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- José Mourinho's use of David Luiz in Chelsea middle has mixed results
- Tottenham 3-0 Stoke City
- Cardiff City pantomime's latest plot is a draw that feels like a defeat
- The year in Australian sport reviewed
- Hull City condemn Fulham to their heaviest Premier League defeat
- Joe Hart supershow earns Manchester City a 1-0 win over Crystal Palace
- Liverpool's Luis Suárez finds route to goal blocked by Chelsea | David Hytner
- Aston Villa's Paul Lambert: chairman Randy Lerner understands predicament
- Nicolas Anelka's controversial salute could prove beginning of the end
- Manchester United's David Moyes: Danny Welbeck has regular spot chance
- Chelsea's manager José Mourinho slams Luis Suárez 'swimming pool jump'
- Chelsea 2-1 Liverpool
- Inverness 0-1 Celtic | Scottish Premiership match report
- Watford 0-0 QPR | Championship match report
- Football League: your thoughts | Michael Butler
- Phil Jagielka's hamstring puts him out of the Everton team for a month
- Tottenham 3-0 Stoke City
- Chelsea v Liverpool – live! | Jacob Steinberg
- Paul Lambert: Aston Villa injuries responsible for poor form – video
- Tony Pulis: Crystal Palace will sign players in January – video
- Sporting stars we lost in 2013
- Premier League: Chelsea v Liverpool – in pictures
- Newcastle United 0-1 Arsenal
- Everton 2-1 Southampton
- Newcastle United v Arsenal – as it happened
| José Mourinho's use of David Luiz in Chelsea middle has mixed results Posted: 29 Dec 2013 03:02 PM PST The manager went back on recent formation pronouncements by not playing the Brazilian in defence against Liverpool We have become accustomed to taking José Mourinho's pronouncements with a pinch of salt but his team selection over the Christmas period has completely contradicted some of his apparent intentions. "Am I going to change the style of play?" he rhetorically asked less than three weeks ago. "More defensive players? No. Am I going to play David Luiz in front of the central defenders? No." Yet his strategy for the 0-0 draw at Arsenal involved more defensive players, with Mikel John Obi selected in place of an attacking midfielder, and here Mourinho used the Rafael Benítez approach of deploying David Luiz in midfield. While Chelsea lack depth in the central-midfield positions, Mourinho had other options. David Luiz was not a last resort – Mourinho actively selected him ahead of Michael Essien and Mikel, although the Nigerian had already played 180 minutes this week. The experiment had mixed results. Usually a centre-back playing in central midfield brings great positional discipline to the role but David Luiz is an unorthodox player fond of sudden forward charges, when closing down opponents and when his side is on the attack. On paper, it seemed David Luiz would assist John Terry and Gary Cahill, allowing the centre-backs to remain in position when Luis Suárez drifted into pockets of space between the lines. Mourinho used a similar approach in his Real Madrid days against Barcelona, often deploying the centre-back Pepe in midfield, with instructions to pick up Lionel Messi. On current form Suárez is a comparable threat. However, David Luiz was more energetic and proactive. His role was more similar to that of Ramires than Mikel, as he often found himself in advance of his midfield colleague Frank Lampard. He did a decent job of dictating the game in the first period, helping Chelsea to establish control after a nervous period in which they had fallen behind. By half-time he was the game's most prolific distributor, completing 31 of his 34 passes. Defensively, his job was stopping Jordan Henderson rather than Suárez, which involved pushing high up the pitch and getting tight to the Liverpool midfielder. Henderson has been Liverpool's second-most impressive performer in recent weeks, aiding Suárez with penetrative forward runs and incisive passes. Neither was obvious here and therefore David Luiz deserves credit for shackling his opponent. The Brazilian left too much space behind him, though, and the booking he collected for a blatant shirt pull on Joe Allen summed up this weakness perfectly. Brendan Rodgers will be disappointed that Philippe Coutinho, who drifted inside from the left flank, did not take advantage of his space more decisively. Mikel's half-time introduction, because of Lampard's thigh injury, gave Terry and Cahill much-needed protection. David Luiz might be an unconventional centre-back but he is more of a centre-back than a central midfielder. theguardian.com © 2013 Guardian News and Media Limited or its affiliated companies. All rights reserved. | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds  |
| Posted: 29 Dec 2013 02:37 PM PST Few teams in this most curious of seasons are having a more intriguing time than Tottenham Hostpur. At the halfway point of a campaign that has been most memorable for managerial turmoil and humiliating defeats, Spurs find themselves only three points away from the Champions League places and one point better off than they were at the same stage last season. Whether progress is really being made remains to be seen but this, their most emphatic league win of the season, seemed like a confident stride in the right direction. The new head coach, Tim Sherwood, has vowed to restore the wow factor and here his team, and their fans, relished the freedom and urgency he has instilled. There were speed and directness to Tottenham's play that were often absent under André Villas-Boas. There was openness, too, but depleted Stoke City did not have the quality to exploit that. Spurs dominated from the start, though at first it looked as if they might again be foiled by the inept finishing that has afflicted them all season. Emmanuel Adebayor and Christian Eriksen were guilty of clumsy close-range misses in the 13th minute after Aaron Lennon had fired the ball across the face of goal. One minute later Soldado dragged a shot wide from the edge of the area after being brilliantly set up by Paulinho who, until he was forced off by injury in the second half, was outstanding in midfield, bewildering opponents and delighting the home supporters with canny flicks and festive tricks. "He was immense, fantastic. I didn't know he possessed that, to be honest. He's opened my eyes," Sherwood said. Stoke, who had to adjust their line-up after having two players sent off in the Boxing Day defeat at Newcastle, were overrun in the middle, where Wilson Palacios struggled on his first league start of the season. Mark Hughes was aghast at the performance of the officials at St James' Park and was soon aggrieved as Kevin Friend saw no foul when Jonathan Walters went down under a challenge by the last defender, Zeki Fryers, after a rare Stoke counter-attack. Then, in the 34th minute, the referee waved play on after Oussama Assaidi tumbled in the box under a careless tackle by Michael Dawson. Three minutes later Stoke's ire intensified when Ryan Shawcross was punished for blocking an Adebayor scissor kick with his upraised arms. Soldado converted the penalty. That was the Spaniard's fifth league goal of the campaign, his fourth from the spot. Soldado could have embellished his open-play haul just before that but glanced a header inches wide from a Paulinho cross. Still, at least the service to the Spaniard was good. Lennon reinforced that point in the 57th minute when he charged down the right and delivered another inviting ball to the striker, who failed to connect properly from seven yards, allowing Thomas Sorensen to save. Moments later the goalkeeper had to dive to deny Eriksen. Spurs were well on top but they craved further confirmation on the scoresheet. That soon arrived. Mousa Dembélé triggered an explosion of joy in the 65th minute when he rifled the ball into the net from 25 yards. Four minutes later Lennon claimed the goal that his display deserved, latching on to a loose ball in the Stoke box before lashing it into the net from 15 yards. Spurs were so obviously superior that Hughes did not dwell on the referee's decisions. "In terms of the quality on show and the way Spurs played we found it very difficult to get anywhere near them," he said. "They were sharper to each and every ball and half a yard quicker. They are a good team and they looked fully motivated and every one of the players wanted to get on the ball and affect the game." Sherwood knows it may not always be like this. "I like to play with risk and, with all due respect to Stoke, there are going to be tougher tests ahead and we have to try to find the right formula for playing against the bigger teams," said the new manager. His next assignment is at Old Trafford on New Year's Day. Man of the match Aaron Lennon (Tottenham) theguardian.com © 2013 Guardian News and Media Limited or its affiliated companies. All rights reserved. | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds  |
