Chealsea vs Manchaster United

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CHELSEA Cech Bosingwa, Luiz, Ivanovic, Bertrand Meireles, Romeu, Malouda Sturridge, Torres, Mata

MANCHESTER UNITED   De Gea Smalling, Ferdinand, Evans, Evra Valencia, Giggs, Carrick, Park Hernandez, Rooney

Chelsea manager Andre Villas-Boas will not be able to call upon full back Ashley Cole in the crunch clash against Manchester United, since the England international picked up two yellows against Swansea City and is now suspended for this fixture.

John Terry has been ruled out with a knee injury, which should see the back line being changed a little. One possible solution could be for Branislav Ivanovic to play at right back with Gary Cahill making his debut, while Jose Bosingwa would move to left back. But given the magnitude of the game and the amount of pressure and expectation that would be placed on Cahill considering that it would be his debut, Ryan Bertrand should be the one to slot in in place of the suspended Cole.

Meanwhile, Bosingwa would man the right back position with David Luiz and Ivanovic in the heart of the Blues' defense.

Frank Lampard (calf) is a doubt for this fixture, but could feature if he returns to fitness in time. Didier Drogba and Salomon Kalou are unavailable due to being on international duty at the African Cup of Nations, while John Obi Mikel (hamstring) and Ramires (knee) join Terry in the treatment room.

United boss Sir Alex Ferguson has Wayne Rooney and Nani pushing to be fit in time for the stratospheric encounter at Stamford Bridge. If fit, the striker should take the place of Dimitar Berbatov and play alongside Javier Hernandez, with Danny Welbeck on the bench. Nani would come in place of Park Ji-Sung if he returns to fitness in time.

The Scot recently said that Tom Cleverley and Ashley Young could make a return against Chelsea. But even if the duo are ruled fit, it will likely be a place on the bench given the amount time they have spent on the sidelines.

Anders Lindegaard (ankle) is out of action for at least a month, and David de Gea should earn a start despite Ben Amos having kept a clean sheet against Stoke City.

Anderson remains sidelined due to a knock he took in training last month, while Phil Jones (ankle) is out as well. Darren Fletcher (illness) and Nemanja Vidic (knee) have already been ruled out for the remainder of the season.

• Chelsea is undefeated in its last nine Premier League clashes against Manchester United at Stamford Bridge.

• But the Red Devils have the historical advantage, since they have beaten the Blues in their backyard on 29 occasions, losing 22 times in the process. A further 18 matches ended with points being shared.

• Andre Villas-Boas' men are at rock bottom in the Fair Play table, having seen more cards than any other team in the top-flight. This amounts to 50 yellows and four reds.

• Fernando Torres (pictured right) has gone 12 matches in the league without scoring a goal, which makes it his worst goal drought since his switch to the Premier League.

• Manchester United has been the most miserly team in defense on its travels, having conceded only seven times away from home this season.

• United is also the most successful side on the road this season, having accumulated 26 points in 11 away games. Interestingly, the Blues' home record does not measure up to United's exploits on its travels, since Villas-Boas' men have managed 22 points in their 11 matches at Stamford Bridge.

• In total, the Red Devils have scored 263 goals against Chelsea in all competitions, conceding 191 in the process.

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Chelsea target Gonzalo Higuain will not leave Real Madrid until he wins the Champions League, claims agent

 

Gonzalo Higuain - Real Madrid

Gonzalo Higuain has told his agent that he will not leave Real Madrid until he wins the Champions League with the Spanish giants, despite repeated interest from Chelsea.

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• Higuain not thinking about Madrid exit

The Argentina international is in competition with Karim Benzema for a starting spot in Jose Mourinho's team and speculation over the last six months has linked the South American marksman with an exit from the Santiago Bernabeu.

Despite this, agent and father Jorge Higuain has stated that there has been no contact from the Stamford Bridge outfit or Roman Abramovich and that his son is focused on attaining European glory.

"No one has called us," the striker's representative reiterated to Marca.

"Until we win the Champions League, we will not move."

The capital-city side was linked with a move for Sergio Aguero in the summer before he joined Manchester City from Atletico Madrid and reports in Spain have resurfaced that Los Blancos could try to sign Higuain's countryman once more at the end of this term.

