Title favourites Chelsea are set to unleash some of the club’s major close-season buys when they launch their campaign at Barclays Premier League new boys Burnley.

Jose Mourinho’s men finished last season third, faltering as a dramatic title tussle with Liverpool and eventual champions Manchester City reached its conclusion. Chelsea moved quickly to try to they last the course this time around, bringing in striker Diego Costa from Atletico Madrid, and former Arsenal playmaker Cesc Fabregas from Barcelona.

Both players are set to be pivotal figures for Mourinho in 2014/15 and Filipe Luis also has come in from Atletico to replace the long-serving Ashley Cole.
Returning hero Didier Drogba adds further muscle in attack, but is a doubt for the season opener after sustaining an ankle injury during a pre-season friendly against Ferencvaros.

But perhaps the greatest intrigue surrounding the Chelsea squad is the battle for the goalkeeping position. Petr Cech has been a mainstay of their success during the modern era, but Thibaut Courtois’s return after three years on loan at Atletico, picking up the Spanish Liga title and starring en route to the UEFA Champions League final last season, leaves Mourinho with an unenviable decision to make ahead of the Turf Moor showdown on Monday.

“I can’t tell you [which goalkeeper will play] because they don’t know and the team doesn’t know,” Mourinho said in his pre-match press conference. “What I can say is that in my opinion, with all respect to fantastic goalkeepers around the world, I think Chelsea has two of the three best goalkeepers in the world, which is unique.”

Mourinho continually played down his team’s title prospects last term, but he accepts that Chelsea are among the front-runners this time around.

“This season obviously we bought some key players, we believe and we are feeling that the new players have brought the squad and team into another dimension,” he said. “Yes, we are title contenders. If you expect me to say we will win the Premier League I can’t say that. I can’t because I have to respect the competition, which is the only [league] that has more than two title contenders. I have to respect the opponents and efforts the other teams made to improve their already top teams, but we all feel we are title contenders.”

Burnley undertook a more low-key approach during the close-season following their surprise march to an automatic promotion place in a magnificent 2013/14. Wolverhampton Wanderers left-back Stephen Ward became the club’s seventh recruit on Friday ahead of their top-flight return, while Lukas Jutkiewicz has enjoyed a prolific pre-season since signing from Middlesbrough. Jutkiewicz is expected to partner Danny Ings in attack as Sam Vokes continues his lengthy rehabilitation from cruciate knee ligament damage.

“There will be a vast gap in resources available, that’s the reality of it,” manager Sean Dyche, who is nicknamed “The Ginger Mourinho” by the Burnley faithful, said at a pre-match press conference. “There are probably still eight Championship clubs I could name off the bat who have got a better player wage level than we have now.

“But look at what you’ve got, not what you haven’t. We have to find a way of operating to get where we want. Behind my extremely bouncer-like look, there are a couple of brain cells in there!”

Five years ago, Burnley won their opening Barclays Premier League home match of the season 1-0 against Manchester United and Dyche is not ruling out another upset.

“Never say never,” he said. “Was it Cardiff who got three points off Man City early last season? I don’t think many would have been expecting that.”

Burnley (from): Cisak, Gilks, Heaton; Duff, Lafferty, Long, Mee, O’Neill, Shackell, Trippier, Ward; Arfield, Marney, Jones, Howieson, Kightly, Reid, Taylor, Wallace; Barnes, Ings, Jutkiewicz, Sordell.

Chelsea (from): Cech, Courtois, Schwarzer; Ake, Azpilicueta, Cahill, Christensen, Ivanovic, Luis, Terry, Zouma; Fabregas, Hazard, Matic Mikel, Oscar, Ramires, Salah, Van Ginkel, Willian; Costa, Drogba, Torres, Schurrle.

Match Appointments
Referee: Michael Oliver. Assistants: S Burt, D Cann. Fourth Official: M Dean.

Don Hutchison’s view
Talking point: It’ll be tough for Burnley, despite their unknown factor, with Chelsea’s an excellent opening-day record.
Main man: I am a big fan of Diego Costa, of his workrate and physical approach, and I think he will hit the ground running?
Prediction: BUR 0-2 CHE. The atmosphere at Turf Moor will carry Burnley for the first 45-60 minutes but Chelsea’s overriding quality will show in the end.

source: premierleague.com

Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers has promised his side will improve on Sunday’s scrappy 2-1 win over Southampton at Anfield.

