SPORTS SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 23, 2013

Chelsea looking to get back on track in West Ham trip LONDON: Jose Mourinho will expect the fringes of the relegation zone. national team, I do so based on my obser- ment. There’s still better to come. There’s Chelsea to revive their title Blues defender David Luiz was one of vations. I won’t interfere in their job still more I demand. “Hopefully that will challenge away to London rivals West the players who paid the price for the because I don’t want any of them to inter- continue to improve his development and Ham United today after their recent dip in recent results, dropping out of the side for fere in my call-ups.” help West Ham be a better team with bet- form. Mourinho’s men narrowly escaped a the last two matches. Gary Cahill stepped Chelsea striker is back ter results in the near future.” second successive league defeat immedi- into the team to partner John Terry in cen- in contention after missing the West Brom Allardyce is also hopeful James Collins ately before the international break when tral defense, but Brazil international Luiz game through injury and will challenge and Joey O’Brien will recover from injury. a controversial penalty deep into stop- insists he is happy to bide his time and Samuel Eto’o for a place in Mourinho’s “To take the pressure off us all we need page time secured a 2-2 draw with West wait for another chance to prove his worth starting line-up. West Ham have struggled results. We have not achieved that so far Bromwich Albion. rather than agitate for a transfer. “It will be for goals this season and manager Sam and we need to turn the performances The debate surrounding Ramires’s tum- like it has always been, I am never worried. Allardyce was linked with a move for into results,” he added. “There is a chance ble that won the spot-kick has continued I train hard and seriously every day, he Chelsea forward Demba Ba on deadline to see where Chelsea’s weaknesses lie and diverted attention away from (Mourinho) has his options,” Luiz said. day. A dismal defeat at Norwich last time after their defeats. “But anything less than Chelsea’s underwhelming display which Brazil coach Luiz Felipe Scolari mean- out summed up their problems in front of top form for all of our players would make followed an even more lackluster effort in while, has no concerns about the former goal, but Allardyce believes Ravel Morrison life difficult for us. “In terms of our goals it a defeat at Newcastle. Now Chelsea, cur- Benfica player’s lack of action at club level, can provide the spark needed for his side is not that we are not creating chances but rently four points behind leaders Arsenal, insisting that it will not affect his selection to survive. we are not converting them. “Our chance will attempt to rediscover their form at for the national team. Scolari said: “It “Ravel’s blessed with talent. We all conversion rate is among the worst. We Upton Park against a West Ham side des- depends on the managers and the clubs know his ability has started to be applied will have to produce the end product perate for points following a disappointing where they play if the players will be in the right way,” Allardyce said. “For me, because creating chances will be harder start to the season that has left them on starters. “When I call up someone for the there’s still a massive room for improve- against Chelsea.”— AFP Rodgers hunts Everton seek end for his first win to derby-day blues : Liverpool manager goes in search of his first win in a derby against Everton confident his players are better equipped for the challenge than before. LONDON: It is a long time since Everton but they can be hundreds of miles apart,” world. This season though, more than any After two draws in Rodgers’ first experiences of the derby atmos- were challenging for the league title and Howard told the club’s website. “I encour- I can remember, both teams will be right phere last season, the Reds hope to give the boss a maiden victo- with no realistic prospect of that changing age my family and friends to come over for up there, it’s more than local pride that’s ry in today’s meeting at . Liverpool are just two in the near future their fans have been it. I tell them they have to experience the at stake.” Everton lifted the last of their points behind Premier League leaders Arsenal, while Everton are reduced to seeking little, local successes. Merseyside derby, there is nothing like it, nine league titles in 1987 but since the three points adrift of their hated neighbors in sixth. With so much Liverpool, however, are enjoying their best that fever pitch, that buzz around the city. arrival of the Premier League in 1992 they at stake, Rodgers expects the 221st Merseyside derby to be as start for years and victory at Goodison Park “Anything can happen in a derby and it’s have cracked the top four only once, in frenzied as ever and believes his team are now more battle-hard- in today’s lunchtime kickoff could put always exciting to feel like you are going to 2005. An FA Cup win in 1995 and a final ened and capable of thriving in such a testing situation. them top of the Premier League, for a be a part of something special. “When you defeat to Chelsea in 2009 have been the “It’s a really hostile environment to go and play in,” Rodgers while at least. An Everton win would take are on a losing end of a derby it hurts, its rare highlights since the glorious mid-80s said. “Goodison is a really good venue for football and it’s a them level with Liverpool on 23 points and not like any other loss and for a few days period under . ground that will test your character. “But that’s something we will goalkeeper said the derby afterwards it’s not easy to get out of bed. However, even during