Los Angeles Lakers vs. Phoenix Suns

 

Kobe Bryant and the streaking L.A. Lakers will test out their newfound offensive unselfishness against the Phoenix Suns tonight.
The matchup will be the first between Lakers point guard Steve Nash and his former team, so expect a lengthy ovation from a grateful Phoenix crowd as the "Prodigal Sun" returns to the desert.
L.A. comes into tonight's game playing their best offensive basketball of the season, thanks to Bryant's sudden decision to operate as the offensive facilitator. Kobe has totaled 39 assists during the Lakers' three-game winning streak, and his play seems to have sparked the rest of his teammates.
Pau Gasol hasn't embraced his role as the Lakers' sixth man, but he has been playing his best ball in a while. His seven assists in L.A.'s game against the New Orleans Hornets last night were critical to the Lakers' attack.
Defense is, of course, still the issue for Mike D'Antoni's club. The Lakers rank 20th in points allowed per possession and the Hornets very nearly took advantage of a late L.A. lapse last night, cutting a 14-point cushion down to two with just a couple of minutes remaining in the game.
The Suns have lost their last two, and have dropped seven of 10 overall. Still, Phoenix does play decent basketball at home, as it has compiled a respectable 11-11 mark on its own floor.
Look for Goran Dragic, once Nash's understudy, to try to attack his former teammate off the dribble and in the pick-and-roll. If L.A. can't limit penetration from Dragic and Phoenix's other guards, it could be a long night for the Lakers.
It'll also be critical for the Lakers to build an early lead, as their aging roster may not have much left in the tank if this one stays tight down the stretch. The Suns definitely figure to be the fresher team, as they've been resting since Jan. 27. As we mentioned, the Lakers had to gut one out last night.

Edmonton Oilers vs. Phoenix Coyotes

The Phoenix Coyotes (2-4-0) will vie for their second straight win when they take on the Edmonton Oilers (3-2-0) on Wednesday.
Phoenix finally looked like the team that played in the Western Conference finals last season when it took down Nashville 4-0. Antoine Vermette opened the scoring at the three minute mark of the first and Lauri Korpikovski, Nick Johnson, and Keith Yandle added tallies to close out the score. Chad Johnson pitched the shutout and could see more time in goal in light of Mike Smith and Jason LaBarbara's recent struggles. Like Smith, Johnson was let go by his original club (NY Rangers) and may see Phoenix as an opportunity to start anew.

The Edmonton Oilers have had a solid start to their season and are in a battle for first place in the Northwest division. The offense was expected to be a major factor for Edmonton this season and it has not disappointed thus far. The young guns have all pitched in with Taylor Hall leading the team with seven points. Jordan Eberle has scored six points while rookie defenseman Justin Schultz has five. Ryan Nugent-Hopkins has not scored a goal yet but has four assists while 2012 first overall pick Nail Yakupov has three goals in six games. In their most recent match, the Oilers destroyed the Colorado Avalanche 4-1.
Phoenix swept the season series last year four games to none.

One thing the Edmonton Oilers will have to learn from their 4-1 victory over the Colorado Avalanche on Monday night is how to protect a lead in the third period without giving up as many chances. The Oilers were outshot 24-5 in the final period but that was about the only thing wrong for the young group on the night. Their power play has so many weapons and they came together nicely to make the Avalanche pay for taking trips to the box. Ales Hemsky got things going with his second goal of the season to put the Oilers up 1-0 in the first period, and less than three minutes later Jordan Eberle added his third goal of the year with the man advantage. Edmonton out shot Colorado 14-3 over the first 20 minutes of play. Midway through the second period it was the veteran Shawn Horcoff’s turn to capitalize with the extra skater on. His first goal of the season made it a 3-0 lead as the Oilers cruised to victory. They now sit at 3-2-0 on the season and have a chance to make a statement against a Phoenix Coyotes club that made it to the Western Conference Finals last season. Devan Dubnyk made the start in net and stopped 37 shots to pick up his third victory of the season. Taylor Hall and Sam Gagner each recorded two assists on the night.
The Phoenix Coyotes needed a win in the worst way and they got it Monday night when they hosted the Nashville Predators. Both of these teams headed into the meeting struggle in the early going this season. The Coyotes were starting back up Chad Johnson in net and they came out and really played a great game in front of him. Antoine Vermette got the Coyotes on the board with his third goal of the season as he continues his excellent play for Phoenix. That would be all Johnson would need on the night as he stopped all 21 shots he faced from a lifeless Nashville club. Lauri Korpikoski scored his third goal of the season in the second period to double the lead for the home club, and Nick Johnson and Keith Yandle finished the scoring in the third. Phoenix’s 4-0 win was just their second victory of the season and now they host a young and hungry Edmonton club that’s playing confident hockey.
Edmonton is 1-10 the last 11 meetings between these two teams and 1-6 their last seven trips to Phoenix. The Over is 39-14-2 the last 55 meetings and 20-6-2 the last 28 meetings in Arizona. Edmonton has gotten off to a great start, and it’s been a bit of a slow one for Phoenix. Still, the Coyotes have owned the Oilers recently in this series and Edmonton still has a lot to prove going forward.

Daniel Geale vs Anthony Mundine

Both fighters are planning knockouts. Both want something beyond the result.
Geale not only has to settle an old score from 2009 but keep somewhere in the back of his mind that all of America and all of Europe don't see the Geale-Mundine fight as the morality play that we see it as here.
They don't care about the black hat against the white hat.
They see it as the IBF champion stepping into the ring against a fighter that was very good some time ago, and a fight he should win convincingly.
JOIN US FOR A LIVE CHAT AND ROUND-BY-ROUND UPDATES THROUGHOUT TONIGHT'S BIG FIGHT

Anthony Mundine blows his bubble gum into the face of Daniel Geale during Tuesday's weigh-in. Picture: Brett Costello

No matter how brave Mundine would be to go the distance with Geale it won't be seen that way overseas, where Mundine is regarded as beyond his prime. A points victory will be seen as conclusive proof of Geale's limitations.A loss, of course, would be Geale's disaster. Some believe Mundine is fighting for his legacy. Not so. His legacy is set. Whatever people will think of Mundine will not be changed by tonight's result.
Mundine is fighting for whatever fights might be left.
There is little interest in him overseas and he has already fought and beaten everybody left to fight in Australia.
With the IBF belt around his waist, though, Mundine suddenly has something to take to the market.

Real Madrid vs Barcelona

Preview
Real Madrid captain Iker Casillas is out for 6-8 weeks with a broken hand. New signing Diego Lopez will probably be thrown in immediately to try and create a partnership with his two centre-backs ahead of crunch games next month in the cup competitions. Influential centre back Pepe is also still out with an ankle injury. Apart from those two, Madrid have a full squad to choose from and may rest a couple of players ahead of the Copa Del Rey semi-final first leg against Barcelona on Wednesday. Madrid aren’t in the greatest of form in the league, only winning two of their last five matches, however are unbeaten at home in a staggering 21 matches in La Liga. They lie 3rd in the table, 7 points behind local rivals and namesake Athletico, and a whopping 15 points behind arch enemies Barcelona.

