F.A. Premiership 2009/2010

[abadani69]

Premier League leaders Manchester United continue their title bid against Aston Villa on Saturday knowing that champions Chelsea, though wounded, will come out fighting in the coming months.

Three consecutive draws for Chelsea allowed United to stride into 2007 six points clear but the Londoners are unlikely to continue being so charitable when central defender and inspirational skipper John Terry finally returns from injury.

Terry, who escaped a ban in midweek after admitting an improper conduct charge during the November defeat at Tottenham Hotspur, had been expected to play some part against Wigan Athletic on Saturday after back surgery.

However, manager Jose Mourinho said after their 1-1 League Cup semi-final first leg draw with Wycombe Wanderers in midweek that Terry would not be ready to face Wigan.

United take on Villa for the third time in less than a month, having won the league clash at Villa Park 3-0 followed by last week's 2-1 FA Cup defeat of the Midlands club.

That made it 10 straight wins against Villa and although the odds are stacked heavily on an 11th at Old Trafford, United's assistant manager Carlos Queiroz has warned they must maintain their form.

"We deserve our position because we're playing the best football in the league at the moment and all the lads are doing very well," he told Manchester United Radio.

SIX CLEAR

"We haven't won anything yet though. We cannot just enjoy the fact that we're six points clear, we need to build on that. If we don't, then that is when you make mistakes and one small mistake could represent big punishment for us."

Chelsea's last league win came at Wigan on Dec. 23 when Arjen Robben scored in stoppage time to seal a fortunate 3-2 victory.

They should get back to winning ways on Saturday, especially as five straight league defeats for Wigan leaves them hovering just above the drop zone.

Third-placed Liverpool will be hoping to put a miserable week behind them at bottom club Watford.

Tuesday's shattering 6-3 home defeat by Arsenal in the League Cup following on the heels of a 3-1 FA Cup exit against the same opponents, also at Anfield, has left the club with little prospect of silverware this season.

They are 14 points shy of United and face European champions Barcelona in the Champions League.

Injuries to Luis Garcia and Mark Gonzales during the League Cup drubbing doubled the misery for manager Rafael Benitez who has come under fire from fans over his team selection.

Fourth-placed Arsenal are certain to find their trip to in-form Blackburn Rovers more testing.

Since losing 6-2 to Arsenal at The Emirates stadium last month, Rovers have won four in a row and rejoined the battle for UEFA Cup places.

In other weekend fixtures Bolton Wanderers, in fifth place, host Manchester City and Portsmouth, in sixth, travel to relegation-threatened Sheffield United.

Movements through the transfer window have been scarce so far, although West Ham United have acted quickly to try to rescue their increasingly dire situation.

The Hammers, third from bottom after a New Year's Day horror show at Reading where they lost 6-0, will have new signing Luis Boa Morte in action against his old club Fulham.

Seventh-placed Tottenham Hotspur take on Newcastle United on Sunday when Everton host Reading.

[abadani69]

Manchester United saw off Aston Villa at Old Trafford for the second time in a week as they maintained their six-point lead at the top of the Barclays Premiership.

After Sunday's narrow 2-1 FA Cup win, the Red Devils completely overran their opponents 3-1 this afternoon thanks to goals from Park Ji-Sung, Michael Carrick's first for the club and Cristiano Ronaldo's 13th of the season. Villa have not won in 12 matches.

Terrible defending from the visitors gifted United an 11th-minute opener, Park stroking home after being presented the ball by a mishit clearance by Gary Cahill.

Two minutes later the winger turned provider, crossing from the right for Carrick, who teed himself up before shooting with just enough power to beat Thomas Sorensen.

Carrick then set up the third, his teasing cross giving Ronaldo the simplest of headed finishes.

Gabriel Agbonlahor hit back seven minutes after halftime, tapping in after a superb run down the right from Milan Baros.

Wayne Rooney almost made it 4-1 when he hit the bar with a 20-yard curler.

Champions Chelsea got back to winning ways in the Premiership after dismissing Wigan 4-0 at Stamford Bridge.

Frank Lampard's freak goal opened the scoring, the Blues' stand-in skipper whipping in a free-kick wide from the left which evaded everyone before sneaking in at the far post.

Not long after halftime Arjen Robben made it 2-0 after latching onto an atrocious back pass from Wigan new boy Kristofer Haestad and rounding Chris ***kland.

Chelsea's third went down as a ***kland own goal, as Robben's cross deflected off his legs into the net, and Didier Drogba made it 4-0 in stoppage-time with a header.

Philippe Christanval also scored in injury-time, his first goal in English football snatching Fulham a 3-3 draw at struggling West Ham.

Tomasz Radzinski shinned in a Heidar Helguson flick-on from a corner to put the Cottagers ahead before Bobby Zamora replaced the injured Carlos Tevez and netted Carlton Cole's flick-on to level with his 100th league goal and first in 19 games.

Fourteen seconds into the second half and the home side were in front, Zamora flicking the ball through to Yossi Benayoun, whose brilliant chip sailed over Jan Lastuvka.