Rodgers’ men lacked the fluency and attacking spark they showed last season against Southampton and victory was only sealed with 11 minutes left when Daniel Sturridge poked in from close range.

Raheem Sterling’s opener had been cancelled out by a Nathaniel Clyne effort and at times, Southampton looked the more likely of the two sides to win. Liverpool, who faded late to finish second in the Barclays Premier League last term, did just enough, with Sturridge’s predatory instincts around goal proving crucial.

Rodgers felt the nature of the match made Liverpool’s win more special as he now looks ahead to a trip to face the team who pipped them to the title, Manchester City on Monday 25 August.

“We had to grind out a result,” Rodgers said. “Today was a brilliant win for us because it was a tough game. [I am] really, really happy with that determination and character to win a football match.

“As the season rolls on, we’ll get better and more fluent. [It was] very hard-fought. They’re a good side, I don’t think you can think that just because they have lost players, that it was going to be a walkover.

“They’ve got some very, very good players and an experienced manager [Ronald Koeman] that’s come in and got them organised. It was always going to be a difficult game. So to get the three points was vital. We had to show guts and determination. I thought it was a great win.”

Rodgers has added several players to his squad in the wake of Luis Suarez’s departure to Barcelona and was pleased that he had the options available to change the match.

“Thankfully today, we could change the game,” he said. “We got to one [goal] each and I can look to the bench and think we can change the way we work. So we flipped to a diamond and put big Rickie [Lambert] on and he unsettled them a bit. They obviously know his qualities [as a former Southampton player].

“We started to cross the ball into the box and obviously that led to our second goal, where Raheem wins a great header and Daniel makes a lovely touch on the ball to get the winner.”

Rodgers also reserved special praise for goalkeeper Simon Mignolet, who made an outstanding reaction save to deny Morgan Schneiderlin in the closing stages, and revealed that Suarez had sent him a text message on the morning of the match wishing Liverpool good luck.

Koeman confidence

Southampton manager Ronald Koeman insists his side will take plenty of confidence from their display at Anfield. The nature of Southampton’s performance, particularly after the break, pleased the Dutchman, who urged his players to believe in themselves.

“We played a great, impressive second half,” Koeman said. “After the [Clyne goal to make it] 1-1, there was one team on the pitch playing and that was Southampton.

“We did everything well, minus to score the second one. We create two great possibilities, opportunities, but the quality of Liverpool – they don’t need a lot of opportunities to score two goals and that made the difference. The way how we played, that brings us a lot of confidence. And if we play like [that], the points will come.

“We have to believe in our qualities. That was one of the messages that we gave the boys before the match. Little by little, we did it. We played a great, impressive second half and that’s the way we like to play. If we play like that, with that team spirit, I don’t think we will struggle [for] the whole season.”

One area that Southampton can improve on, though, is their defensive shape, something Koeman intends to target in the coming weeks.

“How we did the pressing, the high pressing, in the second half, it was a little bit different than in the first half,” he said. “In the first half we lost a little bit of attention in the transition to attack of Liverpool, because they got two chances about that, one was the goal.

“It was not a good defensive organisation at that moment [when Sterling scored]. [But] we played well, we deserved a better result and that gives us a lot of confidence.”

source: premierleague.com

Football is the “biggest sport for our community” John Anastasiadis believes. Photo: Kostas Deves.

With Bentleigh Greens’ win last week, four Greek sponsored teams will contest the FFA Cup in the round of 16, showing just how important the sport is to the community.

As the fourth and final Greek sponsored team to make it into the round of 16 for the FFA Cup, the feat isn’t lost on Bentleigh Greens coach John Anastasiadis.

A player in the NSL days and a legend in the Greek Australian football community, seeing his team and Sydney Olympic, Aris, and Olympic FC make it to the top 16 of the nation shows just how deep the love of football still is in the community.

“It’s the biggest sport for our community, no doubt about it,” Anastasiadis tells Neos Kosmos.

“The Greek community has been a leader in the sport of football in Australia and it continues to be so.

“It’s dropped off a little bit with the generational changes, but I still think there’s a strong bond between our community and soccer.”

Bentleigh Greens managed to upset local team Blacktown City this week to make it through to the next round.

Travelling up to Sydney, it seemed like the Greens brought the weather with them, as rain pelted down on the synthetic pitch, giving them quite an advantage.