Getafe are also in poor form, with no wins in 6 in the league giving them 4 points out of a possible 18 – rock bottom in the form guide for the whole division. Decent form earlier in the season has led Luis Garcia’s men to a solid 11th in the table, however they are starting to look over their shoulders with a poor run of form leaving them 8 points off the relegation zone. Creator-in-chief Pedro Leon is out through injury, and is joined on the sidelines by Angel Lafita, Xavi Torres and Mane. New signing Sergio Escudero is likely to feature. Containment is surely the only option here as Getafe have the 7th worst defensive record in the league, have a shocking record against Madrid (lost 7 of their last 8), and are particularly struggling away from home at the moment.
Key players
Real Madrid

1. Cristiano Ronaldo – 18 goals and 4 assists in 19 appearances this season tells it’s own story. Left foot, right foot, heading, skills, crossing, the Portugese winger has the complete arsenal to score at any moment.
2. Xabi Alonso – The midfield lynchpin has a sensational range of passing, and can set Madrid away by dropping deep and switching the play at will. Set piece delivery also excellent.
3. Sergio Ramos – Back from suspension, Iker Casillas named him as Madrid’s most important player earlier in the season. Has matured into a dependable, tough-tackling centre back; one of the very best in Europe.

Getafe

1. Alexis – The stylish centre back will have to be on top form to keep the likes of Ronaldo and Higuain at bay. Has chipped in with 3 goals this season, and could be Getafe’s main threat on any rare attacking set piece opportunities.
2. Pablo Alcacer – The highly-rated teenager has the potential to unlock any defence on his day. Has only scored twice so far this season but is learning with every game.
3. Angel Laftia – The midfielder will have his work cut out tracking the runs of Modric behind him, and possibly helping Valera to double up on Ronaldo. Has scored twice this season.

