Shit Sven better come to his senses and let Isaksson keep, we need this to be positive for Sunday's Liverpoo match.
Shit Sven better come to his senses and let Isaksson keep, we need this to be positive for Sunday's Liverpoo match.
How in the Hell do u think Sunderland is suppose to win unless all 11 United drop dead. THen Ferguson would probably have to drop dead too.
How in the hell do you guess these crazy-ass scores. You amaze me too.
Portsmouth v Arsenal
Fratton Park
Wednesday, 26 December
Kick-off: 1945 GMT
BBC coverage: BBC Sport website, BBC Radio Five Live & highlights on Match of the Day. Featured game on Score and Final Score.
Portsmouth defender Noe Pamarot could return after recovering from the hamstring injury that forced him out of the defeat at Liverpool.
Sean Davis missed the reverse at Anfield after picking up a knock in training but could also return.
Arsenal may opt against playing Robin van Persie after he was not risked against Tottenham.
Theo Walcott is struggling with a knee injury but Emmanuel Eboue is fit after playing for 74 minutes against Spurs.
Portsmouth (from): James, Johnson, Campbell, Distin, Pamarot, Hreidarsson, Utaka, Davis, Diop, Muntari, Kranjcar, Pedro Mendes, Benjani, Kanu, Taylor, Nugent, Lauren, Hughes, Ashdown.
Arsenal (from): Almunia, Lehmann, Sagna, Gallas, Toure, Clichy, Eboue, Gilberto, Fabregas, Flamini, Hleb, Diarra, Rosicky, van Persie, Adebayor, Senderos, Traore, Song, Denilson, Bendtner, Diaby, Eduardo.
Portsmouth manager Harry Redknapp:
"It is a nice, easy game for us after Liverpool.
"We gave away two terrible goals after getting back into the game following a poor start.
"But were are making progress as a club and I would be satisfied with a top-10 finish. Anything else will be a bonus."
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger:
"It's important to be top.
"But it's too early to say. In the last two seasons, at this stage there was only one team involved - Chelsea or Manchester United.
"This year there are more in it so it's impossible to say how things will happen. Being top now is no insurance."
BIG-MATCH FACTS
A top seven clash with Portsmouth eager to avoid a third successive league loss and table toppers Arsenal keen for a straight third league win.
Pompey have only managed to have taken maximum points off Bolton and Reading (7-4) at Fratton Park so far this season; Arsenal have won at Tottenham, West Ham, Reading and Aston Villa.
Harry Redknapp's side have not scored in four successive home league games; the Gunners have only taken one point from the last two on the road.
Arsenal are the only club to have scored in every Premier League match this season; indeed it was Portsmouth who were the last to prevent from netting in the Premier League with a goalless draw in this corresponding fixture on the last day of last season, 13 May.
Arsenal have only dropped points in one of their last 10 Boxing Day fixtures; that being the odd goal in five defeat, away to Coventry in 1999.
Portsmouth are yet to lose a Premier League match on Boxing Day, having won three and drawn one of their four fixtures.
Pompey are chasing their first league victory over Arsenal in nearly half a century, since the odd goal in nine top-flight triumph at Fratton Park on 29 March 1958.
PORTSMOUTH
Highest achievable: 5th
Lowest could fall: 8th
ARSENAL
Highest achievable: 1st
Lowest could fall: 2nd
PORTSMOUTH
BENJANI MWARUWARI is Portsmouth's top scorer with nine Premier League goals.
Sylvain DISTIN is the only outfield player to have been on the field for every minute of every one of Portsmouth's Premier League games this season.
David JAMES has kept goal for every minute of every one of Pompey's league matches this term.
If selected:-
JAMES will be making his 150th consecutive Premier League appearance (Manchester City and Portsmouth).
Sol CAMPBELL, Nwankwo KANU and Bisan-Etame LAUREN will all be facing a former club.
ARSENAL
Cesc FABREGAS is Arsenal's top scorer with 11 goals.
Emmanuel ADEBAYOR is the clubs' top Premier League marksmen with 10.
Arsenal have never lost when ADEBAYOR has scored; winning 19 and drawing three of the 22 matches in which he's netted.
Five of FABREGAS'S six league goals were scored in the second half.
