Nigeria: Mikel, Etuhu Clash in Battle of Supremacy

Daily Independent (Lagos)

19 March 2011

analysis

The Premier League returns to action this weekend as big sides get ready to battle for supremacy today, Turning its focus back to the bread and butter of the League.

John Mikel Obi’s Chelsea plays host to Kelvin Etuhu’s Manchester City as the EPL title race gathers momentum. In the second game today, Liverpool returns to Sunderland for the first time since one of the most bizarre Premier League goals of all time.

Chelsea has taken seven points from a possible nine while Manchester City has managed just one draw from its last three on the road. Liverpool will be hoping there is no repeat of last season’s infamous beach-ball match-winner for Sunderland.

Last season Sunderland beat Liverpool 1-0 when Darren Bent controversially scored after just five minutes when his effort went in off a beach ball, which had found its way on to the pitch from the away fans. Chelsea manager, Carlo Ancelotti, has confirmed that Fernando Torres will start in today’s clash with Manchester City.

The £50million signing has not scored in his five starts for the club and was left on the bench for Wednesday night’s Champions League encounter with FC Copenhagen, sparking talk that the player had been dropped due to his lack of goals. However, Ancelotti has moved to quell the speculation buy insisting that he was only giving the Spain international a rest ahead of what has become a crucially important Premier League game at Stamford Bridge this weekend as fourth plays third.

“The players not involved from the beginning tonight will play on Sunday,” said the Blues boss. “I wanted to maintain the players fresh and with good motivation.

“If we want to achieve something, we’ll need all the players with good motivation.

“The only reason (Torres did not start) is that we will have these players – Essien, Malouda and Torres – fresh for City.

Meanwhile, Asamoah Gyan insists he has moved on from his World Cup heartbreak as he prepares to face the man who almost caused him to quit football.

Sunderland’s record signing goes head-to-head with Liverpool striker, Luis Suarez, on Sunday in their first meeting since last summer’s World Cup quarter-final.

Uruguay ace Suarez palmed away Dominic Adiyiah’s last-gasp extra-time header on the line and although he was shown a straight red card, Ghana striker, Gyan, missed the resulting penalty, which would have sealed a 2-1 win.

Gyan redeemed himself by scoring in the subsequent penalty shoot-out but Uruguay triumphed from the spot, with Suarez now a hate-figure in Ghana.

But Sunderland striker, Gyan, insists closing the gap on sixth- placed Liverpool provides his motivation for Sunday’s Stadium of Light clash rather than any retribution for Suarez.

Gyan said: “I know people will be focusing on what happened in the World Cup. But it’s gone and life goes on.

“It’s not about Uruguay and Ghana, it’s about Liverpool and Sunderland.

“They are a top side and they have their confidence back after winning a couple of games. We also need wins so it’s going to be an exciting game.

“Suarez is like a hero in his country because he took Uruguay to the semi-finals.

“If I was him, I might have done the same thing even though he’s a cheat. The referee did the right thing by sending him off and awarding a penalty.

“The chance came and we blew it away.”

He added: “The penalty doesn’t affect me now. What helped was I scored the second one. If I hadn’t scored that, I don’t know what I’d have done.

“I’m always mentally strong but if I hadn’t scored that penalty, I’d have quit football.

“I didn’t know what to do after missing the first one because my mind was out of the game. But I was fine after the second one and relieved.”

While Gyan has been forgiven in his homeland for costing Ghana the chance of becoming the first African World Cup semi-finalists, Suarez has not been so fortunate.

“I did excellently in the World Cup and people were a bit disappointed with the penalty,” added Gyan.

“I’d done everything for them but then I missed that penalty. But they do understand the game and Suarez is the most hated person in Ghana now.

“I don’t know whether he could ever go there. Fans don’t want their team to lose and we lost because of that.”

Chelsea v City match facts:

Facts and figures relating to the Premier League clash between Chelsea and Manchester City at Stamford Bridge.

Carlos Tevez has scored six goals in his last five Premier League games against Chelsea.

Man City has scored the joint-fewest headed goals in the Premier League (2).

After winning only two of the first 24 Premier League meetings with Chelsea, Man City has won the last three in a row.

Chelsea has only won three of their last seven Premier League games at Stamford Bridge and hasn’t won back-to-back league fixtures since November.

Man City hasn’t won back-to-back league games since the turn of the year. Chelsea and City have won a joint-high eight penalties each this season in the Premier League.

Argentine striker, Tevez, has scored the first goal of the game on eight occasions in the Premier League this term; more often than any other player.

Roberto Mancini’s side has scored the lowest proportion of goals in the second half of Premier League games this term (44 per cent). Chelsea has conceded just 11 goals in the second half of Premier League games this season; fewer than any other side.

Only six of the last 20 Premier League goals that Manchester City has scored have arrived in the second half of games.

Sunderland v Liverpool match facts:

Facts and figures relating to the Premier League clash between Sunderland and Liverpool at the Stadium of Light.

Sunderland scored two goals from just three shots on target at Anfield earlier this season.

Sunderland has only scored three goals in their last nine Premier League games against Liverpool, but all were netted by the now departed Darren Bent.

The last time Sunderland and Liverpool met at the Stadium of Light, the winning goal from Darren Bent deflected into the net off a beach ball.

The Black Cats have scored a league-low eight goals following set pieces this season.

No side has lost more points at home from leading positions than Sunderland (10) this season.

Steve Bruce’s side has lost 13 points from goals scored in the 80th minute or later this season; more than any other side in the league.

Only Wolves (7) has conceded more goals in the last minute of Premier League matches this season than Liverpool (6).

Liverpool has lost all three of their Premier League away games directly following a Europa League matchday this season.

The Reds have won 17 points from their last eight Premier League matches, only Arsenal (18) has won more in this period.

Alongside Blackburn, Sunderland is the only side that has failed to win any of their last five Premier League matches.

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