Tottenham 1-3 Arsenal

	Tottenham 1 - 3 Arsenal 15' Gareth Bale 1 - 0 65' 1 - 1 Emmanuel Adebayor 80' 1 - 2 Francesc Fabregas 90' 1 - 3 Emmanuel Adebayor
1		3

Stunning goals from Cesc Fabregas and Emmanuel Adebayor earned Arsenal a 3-1 victory at White Hart Lane and piled on the misery for Tottenham manager Martin Jol.

Spurs had been ahead in the 15th minute through Gareth Bale's free-kick and had chances to add to their lead before Adebayor levelled.

Fabregas' strike came with 10 minutes remaining, and Adebayor also found the top corner in stoppage time, leaving Spurs with still one Premier League victory this season.

It was a cruel blow for Jol, who has appeared undermined by his board this season after their infamous meeting with Sevilla coach Juande Ramos.

Spurs had not beaten Arsenal since 1999, during George Graham's reign, and there is a perception Jol struggles against the ``big four''.

It looked like business as usual when Paul Robinson was required to tip over Adebayor's volley from 25 yards in the early stages.

But Dimitar Berbatov was offering a threat for the hosts and he looped a header over the crossbar before getting fouled in the lead up to Bale's opener.

Bale's free-kicks at the start of last season helped him establish himself as one of the brightest talents around and his set-piece in the 15th minute was an example of his accuracy.

He curled the effort behind Arsenal's wall and inside Manuel Almunia's near post, leaving the peroxide Spaniard fuming with himself.

The 18-year-old, with two goals in his first three Spurs matches, was playing on the left of midfield to give Jol's side balance - but he was also needed to defend as Arsenal attempted to drag themselves level.

Adebayor immediately threatened at the other end after the opener, with Robinson required to turn his volley around the post.

The England goalkeeper was needed again in the 25th minute when Fabregas broke from the centre of midfield, with Alexander Hleb eventually having the shot and Robin van Persie firing the rebound across the face of goal.

Abou Diaby then had an effort from long distance on the half-hour mark and got even closer two minutes later when Hleb found him free overlapping. Diaby beat Robinson with his powerful effort, but it smacked off the crossbar to safety.

With both sides attacking, possession switched frequently and tackles flew in, Jermaine Jenas picking up a yellow card for one of them on Van Persie.

Pascal Chimbonda was fouled in stoppage time but was booked himself for urging referee Mark Clattenburg to show his opponent a yellow card.

As expected, Spurs were forced to defend early in the second half, although Berbatov should have added a second goal in the 51st minute.

Steed Malbranque slipped the Bulgaria striker through and he rounded Almunia but could not do the same to Kolo Toure, who was the last defender.

Adebayor fired over the crossbar in Arsenal's next move after Bacary Sagna raced down the right and cut the ball back. The Togo striker then tried to take it around Robinson, but the goalkeeper timed his dive to perfection.

Gunners boss Arsene Wenger brought Tomas Rosicky on for Diaby to give his side another attacking dimension.

Yet Spurs were still threatening a second goal, with Younes Kaboul heading over and Tom Huddlestone cracking a trademark volley wide from Chimbonda's cross.

The England Under-21 midfielder had angered Sagna in that move and the Arsenal defender tripped him after 62 minutes to earn a booking.

Jol has been frustrated with Spurs' defending from set-pieces this season and a free-kick was their undoing again, with Arsenal levelling in the 65th minute.

Adebayor nipped ahead of Robinson to meet Fabregas' free-kick after Malbranque had fouled Mathieu Flamini.

Spurs' response was to bring on Aaron Lennon for his first appearance since knee surgery in the summer.

Robbie Keane raced through and had an effort saved by Almunia, although the linesman had initially flagged before play was allowed to continue.

Berbatov had two bites at Jenas' corner, but Gael Clichy cleared off the line.

Fabregas then got his stunning goal, receiving the pass from Rosicky before taking aim from 30 yards and bending into the top corner with the outside of his boot.

Darren Bent came on and was sent through, but the striker missed his kick.

Adebayor made him pay with a volleyed goal in stoppage time to add to Spurs' misery.

