Monthly Archives: January 2015

Newcastle beaches closed as shark search continues

 

A 3.5 metre shark attacked a pod of dolphins off a Newcastle beach, keeping the surf and sand closed. (Supplied)

A 3.5 metre shark attacked a pod of dolphins off a Newcastle beach, keeping the surf and sand closed

Beaches along the Newcastle coast are expected to remain closed as shark spotters continue to scour the sea for the two fearsome ocean predators that have lurked offshore over the past nine days.

The five-metre great white, nicknamed Bruce, and a three-and-a-half metre shark that lunched on a dolphin last week, have not been seen since Friday.

A 3.5 metre shark attacked a pod of dolphins off a Newcastle beach, keeping the surf and sand closed. (Supplied)

A 3.5 metre shark attacked a pod of dolphins off a Newcastle beach, keeping the surf and sand closed.

A spokesperson for Heliservices Newcastle said crews will take to the air today to try to spot the sharks, before a decision is made to reopen the beaches.

A dolphin with a chunk of its body missing after an attack by an eleven-foot shark. The attack occurred just 60 yards from shore and came as the council admitted that there was not merely one shark – “the biggest we’ve ever had” – lurking around the city’s beaches, but several of different species.

The attack on the dolphin was by a tiger shark, which took a chunk from the dolphin’s back and then lunged forward for a second bite to take a chunk out of its tale. The shark then reportedly hung back and waited for the dolphin to die before feeding on it.

But the main concern, which led to the closure of the city’s seven beaches, has been the presence of a 15-foot, 1.7-ton great white shark.

Teenage boy taken to hospital after suspected shark attack off Australia's east coast as another beach remains shut for seventh day

Shark attacks and kills dolphin off Burwood Beach, Newcastle, New South Wales Photo: Peter Lorimer/Newspix/REX

On Friday a 17-year-old boy was bitten on the hand by a 1.5m shark at Mollymook Beach, about three and a half hours south of Sydney.

Sam Smith was flown to a Sydney hospital with lacerations to his hand sustained after he tried to film the shark while spear-fishing.

source: 9news.com.au

Queensland Election 2015: Bishop skips LNP’s campaign launch

No-show: Julie Bishop.

No-show: Julie Bishop.

First came the absence of Prime Minister Tony Abbott. Now, deputy Liberal Party leader Julie Bishop has joined Mr Abbott as the second high-profile party absentee from Sunday’s LNP Queensland election campaign launch.

Premier Campbell Newman has sought to distance himself from his federal Liberal colleagues since calling the snap election on January 6 but denies it’s the “Toxic Tony” influence fuelling the move.

Tony Abbott will be absent from Sunday's LNP Queensland election campaign launch

Tony Abbott will be absent from Sunday’s LNP Queensland election campaign launch Photo: Getty-Images

The increasingly unpopular Prime Minister was widely regarded as a detrimental factor on the Victorian election campaign trail, where Labor regained power after a four-year absence.

“This team stands strongly in a stable way to take the state forward and we do not need federal counterparts to come and prop us up,” Mr Newman said.

Ms Bishop, the Foreign Affairs Minister who is far more popular than her leader, was widely tipped to attend Sunday’s launch at the Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre.

ALP candidate Kate Jones and federal ALP member for Sydney and Deputy Leader of the Opposition, Tanya Plibersek, at the Ashgrove Golf Club, Brisbane.

ALP candidate Kate Jones and federal ALP member for Sydney and Deputy Leader of the Opposition, Tanya Plibersek, at the Ashgrove Golf Club, Brisbane. Photo: Renee Melides

But sources confirmed to Fairfax Media on Saturday that she would be joining the Prime Minister in absentia.

It continues the notable absences of federal Liberal Party heavy hitters from the Queensland election trail.

Mr Abbott has visited the state once since Mr Newman called the election, attending the funerals of eight children stabbed to death in Cairns late last year.

He has been on holidays for most of the campaign.

The absence of the federal Liberal Party leadership team from Sunday’s event leaves just the Deputy Prime Minister, Nationals leader Warren Truss, and a host of Queensland federal MPs likely to attend, though none are expected to play significant roles.

It comes in stark contrast to the Australian Labor Party’s campaign, where there has been a heavy presence of the federal leadership team.

Opposition Leader Bill Shorten spent five days on the campaign trail with his state counterpart, Annastacia Palaszczuk, during the week and, on Saturday, Deputy Opposition Leader Tanya Plibersek arrived in Queensland to spend five days on the hustings.

