England Premier League Media

Liverpool were reduced to nine men as they suffered a fifth league defeat in 11 games after losing at Fulham.

Cottagers striker Bobby Zamora gave his side the lead against the run of play when he tapped in a Damien Duff cross.

Fernando Torres equalised with an 18-yard volley only for Erik Nevland to flick in a shot from close range to restore Fulham’s lead.

Philipp Degen and Jamie Carragher were sent off late on for Liverpool before Clint Dempsey tapped in Fulham’s third.

Degen was given a straight red after a late challenge on Dempsey just moments before Carragher, who will argue he got the ball, was dealt the same fate for a professional foul on Zamora.

The defeat and the manner of it heaped more despair on to a Reds side in disarray as their season threatens to fall apart.

Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez also took off Torres with the scores level after 62 minutes as he attempted to shield his star striker from injury ahead of a crucial Champions League game at Lyon on Wednesday.

But Torres is vital to Liverpool’s play and confidence – as he showed in the win over Manchester United last week – and Fulham’s surge to victory after his exit is likely to see Benitez come under fire for the substitution.

Liverpool fans would have had serious concerns about their chances going into the game at Craven Cottage with Steven Gerrard, Glen Johnson, Daniel Agger, Martin Skrtel, Albert Riera, Fabio Aurelio and Alberto Aquilani not even making the squad, and their concerns were well-founded.

Degen, Sotirios Kyrgiakos and Andriy Voronin each made rare Premier League starts and, even though the visitors had plenty of possession early on, Fulham took the lead.

Just after Yossi Benayoun had thumped a far-post shot against the Fulham crossbar, Zamora caught the Reds defence sleeping as he stole in between Kyrgiakos and Emiliano Insua to tap in a low-angled Duff cross.

Picking the ball out of his net was almost keeper Pepe Reina’s first action of the match and, while Liverpool were dominating the game, his counterpart Mark Schwarzer was rarely tested.

That all changed when a Voronin header from Degen’s ball came off Aaron Hughes and Torres instantly lashed in a volley from the edge of the box.

Torres was then taken off and a more adventurous Fulham, who showed an increased energy and sense of purpose, took full advantage of his departure.

Zamora was incensed he was not given a penalty when Carragher eased him off the ball as they chased a long thump forward but the home side did not have long to wait for a second goal.

In stretching to keep the ball in play, Dirk Kuyt handed the ball to Paul Konchesky who skipped over the Dutchman’s recovering challenge and chipped in a cross which Zoltan Gera nodded back for Nevland to apply the finishing touch.

The need to chase the game left Liverpool susceptible at the back and, with their defence having been vulnerable all season, they soon capitulated.

Degen might have felt hard done by along with Carragher, who eventually left the field after remonstrating he had got the ball in a tackle on Zamora.

Fulham then made the most of their numerical advantage with Nevland playing in an unmarked Dempsey and he side-footed home to compound Liverpool’s misery.

Dempsey scored the winner when Fulham last beat Liverpool in the top-flight back in May 2007 and his goal left the Reds nine points behind Premier League leaders Chelsea.

Gordon Strachan has made his first signing as Middlesbrough boss by tying up striker Marcus Bent on a two-month emergency loan deal from Birmingham.

The 31-year-old has yet to feature for the Blues this season after suffering from a recurring hamstring injury.

“Going up there for two months is an opportunity for him,” Birmingham boss Alex McLeish told the club website.

“When it’s time for him to come back, we hope he’ll be in great form and pushing for a place in the team.”

Bent joined the Blues from Charlton in July 2008 after the Addicks were relegated from the Premier League.

McLeish added: “He’s obviously had one or two setbacks with injuries. But he’s a big, strong centre-forward with pace and presence – and when he’s on top form he’s an asset.”

Earlier this week, Strachan, who replaced Gareth Southgate as Boro boss on Monday, had spoken of his desire to improve his side’s striking options in a season which has seen winger Adam Johnson lead the club’s scoring charts.

“We are short in the striking department, that’s obvious,” Strachan said on Thursday. “If you look at the teams who’ve got promoted recently, they’ve been strong upfront.

“Sir Alex Ferguson used to say to me the most important part of your team is the strikers and we need to make that stronger.”

Bent began his career with Brentford, signing professional forms in 1995, and his form with the Bees attracted the attentions of Crystal Palace who paid 300,000 to take him to Selhurst Park in January 1998.

He left for Port Vale a year later before a fruitful spell at Bramall Lane with Sheffield United where he scored 20 goals in 48 league appearances.

