United leads Premier League at Christmas, aims 2007 top
(Reuters)Updated: 2006-12-25 08:34
Mourinho said Manchester United had the benefit of a relatively injury-free squad.
"Last season it was the opposite," Mourinho said. "Everything was fantastic for us and they had problems."
Mourinho didn't know if Terry would be fit to face Reading. His replacement Khalid Boulahrouz is suspended for the December 30 game against Fulham, leaving Chelsea with only one fully fit central defender in Ricardo Carvalho.
"Sometimes people think Chelsea has a perfect squad, but we don't," Mourinho said. "We only have three central defenders, and we are in big trouble in that situation."
Liverpool has finally got the best out of striker Craig Bellamy and manager Rafa Benitez plans to play the Welshman against his former club Blackburn.
Bellamy scored his fourth goal in five games in Liverpool's 2-0 win over Watford on Saturday.
"We are now seeing the Craig Bellamy I wanted when we signed him," Benitez said. "He has quality and pace and can get behind defenders, and he is doing all that now. We aim to use him in this role, and to create chances for his teammates. He has started to play well and has more confidence."
Benitez was also pleased with Bellamy's growing strike partnership with Dirk Kuyt.
"The understanding between both is really good. If they can keep doing this, I will be happy," Benitez said.
Despite beating Blackburn 6-2 on Saturday, Arsenal had some shaky moments at the back and manager Arsene Wenger expects a challenging game against Watford.
"Watford will give us a different style to cope with, I expect them to be very direct," Wenger said. "What will be important there is to prepare mentally. We must also, however, not forget to dictate our own style."
Midfielder Mathieu Flamini, who scored Arsenal's sixth goal and his fourth of the season on Saturday, said the club had a new spirit of consistency.
"It is about becoming more solid and we know we have the quality to keep winning," he said.
In the Football League Championship on Tuesday, Birmingham hosts Queens Park Rangers, Preston is at West Bromwich Albion and Derby hosts Wolverhampton. Birmingham leads with 49 points, followed by Preston and Derby with 44.
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