City have been known to falter with inclement weather, and as the first droplets fell before the match, the local team weren’t feeling as confident.

Tipped as the best thing out of the A-League, City struggled to get a hold of the game, as they were unable to get past the Bentleigh defence, and get a good enough position for a strike.

After Greens striker David Stirton kicked the lone goal of the match, City came back with a vengeance, desperate to equalise.

Goalkeeper Alastair Bray kept the onslaught at bay and made several outstanding saves to keep the Greens ahead.

No one is prouder of the team’s efforts than coach Anastasiadis.

“They really put the pressure on us, but the boys held out, and they got their just rewards,” he says.

Currently, Bentleigh are in a bit of a comeback, not conceding a game in three matches.

Their NPL race continued Friday night, when the team took on fellow Greek team Port Melbourne Sharks.

Anastasiadis rested a couple of players, giving some players suffering from ‘niggly’ injuries a chance to recuperate.

Travelling interstate will have given the boys a real taste of professional football, but their opponents last night have the luxury of a full week of uninterrupted training.

Anastasiadis says the full fixture can work in the team’s favour.

“Sometimes playing a lot of games is good for the players because they don’t have to do a lot of training, no one likes training, so they’d rather keep playing all the time,” he says.

Bentleigh Greens will find out who their opponents for the next FFA Cup match when the final round 32 matches are played.

source: Neos Kosmos

Με γκολ των Αραβίδη και Μάνταλου (πέναλτι) η ΑΕΚ επικράτησε 2-1 της Νίκης Βόλου στο “Πανθεσσαλικό” στο τέταρτο φετινό φιλικό της. Ο Σκούρτης το γκολ για τους “νεοφώτιστους” Θεσσαλούς που έδειξαν ανέτοιμοι ενόψει της πρεμιέρας τους στη Super League.

Πηγή: contra.gr

Νιούκαστλ  – Μάντσεστερ Σίτη  0-2

Μπορεί να μην έπεισε με την εμφάνισή της η Μάντσεστερ Σίτι, όμως κατάφερε να περάσει με 2-0 από την έδρα της Νιούκαστλ με γκολ των Νταβίντ Σίλβα και Κουν Αγκουέρο για την πρεμιέρα της Premier League.

Στη δυνατή έδρα της Νιούκαστλ ταξίδεψε η Μάντσεστερ Σίτι για την πρεμιέρα της Premier League.

Οι «πολίτες» έφυγαν από το «Σεντ Τζέιμς Παρκ» με το 2-0 και τους τρεις πόντους στις αποσκευές τους.

Η Σίτι, πάντως δεν έπεισε με την εμφάνισή της. Είχε σε καλή μέρα τον Γιάγια Τουρέ, ο οποίος ήταν «βράχος» στη μεσαία γραμμή της ομάδας και απειλούσε με βαθιές μπαλιές προς τον Γιόβετιτς και τον Τζέκο.

Απ’ την άλλη, η ομάδα του Άλαν Πάρντιου παρατάχθηκε με τους νέους Ριβιέρ, Καμπελά και Γιάνμαατ και προσπάθησε να κυνηγήσει το γκολ με αντεπιθέσεις.

Αντίθετα στη ροή του αγώνα, οι φιλοξενούμενοι προηγήθηκαν με γκολ του Νταβίντ Σίβα στο 39’, μετά από εξαιρετική ασίστ του Έντιν Τζέκο.

Με την έναρξη του δεύτερου ημιχρόνου, οι γηπεδούχοι έδειξαν ότι ήθελαν κάτι παραπάνω από το παιχνίδι και πίεσαν με τον Ρεμί Καμπελά και τον Μούσα Σισοκό να «κινούν τα νήματα» στις επιθέσεις της Νιούκαστλ.

Σε ένα αρκετά ισορροπημένο δεύτερο μέρος, οι «πολίτες» ήταν αυτοί που κατάφεραν να σκοράρουν και πάλι με τον Κουν Αγκουέρο, ο οποίος είχε μπει στο 83’, να πετυχαίνει το τελικό 2-0 μετά από διπλή δική του ευκαιρία.

Είχε… Άγιο η Λίβερπουλ!

