 8
at Blackburn only
League (inc PL): Blackburn 20 wins, Chelsea 13, Draws 14
Prem: Blackburn 6 wins, Chelsea 6, Draws 2
LAST SEASON’S CORRESPONDING GAME
Blackburn Rovers 0-1 Chelsea
23 December 2007 - Ref: Steve Bennett
Chelsea scorer: Joe Cole 22
REFEREE
Chris Foy (St Helens, Merseyside)
Written by Darkvader on November 8th, 2008 with no comments.
Read more articles on Prematch review.
PREMIER LEAGUE
Venue: Stamford Bridge Date: Sunday, 26 October Kick-off: 1330 GMT
Chelsea hope to have defender Ashley Cole back from the hamstring injury he picked up on England duty.
But Didier Drogba (knee), Michael Ballack (foot), Joe Cole (foot) and Michael Essien (knee) are all out.
Liverpool have been boosted by the news that Steven Gerrard and Xabi Alonso have recovered from injuries sustained against Atletico Madrid in midweek.
Striker Robbie Keane (pelvis) is still a doubt while Spaniard Fernando Torres (hamstring) is definitely out.
BIG-MATCH FACTS
Two of the Premier League’s elite cross swords at Stamford Bridge. Chelsea and Liverpool are locked together at the summit on 20 points, with six wins a piece. Each have dropped just four points and both are looking for their fourth consecutive league victory.
They are the two remaining unbeaten clubs in the top division; Liverpool have not suffered defeat in 15 league games, Chelsea in 29 and in an amazing 86 at home over four years and eight months.
The pair are meeting for the first time since the Londoners’ victory in the semi-finals of the Champions League in April, and for the 21st time in just over four years.
Rafael Benitez is looking for a first away Liverpool victory against a fellow ‘Big Four’ club in his watch. The Reds have only managed two points and four goals in the 12 games on the grounds of Arsenal, Chelsea and Manchester United since his arrival at Anfield.
The Merseysiders are making a 19th attempt to win their 19th league title, and first in the Premier League; Chelsea have two Premier League titles already, yet have an average finish in this league of fifth whereas the Reds’ is fourth.
Liverpool have only registered one win from their 16 Premier League visits to Stamford Bridge; 0-1 on 7 January 2004, when Bruno Cheyrou scored the only goal of the game.
The Reds were the last team to beat Chelsea at the Bridge, prior to Arsenal’s triumph in February 2004.
Liverpool have dropped more Premier League points to Chelsea away from home than to any other team on their travels (41).
Distance between the clubs: 221 miles (355 kilometres)
Liverpool are making the longest journey of any Premier League club this weekend.
CLUB FORM
CHELSEA
Club stats
Going into the weekend: 1st 20 points
2008-09 Premier League performance - best and worst categories in the league
(all statistics are ahead of this weekend’s round of Premier League fixtures)
1. Won the last three league games without conceding a single goal, against Stoke (a), Aston Villa (h) and Middlesbrough (a).
2. Won 21 and drawn eight since losing 1-0 away to Arsenal on 16 December 2007 - their only defeat in 39 league outings.
3. The only club with an unbeaten Premier League record in 2008; won 19 and drawn seven of 26 matches. Their 64 points is five more than the return of Liverpool, who are the next best.
4. On the longest current run in the Premier League of 16 matches, since conceding more than a single goal in a game.
5. Scored in each of their last 20 league outings since Liverpool held them to a 0-0 draw on 10 February; the only occasion in 29 Premier League matches they failed to score.
6. Completed 39 top-flight fixtures since losing by more than a single goal; 2-0, away to Manchester United on 23 September 2007.
7. Need to score four more goals to become the fourth club to total 1,000 in the Premier League; Manchester United have scored 1,232, Arsenal 1,064 and Liverpool 1,005.
8. Not lost a league game in 86 at the Bridge since the 1-2 reverse to Arsenal on 21 February 2004 (won 62, drawn 24). Won 54 and drawn 20 of 74 at home in all competitions since the 1-2 defeat to Barcelona in the Champions League on 22 February 2006. Also, not lost in 107 domestic matches in front of the home faithful if penalty shoot-outs are excluded.
