15.45 MANCHESTER CITY V CHELSEA TEAM NEWS
Defender Martin Demichelis has made progress from a knee injury having not yet featured since his summer arrival.
15.30 Still awaits full team news from Manchester City but it appears Vincent Kompany - captain, leader, Belgian - will miss this weekend's clash with Chelsea. He's only made four appearances in the league this season which is quite the shame, particularly for anybody who has to watch Javi Garcia in defence. Good midfielder, not so good defender.
15.24 Yet more gentlemanly conduct - maybe too gentlemanly - from Moyes when discussing Wayne Rooney. I'd be claiming all the glory for his upturn in fortune - but not Moyes.
"I don't think it's me or anyone else, it's Wayne Rooney," Moyes said. "He was the one that had to make sure he's the best he can be, in the best condition he can be, and he's made sure he's done that.
"He's got himself in good nick, his talent is unquestionable, physically he's very good, mentally he's in a good place and his form's been very good.
"I don't know if there's any more been said (about Rooney's contract) but you can see on the pitch he's playing very well.
"It's been great working with Wayne because he's an excellent footballer. I get asked the questions every week but I've told you from day one that he's been great."
Cheers boss.
15.21 David Moyes is doing well to keep his composure. After Mark Hughes became next the line of opposition managers to reference Old Trafford's air of vulnerability is tangible, the Manchester United manager responded in gentlemanly fashion. Sort of. It must grate after a while, you know?
"That might be Mark's opinion," said Moyes. "He's entitled to that but we'll wait and see.
"There's only two months of the season gone and there will be a lot of slip-ups by teams between now and the end of the season. We don't want to lose many more if we can help it."
15.10 Some more El Clasico news featuring Carlo Ancelotti and how not to win friends and influence people. He's finally admitted it was his decision to sell Mesut Ozil to Arsenal, but admits he has more talent than Angel Di Maria who is still at the Bernabeu.
"It was a technical decision," he told Spanish radio station Cadena SER. "For the balance of the team I preferred to have Di Maria. He has less quality than Ozil, but for his character and help he gives the team, I wanted him.
"With the arrival of Bale, I thought it was more important to have Di Maria than Ozil, looking at the overall balance of the team."
Cheers boss.
14.58 It was inevitable Jose Mourinho would be asked of Yaya Toure - Chelsea play Manchester City, of course, but the issue of racism is one that has been discussed throughout the day. Much like Arsene Wenger, he's unsure if a boycott of World Cup 2018 is the right action.
"I respect his opinion, but I disagree. I disagree because the history of football was made equally by many races, and the black players have fantastic contribution to what football is," said Mourinho.
"Who is more important: the billions of people in love with the game around the world, or a few thousand that go to football stadia and have a disgraceful behaviour in relation to the black players?
"If I was a black player, I would say the other billions are much more important. Let's fight the thousands but give to the billions what they want: the best football. Football without black players is not the best football."
14.50 SUNDERLAND V NEWCASTLE TEAM NEWS
Midfielder Ki Sung-Yueng, who was ineligible to play against parent club Swansea last weekend, also returns to the squad as Gus Poyet attempts to secure a first victory of the season for Sunderland.
Defender Mapou Yanga-Mbiwa is suspended following his red card in the 2-2 draw with Liverpool, while midfielder Jonas Gutierrez remains in Argentina after being given leave to deal with a personal issue.
14.32 Everton manager Roberto Martinez's specialist subject would probably be Belgians given his comments on both his own (well, for a year at least) and Aston Villa's. When Romelu Lukaku and Christian Benteke collide, prepare for something befitting of Hollywood. They have met before, but never with such form behind him.
"They [Lukaku and Benteke] are very different and Belgium as a national team are very fortunate to have two players of that quality," said Martinez. "They are two players that they can even play together in the same side and in their way they can be very effective and very much the focal point of any attacking team.
"They are two sensational strikers facing each other."
Here is Lukaku's reaction to the prospect of facing another tug-of-war with Benteke.
14.21 Keith Millen. Genial, likeable Keith Millen. He will meet Arsenal tomorrow and has offered his Palace players some words - mainly, that they're not his Palace players.
