Chelsea were missing England midfielder Joe Cole for this afternoon’s Premier League clash with title rivals Arsenal at Stamford Bridge.

Chelsea have a doubt over midfielder Frank Lampard, who withdrew from England’s squad for the friendly with Germany on Wednesday because of a rib injury, for tomorrow’s Barclays Premier League clash with Newcastle.

Chelsea boss Luiz Felipe Scolari is expected to include striker Didier Drogba and midfielder Joe Cole in the squad to face Burnley in the Carling Cup tomorrow night.

Chelsea left-back Ashley Cole will miss the trip to Blackburn on Sunday with a calf problem.

CHELSEA manager Luiz Felipe Scolari has bolstered his squad by signing Brazilian midfielder Mineiro until the end of the season.

Chelsea manager Luiz Felipe Scolari has bolstered his squad by signing Brazilian midfielder Mineiro until the end of the season.

Chelsea boss Luiz Felipe Scolari will on Monday find out the extent of injuries to Deco and Ricardo Carvalho following the 1-1 draw with Manchester United.

PARAGUAY stunned visitors Brazil in Asuncion in their South American World Cup qualifier last night.

Kaka and Ronaldinho have both been named in Brazil’s 22-man squad to play Algeria in France on August 22.

With the top three scheduled to play tomorrow and Bayern Munich losing a day earlier, Hertha Berlin made the most of their opportunity and closed the gap to just one point between themselves and the fourth-placed champions.

DAVID BECKHAM returned to the international stage with a dynamic display that justified his recall and raised further questions about Steve McClaren’s original decision to drop him.

RAFAEL BENITEZ was left cursing the officials after Liverpool lost in unfortunate circumstances to Sao Paulo in the Club World Championship final in Yokohama.

Liverpool will be left kicking themselves that they could not make the breakthrough their efforts merited in an unjust 1-0 defeat to Sao Paulo in the Club World Championship.

Rafael Benitez surprisingly rang the changes to the side that dispatched Deportivo Saprissa for the Club World Championship final with Sao Paulo.