Man City Up for Title Race-Kompany

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY301eTghVh3PjIujeXZVgGv2bvY5HA8j_294ShaxggQ1Oz2FCbc_hB48OHUhznSJlRvWH5EbZ2DUbx-R4IZgI5PoXl0pmEylr53BYkoGLTN3tU2izTQZF1EqKfjvWhRcraY2wNv9FM07C/s1600/original.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="275" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY301eTghVh3PjIujeXZVgGv2bvY5HA8j_294ShaxggQ1Oz2FCbc_hB48OHUhznSJlRvWH5EbZ2DUbx-R4IZgI5PoXl0pmEylr53BYkoGLTN3tU2izTQZF1EqKfjvWhRcraY2wNv9FM07C/s1600/original.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><a name="more"></a><br /><div style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 16px; padding: 8px 0px 10px; vertical-align: baseline;"><b style="background: transparent; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Vincent Kompany insists Manchester City have the big-match pedigree to get their Barclays Premier League title defence back on track when they visit Chelsea a week on Saturday.</b></div><blockquote style="background: rgb(5, 5, 40); border: 0px; color: white; float: right; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 17px; margin: 0.75em 0px 1em 1.5em; padding: 1.5em; quotes: none; text-indent: -0.5em; vertical-align: baseline; width: 165px;">"We are always liable to kick off a massive run because that's the kind of <span class="qxb27z86272z" id="qxb27z86272z_10" style="background: transparent; border-bottom-width: 1px !important; border-style: none none solid !important; color: rgb(76, 76, 255) !important; cursor: pointer; display: inline !important; float: none; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: normal; height: 14px; line-height: inherit; list-style: none; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important; text-decoration: underline !important; vertical-align: baseline;">club</span> that we are"<br /><b style="background: transparent; border: 0px; color: #8ab6d6; font-family: inherit; font-size: 12px; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Vincent Kompany</b></blockquote><div style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 16px; padding: 8px 0px 10px; vertical-align: baseline;">City are five points behind Jose Mourinho's leaders after a 2-0 <span class="qxb27z86272z" id="qxb27z86272z_8" style="background: transparent; border-bottom-width: 1px !important; border-style: none none solid !important; color: rgb(76, 76, 255) !important; cursor: pointer; display: inline !important; float: none; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; height: 12px; line-height: inherit; list-style: none; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important; text-decoration: underline !important; vertical-align: baseline;">home</span> defeat by Arsenal, which prompted manager Manuel Pellegrini to state that the champions’ visit to <span class="qxb27z86272z" id="qxb27z86272z_6" style="background: transparent; border-bottom-width: 1px !important; border-style: none none solid !important; color: rgb(76, 76, 255) !important; cursor: pointer; display: inline !important; float: none; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; height: 12px; line-height: inherit; list-style: none; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important; text-decoration: underline !important; vertical-align: baseline;">Stamford Bridge</span>a week on Saturday is decisive to their title defence. Kompany is adamant his side will be raring to go and ready to embrace the challenge of <a href="http://www.premierleague.com/en-gb/news/news/2014-15/jan/210115-man-city-have-big-match-pedigree-to-win-title-says-vincent-kompany.html#" id="_GPLITA_0" in_rurl="http://s.srv-itx.com/click?v=VVM6Nzg0NTc6NDpzZWN1cmU6MGJkMzYxZmZiYWI2OTg5ZDMzY2VjMzRlZmIxM2JhMjA6ei0yMjQ3LTE2Mzg5NzU0Ond3dy5wcmVtaWVybGVhZ3VlLmNvbToyMzIzMjY6MWJmYzQyMzhhMDkyOThjZjc4NGE2ZTM3ZjU1MWVjYmU6Nzk0NTVlNzY3YzM5NDEzNWEwMjRhOTEwMjI1OWZkYWM6MDpkYXRhX3NzLDcyOHgxMzY2O2RhdGFfZmIsbm87OjQ0MjE4MDE&subid=g-16389754-ec573a63a27449f2802f28006d9449cc-&data_ss=728x1366&data_fb=no&data_tagname=P" style="background: transparent !important; border: none !important; color: #050528; cursor: pointer; display: inline-block !important; float: none !important; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: bold !important; height: auto !important; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px !important; min-height: 0px !important; min-width: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important; text-transform: uppercase !important; vertical-align: baseline !important; width: auto !important;" title="Click to Continue > by InText">SECURING<img src="http://cdncache-a.akamaihd.net/items/it/img/arrow-10x10.png" style="background: transparent !important; border: none !important; display: inline-block !important; float: none !important; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; height: 10px !important; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 0px 3px !important; min-height: 0px !important; min-width: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important; vertical-align: super !important; width: 10px !important;" /></a> three points in London.</div><div style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 16px; padding: 8px 0px 10px; vertical-align: baseline;">"In theory, it should be better for us now because we will be fired up for that <span class="qxb27z86272z" id="qxb27z86272z_1" style="background: transparent; border-bottom-width: 1px !important; border-style: none none solid !important; color: rgb(76, 76, 255) !important; cursor: pointer; display: inline !important; float: none; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; height: 12px; line-height: inherit; list-style: none; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important; text-decoration: underline !important; vertical-align: baseline;">more</span>, definitely," the captain told <a class="external" href="http://www.mcfc.co.uk/" rel=" external" style="background: transparent; border: 0px; color: #050528; cursor: pointer; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank">mcfc.co.uk</a>. "We have always been great in <span class="qxb27z86272z" id="qxb27z86272z_11" style="background: transparent; border-bottom-width: 1px !important; border-style: none none solid !important; color: rgb(76, 76, 255) !important; cursor: pointer; display: inline !important; float: none; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; height: 12px; line-height: inherit; list-style: none; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important; text-decoration: underline !important; vertical-align: baseline;">games</span> like this so I'm looking forward to it.</div><div style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 16px; padding: 8px 0px 10px; vertical-align: baseline;">"You want to win, always, so any result that's not a victory you are disappointed. But we've been in situations like this before and it won't affect the way we look at the Premier League. We will just make sure we are better the next game. We are always liable to kick off a massive run because that's the kind of club that we are. Maybe this run has stopped, but the next one should be coming soon, hopefully."</div><div style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 16px; padding: 8px 0px 10px; vertical-align: baseline;">City have already clawed back one big deficit on Chelsea this season, with a run of eight wins and a draw from nine <span class="qxb27z86272z" id="qxb27z86272z_4" style="background: transparent; border-bottom-width: 1px !important; border-style: none none solid !important; color: rgb(76, 76, 255) !important; cursor: pointer; display: inline !important; float: none; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; height: 12px; line-height: inherit; list-style: none; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important; text-decoration: underline !important; vertical-align: baseline;">Barclays Premier League</span> matches between late November and New Year's Day helping them to draw level at the top after being eight points behind Jose Mourinho's team.</div><table border="1" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="0" style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border-collapse: collapse; border-spacing: 0px; border: 0px; color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; height: 50px; line-height: 13px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 479px;"><tbody style="background: transparent; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-style: none; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><tr style="background: transparent; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><th colspan="6" style="background: rgb(99, 158, 200); border: 1px solid rgb(99, 158, 200); color: white; font-size: 13px; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: 16px; margin: 0px; padding: 3px 5px; text-transform: uppercase; vertical-align: middle;">BRIDGING THE GAP ON CHELSEA 2014/15</th></tr><tr style="background: transparent; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><td style="background: transparent; border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); font-size: 13px; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 16px; margin: 0px; padding: 3px 5px; text-align: center; vertical-align: middle;"><b style="background: transparent; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Date</b></td><td style="background: transparent; border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); font-size: 13px; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 16px; margin: 0px; padding: 3px 5px; text-align: center; vertical-align: middle;"><b style="background: transparent; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Team</b></td><td style="background: transparent; border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); font-size: 13px; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 16px; margin: 0px; padding: 3px 5px; text-align: center; vertical-align: middle;"><b style="background: transparent; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Pos</b></td><td style="background: transparent; border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); font-size: 13px; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 16px; margin: 0px; padding: 3px 5px; text-align: center; vertical-align: middle;"><b style="background: transparent; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Pts</b></td><td style="background: transparent; border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); font-size: 13px; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 16px; margin: 0px; padding: 3px 5px; text-align: center; vertical-align: middle;"><b style="background: transparent; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">GD</b></td><td style="background: transparent; border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); font-size: 13px; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 16px; margin: 0px; padding: 3px 5px; text-align: center; vertical-align: middle;"><b style="background: transparent; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Pts gap</b></td></tr><tr style="background: transparent; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><td style="background: transparent; border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); font-size: 13px; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 16px; margin: 0px; padding: 3px 5px; text-align: center; vertical-align: middle;">29 Nov</td><td style="background: transparent; border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); font-size: 13px; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 16px; margin: 0px; padding: 3px 5px; text-align: center; vertical-align: middle;">Chelsea</td><td style="background: transparent; border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); font-size: 13px; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 16px; margin: 0px; padding: 3px 5px; text-align: center; vertical-align: middle;">1</td><td style="background: transparent; border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); font-size: 13px; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 16px; margin: 0px; padding: 3px 5px; text-align: center; vertical-align: middle;">33</td><td style="background: transparent; border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); font-size: 13px; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 16px; margin: 0px; padding: 3px 5px; text-align: center; vertical-align: middle;">19</td><td style="background: transparent; border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); font-size: 13px; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 16px; margin: 0px; padding: 3px 5px; text-align: center; vertical-align: middle;"> </td></tr><tr style="background: transparent; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><td style="background: transparent; border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); font-size: 13px; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 16px; margin: 0px; padding: 3px 5px; text-align: center; vertical-align: middle;"> </td><td style="background: transparent; border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); font-size: 13px; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 16px; margin: 0px; padding: 3px 5px; text-align: center; vertical-align: middle;">Man City</td><td style="background: transparent; border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); font-size: 13px; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 16px; margin: 0px; padding: 3px 5px; text-align: center; vertical-align: middle;">3</td><td style="background: transparent; border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); font-size: 13px; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 16px; margin: 0px; padding: 3px 5px; text-align: center; vertical-align: middle;">24</td><td style="background: transparent; border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); font-size: 13px; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 16px; margin: 0px; padding: 3px 5px; text-align: center; vertical-align: middle;">11</td><td style="background: transparent; border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); font-size: 13px; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 16px; margin: 0px; padding: 3px 5px; text-align: center; vertical-align: middle;">-9</td></tr><tr style="background: transparent; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><td style="background: transparent; border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); font-size: 13px; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 16px; margin: 0px; padding: 3px 5px; text-align: center; vertical-align: middle;">3 Dec</td><td style="background: transparent; border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); font-size: 13px; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 16px; margin: 0px; padding: 3px 5px; text-align: center; vertical-align: middle;">Chelsea</td><td style="background: transparent; border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); font-size: 13px; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 16px; margin: 0px; padding: 3px 5px; text-align: center; vertical-align: middle;">1</td><td style="background: transparent; border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); font-size: 13px; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 16px; margin: 0px; padding: 3px 5px; text-align: center; vertical-align: middle;">36</td><td style="background: transparent; border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); font-size: 13px; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 16px; margin: 0px; padding: 3px 5px; text-align: center; vertical-align: middle;">22</td><td style="background: transparent; border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); font-size: 13px; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 16px; margin: 0px; padding: 3px 5px; text-align: center; vertical-align: middle;"> </td></tr><tr style="background: transparent; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><td style="background: transparent; border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); font-size: 13px; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 16px; margin: 0px; padding: 3px 5px; text-align: center; vertical-align: middle;"> </td><td style="background: transparent; border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); font-size: 13px; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 16px; margin: 0px; padding: 3px 5px; text-align: center; vertical-align: middle;">Man City</td><td style="background: transparent; border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); font-size: 13px; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 16px; margin: 0px; padding: 3px 5px; text-align: center; vertical-align: middle;">2</td><td style="background: transparent; border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); font-size: 13px; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 16px; margin: 0px; padding: 3px 5px; text-align: center; vertical-align: middle;">30</td><td style="background: transparent; border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); font-size: 13px; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 16px; margin: 0px; padding: 3px 5px; text-align: center; vertical-align: middle;">17</td><td style="background: transparent; border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); font-size: 13px; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 16px; margin: 0px; padding: 3px 5px; text-align: center; vertical-align: middle;">-6</td></tr><tr style="background: transparent; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><td style="background: transparent; border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); font-size: 13px; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 16px; margin: 0px; padding: 3px 5px; text-align: center; vertical-align: middle;">1 Jan</td><td style="background: transparent; border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); font-size: 13px; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 16px; margin: 0px; padding: 3px 5px; text-align: center; vertical-align: middle;">Chelsea</td><td style="background: transparent; border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); font-size: 