SUNDAY, DECEMBER 29, 2013 SPORTS SPL PREVIEW Celtic desperate to Mourinho hopes for remain unbeaten GLASGOW: Anthony Stokes has become the latest Celtic player to talk up the importance of continuing ‘little Suarez injury’ his side’s 17-game unbeaten start to the Scottish Premiership season. The Glasgow giants’ 1-0 victory over St Johnstone on Thursday sent the Parkhead LONDON: Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho enjoyed a typi- club 11 points clear at the top of the table from sec- cal moment of mischief on Friday when he suggested a “lit- ond place Motherwell to leave Neil Lennon’s side tle injury” might deprive Liverpool of in-form striker Luis firmly on course to retain their title. Suarez for today’s Premier League clash at Stamford Bridge. The Hoops manager has played down talk of his Speaking to Chelsea TV, the Portuguese coach avoided any side remaining unbeaten for the entire season but, mention of Suarez’s controversial behavior in the clubs’ last ahead of their trip to Inverness on Sunday, Irish strik- meeting, at Anfield in April, when he bit the arm of defend- er Stokes said it was what the players were focusing er Branislav Ivanovic. Instead, Mourinho said he hoped the on now their European run had come to an end. “It is free-scoring Uruguay striker - who was suspended for 10 massive. It is something we pride ourselves in,” matches for his dental attack - would not be available to Stokes said of the unbeaten run. “We have had a play in the clash of the third and fourth-placed clubs. great start to the season, the consistency has been “Maybe Suarez has got a little injury,” he said following tremendous and we want to maintain that. “We are Liverpool’s 2-1 defeat at Manchester City on Thursday. “I’m taking it game by game and we just want to keep it not asking for a big injury... Just a little injury to stop him up, winning games is what it is all about. It is playing for four days.” Knowing that Suarez has scored 19 demanded at this club and we will keep striving goals in 13 league games this season, Mourinho - who has towards that. bemoaned his own strikers’ profligacy this term - unsurpris- “Obviously this year has been a bit disappointing, ingly avoided making comparisons. His three main strikers with Europe, but we want to finish this season on a - Fernando Torres, Samuel Eto’o and Demba Ba - have high and win trophies. At the end of the day, that is scored only five times between them. what it’s all about.” Dutch defender Virgil van Dijk is “Every game is hard,” he said. “The difference is some also keen to keep the unbeaten run going for as long teams are bigger - bigger name, bigger impact... Man City- as possible. His wonder goal clinched victory against Liverpool, Chelsea-Liverpool, Chelsea-Arsenal... “But every St Johnstone and after netting two on his last trip to game is difficult. The last two matches we played (at the Highlands to face Ross County he hopes to add home), Swansea and Crystal Palace: 1-0, 2-1. You have to to his tally when they take on Inverness Caledonian give everything to win matches.” The Portuguese praised Thistle. Eto’o, despite the Cameroon international having missed “I¥ve never been unbeaten for maybe more than two clear chances to net his third league goal of the sea- two games so this is new for me as well,” van Dijk son. “He did well,” Mourinho said. “I want that feeling that said. “I like winning so hopefully we can keep it my strikers are working to have chances. I want them to going. I’m expecting another battle against shoot, I want the goalkeeper to save, the ball to hit the Inverness, definitely. It¥s a long trip as well so you post.” have to be ready for the game. “I hope I can add to my tally up there. I love scoring-I think it¥s what TIGHT RACE LONDON: Chelsea’s Branislav Ivanovic (left) jumps for the ball with a Swansea City player during their English everybody loves.” Celtic have no fresh injury worries Mourinho also said he hoped to see Chelsea awarded Premier League soccer match at the Stamford Bridge ground in London on Thursday, Dec 26, 2013. Chelsea won for the trip north with Derk Boerrigter, Mikael Lustig, more penalties for fouls on their tricky Belgium winger the match 1-0. — AP Beram Kayal and Steven Mouyokolo all out while Eden Hazard, who scored in a 1-0 win over Swansea City on Charlie Mulgrew remains a doubt. Thursday. “I think that it happens a lot,” he explained. “That because they have one week to prepare the match, team because of the frequency of matches. Elsewhere, Dundee United will hope to get back Eden Hazard beats people, goes into