Manchester United Defeat Liverpool with Martial Magic

After a disappointing defeat to Swansea City, Manchester United lined up against their fierce rivals Liverpool FC at Old Trafford. Both Louis van Gaal and Brendan Rodgers set their sides up in a disappointingly tentative manner for the big clash. Manchester United had Fellaini as the lone striker, supported by Mata, Depay, and Ander Herrera, with Carrick and Schweinsteiger rounding out what played like a six-man midfield. On the other hand, Liverpool were without the suspended Coutinho due to his red card against West Ham.

After a first half devoid of excitement, both sides loosened up as Luois van Gaal put on Ashley Young for Memphis Depay. Less than five minutes into the second half, the Red Devils pulled ahead with a neatly orchestrated free kick which culminated with Daley Blind curling Juan Mata's setup into the top left corner. Manchester United continued to look the more dangerous side, and when Joe Gomez took down Ander Herrera in the box, the Spaniard capitalized and blasted in the resulting penalty.

With less than ten minutes remaining, Benteke lit up the Liverpool scoreboard with an unstoppable bicycle kick. The Belgian coordinated perfectly in order to claim a spectacular goal, which will surely be a contender for goal of the season. Despite pressing for the equalizer, Liverpool slipped up at the back when United's nineteen year-old substitute Anthony Martial cut inside from the left wing and curled in the final goal to seal the victory.

With this win Manchester United manage to stay in second place, just five points behind their city rivals' lead at the top of the table.

Chelsea Suffer 4-2 FA Cup Knockout against Bradford City

In an upset described simply as "a disgrace" from Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho, league one side Bradford City have knocked out Premier League leaders Chelsea from the FA Cup with a 4-2 victory at Stamford Bridge. With the quadruple now impossible, Chelsea must still face the stern test of the second leg of the Capital One Cup against Liverpool on Tuesday night, along with next weekend's visit from second placed Manchester City. After the disappointing result against Bradford City, Chelsea will now be forced to recover and step it up in their remaining domestic competitions, while still keeping an eye ready to face Paris Saint Germain in the Champions League round of sixteen.

Despite the lower league opposition, Jose Mourinho still fielded a respectable side with experience. With Cahill and Azpilicueta in defence, along with Oscar, Ramires, and Drogba all starting, the Premier league leaders seemed to be coasting as they grabbed the lead with Cahill popping in a sneaky flick from a corner. The second came with a smooth counterattack after Ramires stole the ball in midfield, with a quick-moving give and go between the Salah and the Brazilian who neatly finished. Yet Bradford City were able to pull one back before halftime, with the unmarked Stead receiving the ball from a set play before blasting it into the top corner past Cech. 

As the second half wore on, Mourinho brought on Fabregas and Willian for Salah and John Obi Mikel in the 70th minute, however five minutes later Bradford City found the equalizer with Morias finishing off a scramble in Chelsea's box. At this point Mourinho brought on his final substitute, replacing Loic Remy with Eden Hazard, yet Bradford were still uncontainable going forward. It was Halliday who gave the visitors the 3-2 lead, his first time shot from the top of the box unreachable for Cech. Despite being up, Bradford City continued to charge at the champions rather than defend their lead, and were rewarded when the substitute Yeates tucked in their final goal in stoppage time to complete the 4-2 comeback. 

Although Mourinho can still look at Liverpool's unimpressive 0-0 draw against Bolton and Manchester City's 2-0 loss to Middlesborough, their defeat was still the most comprehensive collapse of any Premier League side in the FA Cup round this weekend. Stamford Bridge will be looking for a positive result against the Reds (still without the injured Daniel Sturridge, who should be back in time to face West Ham) on Tuesday night in order to continue on in the Capital One Cup. Following that, the true test to consolidate their Premier League dominance awaits when Manchester City visit London next weekend. Be sure to check out the current Premier League odds, as both sides will be looking for victory at all costs on Saturday night. 

What remains for sure is that Jose Mourinho cannot allow his Chelsea side to put in another similar performance in their upcoming matches, or else their treble could be at stake. Share your thoughts about the match along with predictions for the upcoming fixtures below.

Luis Suarez Banned for Four Months Because of World Cup Bite

The world of soccer/football is full of misbehaviour which often stems from gritty competitive spirit. In the midst of rough tackles, high elbows, and diving, there's a lengthy recorded history of spitting, headbutts, punches, along with an even longer list of insults which have been been thrown and received on the field. Now, with Luis Suarez's contribution biting is joining that list of misdemeanours which are not only recorded, but punished.

After his now infamous bite, Luis Suarez has been banned by FIFA for nine matches along with an additional four month ban "from taking part in any kind of football-related activity" (you can read FIFA's full statement here). Suarez is also prohibited from entering the confines of any stadiums, and to top it all off the Uruguayan received a fine of 100,000 Swiss Francs.

FIFA retains that the ban is rightfully harsh, and that, "such behaviour cannot be tolerated on any football pitch, and in particular not at a FIFA World Cup when the eyes of millions of people are on the stars on the field." however, Suarez has his protectors. Diego Maradona has sided with the Liverpool player, and Giorgio Chiellini (the Italian defender who was bitten) also put out a statement on his website saying that the ban is excessive. Furthermore, the Uruguayan FA has said that they will be appealing FIFA's decision, but it is unlikely that they will manage to change the outcome before Uruguay's next match against Colombia.

Aside from his official sentence, Suarez has also lost his sponsorship deal with 888poker after his bite. The betting website terminated its relationship with Suarez immediately after the incident. Suarez's current club, Liverpool FC, are also looking to end their relationship with him, but in the form of selling the striker to FC Barcelona, who apparently will be making an 80 million Pound bid. However, there could be difficulties with the move because it has been reported that FIFA's sentence extends to the point of disallowing a possible transfer of Suarez.