Brian McBride then equalized for Fulham, powerfully heading in Moritz Volz's cross, but Benayoun pounced on some shockingly indecisive defending to net what looked to be the winner.

Zamora was then shown a second yellow card and Fulham eventually made the extra man pay as Christanval volleyed home a dramatic equalizer.

Charlton sunk deeper into trouble after blowing a 1-0 lead at home to Middlesbrough.

The Addicks' revival under Alan Pardew looked like continuing when Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink ended his 12-game Premiership goal drought, the Dutchman's volley bouncing off the turf and completely deceiving goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer.

However, Lee Cattermole stroked home in stoppage-time to level matters and Julio Arca turned the game on its head shortly after the hour mark when he netted following Hermann Hreidarsson's inability to clear the danger.

Aiyegbeni Yakubu's 25-yard screamer wrapped up a 3-1 win for Gareth Southgate's men.

More appalling defending cost Sheffield United maximum points at Bramall Lane.

A superb free-kick by youngster Stephen Quinn put the Blades on their way to what appeared a 1-0 win over Portsmouth.

But Claude Davis got the ball caught under his feet in the box, allowing Gary O'Neil to stroke the ball into an empty net.

Davis almost redeemed himself when he headed against the post in stoppage-time.

At the Reebok Stadium, Bolton failed to break down Manchester City as the in-form visitors kept their recent unbeaten run going with a goalless draw.

In the early kick-off, Craig Bellamy inspired Liverpool to a 3-0 win at relegation-threatened Watford as the Reds responded to their midweek humbling by Arsenal in the best possible fashion.

Bellamy scored the first goal, made decisive contributions as Peter Crouch struck the other two, and destroyed Adrian Boothroyd's bottom-of-the-table side with his pace, movement and creativity.

Watford began the day 10 points adrift of safety and now look relegation certainties. The Hornets showed little of the combative spirit they displayed in their early games.

[donsaeid]

هفته بيست و سوم ليگ برتر انگليس

تاتنهام و نيوكاسل ملاقات آشنايان قديمي


هفته بيست و سوم ليگ برتر انگليس فردا (يكشنبه) با انجام دو بازي پايان مي يابد.



به نقل از سايت رسمي مسابقات ليگ، تيم اورتون در ورزشگاه خانگي خويش ميزبان ريدينگ است. در ديداري ديگر تاتنهام* به استقبال آشناي قديمي خود از نيوكاسل يونايتد خواهد رفت.

اين دو مسابقه از شبكه*هاي ماهواره*اي اسكاي اسپرت، پرمير اسپرت، كويت اسپرت، و تلويزيون لهستان به صورت زنده پخش خواهد شد.

جدول رده*بندي ليگ برتر انلگيس:
1- منچستر يونايتد 54 امتياز
2- چلسي 48 امتياز
3- ليورپول 40 امتياز
4- آرسنال 39 امتياز
5- بولتون واندرز 39 امتياز
6- پورتسموت 36 امتياز
7- تاتنهام 32 امتياز
8- اورتون 31 امتياز
9- ريدينگ 30 امتياز
10- منچستر سيتي 29 امتياز

[abadani69]

Sir Alex Ferguson believes Manchester United's firepower gives it every chance of ending Chelsea's reign as Barclay's Premiership champions.

United have scored 52 goals in 23 games this season - three of which came in Saturday's win over Aston Villa.

Strikes from Ji-Sung Park, Michael Carrick and Cristiano Ronaldo secured a 3-1 victory which maintained United's six-point lead over Chelsea at the top of the Premiership.

"There are several things in our favor in the second half of the season," Ferguson said. "We have youth in our team and historically we are consistent and strong at this stage.

"But the other important factor is there is a goal threat about us. That must give a big chance and an edge."

Gabriel Agbonlahor grabbed the consolation for Villa, who, after such a bright start to the season, have now gone 12 games without a win.

"Considering we were the last side in the Premiership to get beaten, it has changed around now," Aston manager Martin O'Neill said. "We are well aware we need to get some points on the board."

Chelsea's 4-0 drubbing of Wigan was overshadowed by the continued speculation surrounding the future of manager Jose Mourinho.

The self-proclaimed "special one" is contracted to Chelsea until 2010 but he refused to reassure supporters he will be at Stamford Bridge after this season.

"My future is not important in this context and in this moment everyone in the club should think about the club and not himself," he said.

The win was secured courtesy of Frank Lampard, Arjen Robben, an own goal by Chris ***kland and Didier Drogba's 14th league strike.

Wigan boss Paul Jewell, who felt his side had gifted Chelsea the points, was not happy about the side's latest effort.

"We can't afford to give any team three goals, let alone Chelsea," he said. "We are making basic mistakes at the moment."

Liverpool striker Peter Crouch would not rule Chelsea out of the title race - and he believes it could be galvanized by its recent troubles.

"Are Chelsea in turmoil? Not at all. They are still second in the league and have a great tally of points," said Crouch, who scored twice in Liverpool's 3-0 win at Watford.

"They will be angry with what has been said recently the same as we were today and they will want to go out there and get a result," he added.

