Chelsea 7 Stoke 0

Chelsea made five changes for their Barclays Premier League clash with Stoke at Stamford Bridge.

Stoke defender Danny Higginbotham has claimed referee Stewart Attwell allowed himself to be influenced by “who shouted the loudest” in their 2-1 defeat to Bolton at the weekend.

SAM ALLARDYCE believes Blackburn would have comfortably finished in the top 10 this season if they had a regular goalscorer.

CARLO ANCELOTTI refused to dismiss Chelsea’s title chances despite watching his side drop two vital points at Ewood Park, but admitted his side had lost their composure and now conceded the advantage to close rivals Manchester United at the top of the table.

ALEX FERGUSON has lashed out at the Football Association over their perceived “dysfunctional” disciplinary system.

JAMES MILNER fired Aston Villa firmly into Champions League contention by settling a thriller at Wigan last night. The converted midfielder fired home in the 63rd minute after Wigan’s Gary Caldwell had cancelled out an own goal from team-mate James McCarthy at the DW Stadium.

Wigan 1 Aston Villa 2

Burnley 1 Wolves 2

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 4 Bolton 0

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

THE FA Cup has always been about misty-eyed memories of the way football used to be, a time when dreams were built on the pitch and not in the boardroom and when fairytales really did happen – even without billionaire benefactors.

Portsmouth 2 Birmingham 0

WHEN Harry Redknapp sits down this morning to reflect on a victory that takes his side back into the Premier League top four, the Tottenham manager could be forgiven for concluding that he did a pretty fine job, considering how events appeared to conspire against him.

Tottenham’s Vedran Corluka and Wilson Palacios were passed fit for the Barclays Premier League clash against Everton after shaking off the effects of the virus that swept through the club this week.

Birmingham 1 Wigan 0

Stoke 3 Manchester City 1 (after extra time)

FOR THE first time in what seems a very long time Arsene Wenger looked relaxed after Saturday’s victory over Sunderland; and for the first time in a while, he was talking sense.

Arsenal 2 Sunderland 0

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

Hull have been fined £40,000 (€45,000) and Arsenal £20,000 (€22,500) and both clubs warned over their future conduct for failing to control their players in a Barclays Premier League match at the Emirates Stadium on December 19.

Stoke 3 Blackburn 0

Liverpool 2 Bolton 0

ALEX FERGUSON believes Manchester United have been the victims of double standards after Rio Ferdinand lost his appeal against a charge of violent conduct and had a game added to his ban.

CHELSEA delivered a powerful statement of intent as the title race enters a crucial stage by crushing in-form Birmingham to move back to the head of the table.

Rio Ferdinand will face Manchester City in the Carling Cup this evening after denying a charge of violent conduct, it is understood.

WAYNE ROONEY’S unprecedented season, continued unabated as Manchester United returned to the top of the Premier League on Saturday night, presenting Alex Ferguson with welcome relief from off-field controversies and Fabio Capello with growing concerns.

Tottenham start with Republic of Ireland striker Robbie Keane alongside Peter Crouch in attack for today’s Premier League clash at Fulham.

Phil Brown has described as “scandalous” the decision to charge Hull with misconduct over last weekend’s melee at Arsenal.

Despite failing to add to his haul of silverware, Arsene Wenger believes the last four years have been his best period in charge of Arsenal.

ARSENAL manager Arsene Wenger believes the last four years have been his best period at the club – even though the Gunners have not landed a trophy in that time.

The Football Association have charged Arsenal and Hull with failing to control their players following the Premier League clash on December 19.

Sunderland centre-back Michael Turner will now serve a four-match ban for his red card against Manchester City after the Football Association dismissed his claim and added a game to the normal suspension.

“SO. Farewell, then, Mark Hughes.

Arsenal 3 Hull 0

Wolves made an incredible 10 changes to their starting line-up to face Manchester United at Old Trafford.

SUNDERLAND are unassailable in their position as the northeast’s top club – the relegation of Middlesbrough and Newcastle last season took care of that – so new targets and aspirations are needed at the Stadium of Light.

IT would be facile to claim that lingering frustration over Paris, Thierry and all that was behind Damien Duff’s frenzied celebrations here on Saturday.

SUBSTITUTE Zavon Hines scored an injury-time winner against 10-man Aston Villa to lift the struggling Hammers out of the bottom three of the Premier League.

West Ham 2 Aston Villa 1

West Ham have made a number of changes for tonight's Premier League match against Aston Villa, with Scott Parker back in midfield for the struggling side.

TWO years ago, Roman Abramovich stomped out of Villa Park in a rage, following an insipid defeat that proved the catalyst for Jose Mourinho’s departure as Chelsea manager.

Aston Villa 2 Chelsea 1