While Liverpool, Barcelona, and FIFA will decide where Suarez might play next year, Uruguay still have a World Cup to play. Their round of 16 match against Colombia will be difficult, and finding a proper system to play without Suarez in the lineup gives coach Oscar Tabarez an additional challenge to overcome. Perhaps the exclusion of Suarez will finally give PSG striker Edinson Cavani the space to shine, and allow Uruguay to push on in the tournament.

Liverpool's Title Dream Nears Under Rodgers' Guidance

The kindling of belief in Liverpool's title run is one which began in the best way possible. With Rodgers at the helm, this season's Liverpool players have been pushed to be versatile, able to play in various positions, in any formation. The continuous tinkering of formation by Rodgers has shown its results: a 3-0 win with a 4-3-3 at Manchester United, 4-0 against Everton and 5-1 against Arsenal playing with a 4-2-3-1, and now the 3-2 win over Manchester City with the midfield diamond 4-4-2. With that latest victory over Manchester City, Liverpool now have the fate of the Premier League title in their hands.

Earlier in the season, as Liverpool were rampantly eviscerating teams in free-flowing style with high-scoring matches, the possibility of a title run briefly came into my thoughts. It seemed reasonable that a team playing, scoring, and winning with that much ease deserves a title run, however I quickly came to the conclusion that they lacked the squad depth necessary in order to do so. With an already patchy defence, Liverpool's reliance on Suarez and Sturridge is evident seeing as they are the only two strikers who have scored for the club this season. Considering that the starting eleven for Liverpool are rarely rotated, the over-dependence on these players can not only lead to fatigue and injuries, but also stagnation and predictability.

By pushing his side to be adaptable, Rodgers has managed to avoid these problems of predictability while strengthening and broadening the attacking possibilities of his team. This growth is also seen on an individual level, with Raheem Sterling's performance against Manchester City highlighting a shining example of brilliant versatility. Previously only considered as a fast-running winger, Sterling has now become one of, if not even England's finest playmaker. Rodgers is a master of individually moulding his players. He has modified Gerrard's role into one of deep-lying and key importance while giving Henderson the space to blossom, and has helped Coutinho acclimatize into the Premier League with frightful speed. If you further consider the monumental man-management work required to transform Suarez into the loved goal-machine he now is, and to control the young and tempestuous Sturridge, Rodgers has revolutionized Liverpool and its players.

It definitely feels like Liverpool deserves this season's Premier League title. Recognition for one of Steven Gerrard's best season's yet, respect for Rodgers and his coaching of intoxicatingly exciting football, and a tribute in memory of the 25th anniversary of Hillsborough. Yet the way things are poised, this season's heartwarming story is precarious with Mourinho's Chelsea still to beat. The Portuguese coach is hunting for silverware to crown his returned season as a success. While Norwich awaits Liverpool next weekend, the true test for Rodgers and his team will be against one of the most cunning and ruthless managers in the world. And if there's one man willing to shatter Liverpool's title dreams for his own, it is undoubtedly Jose Mourinho.

New Year, New Faces?

Written by Ashwin Raja.

The end of the year always brings with it a feeling of joy and optimism. After all, it's the season of hope and merriment. It's no different for the footballing world either. The teams that are riding on a high will hope to see their form continue, and bear fruit as silverware at the end of the season. On the other hand, those at the deep end of things will be praying for a re-invigoration of spirit; a fresh lease on life so to speak.

The footballing community have not just the opening of the transfer window to look forward to, but also the beginning of a World Cup year. The January window can be an incredibly trying, but also a promising time for clubs and players alike. For clubs, their relative activity or inactivity can make a world of difference whether they are in a title scrap or relegation dog-fight. For players, the choice of club can either make or break them. Take for instance, Andy Carroll and Fernando Torres who both made big money moves in January that proved to be ill-fated. However don't let the stories of Carroll and Torres fool you, there have always been a few diamonds in the rough. Edin Dzeko, Luis Suarez, Daniel Sturridge, are just a few.

 Here are eight of the top names that could swap clubs:


1. Iker Casillas (Real Madrid):

Saint Iker, as he is affectionately known by the Madridistas continues to find himself on the bench even after the arrival of Carlo Ancelotti. Such has been the form of Diego Lopez, that he has hardly been able to force his way back into the starting eleven, with the exception of the Champions League matches. With the re-emergence of Victor Valdes, his spot in the Spanish national team that has for a long time been set in stone is now under threat. Nothing but regular playing time can allay his fears.Though he has made public his desire to stay and help Madrid achieve La Decima, he has embraced that a move away would be his best option. Though a permanent move may not be on the cards, a loan is certainly a possibility.


2. Leighton Baines (Everton):

After holding on to their star left back in the summer, Everton's resolve will once again be put to the test as David Moyes will look to infuse some quality into a lack-lustre Manchester United team. Despite Baines being nowhere near his best so far, Everton boast the strongest defense in the Premier League alongside leaders Arsenal and are sitting pretty in 4th spot. Seamus Coleman has been a revelation this season and if Baines does go to United, they can be content knowing they may potentially have a player of his ilk already coming up.


3. Diego Costa (Atletico Madrid):

If there is one constant in football's ever changing landscape, it has to be Atletico Madrid having a world class striker. Fernando Torres, Sergio Aguero, Diego Forlan, Radamel Falcao and now Diego Costa. The powerful Brazilian has been in scintillating form hitting the 20 goal mark in no time at all. Granted that Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo have been hampered by injuries, it still takes something speical to be topping the goal scoring charts half way through the season, and it will not have gone unnoticed by the top clubs in Europe.


4. Koke (Atletico Madrid):

It is rather poetic that Koke, who also goes by his birth-name of Jorge Resurrección Merodio, could be the man that completes the mid-season resurrection of Manchester United. After a horrendous start to the season that many attributed to the departure of Sir Alex Ferguson, the glue that has bonded the United dressing room for as long as memory can serve, they have staged a commendable recovery. In the absence of Robin van Persie, Wayne Rooney has certainly come to the fore. Nonetheless, David Moyes will have noted the appalling lack of creativity in midfield and Koke could be the answer.


