Chelsea host Hammers for table top position, United to counter the day after…

Fresh from their great run in the champions league, Manchester United, Arsenal & Chelsea will be eager to carry on their winning from in the premier league in their respective matches. There is plenty of acton which is bound to disturb the table positions.

Second placed Chelsea will be hosting West Ham United who are currently just two place above relegation zone and it will be crucial for both to gain there respetive places. Chelsea, with a match in hand, have a good chance of going top of the table and put pressure on Arsenal and Manchester United who will be plaing on Sunday.

The Gunners will be up against Hull City whose torrid time continues in the league with 19th place as of now. After their mid week champions league 5-0 win over Porto nothing seems stoping them. William Gallas will be out for the match due to his calf injury but veteran defender Sol Campbell, who suffered a minor cramp in the champions league match, is expected to play.

In a early kick off on Sunday Manchester United will be hosting mighty Fulham and hope to retain the top spot. Michael Carrick is fit and will be starting for the Red Devils but Giggs and Hargreaves are still some days away for their inclusion in the United line up. With Ferdinand-Vidic pair getting better and better the odds favour United for the day.

In a revival bid, Portsmouth will be visiting Anfield for an important match against Liverpool. With 5 points gap at the bottom, they would be hoping to narrow it while on the other hand The Reds will be hoping to win and hold on to the fourth place.

The match timings are:

Saturday 

Tottenham Hotspur v Blackburn Rovers 12:45 Hours GMT

Birmingham City v Everton 15:00 Hours GMT

Bolton Wanderers v Wigan Athletic 15:00 Hours GMT

Burnley v Wolverhampton Wanderers 15:00 Hours GMT

Chelsea v West Ham United 15:00 Hours GMT

Stoke City v Aston Villa  15:00 Hours GMT

Hull City v Arsenal 17:30 Hours GMT

Sunday

Manchester United v Fulham 13:30 Hours GMT

Sunderland v Manchester City 16:00 Hours GMT

Monday 

Liverpool v Portsmouth 20:00 Hours GMT

Tuesday

Wigan Athletic v Aston Villa   19:45 Hours GMT

Hammers hammered again by United, Chelsea just a point away.

Manchester United closed the gap on current leaders Chelsea after they crushed visiting West Ham United at old Trafford on Tuesday with 3-0. With this Man United has completed their double victory over the hammers
this season. Earlier they thrashed them 4-0 at Opton Park.

It was again Wayne Rooney who scored in each half and Michael Owen’s goal in 79th min which sealed the fate for the hammers. After failing to convert some half chances by Dimitar
Berbatov in the initial minutes, the red devils finally got their first when
Antonio Valencia chipped a great ball in to Wayne Rooney who headed it cleanly
past the goal keeper. The lead could have been double in two minutes when Berbatov shot went over the net. The teams went into the break with 1-0 score
line.

 

Just at the hour mark Wayne Rooney got his second when Berbatov‘s sublime threaded pass released Valencia down the right, and he sped past marker Jonathan Spector before standing up a superb cross. Rooney, who had peeled away from Tomkins,
thumped another header past Green, despite the goalkeeper’s valiant attempt to
save. Finally Michael Owen wrapped up the third for the match when Owen shot past the left of the goal keeper to add salt to West Ham wounds.

 

Sir Alex was delighted after the win as he said “”We had to win and we did that. In the second half, especially, we played some really good football and it could have been more. But we’re happy with the three points. Wayne Rooney was magnificent again. They
were two excellent headers, although there was also some good play from Antonio
Valencia.”

Now the focus shifts to the final of the Carling Cup final at Wembley which will be on 28th Feb at Wembley Stadium against Aston Villa.

Picture source: www.manutd.com

Hammers hammered again by United, Chelsea just a point away.

Manchester United closed the gap on current leaders Chelsea after they crushed visiting West Ham United at old Trafford on Tuesday with 3-0. With this Man United has completed their double victory over the hammers
this season. Earlier they thrashed them 4-0 at Opton Park.

It was again Wayne Rooney who scored in each half and Michael Owen’s goal in 79th min which sealed the fate for the hammers. After failing to convert some half chances by Dimitar
Berbatov in the initial minutes, the red devils finally got their first when
Antonio Valencia chipped a great ball in to Wayne Rooney who headed it cleanly
past the goal keeper. The lead could have been double in two minutes when Berbatov shot went over the net. The teams went into the break with 1-0 score
line.

Just at the hour mark Wayne Rooney got his second when Berbatov‘s sublime threaded pass released Valencia down the right, and he sped past marker Jonathan Spector before standing up a superb cross. Rooney, who had peeled away from Tomkins,
thumped another header past Green, despite the goalkeeper’s valiant attempt to
save. Finally Michael Owen wrapped up the third for the match when Owen shot past the left of the goal keeper to add salt to West Ham wounds.

Sir Alex was delighted after the win as he said “”We had to win and we did that. In the second half, especially, we played some really good football and it could have been more. But we’re happy with the three points. Wayne Rooney was magnificent again. They
were two excellent headers, although there was also some good play from Antonio
Valencia.”

Now the focus shifts to the final of the Carling Cup final at Wembley which will be on 28th Feb at Wembley Stadium against Aston Villa.

Picture source: www.manutd.com

Ferdinand and Vidic return as United host Hammers.

After their shock defeat at Goodison Park, Manchester United will be back to Old Trafford and will be hosting West Ham United for a crucial match and a chance to narrow the lead to one point for the current leaders Chelsea. For the fact of the matter, this match was postponed due to snowfall and the league cup and finally a date was decided for the same on 23rd February.

 

Good news for the red devils is that Rio Ferdinand will be available after successfully completing his four match ban which happened due to violent conduct against Hull City. The other defender Namanja Vidic is also expected to start as he is fast recovering from the calf injury. The Serbian was on the bench for the match against Everton. It was visible that Unitedmissed Ryan Giggs on the wing. He is still out due to the arm injury. The Hammers remain just four points off the relegation zone, but their back to back wins over Birmingham City and Hull City have boosted confidence in Gianfranco Zola‘s squad. Nevertheless, they have struggled on their away fixtures this season, winning just one of 13 away games which is a huge cause of concern for the Hammers and the old Trafford tradition go against their wish to turn the tables.

 

With title for one and relegation scare for another at stake this will be an exciting contest to see who win. The odds favourManchester United, last time when they met at Opton Park the visitors thrashed them with four goals. Alan Wiley will be the referee for the night. He has handed 4 red cards 28 games overall and none for United.

The match will be starting at 2000 Hours GMT (i.e. 0130 Hours IST). Don’t miss the all important match.