Chelsea play Benfica in the final of the Europa League in a last attempt to win silverware at the end of a long season. In some ways, their turbulent season mirrors the 2011/12 campaign in which they defied the odds to win the Champions League and FA Cup under Roberto Di Matteo. He was to suffer a similar fate to his predecessor, Andre Villas-Boas, being sacked early in the new season and replaced by Rafael Benitez. The change was greeted with disdain by Chelsea supporters and the former Liverpool boss has done little to endear himself to the home fans. However, a 2-1 win at Aston Villa on the weekend has at least guaranteed Champions League football for the Blues next season.

The victory at Villa Park was not achieved without injuries to Eden Hazard and John Terry and the loss of Hazard is particularly damaging to Chelsea’s prospects on Wednesday night. The Belgian has been a revelation in his first season in the Premiership and Chelsea must now rely heavily on Juan Mata. He has been superb this season but is finally feeling the effects of a season that followed a busy summer on duty for Spain. He has provided six assists for Chelsea in Europe this season, second only to PSG’s Zlatan Ibrahimovic with seven.

It was left to Frank Lampard to rescue Chelsea on Saturday with two goals that established him as the club’s leading goalscorer of all time. His winning goal was his 203rd in Chelsea colours, surpassing the record of Bobby Tambling. Lampard is out of contract at the end of the season and could hardly have done more to state his case for an extension but it is not a foregone conclusion. Didier Drogba’s last kick in Chelsea blue won the Champions League for them but he was not rewarded with a new contract.

Terry has travelled with the squad but has not been a regular this season and could find himself missing Chelsea’s second consecutive European final after suspension ruled him out in Munich 12 months ago. Fernando Torres may be a shadow of his former self but he has played a leading role in Europe with Demba Ba being ineligible for the tournament after representing Newcastle earlier in the competition.

Benfica will be competing in their ninth major European final but they have not been successful since the European Cup in 1962. The two sides met in March and April last season in the Champions League with Chelsea winning 2-1 at home and 1-0 away. Benfica must also overcome a poor record against English clubs with their 3-1 win over Newcastle in April being their only victory in their last seven meetings.

Benfica surrendered top spot in the Portuguese Liga when Kelvin scored an injury-time winner for Porto last weekend. That was Benfica’s first defeat in domestic competition this season and they now trail Porto by a single point ahead of the final round of fixtures. They have seen off Bayer Leverkusen, Bordeaux, Newcastle and Fenerbahce to get to the final and look certain to provide Chelsea with a severe test.

One of the key players for Benfica will be Brazilian striker Lima who is favorite to open the scoring. Both sides will set their stall out for a tight tactical battle but neutrals will be hoping for an early goal to spark a more open and attacking game.

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David Moyes enjoyed a 2-0 victory in his last game in charge at Goodison Park as Everton defeated West Ham with two goals by Kevin Mirallas. His eleven-year reign will officially end after the final game of the season at Chelsea. Moyes will then take up his new position as the successor to Sir Alex Ferguson at Manchester United.

He leaves the club in excellent health with their victory ensuring that they finish above Merseyside rivals Liverpool for the second successive season, the first time they have achieved that in successive years since 1937. Although much has been made of the fact that Moyes failed to win a single trophy during his stay at Goodison, he kept the club in the top ten with limited means at his disposal. The funds were never in place for the Scot to match the spending power of the likes of Manchester City or Chelsea but his shrewd management won him plenty of admirers, including Sir Alex Ferguson. His name had long been in the frame for the job at Old Trafford and it was no surprise to learn that Ferguson had personally recommended him prior to his retirement.

The spirit in which Moyes ran the club is something that Everton Chairman Bill Kenright is anxious to see continue. He has already stated that the input of the fans is important in finding the right man to replace Moyes, something that would not even occur to the likes of Roman Abramovich at Chelsea. Whilst the frenzied gossip columns go into overdrive preparing for the managerial merry-go-round that is now a summer tradition, Kenright will take his time to canvass opinions and make the best decision for Everton Football Club. Moyes had been discussing plans for next season and it seems safe to say that only Manchester United could have enticed him away from Goodison.

Early speculation has Wigan’s Roberto Martinez as the favourite to take over following his side’s victory over City in the FA Cup final. There will certainly be no decision on his future until the end of the season with Wigan facing the prospect of relegation to the Championship. Wigan will do everything in their power to keep Martinez who was courted by Liverpool last season before the appointment of Brendan Rodgers. Martinez has a similar work ethic to Moyes and has also earned respect for his ability to get the best out of his players. Although he is currently denying any interest in a move away from Wigan, it may be difficult for him to resist the prospect of a top six Premiership side if he finds his team in the Championship next season.

Other candidates that have been mentioned include Neil Lennon of Celtic and Michael Laudrup of Swansea. Malky Mackay, Martin O’Neill and Roberto Di Matteo have also been linked with the job. Everton’s last home game also saw the departure of club captain Phil Neville who announced his retirement recently. He was given a guard of honour by the entire Everton squad but the biggest cheer of the afternoon was reserved to the departing Moyes. There is no love lost between Everton and Manchester United and it says a lot for Moyes that he can make such a move without anything other than the best wishes of the club’s supporters. He may be facing a difficult task following Ferguson at Old Trafford but his own successor has been left no easy task. The club is well established on the heels of the big five and the new incumbent will be expected to take the club forward. Silverware will be the first priority along with the prospect of challenging for a Champions League place. Whilst they are sad to see Moyes leave, Everton are looking forwards and not backwards.

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The Semi-Finals of the Europa League are tantalisingly poised with Chelsea and Fenerbahce holding slender one-goal leads going into the deciding leg. Chelsea are firm favourites to progress after securing a 2-1 victory against Basle last week, a match that they dominated from start to finish. But for some lack lustre finishing, they would surely have wrapped up the tie that night but only David Luiz’s last gasp free-kick separates the sides. They appeared to be coasting at 1-0 but were rocked when the referee gave a penalty to Basle after a perfectly good clearance late on. No player had even appealed for an infringement but the home side were grateful to be gifted a way back into the tie.