5. Dimitar Berbatov (Fulham):

Despite having a below par season the previous year, it came as a bit of a surprise when Manchester United let Berbatov go in the summer of 2012. United's record signing since joining Fulham hasn't set the goal scoring charts ablaze, but has shown flashes of brilliance, albeit too sporadically. His astute awareness, finishing and aerial ability do not seemed to have deserted him however. With Fulham struggling to avoid relegation, Berbatov will certainly be weighing up his options and a move to Arsenal is not unfathomable. With an abundance of flair and creativity in the Gunners' midfield he will not be left wanting of service and at the same time solve their problem of sparse attacking options besides Olivier Giroud and Lukas Podolski, who prefers a wide role rather than the number nine role of late.


6. Adam Lallana (Southampton):

It has been a stellar year for Adam Lallana, having won his first England call up and spear heading Southampton's charge for a top 7 finish. Ever since, Maurecio Pochettino arrived on the south coast, Southampton have been playing some vibrant, attacking football, and none have benefited from that more than Adam Lallana. His natural drive and vision go hand in glove with Pochettino's style of play and he has been a regular goal scorer and creator. His age (25) is also a big point in his favor as he continues to notch up admirers that include Arsene Wenger, Jose Mourinho and David Moyes. It may be a long shot, but if not now, the top clubs will definitely come calling in the summer.


7. Daniel Agger (Liverpool):

Napoli have strongly been linked the Danish center back and could take advantage of his lack of game time at Liverpool. Following a freak gym injury, Agger has had a hard time to break back into the starting eleven as Brendan Rodgers continues to persist with Mamadou Sakho and Martin Skrtel in the center of defense. His allegiance to Liverpool is unquestionable, but a reunion with Rafa Benitez could be tempting as he looks for some game time ahead of the World Cup.


8. Mohamed Salah (FC Basel):

Dubbed the 'Egyptian Messi' in following with the customary tradition these days of likening any up and coming talent with the Argentinian, Mohamed Salah has impressed with a series of consistent, if not spectacular performances for Basel in both the domestic league as well as the Champions League. His performance against Chelsea caught the eye as he tormented the Blues' defense with some real pace and trickery and scored in both legs. Liverpool are believed to firm favorites to snap him up as they look to offset their lack of wide options.

The Weekend in Links - Mourinho and Mata, Ribery the Hero and More

After what has been an interesting pre-Champions League matchday weekend, there are a lot of victories, stories, and players to keep track of. Starting directly from the Premier League, the big clash between Tottenham and Chelsea at White Hart Lane ended 1-1. While some will be pondering whether the result affirms Tottenham as a definite title contender, others will have kept their eye on Jose Mourinho and his half-time substitution which featured Juan Mata. Henry Winter writes about the substitution, and Mourinho's effect on the final result of the match.

While Mourinho could be raising doubts with a few unfavourable results among his Chelsea fans, Franck Ribery remains a definite fan favorite at Bayern Munich says Raphael Honigstein. His article in the Guardian reflects on the Frenchman's career, and his fine form which has continued into this new season under new manager Guardiola. FC Bayern currently share the top of the Bundesliga with Borussia Dortmund after their latest 1-0 home win over Wolfsburg.

Another manager making a considerable impact at his new club is Rudi Garcia at Roma, who leads the Serie A with six victories in six played. In an article I wrote for World Soccer Talk, I break down the giallorossi's latest 5-0 victory over Bologna, and how they've thrived so well under this new manager. With two big matches coming up against Inter Milan and Napoli, Roma will have a lot to prove on whether they can truly contend for the scudetto.

Returning to England, tactical expert Michael Cox analyzes Liverpool's 3-1 away victory against Sunderland, and in preparation for the FIFA 14 review I'm writing up, In Bed With Maradona has taken a look at the top fives of FIFA 14.

What were your thoughts on this weekend's action? Comment your thoughts on this weekend, and your predictions for the upcoming midweek Champions League matchday below!

Premier League's Excitement Returns

Written by Ashwin Raja.

I am happy to say, after this week’s round of matches, that the Premier League the world knows and loves for its unparalleled unpredictability, excitement and drama, is well and truly back. I must say, that I in concordance with many a seasoned football fan was disappointed with the way the season kicked off. Lots of drab and low-scoring affairs littered the first few weeks of the season. It was a coup of sorts for the Premier League, which has always been known to get stuck right in from the off.

The level of intensity and excitement in the past week’s matches were certainly what the doctor ordered and Manchester City’s humbling of the old enemy United, certainly was the earth-shattering result the Premier League kicks up every now and then, and the one that fans were so eager to see. A few interesting patterns seemed to emerge at the conclusion of this gameweek, if not having merely confirmed passing observations. Liverpool, demonstrating again, the inconsistency that has dogged them in their pursuit of the Champions League in seasons past. Chelsea, though managing to beat Fulham, looked well below par and are perhaps victims of the Mourinho factor that they crave so much. Arsenal, on the other hand are continuing their rich vein of form, thanks in no small part to the mercurial Mesut Ozil and the hot streak that Aaron Ramsey is currently in. With their immediate rivals going through a transition of sorts with new managers and the ensuing playing styles, the title is definitely there for the taking as far as Arsenal are concerned.

Liverpool - Southampton

Following an exciting draw in midweek at the Liberty Stadium, Liverpool looked to make amends and reaffirm their standing as league leaders on Saturday as they hosted Southampton at Anfield. From the very off, it was clear that Liverpool would struggle to find that creative spark in the center of the park, especially in the absence of Philippe Coutinho, who has been nothing short of spectacular since his 8.5 million pound move from Inter Milan in January.

Steven Gerrard came close on a couple of occasions with well-placed free kicks, but Artur Boruc was alive to the danger. New boy Victor Moses, making his Anfield debut had a rather subdued game, and despite making a few decent runs in behind the Saints’ defense, could not make it count when he needed to. The other former Chelsea man in Liverpool’s ranks, Daniel Sturridge was looking to make it 5 goals in 5 games, and in all honesty, simply lacked the service and the guile on the day to do that. He will however feel that Liverpool should have gotten more on the day, considering they had a valid penalty claim turned down.