Line ups (probable):
Madrid (4-2-3-1): Lopez; Arbeloa, Carvalho, Ramos, Coentrao; Khedira, Alonso; Di Maria, Modric, Ronaldo; Higuain
Getafe (4-5-2): Moya; Valera, Lopo, Alexis, Escudero; Castro, Rodriguez, Michel, Gavilian, Sarabia; Alcacer

~~~~~~~~~
There are few sporting occasions on the planet which evoke as much excitement and anticipation as the El Clasico between Real Madrid and Barcelona .
For decades the intrigue surrounding these games has spread much wider than Castilla and Catalonia, and when Los Blancos host La Blaugrana at the Santiago Bernabeu on Wednesday, close to half a billion people will be watching across all corners of the globe.
Of course the social, cultural and political differences between Spain's two dominant footballing forces stokes interest, but surely the most attractive aspect about this particularly fixture is the sheer class and charisma these two clubs exude.
Each club's history is littered with some of the greatest players and teams to have graced the game, and never has that been more prevalent than today.
But even Messi, Ronaldo and the rest will do well to conjure up a clash as good as the ones on this list, so sit back and enjoy these five classic El Clasico's.

Real Madrid will play host to Barcelona on Wednesday in the first El Clasico of 2013. Advancement to the Copa del Rey finals will be decided over this two-legged affair, so both clubs have silverware at stake.
For Barcelona, the match will be all about gaining solid footing before the return leg at the Camp Nou. Away goals could mean more than ever, and La Balugrana will look to take a lead back home.
But for Real Madrid, the game will be about respect and setting up an important encounter at the Camp Nou. Real Madrid has been in Barcelona’s shadow all season, and a big win at home would certainly give a bunch of confidence to the players.
El Clasico is always an intense match, and the encounter on Wednesday will be no different. Some stars will shine, some will falter, and a new chapter will be added to the legacy of the Spanish classic.
With such a huge game merely one day away, let’s look at the preview, predictions and what fans everywhere should expect.

Manchester United vs Southampton

After dismantling Fulham 4-1 in the FA Cup, Manchester United will return to Premier League play with a fixture against Southampton on Wednesday.
The Red Devils are currently going through an impressive phase of 13 undefeated domestic games, a run that is stretches back to November 2012.

 Southampton on the other hand, are placed 14th in the league right now and will be playing only their second game under the charge on new manager Mauricio Pochettino, the first one being the 1-1 draw vs. Everton last weekend.
Team News and Starting 11
As per Sam Wells of Goal.com, after being benched for the cup game against Fulham, Rio Ferdinand, Nemanja Vidic, Shinji Kagawa, Antonio Valencia and Robin van Persie are all expected to start on Wednesday night.
Rafael Da Silva and Patrice Evra are shoe-ins for the full-backs roles and Tom Cleverley is expected to be paired up alongside Michael Carrick in central midfield. Wayne Rooney, after a sparkling display against the Cottagers will likely spearhead the attack alongside the mercurial van Persie.
Although, Jonny Evans (hamstring) and Ashley Young (knee) are back in contention for a starting 11 role, reports suggest Fergie would rather prefer resting the two.
Moving on, Southampton manager Pochettino will probably line-up the same team that drew against the Toffees in his debut match, however, transfer arrival Vegard Forren and comeback man Adam Lallana (knee injury) could also see some playing time.
Manchester United (4-4-1-1): De Gea; Rafael, Ferdinand, Vidic, Evra; Valencia, Cleverley, Carrick, Kagawa; Rooney; Van Persie
Southampton (4-2-3-1): Clyne, Yoshida, Hooiveld, Shaw; Schneiderlin, Cork; Puncheon, Ramirez, Guly do Prado; Lambert
Player to Watch Out For: Luka Shaw
A former Manchester United transfer target, 17-year-old Luke Shaw has been earned numerous plaudits for his industrious displays this term.
Coming up against the duo of Valencia and Rafael, Shaw would not only have the onus of shutting down the Red Devils’ attacking prowess in the wings, but also targeting his Brazilian’s counter-part’s backline deficiencies.
Prediction: Manchester United 4-0 Southampton
Slightly bold, but United are currently in red-hot form. Their attackers are scoring for fun and with the trio of Kagawa, Rooney and van Persie expected to start, I see a flairy and goal-packed performance from the Red Devils.
Trivia: Southampton have lost their five Premier League encounters at Old Trafford. Their last point earned at the 'Theatre of Dreams' stretches back to a draw in September 1999, a 3-3 thriller infamous for Massimo Taibi's Matt Le Tissier-induced clanger

Fulham vs West Ham

FULHAM SchwarzerRiether, Hughes, Hangeland, Briggs Dejagah, Sidwell, Karagounis, Kacaniklic Ruiz Berbatov

WEST HAM   JaaskelainenDemel, Reid, Tomkins, O'Brien Joe Cole, Noble, Diame, Vaz Te NolanCarlton Cole

Martin Jol has a few injury concerns ahead of this London derby with some of his squad players unable to make the game.

Welshman Simon Davies (neck), Mahamadou Diarra (knee), Kerim Frei (groin) and Kieran Richardson (calf) are all doubts for the visit of West Ham. Although it is possible that Diarra could return, it may be just too soon for the midfielder to make his comeback.

The Cottagers have signed Arsenal midfielder Emmanuel Frimpong on loan, but he may take a place on the bench rather than head straight into the team.

Meanwhile, West Ham have numerous injury worries of their own. Winston Reid (groin) is a doubt but could play, while George McCartney (knee) and Danny Potts (concussion) are still stranded on the side-lines.

Andy Carroll (knee) could return, but may have to settle for a place on the bench as he looks to recover fully from a long-term absence. James Collins (hamstring) is another looking to make a comeback, but Sam Allardyce will be wary of rushing back a defender with them so short-stocked at the back.

DID YOU KNOW?

• Fulham have taken eight points from their past eight games.

• Neither side has a player in the top 20 Premier League goal-scorers this season.

• The Cottagers have only three Englishmen (Steve Sidwell, Kieran Richardson, Matthew Briggs) in their matchday squad, one of the fewest in the top flight.

• Jol's team have failed to score in six of their 23 games, while Allardyce's side have gone without a goal in seven of their matches.

• West Ham have scored just one more goal at Upton Park than they have conceded away from the Boleyn Ground this season.

• Andy Carroll (pictured) made his debut for the Hammers against Fulham at Upton Park earlier in the season, and had an immediate impact, heading down for Vaz Te to set up Kevin Nolan for the first goal in a 3-0 rout.

• Both Martin Jol and Sam Allardyce represented West Brom during their playing days.

• The Hammers have the second-worst form in the Premier League, taking only two points from their past eight games.

Reading vs Chelsea

With the FA Cup taking place this past weekend, Premier League games were "relegated" to midweek status. Among Wednesday's matchups is Chelsea taking on Reading.

Chelsea are fresh off an acrimonious League Cup exit, which included Eden Hazard's sending-off for violent conduct after kicking a Swansea ball boy who was wasting time. The Blues also barely scraped out a replay against League One side Brentford, with Fernando Torres rescuing the result.

Reading, on the other hand, easily dispatched third-tier Sheffield United with a 4-0 FA Cup win and have won two Premier League games in a row, but still sit in the relegation zone.

With that in mind, here is a breakdown of this intriguing Premier League matchup.



Where: Madejski Stadium, Reading

When: Wednesday, Jan. 30, 3 p.m. ET

Broadcast: FOX Soccer Plus

How to Watch: FOX Soccer 2Go



What's at Stake?

For hosts Reading, this match provides a chance for them to escape the relegation zone. Just one point behind 17th-placed Aston Villa, the Royals (minus-15) boast a far better goal differential than Villa (minus-25) and as such, can jump out of the scrap heap by picking up a better result than their drop rivals.
Hi-res-159720945_crop_exact Reading come in off a league win against Newcastle.
Gareth Copley/Getty Images

It also gives them a chance to prove they can hang in the top flight. They've put on good shows against the likes of Manchester United and Arsenal, including the disappointingly thrilling 7-5 League Cup defeat to the latter but until recently have failed to string together positive results.

Chelsea, meanwhile, are locked into the third spot in the table for at least another week, sitting four above Tottenham but six behind Manchester City. Because of this, this match will be more about establishing some positive momentum.

They defeated Arsenal 2-1 in their most recent league clash, but a string of negative results in the League Cup and FA Cup have left a sour taste in the mouths of Blues fans.



What They're Saying

After their simple win in the FA Cup this weekend, Reading manager Brian McDermott is, shockingly, in a positive mood. He recently told the Daily Mail that his footballing philosophy "has always been to entertain, we did that against Arsenal and were beaten 7-5. …We are tougher to play against."

Given that result, Reading ought to come into this match with a lot of confidence. Indeed, Reading held the lead at Stamford Bridge before falling, 4-2, in the first matchup between these two back in August. Clearly, McDermott knows they can kick it with the big boys.
Hi-res-160156934_crop_exact According to Chelsea fans, Rafa Benítez doesn't know what he's doing.
Jamie McDonald/Getty Images



Chelsea manager Rafa Benítez, on the other hand, was less optimistic about his club's state. After the embarrassing 2-2 draw at Brentford, Benítez stated (via The Sun) that his team "didn’t do what we had talked about and made too many mistakes."

Chelsea fans have continued to voice their displeasure with the interim manager's performances, and could find themselves with more fuel for their pro-Roberto di Matteo cause with a negative result here.



Reading Player to Watch: Adam Le Fondre



While Pavel Pogrebnyak has a bit more name recognition and more Premier League starts as well, Adam Le Fondre has been the main man for Reading's offense this season.

The Englishman has eight league goals to his name so far, with another two in the FA Cup. He's notched three of those Premiership goals over the last two games and scored in the losses to Manchester United and Arsenal.

He has plenty of talent around him to aid him in his efforts, with Hal Robson-Kanu returning from injury as a midfield weapon, and the likes of Pogrebnyak and Noel Hunt chipping in with more goals. But expect Le Fondre to be the focus of Chelsea's defensive efforts.

Hi-res-159720920_crop_exact Adam Le Fondre (R) has been Reading's goalscoring leader thus far.
Gareth Copley/Getty Images



Chelsea Player to Watch: Demba Ba



Why Demba Ba and not Fernando Torres? Because, Ba is not Torres. Sure, Torres scored the goal to rescue the cause against Brentford. But that one goal doesn't change much.

Ba has made a sizable impact upon his arrival in London, with his first match bringing a double againstSouthampton in the FA Cup. His three goals over the last month are far superior to Torres' four over the last three-plus months.

The Senegal international is a force to be reckoned with and deserves to get a starting nod over the struggling Spaniard. If that's the case, expect Chelsea's attacking force to be a bit more efficient.



Prediction

A lot of this match comes down to mindset. Will Chelsea be negatively affected by their poor run of form and the developing Hazard saga? Will Reading be spurred on by their great FA Cup result and good showings against top clubs?

Personnel-wise, Chelsea look to have a strong upper hand in this, even without their Belgian starlet. The likes of Juan Mata, Oscar and Frank Lampard can easily be considered a notch above Robson-Kanu, Jobi McAnuff and Mikele Leigertwood.

But personnel doesn't always win matches, and in a tricky road encounter like this one, expect Chelsea to struggle a bit. Reading are fighting for their Premier League lives and will be motivated to get what they need to survive.

~~~

Chelsea goalkeeper Petr Cech will miss the Premier League trip to Reading tomorrow after failing to bounce back from his FA Cup knock, according to a report.

Cech has failed to shake off the calf strain that ruled him out of Sunday's FA Cup fourth-round draw at Brentford, with Ross Turnbull once again earmarked to deputise, the Press Association report.

David Luiz (calf) is still several days away from a return, while Eden Hazard serves the second instalment of his minimum three-match ban.

Provisional squad: Turnbull, Azpilicueta, Ferreira, Terry, Ivanovic, Cahill, Cole, Bertrand, Lampard, Ramires, Mata, Oscar, Marin, Benayoun, Torres, Ba, Ake, Hilario.
Roberts out for Royals

Striker Jason Roberts will sit out the game, and Reading manager Brian McDermott has a concern over the fitness of Noel Hunt.

Hip trouble: Reading's Jason Roberts Hip trouble: Reading's Jason Roberts
Action Images


The PA state: Roberts has a hip problem while forward Hunt picked up an unspecified knock in Saturday's FA Cup win over Sheffield United.

