SPORTS SATURDAY, DECEMBER 20, 2014 Drifting Liverpool seek Arsenal spark

LONDON: Liverpool will hope to draw inspiration from winger Theo Walcott, who has played only two games this Manchester United 5-3 in September, but West Ham man- memories of last season’s thrilling 5-1 demolition of season following a long-term knee injury, is in contention ager Sam Allardyce says that Nigel Pearson’s team are no Arsenal when the teams resume hostilities in the Premier to feature after shrugging off a groin complaint. “He is back pushovers. “Leicester are a hard team to break down. They League at Anfield this weekend. in training today (Thursday), but only today,” Wenger told work very hard for each other,” he told his pre-match Arsene Wenger’s side were routed on their last trip to the club website. “I might take him. I don’t know yet until media conference. “Despite their run of games without a Liverpool’s famous stadium in February, when a devastat- he is back to full training. Let’s see.” win, they haven’t been turned over by anyone-it’s only ever ing four-goal salvo inside the first 20 minutes left the north by the odd goal-so there are a lot of dangers in Nigel’s London club reeling. Christmas number one teams that we need to be well aware of.” It was the start of an 11-game winning run that took Chelsea’s three-point lead over second-place Fifth-place Southampton are on a very different trajec- Liverpool to within sight of the title. Their subsequent col- Manchester City, coupled with a superior goal difference tory to West Ham and saw their run of consecutive defeats lapse has been followed by a wretched start to the current (+23 to +19), means that they are practically assured of extended to five on Tuesday when they crashed to third- campaign, with last weekend’s chastening 3-0 defeat at being in first place on Christmas Day. tier Sheffield United in the League Cup. Manchester United leaving them 18 points behind leaders But with Jose Mourinho’s side not in action until Ronald Koeman’s side entertain Everton today. Chelsea in 11th place. But having emerged from a taxing Monday, when they welcome Stoke to Stamford Bridge, Elsewhere, improving Burnley visit Tottenham Hotspur in a trip to Championship leaders Bournemouth in the League champions City can draw level with them by winning at near dress rehearsal for next month’s FA Cup third-round Cup with a 3-1 victory in mid-week, manager Brendan home to Crystal Palace on Saturday. encounter, while Sunderland visit Newcastle on Sunday for Rodgers is hopeful that his side have turned a corner. While City are on a five-match winning run in the the first Tyne-Wear derby of the campaign. “Slowly we are getting there. I’ve said that my teams league, cross-town rivals Manchester United will be looking have shown at Liverpool that we get better and better,” to record a seventh consecutive victory when they travel to Fixtures Rodgers said after Liverpool’s quarter-final success at Dean Aston Villa. Last Sunday’s victory over Liverpool enabled Today (1500 GMT unless otherwise stated): Court. “A lot of players are adapting. I’ve been looking to Louis van Gaal’s team to remain eight points behind Aston Villa v Manchester United, Hull City v Swansea find ways and solutions to make us more creative as we Chelsea and five behind City, prompting captain Wayne City, Manchester City v Crystal Palace (1245 GMT), Queens haven’t been that at all this season and that is the mark of Rooney to declare that they still have designs on the title. Park Rangers v West Bromwich Albion, Southampton v the team.” Arsenal lost 3-2 at Stoke City in their last domes- Villa saw a five-game unbeaten run come to an end in a Everton, Tottenham Hotspur v Burnley, West Ham United v tic away game, but have since produced back-to-back 4-1 1-0 loss at West Bromwich Albion last weekend and have a Leicester City wins over Galatasaray in the Champions League and dismal home record against United, who they have not Tomorrow: Newcastle United in the league. The home victory over beaten in the league at Villa Park since August 1995. Newcastle United v Sunderland (1330 GMT), Liverpool v Newcastle left Wenger’s side in sixth place in the table, five Fourth-place West Ham, beaten only once in their last Arsenal (1600 GMT) points clear of Liverpool and two points shy of the 10 matches, host bottom club Leicester, who are now five Monday (2000 GMT): Champions League places. Wenger has revealed that points from safety. Leicester have not won since stunning Stoke City v Chelsea. — AFP Pellegrini backs Mangala Matches on TV (Local