Frank Lampard receives mixed reception from Chelsea fans at Stamford Bridge.

There was some muted applause for Lampard as he entered the fray as a 77th-minute for Ferndando but they were intermingled with a few boos while the majority of Blue fans who adored him simply chose to ignore his arrival and chanted 'Chelsea, Chelsea' instead.

Lampard, who became Chelsea's record goalscorer in 13 successful seasons at the club and captained them to the Champions League, had been criticised for playing for their main title rivals having announced earlier that he would be playing for New York City in the MLS by now.

At full-time, the 36-year-old made sure he was the last player to leave the pitch and applauded all four corners of his old ground with some fans this time chanting 'Super Frankie Lampard'.  

The former England midfielder's appearance was just one of several intriguing sub-plots for a top-of -the-table clash which was prevented from exploding into life by the obvious tension on show.

Chelsea, who started the day five points ahead of their closest challengers, took a 41st-minute lead through Loic Remy – deputising for the suspended Diego Coasta. But City deservedly levelled on the stroke of half-time when David Silva turned in Sergio Aguero's shot.

Despite being the home side, Chelsea appeared to settle for a point and spent most of the second half content to keep City out with skipper John Terry marshalling the defence superbly.

Chelsea vs Manchester City starting lineup.

CHELSEA XI 

Courtois; Ivanovic, Zouma, Terry, Azpilicueta; Ramires, Matic; Willian, Oscar, Hazard; Remy.

Subs:  Cech, Cahill, Christensen, Ake, Loftus-Cheek, Brown, Drogba

Manchester XI: Hart, Sagna, Kompany, Demichelis,

Clichy, Navas, Fernando, Fernandinho, Milner, Silva, Aguero.

Subs: Caballero, Zabaleta, Boyata, Kolarov, Lampard, Jovetic, Dzeko

Kick off: 6:30 pm

Real Madrid vs Real Sociedad starting lineup.

Real Madrid XI

Casillas,Carvajal,Varane,Ramos,Marcelo,Illarramendi,Kroos,Isco,
Rodríguez,Benzema,Bale.

Subs: Fábio Coentrão,Khedira,Navas,Hernández,Arbeloa,Nacho, Jesé.


Real Sociedad XI

Rulli,Elustondo,González,Iñigo Martínez,Berchiche Izeta, Elustondo,Rubén Pardo,Xabi Prieto,Granero,Canales,Vela.

Subs:  Bergara,Finnbogason,Agirretxe,Zubikarai,Castro,Zaldúa,
De la Bella.

Kick off: 4:00 pm.

Daniel Sturridge named among subs. EPL starting lineup for 4:00 pm.

Manchester United starting XI

De Gea, Valencia, Jones, Rojo, Shaw, Blind, Januzaj, Di Maria, Rooney, Van Persie, Falcao.

Leicester starting XI

Schwarzer, Simpson, Wasilewski, Morgan, De Laet, Drinkwater, King, Vardy, Kramaric, Schlupp, Ulloa.

Crystal Palace starting XI

Speroni, Ward, Dann, Sanogo, Gayle, McArthur, Delaney, Ledley, Chamakh, Kelly, Puncheon.

Everton starting XI

Joel, Coleman, Jagielka, Stones, Baines, Barry, Besic, McGeady, Naismith, Barkley, Lukaku.

Liverpool starting XI - 

Mignolet, Can, Skrtel, Sakho, Henderson, Lucas, Moreno, Markovic, Lallana, Coutinho, Sterling.

West Ham starting XI

Adrian, O'Brien, Collins, Reid, Cresswell, Song, Amalfitano, Nolan, Downing, Valencia, Carroll.

Stoke starting XI

Begovic, Bardsley, Shawcross, Wollscheid, Wilson, Nzonzi, Whelan, Arnautovic, Ireland, Moses, Walters.

QPR starting XI

Green, Isla, Onuoha, Dunne, Hill, Vargas, Barton, Kranjcar, Henry, Fer, Austin.