Only Kolo TOURE has been on the field for every minute of every one of Arsenal's Premier League matches this season.
If on the field from the outset:-
Robin VAN PERSIE will be making his 50th Premier League start - all for the Gunners.
Justin HOYTE will be making his 50th club career league start (Arsenal and Sunderland).
Suspended:-
Neves DENILSON
HEAD TO HEAD
Arsenal are on the look-out for a second Premier League double over Portsmouth, and first since 2004-05.
The north Londoners are unbeaten in 13 League meetings over 49 years (seven wins, six draws).
Home and away
League (inc PL): Portsmouth 14, Arsenal 25 wins, Draws 22
Prem: Portsmouth 0, Arsenal 4 wins, Draws 5
at Portsmouth only
League (inc PL): Portsmouth 8, Arsenal 9 wins, Draws 13
Prem: Portsmouth 0, Arsenal 1 wins, Draws 3
LAST SEASON'S CORRESPONDING GAME
Portsmouth 0-0 Arsenal
13 May 2007 - Ref: Graham Poll
THIS SEASON'S REVERSE FIXTURE
Arsenal 3-1 Portsmouth
2 September 2007 - Ref: Mark Halsey
Arsenal scorers: Adebayor 8 pen, Fabregas 35, Rosicky 59
Portsmouth scorer: Kanu 60
Sent Off: Senderos (Arsenal) 49
REFEREE
Steve Bennett (Orpington, Kent)
Premier League referees' table
Steve Bennett's 2007-08 Premier League card count
Chelsea v Aston Villa
Stamford Bridge
Wednesday, 26 December
Kick-off: 1300 GMT
BBC coverage: BBC Sport website, BBC Radio Five Live & highlights on Match of the Day. Featured game on Score and Final Score.
Chelsea's third-choice goalkeeper Hilario could start, with Petr Cech and Carlo Cudicini both out injured.
Cech is suffering from bruising picked up in Sunday's win at Blackburn while Cudicini is out with a rib injury.
Aston Villa midfielder Stiliyan Petrov could be in line for a recall after making his comeback from injury as a substitute against Manchester City.
Petrov's former Celtic team-mate Shaun Maloney would be the player most likely to make way.
Interview: Chelsea boss Avram Grant
Chelsea (from): Cech, Hilario, Belletti, Ferreira, A Cole, Carvalho, Alex, Ben-Haim, J Cole, Lampard, Essien, Sidwell, Kalou, Shevchenko, Mikel, Sinclair, Wright-Phillips, Pizarro.
Aston Villa (from): Carson, Mellberg, Knight, Laursen, Bouma, Petrov, Reo-Coker, Barry, Young, Agbonlahor, Carew, Taylor, Moore, Maloney, Cahill, Davies, Gardner, Harewood, Osbourne, Berger, Salifou.
Cheslea manager Avram Grant on Chelsea's injury problems:
"I cannot say it will be easy if we lose Cech.
"To play with so many injured for a long time, I don't like it.
"It's fact, and we need to get through it as soon as possible like we have done in the last three months."
Aston Villa manager Martin O'Neill:
"We've got a tough period coming up.
"But this time of the year is always critical because there are so many games in quick succession.
"You can recover from a poor Christmas but if you can do well it gives you an enormous spur."
BIG-MATCH FACTS
This is Chelsea's 300th home match in the Premier League and Aston Villa's 300th away from home.
Chelsea are seeking a 72nd home league game without defeat; Villa are looking to extend an unbeaten seven-match away run.
Chelsea have only lost one of their last five Boxing Day fixtures; that being the 4-2 reverse by Charlton at the Valley in 2003.
Villa have only won one of their last seven Boxing Day fixtures; three points were gained against Everton in the 4-0 home win in 2005.
Chelsea have won four and drawn one of their last five home Premier League matches against Aston Villa, but the Villans are unbeaten in four league matches against the Londoners (one win, three draws) and are chasing a first ever Premier League double over them.
CHELSEA
Club stats
Fixtures
Highest achievable: 3rd
Lowest could fall: 3rd
ASTON VILLA
Club stats
Fixtures
Highest achievable: 6th
Lowest could fall: 9th
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