Source: Soccernet.com

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Portsmouth 0-0 Liverpool, Kanu's penalty missed

	Portsmouth 0 - 0 Liverpool 32' Nwankwo Kanu (pen miss) 0 - 0
0		0

Jose Reina's first-half penalty save from Kanu and missed sitters by Portsmouth's John Utaka and Sulley Muntari let Liverpool off the hook in a scoreless scrap at Fratton Park, where Rafael Benitez's side had been beaten on three of their last five visits.

When Spain international Reina plunged to stop Kanu's spot-kick in the 31st minute after referee Mike Riley pointed to the spot for Alvaro Arbeloa's tug on the Nigerian's shirt, Liverpool should have gone on and wrapped up another victory to take them clear at the top of the Premier League.

But although dangerous Ukrainian Andriy Voronin hit the bar and then was inches from a winner late on, it was Pompey who spurned the biggest opportunities.

After taking just one point from meetings with Manchester United, Chelsea and Arsenal, this was their chance to pull down a top-four giant, but their finishing let them down.

Despite the 6-0 destruction of Derby which put Liverpool top of the division, manager Benitez swapped over his main strikers, going in with former Pompey star Peter Crouch's first league start of the season alongside Voronin.

Portsmouth's £6million striker, David Nugent, and Croatia midfielder Nico Kranjcar also had to be content with places on the bench, but on a hot, sticky afternoon and in front of a packed Fratton Park crowd it was still not a bad place to be.

With only three minutes on the clock, Pompey keeper David James had to be alert to go down and turn away a fierce shot by Yossi Benayoun for a corner.

At the other end, Pompey's giant debutant, Papa Bouba Diop, was head and shoulders above all challengers to meet Sean Davis's free-kick with his head but could not direct his effort on target.

Muntari appeared to be fouled by Xabi Alonso when Liverpool broke up a Portsmouth attack and pressed forward in the 10th minute. Voronin battled for possession and squared his pass for Alonso to drive not far over from 30 yards.

But it needed another fine save by James to keep out Liverpool seven minutes later when Mohamed Sissoko's pass put Crouch in for an angled shot which the keeper stopped with a strong left wrist.

Pompey were relieved when Alonso's free-kick from 25 yards crashed into their defensive wall after Mali midfielder Sissoko went down too easily from a tangle with Muntari, but Liverpool looked full of scoring options in the first 25 minutes.

Yet it was Pompey who almost broke the deadlock when Benjani's powerful low drive caught a deflection off Alvaro Arbeloa which took it out for a corner.

It was Arbeloa who was judged by referee Riley to have tugged Kanu's shirt just inside the area as they jockeyed for possession and the Spaniard was, of course, most grateful to compatriot Reina for a spectacular plunge that kept out Kanu's spot-kick.

Liverpool might have been expected to push on from there and take the game by the scruff of the neck, but they failed to make another worthwhile chance before the break.

Indeed, after Crouch brilliantly back-heeled a Steve Finnan pass just over James' bar, they had a couple of major escapes.

First, £7million Utaka, with all the goal to aim at after Diop forced the ball through, slashed his effort wide with only Reina to beat in the 52nd minute.

Then the goal was gaping again when energetic £7.2million record buy Muntari hooked Kanu's lay-back off target.

In between, Voronin's half-volley clipped the bar when Pompey were caught napping at the back, but even the arrival of £23million Torres and midweek England hero Gerrard from the bench for the last half-hour failed to do the trick.

That was despite Gerrard robbing a dithering Diop, who had been booked before the penalty, to send the Spaniard sprinting in to shoot high and wide.

The pace was unrelenting and just before the end Voronin was inches away from converting a Torres cross, but defeat for battling Pompey would have been a sad injustice.

Harry Redknapp was the happier of the two managers after Portsmouth's goalless draw with Liverpool at Fratton Park - even though his side missed a first-half penalty.

Kanu saw his spot-kick saved by Jose Reina after having his shirt pulled by Alvaro Arbeloa while John Utaka and Sulley Muntari missed good chances in the second half against the below-par visitors.

'It was an even game. We had a couple of great chances. For Kanu's penalty, when you get the chance you have to stick it away against Liverpool and if we had got in front I'm sure we would have gone and won the the game,' said Redknapp.

'But if you take a point from the likes of Liverpool, Manchester United, Chelsea or Arsenal you are never going to complain because they are top teams.'

