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Paul Merson delivers his prediction for Chelsea v Southampton
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Chelsea sit four points above second-place Tottenham with six games left to play. Antonio Conte’s side bounced back from a disappointing 2-0 lost at Manchester United by beating their title rivals in the semi-final of the FA Cup on Saturday. And Merson reckons the win at Wembley has got the Blues back on track just in time for tonight’s visit of Southampton. Goals from Steven Davis, Sadio Mane and Graziano Pelle saw the Saints claim a 3-1 win at Stamford Bridge last season to pile the pressure on Jose Mourinho.
“I expect Chelsea to win this game and put severe pressure on Tottenham” But tipping Chelsea to get their revenge by reversing the scoreline this time around, Merson told Sky Sports: "I see Chelsea winning the title now. "If they’d have been beaten by Tottenham in the FA Cup semi-final they’d have lost two big games on the trot and been heading into the game against Southampton low on confidence. "Now they are back in a good place and after giving Eden Hazard and Diego Costa a bit of a rest I don’t see what happened last year happening again. "Saturday’s team selection was a gamble for Antonio Conte but what he was saying was: ‘If I win the FA Cup it’s a bonus but I’m here to win the Premier League.’ "And rightly so. It’s worked out perfectly for him as well because Hazard and Costa will be fresh.
"Last year, Southampton’s 3-1 win at Stamford Bridge was one of the downfalls of Jose Mourinho. "I expect Chelsea to win this game and put severe pressure on Tottenham by going seven points clear again. "In the last couple of weeks Tottenham have played before Chelsea and I think they could have done with that being the case again. “If they’d have been able to play Palace before and get the victory to be just one point behind, that’s a different kettle of fish.”
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The Blues head into the game on the back of a 4-2 victory over Tottenham Hotspur in the FA Cup at Wembley, which booked their place in the final and put them on course for a double.
“When you have to play this type of game, it is very important to try to find the best solution, to give the right balance in our squad to play these games in these few days,” Conte said.
“I have in my mind the starting 11 but I want to check very well the physical consideration of every single player as our last game was an intense one and used energy.
‘It is important for us to win and look at ourselves, but we all know that tomorrow it won’t be easy because Southampton is a very good team with a good coach and good players.”
Conte also reserved praise for Saints striker Manolo Gabbiadini, who he worked with during his time as Italy boss.
He added: “He is a really talented player with a fantastic left foot, one of the best in the world because it is amazing the way he kicks the ball.
“We must pay great attention and for sure I have to talk with my players, and my goalkeeper coach has started to talk with the goalkeepers to give advice about this player, but also Tadic is a great talent, Redmond, Ward-Prowse, Bertrand…They have a lot of good players.”
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Austin and Targett set for training return
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Sam McQueen looks set to miss Tuesday’s trip to Chelsea, but Southampton manager Claude Puel has good news on the horizon, with Matt Targett and Charlie Austin set to return to training this week.
The duo have been out with long-term injuries, but are now set to come back into full sessions with their teammates, although neither will be available for the trip to Stamford Bridge.
Puel will welcome back one influential player, though, with Oriol Romeu having now served a two-match suspension.
“Targett comes back into the training sessions, and Charlie Austin comes back into the training sessions with the group on Thursday,” said Puel.
“Sam McQueen has a little problem with his groin and I think for the other players they are available for this game.”
Puel says Saints may use the opportunity of the Under-23s’ season-ending fixture away to Manchester City on Friday 5th May to give Austin some game time ahead of the final Premier League matches of the campaign.
“His first training session will be on Thursday with the group and, after, it’s important that he finds again his level and all his quality,” said Puel.
"Perhaps he will play with the Under-23s for the last game against Manchester City. We will see if he can play this, as it will be a good opportunity for him to find again the competition.”
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Summary of non-mainstream articles: 25/04/2017 13:19:27
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|| Kenyan youth kick off training with EPL side, SouthamptonTHESTARKENYA |
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| | Chelsea Team News vs Southampton: Hazard, Diego Costa likely to be reinstated into the lineupTHEHARDTACKLE |
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|| How are Norwich’s transfer exiles getting on?HEREISTHECITY |
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How to follow Chelsea vs Southampton live online
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After ending Tottenham’s FA Cup campaign on Saturday, Chelsea can heap more misery on Spurs and move seven points clear in the Premier League title race when they host Southampton tonight.
Antonio Conte’s Blues beat Mauricio Pochettino’s side 4-2 at Wembley on Saturday to set up an FA Cup Final against Arsenal in May, with the Italian coach still on for the Double in his debut season in England.
