Leicester boss Rodgers coy about title chances
ENGLISH PREMIER LEAGUE
London, UK - Leicester manager Brendan Rodgers says talk of his side emulating the Foxes' 2016 fairytale English Premier League (EPL) title win is premature given the volatile state of the race for the crown. Leicester sit atop the table after beating a lacklustre Chelsea 2-0 on Tuesday although both the Manchester clubs can go above them if they win their respective matches later on Wednesday.
Leicester's points tally this season stands comparison to their total when they won the title. In that campaign, they were second to Arsenal with 39 points at the midway point, while they now have just one point less from the same number of matches.
Rodgers, though, is wary of any such comparisons especially as his side faded in the run in to the title race last term and lost out on a Champions League spot.
Rodgers, who went agonisingly close to lifting the trophy with Liverpool in the 2013-14 campaign, used Tuesday's opponents and their fellow London club Tottenham Hotspur as examples of what a moveable feast the race for the title is.
"I don't really think about it, it's something which gets floated about and we have seen it all season," he said. "Tottenham a few weeks ago and Chelsea themselves, five or six weeks ago everyone was talking about them. The quality of Manchester City, Liverpool are the champions and Manchester United have been great.
"For Leicester to be up with the level of teams who are there makes me really happy.
"It's going to be a huge challenge to be up there but we are happy to take on that challenge."
Rodgers is reportedly one of Chelsea's targets should Roman Abramovich fire Frank Lampard after a poor run of form.
However, Rodgers - who was on the Chelsea coaching staff from 2004-08 - is focussed on the great unity within his present side which has been one of their strengths.
"You have seen the real spirit of the side tonight," said the 47 year old Northern Irishman.
"We were a real threat going forward. "The performance and maturity of the team was pleasing. I knew we were playing against a talented team and we had to be right on our game."
Frank Lampard criticised the attitude of some of his Chelsea players after admitting the Blues were easily beaten by the 'better side'. A fifth defeat in eight league games piles more pressure on Lampard's position as a US$300mn spending spree in the transfer market has failed to reap instant reward.
"We were beaten by the better team," said Lampard. "I thought they were sharper than us, ran more than us, showed moments of quality. They looked like a team in form and we looked like a team out of form."
First-half goals from Wilfried Ndidi and James Maddison put Leicester in command they could have inflicted a more embarrassing scoreline on Lampard had they taken their chances after the break.
West Ham win
David Moyes insisted it is too early to dream of a place in Europe after West Ham extended their hot streak with a 2-1 victory that pushed West Bromwich Albion deeper into relegation trouble on Tuesday. Moyes' in-form side took the lead through Jarrod Bowen's first-half goal at the London Stadium.
Matheus Pereira equalised for West Brom after the break, but Michail Antonio's clinical finish sealed West Ham's fourth successive victory in all competitions.
West Ham are unbeaten in six games in all competitions and have won their opening four matches of a calendar year for the first time since 1958.
They are up to seventh place in the Premier League and look capable of qualifying for the Europa League.
FA CUP Saints to face Arsenal
Southampton, UK - Southampton will be at home to holders Arsenal in the fourth round of the FA Cup following a 2-0 win over coronavirus-hit Shrewsbury on Tuesday. Dan N'Lundulu marked his first senior start for the Saints with a maiden goal for the club in the 17th minute at their St Mary's ground before England's James Ward-Prowse put the result beyond doubt a minute from time.
The Saints will have little time to enjoy this victory as their tie with Arsenal, a repeat of the 2003 FA Cup final won 1-0 by the Gunners, takes place at St Mary's on Saturday.
SPANISH LEAGUE Suso lifts Sevilla
Madrid, Spain - A magnificent long-range strike from Suso secured Sevilla a 2-1 victory at Alaves on Tuesday that sent them up to fourth in La Liga and within a point of Barcelona. Real Valladolid recovered from two goals down to draw 2-2 at home to Elche while Cadiz and Levante also ended two apiece.
OTHER RESULTS GERMAN LEAGUE
Tuesday: Borussia Moenchengladbach 1 Werder Bremen 0, Mainz 0 VfL Wolfsburg 2, Hertha Berlin 0 Hoffenheim 3, Bayer Leverkusen 2 Borussia Dortmund 1.