The Portsmouth boss also paid tribute to man of the match Papa Bouba Diop on his first appearance for the club.

'I thought Diop was fantastic - what a debut. I have always been a fan of his. He is big and he has got a presence about him.'

Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez, who decided to leave captain Steven Gerrard, Fernando Torres and Ryan Babel on the bench until the second half after their spells on international duty, put on a brave face.

'I think we played well. We played a good counter-attack. I think they had one or two clear chances from mistakes and I cannot complain [about the penalty],' he said.

The Spaniard also defended his decision to rest his major players.

'In the first half we were better than them. That means the players were doing a good job,' he said.

Source: Soccernet.com

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Chelsea v Blackburn: Preview

Chelsea - Blackburn

Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho has welcomed the return to form and fitness of Andriy Shevchenko and silenced suggestions the Ukrainian is not part of his plans.

The striker scored for his country during their Euro 2008 qualifiers in midweek, amid suggestions that he was upset at not being part of Chelsea's squad at the start of the season.

But Shevchenko, who underwent a groin operation towards the end of last season, proved his fitness on international duty and Mourinho is ready to welcome him back into the fold.

Shevchenko will almost certainly play some part in the home clash with Blackburn because Ivory Coast striker Didier Drogba is missing.

He has not recovered from the knee injury he sustained in the closing moments of their defeat against Aston Villa.

Mourinho confirmed that both Drogba and England midfielder Frank Lampard would be absent from his line-up and there was a doubt about Claudio Pizarro, who was still on his way back from international duty with Peru.

But Mourinho said: ``Sheva is selected. It is good to have him back. We need every player. We are starting the period where we need everybody.

``We need to rotate players. We are now playing in three competitions at the same time. In the next two weeks, we have to play five matches and that's the story we are going to have, hopefully, until the of the season, playing in a lot competitions and matches.

``So we need every player with Drogba injured and with Pizarro still at this moment in the air and on the way back to London, the situation is not easy in attack.

``We need everybody and it is good to have Shevchenko back. He played two matches for his national team, the results were not good for his team but I saw the matches and especially, in the second one, I was happy with the way he performed. So yes, he is selected and he will have minutes.''

Blackburn midfielder David Dunn has told of his serious misgivings about returning to the club he joined as a trainee - but was persuaded by boss Mark Hughes.

Hughes - who rejoined Manchester United in a hugely successful second spell - put the 27-year-old's mind at rest about returning to his old club, which has seen an improvement in his form this season leading to talk of an England recall.

Dunn made his England debut against Portugal in September 2002 and it should have been the catalyst for a career at the highest level for one of the most naturally talented players of his generation.

But it never happened.

He was soon placed on the transfer list by then Rovers boss Graeme Souness, who publicly criticised the midfielder's lifestyle and sold him to Birmingham for £5.5million in July 2003.

That proved an injury-plagued nightmare, but when Blackburn came calling in January it was Dunn himself who questioned the wisdom of moving back to the club he had supported since boyhood.

Dunn, who will line up in midfield against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge, returned to Rovers in a cut-price £2.2million switch after turning down an offer from Bolton.

He said: "It's always difficult coming back to a club that you've been relatively successful at but I think I'm a little bit more mature now as a person and a player.

"I'm probably not the same player that left, I've become a bit more defensively minded.

"The three years I had at Birmingham, it's well documented I had a lot of injuries.

"A lot of people say never go back to where you've been and certainly where you've been successful at."

Source: Soccernet.com

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Everton 0-1 Man Utd, Vidic sneaks win for United

	Everton 0 - 1 Manchester United 83' 0 - 1 Nemanja Vidic
0		1

Hard-fought, patient and determined; everything United needed to be at Goodison Park on Saturday, and all qualities encapsulated in the performance of Reds match-winner Nemanja Vidic.

The colossal Serbian defender, outstanding in coping with the threat of Yakubu and Andy Johnson all afternoon, proved his threat in attack with a thumping header from Nani’s corner to seal victory seven minutes from time in a match that so often looked destined for a draw.

United controlled large periods of possession, and attacked with purpose, but rarely threatened Stefan Wessel - in for injured former Reds goalkeeper Tim Howard. However, the Reds never stopped seeking a breakthrough, even when Everton had arguably decided to settle for a point.

