Monthly Archives: March 2015

Η Λίβερπουλ κράτησε «αλώβητο» το «Άνφιλντ» απέναντι στην Μάντσεστερ Σίτι και στέρησε από τους πρωταθλητές την ευκαιρία να πλησιάσουν ακόμη περισσότερο την πρωτοπόρο Τσέλσι.

Οι «κόκκινοι» νίκησαν με 2-1, για την 27η αγωνιστική της Premier League, και μπήκαν για τα καλά στο «κυνήγι» της τέταρτης θέσης που οδηγεί στο Τσάμπιονς Λιγκ της νέας αγωνιστικής περιόδου.

Αναλυτικά τα αποτελέσματα και οι σκόρερ της 27ης αγωνιστικής:

Γουέστ Χαμ-Κρίσταλ Πάλας 1-3
(76΄ Βαλένσια – 41΄,63΄ Μάρεϊ, 51΄ Νταν)

Μπέρνλι-Σουόνσι 0-1
(65΄αυτ. Τρίπιερ)

Μάντσεστερ Γ.-Σάντερλαντ 2-0
(66΄πεν., 85΄ Ρούνι)

Νιούκαστλ-Αστον Βίλα 1-0
(37΄ Σισέ)

Στόουκ Σίτι-Χαλ 1-0
(71΄ Κράουτς)

Γουέστ Μπρομ-Σαουθάμπτον 1-0
(2΄ Μπεραχίνο)

Λίβερπουλ-Μάντσεστερ Σίτι 2-1
(11΄ Χέντερσον, 75΄ Κουτίνιο – 26΄ Τζέκο)

Αρσεναλ-Εβερτον

ΒΑΘΜΟΛΟΓΙΑ (σε 27 αγώνες)
Τσέλσι 60 -26αγ.
Μάντσεστερ Σίτι 55
Μάντσεστερ Γιουν. 50
Άρσεναλ 48 -26αγ.
Λίβερπουλ 48
Σαουθάμπτον 46
Τότεναμ 44 -26αγ.
Σουόνσι 40
Γουέστ Χαμ 39
Στόουκ Σίτι 39
Νιούκαστλ 35
Κρίσταλ Πάλας 30
Γουέστ Μπρομ 30
Έβερτον 28 -26αγ.
Χαλ 26
Σάντερλαντ 25
ΚΠΡ 22 -26αγ.
Μπέρνλι 22
Άστον Βίλα 22
Λέστερ 18 -26αγ.

Πηγή:in.gr

Philippe Coutinho dealt a big blow to Manchester City’s Barclays Premier League title defence with the decisive goal in Liverpool’s 2-1 win at Anfield on Sunday.

With Chelsea playing in the Capital One Cup final later in the day, City could have moved within two points of the leaders, but Coutinho’s stunning strike gave Liverpool a crucial victory in their bid for a top-four finish. The same player scored the winner in this fixture least season. While that time City were able to recover to usurp Liverpool’s challenge, overtaking Chelsea may prove too much this time.

Jordan Henderson brought the game to life after 11 minutes with his third league goal of the season for the hosts, the 24-year-old finding the top corner from 20 yards. City were level midway through the half as Edin Dzeko converted his 50th Barclays Premier League strike from a sublime Sergio Aguero pass.

After such an action-packed 45 minutes, the second half struggled to reach similar heights until Coutinho took centre stage 15 minutes from time, the Brazilian curling home from the left-edge of the penalty area. Manuel Pellegrini’s side pushed for a second equaliser, but to no avail and City remain five points behind Chelsea having played a match more, while Liverpool are up to fifth, level on points with Arsenal, ahead of their match with Everton later that day.

A frenetic start was dominated by Liverpool, who made four changes from their defeat by Besiktas in the UEFA Europa League on Thursday, with Adam Lallana twice going close.

Lallana’s first effort was saved by Joe Hart after a superb pass from Coutinho and, although the second beat the City goalkeeper, it was ruled out for offside.

Any home disappointment quickly faded as Henderson arrowed in a fine strike from the edge of the penalty area after 11 minutes. Coutinho was again involved as he robbed Vincent Kompany before combining with Raheem Sterling to get the ball to Henderson on the left. The Liverpool captain cut inside and gave Hart no chance with a powerful shot into the top-right corner.

