West Ham United 2 Cardiff City 0

John Terry and Rio Ferdinand have both been named on the bench for Chelsea and Manchester United respectively for the Premier League clash at Old Trafford.

David Silva returned from a three-match absence with a hamstring injury to make his 100th league appearance for Manchester City in their clash with West Ham.

Manchester City rested England goalkeeper Joe Hart but still boasted a strong side for their FA Cup fourth-round tie at Stoke.

Mousa Dembele made his full Tottenham debut as Andre Villas-Boas looked to register his first win in charge away to Reading.

Nuri Sahin was handed his Liverpool debut by Brendan Rodgers as the Reds aimed to kick-start their season by beating Arsenal at Anfield.

Jack Collison recovered from a dislocated shoulder to enable West Ham manager Sam Allardyce to name an unchanged side for the npower Championship play-off final.

Newcastle manager Alan Pardew praised the “electric” form of Papiss Cisse after the striker grabbed another double to propel his side to a 2-0 win at Swansea yesterday, a result that enhances their chances of Champions League qualification.

Swansea manager Brendan Rodgers left leading scorers Danny Graham and Scott Sinclair out of his side to face European hopefuls Newcastle at the Liberty Stadium.

Headers from Denis Stracqualursi and Marouane Fellaini sent Everton into the fifth round of the FA Cup as they came from behind to beat Fulham last night.

BIRMINGHAM midfielder Wade Elliott stunned Wolves with a second half winner to earn Chris Hughton’s side a shock FA Cup third round replay win at Molineux last night.

Sunderland boss Martin O’Neill kept faith with the men who secured a second victory in three games at QPR for this afternoon’s home clash with Everton.

THIS was a great result for Manchester and a fantastic advert for English football, with a pulsating game full of thrills, spills and controversy – but one that ultimately left both London clubs further behind their Northern rivals in the title race.

John Terry leads out Chelsea in tonight’s Barclays Premier League game at Tottenham barely 24 hours after being charged with a racially aggravated public order offence.

Laurent Koscielny returned to the Arsenal defence as the Gunners looked to bounce back from their north London derby defeat with a win over Sunderland at the Emirates Stadium this afternoon.

Roberto Mancini gave the Manchester City team that threw away a two-goal lead at Fulham last week a chance to redeem themselves against Everton this lunchtime.

FULHAM manager Martin Jol was frustrated with yesterday’s 1-1 draw against Blackburn and believes the lack of cutting edge cost them.

Fernando Torres was only on the bench as Chelsea went into their crucial Premier League title showdown with Manchester United at Old Trafford with Didier Drogba in attack rather than their £50m new boy.

Kenny Dalglish was quick to make his presence felt as Liverpool’s new temporary manager, making five changes for this afternoon’s third-round FA Cup tie at Manchester United.

Barclays Premier League leaders Chelsea left Didier Drogba on the bench for this afternoon’s clash at Liverpool.

Gerard Houllier included three centre-backs in his line-up for the derby clash with Birmingham at Villa Park.

Liverpool striker Fernando Torres recovered from an adductor injury to take his place in the starting line-up for the 214th Merseyside derby at Goodison Park, watched by new Reds owners John Henry and Tom Werner.

Fulham started with Clint Dempsey and Zoltan Gera in attack for today’s Barclays Premier League clash with Everton.

WEST HAM manager Gianfranco Zola ended the season of turmoil at Upton Park by admitting he had lost some of his love for football.

SCOTT DANN returned to his home city to remind both Everton and Liverpool just what they missed out on.

Everton, last season’s beaten finalists, fielded the same side that defeated Manchester City last weekend, for this FA Cup fourth round tie at Goodison Park.

Everton made one change from the side that drew at Sunderland on St Stephen's Day, striker Ayegbeni Yakubu replacing Louis Saha, who has a muscle injury.

Striker Fernando Torres returned to Liverpool’s starting line up for the first time since November 4 for the visit of Arsenal to Anfield in the Barclays Premier League.

The respective priorities of the Carling Cup and Premier League were emphasised by the starting line-ups at the Britannia Stadium this afternoon.

Bolton striker Ivan Klasnic was handed his first start since joining on loan last month as manager Gary Megson made just two changes for the visit of Premier League rivals West Ham in the third round of the Carling Cup.

Birmingham boss Alex McLeish handed a debut to Teemu Tainio for the derby clash with Aston Villa.

WHEN Michael Owen eventually decides to bring his playing career to an end, he will have plenty to reflect upon.

TONY MOWBRAY knows that his hold on Premier League status is slipping by the week, but the West Bromwich manager is determined not to go quietly.

IN-FORM striker Carlton Cole struck again as West Ham extended their unbeaten run with a comfortable 2-0 win at Upton Park against fast-fading Hull — who lost a sixth successive Barclays Premier League game.

Liverpool looked to extend their lead at the top of the Premier League without manager Rafael Benitez, who did not travel to Emirates Stadium following surgery to remove kidney stones.

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.

Ashley Cole returned at left-back for Chelsea against Liverpool at Stamford Bridge.

Tottenham striker Dimitar Berbatov was not included in the squad for the Premier League clash against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge.

BOLTON got off to a winning start in 2008 in what could be Nicolas Anelka’s last match for the club.

Star man Elano was back for Manchester City but there was no place in Sven-Goran Eriksson’s starting line-up for Rolando Bianchi as the Blues tackle Liverpool at Eastlands looking to jump above their visitors into fourth.

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger reverted to his full-strength side for the top-of-the-table Premier League clash with Manchester United at Emirates Stadium.

MANCHESTER City bounced back from their mauling against Chelsea to book a place in the quarter-finals of the Carling Cup. But their victory against the struggling home side was not without controversy.

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.