Wayne Rooney, who hasn’t played since the opening day stalemate with Reading at Old Trafford, had been tipped to make his comeback from a fractured metatarsal against his former club. But Sir Alex Ferguson instead opted to leave the 21-year-old out of his squad. And with Cristiano Ronaldo back from a three-match suspension, Carlos Tevez with games under his belt and Louis Saha on the bench, there was no need to take any risks with Rooney.

The Reds, and Tevez in particular, started brightly with the Argentina forward, Ronaldo, and Ryan Giggs all rotating to find space in the final third. Tevez carved out the first chance with a glorious through-ball, arced perfectly round Everton full-back Tony Hibbert to find the advancing Patrice Evra. The Frenchman, playing on the left wing in front of Mikael Silvestre, hit the side-netting with his shot, but it represented a positive opening from Sir Alex’s team.

Ronaldo was next to go close after quarter of an hour with a shot that flew past the post. And it may have troubled Everton keeper Wessels had Joleon Lescott not got a crucial touch on the ball.

Despite United’s bright beginning, however, the half ended frustratingly for the Reds, with Everton defending resolutely and clear-cut chances few and far between. Sir Alex was forced into a change just before the break when Mikael Silvestre appeared to slip, twisting his knee. Nani replaced the Frenchman and took up duties on the left flank, with Evra dropping back into defence to replace his fellow countryman.

As the half wore on, Everton began to come into the game and after the restart Yakubu was proving a handful for United’s defenders. Two minutes into the second half, the Nigerian laid on the ball for Phil Jagielka to strike just wide. Then he helped earn David Moyes’ men a corner kick, from which Paul Scholes had to clear off the line from Andy Johnson’s header.

Giggs and Tevez continued to probe Everton’s defence, but United were finding it difficult to get in behind the back four. And when the Reds did manage to find space in the area just after the hour, the chance went begging. Ronaldo and Tevez combined on the edge of the box, culminating in Tevez lifting the ball over Joseph Yobo to find Scholes’ run, but the ball wouldn’t drop quickly enough and, under pressure from Lescott, the Reds midfielder volleyed over.

With that in mind Sir Alex brought on Saha in place of Giggs to add dynamism to United's attack. As against Sunderland, Saha brought with him hope of a late winner. Two minutes previously, Tevez had gone close with a 20-yard effort and Saha's arrival seemed to lift the Reds momentarily. But still there was no way through Everton's stubborn resistence.

Ronaldo went down in the area on 70 minutes and for a second it seemed as if referee Alan Wylie had pointed to the spot. He had actually given Everton a free-kick and booked Ronaldo for diving, even though television replays showed that Jagielka had clipped the Portuguese winger’s heels.

With the game entering the final ten minutes, the match appeared headed for a draw. And on account of Everton’s undoubted improvement this season, a draw at Goodison Park is by no means anything to be ashamed of. But in light of United dropping points against Reading, Portsmouth and Manchester City already this season, these were three points the Reds certainly needed.

The cavalry finally arrived in the 83rd minute. Patrice Evra won a corner on the left and Nemanja Vidic, so dangerous from set-pieces, found space at the front post to power home from Nani’s centre. It merely enhances the Serb's cult status among United's supporters, and the relief at seeing the ball hit the back of the net was almost immeasurable. Remarkably, it was United's first attempt on target.

But the drama wasn’t over there. James McFadden, Scotland’s hero against France in midweek, came on for Phil Neville and immediately tested Edwin van der Sar with a 20-yard effort. The Dutchman palmed away the shot, but it fell to substitute Victor Anichebe inside the six-yard area. United’s fans, hearts in mouths, must have winced, but Rio Ferdinand came to the rescue to block the Nigerian’s shot, before Yobo fired wide.

This isn’t the slick United we saw at this stage of last season, but with several key players returning to action from injury or suspension, it is another victory at least – the third 1-0 win in a row – and results under recent circumstances are all that matter.

Team Line-ups

Everton: Wessels; Hibbert, Yobo, Lescott, Baines; Osman (Pienaar, 72) P.Neville (McFadden, 84), Jagielka, Arteta; Johnson, Yakubu (Anichebe, 72).
Subs not used: Turner, Carsley.

