Premier League - Weekend team news All the team news ahead of the weekend's fixtures in the Premier League.
SATURDAY
Manchester United v Norwich City - 15:00
Manchester United's top scorer Robin van Persie has shaken off a hip injury and will be fit. Defender Phil Jones will not be available for Saturday's league game because of an ankle injury. Norwich will be without midfielder Alex Tettey, who is out with a knee injury, with on-loan Sporting Kansas City forward Kei Kamara pushing for a place in the starting XI.
Everton v Reading - 15:00
Marouane Fellaini is expected to recover from injury, but forward Victor Anichebe is a doubt for Everton and will have a late fitness test. Pavel Pogrebnyak will be abs
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Category: News Views: 1130 Added: BetterDate: 01.03.2013 - 17:33
Goal - line technology
It is not yet clear which systems are in talks with the Premier League but Hawkeye, used in tennis and cricket and optical-based, and GoalRef, which uses magnetic fields, were used at last year's Club World Cup.
Two new systems have been granted licenses by FIFA this week.
On Monday the Cairos system, which uses magnetic fields around the goals, was given the nod then on Friday another German-produced system, GoalCont
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Category: News Views: 975 Added: BetterDate: 01.03.2013 - 17:30
Napoli - Juventus preview Juventus head coach Antonio Conte believes the best team will emerge victorious from a hotly anticipated meeting with Napoli which could well determine the destination of the Serie A title.
Walter Mazzarri's Azzurri quickly proved to be the side most likely to challenge reigning Italian champions Juve this year, but whenever the Bianconeri have stumbled Napoli have followed suit.
Victory at the San Paolo would see Napoli halve the six-point gap on first place and set up a tense title run-in, but defeat to the visitors could effectively end their pursuit at an early stage.
The two clubs were battling in Serie B only six years ago and Conte commended Napoli for developing to the point they could feasibly win a first Scudetto since reforming in 2004.
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Category: News Views: 998 Added: BetterDate: 01.03.2013 - 17:22
Valverde ready for derby Valencia coach Ernesto Valverde is steeling himself for a typically emotional derby encounter against Levante as Los Che aim to further boost their Champions League qualification prospects.
They go into the match at the Mestalla in fifth, which as it stands would be good enough to qualify for the 2013-14 Champions League owing to Malaga's ineligibility on financial grounds.
Standing in their way are city rivals Levante, who come into the game in unconvincing form having lost three and drawn one of their last four games and sit 10th in the Primera Division.
However, Valverde is putting little store in statistics as he told his club's official website: "The game will be a difficult one, because it is a derby. One has to bear in mind the atmosphere.
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Category: News Views: 877 Added: BetterDate: 01.03.2013 - 17:19
Getafe boosted ahead of Zaragoza clash With Primera Division survival within their sights, Getafe's players have been given an added incentive for beating struggling Real Zaragoza on Friday night - three days off work.
Getafe head into the match sitting in ninth spot in the standings on 35 points, 10 more than fourth-bottom Zaragoza and 12 clear of the drop zone.
It is looking good for the Madrid-based outfit to earn a 10th successive season in the top flight, but coach Luis Garcia knows they are not quite safe yet with Villarreal having gone down with 41 points last year and Deportivo La Coruna with 43 the previous season.
That is one of the reasons why Garcia has offered an extra reward to his players if they can follow up last week's 3-1 win at Real Mallorca with another three
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Category: News Views: 932 Added: BetterDate: 01.03.2013 - 17:16
Ryan Giggs - Manchester Ryan Giggs has signed a new one-year contract with Manchester United.
The 39-year-old winger's deal will tie him to the Old Trafford club until June 2014 and complete his 23rd season as a first-team player.
Former Wales skipper Giggs made his United debut on 2 March 1991 and has scored 168 goals in 931 appearances.
"I am feeling good, enjoying my football more than ever and, most importantly, I feel I am making a contribution to the team," said Giggs.
"This is an exciting team to be part of, with great team spirit, and we are again pushing for trophies as we head towards the business end of the season."
Category: News Views: 851 Added: BetterDate: 01.03.2013 - 17:08
Beckham: I am not a marketing tool New PSG midfielder David Beckham has stressed he still has plenty to offer on the pitch and is more than just a marketing icon.
The former England star joined Paris Saint-Germain on a five-month deal in the winter transfer window.
And he insists he did not just come to the Ligue 1 giants to sell jerseys.
"If I can contribute to the club selling many shirts, no problem, that's good! It's great to see so many people wearing my shirt," Beckham told L'Equipe.
"In the past at clubs that I have played, I've heard the same thing, that I would sell shirts. It was like that at Man Utd, Real Madrid, AC Milan and LA Galaxy.
"I am very proud people buy my shirt, but I can still play a b
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Category: News Views: 817 Added: BetterDate: 01.03.2013 - 15:55