Liverpool rebounded well from its 6-3 Carling Cup defeat to Arsenal with goals from Craig Bellamy and Crouch.

"I think I am young as a manager but I have experience from being in bad situations (with Valencia)," Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez said. "I always say that after a Sunday there is a Monday. You can learn from your situations and improve."

Arsenal produced one of its best away performances of the season to beat Blackburn, 2-0, with goals from Kolo Toure and Thierry Henry helping to make light of Gilberto's sending off.

Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger ruled out a late title bid - but the Gunners could still have a major say in the destiny of the championship with Manchester United due at the Emirates Stadium next Sunday.

"The title is not realistic but we go game by game and against Manchester United it's just another opportunity to take three points and reduce the distance," Wenger said.

At the bottom of the Premiership, Watford's defeat to Liverpool was its 11th of the season, while Fulham heaped further misery on struggling West Ham.

The Hammers seemed on course for three valuable points after a strike from Bobby Zamora and two from Yossi Benayoun.

But Fulham defender Philippe Christanval struck two minutes into added time to secure a 3-3 draw.

Charlton sunk deeper into trouble after blowing a 1-0 lead at home to Middlesbrough.

Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink ended his 12-game Premiership goal drought but Boro took advantage of slack defending with goals from Lee Cattermole, Julio Arca and Aiyegbeni Yakubu.

"Make no mistake - it is not over yet," Addick boss Alan Pardew said. "We are not all sitting in the dressing room thinking our days are numbered in the Premiership."

A mix-up between Sheffield United defender Claude Davis and goalkeeper Paul Gerrard cost the Blades the chance of maximum points as they drew 1-1 with Portsmouth.

Gary O'Neil took advantage of the mistake to level the scores following Stephen Quinn's free-kick and Gerrard now hopes he does not live to regret the error.

"I'm really gutted because it's a massive two points for a club whose aim is to stay in this league," he said. "We hope they don't cost us."

Bolton and Manchester City shared a goalless draw to round out Saturday's action.

On Sunday, Newcastle striker Obafemi Martins turned the game on its head to secure the points in a thrilling 3-2 win over Tottenham.

Jermain Defoe opened the scoring in the 14th minute after a host of saves by Shay Given, but Paul Huntington equalized moments later.

Dimitar Berbatov restored the lead in the second half but then Martins scored with a fierce drive before teeing up Nicky Butt to claim the winner.

But it was the club's youngsters, led by goalscorer Huntington, who caught the eye of manager Glenn Roeder.

"These young boys out there today, three or four of them who've come through the academy, it's been a tough baptism for them over the past six or seven weeks because of all the injuries," he said. "But I thought today they were absolutely tremendous, as were the senior players."

Everton's Andrew Johnson scored four minutes from time to claim a 1-1 draw for the Toffees against Steve Coppell's Reading.

Joleon Lescott had earlier turned the ball into his own net following Stephen Hunt's header, leaving manager David Moyes furious both with his side and the officials.

"We made some poor decisions ourselves in that first half, and then we conceded a terrible goal," he said. "I felt it was a shabby goal that we conceded.

It was offside, and the linesman was right there and didn't give it, which is disappointing."

[donsaeid]

سرمربي تيم فوتبال منچستريونايتد انگليس پس از پيروزي ۳بر يك تيمش مقابل استون ويلا گفت: اينكه بازيكنان حواسشان به حرف*هايي كه در مورد قهرماني زده مي*شود پرت نشود، بسيار مهم است.

به گزارش خبرگزاري فرانسه از لندن، منچستريونايتد با اين پيروزي، شش امتياز اختلاف خود را در صدر جدول ليگ برتر با چلسي حفظ كرد.

در همين راستا چلسي نيز با پايان دادن به روند تساوي*هاي خود، پس از پيروزي ۴بر صفر مقابل ويگان همچنان در مكان دوم جدول باقي ماند.

"الكس فرگوسن" كه تيمش در ديدار بعدي خود با تيم چهارم جدول يعني آرسنال ديدار مي*كند، گفت: مي*خواهيم براي كسب نتيجه به لندن برويم. اين تنها چيزي است كه مي*توانيم به آن فكر كنيم.

پس از مسابقات شنبه شب، ليورپول نيز با پيروزي ۳بر صفر مقابل واتفورد در مكان سوم جدول باقي ماند.

آرسنال هم با وجود اينكه بيشتر مسابقه خود را ۱۰نفره بازي كرد، توانست بلكبرن را ۲بر صفر شكست دهد.

"آرسن ونگر" پس از اين مسابقه گفت: به خوبي مسابقه را كنترل كرديم.

در مجموع بازيكنان عملكرد خوبي از خود به نمايش گذاشتند. ما تيم بسيار جواني هستيم.

وي در مورد كارت قرمز "گيلبرتو" اظهار داشت: پذيرفتنش خيلي سخت است.

گيلبرتو گفت كه با بازيكن حريف برخورد نكرده است با وجود اين نبايد آن كار را انجام مي*داد.

