register to 888sport
888sport time:

Featured Sport News

Shearer makes his bow

Author: Sir David Smith
Date: 03/04/2009

For once the focus in the Premier League will not be on the title race as Alan Shearer prepares to make his managerial bow in Newcastle United's clash with Chelsea on Saturday.

Manchester United, Liverpool and Chelsea may all be involved in a nip and tuck battle at the top of the table, but the return of the club's all-time record goalscorer in the midst of a relegation dogfight will ensure that all eyes will be on Tyneside at the weekend.

Shearer has just eight games to upset the sportsbooks and save the ailing Magpies, and the latest man to occupy the St James' hotseat could hardly have asked for a tougher start.

Newcastle are 18th in the table and two points adrift of safety, having won just once in their last 12 games.

However, while Shearer takes the limelight, the Blues arrive knowing that only a win will keep alive their hopes of snatching the title away from Manchester United and Liverpool.

Interim coach Guus Hiddink has made a positive impact since his arrival at Stamford Bridge, but a 1-0 loss at Tottenham Hotspur last time out came as a major blow as his side slipped three points behind the second-placed Reds.

United also face a testing return to Premier League action with a game against fifth-placed Aston Villa less than a week after the end of the international break.

Back-to-back defeats at the hands of Liverpool and Fulham have seen United's seven-point lead whittled down to just one and the pressure is on Sir Alex Ferguson's side to bounce back against a side also scratching for form.

Villa's own challenge for Champions League football at the expense of Arsenal has floundered and after losing four of their last five league matches, they can scarcely afford another defeat at Old Trafford if they are to maintain their top-four fight.

Liverpool are seeking to keep the pressure on stuttering United at the top when they visit Fulham.

But three points are by no means a certainty for Rafael Benitez's side as the Cottagers are currently in the top half of the table and have their sights set on a possible European spot for next season.

Elsewhere, Arsenal host Manchester City, West Ham United and Sunderland will lock horns at Upton Park, Tottenham visit Blackburn Rovers, Hull and Portsmouth will new rivalries and Everton and Wigan go head-to-head on Sunday.

At the foot of the table there is also a vital game at the Reebok Stadium between Bolton Wanderers and Middlesbrough.

Games are running out for Boro and Gareth Southgate as the club's 11-year stay in the Premier League seems set to come to an end.

Despite chairman Steve Gibson's recent rallying calls, Boro are deep in the mire, four points away from safety with only eight games of the season remaining and realistically can not afford to lose again on Saturday.

online betting