Griffith University communications professor Stephen Stockwell said it was surprising Ms Bishop would not be at Sunday’s state launch. He speculated that she would visit Queensland before the January 31 poll date but said many other Liberal Party MPs, such as Treasurer Joe Hockey and Education Minister Christopher Pyne, were no chance of visiting.

He said it was likely the absence of the federal Liberal Party on the Queensland campaign trail was likely to continue.

“It’s hard to pick anyone who wouldn’t raise issues, [Malcolm] Turnbull is a possibility because he’s not tagged with the Abbott brush but I don’t think anyone would be real keen about Joe Hockey turning up or Christopher Pyne or Eric Abetz,” he said.

“In Queensland, you have the LNP running a strongly organised campaign and they will be looking to minimise intrusions into that campaign.

“I think everyone appreciates it’s going to be a tight race.”

University of Queensland public policy lecturer Kath Gelber said the absence did not necessarily indicate a divide between the state and federal Liberal Party, saying all could appreciate what would bring the best chances of electoral victory.

“The voters see a much stronger correlation between the federal and state governments than the state government would like them to,” she said.

“There will be no more friction than is normal – it’s quite typical in Australia, normally. It’s not an unusual situation that state parties want to campaign on state issues.”

Latest polling shows massive swings against the Newman government with a hung parliament and even a Labor victory possible.

In contrast to the LNP campaign, however, Labor are leaning heavily on the popularity of their federal leaders, with Mr Shorten credited as having the opposite effect to Mr Abbott on the recent Victorian election campaign.

“[Victorian Premier] Daniel Andrews used him extensively in Victoria, but basically what you will find is Shorten is the conduit, he is able to link federal issues to a state election very well,” Professor Stockwell said.

Both Mr Shorten and Ms Plibersek are expected to attend the Labor campaign launch in Ipswich on Tuesday.

But Mr Newman insisted Labor’s leadership team still had questions to answer.

“Tanya Plibersek, Mr Shorten got Australia into the financial mess that it’s in right now,” he said.

“I think when they roll into Queensland, that they should be asked some hard questions about how they will responsibly help, in a bipartisan way, Australia get back on to a stable financial footing.

“They deserve nothing less.

“Australians deserve nothing less to hear from Labor federally about how they would balance the federal Budget.”

source: brisbanetimes.com.au

Thrace muftis condemn Paris attacks

Muftis in Thrace, in northern Greece, have condemned the recent killing of 17 people by Islamist militants in Paris. In a statement Friday, the muftis of Komotini, Xanthi and Didimoticho condemned the “dissemination of fear and blind violence, whatever their origin, and, in particular, when it comes from fanatics who invoke Islam, vulgarly insulting the holy name of God.”

The muftis, who are tasked with performing certain judicial functions in matters of family and inheritance law, defended freedom of expression while pointing at Thrace as a place of peaceful co-existence between different religious groups.

“We Muslims of Thrace are fortunate enough to live in Greece, a European country that has always genuinely respected Islam and our local traditions, customs and habits,” the statement said

source:ekathimerini.com

Tsipras sees debt conference idea gathering support

SYRIZA leader Alexis Tsipras greets supporters in Arta, northwestern Greece, on Saturday.

SYRIZA leader Alexis Tsipras has seized on comments by Irish Finance Minister Michael Noonan as evidence that not just “progressive economists and the European Left” are coming round to his party’s argument that the European Union needs to hold a meeting to discuss how to reduce the debt of some of its members, including Greece.

“In all of Europe, only Mr Samaras called this nonsene,” wrote Tsipras in Sunday’s Kathimerini. The Irish Times reported on Wednesday that Noonan told Irish ambassadors and civil servants he “would not be dismissive” of a European debt conference being held as long as the issue of Irish, Spanish and Portuguese debt could be discussed.

source:ekathimerini.com

 

Police make arrests in probe of link to Belgian Islamist cell

A Belgian soldier stands guard outside the US Embassy in Brussels on Saturday, after security forces smashed a suspected Islamist terrorist cell planning to kill police officers.

 Greek police detained four people on Saturday over alleged links to an Islamist cell in Belgium, where two suspected terrorists were shot by officers on Thursday.

One of the men, aged 27 is alleged to have been in regular contact with the cell in the Belgian town of Verviers, where two extremists were killed and one arrested.