در ديگر مسابقات ديشب، چارلتون ۳بر يك مقابل ميدلزبورو شكست خورد در حاليكه وستهام با تساوي ۳بر ۳برابر فولهام همچنان در آستانه سقوط باقي ماند.

بولتون با تساوي بدون گل مقابل منچسترسيتي در مكان پنجم ايستاد و پورتس موث پس از تساوي يك بر يك مقابل شفيلد يونايتد، ششم ماند.

[donsaeid]

ر هفته بيست و چهارم ليگ برتر انگليس

يك تقابل سنتي ديگر ميان آرسنال و منچستر


تب فوتبال در انگليس فردا (يكشنبه) به دليل تقابل دو قدرت سنتي اين كشور به اوج مي*رسد.



به نقل از سايت رسمي ليگ برتر، تيم*هاي* آرسنال و منچستر يونايتد، به عنوان دو قدرت هميشگي فوتبال انگليسي جدال حساس و دلهره*آوري را در جريان دومين روز از هفته بيست* و چهارم ليگ برتر انجام مي*دهند.

اين رويارويي در حالي شكل مي گيرد كه آرسنال در بازي رفت موفق شد با يك گل در اولدترافورد پيروزي مقابل منچستر را جشن بگيرد.

اين تيم اكنون باتوجه به ميزباني در ورزشگاه خانگي خود در الامارات، انديشه*هاي براي تكرار كسب پيروزي در اين ديدار دارد.

هر چند منچستر يونايتد به رهبري سرآلكس فرگوسن، در اوج آمادگي قرار دارد و رقابت با آن بسيار دشوار است.

در آخرين مسابقه فردا ويگان آتلتيك ميزبان اورتون است.

[donsaeid]

كري مربي فرانسوي آرسنال با اولدترافوردي*ها

ونگر: منچستر را شكست مي*دهيم


سرمربي تيم فوتبال آرسنال گفت: آمادگي مقابله با منچستر درجدال بزرگ روز يكشنبه را در ورزشگاه الامارات *داريم.



به نقل از سايت اخبار فوتبال جهان، آرسن ونگر اظهار داشت: وقتي بحث رقابت بر سر قهرماني در ميان است، قطعا آرسنال براي پيروزي مي*جنگند.

وي افزود: براي پيروزي ابزار و امكانات را در اختيار داريم. خواهان كاهش فاصله امتيازاتمان با منچستر هستيم و براي اين منظور، پيروزي مي*تواند به ما خيلي كمك كند.

اين مربي آنگاه بيان كرد: هواداران فوتبال در انگليس آخر هفته بسيار پرهيجاني را در پيش رو دارند زيرا از يك سود با منچستر روبرو مي*شويم و چلسي هم با ليورپول ديدار مي*كند.

اين مربي با اشاره به قدرت زياد تيمش براي جدال با رقيب سنتي، عنوان كرد: مي*دانيم قدرت و توانايي شكست منچستر را داريم. به همين دليل بود كه در بازي رفت توانستيم منچستر را مغلوب كنيم. چرا نتوانيم در خانه آن را تكرار كنيم.

اين مربي با اشاره به حضور گسترده هواداران در ورزشگاه الامارات، اظهار داشت: يكي از عوامل برتري ما، اين ورزشگاه است. تماشاگران به طور گسترده دراين ورزشگاه ما را حمايت مي كنند تا براي يك پيروزي ديگر تكرار شود.

ونگر ادامه داد: بررسي كارنامه آرسنال نشان مي*دهد چه بازي*هاي خوبي مقابل چلسي، ليورپول و منچستر انجام داده*ايم. فقط مقابل برخي تيم*هاي درجه دو امتيازاتي را از دست داده*ايم؛ ضعفي كه مطمئنا آن را برطرف مي**سازيم

[abadani69]

Liverpool put a major dent in Chelsea's Barclays Premiership title aspirations with a comfortable 2-0 victory at Anfield in the day's early kickoff.

Rafael Benitez's side raced into a two-goal lead inside 20 minutes thanks to Dirk Kuyt's cool finish in the fourth minute and Jermaine Pennant's dipping volley.

John Arne Riise hit the crossbar for the home side after the interval as Benitez claimed his first league win over the Premiership champions since taking charge in 2004.

Newcastle came back from two goals down to claim a 2-2 draw with West Ham at St James' Park.

The Hammers went ahead when Carlton Cole finished in the 19th minute after a corner caused chaos and Marlon Harewood turned Peter Ramage to double the lead four minutes later.

James Milner's half-cross, half-shot in the 45th minute handed Newcastle a lifeline - despite the ball passing through the legs of an attacker standing in an offside position.

The home side leveled matters when Nolberto Solano slotted home a 53rd-minute penalty kick following Luis Boa Morte's needless hand ball. Calum Davenport had a headed goal disallowed for climbing and Solano's deflected shot struck the post.

Reading hammered Sheffield United, 3-1, in a fiery encounter at the Madejski Stadium which saw Blades manager Neil Warnock red-carded.

Both sides struggled to create chances before Shane Long side-footed home off a post in the 44th minute following good work from Steve Sidwell. Ulises de la Cruz doubled the lead five minutes after the break.