13px; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 16px; margin: 0px; padding: 3px 5px; text-align: center; vertical-align: middle;">1</td><td style="background: transparent; border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); font-size: 13px; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 16px; margin: 0px; padding: 3px 5px; text-align: center; vertical-align: middle;">46</td><td style="background: transparent; border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); font-size: 13px; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 16px; margin: 0px; padding: 3px 5px; text-align: center; vertical-align: middle;">25</td><td style="background: transparent; border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); font-size: 13px; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 16px; margin: 0px; padding: 3px 5px; text-align: center; vertical-align: middle;"> </td></tr><tr style="background: transparent; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><td style="background: transparent; border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); font-size: 13px; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 16px; margin: 0px; padding: 3px 5px; text-align: center; vertical-align: middle;"> </td><td style="background: transparent; border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); font-size: 13px; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 16px; margin: 0px; padding: 3px 5px; text-align: center; vertical-align: middle;">Man City</td><td style="background: transparent; border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); font-size: 13px; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 16px; margin: 0px; padding: 3px 5px; text-align: center; vertical-align: middle;">2</td><td style="background: transparent; border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); font-size: 13px; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 16px; margin: 0px; padding: 3px 5px; text-align: center; vertical-align: middle;">46</td><td style="background: transparent; border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); font-size: 13px; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 16px; margin: 0px; padding: 3px 5px; text-align: center; vertical-align: middle;">25</td><td style="background: transparent; border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); font-size: 13px; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 16px; margin: 0px; padding: 3px 5px; text-align: center; vertical-align: middle;">0</td></tr><tr style="background: transparent; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><td style="background: transparent; border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); font-size: 13px; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 16px; margin: 0px; padding: 3px 5px; text-align: center; vertical-align: middle;">21 Jan</td><td style="background: transparent; border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); font-size: 13px; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 16px; margin: 0px; padding: 3px 5px; text-align: center; vertical-align: middle;">Chelsea</td><td style="background: transparent; border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); font-size: 13px; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 16px; margin: 0px; padding: 3px 5px; text-align: center; vertical-align: middle;">1</td><td style="background: transparent; border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); font-size: 13px; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 16px; margin: 0px; padding: 3px 5px; text-align: center; vertical-align: middle;">52</td><td style="background: transparent; border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); font-size: 13px; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 16px; margin: 0px; padding: 3px 5px; text-align: center; vertical-align: middle;">32</td><td style="background: transparent; border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); font-size: 13px; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 16px; margin: 0px; padding: 3px 5px; text-align: center; vertical-align: middle;"> </td></tr><tr style="background: transparent; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><td style="background: transparent; border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); font-size: 13px; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 16px; margin: 0px; padding: 3px 5px; text-align: center; vertical-align: middle;"> </td><td style="background: transparent; border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); font-size: 13px; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 16px; margin: 0px; padding: 3px 5px; text-align: center; vertical-align: middle;">Man City</td><td style="background: transparent; border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); font-size: 13px; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 16px; margin: 0px; padding: 3px 5px; text-align: center; vertical-align: middle;">2</td><td style="background: transparent; border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); font-size: 13px; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 16px; margin: 0px; padding: 3px 5px; text-align: center; vertical-align: middle;">47</td><td style="background: transparent; border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); font-size: 13px; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 16px; margin: 0px; padding: 3px 5px; text-align: center; vertical-align: middle;">23</td><td style="background: transparent; border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); font-size: 13px; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 16px; margin: 0px; padding: 3px 5px; text-align: center; vertical-align: middle;">-5</td></tr></tbody></table><h4 style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border-bottom-style: none; border-width: 0px; color: #639ec8; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin: 15px 0px 12px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Fighting pedigree</h4><div style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 16px; padding: 8px 0px 10px; vertical-align: baseline;">A 1-1 stalemate at Everton and the damaging defeat by Arsenal means City have plenty of work to do again, but past exploits suggest Pellegrini's men are up to the task.</div><blockquote style="background: rgb(5, 5, 40); border: 0px; color: white; float: right; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 17px; margin: 0.75em 0px 1em 1.5em; padding: 1.5em; quotes: none; text-indent: -0.5em; vertical-align: baseline; width: 165px;">"If you had said that to us a month ago we would have said, yes we will take it"<br /><b style="background: transparent; border: 0px; color: #8ab6d6; font-family: inherit; font-size: 12px; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Vincent Kompany</b></blockquote><div style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 16px; padding: 8px 0px 10px; vertical-align: baseline;">City finished with six straight wins to edge out neighbours Man Utd on goal difference three years ago and again came on strongly in the closing stages with five consecutive victories to overhaul Liverpool <span class="qxb27z86272z" id="qxb27z86272z_7" style="background: transparent; border-bottom-width: 1px !important; border-style: none none solid !important; color: rgb(76, 76, 255) !important; cursor: pointer; display: inline !important; float: none; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; height: 12px; line-height: inherit; list-style: none; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important; text-decoration: underline !important; vertical-align: baseline;">last</span> season. With several key<span class="qxb27z86272z" id="qxb27z86272z_5" style="background: transparent; border-bottom-width: 1px !important; border-style: none none solid !important; color: rgb(76, 76, 255) !important; cursor: pointer; display: inline !important; float: none; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; height: 12px; line-height: inherit; list-style: none; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important; text-decoration: underline !important; vertical-align: baseline;">players</span> just returning from injury and others on the road to recovery, as well as their new signing, Wilfried Bony, due to arrive after the Africa Cup of Nations, Kompany believes City will be well placed to stage another late rally once everyone is fully up to speed.</div><table border="1" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="0" style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border-collapse: collapse; border-spacing: 0px; border: 0px; color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; height: 50px; line-height: 13px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 479px;"><tbody style="background: transparent; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-style: none; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><tr style="background: transparent; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><th colspan="6" style="background: rgb(99, 158, 200); border: 1px solid rgb(99, 158, 200); color: white; font-size: 13px; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: 16px; margin: 0px; padding: 3px 5px; text-transform: uppercase; vertical-align: middle;">BRIDGING THE GAP ON MAN UTD TO WIN 2011/12 TITLE</th></tr><tr style="background: transparent; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><td style="background: transparent; border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); font-size: 13px; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 16px; margin: 0px; padding: 3px 5px; text-align: center; vertical-align: middle;"><b style="background: transparent; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Date</b></td><td style="background: transparent; border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); font-size: 13px; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 16px; margin: 0px; padding: 3px 5px; text-align: center; vertical-align: middle;"><b style="background: transparent; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Team</b></td><td style="background: transparent; border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); font-size: 13px; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 16px; margin: 0px; padding: 3px 5px; text-align: center; vertical-align: middle;"><b style="background: transparent; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Pos</b></td><td style="background: transparent; border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); font-size: 13px; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 16px; margin: 0px; padding: 3px 5px; text-align: center; vertical-align: middle;"><b style="background: transparent; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Pts</b></td><td style="background: transparent; border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); font-size: 13px; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 16px; margin: 0px; padding: 3px 5px; text-align: center; vertical-align: middle;"><b style="background: transparent; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">GD</b></td><td style="background: transparent; border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); font-size: 13px; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 16px; margin: 0px; padding: 3px 5px; text-align: center; vertical-align: middle;"><b style="background: transparent; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Pts gap</b></td></tr><tr style="background: transparent; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><td style="background: transparent; border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); font-size: 13px; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 16px; margin: 0px; padding: 3px 5px; text-align: center; vertical-align: middle;">8 Apr</td><td style="background: transparent; border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); font-size: 13px; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 16px; margin: 0px; padding: 3px 5px; text-align: center; vertical-align: middle;">Man Utd</td><td style="background: transparent; border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); font-size: 13px; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 16px; margin: 0px; padding: 3px 5px; text-align: center; vertical-align: middle;">1</td><td style="background: transparent; border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); font-size: 13px; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 16px; margin: 0px; padding: 3px 5px; text-align: center; vertical-align: middle;">79</td><td style="background: transparent; border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); font-size: 13px; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 16px; margin: 0px; padding: 3px 5px; text-align: center; vertical-align: middle;">51</td><td style="background: transparent; border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); font-size: 13px; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 16px; margin: 0px; padding: 3px 5px; text-align: center; vertical-align: middle;"> </td></tr><tr style="background: transparent; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><td style="background: transparent; border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); font-size: 13px; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 16px; margin: 0px; padding: 3px 5px; text-align: center; vertical-align: middle;"> </td><td style="background: transparent; border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); font-size: 13px; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 16px; margin: 0px; padding: 3px 5px; text-align: center; vertical-align: middle;">Man City</td><td style="background: transparent; border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); font-size: 13px; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 16px; margin: 0px; padding: 3px 5px; text-align: center; vertical-align: middle;">2</td><td style="background: transparent; border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); font-size: 13px; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 16px; margin: 0px; padding: 3px 5px; text-align: center; vertical-align: middle;">71</td><td style="background: transparent; border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); font-size: 13px; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 16px; margin: 0px; padding: 3px 5px; text-align: center; vertical-align: middle;">49</td><td style="background: transparent; border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); font-size: 13px; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 16px; margin: 0px; padding: 3px 5px; text-align: center; vertical-align: middle;">-8</td></tr><tr style="background: transparent; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><td style="background: transparent; border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); font-size: 13px; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 16px; margin: 0px; padding: 3px 5px; text-align: center; vertical-align: middle;">24 Apr</td><td style="background: transparent; border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); font-size: 13px; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 16px; margin: 0px; padding: 3px 5px; text-align: center; vertical-align: middle;">Man Utd</td><td style="background: transparent; border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); font-size: 13px; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 16px; margin: 0px; padding: 3px 5px; text-align: center; vertical-align: middle;">1</td><td style="background: transparent; border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); font-size: 13px; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 16px; margin: 0px; padding: 3px 5px; text-align: center; vertical-align: middle;">83</td><td style="background: transparent; border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); font-size: 13px; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 16px; margin: 0px; padding: 3px 5px; text-align: center; vertical-align: middle;">54</td><td style="background: transparent; border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); font-size: 13px; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 16px; margin: 0px; padding: 3px 5px; text-align: center; vertical-align: middle;"> </td></tr><tr style="background: transparent; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><td style="background: transparent; border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); font-size: 13px; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 16px; margin: 0px; padding: 3px 5px; text-align: center; vertical-align: middle;"> </td><td style="background: transparent; border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); font-size: 13px; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 16px; margin: 0px; padding: 3px 5px; text-align: center; vertical-align: middle;">Man City</td><td style="background: transparent; border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); font-size: 13px; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 16px; margin: 0px; padding: 3px 5px; text-align: center; vertical-align: middle;">2</td><td style="background: transparent; border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); font-size: 13px; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 16px; margin: 0px; padding: 3px 5px; text-align: center; vertical-align: middle;">80</td><td style="background: transparent; border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); font-size: 13px; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 16px; margin: 0px; padding: 3px 5px; text-align: center; vertical-align: middle;">60</td><td style="background: transparent; border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); font-size: 13px; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 16px; margin: 0px; padding: 3px 5px; text-align: center; vertical-align: middle;">-3</td></tr><tr style="background: transparent; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><td style="background: transparent; border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); font-size: 13px; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 