the box and is not then they play the match - because they are not Chelsea will be without their suspended Brazil mid- to winning ways following a surprise defeat to St getting penalties in situations like that.” Mourinho also involved in the heat of the knockout of the Champions fielder Ramires, who is likely to be replaced by Mirren when they travel to take on St Johnstone at foresees a very championship race, saying: “This year I think League or even the Europa League,” the Portuguese England’s Frank Lampard on an afternoon when captain McDiarmid Park, second place Motherwell are away the pressure will be not only to win the title, it will be to said. John Terry is set to make his 600th appearance for the to Partick Thistle and Aberdeen host Ross County. get into the top four. “The manager (Rodgers) is one of my best friends in west London club. Ivanovic is expected to continue at Bottom club Hearts, who were started the season It will be hard. I think Manchester City is a big, big the game. I have full respect for a team like Liverpool. right back and, rejecting any chance to talk about on minus 15 points as a punishment for entering favorite.” He said Liverpool, managed by Brendan He’s doing a fantastic job. He’s training every week in a Suarez, the Serbia international stressed the impor- administration, look set to start the new year still in Rodgers who worked under him at Chelsea during calm way, training every day. “He has a big advantage tance of the fixture. “It’s going to be a very important negative figures unless they get a win away to St Mourinho’s first stint in charge, had an edge by not compared to the other teams... It’s easier for a team that game for us, one of the deciding games this season,” he Mirren.— AFP being involved in European competition. “Liverpool are does that every day, every week,” said Mourinho, who said. “We must be ready for the big fight. Our team likes on holiday this season. They have a big advantage has bemoaned being unable to work on tactics with his to play big games and big challenges.”— Reuters Sherwood aims to get Hotspur back on track LONDON: Tim Sherwood will continue his crash- ry for ourselves. Hughes’ side - who were reduced to nine men by course introduction to management as he attempts “We have to be up for it, we have to be mentally the dismissals of Glenn Whelan and Marc Wilson - to ensure Tottenham avoid another home disap- right.” It is Sherwood’s job to ensure his team lost 5-1 at St James’ Park after regular number one pointment when Stoke visit White Hart Lane today. bounces back and after overseeing a win, loss and a Asmir Begovic was ruled out for up to six weeks Sherwood marked his first game since agreeing an draw in his three games since first taking caretaker with a broken finger sustained on Christmas Day. 18-month contract to succeed Andre Villas-Boas as charge, he is learning quickly about the ups and Stoke also have the option of England Under 21 Tottenham boss with a frustrating draw against downs of the job. The former Spurs midfielder goalkeeper Jack Butland after he returned from a struggling West Bromwich Albion on Boxing Day. admits chairman Daniel Levy has taken a chance in loan spell at Barnsley.”We knew straight away Asmir That extended Spurs’ poor run of form on home turf appointing but is convinced he will rise to the chal- was struggling,” said Sorensen. “They did a light scan where they have failed to win in four Premier lenge. “It’s a gamble because I’ve never done it and they saw a break in there. He was really in pain. League and exited the League Cup at the hands of before,” Sherwood said. “But there are a lot of good It will be three, four or five weeks. “It wasn’t the West Ham. managers who had never done it before and comeback I had imagined. We controlled the game Tottenham’s continuing inconsistency has left become a success. and kept them to a minimum of chances while we them five points adrift of the Premier League’s top “I was never a professional player until I stepped created chances. four going into the next round of matches and mid- on the field.” Sherwood hopes to welcome Aaron “But then two sendings-off at this level, away fielder Lewis Holtby admits anything other than vic- Lennon back into his squad after the winger missed from home against a team with the amount of tory over Mark Hughes’ Stoke side will be a major the West Brom clash with a stomach strain, but attacking flair they had it was going to be a long blow to their hopes of qualifying for the Champions Jermain Defoe and Mousa Dembele are rated second half and so it proved.