Tottenham Hotspur finished 10 points above the relegation zone last season, after failing yet again to break in to the top 4, an ambition that is voiced at the start of every season. So, why is it that they're failing so badly? It surely has nothing to do with the fact they sold on Steed Malbranque (37 [. Click to continue reading...

Michael Chopra's two goals in the final ten minutes are enough to see off Middlesbrough 2-0 at the Stadium of Light.A game that was more frantic than metered, this was a game that took a long time for anything to build. Yes both sides had plenty of chances (per Soccernet, 21 for Sunderland, 18 for [. Click to continue reading...

Michael Chopra's two goals in the final ten minutes are enough to see off Middlesbrough 2-0 at the Stadium of Light.

A game that was more frantic than metered, this was a game that took a long time for anything to build. Yes both sides had plenty of chances (per Soccernet, 21 for Sunderland, 18 for Middlesbrough), but not many tested either Craig Gordon or Ross Turnbull. Click to continue reading...

Notable arrivals: George McCartney (West Ham), Anton Ferdinand (West Ham United), Djibril Cisse (Marseille, loan), David Healy (Fulham), Andrew Davies (Southampton, loan), El Hadji Diouf (Bolton), Nick Colgan (Ipswich), Teemu Tainio (Tottenham), Pascal Chimbonda (Tottenham), Steed Malbranque (Tottenham). Click to continue reading...

Notable arrivals: Anton Ferdinand (West Ham United), Djibril Cisse (Marseille, loan), David Healy (Fulham), Andrew Davies (Southampton, loan), El Hadji Diouf (Bolton), Nick Colgan (Ipswich), Teemu Tainio (Tottenham), Pascal Chimbonda (Tottenham), Steed Malbranque (Tottenham). Notable departures: Andrew Cole (Nottingham Forest). Click to continue reading...

Notable arrivals: Anton Ferdinand (West Ham United), Djibril Cisse (Marseille, loan), David Healy (Fulham), Andrew Davies (Southampton, loan), El Hadji Diouf (Bolton), Nick Colgan (Ipswich), Teemu Tainio (Tottenham), Pascal Chimbonda (Tottenham), Steed Malbranque (Tottenham). Notable departures: Andrew Cole (Nottingham Forest). Click to continue reading...

Everton News: Tiago turns down Everton to leave the Toffees stuck

Everton will be left reeling from the latest news that Tiago Mendes has turned down a move to Goodison Park on a season long loan. Mendes has been a flop for Juventus and Claudio Ranieri was keen to offload the midfielder.

It's the latest unwanted Everton news, as their summer in the transfer market turns into a disaster. Click to continue reading...

With a relatively lazy Friday as far as soccer news is concerned, I thought I'd put out a quick primer for the weekend's most interesting matchups. This is something I'll be doing sporadically throughout the year, though more so for domestic and continental cup competitions (when English teams are involved) rather than the Premierhip. Click to continue reading...

Notable arrivals: Djibril Cisse (Marseille, loan), David Healy (Fulham), Andrew Davies (Southampton, loan), El Hadji Diouf (Bolton), Nick Colgan (Ipswich), Teemu Tainio (Tottenham), Pascal Chimbonda (Tottenham), Steed Malbranque (Tottenham). Notable departures: Andrew Cole (Nottingham Forest) Roy Keane isn't done shopping. Click to continue reading...

Djibril Cisse (daft barber not pictured)

2007/8 Review

In their first season back in the top flight, Sunderland did just enough to survive. Although he did perhaps make a miscue or two, much credit can be attributed Roy Keane's transfer policy for maintaining Sunderland's Premiership status. Click to continue reading...

Something funny to start our post. For this, we'll go to Nicolai V. Gogol and his story, Ivan Fyodorovich and His Aunt. The setting: how will a newcomer recognize Stepan Ivanovich? "You will recognize him at once for he is the only one to wear printed cotton trousers and a yellow cotton coat. And here is another sign by which you may recognize him: when he walks he always waves his arms about. Click to continue reading...

Fernando Torres fired Liverpool to a scarcely deserved victory over Sunderland in their Premier League opener at the Stadium of Light.

The striker, scorer of the winning goal in this year's European Championships final, was anonymous for much of the evening as his partnership with £20m new boy Robbie Keane continued to stutter, but he produced a vicious drive eight minutes from time to claim the points. Click to continue reading...

Fabio Capello believes Fernando Torres is the best striker in the world, though he did not look it here. He did sink Sunderland and claim three opening-day points Liverpool barely deserved with a wonder goal seven minutes from time, however, and that is all anyone can ask of a world-class striker.

To the enviable talents fully displayed last season and in the European Championships in the summer can now be added the knack of appearing to sleepwalk through a game before bursting into life with one decisive moment. Click to continue reading...

Captain Steven Gerrard will be fit to lead Liverpool into the new season when Rafael Benitez's team start their Barclays Premier League campaign at Sunderland.

Gerrard was only used for the final 24 minutes of the disappointing Champions League draw against Standard Liege on Wednesday following a thigh injury but will be in the side at the Stadium of Light after training on Thursday and Friday. Click to continue reading...