Αναλυτικά το πρόγραμμα της πρώτης αγωνιστικής:

Σάββατο 16/8

Μαν. Γιουνάιτεντ-Σουόνσι 1-2
(53’ Ρούνεϊ – 28’ Κι, 72’ Σίγκουρντσον)

Λέστερ-Έβερτον 2-2
(22’ Ουλόα, 86’ Γουντ – 20’ ΜακΓκίντι, 45’ Νέισμιθ)

ΚΠΡ-Χαλ 0-1
(52’ Τσέστερ)

Στόουκ-Άστον Βίλα 0-1
(50’ Βέιμαν)

Γουέστ Μπρομ-Σάντερλαντ 2-2
(42’ πεν, 74’ Μπεραχινο -5’ Κάτερμολ, 85’ Λάρσον)

Γουέστ Χαμ-Τότεναμ 0-1
(90’+2’ Ντάιερ)

Άρσεναλ-Κρίσταλ Πάλας 2-1
(45’ Κονσιελνί, 90’+2’ Ράμσεϊ – 35’ Χάνγκελαντ)

Κυριακή 17/8

Λίβερπουλ-Σαουθάμπτον 2-1
(23’ Στέρλινγκ, 79’ Στάριτζ-56’ Κλάιν)

Νιούκαστλ-Μάντσεστερ Σίτι 0-2
(39′ Σίλβα, 91′ Αγκουέρο)

Δευτέρα 18/8

Μπέρνλι-Τσέλσι 22:00

Η επόμενη αγωνιστική

Σάββατο 23/8

Άστον Βίλα-Νιούκαστλ 14:45

Τσέλσι-Λέστερ 17:00

Κρίσταλ Πάλας-Γουέστ Χαμ 17:00

Σαουθάμπτον-Γουέστ Μπρομ 17:00

Σουόνσι-Μπέρνλι 17:00

Έβερτον-Άρσεναλ 19:30

Κυριακή 24/8

Χαλ-Στόουκ 15:30

Τότεναμ-ΚΠΡ 15:30

Σάντερλαντ-Μαν. Γιουνάιτεντ 18:00

Δευτέρα 25/8

Μαν. Σίτι-Λίβερπουλ 22:00

Πηγή: sport-fm.gr

David Silva and a late Sergio Aguero strike gave Manchester City’s Barclays Premier League title defence a winning start at Newcastle United.

Silva broke the deadlock just before half-time to finish a flowing move, before substitute Aguero came off the bench to finish at the second attempt in stoppage-time for a 2-0 win.

City, who are determined to learn the lessons after their failed defence two years ago, have been handed a difficult start with Liverpool, Arsenal and Chelsea awaiting in three of their next four games. The onus was on Manuel Pellegrini’s men to hit the ground running at St James’ Park and they did thanks to an impressive display, highlighted by some wonderful attacking play.

Newcastle had their chances, the best of which fell to Yoan Gouffran in the second half, but could not get back into the match. The sight of Aguero finding the net on his return to action after his recent injury problems will have given Pellegrini an added spring in his step.

The champions began well, some crisp passing ending with Edin Dzeko’s poked volley being kept out by goalkeeper Tim Krul following a lovely chipped Stevan Jovetic pass. That set the tone for a dominant start, Samir Nasri stinging the hands of Krul with a half-volley from range.

Yet Newcastle gradually began to find their rhythm amid an emotional atmosphere with tributes both before and during the first half to remember supporters Liam Sweeney and John Alder, who lost their lives in the Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 crash in Ukraine.

New signing Remy Cabella was bright for the home side, chipping just over the crossbar. But he and his team-mates could do little as City took the lead with a stunning goal in the 39th minute. A searching ball forward found Dzeko, whose superb back-heel left Silva with the simplest of finishes.

Newcastle responded well after half-time, a deep corner finding Gouffran, whose effort drew a smart save from Joe Hart in the Manchester City goal. The hosts’ industry continued, too, with Paul Dummett heading just over in between three Jovetic half-chances. The best of those came when the forward was denied by a superb Fabricio Coloccini block as City threatened a second goal. Jovetic was also instrumental in City’s next opening, sending over a clever pass that Dzeko headed narrowly over with 27 minutes left.

Suddenly back on top, the visitors continued to press forward, with Yaya Toure’s free-kick narrowly missing the target late on. That effort preceded a spell of home pressure as Alan Pardew’s side did everything in their power to get back into the game, substitute Ayoze Perez seeing an effort deflect agonisingly wide.

Newcastle spurned a better chance, as Moussa Sissoko blazed over from just outside the area. City made them pay, with Aguero, who was on as an 83rd-minute replacement for Dzeko, curling home after his initial effort had been saved by Krul.

