Fulham: the Premier League’s early-season surprise

Dimitar Berbatov (right) has thrived with Fulham, scoring three goals in the club's first nine games this season. Christopher Lee / Getty Images.

After nine weeks of the English Premier League season, one team’s position in the table is particularly surprising. Fulham moved up to 7^th place after a draw over Reading, and with 14 points are just three behind Tottenham for the final Champions League spot.
The Cottagers got unlucky in the 90^th minute against Reading, who tied the match at 3-3 and escaped with a draw. But Fulham have improved every game this season, building a team that can fight for a Champions League spot. Striker Dimitar Berbatov has enjoyed a renaissance since joining the team after an unsuccessful four-year stint with Manchester United.
The return of Mahamadou Diarra, combined with Berbatov’s arrival, have lifted the team. The Cottagers create plenty of scoring chances, and their strong start is likely to continue. Berbatov, who chose Fulham over Italian clubs Fiorentina and Juventus on the last day of the transfer period, finally found the appreciation he needs. Berbatov is a more philosophical player than a hard-running forward.

5 La Liga Players that would suit Arsenal in January

Spain may be facing an economic problem right now, but when it comes to football it is the exact opposite. Many feel that for Arsenal to win the English Premier League they must continue to call on talent from the Spanish La Liga.
Spain has produced some of the World€™s best football players to have pulled on an Arsenal kit. Cesc Fabregas, Mikel Arteta, and Santi Cazorla are some of those past and present. In the spirit of that thought here are five La Liga players rumored to be on the move and that could help to solve some of Arsenal€™s problems if they were to loosen the purse string in January:

Radamel Falcao (Atletico Madrid)

Although it must be mentioned, a move for Radamel Falcao is truly some of the biggest gossip all year.  It is almost as outlandish as asking Daniel Craig to star in a comedy. It will never happen. It is highly unlikely knowing Falcao€™s price range is over 40 million Euros.  More than likely Arsenal will not €œbreak the bank€ to spend money on such a gifted  player.

English Premier League: Manchester United cut Chelsea’s Lead to One Point, Everton and Liverpool Share the Spoils in Derby

Luis Suarez of Liverpool celebrates (Photo by Chris Brunskill/Getty Images)

What a difference a day can make. Or in the case of the English Premier League, two days. Before play began this weekend, undefeated Chelsea were four points clear at the top of the table, but their position is far less secure as they sit just one point clear of the two Manchester clubs. Though an average of 2.8 goals from the ten fixtures marked the lowest since Matchday 5, there was still drama and action in abundance. Sunday in particular provided an array of talking points, and included two of the biggest fixtures on the Premier League calendar.

Chelsea 2-3 Manchester United: Red Devils Emerge Victorious in Thrilling yet Controversial Encounter

Robin van Persie of Manchester United celebrates scoring the second goal with Ashley Young (Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images)

It was an enthralling spectacle for all to behold at Stamford Bridge this weekend, as the two most prolific sides in the Premier League faced off in a hugely dramatic five-goal thriller. The dynamic contest was littered with twists and turns, and both sides refused to go down easily; scrapping to salvage something from the tie right until the final whistle. But ultimately, it was Manchester United who weathered the storm to emerge the victors; though Chelsea can take heart from what was a valiant effort in a narrow defeat.

Manchester United close in on Chelsea lead in Week 9 of the English Premier League

Javier Hernandez celebrates his late game-winner against Chelsea. Shaun Botterill / Getty Images.

Manchester United won at Stamford Bridge this weekend for the first time in a decade, tightening the gap between league leaders Chelsea and the rest of the pack.
The Red Devils jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the first 15 minutes, when Robin van Persie ricocheted a shot off David Luiz into the net before slotting home minutes later. Despite United’s early momentum, the Blues seiged the United goal in the last few minutes of the first half, coming to a crescendo with a curled Juan Mata free kick that David De Gea couldn’t keep out.
The greatest controversy came in the second half. Ramires’ header drew the West London outfit level, but in the space of six minutes, Roberto Di Matteo’s hopes of completing his comeback were dashed. Chelsea

Chelsea vs. Manchester United: Previewing the Blues and Reds vital EPL clash

Ryan Giggs of Manchester United beats Juan Mata of Chelsea

In a fixture that could have a considerable influence on who fans see lift the Premier League title this season, Manchester United travel to face Chelsea on Sunday after both clubs were put through their paces during the midweek Champions League fixtures.
This weekend’s hosts will be looking to bounce back from an unsuccessful journey to Ukraine where they succumbed to a resurgent Shakhtar Donetsk while the Red Devils undoubtedly finished the happier of the pair after coming from 2-0 down to see of Braga 3-2.
Sir Alex Ferguson’s side adopted an unfamiliar 4-3-3 formation against the Portuguese opposition, a formation that was swiftly swept under the rug for a more frequently used 4-4-2 tactic. With Shinji Kagawa injured for the trip to west London, it’s more than likely that United will utilise the wings once again and Nani could come back into the starting line-up after impressing against Braga.

Everton vs. Liverpool: Previewing the 219th Merseyside Derby

Luis Suarez of Liverpool holds off John Heitinga of Everton (Photo by Mike Hewitt/Getty Images)

Everton and Liverpool renew rivalries this weekend as the two Merseyside clubs come together in the Premier League, with the first derby of the season taking place at Goodison Park.
Always a fiery fixture, the match has produced more red cards over the Premiership years than any other game (21 so far) but is always an excellent spectacle, regardless of location or how the two sides are faring in the league at the time of the match.
Frequently, both teams will raise their levels of effort and intensity for the match, such is the strength of feeling between the two sets of supporters and the need to secureâ€"as well as the all-important three pointsâ€"the local bragging rights.

