SPORTS SATURDAY, APRIL 18, 2015 Everton all set for ‘fearless’ Burnley Matches on TV LIVERPOOL: Everton manager Roberto Martinez has chances.” The Spaniard added: “Looking at this game, their last three games while Ings’s own mini-drought (Local Timings) told his players to steel themselves for the challenge it will be one which is open with both teams creating stretches back to a 3-1 loss away to Manchester of facing a “fearless” Burnley at today. chances and it will be about who takes theirs early United in February. “When that whistle blows it’s ENGLISH The Toffees have eased any lingering concerns about and gets ahead.” down to them to remind themselves of that freedom relegation in recent weeks, but Burnley are still fight- Everton are poised to include Belgium striker I speak about. I want players to play that way,” said Everton v Burnley 17:00 ing for their Premier League survival. While other Romelu Lukaku in their squad after he missed the last Dyche. “Danny’s biggest thing is he puts a lot of beIN SPORTS 7 HD teams scrapping at the foot of the table have played two games with a hamstring problem. “Rom has demand on himself-and that can be a weakness as Crystal Palace v West Brom 17:00 tentatively, Martinez believes second-from-bottom trained really well,” Martinez said, adding he’d no well as a strength. It’s good that he has thirst to beIN SPORTS 3 HD Burnley’s predicament makes them tougher oppo- plans to rest the 18-goal Lukaku between now and improve, as do a lot of the players. Leicester v Swansea 17:00 nents. “I don’t think there is a ‘fear’ of relegation for the end of the campaign. “It’s not in his nature,” the “But it has to be balanced with that enjoyment. I beIN SPORTS 11 HD Burnley,” Martinez said. “And that is a big advantage manager said. “If I am completely honest, I think he often say to him, ‘play with a smile’ and I’ve told him Stoke v Southampton 17:00 against other teams who may not quite be in the rel- has been suffering a lot in the last seven to 10 days he’s best when he does. “We’re looking to him to beIN SPORTS 10 HD egation zone but have something to lose. that he has been away from the team. “Someone like continue doing that.” Dyche has no fresh injury wor- Chelsea v Manchester United 19:30 “The biggest threat that Burnley carry is they play Rom needs to be on the football pitch. He is only 21 ries ahead of Burnley’s short trip to Goodison and he with a real enthusiasm and enjoyment. They see an and I don’t think there is any need for that a rest at insisted the pressure was off his players because beIN SPORTS 1 HD opportunity to achieve their aim of survival. “In their all.” Everton will give a late fitness test to midfielder nobody expected Burnley to have a fighting chance beIN SPORTS 11 HD last game against Arsenal they showed that. They Leon Osman (groin) and winger Aiden McGeady of survival at this stage. “We’re not cut adrift and peo- only lost by one goal, they had a very good draw (back) but have no other fresh injury worries. ple thought we might be,” said Dyche, with the ENGLAND FA CUP against Spurs and they beat Manchester City-so the Clarets heading into the weekend just two points Reading v Arsenal 19:20 last few games at home they have been really strong. Play with a smile from safety. “That’s a good stimulus for us to move it SPANISH LEAGUE “Away from home, I think they are capable of hurting Meanwhile Burnley manager Sean Dyche believes forward. With the collective mind-set going into Barcelona v Valencia 17:00 any team. They were unfortunate against Danny Ings needs to start smiling again to rediscover these last games we’ve got to this point where we’ve beIN SPORTS 2 HD Southampton where they had three or four terrific his goalscoring touch. The Clarets have not scored in learnt a lot and now it’s putting it all together.” —AFP Deportivo v Atletico de Madrid 19:00 beIN SPORTS 2 HD Real Madrid v Malaga 21:00 Wenger warns Arsenal beIN SPORTS 2 HD Athletic de Bilbao v Getafe 23:00

ITALIAN LEAGUE to expect Reading test Sampdoria v AC Cesena 19:00 beIN SPORTS 3 HD Juventus v Lazio 21:45 LONDON: Arsene Wenger has warned his Arsenal stars to beIN SPORTS 3 HD heed the lessons of last season’s narrow escape at Wembley when the holders face Reading in the FA Cup GERMAN LEAGUE semi-finals today. Wenger’s side head back to Wembley Bayer 04 v Hannover 16:30 as firm favorites to see off the Championship strugglers beIN SPORTS and advance to a second successive FA Cup final. Arsenal Freiburg v FSV Mainz 16:30 have risen to second in the Premier League after reeling beIN SPORTS off eight consecutive victories, a powerful run that has stretched to 11 wins from 12 games in all competitions. Hertha Berlin v Koln 16:30 In contrast, Reading, languishing 18th in the second beIN SPORTS tier table, are not mathematically certain of avoiding rele- Dortmund v Paderborn 16:30 gation to League One following a miserable run of one beIN SPORTS 1 HD win in their last 10 matches. The Royals have failed to win TSG Hoffenheim v Bayern 16:30 any of their five matches since beating Bradford