An up to date list of the Premier League players who will be missing this summer. Click the names for more news on the injury…

John Obi Mikel – knee injury

Didier Drogba – fractured elbow

Rio Ferdinand – left knee ligament damage

Michael Essien – hamstring & knee

Michael Ballack – right ankle ligament damaget

Jozy Altidore – Ankle

Martin Skrtel – Ankle

Valon Behrami – doubtful, Hamstring

Nani – doubtful, Shoulder

Nicklas Bendtner – Thigh

For the first time in seven years, there will be no English representation in the last four of the UEFA Champions League.

To say that an era has ended would be excessive, but it is certainly notable that none of the established ‘Big Four’ have reached their usual positioning amongst Europe’s elite.

You only need to look at each side’s individual demises to know that the margins are small in these knockout battles. United go out to on away goals to a wonder strike from Arjen Robben.

Chelsea were guilty of a slight lack of energy and guile in attempting to break down the brick wall that is the Inter defence whereas Arsenal were, wholly reasonably, outclassed by a player who operates on a different planet. Only Liverpool can be seen to have seriously regressed from past endeavours, having been eliminated at the group stages.

If we go looking for wider influences behind a poor year for the English sides, can one be found in the emergence of Manchester City as a spending powerhouse?

In the summer, they swooped to relieve Arsene Wenger of Kolo Toure and Emmanuel Adebayor; they enticed long-term Liverpool target Gareth Barry to Eastlands; and perhaps most significantly of all, they convinced Carlos Tevez to move from the red to blue side of Manchester.

Most pundits point to Xavi Alonso’s departure as a key influence in Liverpool’s fall from grace. Would Barry have proved a more able replacement than the brittle and under-used Alberto Aquilani?

In the face of a central defensive crisis, Arsene Wenger could have done with Kolo Toure in the Nou Camp in place of the creaking Mikael Silvestre. And surely Adebayor would have proved a more dangerous threat to the Barcelona defence than Nicklas Bendtner?

Lastly, Sir Alex Ferguson took a chance last night on a clearly under-par Wayne Rooney, not least due to the lack of dynamism offered by £30m alternative Dimitar Berbatov. How he would love to have called upon an on-fire Tevez.

As I say, the margins are small. At the business end of a season, squad depth is vital. Thanks to Man City’s mega bucks, their Premier League rivals have been weakened and now exposed by Europe’s best.

Name six players who have played for at least two of the following four English clubs: Liverpool, Arsenal, Chelsea, Man United (The Big Four, you could say…)

AND

Real Madrid or Barcelona

Email us for the answers… contact@footballsup.com

• Jose Mourinho is still the king of Stamford Bridge – The Special One had a remarkable record there in charge of Chelsea, and in inflicting a rare home defeat on Ancelotti’s men reminded everyone, especially Chelsea fans, just how good he is. Indeed, his favourite biscuits were put out specially for him, he has a wall dedicated to him and his achievements within the stadium, and was raucously applauded by the Chelsea fans. They wish he was still there.
• Serie A is not dead yet – Despite AC Milan’s abject defeat to Man United, there is life in the old (in Milan’s case very old) Italian dog yet. Inter fully deserved what in the end was comprehensive qualification, and particularly in the second half outplayed Chelsea. No-one will want to draw them in the next round.
• But they are no angels - Inter employed every trick in the book from shirt pulling, tugging, holding and fouling to diving, moaning, complaining and dramatising to the more sly but no less infuriating timewasting, the most cowardly form of cheating. Despite catching up in the insidious stakes English sides still have a lot to learn from cunning Italians.
• Didier Drogba is still repulsive – The Ivorian was sent off again, making 4 of his 5 dismissals in the Champions League. Clearly he has a problem with losing – not a sin in itself, but coupled with his on pitch histrionics they make him a thoroughly dislikable character despite his obvious footballing merits.
• Referees need to man up – We’ve commented on this several times before, but until referees clamp down on holding and shirt pulling in the box defenders will continue to cheat relentlessly. Drogba himself was clearly held by Walter Samuel in what was a clear foul, and there were several other potential penalties. The common argument is ‘if refs gave every one of those there would be ten penalties a match’ – no there wouldn’t you absolute spastic, DEFENDERS WOULD STOP DOING IT. It needs to happen.
• Wesley Sneijder is a great footballer – A delightful performance from Inter’s dutchman showed why he has been so crucial to Inter this term. Chelsea were linked with him months ago and must rue missing out. Particularly last night.
• The first half was one of the worst halves of football I’ve seen in a long time – Bitty, scrappy, and very low on quality. The second was better as the game opened up a bit, but this was an absorbing contest rather than a great one.