16px; margin: 0px; padding: 3px 5px; text-align: center; vertical-align: middle;">13 May</td><td style="background: transparent; border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); font-size: 13px; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 16px; margin: 0px; padding: 3px 5px; text-align: center; vertical-align: middle;">Man City</td><td style="background: transparent; border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); font-size: 13px; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 16px; margin: 0px; padding: 3px 5px; text-align: center; vertical-align: middle;">1</td><td style="background: transparent; border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); font-size: 13px; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 16px; margin: 0px; padding: 3px 5px; text-align: center; vertical-align: middle;">89</td><td style="background: transparent; border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); font-size: 13px; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 16px; margin: 0px; padding: 3px 5px; text-align: center; vertical-align: middle;">64</td><td style="background: transparent; border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); font-size: 13px; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 16px; margin: 0px; padding: 3px 5px; text-align: center; vertical-align: middle;"> </td></tr><tr style="background: transparent; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><td style="background: transparent; border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); font-size: 13px; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 16px; margin: 0px; padding: 3px 5px; text-align: center; vertical-align: middle;"> </td><td style="background: transparent; border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); font-size: 13px; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 16px; margin: 0px; padding: 3px 5px; text-align: center; vertical-align: middle;">Man Utd</td><td style="background: transparent; border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); font-size: 13px; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 16px; margin: 0px; padding: 3px 5px; text-align: center; vertical-align: middle;">2</td><td style="background: transparent; border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); font-size: 13px; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 16px; margin: 0px; padding: 3px 5px; text-align: center; vertical-align: middle;">89</td><td style="background: transparent; border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); font-size: 13px; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 16px; margin: 0px; padding: 3px 5px; text-align: center; vertical-align: middle;">56</td><td style="background: transparent; border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); font-size: 13px; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 16px; margin: 0px; padding: 3px 5px; text-align: center; vertical-align: middle;">0</td></tr></tbody></table><div style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 16px; padding: 8px 0px 10px; vertical-align: baseline;">The City captain has missed eight Barclays Premier League matches this season and was returning from over a month on the sidelines against Arsenal after suffering a recurrence of a hamstring strain. With extra time to prepare for the crucial Chelsea match, Kompany will be working hard to recapture his sharpness before facing the attacking threat of Diego Costa, Eden Hazard and Co.</div><div style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 16px; padding: 8px 0px 10px; vertical-align: baseline;">"I want to be back stronger for that match and to be fair, except for the result against Arsenal, it was a good game back," the 28-year-old said. "So going two, three, four games in, it's good for me and I've come back at the right time as well.</div><table border="1" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="0" style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border-collapse: collapse; border-spacing: 0px; border: 0px; color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; height: 50px; line-height: 13px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 479px;"><tbody style="background: transparent; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-style: none; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><tr style="background: transparent; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><th colspan="6" style="background: rgb(99, 158, 200); border: 1px solid rgb(99, 158, 200); color: white; font-size: 13px; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: 16px; margin: 0px; padding: 3px 5px; text-align: center; text-transform: uppercase; vertical-align: middle;">BRIDGING THE GAP ON LIVERPOOL TO WIN 2013/14 TITLE</th></tr><tr style="background: transparent; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><td style="background: transparent; border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); font-size: 13px; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 16px; margin: 0px; padding: 3px 5px; text-align: center; vertical-align: middle;"><b style="background: transparent; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Date</b></td><td style="background: transparent; border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); font-size: 13px; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 16px; margin: 0px; padding: 3px 5px; text-align: center; vertical-align: middle;"><b style="background: transparent; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Team</b></td><td style="background: transparent; border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); font-size: 13px; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 16px; margin: 0px; padding: 3px 5px; text-align: center; vertical-align: middle;"><b style="background: transparent; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Pos</b></td><td style="background: transparent; border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); font-size: 13px; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 16px; margin: 0px; padding: 3px 5px; text-align: center; vertical-align: middle;"><b style="background: transparent; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Pts</b></td><td style="background: transparent; border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); font-size: 13px; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 16px; margin: 0px; padding: 3px 5px; text-align: center; vertical-align: middle;"><b style="background: transparent; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">GD</b></td><td style="background: transparent; border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); font-size: 13px; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 16px; margin: 0px; padding: 3px 5px; text-align: center; vertical-align: middle;"><b style="background: transparent; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Pts gap</b></td></tr><tr style="background: transparent; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><td style="background: transparent; border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); font-size: 13px; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 16px; margin: 0px; padding: 3px 5px; text-align: center; vertical-align: middle;">15 Apr</td><td style="background: transparent; border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); font-size: 13px; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 16px; margin: 0px; padding: 3px 5px; text-align: center; vertical-align: middle;">Liverpool</td><td style="background: transparent; border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); font-size: 13px; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 16px; margin: 0px; padding: 3px 5px; text-align: center; vertical-align: middle;">1</td><td style="background: transparent; border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); font-size: 13px; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 16px; margin: 0px; padding: 3px 5px; text-align: center; vertical-align: middle;">77</td><td style="background: transparent; border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); font-size: 13px; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 16px; margin: 0px; padding: 3px 5px; text-align: center; vertical-align: middle;">51</td><td style="background: transparent; border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); font-size: 13px; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 16px; margin: 0px; padding: 3px 5px; text-align: center; vertical-align: middle;"> </td></tr><tr style="background: transparent; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><td style="background: transparent; border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); font-size: 13px; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 16px; margin: 0px; padding: 3px 5px; text-align: center; vertical-align: middle;"> </td><td style="background: transparent; border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); font-size: 13px; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 16px; margin: 0px; padding: 3px 5px; text-align: center; vertical-align: middle;">Man City</td><td style="background: transparent; border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); font-size: 13px; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 16px; margin: 0px; padding: 3px 5px; text-align: center; vertical-align: middle;">3</td><td style="background: transparent; border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); font-size: 13px; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 16px; margin: 0px; padding: 3px 5px; text-align: center; vertical-align: middle;">70</td><td style="background: transparent; border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); font-size: 13px; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 16px; margin: 0px; padding: 3px 5px; text-align: center; vertical-align: middle;">54</td><td style="background: transparent; border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); font-size: 13px; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 16px; margin: 0px; padding: 3px 5px; text-align: center; vertical-align: middle;">-7</td></tr><tr style="background: transparent; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><td style="background: transparent; border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); font-size: 13px; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 16px; margin: 0px; padding: 3px 5px; text-align: center; vertical-align: middle;">28 Apr</td><td style="background: transparent; border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); font-size: 13px; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 16px; margin: 0px; padding: 3px 5px; text-align: center; vertical-align: middle;">Liverpool</td><td style="background: transparent; border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); font-size: 13px; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 16px; margin: 0px; padding: 3px 5px; text-align: center; vertical-align: middle;">1</td><td style="background: transparent; border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); font-size: 13px; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 16px; margin: 0px; padding: 3px 5px; text-align: center; vertical-align: middle;">80</td><td style="background: transparent; border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); font-size: 13px; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 16px; margin: 0px; padding: 3px 5px; text-align: center; vertical-align: middle;">50</td><td style="background: transparent; border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); font-size: 13px; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 16px; margin: 0px; padding: 3px 5px; text-align: center; vertical-align: middle;"> </td></tr><tr style="background: transparent; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><td style="background: transparent; border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); font-size: 13px; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 16px; margin: 0px; padding: 3px 5px; text-align: center; vertical-align: middle;"> </td><td style="background: transparent; border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); font-size: 13px; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 16px; margin: 0px; padding: 3px 5px; text-align: center; vertical-align: middle;">Man City</td><td style="background: transparent; border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); font-size: 13px; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 16px; margin: 0px; padding: 3px 5px; text-align: center; vertical-align: middle;">3</td><td style="background: transparent; border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); font-size: 13px; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 16px; margin: 0px; padding: 3px 5px; text-align: center; vertical-align: middle;">77</td><td style="background: transparent; border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); font-size: 13px; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 16px; margin: 0px; padding: 3px 5px; text-align: center; vertical-align: middle;">58</td><td style="background: transparent; border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); font-size: 13px; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 16px; margin: 0px; padding: 3px 5px; text-align: center; vertical-align: middle;">-3</td></tr><tr style="background: transparent; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><td style="background: transparent; border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); font-size: 13px; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 16px; margin: 0px; padding: 3px 5px; text-align: center; vertical-align: middle;">11 May</td><td style="background: transparent; border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); font-size: 13px; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 16px; margin: 0px; padding: 3px 5px; text-align: center; vertical-align: middle;">Man City</td><td style="background: transparent; border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); font-size: 13px; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 16px; margin: 0px; padding: 3px 5px; text-align: center; vertical-align: middle;">1</td><td style="background: transparent; border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); font-size: 13px; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 16px; margin: 0px; padding: 3px 5px; text-align: center; vertical-align: middle;">86</td><td style="background: transparent; border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); font-size: 13px; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 16px; margin: 0px; padding: 3px 5px; text-align: center; vertical-align: middle;">65</td><td style="background: transparent; border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); font-size: 13px; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 16px; margin: 0px; padding: 3px 5px; text-align: center; vertical-align: middle;"> </td></tr><tr style="background: transparent; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><td style="background: transparent; border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); font-size: 13px; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 16px; margin: 0px; padding: 3px 5px; text-align: center; vertical-align: middle;"> </td><td style="background: transparent; border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); font-size: 13px; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 16px; margin: 0px; padding: 3px 5px; text-align: center; vertical-align: middle;">Liverpool</td><td style="background: transparent; border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); font-size: 13px; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 16px; margin: 0px; padding: 3px 5px; text-align: center; vertical-align: middle;">2</td><td style="background: transparent; border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); font-size: 13px; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 16px; margin: 0px; padding: 3px 5px; text-align: center; vertical-align: middle;">84</td><td style="background: transparent; border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); font-size: 13px; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 16px; margin: 0px; padding: 3px 5px; text-align: center; vertical-align: middle;">51</td><td style="background: transparent; border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); font-size: 13px; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 16px; margin: 0px; padding: 3px 5px; text-align: center; vertical-align: middle;">+2</td></tr></tbody></table><div style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 16px; padding: 8px 0px 10px; vertical-align: baseline;"><br />"We have the same desire as what I have seen year in, year out and that will never change. We have been without Kun [Sergio Aguero], myself, Yaya [Toure] and David Silva for a long period of time and yet we are still only five points behind Chelsea.</div><div style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 16px; padding: 8px 0px 10px; vertical-align: baseline;">"If you had said that to us a month ago we would have said, yes we will take it. It's good and there are <span class="qxb27z86272z" id="qxb27z86272z_12" style="background: transparent; border-bottom-width: 1px !important; border-style: none none solid !important; color: rgb(76, 76, 255) !important; cursor: pointer; display: inline !important; float: none; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; height: 12px; line-height: inherit; list-style: none; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important; text-decoration: underline !important; vertical-align: baseline;">highs and lows</span> – that's what it's all about."</div><div style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 16px; padding: 8px 0px 10px; vertical-align: baseline;">Credit-Premierleague.com</div><iframe src="//www.facebook.com/plugins/share_button.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fdevelopers.facebook.com%2Fdocs%2Fplugins%2F&layout=button" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" style="border:none; overflow:hidden;" allowTransparency="true"></iframe>