Timings) to shine for Man City FIFA Club World Championship MANCHESTER: Manchester City manager “At the moment, we are trying to keep our ranted really. I don’t think we have any fear. Cruz Azul v Auckland 19:30 Manuel Pellegrini claims he has complete faith minds open and recover as soon as we can with “We realise we’ve really got to be on top of beIN SPORTS 7 HD in French defender Eliaquim Mangala ahead of all the players, because we have few strikers.” our game if we’re going to come away with Real Madrid v Lorenzo 22:30 beIN SPORTS 7 HD the Premier League clash with Crystal Palace at Palace boss Neil Warnock insists his side will anything. “We know our goalkeeper has got to Eastlands today. travel to Manchester convinced they can dent play well, we know our back four has got to English Premier League City captain Vincent Kompany has been second placed City’s hopes of catching leaders play well and we’ve got to create chances. Man City v Crystal 15:45 ruled out until the start of 2015 with a recur- Chelsea. The south London club have lost just “So it’s a matter of we’ve all got to be on top beIN SPORTS 1 HD rence of a hamstring problem, so Mangala will one of their last five league games but remain form and hope that one or two of their lads are beIN SPORTS 11 HD get a run of games at centre-back alongside in the thick of the relegation battle, positioned a bit below.” Aston Villa v Man United 18:00 Martin Demichelis. one point and two places above the bottom Warnock has ruled out a loan move for for- beIN SPORTS 1 HD And Pellegrini believes the France interna- three. “City are just hitting that form aren’t mer England left-back Ashley Cole who has Hull City v Swansea 18:00 tional, who joined the English champions from they? It’s always difficult to go to there with struggled to establish himself with Italian club beIN SPORTS 3 HD Porto during the close season for £24.3 million them being the champions as well and playing AS Roma. “We have already been told that QPR v West Bromwich 18:00 ($38 million), will prove his worth during a hec- some wonderful football,” Warnock said. there is no way he is coming back. He is enjoy- beIN SPORTS 6 HD tic festive period after struggling at times in his “But we’ve been playing well. I know we ing himself over there. I don’t think there is any Southampton v Everton 18:00 first season in the Premier League. “Of course haven’t scored the goals that our play has war- chance whatsoever,” Warnock added. — AFP beIN SPORTS 9 HD we have a lot of trust in Mangala. That’s why we Tottenham v Burnley 18:00 bought him,” Pellegrini said. “Maybe he has beIN SPORTS 8 HD made some mistakes in the Premier League and Spanish League maybe he has delayed a bit to be settled here. “But we continue to trust in him because I Barcelona v Cordoba 18:00 beIN SPORTS 2 HD am sure he is a very good player, he is a very Levante v Sociedad 20:00 young player and he will be a very important beIN SPORTS 6 HD centre-back for our team.” SD Eibar v Valencia 22:00 City are also set be without influential for- beIN SPORTS 2 HD ward Sergio Aguero against Palace as he recov- Sunday ers from a knee injury. Rayo v Espanyol 0:00 But Pellegrini remains confident that the Argentina international will be fit in time for Italian Calcio League City’s Champions League tie with Barcelona in AS Roma v AC Milan 22:45 February. “Sergio has a torn ligament and I beIN SPORTS 3 HD think it will be long before the Champions League tie against Barcelona, probably in the German Bundesliga first weeks of January, that he will play,” Werder Bremen v Dortmund 17:30 Pellegrini added. beIN SPORTS 4 HD Wolfsburg v FC Koln 20:30 City’s striker shortage beIN SPORTS 4 HD City are without all three of their main strik- French League ers at the moment, with Edin Dzeko (calf) and PSG v Montpellier 19:00 Stevan Jovetic (hamstring) also both set to be beIN SPORTS 5 HD absent through injury this weekend. Lorient v Nantes 22:00 Pellegrini is contemplating whether or not beIN SPORTS 1 HD to use midfielders David Silva, Samir Nasri or Rennes v de Reims 22:00 James Milner out of position in attack against beIN SPORTS 5 HD Palace, while 18-year-old forward Jose Angel FC Metz v AS Monaco 22:00 Pozo remains another option. NAPLES: Napoli’s Argentinian forward Gonzalo Higuain (L) fights for the ball with beIN SPORTS 6 HD “We will see what works and which players Parma’s Italian defender Alessandro Lucarelli during the Italian Serie A football match will play in that position,” Pellegrini said. SSC Napoli vs Parma FC Thursday at the San Paolo stadium in Naples. — AFP