Chelsea must turn their attentions back to the league - with celebrations expected at Stamford Bridge for newly-crowned PFA Player of the Year N’Golo Kante - while Southampton’s season meanders towards a mid-table finish.
Claude Puel’s side will be no pushovers having narrowly missed out to Manchester United in the EFL Cup Final earlier this season, but Conte will be hoping the Saints have one eye on the beach as Chelsea look to go seven points clear at the top of the table.
Chelsea host Southampton at Stamford Bridge with kick-off scheduled for 7:45pm on Tuesday, April 25.
The match will be televised live on Sky Sports 1, with coverage starting from 7pm. Alternatively, you can follow all the build-up and action from 6:30pm with Standard Sport’s London Football live blog.
Gary Cahill is back in training after missing Chelsea’s FA Cup win against Spurs on Saturday.
The centre-back was ruled out after spending two days in hospital with a virus as Nathan Ake excelled in his place, and Conte may face a tough call on whether the youngster keeps his role.
The manager has no other injury concerns ahead of Tuesday’s match as the Blues close in on a potential Double.
Southampton will welcome Oriol Romeu back from a two-match suspension on Tuesday night.
The Spanish midfielder missed Saints’ last two games having picked up his 10th yellow card of the campaign during their 3-1 win over Crystal Palace, but he will return against his former club.
Matt Targett and Charlie Austin will return to training this week after recovering from respective hamstring and shoulder injuries, but neither is available for the trip. Sam McQueen is doubtful after sustaining a groin injury while Virgil van Dijk (foot) and Alex McCarthy (hamstring) remain absent.
Click here to place a bet. Odds correct as of April 25 at 11am.
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Sourced from The Telegraph article
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Chelsea manager Antonio Conte has taken a swipe at the Manchester elite over their big-money transfer flops.
The Italian says that money does not guarantee success with his claim backed up by City finishing the season trophy-less in Pep Guardiola’s first term.
We look at how clubs’ spending in the transfer market over the last three seasons to find out who have been the biggest spenders and the most frugal.
Do you have to spend big to be successful?
(Figures are sourced from our Telegraph Sport reporters, Transfermarkt and Soccerbase.
NB Hull, Middlesbrough, Watford and Bournemouth are not included given they have not spent the last three seasons in the Premier League.
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Ten things to look out for in the mid-week Premier League games
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As the Premier League season edges towards a gripping conclusion, the fixture computer has thrown up a tantalising set of midweek matches that could have huge ramifications for the final table.
The week includes a Manchester derby, a survival showdown and two integral games in the title race, with half of the clubs in the top flight in action across the country.
Sportsmail has taken a look at 10 things worth watching for during the midweek Premier League games.
Can Chelsea return to their swashbuckling style?
It may seem odd to criticise a team for progressing to an FA Cup final, but there were question marks over Chelsea’s 4-2 win against Tottenham at Wembley this weekend. Ask most people who walked away from the national stadium and they would tell you that Mauricio Pochettino’s side had dominated. Chelsea, as they often do, just found a way to win.
That slightly weak display followed a stunning defeat by Manchester United at Old Trafford. It’s easy to forget that Antonio Conte’s team blew opposition apart for months on end prior to those two games. Tuesday’s game against Southampton should be an opportunity to return to that style, with the likes of Gary Cahill and Marcos Alonso available again.
Will Diego Costa show some form after a tricky few months?
Between the start of the season and December 17, Diego Costa scored 13 goals in 17 Premier League appearances. He played a key role as the Blues beat 13 teams on the spin, an unstoppable engine at the front of a runaway championship-bound train.
But a fallout with Antonio Conte came over a January move. He missed the win against Bournemouth before being restored to the side. Since then, he has only bagged four goals in 13 matches, a rate of less than one in three. It was no surprise to see him dropped for the FA Cup semi-final.
Chelsea should still win the title but Costa needs to start hitting the heights he used to. With rumours of a summer move swirling, the Spain international seems distracted. What better way to prove he is not, than with a performance against Southampton?
Are Middlesbrough and Sunderland both going to edge closer to relegation?
Remember Reading against Queens Park Rangers in April 2013? Two teams matched up, knowing that anything but a victory for either side would see them relegated. They proceeded to play out one of the most awful 0-0 draws you will ever see, primarily because both had accepted their fate.
Middlesbrough and Sunderland seem to be in the same boat. They cannot be relegated on Wednesday, but both are perched at the edge of the relegation drain, waiting for a nudge. Will either of them be able to muster a performance? It would be the first for both teams in months. Anything but a win would be a killer blow.
