Arsenal and Liverpool had one of those classic titanic battles at Anfield today. It was a pulsating, incident laden game that was great to watch from beginning to end that ended 1-1.

The footballing styles of both sides wildly contrasted, with Liverpool's very direct long ball and getting their players to harass the opponents, and Arsenal's silky free flowing passing game combining to make a very entertaining tactical battle. Click to continue reading...

What a horrible performance from them. A team like Liverpool should be carving up teams like Besiktas with ease.

Liverpool were unlucky to go behind through another freak goal. And yet again, Sami Hyypia is credited with another own goal. He must be praying he doesn't make it a hattrick on Sunday against Arsenal.

Generally, i think Liverpool played much better than their last 2-3 games. Click to continue reading...

The reactions from AC Milan of the sentence handed out to themselves and Celtic is quite embarrasing.

AC Milan lawyer Leandro Cantamessa said: 'The impact of the sentence is disproportionate and illogical. I have no issue with Celtic but I am only trying to establish a sense of proportion - one is the event, the other is only the effect of the event. Click to continue reading...

Celtic have been fined £25,000 and Dida the 'over actor' suspended for 2 games. I think Milan and their Oscar nominee got off lightly.

Celtic won't mind the fine, as it was their inability to control the security of the stadium resulted in one fan running around amok during last weeks Champions league game. It was this very fan than ran amok, and appear to give Dida a 'sniper' slap. Click to continue reading...

Gareth Barry's long-awaited return to the England team was regarded by many observers as a galvanising factor for the two 3-0 successes against Israel and Russia in September.


Although the partnership between Emile Heskey and Michael Owen was lauded for providing the finishing touches, it was the dovetailing between the 26-year-old and Steven Gerrard in the centre of midfield which had critics purring. Click to continue reading...

Raúl González has little chance of playing for Spain again under Luis Aragonés after he was part of a clique of veterans that openly criticised the coach during the World Cup Finals last year, according to a report.

The Real Madrid captain has not played for the national team for a year and as calls for his return grow louder, AS believe that they have uncovered the reasons behind his omission. Click to continue reading...

On Saturday night a name rang around the Mastella Stadium in Valencia for the first time since May 2004. That name belonged to Rafa Benitez as the home fans sang in union "Come back Rafa, come back Rafa".

It says everything about the esteem in which the Liverpool manager is still held in Valencia that more than three years after he departed the La Liga side he remains the man the fans would love to see running their club. Click to continue reading...

French striker Nicolas Anelka said an upset of UEFA Cup favourites Bayern Munich by Bolton would put the Premiership club on the map as a European force, following Tuesday's group stage draw.

Bayern Munich, who have had a continual presence in the Champions League for a decade and a half, are in the second-tier UEFA Cup this time and would look a tough draw but Anelka saw the positive side of playing the German giants. Click to continue reading...

Manchester United winger Cristiano Ronaldo believes Jose Mourinho's exit will cost Chelsea when the trophies are handed out later this season.

Mourinho's shock departure from the Stamford Bridge hot-seat last month left new coach Avram Grant with a huge act to follow - and Portugal international Ronaldo believes that cannot fail but to have an impact. Click to continue reading...

There were several clues that this was not an ordinary football interview. Sitting opposite Thierry Henry was one of them — but the most obvious was the instruction not to mention football.

Henry flew into London after Barcelona's Champions League victory away to VfB Stuttgart on Tuesday to promote a collection of clothes by Tommy Hilfiger, profits from which are going to One 4 All, the anti-racist foundation backed by the French player.

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Manchester City's renaissance under Sven-Göran Eriksson gathered momentum yesterday when two goals from Elano and Chris Riggott's defensive blunder secured an emphatic victory for the home side and strengthened their grip on third place in the Barclays Premier League.

Eyebrows were raised in the summer when City paid Shakhtar Donetsk £6 million for Elano, the Brazilian midfield player, but he has not taken long to justify the price.

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Recreativo Huelva frustrated Bernd Schuster's side for 73 minutes but could not hold out any longer as van Nistelrooy and Higuain eventually sealed Madrid's sixth win of the season.

The Real goal scorers practising their ballerina duet steps at the Bernabeu

Barcelona rose to second after they secured a comfortable 3-0 victory over Athletico Madrid thanks to goals from Deco (17), Lionel Messi (20) and Xavi (90).

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Spurs were unlucky to leave Anfield with just a point. The game with Liverpool was an extremely entertaining, end to end encounter packed with goals and incidents. Liverpool started the game better, and Voronin put Liverpool ahead as he was the quickest to react from Robinson blunder. A Gerrard freekick was deflected off the Spurs wall and Robinson reacted well to get to the ball, but couldn't hand on to it and gifted the ball straight to an alert Voronin. Click to continue reading...

Yes, the team that pioneered that pass and move concept. The team that conquered all by out passing most other opponents. Yes, its a sham to see the new Liverpool.

I thought perhaps the last game against EPL game was a blip. Their passing there was average and lackluster. I expected a much better performance from Liverpool against Marseille. Click to continue reading...

Van Persie scores a gem of a goal to keep the Arsenal momentum going. Have to say though, based on the highlights alone, there were some pretty shocking defensive mistakes. They need Gallas back, especially for games against the big guns




(Thanks palartoo) Click to continue reading...