Premier League preview: Manchester City vs QPR

koclokindoblog, 11 Mei 2012, Manchester City can clinch their first league title since 1968 with a win over Queens Park Rangers on the final day of a memorable season.

City, equal on 86 points with local rivals United but on top of the table with a superior goal difference, know three points at Etihad Stadium on Sunday will secure the trophy.

QPR on the other hand remain locked in a survival battle and need a result against the rampaging City to secure their top flight status for another season.

With Carlos Tevez and Sergio Augero firing up front for City, Yaya Toure, whose brace against Newcastle United last weekend guided City to their fifth win in as many outings, wants to finish the job.

"The job is not done yet," Toure told the official Manchester City website.

"We have to keep going because QPR need the points, but it would be amazing if we win.

"It is for occasions like this I came to City - to make history - and I hope I will make history at the weekend.

"Forty-four years is unbelievably long time to wait for another title - it is too many years. Now we have one game left and we have to deliver."

QPR are two points clear of Bolton Wanderers, who will be relegated with Wolverhampton and Blackburn Rovers should they fail to defeat Stoke City away.

Should Bolton win however, they would leapfrog QPR into Premier League safety if the London-based side left Manchester without a point.

"I can't wait for the game - I can't wait to go to Man City," QPR captain Joey Barton said.

"They expect us to turn up and them to probably stuff us and go on and win the league.

"If that is their attitude, they will get a reality check. It's 11 men against 11 men, there is a lot of pressure out there.

"We have one game to go and we are masters of our own destiny."

City edged out QPR 3-2 last time the sides met in November with Toure striking the winner at Loftus Road.

Premier League preview: Sunderland vs Manchester United

koclokindoblog, 11 Mei 2012, Manchester United will travel to Sunderland on the last day of the season hoping local rivals Manchester City falter in the title race.

United are equal on 86 points with City atop the table but have an inferior goal difference.

City will clinch the title with a win over Queens Park Rangers, however a draw or loss at Etihad Stadium would open the door for United to claim a record 20th league title.

United have won just two of their last five matches with recent losses to City and Wigan and a draw against Everton to blame for allowing City the best chance at the league crown.

"I know that if we don't win the league then a lot of people will say this is the end of the empire and ask how we will survive," United defender Patrice Evra told the United Review.

"But there's a lot of talent at this club and we've had to deal with a lot.

"But it's not over yet. I'll say it again: we're not dead."

Sunderland, in 11th on 45 points, have gone eight games since their last Premier League victory against QPR in March but could still finish in the top half of the table with a win at the Stadium of Light.

"Obviously it would be disappointing to miss out on the top 10 because we wanted to do better this season than last," Sunderland goalkeeper Simon Mignolet told the Sunderland Echo.

"But it's more about winning a game again at the moment.

"It's obviously a good game to play on the last day against Manchester United and everyone's looking forward to it.

"We're all professionals so we can't get wrapped up in the attention on the title.

"We have to look at ourselves and try to finish in the top half and try to win the game."

United overcame Sunderland 1-0 last time the sides met in November with a Wes Brown own goal on the stroke of half time proving the difference.

 

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Premier League preview: Swansea vs Liverpool

koclokindoblog, 11 Mei 2012, Liverpool will be out to overtake Merseyside rivals Everton on the Premier League table when they travel to Swansea City on Sunday.

The Reds, in eighth on 52 points, trail Everton, who host Newcastle United at home, by one point with one game to play.

Should Liverpool triumph in Wales, anything but victory for Everton in their last fixture would see Kenny Dalglish's side leapfrog their neighbours into seventh place.

Liverpool bid farewell to the Anfield faithful for another season in style midweek, thumping Chelsea 4-1 after the disappointment of their FA Cup final loss to the same team three days prior.

"After a disappointing result and performance in the final that was exactly what was needed," Liverpool defender Glen Johnson told the Liverpool Echo.