Manchester United: Van der Sar; Brown, Ferdinand, Vidic, Silvestre (Nani, 40, Pique, 84); Ronaldo, Carrick, Scholes, Evra; Giggs (Saha, 62), Tevez.
Subs not used: Kuszczak, Gibson.

Source: ManUtd.com

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Raikkonen leads Ferrari one-two at Spa, Belgian GP - Qualifying

Kimi Raikkonen and Felipe Massa proved closely matched in qualifying for the Belgian Grand Prix as they locked-out an all Ferrari front row this afternoon. Just 0.017s separated the two over the 7.004 KM circuit, but it was Raikkonen who claimed the all-important Pole Position.

It was a relatively trouble-free run for the Ferrari duo, although a problem on Massa’s F2007 right at the start of the session was a concern for the Brazilian. Over at rivals McLaren, Fernando Alonso had it all to do on his final timed lap of the session after a spin at Rivage left him sitting provisionally tenth on the grid.

Alonso played it cool and his final lap was good enough to move him third fastest ahead of team-mate Lewis Hamilton who has not really got to grips with his MP4-22 this weekend. Hamilton starts fourth, but will be disappointed to be three-tenths off the pace of Alonso.

Robert Kubica suffered an engine problem in practice this morning and despite his efforts this afternoon to set the fifth fastest time, his ten position engine change penalty will see the Pole start the Belgian event back in 15th.

Nico Rosberg was sixth fastest and starts a very impressive fifth in his Williams Toyota. Team-mate Alex Wurz was almost a second off the pace of Rosberg in the second round of qualifying, and as a result did not make into the top ten shoot-out and lines up a disappointing 16th.

With Kubica relegated down the field, Nick Heidfeld is the leading BMW Sauber driver as he set the seventh fastest time and will line up sixth.

Mark Webber did a solid job to make it into the final round of qualifying, despite a miscue from the team that saw him miss his second run in Q2. Webber will start seventh in his Red Bull Renault with Coulthard 12th.

Jarno Trulli starts eighth in his Toyota, falling back a little compared to the positions occupied in practice. Ralf Schumacher did not make it into the third round of qualifying and starts 11th.

Heikki Kovalainen starts ninth in his Renault just ahead of Giancarlo Fisichella who did not make it into Q3. Given the pace of Kovalainen, 2.5 seconds off the pole, he probably has a relatively heady fuel load on board.

Jenson Button and Rubens Barrichello line up 13th and 18th for Honda, the car showing its failings at this circuit while Tonio Liuzzi did a good job in his Toro Rosso to make it into Q2. The Italian will start from 14th position, just ahead of the unfortunate Kubica. Team-mate Sebastian Vettel starts 17th.

It has been a struggle for Super Aguri this weekend and today was no different with Takuma Sato and Anthony Davidson qualifying 19th and 21st. Adrian Sutil led the way at Spyker Ferrari in 20th position with team-mate Sakon Yamamoto slowest in 22nd.

In a turn-around from last weekend at Monza, Spa Francorchamps seems very well suited to the Ferrari F2007 package.

Source: F1-Live.com

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English Premier League Today Fixtures, 15 September 2007

Everton - Manchester United

Portsmouth - Liverpool

Tottenham - Arsenal

Birmingham - Bolton

Sunderland - Reading

West Ham - Middlesbrough

Wigan - Fulham

Chelsea - Blackburn

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Rooney back in United squad to face Everton

Striker Wayne Rooney was included in Manchester United's squad to play at Everton on Saturday after more than a month out with a broken bone in his foot.

The England international has missed United's last four games after sustaining the injury in a goalless draw with Reading on August 12.

Manager Alex Ferguson will now decide what role to give Rooney against his former club, or whether to hold him back for the start of United's Champions League campaign against Sporting in Lisbon on Wednesday.

'He will travel with us. Whether I start him, put him on the bench, or the other option is to keep him until Wednesday, is something I have to decide,' Ferguson told reporters on Friday.

'We also have to take the medical advice from our doctor but he has trained very well.'

United will also be strengthened by the return from a three-match suspension of Cristiano Ronaldo as they look for a third straight win following their stuttering start to the season.