City, who also made four changes following midweek European disappointment against Barcelona, responded strongly, Aguero sending a low drive against a post a minute after Henderson’s opener.

The champions continued to press and a crisp passing move involving Yaya Toure, David Silva and Aguero allowed Dzeko bring them level after 25 minutes.

The striker collected a perfectly weighted reverse pass from Aguero before firing past Simon Mignolet from 12 yards.

Lallana had a chance to restore Liverpool’s lead before the break from a chipped Lazar Markovic pass, but pulled his effort wide of Hart’s goal.

Both sides wasted chances early in the second half as Aguero and Sterling failed to convert from inside the penalty area, while Lallana had a second effort ruled out by the assistant referee.

Silva then spurned a promising position for City with an overhit free-kick.

That proved to be costly as Liverpool finally made their possession pay, Coutinho cutting in from the left, evading the challenge of Samir Nasri and Pablo Zabaleta to secure the win.

Aguero went agonisingly close to earning City a point with a low effort after 79 minutes, but the visitors were unable to find a second goal and handed the advantage to Chelsea in the race for the title.

source:premierleague.com

Και τελικό περλαμαβάνει το σημερινό πρόγραμμα στο αγγλικό ποδόσφαιρο. Τσέλσι και Τότεναμ παίζουν για την κατάκτηση του Λιγκ Καπ, (18:00, ΑΝΤ-1) στο «Γουέμπλεϊ».

Πρόκειται για την τρίτη αναμέτρησή των δύο ομάδων στη φετινή σεζόν. Η Τσέλσι κέρδισε 3-0 στο «Στάμφορντ Μπριτζ», αλλά ηττήθηκε 5-3 πρωτοχρονιάτικα στο «Γουάιτ Χαρτ Λέιν».

Η Τσέλσι θα παίξει τον 17ο τελικό της στα τελευταία 20 χρόνια. Από την άλλη, η Τότεναμ παραμένει επτά χρόνια χωρίς τίτλο.

Πηγή:in.gr

Double header as Besart Berisha of the Victory and Benjamin Sigmund of the Phoenix contend for the ball. Photo: Getty Images

Records are meant to be broken, and one of the A-League’s seemingly immutable standards — Wellington Phoneix’s inability to win away against Melbourne Victory — was finally snapped at AAMI Park on Sunday afternoon when the Kiwis twice came from behind to triumph 3-2.

Phoenix had not won in 12 attempts away to Victory before this, and their win – their first in five matches – will put their season back on course.

Victory had the chance to go top of the A-League had they taken three points here, not to mention marking  Archie Thompson’s 200th game in  style. They are now second on goal difference, three points behind Perth Glory. Victory, Adelaide and Wellington all have 33 points, with Sydney one point behind.

Wellington have been transformed under former Victory boss Ernie Merrick, and in Michael McGlinchey, Nathan Burns and Roy Krishna they have one of the more inventive and incisive attacks in the competition, while Dutch midfielder Roly Bonevacia provides dead ball expertise and support from midfield.

The visitors made their intentions clear early by forcing two corners early but it was the hosts who came closest first through striker Besart Berisha, the Albanian drawing a fine save from ex Victory goalkeeper Glen Moss in the eighth minute.

Still, it couldn’t disguise the lively start being made by Merrick’s men. McGlinchey was all quick feet and darting little runs in dangerous areas and Burns, who has turned his career around since heading to Wellington, was a combination of pace, power and skill as he tried to work openings around the Victory penalty area.

Nevertheless it was Victory who should have taken the lead around the quarter of an hour mark. First Fahid Ben Khallfallah made a wonderful break through the centre, dribbled past Albert Riera and set up Kosta Barbarouses. The ex Phoenix winger’s shot was scrambled to safety by Alex Rodriguez, who had got back well to cover.

From the resultant corner Victory gained another  opportunity when Nix centre back Ben Sigmund brought down Mark Milligan. Referee Jarred Gillett pointed to the spot. Up stepped Berisha, but his  penalty slammed into the post and rebounded to safety.

Moss was again Wellington’s saviour when he came off his line  to dive at Barbarouses feet after the winger’s slightly heavy touch played Ben Khallfallah’s crossfield ball just far enough ahead to give the goalkeeper a chance.