that spell, the look forward to because, if there’s one thing that we’ve improved was always a special day for the city. “Conversely if you win the derby you most successful in the club’s history since in the time that I’ve been here, is there’s resilience in the team. “As an American we have local rivalries are floating on air and all’s well with the becoming a founder member of the “We will lose games but our ability to bounce back and to be res- Football League in 1888, they could never olute is improving all the time. So it will be a good ground to go quite shake off their red-shirted neigh- and play in. And it will be great for us to go and play our football. MATCHES ON TV bors. Hopes of back-to-back champi- “Every game away from home is a test of character. But, of onships were foiled when Liverpool course, when it’s a derby game and the rivalry and the history of edged them to the title in 1986 and the this game is there, it will always test you.” Everton boast an ENGLISH PREMIER LEAGUE Aljazeera Sport 2 HD Reds also beat them in three 80s cup impressive home record, having not lost at Goodison Park since Everton v Liverpool 15:45 v Celta de Vigo 20:00 finals. Though Liverpool too have suf- December 2012, and caught the eye in victories over Chelsea and Aljazeera Sport 1 HD Aljazeera Sport +5 fered a long title drought since their 18th Newcastle this season. And Rodgers, who will check on the fit- Aljazeera Sport +9 Aljazeera Sport 4 HD and last success in 1990, they have con- ness of striker (thigh) but should have captain Arsenal v Southampton 18:00 UD Almeria v Real Madrid 22:00 tinued to hold by far the upper hand (hip) available, believes their city rivals will be Aljazeera Sport 1 HD Aljazeera Sport +8 when it comes to the Merseyside derby. among those teams who are a threat to his side’s ambitions to Aljazeera Sport +9 Aljazeera Sport 2 HD Everton have beaten them only four break into the top four. Fulham v Swansea 18:00 Atletico de Madrid v Getafe 0:00 times in the last 30 meetings in league “They’ll be up there challenging this season, but their recent Aljazeera Sport +8 Aljazeera Sport +5 and cup, with the last blue success com- history shows you that,” Rodgers added. “They looked like they Aljazeera Sport 2 HD Aljazeera Sport 4 HD ing three years ago, a 2-0 Goodison Park were maybe going to be in line for the top four last season but Newcastle v Norwich 18:00 league win. Liverpool have won four of then dropped off a wee bit. They still finished in the top six. “Both Aljazeera Sport Channels GERMAN LEAGUE the last six Goodison Park league derbies, teams have made a very good start to this season and they are Stoke City v Sunderland 18:00 Nuremberg v Wolfsburg 17:30 losing only one home or away in the last one of our rivals. But it’s no surprise, Everton have been up there Aljazeera Sport +6 Dubai Sport 13. However, despite drawing both der- for the last few years. “They’ve been very competitive and been Aljazeera Sport 5 HD Augsburg v TSG Hoffenheim 17:30 bies last season and losing both the sea- up and around that level for a few years. Roberto (Martinez) has Hull City v Crystal Palace 18:00 Dubai Sport son before, Everton went on to finish come in and he’ll do an excellent job there.” Aljazeera Sport Channels E Braunschweig v Freiburg 17:30 above Liverpool both times, the first time Everton manager Martinez agreed that the derby takes on West Ham v Chelsea 20:30 Dubai Sport they had achieved that “feat” twice in a added significance due to the bright start made by both teams. Aljazeera Sport 1 HD Eintracht Frankfurt v Schalke 17:30 row in the top flight since 1937. If that The Spaniard has no fresh injury worries with striker Arouna Kone Aljazeera Sport +9 Dubai Sport was hardly a “success” to shout from the (knee) still out along with long-term absentees Antolin Alcaraz Hertha Berlin v Bayer 04 17:30 rooftops, with even a Europa League ITALIAN LEAGUE (groin) and Darron Gibson (knee). “It is a massive game. First and Dubai Sport place again remaining tantalizingly out of foremost, it’s a glamorous fixture,” Martinez said. Hellas Verona v Chievo Verona 20:00 Borussia Dortmund v Bayern 20:30 reach, it was at least something to discuss “It’s one of those games that is followed worldwide and the Aljazeera Sport +7 Dubai Sport in the pub. Aljazeera Sport 3 HD This season Everton are going along significance, the passion and the history is reflected in the game. FRENCH LEAGUE “This one is more important because both teams are in the Aljazeera Sport +1 quite nicely in sixth place, the position AC Milan v Genoa 22:45 Stade Reims v PSG 19:00 top six and both have had strong starts to the season. they occupied at the end of the last two Aljazeera Sport +1 Aljazeera Sport 5 HD “Liverpool’s start speaks for itself. They are really good in pos- campaigns, having lost only one of their SSC Napoli v Parma 22:45 Aljazeera Sport +6 first 11 games. Yet another derby defeat session and play with good intensity. “They have really good Aljazeera Sport +7 Lyon v Valenciennes 22:00 would be a double whammy for Everton individuals. That partnership up front of Luis Suarez and Daniel Aljazeera Sport 3 HD Aljazeera Sport 5 HD Sturridge has a real goalscoring threat, so you can see why Aljazeera Sport +6 fans, whose frustration at their own cash- they’ve been so successful this season. “We’re unbeaten at SPANISH LEAGUE Montpellier v Guingamp 22:00 strapped club’s inability to challenge for home in 2013 and this is a real opportunity to start the middle Barcelona v Granada 18:00 Aljazeera Sport 4 HD serious silverware is tempered only by third of the season with a very strong test, and the derby is just Aljazeera Sport +8 Aljazeera Sport +5 the pleasure of seeing their big-spending that.”— AFP rivals foundering. —Reuters