Sources said that Greek police acted after a request from Interpol. Belgian authorities found that members of the Islamist cell in Verviers called a contact in Greece regularly.

Greek officers were given the identity of the man, who, like the three suspects in the Belgian raid, had recently returned from fighting in Syria. Reports in Belgium suggest that the suspect in Greece was the brother of one of the alleged extremists and had been coordinating the group’s movements. One TV channel, VTM, reported that he is of Algerian descent.

Sources also revealed that in November, Greek authorities were asked by their French counterparts to interview three families who had tried to travel together from France to Syria to fight in the civil war. The 16 people were questioned for 12 hours by Greek police, who also searched their cars. Nothing suspicious was found and they were escorted to board a ferry bound for Italy.

source:ekathimerini.com

Ο Στιλ κράτησε όρθιο τον ΠΑΟ στη Ν.Σμύρνη, «4άρα» η Βέροια

Ο Στιλ κράτησε όρθιο τον ΠΑΟ στη Ν.Σμύρνη, «4άρα» η Βέροια

Ισόπαλο έληξε το ματς του Πανιωνίου με τον Παναθηναϊκό στη Νέα Σμύρνη (Πανιώνιος – Παναθηναϊκός 1-1), στο πλαίσιο της 19ης αγωνιστικής της Σούπερ Λιγκ.

Βαριά ήττα γνώρισε ο, «πληγωμένος» το τελευταίο διάστημα, ΟΦΗ στη Βέροια (Βέροια – ΟΦΗ 4-1) από την τοπική ομάδα.

Σε ένα ματς το οποίο θα… ξεχαστεί εύκολα, η Κέρκυρα και Ξάνθη έμεινα στη «λευκή» ισοπαλία (Κέρκυρα – Ξάνθη 0-0).

Άφησε βαθμούς στην Πλατεία ο Παναθηναϊκός

Άφησε βαθμούς στην Πλατεία ο Παναθηναϊκός

Πολύτιμους βαθμούς έχασε ο Παναθηναϊκός, που αναδείχθηκε ισόπαλος 1-1 με τον Πανιώνιο στη Νέα Σμύρνη, για την 19η αγωνιστική της Σούπερ Λίγκας. Οι γηπεδούχοι προηγήθηκαν με γκολάρα του Μπουμάλ στο 33΄, ισοφάρισε ο Μπεργκ στο 78΄, ενώ ο Στιλ κράτησε -τουλάχιστον- τον βαθμό της ισοπαλίας αποκρούοντας πέναλτι του Κολοβού στο 87΄.

Με ασύλληπτη βολίδα του Σενεγαλέζου, Ολιβιέ Μπουμάν, οι γηπεδούχοι άνοιξαν το σκορ στον στο 33΄. Τόσο πριν, όσο και για το υπόλοιπο του ημιχρόνου, ο Παναθηναϊκός έμοιαζε βγαλμένος από εφιάλτη.

Χωρίς πάθος, χωρίς επιθετική διάθεση, πλησίασε μόνο μία φορά κοντά, όταν ο Μπεργκ δεν κατάφερε να “πιάσει” καλά το σουτ μετά από σέντρα του Μπαϊράμι. Παράλληλα, κινδύνευσε άμεσα και με δεύτερο γκολ, σε κομβικό σημείο, όταν στο 41΄ ο Ιμπαγάσα έχασε μοναδική ευκαιρία να σκοράρει από κοντά με κεφαλιά, μετά από μεταβίβαση του Μπουμάλ.

Η είσοδος του Καρέλη στην ανάπαυλα, έδωσε επιθετική πνοή στον Παναθηναϊκό. Ο διεθνής άσος νικήθηκε από τον Γιαννακόπουλο σε τετ α τετ στο 51΄, ενώ οι “πράσινοι” άρχισαν να πιέζουν ασφυκτικά, αλλά να μην μπορούν να αξιοποιήσουν τις τελικές τους προσπάθειες (Πέτρις 63΄ και 74΄, Πράνιτς 66΄).

Μέχρι που ο Μάρκους Μπέργκ έλυσε το πρόβλημα, ισοφαρίζοντας στο 78΄ μετά από ασίστ του Κλωναρίδη. Στο 87΄ ο Λουκ Στιλ εξελίχθηκε σε μεγάλο πρωταγωνιστή της αναμέτρησης καθώς απέκρουσε πέναλτι του Κολοβού.

