By Alex Dunn Last updated: 4th November 2007
Anelka: City target?
Sven Goran Eriksson has intimated he could be willing to instigate Nicolas Anelka's return to Manchester City.
While Bolton have endured a miserable campaign in the wake of Sam Allardyce's departure, Anelka has on the contrary been in top form.
His exemplary performances have not gone unnoticed elsewhere and it could be City who are ready to rescue him from a season of toil at the wrong end of the table.
The Swedish tactician will almost certainly bring in a striker in the January transfer window as Valeri Bojinov remains hamstrung by injury and Rolando Bianchi's days in England look numbered.
Anelka left City just under three years ago but it now looks as though a return to the club could be on the cards in the New Year.
"Anelka is very good," Eriksson told the Sunday Mirror.
"His pace and ability are fantastic. He is a player who I almost bought for Lazio.
"When he left Arsenal, I was sitting in the home of David Dein with Arsene Wenger for a full day hoping to do a deal.
"I was also with Lazio's directors, but in the end it didn't happen because Real Madrid came in."

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| Time | Fixture |
|---|---|
| Saturday 21st November | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 12:45 | Liverpool vs Man City |
| 15:00 | Birmingham vs Fulham |
| 15:00 | Burnley vs Aston Villa |
| 15:00 | Chelsea vs Wolverhampton |
| 15:00 | Hull vs West Ham |
| 15:00 | Sunderland vs Arsenal |
| 17:30 | Man Utd vs Everton |
| Sunday 22nd November | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 13:30 | Bolton vs Blackburn |
| 15:00 | Tottenham vs Wigan |
| 16:00 | Stoke vs Portsmouth |
| Wednesday 25th November | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 19:45 | Hull vs Everton |
| 20:00 | Fulham vs Blackburn |
| Saturday 28th November | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 15:00 | Blackburn vs Stoke |
| 15:00 | Fulham vs Bolton |
| 15:00 | Man City vs Hull |
| 15:00 | Portsmouth vs Man Utd |
| 15:00 | West Ham vs Burnley |
| 15:00 | Wigan vs Sunderland |
| 17:30 | Aston Villa vs Tottenham |
| Sunday 29th November | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 12:00 | Wolverhampton vs Birmingham |
| Time | Result |
|---|---|
| Monday 9th November | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Liverpool 2 - 2 Birmingham | |
| Sunday 8th November | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Hull 2 - 1 Stoke | |
| Wigan 1 - 1 Fulham | |
| Chelsea 1 - 0 Man Utd | |
| West Ham 1 - 2 Everton | |
| Saturday 7th November | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Aston Villa 5 - 1 Bolton | |
| Blackburn 3 - 1 Portsmouth | |
| Tottenham 2 - 0 Sunderland | |
| Wolverhampton 1 - 4 Arsenal | |
| Man City 3 - 3 Burnley | |
| Wednesday 4th November | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| West Ham 2 - 1 Aston Villa | |
| Sunday 1st November | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Birmingham 0 - 0 Man City | |
| Saturday 31st October | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Arsenal 3 - 0 Tottenham | |
| Everton 1 - 1 Aston Villa | |
| Fulham 3 - 1 Liverpool | |
| Burnley 2 - 0 Hull | |
| Stoke 2 - 2 Wolverhampton | |
| Portsmouth 4 - 0 Wigan | |
| Man Utd 2 - 0 Blackburn | |
| Sunderland 2 - 2 West Ham | |
| Pos | Team | P | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Chelsea | 12 | 30 |
| 2 | Arsenal | 11 | 25 |
| 3 | Manchester United | 12 | 25 |
| 4 | Tottenham Hotspur | 12 | 22 |
| 5 | Aston Villa | 12 | 21 |
| 6 | Manchester City | 11 | 20 |
| 7 | Liverpool | 12 | 19 |
| 8 | Sunderland | 12 | 17 |
| 9 | Stoke City | 12 | 16 |
| 10 | Burnley | 12 | 16 |
| 11 | Fulham | 11 | 15 |
| 12 | Everton | 11 | 15 |
| 13 | Wigan Athletic | 12 | 14 |
| 14 | Blackburn Rovers | 11 | 13 |
| 15 | Birmingham City | 12 | 12 |
| 16 | Bolton Wanderers | 11 | 11 |
| 17 | Hull City | 12 | 11 |
| 18 | West Ham United | 12 | 10 |
| 19 | Wolverhampton Wanderers | 12 | 10 |
| 20 | Portsmouth | 12 | 7 |
Paul Merson can't separate Bolton and Blackburn - but thinks Stoke will see off Portsmouth.
Cheating isn't on the rise in football, says Andy Gray, but officials do need more help to get decisions right.
Paul Merson expects Liverpool to beat 'Hollywood' Man City - if Rafa Benitez picks his best team.
Blackburn Rovers have confirmed that manager Sam Allardyce is to undergone heart surgery.
Rafa Benitez admits Liverpool's game with Manchester City is 'make or break' for their season.
Sir Alex Ferguson has attacked the Football Association for over exposing Wayne Rooney.
The Premier League recommences on Saturday lunchtime as Rafa Benitez's Liverpool go head-to-head with Manchester City at Anfield.
Sir Alex Ferguson says Chelsea's five-point lead at the top of the league is not insurmountable.