United substitute Keith Gillespie was sent off seconds after coming on for lashing out at Stephen Hunt. Warnock and Royals coach Wally Downes followed as tempers threatened to boil over.

Hunt added a third in the 70th minute after Sidwell's effort was blocked on the line before Christian Nade pulled one back.

Middlesbrough romped to a 5-1 victory over 10-man Bolton at the Riverside after a goal-packed first half.

Boro scored in the sixth minute when Gary Speed turned the ball into his own net. Abel Xavier made it 2-0 at the 10-minute mark, Mark Viduka added a third in the 23rd minute and Stewart Downing cracked a stunning fourth in the 44th minute, with Kevin Nolan's 25th-minute effort scant consolation for Wanderers.

To make matters worse, striker El-Hadji Diouf was dismissed for dissent after the break and Viduka added a fifth.

Charlton snatched a crucial 1-0 victory at Portsmouth thanks to Amady Faye's late effort.

The hosts started brightly against Alan Pardew's strugglers, but Bryan Hughes should have handed the Addicks the lead when he miscued from Marcus Bent's header across the six-yard line.

Faye scored a precious winner for Charlton when he burst onto Hughes' flick to stab home with 11 minutes remaining.

Aston Villa showed just why they need to sign Watford striker Ashley Young as they spurned a host of chances before Malky Mackay's 86th-minute own goal and Gabriel Agbonlahor's 91st-minute strike handed them a 2-0 win over the Hornets.

Milan Baros and Steven Davis had great chances to open the scoring for Martin O'Neill's team - seeking their first win in 12 matches - in the first half.

Baros was denied by a fantastic 1-on-1 save by Ben Foster in the second half and missed from two yards under pressure before the late strikes secured the points.

Vincenzo Montella's late penalty kick was not enough for 10-man Fulham to claim a 1-1 draw over London rivals Tottenham.

Heidar Helguson tried to flick home from close in but Paul Robinson saved well from point-blank range before the Iceland international was sent off for two bookings just after halftime.

Montella's 84th-minute spot kick followed Michael Dawson's hand ball on the line - for which he was surprisingly booked rather than dismissed - before Pascal Chimbonda scored an equalizer in the 88th minute.

[abadani69]

Chelsea's hopes of emerging from their current crisis to win a third straight Premiership title suffered a major setback as Jose Mourinho's side slumped to a 2-0 defeat at Liverpool.

A fourth-minute goal from Dirk Kuyt and a stunning 25-yard from Jermaine Pennant on Saturday allowed Rafael Benitez's side to establish a stranglehold on the match inside the first 20 minutes, and Chelsea never looked capable of breaking it.

With better finishing, Liverpool's first Premiership win over Mourinho's Chelsea could have been achieved by a much bigger margin and the insipid nature of the champions performance will do little to dampen speculation that the Portuguese manager's time in London is nearing its end.

The background of internal conflict at Stamford Bridge was reflected in the team-sheet, with 30-million-pound striker Andriy Shevchenko restricted to the bench.

Petr Cech's first appearance since he suffered a horrific head injury in a match against Reading in October did offer a solitary element of comfort for the travelling supporters.

But even Cech's reassuring presence could not compensate for the continuing absence of injured skipper John Terry from the heart of a defence deprived of the suspended Claude Makelele's unrivalled shielding qualities.

Having spent the last three and a half months recovering from a fractured skull, Cech deserved better from his back four than to be left completely exposed barely three minutes into his comeback game.

Chelsea's pair of makeshift centrebacks, Michael Essien and Paulo Ferreira were both at fault, failing to close down either Peter Crouch, as he rose to meet a long ball to the edge of the area, or Kuyt as he latched on to his team-mate's flick-on.

The Dutch striker knocked the bouncing ball forward past Ferreira with his head and an unstoppable shot ensured Cech's first contribution was to pick the ball out of the empty net.

Three minutes later, the Czech international, playing in a protective helmet, was able to demonstrate why he has been so badly missed, getting down smartly to his right to deny John Arne Riise when the Norwegian wingback should have scored.

Chelsea finally mustered an effort on goal but Didier Drogba's header from a Lampard corner slipped comfortably wide and Liverpool soon doubled their lead.

Again, it was a long ball fired towards the edge of the area that generated the opening. Essien was unchallenged as he met it but his headed clearance was directed straight at Pennant on the right of the box.

The former Arsenal winger took one touch to control it before striking the bouncing ball over Cech and into the net via the underside of the bar close to the far post.

Three minutes later, Mourinho pulled off Arjen Robben. The Dutch winger may have been suffering from the knock he had received earlier but the manner in which he ripped off his shirt and headed straight down the tunnel without a glance at his manager suggested otherwise.

Even trailing by two goals, Mourinho was not prepared to introduce Shevchenko, opting instead to hand Shaun Wright-Phillips a left-sided role in which he has reapetedly failed to flourish.

This was no exception to that rule as Chelsea laboured to generate any kind of opening as a swirling wind made fluid football increasingly difficult.