Here it is in full:

1 Cristiano Ronaldo (Real Madrid, £11.3million)
2 Zlatan Ibrahimovic (Barcelona, £10.4million)
3 Lionel Messi (Barcelona, £9.1million)
4 Samuel Eto’o (Internazionale, £9.1million)
5 Kaka (Real Madrid, £8.7million)
6 Emmanuel Adebayor (Manchester City, £7.4million)
7 Karim Benzema (Real Madrid, £7.4million)
8 Carlos Tevez (Manchester City, £7million)
9 John Terry (Chelsea, £6.5million)
10 Frank Lampard (Chelsea, £6.5million)

11 Thierry Henry (Barcelona, £6.5million)
12 Xavi (Barcelona, £6.5million)
13 Ronaldinho (AC Milan, £6.5million)
14 Steven Gerrard (Liverpool, £6.5million)
15 Daniel Alves (Barcelona, £6.1million)
16 Michael Ballack (Chelsea, £5.6million)
17 Raul (Real Madrid, £5.6million)
18 Rio Ferdinand (Manchester United, £5.6million)
19 Kolo Toure (Manchester City, £5.6million)
20 Wayne Rooney (Manchester United, £5.2million)

21 Robinho (Manchester City, £5.2million)
22 Iker Casillas (Real Madrid, £5.2million)
23 Victor Valdez (Barcelona, £5.2million)
24 Frederic Kanoute (Sevilla, £5.2million)
25 Deco (Chelsea, £5.2million)
26 Didier Drogba (Chelsea, £4.8million)
27 Gianluigi Buffon (Juventus, £4.8million)
28 Francesco Totti (Roma, £4.8million)
29 Luca Toni (Roma, £4.8million)
30 David Villa (Valencia, £4.8million)

31 Arjen Robben (Bayern Munich, £4.8million)
32 Bastian Schweinsteiger (Bayern Munich, £4.8million)
33 Ashley Cole (Chelsea, £4.8million)
34 Fernando Torres (Liverpool, £4.8million)
35 Gareth Barry (Manchester City, £4.8million)
36 Patrick Vieira (Internazionale, £4.8million)
37 Charles Puyol (Barcelona, £4.3million)
38 Andres Iniesta (Barcelona, £4.3million)
39 Sergio Aguero (Atletico Madrid, £4.3million)
40 Andreas Pirlo (AC Milan, £4.3million)

41 Phillipe Lahm (Bayern Munich, £4.3million)
42 Frank Ribery (Bayern Munich, £4.3million)
43 David Beckham (AC Milan, £4.3million)
44 Wayne Bridge (Manchester City, £4.3million)
45 Lassana Diarra (Real Madrid, £4.3million)
46 Dimitar Berbatov (Manchester United £4.1million)
47 Andrei Arshavin (Arsenal, £4.1million)
48 Nicolas Anelka (Chelsea, £4.1million)
49 Ryan Giggs (Manchester United £4.1million)
50 Alessandro Del Piero (Juventus, £4.1million)

Ummm…. where to start? The very inclusion of Wayne Bridge? The fact Gareth Barry is higher than Iniesta? The fact Cesc Fabregas doesn’t appear on the list? The fact Del Piero and Giggs are 49th and 50th, with such dross above them? The fact Ronaldo earns more than twice as much as Rooney? I could go on. But I’ll let you find/draw your own fantastic conclusions…

Notes:

(1) The figures are the result of research carried out in more than 30 publications worldwide that specialize in football. Of which, the major newspapers and magazines of the top leagues in the world.

(2) The figures are unofficial and approximate, and depend on new hires, or renewals of each contract.

(3) Figures refer to gross wages of the players (before tax), which of course does not include advertising contracts, gaming awards, signing bonuses, or other extra pay.

(4) There may from time to time differences with the figures, due to exchange rate in relation to players do not receive their salaries in euros. You can read the original article in full here.