12:30pm, live in the US on FSC

Last 4 meetings:
3-0 Liverpool (h) 02.02.08
2-0 Liverpool (a) 08.25.07
2-0 Liverpool (a) 11.30.05
1-0 Liverpool (h) 08.20.05

Referee: Alan Wiley

Guess at a squad
Reina
Arbeloa Carragher Agger Dossena
Kuyt Gerrard Alonso Benayoun
Keane
Torres

Even with the awful display on Wednesday, I expect Gerrard for Plessis to be the only change. Click to continue reading...

Well, fellow football fans, the season is finally here. Can you believe we survived an entire summer? Now that the season is here, which five matches should you absolutely make sure you get to watch? This week's Premiership Talk Friday Five tells you.

1. Sunderland vs. Liverpool. Liverpool fans and players alike have deemed this the year that they finally win the Premier League.

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Fabio Aurelio hopes to give Rafael Benitez a selection headache by declaring himself available for Saturday's Barclays Premier League opener in Sunderland.

The Brazilian left-back has been on the sidelines for most of pre-season with a shin injury but he is now back in training and determined to be fit for the big kick-off. Click to continue reading...

Backed by the loudest supporters in the Premier League last season, measured at average peak volume at 129.2 decibels, almost as loud as a jet, Sunderland will look to improve on last season's respectable 15th-place finish. The Black Cats were the only newly-promoted team to survive in the Premiership, an accomplishment in itself, but manager Roy Keane has made it clear through his summer signings that he wants more from his club. Click to continue reading...

SUNDERLAND Notable arrivals: El Hadji Diouf (Bolton), Nick Colgan (Ipswich), Teemu Tainio (Tottenham), Pascal Chimbonda (Tottenham), Steed Malbranque (Tottenham). Possibilities: Younes Kaboul (Tottenham) Notable departures: Andrew Cole (Nottingham Forest). Possible: Marton Gulop (Stoke City) Roy Keane is not done chasing. Click to continue reading...

Notable arrivals: El Hadji Diouf (Bolton), Nick Colgan (Ipswich), Teemu Tainio (Tottenham), Pascal Chimbonda (Tottenham), Steed Malbranque (Tottenham). Possibilities: Younes Kaboul (Tottenham) Notable departures: Andrew Cole (Nottingham Forest). Possible: Marton Gulop (Stoke City) Ross Wallace is heading to Preston North. Click to continue reading...

Notable arrivals: El Hadji Diouf (Bolton), Nick Colgan (Ipswich), Teemu Tainio (Tottenham), Pascal Chimbonda (Tottenham), Steed Malbranque (Tottenham). Possibilities: Younes Kaboul (Tottenham) Notable departures: Andrew Cole (Nottingham Forest). Possible: Marton Gulop (Stoke City) Ross Wallace is heading to Preston North. Click to continue reading...

Notable arrivals: El Hadji Diouf (Bolton), Nick Colgan (Ipswich), Teemu Tainio (Tottenham), Pascal Chimbonda (Tottenham), Steed Malbranque (Tottenham). Possibilities: Younes Kaboul (Tottenham) Notable departures: Andrew Cole (Nottingham Forest). Possible: Marton Gulop (Stoke City) Ross Wallace is heading to Preston North. Click to continue reading...

Tottenham's Steed Malbranque having medical at Sunderland

Steed Malbranque was today undergoing a medical at the Stadium of Light as he prepared to become the latest player to join Sunderland from Tottenham.

Sunderland manager Roy Keane has persuaded the Frenchman to become his third signing from Spurs after agreeing a £23 million deal with the north London club for a quartet of their first team.

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Juande Ramos ha obiettivi ben precisi: conquistare la Champions League la prossima stagione e onorare al meglio la UEFA quest'anno. Per farlo il vulcanico tecnico iberico vuole portare l'ala David Bentley - di proprietà del Blackburn - e la seconda punta Andrei Arshavin al White Hart Lane. Gli Spurs dovranno offrire 36 milioni di sterline (circa 45 milioni di euro) per arrivare ai cartellini di entrambi i giocatori. Click to continue reading...

Notable arrivals: El Hadji Diouf (Bolton), Nick Colgan (Ipswich), Teemu Tainio (Tottenham), Pascal Chimbonda (Tottenham). Possibilities: Steed Malbranque and Younes Kaboul (Tottenham) Notable departures: Andrew Cole (Nottingham Forest). Possible: Marton Gulop (Stoke City) Anton Ferdinand is not done being chased. Click to continue reading...

Are Spurs an even bigger laughing stock than Newcastle? The cries of "Dimitar Berbatov" coming from the Fart Hart Lane crowd are slowly fading... The chants of "Keano" have already shifted 200 miles north to Liverpool... And for some bizarre reason Ramos spent £16.5 Million on Modric from Dinamo Zagreb, a team that in all fairness would have taken £6 million for him. Click to continue reading...

As the summer wears on, Roy Keane continues building a new Sunderland squad for the coming season. Having already clinched the signings of El Hadji Diouf, Pascal Chimbonda, David Meyler, Nick Colgan, and Teemu Tainio, Keane is now turning his efforts towards West Ham winger Luis Boa Morte.

In addition to the possibility of signing Luis Boa Morte, Sunderland has two deals hanging in the balance with Tottenham players Younes Kaboul and Steed Malbranque. Click to continue reading...