Στην παράβαση είχε υποπέσει ο Σίλντενφελντ, που ανέτρεψε τον Γιάννου. Θα ήταν άδικο για τον Παναθηναϊκό, αφού ήταν η μοναδική φάση στην οποία “πάτησαν περιοχή” οι παίκτες του Πανιωνίου σε όλο υο β΄ ημίχρονο.

ΔΙΑΙΤΗΤΗΣ: Μάνταλος

ΚΙΤΡΙΝΕΣ: Σίλντενφελντ, Ζέκα

ΠΑΝΙΩΝΙΟΣ (Μαρίνος Ουζουνίδης):
Γιαννακόπουλος, Αργυρόπουλος, Παντίδος, Ρισβάνης, Τασουλής, Κόρμπος, Μητρόπουλος, Μπουμάλ (80΄ Μπούζας), Κολοβός (90+2΄ Μασούρας), Ιμπαγάσα (55΄ Πάνος), Γιάννου

ΠΑΝΑΘΗΝΑΪΚΟΣ (Γιάννης Αναστασίου): Στιλ, Χουχούμης, Λαγός (62΄ Δώνης), Μπεργκ, Ζέκα, Μπαϊράμι (46΄ Καρέλης), Ατζαγκούν (76΄ Κλωναρίδης), Ταυλαρίδης, Σίλντενφελντ, Πράνιτς, Πέτριτς

Συνέχεια την Κυριακή…

Την Κυριακή, ο πρωτοπόρος Ολυμπιακός υποδέχεται τον Παναιτωλικό και είναι το λογικό φαβορί για την νίκη, όπως και ο ΠΑΟΚ που θα φιλοξενήσει τον Πλατανιά.

Ο Ατρόμητος θα πάρει «ξεκούραστα» τρεις βαθμούς, καθώς ο αγώνας με την -αποχωρήσασα- Νίκη Βόλου ματαιώθηκε, ο ΠΑΣ Γιάννινα έχει προβάδισμα -λόγω έδρας- για τη νίκη υποδεχόμενος τον Πανθρακικό, ενώ ο Αστέρας Τρίπολης δοκιμάζεται στην έδρα του Λεβαδειακού σε μία δύσκολη αναμέτρηση.

Το πρόγραμμα (σ.σ. όλοι οι αγώνες θα καλυφθούν τηλεοπτικά από την NOVA) και η βαθμολογία, έχουν ως εξής:

Σάββατο 17 Ιανουαρίου

Βέροια – ΟΦΗ 4-1
Κέρκυρα – Ξάνθη 0-0
Πανιώνιος – Παναθηναϊκός 1-1

Κυριακή 18 Ιανουαρίου

15:00 Λεβαδειακός – Αστέρας Τρίπολης
17:15 ΠΑΟΚ – Πλατανιάς
17:15 ΠΑΣ Γιάννινα – Πανθρακικός
19:30 Ολυμπιακός – Παναιτωλικός

Δευτέρα 19 Ιανουαρίου

19:30 Εργοτέλης – Καλλονή

ΒΑΘΜΟΛΟΓΙΑ (σε 18 αγώνες)

1. Ολυμπιακός 42
2. ΠΑΟΚ 40
3. Παναθηναϊκός 37 -19αγ.
4. Αστέρας Τρίπολης 32
5. Παναιτωλικός 31
6. Βέροια 30 -19αγ.
7. Ατρόμητος 29 -19αγ.
8. Ξάνθη 27 -19αγ.
9. ΠΑΣ Γιάννινα 26
10. Καλλονή 23
11. Κέρκυρα 22 -19αγ.
. Πλατανιάς Χανίων 22
13. ΟΦΗ 20 -19αγ.
14. Λεβαδειακός 18
15. Πανθρακικός 17
16. Πανιώνιος 16 -18αγ.
17. Εργοτέλης 11 -17αγ.
18. Νίκη Βόλου 7 -19αγ.

Πηγή:in.gr

Aγγλία:22η αγ.: Πάρτι η Τσέλσι, νίκησαν Γιουνάιτεντ και Λίβερπουλ

Σε περίπατο μετέτρεψε η Τσέλσι την αναμέτρηση του “Λίμπερτι” με την Σουόνσι, καθώς της επιβλήθηκε 5-0. Μάντσεστερ Γιουνάιτεντ και Λίβερπουλ συνέχισαν νικηφόρα την πορεία τους στην Premier League.