'It's a big plus for us,' Ferguson added. 'You miss players who make a difference and can change the pattern of a game and create opportunities for you. Also, his goalscoring form from last year is something we have missed.'

France striker Louis Saha looks likely to start his first game of the season after a goal-scoring return from injury as a substitute in United's 1-0 win over Sunderland a fortnight ago, while Ferguson can also call on Carlos Tevez as he looks to increase a goal tally of just four from United's opening six games.

'I think we have enough, for the first time, forward power to improve our chances of scoring,' said the United manager.

Midfielder Darren Fletcher has been ruled out for six weeks with a knee injury sustained on international duty with Scotland on Wednesday.

John O'Shea is also out for a 'number of weeks' with a knee problem but midfield anchorman Owen Hargreaves is close to fitness after missing England's European Championship qualifying wins over Israel and Russia with a thigh strain.

'There is not a lot wrong with him. He has trained quite well today. I don't know whether we'll risk that tomorrow. It's more likely he'll play on Wednesday against Sporting Lisbon,' Ferguson added.

Source: Soccernet.com

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Ferguson: Top teams punished for success

Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson has backed Liverpool counterpart Rafael Benitez's complaints over the Premier League fixture scheduling and claimed clubs like his own are being punished for their success.

Benitez is fuming at the number of Saturday lunchtime away games Liverpool find themselves involved in immediately after international breaks and Champions League weeks.

Manchester United often find themselves in the same situation and head to Everton tomorrow for a noon start at Goodison Park.

Although on this occasion the kick-off time has been determined by Merseyside Police rather than the TV companies, Ferguson does believe there is an issue to be addressed.

And the Red Devils chief is laying the blame squarely at the Premier League's door.

'Rafa is quite right to complain,' said Ferguson.

'If there is an unfairness against teams, it should be addressed but I don't know if the authorities would listen.

'Over the last five years, we have had more lunchtime kick-offs than anyone and you would think that deserves some kind of attention.

'The Premier League are to blame. I accept, given when the fixture lists come out, it is just unfortunate if you find yourself away from home after a European tie but Rafa is talking about the lunchtime kick-offs.'

Ferguson does accept pleasing every interested party is an impossible job for anyone.

And, in accepting an enormous £1.7billion cheque from Sky and Setanta for the domestic TV rights, the United manager also acknowledges the Premier League has given up any realistic control over kick-off times.

But he feels there are elements of unfairness about the way the Premier League handle certain situations, citing the differing examples of his own club and major title rivals Chelsea last year.

'Chelsea had a Sunday game against Tottenham and the Premier League changed it at their behest because they had a European tie the following Tuesday,' he said.

'That decision gave Chelsea three days to prepare, which is fine, except Tottenham had played their own European game on the previous Thursday, which left them with one-and-a-half days to prepare.

'There was no fairness there whatsoever.

'Then, when we asked for a Saturday lunchtime fixture at Manchester City to be changed because we had a Champions League semi-final the previous Wednesday, the Premier League said no, even though City had not played at all. That was wonderful.'

Ferguson continued: 'I do think the successful teams are punished.

'The top teams are always going to be televised at a time that suits the public demand. Sky and Setanta are always going to pick the successful teams for the prime-time games, you can't blame them for that given the amount of money they have put it.

'Money is important to every club now, so they do a deal. But once you shake hands with the devil, you have to accept they are in control.'

Source: Soccernet.com

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Shevchenko in for injured Drogba, and Lampard is out.

Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho has welcomed the return to form and fitness of Andriy Shevchenko and silenced suggestions the Ukrainian is not part of his plans.

The striker scored for his country during their Euro 2008 qualifiers in midweek, amid suggestions that he was upset at not being part of Chelsea's squad at the start of the season.

But Shevchenko, who underwent a groin operation towards the end of last season, proved his fitness on international duty and Mourinho is ready to welcome him back into the fold.

Shevchenko will almost certainly play some part in tomorrow's home clash with Blackburn because Ivory Coast striker Didier Drogba is missing.

He has not recovered from the knee injury he sustained in the closing moments of their defeat against Aston Villa.

Mourinho confirmed that both Drogba and England midfielder Frank Lampard would be absent from his line-up and there was a doubt about Claudio Pizarro, who was still on his way back from international duty with Peru.