Liverpool, for the most part, were content to sit on their lead, although they could and should have killed the contest by taking one of the three chances they generated in quick succession around the hour mark.

Two of them were wasted by Peter Crouch, who nodded Steve Finnan's whipped cross tamely into the arms of Cech from inside the six-yard box, then produced an equally insipid header as he followed up the rebound from a 40-yard Riise drive that had clattered against the bar with the Chelsea goalkeeper beaten.

Kuyt then volleyed wide at the back post after the energetic Riise had got round Geremi on the left.

Shevchenko got his chance with 17 minutes left but by then Chelsea were a beaten team.

[abadani69]

Arsene Wenger believes his young Arsenal side need to copy the Manchester United of David Beckham if they are to become English champions.

The two sides meet in Sunday's showcase game in north London with United arriving as Premier League leaders and Arsenal lying 15 points adrift after an erratic campaign.

Hit by injuries to striker Thierry Henry, now fit, and experienced defender William Gallas, who is still out, Wenger accepts this season's title is probably beyond a side with many players in their early 20s or younger.

However, he believes they are developing the winning mentality shown in the 1990s by an all-conquering United side of youngsters with Beckham, Paul Scholes and Ryan Giggs.

"There's one ingredient you never master well as a manager, even with a lot of experience and a lot of development of players, and that is to know...if a player is going to be a winner at the top level," Wenger said. "No matter how good he is.

"Sometimes to win a game, when there are 10 minutes to go and both teams are playing poorly, somebody has to find something because he's a winner.

"I'm optimistic, because it looks like in my team the young players have the ingredient not only to be very good players but also to be winners. And that makes the difference.

"It makes the difference for a generation like Scholes, Giggs and Beckham. They won the championship once, twice, three, four times and they were still hungry. Because they were winners."

TITLE POTENTIAL

As for Arsenal's future, he said: "I believe we have the potential to become Premiership winners that's why I developed this team.

"Patience is not my greatest quality, I thought they would be ready this year. I have not given up...but it was a bit early for us this year, unless we'd had no injuries at all, Thierry Henry not out, Gallas not out and to have them always in good shape."

Scholes, on sparkling form this season as a 32-year-old, and Giggs, are likely to feature on Sunday, along with United's new generation, led by winger Cristiano Ronaldo and striker Wayne Rooney.

Though Arsenal will not rein in their attacking instincts, Wenger expects them to be a bit more careful against the Premier League's top-scoring side.

"A little bit more attention," he said. "Because they have more players who can make a difference. United have (Henrik) Larsson, Rooney, Ronaldo, Giggs and Scholes.

"We have to make a team plan to try and stop them expressing their strengths, because if they do, one of them can make the difference. As soon as your defensive focus drops a little bit, you are under pressure."

Wenger, who said he enjoyed watching United this season, has had his differences with Alex Ferguson and the Scot's teams in the past, notably when United ended Arsenal's record 49-game unbeaten league run in 2004.

But he told reporters: "Over the years you (the media) are more conscious of our differences, but we have a lot of things in common as well.

"One of the things is the passion for winning and passion for the game. You do not last in our job if you have no passion."

[donsaeid]

ليورپول جبران مافات كرد


تيم فوتبال ليورپول توانست باخت*هاي بحث*انگيز خود مقابل بزرگان فوتبال انگليس با كسب نتيجه*اي مطلوب جبران كند.



به نقل از سايت رسمي مسابقات، ليورپولي*ها موفق شدند در ديدار حساس برابر چلسي در آنفيلدرود و در آغاز هفته بيست و چهارم، به پيروزي 2 بر صفر دست يابند.

اين تيم كه در هفته*هاي اخير به سبب نتايج ضعيف مورد انتقاد رسانه*ها و هوادارانش واقع شده بود، از سوي ديرك كوئيت 4 و ژرمين پنتانت 18 دروازه چلسي را فرو ريخت تا ناكامي جديدي در كارنامه مردان خوزه مورينيو ثبت شود.

از طرفي ليورپول با اين نتيجه موفق شد انتقام باخت بازي رفت را بگيرد زيرا در آن يك بر صفر بازي را واگذار كرده بود.

* ساير نتايج به شرح زير است:

ريدينگ 3- شفيلد يونايتد يك
پورتسموت صفر- چارلتون يك
نيوكاسل2- وستهام 2
ميدلزبورو 5- بولتون يك
فولهام يك- تاتنهام يك
آستون ويلا 2- واتفورد صفر
منچسترسيتي صفر- بلاكبرن 3

* جدول *رده*بندي:
1- منچستر يونايتد 57 امتياز
2- چلسي 51 امتياز
3- ليورپول 46 امتياز
4- آرسنال 42 امتياز
5- بولتون 40 امتياز

[donsaeid]

تمرين بوكس كنار زمين فوتبال

مربيان ريدينگ و شفيلد اخراج شدند


مربيان تيم*هاي شفيلد يونايتد و ريدينگ از ليگ برتر انگليس به زد و خورد پرداخته و كنار زمين، به مشت زني روي آوردند.



