Bent out for three weeks

The 26-year-old suffered a hamstring injury in training prior to Saturday's win over Stoke City and scans have confirmed it is a grade one problem.

It means Bent is likely to be sidelined for the next few weeks and the injury will force him out of Fabio Capello's plans for the game against France.

Bent scored his first England goal against Switzerland back in September and was expected to be included in Capello's squad for next Wednesday's game at Wembley.

Drogba has Malaria!?!?!?

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Didier Drogba was left on the bench for Sunday's defeat at Liverpool

Chelsea boss Carlo Ancelotti has revealed Didier Drogba has been suffering with malaria.

Drogba is believed to have had malaria for several weeks and, having been left out of the starting line-up for the game against Liverpool as a result of a fever, tests on Monday night confirmed the presence of the disease.

However, Ancelotti revealed Drogba is now fit again and is likely to be available to face Fulham at Stamford Bridge on Wednesday.

"We found out last night when blood tests showed he had malaria," Ancelotti said. "I don't know where he got it from.

"He had a problem. He has this virus and, obviously, he lost power and training. He lost his condition. He's had treatment and now he's okay. He'll come back immediately in the best condition.

Two domestic matches in a week.... I love it.

Rounding out the 2 matches this week for the EPL will be as follows:

• Aston Villa v Manchester United
• Manchester City v Birmingham
• Newcastle United v Fulham
• Tottenham v Balckburn
• West Ham v Blackpool
• Wigan v West Bromwich
• Wolverhampton v Bolton
• Stoke v Liverpool
• Everton v Arsenal
• Chelsea v Sunderland

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

EPL This Week

We get the chance to see midweek matches in the EPL for the first time this season starting today.  Birmingham travels to Stoke for one matchup and Sunderland goes to White Hart Lane to face the Spurs of Tottenham. 

Tomorrow, we get the rest of the EPl with:

• Aston Villa v Blackpool
• Chelsea v Fulham
• Newcastle v Blackburn
• West Ham v West Brom
• Wigan v Liverpool
• Everton v Bolton
• City v United
• Wolverhampton v Arsenal

Hahnemann ponders MLS return

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Marcus Hahnemann: Moved to England in 1999

Wolves keeper Marcus Hahnemann has intimated he could end his career in his native United States.


Hahnemann's current contract at Wolves expires in the summer. It remains to be seen whether the 38-year-old, who has replaced Welsh international Wayne Hennessey as first choice for the past 12 months, will be offered a new deal.

Holloway expecting Adam to leave for top four side

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Blackpool boss Ian Holloway admits he is powerless to stop Charlie Adam leaving the club and moving to one of the top four if the Seasiders are not there themselves this season.



Holloway has been impressed with Adam's performances so far and, amid a row over bonuses from last season's promotion winning campaign, thinks that some of the country's top clubs will be interested in signing him up.

Balotelli out of derby after accepting red card

Liverpool 2 - 0 Chelsea

Fernando Torres produced a striker's masterclass to score twice as Liverpool inflicted only a second defeat of the season on Premier League leaders Chelsea.

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Torres has a liking for playing the Londoners at Anfield, as his six goals in five matches against them at home shows.

Chelsea were heavily linked with a summer bid for Torres but it never materialised and manager Carlo Ancelotti said he did not need to buy the striker as he was satisfied with his own forwards.

West Bromwich Albion 0 - 2 Manchester City

Mario Balotelli netted twice before being sent off as Manchester City secured a 2-0 win at West Brom to ease the pressure on their manager Roberto Mancini.

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Balotelli opened the scoring in the first half having combined with City skipper Carlos Tevez, who was back in the team following his two-match injury lay-off.

The Italian striker then converted David Silva's cross soon after to give the visitors - defeated in their last three matches - a two goal advantage.

Arsenal 0 - 1 Newcastle United

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Andy Carroll made headlines for the right reasons as his goal gave Newcastle a shock 1-0 win over title-chasing Arsenal at Emirates Stadium.

Carroll, tipped to feature in England's senior squad for the friendly with France later this month, had started the day on the front pages following allegations about his private life.