Former Arsenal, Spain midfielder Fabregas hangs up his boots, to coach Italian club.
'If we play at the level of Liverpool or Tottenham we'll do it again.'
Under pressure from the chasing pack and rocked on their heels by a Charlie Adam bolt from the blue, Chelsea showed cool heads to extend their Premier League to seven points on Saturday with a 2-1 home win over Stoke City.
Manchester United manager Louis Van Gaal was more worried about playing Aston Villa than he feels about facing local rivals and champions Manchester City at Old Trafford on Sunday.
Villa manager Gerrard to sit out two games after positive COVID test.
"I think he plays on Wednesday because on Saturday it was a decision to protect him," manager Jose Mourinho told the club website (www.chelseafc.com).
Third-placed Arsenal tightened their grip on a spot in the top four on the English Premier League table, continuing an impressive run of form at the Emirates with a 3-0 win over West Ham United on Saturday.
The schedule for the league's 2022-23 season was released with Liverpool starting away to promoted team Fulham. City plays its first game a day later.
Manchester City defender John Stones headed a controversial stoppage-time winner in a 2-1 victory at Wolverhampton Wanderers on Sunday that took them top of the Premier League and set a club record of 31 league games unbeaten.
Chelsea put a miserable week behind them to return to the Premier League summit with a 2-0 win over Fulham as the wheels came off Liverpool's bright start in a 1-0 home defeat to Southampton on Saturday.
Images from Saturday's action in the Premier League.
Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson dismissed Chelsea's Premier League title hopes on Wednesday.
Chelsea's American forward Christian Pulisic scored his first Premier League goals for the club with a hat-trick and Willian added another in an entertaining 4-2 win at Burnley.
Photos from the English Premier League matches played on Saturday
Liverpool, Chelsea and Manchester United celebrated the festive season with victories on Friday while Arsenal, the other member of the 'big four', squandered a 2-0 lead to draw 2-2 at Aston Villa. Liverpool beat Bolton Wanderers 3-0 at Anfield with Robbie Keane scoring twice to give the leaders 42 points, one ahead of Chelsea as the Premier League season reached the halfway point.
Chelsea surged to the top of the Premier League with a 3-0 home win over Stoke City thanks to goals from Mohamed Salah, Frank Lampard and Willian at Stamford Bridge on Saturday.
Man City to face Spurs in League Cup
Newcastle United made light work of north-east rivals Sunderland as Alexander Isak's double secured a 3-0 win and a place in the FA Cup fourth round at the Stadium of Light on Saturday.
Manchester City take on Chelsea and champions Manchester United meet West Ham United in the key fixtures of Saturday's programme in the English Premier League.
Arsenal visit Liverpool looking for a first league win at Anfield since 2003. Defeat for Arsene Wenger's side will move seventh-placed Liverpool within a point of them, having played a game more.
The schedule of matches in the English Premier League between Saturday, September 26 and Monday, September 28.
Chelsea ran riot at Swansea City, scoring four times before halftime on the way to a 5-0 win that sent Jose Mourinho's side five points clear in the Premier League on Saturday.
Chelsea maintained their iron grip on top spot with a 2-1 win at Crystal Palace while Southampton recorded one of the biggest victories in Premier League history when they crushed a woeful Sunderland side 8-0 at St Mary'son Saturday.
Jose Mourinho says referee Chris Foy should not be allowed to take charge of any more Chelsea matches after he dismissed Willian and Ramires in Saturday's 1-0 defeat at Aston Villa and also sent the Portuguese manager to the stands.
Preview and timings of the Premier League matches this weekend
The Chelsea striker is to have a hernia operation on Tuesday.
Chelsea offered a chink of light to Manchester City in the Premier League title race after a stormy 1-1 home draw with Burnley on Saturday that gave more ammunition to their outspoken manager Jose Mourinho.
Manchester United and Chelsea secured places in the Champions League with wins on the final day of the Premier League season while Watford and Bournemouth were relegated along with bottom club Norwich City.
Arsenal closed the gap on leaders Liverpool with a 2-1 Premier League victory at Nottingham Forest
IMAGES from the Premier League matches played on Sunday.
Chelsea manager Carlo Ancelotti has told arch rivals Arsenal that its time to show their mettle for the Premier League title.
League leaders Chelsea were made to battle for a narrow 2-1 win over strugglers Queens Park Rangers at Stamford Bridge as they maintained their unbeaten start in the Premier League on Saturday.
Carlos Tevez of Manchester City and Dimitar Berbatov of Manchester United emerged the top scorers with 20 goals in the English Premier League season, which concluded on Sunday. Arsenal's Robin van Persie, with 18 goals, was next best.
The Football Association has rejected appeals by Chelsea left back Ashley Cole and Aston Villa defender Zat Knight for wrongful dismissal in the 4-4 draw between the teams in the Premier League on Wednesday.
Manchester United enjoyed a hugely satisfying Saturday, beating Everton 1-0 to go five points clear in the Premier League after challengers Arsenal and Aston Villa were held to home draws. Cristiano Ronaldo's 44th-minute penalty at Old Trafford was enough to give the champions 53 points from 23 matches.
Arsenal moved up to second in the Premier League and within six points of Liverpool after a largely trouble-free, if slightly pedestrian, 1-0 win at home to struggling Ipswich Town on a chilly night in north London on Friday.