Η Σουόνσι φημίζεται για την ισχυρή της έδρα, όμως αυτό δεν επιβεβαιώθηκε την 22η αγωνιστική, καθώς η Τσέλσι της επιβλήθηκε 5-0 και αύξησε τη διαφορά από την Μάντσεστερ Σίτι (σ.σ. παίζει την Κυριακή με την Άρσεναλ) στους πέντε βαθμούς.

Το ματς άρχισε με τους καλύτερους οιωνούς, αφού μόλις στο 1ο λεπτό, έπειτα από λάθος του Γκίλφι Σίγκουρντσον, ο Οσκάρ άνοιξε το σκορ με σουτ εκτός περιοχής, ενώ λίγα δευτερόλεπτα αργότερα, ο Σίγκουρντσον σημάδεψε το δοκάρι του Πετρ Τσεχ, που προτιμήθηκε από τον Τιμπό Κουρτουά.

Το γεγονός ότι η Σουόνσι άγγιξε ποσοστό κατοχής 80% δεν ήταν αρκετό για να περιοριστεί η δράση των “μπλε” και δη του Ντιέγκο Κόστα, ο οποίος σκόραρε στο 20′ και το 34′, προτού ο Οσκάρ “ξαναχτυπήσει” στο 36′.

Μεγάλος άτυχος της αναμέτρησης ήταν ο Γουίλιαν, αφού σημάδεψε δύο φορές το δοκάρι του Λούκας Φαμπιάνσκι (στο 29′ και το 43′), ωστόσο αυτό που έχει σημασία είναι ότι η ομάδα του Ζοζέ Μουρίνιο έστειλε ένα πολύ αισιόδοξο μήνυμα στους φίλους της ενόψει της συνέχειας, δεδομένου ότι ο Αντρέ Σίρλε έβαλε το κερασάκι στην τούρτα, τρία μόλις λεπτά μετά από την είσοδό του στον αγωνιστικό χώρο (79′).

Σουόνσι (4-2-3-1): Φαμπιάνσκι, Τιεντάλι, Φερνάντες, Γουίλιαμς, Τέιλορ, Σίγκουρντσον, Κάρολ, Ντάιερ (75′ Μπάροου), Ολιβέιρα (66′ Φάλτον), Ρούτλετζ (32′ Έμνες), Γκομίς.

Τσέλσι (4-2-3-1): Τσεχ, Ιβάνοβιτς, Κέιχιλ, Τέρι, Φιλίπε Λουίζ, Φάμπρεγκας (74′ Ραμίρες), Μάτιτς, Γουίλιαν (76′ Σίρλε), Οσκάρ, Αζάρ, Ντιέγκο Κόστα (75′ Ρεμί).

Φρένο στο αήττητο εντός έδρας σερί των επτά αναμετρήσεων της ΚΠΡ έβαλε η Μάντσεστερ Γιουνάιτεντ, η οποία επικράτησε 2-0 και προσπέρασε την Σαουθάμπτον στην 3η θέση της βαθμολογίας.

Ο Ρανταμέλ Φαλκάο πήρε φανέλα βασικού αντί του Ρόμπιν φαν Πέρσι κι ο Μάρκος Ρόχο αντί του Λουκ Σο, σε ένα πρώτο ημίχρονο που οι δύο τερματοφύλακες είχαν αρκετή δουλειά (ο Νταβίντ ντε Χέα λίγο περισσότερη).

Κίνηση-ματ έκανε ο Λούις φαν Χάαλ κατά τη διάρκεια της ανάπαυλας, αφού έβγαλε τον Χουάν Μάτα και πέρασε τον Φελαϊνί, ο οποίος έμελλε να σημειώσει το μοναδικό γκολ της αναμέτρησης (στο 58′ με κοντινό σουτ, έπειτα από γύρισμα του Αντόνιο Βαλέντσια).

Μία καλή στιγμή κατέγραψε η ΚΠΡ για την ισοφάριση (στο 75′ με τον Βάργκας), ενώ στον αντίποδα, ο φιλότιμος Φαλκάο έχυσε την καρδάρα με το γάλα εξαιτίας της ανεπανάληπτης ευκαιρίας που έχασε στο 76ο λεπτό, προτού ο Τζέιμς Γουίλσον κλειδώσει τη νίκη των “κόκκινων διαβόλων” στο 94′.

