FA Cup third round results
January 4, 2009
The FA Cup third round games were played in England on Saturday. The big news was the 1-1 draw between Chelsea and League One team Southend United. Salomon Kalou had put Chelsea in front before a 90th minute goal by Peter Clarke stunned Chelsea.
The biggest casualty from the round was Manchester City. The lost 3-0 at home to Championship strugglers Nottingham Forest.
The full list of results from completed matches are below. English Premier League teams are bolded.
Arsenal 3-1 Plymouth Argyle
Cardiff City 2-0 Reading
Charlton Athletic 1-1 Norwich City
Chelsea 1-1 Southend United
Coventry City 2-0 Kidderminster Harriers
Forest Green Rovers 3-4 Derby County
Hartlepool United 2-0 Stoke City
Hull City 0-0 Newcastle United
Ipswich Town 3-0 Chesterfield
Leicester City 0-0 Crystal Palace
Macclesfield 0-1 Everton
Manchester City 0-3 Nottingham Forest
Middlesbrough 2-1 Barrow
Millwall 2-2 Crewe Alexandra
Portsmouth 0-0 Bristol City
Preston North End 0-2 Liverpool
Queens Park Rangers 0-0 Burnley
Sheffield Wednesday 1-2 Fulham
Sunderland 2-1 Bolton Wanderers
Torquay United 1-0 Blackpool
Watford 1-0 Scunthorpe United
West Bromwich Albion 1-1 Peterborough United
West Ham United 3-0 Barnsley
Liverpool’s Steven Gerrard charged with assault
January 1, 2009
Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard will hope his 2009 is better than the end of his 2008. He was charged with assault and affray following a disturbance at a Merseyside nightclub in the early hours of Monday, December 29.
Gerrard spent 21 hours in police custody following the alleged incident. He will appear in court on 23 January.
On the Liverpool website it has said that after speaking with Gerrard and the club lawyer Rafa Benitez has given his full backing to Steven Gerrard.
Has Steven Gerrard stepped over the line in this incident, or is it a case of a fan trying to take advantage of a star player? Time will tell as I can do nothing but speculate about the incident.
I have seen both sides over the years. Players have done things wrong in the past. I have also seen where fans try to provoke big name sports stars.
As a Liverpool fan I hope Steven Gerrard has done no wrong. What do you think about the incident?
Liverpool thump Newcastle to edge ahead of Chelsea
December 29, 2008
Liverpool has moved out to a three point lead at the top of the English Premier League after a convincing 5-1 win over Newcastle away from home. The win combined with a 2-2 draw for Chelsea against Fulham allowed Liverpool to move to the three point lead.
Steven Gerrard scored twice in the one sided match at St James’ Park. His first came after 31 minutes to open the scoring. Sami Hyypia followed this up in the 36th minute. Newcastle got back into the match with a goal to David Edgar in the 45th minute. From there it was all Liverpool as Ryan Babel, Gerrard and Xabi Alonso added to the scoring.
Arsenal got back in the win column with a 1-0 win over Portsmouth. Everton continued a good run of form with a 3-0 win over Sunderland. Blackburn Rover and Manchester City drew 2-2 while Wigan got past Bolton Wanderers 1-0. West Ham continued its climb up the ladder with a 2-1 win over Stoke City.
Manchester United will be keen to make ground on Chelsea when they play their Monday match against Middlebrough. Aston Villa and Hull City complete the round on Tuesday.
Chelsea miss out again
December 23, 2008
Chelsea has wasted another opportunity to go top of the English Premier League table after a goalless draw away to Everton. The draw ended a run of eight consecutive away wins this season.
Liverpool still has a one point lead at the top of the EPL ladder.
Chelsea were made to work hard to just complete the match with a draw after the sending off of their skipper John Terry in the 36th minute after a high challenge on Leon Osman.
The teams play again on boxing day. Chelsea would be expected to get a win at home against West Bromwich Albion while Everton travel to Middlesbrough. Liverpool play at home to Bolton Wanderers. They will also been keen to end a run of draws at home.