The Lowry Lowdown: The Best MLS Food Cities

Image via Smoquebbq.com

One of the benefits to playing a sport competitively is the seemingly endless hunt for proper nourishment. Over the years my passion became the search and consumption of local cuisine as I traveled around the world playing soccer. I use to tell people eating was my hobby and there were certain MLS cities I looked forward to visiting for their culinary offerings.
Chicago
Chicago has it all, bars that stay open past 4am and food that rivals any major city in the world. I remember the first time I ate at a few of these places and never wanted to try anywhere else afterward. Of course there were a few late nights mixed in but the food and nightlife in Chicago are second to none.
Here are some of the restaurants I often frequented in the greater Chicago area:

• Yolk (Breakfast) â€"pregame meal ritual with my Fire teammates
• Topo Gigio (Italian)
• Smoque (BBQ) â€" best BBQ I’ve ever eaten.
• Belly Shack (Korean/Puerto Rican or Ko-Rican)
• Rick Bayless’ XOCO & Frontera Grill (Mexcian)

Seattle
The Emerald City always was a fun place to eat. The Olive 8 hotel is probably the best hotel in MLS with a central location minutes from Pike’s Place and in close proximity to numerous quality restaurants. I’ve even tried Starbucks and Seattle’s Best Coffee, which wasn’t the best coffee I had in Seattle.

How Manchester United climbed a mountain and overcame Braga

Javier Hernandez of Manchester United celebrates with his team-mates (Photo by Richard Heathcote/Getty Images)

This week has been a difficult one for English clubs with ambitions of climbing to the summit of European football.
Chelsea, who enjoyed the ultimate mountaintop experience last May, were brought crashing back to Earth in Donetsk this week, while Arsenal slipped down a crevasse against Schalke and Manchester City were buried after failing to heed the avalanche warnings in Amsterdam.
Manchester United were the only winners, but could have easily joined the rest in defeat. For the eight time in 12 games this season they conceded first and once again, it was an early goal. When Alan scored his second after 20 minutes the situation looked dire. Barely had the team left base camp than the climb ahead had already taken on Himalayan proportions.

Chelsea vs Manchester United: Key Battles and Prediction

Fernando Torres of Chelsea holds off Michael Carrick of Manchester United (Photo by Mike Hewitt/Getty Images)

On Sunday October 28, London billionaires Chelsea will host Manchester United in one of the key matches of the 2012-13 season.
Despite differing fortunes in the UEFA Champions League mid-week, both clubs are competing at the top of the Premier League table with Chelsea leading on 22 points and Manchester United in second-place with 18 points.
With a victory, Roberto Di Matteo’s men will look to open up a potentially unassailable seven-point gap against their close rivals.
On the other hand, a win for Manchester United will put them one-point behind Chelsea. A loss or draw  makes way for noisy neighbors Manchester City to slide into second spot; goal difference the only factor currently separating the Mancunian clubs.

Tottenham targeting AS Roma playmaker Miralem Pjanic in January Transfer Window

Miralem Pjanic of Roma (Photo by Giuseppe Bellini/Getty Images)

Former Olympic Lyon star Miralem Pjanic has struggled to settle into the first team at AS Roma since his move to Italy back in August of 2011. According to TalkSport on Oct. 25, 2012 it appears that Tottenham manager Andre Villas-Boas is setting up a potential bid for the player in January.
An escape to Spurs could be a blessing for the 22-year-old midfielder who had been labeled before his move to Roma as the next Luka Modric. Perhaps a move to the North London side could induce that belief once more since the original departed for Real Madrid over the summer.

Liverpool FC Comment: Somewhere Down The Barrel the Reds still have Squad Options

Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers during a training session ahead of their UEFA Europa League group match against FC Anzhi Makhachkala (Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images)

Due to the fact that there is no definitive level of performance that guarantees success, there is always a need for more. In sport, very little can be described as adequate in terms of an overall effort. Ability and commitment vary constantly and no matter how one applies themselves in a specific area, there will always be someone wanting extra.
The very idea of giving any more than a hundred percent is the very basis of trying to squeeze every last drop of effort for there is no way of telling just how much will be required. When the resources and personnel that are expected to bear that burden are unavailable, it often falls upon the most unlikely of shoulders.

Champions League Analysis: Is a Shift in Power Taking Place?

Imagine if the Champions League Group Stages ended today. A couple of the group toppers that would make the next knockout rounds are the usual “big boys” of European football, such as Barcelona in Group G and Manchester United in Group H.

Chelsea Slip to Champions League Defeat against Impressive Shakhtar Donetsk Side

Chelsea arrived at the Donbass Arena with high hopes of continuing their impressive early-season form, but were well and truly shocked by a vibrant and cynical Shakhtar Donetsk. The result sees the Blues overtaken at the top of UEFA Champions League Group E, marking something of a setback in Chelsea’s hopes of retaining their European crown.
The game got off to the most eventful of starts, with Alex Texeira putting the hosts ahead after some slack Chelsea defending from a fairly innocuous looking throw-in in just the third minute. And it went from bad to worse for Roberto Di Matteo’s side, with Frank Lampard limping off in the 18^th minute with a suspected calf injury, and his departure cued a tactical reshuffle in the Chelsea ranks. Eden Hazard came on and immediately assumed the right midfield berth, while Ramires, who had been occupying the role from the start, dropped back into a holding midfield role alongside John Obi Mikel.

Juventus vs. Nordsjaelland: Bianconeri Attacking Problems continue in UCL draw

Thirty-three shots on goal, nine shots on target and only one goal. Not a promising set of statistics for Juventus supporters. Despite creating chance after chance, Juventus’ barely-hidden issues in front of goal reared their ugly head once again. In a team that has conceded only 4 goals in Serie A play this year, Juventus has yet again struggled to find a consistent goalscoring forward presence.
While their tally of 19 goals is top in Serie A (as is their 4 conceded), Juventus’ top scorers, striker Sebastian Giovinco and midfielder Andrea Pirlo have only 3 goals each to their name. With 12 different goalscorers on the score sheet, the goals have flowed for the Zebrette despite not having a regular goal getter.