ΚΠΡ (4-4-2): Γκριν, Ίσλα, Νταν (46′ Κόλκερ), Ονουόχα, Χιλ, Βάργκας, Μπάρτον, Χένρι, Φερ (70′ Τααράμπτ), Όστιν, Σαμόρα (80′ Κράντσαρ).

Μάντσεστερ Γιουνάιτεντ (3-5-2): Ντε Χέα, Τζόουνς, Έβανς (57′ Γουίλσον), Ρόχο, Κάρικ, Βαλέντσια, Μπλιντ, Μάτα (46′ Φελαϊνί), Ρούνεϊ, Ντι Μαρία (95′ Ερέρα), Φαλκάο.

Την τέταρτη νίκη της σε πέντε εκτός έδρας αναμετρήσεις πανηγύρισε η Λίβερπουλ, η οποία λύγισε 2-0 την Άστον Βίλα, η οποία αγνοεί τη χαρά της νίκης από τις 7 Δεκεμβρίου και έκανε ακόμα πιο επισφαλή τη θέση του Πολ Λάμπερτ.

Η επιστροφή του Ραχίμ Στέρλινγκ μετά από τις διακοπές στην Τζαμάικα και η απουσία του Στίβεν Τζέραρντ λόγω τραυματισμού ήταν οι πιο σημαντικές ειδήσεις που αφορούσαν το αρχικό σχήμα της ομάδας του Μπρένταν Ρότζερς.

Το πρώτο γκολ του Φάμπιο Μπορίνι στην Premier από τον Απρίλιο του 2013 (με κοντινή προβολή στο 24ο λεπτό) χάρισε το προβάδισμα στους “κόκκινους”, οι οποίοι απειλήθηκαν ουκ ολίγες φορές στο δεύτερο ημίχρονο, αλλά χάρη στο διαγώνιο σουτ του νεοεισελθόντα Ρίκι Λάμπερτ (στο 79′) κλείδωσαν τη νίκη που τους προώθησε στην έβδομη θέση της βαθμολογίας.

Άστον Βίλα (4-3-3): Γκουζάν, Χάτον, Οκόρε, Μπέικερ, Σισοκό, Σάντσες, Γουέστγουντ (59′ Χιλ), Ντελφ, Κλέβερλι (59′ Βάιμαν), Μπεντέκε, Αγκμπονλαχόρ.

Λίβερπουλ (3-4-3): Μινιολέ, Τσαν, Σκρτελ, Σακό, Μάρκοβιτς, Χέντερσον, Λούκας, Μορένο (71′ Ενρίκε), Στέρλινγκ (85′ Ίμπε), Μπορίνι (71′ Λάμπερτ), Κουτίνιο.

Τα αποτελέσματα της 22ης αγωνιστικής

Σάββατο 17 Ιανουαρίου

17:00 Άστον Βίλα – Λίβερπουλ 0-2

(24′ Μπορίνι, 79′ Λάμπερτ)

17:00 Μπέρνλι – Κρίσταλ Πάλας 2-3

(12′ Μι, 16′ Ινγκς – 28′, 87′ Γκέιλ, 48′ Πάντσεον)

17:00 Λέστερ – Στόουκ 0-1

(63′ Κρκιτς)

17:00 ΚΠΡ – Μάντσεστερ Γιουνάιτεντ 0-2

(58′ Φελαϊνί, 94′ Γουίλσον)

17:00 Σουόνσι – Τσέλσι 0-5

(1′, 36′ Οσκάρ, 20′, 34′ Κόστα, 79′ Σίρλε)

17:00 Τότεναμ – Σάντερλαντ 2-1

(3′ Βέρτονγκεν, 89′ Έρικσεν – 31′ Λάρσον)

19:30 Νιούκαστλ – Σαουθάμπτον

Κυριακή 18 Ιανουαρίου

15:30 Γουέστ Χαμ – Χαλ

18:00 Μάντσεστερ Σίτι – Άρσεναλ

Δευτέρα 19 Ιανουαρίου

22:00 Έβερτον – Γουέστ Μπρομ

Πηγή:contra.gr

Liverpool scalp Aston Villa 2-0 away

Liverpool have lost just one of their last 17 Premier League visits to Villa Park

Liverpool have lost just one of their last 17 Premier League visits to Villa Park

Liverpool increased the pressure on Aston Villa manager Paul Lambert by beating his struggling side to secure a third away league win in succession.