The Southampton goal came off of a set-piece, and one that should have been dealt with especially with Brendan Rodgers fielding 4 center backs in defense. That decision in itself showed an inherent flaw in Rodgers’ mentality, namely, fixing something that isn’t broke. With Martin Kelly, Jose Enrique and Andre Wisdom all available for selection, it was a perplexing decision. Despite having given his reasons, it was definitely a sign that he is not afraid to experiment with the resources at his disposal and for a club that aims to be in the top 4 come next May, the experimentation must be kept to a minimum.


Chelsea - Fulham

Jose Mourinho’s second coming at Stamford Bridge has hardly been perfect and Chelsea’s play, hardly characteristic of Mourinho teams. What was characteristic about Chelsea’s performance on Saturday, however, was their ability to grind out the result even when not at their best. Despite scoring two goals, Chelsea truly flattered to deceive. Similar to previous games, they were not as solid at the back and look vulnerable every now and then. Luckily enough, Fulham did not live up to their attacking potential and Chelsea were saved of any potential blushes. This represents a shift away from Mourinho’s style of shutting up shop once his team has asserted a certain level of control on the game.

Another notable point was Juan Mata’s continuing absence. Rather sardonically, it was his ‘successor’, Oscar, in the eyes of Mourinho who grabbed the first goal. Whether Mata, who was Chelsea’s player of the year last season will be another hapless victim of Mourinho’s whims and fantasies just like Iker Casillas at Real Madrid, remains to be seen. Personally, I think it would be a real shame if that were to happen. He is that one spark of creativity that can help Chelsea unlock the opposition’s defence and no disrespect to Kevin de Bruyne, Andre Schurrle, Frank Lampard and the horde of other attacking mids that Chelsea have, he is head and shoulders above the competition. Being left out of the starting eleven cannot help his chances of securing a ticket to Spain’s defence of the World Cup at Brazil in little under a year’s time, especially when the competition for that number 10 position has not been more fierce.

Manchester Derby


Leading up to the Manchester derby, much was made of how different the Manchester clubs, both under the stewardship of new managers were this season. David Moyes, certainly feeling the pressure after defeat to Liverpool and and a draw at Chelsea would have been eager to set things right. It would, on the other hand be Manuel Pellegrini’s first big test so to speak as Manchester City boss. The general consensus before kick-off was that the game would be a close one, perhaps decided as such games so often are, by a bit of individual brilliance or a refereeing decision going one team’s way.

Sergio Aguero ensured that all pre-match predictions were out the window with a superb close quarters finish early on in the first half. After that, the proverbial dam was released, and it was all City. Yaya Toure put in another terrific performance at the heart of the Blues’ midfield and his return to such kind of form that was instrumental in them lifting the title 2 seasons ago, can only bode well. Alvaro Negredo who got the nod ahead of Edin Dzeko put in a fine performance and impressed with his workmanlike attitude that fetched him a couple of assists and almost a goal. The fact that they put up such a dominant display without David Silva will surely be a menacing sight to the other title contenders.

Take the case of the Reds. Apart from Wayne Rooney, who got a late consolation with a superb freekick to beat a diving Joe Hart, not a single player influenced the game in a way that a Manchester United player is expected to. Robin van Persie was a big miss, and there was a gaping hole in the final third. It just goes to reinforce the point that Manchester United’s fate is closely, if not entirely dependent on his form. New acquisition Marouanne Fellaini had a quiet game to say the least, and Moyes’ detractors will be quick to point that out. Such was his state of relative dormancy, it warrants the question as to whether Fellaini is even the kind of player really needed. At Everton, he made his name giving hell to defenders on set pieces, chipping in with a few goals now and then, and putting in a tackle or two, in addition to racking up the yellow cards and the hair on the top of his head. Some were bold enough as to liken him to Yaya Toure. Based on Sunday’s evidence, it is foolish to even suggest comparison.

On paper, United have never had the strongest squad or even starting eleven in the last few seasons, including the ones they won the league in. Sure, they did and do have some big, big names in Robin van Persie and Wayne Rooney, but what made the difference was the ‘Fergie factor’. The winning mentality that was instilled at the very core of the team by the wily old Scot was what gave them that identity and the confidence to go out and win. Each and every player believed he was a Champion, and that is what is currently missing. Moyes, undoubtedly is a terrific man manager and his ten years of Everton would never suggest otherwise, but the fact is, he’s no Sir Alex Ferguson.


The United of old would rarely have been outclassed so much, but if they did, they would have dusted themselves and would have rearing to go immediately. That resilience is something they must hold on to if they are to aim for any sort of success this season. While those questions are slightly stifled from United's 1-0 victory over Liverpool in the Capital One Cup, the horizon is still very hazy for Manchester United fans.

Roma and Liverpool Kings of Summer Transfer Window

This summer transfer window has been fairly generic. We've seen Fabregas go to Barcelona, Atletico Madrid lose De Gea, Aguero and Forlan, along with a myriad of other deals which we all expected and knew were going to happen. There have been very few big surprises regarding signings, and instead we mostly got what we were waiting for as football/soccer fans.

While many clubs made the signings we all knew were going to happen, there have been a few which decided to build things a little differently. Liverpool bought a brilliant list of new players including Stewart Downing, Jose Enrique, and finishing the window off with the arrival of Craig Bellamy. Of course, while experienced players are important, Liverpool have also kept an eye on some younger players. The 20 year-old Uruguayan central defender Sebastian Coates will have time to bed in, play some games as a substitute, and slowly become essential to the Red's backline.

What will also help is the abundance of versatile players Liverpool have signed such as Jordan Henderson and Charlie Adam. These new signings strengthen Liverpool's midfield and secure any holes there might be in case of injuries or suspensions throughout the season. A willingness to spend accompanied by an intelligent plan of selling unneeded players have led to a much stronger squad which looks ready to compete on many different levels.

