Match reports The Observer, Stuart Barnes: “Delight for Jermain Defoe, disappointment for Chelsea and another twist in a fascinating Premier League championship race from a match that ebbed and flowed entertainingly throughout.” Independent on Sunday, Ronald Atkin: “In a midfield containing the world-renowned likes of Michael Ballack and Claude Makelele, Lassana Diarra shone like a Portsmouth harbour [...]

Apologies: links to match reports and video highlights only I’m afraid. Jonathan and I missed the game, and it’s difficult to give opinions based on ten minutes of highlights and goal videos. Comments welcome as usual.

I had originally been scheduled to work last week in Southern California so I could attend both games knowing the airfare and hotel was being paid for. Of course, that fell through so that I was obliged to watch both games on TV (the Stanford game was televised on a Spanish only channel I don’t [...]

Match reports The Observer, Amy Lawrence: “Chelsea’s ruthless pursuit of Manchester United continued here, which is not surprising considering the hard facts: their winning sequence in the Premiership since they last conceded any ground (or even a goal for that matter ) - two-and-a-half months ago at Anfield - is daunting for any opponent.” Sunday Telegraph, Patrick [...]

Match reports The Observer, Amy Lawrence: “John O’Shea may be many things, but as far as Chelsea are concerned he in no way resembles a fat lady singing. Manchester United’s snatched lunchtime win at Anfield might have offered compelling evidence that the title is bound for Old Trafford. But Didier Drogba and Petr Cech inspired their [...]

Chelsea could go into this game 12 points behind Manchester United. But first Alex Ferguson’s side will have to become the first team to take 3 points off Liverpool at Anfield in 31 games. Much will depend on Rafael Benitez’s starting eleven. With one eye on Tuesday’s game against Barcelona, he could be tempted to rest a [...]

It’s been a weird month or so for us Chelsea fans hasn’t it? Depending on what your choice of journal from the Fourth Estate is we’ve gone from well run Premiership/FA Cup/Carling Cup/Champions League contenders to a strife torn dysfunctional bunch of headless chickens. We are apparently a club in crisis on and off the [...]