Newcastle United manager Alan Pardew: “It was frustrating for us. In the second half we pushed on and brought some younger players on. It was a shame we couldn’t get the equaliser [before Aguero’s late second for City]. I felt that if we got that we could even have gone on to win it.

“We were brave and went for it, but we pushed and you know with their [City’s] quality they can get that second goal. We have goals in the squad. We were a bit unfortunate today not to get something from the game but it was a real solid performance from the team against real quality. In the end, the quality just won.”

Manchester City manager Manuel Pellegrini: “It’s always important to start the season winning, especially at a place like St James’ Park. It was so important for me to have the attitude from the players right from the beginning to the end of the game.”

“We’re not thinking about the start of the season. We were just thinking about Newcastle. Now we can think about Liverpool. All of the teams have to play against all of the other teams home and away. We started with a win and now we can see if we can win the second one.”

source: premierleague.com

Brendan Rodgers’ men got their campaign off to a winning start as they edge Ronald Koeman’s men at Anfield .

Daniel Sturridge earned Liverpool three points with a late goal as they recorded a hard-fought 2-1 win over Southampton in the Barclays Premier League at Anfield.

Liverpool were far from their flowing best and laboured going forward. But Sturridge, who has become Liverpool’s main man in attack after the exit of Luis Suarez, saved the day with a predatory finish from four yards with just 11 minutes to play.

The hosts controlled the first half, but chances were few against a Southampton side playing under manager Ronald Koeman for the first time.

One of those opportunities led to the opening cool, as an exquisite Jordan Henderson through-ball set up Raheem Sterling, who produced a cool finish midway through the first half. Nathaniel Clyne’s powerful effort levelled proceedings in the 56th minute and Liverpool, who finished second last term, could have gone behind but Steven Davis missed a golden opportunity. The midfielder was made to pay as Sturridge reacted quickest to Sterling’s header to prod home.

There were still nervy moments for the home crowd, who saw Morgan Schneiderlin’s fierce effort tipped on to the bar by Simon Mignolet, before substitute Shane Long headed the rebound wide, but Liverpool held on for victory.

Former Southampton defender Dejan Lovren was one of two new Liverpool signings included from the beginning, alongside Javier Manquillo, while Schneiderlin started alongside four fresh faces for the visitors, who won the corresponding fixture last season.

While Liverpool controlled the opening stages, all they had to show for it was a pair of half-chances. Sturridge first fired into the Kop before Sterling shot straight at Southampton goalkeeper Fraser Forster but a genuine piece of quality from Henderson helped them break the deadlock.

From inside his own half, the midfielder hit an inch-perfect pass with his left foot that split defenders Jose Fonte and Clyne to set Sterling free. The 19-year-old showed excellent composure to slot past Forster and open the scoring.

James Ward-Prowse almost levelled for Southampton when a long-range free-kick caught the wind in the 34th minute and nearly crept in. Liverpool goalkeeper Mignolet was alert to the danger and was also called into action on the stroke of half-time, doing well to tip a fizzing Schneiderlin effort over.

They were warning signs the home side did not heed, though, and Clyne drew Southampton level 11 minutes after the break. Clyne played a neat one-two with Dusan Tadic, who sent the defender through on goal with a clever backheel. Clyne, who was allowed to run into the penalty area untracked by Lucas Leiva, hammered past Mignolet and into the top-right corner.

It could have got worse for Liverpool when Ward-Prowse centred for a free Davis in the penalty area, but the Northern Ireland midfielder could only shoot at Mignolet after an excellent team move.

Rickie Lambert came off the bench to feature against his former club, but it was his strike partner, Sturridge, who stole in front of Clyne to score the winner, while Mignolet’s heroics at the other end were just as crucial.

Liverpool starting lineup (4-3-3): Simon Mignolet; Glen Johnson, Dejan Lovren, Martin Skrtel, Javier Manquillo; Steven Gerrard, Lucas (Joe Allen 63′), Jordan Henderson; Raheem Sterling, Daniel Sturridge, Philippe Coutinho (Rickie Lambert 76′).

Goals: Sterling 24′, Sturridge 79′.

Southampton starting lineup (4-2-3-1): Fraser Forster; Ryan Bertrand, Maya Yoshida, Jose Fonte, Nathaniel Clyne; Morgan Schneiderlin, Victor Wanyama; Dusan Tadic (Shane Long 74′), James Ward-Prowse, Steven Davis (Lloyd Isgrove 81′); Graziano Pelle.