| Cardiff City pantomime's latest plot is a draw that feels like a defeat Posted: 29 Dec 2013 02:37 PM PST • Ole Gunnar Solskjaer not interested in Cardiff manager's job The latest act in the Cardiff pantomime saw the wicked wizard from the far east, aka Vincent Tan, abused in time- honoured fashion by the audience and turn to his principal boy to appease them. Tan brought the curtain down on Malky Mackay's management on Friday and needs to come up with a new leading man quickly if the show is not to fold in the West End that is the Premier League and return to the Championship provinces. Cardiff's Malaysian owner is no Baron Hardup and promised that Mackay's successor will not have Buttons to work with but the first audition for the role ended badly when Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, the first choice, decided the part was not for him. Tan sent his Turkish chairman, Mehmet Dalman, to speak after the match. In a knockabout routine that was more Ken Dodd than Kenwright, Dalman said yes, he had spoken to Solskjaer many times – in his Manchester United days. So had he spoken to him recently? "I might have." Was he a runner? "He always ran well for United." When pressed for a sensible answer, Dalman admitted he had only one candidate in mind, which we can safely assume was Solskjaer, but said David Kerslake, formerly Mackay's assistant, would remain in charge on a temporary basis for Wednesday's onerous trip to Arsenal. With Solskjaer out of the equation it is back to the drawing board, with Cardiff looking for a young thruster full of ambition. Whether these are the right qualities is open to question, with a cogent, persuasive case to be made for an old sweat who has been through relegation battles before and has successfully established a promoted club in the Premier League – someone like Tony Pulis perhaps, who did it at Stoke and is breathing new life into a previously moribund Crystal Palace. Pulis, a Welshman from Newport, a few miles down the M4 from Cardiff, has been through hard times and emerged in credit. He was out of work and available when Tan first reached the conclusion that Mackay should go but, while the money man procrastinated, Palace nipped in. Kerslake, who is not a contender for the job, admitted his players were "devastated" by Saturday's result, which "felt like a defeat". Cardiff dominated their bottom-of-the-table opponents for an hour, deservedly leading 2-0, only to go into defensive mode too early and concede twice between the 83rd minute and the end. They remain two points clear of the bottom three but could ill afford to drop two with a daunting January to come. After Arsenal at the Emirates on New Year's Day they play Newcastle away in the FA Cup, then West Ham at home followed by Manchester City and Manchester United, both away. Given such a testing sequence it was essential they made the most of Sunderland's visit and for most of the match it seemed they would do so. Flying out of the traps, they seized the initiative and Jordon Mutch should have scored with a header even before he did so in the sixth minute with a rasping drive from the 18-yard line. Craig Noone, a quick winger too often ignored this season, had the beating of Andrea Dossena and turned the Sunderland defence time and again. But Cardiff failed to do justice to his penetrative supply work and it was the 58th minute before they increased their lead, Mutch setting up Fraizer Campbell for a routine finish against his old club. It was a winning position but two defensively minded substitutions, which saw Noone and Kim replaced by Don Cowie and Aron Gunnarsson, succeeded only in surrendering the initiative and Sunderland were able to take punitive advantage. Never-say-die spirit personified, they pulled one goal back through Steven Fletcher, then gained real reward in the fifth minute of added time when another substitute, Jack Colback, equalised with a deflected shot. Justifiably proud of the character shown by his players, Gus Poyet said: "I really do feel we are going to be in the Premier League again next season." Cardiff too? Only if Dalman, the Tommy Cooper of chairmen, can pull a rabbit from his fez. Man of the match Jordon Mutch (Cardiff City) theguardian.com © 2013 Guardian News and Media Limited or its affiliated companies. All rights reserved. | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds  |
| The year in Australian sport reviewed Posted: 29 Dec 2013 02:25 PM PST Russell Jackson: From Ashes humiliation to Ashes triumph via Ricky Martin's NRL appearance, a look back at the big moments of 2013  |
| Hull City condemn Fulham to their heaviest Premier League defeat Posted: 29 Dec 2013 02:04 PM PST • Cottagers concede half a dozen goals in 35 minutes Fulham's manager, Rene Meulensteen, has already started the tricky process of mending his side's shattered confidence after their humbling at Hull. The Cottagers came into the match hoping to repeat their win at Norwich on Boxing Day and climb out of the relegation zone for the first time since early November. But, after a goalless first half, the wheels came off in spectacular fashion as Hull poured forward and found the net seemingly at will. Having scored nine goals at home in as many matches, they took full advantage of some hapless defending to beat the Fulham goalkeeper David Stockdale on half a dozen occasions in 35 minutes. Any defeat can be hard to take for a side at the wrong end of the table but this was Fulham's heaviest loss of the Premier League era, and Meulensteen wasted no time speaking to his players. "That is one of the things I addressed straight away in the dressing room: don't let this affect you in up-and-coming games," he said. "We've got two crucial matches coming up and what we need to do is take it on the chin, learn from it and bounce back. We need to look back and make sure we don't forget the good things we've tried to create over the last couple of weeks. "We need to make sure we shrug it off and are ready to react against West Ham (on New Year's Day)." By the time the Hammers visit, Meulensteen can expect to have a number of first-choice players back in action, having made six changes for Hull. With just a day's rest between the Boxing Day card and Saturday's fixtures, Fulham were not alone in needing to shuffle the pack, and the Dutchman was confident his chosen XI could take something from the trip. "We always knew it was going to be difficult with two games in three days and you utilise your squad the best possible way you can," he said. "Because of the intensity of games you are forced to make changes, with little injuries and niggles and that's why you have a squad. "I was more than confident that the players I picked for this away trip were capable of getting a result and that is why it is so weird." For Hull's manager, Steve Bruce, it was a joyous way to end a year that has seen him take the club to an unlikely promotion and make big strides towards keeping them in the top flight. His side went 10th at the final whistle and Bruce admits the relative security of mid-table was beyond his expectations at the start of the campaign. "For me the bottom 10 teams are in it (a relegation battle). We're lying if we say we're not looking over our shoulders: now we've gone top of that particular league. I didn't think it was possible but this is a great group of lads and they're desperate to do well." theguardian.com © 2013 Guardian News and Media Limited or its affiliated companies. All rights reserved. | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds  |
| Joe Hart supershow earns Manchester City a 1-0 win over Crystal Palace Posted: 29 Dec 2013 02:03 PM PST • Pellegrini hails 'the best goalkeeper in England' Many a title-winning campaign has been underpinned by a great goalkeeper. For much of this season, it has appeared Manchester City's challenge could be undermined by the last line of their defence. Now there are welcome signs that Joe Hart's awkward autumn may give way to a winter of content. He is starting to represent a formidable obstacle to opponents, not a barrier to success. Like Liverpool, Crystal Palace departed the Etihad Stadium rueing his defiance and with first-hand evidence of his return to form. A manager who was irritated by questions about Hart was happier to field the latest. "He is the best goalkeeper in England," said Manuel Pellegrini whose selection policy, until Hart was recalled at Fulham on December 21, suggested he was only the second finest in the City squad. Pellegrini's argument is that Hart has been revitalised by being rested, suggesting the goalkeeper tacitly supported his decision to promote Costel Pantilimon for seven league games. "Maybe he would not say it, but he agreed with me," the Chilean added. Hart's comeback occurred at an opportune time. By City's exalted standards, the goals have dried up – a mere three in two games – and back-to-back home wins have been by the slenderest of margins. Palace, to their credit, ran City far closer than most of the division's big