Chelsea’s build up to this match has been overshadowed by persistent rumours that Jose Mourinho could be heading back to Stamford Bridge this summer. Interim manager Rafael Benitez has failed to lift a trophy during his short stay and this will be his last opportunity to do so. The club’s priority remains securing a Champions League spot next season and they have massive Premiership fixtures against Manchester United on Sunday and Tottenham on Wednesday to consider. Benitez has not always managed to get his team selection right and would be mistaken if he thinks he can send out anything less than a full strength side to see off the Swiss team this evening.

One selection that will be automatic is that of Fernando Torres at centre forward. Demba Ba is cup-tied having represented Newcastle in this competition so the Spaniard has featured strongly throughout the tournament. The Blues will be looking to Torres to provide the goal that would surely be sufficient to book their place in the final. Basle, impressive when defeating Tottenham in the previous round, were well below their best last week and a stronger performance is anticipated.

Benfica are favourites to overcome the one-goal deficit in the other semi-final but Fenerbahce have given themselves a real chance by keeping a clean sheet in the first leg. If they could hit the target tonight Benfica will need to score three times to progress. In fact, the Turks were value for more than a 1-0 victory last week as they hit the woodwork on three occasions and missed a penalty. It was left to Egemen Korkmaz to provide the winning goal with a header inside the last twenty minutes. Benfica will feel a shade fortunate to have come away with only a one-goal defeat, particularly in the hostile atmosphere of Istanbul. Rather like Basle in the other tie, Benfica will be looking to play a lot better tonight.

Basle are 10-1 to reach the final and 7-2 to record a shock victory in the online betting and casino on tonight’s game at Stamford Bridge. Fernando Torres is 9-2 to open the scoring for the Blues with his compatriot Juan Mata next best at 11-2. The bookmakers can barely split the teams in the other game with Benfica 10-11 to progress and Fenerbahce at even money.

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With Chelsea seeking vital points in their quest for a Champions League place, their clash with Liverpool at Anfield on Sunday was bound to be fiercely contested. The match was given added spice by the return of Chelsea’s interim boss Rafael Benitez to the club where he had previously been so successful. Although the match was not short of high quality football, it made the headlines for all the wrong reasons following a bizarre incident involving Liverpool striker Luis Suarez.

In a moment of madness, the Uruguayan grabbed hold of Chelsea defender Branislav Ivanovic and bit him on the arm. Ivanovic complained to the referee but he cannot have seen the incident as Suarez escaped any punishment during the match. To add to the controversy, it was Suarez who then headed Liverpool level at 2-2 with the last touch of the game in the 97^th minute. That was a cruel blow to the Blues who had looked relatively comfortable after goals by Oscar and Hazard (penalty) with former Chelsea player Daniel Sturridge scoring for Liverpool in reply.

Liverpool have attempted to take the sting out the situation by immediately fining Suarez for his “unacceptable behaviour” with the striker having apologised to Ivanovic and to both clubs. Ivanovic was questioned after the match but has declined to press charges. This is the second time in his career that Suarez has been involved in biting an opponent having received a seven-match ban for a similar incident whilst playing for Ajax against PSV Eindhoven in 2010. The Football Association will now look into the matter and are certain to take further action against the striker who was also involved in controversy for racially abusing Manchester United’s Patrice Evra. He received an eight-match ban and a £40,000 fine on that occasion. The FA will also offer counselling to Suarez and Liverpool in order to address his “anger management” problems.

The incident understandably dominated the headlines and the effect of the loss of two vital points to the Blues was largely overlooked. The result was given added significance when Tottenham came back from a goal down to defeat Manchester City 3-1 and now sit just a point below Chelsea in the table. The two sides are due to meet in what could be a decisive encounter in the quest for Champions League football. Benitez must now re-group his battle weary troops for a difficult semi-final first leg tie against Basel on Thursday evening.

Chelsea’s season began with so much optimism as the Champions of Europe but they are now left fighting for the Europa League and a battle to secure Champions League football next season. Benitez will be moving on when his contract terminates in the summer and former Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho remains favourite to make a dramatic return to Stamford Bridge. He and any other leading candidates would expect to see Chelsea in the top European competition next season but that is now far from certain.

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Two goals from Fernando Torres gave Chelsea a 3-1 advantage in the first leg against Rubin Kazan but they will need to guard against complacency if they are to reach the semifinals of the Europa League. The away goal, fortunate though it was through a very controversial penalty kick award, gives the Russians hope if they can put the Blues under pressure in Moscow’s Luzhniki Stadium on Thursday.

A scrambled goal from the Spaniard after 16 minutes set Chelsea on their way at Stamford Bridge. A superb half volley by Victor Moses doubled their lead before they were pegged back by Natcho’s penalty. Torres teamed up with Juan Mata to head home a vital third goal after 70 minutes to give the Blues some breathing space ahead of the return leg. Chelsea’s last visit to the Luzhniki Stadium ended in defeat when they played Manchester United in the Champions League final in 2008. The Londoners will also have one eye on Sunday’s FA Cup semi-final at Wembley against Manchester City.

Rubin Kazan knocked out Europa League holders Atletico Madrid earlier in the competition and are optimistic that they can still topple last year’s Champions League winners. Coach Kurban Berdyev said “At the moment Chelsea has a very good advantage, but we can say that we’re going to do everything possible we can do to win this game on the pitch tomorrow.” Rubin won all three of their home group games in their home stadium in Kazan, their victims including Inter Milan. They had hoped to play at the same venue for the Chelsea game but it was ruled out following a pitch inspection. Their supporters are being urged to make the trip to Moscow to support the team, knowing that a 2-0 victory would be sufficient to see them through.

Chelsea midfielder John Obi Mikel has admitted that the team is still hurt by their early elimination from the Champions League. The Europa League is still regarded as the second tier in Europe and both Manchester clubs failed to find the motivation to progress in the tournament last season. Left-back Ryan Bertrand will miss Thursday’s game due to illness and has not travelled with the squad. His absence is a blow to the Blues who are already without regular fullback Ashley Cole. Dutchman Nathan Ake or Portuguese Paulo Ferreira will be called upon by Rafael Benitez as he continues to shuffle his squad through a hectic fixture schedule. Rubin’s only absentees will midfielders Yann M’Vila and Alexei Eremenko.

The two teams are difficult to split in the football betting. Chelsea and Rubin can both be backed at 7-4 to secure a victory with the draw priced at 9-4. However, Chelsea are 8-11 to progress to the semi-finals. Fernando Torres is 7-1 to open the scoring with Juan Mata at 15-2 and Frank Lampard 8-1.

