12-16-2019, 06:42 AM
MANCHESTER, England - Criticized for picking a perceived weakened lineup against Real Madrid in midweek, Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers can justify that controversial selection if his regulars return to hand Chelsea a first Premier League loss of the season on Saturday.Rodgers was accused by some of betraying Liverpools rich European pedigree by dropping his star names for Tuesdays Champions League match in Spain, appearing to show he valued the Chelsea match higher. Liverpool lost 1-0.If the gamble pays off and the likes of rested quartet Steven Gerrard, Raheem Sterling, Jordan Henderson and Mario Balotelli return to inspire Liverpool to victory at Anfield, some of Rodgers critics may fall silent.Chelsea, though, is unbeaten in all competitions, leads the league by four points and has returned from the northwest with draws at Manchester City and Manchester United already this campaign.Liverpool is in seventh place — 12 points behind Chelsea — and showing none of the form that took the team to a second-place finish last season.Here are some other things to watch out for in the Premier League this weekend;___MISERABLE MOURINHOChelsea is undefeated in 14 games this season, top of both its domestic and Champions League standings and has no apparent weaknesses in its squad.You would not know it listening to its manager over the past week.After the 2-1 win over Queens Park Rangers last weekend, a sullen Jose Mourinho said he was not happy with his team and complained about the lack of atmosphere inside Stamford Bridge. Playing here is like playing in an empty stadium, he said.Then after a 1-1 draw with Maribor in the Champions League on Wednesday, Mourinho criticized his players for lacking focus and underestimating opponents.A win at Anfield should cheer up Mourinho, though. After Saturday, Chelsea will have played arguably its three toughest away games at Manchester City, Manchester United and Liverpool and is sure to be in first place.___CITY CRISISMemories of a Premier League-League Cup double last season are fading fast at Man City.City manager Manuel Pellegrini said Wednesday his team was going through a crisis of confidence after a 2-1 loss to CSKA Moscow in the Champions League left the English champions bottom of the group and unlikely to qualify for the knockout stage.City has also stuttered in the Premier League and is six points behind Chelsea going into Saturdays match at Queens Park Rangers.We must find out why (there is a crisis) by talking to the players every day, Pellegrini said. These players are important players so I dont understand why they cannot play in the Champions League.A 1-0 derby win over United on Sunday is the only bright point in a dreadful two weeks that has seen City lose to West Ham in the league, Newcastle in the League Cup and then CSKA in Europe.___DEFENSIVE ISSUESManchester United also has a crisis — in central defence — which is hampering its hopes of bouncing back from its worst 10-game start to a Premier League season with a win at home to Crystal Palace on Saturday.United manager Louis van Gaal is without the injured Marcos Rojo and Phil Jones, the suspended Chris Smalling and also likely Jonny Evans, who hasnt played since Sept. 21 because of injury.United ended the derby with a centre-back combination of central midfielder Michael Carrick and 19-year-old Paddy McNair and could persist with that pairing, although youngster Tyler Blackett could also come into consideration.With 13 points from 10 games, 10th-place United hasnt made such a poor start to a league season since 1986 — when Ron Atkinson was fired and replaced by Alex Ferguson.The 20-time champions will be big favourites against Palace, which has not won in four games.___SUBLIME SANCHEZAfter a slow start, Alexis Sanchez is showing just why Arsenal spent 35 million pounds ($60 million) to buy him from Barcelona this summer.The Chile forward has scored five goals in his last three games, and 11 overall in his debut season at Emirates Stadium.Hes a good leader and something that we havent had in the Arsenal team before, Arsenal winger Theo Walcott said. Hes a dream to play with.With Walcott back after 10 months out with knee-ligament damage and Danny Welbeck settling in quickly after his deadline-day move from Man United, Arsenal is looking a potent attacking force once again, scoring at least two goals in its last five matches.Defensively, the team is suspect, though. Arsenal threw away a 3-0 lead after 60 minutes to draw 3-3 with Anderlecht in the Champions League on Tuesday and is hoping centre back Laurent Koscielny will be fit again for the trip to Swansea on Saturday.Arsenal is fourth in the standings.