Sunday's big EPL games : some guff, some analysis, some player profiles

Guff:
Sir Alex Ferguson and Avram Grant have clashed over the issue of players pressurising referees
Sir Alex Ferguson and Avram Grant have clashed over the issue of players pressurising referees
Avram Grant defends Cole and attacks Eboue
Manager was in most positive mood as he assessed the championship run-in and believes his side can still win title
Wenger shoots down talk of Arsenal collapse



Analysis:
Talking tactics: Chelsea v Arsenal
Talking tactics: Manchester United v Liverpool



Player profiles:
Argentinian is proving the best defensive midfield man in the Premier League after a string of impressive performances
Mascherano is new Keane
If Niklas Bendtner fails to make the grade, it certainly won't be through a lack of faith in his own ability [in other words, he's a cocky little twat]
Belief provides the basis for Bendtner's climb
All eyes at Old Trafford will be on two attacking players who could so easily have been playing for their opposing clubs
Ronaldo and Torres become box-office heroes
The Slovakian defender has elbowed Carragher aside to take centre stage at Anfield
Skrtel hits relentless groove after getting off on wrong foot
Sir Alex Ferguson believes his young England striker will have a decisive say on the title race before the season is out
Rooney tipped to find scoring touch

Lawro's predictions

Man Utd v Liverpool

This has got draw written all over it because against all the top teams away, Mr Benitez picks a team to stop the opposition playing.
He'll be banking on Fernando Torres to nick him a goal because I don't think Liverpool will have many chances.
I don't buy this talk that Cristiano Ronaldo can't perform in the big games. I think it's just one of those strange things. He hasn't done it yet but he will do. He's far too good not to. Maybe it will be on Sunday against Liverpool...
Verdict: 1-1
Lawro's Premiership Predictions

Italy: Serie A Weekend Previews

Inter host Juventus in the big clash of the weekend. Elsewhere Fiorentina welcome Lazio, Torino host Milan and Empoli go to Roma.

Previews

England: Premier League Previews

See the post below for more specific information on Super Sunday (Manchester United vs. Liverpool and Chelsea vs. Arsenal), but elsewhere Spurs host Pompey, Reading host Birmingham, Fulham travel to Newcastle and Villa host Sunderland on a weekend that could have a massive effects on the outcome of the 2007-2008 campaign.

Previews

England: Big Sunday Preview

Rafael Benítez has accused Sir Alex Ferguson of trying to influence the referee ahead of their league clash
Benítez takes swipe at Ferguson

Last year they were six points behind Arsenal, but Chelsea have an opportunity to climb above their London rivals
Joe Cole urges Chelsea to stay focused on title race
Chelsea players question Avram Grant's tactics

Ronny combines an extraordinary mix of pace, strength and skill to embarrass opponents
Ronaldo can be the Best
Nani: Young Man Utd driven by will to win
Alan Hansen's column

England: Meite Reads SSN + Other EPL News

Ivory Coast defender surprised team-mates in midweek by saying he had had enough during half-time at Old Trafford. He'd obviously read yesterday's SSN about Megson being a wanker
Meite faces Bolton exit after work stoppage

Man City owner Thaksin Shinawatra has warned Sven-Goran Eriksson he will have to spend wisely this summer
Thaksin: Eriksson will have to work on tighter budget

The Premier League has blocked Jermain Defoe's potential White Hart Lane reunion with Spurs
Redknapp fuming over rule

FIFA Street 3

EA's latest football offering is fast, furious and well presented, but ultimately only fun in small doses
Fifa Street 3

Capello shows who's boss

Fabio Capello will talk to his England players about discipline in the wake of Ashley's Cole's clash with Alan Hutton and the subsequent dissent displayed to the referee
Capello's crackdown

U.S. Under 23s 3 - 0 Canada Under 23s -- Off to China!

The US under-23 team cruised past their northern neighbors to earn a berth in the 2008 Olympics
US Qualify for Beijing with 3-0 Win over Canada
Jeff Carlisle: Adu headlines a dominating team performance

Quidnunc Ronaldinho?