McDermott, who confirmed he was waiting to hear back from Blackpool regarding a bid for Thomas Ince, is unlikely to play new signing Daniel Carrico as he comes to terms with life in England.

Provisional squad: Federici, Ugwu, Taylor, Gunter, Kelly, Cummings, Pearce, Morrison, Mariappa, Shorey, Harte, McAnuff, Carrico, Tabb, Karacan, Kebe, McCleary, Robson-Kanu, Leigertwood, Le Fondre, Hunt, Pogrebnyak, Akpan.

Everton vs West Bromwich

EVERTON
Kevin Mirallas is a big doubt after limping off against Bolton with a reoccurrence of his recent hamstring complaint, although David Moyes hopes the Belgian's problem isn't too serious. Tony Hibbert continues his recovery from calf surgery, while Seamus Coleman could again to miss out after injuring his thigh at Southampton. Darron Gibson isn't far away from a return after spending the last month on the treatment table with a similar thigh injury.

WEST BROM
Youssouf Mulumbu will definitely not feature on Wednesday evening as he is currently representing DR Congo at the African Cup of Nations. Baggies boss Steve Clarke will check on the fitness of Shane Long and Marc-Antoine Fortune after both missed Albion's 2-2 draw against Aston Villa with leg haematoma and hamstring injuries respectively. Argentine defender Claudio Yacob is expected to play after recovering from a bruised collar bone.

Form (new)

EVERTON
Last outing: 2-1 (a) Bolton Wanderers, Saturday 26 January.
Last six: LWWDDW

Everton's unbeaten run has now stretched to five matches following the win over Bolton on Saturday afternoon. The Blues have only lost once at Goodison Park all season, although they will be looking to record their first home victory of 2013 after drawing a blank against Swansea City in their previous outing two-and-a-half weeks ago.

WEST BROMWICH ALBION
Last outing: 2-2 (h) Aston Villa, Saturday 19 January.
Last six: LLDLLD

After a blistering start to the season, West Brom's form has dipped alarmingly over the last month. The Baggies are without a league win this year and have collected just one point from the last 12 available. Despite their poor run, they still sit in eighth position, just four points behind David Moyes' team, with only Liverpool and Arsenal separating the two clubs.

Match Stats (new)


1. The next Everton player to find the net at Goodison Park will have the honour of scoring the 400th home goal of David Moyes' reign as manager.

2. Phil Jagielka is set to make his 201st Everton appearance after reaching the double century milestone against Bolton at the Reebok Stadium on Saturday.

3. The last nil-nil draw between the two clubs was 22 meetings ago in November 1982. Everton have scored in every home match against the Baggies since then.

Last Meeting (new)

West Bromwich Albion 2-0 Everton, Saturday 1 September, 2012
It was a rare off day for Everton when they travelled to the Hawthorns in the opening weeks of the season. Second-half goals from Shane Long and Gareth McAuley ended the Toffees' perfect start to the campaign following successive wins over Manchester United, Aston Villa and Leyton Orient. That blemish is just one of three Premier League defeats suffered by the Blues this season.

Classic Match (new)

West Bromwich Albion 0-1 Everton, Sunday 1 January, 2012
Everton completed a classic smash-and-grab on New Year's Day last year. A largely uneventful game was drifting towards a stalemate until substitute Victor Anichebe stole all three points with a decisive 87th-minute winner. It was the forward's first Premier League goal in 22 months.

Club Connections

Kevin Campbell scored goals for both Everton and West Brom in the late 1990s and early 2000s. The 42-year-old netted 51 times during a six-year spell at Goodison Park before registering seven strikes for Albion during an 18-month stay towards the end of his career. Other players to have turned out for both clubs include Steve Watson, Imre Varadi, Kevin Kilbane and Andy King.

Flashback


30 January has generally offered very little in the way of good fortune for the Blues over the last 20 years - they have played five times on this date and have failed to score in four of those matches. One source of comfort, however, is that Everton did take maximum points in their last fixture on this day during 2009/10 - a 1-0 win away at Wigan where Tim Cahill scored the only goal of the game

Everton are set to be without Kevin Mirallas and Seamus Coleman for Wednesday's Premier League clash against West Brom.

Winger Mirallas again limped off with a hamstring problem during Saturday's FA Cup win over Bolton, his second abortive comeback from the injury he first suffered two months ago.
Full-back Coleman is expected to be out for at least another two weeks with a thigh injury while midfielder Darron Gibson has suffered a slight setback in his own recovery from a thigh problem.
West Brom head coach Steve Clarke will check on the fitness of four players before finalising his side for the meeting at Goodison Park.
Strikers Shane Long (dead leg) and Marc-Antoine Fortune (hamstring), defender Steven Reid (leg) and midfielder Claudio Yacob (shoulder) will be assessed.
Midfielder Youssouf Mulumbu is expected to return to the Hawthorns from Africa Cup of Nations duty after the Democratic Republic of Congo's exit but is more likely to be under consideration for Sunday's home clash with Tottenham.

Arsenal vs Liverpool

Preview
Welcome back football fans to another round of live Premier League action, and it's a hugely important fixture this time, as Arsenal host Liverpool at the Emirates Stadium in London.
Both clubs are usually associated with challenging at the top end of the Premiership table—but it hasn't been the case this season, with the Reds rebuilding after two poor years and the Gunners suffering similar inconsistencies.
Arsenal lie sixth in the table, Liverpool seventh, with just three points separating them before kickoff.
Both clubs will be hoping to take a victory from the match, but Arsenal won the reverse fixture 2-0 at Anfield earlier this season and have a fairly strong home record this season nobody has scored more than them at home this term.
The Reds, by contrast, have conceded more goals away from home than any other top-half side, with the exception of West Brom.
It should prove an exciting encounter, as it's a fixture which has thrown up plenty of classics down the years, so make sure you join me, your commentator Karl Matchett, for all the buildup, team news and in-game action, starting around an hour before kick off.


Liverpool have a lot of work to do if they want to finish fourth or higher in the Premier League. They're going to need Pepe Reina and Lucas Leiva to get healthy and find their form. They're going to need Joe Allen to locate his early-season form. They're going to need Daniel Sturridge to learn how to be a bit less selfish and make the right decisions with the ball. They're going to need Coutinho to come in and make an impact.

None of those things are far-fetched, and all of them save for Coutinho playing could come together when they play Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium on Wednesday.Reina and Sturridge should make the starting XI, along with Lucas. That last inclusion could potentially set up Liverpool for a game that they can control in the center. Jack Wilshere is in top form, but Abou Diaby doesn't look 90 minutes fit yet (or ever?), while Mikel Arteta is still out injured.

Wilshere has struck up some chemistry with teammates who are also coming into form, however, so the Gunners might not need to dominate possession and the center of the park to come away with a win. Theo Walcott and Olivier Giroud have both had excellent scoring touch as of late, and the Gunners are effective when they actually decide to counter quickly. Could we see an unconventional match, with Arsene Wenger's team winning via goals scored on the break after long spells of opposition possession?

Arsenal injuries and suspensions

Out: Francis Coquelin (ankle), Mikel Arteta (hamstring), Lukasz Fabianski (ankle). In doubt: Thomas Vermaelen (ankle).