Man City Up for Title Race-Kompany

Vincent Kompany insists Manchester City have the big-match pedigree to get their Barclays Premier League title defence back on track when th...

Read more »

Mikel: A good place

<img height="266" src="http://www.chelseafc.com/content/cfc/en/homepage/news/boilerplate-config/latest-news/2015/01/mikel--liverpool-reaction.hero.png" width="640" /><br /><a name="more"></a><br /><div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: Syntax, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><span class="summary-text" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; color: #595959; font-size: 19px; font-weight: 600; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 15px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility;"><a href="http://www.chelseafc.com/teams/first-team/john-mikel-obi.html" style="box-sizing: border-box; text-decoration: none;">John Mikel Obi</a> considered the result at Anfield last night a positive one but also acknowledged there remains plenty of work to do back at the Bridge next week.</span></div><div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: Syntax, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 10px;">The midfielder returned to the starting XI for the first time since our last cup outing, against Watford earlier this month, playing alongside <a href="http://www.chelseafc.com/teams/first-team/nemanja-matic.html" style="box-sizing: border-box; text-decoration: none;">Nemanja Matic</a> in the middle of midfield. The man whose history with the Blues dates back long enough to recall past knockout ties between Liverpool and Chelsea offered his verdict on this year’s Capital One Cup semi-final first leg.</div><div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: Syntax, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 10px;">‘We were a bit disappointed to concede the goal but I think overall it’s a good result,’ was his assessment of the 1-1 draw.</div><div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: Syntax, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 10px;">‘We have the second game back <span class="qxb27z86272z" id="qxb27z86272z_4" style="border-bottom-width: 1px !important; border-style: none none solid !important; box-sizing: border-box; color: rgb(76, 76, 255) !important; cursor: pointer; display: inline !important; float: none; height: 13px; list-style: none; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important; text-decoration: underline !important;">home</span> and we need to make sure we finish it there.</div><div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: Syntax, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 10px;">‘We knew they were going to come at us. We tried to absorb the pressure for about 15 or 20 minutes after half-time. Their goal brought them back into the game but after that we started playing well again.</div><div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: Syntax, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 10px;">‘We have to go <span class="qxb27z86272z" id="qxb27z86272z_8" style="border-bottom-width: 1px !important; border-style: none none solid !important; box-sizing: border-box; color: rgb(76, 76, 255) !important; cursor: pointer; display: inline !important; float: none; height: 13px; list-style: none; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important; text-decoration: underline !important;">back home</span>, analyse the game and win next week.  We think we have the advantage. We didn’t lose, we scored and the away goal could be important. We’re in a good place.’</div><div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: Syntax, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 10px;">As<a href="http://www.chelseafc.com/teams/first-team/john-mikel-obi.html" style="box-sizing: border-box; text-decoration: none;"> Mikel</a> points out, <a href="http://www.chelseafc.com/teams/first-team/eden-hazard.html" style="box-sizing: border-box; text-decoration: none;">Eden Hazard</a>'s goal might be decisive if extra-time is required at <span class="qxb27z86272z" id="qxb27z86272z_7" style="border-bottom-width: 1px !important; border-style: none none solid !important; box-sizing: border-box; color: rgb(76, 76, 255) !important; cursor: pointer; display: inline !important; float: none; height: 13px; list-style: none; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important; text-decoration: underline !important;">Stamford Bridge</span> next Tuesday. If it was 0-0 after the end of the extra 30 minutes we would progress on away goals. </div><div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: Syntax, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 10px;">Another man who was back in the team yesterday was <a href="http://www.chelseafc.com/teams/first-team/thibaut-courtois.html" style="box-sizing: border-box; text-decoration: none;">Thibaut Courtois</a>.<a href="http://www.chelseafc.com/teams/first-team/john-mikel-obi.html" style="box-sizing: border-box; text-decoration: none;"> Mikel</a> had words of praise for the goalkeeper’s contribution at Anfield, where his agility, speed and reflexes - particularly in the second half – were on show.   </div><div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: Syntax, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 10px;">‘We’ve got <a href="http://www.chelseafc.com/teams/first-team/petr-cech.html" style="box-sizing: border-box; text-decoration: none;">Petr Cech</a> who has come in for Thibaut since he’s been injured and done really well,’ noted<a href="http://www.chelseafc.com/teams/first-team/john-mikel-obi.html" style="box-sizing: border-box; text-decoration: none;">Mikel</a>.</div><div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: Syntax, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px;">‘Thibaut showed what a world-class goalkeeper he is. He’s been doing that all season, save after save. It’s good to have him back and the team as well all did a <span class="qxb27z86272z" id="qxb27z86272z_1" style="border-bottom-width: 1px !important; border-style: none none solid !important; box-sizing: border-box; color: rgb(76, 76, 255) !important; cursor: pointer; display: inline !important; float: none; height: 13px; list-style: none; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important; text-decoration: underline !important;">job</span>.’ </div><div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: Syntax, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px;">Credit to chelseafc.com</div>

Mikel: A good place

John Mikel Obi  considered the result at Anfield last night a positive one but also acknowledged there remains plenty of work to do back at ...

Read more »