Goals: Clyne 56′.

source: mirror.co.uk

Σε αντίθεση με τα προηγούμενα τεστ ο Ολυμπιακός έκανε… νερά στην Κωνσταντινούπολη, ηττήθηκε 2-1 από την Φενέρ (3 απευθείας φάουλ), αλλά ο Μίτσελ έχει τον χρόνο για διορθώσεις πριν τα επίσημα ματς.

Πρόβα τζεναράλε με πολλά διδάγματα για τον Ολυμπιακό. Οι «ερυθρόλευκοι», εν αντιθέσει με τα προηγούμενα φιλικά, δεν ήταν καλοί απέναντι στην Φενέρμπαχτσε και ηττήθηκαν 2-1 στην Κωνσταντινούπολη.

Για πρώτη φορά, η ομάδα του Μίτσελ «έβγαλε» προβλήματα στα μετόπισθεν, ενώ δεν ήταν το ίδιο δραστήρια επιθετικά. Τα γκολ των Τούρκων σημείωσαν με απευθείας εκτέλεσεις φάουλ οι Ερκίν στο 35ο λεπτό και Εμρέ στο 81’, αντίστοιχα, ενώ αξίζει να σημειωθεί η εξαιρετική εμφάνιση του Ρομπέρτο αλλά και η θετική παρουσία του Κασάμι. Οι Πειραιώτες είχαν πολύ καλό πρόσωπο στο τελευταίο τέταρτο και με τον Χοσέ Χολέμπας να εκτελεί υποδειγματικά φάουλ στο 90+3′ διαμόρφωσαν το τελικό σκορ.

Στο ματς χρειάστηκαν να σημειωθούν δύο «τάιμ-άουτ», προκειμένου οι παίκτες να δροσιστούν λόγω της υψηλής θερμοκρασίας. Ανεπίσημο ντεμπούτο με τα «ερυθρόλευκα» για τους Αφελάι, που ήταν αρκετά ορεξάτος, και Φορτούνη. Πριν το παιχνίδι αντιπροσωπεία της αποστολής των «ερυθρόλευκων» επισκέφτηκε το Οικουμενικό Πατριαρχείο.

Το ματς:

Πιο ορεξάτοι ήταν οι παίκτες της Φενέρμπαχτσε στο ξεκίνημα του ματς. Ο Ολυμπιακός κατάφερε να αντιδράσει γρήγορα και δεν επέτρεψε στους γηπεδούχους να απειλήσουν ουσιαστικά την εστία του Ρομπέρτο, που όποτε χρειάστηκε να επέμβει ήταν εξαιρετικός. Παράλληλα, η ομάδα του Μίτσελ ανέβασε τις γραμμές της και με πρέσινγκ ψηλά στο γήπεδο κατάφερε να περιορίσει σημαντικά τους αντίπαλους φέρνοντας την μπάλα στην περιοχή τους.

Οι «ερυθρόλευκοι» άρχισαν να πατούν καλύτερα στο γήπεδο μετά το πρώτο 20λεπτο, όμως η Φενέρ συνέχιζε να έχει τα ηνία στο ματς. Πάντως, η πίεση του Ολυμπιακού τον έφερε μια… ανάσα από το γκολ, αφού το λάθος έγινε, αλλά ο Κασάμι δεν σημάδεψε σωστά μπροστά από τον Βολκάν στο 28’. Οι γηπεδούχοι συνέχιζαν να «μοιράζουν» τα μπάλα στα άκρα και να προσπαθούν να απειλήσουν και τα κατάφεραν έπειτα από μια στημένη φάση και την αριστοτεχνική εκτέλεση του Ερκίν στο 35’, με την οποία έγινε το 1-0. Μετά το γκολ, το ματς έχασε τον ρυθμό του, όμως η Φενέρ είχε τις ευκαιρίες να κάνει το 2-0, αλλά ο Σο αστόχησε σχεδόν σε κενή εστία με προβολή και την δεύτερη φορά είδε τον Ρομπέρτο να κάνει εξαιρετική επέμβαση σε κεφαλιά που επιχείρησε.