Liverpool injuries and suspensions

Out: Martin Kelly (knee). In doubt: Pepe Reina (thigh), Glen Johnson (hamstring), Jose Enrique (hamstring).

Expect all four players listed above as 'in doubt' to play. They're all recovering from injuries and have sat out recently, but trained this week and are expected to join their teams' starting XI on Wednesday. Arteta is still a massive miss for the Gunners, but should return to the team shortly. He could make an appearance off the bench as soon as this weekend.

Norwich City vs Tottenham

Norwich City and Tottenham Hotspur's FA Cup exits to non-league Luton Town and Championship outfit Leeds United respectively were among the upsets of the Fourth Round. The managers of the two Premier League clubs have both publicly welcomed the Wednesday night meeting between their sides coming so soon
"It’s good to have a game so quickly, it gives us an opportunity back in the Premier League and in a situation like this, the quicker the game comes, the better," Andre Villas-Boas told his club’s official website.

  Chris Hughton echoed that sentiment in quotes on the Canaries’ site.
“What I’d like to expect is to see a reaction from my team. Whether that will see us put in a performance that we need to get a result that we want, we’ll only know that on Wednesday, but I’m quite sure it won’t be through a lack of effort.”
For differing reasons, both could really do with coming away from the midweek clash with three points.
Tottenham have lost just once in the league since November. But coming off the back of two draws (one of which was a good point against Manchester United) the Premier League’s current fourth-placed team could do with at least maintaining their three point advantage over Everton in fifth.
Norwich’s ten-game unbeaten run prior to the turn of the year feels a long time ago now. During that time Hughton’s team were looking like being one of the surprise gems of the 2012-13 campaign, with home wins over Arsenal and Manchester United particularly catching the eye.
A miserable Christmas and New Year’s period has since followed however, with no win since beating Wigan Athletic 2-1 on 15 December. This dry spell has left the East Anglian club currently sitting six points off the relegation zone.
The longer standing poor form of teams below them including Wigan, Aston Villa, and (until Tuesday night at least) Newcastle United has meant the alarm bells have not started ringing yet. But that could change if they do not start picking up a few wins soon.
Goals have been hard to come by of late for Norwich. The burden should not be on him alone, but Grant Holt will be certainly required to improve upon his four for the season. Though a report in The Guardian on Monday suggest he may be allowed to leave if the club can sign another one or two forwards.
There are threats elsewhere in the Norwich attack, but of greater importance against Tottenham will be the return of central defender Sebastien Bassong.
The former Spur was absent from the Canaries’ defense for their 5-0 loss to Liverpool. They are an altogether more solid proposition with Bassong present and will fancy their chances of stifling a team they have already stopped twice this season.
The concentration and organizational issues that saw Spurs concede costly goals in those meetings with Norwich (1-1 in the league, a 2-1 loss in the Capital One Cup) have largely been addressed in the league since then. But the creative inconsistencies that still plague the North Londoners against defensively stubborn opposition remain a concern.
With that in mind, the signing of German midfielder Lewis Holtby was pushed forward from the summer to January this week.
The former Schalke man is available to play against Norwich. How Villas-Boas plans to incorporate him into his starting line-up is not yet clear. Nonetheless it is an interesting prospect to see how Holtby will fit into a team already featuring some big name attacking talents.
Jermain Defoe is set to return after missing the cup defeat against Leeds through injury. It has emerged since that game that the striker has been receiving treatment for an abdominal injury he has been carrying.
It may partly account for why, after a strong first half to the season goal-scoring wise, Defoe has not been as prolific of late. Mostly though it seemed that playing alongside Emmanuel Adebayor, the England international struggled to find as frequently the space he had been utilising so effectively weeks earlier.
With Adebayor still away at the African Cup of Nations, Defoe has a chance to find his groove again as Spurs’ lone striker.

New Orleans Hornets vs. Los Angeles Lakers

After months of trying, the Los Angeles Lakers feel they might have finally found the right formula.
The Lakers will test that out again and try to secure their longest win streak since Christmas on Tuesday night against the visiting New Orleans Hornets.
Los Angeles (19-25) has struggled for much of this season on how best to use its superstars. Lately, the Lakers have tried to get a more well-rounded performance out of Kobe Bryant and more scoring from point guard Steve Nash.
They've also continued to keep Pau Gasol out of the starting lineup.
Bryant had 14 assists and finished one rebound shy of a triple-double for the second straight game while scoring a team-best 21 points in a 105-96 win over Oklahoma City on Sunday.
"We're doing a good job right now of just being real with each other and holding each other accountable," said Bryant, one of the most vocal during a players-only meeting Wednesday before a 106-93 loss in Memphis. "That makes a huge difference. I'm trying to evolve and find out what we need as a ballclub."
Nash scored 17 points, one shy of matching his season high set Jan. 21 in Chicago, and Gasol had 16. Nash is averaging 14.6 points on 51.0 percent shooting over his last five games after scoring 10.4 per contest in his first 15 for the Lakers.
With those players' help, Los Angeles has topped 100 points and shot better than 53.0 percent in back-to-back games after averaging 92.3 points on 42.0 percent shooting in its previous four.
"We've found something that works, that's for sure, and something we can feel good about," Gasol said. "I think the way we are playing, we can be very successful."
The Lakers might get a stiff challenge during a season-high seven-game trip that begins Wednesday but first, they'll try to continue their dominance over the Hornets (15-29).
Los Angeles has won eight consecutive matchups and six straight at home. It had little trouble pulling away from New Orleans in a 103-87 road win Dec. 5 despite injuries to Gasol (knees) and Nash (shin). Bryant had 29 points and became the fifth player to surpass 30,000 in that victory.
Ryan Anderson had 31 points for the Hornets but only two other players reached double figures with Greivis Vasquez and Robin Lopez scoring a combined 31.
Anderson's efforts in the opener of a five-game road trip, however, led to a victory. He scored 22 points off the bench and made seven 3-pointers as the Hornets topped Memphis 91-83 on Sunday.
"He was huge for us," said Vasquez, who finished with 11 assists. "This man is an underrated shooter. People don't give him enough credit. This guy can shoot."
The win helped New Orleans avoid its first three-game skid since a season-worst string of 11 losses that began with the defeat to the Lakers and ended Dec. 22.
The Hornets will next try to deny Los Angeles its first three-game win streak since a season-best five consecutive victories Dec. 14-25.

Anaheim Ducks vs. San Jose Sharks

The San Jose Sharks face their second Pacific Division match-up of the 2013 NHL season Tuesday, January 29 at 7:30 p.m. PST. The Anaheim Ducks come to town with just one loss (3-1-0) this season, and looking to give the Sharks their first (5-0).
Anaheim was the last-place team in the Pacific last season while San Jose finished second. However, the Ducks won five of the six contests.
The Sharks have the best goal differential in the NHL at plus-15. They have put at least four goals past the opposing goalie in every game and have scored 23 on the season—a 4.60 goals scored average (GSA). They have also given up just 24 shots a game and one total goal in their last two contests, including nine straight penalty kills (PK) to lower their goals against average (GAA) to 1.80 for the season.

