Wantaway defender Christopher Samba has been ruled out with an ankle injury as Steve Kean prepared for his first match in charge of Blackburn since being handed the job until the end of the season.

United States international Stuart Holden recovered from a thigh strain to return for Bolton today as Owen Coyle’s men looked to bounce back from last week’s loss at Manchester City.

Wayne Rooney has been handed his first Premier League start since the beginning of October today as Manchester United look to take top spot by beating Blackburn at Old Trafford.

Chelsea boss Carlo Ancelotti is once again without Frank Lampard for today’s Premier League trip to Blackburn after his failure to recover from a hernia injury.

SUNDERLAND boss Steve Bruce admitted his side cannot keep relying on Darren Bent as they drew 0-0 at Blackburn.

Blackburn v Sunderland

Blackpool reverted to an attacking line-up as they took on neighbours Blackburn for the first time in league competition for 30 years this afternoon.

Manchester City manager Roberto Mancini has been heartened by the news that Carlos Tevez had recovered from a calf injury, enabling the striker to take his place in the side against Blackburn today.

Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard was moved back to a more orthodox central midfield role to accommodate the introduction of forward Ryan Babel for the visit of Sunderland in the Barclays Premier League.

DARREN BENT chose the perfect moment to score his first hat-trick for Sunderland, with owner Ellis Short on Wearside to check on his investment.

Sunderland boss Steve Bruce welcomed Steed Malbranque back into the fold for tonight’s crucial Barclays Premier League clash with Bolton.

Fulham boss Roy Hodgson fielded 10 of the men who booked a Europa League last-16 clash with Juventus in midweek as he looked to extend Sunderland’s Barclays Premier League misery.

First-choice goalkeeper Manuel Almunia has returned to the Arsenal side for this afternoon’s Premier League encounter against Sunderland at the Emirates stadium.

Portsmouth boss Avram Grant made five changes to his starting XI for the Barclays Premier League clash against Sunderland at Fratton Park.

Robinho was named in the Manchester City starting line-up for today’s FA Cup fourth round trip to Scunthorpe amid mounting speculation it would be his last appearance for the club.

Dedryck Boyata is the surprise name in the Manchester City starting line-up tonight for their first domestic semi-final since 1981, a Carling Cup showdown with Manchester United.

MANCHESTER CITY defender Dedryck Boyata received the perfect compensation for missing a family Christmas when he was handed his senior debut at Middlesbrough.

MANCHESTER CITY’S wealth has bought great quality and it was more than enough to outclass Scunthorpe at Eastlands to secure a Carling Cup quarter-final slot last night.

Manchester City gave striker Roque Santa Cruz his first start for the club as they made six changes from the side that drew with Fulham on Saturday. Shay Given and Stephen Ireland will both start.

BOLTON may have survived this season with something to spare, but manager Gary Megson had a pointed message for the club’s board after warning relegation is a realistic proposition next season unless major investment is made this summer.

West Brom manager Tony Mowbray made two changes – one enforced – from the side beaten 4-0 at Sunderland, for today’s Premier League match at home to Manchester City.

Manchester City and Manchester United recalled £63.25m-worth of striking talent as they went head-to-head for the first time this season in an eagerly-awaited derby at Eastlands.

Captain Richard Dunne, midfielder Gelson Fernandes and striker Danny Sturridge could all return to Manchester City’s squad for Saturday’s home clash against Arsenal.

Harry Redknapp insisted his club have “fantastic assets on the pitch” after Portsmouth denied they are up for sale due to massive debts.

Manchester City goalkeeper Andreas Isaksson has been recalled for the Barclays Premier League match at Middlesbrough on Sunday.

Richard Dunne is expected to return to the Manchester City defence for Sunday’s Barclays Premier League trip to Anfield after missing the 3-2 defeat to Fulham with a hamstring injury.

Fulham boss Roy Hodgson kept faith with the side hammered at home by Liverpool last week as the Cottagers looked to revive their flagging survival hopes by beating Manchester City at Eastlands.

Franck Queudrue has been handed his first Birmingham start for two months in today's home Premier League clash with Manchester City.

NO goal-threat, a defender who pleads to come off at half-time at Old Trafford and now rumours of a split in the dressing room. Bolton’s fate looks clearer with each passing week.

SVEN-GORAN Eriksson admits Manchester City will need a tactical rethink if they are to remain in the hunt for a European place.

On an emotional day at Old Trafford, the names of every one of the 23 who died following the Munich air disaster were displayed around the pitch.

Portsmouth are set to give new signing Lassana Diarra his debut in midfield at home to Barclays Premier League bottom team Derby at Fratton Park and right-back Glen Johnson is expected to return after a hamstring strain.

Arsenal arrive at Fratton Park knowing that only a victory will take them above Manchester United and back to the Premier League summit.

Pedro Mendes makes only his fifth Premier League start of the season as midfield deputy for injured Sean Davis as Portsmouth stick to a 4-5-1 formation for their battle fellow European hopefuls Everton at Fratton Park today.

AS a man who treats each team he sends out as an extension of his not inconsiderable ego, it comes as little surprise that Sam Allardyce is someone who takes defeat rather personally.

PORTSMOUTH tumbled to their first home defeat since March and out of the Carling Cup as goals by Benni McCarthy and Morten Gamst Pedersen earned Blackburn a place in the quarter-finals.

LAWRIE SANCHEZ and his Fulham team left Craven Cottage with the jeers of the crowd ringing in their ears after Portsmouth’s smash-and-grab win sent them spiralling into the bottom three.

Burnley 0 Portsmouth 1

Sylvain Distin was the only player who kept his place as Portsmouth boss Harry Redknapp made 10 changes for tonight’s Carling Cup third round clash with Burnley at Turf Moor.

Blackburn manager Mark Hughes makes the one expected change to his side for the visit to Ewood Park of Portsmouth today.

Derby 2 Portsmouth 2

PORTSMOUTH’S brave bid for a UEFA Cup place came up short as referee Graham Poll, in his last Premiership match, disallowed a 68th-minute effort for offside when Niko Kranjcar’s shot appeared to go in off Arsenal’s Philippe Senderos.

All the starting teams for the final round of matches in the 2006/7 Barclays Premiership have been confirmed.