Can Arsenal continue their recent improvement courtesy of their tactical switch?
A switch to a three-man defence has brought two consecutive wins for Arsenal, including an extra-time victory against Manchester City in their FA Cup semi-final. The sudden switch went against all prior evidence from Arsene Wenger’s tenure, but it seems to be working.
But Leicester have performed well against defences with three centre halves this season. Manchester City lined up with a three against the Foxes in December but abandoned it within 20 minutes after Jamie Vardy struck twice, exploiting the space available behind the defence. Could he do the same against Wenger’s team on Wednesday?
Arsenal still have a slight hope of occupying their usual berth inside the top four at the end of the campaign. They are seven points behind Man City with a game in hand, but would also have to overhaul Manchester United and Everton to catch up with the Champions League pack.
The issue is that they are not facing the questionable Leicester from earlier in the season. Craig Shakespeare has led his side to five wins, a draw and just one defeat in seven games - which, oddly enough, is the form of champions. They took Atletico Madrid to the limit. Arsenal need not underestimate their opponents.
Are Tottenham going to be another victim of Crystal Palace’s run?
April has been a fine month for Sam Allardyce. There is still a sense that the wily manager loves downing a prestigious opponent more than any other, and he has already taken three scalps from the upper end of the Premier League since the start of the month.
Chelsea fell to a 2-1 loss against his side at Stamford Bridge. The Eagles soared as they batted Arsenal aside in a 3-0 win, while this weekend saw Palace damage Liverpool’s top-four hopes. Spurs, on the cusp of making their title challenge legitimate, seem like another possible victim.
Will Spurs fall apart again as the season reaches its conclusion?
This may be the least ‘Spursy’ side in the recent history of Tottenham Hotspur, but they still have the capacity to go full Spurs at the drop of a hat. Last season they fell apart as soon as it became clear they could no longer catch Leicester. Who can forget the battle of Stamford Bridge?
Even more damaging was the 5-1 loss against Newcastle. Chelsea are still within reach, although any sort of faltering from Spurs would end that hope. After their FA Cup exit, will Selhurst Park be the site of Tottenham’s jitters re-emerging?
Can Pep Guardiola employ the same tactical trick against Manchester United?
The first Manchester derby of the season was something of a shock, not least for the manner in which City dominated their opponents. They only conceded on the back of an error from Claudio Bravo.
But what was also surprising is that Guardiola - Mr Tiki-Taka - went direct in his first high-pressure match. He clearly noted United’s defence could be exploited in that manner and it paid off, with Kevin De Bruyne’s opener coming from a flick by Kelechi Iheanacho after a long ball by Aleksander Kolarov.
United’s defence has improved in recent months, but they will be missing Marcos Rojo for Thursday’s game. Will Guardiola exploit any doubts in the same way?
How will Manchester United survive without Zlatan Ibrahimovic?
Zlatan Ibrahimovic’s season is over and his career might be too. On paper, losing anyone with 17 goals in 28 Premier League games should be a hammer blow, but that may not be the case with the giant Swede.
United were better against Chelsea with Jesse Lingard and, more importantly, Marcus Rashford up front. They comfortably beat Burnley, who are no easy side to take three points from at Turf Moor. The dynamism that Ibrahimovic lacks may be just what they need to pick up a win in the derby.
Is this Jose Mourinho’s best chance to push for the top four?
Liverpool’s loss at the weekend has opened a door for the Old Trafford side, who seemed to be sure that the Europa League was the only route to the Champions League this season.
But now United are just six points behind their eternal rivals with two games in hand. They need to take the opportunity that has been handed to them, although it will not be easy at the Etihad on Thursday.
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Vote for your Player of the Season!
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The 2016/17 Player Awards night is fast approaching, and the time has come for you to choose the Fans’ Player of the Season.
The prestigious prize represents the highlight of one of the most special occasions in the club’s calendar, with the latest edition of the event taking place on Thursday 4th May, at St Mary’s.
Saints defender Virgil van Dijk claimed the award a year ago, but he faces stiff competition to retain his title this time around.
As always, the winner is entirely down to you, the supporters!
Click here to cast your vote.
Voting will remain open until 11.59pm on Wednesday 3rd May, with the winner to be revealed at the ceremony on the following day.
Interested in attending the Player Awards? Click here to find out how to book your place.