9. This is their second match against a ‘Big Four’ club this season; drew the first 1-1, home to Manchester United on 21 September. Not lost to a fellow member of the quartet in four since a 1-0 reverse, away to Arsenal on 16 December 2007.
10. Undefeated in 14 Premier League matches against North-West clubs; won nine and drew five since losing 2-0, away to Manchester United on 23 September 2007. Not lost at home to a North-West club since a 0-1 defeat to Liverpool on 7 January 2004.
Fixtures
LIVERPOOL
Club stats
Going into the weekend: 2nd 20 points
2008-09 Premier League performance - best and worst categories in the league
(all statistics are ahead of this weekend’s round of Premier League fixtures)
1. Won the last three league games against Everton (a), Manchester City (a) and Wigan (h), scoring eight goals in the process.
2. Won 11 and drawn four of the last 15 Premier League matches since losing 3-0, away to Manchester United on 23 March 2008.
3. The current tally of 20 points after the first eight fixtures is their start for 12 years.
4. Won all four matches in which they have conceded the opening goal.
5. Boast the strongest second-half form of any Premier League club, ending the half leading in six and drawing in two.
6. The Premier League’s most dangerous club in the last 20 minutes when eight of their 13 goals have been scored.
7. Hunting successive victories over ‘Big Four’ clubs after beating Manchester United 2-1 at Anfield on 13 September 2008; their first maximum against a fellow member of the quartet in seven attempts.
8. Won five and drawn three of an unbeaten last eight away league matches (three wins, one draw this season), since losing at Old Trafford seven months ago.
9. Unbeaten in five Premier League games against London clubs; drawn two and won three, including the last two since a 1-0 loss away to West Ham on 30 January this year; their only defeat in 11 league games against clubs from the capital.
10. Aiming to complete a hat-trick of Premier League victories in London, in the first of back-to-back trips to the capital on their Premier League travels.
Fixtures
KEY PLAYER NOTES
CHELSEA
Squad profiles
Frank LAMPARD is a double shy of 100 career league goals (West Ham, Swansea and Chelsea), and needs a hat-trick to reach 100 career Premier League goals.
If selected:-
Nicolas ANELKA will be making his 250th career Premier League appearance (Arsenal, Manchester City, Liverpool, Bolton and Chelsea).
ANELKA will be facing a club he was once on loan to, when on Real Madrid’s books. The 29 year old France international made 22 appearances (20 in the league) and scored five goals (four league) for Liverpool between December 2001 and May 2005.
Michael BALLACK will be making his 50th Premier League appearance for Chelsea.
JOE COLE will be making his 150th Premier League appearance for the Blues.
Florent MALOUDA will be making his 50th appearance in a Chelsea jersey.
If on the field from the outset:-
LAMPARD will be making his 250th league start for Chelsea.
LIVERPOOL
Squad profiles
Jamie CARRAGHER is the only remaining outfield player to have been on the field for every minute of every one of Liverpool’s Premier League matches this season.
If on the field from the outset:-
Sami HYYPIA will be making his 300th career Premier League start - all in a Liverpool shirt.
HEAD TO HEAD
Both last season’s two league meetings between Chelsea and Liverpool were drawn.
Home and away
League (inc PL): Chelsea 44 wins, Liverpool 58, Draws 28
Prem: Chelsea 14 wins, Liverpool 11, Draws 7
at Chelsea only
League (inc PL): Chelsea 36 wins, Liverpool 15, Draws 14
Prem: Chelsea 11 wins, Liverpool 1, Draws 4
LAST SEASON’S CORRESPONDING GAME
Chelsea 0-0 Liverpool
10 February 2008 - Ref: Mike Riley
REFEREE
Howard Webb (Yorkshire)
Written by Darkvader on October 26th, 2008 with no comments.
Read more articles on Prematch review.
Venue: Riverside Stadium Date: Saturday, 18 October Kick-off: 1245 BST
BIG-MATCH FACTS
Chelsea protect their unbeaten status under Luis Felipe Scolari, and get an early opportunity to stretch their lead over Liverpool at the top of the table to three points, for a couple hours at least.