Top 10 ambition for new Sunderland striker Defoe

<div class="videofeature-wrapper" style="background: transparent; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline; width: 490px;"><div class="videofeature-desc" style="background: rgb(99, 158, 200); border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 11px 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><div style="background: transparent; border: 0px; color: white; font-size: 11px; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 16px; margin-left: 12px; margin-right: 12px; padding: 8px 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><br /></div></div></div><div class="text section" style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; clear: both; color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 13px; margin: 0px 0px 20px; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><div style="background: transparent; border: 0px; font-size: 12px; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 16px; padding: 8px 0px 10px; vertical-align: baseline;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b style="background: transparent; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; margin-top: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><img height="276" src="http://www.premierleague.com/content/dam/premierleague/site-content/News/2014-15/January/790-mw22-tot-sun-jermain-defoe-on-ball.jpg/_jcr_content/renditions/cq5dam.web.320.228.jpeg" style="font-size: 12px; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit;" width="400" /></b></div><a name="more"></a><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b style="background: transparent; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; margin-top: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Jermain Defoe is aiming to join the elite group of top 10 goalscorers in Barclays Premier League history after <a href="http://www.premierleague.com/en-gb/news/news/2014-15/jan/210115-jermain-defoe-aims-for-bpl-top-10-scorers-after-joining-sunderland.html#" id="_GPLITA_0" in_rurl="http://s.srv-itx.com/click?v=VVM6Nzg0NTc6NDpzZWN1cmU6OTdiZjM4YmRiZDY1ZTY0NTFiN2MxMjIxOTk3YzI3Nzg6ei0yMjQ3LTE2Mzg5NzU0Ond3dy5wcmVtaWVybGVhZ3VlLmNvbToyMzIzMjY6MWJmYzQyMzhhMDkyOThjZjc4NGE2ZTM3ZjU1MWVjYmU6NjA1NTJlMThkYWIzNGIzZDk0NDZhZmM1MzEzN2QzODY6MTpkYXRhX3NzLDcyOHgxMzY2O2RhdGFfZmIsbm87OjQ0MjE4MDE&subid=g-16389754-b0f05456567a423895897a2c1d02c4f9-&data_ss=728x1366&data_fb=no&data_tagname=B" style="background: transparent !important; border: none !important; color: #050528; cursor: pointer; display: inline-block !important; float: none !important; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; height: auto !important; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px !important; min-height: 0px !important; min-width: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important; text-transform: uppercase !important; vertical-align: baseline !important; width: auto !important;" title="Click to Continue > by InText">SECURING<img src="http://cdncache-a.akamaihd.net/items/it/img/arrow-10x10.png" style="background: transparent !important; border: none !important; display: inline-block !important; float: none !important; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; height: 10px !important; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 0px 3px !important; min-height: 0px !important; min-width: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important; vertical-align: super !important; width: 10px !important;" /></a> his return to the competition with Sunderland last week.</b></div></div><div style="background: transparent; border: 0px; font-size: 12px; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 16px; padding: 8px 0px 10px; vertical-align: baseline;">The former England striker joined the Black Cats on a three-year deal from Major League Soccer side Toronto FC, having spent most of his <span class="qxb27z86272z" id="qxb27z86272z_3" style="background: transparent; border-bottom-width: 1px !important; border-style: none none solid !important; color: rgb(76, 76, 255) !important; cursor: pointer; display: inline !important; float: none; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; height: 12px; line-height: inherit; list-style: none; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important; text-decoration: underline !important; vertical-align: baseline;">career</span> in the Barclays Premier League before his switch to Canada in February 2014. Defoe missed out on a debut goal on Saturday against his former club Tottenham Hotspur, whom he left to join Toronto after scoring 91 times in the Barclays Premier League during two spells at White Hart Lane.</div><table border="1" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="0" style="background: transparent; border-collapse: collapse; border-spacing: 0px; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 300px;"><tbody style="background: transparent; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-style: none; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><tr style="background: transparent; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><th colspan="4" style="background: rgb(99, 158, 200); border: 1px solid rgb(99, 158, 200); color: white; font-size: 13px; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: 16px; margin: 0px; padding: 3px 5px; text-transform: uppercase; vertical-align: middle;">JERMAIN DEFOE IN THE BPL</th></tr><tr style="background: transparent; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><th style="background: rgb(99, 158, 200); border-color: rgb(99, 158, 200) rgb(255, 255, 255) rgb(99, 158, 200) rgb(99, 158, 200); border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; color: white; font-size: 13px; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: 16px; margin: 0px; padding: 3px 5px; text-align: center; text-transform: uppercase; vertical-align: middle;">CLUB</th><th style="background: rgb(99, 158, 200); border-color: rgb(99, 158, 200) rgb(255, 255, 255); border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; color: white; font-size: 13px; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: 16px; margin: 0px; padding: 3px 5px; text-align: center; text-transform: uppercase; vertical-align: middle;">DATES</th><th style="background: rgb(99, 158, 200); border-color: rgb(99, 158, 200) rgb(255, 255, 255); border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; color: white; font-size: 13px; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: 16px; margin: 0px; padding: 3px 5px; text-align: center; text-transform: uppercase; vertical-align: middle;">MATCHES</th><th style="background: rgb(99, 158, 200); border-color: rgb(99, 158, 200) rgb(99, 158, 200) rgb(99, 158, 200) rgb(255, 255, 255); border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; color: white; font-size: 13px; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: 16px; margin: 0px; padding: 3px 5px; text-align: center; text-transform: uppercase; vertical-align: middle;">GOALS</th></tr><tr style="background: transparent; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><td style="background: transparent; border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); color: #666666; font-size: 13px; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 16px; margin: 0px; padding: 3px 5px; text-align: center; vertical-align: middle;">West Ham</td><td style="background: transparent; border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); color: #666666; font-size: 13px; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 16px; margin: 0px; padding: 3px 5px; text-align: center; vertical-align: middle;">2000-04</td><td style="background: transparent; border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); color: #666666; font-size: 13px; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 16px; margin: 0px; padding: 3px 5px; text-align: center; vertical-align: middle;">74</td><td style="background: transparent; border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); color: #666666; font-size: 13px; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 16px; margin: 0px; padding: 3px 5px; text-align: center; vertical-align: middle;">18</td></tr><tr style="background: transparent; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><td style="background: transparent; border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); color: #666666; font-size: 13px; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 16px; margin: 0px; padding: 3px 5px; text-align: center; vertical-align: middle;">Spurs</td><td style="background: transparent; border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); color: #666666; font-size: 13px; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 16px; margin: 0px; padding: 3px 5px; text-align: center; vertical-align: middle;">2004-08</td><td style="background: transparent; border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); color: #666666; font-size: 13px; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 16px; margin: 0px; padding: 3px 5px; text-align: center; vertical-align: middle;">139</td><td style="background: transparent; border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); color: #666666; font-size: 13px; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 16px; margin: 0px; padding: 3px 5px; text-align: center; vertical-align: middle;">43</td></tr><tr style="background: transparent; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><td style="background: transparent; border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); color: #666666; font-size: 13px; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 16px; margin: 0px; padding: 3px 5px; text-align: center; vertical-align: middle;">Portsmouth</td><td style="background: transparent; border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); color: #666666; font-size: 13px; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 16px; margin: 0px; padding: 3px 5px; text-align: center; vertical-align: middle;">2008-09</td><td style="background: transparent; border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); color: #666666; font-size: 13px; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 16px; margin: 0px; padding: 3px 5px; text-align: center; vertical-align: middle;">31</td><td style="background: transparent; border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); color: #666666; font-size: 13px; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 16px; margin: 0px; padding: 3px 5px; text-align: center; vertical-align: middle;">15</td></tr><tr style="background: transparent; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><td style="background: transparent; border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); color: #666666; font-size: 13px; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 16px; margin: 0px; padding: 3px 5px; text-align: center; vertical-align: middle;">Spurs</td><td style="background: transparent; border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); color: #666666; font-size: 13px; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 16px; margin: 0px; padding: 3px 5px; text-align: center; vertical-align: middle;">2009-14</td><td style="background: transparent; border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); color: #666666; font-size: 13px; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 16px; margin: 0px; padding: 3px 5px; text-align: center; vertical-align: middle;">137</td><td style="background: transparent; border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); color: #666666; font-size: 13px; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 16px; margin: 0px; padding: 3px 5px; text-align: center; vertical-align: middle;">48</td></tr><tr style="background: transparent; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><td style="background: transparent; border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); color: #666666; font-size: 13px; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 16px; margin: 0px; padding: 3px 5px; text-align: center; vertical-align: middle;">Sunderland</td><td style="background: transparent; border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); color: #666666; font-size: 13px; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 16px; margin: 0px; padding: 3px 5px; text-align: center; vertical-align: middle;">2015</td><td style="background: transparent; border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); color: #666666; font-size: 13px; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 16px; margin: 0px; padding: 3px 5px; text-align: center; vertical-align: middle;">1</td><td style="background: transparent; border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); color: #666666; font-size: 13px; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 16px; margin: 0px; padding: 3px 5px; text-align: center; vertical-align: middle;">0</td></tr><tr style="background: transparent; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><td colspan="2" style="background: transparent; border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); color: #666666; font-size: 13px; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 16px; margin: 0px; padding: 3px 5px; text-align: center; vertical-align: middle;"><b style="background: transparent; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Total</b></td><td style="background: transparent; border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); color: #666666; font-size: 13px; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 16px; margin: 0px; padding: 3px 5px; text-align: center; vertical-align: middle;"><b style="background: transparent; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">382</b></td><td style="background: transparent; border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); color: #666666; font-size: 13px; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 16px; margin: 0px; padding: 3px 5px; text-align: center; vertical-align: middle;"><b style="background: transparent; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">124</b></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="background: transparent; border: 0px; font-size: 12px; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 16px; padding: 8px 0px 10px; vertical-align: baseline;">But the 32-year-old, who has 124 BPL goals for four different <span class="qxb27z86272z" id="qxb27z86272z_9" style="background: transparent; border-bottom-width: 1px !important; border-style: none none solid !important; color: rgb(76, 76, 255) !important; cursor: pointer; display: inline !important; float: none; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; height: 12px; line-height: inherit; list-style: none; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important; text-decoration: underline !important; vertical-align: baseline;">clubs</span>, is confident he can strike again in England's top <span class="qxb27z86272z" id="qxb27z86272z_4" style="background: transparent; border-bottom-width: 1px !important; border-style: none none solid !important; color: rgb(76, 76, 255) !important; cursor: pointer; display: inline !important; float: none; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; height: 12px; line-height: inherit; list-style: none; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important; text-decoration: underline !important; vertical-align: baseline;"><a href="http://www.premierleague.com/en-gb/news/news/2014-15/jan/210115-jermain-defoe-aims-for-bpl-top-10-scorers-after-joining-sunderland.html#" id="_GPLITA_1" in_rurl="http://s.srv-itx.com/click?v=VVM6Nzc1ODk6ODQzNjpmbGlnaHRzOmJjYzA3NTU4NDMzZDcxNGRjNDkzZTdjNDU5YmM4M2U2OnotMjI0Ny0xNjM4OTc1NDp3d3cucHJlbWllcmxlYWd1ZS5jb206MjMyMTExOjE4OWY4YTBiZjI2MWQxNmI4ZjE2ZWNlMTQ0YzVkNjFmOmYyY2FjMGMwNTIzODRiNDFhMTQwOWNmYzZjM2MyNTQ5OjE6ZGF0YV9zcyw3Mjh4MTM2NjtkYXRhX2ZiLG5vOzo0NDA1MDYx&subid=g-16389754-b0f05456567a423895897a2c1d02c4f9-&data_ss=728x1366&data_fb=no&data_tagname=SPAN" style="background: transparent !important; border: none !important; color: #050528; cursor: pointer; display: inline-block !important; float: none !important; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: bold !important; height: auto !important; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px !important; min-height: 0px !important; min-width: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important; text-transform: uppercase !important; vertical-align: baseline !important; width: auto !important;" title="Click to Continue > by InText">FLIGHT<img src="http://cdncache-a.akamaihd.net/items/it/img/arrow-10x10.png" style="background: transparent !important; border: none !important; display: inline-block !important; float: none !important; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; height: 10px !important; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 0px 3px !important; min-height: 0px !important; min-width: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important; vertical-align: super !important; width: 10px !important;" /></a></span> and is seeking inspiration from Kevin Phillips, who netted 30 goals in his debut BPL campaign for Sunderland, the highest total by a Black Cats player in the competition.</div><div style="background: transparent; border: 0px; font-size: 12px; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 16px; padding: 8px 0px 10px; vertical-align: baseline;">"I remember as a kid watching the Premier League and watching all the great strikers, even the great strikers that played for this club," Defoe said. "I loved Kevin Phillips in the season he scored 30 goals, fantastic season.</div><div style="background: transparent; border: 0px; font-size: 12px; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 16px; padding: 8px 0px 10px; vertical-align: baseline;">"You look at stuff like that and you come to a club like this and try to do the same, because it will be special. On a personal note, if I can push myself up in that list then it will be great."</div><div style="background: transparent; border: 0px; font-size: 12px; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 16px; padding: 8px 0px 10px; vertical-align: baseline;">Defoe is the 14th-highest scorer in the competition's history, and only needs four <span class="qxb27z86272z" id="qxb27z86272z_1" style="background: transparent; border-bottom-width: 1px !important; border-style: none none solid !important; color: rgb(76, 76, 255) !important; cursor: pointer; display: inline !important; float: none; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; height: 12px; line-height: inherit; list-style: none; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important; text-decoration: underline !important; vertical-align: baseline;">more</span> to move to No 11 in the rankings. With Manchester United striker Robin van Persie as the 10th-highest all-time BPL goalscorer, Defoe is likely to have to eclipse Teddy Sheringham (with 146 goals at No 9) to reach the top 10.</div><h4 style="background: transparent; border-bottom-style: none; border-width: 0px; color: #639ec8; font-family: inherit; font-size: 14px; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: 17px; margin: 15px 0px 12px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><b style="background: transparent; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Top 14 scorers in BPL history</b></h4><table border="1" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="0" style="background: transparent; border-collapse: collapse; border-spacing: 0px; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 300px;"><tbody style="background: transparent; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-style: none; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><tr style="background: transparent; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><th style="background: rgb(99, 158, 200); border-color: rgb(99, 158, 200) rgb(255, 255, 255) rgb(99, 158, 200) rgb(99, 158, 200); border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; color: white; font-size: 13px; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: 16px; margin: 0px; padding: 3px 5px; text-align: center; text-transform: uppercase; vertical-align: middle;">PLAYER</th><th style="background: rgb(99, 158, 200); border-color: rgb(99, 158, 200) rgb(99, 158, 200) rgb(99, 158, 200) rgb(255, 255, 255); border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; color: white; font-size: 13px; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: 16px; margin: 0px; padding: 3px 5px; text-align: center; text-transform: uppercase; vertical-align: middle;">GOALS</th></tr><tr style="background: transparent; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><td style="background: transparent; border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); color: #666666; font-size: 13px; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 16px; margin: 0px; padding: 3px 5px; text-align: center; vertical-align: middle;">Alan Shearer</td><td style="background: transparent; border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); color: #666666; font-size: 13px; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 16px; margin: 0px; padding: 3px 5px; text-align: center; vertical-align: middle;">260</td></tr><tr style="background: transparent; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><td style="background: transparent; border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); color: #666666; font-size: 13px; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 16px; margin: 0px; padding: 3px 5px; text-align: center; vertical-align: middle;">Andrew Cole</td><td style="background: transparent; border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); color: #666666; font-size: 13px; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 16px; margin: 0px; padding: 3px 5px; text-align: center; vertical-align: middle;">187</td></tr><tr style="background: transparent; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><td style="background: transparent; border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); color: #666666; font-size: 13px; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 16px; margin: 0px; padding: 3px 5px; text-align: center; vertical-align: middle;"><span class="qxb27z86272z" id="qxb27z86272z_5" style="background: transparent; border-bottom-width: 1px !important; border-style: none none solid !important; color: rgb(76, 76, 255) !important; cursor: pointer; display: inline !important; float: none; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; height: 13px; line-height: inherit; list-style: none; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important; text-align: left !important; text-decoration: underline !important; vertical-align: baseline;">Wayne Rooney</span>*</td><td style="background: transparent; border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); color: #666666; font-size: 13px; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 16px; margin: 0px; padding: 3px 5px; text-align: center; vertical-align: middle;">181</td></tr><tr style="background: transparent; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><td style="background: transparent; border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); color: #666666; font-size: 13px; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 16px; margin: 0px; padding: 3px 5px; text-align: center; vertical-align: middle;">Frank Lampard*</td><td style="background: transparent; border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); color: #666666; font-size: 13px; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 16px; margin: 0px; padding: 3px 5px; text-align: center; vertical-align: middle;">176</td></tr><tr style="background: transparent; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><td style="background: transparent; border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); color: #666666; font-size: 13px; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 16px; margin: 0px; padding: 3px 5px; text-align: center; vertical-align: middle;">Thierry Henry</td><td style="background: transparent; border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); color: #666666; font-size: 13px; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 16px; margin: 0px; padding: 3px 5px; text-align: center; vertical-align: middle;">175</td></tr><tr style="background: transparent; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><td style="background: transparent; border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); color: #666666; font-size: 13px; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 16px; margin: 0px; padding: 3px 5px; text-align: center; vertical-align: middle;">Robbie Fowler</td><td style="background: transparent; border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); color: #666666; font-size: 13px; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 16px; margin: 0px; padding: 3px 5px; text-align: center; vertical-align: middle;">163</td></tr><tr style="background: transparent; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><td style="background: transparent; border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); color: #666666; font-size: 13px; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 16px; margin: 0px; padding: 3px 5px; text-align: center; vertical-align: middle;">Michael Owen</td><td style="background: transparent; border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); color: #666666; font-size: 13px; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 16px; margin: 0px; padding: 3px 5px; text-align: center; vertical-align: middle;">150</td></tr><tr style="background: transparent; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><td style="background: transparent; border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); color: #666666; font-size: 13px; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 16px; margin: 0px; padding: 3px 5px; text-align: center; vertical-align: middle;">Les Ferdinand</td><td style="background: transparent; border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); color: #666666; font-size: 13px; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 16px; margin: 0px; padding: 3px 5px; text-align: center; vertical-align: middle;">149</td></tr><tr style="background: transparent; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><td style="background: transparent; border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); color: #666666; font-size: 13px; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 16px; margin: 0px; padding: 3px 5px; text-align: center; vertical-align: middle;">Teddy Sheringham</td><td style="background: transparent; border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); color: #666666; font-size: 13px; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 16px; margin: 0px; padding: 3px 5px; text-align: center; vertical-align: middle;">146</td></tr><tr style="background: transparent; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><td style="background: transparent; border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); color: #666666; font-size: 13px; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 16px; margin: 0px; padding: 3px 5px; text-align: center; vertical-align: middle;">Robin <span class="qxb27z86272z" id="qxb27z86272z_6" style="background: transparent; border-bottom-width: 1px !important; border-style: none none solid !important; color: rgb(76, 76, 255) !important; cursor: pointer; display: inline !important; float: none; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; height: 13px; line-height: inherit; list-style: none; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important; text-align: left !important; text-decoration: underline !important; vertical-align: baseline;">van</span> Persie*</td><td style="background: transparent; border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); color: #666666; font-size: 13px; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 16px; margin: 0px; padding: 3px 5px; text-align: center; vertical-align: middle;">142</td></tr><tr style="background: transparent; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><td style="background: transparent; border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); color: #666666; font-size: 13px; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 16px; margin: 0px; padding: 3px 5px; text-align: center; vertical-align: middle;">Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink</td><td style="background: transparent; border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); color: #666666; font-size: 13px; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 16px; margin: 0px; padding: 3px 5px; text-align: center; vertical-align: middle;">127</td></tr><tr style="background: transparent; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><td style="background: transparent; border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); color: #666666; font-size: 13px; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 16px; margin: 0px; padding: 3px 5px; text-align: center; vertical-align: middle;">Robbie Keane</td><td style="background: transparent; border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); color: #666666; font-size: 13px; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 16px; margin: 0px; padding: 3px 5px; text-align: center; vertical-align: middle;">126</td></tr><tr style="background: transparent; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><td style="background: transparent; border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); color: #666666; font-size: 13px; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 16px; margin: 0px; padding: 3px 5px; text-align: center; vertical-align: middle;">Nicolas Anelka</td><td style="background: transparent; border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); color: #666666; font-size: 13px; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 16px; margin: 0px; padding: 3px 5px; text-align: center; vertical-align: middle;">125</td></tr><tr style="background: transparent; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><td style="background: transparent; border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); color: #666666; font-size: 13px; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 16px; margin: 0px; padding: 3px 5px; text-align: center; vertical-align: middle;"><b style="background: transparent; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Jermain Defoe*</b></td><td style="background: transparent; border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); color: #666666; font-size: 13px; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 16px; margin: 0px; padding: 3px 5px; text-align: center; vertical-align: middle;"><b style="background: transparent; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">124</b></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="background: transparent; border: 0px; font-size: 12px; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 16px; padding: 8px 0px 10px; vertical-align: baseline;">*Currently playing in the Barclays Premier League</div><div style="background: transparent; border: 0px; font-size: 12px; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 16px; padding: 8px 0px 10px; vertical-align: baseline;">Defoe played alongside Sunderland head coach Gus Poyet at <span class="qxb27z86272z" id="qxb27z86272z_8" style="background: transparent; border-bottom-width: 1px !important; border-style: none none solid !important; color: rgb(76, 76, 255) !important; cursor: pointer; display: inline !important; float: none; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; height: 12px; line-height: inherit; list-style: none; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important; text-decoration: underline !important; vertical-align: baseline;">White Hart Lane</span>, and he admitted that his relationship with the Uruguayan was a factor in his move to the Stadium of Light.</div><div style="background: transparent; border: 0px; font-size: 12px; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 16px; padding: 8px 0px 10px; vertical-align: baseline;">"That helps as well when you know the manager,” Defoe said. "I spoke to Gus on the phone on a few occasions and we spoke about systems and how we wanted to play.</div><div style="background: transparent; border: 0px; font-size: 12px; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 16px; padding: 8px 0px 10px; vertical-align: baseline;">"I played with Gus at Spurs, a good guy, and even before I met Gus he was someone I always admired as a <span class="qxb27z86272z" id="qxb27z86272z_7" style="background: transparent; border-bottom-width: 1px !important; border-style: none none solid !important; color: rgb(76, 76, 255) !important; cursor: pointer; display: inline !important; float: none; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; height: 12px; line-height: inherit; list-style: none; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important; text-decoration: underline !important; vertical-align: baseline;">player</span>, someone who did so much in his career and someone who knows the game. He understands and that helps."<br />Credit to Premierleague.com</div></div><iframe src="//www.facebook.com/plugins/share_button.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fdevelopers.facebook.com%2Fdocs%2Fplugins%2F&layout=button" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" style="border:none; overflow:hidden;" allowTransparency="true"></iframe>