Με προβλήματα στην άμυνα ξεκίνησε και το δεύτερο 45λεπτο για τους «ερυθρόλευκους». Ο Ολυμπιακός δέχθηκε πίεση στα πρώτα λεπτά του δευτέρου ημιχρόνου, όμως κατάφερε να απωθήσει τους Τούρκους και να δημιουργήσει κινδύνους με τις αντεπιθέσεις, αλλά και τον εξαιρετικό Κασάμι. Το πέρασμα των λεπτών, βοήθησε την ομάδα του Μίτσελ να κερδίσει περισσότερα μέτρα στο γήπεδο και να ισορροπήσει κρατώντας την μπάλα στα πόδια της.

Οι πολλές αλλαγές από τους δύο προπονητές ευνόησαν τους Πειραιώτες, που πλησίαζαν με σαφώς μεγαλύτερη άνεση την αντίπαλη περιοχή και έβγαζαν τελικές προσπάθειες απέναντι στον Βολκάν. Τελικά, η Φενέρ έκανε την ζημιά με τον ίδιο τρόπο. Ο Εμρέ με μία όμορφη εκτέλεση φάουλ νίκησε τον Ρομπέρτο στο 81ο λεπτό κάνοντας το 2-0. Τελικά το τελικό διαμόρφωσε ο Χοσέ Χολέμπας με τον ίδιο τρόπο. Ο διεθνής μπακ εκτέλεσε υποδειγματικά φάουλ στο 90+3′ κάνοντας το 2-1 στο φινάλε.

Οι συνθέσεις:
Ολυμπιακός (Μίτσελ): Ρομπέρτο, Ελαμπντελαουί (62’ Σαλίνο), Μποτία, Αμπιντάλ (46’ Παπαδόπουλος), Μαζουάκου, Εντινγκά (46’ Ντοσεβί), Κασάμι, Μπουχαλάκης (62’ Χολέμπας), Γκαζαριάν (62’ Σάμαρης), Φουστέρ (46’ Σαβιόλα), Διαμαντάκος (62’ Αφελάι)

Στον πάγκο: Μέγιερι, Φορτούνης,

Φενέρ (Ισμαΐλ Καρτάλ): Βολκάν, Ερκίν, Άλβες, Μπεκίρ, Μ. Τοπούζ (61’ Σερντάν), Εμρέ (84’ Σελτούκ), Μ. Τοπάλ (90+1′ Μπερκαϊτσάν), Μεϊρέλες, Σο (79’ Γουεμπό), Κάουτ (61’ Άλπερ), Εμενίκε (84’ Χασάν)

Στον πάγκο: Μερτ, Αλί, Χακάν, Σεμίχ, Μουχάμεντ

Διαιτητής: Νουρ Καραμπάζ

Γήπεδο: Σουκρού Σαράτσογλου

Πηγή: sport-fm.gr

Brendan Rodgers has vowed Liverpool “are here to challenge” ahead of their Barclays Premier League opener against Southampton on Sunday.

The Liverpool manager masterminded an unlikely tilt at the title last season, but the Merseyside club eventually had to settle for second behind Manchester City. Top-scorer Luis Suarez left to join Barcelona last month, but Rodgers has bolstered his squad by bringing in a plethora of new faces as he strives to build on an impressive 2013-14.

Adam Lallana, Rickie Lambert and Dejan Lovren are among Liverpool’s new recruits after they were lured to Merseyside from Sunday’s opponents Southampton. Rodgers believes his side can make their presence felt again in the Barclays Premier League title race, but stated that another top-four finish is his primary aim.

“What happened last season counts for nothing, but we carry the belief he said. We want to be competitive. [To] finish in the top four is our objective.

“In the league it is about sustaining Champions League football. I’ve seen some odds and we’re not even in the top four. People will rightly look to [Manchester] City and Chelsea, but we are here to challenge.”

Although Southampton have lost several of their leading players this close-season, as well as manager Mauricio Pochettino, Rodgers believes the south-coast club can perform well under Ronald Koeman.

“Every club loses players, but they will hope they have the objectives to continue improving,” he said.

England midfielder Lallana will play no part against his former club due to a knee injury, while fellow new boy Lazar Markovic (ankle) is also sidelined along with defenders Jon Flanagan (knee) and Daniel Agger (calf). Striker Lambert and centre-back Lovren are in contention to make their Barclays Premier League debuts for Rodgers’ side against their previous employers.

