Chelsea told to freeze rivals out of title race

John Terry has told his Chelsea team-mates they must take their chance to put the pressure back on to Manchester United and Arsenal in the most unpredictable Premier League title battle in years.

Carlo Ancelotti’s side appeared to be well on their way to reclaiming the trophy after they beat Arsenal 3-0 at the Emirates at the end of November.

But a December blip allowed their rivals back into the race and, with last weekend’s trip to Hull falling victim to the weather, Chelsea would have surrendered top spot if United had managed to beat Birmingham.

As it turned out, United were held to a draw at St Andrews while Arsenal also dropped points in a 2-2 stalemate with Everton, handing the initiative back to Chelsea as well as allowing Manchester City to creep back into contention.

Ancelotti’s squad have not played since hitting five goals past Watford in an FA Cup tie on January 3 and Terry underlined the significance of Sunderland’s visit to Stamford Bridge on Saturday.

“We cannot afford any more slip-ups,” the Chelsea captain said. “Thankfully the teams in and around us have been slipping up as well, but Arsenal are right back in the frame again. When we beat them 3-0 I thought they were out of it to be honest.

“We need to concentrate on ourselves because apart from the Watford game, when we were brilliant albeit against a lesser side, we haven’t been playing as well.

“Hopefully we can kick on now, and pull away when the other teams are slipping up.”

It has been a frustrating start to the new year for champions United, who will seek revenge for a shock defeat at Burnley back in August when the Premier League newcomers visit Old Trafford.

It will be Burnley’s first match under new manager Brian Laws, who was appointed this week as the successor to Owen Coyle, who will be busy preparing his new charges at Bolton for Arsenal’s visit on Sunday.

United have yet to register a victory in 2010 with the draw at Birmingham having been preceded by an FA Cup exit at the hands of Leeds.

But Darren Fletcher, who misses the Burnley match through suspension, is confident one of the club’s trademark winning runs could come soon.

“It hasn’t been the easiest of times,” the Scotland midfielder said after United’s return from a warm weather training break in Qatar. “There has been a lot of disruption with injuries.

“But we are still in touch and that is all we could ask for. We need to get everyone fit and for the manager to be able to choose a settled team.

“Nothing has developed into a real run yet but there is a run in this team.”

With a 100 percent record since Roberto Mancini was installed in the manager’s seat last month, Manchester City have moved back into the top four, seven points adrift of the leaders.

Saturday evening’s visit to Everton, who were unlucky not to win at Arsenal last weekend, will however provide a tougher test of the Italian’s management ability than Stoke, Wolves or Blackburn, City’s opponents in his first three league matches in charge.

City’s form has increased the pressure on Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez, who has faced calls for him to be sacked following the club’s FA Cup exit at the hands of managerless Reading in midweek.

Liverpool’s owners have, so far, shown no sign that they are prepared to heed those calls but, with the Reds languishing in seventh place, five points adrift of the top four, a reverse at Stoke on Saturday will do nothing for Benitez’s employment prospects.

Stoke will hope to have England goalkeeper David James — who was expected to sign on loan from Portsmouth — in goal against his former club while Liverpool must make do without Steven Gerrard, Fernando Torres and Yossi Benayoun, all of whom suffered injuries in the defeat by Reading.

If Manchester City fail to win at Everton, Tottenham will expect to return to the top four by beating struggling Hull at White Hart Lane while Aston Villa, who host West Ham on Sunday, are also still in the battle for a coveted spot in next season’s Champions League.

Portsmouth, four points adrift at the bottom and on the verge of financial collapse, have other concerns as they prepare for the visit of a Birmingham side that is unbeaten in 13 matches.

Saturday

Chelsea v Sunderland, Everton v Manchester City (1730 GMT), Manchester Utd v Burnley, Portsmouth v Birmingham, Stoke City v Liverpool (1245 GMT), Tottenham v Hull, Wolves v Wigan

Sunday

Aston Villa v West Ham (1330 GMT), Blackburn v Fulham, Bolton v Arsenal (1600 GMT)