Berisha  got himself booked for a foul on Rodriguez. Gui Finkler then skimmed the bar with a lofted shot after a sweeping move down the right begun by Milligan, and it looked as though Victory was getting on top.

Kevin Muscat’s side did get their noses in front in the 34th minute from fullback Scott Galloway. Phoenix only partially cleared his cross after he had galloped up the left, allowing him to then drive in a shot which beat Moss.

The visitors didn’t drop their heads, however, and kept coming. Rodriguez blasted wide from a Burns pass, and in the 40th minute they got the equaliser their enterprise deserved from a wonderful free kick by Bonevacia. Victory full back Jason Geria conceded a foul in a dangerous area when he upended Krishna, and Bonevacia stepped up outside the penalty area to curl a perfectly weighted free kick into the net.

Mucat’s men regained the initiative early in the second half through a well worked and smartly finished goal by Barbarouses. Geria fed the New Zealand international wide on the right and Barbarouses squared the ball to Carl Valeri and kept running. Valeri threaded a pass through which Barbarouses calmly finished off the outside of his boot into the far corner.

But Phoenix are never out of games these days, and in the 68th minute they drew level once more, and Bonevacia was again the architect. His free kick floated to the far side of the penalty area and defender Michael Boxall got clear to head past Coe to make it 2-2.

Thompson, celebrating a wonderful milestone entered the fray with some 20 minutes remaining, but it was Burns at the other end who had the biggest impact, putting his side in front with 13 minute to go after a surging run down the right by Michael Boxall.

Burns looked to be standing in an offside position while the move developed but was deemed to be “passive”. When the ball came to him he was not offside, and he finished just inside Nathan Coe’s post. This was clearly fated to be Merrick’s – and Wellington’s – day.

source:smh.com.au

Manuel Pellegrini gleefully revealed on Friday that he has not a single injury concern ahead of Manchester City‘s trip to Liverpool.

But, while that news is undoubtedly a boost for the Chilean coach, it provides something of a selection headache.

With everybody fit, just who gets into the strongest possible starting XI?

David Lynch

Unless he was already thinking about this game, Pellegrini was wrong not to start Fernandinho against Barcelona on Tuesday. And even then he was still probably wrong.

The 29-year-old is far superior to his compatriot Fernando and does much more to get the Blues on the front foot with his ability to both break up play and drive forward effectively.

He should partner the returning Yaya Toure in a midfield two that has more than enough to deal with Liverpool’s fleet-footed runners in that area.

At the back, Eliaquim Mangala and Gael Clichy – despite his midweek involvement – are needed to counter the pace of Daniel Sturridge, Philippe Coutinho and Raheem Sterling, while the rest picks itself.

And surely it is time for Wilfried Bony to get a start ahead of Edin Dzeko, who was so wasteful against Barca. The 4-4-2 might not work in Europe, but the Premier League is a different kettle of fish.

Anthony Jepson

Manuel Pellegrini took a lot of flak from City fans over the tactics employed to deal with Barcelona on Tuesday.

And while it could be argued the security of a five-man midfield should be relied upon for the visit to Anfield, the manager’s desire to thrust Wilfried Bony into the Premier League fray should override that.

City need a win to close the gap on Chelsea and hamper Liverpool’s own ambitions.

The Ivorian got a brief taste of the action as City improved in the second half against the classy Catalans and he’ll be fired up to show what he can do alongside Sergio Aguero.

It means one less than many would like in midfield but James Milner’s energy and aggression should make him the man to partner Yaya Toure at the home of a club he has been heavily linked with.

That leaves Fernando and Fernandinho the odd men out.

While Fernando was laboured against Barca, Fernandinho could probably count himself unlucky to miss out after helping City step up after the break.

James Robson

This is a golden chance for City to close to apply pressure to Chelsea, with Jose Mourinho’s side playing Tottenham in the Capital One Cup.

They’ve got a bad record at Anfield, but Pellegrini cannot afford to be cautious.If he was willing to play two up front against Barcelona, then he won’t be afraid of doing likewise against Liverpool.

Yaya Toure will be thrown straight back in and he was missed again when serving a suspension against Barca.

Despite Edin Dzeko’s heroics against Newcastle, perhaps it is time to hand £25m striker Wilfried Bony his first start. I also expect Eliaquim Mangala to be restored alongside Vincent Kompany at the back.

source: manchestereveningnews.co.uk