spenders. "It was like walking on eggshells," said captain Vincent Kompany. "You were worried what was going to happen on the break: was someone going to slip up?" Hart did not. It is a peculiarity of football that a side can have 77% of possession and 23 attempts on goal and yet their keeper is named man of the match, but that was the paradox of City's performance. "It was undeniable Joe pulled off a great game," said Kompany. "But sometimes it's not the amount of saves you make; it's about doing the right save at the right moment." So Jason Puncheon, Mile Jedinak and Joel Ward, who were all thwarted, could testify. After Hart's Boxing Day blocks to deny Philippe Coutinho and Jordan Henderson, the process of making amends is under way. "Goalkeeper is a special position," said Kompany; it is unique in the way mistakes can be measured and their cost calculated. The early-season errors against Cardiff, Aston Villa and Chelsea mean Hart is still in the debit column, but with conviction and confidence restored, he could soon be in credit. Something similar may be said of Pellegrini himself. If City's initial stumbles were partially attributable to his teething troubles, the manager has displayed an ever surer touch in a run of 10 wins and a draw. Even when his squad rotation looked like backfiring, Edin Dzeko struck to tee up a statistical first this season: a 1-0 win. "I would prefer to win by three or four but it is useful to win this way," said the manager, whose reign has contained a series of 1950s-style scorelines. After the 7-0, the 6-0 and the 6-3 came a result that was more George Graham's Arsenal than Matt Busby's Manchester United. "A team that wants to win the title must have a lot of different faces," said Pellegrini, whose poker face has been a feature of the routs. Yet an austere exterior camouflages the cavalier within. When Palace hinted they could become the first visitors to depart the Etihad Stadium with a point, Pellegrini reconfigured his team, sending James Milner to right-back and leaving Javi García alone in the centre of midfield behind a front five. His increasingly influential substitutions have become a feature. Less typical was an unfounded assertion that Palace played anti-football. Instead, the counter-attacking underdogs posed a threat to goal and goalkeeper alike. Hart required five stitches after diving in to halt Cameron Jerome. He ended with a bruised cheek, rather than bruised pride. Times have changed. Man of the match Joe Hart (Manchester City) theguardian.com © 2013 Guardian News and Media Limited or its affiliated companies. All rights reserved. | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds  |
| Liverpool's Luis Suárez finds route to goal blocked by Chelsea | David Hytner Posted: 29 Dec 2013 02:02 PM PST Even on a quieter day the Uruguayan was the centre of attention with José Mourinho calling him 'wild' at full-time This was actually one of Luis Suárez's quieter games and for that, José Mourinho and his Chelsea players could take encouragement. And yet the irrepressible Liverpool striker is never truly silenced and in this high-octane encounter he was involved in two penalty controversies, a running battle with Gary Cahill and blue murder with Mourinho. At the end Suárez ripped open the V-neck of his jersey, David Banner-style to present a case study in bitter frustration. He has previous with Chelsea, after the infamous biting of Branislav Ivanovic last April that plunged him into a period of suspension and soul-searching. Brendan Rodgers, the Liverpool manager, said that Suárez could not have been lower and the player desperately wanted to triumph here to fire his club's top-four hopes and continue his remarkable comeback story. The Premier League's top scorer fell the wrong side of the margins, after a performance that was heavy on latent menace but lacking in end-product and one that, ultimately, came to be coloured by his determination to find a way – any way – to force the result to his will. It did not happen for him but he drove Mourinho to distraction on the touchline with the penalty appeals, particularly the second one on 83 minutes, when he was barged by Samuel Eto'o and fell to the turf. The fall was exaggerated but the contact from Eto'o was clear, never mind that César Azpilicueta appeared to have the situation under control for Chelsea. Mourinho pointed and he ranted, with even more emotion than he had shown in the 64th minute when Suárez had crumpled to the ground under John Terry's muscular if slightly clumsy aerial challenge. There was contact. There were blurred lines. Suárez looked baffled. In between times, he was blocked off-the-ball by Cahill and was so incensed that after confronting the Chelsea defender, he turned to the referee, Howard Webb, to demand that Cahill be shown a yellow card. Moments later, Cahill was booked, for a crunching tackle on Suárez. Mourinho raged; there was plenty of that and, a minute later, Suárez was continuing the discussion with Cahill. Inevitably, the Uruguayan fired the post-match debate, with Mourinho essentially calling him a cheat or a player from a cultural background where simulation or the attempt to gain an advantage by any means was acceptable. Mourinho's language was typically colourful, never more so than when he described Suárez's tumble after Eto'o's centre-forward's brain-fade as an "acrobatic swimming pool jump". The word he was probably looking for was "dive". But behind Mourinho's theatrics, the moments of press conference levity and a little sugar for Suárez was the clear message: here was a player, according to Chelsea's manager, who continues to walk on the dark side. According to Mourinho, when Suárez is losing, his "wild" or "cultural" nature comes out. When he called Suárez "clever" for being aware that Liverpool's travelling fans were behind the goal where he appealed for the penalties, he did not mean it in a good way. Suárez had started positively when he was involved in the opening goal, together with Ivanovic. The pair had to be involved. Suárez had stolen a yard on his opponent, on the Philippe Coutinho free-kick that followed Eto'o's horrible yet unpunished tackle on Jordan Henderson only for Ivanovic to reel him in. The pair grappled and wrestled and, for a split second, you were transported back to that day at Anfield when Suárez went dental but, this time, he simply managed to unsettle his rival. It was difficult to tell whether Suárez got anything on his attempted header and it was Ivanovic whose contact was decisive, slowing up Coutinho's delivery and allowing it to drop for Martin Skrtel, who swept home. Suárez and Ivanovic had met moments earlier for the pre-match handshakes and, not for the first time at this stadium, there was plenty of attention on the ritual. They simply shook hands. Ivanovic is not the sort to feel pain or bear a grudge. He had been keen to move on pretty shortly after the incident. It is one of English football's great pleasures to watch Suárez in the flesh because it is when you fully appreciate the work ethic that underpins the talent. As ever, he crackled to life whenever Liverpool got the ball; sprinting, making angles, pulling the opposition defence out of shape. The movement is relentless. Cahill and Terry dared not switch off. Suárez flickered amid the boos for his every touch. There were a couple of perfect lay-offs; a burst and a cute through-ball, both of which were repelled by Terry. He got Raheem Sterling away with a wonderful flick and there was the second-half volley that thudded straight at Petr Cech. For once this season, it would not be his day but he still commandeered the headlines. theguardian.com © 2013 Guardian News and Media Limited or its affiliated companies. All rights reserved. | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds  |