Sunderland starting XI

Pantilimon, Van Aanholt, O'Shea, Vergini, Reveillere, Bridcutt, Larsson, Gomez, Wickham, Johnson, Defoe.

Burnley starting XI

Heaton, Trippier, Keane, Shackell, Mee, Boyd, Marney, Jones, Arfield, Barnes, Ings.

West Brom starting XI

Foster, Wisdom, McAuley, Dawson, Lescott, Yacob, Brunt, Morrison, McManaman, Anichebe, Berahino.

Tottenham starting XI

Lloris, Walker, Fazio, Vertonghen, Rose, Dembele, Mason, Eriksen, Paulinho, Lamela, Kane.

Premier League set to act over Jose Mourinho's media snub.

The Premier League are taking action over Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho riding roughshod over regulations that require him to hold a press conference the day before a game.

Mourinho refused to meet the media on Friday before Saturday’s top-of-the-table clash at home to Manchester City. 

The Special One also breached rules when coach Steve Holland deputised for him before the Newcastle game three weeks ago but there was no media conference at all on Friday. It happened twice last season, too.

The Premier League have written to Chelsea asking for an explanation of Mourinho’s absence ahead of the Newcastle match. Another letter will follow about Friday’s media snub.

The Premier League board will then decide whether to fine the club. However, it might take some time as former Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson did not talk to the BBC for seven years before that issue was resolved — and Mourinho thinks he is the new Fergie when it comes to flouting the Premier League rulebook. Chelsea refused to comment.

Source: Dailymail.

Juan Cuadrado posts heartfelt tribute to Fiorentina as he jets in to London to complete £26.8m Chelsea move.

Juan Cuadrado took to social media to post this message thanking Fiorentina and their fans. It reads: 'Florence will always be in my heart.'The people are extraordinary. The fans full of passion. The Viola launched my career and gave me the opportunity to grow also thanks to a great club and exceptional teammates.'Now a new journey awaits me. New emotions. New objective. But always with Florence in my heart. Thank you to everyone! Juan.'

Cuadrado's Fiorentina team-mate Giuseppe Rossi paid tribute to him on Twitter: 'Best of luck my friend Cuadrado for his new adventure at Chelsea. You deserve it!' 

Cuadrado will undergo a medical on Saturday morning and could be in attendance as Chelsea take on Manchester City in a top-of-the-table Premier League clash on Saturday night.

Under Financial Fair Play regulations, his arrival can only be sanctioned if a player leaves and Chelsea will attempt to accelerate the sale of Andre Schurrle to Wolfsburg in a deal potentially worth £21m plus add-ons.

Source: Dailymail.

Australia win Asian Cup.

Australia have been crowned Asian Cup champions after a dramatic 2-1 win over South Korea at Sydney's ANZ Stadium.
James Troisi’s extra-time strike proved the difference after Son
Heung-min's 90th-minute equaliser cancelled out Massimo Luongo’s first-half effort.
South Korea, who were targeting a third Asian Cup triumph, had
beaten Australia 1-0 in the group stage but it was the home side who came close to breaking the deadlock after nine minutes through a Mile Jedinak free-kick, which found a route past goalkeeper Kim Jin-hyeon but dipped on to the roof of the net.
A scrappy spell of play followed but things improved after 24 minutes when Kwak Tae-hwi headed a free-kick from Ki Sung-yueng just past the post.
The Socceroos responded within minutes as Robbie Kruse played the ball into the path of Tim Cahill, but the former Everton man saw his shot denied by Kim.
The match was offering plenty of entertainment now and the Koreans had their best chance of the half after 37 minutes through Son, who tried his luck on the volley and missed his target by inches.
And Australia took full advantage of the let-off on the stroke of half-time when Luongo was teed up by Trent Sainsbury before turning and firing a spectacular 25-yard effort into the bottom corner. South Korea turned up the heat early in the second half but their opponents' defence held firm as Lee Jung-hyup and Park Joo-ho wasted chances to equalise. And they were almost caught on the break on the hour, with Kruse supplying Mathew Leckie for a powerful drive which had to be helped
over the bar by Kim.
That merely served to spur Korea on, although the final ball proved disappointing on more than one occasion while a free-kick from Son sailed high of the mark.
Time was running out for the Koreans, who began pumping long balls into the box in a bid to get the goal they so badly needed. And that goal arrived two minutes into stoppage-time from Son, who darted into the area before slipping the ball past Mat Ryan in the Australia net and sending the match into extra-time.
The pace dropped thereafter as legs began to tire and that may have been a factor in Jedinak shooting wide when well-placed to turn in the rebound from Kim's punched clearance after 100 minutes. The tournament hosts fared much better 10 minutes later, though, when Kim again tried to clear a cross from Tomi Juric but the ball went only as far as Troisi, who slammed the return into the roof of the net to send the Stadium Australia crowd into raptures.

