Question:

Sky Sports Announce Live TV Fixtures
06/25/2003. Sky Sports and the FA Premier League have announced the first live televised matches for the 2003-04 Barclaycard Premiership season.
The first live match of the season will be Portsmouth's return to the top flight when they host Aston Villa on the opening day of the season.
Liverpool's match with Chelsea the following day will also be covered.
Full list of televised fixtures for the first half of the season:
August
Sat 16 Portsmouth v Aston Villa
Sun 17 Liverpool v Chelsea
Sat 23 Newcastle Utd v Manchester Utd (ko noon))
Sun 24 Middlesbrough v Arsenal
Mon 25 Blackburn Rovers v Manchester City
Wed 27 Manchester Utd v Wolves
Sat 30 Everton v Liverpool
Sun 31 Manchester City v Arsenal
September
Sun 14 Birmingham City v Fulham
Mon 15 Leicester City v Leeds United
Sat 0 Wolverhampton Wdrs v Chelsea
Sun 21 Manchester Utd v Arsenal
Fri 26 Arsenal v Newcastle Utd
Sun 28 Manchester City v Tottenham Hotspur
October
Sat 4 Liverpool v Arsenal
Sun 5 Aston Villa v Bolton Wanderers
Sun 19 Everton v Southampton
Mon 20 Blackburn Rovers v Charlton Athletic
Sat 25 Bolton Wanderers v Birmingham City
Sun 26 Tottenham Hotspur v Middlesbrough
November
Sun 2 Leicester City v Blackburn Rovers
Mon 3 Birmingham City v Charlton Athletic
Sun 9 Liverpool v Manchester Utd (12.30pm)
Sun 9 Chelsea v Newcastle Utd
Mon 10 Blackburn Rovers v Everton
Sun 23 Tottenham Hotspur v Aston Villa
Mon 24 Fulham v Portsmouth
Sat 29 Wolves v Newcastle Utd
December
Sat 6 Newcastle Utd v Liverpool
Sun 7 Southampton v Charlton Athletic
Sat 13 Manchester Utd v Manchester City
Sun 14 Leeds United v Fulham
All Saturday's kick-offs at 12.30pm except where stated.
All Sunday kick-offs at 4.05pm, unless stated otherwise.
All Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday & Friday kck-offs at 8pm.

Answer:


Sky Sports Announce Live TV Fixtures
06/25/2003. Sky Sports and the FA Premier League have announced the first live televised matches for the 2003-04 Barclaycard Premiership season.
The first live match of the season will be Portsmouth's return to the top flight when they host Aston Villa on the opening day of the season.
Liverpool's match with Chelsea the following day will also be covered.
Full list of televised fixtures for the first half of the season:
August
Sat 16 Portsmouth v Aston Villa
Sun 17 Liverpool v Chelsea
Sat 23 Newcastle Utd v Manchester Utd (ko noon))
Sun 24 Middlesbrough v Arsenal
Mon 25 Blackburn Rovers v Manchester City
Wed 27 Manchester Utd v Wolves
Sat 30 Everton v Liverpool
Sun 31 Manchester City v Arsenal
September
Sun 14 Birmingham City v Fulham
Mon 15 Leicester City v Leeds United
Sat 0 Wolverhampton Wdrs v Chelsea
Sun 21 Manchester Utd v Arsenal
Fri 26 Arsenal v Newcastle Utd
Sun 28 Manchester City v Tottenham Hotspur
October
Sat 4 Liverpool v Arsenal
Sun 5 Aston Villa v Bolton Wanderers
Sun 19 Everton v Southampton
Mon 20 Blackburn Rovers v Charlton Athletic
Sat 25 Bolton Wanderers v Birmingham City
Sun 26 Tottenham Hotspur v Middlesbrough
November
Sun 2 Leicester City v Blackburn Rovers
Mon 3 Birmingham City v Charlton Athletic
Sun 9 Liverpool v Manchester Utd (12.30pm)
Sun 9 Chelsea v Newcastle Utd
Mon 10 Blackburn Rovers v Everton
Sun 23 Tottenham Hotspur v Aston Villa
Mon 24 Fulham v Portsmouth
Sat 29 Wolves v Newcastle Utd
December
Sat 6 Newcastle Utd v Liverpool
Sun 7 Southampton v Charlton Athletic
Sat 13 Manchester Utd v Manchester City
Sun 14 Leeds United v Fulham
All Saturday's kick-offs at 12.30pm except where stated.
All Sunday kick-offs at 4.05pm, unless stated otherwise.
All Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday & Friday kck-offs at 8pm.

Answer:

Wolves Boss Jones Ignores Doom Merchants
06/24/2003. The manager of Wolverhampton Wanderers, promoted to the Premiership after being absent from the top flight since 1984, is not listening to the merchants of doom predicting a swift return for Wolves to the first Division.
Dave Jones is well aware that Wolves – as well as fellow Premiership newcomers Leicester City and Portsmouth – are already among the bookmakers' and pundits' favourites for relegation before a ball is even kicked in the 2003/04 campaign.
But Jones is paying little attention to the critics after delivering the long-unfulfilled dream of the Black Country faithful – and club owner and benefactor Sir Jack Hayward - in his second full season at Molineux.
Regarding the pessimistic predictions, Jones said: "You have to take these things with a pinch of salt. This is the time of year when all sorts of things are said about your team.
"All we can do is stay focused and prove them all wrong by establishing ourselves as a Premiership team.
"There is a lot of hard work to be done but we are as determined as ever."
Jones is hoping to be given the cash this week to begin strengthening the Wolves squad for next season. He has already drawn up a shortlist of players he want top sign and presented it to Hayward and chief executive Jez Moxey.
It is believed one of the names on that list could be that of West Ham United's winger Trevor Sinclair.
Jones is also keen to persuade veterans Paul Ince and Denis Irwin to commit themselves to Wolves for a further season, believing that their experience will prove invaluable in the Premiership. Both players won Premier league titles as Manchester United stars.