Chelsea’s 2-1 defeat to Everton (not to mention their recent draw with Hull) coupled with United only getting a point against Villa means Arsenal are only six points behind Ancelloti’s men, and five points behind Fergusons. Here is how the top of the table looks:

Even this unpredictable season, I think we can rule out Liverpool. And prior to last night, it was arguable that you could rule out Arsenal, too. Not any more… look at this run in:

Away games to Stoke and Spurs, and a home game to Man City, are the only games against sides in the top half of the table! (Assuming Birmingham will slip to their rightful place). It’s not inconceivable (although is unlikely) that Arsenal could win every single one of those games. And if they do, you have to fancy them making up six points on Chelsea. And five on United. It’s a big if, but Arsenal’s title challenge is back on track…

Fancy it?

It’s not their form – although convincing against an (albeit dreadful) Everton side, United have yet to hit top gear this season. And their performance against Sunderland, where stealing a point was daylight robbery, was one of the worst I can remember United producing.

It’s not their players – they have lost Ronaldo and Tevez and replaced them with Owen and Valencia (and I suppose Obertan) – a bad swap in anyone’s books. Rooney aside they lack invention, and with Owen yet to convince in front of goal, a goalscorer.

It’s not their rivals – admittedly Liverpool are nothing short of disastrous, but Chelsea look as convincing as any side have for years, steamrollering the opposition. And Arsenal on their day can beat anyone – until their recent setback against Sunderland they were really pushing themselves into contention.

Of course their manager is a factor – however much you hate Man United, you have to admire Alex Ferguson and all he has achieved. If you don’t you are either incredibly blinkered or downright retarded. But Sir Alex can only do so much.

No – what could win United the title, is their next ten games. Look how easy they are:

28-11-2009 Premier League Portsmouth (A)
05-12-2009 Premier League West Ham United (A)
12-12-2009 Premier League Aston Villa (H)
15-12-2009 Premier League Wolverhampton Wanderers (H)
19-12-2009 Premier League Fulham (A)
27-12-2009 Premier League Hull City (A)
30-12-2009 Premier League Wigan Athletic (H)
09-01-2010 Premier League Birmingham City (A)
16-01-2010 Premier League Burnley (H)
26-01-2010 Premier League Hull City (H)

Incredible hey? Apart from Villa at home, and perhaps Fulham away, you would expect those games to be a cakewalk. And in that timespan, Chelsea face Arsenal, Man City, Everton, and Sunderland.

Alex Ferguson himself has said that if United are as close as one point behind come the New Year, he would be not only delighted but confident of retaining the title for a fourth season.

And there is no side in the world that, once the momentum is with them (a situation these ten games should create) are better at chasing down a lead.

If United get within a couple of points, Chelsea will be looking nervously over their shoulders – and you wouldn’t bet againt them being overhauled.

1. Drogba on Brown, Chelsea v United

We’ll be biased here, as there is no more vitriolic hater of Drogba than us. But he quite clearly fouled Wes Brown, preventing the baked bean from likely clearing John Terry’s header. But that is not our main gripe. Our gripe is the universally cited reason that it wasn’t given. And we’re going to pull Danny Murphy up on this – he’s by no means the only, or most guilty party, but he put it perfectly on ESPN’s pre-match coverage last night. This is paraphrased as I don’t have the actual quote:

You can’t give those. If you gave every single foul like that, the game would be stopped every 5 seconds

That. is. not. a. reason.

If you pulled everyone up who committed a snide, dirty, underhand offence like shirtpulling it wouldn’t make the game stop every five seconds – it would stop people doing it. Admittedly there would be a transition phase while players got used to the fact they could not cheat, and during that period there may be more stoppages than normal, but ultimately it would wipe thos fouls out and would be for the tremendous good of the game.

The problem with this is the referees. As with one of the articles above, referees with the courage to punish these ‘minor’ offences should be lauded – a sly shirt tug or push in the back that sends you off balance as you are about to shoot (or in the case above, clear a goal bound header) is as ‘effective’ as scything the legs away. Referees have to have the balls to give a foul in these situations, else it will never be eradicated.

Furthermore, if players do not get fouls for the not-so-subtle shirt tug or the push in the back, it encourages them to exaggerate – fouls only seem to be given when the victim hits the ground, which has a logical progression – diving. By not penalising offenders, refs are inviting simulation. Another compelling reason to ensure they do.