Manchester City Comment: The curse of the super sub for Edin Dzeko?

Edin Dzeko of Manchester City (Photo by Matthew Lewis/Getty Images)

For Manchester City, last Saturday’s 2-1 win at West Bromwich Albion may have been their result of the season so far.
This was not because the side played exceptionally well â€" they didn’t â€" but because it was achieved by coming from behind with ten men against a team that had won its first four Premiership home games this season.
It was timely as well, with leaders Chelsea securing an outstanding 4-2 win at Tottenham and Manchester United beating Stoke at Old Trafford by the same scoreline.
Staying in touch with the early pace-setters while not capturing last season’s form â€" yet at least â€" is something City have managed to do, partly though the ability to chisel out results and score late goals in a manner reminiscent of so many Manchester United sides of the past two decades.
Whatever that says about imitation and flattery, it is an important attribute for serious title challengers and so far this season Edin Djeko has been a key figure in turning games from the substitutes’ bench, never more so than with his double at the Hawthorns.

Andy Carroll burning Liverpool bridges with comments regarding Brendan Rodgers

Andy Carroll of West Ham United (Photo by Jamie McDonald/Getty Images)

Liverpool’s on loan to West Ham United striker Andy Carroll has come out in the press with bold comments towards new Reds manager Brendan Rodgers. In an interview with the Daily Mirror on Oct. 22, 2012, Carroll was critical that he was not given a real chance to make his mark at Anfield prior to this season.
Having joined Liverpool in January of 2010 for £35 million, Carroll had much riding on his shoulders coming in to try and fill the boots of Chelsea departed Fernando Torres. However, nearly two years on he was not thought that man to do the job in the eyes of Rodgers according to the 23-year-old English striker who had truly wanted to remain on Merseyside:

Tottenham manager Andre Villas-Boas continues to chase Shakhtar Donetsk star Willian

Willian of FC Shakhtar Donetsk (Photo by Genya Savilov/EuroFootball/Getty Images)

Tottenham manager Andre Villas-Boas still holds the hope of signing Shakhtar Donetsk Brazilian star Willian in the coming transfer period.  According to the Daily Mirror and quotes from the player on Oct. 21^st, 2012 it appears that the North London manager is closest in the eyes of the player to making a move for him this January.
William was quoted as being disappointed to not have been allowed to leave the Ukrainian side this summer with offers from two clubs being rejected:

There were two offers in the summer. One from Chelsea and one from Tottenham.
Choosing between the two clubs would be difficult.

Chelsea and Manchester City targeting Barcelona midfielder Sergio Busquets for January transfer

The latest reports from Metro on Oct. 21, 2012 claim that English Premier League club Chelsea is set to make a major offer in the range of £25 million to FC Barcelona for the services of defensive midfielder Sergio Busquets.
The Spanish international is regarded as one of, if not the best, in that position in the world and at only the age of 24 he has many years of success left under his belt. Chelsea has been buying up the top talent that money can buy in the past several transfer windows and it is no surprise that the Spaniard is on their shopping list.
With the recent restrictions on the contract offerings for aging players to take effect, veteran holding midfielder Michael Essien who is on loan to Real Madrid is likely to be offloaded this summer. Fellow holding midfielder John Obi Mikel could also be on the chopping block if a move for Busquets goes through leaving the newboy and former Barcelona youth player Oriol Romelu the next two to handle the load in the defensive midfield.

Manchester United vs. Braga: Sir Alex Ferguson considers major midfield changes ahead of UEFA Champions League clash

Manchester United manger Sir Alex Ferguson is believed to be considering making a major change in his tactical approach to the club’s UEFA Champions League clash with Portuguese side Braga in this week’s group stage continuation. According to quotes from Ferguson’s press conference from the Daily Mirror on Oct. 22, 2012 the Scottish leader is ready to make some tweaks to get the best out of his side.
During his 40 years of management, Sir Alex has always kept wingers and wide players in his traditional style of tactical play. However, after so many successful seasons with that approach the type of players emerging in his club could make things finally change.
Since the arrival of Shinji Kagawa to the club this summer and the rising star of Tom Cleverly continuing to blossom, Ferguson is pondering the change to a diamond midfielder according to his comments, thus eliminating the traditional 4-4-2 formation of his past that included two designated wide players:

Pep Guardiola in talks with AC Milan as Massimiliano Allegri continues to struggle

Josep Guardiola (Photo by David Ramos/Getty Images)

While those around world football could have predicted that Milan would struggle this season after losing their two best players, Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Thiago Silva as well as a host of veterans, I don’t think anyone would have struggle this badly. They currently sit in 12th place and have conceded 10 goals while only scoring 9 times themselves. Berlusconi is a man who has always taken pride in Milan and as owner, he could see fit to move on from the Massimiliano Allegri era.

10-man Newcastle United Claw Point Away From Sunderland’s Black Cats

Carlos Cuellar of Sunderland battles Demba Ba of Newcastle (Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images)

One of the most heated rivalries in all of English football lived up to expectations as Sunderland and 10-man Newcastle shared the spoils in their search of north-east dominance. Both positioned around mid-table prior to the 1-1 draw, the pair had a lot riding on the fixture in terms of league placement along with the bragging rights that were up for grabs.
Newcastle established themselves as major European contenders with their performances last season, and showed the initiative as to why that may just be realistic after Yohan Cabaye put the visitors 1-0 up within three minutes. The Frenchman has been a massive success since arriving on Tyneside from Lille and was in the right place at the right time to pounce on a rebounding ball just ten yards from Simon Mignolet’s goal.