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Summary of non-mainstream articles: 25/04/2017 14:19:42
| | Newcastle transfer news: Rodriguez most likely to join MagpiesFOOTBALLINSIDER |
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Former England striker rescued two children from yacht
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This is the dramatic moment former England footballer James Beattie helped rescue two young children and their mother from a yacht after it collided with a ferry.
The ex-Everton and Southampton striker leapt into action when he heard a woman shout out ‘get my children off’ as she feared the 25ft yacht was about to sink.
Mr Beattie, 38, and three other passengers jumped a barrier at the end of the small car ferry, rushed forward to the edge of a ramp and hauled the crying children to safety.
Their shaken mother was then helped off the stricken yacht.
A passing boat threw a line to man left on board, thought to be the father of the children, and towed it clear in time.
The incident happened when the pleasure craft collided with the front of the Sandbanks to Studland chain ferry in Poole Harbour, Dorset.
The yacht got its lines snagged in the workings of the ferry and there was a risk it would have got dragged underneath.
Mr Beattie, who won five England caps and is now a first team coach at Championship side Leeds United, was visiting Dorset and got out of his parked car to help.
Ashley Jacobs, who was in a small boat in Poole Harbour, later tweeted former Southampton player Mr Beattie afterwards, saying: ‘Hats off to you mate, I was on the red boat. Did well to get the kids off…top stuff.’
Mr Beattie, a father of three, replied: ‘Current too strong for that little yacht. Glad the family are OK. Acted on instinct while too many people get their phones out to video. Crazy!’
He said: 'We saw a small yacht getting dragged into the chain ferry.
'We are just a small boat so we couldn’t offer a tow but we stayed on standby just in case one of the children went into the water.
'I saw a number of people on the chain ferry rushing to help, one of which was James Beattie.
'He got hold of the children when other people were just standing about watching, so credit to him for that.
‘He leant over the edge and got the children to safety. He did really well.’
Witness Alan Dobson, 49, from Bournemouth, was on the ferry. He said: 'We were one of the the first cars onto the ferry, so we were right at the front.
'Just as the ferry was about to pull away, a sail boat, without its sail up, came from the right and hit the front of the ferry.
'Its lines were getting tangled on the front of the ferry, and it was getting pulled into it.
'I heard a woman shouting ‘get my children off’. She was very panicked and thought the yacht was sinking.
'Four guys jumped over the barrier then one of them leant down on his stomach, reached down and grabbed one of the children.
'He passed a little girl to another man, who handed the child on to a woman - then they got the other child off who they handed to my wife Michelle.
'The girl was aged about six old and the other was boy who was of toddler age.
'The man, I presume he was the dad, stayed on the boat.
‘What a great job those rescuers did. It’s good to know there are still people who can help in such situations.’
The children’s father and some of the ferry passengers managed to un-snag the yacht before it was towed out of the path of the ferry.
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Who is the Premier League’s most injured player over the past six seasons?
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Who is the Premier League’s most injured player over the past six seasons?
Jack Wilshere has been the most injured Premier League player over the past six seasons, data shows.
Sky Sports looked at every injury recorded by physioroom.com of current Premier League clubs since the start of 2011/12, up to the most recent round of fixtures, and calculated the number of days missed during active seasons.
Wilshere, on loan at Bournemouth from Arsenal, has missed 895 days during the last six seasons - 879 days during his time at Arsenal - of which 606 days were from foot and ankle injuries.
The 25-year-old is a long-term absentee having broken his leg in Bournemouth’s 4-0 defeat at Tottenham last week, the latest setback in an injury-plagued career for the England man.
Previously, Wilshere’s calf injury, picked up at the start of the 2015/16 season with Arsenal, saw him ruled out for a total of 253 days, while illness, thigh, hamstring and knee problems make up the rest of his time out in recent years.
Former Gunner Abou Diaby is second on the list with 858 days on the sidelines before his move to Marseille in 2015, where he was injured almost from the get-go.
Diaby made just three appearances in Ligue 1 in 2015/16, and has made only two this season after being plagued with an ankle injury.
Diaby is followed by former Everton trio Darron Gibson (792), Tony Hibbert (768) and Steven Pienaar (744).
Next among the most injured are Manchester United’s Phil Jones (727), West Ham’s Andy Carroll (723), Manchester City’s Vincent Kompany (647) and Liverpool’s Daniel Sturridge (640).
Wilshere’s current spell on the sidelines comes at a bad time as he is due to enter contract talks with his parent club, with his current deal running until the end of the season.
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Summary of non-mainstream articles: 25/04/2017 15:20:07
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