"We wanted to start where we left off in the final and we did that.

"Now we have to try to get another three points at Swansea and try to finish as high as possible. We want to finish seventh and if we beat Swansea we've got a chance of doing that."

Swansea, on the other hand, could remarkably finish as high as 10th with three points over the Reds in their maiden Premier League campaign.

Brendan Rodgers' side are 12th with 44 points, three behind 10th-placed West Bromwich Albion, who host Arsenal in their final outing.

Swansea have accounted for Manchester City and Arsenal at the Liberty Stadium this season while holding Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur to draws.

Having sold out every home game this season, Swansea midfielder Joe Allen wants to thank the locals for their support with another high profile scalp.

"There have been games when it must have been hard to keep singing away, but they have just kept supporting us all the way," Allen told the official Swansea website.

"We want to give the fans back what they have given to us all season.

"It will be a very difficult game but we have plenty to play for - we want to get into the top ten."

Liverpool hosted Swansea in a scoreless draw last time the sides met in November.

 

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Premier League preview: Norwich vs Aston Villa

koclokindoblog, 11 Mei 2012, Norwich City hope to finish their season on a high when they play fellow battler Aston Villa in Sunday's final round.

The match means little, except it will be a final farewell for Villa striker Emile Heskey, who has confirmed he is leaving the club.

Having experienced early season success, Norwich languished near the relegation zone and only confirmed mathematical safety after Easter.

Goalkeeper John Ruddy admits the relegation battle affected the side mentally.

"Although there was never a question mark over the effort we were putting into the games, the collective performance probably wasn't there as it had been all season, because of different circumstances: in tiredness maybe, the mental strain and just everyone having that weight lifted off their shoulders knowing that you're safe. It does things to people," Ruddy told the Norwich Evening News.

Once top flight football at Carrow Road was achieved, Ruddy said the Canaries played with an open mind.

"Arsenal (3-3 away draw) was very enjoyable; we got another point towards our total and if we can finish on an even bigger high in front of our home fans then that would be brilliant," he said.

Villa striker Heskey will play his last game for the club on Sunday.

The striker has had a frustrating season, returning only one goal in the last 16 months.

His three-and-a-half year contract expires in the summer, and the former England international believes he still has much to offer at the top-flight.

"I haven’t got a club to be honest," Heskey said.

"I'm 34, I still feel I can play so I don't see why I need to retire just now.

"I still want to play at Premier League level."

Heskey will have to reduce substantially his 50,000 pound a week salary, and said this season was one of his hardest.

"Sometimes when you get into a bit of a rut, your head gets down and you can't find yourselves getting out of it," he said.

"We have left it late (surviving relegation) but the lads have been battling on."

Premier League preview: Everton vs Newcastle

koclokindoblog, 11 Mei 2012, Everton will be out to silence rivals Liverpool, while Newcastle could clinch a Champions League berth at Goodison Park on Sunday.

Newcastle, in fifth on 65 points, could climb to third with a win at Everton and go straight into the group stage of next season's Champions League if other results fall their way.

Newcastle would need Arsenal (67 points) to lose at West Bromwich Albion and Tottenham (66) to falter at home to Fulham to move above the London-based sides.

Senegal international Demba Ba, unstoppable earlier this season with 16 goals, is yet to score since countryman Papiss Demba Cisse made his debut for Newcastle in February.

Cisse has netted 13 times from his 12 appearances following his signing from German outfit Freiburg while Ba has been used more on the left side up front than a sole target.

"As I've said all along, I still fancy he'll score before the end of the season," Newcastle manager Alan Pardew told the Sunderland Echo.

"And who knows? He might get the most important goal of the season."

Newcastle have won seven of their last nine games, falling to title favourites Manchester City in their most recent outing, while Everton are undefeated in their past eight Premier League starts.

Everton - seventh on 53 points - lead neighbours Liverpool, who travel to Swansea, by one point and are in prime position to secure the Merseyside bragging rights for the first time since 2005.