| Aston Villa's Paul Lambert: chairman Randy Lerner understands predicament Posted: 29 Dec 2013 02:00 PM PST • 'Like others on rollercoaster he probably throws up sometimes' Paul Lambert had just finished praising Randy Lerner for his support when he was asked whether he thought the American, after a couple of rollercoaster years, still enjoys being chairman. "I don't know if he enjoys it. He's probably like everybody on the rollercoaster, isn't he? Throwing up now and again," the Aston Villa manager said with a smile. "The biggest thing about him is he's been in sport not just a couple of years but for God knows how long, so he understands." What is unclear is how patient the supporters will be, whether they have the stomach for yet another survival scrap and how long they will tolerate the sort of performances delivered in the last two home matches, when Villa were booed off on both occasions, after losing 1-0 against Crystal Palace on Boxing Day and then being totally outplayed by Swansea. Michael Laudrup's side had 73% of possession and made 721 passes to Villa's 252. It was embarrassingly one-sided. For Villa, though, it was all about ending a run of four successive league defeats before the New Year's Day trip to Sunderland, when Lambert, who refuses to accept that his team are in a relegation battle, hopes to be able to bring Ron Vlaar and Christian Benteke back into the side. "Stopping the rot" was the phrase that Gabriel Agbonlahor used when the striker reflected on what was only the eighth point Villa have picked up at home this season. He revealed that his celebration, when he beckoned the rest of the team over to the dugout for a huddle after he had put Villa ahead in the seventh minute, was designed to demonstrate a show of unity. "That was just to show the staff and the players we are all in it together," Agbonlahor said. "We know it's going to be a fight but we are up for it. It was nothing to do with the crowd, it was just us. The last few days was 'response, response'. That was our motto." For Swansea, who host Manchester City on New Year's Day, it was impossible to view this game as anything other than a missed opportunity. They were dominant against a Villa side desperately short of confidence and lacking in quality, yet Roland Lamah's headed equaliser, from a Pablo Hernández cross, was one of only three efforts they managed on target all afternoon. It was possession without penetration. With Swansea sitting in mid-table but only five points away from the bottom three, Laudrup said he is "not arrogant" enough to dismiss the possibility that his team could be sucked in. "But what is good for me is that when you see teams that are [in the bottom half], they play with a lack of confidence," Laudrup said. "I think our team, in general, play with a lot of confidence. Our passing game is still good. It's in the last third we need to improve because at the end of the day it's about scoring goals." Man of the match Jonathan de Guzmán (Swansea City) theguardian.com © 2013 Guardian News and Media Limited or its affiliated companies. All rights reserved. | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds  |
| Nicolas Anelka's controversial salute could prove beginning of the end Posted: 29 Dec 2013 02:00 PM PST • West Brom striker could face lengthy FA ban Saido Berahino was praising Nicolas Anelka's contribution to this much deserved draw for West Bromwich Albion when he described him as someone who "leads by example on and off the field". Little did the striker know then that those words would soon take on a different and distinctly dark connotation. Anelka is under investigation by the Football Association for the quenelle gesture, described in some quarters as the "reverse Nazi salute", which he made while celebrating the first of his two goals at Upton Park. Despite the Frenchman's insistence that it was done in "special dedication to my comedian friend Dieudonné", he could yet be banned for a minimum of five matches under FA anti-discriminatory rules. Such a sanction could well spell the end, in England at least, of a career that has never been short of drama. From forcing a move from Arsenal to Real Madrid in 1999, to refusing to bow in front of team-mates during his brief spell at Shanghai Shenhua, Anelka has proved himself a troubled and troubling figure ever since catching the eye as a teenager at Paris Saint-Germain in the mid-1990s. It was felt that a nadir had been reached when Anelka was expelled from France's 2010 World Cup squad after insulting the then head coach Raymond Domenech, but events at the weekend suggest that, at the age of 34, the player has managed to sink even lower. Given the notoriety the quenelle has gained in France ever since Dieudonné M'Bala M'Bala, a figure known for harbouring anti-Semitic views, first used it in 2009, it is inconceivable that Anelka was not aware of the outrage he would unleash by performing it in east London. West Bromwich Albion's caretaker manager, Keith Downing, gave his support to Anelka in the aftermath of Saturday's game but that was before he had been able to fully digest the exact nature of what the striker had done, and should he be charged and banned by the FA then that could well prove to be that for Anelka at West Brom, whom he joined on a free transfer last July on a one-year deal. Given his age and baggage, it is conceivable that "Le Sulk" would find it difficult to attract a seventh different club from these shores to take on his services. Saturday's controversy overshadowed what was an excellent display by Anelka. Making just his eighth appearance for West Bromwich after a period at the Hawthorns interrupted by illness, injury and tragedy (Anelka took compassionate leave in August following the death of his agent Eric Manasse), the forward played with guile and intelligence, scoring his first and second goals for the club in the space of five first-half minutes, the first a cool finish following Chris Brunt's defence-splitting pass and the second, which put the visitors 2-1 up, an instinctive shot from close range. Here was evidence of why clubs such as Arsenal, Real, Liverpool, Chelsea and Juventus have all signed Anelka and, until a storm of outrage broke around him, there was a sense that he had finally got going as a West Brom player. Behind the scenes, at least, it appears Anelka has proved a welcome addition to the club's ranks, with Berahino, who scored the visitors' third goal with a fizzing drive, praising the veteran as a positive influence on his fellow frontmen. "He's passed a lot of experience to me, Victor Anichebe and Matej Vydra," said the England Under-21 striker. "Just watching him in training – he's got good movement, always thinking ahead. He is a good guy and a great footballer." Anelka undoubtedly played a key role in West Bromwich securing what was a third successive draw under Downing, and as the club continue to search for a long-term successor to Steve Clarke there were definite signs that they maintain the quality to escape relegation trouble. The same can also be said of West Ham who, having lost the lead given to them by Joe Cole's early goal, showed admirable resilience in going 3–2 up thanks to Modibo Maïga and Kevin Nolan's well-taken second-half goals. However, this was the third league game in succession in which they have conceded three times, and the boos that rang out after the final whistle suggest Sam Allardyce is under increasing pressure ahead of the Hammers' crucial visit to Fulham on New Year's Day. "What will be, will be," said Allardyce when told he is now favourite among many bookmakers to become the next sacked Premier League manager. "In my defence, we've had six or seven players out injured for weeks. If I had them all playing we'd probably be around 10th." Man of the match Chris Brunt (West Bromwich Albion) theguardian.com © 2013 Guardian News and Media Limited or its affiliated companies. All rights reserved. | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds  |
| Manchester United's David Moyes: Danny Welbeck has regular spot chance Posted: 29 Dec 2013 01:59 PM PST • 'He will still have scope when Rooney and Van Persie are fit' Understandably unwilling to start talking numbers when asked how long Manchester United could maintain their current winning run, David Moyes showed no such disinclination when discussing the future of Danny Welbeck. "We're trying to get his finishing up with his effort and levels and I think Danny is responding, he's thinking 'This is quite good, I'm beginning to score some goals, I'm getting recognised for that as well'," said Moyes, after seeing Welbeck put United ahead by taking advantage of a fortunate rebound after the visitors had been comfortably second best for the best part of an hour at Carrow Road. "I think he got one last year, he's got five or six this year," said Moyes, before it was pointed out to him that the 23-year-old has actually scored 10 times this season, seven for United and three for England. "Is it? That's beginning to get better, you have to say it's going in the right direction. With the second half of the season to go he should certainly be looking to score 20 goals – and we need him to do that. When you don't have Wayne [Rooney] and you don't have Robin [Van Persie] you need people to step up to the mark and in quite a few games recently he's done that for us." Rooney, left at home nursing what Moyes described as an adductor injury in the groin area, which had also kept him out of the Capital One Cup quarter-final against Stoke on December 18, is expected to be fit to play against Tottenham Hotspur on New Year's Day. Van Persie, he said, was back in light training, which suggests the Dutchman may still be three weeks away. Whether Welbeck's improvement of late has been such that he can have genuine expectations of being a regular starter once "Wayne and Robin" are both fit and firing is doubtful, although Moyes insisted otherwise. "I think so but I don't think at Manchester United you ever only have two players who are doing their jobs, you have to have more or, like in these games, you just would