2. David Ngog, Liverpool v Birmingham

David Ngog, after a poorly timed lunge by Lee Carsley, fell as if fouled – although there was no contact. It was a dive, as Carsley did not touch him. But what was he supposed to do?

After beating the man and inciting a rash scythe, should Ngog have let Carlsley’s studs smash into his ankle, risking serious injury? He did enough to earn the penalty (or pelanty as Chris Waddle repeatedly put it), Carsley’s tackle saw to that. He didn’t get the ball and dived in in the box – the fact he didn’t actually catch Ngog is immaterial.

It’s murder vs attempted murder – yes a less severe offence, but an offence nonetheless. And an offence in the box should be a penalty.

Both Wayne Rooney and Darren Bent have recently pre-meditated lunges by goalkeepers and diluted the effect by starting to go down before contact was actually made – and there was every sympathy for them. Why wait for a full-blooded assault by the keeper when you know the foul is coming. Do your best to self preserve. And Ngog did exactly that.

Again, it comes down to referees. If a rash/dangerous/mis-timed tackle is made, referees should penalise the offender whether or not contact is made.

This would remove the necessity for contact and for injury – if you know you are going to be hammered into by a two-footed studs-up tackle from a brutish defender are you not entitled to try and get out of the way? Does that make the tackle any less dangerous? And therefore any less of a foul?

Perhaps last night’s decision was in fact very good, progressive refereeing.

I doubt it though.

N.B. Any cheating discussed above – or in fact probably ever – pales into comparison with this animal. She should be caged… Thanks to Colin Mercer for the video.

Roughly a quarter of the way into the new season and the Big Four have experiences vastly contrasting fortunes. We have a look at them…

Chelsea

Won five from five, on a great run currently, Drogba firing, Lampard re-finding his goalscoring touch, defence shored up… it all looks good for Carlo Ancelotti. Defeats to Wigan and Aston Villa have blighted their record but they are rightly strong favourites for the title. The return of Joe Cole is a boon, and there is a definite feeling around Stamford Bridge that not only is the Premier League there for the taking, but the Champions’ League too. The fact their transfer embargo has been suspended, allowing them to spend big in January when they lose influential players to the ACN, is significant.

Man United

United have been far from convining this season yet still have 25 points, only two less than Chelsea. They have lacked invention (Rooney aside), their formerly rock solid defence has looked ropey (Evra aside) and they already appear reliant on old timers Giggs and Scholes, who will not last the season. Nani has been nothing short of disastrous, Valencia yet to impress, Owen yet to convince he is not shot… yet they keep winning. Reputation is single handedly dragging them to victories. But how long will that last?

Liverpool

An all round disaster. Neither Gerrard nor Torres are or have been fully fit, and they have lost six of their last seven in all competitions. They have lost five in the league already, from eleven matches – last season they lost only two all season. Carragher looks shot, Alonso has left a gaping void… Benayoun is the only one who has really stepped up. They are in big trouble, Rafa is in big trouble, and Man City, Villa, Spurs et al must be filled with hope.

Arsenal

Outsiders at the start of the season (well, not ours) Arsenal have been playing some cracking football. They set a new Premier League record for goals scored and create reams of chances – but as their draw with West Ham showed (2-0 up with 18 mins to go) they still have a soft core. That will need to be largely eradicated (depending on how much their rivals struggle) for them to last the pace.

Our Prediction

1. Chelsea

2. Arsenal

3. Man United

4. Man City

5. Liverpool

6. Villa

Arsenal
* The Gunners are scoring an incredible average of 3.37 goals per Premier League game this season.

* If games ended after 45 minutes, Arsenal would be top of the table with 19 points.

* All Arsenal’s points have been won against bottom-half opposition. They have lost both games – against Manchesters United and City – against top-half clubs.

* Cesc Fabregas has been credited with a massive nine assists in seven games.

Aston Villa
* Just three of their 12 goals this season have been scored from open play.

* Villa have the best defensive record in the Premier League this season.

* James Collins’ last Premier League goal came in April 2006 for West Ham…against Chelsea.

Birmingham City
* Lee Bowyer’s 38th-minute goal was the first Birmingham have scored before the 70th minute this season.

* Bowyer is the only player to score more than one goal for the Blues this season.