But Mourinho said: 'Sheva is selected. It is good to have him back. We need every player. We are starting the period where we need everybody.

'We need to rotate players. We are now playing in three competitions at the same time. In the next two weeks, we have to play five matches and that's the story we are going to have, hopefully, until the of the season, playing in a lot competitions and matches.

'So we need every player with Drogba injured and with Pizarro still at this moment in the air and on the way back to London, the situation is not easy in attack.

'We need everybody and it is good to have Shevchenko back. He played two matches for his national team, the results were not good for his team but I saw the matches and especially, in the second one, I was happy with the way he performed. So yes, he is selected and he will have minutes tomorrow.'

Mourinho may not have selected the Ukrainian so far this season but he still believes Shevchenko is improving in every aspect of his game and, more importantly, the teamwork which is so vital to Chelsea.

Mourinho explained: 'Sometimes it is not just about fitness. Sometimes players have a great fitness situation and they are not performing well.

'I think he's improving in every aspect. Against Italy he played a good game not just because he scored the goal, football is not just about goals.

'I think his contribution to the team was positive. He brought to his game, some of the aspects I want him to bring. I was very happy watching that game. So I hope he can perform for us because we need him.

'Last Wednesday I was watching three or four matches at the same time - doing a lot of zipping. I was taping other matches to watch them all, I saw every one of my players except Essien in Saudi Arabia and I'm happy with the way he performed.'

Mourinho has already challenged his players to focus on winning the title back - starting with victory over Blackburn at Stamford Bridge tomorrow.

But while he still believes the Premier League is the best in the world, he knows it is now even harder than ever to cruise to the crown like they did in his first season in the English game.

Mourinho added: 'It is more than a race, every game is open I think things are better, teams are better because they have spent money.

'Teams bought good players, teams with ambitions. Newcastle wants more, Aston Villa, Blackburn, Middlesbrough, Fulham and West Ham. They all want more, everybody wants more.

'So I think the competition is very hard. I don't think the kind of points we had to be champions in the previous season or the number of points Manchester United won it with last year will happen.

'It is a difficult number to reach again because it is more difficult to win matches. I can see a much more competitive league not just because of the top teams but especially because of the other group I mentioned.'

Source: Socceernet.com

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Ballack not for sale!

Chelsea chief executive Peter Kenyon has warned Europe's top clubs that Michael Ballack is not for sale.

The Chelsea chief, speaking at the launch of a new sponsorship tie-up with Etihad Airways, also confirmed that the Germany captain's ankle injury was the sole reason for his absence from their Champions League squad.

Ballack's absence sparked fresh speculation that the midfielder would be sold in January's transfer window with Real Madrid favourites to land him.

But Kenyon insisted that Ballack will not be sold.

Kenyon declared: 'We should kill that one, not just for now but for January. There has been no discussions, the decision to leave Michael out of the squad is purely medical.

'Any suggestion it is surrounding a transfer in January is equal rubbish. That is just something that is not helpful to the player or the club and we should concentrate on the facts.'

Kenyon also spelled out the reasons for Ballack's omission and said the club were working hard with medical experts from Germany and around the globe to get him back on the pitch.

Kenyon added: 'There is no confusion, absolutely no confusion. The German medical team, our medical team and the player all know what the situation is.

'There's been several huge and incorrect misinterpretations going on with regards to Michael Ballack.

'The situation is very clear, he's injured. He's been injured for close to five months and he's still injured.

'Our only concern as Chelsea is getting him back fit to start playing, initially for Chelsea and then for Germany.

'It was unclear and it is still unclear when he will be available to return to play football and we as a football club, which is medical team and football club in general, took a decision with regards to his inclusion in the Champions League squad.

'It was all medically based. Since the start of Michael's injury there has been close co-operation and dialogue between our medical staff in which we've got not 100% faith but 200% faith and a whole array of specialists, not just from Germany but from around the world.

'There is no misinterpretation, there is no different diagnosis and 100% agreement on his rehab. Michael is fully aware and has bought into that situation.

'I have spoken to all parties concerned and as of today we all know where we are going and what our objectives are.

'We would like to draw a line under this situation once and for all. We would like to move on.'

Source: Soccernet.com

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