Arsenal, Chelsea continue Cup campaign

DouJ85

LONDON: Chelsea and Arsenal continue their attempts to reach the League Cup final for a second straight season when England’s second-tier cup competition resumes this week.

Chelsea seek to carry their resurgent form into the home match against two-time winners Leicester tomorrow, when Arsenal visit Sheffield United.

Former Liverpool great Robbie Fowler comes up against his old team when Cardiff visit Anfield, and Juande Ramos takes charge of his first match at Tottenham when Spurs host Blackpool.

Chelsea won both the League Cup and FA Cup last season, becoming only the second team to win both trophies in the same season. The odds on the Blues retaining at least the League Cup have improved since the club’s steady rise under coach Avram Grant.

After a rocky start, the former Israel coach has guided Chelsea to five straight wins in all competitions, including Saturday’s 6-0 victory over Manchester City.

“People have asked a lot of questions over the last couple of months and it has not been easy but the players we have got can perform,” Chelsea midfielder Frank Lampard said. “This was a reminder to ourselves that when we are on form, and on form at Stamford Bridge in particular, we can beat teams well.”

That bodes ill for Leicester, who are 15th in the League Championship and without a manager following Gary Megson’s move to Bolton last week.





Manchester City manager Sven-Goran Eriksson is looking at tomorrow’s match at Bolton as an opportunity to bounce back from the heavy loss at Chelsea.

“We’re lucky that we have a game on Wednesday, to turn things right,” Eriksson said.

Arsenal are unbeaten all season but face a tricky match at a Sheffield United side struggling for form following their relegation from the Premier League.

The Blades have just one win in six matches but could get an opportunity for a morale-boosting victory because Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger is set to rest several players following Sunday’s 1-1 draw at Liverpool and field reserves.

Cardiff’s game at Anfield won’t be Fowler’s first there for an opposition team — he played there three times for Manchester City — but it will be the first since his second spell at Liverpool finished at the end of last season.



Everton are at Luton, and Portsmouth host Blackburn in tomorrow’s other games, while West Ham are at Coventry today. — AP

jacksonkua

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