* The 3-1 defeat to Arsenal was their first of the season by more than a single goal.

* Birmingham have got the same points after nine games (7) as Stoke at the same stage last season.

Blackburn Rovers
* Blackburn have lost only one of their last eight Premier League games at Ewood Park – on the opening day of the season against Manchester City.

* With four goals, David Dunn has already scored more times this season than in any campaign since 2002/03.

* Rovers have come from behind to win twice this season – against Villa and now Burnley.

Bolton Wanderers
* Bolton have exactly the same record after eight games (W2, D2, L4) as last season.

* The Trotters have not kept a clean sheet this season.

* Didier Drogba is the only striker to be credited with more assists than Kevin Davies.

* Bolton have not beaten a team currently in the top half of the Premier League table since January.

Burnley
* Burnley and Blackburn are the only two teams in the 92-strong league without a single point away from home.

* Only Hull have conceded more goals than the Clarets this season.

Chelsea
* Chelsea have not lost two consecutive away games in the Premier League since September 2007.

* Didier Drogba has been directly involved in 13 of 19 Chelsea goals this season.

* They have not failed to score in any Premier League game since April 22 v Everton.

* Six of the eight goals they have conceded this season have come from set-pieces.

Everton
* The draw against Wolves was the first time they have failed to beat them at Goodison Park in seven attempts.

* The Toffees have conceded only six goals in their last seven games after that opening-day drubbing by Arsenal.

* Everton have three points more than at the same juncture last season.

Fulham
* Bobby Zamora’s opener against Hull was their first first-half goal since his strike on the opening day of the season against Portsmouth.

* Zamora has either scored or assisted four of Fulham’s eight goals.

* The Cottagers are two points better off than at the same stage last season.

* Fulham have had the same back four (Pantsil, Hangeland, Hughes, Konchesky) for all but 20 minutes this season.

Hull City
* Hull have won three games in the whole of 2009.

* They managed no shots on target in 90 minutes against Fulham.

* The Tigers’ last away win was at Craven Cottage in March.

Liverpool
* The last time Liverpool failed to score in consecutive Premier League games was September 2007.

* Jamie Carragher is the only outfield player to play every minute for Liverpool in the league this season.

* Liverpool were credited with 69% of the possession against Sunderland.

Manchester City
* For all their attacking talents, City have actually scored fewer goals in their first eight games that at this stage last season.

* City have drawn both games (v Villa and Wigan) they were losing at half-time.

* They have yet to win at Wigan in the Premier League.

Manchester United
* Despite their supposedly poor form, United have four more points from nine games (22) than they had amassed at the same stage last season

* They have not lost a single point from a winning position this season.

* They have benefited from three own goals at Old Trafford this campaign.

Portsmouth
*No striker has scored for Portsmouth in the Premier League since April 18.

* Six of Pompey’s eight defeats this season have been by a single-goal margin.

* Nine of the 15 goals conceded by Pompey this season have come from set-pieces.

Stoke City
* Stoke were credited with just 38% of possession at home to West Ham and had the worst pass completion rate in the division at 63%.

* No midfielder has scored for Stoke this season.

Sunderland
* Victory over Liverpool marked Sunderland’s first victory over Big Four opposition in seven years.

* Darren Bent has scored the first goal in six of Sunderland’s nine games.

* Sunderland are joint bottom of the disciplinary table with Tottenham. Captain Lorik Cana has picked up four of their 18 bookings.

Tottenham Hotspur
* Ledley King became Spurs’ 11th league scorer at Portsmouth.

* Four of Tottenham’s nine games have ended in a 2-1 win for Spurs.

* Jermaine Jenas has been booked four times in five games since his return from injury.

West Ham
* Carlton Cole has committed more fouls than any other player in the Premier League this season.

* West Ham have not started a season this badly since they were last relegated in 2002-03.

* The Hammers enjoyed 65% of the possession against Fulham last week and then 62% against Stoke.

Wigan
* No Wigan game has featured more than one first-half goal this season.

* The Latics have garnered two more points under Roberto Martinez than at the same stage under Steve Bruce last season.

* Wigan’s record against top-half opposition is the fifth best in the Premier League.

Wolves
* No Wolves game has featured more than one first-half goal this season.

* Middlesbrough and West Brom both had more points than this Wolves side at the same stage last season.