Liverpool fight back for 1-1 draw with Arsenal
December 22, 2008
Liverpool extended their lead at the top of the EPL to two points after a come from behind 1-1 draw at Emirates Stadium. Chelsea have the opportunity to take top spot if they can defeat Everton in the Monday game at Goodison Park.
Robin van Persie put the Gunners up by a goal in the 24th minute. Robbie Keane scored a rare goal for Liverpool in the 42nd minute to level the match.
Arsenal were reduced to 10 men after 60 minutes when Emmanuel Adebayor was sent off after being shown his second yellow card.
Liverpool were without their manager for this game after Rafael Benitez underwent surgery to remove kidney stones.
In the other Sunday matches Newcastle United collected a home win over Tottenham Hotspur. The score was 2-1. Damien Duff was the hero for Newcastle after coming off the bench to score the winning goal in the 90th minute.
West Bromwich Albion pulled off a rare win against struggling Manchester City. They snatched a 2-1 win after Roman Bednar headed home a goal in the 90th minute. They were 1-0 up after Moore scored in the 68th minute only to see a Scott Carson own goal make it 1-1 with five minutes to play in regulation time.
Aston Villa jumps into third
December 21, 2008
Aston Villa has gone to third place in the English Premier League after a 1-0 win over West Ham. It should be noted that Manchester United have two games in hand over Villa. Man Utd do not play this weekend as they are taking part in the FIFA Club World Cup in Japan.
The win for Aston Villa came after an own goal by Lucas Neill in the 78th minute when James Milner’s cross was deflected in off the West Ham defender. Earlier in the match Villa’s keeper, Brad Friedel came up with several good saves to keep West Ham scoreless. The loss for West Ham leaves them just one point out of the relegation zone. This must be of some concern for Gianfranco Zola who said his players did not deserve the loss.
The top two teams in the EPL play on Sunday and Monday. Liverpool will look to keep their one point lead as they take on Arsenal at Emirates Stadium. Liverpool’s away form has been better than the home form over recent times so they are a good chance to take full points against Arsenal.
Chelsea also has an away game. They play Everton on Monday. Like Liverpool, Chelsea is playing their best soccer away from home. They have in fact set a new mark for the most consecutive away wins. The most recent away win was the 11th consecutive EPL away win for Chelsea.
Are you surprised by Villa’s form this season? Leave your comments below.
Chelsea flop again at home
December 15, 2008
Chelsea seem to be happier away from home in this seasons English Premier League. Away from Stamford Bridge they have put together a record setting 11 straight wins, not all this season, as the streak goes back to April 2008. At home it is a different story…
Chelsea were looking to take top spot from Liverpool when they took on West Ham United at home. Going into the match they had secured 8 points from a possible 18 in the last six home fixtures, compared with the 18 from 18 away. Chelsea failed to jump past Liverpool after a 1-1 result.
Things could have been worse. In the Sunday match at Stamford Bridge Chelsea had to come from behind after West Ham’s Craig Bellamy scored in the 33rd minute.
It was the league’s leading scorer, Nicolas Anelka, who came to the rescue of Chelsea with a goal in the 50th minute. It was his 13th for the EPL season and his 100th goal overall in the Premier League. He is four clear as the top scorer in the EPL.
The draw for Chelsea capped off a disappointing round for the big four of English football.
Liverpool, Manchester United and Arsenal also played out draws on the weekend. Liverpool had to come from behind against Hull City to grab a 2-2 result at Anfield. This continued a bad run at home for the league leaders.
Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur played a 0-0 draw before Man Utd flew out to Japan to compete in the FIFA Club World Cup.
Arsenal let Aston Villa leapfrog them for fourth spot after Arsenal played out a 1-1 draw with Middlesbrough.
The weekend results see the EPL top five as Liverpool 38, Chelsea 37, Man Utd 32, Aston Villa 31, Arsenal 30. Manchester United has a game in hand.
