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| *Eden is the man |
Jose Mourinho will need another inspired display from Eden
Hazard as Chelsea
try to cement their position on top of the English Premier League against
Everton on Saturday.
Mourinho’s side have reached the summit despite just 11
league goals this season from their three main strikers, Fernando Torres, Demba
Ba and Samuel Eto’o. Fortunately for the Blues, Belgium
midfielder Hazard has been in sublime form.
Hazard has netted 12 times in 26league appearances,
while also setting up countless chances for his teammates, and boss Mourinho
recently lauded the 23-year-old as Europe’s
most talented youngster.
Chelsea defender David Luiz
has also been impressed by Hazard’s rise since moving to Stamford
Bridge from Lille in 2012 and the Brazilian is confident
his teammate can one day surpass Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo. ‘‘He can
be, one day, the best player in the world,’’ Luiz said.
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A slip by Chelsea
against Champions League hopefuls Everton would give second-placed Arsenal the
chance to reclaim top spot.
The Gunners are a point behind their London
rivals and will be desperate to bounce back from their midweek Champions League
defeat when they host Sunderland.
Arsene Wenger’s side cursed their luck after losing 2-0
against Bayern Munich in a match where Mesut Ozil had a tame early penalty
saved and goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny was sent off.
Like Arsenal, third-placed Manchester
City also suffered Champions League
heartache in a 2-0 home defeat against Barcelona
that left Manuel Pellegrini’s team faced with probable elimination.
City, three points adrift of Chelsea,
must put that result behind them quickly when they host Stoke City
this weekend.
Fourth-placed Liverpool, four points behind Chelsea, can maintain their surprising title challenge with
a win against Swansea
City at Anfield on
Sunday.
Reds boss Brendan Rodgers said he would be happy with a
top-four finish this season.
Liverpool are in superb
form in the league and captain Steven Gerrard puts some of that down to teenage
winger Raheem Sterling.
The 19-year-old scored a brace in the 5-1 demolition of
Arsenal earlier this month and Gerrard said Sterling
was sure to have caught the eye of England
manager Roy Hodgson, who will be mulling over his options for the finals
in Brazil.
‘‘Raheem has been in great form over the last couple of months and I’m sure Roy is watching him very
closely,’’ Gerrard said. ‘‘The Arsenal game was an unbelievable performance.’’
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