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Leighton Baines

30 appearances
Leighton Baines has come a long way from his Wigan days to where he now challenges Ashley Cole for the England left back shirt. Known for his buccaneering runs down the left, Baines is one of the most talented crossers of the ball and it comes as no surprise that he dominates the set pieces for Everton. As such, he has created a staggering 97 chances for team mates this season and has had 33 goal attempts.

Pablo Zabaleta

25 appearances
Known as Mr. Reliable, Zabaleta has proven to be a shrewd purchase by Hughes a day before the club was bought by Sheikh Mansour in 2008. Since those days, he has proven himself to be arguably the best right back in the league, being called upon time after time in the City backline. This season he has helped City keep 11 clean sheets, scored twice, made 49 interceptions and has won 68 tackles.

Glen Johnson

29 appearances Another reliable right back comes in the form of Glen Johnson, who has developed since his days as a Portsmouth player. At Liverpool, Johnson has flourished and has shown his ability to burst down the right wing, whilst occasionally cutting inside to let a rocket go with his left foot. He has created an impressive 42 chances for team mates but has also helped Liverpool to 11 clean sheets by winning 61 tackles and 59 aerial duels over the course of the season.

Branislav Ivanovic

27 appearances
Ivanovic has had an impressive season for Chelsea, featuring both at right back and in a central role when needed. He started the season in great fashion, scoring twice and helping Chelsea keep 4 clean sheets in their first 5 matches. Over the course of the league season, he’s racked up 10 clean sheets in total by making 103 successful clearances and winning 60 aerial duels.

Patrice Evra

27 appearances
Evra has shown great reliability over the years and has made the United left back role his own for many a season. However, in 2012/13, he has stepped up his attacking game, picking up the most assists (5) so far from any defender in the league. In addition, he’s been the unlikely scorer of a number of headers, helping him to a tidy total of 4 goals. The Frenchman is clearly a talented footballer and young hopeful Buttner has quite some way to go before he reaches Evra’s standard.

Ashley Williams

30 appearances
It comes as no surprise that there are plenty of rumours surrounding Swansea captain Ashley Williams, with Arsenal being one of the clubs reported to be interested in the talented defender. Known for his no-nonsense style of play, Williams has helped Swansea to 8 clean sheets this season by making a staggering 189 successful clearances. In addition, he’s made 82 interceptions and won 66 aerial duels over the course of the season.

Nemanja Vidic

15 appearances
Unfortunately for United, Vidic has been missing for a significant chunk of the season due to his second major knee injury in the space of 16 months. However, since his return for the second half of the season, United’s defensive  performances have improved considerably. From failing to prevent the other team from scoring, United have kept 5 consecutive clean sheets with Vidic playing every minute of those games. If he can stay fit, it is surely a matter of time until United secure the title.

Vincent Kompany

21 appearances
From one towering centre back to another, we have Vincent Kompany. One of a long line of talented Belgians currently plying their trade in the Premier League, many consider Kompany to be one of the best defenders in the league. He’s suffered a bit of an indifferent season but there’s no doubting his ability as Kompany has helped City to 9 clean sheets from only 21 appearances, making 70 successful clearances and winning 28 aerial duels.

Jan Vertonghen

27 appearances
Vertonghen came to the Premier League with high expectations and he hasn’t disappointed in his debut season. Equally adept at playing at left back or in the centre, his versatility has become an asset for Spurs. However, he has been most impressive when venturing forward, where he is currently the joint highest goalscoring defender with 5 goals this season from 31 goal attempts. In addition, he’s created 18 chances for team mates with 2 resulting in assists.

Jose Enrique

22 appearances
Liverpool spotted Enrique’s talent whilst he was playing for Newcastle and spent little time in bringing him to Merseyside. Since making the move, Enrique has impressed at left back whilst having a short stint as a left winger. With Liverpool bringing in attacking reinforcements in the January window, Enrique has reverted to a defender where he is effective going forward as much as he is defensively. With this in mind, he’s collected 4 assists for the season, 2 goals and has helped Liverpool to 7 clean sheets.

Richard Lam is the editor for Fantasy Football Addict, a website offering fantasy football tips, advice and analysis. He has followed football since he could walk and believes it is an incredible sport, which anyone can enjoy. For premier league fantasy tips and advice, check out the Fantasy Football Addict website.

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Tottenham continue their fight to secure Champions League football with a tricky home game against Everton in the Premiership on Sunday. Spurs struggled to a 2-2 draw in midweek in their Europa League tie against Basle but have been relieved to find out that the injury to star winger Gareth Bale is not as bad as first feared. Manager Andre Villas-Boas is hopeful that Bale will be fit to play against Manchester City on April 21st but will definitely not be playing on Sunday.

With Bale having scored 22 goals for Tottenham this season, his absence is clearly a big concern but the statistics seem to be in favour of the White Hart Lane side. Five of the last six meetings between these two teams have been won by the home team with only one draw. It is true that Everton have won their last three matches but they have all been at Goodison Park. Everton striker Nikica Jelavic could be the danger man as he has scored in both of his league appearances against Spurs. However, his recent form is not encouraging with only one goal in his last 14 Premier League appearances.

Spurs have taken the lead in nineteen of their league matches this season, the best record in the Premiership. Without Bale, they will look to Jan Vertonghen to continue his goalscoring streak after four goals in his last five games. Tottenham have faltered under pressure at this stage of the season before and are in a bitter struggle with London rivals Chelsea and Arsenal for Champions League qualification. Last season they allowed Arsenal to pip them for third spot and then Chelsea dumped them out of the Champions League by winning the trophy in Munich.

Winger Aaron Lennon and defender William Gallas are also set to miss the game after picking up knocks against the Swiss champions. Everton’s only injury concern is striker Kevin Mirallas who scored a brilliant solo goal against Stoke last weekend. Marouane Fellaini and Steven Pienaar are both sidelined through suspensions. Everton Boss David Moyes collected the Manager of the Month award for March and will be desperate to force Everton into the reckoning for a top-four finish. A victory would put them on the heels of their rivals.