The well-travelled striker then joined Blackburn for a fee in excess of 2m, spending just a season at Ewood Park before switching to Ipswich Town for 3m in November 2001, with the Suffolk club flying high in the Premier League.

Three seasons at Portman Road led to a string of further moves that took in Everton, Charlton and Wigan, before joining Birmingham last season.

Birmingham City forward Cameron Jerome is convinced his strike partner Christian Benitez will prove to be a success in the Premier League.

The pair played together for the first time in last weekend’s 2-1 win over Sunderland at St Andrew’s.

“He’s a lively player, quite instinctive – he’s just trying to find his feet,” Jerome told BBC WM.

“He pops up in little holes and little pockets, he must be a nightmare for the defenders. He’s good to play with.”

Benitez, 23, has yet to score for Blues following his summer move from Mexican side Santos Laguna, but his fledgling partnership with Jerome looked promising against Sunderland.

“I thought we linked up well to say we’ve never played together before,” said the former Cardiff striker.

“We’ve only played a handful of times in training yet we could’ve had a goal each as we created a couple of opportunities between ourselves.

“It’s good when you can get a lively partnership like that – expect the unexpected!”

Barclays Premier League
Venue: Reebok Stadium Date: Saturday, 31 October 2009 Kick-off: 1500 GMT
Coverage: Full commentary on BBC London DAB & online, BBC Sport website, BBC Radio 5 Live, Final Score & highlights on Match of the Day

Jussi Jaaskelainen and Kevin Davies return for Bolton after missing Wednesday’s loss to Chelsea.

Striker Johan Elmander is pressing for a starting spot and could partner Davies in attack.

Chelsea will recall John Terry, Frank Lampard, Petr Cech, Didier Drogba, Ricardo Carvalho and Ashley Cole after they were rested on Wednesday.

John Mikel Obi faces a late test on his injured ankle, but the Blues have no other fitness concerns.

Bolton

Suspended: None Doubtful: None

Injured: Davis (knee), J O’Brien (knee)

Chelsea

Suspended: None Doubtful: Mikel (ankle)

Injured: Hilario (concussion)

It is not without irony that members of a club nicknamed the Trotters have been laid low by swine flu.

It has been the talk of the town, but both managers have shrugged off the threat it poses, with Blues boss Carlo Ancelotti confident his grandmother’s prescription of hot milk and red wine would be enough to ward off the highly infectious pandemic.

These two sides have already got up close and personal this week as Chelsea extended their fearsome recent record against Bolton with an emphatic 4-0 win in the Carling Cup on Wednesday.

Bolton are back on their own patch for Saturday’s encounter, but manager Gary Megson knows his side are going to have to seriously up their game if they are going to stave off a rampant Chelsea side that has won 4-0, 5-0 and 4-0 in the last ten days.

Ancelotti’s injury list has shrunk and the return of players such as the talismanic Joe Cole have given Chelsea’s diamond formation an extra sparkle.

Bolton’s illness-hit squad will try to catch Chelsea cold with their physical power, but Megson knows his side face further headaches trying to contain a side who have found scoring goals contagious.

Head-to-head

Chelsea are unbeaten in their last 11 games against Bolton (W8, D3) since the Trotters claimed a 2-1 win at Stamford Bridge in December 2003.

The Blues have failed to score in just one of their 20 Premier League meetings with the Trotters.

Chelsea have won on their last six trips to Bolton in the league and haven’t conceded a goal in any of those matches.

Bolton

Bolton have netted a league-high 11 goals from set-pieces this season.

The Trotters are the only side not to have kept a clean sheet in the Premier League this season.

Kevin Davies is in line to make his 500th club career start.

Bolton have made a league-low 1567 successful passes this season.

Chelsea

Chelsea have won 13 of their 15 league and cup matches this season, not including the Community Shield.

The Blues have made a league-high 4274 successful passes this season, finding a team-mate with 83.8 per cent of their passes.

The Blues have earned a league-high total of nine points from losing positions in the Premier League this season.

Bolton

Taylor & Cohen: 3 goals (3 league);
K Davies & Cahill: 3 goals (2 league)

Chelsea

Drogba: 9 goals (8 league);
Anelka & Lampard: 5 goals (3 league)

Referee: Peter Walton

Assistant referees: Nigel Bannister & David Coote

Fourth official: Colin Webster

Bolton (W3-2 v Everton, h): Jaaskelainen, Ricketts, Cahill, Knight, Samuel, Muamba, Lee (Basham 88), Cohen, Gardner (Klasnic 64), Taylor, Kevin Davies. Subs Not Used: Al Habsi, Steinsson, Mark Davies, Andrew O’Brien, Robinson.