Source: Skysports.

Juan Cuadrado poses for picture with his Fiorentina team-mates ahead of flight to England in Roman Abramovich's private plane.

Juan Cuadrado posed for a picture with his Fiorentina team-mates before saying his goodbyes on Friday afternoon ahead of his £26.8million move to Chelsea.

The Colombian international will fly to England on Roman Abramovich's private plane on Saturday morning before completing his transfer to Chelsea.

Fiorentina coach Vincenzo Montella told a press conference in Italy that the 26-year-old's move to west London, which could see Mohamed Salah move in the opposite direction, has been finalised. 

'It was a sale that had to be done,' said Montella.'The club has done the right thing because we are also getting a very good player.' 

'Naturally, we need to understand how long he (Salah) will need to adapt to our football as it's different from the English and Swiss leagues.

'From a defensive standpoint, Cuadrado guarantees us a lot more than Salah.

'Cuadrado is a player that has always arrived with a smile and given everything to Fiorentina. I am convinced that if he could have played tomorrow he would have.

'I'm happy for him because he is going to a big club.' 

Montella's announcement comes before any official confirmation from either Fiorentina or Chelsea.

David de Gea transfer to Real Madrid is 'possible' reveals Louis van Gaal.

Louis van Gaal has admitted Real Madrid target David de Gea could leave Manchester United — but the Old Trafford boss will fight to keep him.

Earlier this month, Van Gaal said the talented goalkeeper would soon extend his contract. But ahead of Saturday's visit of Leicester City, he admitted for the first time that may not be the case.

‘In football, everything is possible,’ Van Gaal said, when asked if he was concerned the European champions could pounce. ‘We want to keep him.’

Madrid-born De Gea, who has been in fine form for United, has 17 months left on his contract.

If the 24-year-old, signed for £18.9million from Atletico Madrid in 2011, does not sign a new deal Real could land him for nothing at the end of next season — something United fans, and no doubt the club’s board, are desperate to avoid.

De Gea’s agent Jorge Mendes recently said: ‘He’s a United player and has a contract there. You have to respect that but things change every five minutes.’

Source: Dailymail.

German Bundesliga Fixtures.

3:30 pm                        Hamburg SV vs FC Cologne

3:30 pm                        Mainz vs SC Paderborn 07

3:30 pm                       SC Freiburg vs Eintracht Frankfurt

3:30 pm                      Schalke 04 vs Hannover 96

3:30 pm                     VfB Stuttgart vs Borussia Monchengladbach

6:30 pm                     Bayer Leverkusen vs Borussia Dortmund

Spanish Primera División Fixtures.

4:00 pm                           Real Madrid vs Real Sociedad

6:00 pm                          Eibar vs Atletico Madrid

8:00 pm                          Granada vs Elche

10:00 pm                       Celta Vigo vs Cordoba

Barclays Premier League Fixtures.

1:45 pm                      Hull City vs Newcastle United

4:00 pm                     Crystal Palace vs Everton

4:00 pm                     Liverpool vs West Ham United

4:00 pm                    Manchester United vs Leicester City

4:00 pm                    Stoke City vs Queens Park Rangers

4:00 pm                   Sunderland vs Burnley

4:00 pm                   West Bromwich Albion vs Tottenham Hotspur

6:30 pm                   Chelsea vs Manchester City

Darren Fletcher set to sign three-and-a-half year deal at West Ham.