Villas-Boas knows that Spurs face a difficult end to the season with clashes against Chelsea and Manchester City, so they can afford no slip-ups on Sunday. In the latest soccer betting odds, Tottenham are 6-5 favourites to take all three points with the draw at 12-5 and Everton 5-2 to stun the Londoners. Emmanuel Adebayor is 6-1 to open the scoring for the home side with Clint Dempsey at 7-1. Nikica Jelavic is 8-1 to continue his fine record against Spurs and score the first goal of the match.

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Watching football live in a stadium is always the option picked by football fans, but it isn’t always cheap. In fact, clubs like Chelsea and Arsenal are known for charging around £50 for a day ticket. And if you’re expecting a pie and a cup of tea with that, you could fork out £3 and £2.50 respectively.

Given the high prices – which are looking to only keep rising – many fans have considered choosing other, cheaper clubs for football. What about watching a top European team on their home turf? Ajax Amsterdam is a good example to compare with.

Arsenal

Photo credit: Ronnie Macdonald 

The cheapest day ticket you can get at Emirates Stadium – and that’s without a pie, tea or travel – is £21. The most expensive day ticket costs an eye-watering £126. According to a survey by the BBC, with a pie, tea and program, the cheapest possible day watching Arsenal is £34.30.

So if you’re going to watch Arsenal play, to spend the least money you will need to bring:

• £3 for the match day programme
• £2 if you’re going to want a brew
• £3.30 for a pie
• Around £100 for a train ticket if you’re travelling from afar. Those coming from central London can get there for about £5 with an Oyster card.

Photo credit

After all this, you’ll be lucky to snag the cheapest match day ticket given the popularity of the club. And if you’re planning on taking your kids or paying for your family, you might need to apply for a loan.

Ajax

 Photo credit

Ajax is one of Europe’s most famous clubs, thanks to their reputation as a club consisting of some of the best new talent. While the league doesn’t have Premier League quality, they’re well worth a look. Competitive and exciting, they’re much cheaper to watch too!

Eredivisie charges just over £50 for a stadium tour, snacks and the game. And if you’re worried about the cost of a flight to Amsterdam, you can get some incredibly cheap airline tickets from around only £76, so it’s perfect for a short break.

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With the final stages of the league upon us, we take a look at the best performing midfielders in the Premier League for the 2012/2013 season.

Gareth Bale

26 appearances |16 goals |6 assists Widely considered as the world’s third best player, Gareth Bale has led Tottenham towards the brink of Champions League qualification, with a career best return of 16 league goals. A contender for the PFA Player of the Year award, Bale has been played in a more advanced role under Andre Villas-Boas this season and has at times led the line for Spurs in the absence of regular strikers Jermain Defoe and Emmanuel Adebayor. Bale has attempted 130 dribbles (only QPR’s Adel Taarabt can better that record) and with the Wales international firing in a league record 235 crosses, Bale’s best position would seem to be out in a wider left position.

Michu

28 appearances |15 goals |3 assists Arguably the signing of the season, Swansea City’s Michu has been a revelation since joining from Rayo Vallecano over the summer. Michu’s physicality and predatory instincts inside the box have seen the Spanish midfielder play more as a striker for Michael Laudrup, but an attacking midfield ‘False 9’ position is arguably a better role for Michu. The League Cup winner’s 61 attempts from inside the box cannot be bettered by any other midfielder, whilst a tally of five headed goals, illustrates the midfielder’s movement and anticipation inside the penalty area.

Santi Cazorla

29 appearances |12 goals |8 assists Santi Cazorla has been heavily involved in much of Arsenal’s play this term and the attacking midfielder has made a huge impact on British football since arriving from Malaga in the summer. The Spain international has made more touches in the final third (1225) than any other midfielder and Cazorla’s availability and orchestration in the opposition half has been one of few positives for Arsene Wenger. Cazorla’s technical ability on the ball is arguably unrivalled with the Spanish midfielder frequently demonstrating his range of passes on the Premier League stage.

Juan Mata

27 appearances |10 goals |13 assists Despite the high profile arrivals of Eden Hazard and Oscar, it is Spanish midfielder Juan Mata that has once again shined for the Blues. Ten goals and ten assists represents another significant return for Mata, who has found his time on the pitch split between the attacking right and his more preferred attacking centre position under Rafa Benitez this season. Last year Mata secured Chelsea’s Player of the Year Award in his debut season and the former Valencia midfielder looks set to again retain his club’s personal award in 2013.

Marouane Fellaini

24 appearances |11 goals |7 assists David Moyes’ decision to move Marouane Fellaini higher up the pitch following Tim Cahill’s departure to the MLS proved a masterstroke, after the midfielder bagged 11 goals for Everton this season. Fellaini’s physicality and presence has unsettled many of the top clubs and the midfielder’s threat from the air has been generally unrivalled. The Belgium international has won 121 aerial duels including 17 headed attempts from set plays and rumours of a move away from Goodison Park continue to increase.

Steven Gerrard

30 appearances |9  goals |12 assists Liverpool’s captain has been ever present for the Reds this season and the England international has been one player to have clearly benefited from Brendan Rodgers possession based brand of football. Gerrard has been more heavily involved in Liverpool’s play after being deployed in a deeper lying midfield role, making 2684 touches on the ball and Gerrard’s vision and long range passing has been perfectly exploited inside the anchor of Liverpool’s midfield. Liverpool will hoping to secure European qualification this season and Gerrard will be key if the Reds are to make a late charge.

Theo Walcott

25 appearances |11  goals |12 assists Walcott’s persuasion to be played up front was finally heard by Arsene Wenger and the pacey forward has stepped up to the mark by scoring 11 goals for Arsenal this year. Oliver Giroud’s hit and miss form has enabled Walcott to secure more game time in attack for the Gunners, but Wenger’s deeply held preference is still for the midfielder to be played in an advance position high on the right. Walcott’s ability on the break and rapidness in attack will be crucial if Arsenal are to maintain their goal of securing Champions League football again this term.

Eden Hazard

27 appearances |8  goals |13 assists Chelsea’s big-money summer signing from Lille has performed admirably in his first season in English football and the Belgium international’s reputation in Europe continues to grow. Hazard’s agility on the ball and passing ability has been a key part of the 22-year old’s link-up play with Oscar and the diminutive midfielder’s movement and interchangeability within the front three remains encouraging. Hazard’s propensity to drift inside and lay the ball off may make the Belgium midfielder more suited to a central position, but the highly rated midfielder looks set to be a key player for Chelsea for years to come.

