SPORTS SATURDAY, JANUARY 31, 2015 Rodgers has no fears over Sturridge return LIVERPOOL: Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers says he something really creative and quality to the team,” impact on our season. “He hasn’t played and the team has no concerns about how Daniel Sturridge will fit into Rodgers said. struggled for a few months, but thankfully we’ve now his redefined formation ahead of the striker’s long-await- “Then it’s a case of managing in behind that. The sys- nailed down a way of working and returned to our foot- ed comeback from injury. tem does not have to change. It’s there and the players ball ideals. “The team is becoming better and better, and Sturridge will be in Liverpool’s squad for their Premier are there if we have to do it. “We are very much built when you throw Daniel into that, he shines a different League clash against West Ham at Anfield on Saturday around the collective, but it doesn’t half help when you light and adds another dimension.” Liverpool will check having not played for the Reds since the end of August have someone to finish it off at the top end of the field on the fitness of centre-back Mamadou Sakho, who with calf and thigh problems. Rodgers reverted to a fluid and have that power and pace that Daniel has. injured his back in the League Cup semi-final defeat to 3-4-3 system during a lean spell of results in Sturridge’s “In the last few days he was brilliant. He’s been really Chelsea, while right-back Jon Flanagan (knee) and reserve absence and Liverpool saw a marked improvement. dynamic, fast, strong in the finish and sharp. But we have goalkeeper Brad Jones (hip) remain out. The formation change has rarely used a traditional to be careful with him as well.” Rodgers also claimed that West Ham have not won at Anfield since 1963 but striker, with Raheem Sterling occupying a central role had England international Sturridge been available for enjoyed a 3-1 success against Rodgers’ side at Upton Park while Rickie Lambert, Mario Balotelli and Fabio Borini most of the campaign Liverpool would currently be in the earlier in the season. Hammers manager Sam Allardyce have often been named among the substitutes. However, Champions League places, as opposed to being in the believes Liverpool will be much tougher prospect with Rodgers has no reservations about Sturridge’s ability to chasing pack challenging for a top four spot. Sturridge available. “Liverpool are in the best form of the adapt to the way Liverpool now play. “Daniel will bring “No question,” Rodgers added. “I think it’s had a huge season at the moment,” he said.—AFP Utd ready to Mourinho in combat mode fight for top four spot as Man City come calling LONDON: Scarred in different ways by their recent Jose Mourinho’s side can expect little sympathy Chelsea’s 1-0 win over Liverpool and responded to MANCHESTER: Manchester United winger cup exploits, Chelsea and Manchester City face off from City, the defending champions, who will fall news of the disciplinary action facing Costa by can- Antonio Valencia has warned his team-mates at Stamford Bridge yesterday for a pivotal match in eight points off the pace if they lose. celling his scheduled press conference on Friday. that the hard work starts now in their bid to the Premier League title race. But the Chelsea manager is already looking to The side-show has helped to bury talk of last secure a top four finish in the Premier League. Both teams were dumped out of the FA Cup by turn the situation to his advantage, battening weekend’s humiliating home defeat by third-tier Louis van Gaal’s side hold the final Champions lower-league opposition last weekend, but while down the hatches and creating the kind of siege Bradford City, who came from 2-0 down to win 4-2 League berth as they prepare for today’s Chelsea responded by beating Liverpool in the mentality that is his favoured modus operandi. in the FA Cup fourth round. The extra-time win over home fixture against lowly Leicester, but they League Cup semi-finals on Tuesday, victory came at As well as Costa’s charge, Mourinho was himself Liverpool has left its mark on Mourinho’s squad, but are just a point ahead of fifth-placed Arsenal. a price. Diego Costa seems certain to miss City’s vis- fined by the Football Association for alleging that he believes the league leaders will not be encum- The Gunners, on a four-match winning it after being charged for stamping on Liverpool’s there was a media-led “campaign” against his side bered by fatigue when they take to the