West Ham will offer Darren Fletcher a three-and-a-half year deal worth £75,000-a-week when the formalities of his move from Manchester United are completed. 

Louis van Gaal confirmed that the Scotland international was close to finalising a move to London on Friday, which would end his 20-year association with the club.

Speaking ahead of his side's home clash with Leicester City, manager Van Gaal said: 'He is now in West Ham, I believe so we have to wait and see.

'He’s my third captain so he is an important guy in the dressing room. I like him as a human being and a player.'

Fletcher has failed to hold down a first-team place this season at Old Trafford, despite Van Gaal initially making him vice-captain.

'We shall miss him,' the Dutchman said. 'But he has not played many times. 

'That is the main goal of a player and we have talked about that and he preferred to play therefore we have helped him.'

Van Gaal feels that United's loss will be the Hammers' gain.

'I think the future will prove how good he is,' he said. 'For us it’s a miss. It is a loss.

'For the club who buy him it is another player with a lot of qualities, as a midfielder but also as a captain, a very experienced player. 

But we also have in the same role another experienced player.'

Source: Dailymail.

Costa loses appeal.

Diego Costa has lost his appeal against an FA violent conduct charge and has been given a three-match ban that will keep him out of Chelsea's clash with Manchester City.
The Chelsea striker will miss his side's top-of-the-table Premier
League clash against City at Stamford Bridge on Saturday after
losing his appeal at a Football Association hearing on Friday.
The Brazilian-born Spain striker has been given the ban after treading down on the ankle of Liverpool's Emre Can in the first half of the Capital One Cup semi-final, second leg, at the Bridge on Tuesday.
Chelsea won that game 1-0 to complete a 2-1 aggregate victory.
Chelsea, who are five points clear at the top of the table, will be
without Costa for Saturday's clash against second-placed
Manchester City as well as for their games at Aston Villa and at home to Everton.
Chelsea had given their full support to Costa for the FA regulatory commission hearing, which was fast-tracked to be heard on Friday to ensure an outcome was reached before the huge match against City.

Source: Skysports.

Cuadrado 'signs for Chelsea'

Chelsea have secured the services of Juan Cuadrado, according to
Fiorentina Coach Vincenzo Montella.
Sky Italia are reporting that the 26-year-old Colombian is still in Italy but due to fly to London on Saturday for talks and a medical. Fiorentina are expected to receive £23.33m plus a bonus that amounts to Cuadrado's £26.34m release clause with Chelsea's out-of-favour forward Mohamed Salah moving on loan in the opposite direction.
When asked about Cuadrado's potential move to the Premier League leaders, Montella told his club's website on Friday afternoon: "It was a sale that had to be done. The club has done the right thing because we are also getting a very good player.
"Naturally, we need to understand how long Salah will need to adapt to our football as it's different from the English and Swiss leagues.
""From a defensive standpoint, Cuadrado guarantees us a lot more than Salah. Cuadrado is a player that has always arrived with a smile and given everything to Fiorentina.
"I am convinced that if he could have played tomorrow he would
have. I'm happy for him because he is going to a big club."

Source: Skysports.

Diego Costa set to contest against violent conduct charge.

Diego Costa will contest his violent conduct charge with the full backing of Chelsea as the Barclays Premier League leaders make a stand against what Jose Mourinho believes is an orchestrated campaign against his team.

Costa faces a three-match ban after referee Michael Oliver admitted he had not seen the incident when he appeared to stamp on Liverpool’s Emre Can during Tuesday’s Capital One Cup semi-final second leg at Stamford Bridge and set the Football Association’s disciplinary process in motion.

Chelsea’s 17-goal top scorer had to respond before 6pm on Thursday to the charge and, as he has chosen to contest it, the case will be passed to an independent commission to decide on Friday.