In the Serie A, there was a similar revelation in Roma's financial freedom on the transfer market. The new owner, Thomas Di Benedetto has brought cash and a new coach, Luis Enrique. The Dutch international keeper Maarten Stekelenburg has been bought, along with Heinze, Kjaer (on loan from Wolfsburg), and Jose Angel to solidify what was once a weary defence. Yet what has been even more impressive is Roma's new and improved attack.

From Barcelona's Bojan Krkic to the Argentinean wonderkid Erik Lamela (along with Pablo Osvaldo and Fabio Borini), the new attack looks ready to score plenty of goals. The midfield has also been bolstered significantly thanks to Fernando Gago on loan from Real Madrid and the signing of Miralem Pjanic from Lyon. Mixing these new players with the likes of Totti, Pizarro, and De Rossi should create a very solid midfield, and a formidable attack.

Both Liverpool and Roma have gone about their business to completely replenish their squads with astute signings while keeping the best of the old guard. The new owners brought some fresh air for everyone, making quick and surprising signings which will stir up the pot as the season progresses. Sadly, these are two anomalies in the many European clubs which either don't need to surprise fans with great unexpected signings, or clubs that don't have a board/directors which will make these bold decisions.

While some clubs don't particularly need to strengthen, or need only a couple of smart signings to taper the cracks of the squad, others continue with a very conservative transfer policy regarding signing new players. Instead, Roma and Liverpool have realized that to climb up the Premier League and Serie A tables they'd need to spend, and spend wisely. I expect great things from these two clubs, the two kings of the summer transfer window.

Sir Alex Ferguson Red-Faced at Media Black-Out

Written by Pete South. Follow Pete on Twitter@Peterwsouth.


Sir Alex Ferguson tested his relationship with the media, refusing to speak after his team’s 3-1 defeat to the hands of Liverpool on Sunday. While still refusing to speak to the BBC after they aired a documentary on his football agent son seven years ago, Ferguson also declined the offer to speak to host broadcaster Sky Sports, radio rights owner TalkSport, and Manchester United’s official TV station MUTV.

The Scot’s actions came after he was reprimanded for remarks made about referee Martin Atkinson after the 2-1 loss against Chelsea last week. The Scot said he “feared the worst” when Atkinson was put in charge of the game at Stamford Bridge, and went on to criticise the decision to award Chelsea a late penalty.

Ferguson said this regarding Atkinson:

“You want a fair referee, or a strong referee anyway - and we didn't get that."

He would have also been unimpressed with the decision to let Liverpool’s Jamie Carragher off with a yellow card after his tackle which left a horrific gash on Nani’s leg. A tackle which should've warranted with a straight red.

Ferguson still has a two game suspension for comments he made about referee Alan Wiley last season, which is likely to be taken into consideration when his personal hearing for improper conduct takes place later this month. The 69-year-old also cancelled his pre-game conference with the media prior to the game against Liverpool in protest of the coverage of Wayne Rooney’s elbow to the head of Wigan’s James McCarthy last weekend.

His on-going boycott of the BBC contravenes Premier League rules and he faces a fine for each game he refuses to speak to them, but has so far gone publicly unpunished. His latest refusal to speak to the media came after his side lost their second Premier League game in a row for the first time since 2009.

A Dirk Kuyt hat-trick defeated an under-par United side as Liverpool managed to put the brakes on United's 19th title aspirations. The Hernandez United Shirt will be one of the only shirts worn with pride by fans after the games as “Chicharito” managed to secure a late consolation goal for his side - his tenth Premier League goal already.

Now, with Arsenal just three points behind the league leaders with a game in hand, the title race has come alive once more. Manchester United looked to be cruising in the Premier League, but now things could be getting a little trickier for a red-faced Sir Alex Ferguson.

Liverpool Starting To Tick Under Dalglish

Speaking after their loss at Anfield last week, Stoke City manager Tony Pulis was quick to defend his side, stating that the main difference between his team's 2-0 home win back in November and the match he had just witnessed was the venue. Perhaps it was a case of sour grapes, or maybe he was just trying to pick his side up before their game against Sunderland this weekend, but there was clearly a massive gap in quality – not just between the two sides on the pitch, but also the two performances on display from Liverpool.

Under Hodgson, the direct football which was seen by some as a plan to simply play it safe in a season of transition was absolute suicide against a physical Stoke side, and the rigid 4-4-2 formation which was sent out week in, week out was easy pickings for Pulis' men. Dalglish showed the bravery and wisdom to change the shape, employing three centre-halves against Stoke's pairing of Carew and Walters, and as a result they limited the Potters to just one shot on goal over the ninety minutes. Of course, the Stoke betting always suggested they would struggle, but Liverpool did well to contain them.

Not the best debut for Fernando Torres

It is this sort of thinking which is what a Liverpool side lacking in self-belief needed more than anything, and Dalglish's fantastic relationship with the fans – something his predecessor simply never enjoyed – means that he can afford to take such risks without fear of backlash against either himself or his playing squad. The result has been three consecutive Premier League wins, complete with three clean sheets. Surprisingly enough, Hodgson never managed this feat. The Europa League betting suggests this new look side could even go on to win a trophy.

Although it was obviously a blow to lose a striker of Fernando Torres' quality, the fact that new boy Luis Suarez opened his account on his debut – in front of the Kop no less – will have taken much of the sting out of his move to Chelsea. And with record signing Andy Carroll yet to play his first game for the club, it would seem that there is even more good news round the corner – if the pair of them can form the sort of partnership that their ability and price-tags suggest they are capable of then it may soon be a case of "Fernando who?"

Will January Signings Make Their Impact?

This mid-season transfer window has been exciting! While I expected a couple of minor signings here and there, I would've never imagined the deals which went on this January. Here's what went on in the English Premier League, Serie A, and La Liga.