English Premier League Review: Chelsea and Manchester United Win Big, Manchester City and Liverpool Edge to Victory while Arsenal fall short

Robin van Persie of manchester United celebrates scoring to make it 2-1 with Paul Scholes (Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images)

The English Premier League was back with a bang this weekend, with its return showing us exactly what we’d been missing during the international break. Though an average of three goals per game marked a slight drop on previous weekends, there was excitement aplenty in a weekend filled with red cards, own goals, late winners and derby games. On top of that, there was of course the customary shock-result, demonstrating exactly why the English Premier League is one of the most competitive and enthralling tournaments in world football.

Where is Arsenal’s Consistency?

1. Feeling or expressing distress and annoyance, esp. because of inability to change or achieve something

If you ask an Arsenal fan how he or she is feeling at the moment, he or she will most likely tell you that a good majority of the emotions they are experiencing â€" and have been experiencing â€" can be summed up by the adjective and definition above. While opposing fans cheer “Boring, boring Arsenal”, Arsenal fans must certainly beg to differ. The current team is far from boring and is actually composed of a number of bright sparks that, when put together effectively, can lead to an incredible surge of exciting football that is easy on the eye.
Many will say that is how the club has been for several years now. Incredible talent brought together by the genius that is Arsene Wenger and organized into a team that is capable of anything. No seriously â€" capable of anything. This year has been slightly different, however, with the addition of several new signings as well as the coming of age of several players already on the books. Santi Cazorla and Lukas Podolski have proven early on that they can both make a huge impact in this year’s domestic and continental campaigns. They’ve both shown they are more than capable of handling the Premier League’s physical standard and have done so in a matter that brings both “ooh’s” and “ahhhs” from fans all over the world.

Arsenal lacked the inspiration and leadership to defeat Norwich City

Kouassi Gervais Gervinho Yao of Arsenal is challeeged by Bradley Johnson of Norwich City (Photo by Richard Heathcote/Getty Images)

Arsenal is out of excuses. International matches or not, tired players or not, losing to a team that had yet to win in the Premier League is not justifiable with anything other than the team’s own fault. It was no coincidence, as Norwich manager Chris Hughton said after the match. The idea was missing in the Gunners’ squad against Norwich and deservedly lost 0-1.
All teams had a break. A lot of teams had missing players who were away to help the national squad in the World Cup Qualifiers. It was the same for everybody but Arsenal’s problem is the lack of leadership and inspiration on the team.

Chelsea Remains top of the EPL with dominant victory over Tottenham

Juan Mata of Chelsea (Photo by Shaun Botterill/Getty Images)

In a match that was shrouded with off the pitch story lines, Chelsea went into Tottenham’s home ground of White Hart Lane and let their actions on the field do all the talking in the early morning match in London on Oct. 20, 2012.
From Andre Villas-Boas having his first crack at his old club to questions surrounding the form of star Blues striker Fernando Torres and the discussion over whether or not suspended John Terry would keep his hold on the Chelsea captaincy, the focus seemed everywhere but on the match.
Chelsea brought everyone back to earth as defender Gary Cahill, standing in for the suspended club captain, put the European champions in the lead at the 17^th minute. It looked as though it was going to be a long day for Andre Villas-Boas as his replacement, Roberto Di Matteo, took a single goal lead into the locker room at the half way mark.

Chelsea 4. Tottenham 2. Chelsea’s Match in Pictures.

The league leaders faced a big test on Saturday as they traveled north to face cross-city rivals Tottenham in what was anticipated as the showcase match of the weekend. Much was made of Andre Villas-Boas and his desire to seek revenge on the club that let him go just eight months into his tenure. Chelsea, with a super-classy midfield trio featuring Oscar, Mata, and Hazard, have consistently shown this season why they are proving to be the team to beat. Despite their current a form, a trip to White Hart Lane was never going to be easy, but Roberto Di Matteo’s men dealt with challenge as one would expect the Champions of Europe to do so. Going down 2-1 after opening the scoring themselves, the Blues showed just why they might have

Liverpool vs Reading: Can Brendan Rodgers score first Anfield League win against old friend Brian McDormott

Luis Suarez of Liverpool (Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images)

Liverpool have only won two for 13 homes matches at Anfield so far this calendar year. The once mighty fortress of the Reds is in danger of being labeled a non-factor in matches after it failing to have the awestruck affect on the opposition for the last few seasons.
Brendan Rodgers continues to have the faith and support of the Liverpool board and ownership as well as the fans, but a loss to a club such as Reading at home could cause major issues for the manager.
Reading was the first managerial adventure of Rodgers years ago, and he was not afforded the kind of time or faith that he has seen at Anfield so far. However, his friend and former colleague Brian McDormott, whom has taken the reigns for the Madjeski stadium club, managed his first victory for the Royals against Liverpool back in 2010.

The Lowry Lowdown: The experiences of an American Footballer playing abroad

Playing in foreign countries is one of the many benefits to playing soccer at a high level and can be a wonderful and eye opening experience. However, the exposure to different cultures presents various challenges. I am guilty of taking for granted the everyday luxuries we have in America and from an early age tried to challenge myself to better acclimate to the diverse food, languages, climate, culture, sanitation and safety challenges that can instantly cause a soccer trip to take an unexpected turn.

Las Ramblas in Barcelona

Language Barrier
I was in Spain trialing with teams a number of years ago and a man stopped me on the main street in Barcelona called Las Ramblas: a beautiful long street full of vendors, restaurants and shops that is unmissable thanks to the lines of trees down both sides of its path.
The man kept speaking to me in Spanish about a topic I couldn’t comprehend with my broken Spanish. The topic became apparent after a few minutes when he asked me to buy him a gay porno mag, then tried to kiss me. I came back to the US and immediately took a Spanish class.