"It really is a challenge," he said. "It is the fixture we looked at when it came out at the start of the season. It is the reason we worked so hard last year to get promoted.
"That Wembley day seems a long way off now, how quickly things can change. But I just want the lads to enjoy the occasion, they are not doing it for me as I have told them I'm not looking for the job.
"A new manager will be coming in and it is down to them to start impressing the new manager, whoever that may be, and I think that starts on Saturday."
14.15 MANCHESTER UNITED V STOKE CITY TEAM NEWS
"Robin has a good chance," said Moyes. "He had a problem with his toes and a little bit with his groin, but he has had a little bit of training as well and he should be okay."
Nemanja Vidic and Rio Ferdinand are also progressing well but England duo Danny Welbeck and Tom Cleverley remain on the sidelines as United look to edge nearer to leaders Arsenal.
Stoke have not won at Old Trafford since 1976 and have lost on their last 10 visits.
14.03 An elephant never forgets; neither, it seems, does Malky Mackay. The Cardiff City manager has responded to Jose Mourinho's claims of his side timewasting with a jog down memory lane.
"I remember watching Porto play Celtic in the Uefa Cup final a long time ago, that allegation was labelled at him by Martin O'Neill at the end of the game. It is just something that is borne out of frustration at being sent off," said Mackay.
These didn't seem to mind.
13.48 LIVERPOOL V WEST BROM TEAM NEWS
He'll have midfielder Lucas Leiva back in the squad missed last week's draw at Newcastle after the birth of his second child. Philippe Coutinho has returned to training but Rodgers thinks it is more likely he will be in contention for Arsenal next weekend. Left-back Jose Enrique is likely to sit out a second successive week as his knee problem continues to be managed.
Goalkeeper Ben Foster is progressing well in his 12-week recovery from a stress fracture in a bone in his right foot, while George Thorne and Zoltan Gera are said to have "little niggles" from an Under-21 game on Sunday.
13.35 Southampton midfielder James Ward-Prowse has been hailed as the perfect model for the club's future by manager Mauricio Pochettino.
Pochettino is also a firm believer in academy football, making his appointment look more and more savvy by the day: "James Ward-Prowse is basically an example of the player we are promoting, the player we want to have in this club. In every training session he gives 100 per cent. He always has an immediate impact in what he does and he is still a player who is growing. He is a figurehead of the sort of player we are looking for at Southampton.
"I am a person who has always given a lot of value to the youth teams in clubs. I was a player who came out of the youth ranks in one of the best youth academies in Argentina.
"Also, when I was managing Espanyol, I was a manager who always liked to push through that academy culture. I really value the younger players in any club.
"One of the main reasons I actually signed for Southampton was the fact that they wanted to push through that academy system. They wanted to reinforce and that went very well with how I view the future of a football club."
Lovely, very talented young man. And such good knee-sliding technique too.
13.25 TOTTENHAM V HULL TEAM NEWS
Danny Rose and Younes Kaboul are set to miss the game despite being close to a return after toe and adductor complaints respectively; Andre Villas-Boas does not expect to have them for Sunday's return to domestic action. Etienne Capoue is also likely to miss out, while Zeki Fryers is a doubt after limping off in the first-half of Thursday's victory at Sheriff Tiraspol. Kyle Walker, Andros Townsend and Paulinho will return to the fold, having been rested for the trip to the Moldovan champions.
13.08 We still have press conferences from Jose Mourinho, Manuel Pellegrini, David Moyes and Alan Pardew coming up. Plenty, plenty more to chew over and all that lovely team news ahead of the weekend.
13.00
12.46 Sunday sees the renewal of a rivalry, albeit one yet to reach these shores yet. When Jose Mourinho took charge of Real Madrid, he did so in his usual prickly manner: he claimed the 96 points Manuel Pellegrini managed at Real the season before merely made them the best losers. Pellegrini, calm and considered, eventually bit and lambasted Mourinho's style of play. Their relationship has been strained ever since in true Mourinho-fashion.