The Blues insist that the incident was 'accidental' with Mourinho fiercely saying so after the match. 

The commission will look at video footage, the observations of the referee Oliver and consider written and video evidence on behalf of Costa, who will miss games against Manchester City, Aston Villa and Everton if found guilty.

It will be a surprise if he escapes punishment, but Costa, Mourinho and others at the club have been incensed by the charge and are determined to fight it.

Mourinho is in full siege mode ahead of the title clash with champions City at Stamford Bridge, on Saturday, claiming there is an anti-Chelsea agenda fuelled by Sky.

Chelsea have also cancelled the manager’s usual eve-of-game press conference, which will prompt another letter from the Premier League to seek an explanation for breaking their rules on mandatory media duties.

Source: Dailymail.

Gabriel Paulista handed Arsenal No 5 shirt after completing £11.2million transfer.

Gabriel Paulista will follow in the footsteps of Martin Keown and Steve Bould after he was handed the No 5 shirt at Arsenal. 

Gabriel, the 24-year-old Brazilian, was granted a work permit despite not yet having played for his country and joined the Gunners from Villarreal for an £11.2 million fee on Wednesday. 

And Arsenal have confirmed that he will wear the No 5, vacated by former club captain Thomas Vermaelen who joined Barcelona in the summer.

Source: Dailymail.

Paul Pogba will leave Juventus by the end of next season, according to his agent.

Paul Pogba will leave Juventus within 18 months and could even be sold in the summer.

The France international is being courted by a host of top clubs across Europe.

Manchester United, who somewhat controversially allowed Pogba to leave on a free transfer in the summer of 2012, are interested in bringing the 21-year-old back to Old Trafford. Chelsea are also keen, while Barcelona have expressed their interest.

But Pogba’s agent has warned that the midfielder will only be available for a fee in excess of £80million.

'If Paul leaves Juventus, it is for the absolute top. If it does not happen this year, it will be next year,' said Mino Raiola, who also looks after Mario Balotelli and Zlatan Ibrahimovic.

'Paul is at the same level economically as the other big stars and has a similar reputation, so he could stay for another year.

‘But Paul is the only major star who is available at the end of the season. If you cannot take Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi or Zlatan Ibrahimovic, you can only go for Paul.

'If someone wants him, the market situation could see him go for more than €100m.'

Pogba joined Juventus after Sir Alex Ferguson refused to match his wage demands three years ago.

Source: Dailymail.

Chelsea agree Andre Schurrle sale to fund Juan Cuadrado transfer.

Chelsea have agreed to cash in on Andre Schurrle to free up the funds to sign Juan Cuadrado.

The move for Colombian Cuadrado, 26, could even be completed in time for him to to play in Saturday’s top-of-the-table game against Manchester City, with Chelsea eager to register him.

MailOnline Sport has learned that the deal – with almost £60million exchanging hands - moved closer in the last 24 hours.

Chelsea have asked for more than £30m for Schurrle, 24, and Wolfsburg have been leading the way, with Borussia Dortmund also keen.

Jose Mourinho is not a fan of the Germany international, but recognises his value in the transfer market. The World Cup-winning attacker is also keen to return home. 

Chelsea have not been in a rush to sell, although they have been actively looking for a replacement. 

Both Cuadrado and Douglas Costa have been at the top of their scouting list, but Costa is cup tied for the Champions League and was always a second choice; not least because dealing with his club, Shakhtar Donetsk, is always complicated and the transfer window closes on Monday night.

Once the Schurrle deal is completed, Chelsea will use the money to sign Cuadrado, who has a £26.8m buy-out clause.

Sheffield United vs Tottenham Hotspur Capital One Cup starting lineup.

• Sheffield United starting XI: Howard, Harris, Basham, Flynn, Doyle, Murphy, McEveley Scougall, Baxter, McNulty, Campbell-Ryce
• subs: Alcock, Higdon, Reed, Turner, Kennedy, Ada.