The threat of a pre-match protest by Villa fans did not materialise but the home side went behind when Fabio Borini prodded in a Jordan Henderson cross.

Christian Benteke had a chance to level but his powerful strike was saved.

Liverpool survived a number of other scares before Rickie Lambert arrowed in an 18-yard shot to secure victory.

The Reds have lost only one of their last 10 league games and earned the three points without captain Steven Gerrard, who had not been risked after going off with a tight hamstring during last Saturday’s win at Sunderland.

Villa, who improved after the break, failed to score for a fifth league game on the trot and they are now three points above the relegation zone, with their next two top-flight games against Arsenal and Chelsea.

Some Villa fans had threatened a protest by boycotting their seats in the Holte End for the first eight minutes of the match to mark each year that Randy Lerner had owned the club.

Villa’s Lambert had urged against such action and the supporters appeared to have listened to his request with hardly an empty seat to be seen.

However, the home side found themselves behind after striker Borini guided home an inviting Henderson cross to score his first goal of the campaign.

Villa could have fallen further behind but Philippe Coutinho and Raheem Sterling failed to take two promising chances for the Reds.

Keeper Brad Guzan also kept Villa in the game when he tipped a Martin Skrtel header against the post.

Carles Gil, signed by Villa this week, came on to make his debut and his arrival signalled a spell of pressure from the home side.

However, Benteke had a well-struck half-volley saved by fellow Belgium international Simon Mignolet, while Baker headed a corner just over.

Benteke also volleyed wide before Lambert gave Liverpool the breathing space they needed by scoring his third goal of the season with a low shot into the bottom corner.

Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers:

“It was always going to be a difficult game. Aston Villa are a hard team to try to break down but we were very complete in our performance.

“We passed the ball around really well at times and our counter-attack was very good and we probably should have exploited that more than we did.

“Importantly, when we had to defend at important moments of the game we stood up to the challenge.”

Aston Villa manager Paul Lambert:

“The second half I thought we were excellent. I didn’t think there was too much in it in the first half.

“We lost a poor goal but the second half was relentless pressure from us and their goalkeeper has probably kept them in it with the save from Christian Benteke.

“I don’t think anyone could fault us for the way we played in the second half.

“We just have to keep doing what we did today, keep getting the chances and they will go in.”

source: bbc.com

 

Wenger: Arsenal ‘mature’ enough to defeat Manchester City

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Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger is planning to throw out the history books ahead of his side’s Barclays Premier League match at Manchester City on Sunday.

The north London outfit suffered a 6-3 defeat at the Etihad Stadium last term and have struggled against the clubs who have finished among the BPL’s top four in recent seasons. But Wenger believes Arsenal are approaching a turning point, and says the past will matter little against City, who lie two points adrift of leaders Chelsea, this weekend.

“You have many games when you know you will be judged on your potential,” he said. “Manchester City is one of them. Manchester United, Chelsea and Liverpool are other games that people have a close eye on to judge your potential.

“The history will not play a big part in this game. It’s the performance of the day that will play the biggest part and the only important part. I believe we have consistency. Last year, we did not win the championship only for that reason. We did not perform in the top games away from home. I believe we have the potential now to be much more stable and to show that we can do it.

“For many years [our record in the biggest games] was our strength and, in the last two years, it is true that it has been a weakness. I think we are mature enough now to rectify it.”

Manuel Pellegrini, who added to his squad with the signing of Wilfried Bony from Swansea City this week, could be boosted by returns to the starting XI for Vincent Kompany and Sergio Aguero. But Samir Nasri has been ruled out for up to a month with a calf problem and Edin Dzeko (thigh) remains a doubt.

Bony is at the Africa Cup of Nations with the Ivory Coast, along with Yaya Toure, but it is Arsenal star Alexis Sanchez who is foremost in Pellegrini’s thoughts ahead of this weekend.

“Alexis is a very good player,” the City manager said of his Chilean compatriot, who scored twice against Stoke City last weekend to take his tally of Barclays Premier League goals to 12. “He is having a very good season in England. It is not easy for a player in his first season here to score so many goals.

“Alexis is repeating what he did in the last two seasons at Barcelona and scoring a lot of goals. I am very happy for him because he is a young player and very enthusiastic player and improving.”

Mathieu Debuchy (shoulder), Mikel Arteta (ankle), Danny Welbeck (thigh) and Jack Wilshere (ankle) are all missing for Arsenal, who could welcome back Kieran Gibbs after a heel injury.