"It's nice to finish at home and it's nice that there's something on the game," Everton defender Phil Jagielka told the Liverpool Echo.

"We still might need some sort of result come Sunday and if that's the case I'm sure the fans will get behind us and we'll send them home quite happy."

Newcastle edged out Everton 2-1 last time the sides met at Sports Direct Arena in November.

 

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Premier League preview: Wigan vs Wolves

koclokindoblog, 11 Mei 2012, Wigan Athletic can win their seventh game in nine starts while Wolverhampton Wanderers will bid farewell to the Premier League on Sunday.

Wolves, rooted to the bottom of the table with just five wins and 25 points, have already been consigned to Championship after two seasons in the top flight.

Wigan, in 15th on 40 points, on the other hand, secured their Premier League status for another term with a late winner against Blackburn Rovers in their last outing.

In fact Roberto Martinez's side are one of the Premier League's form teams with 18 points from their last eight games - a feat only matched by Newcastle United.

Wigan skipper Gary Caldwell has urged his side to 'become a real force' in the Premier League next season as they prepare to farewell the DW Stadium faithful for another season.

"Finishing a point higher than last season and in 15th position in the league would be fantastic," Caldwell told the official Wigan website.

"Now as a football club we have to progress and we don't want to be in this position again next year.

"From day one in pre-season we have to come back and show that hunger and that commitment to be a better football team and if we do that we will finish much further up this league."

Wolves have taken just three from their last possible 24 points and are winless in their last 13 matches.

Following recent draws against Swansea and Everton, Wolves midfielder Dave Edwards declared his side are determined to clinch a maiden victory for manager Terry Connor, took over from the sacked Mick McCarthy in February.

"We keep saying it's for TC, and we haven't given him three points yet so it would be good to finish with two draws and a win to put a better mark on it for him," Edwards told the official Wolves website.

Wolves ran out 3-1 winners last time the sides met in November at Molineux with Jamie O'Hara, David Edwards and Stephen Ward striking for the home side.

 

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Premier League preview: Chelsea vs Blackburn

koclokindoblog, 11 Mei 2012, The turbulent league seasons of Chelsea and Blackburn will come to a close when they square off at Stamford Bridge on Saturday.

The game is effectively a dead rubber, as Rovers will finish 19th and be relegated to the Championship, and Chelsea will end the season in sixth irrespective of the result.

However, Chelsea manager Roberto Di Matteo will use the game as a chance to fine-tune his side before the Champions League final on May 19.

The Blues will be missing both John Terry and Branislav Ivanovic through suspension in Munich, and Di Matteo may rush back defenders David Luiz and Gary Cahill against Blackburn in a race to be fit for the final.

"We are working towards their fitness and trying to get them back as soon as we can," Di Matteo said.

"They were not available for Liverpool so we will have to see (when they could return)."

Other absentees from Wednesday morning's game at Anfield were Didier Drogba, Peter Cech and John Obi Mikel, who were all nursing injuries.

Di Matteo is likely to use the trio sparingly, and may resort to several reserve and youth team players to fill the line-up on Saturday.

It may be the final time Chelsea fans see Drogba at home, if recent reports linking the striker to Chinese club Shanghai have any basis.

Meanwhile at Ewood Park, fans will be eager to finish a season that has delivered few positives.

The one-time Premier League champions have experienced a slow and painful road to relegation that has seen fans turn their back on the club's owners Venky's and manager Steve Kean.

The 'Kean Out' chants have been sung by Rovers fans since pre-Christmas, yet Kean himself maintains he is going nowhere.

"We have the basis of a good young side, we just have to add more experience," Kean said.

"I said a number of weeks ago, it is a changing time for the club.

"The owners are not going anywhere, I'm not going anywhere."