Location: HP Pavilion

37.332241 ; -121.900487

San Jose is having trouble spreading the scoring around. Twelve goals have been scored on the power play (PP) plus one more 11 seconds after one ended. Joe Thornton has been on the ice for 18 goals (78.3 percent), and four of the other five were tallied with the second line on the ice.
They could use Daniel Winnik, who they let go to Anaheim last summer. Winnik has five goals and an assist on third line to lead the team, and skates with Saku Koivu who also has six points. Teemu Selanne has two goals and three assists from the second line, while stars Corey Perry and Ryan Getzlaf have scored a point per game. They are joined by Bobby Ryan and a stable of young forwards to provide the scoring depth San Jose has lacked so far.
But the strength of the Ducks is on the back end, even though they have given up 14 goals in just four games. They have a solid blue line even after the departure of Lubomir Visnovsky: Francois Beauchemin, Cam Fowler, Luca Sbisa, Toni Lydman, Sheldon Souray, Bryan Allen and Jordan Hendry. If Jonas Hiller is healthy, he is as good as any goalie out there.
San Jose's blue line is not so healthy, with injuries to stud Brent Burns and his most able roster replacement, Jason Demers. But Matt Irwin has played well in reserve, Dan Boyle is off to his strongest start since joining the team and the time off seems to have been good to Douglas Murray. Marc-Edouard Vlasic and Brad Stuart have been a solid top pair, and Justin Braun shows signs of moving forward from a solid 2011-12 season on the third pair.
The Sharks win with puck possession, beating their opponents more often than not in the faceoff circle every game while still managing to keep turnovers close to even. The Sharks have increased their hitting thus far, but mostly combat their opponents' possessions by blocking shots as well as any team in the NHL.
The Ducks are a good team, but they are worse in virtually every team category: GSA, GAA, PP, PK, faceoffs and five-on-five scoring ratio. With the threat of an extra point making the division tighter, the Sharks must set a goal of a regulation win in this game.

Columbus Blue Jackets vs. Minnesota Wild

Preview

Ah, that feeling you get knowing that Todd Richards is the head coach of the Columbus Blue Jackets.
The Minnesota Wild come home to the X, having lost three straight since winning the first two games of the season. They come home to a restless fan base, one looking for answers and looking for the team they saw in the game against the Colorado Avalanche. Coming home should be a great feeling. Sleep in your own bed, see your wife / girlfriend / kids / roommate / blender. For the Wild, the threat of boos raining down on them has to be real.
Zach Parise is on fire, Mikko Koivu remembered he can shoot the puck, and Dany Heatley looks to be an ageless wonder right now. After that, the positives drop off quickly. The defense looks lost. Jonas Brodin, and his one NHL game, looks like the best d-man on the team right now. Ryan Suter is under pressure and not performing up to standards set by the fans. The rest of the d-corps has been invisible.
Can they turn all of these things around in one game? Likely not, but they can improve. Fans will notice improvement. If they can win, fans will likely forget completely. If they lose? Things are going to get ugly.
The Blue Jackets are not a good hockey team. They will be on the back side of a back-to-back with travel. They are also still an NHL hockey team. Taking this team for granted is a bad idea, especially for a team in the condition the Wild are in. The Jackets still have weapons, so the Wild need to come out and play a full game. If nothing else, just to show Richards that they can.
The Wild need this one. For any number of reasons, they need this one bad. What do you think Wilderness? Can they win this one?

Lazio vs Juventus

LAZIO Marchetti Cavanda, Biava, Ciani, Radu Candreva, Ledesma, Cana, Hernanes, MauriFloccari

JUVENTUS Storari Caceres, Barzagli, Bonucci Lichtsteiner, Vidal, Pogba, Giaccherini MarchisioGiovinco, Quagliarella

Preview 
 Stefano Mauri's late equaliser at the Juventus Stadium gave Lazio a vital away goal ahead of the second leg of the Coppa Italia semi-final.
Aware that they must score, Juventus will most likely start with two strikers. Fabio Quagliarella could retain his starting berth up front after scoring in the 1-1 draw with Genoa at the weekend, while Sebastian Giovinco is pushing for a start having been left on the bench in the previous match and he could replace Mirko Vucinic.
Andrea Pirlo should return to training later this week but the 33-year-old is ruled out of Tuesday's contest against the Biancocelesti. With Kwadwo Asamoah on international duty with Ghana at the Africa Cup of Nations, Arturo Vidal, Paul Pogba and Claudio Marchisio are expected to continue in central midfield. Emanuele Giaccherini could replace Paolo De Ceglie on the left wing.
Lazio's top goalscorer Miroslav Klose is still sidelined through a muscular injury, meaning that Sergio Floccari should continue up front, although Czech Republic forward Libor Kozak could start.
Lazio are likely to employ a four-man defence, with Luis Pedro Cavanda and Stefan Radu poised to start in the wing-back positions. Michael Ciani and Andre Dias are vying for the chance to partner Giuseppe Biava in central defence whilst Antonio Candreva is expected to return to the XI, having missed the first leg.

last week in Turin, Juventus and Lazio split the spoils, with Federico Peluso scoring for the home side, and Stefano Mauri coming through in the dying minutes with an equalizer. Now it's on to Rome, where this could be the most thrilling second leg in Coppa history, or the sort of cautious, dull match that leads viewers to contemplating poking a pencil through their eyeball to spice things up.
One of the reasons this match could go either way is that both sides are smarting from their weekend performances. Juve, as been their want in 2013, gave away another late goal, leading to a 1-1 draw with relegation strugglers Genoa. Lazio, for their part, didn't even manage to score a goal, losing 1-0 to visiting Chievo.
But there's no room for slips of concentration or lack of determination on Tuesday, what with the chance to compete for a trophy -- and possibly play against their bitter rivals, should Juve get Inter or Lazio, Roma. Still, both sides face a significant setback: The Old Lady are missing Giorgio Chiellini, creating a weakness on the left side that their opponents have been exploiting. The biancocelesti are without Miroslav Klose, who may not be their best player, but is certainly their top scorer and has the ability to poach goals.
Lazio, at least, will be able to make a significant change from the match against Chievo Verona. Hernanes, who started on the bench on Saturday, will almost certainly play from the opening whistle -- if not, Vladimir Petkovic certainly has some 'splaining to do. Mauri, too, began on the bench, and the introduction of both attackers livened up the match. Even without Klose, Lazio should have a goal in them. Let's hope they seek it, rather than resting on that crucial away goal.
Because Juventus are almost certainly going to score. They've been held scoreless on three occasions this season, against Fiorentina, AC Milan, and...Lazio. But that match depended on Federico Marchetti being absolutely flawless, and the goalkeeper just might see the pressure get to him on Tuesday. This is a Juventus side that expects to win, every match and every trophy, and their recent setbacks will only spur on that determination.

QPR vs Manchester City

Forgotten man Joleon Lescott will answer Manchester City’s defensive SOS against QPR tonight.
Lescott has spent most of the season on the margins, but will take centre stage tonight when he could be City’s only available senior centre-half.
Vincent Kompany is out with his calf injury, Kolo Toure is at the Africa Cup of Nations, while Matija Nastasic is struggling with a knee ligament injury.
Lescott has not moaned about being restricted to just eight Premier League starts because Roberto Mancini has preferred Nastasic and coach David Platt is delighted by his professionalism.
“I’m impressed with his attitude, but then I would not have expected anything else from him,” said Platt.
“He is an extremely good professional. Never once, since I came here two-and-a-half years ago, from being an ever-present to sometimes finding himself on the bench, have his training levels gone down.”
Platt claims Nastasic could recover to play alongside Lescott and says Mancini would have no worries about playing rookie defender Karim Rekik if the Serb misses out.

