Chelsea vs Bournemouth – Match Preview

Chelsea goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois is available after three months out, while Nemanja Matic is fit despite needing a facial mask to protect his broken nose. However, John Terry, Ramires and Radamel Falcao are not yet ready to return following injury lay-offs. Bournemouth boss Eddie Howe has refused to say whether …

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Watford vs Norwich – Match Preview

Norwich’s Alex Tettey is set to return after a groin injury, while Russell Martin could feature after being an unused substitute against Arsenal. On-loan winger Matt Jarvis remains sidelined with a knee injury. Watford goalkeeper Heurelho Gomes could play despite being stretchered off with a neck injury during the win …

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Swansea vs Leicester – Match Preview

Swansea midfielder Jonjo Shelvey returns after completing a ban. French full-back Franck Tabanou will be out for several weeks after injuring a thigh muscle in training. Leicester defender Ritchie de Laet will be sidelined for up to a month after suffering an ankle injury, while Swans loanee Nathan Dyer is …

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Southampton vs Aston Villa – Match Preview

Southampton hope to recall captain Jose Fonte, who missed the midweek League Cup defeat against Liverpool because of a badly cut knee. Top scorer Graziano Pelle returned after suspension to play in that match. Villa could be missing both first-choice central defenders, with Ciaran Clark banned and captain Micah Richards …

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West Brom vs Tottenham – Match Preview

West Brom will be without midfielder Claudio Yacob, who is serving a one-match suspension, but defender Chris Brunt is available after a ban. Head coach Tony Pulis says one or two unnamed players have niggles which need to be assessed ahead of the match. Tottenham midfielder Dele Alli will return …

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Manchester United vs West Ham – Match Preview

Manchester United are without striker Wayne Rooney because of an ankle injury, while Marcos Rojo is out with a dislocated shoulder. Jesse Lingard returns after a minor problem, but Ander Herrera and Phil Jones remain unavailable. West Ham striker Diafra Sakho will be sidelined for two months with a thigh …

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Arsenal vs Sunderland – Match Preview

Arsenal’s Theo Walcott might return after five weeks out with a calf problem, and Laurent Koscielny could play despite hurting a hip last week. But Santi Cazorla is likely to be out until March with a knee injury, one of a long list of Arsenal absentees. Sunderland striker Jermain Defoe …

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Stoke vs Manchester City – Match Preview

Stoke captain Ryan Shawcross will be available after serving his one-match ban in midweek in the Capital One Cup. Peter Crouch is likely to miss out with a hamstring injury, but Mame Diouf should be available after missing Tuesday’s match for family reasons. Manchester City manager Manuel Pellegrini is hopeful …

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What if the World Cup was played like the F.A. Cup?

After news broke earlier that FIFA are going to discuss whether to extend the World Cup to 40 teams, it got me thinking what if it was expanded further and it was done as a straight knockout tournament. For this to happen the top 47 FIFA ranked nations would get …

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