• Tottenham starting XI: Vorm, Walker, Dier, Vertonghen, Davies, Mason, Stambouli, Lamela, Dembele, Eriksen, Kane
• subs: Friedel, Fazio, Rose, Paulinho, Townsend, Adebayor, Soldado 

Chelsea striker Diego Costa charged with violent conduct.

Chelsea striker Diego Costa has been charged with violent conduct by the English Football Association for a clash with Emre Can during Tuesday's League Cup win over Liverpool. An FA statement read: "Diego Costa has been charged by the FA for violent conduct following an on-field incident which was not seen by the match officials but caught on video.

"The charge is in relation to an incident involving the Chelsea forward and Liverpool's Emre Can which occurred in the 12th minute of the League Cup semi-final second leg at Stamford Bridge last night [Tuesday 27 January 2015].

"The player has until 6pm on Thursday 29 January 2015 to respond to the charge.

Arsenal complete Gabriel deal.

Arsenal have completed the signing of Villarreal defender Gabriel on a long-term deal with striker Joel Campbell moving the other way on loan.
Arsenal completed the deal, which is believed to be worth 18m euros to the Spanish club, after a work permit was granted for the uncapped Brazilian.
Costa Rica striker Campbell signed a new Arsenal deal before
travelling in the opposite direction on loan until the end of the season.
Gabriel told the club's website: “I came from a club that is not that big in Brazilian football. I went to Spanish football and that was another dream come true, to play in Europe.
"A while ago I had a really huge desire to play in the Premier League, so since that point I put it in my head that I really wanted to do it. I had a talk with my family and I told them that it was my dream to play in the Premier League.
"Getting here to such a big club is so gratifying. I am arriving at a big club and the fans can expect to find a Gabriel with a great will to help everyone. Not just thinking of me as an individual, because to me that is not important.
"I care more about helping the team and my team-mates. I want to help everyone, so the fans can expect a Gabriel that on the field has a lot of will to be able to help the team win important things.”

Figo wants FIFA presidency.

Former Ballon d'Or winner Luis Figo has announced his intention to stand for the FIFA presidency.
Portugal's most-capped player is the fifth man to declare an interest in opposing Sepp Blatter in the May election - and he claims he has the five nominations required to stay in the race beyond Thursday's deadline.

FA fine Mourinho £25,000 over Southampton comments.

The Blues boss' complaints following the 1-1 draw at Southampton on December 28were found to be improper and brought the game into disrepute.

An independent regulatory commission found, however, that the comments did not imply officials were biased against Chelsea.

An FA statement read: "Following an independent regulatory commission hearing,Jose Mourinho has been fined £25,000 after he was found to have breached FA rules in relation to media comments."

Mourinho attended a personal hearing after being charged following the comments, which came after Cesc Fabregas was denied a penalty and instead booked for a dive at St Mary's.

It followed incidents of diving in previous matches involving Diego Costa, Willian,Branislav Ivanovic and Gary Cahill.

The Portuguese said afterwards: "That's a campaign, that's a clear campaign.

"People, pundits, commentators, coaches from other teams - they react with Chelsea in a way they don't react to other teams.

"They put lots of pressure on the referee and the referee makes a mistake like this. We lose two points, Fabregas earns a yellow card.

"In other countries where I worked before, tomorrow in the sports papers it would be a front-page scandal because it is a scandal.

"I think it is a scandal because it is not a small penalty - it is a penalty like Big Ben.

"In this country - and I am happy with that, more than happy with that - we will just say that it was a big mistake with a big influence in the result.

"I am happy that it is this way, with respect for the referee. He made a big mistake like I make, like the players make sometimes."

The FA statement added: "The Chelsea manager denied that comments he made after the game against Southampton on December 28, 2014 constituted improper conduct in that they alleged and/or implied bias on the part of a referee or referees, and/or brought the game into disrepute.

"The independent regulatory commission found the comments were a breach of FA rule E3 in that they were improper and brought the game into disrepute.

"The commission did not, however, find that the comments implied bias on the part of a referee or referees.

