selected to his second career all-star game but did not play due to an ill

MANCHESTER, England - Criticized for picking a perceived weakened lineup against Real Madrid in midweek, Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers can justify that controversial selection if his regulars return to hand Chelsea a first Premier League loss of the season on Saturday.Rodgers was accused by some of betraying Liverpools rich European pedigree by dropping his star names for Tuesdays Champions League match in Spain, appearing to show he valued the Chelsea match higher. Liverpool lost 1-0.If the gamble pays off and the likes of rested quartet Steven Gerrard, Raheem Sterling, Jordan Henderson and Mario Balotelli return to inspire Liverpool to victory at Anfield, some of Rodgers critics may fall silent.Chelsea, though, is unbeaten in all competitions, leads the league by four points and has returned from the northwest with draws at Manchester City and Manchester United already this campaign.Liverpool is in seventh place — 12 points behind Chelsea — and showing none of the form that took the team to a second-place finish last season.Here are some other things to watch out for in the Premier League this weekend;___MISERABLE MOURINHOChelsea is undefeated in 14 games this season, top of both its domestic and Champions League standings and has no apparent weaknesses in its squad.You would not know it listening to its manager over the past week.After the 2-1 win over Queens Park Rangers last weekend, a sullen Jose Mourinho said he was not happy with his team and complained about the lack of atmosphere inside Stamford Bridge. Playing here is like playing in an empty stadium, he said.Then after a 1-1 draw with Maribor in the Champions League on Wednesday, Mourinho criticized his players for lacking focus and underestimating opponents.A win at Anfield should cheer up Mourinho, though. After Saturday, Chelsea will have played arguably its three toughest away games at Manchester City, Manchester United and Liverpool and is sure to be in first place.___CITY CRISISMemories of a Premier League-League Cup double last season are fading fast at Man City.City manager Manuel Pellegrini said Wednesday his team was going through a crisis of confidence after a 2-1 loss to CSKA Moscow in the Champions League left the English champions bottom of the group and unlikely to qualify for the knockout stage.City has also stuttered in the Premier League and is six points behind Chelsea going into Saturdays match at Queens Park Rangers.We must find out why (there is a crisis) by talking to the players every day, Pellegrini said. These players are important players so I dont understand why they cannot play in the Champions League.A 1-0 derby win over United on Sunday is the only bright point in a dreadful two weeks that has seen City lose to West Ham in the league, Newcastle in the League Cup and then CSKA in Europe.___DEFENSIVE ISSUESManchester United also has a crisis — in central defence — which is hampering its hopes of bouncing back from its worst 10-game start to a Premier League season with a win at home to Crystal Palace on Saturday.United manager Louis van Gaal is without the injured Marcos Rojo and Phil Jones, the suspended Chris Smalling and also likely Jonny Evans, who hasnt played since Sept. 21 because of injury.United ended the derby with a centre-back combination of central midfielder Michael Carrick and 19-year-old Paddy McNair and could persist with that pairing, although youngster Tyler Blackett could also come into consideration.With 13 points from 10 games, 10th-place United hasnt made such a poor start to a league season since 1986 — when Ron Atkinson was fired and replaced by Alex Ferguson.The 20-time champions will be big favourites against Palace, which has not won in four games.___SUBLIME SANCHEZAfter a slow start, Alexis Sanchez is showing just why Arsenal spent 35 million pounds ($60 million) to buy him from Barcelona this summer.The Chile forward has scored five goals in his last three games, and 11 overall in his debut season at Emirates Stadium.Hes a good leader and something that we havent had in the Arsenal team before, Arsenal winger Theo Walcott said. Hes a dream to play with.With Walcott back after 10 months out with knee-ligament damage and Danny Welbeck settling in quickly after his deadline-day move from Man United, Arsenal is looking a potent attacking force once again, scoring at least two goals in its last five matches.Defensively, the team is suspect, though. Arsenal threw away a 3-0 lead after 60 minutes to draw 3-3 with Anderlecht in the Champions League on Tuesday and is hoping centre back Laurent Koscielny will be fit again for the trip to Swansea on Saturday.Arsenal is fourth in the standings.