in an FA beIN SPORTS 4 HD Cup quarter-final replay. But Wenger has been scarred by Augsburg v VfB Stuttgart 19:30 several of Arsenal’s recent encounters with lower league beIN SPORTS 4 HD teams and is determined to ensure the Gunners don’t underestimate Steve Clarke’s men. To drive home the FRENCH LEAGUE point he recalled last season’s FA Cup semi-final against second tier , in which Arsenal fell behind and only OGC Nice v PSG 18:00 beIN SPORTS 5 HD equalized in the 82nd minute before eventually securing Arsenal’s French manager Arsene Wenger a barely-deserved victory in a penalty shoot-out. Bastia v Stade de Reims 21:00 “We know that it (semi-final) is always tricky. We have what you want from the players.” everybody, but I find that circus a bit ridiculous,” he said. beIN SPORTS learnt from Wigan last year,” Wenger said. “The urgency Asked whether Klopp, reported to be a potential Metz v Racing Club 21:00 level will be quite high in our team. “Reading have many Irritable mood Manchester City target, would suit Arsenal in the future, beIN SPORTS players who have the experience in the Premier League. But although everything has been going swimmingly Wenger snapped: “I already answered this question.” Guingamp v Evian Thonon 21:00 “They have a very efficient style, who go a lot for crosses, for Arsenal of late, Wenger was in a rather irritable mood Wenger was also vexed by the decision to schedule beIN SPORTS so for us they can be a danger going forward.” Wenger in his pre-match press conference ahead of the Reading Chelsea’s crucial Premier League clash with Manchester Lorient v Toulouse 21:00 has a near full-strength side to choose from this weekend, tie. He was especially irked by questions about Jurgen United for almost the same time as his club’s meeting beIN SPORTS with England midfielder Jack Wilshere having returned to Klopp, the Borussia Dortmund coach who has been with Reading. “I am a bit surprised that a (Premier Monaco v Stade Rennes 21:00 full fitness.”Everybody feels that it is difficult to get in the linked with Wenger’s job in the past and will leave the League) game of the same stature is played at the same team, all the players have top, top quality,” Wenger said. German club at the end of the season. “I’m not an agency time. There is a bit of conflict there that is difficult to beIN SPORTS “They have to accept it and to respect the decision, that is to place managers and I like every manager and respect understand,” Wenger said. —AP Reborn Man United plot Chelsea title sabotage

LONDON: Hopes of a suspenseful conclusion to the Premier League title both matches simply represent obstacles that must be checked off. but they approach the game with confidence higher than at any previ- race rest this weekend on Manchester United, who take their six-game “They’re good games, they’re mouth-watering games and everyone is ous point in the post-Alex Ferguson era. winning streak to champions-elect Chelsea today. Chelsea looked set to looking forward to them,” said the England international. “We’ve chalked drop points at Queens Park Rangers last weekend, only for Cesc another one off against QPR and we’re taking those steps. Belief returns Fabregas’s 88th-minute goal to earn a 1-0 win that restored their seven- “We’re playing against an in-form Manchester United team, but we’re Last weekend’s 4-2 demolition of Manchester City in the derby gave point lead over second-place Arsenal with a game in hand. As things playing at Stamford Bridge and they’re playing against a very good team. Louis van Gaal’s side a four-point advantage over the defending champions stand, Jose Mourinho’s side require only 12 points from their seven It should be a great game.” Chelsea won their first 10 home games in the in third place, bringing a return to the Champions League into sight. Settled remaining matches to secure a first league title since 2010. league this season, but Stamford Bridge has become less forbidding in in their new 4-3-3 system and with players like Ashley Young, Marouane While a collapse seems unlikely, victory for United would present 2015, with Manchester City, Burnley and Southampton having all record- Fellaini and Ander Herrera belatedly blossoming in a red shirt, something Arsenal with a chance to trim Chelsea’s lead to just four points when ed draws there. They were also beaten at home by third-tier Bradford approaching the belief of old has returned to Old Trafford. City aside, Van Arsene Wenger’s team tackle their London rivals at the Emirates Stadium City in the FA Cup fourth round and crashed out of the Champions Gaal’s men have also put paid to Tottenham Hotspur and Liverpool during on April 26. With United only a point behind Arsenal, a win might also League on away goals after a 2-2 draw at home to Paris Saint-Germain. a defining spell that fans had approached with no little consternation after nourish their own title ambitions, but for Chelsea centre-back Gary Cahill, United have won on only two of their last 16 trips to Stamford Bridge, the slipshod displays of the autumn and winter. —AFP