Gareth Southgate suffered the Manager of the Month curse. After being the recipient for August, Southgate’s Middlesbrough then lost all four league and cup matches in September. But they have started October with a triumph at Wigan.
Chelsea formed the opposition for Southgate’s first home match in charge of Middlesbrough on 23 August 2006, and the Teessiders won. Another victory here will take the total of Premier League points Middlesbrough have won under the former England centre back to 100.
Victory for the highest ranked North-East club, will also inflict on Chelsea their 100th away defeat in the Premier League.
This match pits the only club not to have conceded a goal in the first half of a Premier League game this season (Middlesbrough) against the only one not to have shipped a goal in the second period (Chelsea).
Chelsea have scored twice as many league goals as Middlesbrough (14 to seven).
Chelsea are eager to take their winning streak over Middlesbrough to four games.
Distance between the clubs: 265 miles (426 kilometres)
CLUB FORM
MIDDLESBROUGH
Club stats
12th 9 points
Highest achievable after Saturday’s matches: 6th
Lowest could fall: 16th
2008-09 Premier League performance
1. Hunting back-to-back Premier League victories for the first time since the last two games of last season.
2. Need two more goals to total 6,000 in their English league history.
3. Not conceded a first-half goal in this league season.
4. West Bromwich Albion ended their four-match home winning sequence in the Premier League in their most recent fixture at the Riverside.
5. Conceded one goal in each of their last four home Premier League matches.
6. Completed 32 top-flight matches without a goalless draw; the most recent being away to Bolton on 11 November 2007.
7. Chelsea were one of seven clubs to take away maximum points from the Riverside last season.
8. Won the last two home Premier League matches against London clubs (against Fulham and Tottenham).
9. Only managed one win in 16 matches against ‘Big Four’ clubs. The victory was 2-1 against Arsenal on 9 December 2007, since when only three points from a possible 18 have been gained from games against the quartet of Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool and Manchester United.
Fixtures
CHELSEA
Club stats
1st 17 points
Highest achievable after Saturday’s matches: 1st
Lowest could fall: 2nd
2008-09 Premier League performance
1. Unbeaten in 28 Premier League matches; won 20 and drawn eight since losing 1-0 away to Arsenal on 16 December 2007 - their only defeat in 38 league outings.
2. The only club with an unbeaten Premier League record in 2008; won 18 and drawn seven of 25 matches. Their 61 points is five more than the return of Liverpool, who are the next best.
3. On the longest current run in the Premier League of 15 matches, since conceding more than a single goal in a game.
4. Scored in each of their last 19 league outings since Liverpool held them to a 0-0 draw on 10 February; the only occasion in 28 Premier League matches they failed to score.
5. Completed 38 top-flight fixtures since losing by more than a single goal; 2-0, away to Manchester United on 23 September 2007.
6. Defending the Premier League’s only 100% away record, and aiming for a seventh consecutive away league win, to take their unbeaten Premier League run away from home to an unmatched 14 games. Conceded just one goal in winning the last six away.
7. The Riverside was one of 13 venues from which maximum points were claimed last season.
8. Won their last six Premier League matches against North-East clubs.
9. Won the last three trips to the North-East, and not lost in the region since the visit to Middlesbrough on 23 August 2006.
10. This game is followed by a home clash with AS Roma in Group A of the Champions League on Wednesday. Both previous Champions League matches this season were preceded by a league victory.
Fixtures
KEY PLAYER NOTES
MIDDLESBROUGH
Squad profiles
Stewart DOWNING and Gary O’NEIL are the only remaining players to have been on the field for every minute of every one of Middlesbrough’s Premier League matches this season.
If selected:-
DOWNING will be making his 200th appearance in a Middlesbrough shirt.
Robert HUTH will be facing a former club. The 24 year old Germany international defender made 62 appearances (42 in the league) and scored two goals for Chelsea from the outset of his professional career until his £6m move to Teesside in August 2006.
Suspended:-
Emanuel POGATETZ (one match)
CHELSEA
Squad profiles
Frank LAMPARD is a hat-trick shy of 100 career league goals (West Ham, Swansea and Chelsea).