Tottenham vs. Chelsea: Latest Predicted line ups before kick off

Scott Parker of Spurs is tackled by Frank Lampard of Chelsea (Photo by Mike Hewitt/Getty Images)

Tottenham and Chelsea are set for a battle at White Hart Lane in front of a sold out crowd in the coming hours. Not only is it a test of the credentials of either club for a top four finish, it is also a showdown of philosophies between Andre Villas-Boas and Roberto Di Matteo.
On one side of the halfway line it will be a former manager scorned by the lack of faith from ownership and failure to be able to keep the respect of veteran Blues players such as Frank Lampard and now departed Didier Drogba.
The opposite side will see Chelsea’s new leader in Roberto Di Matteo that managed to lead the club to European glory in one of the most unprecedented runs that the club has ever seen.
Andre Villas-Boas will be keen to get one over on his former employers, while Matteo will be wanting to make sure his club stays at the top of the league and his position remains unshakably his own with another victory.

Arsenal delight as Jack Wilshere named in squad to face Norwich City

Jack Wilshere of Arsenal (Photo by Paul Thomas/Getty Images)

According to ESPN analyst John Brewin’s twitter account @JohnBrewinESPN this morning, Friday Oct. 19, 2012, Arsenal have named 20-year-old midfield wonder Jack Wilshere in the squad to face Norwich City on Saturday afternoon:

The man is back: Jack Wilshere in Arsenal squad. Surely only a watching brief but good news nonetheless.

Liverpool will not not bring Andy Carroll back to Anfield in January amidst striking crisis

Thomas Vermaelen of Arsenal and Andy Carroll of West Ham compete for the ball (Photo by Shaun Botterill/Getty Images)

Liverpool is in the thick of an attacking crisis at the moment with Luis Suarez the only fit and available first team forward. On Oct. 18^th the club’s website, LFC.tv announced that the recent injury to Fabio Borini will see him sidelined for three months with only the Uruguayan left to lead the line.
The Reds have multiple youngsters that are likely to fill in during that time with Dani Pacheco, Adam Morgan, Samed Yesil and Michael Ngoo. There is still one big name that the club could call on, but it looks as if they are done with him no matter what the circumstances.
West Ham on-loan signing Andy Carroll could be recalled by the club and manager Brendan Rodgers in January. However, in his pre-match press conference on Thursday, aired on LFC.tv, Rodgers alluded to that fact that the forward would not be returning:

Tottenham vs. Chelsea: A look at Fernando Torres against Spurs

Fernando Torres of Chelsea

Fernando Torres was once a name that made defenders and goalkeepers in the English Premier League shake in their boots. In the last 24 months the man that was once the fearsome €œEl Nino€ and €œLiverpool€™s No.€ has had a rather rough run of luck.
His massive 50 million pound move to Chelsea from Liverpool in the middle of a pivotal season for both club€™s seemed like a knife in the back to the fans that have once adored him, and a massively loud victory for the Blues€™ side of London.
However, all that is glitter does not always glow as Torres endured a long road back to what appears to be his best form in over two years. His first 18 months with Chelsea saw him only score 12 goals in 67 matches across all competitions. To put in perspective the gulf in quality that had seemed to have emerged, at Liverpool he had been the fastest Red in history to reach 50 goals doing so in 72 matches.
Additionally Torres had been plagued by another issue at Chelsea, what appeared to be the curse of Didier Drogba on any striker that wanted to claim the top spot in the pecking order. It did not matter that the Ivory Coast international was in his 30€²s, his power and knack for goal never diminished and Torres was never able to stake a claim.

Liverpool Get Back to Football after Mixed Week of News and Internationals

Jonjo Shelvey of Liverpool

All things considered, this past week or two has been rather forgettable for Liverpool FC, save for one or two items of note.
After a frustrating 0-0 home draw against Stoke City, helped in part by a disturbingly inept refereeing performance from Lee Mason and a whole host of unpunished rugby challenges from the away side, the Reds’ seniors largely jet-setted off to all corners of the globe to proudly embrace the shirt of their nation and cement their status as some of each country’s best players in the land.
Or, in the case of Steven Gerrard, Glen Johnson and Jonjo Shelvey, play for Roy Hodgson.
With no Premier League action on the horizon for a horribly long two weeks, media news and points of discussion about the club should have been in short supply, bar the updating of how Samed Yesil’s scoring for German youth teams was getting on for the increasingly-shivering fans with withdrawal symptoms of any Reds-based news at all.

Alexandre Pato expected to return to AC Milan squad this weekend

There is good news for AC Milan this week as Brazilian striker Alexandre Pato is likely to return to the squad after a series of injuries that have kept him off the pitch since August. Pato could play in the coming game against Lazio on Oct. 20 but he is most likely not going to start as Milan will likely try to ease him back into action.

AC Milan’s troubling form is lasting longer than expected as the Rossoneri have not yet found replacements for Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Thiago Silva. Stephan El Shaarawy, a 19-year-old rising star, has been credited as being the future key for Milan’s success but he is not yet able to carry the entire team on his own. He needs help and the return of Pato could be just that.
Pato is technically back as he scored a brace for the Milan’s youth team winning the match 2-1 during a 60 minute outing according to Football Italia reports.
El Shaarawy’s job is to score and,after a slow opening to the campaign, he has done that five times in four matches. Pato is also one of the best young striking stars of soccer and it is hoped that the two can form a fruitful attacking style for the Rossoneri.