Only then, if a third main striker joined the Madrid squad, would the 24-year-old consider a move.

"If they bring Aguero in then we will start to listen to offers," Higuain senior admitted.

The forward has scored 14 goals in 19 La Liga appearances this term for the current Spanish top-flight pace-setters and is in contention to feature against Getafe on Saturday.

Premier League Preview: Swansea - Chelsea

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SWANSEA CITY Vorm Williams, Caulker, Taylor, Rangel Allen, Britton, Sigurdsson Dyer, Graham, Sinclair

CHELSEA Cech Ivanovic, Terry, Luiz, Cole Romeu, Essien, Meireles Sturridge, Torres, Mata

Ferrie Bodde (knee) is the only expected absentee for Brendan Rodgers, with the 39-year-old set to ring the changes following Saturday's 2-1 FA Cup defeat to Bolton.

Expect Nathan Dyer, Danny Graham and Scott Sinclair to return to the starting XI, while Joe Allen and Leon Britton should return to the side in place of Josh McEachran and Kemy Agustien.

Andre Villas-Boas will be without Ramires, who injured his right knee in Saturday's 1-0 FA Cup victory over QPR. Frank Lampard is a doubt for the match due to a calf strain, while Jon Obi Mikel is out with a hamstring and Didier Drogba also misses the tie due to African Cup of Nations duty.

Fernando Torres will likely continue in attack alongside Juan Mata and Daniel Sturridge for the visitors, and Michael Essien may be in line for a start as he looks to fully complete his injury comeback.

DID YOU KNOW?

• Chelsea has only lost once in the last 10 Premier League matches, but has only won twice in the last seven.

• Fernando Torres (right) hasn't found the back of the net for 16 matches in all competitions.

• The London club has scored 16 goals on its travels this season, less than any other top five side.

• The Blues defeated Swansea 4-1 at Stamford Bridge earlier this season with Torres, Lampard, Terry and Drogba all on target.

• Swansea has lost just once at the Liberty Stadium this term, collecting more points at home than any side outside the top six.

• Rodgers' men have conceded just six times on friendly turf this season, equaling Manchester City for best in the league.

• Swansea loaned midfielder Josh McEachran from the Blues in mid-January.



• Chelsea's John Terry will answer allegations of racism against QPR's Anton Ferdinand the day after the Swansea match.

Premier League Preview: Wolves - Liverpool

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PROBABLE LINEUPS

WOLVES Hennessey Stearman, Johnson, Berra, Ward Kightly, Milijas, Edwards, Jarvis Ebanks-Blake, Fletcher

LIVERPOOL Reina Johnson, Skrtel, Agger, Enrique Kuyt, Gerrard, Henderson, Adam, Bellamy Carroll

Wolves are short in the center of midfield with Karl Henry suspended following his red card against Aston Villa, while Emmanuel Frimpong and Jamie O’Hara are out injured so Nenad Milijas is likely to be handed a start.

With Kevin Doyle currently out of favor, starting just once in the last six Premier League games, Sylvain Ebanks-Blake is likely to partner top scorer Steven Fletcher upfront.

Liverpool manager Kenny Dalglish has a near full squad to choose from and is likely to name a similar side to the one that defeated Manchester United in the FA Cup on Sunday, although Craig Bellamy may take the place of Stewart Downing.

Lucas Leiva and Jay Spearing are the only absentees though the visitors have plenty of cover in the center of midfield.

DID YOU KNOW?

• In the last meeting between the two sides at Molineux Liverpool was a 3-0 winner with Fernando Torres scoring twice – the last goals he scored for the club before his 50 million pound switch to Chelsea

• Wolves have only defeated Liverpool once in seven Premier League attempts.

• In past league meetings this game averages 1.57 goals a game.

• Wolves have not won in the Premier League at home since beating Sunderland 2-1 on the Dec. 4.

• Liverpool has registered just one Premier League away victory in its last five attempts.

• Mick McCarthy’s (right) men are on a current run of nine Premier League games without a win.

• Kenny Dalglish’s side is also on a dip in the league at the moment – winning just once in its last six.

• Despite Liverpool’s league position of 7th and Wolves respective position of 19th, the two sides have scored the same amount of Premier League goals this season – 25.