Manchester City (from): Caballero, Hart, Wright, Boyata, Clichy, Demichelis, Kolarov, Kompany, Mangala, Sagna, Zabaleta, Fernandinho, Fernando, Lampard, Milner, Navas, Silva, Sinclair, Aguero, Dzeko, Jovetic.

Arsenal (from): Martinez, Ospina, Szczesny, Chambers, Gibbs, Koscielny, Mertesacker, Monreal, Cazorla, Coquelin, Flamini, Gnabry, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Ozil, Ramsey, Rosicky, Alexis, Campbell, Giroud, Sanogo, Walcott.

source: premierleague.com

Japan await as Socceroos stumble 0-1 in Korean test

Surrounded: James Troisi of the Socceroos.

Surrounded: James Troisi of the Socceroos. Photo: Getty Images

 

Australia suffered a significant setback to their hopes of winning the Asian Cup on home soil after succumbing to a hard-fought defeat to South Korea in Brisbane which puts them on the path to an early date with tournament favourites, Japan.

It was a performance that warranted much more than the end result for Australia who outplayed South Korea for the overwhelming majority of the match but left with little more than pride. A young squad brimming with confidence stumbled at their biggest hurdle yet, one that now puts the Socceroos on course to play the reigning champions in the semi-final and keeps them away from Sydney until the grand final, should they reach it. What is now assured is that Australia will remain in Brisbane to play China on Thursday night in the quarter-final of the competition.

Tim Cahill argues with the referee.Tim Cahill argues with the referee. Photo: Getty Images

Their first real test of the tournament showed just how strong the Socceroos can become, while it also highlighted a lack of experience that was yet to be exposed this month. South Korea’s tactical discipline – one neither Kuwait or Oman possessed – restricted Australia’s freedom to roam forward with the considerable comfort seen in past games.

Four changes made by coach Ange Postecoglou, including leaving Tim Cahill and Mark Bresciano on the bench, gave a chance for Aziz Behich, Tomi Juric, Nathan Burns and James Troisi to show why first team places are so competitive. Wellington Phoenix striker, Burns, was eager to make his chance count and tested South Korea’s goalkeeper early on before displaying his defensive commitment with a heavy challenge on Park Joo-ho that ended the defender’s evening prematurely.

It was symbolic of Australia’s hunger but also of their defensive discipline. In the 32nd minute, forward Lee Jeongheyop wasn’t tracked as he squeezed between Trent Sainsbury and Matthew Spiranovic and when Lee Keun-ho supplied a perfectly weighted cross, only the most slight of touches was required to score.

Matt McKay of Australia fights for the ball with Koo Ja Cheol of South Korea.Matt McKay of Australia fights for the ball with Koo Ja Cheol of South Korea. Photo: AFP

It stunned the home crowd but brought out the best in the Socceroos. After dinking past an opponent, James Troisi fired a low shot from inside the box that sat perfectly in the corner of the net. Only, it was the wrong side of the goal. Fans celebrated and so too did the Stadium operators, attributing Troisi a goal on the video screen before realising the conflicting response on the field.

Australia spurned an even greater chance of equalising immediately after the break when Tomi Juric blazed a tap-in over the bar.

While Australia struggled to contain the expansive play of the Koreans, they caused plenty of problems with the speed and power of their attack. The introduction of Matthew Leckie for Troisi added more fuel to their forward line that was growing increasingly confident which each half chance and advances halted only by fouls.

Shots from Leckie, darting runs by Burns, the mobility of Massimo Luongo and the ever-present threat of Juric toyed with South Korea but the final delivery or shot seemed to always be diminished by the structural discipline of their defence. At the other end, the introduction of Bayer Leverkusen star Song Heung-min created a nervous situation for Australia who were more susceptible to conceding than ever before.

Desperation lead to an abandonment of Australia formation as Cahill replaced a midfielder Matt McKay and Robbie Kruse came on for Burns, who almost scored with his last touch of the ball.

His replacement was denied by a superb reflex save by Kim Jin-hyeon who secured South Korea’s win by palming away Kruse’s shot from inside the box.

An equaliser never arrived, instead a blow for Australia when Spiranovic was cautioned for a clumsy foul on Jeongheyop that rules him out of Australia’s quarter final date with China.

In Saturday’s other Group A match Oman beat Kuwait 1-0 in front of 7499 fans in Newcastle.

source: smh.com.au