never be able to cope when you pick up injuries. I see it more as a squad and you know, Chicharito [Javier Hernández] is part of that as well, he's a great goalscorer as well." There was little evidence to that effect in this game. The Mexican barely had a kick during a first half in which Norwich City became increasingly dominant but had Russell Martin, Robert Snodgrass, Gary Hooper and Wes Hoolahan all missing chances to put them ahead. The second half was a more even affair after Moyes replaced a labouring Ryan Giggs with Welbeck and switched from five to four in midfield. Even then Nathan Redmond shaved a post for Norwich and after Welbeck had seized his opportunity when Ryan Bennett's clearance struck him and then Hernández before rebounding into his path, the Canaries still had enough possession to create an equaliser. As Moyes acknowledged, however, United seem to have rediscovered the knack of winning games when being some distance from their best. Welbeck, who actually scored twice for United last season, also talked positively about it being "a squad game", although as Chris Hughton said, some squads have rather more depth than others. "We had a good day and it was not one of their better days but they are so used to grinding out results," sighed the Norwich manager. That he was roundly booed for taking off Hooper – whom he later said had a minor injury – is indicative that the City supporters remain far from convinced he is the man to keep them in the Premier League and after picking up two points from their last four games, Wednesday's match at Crystal Palace has become very important. So too may be the transfer window, although both managers played down the likelihood of making any major signings. "We have had a tough period in recent weeks and at one stage had four midfield players out, which, when you have a squad like ours, it is tougher than it would be for a United. We've coped with it well and it's seen other players get an opportunity. We'll only do anything if it's right," said Hughton. "We have a few out injured, especially in midfield, but we won't be doing a lot of business in January because most players won't be available," said Moyes. Man of the match Wes Hoolahan (Norwich City) theguardian.com © 2013 Guardian News and Media Limited or its affiliated companies. All rights reserved. | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds  |
| Chelsea's manager José Mourinho slams Luis Suárez 'swimming pool jump' Posted: 29 Dec 2013 01:43 PM PST • Liverpool forward grounded by Samuel Eto'o challenge José Mourinho has accused Luis Suárez of reverting to "wild" natural instincts by performing "an acrobatic swimming pool jump" in an attempt to win a late penalty, as Liverpool surrendered momentum in the title race to Chelsea. Suárez appeared to be barged over inside the penalty area, and off the ball, by Samuel Eto'o seven minutes from time, with Howard Webb waving away the Uruguayan's appeals for a penalty. While contact was made, Mourinho was incensed on the bench and strode down the touchline to berate the visiting striker as he complained to the officials. "The player [Suárez] is amazing and I love his quality, commitment and ambition to play," said Mourinho. "I know him from his time at Ajax. A very nice boy. He does everything to win, and Brendan [Rodgers] has done a very good job with him because he's changed. No doubt, he's changed. But when you are losing, the nature comes out of the player. The wild nature, the cultural nature of the player. Culturally, people from that area, they like it. Not just that area. There's a corner in Europe, where I belong too, where they like that too. "One of the things we have good in this country is we don't like simulation. It's not good for our game. [César] Azpilicueta had the ball, he was leaving the box, and now Suárez is doing an acrobatic swimming pool jump to try and get the penalty because he's so clever he knows he's in the penalty area right in front of the Liverpool supporters. I hate players who try to provoke situations, and he tries too much to provoke these situations. Suárez lost that duel with Azpilicueta, Eto'o comes in and it looks like somebody shot him [Suárez] in the back. Webb is 10 metres away and the only mistake he made was not giving him a yellow card." Mourinho declined to indicate whether he had seen the incident again on television after the game, preferring instead to suggest bias in the punditry. "There are lots of people on television, but nobody is a Chelsea man: [Jamie] Carragher, Liverpool; [Mark] Lawrenson, Liverpool; [Phil] Thompson, Liverpool; [Alan] Hansen, Liverpool; [Jamie] Redknapp, Liverpool. We don't have one. When I retire, at 75, I'll go as a pundit and defend Chelsea on television." Rodgers preferred instead to point to Eto'o's crude challenge on Jordan Henderson in the first minute that might have earned the Cameroon forward – who would score the contest's decisive goal – a red card but did not even prompt yellow. "Let's talk about the first Eto'o incident when he should have been sent off," said the Liverpool manager, who lost Mamadou Sakho and Joe Allen to injury. "I know we scored from the free-kick, but that was a wild shank where he's come down his knee and shin and didn't even get a yellow card. "That's the first 'wild' challenge. On the second one, Luis will always provoke a challenge from defenders in the box. That's why he's world-class. What he wouldn't expect is it coming from somebody off the ball. He blocks him. That could have been a penalty on another day as obstruction in the area. But he will defend his players. I will defend mine." Rodgers will attempt to strengthen his squad in January to inject momentum back into Liverpool's campaign after the first successive league defeats of his 18-month tenure, albeit after encouraging displays at Manchester City and now Chelsea. "At City we were outstanding, and here we gave everything," he said. "We've shown that if we get the players back, and get some help in January, we'll be in the shake-up. If we can add to it and get some depth, that'll really help you in the second half of the season when you need it. "It's still open. I'm looking forward to the fact we still have to play every big team apart from Manchester United at home, and Anfield's now a tough place to come. Christmas day, eating our turkey, we were top of the league. A few days later we're fifth. But it makes it really exciting." He will speak to Philippe Coutinho and Sakho after they swapped shirts with Oscar and Eto'o respectively at half-time – "I don't like that," he said – with Mourinho ending buoyed by the striker's decisive goal. Chelsea travel to Southampton on New Year's Day without the injured Frank Lampard (hamstring) and Branislav Ivanovic (knee), and the suspended David Luiz, but having opened up a three-point gap from fourth-placed Everton. "There is still a big difference between Manchester City and the other teams," he added. "Not just about quality, because we and other teams have quality. But they have quality, maturity, numbers of players, a group of strikers, physicality, experience, age, no young players, no old players, just players in the best stage (of their careers). For me, they are the favourites. For us, Arsenal and Liverpool to be around I think is a good achievement. This win was hard, but it was deserved." theguardian.com © 2013 Guardian News and Media Limited or its affiliated companies. All rights reserved. | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds  |
| Posted: 29 Dec 2013 01:32 PM PST • In pictures: the best images from the game José Mourinho had turned to the East stand as this contest lurched towards its conclusion and, arms aloft, beseeched the home support to whip up one last roar to haul the team over the line. Within seconds his gesture was repeated in celebration. Liverpool, one of the more eye-catching contenders in this season's title race, had been beaten to inject proper conviction into Chelsea's own challenge. The Portuguese's reaction betrayed the significance of the result. The first chink of light has been spotted between the top three and the chasing pack, a three-point gap chiselled out between Mourinho's team and fourth-placed Everton to suggest a massed scramble towards the summit is thinning out. Liverpool, a point behind their Merseyside neighbours, will hope to come again and can draw real encouragement from their displays even in defeat at the Etihad and Stamford Bridge but those at the top will likewise hope they are shrugging themselves clear. "A big win, a big opponent, a big match," said Mourinho. It was the kind of contest to get the juices flowing. In the end, perhaps inevitably, it was also laced with controversy. Brendan Rodgers had reason to denounce Samuel Eto'o's first-minute foul on Jordan Henderson, the striker raking his studs down his opponent's right shin and escaping a card of any sort from Howard Webb. Though Liverpool scored from