Jose Mourinho's unbeaten Manchester United face the biggest test yet of their title credentials when they visit Liverpool at Anfield on Saturday -- a fixture that always has a little extra spice.
Long-serving defender John Terry will remain Chelsea's captain in the coming season, new manager Antonio Conte said on Thursday at his first news conference since joining the Premier League club. Terry, 35, signed a new one-year contract at Stamford Bridge in May to end speculation that he was going to leave the London club after more than 700 appearances. He remains a firm favourite with the club's fans. "John Terry is captain of this team. He is a great player with a great personality and charisma. He knows the club. We take all decisions together with the club and I am very happy John signed," Conte said.
Former Chelsea and Ivory Coast striker Didier Drogba was offered a whopping $1 million by Atletico de Kolkata's co-owners to become the marquee player of the Indian Super League side though the high-profile player is yet to respond, according to a report in London.
Despite a splurge of summer spending of more than 500 million pounds and counting, it was a free transfer from France who provided one of the standout moments of the Premier League's big kickoff.
Tottenham Hotspur booked their place in the FA Cup semi-finals but an injury to Harry Kane marred the party as they marked their last tie at their White Hart Lane home with a 6-0 thrashing of third-tier London rivals Millwall on Sunday.
The win allowed second-placed Liverpool to close the gap on league leaders Manchester City to two points.
IMAGES from the English Premier League matches played on Sunday
Champions Chelsea are involved in the relegation battle this season, manager Guus Hiddink said on Friday ahead of his side's Premier League clash with Everton.
The 24-year-old has scored three league goals already and Shevchenko, who never replicated his superb goalscoring record for AC Milan in three subsequent years at Chelsea, believes there is much more to come from the Spaniard.
The Chelsea striker could be sidelined for up to six weeks with a calf injury, according to manager Claudio Ranieri.
Manager Gerard Houllier could sign a goalkeeper on a short-term deal with Chris Kirkland and Jerzy Dudek both sidelined through injury.
The 1-0 victory gave Chelsea top slot in the premier league, ahead of Arsenal.
Arsenal are still in contention for the English Premier League title and it is too soon to say that leaders Chelsea can go through the season undefeated, manager Arsene Wenger said.
Chelsea coach Claudio Ranieri said his team's positive approach held the secret to their spectacular 4-0 Champions League away win over Lazio.
Chelsea scrambled a stoppage-time winner to snatch a 1-0 victory over Everton on Saturday, showing their Premier League title mettle by claiming three points when they looked on course to suffer another damaging blow.
Get set to be amazed as Rediff.com has all that and more sporting action from the past week encapsulated in this super photo feature.
Images from the English Premier League matches played on Wednesday.
Images from the EPL matches played on Sunday
Chelsea a 1-0 win over Manchester United in a compelling Premier League clash on Sunday
Leicester City must wait at least one more day for their first-ever Premier League title after drawing 1-1 with Manchester United at Old Trafford on Sunday.
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger and Manchester United counterpart Jose Mourinho both insisted the London side's 2-0 win on Sunday was not about them, or their rivalry, but in many ways it was.
Jordan Henderson has spent much ofhis Liverpool career being compared unfavourably with Steven Gerrard, but his stunning goal against Chelsea on Friday could have come straight from the copybook of the former Anfield hero. After Dejan Lovren had put Liverpool ahead, Hendersontook aim from 30 metres, curling home a superb effort that ended a goal drought stretching back more than eight months. It put Liverpool two ahead on their way to a 2-1 victory that ended the hosts' unbeaten start to the season and underlined the growing potential of Juergen Klopp's Liverpool side.
The Manchester United captain believes the club needs a new striker to partner Dutchman Ruud van Nistelrooy upfront.
Antonio Conte's return to Italian football on Tuesday proved such a chastening experience as he watched his Chelsea side dismantled by AS Roma in the Champions League that he worries they could be set for a "very difficult" season.
'So, the Champions League final will be played between two teams who just don't know when they are beaten,' says Suhit K Sen.
He also said he expected to be at Chelsea for the remainder of his four-year contract and that Chelsea would finish first or second in their Champions League group.
With dreams of European glory in tatters, Manchester United, Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur turn their attention to the FA Cup quarter-finals this weekend clinging to their last chance of silverware this season.
'We lost two games but these two games were totally different. Against Crystal Palace we didn't deserve to lose. Today we deserved to lose the game'
'Before the start of the season I felt Manchester United will be a lot better this year and they were my tip for the title'
Champions Arsenal eased to a comfortable 2-0 home win over Middlesbrough on Saturday, extending their lead at the top of the English premier league to two points.
Juergen Klopp has said his Liverpool team must be prepared to play ugly football to secure Champions League qualification following the injury to productive forward Sadio Mane ahead of Wednesday's Premier League clash against Bournemouth.
Guardiola has crafted a sleek offensive unit but, after a breathless opening 15 minutes at The Emirates, they appeared to ease off as their intensity levels dropped and they allowed Arsenal back into the match.