___ELSEWHERESecond-place Southampton continues to confound the doubters and will go for a fifth straight win in all competitions when it hosts Leicester on Saturday.Also Saturday, fifth-place West Ham is at home to Aston Villa, which has lost six games in a row, and last-place Burnley seeks its first win of the season at home against Hull.On Sunday, its: Sunderland vs. Everton; Tottenham vs. Stoke; and West Bromwich vs. Newcastle. Nike Air Max 2020 NZ . Pominville scored in all three of Minnesotas games last week to help the Wild (8-4-3, 19 points) earn four out of a possible six points. His best performance was in a 4-3 win over Montreal on Friday, where he posted a season-high three points (two goals, one assist), including the game-winning goal. Air Max 97 Sale Nz . Philbin said Thursday he wants players to treat one another with civility and he wont tolerate anything less. In taking questions for the first time since Ted Wells released his report into the bullying scandal that rocked the league, Philbin made it clear things would be cleaned up. http://www.airmaxnzwholeale.com/cheap-air-max-90-nz.html . It was a day that saw England slump off a World Cup field once again battered and bruised. This time there was no red card to wonder about, no goalkeeping error or individual mistake. They were thoroughly beaten by something they have nothing of – genuine world class ability. Nike Just Do It Shoes Nz . TSN Hockey Insider Bob McKenzie tweeted Monday morning that Callahan - who is set to become an unrestricted free agent this summer, is now open to a six-year contract at less than $7 million per season. Nike Air Max Flair Nz .ca contributor Grant McCagg provides a look at some risers and fallers on the prospect watch. TORONTO -- Former Ottawa Senators all-star defenceman and World Cup of Hockey gold medallist Wade Redden retired Thursday after a 14-year NHL career. Redden played a total of 1,023 regular-season games with Ottawa, the New York Rangers, St. Louis and Boston. He finished with 457 points (109 goals, 348 assists) and a plus-160 rating over his career. "I would first and foremost like to thank my family and friends for their unconditional love and support," Redden said in a statement released by the NHL Players Association. "I would also like to thank my teammates, coaches and staff for all the great memories created throughout the years. To the fans, I appreciate all your support throughout my career. "Playing in the National Hockey League has been a dream come true and I feel very proud and privileged to have played more than 1,000 games in 14 NHL seasons." Redden also had 49 points (13-36) in 106 career playoff games. The native of Lloydminster, Sask., was drafted second overall by the New York Islanders in the 1995 draft but never played for the team. He was dealt to the Senators along with goaltender Damian Rhodes for goalie Don Beaupre, forward Martin Straka and the rights to defenceman Bryan Berard on Jan, 23, 1996. Redden played in all 82 games as a rookie with Ottawa in the 1996-97 season, scoring six goals and adding 24 assists. In 2001-02, he had 344 points, a plus-22 rating and played in the all-star game.dddddddddddd The following season, Redden had 45 points and averaged a career-high in ice-time at 25:24. In 2003-04, he set a career-high in goals with 17 and was selected to his second career all-star game but did not play due to an illness. He was a key part of Ottawas run to the Stanley Cup final in 2007. After playing the first 11 seasons of his NHL career in the nations capital, the New York Rangers signed Redden to a US$39-million, six-year contract on July 1, 2008. Reddens play began to decline after signing the contract, and the Rangers placed him on waivers before the 2010-11 season in an effort to fit under the salary cap. Redden never played another game for the team, spending two seasons with their AHL affiliate before the Rangers used a compliance buyout on his contract. Redden made a return to the NHL for the lockout-shortened 2012-13 season, signing a $800,000, one-year deal with St. Louis. He was traded to Boston at the trade deadline and played five playoff games for the Bruins as they advanced to the Stanley Cup final. Redden represented Canada several times and was a member of the 2004 team that won the last World Cup of Hockey. He also played for Canada at the 2006 Turin Olympics. He won gold with Canada at the 1995 and 1996 world junior hockey championships and silver at the 2005 world hockey championship. ' ' '