Chelsea v Leeds
Chelsea boss Claudio Ranieri has bemoaned the fact that his side must play a Premiership game just 48 hours after FA Cup action at Shrewsbury. Manchester United were allowed to postpone their fixture against Birmingham but not so the other Blues.
Ranieri said: "Everyone is unhappy to be playing again after just one day off. It won't be easy but we will be ready." John Terry, who returned to the side as captain in the absence of Marcel Desailly at Shrewsbury, supports the manager's view that despite the brief preparation for the Leeds' game, Chelsea will not be found wanting this evening.
He said: "We are all professionals, all athletes and we will be fit enough to go into the game against Leeds, no problem. We are a lot more composed as a squad this season, a lot more confident. The team spirit this year has been a lot better which I think has been a big factor.
"We are a good side and are confident of our abilities - I think most teams now worry more about us than we do them," added Terry who warns Manchester United and Arsenal that the Blues are not out of the title race just yet.
Ready Chelsea may be but they will have to take on erratic Leeds without Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink. The former Leeds striker misses the clash with his old team because of an ankle injury but Chelsea are boosted by the availability of Desailly who returns after a one-match suspension.
Leeds will be without Newcastle transfer target Jonathan Wood gate, due to a calf injury, and fellow defender Lucas Radebe is also doubtful with a knee injury. Another transfer target, Seth Johnson, who saw his move to Middlesbrough collapse this week, is in the Leeds squad but definitely out are long-term injured Michael Bridges and Nick Barmby.
But Mark Viduka, at the centre of a storm after he was sent-off for elbowing Andy Hessenthaler in Saturday's FA Cup 1-1 draw at Gillingham, will retain his place in attack.
Terry Venables will be grateful to get back to his 'day job' after spending the last few days trying to fight off his chairman's plans to sell Woodgate and, despite the fact he has stabilised the league position, 12th place in the Premiership isn't a good return for Leeds plc or, more importantly, the fans who will be undertaking their second long away trip inside four days.
Venables said: "A lot has been made about this game coming so soon after the cup ties, especially with Chelsea playing on Sunday evening. But watching Chelsea at Shrewsbury, I felt once they went a goal up it was not a physically demanding game for them. They were able to take off Frank Lampard after 54 minutes with an eye on our game."
On the basis of recent form Chelsea, who played well in dumping Shrewsbury out of the cup, should be too much for Leeds who do not travel well. With Gianfranco Zola in the form of his life and with Eidur Gudjohnsen playing to prove he has a future at Stamford Bridge, or a lucrative contract elsewhere, if Leeds get anything out of this trip it will be a major triumph for TV.
Bolton v EvertonThis is a must-win game for Bolton who will be looking to maintain the two-point advantage over the club immediately behind them, in 18th place, Sunderland who host Southampton tonight. But it will not be easy against fifth placed Everton who will be looking to take advantage of any Chelsea slip-up at home to Leeds.
If Chelsea do lose to Leeds, an Everton victory at the Reebok would see them leapfrog into fourth place and strengthen the growing opinion that David Moyes' team can challenge for a Champions League place.
The home side welcome back midfielder Jay Jay Okocha, who has recovered from a hamstring injury while fellow midfielder Per Frandsen, who has been suffering from a knee injury, could also return to the Bolton line up. Manager Sam Allardyce will be expecting back-in-form Michael Ricketts to produce the goals for a shot-shy Wanderers, despite speculation about his future.
About the constant links with a move to Spurs, Allardyce remains adamant that Bolton will not lose out and says: "Michael and his advisers made a brave decision to put in a transfer request. I think its disappointing that Michael says he's looking to move elsewhere after we've come this way together, but that's the way he feels.
"Nobody pushed him more than me to make the England squad. And contrary to reports in some newspapers, I'm not going to let him 'rot in the reserves'. That's not true. We need him. At the moment, Tottenham don't see the valuation of him that we see, so the deal won't happen."
The importance of a win for the home side cannot be understated as Bolton are currently five points adrift of Birmingham and they cannot afford for that gap to grow.
Everton striker Kevin Campbell is approaching full fitness after his recent ankle injury but he is likely to have to settle for a place on the bench because of the scoring form of recent arrival Brian McBride. The American World Cup striker has hit three goals in just two games since his loan move from Columbus Crew. Tobias Linderoth is a doubt for this game and Wayne Rooney is suspended.
With an almost full-strength squad to select from, boss David Moyes appears confident of his side's chances of claiming three points, although he insists 'they are not in the bag yet'. He said: "We've just about got most people back in training now.
"Tony Hibbert and Nick Chadwick are both running very well after their hernia operations. Tobias Linderoth has joined in a little bit of light training and, with the exception of Duncan Ferguson and Rodrigo, they're all fit."
About the game Moyes added: "Bolton will be a difficult game for us. They're down there near the bottom at the moment and they'll be fighting for their lives so we know what to expect."