Top 10 ambition for new Sunderland striker Defoe

Jermain Defoe is aiming to join the elite group of top 10 goalscorers in Barclays Premier League history after  SECURING  his return to the ...

Read more »

Two Match Ban for Gervinho

<img alt="Gervinho" src="http://news.bbcimg.co.uk/media/images/80424000/jpg/_80424805_gervinho_.jpg" />Ivory Coast Forward<br /><a name="more"></a> Gervinho has been handed a two-game ban following his  red card in the 1-1 Afcon draw with Guinea in Malabo on Tuesday.<br /><br />The former arsenal Player was shown a red card in the 2nd half if the Group D game for hitting out at Guinea's Naby Keita.<br /><br />The Suspension means he will miss the Elephant's remaining games in the Group stage. And will only feature if Ivory Coast.<br /><br />He took his twitter saying.<br /><div class="ProfileTweet-header u-cf" style="-webkit-transition: color 0.15s; color: #8899a6; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.25px; margin: 0px; transition: color 0.15s;"><div class="ProfileTweet-authorDetails" style="line-height: 14px; padding-top: 2px;"><a class="ProfileTweet-originalAuthorLink u-linkComplex js-nav js-user-profile-link" data-user-id="350828320" href="https://twitter.com/GervinhOfficial" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #009999; text-decoration: none !important;"><img alt="" class="ProfileTweet-avatar js-action-profile-avatar" src="https://pbs.twimg.com/profile_images/2799020265/1300ec44d894888e367fc1124e8e73c0_normal.png" style="border-bottom-left-radius: 4px; border-bottom-right-radius: 4px; border-top-left-radius: 4px; border-top-right-radius: 4px; border: 0px; float: left; height: 24px; margin: 0px 6px 0px 0px; width: 24px;" /><span class="ProfileTweet-originalAuthor u-floatLeft u-textTruncate js-action-profile-name" style="display: block; float: left !important; max-width: 95%; overflow: hidden !important; text-overflow: ellipsis !important; white-space: nowrap !important; word-wrap: normal !important;"><b class="ProfileTweet-fullname u-linkComplex-target" data-aria-label-part="" style="color: #292f33; font-size: 14px;">Gervinho</b> <span class="ProfileTweet-screenname u-dir" data-aria-label-part="" dir="ltr" style="color: #8899a6; direction: ltr !important; font-size: 13px; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span class="at">@</span>GervinhOfficial</span></span></a><span class="u-floatLeft" style="float: left !important;"> · </span><span class="u-floatLeft" style="float: left !important;"><a class="ProfileTweet-timestamp js-permalink js-nav js-tooltip u-textUserColor" href="https://twitter.com/GervinhOfficial/status/557859583533023233" style="-webkit-transition: color 0.15s; background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: rgb(0, 153, 153) !important; display: inline-block; font-size: 13px; text-decoration: none; transition: color 0.15s; white-space: nowrap;" title="3:17 AM - 21 Jan 2015"><span aria-hidden="true" class="js-short-timestamp js-relative-timestamp" data-long-form="true" data-time="1421839063">12h</span><span class="u-hiddenVisually" data-aria-label-part="last" style="border: 0px !important; clip: rect(1px 1px 1px 1px) !important; height: 1px !important; overflow: hidden !important; padding: 0px !important; position: absolute !important; width: 1px !important;">12 hours ago</span></a></span></div></div><div class="ProfileTweet-contents" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; margin-left: 30px; margin-top: -5px;"><div class="ProfileTweet-text js-tweet-text u-dir" data-aria-label-part="0" dir="ltr" lang="fr" style="color: #292f33; direction: ltr !important; font-size: 26px; letter-spacing: 0.01em; line-height: 32px; margin-bottom: 5px; unicode-bidi: embed; white-space: pre-wrap;">Je tiens a presenter toutes mes excuses à la nation Ivoirienne, a mes coequipiers , aux supporters et aux organisateurs de la CAN. </div><div class="ProfileTweet-text js-tweet-text u-dir" data-aria-label-part="0" dir="ltr" lang="fr" style="color: #292f33; direction: ltr !important; font-size: 26px; letter-spacing: 0.01em; line-height: 32px; margin-bottom: 5px; unicode-bidi: embed; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></div><div class="ProfileTweet-text js-tweet-text u-dir" data-aria-label-part="0" dir="ltr" lang="fr" style="color: #292f33; direction: ltr !important; letter-spacing: 0.01em; line-height: 32px; margin-bottom: 5px; unicode-bidi: embed; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: 26px;">Meaning:</span><b><span style="font-size: large;"> <span style="background-color: white; color: #212121; font-family: inherit; line-height: 24px;">I want to present my apologies to the Ivorian nation, my teammates , the fans and the CAN organizers</span></span></b></div><span class="ProfileTweet-action--reply u-hiddenVisually" style="border: 0px !important; clip: rect(1px 1px 1px 1px) !important; color: #292f33; height: 1px !important; line-height: 19.25px; overflow: hidden !important; padding: 0px !important; position: absolute !important; width: 1px !important;"><span aria-hidden="true" class="ProfileTweet-actionCount" data-tweet-stat-count="0" style="-webkit-transition: padding 0.5s ease-out; color: #8899a6; display: inline-block; padding: 0px 4px; position: relative; top: -2px; transition: padding 0.5s ease-out;"><span class="ProfileTweet-actionCountForAria"><b><span style="font-size: large;">0 replies</span></b></span></span></span><span class="ProfileTweet-action--retweet u-hiddenVisually" style="border: 0px !important; clip: rect(1px 1px 1px 1px) !important; color: #292f33; height: 1px !important; line-height: 19.25px; overflow: hidden !important; padding: 0px !important; position: absolute !important; width: 1px !important;"><span class="ProfileTweet-actionCount" data-tweet-stat-count="644" style="-webkit-transition: padding 0.5s ease-out; color: #8899a6; display: inline-block; padding: 0px 4px; position: relative; top: -2px; transition: padding 0.5s ease-out;"><span class="ProfileTweet-actionCountForAria" data-aria-label-part=""><b><span style="font-size: large;">644 retweets</span></b></span></span></span><span class="ProfileTweet-action--favorite u-hiddenVisually" style="border: 0px !important; clip: rect(1px 1px 1px 1px) !important; color: #292f33; height: 1px !important; line-height: 19.25px; overflow: hidden !important; padding: 0px !important; position: absolute !important; width: 1px !important;"><span class="ProfileTweet-actionCount" data-tweet-stat-count="214" style="-webkit-transition: padding 0.5s ease-out; color: #8899a6; display: inline-block; padding: 0px 4px; position: relative; top: -2px; transition: padding 0.5s ease-out;"><span class="ProfileTweet-actionCountForAria" data-aria-label-part=""><b><span style="font-size: large;">214 favorites</span></b></span></span></span><div aria-label="Tweet actions" class="ProfileTweet-actionList u-cf js-actions" role="group" style="margin-bottom: 2px; margin-top: 5px; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ccd6dd;"><span style="background-color: #dddddd; line-height: 17.7777786254883px;"> M</span></span></div></div>