به نقل از سايت اخبار فوتبال جهان، هنگاميكه در بازي عصر روز شنبه كيت* ژيلپسه، بازيكن شفيلد پس از وارد كردن ضربه*اي به سينه استفان هونت، بازيكن ريدينگ، اخراج شد، جنجال اوج گرفت.

كنار زمين نيل *وارنك و ويلي دانز، مربيان دو تيم به نزاع پرداختند.

اين گزارش حاكيست، در اين درگيري حتي كمك مربيان دو تيم وارد معركه شده و جنجال آفرين شدند.

وقتي اين ماجرا به پايان رسيد، مارك هالسي داور مربيان دو تيم را به علت عدم رعايت اخلاق ورزشي و جنجال آفريني اخراج كرد و روي سكو فرستاد.

اين مسابقه با نتيجه 3 بر يك به سود ريدينگ به پايان رسيد.

[abadani69]

Late goals by Robin van Persie and Thierry Henry gave Arsenal a thrilling 2-1 win over Manchester United on Sunday, shattering the visitors' bid to open a nine-point lead in the Premier League.

A day after second-placed Chelsea lost 2-0 at Liverpool, England striker Wayne Rooney headed United into a 53rd-minute lead that could potentially have decided the title race.

But Van Persie came off the substitutes' bench to score an 83rd-minute equaliser and captain Henry headed a fine stoppage-time winner.

Though victory completed a league double over United after Arsenal's 1-0 win at Old Trafford in September, it was marred by Van Persie suffering a broken bone in his foot that almost certainly means a long spell on the sidelines.

United, chasing their first league title since 2003, have 57 points after 24 games. Chelsea, champions for the last two seasons, have 51 points, Liverpool 46 and Arsenal 45.

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger said his team's victory had thrown open the title race and that determination and team spirit had turned the game around.

"It was a test of character, resilience and togetherness," he told a news conference.

"I believe we went until the end, right up to the last second, because we really wanted to win. In the last 20 minutes, it was all us."

United manager Alex Ferguson was at a loss to explain how his side had lost a game they were leading after conceding two goals following high crosses from the right flank.

"They kept hitting long balls up to Henry and (Emmanuel) Adebayor and we were coping with that great....We've lost two goals from positions I didn't think we would lose goals in. But that's football," he told Sky Sports.

FOOT INJURY

The only cloud on the horizon for Arsenal was a broken fifth metatarsal for Van Persie, an injury which Wenger said the striker had sustained in his goal celebration.

The break, likely to sideline him for at least six weeks, will be a major setback for Arsenal as the Dutchman is their top league scorer with 11 goals.

Arsenal, who flirted with their first defeat at their new Emirates Stadium, will be grateful though for a win secured by some relentless second-half pressure.

United seized the early initiative, with Rooney, Cristiano Ronaldo and Henrik Larsson stringing passes through a hesitant Arsenal defence.

Years of rivalry, along with the current title stakes, meant there were plenty of crunching tackles. Space was at a premium and clearcut chances almost non-existent.

United nearly snatched the lead on the stroke of halftime, though, when Jens Lehmann tipped a Rooney shot onto the bar and over and then palmed away a Larsson header from the corner.

Rooney was not to be denied eight minutes after the re-start, though, when United defender Patrice Evra made a good run down the left, his cross was touched on by Arsenal's Kolo Toure and the England striker dived to head home at the far post. It was his first goal in 13 games since early December.

ARSENAL PRESSURE

Arsenal pressed for an equaliser but struggled to create real chances against a well-drilled United defence, while Ferguson's side also threatened to score a second on the break.

It looked over for Arsenal until two crosses changed everything. Van Persie rifled home the first from Tomas Rosicky at the far post and Henry hit the net with a bullet header from Emmanuel Eboue's ball with the second.

Earlier, Everton inflicted Wigan Athletic's seventh league defeat in a row with a 2-0 victory at the JJB Stadium. Spanish playmaker Mikel Arteta scored both.

Everton's England striker Andy Johnson was carried off on a stretcher with an ankle injury.

[abadani69]

Sir Alex Ferguson has insisted that the pain of his side's defeat by Arsenal will bolster their determination to hold off Chelsea in the Premiership title run-in.

Ferguson watched in disbelief at the Emirates Stadium on Sunday as late goals from Robin van Persie and Thierry Henry gave the Gunners a 2-1 win after Wayne Rooney had put United on track for a win that would have sent them nine points clear of Chelsea.

But the United boss was philosophical about his side's failure to extract any advantage from Chelsea's 2-0 defeat at Liverpool on Saturday.

"There is a big disappointment in a sense," Ferguson acknowledged. "But we have seven important away games to come and that will be good for us, no question about that.

"If we get in that winning position again, we won't be making that mistake, I can tell you that."

United appeared in control of the contest after Rooney, who had failed to score in his previous seven matches, headed in a Patrice Evra cross eight minutes into the second half.

But van Persie slid in behind Gary Neville to connect with Cesc Fabregas's cross for the equaliser with seven minutes left, setting the stage for Henry to claim his last-minute winner with a bullet header from Emmanuel Eboue's delivery.