Liverpool set to make Chelsea’s Daniel Sturridge first signing of January

Daniel Sturridge of Chelsea (Photo by Jamie McDonald/Getty Images)

The unfortunate news that Liverpool forward Fabio Borini is set to have surgery on his ankle injury sustained while on international duty with Italy this past week has seen the Reds left in just the position that manager Brendan Rodgers has feared would happen.
With Andy Carroll out on loan and no more veteran back up in attack without Dirk Kuyt and Craig Bellamy, the injury to Borini leaves the club with only one active striker on their first team in the form of Luis Suarez.
While Suarez is a man that can be trusted to do his best at the front of the attack, it is the sign that the Reds are in big trouble. January is still two and a half months away, but the first move of the window for the Reds looks almost set with Chelsea striker Daniel Sturridge square in the cross hairs of Rodgers.
According to the Daily Mail, the Anfield club is set to make a loan move for Sturridge the main priority of the January window.

Tottenham vs. Chelsea: 5 Players to Watch as Blues invade White Hart Lane

Gareth Bale of Tottenham Hotspur (Photo by Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images)

Domestic football resumes this weekend, and the Premier League campaign will get back underway with the eagerly anticipated London derby between Tottenham Hotspur and Chelsea at White Hart Lane. There will be plenty up for grabs in Saturday’s early kick-off, with the game marking Andre Villas-Boas’ first skirmish with his former employers after his premature departure last season. Furthermore, with Chelsea unbeaten this season, and Spurs on the back of a four-game winning streak, both sides will enter the game in red-hot form. Here are just a few names from either side to keep an eye on in what looks set to be an highly exciting affair.
Tottenham: Gareth Bale

EPL Betting Odds and Predictions: Chelsea vs. Tottenham, Norwich vs Arsenal and EPL Week 8′s best picks

Tottenham manager Andre Villas-Boas will welcome former club Chelsea to White Hart Lane this weekend. Mike Hewitt / Getty Images.

Saturday, October 20, 2012 â€" English Premier League â€" Week 8
Chelsea at Tottenham (ESPN2, 7:45 am ET/4:45 am PT): Three of the Blues last six trips to White Hart Lane (0-3-3), and five of their last 10 meetings with the Spursâ€" including last season’s two English Premier League meetings (0-0, 1-1)â€" have ended in draws. With this history, it’s worth betting on a tie in this London derby clash between two teams in top form.
BET: Draw +230

Arsenal and Tottenham share mutual interest in Sevilla stars Jesus Navas and Alvaro Negredo

Alvaro Negredo of Sevilla FC (Photo by Denis Doyle/Getty Images)

According to TalkSport, North London rivals Arsenal and Tottenham are believed to both be tracking the status of La Liga club Seville and their star players Jesus Navas and Alvaro Negredo. The two Spanish internationals are thought to be reluctant potential sales for the club due to their desire to raise capital to cover debts on the club’s books in preparation for financial fair play.
Negredo was believed to be headed out of the door this summer but failed to make a move and is likely to be up for grabs for around £20 million. Navas likewise was thought to be on the move this summer as Arsenal was believed to be a highly interested party.

Cesc FÃ bregas: From Trailblazer to Champion, Part 1

This summer, the Spanish National Team successfully completed their international ‘treble’ and found themselves back in familiar territory on the winner’s podium. One player in particular, however, wouldn’t have used the phrase ‘familiar territory’ to describe his month in Poland and the Ukraine. Cesc Fabregas was used as a striker, a winger, and at times a central midfielder throughout the tournament. Getting the nod sometimes over such established strikers as Fernando Torres, Fernando Llorente, and Alvaro Negredo, Fabregas learned to adapt in his new role, creating and scoring goals in the process. Despite having to leave his comfort zone, adapting wouldn’t have been a new concept to the Spaniard. Not many players could leave the comfort of their favored position and lead the attack of the best team in the world. In this multi-part series, we take a look at Fabregas’ rise to stardom: his start, his bold move to leave his homeland, and the dividends that have been paid for the sacrifices he’s made along the way.
In the summer of 2003, a 16 year old Spanish midfielder secured the U17 World Championships Golden Boot with five goals. Though his team was bettered by Brazil in the final, scouts around the world knew that Cesc Fabregas wasn’t just an ordinary boy from Cataluña. Born and in raised in a small beach town just outside of Barcelona, Fabregas’ passion for football and FC Barcelona were both solidified when as a nine month old his grandfather took him to Camp Nou for the first time. With dreams of one day playing in Camp Nou, the Spaniard began his organized footballing career as an eight year old with local side CF Mataro before being scouted by Barcelona’s youth academy and moving to La Masia as a ten year old. It was here, at arguably the world’s most famous youth academy, where Cesc began accelerating at football and improving steadily.

Technically Talking: Analyzing Theo Walcott’s Goal against West Ham

After breaking down Olivier Giroud’s equalizer against West Ham, we now shift our focus to Theo Walcott’s winner in the same match. Giroud’s goal was typical Arsenal in that it put on display sharp and efficient passing combined with great movement off the ball. It was also atypical Arsenal â€" getting the ball into a wide position then scoring from a cross.
Walcott’s goal once again displayed how deadly Arsenal can be when they turn defense into attack. In terms of Walcott, we’ve seen him use his pace to deadly effect numerous times, especially down that right flank. The goal came in the 77th minute, though, Walcott had only been a part of the match for just over a quarter hour after coming on as a sub in the 61st minute. With the game quite open, West Ham took advantage of an unsuccessful corner attempt from Arsenal and pushed forward, switching the play and finding Mohamed Diame isolated with Mikel Arteta on the left flank. Diame this time bettered Arteta but his cross left a lot to be desired as Per Mertesacker easily cut it out. The resulting deflection ended up at the feet of Theo Walcott who found himself by the touchline just seventeen yards out from Arsenal’s end-line.

Walcott gathers the ball deep in Arsenal's final third and plays the ball into the space Cazorla is dropping back into. He then immediately takes off down the pitch.