the free-kick that followed, they would have been taking on 10 men for 89 minutes had the offence been properly penalised. Their other gripe centred, inevitably, on Luis Suárez as Eto'o appeared to shoulder barge him off the ball and inside the penalty area seven minutes from time. Rodgers and Mourinho, once apprentice and mentor in these surroundings, could only agree to disagree, though in the circumstances it was perhaps inevitable that Eto'o's contribution would ultimately be remembered for the winner. Chelsea had their own non-award to bemoan, Lucas Leiva appearing to floor the live-wire Eden Hazard 11 minutes in, yet the revival of the old Mourinho versus Merseyside rivalry should not boil down to perceived oversights by the overworked referee. This was combustible, breathless and blisteringly competitive and therefore enthralling to behold. While Liverpool seemed stretched by cruel successive away fixtures, Chelsea arguably mustered some of their finest attacking football of the campaign through that ferocious opening period. Their forays forward were slick and conducted at pace, Oscar and Willian rapid in pouring upfield while Hazard, the team's player of the moment, orchestrated it all. The Belgian, watched here by his brother Thorgan in the stands, has been untouchable in recent weeks. He has learned from the error of his ways after missing a training session following a brief trip back to Lille to watch his former club – it did not help that he had mislaid his passport in France – and has been resurgent since. He started the move which created Chelsea's equaliser, shifting the ball from central midfield to Willian before Oscar took up possession and bolted into enemy territory. Liverpool defenders backed off, uncertain and panicked, with the Brazilian's intended pass for Eto'o rebounding from Mamadou Sakho and back across the edge of the area. Hazard, his run unchecked, dispatched it first time, all whip and bend, with Simon Mignolet helpless and beaten. "The kid is changing," said Mourinho of the £32m signing he inherited. "Before he was a very talented player but was a bit … not lazy, but a kid enjoying football just in a funny way. Now he understands responsibilities and that football is not just about getting the ball and playing like he did when he was 13 or 14 in the street. There are other ingredients needed at this level." That was his 10th goal in all competitions this season, a tally that has eased some of the pressure on Chelsea's blunt strikers, though this would eventually be decided by one of their number. David Luiz and César Azpilicueta combined for Oscar to gather, his initial touch appearing to strike Sakho's arm. The crowd's appeals for handball went ignored, the playmaker regathering and turning the centre-half to square for Eto'o, granted too much space by Martin Skrtel, to convert. Mignolet should have done better. The festive period has been unforgiving for Liverpool. They sat top of the pile on Christmas Day, rightly satisfied by their campaign and with Suárez signed up to a new contract, and yet, after the first successive league defeats of Rodgers' tenure, now languish fifth and outside the Champions League places. That is sobering enough, even without Sakho (hamstring) and Joe Allen (groin) now injured and surely absent for the foreseeable future. And yet, as Rodgers pointed out, there was still promise to be picked up from each of their defeats over the past week, whether in the bite to the attacks summoned by Suárez, Coutinho and Henderson or the excellence – that second goal aside – of Mignolet in denying Chelsea further reward. They had led early, Coutinho delivering viciously towards the near post, where Suárez and Branislav Ivanovic – those familiar foes from Anfield in April – tumbled as they wrestled to connect and the ball struck the Serb and wrong-footed Petr Cech in the process. Skrtel, alone in front of a gaping goal, could not believe his luck. Yet that is where their good fortune ran out. Sakho looped a header on to the bar from Henderson's delivery before that late penalty appeal signalled the end. This was not to be their day. It is Chelsea who go tearing into the new year. Man of the match Eden Hazard (Chelsea) theguardian.com © 2013 Guardian News and Media Limited or its affiliated companies. All rights reserved. | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds  |
| Inverness 0-1 Celtic | Scottish Premiership match report Posted: 29 Dec 2013 01:22 PM PST • Midfielder is at his peak, says Neil Lennon Given all the discussion about key players who have left Celtic, it would be unfortunate if one who stayed is ever taken for granted. As a £330,000 buy from Derby County, Kris Commons ranks among the best pound-for-pound buys in the club's history. The midfielder's winning goal at Inverness endorsed his credentials as Celtic's most important attacking player both in a scoring and creative sense. Should Commons be coaxed away from Glasgow's East End, he would be as difficult to replace as those who have already headed for England. "Kris was a brilliant piece of business and he keeps getting better," said Celtic's manager, Neil Lennon. "He has matured and I think he is at the peak of his career." There are two unfortunate aspects to Commons' prominence. He has generally failed to replicate his domestic touchwhen turning out in the Champions League. Moreover, Commons' absence from the international scene – at his own behest – is something the Scotland manager Gordon Strachan should look to alter before the 2016 European Championship qualifiers begin. Commons' angled finish ensured Celtic have scored in every league game during 2013. They also remain unbeaten, and will not be challenged, at the summit of the Scottish Premiership. Still, there were struggles in the aftermath of this game's only goal. Billy McKay, who is a transfer target for Burnley, should have notched an Inverness equaliser but could not properly connect with a close-range header. Graeme Shinnie and Aaron Doran tested Fraser Forster in the Celtic goal, either side of McKay's opportunity. The first half was otherwise notable for a comedy moment in which the Inverness midfielder Ross Draper pushed over the match referee Crawford Allan in an attempt to get to the ball. Draper escaped without a booking as, inexplicably, did the Celtic captain Scott Brown following a stoppage-time lunge on Carl Tremarco. Commons flicked wide from an Anthony Stokes cross on the hour mark, before clipping the Inverness crossbar with a cute chip. The Inverness goalkeeper, Dean Brill, subsequently denied Commons his second at the culmination of the best move of the game. Inverness could have snatched a stoppage time draw, which they just about merited, but Draper instead fluffed his lines. "The pitch was very heavy and bumpy," added Lennon. "Away from home, you have to grind out results at times." Man of the match Kris Commons (Celtic) theguardian.com © 2013 Guardian News and Media Limited or its affiliated companies. All rights reserved. | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds  |
| Watford 0-0 QPR | Championship match report Posted: 29 Dec 2013 01:13 PM PST "The same old story" was Kevin Bond's resigned verdict after this stalemate. It is a tale that continues to blight QPR's campaign. This is the fourth time in five games they have failed to score and, despite their lofty position, they are the lowest scoring side in the top half of the division. Only five sides – all in the bottom six – have scored fewer than their 24 in 23 games. An absence of goals means an absence of victories and this result sees Harry Redknapp's side drop to fourth for the first time since the opening weeks of the season, though they rediscovered the solidity at the back that had escaped them in back-to-back defeats against Leicester City and Nottingham Forest. "It's not Harry's way but it's turned out that our season has been based on keeping clean sheets," said Bond, his assistant. "We've not scored many goals but we've won on a number of occasions by the odd goal. I don't think we sacrificed going forward in an attempt to keep clean sheets. I thought we played very well in the first half. The only thing we didn't have was a striker who was going to put the ball in the net." With Charlie Austin injured and Bobby Zamora and Andrew Johnson restricted to the bench by fitness issues, what they did have was Niko Kranjcar playing as the central-attacking pivot. His propensity to drop deep and Watford's 3-5-2 meant the midfield was not so much congested as gridlocked and, although the Croatian did forge the best openings of the first half, they served only to illustrate the visitors' problems in front of goal. Four times the makeshift striker failed to hit the target. "We haven't got goalscorers in the side," Bond said. "We've got creative players, people who make opportunities, and they'll all chip in with a couple of goals a season but you need to know whether your strikers can give you 20 goals a season. Or you need a Frank Lampard-type of midfielder who will get into double figures, and we haven't got enough of them." Watford were similarly shot shy, with their best moment coming eight minutes after the interval when Troy Deeney and Diego Fabbrini combined neatly but the latter's tame shot was dropped on by Robert Green in the Rangers goal. Three minutes earlier the visitors had also gone as close as they would all afternoon, with Matt Phillips drawing a fine save from Manuel Almunia. Thereafter the second half petered out rather meekly but the Watford manager, Giuseppe Sannino, was delighted by his side's display. "It was a very good result against a very good team," said the Italian. "If we can keep this solidity, we can be very dangerous." That sense of danger has, for the moment, deserted QPR. Man of the match Gabriele Angella (Watford) theguardian.com © 2013 Guardian News and Media Limited or its affiliated companies. All rights reserved. | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds  |