 

Kontrak Baru Sebagai Tanda Cinta Chelsea untuk Drogba

koclokindoblog, 8 Mei 2012, London - Didier Drogba tampaknya masih jadi figur penting untuk Chelsea. Sebab manajemen The Blues mengatakan akan segera membicarakan kontrak baru untuk penyerang Pantai Gading itu.

Kontrak Drogba sejatinya akan berakhir musim panas, namun ia acap kali dispekulasikan akan meninggalkan Stamford Bridge terkait belum adanya tanda-tanda pembicaraan mengenai perpanjangan masa tinggal striker 34 tahun itu.

Meski sudah berumur dan kerap dicap sudah "habis", tapi Drogba nyatanya masih memberikan kontribusi penting untuk Chelsea. Contohnya adalah saat berperan membawa 'Si Biru' melaju ke final Liga Champions dan akhir pekan lalu saat Chelsea memenangi Piala FA.

Hal itulah kemudian yang akhirnya mungkin membuat klub berubah pikiran untuk secepat mungkin memberikan kontrak baru untuk Drogba.

"Kami selalu berbicara soal kontrak baru kepada Drogba, Didier mencintai dan kami mencintai Didier," tutur chief executive klub, Ron Gourlay, seperti dilansir Talksport.

"Kami akan terus melanjutkan pembicaraan ini dan kita lihat seperti apa nanti hasilnya. Dan secepat mungkin kami akan memberi tahu Anda semua begitu ada keputusan nantinya," tuntas Gourlay.

Selama delapan musim memperkuat Chelsea, Drogba sudah jadi salah satu legenda klub itu dengan 337 penampilan dan 156 gol serta 71 assist di seluruh kompetisi. Selain itu dia juga adalah pencetak gol terbanyak keempat dalam sejarah Chelsea.

sport.detik.com

Premier League preview: Liverpool vs Chelsea

koclokindoblog, 7 Mei 2012, Liverpool and Chelsea will lock horns again in the Premier League on Tuesday three days after battling for FA Cup glory on Saturday.

The Blues won 2-1 at Wembley and the Reds will be keen to atone for missing out on becoming the first team to win a domestic cup double since Chelsea in 2007.

But if Liverpool thought they'd be done a favour by Chelsea as they prepare for their second Champions League final in five years in a fortnight, they best think again.

Sixth-placed Chelsea (61 points), with two league games to play, are five points behind fourth-placed Tottenham (66) who only have one more match left in their 2011-12 campaign against Fulham at White Hart Lane on Sunday.

And if Chelsea lose the Champions League decider to Bayern Munich on May 19, then the only way they will get a chance at redemption next season is if they finish in the league's top four.

The only way they can do that is if they win their last two matches.

Newcastle (fifth), on 65 points, are sandwiched in between Tottenham and Chelsea but they also face a challenging task on the last day in the form of Everton at Goodison Park.

So where there's life there's hope for Chelsea and there will certainly be no thoughts of resting players or going easy crossing the mind of interim manager Roberto Di Matteo against Liverpool.

Capturing all three points will be the sole focus at Anfield, especially when one considers how similar the goal differences of both Tottenham (+23) and Chelsea (+21) are and how poor Newcastle's (+7) is.

And winning at Anfield has become far less daunting proposition for visiting teams with Liverpool losing four of their last eight at their former fortress.

However, ninth-placed Liverpool have motivation of their own as they try to avoid their worst finish to a Premier League campaign in 57 years.

The highest the Reds can finish this season is seventh and to have any chance of achieving that, they will have to beat Chelsea and Swansea at Liberty Stadium.

And Liverpool (49 points) will be desperate to avoid finishing lower than fierce Merseyside rivals Everton who are seventh on 53 points and play Newcastle in their final match.

Everton have not finished above the Reds since 2004-05.

Chelsea head into the match in decent league form, their 2-0 loss to Newcastle last week ending their six-match unbeaten run in the league.

But the same can't be said for Liverpool who have seven points from a possible 24 before this clash.