Manchester City will hope their head-to-head record doesn't reflect on Sunday. Pellegrini has only beaten Mourinho once - a 3-2 win in Malaga in December 2012 - while Mourinho has won five of their seven encounters, including a 6-2 win and a 7-0 hammering. The sides are a little more even now - literally, given the gap of talent between Malaga and City - but still Pelegrini has a bit to prove.
Add in the fact this is a match between two genuine title challengers, the two pre-season favourites and possibly the best two teams in the league, and we have a potential match of the season so far. Anything like this (from February 2010) would be excellent.
Has anyone got Craig Bellamy's number?
12.30 A little further note from Henry Winter's story on Sepp Blatter:
Noah and the Whale at the World Cup final? It sounds like a Pele prediction come true. Or one gone horribly, horribly wrong.
12.25 Former Arsenal and England striker Alan Smith will be live on Telegraph Sport from 1pm to preview this weekend's Premier League action. Can Manchester United continue where they left off in their midweek Champions League victory? How will managerless Crystal Palace fare welcoming league leaders Arsenal to Selhurst Park? Who will triumph between title contenders Chelsea and Manchester City? Get your questions in now.
12.15 Not strictly Premier League but an idea worthy of sharing. Fifa president Sepp Blatter wants less European teams in the World Cup which may or may not be a ploy to gain more votes from Africa and Asia ahead of the next presidential election. Henry Winter reports:
Although such strong footballing nations tend to qualify anyway, there will be consternation over the route to the World Cup being made harder for European and South American sides. Broadcasters might question whether the quality of the 32-team tournament will suffer. Some will see Blatter's plan as part of his campaign to secure another term as Fifa president.
12.12 Arsene Wenger is essentially Zen now he's top of the Premier League. So much so, he is not bothered in the slightest about Jack Wilshere's ankle problem. Okay, so maybe he is a little, teeny-tiny bit.
"No it is not a major problem, but as I told you before the season started I will have to monitor him until he is completely through that period with any doubts and that is what I tried to do," said Wenger.
See? Completely Zen. Wilshere has really taken to his more advanced role in recent games, highlighted by his finish to that goal against Norwich last week. With Arsenal looking like a beautifully-oiled machine, they should be wary of a single cog changing.
11.56 NORWICH V CARDIFF TEAM NEWS
Record signing Ricky van Wolfswinkel will be assessed following a foot injury ahead of the game at Carrow Road, while Sweden forward Johan Elmander is expected to return to the squad after suffering a hamstring injury while on international duty. Winger Elliott Bennett continues his recovery from knee surgery.
See what I did there? By that reckoning, it should be a close-run encounter. Craig Bellamy will return against one of his 45 former clubs - the Wales striker was rested for last weekend's defeat at Chelsea after playing 90 minutes against Macedonia and Belgium for his country. Jordon Mutch is set to continue in midfield after another positive performance at Stamford Bridge while Kim Bo-Kyung may line up alongside him having been on the bench in London.
11.40 Could we be set for some gruelling soccerball at Selhurst Park? Our esteemed duo of Jeremy Wilson and John Percy report we could be - but Tony Pulis wants reassurances before taking the Crystal Palace job.
Pulis has had offers from other clubs since leaving Stoke City in the summer and, with Palace having taken only three points from eight Premier League games so far this season, will carefully select his next move. He will also almost certainly seek the advice of Holloway, who is a close friend and the godfather to his son.
Steve Parish, the Crystal Palace chairman, has confirmed that he will seek talks with Pulis but does not want to rush the appointment and will also interview a long-list of what he calls the "usual suspects". Meetings were held yesterday at Selhurst Park about the situation, with Keith Millen, Holloway's former assistant, preparing to take charge for tomorrow's game against the league leaders, Arsenal, at Selhurst Park. Alex McLeish, Roberto di Matteo, Neil Warnock, Alan Curbishley and Martin O'Neill are also understood to feature on the list of candidates, although Pulis's record of never having been relegated in his 21-year managerial career will hold particular appeal.
11.36 SOUTHAMPTON V FULHAM TEAM NEWS
More's the pity then that midfielder Steven Davis is a doubt after picking up a knock against United last weekend and faces a late fitness test. Midfielder Gaston Ramirez could return to the squad after missing out last weekend.