___ELSEWHERESecond-place Southampton continues to confound the doubters and will go for a fifth straight win in all competitions when it hosts Leicester on Saturday.Also Saturday, fifth-place West Ham is at home to Aston Villa, which has lost six games in a row, and last-place Burnley seeks its first win of the season at home against Hull.On Sunday, its: Sunderland vs. Everton; Tottenham vs. Stoke; and West Bromwich vs. Newcastle. Dallas Cowboys Gear .S. Olympic hockey management team have been making what he called "ghost rosters" since August. Cowboys Jerseys 2021 . -- The Chicago Bears agreed Tuesday to a one-year contract with defensive lineman Israel Idonije and are bringing him back for a second stint. https://www.cowboysjerseysale.com/ . Fans can also watch the game on the newly launched TSN GO (currently available to Bell TV and Rogers customers), which gives TSN subscribers the freedom to live stream the networks programming from their smartphones, tablets, and computers at no additional charge – just as they would watch Canadas Sports Leader on TV at home. The following week, MLS ON TSN is at BMO Field in Toronto to deliver live coverage of TFCs home opener vs. D.C. United on Saturday, March 22 at 4:30 p. Fake Cowboys Jerseys . - IndyCar racing officials expressed confidence on Monday that the NOLA Motorsports Park will be able to complete more $4. Dallas Cowboys Pro Shop .35 million. The right-hander had agreed last February to a deal that pays him $3.775 million this year and allows him to earn an additional $225,000 in bonuses based on games finished.OXNARD, Calif. -- Tony Romo will play his first game for the Dallas Cowboys since undergoing back surgery for a herniated disk last December. Romo will start for the Cowboys in Saturdays exhibition game against the Baltimore Ravens. Romo missed Dallas exhibition opener against San Diego as the Cowboys are easing him back into things after his second back surgery in the past two years. Romo said he gave no thought to skipping the preseason to make sure he stayed healthy, saying the only way to get better at football is to play football. It will be his first chance to play in a game under new play caller Scott Linehan. "I think you have to play in the preseason," Romo said. "Obviously, some people cant, but I do know from my perspective, this game is not something where you can show up and think that you can do it. I think its been proven far too many times that if you take too long of a break or dont get reps under you that you will be exposed in certain areas." Coach Jason Garrett said he has no expectations about what he will see from Romo and is just looking forward to seeing him back in a game. "Just go out and play," Garrett said. "We ask our players to get prepared for any situations. We try to prepare them as coaches and its their job to go play." Romo sustained the injury against Washington last Dec. 22 but stayed in and threw a game-winning touchdown pass to keep Dallas playoff hopes alive. He had surgery two days before the Cowboys lost to Philadelphia with Kyle Orton at quarterback in a season-ending loss that kept Dallas out of the playoffs. The surgery in December was the second procedure on Romos back in an eight-month span. He had a cyst removed before the start of off-season practices last year and didnt do any significant work until training camp. Romo was held out of competitive situations throughout the off-season this year and the Cowboys limited his throws early in training camp.dddddddddddd But Romo has looked more like himself in recent days and is ready to play against the Ravens. "I felt like this was a big week for Tony," tight end Jason Witten said. "Early in camp they were resting him some and we did not have him every day. I thought he did a really good job going the right places with the ball, good zip on the ball, leading us on the 2-minute drive with the same intensity he always has. I felt like this was a really big week for our team and felt hes done a really great job setting the tempo for us." Romo said he has no worries about how he will react to the first hit on his injured back, saying he got past that after a collision with running back DeMarco Murray a few days ago. "The second hit is just nothing," he said. "It will be easy." Backup Brandon Weeden played well in Romos place in the exhibition loss to San Diego, completing 13 of 17 passes for 107 yards and one touchdown. But the Cowboys know their hopes for success this season ride on Romo. The 34-year-old is coming off another strong season, having thrown for 3,828 yards and 31 touchdowns in 15 games in 2013. He also nearly cut his interceptions in half, throwing 10 after having 19 passes picked off in 2012. Even that wasnt enough to get the Cowboys back to the playoffs for the first time since 2009. Instead, they finished 8-8 for the third straight season. "Every game that you play youre not guaranteed anything," Romo said. "Its special just to play football. Its special to get to play for the team I play for. Its special to get out there and put the helmet on. For me I dont take that for granted. I know that its a great feeling when I do get to go out there." ' ' '