"Mr Mourinho, who had requested a non-personal hearing, was also warned as to his future conduct."

Tranfer News: Arteta signs one-year contract.

Arsenal captain Mikel Arteta has signed a new one-year
deal at the Emirates.

Fiorentina winger Juan Cuadrado will move to Chelsea this month, but only if the west London club pay the full €35m
to activate his release clause which expires this summer.
However, that fee is non-negotiable, while the Serie A club also have no intention of taking Blues wide man Mohamed Salah on loan as part of the deal either.

Shakhtar Donetsk have yet to comment on rumours

claiming they are in advanced talks with Chelsea for

forward Douglas Costa. The Brazilian has asked

the club to show some flexibility on their £30m asking

price.

Source : skysports.

Steven Gerrard has played against Chelsea 39 times in his career but the Liverpool captain has only scored one goal against the Blues in his entire career.

Despite turning Chelsea down on at least two occasions, Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard has scored as many goals for the Blues as he has against them.

As the former England captain prepares to pack his bags and head for Major League Soccer, an astonishing stat has emerged: Gerrard has played Chelsea 39 times in his Liverpool career, but has managed just one goal against them.

It came in the Premier League in 2005, when a 25-year-old Gerrard, fresh from lifting a Champions League trophy five months earlier, netted to level the match at 1-1.

Frank Lampard had put Jose Mourinho's side 1-0 up from the penalty spot before Gerrard's leveller, but even his one goal against them did not end in success as Damien Duff, Joe Cole and substitute Geremi made it a day to forget for Liverpool.

To make matters worse, in the previous February, Gerrard had scored a goalfor Chelsea in the Carling Cup final in Cardiff. 

After John Arne Riise's early goal, the captain's unfortunate deflection from a Paulo Ferreira free-kick saw him on the scoresheet for all the wrong reasons, made worse by Chelsea's eventual extra-time win.

No goals against the Blues in the following decade have resulted in a rather unfortunate record that is likely to stay with Gerrard for the rest of his career.

Tuesday night saw him take to the field against Chelsea for the 39th time, but he was unable to stop an extra-time winner from Branislav Ivanovic, therefore ending his hopes of lifting the Capital One Cup at Wembley in March.  Now, the FA Cup represents Gerrard's final chance to lift a trophy in Liverpool colours. The Reds travel to Bolton next Wednesday, where a tie against Crystal Palace awaits in the fifth round if they come through that.

He does, though, have one final chance to score against Mourinho's side. Liverpool travel to Stamford Bridge on May 9, in Gerrard's third-to-last Premier League game for the club.

With the title out of Liverpool's grasp, the match will potentially have a bearing on whether Anfield will experience Champions League football again next season. 

If not that, then it is simply a chance for Gerrard to improve his poor record. 

Source:Dailymail.

Cesc Fabregas is a doubt for Chelsea's Premier League clash against Manchester City.

Jose Mourinho revealed the cost of reaching Wembley was a trio of injuries to Cesc Fabregas, Filipe Luis and match-winner Branislav Ivanovic. 

Fabregas faces a race against time to be fit for Saturday's Premier League showdown against Manchester City after limping off in Chelsea's Capital One Cup semi-final win over Liverpool.

The midfielder collided with Blues team-mate John Terry at the beginning of the second half at Stamford Bridge on Tuesday night and was unable to continue.

Fabregas was replaced by Ramires in the 50th minute and headed straight down the tunnel to receive treatment on a hamstring problem. 

Luis (calf) was also withdrawn late on, while goalscorer Ivanovic suffered a cut foot.

'Branislav was able to continue but the others weren't,' said Mourinho. 

'Filipe Luis came off with a calf problem and Fabregas reported a tight hamstring. Fabregas said he wasn't yet injured but that he would be soon if he continued.

'I don't want to think about fatigue. If we played two hours and lost I would be more worried. They are happy and when you are happy you can cope with fatigue. But obviously we played for two hours and we have to play on Saturday against City, who didn't.'