Rooney looks to extend goal run at Everton
Manchester United striker Wayne Rooney returns to the club where he
made his name when the Premier League champions travel to Everton on
Saturday.
The England forward's double in the mid-week Champions League victory
against AC Milan took his tally for the season to 25 goals and he will
be eager for more as United continue their quest for a fourth straight
Premier League title at Goodison Park.
Rooney has become something of a hate figure for Everton fans, having
left the club to move to Old Trafford in 2004, but he will be the last
person who wants United manager Sir Alex Ferguson to give him a rest
this weekend with their side a point behind leaders Chelsea.
"Particularly in the last two months we have seen development in his
game and confidence has a lot to do with that," Ferguson said of Rooney.
"His basic ability is as good as any of (the world's top) players.
What he's got to do is improve his goalscoring, which he's now doing and
if he continues that trend then he's got to be regarded alongside any
player."
Louis Saha may hope Manchester United go on to win the Premier League
title but such thoughts will be at the back of the in-form Everton
striker's when he faces his old club this weekend.
Saha, whose four seasons at Old Trafford were plagued by injuries,
has scored 15 goals so far this season and was on target twice in
Everton's 2-1 win over league leaders Chelsea earlier this month.
Everton, ninth in the table and 23 points off top spot, may be out of
title contention themselves but, having cut Chelsea's lead to just a
point, they are ready to play another significant part in the destiny of
the championship.
"I'd love to say Everton are going to win the league but obviously
that's not going to happen," said Saha.
Chelsea are very strong but I think United are better, and personally
I would be delighted if they won it," the 31-year-old Frenchman added.
The Merseysiders' task on Saturday, however, will be made harder by
the absence of Marouane Fellaini, out for six months with an ankle
injury, while Australia midfielder Tim Cahill is doubtful after
suffering a calf problem in the mid-week Europa Cup win over Sporting
Lisbon.
Chelsea will look to get their title bid back on track when they
travel to Wolves, who are just a point above the relegation zone.
Third-placed Arsenal, who are six points adrift of London rivals
Chelsea, will fancy their chances against a Sunderland side who've won
just one of their 13 away games in the league so far this season.
Manchester City and Liverpool, two sides scrapping for a fourth-place
finish that will guarantee Champions League football next season, go
head to head at Eastlands on Sunday.
City have climbed to fourth and are a point in front of Liverpool,
who narrowly beat Romanian side Unirea Urziceni in the Europa League on
Thursday, with a game in hand over the Reds.
Manchester City's Dutch midfielder Nigel de Jong is relishing the
contest.
"Liverpool is always going to be a huge game and a match we will be
giving our all to win," he said.
"We also have the added incentive of knowing a win will dent one of
our main rivals for a Champions League spot.
"Our fans have waited more than 30 years for success and I want to be
part of the team that ends their long wait." LONDON, Friday, AFP |