English Premier League: Chelsea look to avenge Newcastle defeat
City will be hoping the Magpies can do a double over their league rivals
REVENGE MISSION: Chelsea tasted their first defeat of the season when they lost 2-1 at Newcastle and will be hoping to avenge the reverse. PHOTO: AFP
LONDON/LIVERPOOL:
Jose Mourinho will attempt to put a troubled festive period behind him when Chelsea resume their Premier League title push today against Newcastle; the team that harshly ended Chelsea’s bid to equal Arsenal’s invincibles by confining them to their first defeat of the season.
Mourinho's side have allowed second placed Manchester City to move level on points at the top of the table after a draw with Southampton and a defeat at Tottenham in their last two league matches.
Meanwhile, mid-table Newcastle continue their search for a new head coach after the departure of Alan Pardew to Premier League rivals Crystal Palace, who will be up against Tottenham in a London derby.
Caretaker boss John Carver, who is keen to take on the role full-time, is expected to be in charge for at least the next two games to give owner Mike Ashley the chance to finalise a short-list of candidates.
Several high-profile names, including former England managers Steve McClaren and Glenn Hoddle, have already ruled themselves out of the running, with ex-Lyon coach Remi Garde and Ajax's Frank de Boer leading the list of contenders.
Carver could be at the helm until the end of the season if Ashley decides to bide his time before making an. “I spoke to [managing director] Lee Charnley and I'm definitely in charge for Chelsea and possibly the next match against Southampton,” said Carver. “There was no talk beyond that. As far as I'm concerned it's all about preparing for Chelsea."
City look to maintain momentum
James Milner has challenged Manchester City to seize the initiative in the Premier League title race when they face struggling Everton.
Manuel Pellegrini's side are joint top with Chelsea, behind the Blues only on alphabetical order, after hitting a rich vein of form in recent weeks.
The reigning champions trailed Jose Mourinho's men by eight points in November and their indifferent form was raising questions over the long-term future of Pellegrini.
But those doubts have been swept aside amid a run of 13 games unbeaten in all competitions.
Their only blip during the congested festive programme was a 2-2 draw with Burnley and Milner sees no reason why momentum cannot be maintained. "Hopefully we'll be looking to open up a little gap of our own," said Milner.
Meanwhile, Everton manager Roberto Martinez hopes a positive result against City can be the catalyst for his side to start moving back up the table and away from potential relegation trouble.
A run of four successive league defeats and six from their last eight games has dragged Everton - who finished fifth last season - to within four points of the drop zone.
And Martinez knows his side must now produce a near flawless performance to build on that against a City side who beat Everton 1-0 in December thanks to a fortuitous Yaya Toure penalty as part of their remarkable winning run.
“Manchester City are playing with a real swagger and arrogance,” Martinez said. "They don't need many chances to punish you, which is why our performance needs to be perfect.”
Jose Mourinho will attempt to put a troubled festive period behind him when Chelsea resume their Premier League title push today against Newcastle; the team that harshly ended Chelsea’s bid to equal Arsenal’s invincibles by confining them to their first defeat of the season.
Mourinho's side have allowed second placed Manchester City to move level on points at the top of the table after a draw with Southampton and a defeat at Tottenham in their last two league matches.
Meanwhile, mid-table Newcastle continue their search for a new head coach after the departure of Alan Pardew to Premier League rivals Crystal Palace, who will be up against Tottenham in a London derby.
Caretaker boss John Carver, who is keen to take on the role full-time, is expected to be in charge for at least the next two games to give owner Mike Ashley the chance to finalise a short-list of candidates.
Several high-profile names, including former England managers Steve McClaren and Glenn Hoddle, have already ruled themselves out of the running, with ex-Lyon coach Remi Garde and Ajax's Frank de Boer leading the list of contenders.
Carver could be at the helm until the end of the season if Ashley decides to bide his time before making an. “I spoke to [managing director] Lee Charnley and I'm definitely in charge for Chelsea and possibly the next match against Southampton,” said Carver. “There was no talk beyond that. As far as I'm concerned it's all about preparing for Chelsea."
City look to maintain momentum
James Milner has challenged Manchester City to seize the initiative in the Premier League title race when they face struggling Everton.
Manuel Pellegrini's side are joint top with Chelsea, behind the Blues only on alphabetical order, after hitting a rich vein of form in recent weeks.
The reigning champions trailed Jose Mourinho's men by eight points in November and their indifferent form was raising questions over the long-term future of Pellegrini.
But those doubts have been swept aside amid a run of 13 games unbeaten in all competitions.
Their only blip during the congested festive programme was a 2-2 draw with Burnley and Milner sees no reason why momentum cannot be maintained. "Hopefully we'll be looking to open up a little gap of our own," said Milner.
Meanwhile, Everton manager Roberto Martinez hopes a positive result against City can be the catalyst for his side to start moving back up the table and away from potential relegation trouble.
A run of four successive league defeats and six from their last eight games has dragged Everton - who finished fifth last season - to within four points of the drop zone.
And Martinez knows his side must now produce a near flawless performance to build on that against a City side who beat Everton 1-0 in December thanks to a fortuitous Yaya Toure penalty as part of their remarkable winning run.
“Manchester City are playing with a real swagger and arrogance,” Martinez said. "They don't need many chances to punish you, which is why our performance needs to be perfect.”