David Silva

26 appearances |3  goals |11 assists Despite a fall from last year’s performances, Manchester City’s David Silva has still provided the reigning English champions with a number of chances. Silva’s slightly deeper positioning out wide has led to a drop in involvement in the final third, but the former Valencia player has still created 85 chances for his teammates. The Spanish midfielder has endured a long season for both club and country, but Silva’s passing ability and delivery from dead ball situations still carry a very real threat.

Frank Lampard

21 appearances |12 goals Lampard’s late flurry of goals could prove crucial during Chelsea’s end of season run-in and the midfielder’s resurgent run could benefit Chelsea in their quest for FA Cup and Europa League glory. The England international’s impact on the pitch is still considerable, but calls for Roman Abramovich to offer Lampard a new contract appears to be still be overlooked. Lampard now needs to be carefully managed by Rafa Benitez, but the Stamford Bridge favourite remains more than capable of performing in the Premier League at the highest level.

Jonathan Day is a leading football analyst who specialises in Premier League football. Jonathan currently writes for Sportingly Better, a leading UK football betting blog that provides free football tips and betting predictions. Follow Sportingly Better on Twitter for all the latest betting tips.

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When the draw for the last 16 of the Champions league was made last December, there was one tie that left the world in anticipation for the round to begin. As soon as Real Madrid and Manchester United were drawn against each other, it was decided that one of these European giants would not be making it as far as the quarter final stage. After a 1-1 draw in Madrid on Wednesday evening, it is still unclear which club will be crashing out of the competition prematurely.

Real Madrid started the first leg at the Bernabeu as the brighter side, and David De Gea was forced into making a fantastic early save, pushing Fabio Coentrao’s effort onto the post. However, Danny Welbeck headed home a corner, to score a vital opening away goal and put Manchester United into the lead in the tie. Real responded by equalising within ten minutes, after Cristiano Ronaldo leapt higher than Partice Evra to head home an Angel di Maria cross from the left.

Manchester United defended well in the second half, with impressive defensive performances from Rio Ferdinand, Rafael and Phil Jones, and even Wayne Rooney was forced to sacrifice a more attacking role to give them an extra man in midfield. David de Gea made some more fine saves in the second half, including an extraordinary stop with his feet to again deny Coentrao. The English league leaders had opportunities to win the game themselves, when Robin van Persie had an effort tipped onto the bar by stand-in goalkeeper Diego Lopez, and then saw his weak effort cleared off the line by Xabi Alonso.

Both managers were coy about their chances of progressing to the next stage after the game. Sir Alex Ferguson claimed that he would have taken a draw before the game, but refused to confirm that his side now held the advantage. When commenting on a change of tactics for the home leg, he said that ‘We have to look differently, as they are a fantastic counterattacking team’. His opposite number Jose Mourinho remained bullish after the result, saying that ‘It is still 50-50. My confidence has not dropped’.

Statistically, it would appear that history is not in Real Madrid’s favour. In 18 Champions League ties that have seen the first leg finish with a 1-1 scoreline, the home side in that game has only progressed to the next round on 4 occasions. Madrid have found themselves in this position 5 times in their history in European football, and have failed to qualify each time.

This season, Real have scored 22 times in 12 La Liga matches away from home, recording 5 wins and 5 losses this season, after some mixed form on the road. In the Champions League this season, they have scored in every away tie so far, scoring 4 at Ajax and once at Borussia Dortmund and Manchester City.

At home, Manchester United have been dominant in the Premier League, winning 12 of their 13 matches at Old Trafford. They have conceded on 15 occasions in the league so far though. In the Champions League, a clean sheet against Galatasaray was followed by conceding 2 against Braga and once against CFR Cluj. Mourinho is hopeful about scoring an away goal in the second leg, believing that ‘We can definitely score at Old Trafford, many teams have done already this season’.

When the second leg is played in three weeks time, it will be interesting to see how each side approaches the game. Manchester United know that if they can keep a clean sheet, they will progress, but that Real Madrid possess enough attacking quality to create a goal out of nothing. Madrid must score if they have any chance of finding themselves in the quarter finals, but they cannot afford to leave themselves open at the back against a team that includes Wayne Rooney and Robin van Persie. Perhaps Mourinho summed up the tie perfectly when he stated that ‘The team that scores the first goal will have a good chance’.

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The Premier League clubs turn their attention to the FA Cup this weekend with five of the top six clubs still involved in the competition. Four of those play their fifth round ties with Chelsea playing their fourth round replay at home to Brentford after escaping with a 2-2 draw in the first encounter.

Arsenal are still fighting for their first piece of silverware for seven years and are facing Bayern Munich next week in the Champions League. Whilst manager Arsene Wenger will have one eye on that fixture, he will be well aware of the importance of the FA Cup and is unlikely to put out a sub-strength team for the visit of Blackburn. Captain Thomas Vermaelen faces a late fitness check along with Jack Wilshere and Laurent Koscielny. Blackburn striker Jordan Rhodes recovered from a broken nose to play in midweek against Brighton. He has scored 22 goals in all competitions this season and will be a threat to the home side. Rovers are on a decent run of form at the moment having gone five games without defeat. Their priority will be to reach a championship playoff place and anything they get from this match will be a bonus.

Oldham sensationally dumped Liverpool out in the last round and Matt Smith, who scored twice in the 3-2 victory, could return from a shoulder injury in time to meet Everton. The five-goal thriller with Liverpool had all the hallmarks of a typical FA Cup tie and Everton will not be relishing the trip to Boundary Park. Manager David Moyes has failed to bring silverware to Goodison in over ten years at the club and he will view this as a great opportunity. Sylvain Distin should be fit to start for Everton having pulled out of last weekend’s 2-0 defeat at Manchester United.

Manchester City’s Premiership title hopes took a severe dent with a 3-1 defeat at Southampton and they will be looking to salvage some pride in their last remaining cup competition when they host Leeds United. Captain Vincent Kompany is still doubtful with a calf injury but Carlos Tevez looks set to return. Leeds knocked Tottenham out in round 4 and will look to play a similar counter-attacking style against the champions.

