the sport when you see players pulling out of matches and passing out," he said. "I think i | Forum

MANCHESTER, England - Boasting the Premier Leagues most dangerous attacking units, Manchester City and Liverpool should provide a glut of goals when the title challengers play during Thursdays packed Boxing Day program. http:///...Copa-America-Jersey/ . Liverpool is at the top at Christmas for the first time since 2008 after scoring 42 goals. Only Manchester City has been more lethal in front of goal, with the team — a point behind Liverpool and Arsenal in third — scoring 51 goals in 17 games. With Europes leading leagues on their winter breaks, every Premier League team is in action on Boxing Day. Here are five things to know about Thursdays games: ___ TITLE FACEOFF The short trip to Manchester will be a test of the depth of Liverpools resources — as well as its title credentials — with only 17 players fit to travel across the northwest. "Our squad is very thin at the moment," Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers said. "None of the guys who have been out have returned and there is still the timeline which was set for them." Among the casualties are captain Steven Gerrard, defender Jose Enrique and striker Daniel Sturridge. Crucially, though, striker Luis Suarez is fit and in form, scoring 10 times in four straight victories. "We will need to keep him quiet," City midfielder James Milner said. "But Liverpool are a top side having a good season and its not just about stopping him, because they have plenty of other players who can do damage as well." ___ BLUES BOUNCE BACK Chelsea was 11 points behind the leaders at this time last season under Rafa Benitez, but is now within two points of Liverpool going into Thursdays match against Swansea. "We dont go to Christmas as leaders, but we go with evolution because last season the championship was already lost by this point," Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho said. "Now, we are there ... we are completely alive." Chelsea and Arsenal drew 0-0 on Monday to leave the Gunners two points ahead in second. Arsenal has another derby on Thursday against West Ham. ___ MERRY MARTINEZ With only one loss in 17 league matches, Roberto Martinez has spent his first season at Everton trying to downplay expectations. The Merseyside club is only out of the top four due to Chelseas superior goal difference. "I feel we havent reached our full potential and that excites me," Martinez said ahead of Thursdays match against last-place Sunderland. Last year it was Martinez in charge of a struggling team, with Wigan going on to be relegated before he was handed the Everton job. A draw against Sunderland would put Everton on 37 points, surpassing Martinezs total haul of 36 points with Wigan last season. As for the man Martinez replaced? David Moyes and Manchester United travel to Hull in eighth place, six points behind Everton. ___ JOB HUNTING West Bromwich Albion travels to Tottenham still searching for a manager almost two weeks after firing Steve Clarke. Tottenham only dismissed its manager, Andre Villas-Boas, last week, but has already replaced him. Tim Sherwood was surprisingly entrusted with his first managerial job. "Were two sides who are a probably little bit unsettled at the moment," West Brom interim manager Keith Downing said. But Sherwood isnt exactly inheriting a Tottenham team in crisis, despite the club feeling the need to fire Villas-Boas last week. While in temporary charge on Sunday, Sherwood oversaw a 3-2 victory at Southampton that put Tottenham within four points of fourth-place Chelsea. While the 44-year-old Sherwoods appointment was a surprise, given his lack of managerial experience, he does know Tottenham, having been part of the coaching setup since 2008. "Ive known it from the grass roots right up to the first team, worked at every level of the football club and played here, so I know it better than most," Sherwood said. ___ CARDIFF STAND-OFF Malky Mackay remains in charge at Cardiff for Thursdays game against Southampton. Mackay was asked to quit by owner Vincent Tan — and looked set to be fired — before being handed a reprieve on Sunday. But with Mackays fractured relationship with Tan yet to be healed, chairman Mehmet Dalman concedes the south Wales club might still have to act swiftly to bring in a new manager to restore stability. http://www.mexiconationalshop.com/Miguel-Layun-Copa-America-Jersey/ . Giroud, who wasnt in the starting lineup for two matches after allegations about his private life and a decline in form, scored twice in the first half. Tomas Rosickys chip made it 3-0 before half time at Emirates Stadium, while defender Laurent Koscielny scored an unmarked header in the second half. http:///...Copa-America-Jersey/ . -- Three close looks at the bucket, three misses. http://www.mexiconationalshop.com/Blank-Copa-America-Jersey/ . Ferrer, trying to win his fourth title on Mexican soil, will next play South Africas Kevin Anderson, who eliminated American Sam Querrey,7-6 (2), 6-4. Also Wednesday, Gilles Simon (6) of France beat Donald Young of the United States 6-4, 6-3, Ukraines Alexandr Dolgopolov downed Frenchman Jeremy Chardy 6-3, 6-4 and Croatias Ivo Karlovic defeated Dudi Sela of Israel 7-6 (4), 6-2.MELBOURNE, Australia - The injuries mounted at the Australian Open on Tuesday, although for the most part, players coped with the oppressive heat. No. 13-seeded John Isner and No. 21 Philipp Kohlschreiber were among six players who dropped out of the tournament on Tuesday, joining No. 12 seed Tommy Haas and two other players who withdrew on Monday. Despite temperatures reaching 42 Celsius (108 Fahrenheit) during the afternoon and a hot breeze gusting over Melbourne Park for most of the day, none of the withdrawals were apparently linked to the temperatures. Isner retired from his match against Slovakias Martin Klizan with a lingering ankle injury that he said got progressively worse at the Hopman Cup event in Perth and a tournament he won in Auckland, New Zealand, over the past two weeks. "I know movement is not the best part of my game," the 2.08-meter (6-foot-10) American said, "but at a certain point Ive got to be able to move without pain and I wasnt able to do that today." He withdrew before last years Australian Open with an injury, as well. "I thought I had a good shot at playing this match and winning this match and I pulled out," he said. "I could have done the same last year, but I went home." The other seeded player in his section of the draw, Philipp Kohlschreiber of Germany, withdrew before his scheduled first-round match agaainst Slovenian Aljaz Bedene with a left hamstring injury. http://www.mexiconationalshop.com/Customized/. He was replaced in the draw by Frenchman Stephane Robert, a lucky loser from qualifying, who defeated Bedene to reach the second round. Hometown favourite Bernard Tomic later retired with a left leg injury after losing the first set against top-seeded Rafael Nadal 6-4, much to the astonishment of the Rod Laver Arena crowd, who initially booed him. "It was very difficult for me to say sorry to the crowd," he said. "I dont think they quite knew what was wrong with me." Tomic suffered the injury in training on Monday. Czech veteran Radek Stepanek also retired from his match against Slovenian Blaz Kavcic with a neck injury while leading 7-6 (3), 6-4, 1-6, 0-2 after nearly three hours of play. A few other players struggled in the heat on Tuesday, but finished their matches. Canadian qualifier Frank Dancevic said he blacked out during his 7-6 (12), 6-3, 6-4 loss to No. 27-seeded Benoit Paire of France. Dancevic, who required medical attention during the second set, questioned the wisdom of not suspending matches during the torridly hot conditions. "I dont think its fair to anybody, to the players, to the fans, to the sport when you see players pulling out of matches and passing out," he said. "I think its definitely hazardous to be out there. Its dangerous." Cheap Jerseys Cheap NFL Jerseys China Cheap Jerseys From China Authentic China Jerseys Wholesale Jerseys China Cheap NHL Jerseys Wholesale Jerseys ' ' '