Kompany man: City are concerned by their captain's calf injury

Getty

Rekik, 18, has only played one Premier League game for City against Reading last month and City have big hopes for the Dutchman.
“We’ve also got Karim Rekik,” said Platt. “He’s in the running for tomorrow.
“We would have no qualms about sticking him in and he was on the bench on Saturday against Stoke.”
Platt admits City are worried by Kompany’s latest calf problem, even though the Belgian international could be back for Sunday’s clash with Liverpool.
“It’s a concern that it’s not a fresh injury,” he said. “The calf is the strangest muscle and there is probably more more re-occurrence than with hamstrings, groins and things like that.
“It has happened on a couple of occasions so the concern is to make sure we clear the problem and that is what we will be working through.”
City have won their last six games and Platt claims their form is “more satisfying” than last season when they steamrollered the likes of Manchester United and Tottenham on the road.
He feels City have shown more control in games, even though they are five points behind Manchester United in the title race.

Young hope: Rekik could be called into action

PA

 “I don’t know how many times we reached the heights last season,” he said. “There is a perception we did so on a regular basis because we went to Old Trafford and won 6-1, and to White Hart Lane and won 5-1.
“We probably haven’t hit those heights, but they are a little bit false anyhow. They give you a false perception.
“The control we have had over our performances in the last couple of months has been more satisfying.
“We have been going into games with a belief that we will do something, and no more so than at the weekend against Stoke.
“I have read about it being a dour game, but I thought we were controlled.
“We have been to Stoke before and there has been a worry, but I never felt that on Saturday, even at 0-0, I never felt that we wouldn’t win the match.”

Aston Villa vs Newcastle

Preview by mirror co uk

Tim Krul has demanded Newcastle's refreshed squad rise to relegation battle - after praising Mike Ashley for landing five new signings.
The Dutch keeper has scoffed at suggestions Newcastle are "too big" to go down, but says the impetus gained from the new French recruits will be key in the scrap ahead.
Alan Pardew's men are searching for their first away win of the season at fellow strugglers Aston Villa tonight with two tough games against Chelsea and Spurs to follow. Three points is essential to avoid dropping into the bottom three in the next fortnight.
"It feels like a big occassion, an important game. Both sides need a win, even a draw is not really good enough," admitted Pardew yesterday.
Krul has been brushing up on his key French words so he can issue instructions to new boy Mapou Yanga-Mbiwa if as expected his is one of three debutants alongside Yoan Gouffran and Moussa Sissoko.
Krul said: "The owner and chairman (Derek Llambias) did what they said they were going to do. Five new players is more than I expected.
"It's given everyone a massive lift. The club said we were going to strengthen the squad and they showed that in five or six days signing five new players. It gives that extra competition for places, instead of taking things for granted and people will have to work their socks off to stay in the side.

New in Toon: Haidara, Gouffran and Yanga-Mbiwa have all signed on Tyneside

Ian Horrocks

 "At a club like Newcastle, you need that. Before now with the injuries we had we were just happy to get 11 on the pitch and a bench. We've definitely got strength in depth now.
"So Tuesday is a massive game for us, massive. We have to walk away with a result and we definitely go there to win. Villa are on a poor run at the moment, we haven't' been on a great run.
"Back in 2009 I was there when we were relegated at Villa. But this is a new game with new players in a new year. There are a lot of fresh faces and that will give us a extra lift. We have 15 games to go and we're in a fight which nobody expected us to be.
"Everyone said we were too big to be in this fight but we're not. We're in it and we have to get out of it as quickly as possible. We can't take things for granted like we did then."
Krul has been linked with a move to AC Milan in the summer but was not permitted to comment on those rumours yesterday.
But he is delighted at having to learn a bit of French again, after dropping it at school. He says he doesn't care where the new signings come from as long as they are quality.
He added: "Not a problem. I'm just impressed by the quality we're signing. It doesn't matter what country they come from. we could have 10 French or 10 Dutch, as long as they're good players and I think they are I'm just glad there here.
 

 

Italian job? Krul has been linked with a move to AC Milan

Reuters

"Some of them don't really speak much English yet so from or point of view we have to help them all we can. If my centre halves speak French I have to make sure I can communicate with them. That will take a few weeks but football language isn't that difficult.
"It doesn't take that long to integrate and football language is easy to pick up. I'll teach them the most important words.
"There are a few key words which they've got to know. 'away', 'man on','keeper's ball' that kind of thing. If I'm coming out for the ball they will know about it! Definitely today I'll give them a list.
"For me Dutch and English were the two languages I learned as a kid. I also did German and French as well but I kept mixing things up so I gave French up after a year.
"I've just passed Mapou in the corridor and I had to get out of his way, he's a big lad! You need that physical side and it will be good to get Tiote back. With those two players in the side it will give the other sides a little fright. I'm really glad we've signed the new players."
 Alan Pardew  believes Newcastle owner Mike Ashley has shown his long term commitment with the January signings.
Five new faces, including France internationals Mathieu Debuchy, Moussa Sissoko and Mapou Yanga-Mbiwa and with an average age of under 24 have bolstered the squad.
The Toon boss says Ashley could have gone for “quick fixes” of older players to get the team out of their ­relegation hole, but instead invested more than £17million in building for now and the future.
Ahead of tonight’s visit to fellow strugglers Aston Villa, he also addressed comments he made in a row with Arsene Wenger in 2006, when he claimed every team should have a core of at least three Englishmen to make it tick.
With 11 French nationals and three other French speakers on the books at St James’ Park, Pardew claimed the inflated market in British players – especially from the Championship – makes it tough to ignore better value from abroad.
He said: “The long-term future of the club, Mike’s commitment to the club, all those ­questions aren’t being asked at the moment because of the run we’re on, but I think the ­signings have shown he’s committed to the club. Because you don’t sign players at that age if you’re not committed to the club.
“If it was a short-term option he probably would have given me the signal to go and buy some older players to make sure we stayed in the division. If they were any good next year, it wouldn’t really matter, if you had that kind of vision. His vision is much more long-term.
“That’s why we’ve bought the players we have. I am happier coming to work in the morning now, without doubt. And I think the players will be too, more importantly.
“If you’re a player walking out with the group we have now and you look round at the bench, you’d have to say you feel a lot more confident.”
 

 

French connection: Pardew doesn't agree that French influx will call problems

Ian Horrocks

Pardew said French players will have to speak English on the training ground or be fined, and he dismissed Gerard Houllier’s claim that too many French players creates “problems”.

He said: “Gerrard Houllier said that? I don’t really see it as a problem.