England National Review: All Systems Go for the FA as Rooney Earns the Plaudits in Dominant Victory

Wayne Rooney captain of England

It’s been a busy week for the England team, both on the field and off it. Not only did they have a World Cup Qualifier to contend with, but issues involving Twitter as well as the opening of the Football Association’s new center of excellence have contributed to a week full of talking points regarding the Three Lions.
The first notable event of the week took place on Tuesday October 9, as St. George’s Park, the FA’s new £100 million development facility, was officially opened by the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge. The center, located in Burton-upon-Trent, will provide a base for all 24 of England’s football teams, from the senior side of Wayne Rooney and company, all the way down to the junior boys’ and girls’ teams.
The complex includes a running track, swimming pools, 12 full-size training pitches, an exact replica of the Wembley playing surface, hydrotherapy and biomechanics gyms as well as educational and coaching suites. The project began in 2001 and thus has seen an incredible amount of time and money invested into its creation. Much like the French “Technical Centre” in Clairefontaine, the FA are hoping that St. George’s Park will produce a whole host of talents capable of challenging for some  long-awaited silverware on the international stage. Whether or not that will be the case, the center of excellence certainly puts England in good stead to compete amongst the elite of world football.

Gareth Bale Brilliance Delights Dazzling Dragons as Wales defeat Scotland

Gareth Bale enacted a ten-minute turnover that saw Wales go from bottom of the pile and back into Group A contention. The match signaled the first Welsh victory with Chris Coleman at the helm of the nation and will undoubtedly buoy the Dragons on their quest for 2014 World Cup qualification.
Craig Levein’s side looked set to take all three points away from the Cardiff City Stadium after James Morrison latched onto a Steven Fletcher flick in the first half. However, poor defense from the visitors meant that the result was lost at the last minute, putting an end to the Scots’ unbeaten run so far in this competition.
Wales’ equalizer came after Shaun Maloney was beaten for speed in the area by the hosts’ talismanic Bale, who obliged by firing home from 12 yards. The Tottenham winger has drawn a large amount of criticism as of late due to some alleged diving exploits, but simulation was far from an issue on this occasion.

Nicklas Bendtner Keen on Making Switch from Arsenal to Juventus Permanent

Nicklas Bendtner of FC Juventus (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)

Technically Talking: An Analysis of Olivier Giroud’s Goal Against West Ham

Deep in the thick of the international break and with no top flight club football on this weekend, a look back at Arsenal’s 3-1 victory over West Ham last weekend seems to be the only logical thing to discuss. In a new sub-section called Technically Talking, we’ll look to dissect goals from both a technical and tactical angle.
Down a goal and away from home, Arsenal needed a goal before halftime to reassert themselves and their control at Upton Park. In the 41st minute, they did just that. The Gunners this season have shown just how dangerous they can be at any point in the match, turning defense into attack incredibly quickly. Arteta’s pressure in midfield led to Diame’s poor touch and cheap turnover. With West Ham’s momentum moving forward and the ball now moving towards their own goal, their defense had to adjust and think fast. The anticipation from Arsenal’s attacking presence was brilliant. The moment Arteta looked to have dispossessed Diame, Grioud, Gervinho, Cazorla, and Podolski all reacted with positive movements. West Ham’s back four, spread wide across the back because of their retention of the ball moments prior, left gaps everywhere for Arsenal’s runners to work with.
Instead of looking to continue his run and get in behind, Giroud recognizes the physical battle Arteta and Diame are in and drops off to maintain possession.
His first touch shows just how aware he is by taking the ball across Diame’s path. A bit of strength helps keep the Senegalese international at bay. Now with the ball at his feet, he sees Gervinho pulling off to his right, Cazorla running alongside him in the middle and Podolski providing great width on the left hand side. Giroud opts to take advantage of Podolski’s isolation on the wing.

Arsenal's attacking four all reacted positively when Diame was dispossessed by Arteta. This immediately gives West Ham problems at the back.

Derby Della Madonnina: Score Doesn’t Reflect the Match As Inter Grabs 1-0 Win over Milan

Too bad he does not play for Inter or Milan…he was the referee.

Talk about the referee buzzed; even Milan’s manager Massimiliano Allegri stated his opinion: “I never talk about referees. But, I have to now. The referee got it wrong in this game.â€
Inter Milan deservedly went up 1-0 in the third minute when Walter Samuel slid to the ground and fired home a header off a free kick from Esteban Cambiasso.
Milan was robbed of the equalizer later in the first half. Bojan Krkic played Urby Emanuelson in on goal against Samir Handanovic. The former Udinese keeper jumped into the air to knock the ball away, which he did, but in the meantime collided with Urby Emanuelson. The ball fell to Riccardo Montolivo, who fired home a goal into the open net. But Valeri called a foul on Emanuelson, whose only crime was being in the path of Handanovic.

Neymar open to partnering Ibrahimovic at PSG

ESPN FC is reporting that Neymar would be open to a move to French giants PSG as he stated, “Paris is a beautiful city…Ibrahimovic is one of the best players in the world today and I dream to play with major players.” Seeing Neymar line up next to Ibrahimovic would cause opposing defenders to cower in fear and give PSG the most potent attacking duo in the world.

In theory, the tactic of pairing an agile speedster with a hulking forward should be an ideal strike pairing. Certain scenarios would play into each striker’s benefit: on a counter attack the quick forward could be released and fly down the field, while the big striker could hold the ball up and bring teammates into play or turn and blast a shot past the goalkeeper. One would be hard-pressed to find a duo that could even come close to replicating what Neymar and Ibrahimovic would be able to do on the field and the only ones that come to mind involve the world’s best player- Leo Messi.

La Liga Roundup: Real Relinquishing Spanish Grip?