This competition may be low on the list of priorities for Manchester United after their Champions League draw at Real Madrid in midweek. Javier Hernandez, Ashley Young, Nani and Nemanja Vidic could all return for the clash with Reading. The visitors will be hoping that in-form striker Adam Le Fondre can continue to find the target.

In the remaining fifth round ties, Wigan have fielded a weakened side throughout the competition to date and manager Roberto Martinez is unlikely to change that policy when they travel to Huddersfield. Luton host Millwall and MK Dons play Barnsley with the prospect of a glamour quarter-final tie uppermost in their minds. Luton made history by becoming the first non-league side to knock out a Premiership club when they defeated Norwich 1-0 in round four. The Hatters have taken only 1 point from their last three league games and Millwall will be hopeful of putting an end to their cup run.

As reigning champions, Chelsea look a good wager at 5-1 in the football betting to win the FA Cup outright. The Blues have won their last two games and will be able to include David Luiz, Demba Ba, Victor Moses and John Obi Mikel in their squad, all missing from the midweek victory over Sparta Prague in the Europa League. Brentford were close to causing the upset of the round but it will be a massive surprise if Chelsea don’t make home advantage tell. The winners face a trip to Middlesbrough in the next round.

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After calls of financial foul play and cries of unfair advantages in the English Premier League, action was finally taken this week to prevent overspending and spiralling wage bills. Each of the 20 clubs were asked to vote on the new financial regulations, and when 13 of them agreed, the two-thirds majority was reached to allow the changes to take place.

The details of the new regulations state that each club is only permitted to make a combined loss of £105m within a three year period, starting from next season. Investment in academies and improvement to stadia are exempt from this figure, so as not to discourage clubs from developing facilities and young talent. Wage expenditure is also being monitored, with clubs spending over £52m annually only allowed to increase their wage bill by an accumulative extra £4m per season. Premier League boss Richard Scudamore is adamant that these regulations will be strictly adhered to, under the risk of punishment. He said ‘If people break the £105m we will look for the top end ultimate sanction range – a points deduction’. Any club that fails to meet the financial criteria could see points deducted for the 2016/17 season.

Of the 20 Premier League clubs, only three have actually posted losses over the £105m threshold in the past three years. Liverpool, Chelsea and Manchester City would have been affected by these new rules, should they have been introduced three years ago, with the main cause for the losses of these three clubs mainly being increased transfer activity. Manchester City are understood to have voted against the introduction of the new rules, although Chelsea were reportedly in favour of them.

With the current Owners’ and Directors’ Test causing some controversy, the Premier League has stepped in to clarify the situation. Clubs who make a £5m annual loss must have to guarantee those losses against the owner’s assets. This will assist to curb overspending, and it is hoped that another situation like the current Portsmouth debacle will not occur. There is no doubt that the rules currently being put in place are designed to prevent financial ruin, administration and possibly liquidation.

The new regulations will be in place to coincide with the explosion in television revenue in the Premier League, with a 70% increase from broadcasting rights set to arrive. Clubs, especially the so-called smaller clubs, were previously wary that knowledge of this cash boost might increase the wage demands of players as well as agent fees.

Although the long term aim for these regulations is to encourage clubs to become financially stable and eventually break even or make a profit on a yearly basis, the figure of £105m worth of losses is much larger than the figure introduced by UEFA this season. UEFA have demanded that any team competing in European competition must record no more than a £39.4m loss in the three years that culminate at the end of the 2014/15 season.

There is no doubt that these new rules will benefit English football, and will prevent overspending to the point that clubs are forced into administration. With the increased television revenue being protected from use on transfer fees and wages, youth development and ticket price reductions may be areas that benefit the most. In one of the most competitive leagues in Europe, no club will want to risk facing the wrath of the Football Association and begin the 2016/17 season with a points deduction to make up on their rivals.

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After receiving up to a dozen offers from all corners of the world, David Beckham ended months of speculation by announcing his decision to sign for Paris St Germain on the final day of the transfer window. Manager Carlo Ancelotti managed to persuade the 37 year old Englishman to join the Ligue 1 revolution, and join his squad in their quest to claim the league title and progress in the Champions League.

Beckham arrived in Paris for an official press conference on Thursday afternoon, and was greeted by crowds of fans and journalists alike. It was confirmed that Beckham will sign until the end of the season, before discussing his future. The former England captain is keen to play on for as long as he can, stating that ‘I don’t know if this will be my last contract’. One journalist jokingly informed Beckham that he will become the oldest player in Ligue 1, which was greeted by a smile and the response that ‘if I can give any advice to any of the players in the league, then great’.

Beckham, the father of four children himself, then made the surprise announcement that his salary for the next five months will go towards a local children’s charity in Paris. He always stated that his next move would be for footballing reasons only, and his generous offer, which will see him receive no salary at all during his contract, has only confirmed his intentions. The exact figure of his salary has not been released, but Beckham stated that ‘obviously, it’s a very good figure’.

Beckham also informed the press that he will not be ready to play for a couple of weeks, even though he has been training with Arsenal in the past week. Despite his superstar status, he may not be guaranteed a place in the first team at PSG. His traditional right wing position is currently occupied by Brazilian international Lucas Moura, while Javier Pastore has also operated on the right of midfield this season. During his time at LA Galaxy, Beckham was played in a deeper, central midfield role, a position that is currently filled by Blaise Matuidi and Thiago Motta. The dead ball specialist may need to be content with a squad role, and to act as a mentor for the younger members of the side.

Either way, the move is perfect for both parties. With PSG currently at the top of Ligue 1, and in the last 16 of the Champions League, Beckham can fulfil his ambitions to carry on playing at the highest level of football. The Paris club can use Beckham for both his talents on the pitch as well as his experience and professionalism in assisting to nurture the younger talent on the training field. Indeed, French football as a whole can only become stronger with the arrival of another star name to join Zlatan Ibrahimovich and Ezequiel Lavezzi, by raising the profile of the league in order to attract more players of that calibre. The arrival of David Beckham in France is already set to benefit his team mates and thousands of disadvantaged children in Paris, and if all goes to plan, Beckham will end his 5 month contract with a title medal in yet another country to add to his collection.