Chelsea (W5-0 v Blackburn, h): Cech, Ivanovic, Carvalho (Bruma 67), Terry, Belletti (Paulo Ferreira 61), Essien, Ballack, Lampard, Joe Cole (Sturridge 77), Anelka, Drogba. Subs Not Used: Hilario, Malouda, Deco, Kalou

Chelsea scorers: Kalou 15, Malouda 26, Deco 67, Drogba 89

Barclays Premier League
Venue: St Andrew’s Date: Sunday, 1 November 2009 Kick-off: 1600 GMT
Coverage: BBC Sport website, BBC Radio 5 Live, local radio, Sky Sports 1 & highlights on Match of the Day 2

Birmingham’s Joe Hart is ineligible as he is on loan from Manchester City, so Maik Taylor will deputise in goal.

Gregory Vignal has recovered from a hamstring problem but Keith Fahey is doubtful with an ankle injury.

Manchester City duo Kolo Toure and Martin Petrov are available after missing the Carling Cup win against Scunthorpe with minor injuries.

City’s only absentees are Robinho and Nedum Onuoha, both of whom are close to making their comebacks.

Birmingham City

Suspended: None Doubtful: Fahey (ankle)

Injured/unavailable: Bent (hamstring), Espinoza (ankle), Hart (ineligible), Murphy (knee), Martin Taylor (ankle)

Manchester City

Suspended: None Doubtful: None

Injured: Onuoha (thigh), Robinho (stress fracture)

Birmingham marked their first home game under new owner Carson Yeung with victory against Sunderland, picking up their first win at St Andrew’s since August.

Yeung has promised up to 40m for new signings in the New Year, with vice-chairman Sammy Yu confirming this week that he and manager Alex McLeish have already compiled a shortlist of targets.

A 40m warchest may get Blues fans excited but it’s virtually small change for City boss Mark Hughes; you half suspect you’d find that kind of sum sloshing round the back of a sofa somewhere at Eastlands.

Expectations at City are naturally sky-high, with Hughes’ squad costing over 200m to assemble. The Eastlands outfit made an encouraging start but have stumbled of late – three successive league draws have seen them lose ground.

Joleon Lescott admitted he was at fault for Clint Dempsey’s equaliser for Fulham last week but the defender went some way to answering his critics with a headed goal against Scunthorpe in midweek, his second in as many games for the club.

Head-to-head

Birmingham have won three of their last four home games against Manchester City.

City’s last win at St Andrew’s was 2-1 on 20 August 2005, when Joey Barton and Andrew Cole scored for the visitors.

Birmingham City

Birmingham have lost six of their last eight games in all competitions.

Blues have scored only eight league goals this season – only Portsmouth (five) have managed fewer.

Birmingham have yet to score inside the first 35 minutes of a league game this season.

Manchester City

For all their attacking talents, City have actually scored fewer goals (18) in their first nine games than at this stage last season (23).

Mark Hughes’ side have drawn their last three league games and won only of their last five (against West Ham).

Carlos Tevez has failed to score in seven of his eight league appearances for City.

Birmingham City

Bowyer: 3 goals (2 league)

Manchester City

Adebayor & Bellamy: 4 goals (4 league)

Referee: Mike Dean

Assistant referees: Simon Beck & Richard West

Fourth official: Stuart Attwell

Birmingham (W2-1 v Sunderland, h): Hart, Carr, Roger Johnson, Dann, Ridgewell, Larsson (Carsley 84), Ferguson, Bowyer, McFadden (O’Connor 76), Jerome (McSheffrey 76), Benitez.

Subs Not Used: Maik Taylor, Phillips, Queudrue, Parnaby.

Man City (D2-2 v Fulham, h): Given, Richards, Toure (Kompany 90), Lescott, Bridge, De Jong (Ireland 72), Barry, Petrov (Wright-Phillips 67), Bellamy, Adebayor, Tevez.

Subs Not Used: Taylor, Johnson, Sylvinho, Weiss.

Birmingham scorers: Zarate 40, 54, McSheffrey 77 pen

Man City scorers: Elano 59 pen

The plane carrying the Stoke City team which was forced to make an emergency landing on Tuesday night suffered an oil leak.