Looking ahead to the next round, the game of the week is the clash between Liverpool and Arsenal at Emirates Stadium. The way Liverpool has been playing away from home they should start favorites.
What do you think of Liverpool’s and Chelsea’s recent home form?
Liverpool fail again at home, Chelsea set to pounce
December 14, 2008
For the third time in a row at home Liverpool has failed to take full points, at least goals were scored this time. Playing against Hull City at Anfield things were looking bad for the EPL leaders as the visitor took a two goal lead.
McShane scored after 11 minutes then a Jamie Carragher own goal on 21 minutes saw Liverpool staring at defeat. Steven Gerrard came to the rescue with two goals in the 23rd and 31st minute to rescue a point for Liverpool.
Chelsea now has the opportunity to take top spot as they play West Ham United at home on Sunday, Liverpool has to start winning games at Anfield if they are to consider themselves a chance to claim the Premiership title.
In other matches Arsenal drew 1-1 with Middlesbrough. Emmanuel Adebayor had put Arsenal in front with a header on 16 minutes, only to see ex Arsenal player Jeremie Aliadiere level the scores.
Manchester United failed to make ground on Liverpool after a 0-0 draw against Tottenham Hotspur. A last minute save by Tottenham’s keeper, Heurelho Gomes denied Man Utd. The EPL champions now head to Japan to play in the Club World Cup.
Aston Villa grabbed fourth spot on the ladder with a 4-2 win over Bolton Wanderers. Everton also edged towards the top spots with a 1-0 victory over Manchester City. Sunderland thumped WBA 4-0, Wigan defeated Blackburn 3-0 and Stoke City and Fulham played a 0-0 draw.
Liverpool keeps top spot in EPL
December 7, 2008
The big four in the English Premier League all picked up wins on Saturday. As a result Liverpool keeps the one point lead at the top of the ladders ahead of Chelsea, Man United and Arsenal.
Man Utd we perhaps lucky to claim all three points after scoring the winning goal in injury time against struggling Sunderland. Roy Keane had walked out on Sunderland earlier in the week.
Liverpool again looked better away from home than at Anfield. The last two home matches have been uninspiring draws. Goals were scored by Xabi Alonso, Yossi Benayoun and Steven Gerrard for Liverpool. Blackburn got a consolation goal in the 86th minute by Roque Santa Cruz.
Chelsea won their 11th consecutive away win in the league and their eighth this season as they defeated Bolton Wanderers 2-0. Nicolas Anelka continued his good goal scoring form with a ninth-minute headed goal against his former club. Deco added a second 12 minutes later.
Arsenal won their match 1-0 over Wigan Athletic, Hull City kept fifth place after a 2-1 win over Middlesbrough.
Newcastle United and Stoke City played out a 2-2 draw and Fulham and Manchester City drew 1-1.
The next clash involving two top four teams comes on Sunday 21 December as Arsenal plays host to ladder leaders Liverpool.
Liverpool take top spot after 0-0 draw with West Ham
December 2, 2008
Liverpool has moved to the top of the Barclays Premier League after their 0-0 draw at Anfield. Liverpool fans would be happy to see their team on top but not happy with the way the team played against West Ham.
West Ham could also think themselves unlucky with some offside calls that tv replays showed were not so.
Liverpool applied all the early pressure, with James Collins clearing off the line from Albert Riera early on and Carlton Cole doing the same from Sami Hyypia.
Former Liverpool player Craig Bellamy went close in the first half after running clear from around halfway to take a shot from 30-yards that beat Reina but not the upright. The shot was inches from going in.
It needed Robert Green’s magnificent save from Yossi Benayoun to keep West Ham on level terms after the break.
Robbie Keane has failed to shine up front as he endured another night of frustration, and he once again suffered the indignity of being substituted when he was replaced by youngster David Ngog with 25 minutes left.
Overall this has been a disappointing match for Liverpool as they have basically dropped points at home for the second time after an earlier 0-0 draw with Fulham.
Liverpool fans would be expecting more from their team at home. If they are to win the title they should be winning the home matches.