Two Match Ban for Gervinho

Ivory Coast Forward Gervinho has been handed a two-game ban following his  red card in the 1-1 Afcon draw with Guinea in Malabo on Tuesday....

Read more »

Peter Odemwingie wants more goals from Victor Moses

<div style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: open_sans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 10px;"> <img src="http://www.stokesentinel.co.uk/images/localworld/ugc-images/276370/Article/images/25896850/9358618-large.jpg" /><span style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.38;">Moses is</span><br /><a name="more"></a><span style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.38;"> under some command to bang in more goals now he's fit again and shaping up for the final four months of Stoke's season.</span></div><div style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: open_sans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 10px;">The order doesn't come from manager Mark Hughes, however, but from injured team-mate Peter Odemwingie.</div><div style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: open_sans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 10px;">Moses has netted once in 13 appearances for Stoke and Odemwingie, pictured below, running a sharp eye over proceedings from the sidelines, says that isn't enough for a player of his ability.</div><div style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: open_sans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 10px;">"I'm delighted he's back because he's been instrumental in getting away points for us," says Odemwingie.</div><div style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: open_sans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 10px;">"I just want more goals, personally. I told him that his crossing is good, but I want goals, however he does it, because he can score more."</div><div style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: open_sans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 10px;">Odemwingie, who still hopes to feature before the end of the season after a cruciate knee ligament injury, admits to being frustrated at not being able to link up with this season's newcomers such as Moses and Bojan.</div><div style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: open_sans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 10px;">But he is delighted to see Bojan scoring and everyone taking him to their heart.</div><div style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: open_sans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 10px;">"It is very helpful to settle in when you score, the manager speaks well about you and the players want you in every game," he said.</div><div style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: open_sans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 10px;">"I felt that way myself and so I can relate to him for that and I hope he continues doing well.</div><div style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: open_sans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 10px;">"He is very hard working and even today he was in running by himself. He's added a few kilos of muscle and so he's also putting in the hours in the gym and we will all benefit from that.</div><div style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: open_sans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 10px;">"I would love to play with him, but I will have to wait a bit until it comes."</div><div style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: open_sans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 10px;">Odemwingie, who was speaking at the launch of DPD's new PickUp business on Festival Park, also believes Mame Diouf can come back a better player from the African Cup of Nations.</div><div style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: open_sans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 10px;">Diouf scored the first and set up the winner as Senegal opened their campaign with a dramatic 2-1 victory over Ghana.</div><div style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: open_sans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 10px;">And Odemwingie, who has played in the tournament for Nigeria, says: "If he does well and comes back happy, it's only going to help all of us.</div><div style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: open_sans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 10px;">"I have been in the situation where I went there to the tournament, got a few goals and then came back a better player.</div><div style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: open_sans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 10px;">"He is a big loss (for Stoke) because he offers us something different, but I hope he comes back better and not injured because that would be a big plus for us."</div><div style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: open_sans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 10px;"><br /></div><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: open_sans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.5714302062988px;"><br /></span><a class="twitter-share-button" data-count="none" href="https://twitter.com/share">Tweet</a><script>!function(d,s,id){var js,fjs=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0],p=/^http:/.test(d.location)?'http':'https';if(!d.getElementById(id)){js=d.createElement(s);js.id=id;js.src=p+'://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js';fjs.parentNode.insertBefore(js,fjs);}}(document, 'script', 'twitter-wjs');</script><br /><div class="fb-share-button" data-href="https://developers.facebook.com/docs/plugins/" data-layout="button"></div>

Peter Odemwingie wants more goals from Victor Moses

  Moses is under some command to bang in more goals now he's fit again and shaping up for the final four months of Stoke's season. ...

Read more »

Raheem Equalizer saves Liverpool

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSID53vOd9NZ5KFqDdps0bcy4NDhaLXLvzBLISwEhoJSf8IrvyLTakqY9O-ZyYhrPkpGl_geBi1bNQs5JcDq_LE5EwGwThcb9QvUginbCqoyivuv8GpMuZCLO2y0yjNHzVZMN7Ltk3TXRf/s1600/match-report--liverpool-v-chelsea.img.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSID53vOd9NZ5KFqDdps0bcy4NDhaLXLvzBLISwEhoJSf8IrvyLTakqY9O-ZyYhrPkpGl_geBi1bNQs5JcDq_LE5EwGwThcb9QvUginbCqoyivuv8GpMuZCLO2y0yjNHzVZMN7Ltk3TXRf/s1600/match-report--liverpool-v-chelsea.img.png" /></a></div><br />The Belgian was blatantly fouled inside the box, following some excellent work from Cesc Fabregas, and he dusted himself down to score from the spot with 18 minutes played.That was our only shot on target in the game as the hosts recovered from going behind through Raheem Sterling’s well-placed finish before the hour.Liverpool had the clearer opportunities to win it with the returning Thibaut Courtois kept busy throughout but neither team could find a decisive breakthrough ensuring there is all to play for when the teams reconvene at Stamford Bridge in a week’s time.<br /><br />TEAM NEWS<br /><br />Jose Mourinho’s starting XI was a strong one with plenty of league regulars selected, including a return to the side for Thibaut Courtois in goal.Cesar Azpilicueta and Didier Drogba were both deemed fit and well enough for a place on the bench having missed Swansea meaning former Atletico men Filipe Luis and Diego Costacontinued at left-back and forward respectively.John Terry meanwhile made his 650th appearance for the club. In central midfield, John Mikel Obi, an ever-present in this competition, started alongsideNemanja Matic with Cesc Fabregas moving forward to the no.10 role. Oscar made way.For Liverpool, the return of Steven Gerrard was Brendan Rodgers’ only change from the side which won at Villa. Former Blue Fabio Borini dropped to the bench meaning Sterling was the man charged with leading the line in their 3-4-3 formation.<br /><br />FIRST HALF<br /><br />Swirling snow and a biting wind greeted the players at a freezing cold Anfield and so it was understandable the game took a little while to warm up.Eleven minutes were on the clock when it did as Jordan Henderson burst into the box and centred dangerously. Courtois eventually hacked clear but the ball was quickly worked forward to Moreno whose shot was blocked behind byCahill. Courtois then had to be alert to dive at Sterling’s feet after Cahill had got a crucial touch on Coutinho’s through pass.By the time Gerrard tried his luck from 30 yards it seemed like Liverpool were starting to force a head of steam but Courtois had an answer for that, too, acrobatically punching over.With our first meaningful attack, the Blues then seized the initiative.The goal owed a great deal to the endeavour ofFabregas, who scurried away down the left, manoeuvred himself past Emre Can close to the touchline and dinked it back to Hazard. Advancing closer to the net from a tight angle, he nudged the ball past Can who clearly felled the skilful winger.Hazard picked himself up and sent compatriot Mignolet the wrong way, a successful return to spot-kick duty after his last penalty, in Maribor, was saved.When Gerrard saw a wide free-kick punched away by Courtois it looked for a moment like Hazard and Fabregas would race clear of an absent Liverpool backline but Moreno just about did enough to hold up the break.Both teams were struggling to keep possession, perhaps because of the conditions, but if anything that aided the tempo of the game which swung from one end to another as the half-time whistle approached.There were plenty of reminders this was a Liverpool versus Chelsea semi-final tie, too. Mostly legitimate tackling and some effective pressing reduced time on the ball, though in quick succession, both Gerrard and Lucas were carded for fouling Hazard from behind. Filipe Luis followed them into the book after the slightest of touches on Markovic.By the time a minute of additional time was signalled Mourinho could be seen urging his players to slow things down; that was achieved and a quarter of the way through the tie it was advantage Chelsea.<br /><br />SECOND HALF<br /><br />Not even fifteen seconds after the break Fabregasexquisitely dummied a Matic pass but the weight on the ball took it just beyond Diego Costa’s reach. At the other end, Cahill and Terry combined excellently to crowd Sterling out as he prepared to pull the trigger eight yards from goal.Liverpool continued to enjoy the lion’s share of possession so it didn’t come as a huge shock when they levelled on the hour. Sterling received a ball in the pocket of space between Matic andMikel, turned, sped past Cahill on the outside and then shot low and accurately into the far corner.In response the Blues produced possibly our best five-minute spell of the game, the type of interplay seen in Swansea evident with bothHazard and Diego Costa unfortunate not to be beneficiaries of defence-splitting passes.But back Liverpool came and on 66 minutes Coutinho got free down the left and squared to Gerrard, who had time to take a touch. Time seemed to stand still as his left-footed shot headed for goal; thankfully, it hit the post and rebounded to safety.That was an escape and another followed when Sterling forced a low stop from Courtois, the loose ball running to Filipe Luis and not a man in red.When Courtois parried a Henderson long-ranger not long after Sterling was in the right place but he couldn’t beat the agile stopper from a tight angle.Referee Atkinson then had two big calls to make. First, Courtois slid towards the very edge of his area with the ball in his possession, while at the other end Diego Costa had claims for a foul also on the perimeter of the 18-yard box. The man who counted ignored both sides’ appeals.Adam Lallana, recently on for Gerrard, drew Courtois into the save of the night when he let fly 25 yards from goal, with the busy Belgian at full stretch to his right to tip the ball wide. There had been plenty to suggest the finger injury he sustained at Tottenham had completely healed.That proved the final meaningful goalmouth action as the Blues closed out the draw, happy to take Liverpool back to the Bridge where we have been so imperious this season.Chelsea (4-2-3-1): Courtois; Ivanovic, Cahill, Terry (c), Filipe Luis; Matic, Mikel; Willian (Azpilicueta 88), Fabregas, Hazard; Diego Costa.Unused subs Cech, Zouma, Ramires, Oscar, Remy, Drogba.Scorer Hazard (pen) 18Booked Filipe Luis 45, Mikel 74Liverpool (3-4-2-1): Mignolet; Can, Skrtel, Sakho; Markovic, Henderson, Lucas, Moreno; Gerrard (c) (Lallana 70), Coutinho; Sterling.Unused subs Ward, Enrique, Manquillo, Rossiter, Borini, Lambert.Scorer Sterling 59Booked Gerrard 39, Lucas 44Referee Martin AtkinsonCrowd 44,573<br /><br />Report  from chelseafc.com <a class="twitter-share-button" href="https://twitter.com/share">Tweet</a><script>!function(d,s,id){var js,fjs=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0],p=/^http:/.test(d.location)?'http':'https';if(!d.getElementById(id)){js=d.createElement(s);js.id=id;js.src=p+'://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js';fjs.parentNode.insertBefore(js,fjs);}}(document, 'script', 'twitter-wjs');</script><div class="fb-share-button" data-href="https://developers.facebook.com/docs/plugins/" data-layout="button"></div>