Captain Brede Hangeland is expected to miss the game because of a nerve injury in his leg. Manager Martin Jol said the centre-back will probably sit out the game at St Mary's while midfielder Bryan Ruiz is doubtful because of a back injury. Defender Aaron Hughes could make his first appearance since August if he overcomes a thigh injury, but full-back Matthew Briggs is still out.
11.20 Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger voices his doubts over whether a racism-related boycott of World Cup 2018 - as intimated by Yaya Toure - is the best way to combat the problem.
You have to fight racism whether it is in Russia or anywhere else in the world," said Wenger. "I don't know what really happened there, but you cannot tolerate racism of any kind and you have to fight against it. How (do) you do that?
"Honestly I believe Uefa is taking action in the right way and to go as extreme as (a boycott), it's a bit early to do that because it's not proven what happened. I believe that Russia itself has to fight against that and of course you want everybody to be active on that."
11.03 CRYSTAL PALACE V ARSENAL TEAM NEWS
11.00 Imagine being Keith Millen, Crystal Palace caretaker, right now as he prepares for the weekend. His only managerial experience was at Bristol City with two caretaker spells and a permanent tenure of just over a year. His win percentage in his three spells (games in brackets) reads thus: 33% (3), 56% (9), 32% (57). The club are still rocking from Ian Holloway's departure and the 4-1 thrashing by Fulham at Selhurst Park. They have three points from a possible 24, one win in eight. And now, they have Arsenal.
So, yeah. And here's Millen speaking of how difficult training without Holloway was:
This has 1-0 Marouane Chamakh all over it, no?
10.48 Luis Suarez has sort of, kind of, maybe pledged his (short-term) future to Liverpool. To the club's television channel. That's him off in January, then.
"We are trying for progression," he said. "He [Daniel Sturridge] is 24 and I am 26, so we are trying our best to progress for the future of the club.
"We know in the last few seasons, Liverpool have been not been in the Champions League and we know we can help the team challenge for the top four.
"We will try our best but Liverpool is not only Suarez and Sturridge - it's the whole team."
That last line is key for Liverpool, you fancy. The pair have scored 17 goals between them since Sturridge arrived in January; Sturridge has scored 20 himself in 26 games. That's pretty remarkable - forget a one-in-two man, he's now a four-in-five. Get something working behind them and they could* win the (Champions) league (qualification).
10.36 If the advertisements that preview El Clasico are to be believed, it is 90 minutes of blood, thunder and roaring, played out to a Spanish-sounding Ride of the Valkyries. Not so on this latest advert, thankfully, which is definitely not fake in any way, shape or form. It's Gareth Bale and friends messing about will various balls, most notably a rugby ball, which the Welshman delights in kicking. That's what over £80m can get you nowadays.
As an aside, the way they control that giant bouncy silver ball is pretty much how John Arne Riise has controlled a real one all these years.
10.23 Okay, before we begin, get it all off your chest:
Look! A man in stonewash denim fighting a horse! It's neigh joke, howneigh the lads, nei...LOOK IT'S A MAN FIGHTING A HORSE!
Equine abuse isn't funny, really. And while this picture is wonderfully absurd, it did sort of sum up the disorder and general buffoonery following Newcastle's 3-0 defeat to Sunderland. And disorder isn't funny. Not where horses dressed like Robocop are involved, at least.
To the football. Sunderland are 19th and Newcastle are in a perpetual state of questioning why they aren't higher. It's a game neither can afford to lose, especially Gus Poyet, who is desperate to prove he's not Paolo Di Canio. Luke Edwards reports:
No match matters more to Sunderland's supporters than the arrival of their bitter rivals at the Stadium of Light and Poyet is confident it is "the perfect game" to lift a team at the bottom of the table and without a win in the Premier League since April.
It is bold talk given that a defeat would be another crushing setback for the club, who desperately need something positive to happen this weekend to spark a revival in their fortunes.
One wonders if ketchup was on the menu, guffaw.