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This week, after a turbulent La Liga season that has seen his Real Madrid side lose on four separate occasions, Jose Mourinho threw in the towel on Madrid’s title chances. While Mourinho’s men have been dropping points on a regular basis on the road, bitter rivals Barcelona have cruised to open up a 15 point gap between the teams, tasting league defeat for the one and only time this season at Real Sociedad last week.

Mourinho stated that ‘the La Liga title is impossible now. There is too big a gap’. While large leads at the top have been closed down before in European football, such as the famous 12 point lead that Newcastle United held over Manchester United in the 1995/96 Premier League season, Barcelona have only dropped 5 points in their first 20 games this season. Whilst the fans and club president Florentino Perez would have been disappointed by Mourinho’s admissions, it does seem out of the question for a dominant Barcelona to drop 15 points in their next 18 La Liga games.

Despite even Mourinho giving up hope, is it actually impossible for Real Madrid to finish the season as Champions of Spain? There are 18 games remaining in La Liga, and if Real Madrid were to win each of their remaining games, they would end with a total of 94 points. From their remaining fixtures, Real still have to travel to Atletico Madrid at the end of April, after they face a crucial El Clasico fixture on the 2^nd of March. Of the remainder of the current top six sides, Real Madrid face Real Betis, Malaga and Rayo Vallecano at home before the season ends.

Even if Cristiano Ronaldo, Angel di Maria and Gonzalo Higuain manage to inspire Real Madrid to maximum points in the next 18 league games, Barcelona would still have to drop 15 points in that period of time. The Catalan club face a tricky fixture at Valencia next weekend, although after a 5-0 home reverse at the hands of Real Madrid, Barcelona will be confident of claiming a victory there. They travel to the Bernabeu on the 2^nd March, where a victory would surely put an end to the faintest hope of any Real Madrid title hopes. Barcelona also play Atletico Madrid away from home on the 12^th May, although Tito Vilanova will be hoping that Barcelona have already wrapped up the title before this date. Like Real Madrid, Barcelona also play host to Real Betis, Malaga and Rayo Vallecano before the season ends at the beginning of June. Even if Barcelona lost to Valencia, Real Madrid and Atletico, and managed only a draw in two of their potentially tricky home games, Barcelona would still end the season with 96 points, a total that is unattainable by Real Madrid. As Barcelona have won all but two of their league games this season, even the most optimistic of Real Madrid supporters could not expect Barcelona to drop points in more than 5 of their remaining 18 fixtures.

Perhaps Mourinho’s first goal should be to overtake local rivals Atletico Madrid, who are currently second in the table. Atletico have a tough run of fixtures in their next six, facing Malaga and Rayo Vallecano on the road, while a trip to Athletic Bilbao and a home game with Real Betis are far from guaranteed victories. With Barcelona, Valencia and Real Madrid all yet to visit the Vicente Calderon stadium, there is every chance that Real will have their opportunities to tighten the 7 point gap on their Madrid neighbours.

Whilst anything is possible in football, Mourinho is taking the realistic stance. Having watched Barcelona drop only a handful of points this season, he recognises that it is unlikely that his side will get the opportunity to overtake them this season. Perhaps his acceptance of defeat in the title race will allow for more determination to succeed in the Champions League and Copa del Rey this season. One thing is certain, that if Real Madrid manage to overturn a 15 point deficit to claim the La Liga crown, it will go down in history as one of their greatest ever triumphs.

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Roman Abramovich had a plan set in place after he relieved Roberto Di Matteo from his duties as Chelsea manager in November of last year. Bring in an experienced manager in the shape of Rafa Benitez on a short term basis, and then welcome Pep Guardiola back from his hiatus from football management, and pay him whatever he demanded, in return for beautiful football and European glory at Stamford Bridge. However, the Russian’s plans were thrown up in the air this week, when Guardiola agreed to take over as manager of Bayern Munich at the beginning of the 2013/14 season. Pep Guardiola was coveted by a number of top European clubs, and had his choice over which club to join.

So why did he choose Bayern Munich,  despite recently expressing a desire to manage in England, a country in which he never fulfilled his dream of playing one day? Bayern chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge stated that money was not a factor, insisting that the reasons were ‘rather the focus on the football, positive image of the club and a high social component’. Indeed, for purely footballing reasons, Guardiola and Bayern seem to be the perfect match.

The Allianz Arena is home to a wealth of attacking talent, which the Spaniard can surely mould into a team capable of claiming every major honour. The questions on why he chose not to take charge of Chelsea are open to suggestion. The financial benefits would have been sizeable, and after claiming the Champions League title last May, Chelsea’s standing as a top European club was confirmed. One point of consideration for Guardiola must have been the aspect of job security. Having seen short periods of poor form result in a sacking, he may have felt that the pressure of having to deliver instant gratification for Abramovich might far outweigh the promise of a bumper pay cheque.

Perhaps in clearing the path for the man he wanted to take charge, the Russian owner has scared him away from accepting the position. Amid the scenes of disappointment at Chelsea, one man might just have been smiling on the inside. Rafael Benitez was never Abramovich’s long term plan. The job title of Interim Manager handed to him suggested that his long term future at the club was bleak. Although he might not be the first choice as permanent manager with the owner and the fans, Benitez might feel that this is his opportunity to manage a top English club side again.

Former Chelsea man Ray Wilkins believes that ‘he will be thinking it (a permanent deal) is a possibility’. Some football fans, and even some football club owners can be fickle at times and the former Liverpool manager has enough knowledge of the English game to understand that winning games and collecting trophies is a sure way to gain popularity. There will be other candidates to take over Chelsea in the summer though. Perhaps the new number one target, for both Abramovich and the fans, would be Jose Mourinho.

The Portuguese has always stated his love for Chelsea since his departure in 2007, and his popularity with the supporters has never waned. Although his contract at Real Madrid runs until 2016, poor league form alongside a deteriorating relationship with senior players such as Sergio Ramos and Iker Casillas have suggested that Mourinho could indeed be leaving the Bernabeu very soon. If Mourinho has anything in his favour, it is that he is already familiar with Abramovich’s methods, and his character is strong enough to shrug off any pressure to succeed immediately.