Answer:

Basturk Considers Liverpool Switch
06/24/2003. Turkey's highly-rated midfielder Yildiray Basturk has said he would welcome a move to Liverpool if he leaves Bayer Leverkusen this summer.
Basturk, a member of the Turkey side that drew 2-2 with Brazil on Tuesday to reach the semi-finals of the Confederations Cup, said after the game: "There is speculation about me.
"I have one more year on my contract at Leverkusen, but Liverpool is a great team and why not?
"I've had good games against English clubs and I think my style is good enough for the English league.
"They know me from the Champions League matches I played last year and, of course, the year before when we got to the final."
Basturk was playmaker in the Leverkusen team that played Arsenal in the second group phase of the 2001-02 Champions League, then knocked out Liverpool and Manchester United in the same year.
Last season, Leverkusen were pitted against Manchester United again, as well as Newcastle United.
"Of course, when I have good matches a lot of people in England watch the game and it's good for me," said Basturk.
His interest in playing in the Premiership club follows his rejection of Celtic.
Leverkusen accepted a bid from the Scottish Premier League side, but Basturk is understood to have declined the chance to join the Hoops.

Answer:

Portsmouth Seal Zivkovic Signing
06/24/2003.
Portsmouth have beefed up their squad in preparation for their first season back in the Premiership with the signing of Croatian international defender Boris Zivkovic.
The cultured 27-year-old, who put pen-to-paper on a three-year deal - can take up virtually any position in the defense or midfield but is perhaps at his best at centre-back.
Zivkovic commaned an impressive 145 Bundesliga appearnces during his six years at Bayer Leverkusen.

Answer:

Sheringham Considers Other Offers As Pompey Wait
06/24/2003. Teddy Sheringham's proposed move to Portsmouth is not a done deal, with his agent hinting that the former Spurs and England striker is still listening to other offers.
Premiership newcomers Pompey issued a statement on Monday saying that they had agreed terms with Sheringham.
But agent Barry Nevill refused to confirm that his client was joining Harry Redknapp's side, and said he could still be persuaded to go elsewhere.
Nevill said: "I am not in a position to comment on what Teddy is doing, but all will be revealed shortly."
That leaves the door open for 37-year-old Sheringham to join another club when he returns from holiday next week.
Pompey have already signed Patrik Berger, Dejan Stefanovic and Boris Zivkovic, and are among the clubs interested in Millwall's Steven Reid.

Answer:

Tottenham Sign Postiga From Porto
06/25/2003. Tottenham have signed Helder Postiga from Uefa Cup winners FC Porto on a five-year contract.
The 20-year-old Portuguese international has initially cost Tottenham £6.25m, but could rise by a further £2m depending on a appearances and the club's success.
Spurs chairman Daniel Levy held talks with the younger yesterday after agreeing a fee with Portugal's league and cup winners.
Glenn Hoddle told the club's official website: "He is a player who will add definite striking quality to our squad and is a young player of proven ability.
"I'm sure our supporters will enjoy watching him over the coming seasons."
Levy added: "This exciting signing demonstrates our commitment to increasing the strength and quality of our playing squad and will hopefully assist us in our quest for success next season and beyond."
Tottenham are understood to have beaten the likes of Parma, Paris St Germain and Real Betis to Positga's signature.

Answer:

Ferguson Won't Stop Queiroz Going To Madrid
06/25/2003. Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson won't stand in his assistant Carlos Queiroz's way, as he looks set to become Real Madrid's manager later today.
Real's president Florentino Perez has confirmed his interest in the former Portugal coach.
Ferguson is expecting the move to take place, as he's already thinking about who will replace Queiroz as his number two.
He told the Daily Mail: "This is a wonderful opportunity for him, too big a chance to turn down.
"But we won't be in a rush to appoint a new coach. I have been very satisfied with the job that Mike Phelan (United coach) has been doing."

Answer:

Chelsea Can't Win The Premiership, Says Desailly
06/25/2003. Marcel Desailly doesn't believe Chelsea can win the Premiership next season.
The French captain, who will lead his side out in Thursday's Confederations Cup semi-final against Turkey, also believes this season will be his last in the game.
The 35-year-old told the Daily Star: "Do I think Chelsea can win the Premiership? I'll say no.
"I've been saying they can for the past five years and it hasn't happened. Chelsea's aims for next season are going as far as possible in the Champions League."
He added: "I've a year left with Chelsea and this will perhaps be my last. My best days are behind me."

Answer:

Dein: Vieira's Not For Sale
06/25/2003. Arsenal vice-chairman David Dein has insisted Patrick Vieira is not for sale after speculation that Manchester United had made a move for the Frenchman.
Reports claimed that Sir Alex Ferguson was set to offer £22m for the midfielder, who only has one year left to run on his current contract.
However, Dein said: "There have not been any inquiries for Patrick Vieira from Manchester United, and even if there was to be an inquiry he is not for sale."
Manchester United have also rejected having any interest in the Gunners' captain.

Answer:

Gallas Will Stay At Chelsea - Agent
06/25/2003. William Gallas is set to stay at Chelsea, according to his agent.
The French defender is set to make a dramatic u-turn having revealed on Sunday that he was unhappy at Stamford Bridge and had rejected their offer of a new contract.
Gallas, who is said to be on Arsenal's wanted list, is now believed to be on the verge of signing a new four-year contract.
His agent Pape Diouf told the Evening Standard: "We have practically reached an agreement and after the Confederations Cup William will sign a new contract."