Lovren scored the only goal of the game at Anfield as Southampton consigned Liverpool to one of only two top-flight home defeats in 2013-14, although the Merseyside outfit got revenge by winning 3-0 at St Mary’s Stadium in March.

Koeman has brought seven players in to his new club, and while he is anticipating a stern test at Anfield, he has warned Rodgers’ team not to take Southampton lightly.

“We know it’s a tough game but everyone starts on nil and everyone has to show qualities and I believe we are very well prepared to play,” Koeman said. “I know what it is to win at Anfield and they will have to play well to beat us.”

Dusan Tadic, Shane Long, Fraser Forster and Ryan Bertrand could make their Southampton debuts this weekend, but Jay Rodriguez (knee) remains sidelined. Morgan Schneiderlin may also play after Koeman revealed the Frenchman had trained well this week.

Liverpool from: Jones, Mignolet, Agger, Coates, Enrique, Ilori, Johnson, Lovren, Manquillo, Sakho, Skrtel, Toure, Allen, Can, Gerrard, Henderson, Ibe, Lucas, Coutinho, Lambert, Sterling, Sturridge.

Southampton from: Boruc, K Davis, Forster, Gazzaniga, Bertrand, Clyne, Fonte, Gardos, Hooiveld, Stephens, Targett, Yoshida, Cork, S Davis, McQueen, Taider, Ramirez, Reed, Schneiderlin, Tadic, Wanyama, Ward-Prowse, Gallagher, Long, Pelle.

source: premeierleague.com

Aaron Ramsey netted a stoppage-time winner to snatch a 2-1 Barclays Premier League victory for Arsenal over Crystal Palace.

The south London club were rocked by Tony Pulis’s departure on the eve of the season on Friday, but they performed admirably before taking a shock lead at Emirates Stadium. Having comfortably absorbed waves of Arsenal pressure, Brede Hangeland headed Palace and their caretaker manager Keith Millen into a 35th-minute lead.

Laurent Koscielny levelled on the stroke of half-time, but the FA Cup holders looked like they would fail to capitalise, even as Palace winger Jason Puncheon departed for a second booking in the closing stages. But Ramsey was on hand to prod home from point-blank range after Mathieu Debuchy’s shot had been saved.

Hangeland joined fellow defender Martin Kelly and striker Fraizer Campbell in making their Palace debuts, while Arsenal were unchanged from last weekend’s FA Community Shield win over Barclays Premier League champions Manchester City.

Arsene Wenger’s team tore forward during the early stages in the hope of capitalising on any vulnerability after a turbulent 24 hours for their London rivals. But the massed ranks of Palace defenders retained the hallmarks of their former manager and Ramsey’s tumble under a challenge from Scott Dann for an optimistic eighth-minute penalty shout underscored a frustrating opening for the hosts.

Palace goalkeeper Julian Speroni had to wait until the 29th minute to make his first save, parrying smartly behind after Jack Wilshere’s drive bounced awkwardly. Marouane Chamakh tried to embarrass his former club with an audacious attempt from distance that Koscielny cleared to safety after goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny had torn out of his area to challenge Campbell.

The incident appeared to unsettle Arsenal and they were still reeling when Hangeland shrugged off Alexis Sanchez and leapt above Koscielny at the near post to glance home Palace’s first corner of the match.

But the roles were reversed in first-half stoppage time when Koscielny peeled away from Hangeland to nod Sanchez’s floated free-kick beyond Speroni.

Arsenal left-back Kieran Gibbs limped off with a suspected hamstring problem to be replaced by Nacho Monreal seven minutes into the second half, by which time the match had settled back into the pattern established the last time it was level.

Sanchez drove at the Palace defence in the 68th minute and cleverly exchanged passes with Santi Cazorla, but Speroni’s save was routine. Olivier Giroud and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain emerged from the bench as Arsenal pushed for a second goal, the former agonisingly close to turning home a close-range winner in the 75th minute. Arsenal’s efforts appeared in vain until Ramsey’s late intervention.

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger: “Ramsey has something of a rare gift; that is to be where you need to be in the box.

“Credit to Palace, they worked hard, were physically very strong and very organised.

“We gave ourselves a difficult task. They gave us big problems and defended very well We keep going; that’s one of our strengths and it paid off.

“The change of pace in the final third [could have been better]. That is usually one of our strengths. Is it down to the quality of defending or the fact that we are not there physically yet? Maybe a bit of both.”

source: premierleague.com