Cristiano Ronaldo of Real Madrid (Photo by Jasper Juinen/Getty Images)

As if it was written in the stars, Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo both hit braces for their sides on Sunday, masterfully crafting the 2-2 extravaganza that occurred at the Camp Nou. Eerily enough, the date of the match was 10/07/2012, 10 and seven of course being Messi and Ronaldo’s shirt numbers, respectively.
However, despite the encouraging result against the league’s joint-leaders, the draw only sees Real move up to fifth spot and remain seven points off the Catalans.
Of course, it’s still too early to say how the campaign will finish and Los Merengues still have one of the most talented squads in the world, but is the La Liga’s “Top Two” finally freeing their grip on Spanish dominance?

English Premier League: Chelsea Retain Top Spot, Manchester Duo Turn Up The Heat

Branislav Ivanovic of Chelsea (centre) celebrates with Juan Mata (L) and Fernando Torres (R) (Photo by Mike Hewitt/Getty Images)

It was another fruitful weekend for Chelsea, who are now four points clear at the top of the Premier League table. There were also wins for last season’s top two as Manchester United and Manchester City set about stamping their authority on the table. Of the ten games on show, we saw an average of 3.4 goals per game for the second successive week, this time with only one encounter failing to produce any goals at all.
The action began at the Etihad Stadium, as Manchester City produced arguably their best display of the season with a 3-0 win over Sunderland, thus ending the Mackem’s unbeaten start to the campaign. Alexander Kolarov opened the scoring with a trademark free kick, and in truth City could have been home and dry at half time, Simon Mignolet denying Pablo Zabaleta before Carlos Tevez fired wide. Sergio Aguero was came on for a frustrated Mario Balotelli in the second period and made an instant impact, tucking away at the near post from Kolarov’s center. James Milner then sealed a thoroughly satisfying result for Roberto Mancini’s men, catching out Mignolet with a free kick that took a slight deflection off of Craig Gardner. After a slow start to the season, City are finally showing the form that secured them the Premier League trophy last term.
There were a further 18 goals from the rest of Saturday afternoon’s action, in four particularly entertaining games. Everton’s impressive form stuttered somewhat as they were held to a 2-2 draw in an exciting affair against Wigan Athletic at the DW Stadium. Arouna Kone opened the scoring for the Latics amid suspicions of offside, only for Nikica Jelavic to level in the following minute. Di Santo then restored Wigan’s lead after some more good work from Kone, before Leighton Baines capped off a great display with a brilliant 87^th minute penalty.

Real Madrid fans want Kaka against Barcelona

Real Madrid take on Barcelona on Sunday and Jose Mourinho faces a big decision in whether or not to start a very in form Kaka.

Falcao commits himself to Atletico Madrid amidst interest from Chelsea

After Chelsea was thoroughly embarrassed by Atletico Madrid in the UEFA Super Cup, Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich surely took notice of the man who scored a hat trick against his London club. Radamel Falcao dominated the game, scoring three goals in the first half of the match, while making the Chelsea defense look like academy players. Falcao has taken the world of football by storm, scoring at will against whoever dares to defend him, becoming one of the world’s most sought after players.

The Colombian scored 36 goals last season and has started right where he left off this season, netting ten times in his first six matches. talkSPORT is reporting that Chelsea have inquired about the star striker as they look to improve their squad as Fernando Torres has still not fully rediscovered the form that caused Chelsea to buy him up from Liverpool.
Falcao has become the quintessential striker and has drawn interest from nearly every top club in the world. He’s very skilled as well as being an absolutely lethal finisher, and given his great positional sense, he always finds himself in positions to score. Perhaps, Falcao’s most notable strength is his aerial ability. He is arguably the best header of the ball in the game today. Standing at only 5’10″, it’s quite surprising that he climbs higher than opposing defenders that stand well over 6’0″, but he does, latching onto balls swung into the area by Arda Turan.

Everton v. Wigan: David Moyes’ Team Always Comes To Play

€œYo man, that is so dope,€ said the dread-locked guy walking to my left.
“What’s that?” I asked, shocked at getting a compliment while walking down a Lower East Side street in the pouring rain.
“Your Everton jacket,” he said pointing to the crest of my blue hooded half-zip.
“Oh yea, thanks. Gotta support the squad,” I smiled proudly. “You an Everton fan?”
“Nah, I’m a United supporter,” he confessed. “But I’ve always admired Everton. Obviously because of Tim Howard and Landon Donovan â€" but more than that, there’s just something about David Moyes and how his team always comes to play.”
For years, I’ve been making the same argument (although it typically falls on deaf ears). Everton is a club that goes to work everyday and does the business. Fans and players alike don’t make a fuss about being overshadowed by the Red side of town, not having a state-of-the-art stadium or being forced to operate on a shoestring budget. They just play the hand they have been dealt in the best way possible. That’s the Everton way. And that’s why it’s so rewarding to be a supporter.

The Lowry Lowdown: On Playing With Cuauhtémoc Blanco

Cuauhtemoc Blanco #10 of the Chicago Fire

For those of you who weren’t aware, Cuauht©moc Blanco is perhaps the most recognizable Hispanic athlete in the world. His stardom is on par with the likes of Alex Rodriguez and Oscar De La Hoya.  A few years ago when Blanco and I were both with the Chicago Fire, I was able to fully grasp the magnitude of just how big of a star this guy is.
I was drafted into the Fire in early 2008 and joined the team for a two week preseason trip to Mexico. Blanco had joined the Fire midway through the 2007 campaign and had very nearly led the team to an MLS Cup Final. (The impact he had on the season is what likely landed him on the cover of the EA Sports’ FIFA 2008 video game.)
The team and I arrived at the airport in Mexico to begin our camp and went to pick up our luggage and gear at baggage claim. I will never forget the sight â€" hundreds of people, camera crews, and photographers were waiting for us! Blanco knew it was coming and was safely guided by security and airport personnel to a private car that whisked him away to the hotel. We were left with the crowd, who were disappointed that we showed up without Blanco.  It felt like walking into a surprise party where, instead of yelling “SURPRISE!” everyone just turns around and walks away.