| Football League: your thoughts | Michael Butler Posted: 29 Dec 2013 12:19 PM PST Derby go second behind Leicester in the Championship, Swindon remain in the hunt and David Flitcroft gets his first win ChampionshipIn April, Nigel Pearson was said to be on the verge of losing his job at Leicester, having one just once in eleven games. Now, following a humdinging 5-3 win over Bolton, his side are four points clear at the top of the Championship going into the New Year. With one of the strongest squads in the league, and owners that are capable of backing him in January, few would bet against Leicester being favourites to end the season in promotion. The first half at the King Power Stadium ended three apiece; Bolton twice going ahead through André Moritz and Jermaine Beckford but were crucially were pegged back just before half-time – a shot from Paul Konchesky was cleared by Tim Ream but the ball struck Matt Mills and flew into his own net. David Nugent missed a penalty after Jamie Vardy was brought down in the box but goals from Lloyd Dyer and Gary Taylor-Fletcher sealed it for Leicester – Pearson particularly praising his side's mental character after the game, saying: "What pleased me most about the whole game was the fact that our players never lost the belief that they could win. To miss a penalty at 3-3 it could have gone a different way." The fact that Leicester's form hasn't even what would normally be considered worthy of leading the Championship – they've dropped seven points of the last 18 available – is a tribute to how competitive the league is at the moment. Three of the top six failed to win, and you need only travel 20 miles down the M1 to Derby to see how far a good run of form can get you in this division. Unbeaten since Steve McClaren joined as manager in late September, they have risen from 14th in the table to second, thanks to eight wins in nine league games. A Chris Martin double was enough to see off Barnsley, the first a deflected strike past Luke Steele, before adding his 15th of the season with his head from an Andre Wisdom cross. Tomasz Cywka's long-range strike wasn't enough to give Barnsley a point, with the Yorkshire side now five points adrift at the foot of the table, leaving new manager Danny Wilson without a win since his appointment. While Derby's league form will be of chief importance to McClaren, his side's FA Cup tie against Chelsea on 5 January could be a good indicator of how far Derby have come. View the full Championship table League OneBrentford leapfrogged both Wolves and Leyton Orient to the summit of League One, following their win over MK Dons. Orient played out a hard-fought 1-1 draw at promotion rivals Wolves and, while they lost their grip on the league lead, the east London side can be happy with their festive form, having beaten Gillingham away on Boxing Day and coming from behind on Sunday to prevent Wolves winning – Mathieu Baudry equalising after Ethan Ebanks-Landell had given the hosts an early lead. Wolves enjoyed a bumper crowd of 28,598 – an attendance that is higher than the average of eight Premier League clubs this season – but were unable to force a winner, Jake Larkins saving from Michael Jacobs after the winger was clean through. Brentford themselves seem to have lost none of the momentum after losing Uwe Rösler as their manager earlier this month – their 3-1 victory was their 11th in their last 12 games, Clayton Donaldson opening the scoring before Marcelo Trotta and Sam Saunders made the game safe. Swindon remained in the play-off chase despite drawing 1-1 with Bradford. Tottenham loanee Alex Pritchard stood out and scored a wonder-goal, dancing through a number of Bradford challenges before firing past Jon McLaughlin. Swindon striker Nile Ranger was left off the team-sheet following a disciplinary issue, with manager Mark Cooper dismayed at the former Newcastle player's attitude. "He played on Boxing Day but we've not seen him. The rest of the players have been in preparing for Sunday. He's probably had a lie-in," said Cooper. "He has got a tremendous talent and he is wasting it." Ranger also wrote off his Range Rover on Christmas Day. View the full League One table League TwoScunthorpe beat promotion rivals Oxford United 2-0 with 37-year-old Dean Burton among the goals. It puts Scunthorpe second, level on points with leaders Chesterfield, who could only manage a draw at home to Dagenham and Redbridge, and third-placed Burton, who beat Newport 1-0 at home. Bury climbed out of the relegation zone with their first victory under new boss David Flitcroft, after goals from loanees Daniel Nardiello and Anton Forrester gave them a 2-1 win over York City. Michael Coulson gave the hosts a scare in the final moments tapping in a cross, but it proved nothing but a consolation. Fleetwood missed the chance to move into the play-off places after their game with Wycombe was called off due to a frozen pitch, following an overnight frost. View the full League Two table theguardian.com © 2013 Guardian News and Media Limited or its affiliated companies. All rights reserved. | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds  |
| Phil Jagielka's hamstring puts him out of the Everton team for a month Posted: 29 Dec 2013 10:06 AM PST • Everton's captain suffered injury on Boxing Day Phil Jagielka could be out for up to a month due to a hamstring injury that the Everton captain suffered during the Boxing Day defeat to Sunderland. Following Sunday's 2-1 victory over Southampton, the manager at Goodison Park, the Everton manager, Roberto Martínez, said: "It was at the end of the game against Sunderland. Those soft-tissue injuries – it could be up to four weeks but knowing Jags he [may well] be back a little bit earlier. It is just the accumulation of games and the demands of this month really. November [and] December [are] high risk in terms of injuries for the players – [with] the amount of games that we play it's understandable." If the captain is out for the full four weeks then he may not return until the Merseyside derby on 28 January at Anfield. Antolín Alcaraz, who replaced Jagielka against Southampton, impressed on his debut following a long lay-off with injury. theguardian.com © 2013 Guardian News and Media Limited or its affiliated companies. All rights reserved. | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds  |
| Posted: 29 Dec 2013 09:59 AM PST Premier League: Spurs won with goals from Roberto Soldado, Moussa Dembélé and Aaron Lennon  |
| Chelsea v Liverpool – live! | Jacob Steinberg Posted: 29 Dec 2013 09:59 AM PST Minute-by-minute report: Samuel Eto'o scored the winner as Chelsea came back from a goal down to beat Liverpool, who should have had a late penalty  |
| Paul Lambert: Aston Villa injuries responsible for poor form – video Posted: 29 Dec 2013 09:24 AM PST Aston Villa manager Paul Lambert speaks to the media after a 1-1 home draw against Swansea. Lambert stresses that a draw is a good result for Villa after losing several games in a row  |
| Tony Pulis: Crystal Palace will sign players in January – video Posted: 29 Dec 2013 08:32 AM PST The Crystal Palace manager Tony Pulis tells reporters after the 1-0 away defeat at Manchester City that he plans to recruit in the January transfer window  |