“I’ve not seen that problem at any club I’ve been at. I’ve never ­encouraged cliques. I’m very, very quick to stop that. Since I’ve been here I’ve never really ­encountered it and I don’t intend to let it happen.
“In 2006 I though three English players would be a nice rule. It’s not the rule though. I think it’s very important to promote British players, but unfortunately the market makes it very difficult. Chief executives and chairmen need to ­understand that ­sometimes players need opportunities.”
Wilfried Zaha ­illustrated Pardew’s point. Toon were priced out of a move and Manchester United signed him from Crystal Palace.
“It became very evident that trying to take a player of that ability from the Championship isn’t easy and bigger clubs were beginning to get involved, so it was out of our equation,”
said Pardew.

Sunderland vs Swansea

Preview by mirror co uk

Striker Danny Graham has asked to quit Swansea – with Sunderland ready to complete a £5.5million transfer.
The North East-born star told Michael Laudrup he wants out for “personal reasons” last night, hours after the Swansea chief insisted Graham could stay.

The 27-year-old from Gateshead has yet to submit a formal transfer request but his intervention is likely to force the issue – with Swansea and Sunderland executives meeting tonight ahead of the side’s clash at the Stadium of Light.

Graham is set on a move back north to Sunderland, despite having been a Newcastle fan, and Black Cats manager Martin O’Neill is ­desperate to land him, fearing for his side if top-scorer Steven Fletcher got injured.
But the Welsh club last night insisted that Graham was still in the squad to face Sunderland and could play against them.
Laudrup said yesterday afternoon: “We’ve had some offers for him. When there is a bid, and if that bid is not even close to what the club wants, then there’s nothing to do. Even if the player wants to leave, he has to stay.
“I haven’t read anything official, or in any newspaper or on television, where Danny has said he wants to leave. That means he must want to stay and probably he will.”
But last night Graham leaked his desire for a move, contradicting his boss’s earlier statement.
Stoke also want Graham and may offer Kenwyne Jones as part of the deal.

Wayne's world: In-form Routledge will stay at Swansea until 2016

Ben Hoskins

 Meanwhile, Laudrup is celebrating after winger Wayne Routledge became the latest star name to agree a new long-term contract at Swansea.
A pay rise will see Routledge stay until the summer of 2016 – and is reward for his excellent form since Laudrup took over as boss in the summer.
The 28-year-old former Aston Villa, QPR and Newcastle wide man has been a regular starter this season, scoring five goals and revelling in the freedom he has been afforded by Laudrup.
Top-scorer Michu, Michel Vorm, Ashley Williams, Neil Taylor and Ben Davies have all signed new deals at the Liberty Stadium in recent months.

Stoke City vs Wigan Athletic

STOKE Begovic Cameron, Shawcross, Huth, Wilkinson Walters, Whelan, N'Zonzi, Adam, Etherington Crouch

WIGAN Al-Habsi Boyce, Caldwell, Figueroa Stam, McArthur, McCarthy, Beausejour Maloney, Di Santo, Gomez

 Preview By Goal
 Stoke have a few new injury problems in addition to long-term absentees Marc Wilson (ankle) and Rory Delap (hernia), as defender Geoff Cameron (hamstring) is doubtful having missed Saturday’s cup tie against Manchester City and could be replaced by full-back Ryan Shotton or versatile midfielder Dean Whitehead.

Peter Crouch returned from injury last week against Swansea in place of his fellow target-man Kenwyne Jones, while strong competition in midfield also sees playmaker Charlie Adam and wingers Matthew Etherington and Michael Kightly compete for a place alongside top-scorer Jon Walters.

Wigan have a lengthy injury list but could name an line-up unchanged from their last league game, with Antolin Alcaraz yet to return to full fitness following injury and defensive mainstay Ivan Ramis (knee) ruled out with a long-term injury, as is reserve goalkeeper Mike Pollitt (thigh).

Midfielder Ben Watson (shin) and wingers Ryo Miyaichi (ankle) and Albert Crusat (knee) are also unavailable while striker Arouna Kone is away at the Africa Cup of Nations, but versatile new signings Roger Espinoza and Angelo Henriquez could feature at some point.

DID YOU KNOW?

• Stoke lie 10th in the Premier League table and look safe for a fifth season in a row as they are currently closer to qualification for a repeat of last season’s European adventure than to the relegation zone.
• Tony Pulis’ side are, however, on a poor run of form, exiting the FA Cup on Saturday and losing their last three league games in a run that included their first home defeat of the season, a 4-0 defeat to Chelsea.
• The Potters have acquired a reputation for strong home form built on a sound defence but seven of their 11 league concessions at the Britannia Stadium have come in their last two home games.

• The team have now conceded at least three goals in each of their last four matches in the Premier League.
• Wigan are one point from safety in 19th position and have taken just one point from their three league games in 2013.
• Successive away wins in the FA Cup however mean Roberto Martinez’s side are undefeated in their last four games on the road.
• The Latics are undefeated in their last seven matches against Stoke in all competitions, but the Potters twice came from behind to draw 2-2 when the two met at the DW Stadium in September, recording more than twice as many shots on target (7-3) and equalising through Peter Crouch (pictured, right) despite the Latics’ 60 per cent possession.
• Stoke’s Honduras international Wilson Palacios played 37 games for Wigan after moving to the Lancashire side in January 2008, before earning a £12 million move to Tottenham a year later.

Vancouver Canucks vs. Los Angeles Kings

It took longer than expected but the defending Stanley Cup champion Los Angeles Kings won their first game of the season over the weekend.
The Kings will try to make it two in a row when they host the Vancouver Canucks on Monday in a rematch of a 2012 playoff series.
After posting a 16-4 record in last year's playoffs en route to the franchise's first Stanley Cup title, the Kings began this lockout-shortened campaign with an 0-2-1 mark. However, Los Angeles finally earned two points in Saturday's 4-2 win at Phoenix.
Anze Kopitar scored twice to help the Kings get off the schneid. Jake Muzzin added a goal and an assist while Jeff Carter also scored for the Kings.
Muzzin's goal was the first of his NHL career but it wasn't exactly one for the highlight reel.
"It was one of those hope wristers that floated through and made it through," Muzzin said.
Jonathan Quick, who won the Conn Smythe for his brilliant play in the 2012 postseason, made 32 saves to improve his record to 1-2-1 on the year.
Los Angeles began its championship run last spring by ousting the top-seeded Canucks from the playoffs in five games and Monday's tilt is the first meeting between the clubs since that postseason series.
The Canucks have won four of the last six meetings in the regular season.
Vancouver fell to 2-2-1 on the season following Sunday's loss in San Jose Joe Pavelski scored a pair of goals to help lift the Sharks to the 4-1 victory.
Alexandre Burrows registered the lone Vancouver goal, while Cory Schneider surrendered all four goals on 27 shots for the Canucks, who went 0-for-7 on the power play.
"Power play wasn't as good," Canucks coach Alain Vigneault said. "We were unable to score. A couple of unforced errors that ended up right on their tape and in the back of the net. What's important is how we responded, and I thought we responded very well."
Schneider is 2-2-0 with a 3.13 goals against average this season. With Vancouver playing the second part of a back-to-back on Monday, Canucks backup Roberto Luongo could get his second start of the season.
Monday's test marks the end of a three-game road trip for Vancouver. The Canucks are 1-1-0 as the guest this season after posting a 24-12-5 road record in 2011-12.