In England Chelsea were the biggest spenders, snatching Fernando Torres and David Luiz for a total sum around 70 million Pounds. Liverpool decided to spend over 55 million Pounds to buy Luis Suarez and Andy Carroll, bolstering their front line well. West Ham got Robbie Keane on loan from Tottenham, and Aston Villa's big signings were Jean Makoun, Darren Bent, and the American Michael Bradley. Manchester City bought the Edin Dzeko while Sulley Muntari from Inter Milan joined Sunderland along with Sessegnon from PSG.

Pazzini has scored three goals in two appearances for Inter

There were some big names on the move in Italy as well, with Inter Milan snapping up Pazzini, Kharja, Ranocchia, and Nagatomo. Juventus got rid of Amauri while bringing in the amiable Matri in, along with the decrepit pairing of Toni and Barzagli. AC Milan also made their mark, getting the Dutch pair of Emanuelson and van Bommel along with Antonio Cassano and central defender Legrottaglie.

In Spain, it was Malaga which did most of the buying. After their ownership takeover this past summer, the new Qatari president, Abdullah ben Nasser Al Thani, has been spending money without many worries. Malaga bought Bayern Munich's veteran defender Martin Demichelis to strengthen the defence, along with Atletico Madrid's promising young keeper, Sergio Assenjo, on loan. Malaga also bought Roma's Julio Baptista along with the young Argentine Diego Buonanotte (some hail him as the next Messi) from River Plate.

Afellay has already scored for Barcelona

Barcelona and Real Madrid made their mark on the January window as well. Barcelona bought the attacking midfielder/winger Ibrahim Afellay from PSV Eindhoven, while Real Madrid got Emmanuel Adebayor on loan from Manchester City.

So many big signings! And many of them have already begun to make an impact at their new clubs. Right now Giampaolo Pazzini, Luis Suarez, and Edin Dzeko are looking like the best signings of the window. I can't wait to see how these new players work out.

What do you think about all these January signings? Which ones do you think will make a difference for their club? Share your comments below!

Friday Photos: Transfer Talk And The Asian Cup

Emmanuel Adebayor has been presented at Real Madrid. Adebayor is excited
 to begin playing, and is looking forward to having a successful loan spell with Real.

Mark van Bommel and Emanuelson debuted for AC Milan in the Coppa Italia.
The two recently joined Milan, and they helped their team to a 2-1 victory.
AC Milan will be playing Palermo in the semi-finals, and the other semi-final between
Inter and Roma. Could we see a Milan derby in the final of the Coppa Italia? 

There have been rumours linking Gareth Bale to a transfer in the summer.
Inter Milan are apparently prepared to offer 40 million Euros for the Welsh winger.

Andrea Barzagli leaves Wolfsburg and returns to Italy. Juventus have signed
the defender for just 300,000 Euros, but will the deal be worth it?

Giampaolo Pazzini has signed for Inter Milan. The nerazzurri had to pay
12 million Euros and give the speedy winger Biabiany to Sampdoria.
Can Pazzini end Inter's scoring difficulties?

While David Luiz's signing for Chelsea seemed imminent, the deal has hit a snag.
The Brazilian might not join the Blues, we'll just have to wait and see where
this young and talented defender goes.

Liverpool rejected Chelsea's bid of around 40 million Pounds for Fernando Torres.
The question is: will Liverpool manage to keep the striker over the summer?

The Socceroos celebrating their 6-0 semifinal victory over Uzbekistan in the Asian Cup.
Australia will be facing Japan in the final, and while the Samurais have been crowned
Asian champions three times already, Australia have yet to win the Asian Cup.

Ending on a beautiful note, the stunning Khalifa International Stadium where
Australia defeated Uzbekistan 6-0.

Raul Meireles Shines Against Troubled Wolves

It wasn’t all bad under Roy Hodgson. Despite the former Fulham man’s troubled time in charge of Liverpool coming to an abrupt end earlier this month, his presence was felt in a game which ironically signified the club moving on from his time as manager.

Kenny Dalglish’s first win in charge of Liverpool was somewhat of a departure from the manner that Liverpool fans have gotten so used to this season. Desire was the name of the game as his side looked to harass a Wolves side as short of points as they are luck.

Although the 3-0 score line represents a fair result, Mick McCarthy’s side can count themselves slightly unlucky not to have found the net; they troubled the Liverpool defence, particularly in the second half, and the arrival of new signing Adam Hammill did much to boost the home side’s attacking prowess.

But the man doing most of the damage in the game was to be found in red rather than gold. Although Hodgson’s time in charge will be quickly forgotten by the Anfield faithful,  Raul Meireles provided a fitting final goodbye to the man that signed him.

The absence of Steven Gerrard meant that someone new was needed to put their hand up and take control of the game, and that someone turned out to be the former Porto man. Feeding the fired up Fernando Torres for Liverpool’s first goal, Meireles displayed a clear head where plenty others would have fired a shot into to side netting, Meireles selflessly teed up the Spaniard for an easy tap in. His second contribution to the game was somewhat more spectacular. A Wolves half clearance dropped to the Portuguese international; technique and timing did the rest as he volleyed home a contender for goal of the season.

But his contribution went beyond that. His work rate set the tempo for the rest of the team to follow and his range of passing looked as though his personal mission was to exorcise the ghost of Xavi Alonso. Blackpool’s Charlie Adam may be the man to take up that challenge in the long term, but Meireles's delightfully chipped pass to play in JonJo Shelvey gave an indication of his passing ability. If Dalglish can accommodate him into a midfield alongside Gerrard, the returning Liverpool boss will have a midfield which big free bet will back to match most teams in the league.

The sight of Liverpool’s two holding midfielders betrayed the intent with which they set out to play, and alongside Meireles, Dalglish would have been happy with the contributions of the much maligned Christian Poulson as well as Fernando Torres. Although glimpses of defensive frailties were evident, Dalglish will look back fondly on an almost perfect weekend. Bigfreebet will likely see a shift in punters supporting the Red’s late push for a European spot if they continue in this manner.