LAMPARD is the only remaining outfield player to have been on the field for every minute of every one of Chelsea’s Premier League matches this season.
If selected:-
Michael BALLACK will be making his 50th Premier League appearance for Chelsea.
JOE COLE will be making his 150th Premier League appearance for the Blues.
HEAD TO HEAD
No club has gained more Premier League points against Middlesbrough than Chelsea (51).
Middlesbrough were one of eight clubs Chelsea did the double over last season; Chelsea were one of three clubs to do the double over ‘Boro. The others were Everton and West Ham.
Home and away
League (inc PL): Middlesbrough 28 wins, Chelsea 45, Draws 29
Prem: Middlesbrough 5 wins, Chelsea 15, Draws 6
at Middlesbrough only
League (inc PL): 23 wins, Chelsea 12, Draws 16
Prem: Middlesbrough 5 wins, Chelsea 5, Draws 3
LAST SEASON’S CORRESPONDING GAME
Middlesbrough 0-2 Chelsea
20 December 2007 - Ref: Mark Halsey
Chelsea scorers: Drogba 8, Alex 57
REFEREE
Phil Dowd (Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire)
Written by Darkvader on October 17th, 2008 with no comments.
Read more articles on Latest Match and Prematch review.
Cluj surprise serves warning to Chelsea
CFR 1907 Cluj have already registered what seems sure to be remembered as one of the surprise results of the 2008/09 UEFA Champions League and the debutants’ 2-1 victory at AS Roma in Group A will have served as a warning to their next opponents, Chelsea FC, of the capabilities of the Romanian champions.
• For CFR and their new Italian coach Maurizio Trombetta it was certainly a night to savour in Rome on Matchday 1 as they recovered from conceding an early goal to Christian Panucci in the 17th minute to stun the home crowd with the force of their comeback. Argentinian midfielder Juan Culio equalised on 27 minutes before volleying the winner early in the second half. With only a UEFA Intertoto Cup final and a UEFA Cup second qualifying round appearance to their name in Europe previously, it was an outcome few had predicted.
• So limited is their experience against teams from outside Romania that this will be CFR’s first competitive fixture against English opposition. Indeed they have never before met a side from the British Isles. Similarly, this is the first occasion Chelsea have tackled Romanian opponents.
• The London club made their customary assured return to Europe’s premier club stage with a 4-0 defeat of FC Girondins de Bordeaux at Stamford Bridge on 16 September. It was the fifth time in their seven UEFA Champions League campaigns that last season’s runners-up have made a winning start.
• In Luiz Felipe Scolari’s introduction to the UEFA Champions League, Chelsea gave early notice of their intention to go a long way in the tournament again as Frank Lampard headed them into a 14th-minute lead. It was his fifth goal in seven appearances as he had also found the net in three successive knockout round ties last term and again in the Moscow final in which Chelsea lost to their Premier League rivals Manchester United FC on penalties.
• Joe Cole added a second goal to put the hosts well in front at the break. They could afford to relax after that and Scolari took the opportunity to give Deco a breather as Michael Ballack returned to action after a foot injury. Inside the last ten minutes Florent Malouda added a third and there was still time for Nicolas Anelka to make it 4-0.
• Disregarding the final penalty shoot-out defeat, Chelsea went through 2007/08 with only one loss, going down 2-1 at Fenerbahçe SK in the quarter-final first leg. Chelsea won two of their away games in the group stage – at Valencia CF (2-1) and Rosenborg BK (4-0) – with the other match, at FC Schalke 04, ending 0-0. That was also the outcome when they faced Olympiacos CFP in the away leg of the first knockout round tie while the semi-final away leg against Liverpool FC, as well as the final in Moscow, finished 1-1.
• CFR midfielder Emmanuel Koné is an international team-mate of Didier Drogba and Salomon Kalou with the Ivory Coast.
• Bordeaux and Roma meet in the group’s other fixture on Matchday 2.
Written by Darkvader on September 30th, 2008 with no comments.
Read more articles on Champions League 08-09 and Prematch review.
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