pitch run, face Aston Villa at the Emirates Stadium Emre Can, while Cesc Fabregas and Filipe Luis are following a spate of diving allegations. against City. “The players are tired, but when you on Sunday and Valencia knows the race is just both doubts for the game after picking up injuries. The Portuguese hit out at the media again after win, fatigue doesn’t mean the same as when you starting to heat up. “It’s very open and quite lose,” he said. “We have a big game today, but I tight in those top spots,” Ecuador internation- think the feeling of winning, being at Wembley, al Valencia said. “We’re seven points behind compensates a little bit the fans after the gift we second place and then a couple of teams are gave them last weekend.” three or four points below us. “We must fight A run of eight wins in nine games left City dead- hard in the remaining games to finish as high level with Chelsea on New Year’s Day, but a draw at as possible. “It’s a long season and we’ve Everton and a 2-0 home defeat by Arsenal have picked ourselves up of late, so we need to seen Manuel Pellegrini’s team fall five points off the keep the results coming for the fans. pace. Coupled with last weekend’s 2-0 defeat by “We’ve got tough games coming up second-tier Middlesbrough, they have now gone against very good teams and rivals for our three games without a win in all competitions. position but, if we keep the concentration “We must turn our minds to the Premier high, we can achieve our aim of a top-four fin- League,” said Pellegrini. “We have a difficult game ish.” United missed out on European football against Chelsea. I hope we can recover during the for the first time in 25 years when they fin- week and get back to normal.” ished seventh at the end of a campaign of Ivory Coast’s qualification for the Africa Cup of struggle, largely overseen by previous man- Nations quarter-finals means City remain without ager David Moyes. Yaya Toure and new signing Wilfried Bony, but Despite a sluggish start to the season Sergio Aguero has proven his fitness following a under van Gaal, Moyes’ successor, United knee injury by coming through 90 minutes against have put themselves in contention to end Arsenal and Middlesbrough. their season-long absence from continental Former Chelsea midfielder Frank Lampard, who competition with a run of one defeat in 13 scored an 85th-minute equaliser for City when the matches. Valencia believes new signings teams last met in September, could be making his Angel Di Maria, Radamel Falcao and Marcos final appearance at Stamford Bridge. Rojo have settled well in to the United set up, The sight of Chelsea’s all-time record goal-scorer despite each suffering injury problems in the in a City shirt will jar with the London club’s sup- first half of the campaign. “Angel, Rojo and porters, particularly as he had previously pledged Falcao are terrific. They’ve all settled quickly that he would never play for a rival club. into the group and I think they’re all really But the 36-year-old was applauded by the visit- enjoying life here,” Valencia said. “We’ve got a ing fans after refusing to celebrate his goal in the top bunch of lads. We all get along really well, reverse fixture and Chelsea Supporters’ Trust chair the atmosphere is great but it’s always been Tim Rolls has told Britain’s Press Association: “I don’t great here.” think anybody is going to boo him.” United were held to a disappointing goal- The stage is set for an attritional battle, with less draw by League Two club Cambridge Mourinho likely to select three central midfielders United in the FA Cup fourth round last Friday in a bid to overwhelm City pair Fernando and and van Gaal will hope his players are more Fernandinho much as Arsenal did at the Etihad incisive against Nigel Pearson’s side, who are Stadium. With Fabregas nursing a tight hamstring, fighting for survival in the Premier League.— John Mikel Obi and Ramires could both be brought AFP into the team to play alongside Nemanja Matic, Wayne Rooney and Juan Mata are expect- which would probably see Oscar drop out. ed to be recalled to the United squad after Cesar Azpilicueta will come in for Luis if the being rested for the FA Cup match, while Brazilian left-back cannot overcome a calf problem, defender Jonny Evans remains a doubt after while Didier Drogba is in line to replace Costa up missing the match through injury.—AFP PRAGUE: A picture taken on August 30, 2013 shows Chelsea’s German striker Andre Schuerrle playing the ball during the UEFA Super Cup final.