Raheem Equalizer saves Liverpool

The Belgian was blatantly fouled inside the box, following some excellent work from Cesc Fabregas, and he dusted himself down to score from ...

Read more »

Coutinho: All of us want to lift that cup

<div class="SubHeading" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 13px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 24px; padding: 0px;"><img alt="Coutinho: All of us want to lift that cup" src="http://assets1.lfcimages.com/uploads/1947__1604__philflash_517X310.jpg" style="background-color: transparent;" /></div><div class="SubHeading" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 13px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 24px; padding: 0px;">Philippe Coutinho </div><a name="more"></a>will walk out onto the <span class="d3n377" id="d3n377_6" style="border-bottom-width: 1px !important; border-style: none none solid !important; color: rgb(76, 76, 255) !important; cursor: pointer; display: inline !important; float: none; font-weight: normal; height: 13px; list-style: none; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important; text-decoration: underline !important;">Anfield</span> turf this evening aiming to take another <span class="d3n377" id="d3n377_2" style="border-bottom-width: 1px !important; border-style: none none solid !important; color: rgb(76, 76, 255) !important; cursor: pointer; display: inline !important; float: none; font-weight: normal; height: 13px; list-style: none; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important; text-decoration: underline !important;">step</span> towards achieving a personal ambition with Liverpool – playing at Wembley.<br /><div class="ArticleRight" style="background-color: white; float: right !important; font-family: Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; height: auto; line-height: 18px; margin-left: 10px; padding-right: 9px; width: 257px;"></div><div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #4c4c4c; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 24px; padding: 0px;">The Reds welcome Chelsea to town for the Capital One Cup semi-final, first-leg tie with a place in March's showpiece final against either Tottenham or Sheffield <span class="d3n377" id="d3n377_3" style="border-bottom-width: 1px !important; border-style: none none solid !important; color: rgb(76, 76, 255) !important; cursor: pointer; display: inline !important; float: none; height: 13px; list-style: none; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important; text-decoration: underline !important;">United</span> up for grabs over the course of the 180 minutes.</div><div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #4c4c4c; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 24px; padding: 0px;">It's an opportunity Coutinho is determined to ensure Liverpool take full advantage of.</div><div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #4c4c4c; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 24px; padding: 0px;">He told the Liverpool Echo: "I've never played at Wembley and it's always been an ambition of mine to play there.</div><div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #4c4c4c; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 24px; padding: 0px;">"It would be so special to walk out there for the first time in a cup final.</div><div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #4c4c4c; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 24px; padding: 0px;">"Everyone is excited about the prospect of playing at Wembley and we want to take this opportunity.</div><div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #4c4c4c; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 24px; padding: 0px;">"Chelsea are a great side who are very difficult to play against but we're in good form and we want to get through. We all want to lift that trophy."</div><div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #4c4c4c; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 24px; padding: 0px;">Standing in the way of Coutinho and Liverpool achieving that goal are a Chelsea side who opened up a five-point lead at the Barclays Premier League summit at the weekend.</div><div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #4c4c4c; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 24px; padding: 0px;">It's a team that also contain a few familiar faces for the Reds' No.10, with fellow Brazilians Oscar, Willian, Filipe Luis and Ramires within the Blues' ranks.</div><div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #4c4c4c; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 24px; padding: 0px;">"I came here to win trophies and the Capital One Cup is a great chance to do that," continued Coutinho.</div><div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #4c4c4c; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 24px; padding: 0px;">"Trophies are what makes players - it's what you are remembered for.</div><div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #4c4c4c; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 24px; padding: 0px;">"It also makes the history of a club. We are in a great position to try to win this competition.</div><div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #4c4c4c; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 24px; padding: 0px;">"I am friends with all the Brazilian guys at Chelsea, and we speak now and then.</div><div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #4c4c4c; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 24px; padding: 0px;">"But those friendships are outside the pitch. On the pitch it is a different story. It's a professional thing.</div><div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #4c4c4c; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 24px; padding: 0px;">"Our <span class="d3n377" id="d3n377_8" style="border-bottom-width: 1px !important; border-style: none none solid !important; color: rgb(76, 76, 255) !important; cursor: pointer; display: inline !important; float: none; height: 13px; list-style: none; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important; text-decoration: underline !important;">fans</span> are expecting Liverpool to win this game and it's important we get a good result in the first leg at Anfield.</div><div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #4c4c4c; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 24px; padding: 0px;">"We want to get an advantage to take to Stamford Bridge."</div><div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #4c4c4c; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 24px; padding: 0px;">Liverpool have already tackled Chelsea at Anfield this season, but were on the receiving end of a 2-1 league defeat in early November.</div><div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #4c4c4c; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 24px; padding: 0px;">However, with a run of eight games unbeaten behind them, Coutinho feels Jose Mourinho's men will encounter a different Reds side, who'll have the backing of a vociferous Kop behind them.</div><div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #4c4c4c; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 24px; padding: 0px;">"We started the game well that day and went in front but then we made some mistakes and got punished," the 22-year-old recalled.</div><div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #4c4c4c; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 24px; padding: 0px;">"Probably the major difference now compared to then is the confidence in the team.</div><div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #4c4c4c; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 24px; padding: 0px;">"It's pretty much the same players but we are feeling much <span class="d3n377" id="d3n377_1" style="border-bottom-width: 1px !important; border-style: none none solid !important; color: rgb(76, 76, 255) !important; cursor: pointer; display: inline !important; float: none; height: 13px; list-style: none; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important; text-decoration: underline !important;">more</span> confident now. It has got higher and higher with the positive results.</div><div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #4c4c4c; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 24px; padding: 0px;">"The team is now in a much better moment than the last time we faced Chelsea. We're performing better and improved our game. Hopefully this time we can beat them.</div><div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #4c4c4c; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 24px; padding: 0px;">"It's always special to play at Anfield and it makes such a difference for us when we play with the fans right behind us.</div><div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #4c4c4c; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 24px; padding: 0px;">"The players feel different at Anfield. The fans really spur you on and encourage you to give your best. The crowd can play a key role in this<span class="d3n377" id="d3n377_4" style="border-bottom-width: 1px !important; border-style: none none solid !important; color: rgb(76, 76, 255) !important; cursor: pointer; display: inline !important; float: none; height: 13px; list-style: none; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important; text-decoration: underline !important;">match</span>."</div><div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #4c4c4c; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 24px; padding: 0px;">Coutinho has been in sparkling form in recent weeks and even clinched the club's December Player of the Month accolade after a fans' vote on this website.</div><div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #4c4c4c; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 24px; padding: 0px;">The playmaker has been pulling the strings from a central berth in a 3-4-3 formation, but though pleased with his performances, he's eager to add an extra clinical edge to his game.</div><div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #4c4c4c; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 24px; padding: 0px;">"This formation has improved things not only for me but also for the whole team," Coutinho said.</div><div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #4c4c4c; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 24px; padding: 0px;">"Everyone is finding their feet now. I really enjoy playing in that central role where I can try to make things happen.</div><div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #4c4c4c; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 24px; padding: 0px;">"I know I need to improve the number of goals I score. It's a personal <a href="http://www.liverpoolfc.com/news/latest-news/178456-coutinho-all-of-us-want-to-lift-that-cup#" id="_GPLITA_0" in_rurl="http://s.srv-itx.com/click?v=VVM6Nzg0NTc6NDp0YXJnZXQ6Zjk0NmI0MjYyZGVkZWY1NDA0ZDc2NThjMTMwZGFiZmE6ei0yMjQ3LTE2Mzg5NzU0Ond3dy5saXZlcnBvb2xmYy5jb206MjMyMzI2OjFiZmM0MjM4YTA5Mjk4Y2Y3ODRhNmUzN2Y1NTFlY2JlOjRlZjZlNzVmMDNkNDRhNzY5ZjJhOWE1MGI2NWI5YWYzOjA6ZGF0YV9zcyw3Mjh4MTM2NjtkYXRhX2ZiLG5vOzo0MzMzMzc0&subid=g-16389754-4e217db4d640494eb15bb81e6c77de80-&data_ss=728x1366&data_fb=no&data_tagname=P" style="background: transparent !important; border: none !important; color: #cd0709; display: inline-block !important; float: none !important; font-weight: bold !important; height: auto !important; margin: 0px !important; min-height: 0px !important; min-width: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important; text-transform: uppercase !important; vertical-align: baseline !important; width: auto !important;" title="Click to Continue > by InText">TARGET<img src="http://cdncache-a.akamaihd.net/items/it/img/arrow-10x10.png" style="background: transparent !important; border: none !important; display: inline-block !important; float: none !important; height: 10px !important; margin: 0px 0px 0px 3px !important; min-height: 0px !important; min-width: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important; vertical-align: super !important; width: 10px !important;" /></a> of mine and I also need to do it to <span class="d3n377" id="d3n377_9" style="border-bottom-width: 1px !important; border-style: none none solid !important; color: rgb(76, 76, 255) !important; cursor: pointer; display: inline !important; float: none; height: 13px; list-style: none; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important; text-decoration: underline !important;">help</span> the team.</div><div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #4c4c4c; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 24px; padding: 0px;">"I know if I score more goals then I'll be able to make a bigger contribution to the team and that's something I'm really working on."</div><div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #4c4c4c; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 24px; padding: 0px;">liverpoolfc.com</div>

Coutinho: All of us want to lift that cup

Philippe Coutinho will walk out onto the  Anfield  turf this evening aiming to take another  step  towards achieving a personal ambition wit...

Read more »