10.05 It is the 150th anniversary of the Football Association this weekend, something which we apparently should all celebrate as if its 1999 (or 1863, as it were). By strange co-incidence, Aston Villa v Everton - the most played top-flight fixture - will take place. O, what devious fate you bring, fixture list computer! Their first fixture took place in 1888; Villa won 2-1 thanks to a Dennis Hodgetts double. Hodgetts had previously scored for Villa in the FA Cup final a year previous. Everton, meanwhile, had a centre half called simply Warmby - either the legacy of losing the player's first name or a very lost 19th century Brazilian.
Here's a video of their 2009 clash, the last time Ashley Young was any good:
09.52 ASTON VILLA V EVERTON TEAM NEWS
Away from wonderful Belgians (breaking into a sweat, here): defender Ciaran Clark is available after missing the Spurs match due to illness, leaving long-term absentees Jores Okore (knee), Charles N'Zogbia (Achilles) and Gary Gardner (back) as Paul Lambert's only casualties.
09.40 In more serious matters, Yaya Toure warns Fifa it faces the risk of black footballers boycotting the 2018 World Cup in Russia unless forceful action is taken to stamp out racism in the country.
Toure complained of being subjected to racially-motivated chanting during Wednesday's Champions League fixture against CSKA Moscow at the Khimki Arena.
Here's Mark Ogden, who was in Moscow, with the full story with words from Yaya himself:
"It [racism] is a problem here, it happens all the time," Touré said. "We had some racism in Ukraine, but maybe only one, two or three people, not in groups like that [against CSKA]. It was a few times, when I went into the goal area. I tried to score a goal and missed it, but some fans reacted badly. It is always the same. I am unhappy because the reaction of the fans was unbelievable. If Uefa don't take action, it will continue. We always say there will be action or blah, blah, something like that, but we have to do it.
"A few months ago, my friend [Kevin-Prince Boateng] plays with Milan and had the same problem. It is not just eastern Europe, it happens in Europe too. I know we have the fight against racism, but we are not kids and we have to stop it now. They [Uefa] have to react. I hope they do something, ban the club or the stadium for two years. I don't understand why it only happens in football."
09.32 Before we look forward, we must glance backwards. Brendan Rodgers has already spoken to the world's media and he had a few choice words for Sir Alex Ferguson.
The former United manager's autobiography claimed Steven Gerrard was "not a top top player" and therefore, by association, drove a dagger through the hearts of the Liver Birds that preside over land and river.
Here's some of aforementioned choice words: "I think Sir Alex is one of the very few, if not the only one, who thinks Steven's not a top player. I don't think it's credible in terms of what was said. I think you only need to look at Steven's career since he's been here to see that, and the accolades he's received all through his life. Not just from managers but from players and top players."
Ferguson also criticised Jordan Henderson's running style, which most people are presumably less bothered about. Not Rodgers, however.
"Understanding Jordan like I do - he is a great kid, a real honest boy who will work and fight to be the best that he can be – I'm sure that if he [Ferguson] bumps into him, hopefully he will apologise. Jordan is a fit boy and you only need to look at him to see that his posture is terrific. He could play two or three games on the spin, he is so fit and strong."
If you're after a bit of balance to it all, here's Paul Hayward on why the Liverpool manager should have read the book before retaliating.
Poor Jordan. Lovely, loose-headed Jordan.
09.20 Good morning all - another Friday, another day of Premier League managers sharing their deepest, darkest desires (usually a 1-0 victory and nice evening in front of the television). Join me for all the news, analysis and expectation ahead of the weekend.
Some fixture list this week, praise be to the giant computer that sorts it all out for us.
Crystal Palace, now under caretaker Keith Millen, have the fairly simple task of repelling the mighty Arsenal; Aston Villa and Everton, the most played fixture in top-flight football, is played yet again; Manchester United look to take a much-needed three points from old boy Mark Hughes and Stoke.
But wait! There's more! There's also the North-East derby and equine gags aplenty in waiting, not to mention the battle of the two former Real managers Jose Mourinho and Manuel Pellegrini as Chelsea meet Manchester City. Yep, that's definitely the top line. Forget the fact Chelsea are second and Man City are fourth and - in my humble opinion - these are the top two come the end of the season. It's all about Real.
Speaking of Real (smooth), they also play Barcelona in that little game called El Clasico. This is the Premier League countdown, but it isn't a closed shop. Barca and Real are welcome, and so are you.
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