Other options include Borussia Dortmund manager Jurgen Klopp, who led his side to back-to-back Bundesliga titles in 2010/11 and 2011/12, the latter being paired with a German Cup victory in an unprecedented double for the club. If Dortmund can continue their impressive Champions League form this season, Abramovich may be convinced that Klopp is the man to lead them to more European glory. Another candidate would be former Argentina international Diego Simeone, having helped his reputation by leading Atletico Madrid to win the Europa League, and to currently sit above rivals Real Madrid in La Liga.

However, Abramovich may be wary about gambling on a young manager with no Premier League experience, after he was left unimpressed with Andre Villas Boas’ managerial skills. If he is looking for experience, Germany coach Joachim Loew may be of interest, or even a return for Guus Hiddink could be considered. Whatever happens, Chelsea will be in the market for a permanent manager in the summer. Whether Rafael Benitez has done enough by then to convince Abramovich to give him a long term contract remains to be seen. Jose Mourinho and others may find themselves on the Russian’s wish list, but everyone will have to wait and see who will be willing to step though the seemingly revolving door at Chelsea Football Club.

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Chelsea and former England star Frank Lampard is likely to be left out in the Stamford Bridge cold in London at the end of the season. The 34 year old will be out of contract in the summer and Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich has made his intentions clear that the midfield legend will be surplus to requirements. This is down to Chelsea’s policy of only offering players over the age of thirty one year contract extensions should they want to keep them, but in Lampard’s case it looks as if the business heads of the hierarchy are going to score over the sentimentally of one of Chelsea’s longest serving players.

London born Lampard joined Chelsea back in 2001 from West Ham and his career at Stamford Bridge since then has seen him excel. Lampard has helped the club to four FA Cups, three League Cups, three Premier League titles and perhaps Chelsea’s most famous night of all, the long-awaited triumph in the Champions League when they beat German side Bayern Munich last May. But even with his massive influence in the heart of Chelsea’s midfield, the evergreen Lampard, who the Chelsea fans want to remain at the club, looks as if he has no future left there.

Despite not entering into any contract talks with the club, Lampard has been turning in some sparkling performances during the season for the Blues. With a two goal haul over the weekend against Stoke City in the Premier League, Lampard edged closer to Chelsea’s goal scoring record. Bobby Tambling netted 202 goals during his career at Stamford Bridge between 1959 and 1970, and Lampard’s brace has put him within eight goals of equaling that tally. Remarkably Lampard’s goals come from midfield and he has surpassed the hauls of famous Chelsea strikers such as Kerry Dixon, Didier Drogba, Peter Osgood and Jimmy Greaves.

So why is Abramovich looking as if he is going to kick the fan favourite to curb? It has been suggested that Lampard’s weekly wage of £150,000 wants to be saved by the club. All clubs in European competition are under the watchful eye of the FIFA Financial Fair Play rules, where the books have to be balanced. Saving on the wages of Lampard would be a big deal for Chelsea in that respect, even it went to funding the futures of a couple of new younger players at the club. But with Lampard offering to take a pay cut to stay at the club, not even that has twisted the arm of the Russian billionaire to bow to fans’ demands to sign Lampard to an extension.

It could simply be a matter of numbers. Chelsea drafted in quality young attacking midfielders to stock up on their future options, the likes of Brazilian Oscar, Eden Hazard and Juan Mata being pencilled in as the future of the club. So there may just not be room at the club for the older legs of Lampard, despite him looking spritely and in some of the best form of his career. The goals are still flowing, and should Lampard break the Chelsea goal scoring record, it would be a fitting swansong to his Stamford Bridge career.

But should he walk away from the Bridge, it likely wouldn’t fail to be the end of Lampard’s playing career. There would be plenty of keen suitors across the world, and even top clubs in Europe who would want his services, especially as “Super Frank” would be on a free transfer. Questions may be asked whether or not Chelsea are right or not to let one of the most dynamic and faithful players the club has seen, just walk away, but it is a case of business heads winning out over sentimentality.

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Premiership leaders Manchester United renew rivalry with Liverpool at Old Trafford on Sunday in the lunchtime kick-off. The Red Devils begin the weekend with a comfortable seven-point advantage over champions City and have had much the better of recent clashes with their Merseyside rivals.

United have won the last three meetings between the teams at Old Trafford and an impressive seven of the last eight. Liverpool are currently in eighth place in the Premiership but trail United by a massive 21 points and that accurately reflects the gulf between the sides. Brendan Rodgers has always said that it will take time to turn Liverpool’s fortunes around and ruled out suggestions of a “quick fix”. They have managed to hold Chelsea, Everton and Swansea on their travels but they will need to raise their game if they are to get anything out of this fixture.

Liverpool do go into this game in good form having won their last three matches and could take some comfort from the fact that United have been conceding an unusually high amount of goals this season. In fact, United have conceded more goals than any side in the top half of the table. The bad news for Liverpool is of course that United have scored more times than anyone else, 54 goals from 21 matches. That statistic alone makes it difficult to see Liverpool coming away with much on Sunday. Time and again this season, United have looked in trouble but somehow managed to sneak a result in the closing minutes.

Manchester United have confirmed that Wayne Rooney will miss the game but Nani and Anderson are both available for selection. Nani has missed 14 games whilst Anderson has missed 8 so it is a timely boost for Ferguson to have them restored to his squad.Summer signing Robin van Persie is enjoying a rich vein of form and has been the scourge of Liverpool in recent fixtures, scoring the winner on his last two appearances against them, including a late penalty at Anfield in September.

United are keeping quiet on recent speculation linking them with the signing of Crystal Palace winger Wilfried Zaha during the transfer window. However, they have dismissed talk of a swoop for out-of-favour Chelsea stars Ashley Cole and Frank Lampard.Liverpool may start £12 million striker Daniel Sturridge on Sunday, already a scorer for the Reds on his debut in the FA Cup last weekend. The former Chelsea man is eager to establish himself at centre-forward having played much of his career at Stamford Bridge out wide.

On a level playing field, it is difficult to see any other result than a home win. This is always a fiercely contested fixture and only the Merseyside derby has seen more red cards than this particular clash. If United can keep their cool, they surely have enough fire power to maintain a clear lead at the top of the table. With Van Persie having scored eight goals in his last eight Premier League games, he is clearly the player to watch on Sunday. Manchester United are 10-11 favourites to win the match with most online gaming firms. The draw is priced at 11-4 and Liverpool are 7-2 to shock the league leaders.

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