 

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Premier League preview: Aston Villa vs Tottenham

koclokindoblog, 4 Mei 2012, Aston Villa must fix their goal-scoring troubles without striker Darren Bent as they look to stave off relegation against Tottenham on Sunday.

Villa have scored one goal in four matches as they move closer towards the English Premier League's relegation zone and manager Alex McLeish revealed this week he had looked into bringing Bent back from an ankle injury that he suffered in February.

But while the England international striker, who is Villa's top scorer this season with nine goals in the EPL, is recovering well, McLeish will not risk him in his side's final two games of the season.

"I said 'are you ready to go on the bench at the weekend or something," McLeish said on Wednesday.

"(Bent) said: 'No, not quite, but I'm making good progress, so boss it might be too soon'.

"I don't believe there is a chance of him playing again for Villa this season."

Instead the 53-year-old manager will make do with the players at his disposal against Tottenham on Sunday and against Norwich on the final day of the season.

Villa are the second-worst attacking team in the EPL this season with just 36 goals in as many games and could be dragged level with teams in the relegation zone if they lose to Tottenham and Queens Park Rangers overcome Stoke and Bolton defeat West Brom.

Villa are 15th on the table, two spots clear of the relegation zone, equal with Wigan on 37 points and only three points ahead of QPR and Bolton.

Apart from Bent, Villa's best scorers this season are Gabriel Agbonlahor (5 goals), Stiliyan Petrov (4 goals), who is out as he fights leukemia, and Robbie Keane (3 goals), who has finished his loan-spell and is back with the Los Angeles Galaxy.

McLeish's side host a Tottenham side back in form on Sunday.

Tottenham went into last weekend having only managed two victories in the Premier League since the start of February but have now notched two in a row.

Harry Redknapp's men defeated Blackburn 2-0 on Sunday and then thumped Bolton 4-1 on Wednesday to move back into fourth spot on the league table.

That spot could come with a Champions League spot, assuming Chelsea do not win this season's final, and Redknapp will be pushing Tottenham to ensure they stay ahead of Newcastle with a win against Villa.

Tottenham are on 65 points, ahead of Newcastle on goal difference and just behind third-placed Arsenal, who have 66 points.

 

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Premier League preview: Arsenal vs Chelsea

koclokindoblog, 19 April 2012, While Chelsea are one game away from this year's Champions League final, a mere spot in the 2012 tournament is on the line against Arsenal.

Chelsea, in sixth place with a game in hand, edged out Barcelona 1-0 in the first leg of their Champions League semi-final on Wednesday and head to the Emirates on Saturday seven points behind third-placed Arsenal.

Didier Drogba scored the winner against Barcelona and will look to add to his career tally of eight Premier League goals against the Gunners, who also have Tottenham Hotspur and Newcastle United hot on their heels in fourth and fifth respectively.

Arsenal are coming off a shock 2-1 loss at home to Wigan on Monday and face a selection dilemma in midfield after Mikel Arteta was this week ruled out for the remainder season with ankle ligament damage.

Arteta joins Jack Wilshire on the sidelines, while Yossi Benayoun, who is on loan from Chelsea, is ineligible to face his parent club and Abou Diaby remains short of match fitness, leaving Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger with few options for the London derby.

Chelsea boss Roberto Di Matteo hinted towards a number of changes in personnel following the Barcelona win, which came three days after a 5-1 romping of Tottenham in the FA Cup semi-final at Wembley.

"Public opinion has been that these boys are over the hill and too old to play two games in succession," Di Matteo told the club's official website.

"But they gave their answer on the pitch (against Barcelona).

"We have to assess the players ... but there's a good chance some fresh players will come in, because they deserve to as well."

Fernando Torres, Florent Malouda and Daniel Sturridge were all unused substitutes against Barcelona and could feature against Arsenal as the Blues go in search of just their fourth win in 20 Premier League trips to the Emirates.

 

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Klasemen Liga Inggris ( English Premier League ) 2011-2012