The emergence of Meireles will be an added bonus to the feel-good atmosphere surrounding Anfield since “The King” returned to the hot seat. Although Hodgson’s time at the club will be remembered for its failure, he can find comfort in bringing the talented Portuguese midfielder to Anfield. The win at Molineux closed the chapter on his time with Liverpool, and now they will look forward to an altogether more successful period. It just so happens that the man to usher in the new era, is a man from Liverpool’s darker days.

Was Roy Hodgson Destined To Fail At Liverpool?

Roy Hodgson's presentation

After Roy Hodgson left Liverpool, this question sprung immediately into my mind: was Roy Hodgson destined to fail at Liverpool? If you look at it, there are few other jobs which entail a bigger revival needed than Liverpool's. When Roy first joined the Liverpool project, there were fans burning American flags to spite the incompetent owners, there was a shattered group of players searching for a saviour, and there was Roy. Looking at Roy, he seemed out of place in the disaster setup that was going on. A calm and experienced manager, looking to do his best with what he could. Wasn't he exactly what Liverpool needed? So, like a sane man joining a group of lunatics, Roy soon found it difficult to cope with the multiple troubles which sprung up.

While last season the Liverpool train wreck was entertaining, this season I found it a little bit sad. I saw Roy, doing his best to permeate a sense of order throughout the club, even if the players weren't even of his choice. Roy Hodgson had to do his best with a group selected by the previous manager Rafa Benitez, with some of the key players like Xabi Alonso and Javier Mascherano gone. Roy tried to do the sensible thing: bring in the best players he could with the limited financial resources at his disposal. Hodgson signed the dependable defender Konchesky, swapped Yossi Benayoun for Joe Cole, and did his best with what he could, getting Poulsen and Raul Mereiles to strengthen the midfield, along with Jovanovic at no cost. Roy also managed to keep the two talismans (Fernando Torres and Steven Gerrard), therefore having two players he could count on in times of trouble (but not really). I don't think I could've done a better job myself with the poor resources given, and the fact that Liverpool weren't in the Champions League made it even harder to attract top-quality players.

Throughout his career at Liverpool, it seems to me that Roy has always tried to do the sensible thing. He tried to make a disorganized group into a strong team, teaching them about "cooperation" and "working together". Roy tried to build from the bottom up, the foundations first, with the individuality and star-power of the players coming second. At Fulham it worked, so why wouldn't it work at Liverpool?

The darker times for Roy Hodgson

You could say that there is a difference in the expectations at Fulham and at Liverpool. Strangely enough, Liverpool fans seem to ignore the fact that the majority of their squad is made up of average players, with a couple of more notable ones littered around here and there. So while the fans should be expecting a season to rebuild, regroup, and refocus, they expected a season of glory and trophies. And while the high expectations of the fans weren't being met, the Liverpool ownership was like a pendulum sustained by a thin and frail string.

Ultimately a distraction came for Roy Hodgson. New England Sports Ventures (NESV) bought the club, giving Roy about a month in which the head honcho (John W. Henry) was being questioned by the media about his plans for Liverpool. The new owners seemed like a sensible bunch, and they realized that this shambles of what was once a great side couldn't be rebuilt overnight. Roy got the vote of confidence, and was allowed to continue his work with one less thing to worry about.

But Roy didn't realize that he had a stone wall, impeding his progress in managing Liverpool. While he did his best to get his players to work hard and execute his plans, the players didn't seem to understand Roy. My theory about managers is: a manager can tell, teach, and motivate all he wants, but in the end it's the players who will do what they want. Yet no matter what, the manager will always be blamed. This sad truth was the real reason behind Roy Hodgson's and Liverpool's "mutual consent". Maybe the players aren't completely to blame, but they certainly had their part in Roy's unemployment.

Liverpool's appointed caretaker manager, Kenny Dalglish

As things have become slightly steadier at Liverpool now, the owners (NESV) felt that there wasn't enough unpredictability among the club. So they got rid of the sensible Roy Hodgson, and they appointed the sprited fan favorite Kenny Dalglish. I can't say how things will go now for Liverpool; maybe Dalglish will get more out of this group of players, but in my humble opinion, Roy was best left alone. Roy Hodgson came in at the worst of times, took the abuse, and left when the good times looked ready to start. There's a man to admire.

Matches to Watch This Weekend: El Clasico

Pique and Marcelo fighting for the ball in last season's Clasico

What bigger match is there right now than El Clasico? While the Milan derby was interesting, El Clasico is where the best of the best face each other. While it's not technically "this weekend" (El Clasico is taking place on Monday this season), it's still going to be probably the biggest club match of this season. But it's not all about La Liga this weekend, there's a massive match in the English Premier League between the Champions League qualified Tottenham Hotspur, and a resurgent Liverpool. In Serie A, Ibrahimovic and his magic will strike fear into a Sampdoria team which relies on Giampaolo Pazzini to score goals. So here are three matches that I recommend you watch over the weekend!

The unstoppable Lionel Messi

Barcelona - Real Madrid

Who isn't interested in seeing the two best footballers of our generation, Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, go head to head, supported by their magnificently talented teammates? El Clasico is probably the biggest club match which will take place in a long time, and it looks like one of the most even match-ups too. With Jose Mourinho and his tricky ways on one side, and Josep Guardiola's beautiful football on the other, it's almost impossible to predict the result. Although it's not my prediction, the Spanish prime minister, Luis Rodriguez Zapatero predicts a 4-2 win for Barcelona. Make sure to tune in to this match on Monday!

Tottenham Hotspur - Liverpool

Tottenham have been playing wonderfully this season, and having just qualified for the knockout stages of the Champions League, the team will be looking to defeat Liverpool at home this weekend. Liverpool on the other hand have been blowing hot and cold, the team hasa played fantastically at home, but whenever they travel away, it's a different story. So at first it seems like a Tottenham win, but the team could be tired after having just played in the Champions League, and Roy Hodgson's well drilled Liverpool team will be able to take advantage of this. While I predict a tight 2-1 win for Tottenham, I think that Liverpool will cause problems for Spurs, but not enough to end their fantastic form which has been a constant this season.