Players had reported a burning smell from the cabin of the charter flight.

Airsouthwest.com issued a statement after investigations found one of the engines had suffered a small oil leak.

“At no point were the passengers or crew at any risk and our captain made the right decision in choosing to make a precautionary landing,” it read.

The charter flight was making its way to East Midlands Airport after Stoke’s 4-0 Carling Cup defeat at Portsmouth.

The statement continued: “Following detailed investigations by our engineers, the smell in the cabin is believed to have been caused by a very small oil leak in a motor used to start one of the engines.”

The squad eventually reached Stoke at 0600 GMT, after continuing their journey by coach, but manager Tony Pulis said his team would use plane travel again if necessary.

“These things happen, but you can get as many problems going by road, so we are not going to let it affect how we plan things in the future,” Pulis said.

“One or two of the players were a bit shocked at the time, but generally speaking they are a resilient bunch of lads and everyone seems fine now.”

Barclays Premier League
Venue: Goodison Park Date: Saturday, 31 October 2009 Kick-off: 1500 GMT
Coverage: BBC Sport website, BBC Radio 5 Live, full commentary on BBC Radio Merseyside 1485 AM and DAB, Final Score & highlights on Match of the Day

Everton could be without 10 senior players for the match against Aston Villa but defender Leighton Baines is poised to return from a calf problem.

Striker Louis Saha has a similar problem but will be given time to prove his fitness.

Villa goalkeeper Brad Friedel is expected to make his 200th successive Premier League appearance.

Stephen Warnock has an ankle injury, so Nicky Shorey is on standby to replace him at left-back.

Everton

Suspended: None

Doubtful: Bilyaletdinov (groin), Pienaar (knee), Saha (calf), Yobo (head)

Injured: Anichebe, Arteta, Jagielka, Neville & Vaughan (all knee), Osman (foot)

Aston Villa

Suspended: None Doubtful: Warnock (ankle)

Injured: Davies (shoulder), Downing (foot)

Everton will be well rid of October. A run of five games without a win in three competitions, coupled with a debilitating injury list, has left them in dire need of a Goodison spark on Saturday.

David Moyes’ side can take solace from their last meeting at home to Villa, which they won 3-1 in the FA Cup on their way to the final. Everton were shorn of several key players that day too, and Moyes admitted he had thought it would be a game too far.

That was the second of three pulsating games between these teams last season which reaped 15 goals. Villa clinched a 3-2 league win at Goodison in stoppage time 11 months ago, and then fought back from 3-1 down to earn a draw in the reverse fixture.

Having already beaten Liverpool at Anfield this season, Villa are vying for a Mersey feat they last achieved 95 years ago. Not since 1914 have they won at Liverpool and Everton in the same top-flight season.

Head-to-head

This is the most-played fixture in the English top flight. Villa have 71 wins to Everton’s 70 from the previous 188 league meetings.

Villa are unbeaten in their last six league games against Everton (W3, D3). That includes a dramatic 3-2 win at Goodison last December, when Joleon Lescott scored a stoppage-time equaliser only for Ashley Young to net 30 seconds from time. However, Everton did knock Villa out of the FA Cup at Goodison in February.

Martin O’Neill has never lost a Premier League visit to Goodison Park, winning two and drawing five.

Everton

Everton have lost their last three games in all competitions and not won in five matches (D2, L3).

Their only win in seven league matches in October over the last two seasons was 1-0 at Bolton in 2008.

They are, however, unbeaten in six successive home matches in league and cup since the opening-day drubbing by Arsenal (W4, D2).

Louis Saha has scored half of the club’s 12 league goals this season – the highest percentage by any player in the division.

Aston Villa

Villa are unbeaten in their last four matches in all competitions, but have only won one of their last five games (W1, D3, L1).

Their tally of 17 points from nine games is the same return as last season.

John Carew has scored in each of his last three league matches against Everton. He has yet to score in the league this season.

Steven Sidwell is poised to make his 250th career league appearance.

Everton

Saha: 8 goals (6 league)

Aston Villa

Agbonlahor: 6 goals (5 league)

Referee: Lee Probert

Assistant referees: Andy Newbold & Mick McDonough

Fourth official: Scott Mathieson

Everton (L2-3 v Bolton, a): Howard; Hibbert, Heitinga (Coleman 80), Distin, Neill, Gosling, Rodwell, Cahill, Jo, Saha, Fellaini. Subs not used: Nash, Duffy, Agard, Baxter, Wallace, Akpan.