Ferguson will have to look at how United leaked two goals from crosses from the right of the area but he insisted he had not seen anything to worry about in his side's overall display.

"These games are always difficult," he added. "You can't say you are going to dominate a game for 90 minutes. Arsenal had moments in the game when they had control of possession, particularly in the second half and maybe we sat back a little bit whereas in the first half we controlled it.

"But our form is good and I thought we had the best player on the pitch in Michael Carrick. I thought he was absolutely magnificent. With that kind of ability and players like that we know we are going to be alright.

"The experience of losing will be good for us. The funny thing now is we have a game less now and we're a goal better off from yesterday (Saturday) so it's not all doom and gloom."

Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger claimed United had blown the chance to effectively wrap up the title, although he also acknowledged that he did not expect Ferguson's squad to "crumble" in the aftermath of this setback.

"With ten minutes to go Man Utd was certainly maybe champions, but at the end of a game you cannot say that," the Frenchman said. "This will open it up for everybody. For us and Liverpool a little bit less but you never know."

With 12 points still to make up on United and only 14 games left to play, Arsenal look to have left it too late to mount a serious challenge.

But Wenger was delighted with the grit displayed by his side as they went in search of the equaliser and then the winner.

"Once they scored, it was a test of charcter, togetherness and resilience -- qualities that are very important for the development of the team," he said.

"I believe we went to the end because we wanted to win until the last second and in the last 20 minutes it was all us.

"I feel that this team is developing, they are developing into young hungry lions led well now by Henry who was not well served today but did not give up and worked hard for the team and in the end got rewarded.

"To be one-nil down against the leader of the league and in the end to win, that can only make us stronger for the coming matches and can only be good for the morale of the team."

Henry's winner was the most dramatic moment yet to be witnessed at the Emirates Stadium, where Arsenal remain unbeaten five months into their residency at their state-of-the-art new home.

A neat one-two with Thomas Rosicky sent Eboue to the touchline and the Ivorian fullback delivered perfectly for Henry to power the winner past Edwin van der Sar's outstretched right hand.

United had enjoyed the better of the first-half with Arsenal goalkeeper Jens Lehmann producing fine saves to keep out a long-range effort from Rooney and a header from Henrik Larsson.

Shortly before those chances at the end of the first half, Henry had headed Arsenal's best chance straight at van der Sar. Fortunately for the home side, he did not repeat that mistake when presented with his chance to seal the points.

[abadani69]

Premier League leaders Manchester United and champions Chelsea were licking their wounds on Monday after a weekend of defeats that left the title race in rude health.

Setbacks for United, beaten 2-1 by Arsenal on Sunday, and Chelsea, who went down 2-0 at Liverpool on Saturday, have left England's top four clubs separated by a modest 12 points -- with another 42 to play for.

The contrast with last season, when a leading bookmaker paid out in September 2005 on Chelsea retaining their title, could not be sharper.

United's failure to beat Arsenal and seize a probably decisive nine-point lead over Chelsea was certainly galling for their manager Alex Ferguson, but the last 10 minutes were heart-stopping stuff to watch.

Wayne Rooney's 53rd minute header had looked priceless until Robin van Persie smashed an equaliser and Thierry Henry nodded a stoppage-time winner as United's defenders lost their bearings at the Emirates Stadium.

Yet Ferguson could still point to Monday's league table with a degree of satisfaction.

With 57 points on the board, a United side who were 15 points behind Chelsea after 24 games last season are today six ahead of them.

Deep as the Scot's decade-long rivalry with Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger runs, there is also some damage limitation in United losing to their most distant rival for the title.

A similar defeat by Chelsea at Stamford Bridge in April could potentially wreak a great deal more damage to Ferguson's hopes of a first league title since 2003.

Other factors also fall in behind United's bid.

Their defeat by Arsenal last September galvanised Ferguson's men to go on a storming run and their wily manager will aim to instil the same 'battle-stations' mentality this time.

UNITED CLUB

More importantly, there is real unity within the club's management and a solid run of form on the pitch -- qualities which both seem to be lacking at Chelsea.

United's defeat in north London followed five wins and a draw. Chelsea's six games before losing at Anfield yielded four draws and just two wins -- one of them against fourth division strugglers Macclesfield Town in the FA Cup.

Chelsea have also been hit hard by injuries, notably to skipper John Terry and England team mate Joe Cole, while reports of friction between coach Jose Mourinho and the board have dominated the British media.

Liverpool, on 46 points, and Arsenal, with 45, are still long shots for the title despite their weekend heroics.

However, they will now start believing they can at least wrest the runners-up slot -- worth an automatic qualifying place in the Champions League -- from a troubled Chelsea.

A joy for Arsenal and Liverpool supporters, the two results will clearly have delighted millions of neutral fans to boot.

Their victories were also good for the lucrative overseas interest in English soccer, coming days after the Premier League struck a foreign TV rights deal worth 625 million pounds ($1.23 billion) for 2007-2010.

Arsenal and Liverpool were certainly the biggest winners at the weekend. But they were not the only ones.