Sampdoria  - AC Milan

Sampdoria have been without their star forward Antonio Cassano for some time now, and it looks like the team is beginning to adjust. Last weekend it was Giampaolo Pazzini who took Cassano's place scoring a hat-trick to help his side defeat Lecce 3-2, away from home. But Sampdoria are still relatively shaky, and an in-form Zlatan Ibrahimovic could tear their defence to shreds. AC Milan qualified for the knockout stages of the Champions League in the midweek, and the week before they defeated Fiorentina, both games had fantastic goals by Zlatan Ibrahimovic. The big Swede seems unstoppable right now, so I certainly expect AC Milan to score, we'll just have to see how many. I expect a 3-1 win for AC Milan, with Ibrahimovic and Ronaldinho sharing the goals.

I hope you've enjoyed this little weekend preview, and in case you don't know, Soccer Wrap Up now has a Youtube channel! The videos will mostly be about soccer cleats, whether it be looking at ones which I already have, or previewing cleats which are coming out in the future. Here's a video of ours below, previewing Adidas's 2011 cleats. Enjoy!

Liverpool Defeat Chelsea with Torres Brace

A week literally full of action! Two fantastic derbies in the Serie A and La Liga, and then a wonderful match between Liverpool and Chelsea. Funnily enough, all three of the matches ended 2-0, and all three of them were entertaining.

Liverpool - Chelsea


While some people think that Chelsea will just run away with the title (I think that it'll be Manchester United who wins it this year), the blues have been halted, by Liverpool! Carlo Ancelotti's team travelled to Anfield to face Roy Hodgson's side which had just defeated Napoli 3-1 in the Europa League in the midweek.

The first half wasn't dominated by any of the two sides, it was more just Chelsea being surprised by Liverpool's intensity and work-rate. These two factors, along with the home crowd spurred the reds to score within the first eleven minutes. Kuyt lifting a good ball for Fernando Torres who controls, stays standing with Cole and Ivanovic on his back, and promptly does the business in front of Cech, giving Liverpool the lead.

There were a couple of okay chances for both sides, but nothing notable as Liverpool played with heart, spirit, and intensity not letting Chelsea get into their stride. And when Fernando Torres scored for a second time for Liverpool, right before halftime, Anfield exploded with joy. The Spaniard received the ball out on the left wing, he cuts in, and then curls a delightful shot onto the far post, unsavable for Cech.

But the second half had Chelsea display more conviction, and Liverpool suffer from the Blues's constant attacks. Reina was forced to make a great save from Zhirkov's close range shot towards the near post, and then Reina pulled off a mind-blowing parry against Malouda who thought he'd tapped in a goal from about a yard from the goal-line.

But Cech had to make a couple of great saves as well, he had to stop Dirk Kuyt's close range volley from a corner by spreading his legs to inhumane lengths. Yet Chelsea continued to push, forcing Liverpool on the back foot, and the reds had some luck when Anelka's low rocket bounced under Reina's body and onto the bottom of the crossbar and back into play. Liverpool finished the match with a counter-attack which ended with Maxi Rodriguez one on one with Cech, but the Argentine gets the ball flicked away from him by Cech's fingers as he tries to earn a penalty with a desperate dive.

And so Liverpool pull off a fantastic result with the team playing with an intensity unseen before this season. Torres is a player reborn as well, a fantastic performance by him is what truly helped Liverpool gather these three important points which raise them up to 9th in the table. Is this the rebirth of Liverpool? And where will Chelsea go from here? The Blues are still top of the table, but Manchester United are just two points away from them. Comment your thoughts regarding this game below!

Real Madrid - Atletico Madrid


And now onto a derby, the Madrid derby! First of all, a quick link to my good friends over at Madrid Atleticos, my favorite Atletico Madrid blog, and certainly one of the best La Liga blogs there is. So if you're looking for an Atleti point of view, go visit them there.

But now onto the game which ended 2-0 for Jose Mourinho's team. They started with a goal in the 13th minute, with Ricardo Carvalho played through into the box and the center-back finishing like a veteran striker past David De Gea. The second goal arrived about six minutes later with Mesut Ozil drilling in a puzzling free kick from the right of the penalty area.

But Aletico Madrid created opportunities as well, first Forlan sent an tap-in wide, and then Casillas had to produce a fantastic save from a corner. After that the Real goalkeeper had to save a curling shot from Reyes which seemed destined for the back of the net.

In the second half Higuain hit the post with a rocket volley, and the Atletico goalkeeper David De Gea was rooted to the spot, only able to watch the ball smash his far post. But minutes later Forlan hit the post as well with a volley from the top of the box, and although Casillas dove to save it, he was about half a meter from the ball when it hit the post.

While there were more opportunities for both sides, in the end Real Madrid created many more dangerous moments for the Atelti faithful. A fantastic win for Jose Mourinho's side, and with El Clasico against Barcelona coming up in a couple of weeks, Real Madrid are looking very powerful at the top of the La Liga table.

Lazio - Roma


There was another derby this weekend, the very exciting Rome derby! And it was all the more exciting with Lazio top of the table, and Roma being on a winning streak. But the match was slightly disappointing, while there were plenty of chances created by both sides, the 2-0 scoreline was marked by two penalties for the giallorossi.

The first was at the beginning of the second half, and Marco Borriello stepped up to take it. Lazio's goalkeeper guessed the direction, and even got to the ball, but unluckily for him, it slipped underneath his body and trickled over the goal-line. The second penalty was awarded in the 87th minute, and this time Mirko Vucinic took it. Muslera didn't get it right this time, and Vucinic scored the penalty easily sending the young Uruguayan keeper the wrong way.

But Lazio fans will be severely disappointed, they had a chance where a player was blatantly brought down in front of goal, but no penalty was awarded. If the two penalties for Roma were penalties, then this chance for Lazio should've been awarded with a penalty.

What are your thoughts regarding all these derbies? Did you expect Liverpool to beat Chelsea? Share your thoughts by commenting below!