Aston Villa (D1-1 v Wolves, a): Friedel; Cuellar, Collins, Dunne, Warnock, Milner, Petrov, Sidwell, A Young, Carew (Heskey 71), Agbonlahor. Subs not used: Guzan, L Young, Delph, Reo-Coker, Gardner, Clark.

Aston Villa scorers: Carew 33, Milner 55, Barry 66 pen.

Everton scorers: Fellaini 19, Cahill 23, Pienaar 53.

Barclays Premier League
Venue: Fratton Park Date: Saturday, 31 October 2009 Kick-off: 1500 GMT
Coverage: BBC Sport website, BBC Radio 5 Live, local radio, Final Score & highlights on Match of the Day

Portsmouth’s former Wigan midfielder Michael Brown is available after completing a one-match ban, but a groin injury may keep John Utaka sidelined.

Papa Bouba Diop (hamstring) is a major doubt while Hermann Hreidarsson (foot tendon) is still on the mend.

Wigan will be without Maynor Figueroa as he recovers from a knee injury.

Paul Scharner is doubtful with a hamstring complaint while goalkeeper Chris Kirkland remains troubled by a dislocated finger.

Portsmouth

Doubtful: Diop (hamstring), Utaka (groin), Ward (groin)

Injured: Hreidarsson (foot), Primus (ankle)

Wigan

Doubtful: Kirkland (finger), Scharner (hamstring)

Injured: Figueroa (knee)

Bottom of the Premier League with no home wins and the lowest tally of goals in the top flight barely registers as bad news at Portsmouth these days.

The latest setback in a turbulent season came this week when the Premier League imposed a transfer embargo on the beleaguered club.

The squad’s fragile state of mind will not have been helped with continued ownership speculation over the weekend. Israeli mogul Levi Kushnir and Balram Chainrai, a Hong Kong-based businessman, reportedly watched the club against Hull and could be set to launch a third takeover of the club in as many months.

A morale-boosting Carling Cup win over Stoke may have offered a temporary respite, but manager Paul Hart knows his future, and the club’s, rest on results in the Premier League.

Wigan have had their own off-field distractions to contend with this week. Roberto Martinez has spent the last few days desperately phoning round some of his top-flight colleagues to deny reports he had suggested they were in cahoots with Sir Alex Ferguson.

And on Thursday, Latics chairman Dave Whelan confirmed striker Marlon King will never play for the club again after he was jailed for 18 months for sexual assault and actual bodily harm.

Head-to-head

These sides have only met on 15 previous occasions. Portsmouth have won eight to Wigan’s five.

None of the previous eight Premier League matches played between Portsmouth and Wigan have ended in a draw.

Portsmouth

Pompey have lost more matches than any other side in the division (eight out of 10).

They are without a league win at Fratton Park this season, but victory would see them register their 50th at home in the Premier League.

Paul Hart’s side have the top flight’s weakest attack, scoring five goals in nine games. Pompey’s strikers have yet to score a Premier League goal this season.

Seventy-three per cent of Pompey’s goals have been conceded in the first half, a league high.

Wigan

Eighty-two per cent of Wigan’s goals have been conceded in the second half, also a league high.

The Latics have enjoyed just three victories in their last 15 Premier League games on the road.

Wigan have conceded 17 league goals already – their worst defensive record after 10 Premier League games of the season.

Wigan’s Jordi Gomez has mustered 20 shots without scoring a goal, a league high.

Portsmouth

Piquionne: 3 goals (0 league); Boateng & Kaboul: 2 goals (2 league); Webber: 2 goals (0 league)

Wigan

Rodallega: 5 goals (5 league); Scharner: 2 goals (2 league)

Referee: Alan Wiley

Assistant referees: Shaun Procter-Green & Nick Kinseley

Fourth official: Keith Hill

Portsmouth (D0-0 v Hull, a): James, Finnan, Wilson, Kaboul, Ben-Haim, Yebda, Boateng, O’Hara, Mokoena, Smith (Piquionne 65), Dindane.
Subs Not Used: Ashdown, Mullins, Vanden Borre, Webber, Kanu, Belhadj.

Wigan (W3-1 v Burnley, a): Kirkland, Melchiot, Boyce, Bramble, Figueroa (Gomez 28), N’Zogbia, Thomas, Diame, Rodallega, Scharner (King 78), Scotland.
Subs Not Used: Pollitt, Cho, Koumas, Sinclair, Kapo.

Wigan scorer: Rodallega 26