Ronaldinho returned to training with Barcelona today - behind closed doors, naturally - and will travel to Valencia for next Thursday's Copa del Rey clash at the Mestalla. But, once again, he won't be in the matchday squad. Precisely what is going on with the Brazilian enigma?
The Tragedy Of Ronaldinho

Spain: Valencia Reach Copa del Rey Final

Valencia won a thrilling Copa del Rey semi final, second leg by the odd goal in five as Juanma Mata made himself into a local hero with two goals
Valencia In Final After Thriller

Megson = Wanker

It annoys the fuck out of me when managers hark on all season about the importance of "getting into Europe", only to then field weakened sides once they get there. A perfect example of football being totally out of touch with the fans. You've waited 15 years to see your team play abroad, paid a fortune for tickets, taken days off work and your manager selects the B team with two trialists on the bench.
Good riddance if Gary Megson loses job

Carra and Clichy

Jamie Carragher is adamant Liverpool manager will revert to trusted methods ahead of three-week make or break fixtures
Benitez may rotate for crucial matches
Arsenal full-back Gael Clichy has said it will be "good fun" to take on Liverpool three times in
one week next month
Liverpool trilogy thrills Arsenal full-back

EPL News

Club unlikely to make high-profile signings during the summer to give their younger players an opportunity to develop
Young players get chance as West Ham try to economise
Aliou Cissé's 2004 transfer from Birmingham to Portsmouth was the subject of the raid at St Andrew's
Police raid centred on Cissé move
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has targeted St Etienne midfielder Loic Perrin to strengthen his squad as doubts continue to surround the future of Mathieu Flamini at the Emirates
Arsenal ponder move for Loic Perrin
Forward smiling again after end to lean times and confidence is high of earning a recall to Fabio Capello's England team
Owen confident of hitting top form
They have not won away in the league for 18 months but Fulham fans are to travel to St James' Park still full of hope
Fulham's dismal run does not deter fans

Martin Rogers: Americans looking ugly so far

The U.S. men’s under-23 national team should accomplish its Olympic qualifying mission by beating Canada on Thursday night, but the memories of its jittery and unconvincing CONCACAF campaign will dampen any bold predictions of success in Beijing.

Americans on the Continent: Passing the Torch

It was a passing of the torch moment, of sorts, as two American centerbacks clashed in Bavaria over the weekend. Mainz’s 19-year-old Nevin Subotic lined up across the field from 1860 Munich’s 34-year-old Greg Berhalter.

Italy: Lazio Edge Roma In Eternal Derby

Lazio 3 - 2 Roma
Lazio win it at the death
Player Ratings

Elsewhere, Inter could only draw at Genoa, Juventus could only draw at Empoli, Sampdoria beat Milan and Fiorentina lost in Naples. Reports


Not a happy man...

England: EPL Midweek Results + Table

Tottenham 4 - 4 Chelsea
Frantic London Derby
Grant under scrutiny once again
Player Ratings

Manchester United 2 - 0 Bolton
Another brace for Ronny
Ronaldo's brilliance masks United's problems

	Played	Points
Man Utd	30	70
Arsenal	30	67
Chelsea	30	65
Liverpool	30	59
Everton	30	56
Portsmouth	30	50
Aston Villa	30	49
Man City	30	48
Blackburn	30	46
West Ham	30	43
Tottenham	30	36
Wigan	30	31
Middlesbrough	30	31
Newcastle	30	29
Reading	30	28
Birmingham	30	27
Sunderland	30	27
Bolton	30	25
Fulham	30	23
Derby	30	10

Birmingham City Raided by The Police

'The club is fully cooperating with the police in their inquiries which relate to an unconnected third party or third parties'
Police raid Birmingham in probe

Inter after Hleb

“Topless”

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger is considering whether to report Inter Milan to Uefa for an alleged approach for midfielder Alexander Hleb. Personally I think Inter are just using Hleb to get closer to his wife, Anastasia Kosenkova, who not only sings for the pop group “Topless”, but was Ukraine's Miss Tourism International 2004.
Inter accused of tapping up Arsenal's Hleb