| Sporting stars we lost in 2013 Posted: 29 Dec 2013 08:24 AM PST From Bill Foulkes and Maria de Villota to Steve Prescott and Cliff Morgan, 2013 saw the passing of some memorable characters. Bill FoulkesOne of the Busby Babes who survived the Munich air disaster, Foulkes captained Manchester United in the period immediately after the tragedy. Born 5 Jan 1932 in Manchester. Died 25 November Bill Foulkes was a big strong man – in all respects he was your typical centre-half; a stopper. Around the club people looked up to him. The young lads – if they didn't do what they were told they got a crack, he was that sort of guy, he could put you in your place. But that was the way he was – an ex-miner but a great centre-half, a hard man. From my position as goalkeeper it was great to play behind him but if things weren't going right, and someone was having a good game playing against you, like a top centre-forward, you could say: "Come on, get it sorted, Bill" and he would get it sorted. That's the attitude he had. When we won the European Cup in 1968 Bill scored the winner against Real Madrid that got us to the final at Wembley. No one expected it. As Bobby [Charlton] said at Bill's funeral: "What the hell was he doing in their penalty area?" Paddy Crerand threw the ball to George [Best] and George went on one of his mazy runs down the right wing and Bill, for some unknown reason, ran from our penalty box to their box and of course he was unmarked because no one had ever seen him there before. The way it panned out – 10 years after Munich – for Bill to put us in the final and Bobby Charlton being the captain, it was the way it was supposed to be. If I remember rightly Munich was never spoken about in the dressing room [before the final against Benfica] because you knew that wasn't the thing to do. And ironically, when that final whistle went [United won 4-1 in extra-time], we all went to Matt Busby [manager], Bobby and Bill. It was just something that came over you. I was very proud to meet Bill and to see what kind of man he was to go through everything that went on in those years. What more can you say about the man? María de VillotaThe Spanish racing driver, the daughter of former Formula One star Emilio De Villota, had been a test driver for the Marussia F1 team before a life-threatening crash in 2012. She recovered but died the next year. Born 13 Jan 1980 in Seville. Died 11 October It is still hard for me to write of Maria in the past tense. Every time I think of her, I see that lovely smile. I remember her spirit, her strength and her determination. She was simply an amazing lady. María was forging a career for herself in F1, not to prove a point about female drivers but because she simply loved racing. This is why I got on so well with her. We weren't two female drivers trying to take on the male-dominated world of F1, we were two women with the same passion for racing. On the day of her accident I was at the Williams factory. It shocked us all, we are so lucky in this day and age that accidents in F1 are rarely fatal due to the advancements in safety and track designs. As soon as we knew she would pull through, I knew she would be OK. María had an incredible strength and spirit for life. Leading up to my F1 young driver test at Silverstone she told me that I would be out on track for both of us. She told me to go out there and show that a woman was capable in F1. She knew it, she was on course to do it and that is why it was so important for her that I carried on what she had started. I carried her logo on my helmet, a small bright orange star. Since her accident, María had married, written a book and had talked of starting a family. She was so positive, telling me often how happy she was to simply be alive. It seemed like she had been through the worst and had come out even stronger. Her sudden death shocked me to the core. I still can't quite believe it. I try to focus only on the positives. I was lucky to call such an amazing lady my friend. She wrote her story, she has left her legacy behind. She is gone but will never ever be forgotten. Steve PrescottFormer St Helens, Hull and Wakefield player who also represented England and Ireland. Honoured with an MBE in 2010 for services to rugby league and charity after raising more than £500,000 via his foundation having been diagnosed with a rare form of stomach cancer in 2006. Born 26 Dec 1973 in Lancashire. Died 9 November As well as everything he had done in the seven years since his diagnosis, he was a great rugby league player. It was that winning mentality that he had that took over when he really needed it to, when he was diagnosed with cancer. He was somebody who would not accept defeat. He was given just six months to live but he always said that cancer would not get him, and it didn't. He died from complications following pioneering surgery he had to save his life. But his decision to go ahead with the surgery sums Steve up – unfortunately it didn't work for him but the surgery itself was a success and will give hope to a lot of people. The week that we did the Paris and London marathons in aid of his foundation was the best week ever. But we didn't just run the marathons. We did Paris, then we cycled to Calais, rowed the English Channel, cycled to London and started the next marathon. The September before I had done the Great North Run and when I got to the end I said I couldn't imagine having to run back to the start again. The next day Steve phoned me about his challenge. I was like "right, I'm in". He [was] the kind of guy that you can't say no to. You put yourselves in Steve's shoes and you think how hard doing what we do is and how much harder it has to be for him, and how can you refuse? I thoroughly enjoyed it. Without someone like Steve, you would struggle to get through it, but we did because of him. He was an inspirational man. Cliff MorganFormer Cardiff, Wales and Lions fly-half who toured South Africa in 1955, captaining them to victory in the third Test. Moved effortlessly behind the microphone – his most famous commentary being the 1973 Barbarians try against the All Blacks and awarded the OBE and CVO for his contributions to broadcasting. Born 7 April 1930 in Rhondda. Died 29 August Cliff was a very honest, fun-loving man. He was always very humble; his knowledge of rugby was outstanding but more importantly, his concern for the welfare of everyone he came across really stood out. I would put him up there with Wales's all-time great players, without a shadow of a doubt. His ability was second to none and I would rank him in the top half a dozen players of all time. I don't think he realised how good of a player he was and how marvellous a person he was. Everyone spoke so eloquently about him at his funeral, including his former colleagues from the BBC. He reached the very top of that profession and I've never met anyone, from any walk of life, [who had] a bad word to say about him. Sir Henry Cecil Born 11 Nov 1943 in Aberdeen. Died 11 June Christian Benitez Born 1 May 1985 in Quito, Ecuador. Died 29 July Jean Pickering MBE Born 4 Jul 1929 in London. Died 25 March David Coleman OBE Born 26 Apr 1926 in Cheshire. Died 21 December Bert Trautmann Born 22 Oct 1923 in Bremen. Died 19 July Ken Norton Born 9 Aug 1943 in Illinois, USA. Died 18 September Todd Bennett Born 6 Jul 1962 in Southampton. Died 16 July Andrew Simpson MBE Born 17 Dec 1976 in Chertsey. Died 9 May Tony Gubba Born 23 Sep 1943 in Manchester. Died 11 March Reg Simpson Born 27 Feb 1920 in Nottingham. Died 22 November Tommy Morrison Born 2 Jan 1969 in Arkansas USA. Died 1 September Acer Nethercott Born 28 Nov, 1977 in Newmarket. Died 26 January Graham Murray Born 6 January 1955 in Sydney, Australia. Died 28 July Emmanuel McDonald Bailey Born 12 August 1920, Williamsville, Trinidad. Died 4 December Jo Pitt Born 22 February 1979 in Huntly, Scotland. Died 2 May Bill Hoskyns Born 19 March 1931 in London. Died 4 August Ron Davies Born 25 May 1942 in Holywell, Wales. Died 24 May Dave Hickson Born 30 October 1929 in Salford. Died 2 July Mike Denness OBE Born 1 December 1940 in Lanarkshire. Died 19 May Helen Elliot Born 20 January 1927 in Scotland. Died 12 January Dean Powell Born 21 May 1966 in Dudley. Died 10 September David Oates Born June 1962 in Blackpool. Died 3 February Sean Edwards Born 6 December 1986 in London. Died 15 October Brian Greenhoff Born 28 April 1953 in Barnsley. Died 22 May Donna Hartley-Wass MBE Born 1 May 1955 Southampton. Died 7 June Christopher Martin-Jenkins MBE Born 20 January 1945 in Peterborough. Died 1 January Dave Thomas Born 16 August 1934 in Newcastle. Died 27 August Nílton Santos Born 16 May 1925 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Died 27 November theguardian.com © 2013 Guardian News and Media Limited or its affiliated companies. All rights reserved. | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds  |
| Premier League: Chelsea v Liverpool – in pictures Posted: 29 Dec 2013 08:23 AM PST The best images from Stamford Bridge, where the two title-contenders are going head to head  |
| Posted: 29 Dec 2013 07:38 AM PST When Olivier Giroud injured himself and was then swiftly booked in the wake of a clumsy, deeply unwise, first-half tackle on Cheik Tioté it seemed to confirm the impression that Arsenal's centre forward was having a bad day at the office. Appearances can be deeply deceptive,though. By way of proving the point, Giroud's faint headed connection with a second-half free kick from the otherwise similarly disappointing Theo Walcott ensured Arsenal would see the new year in from the top of the league. Scrappy, barely deserved, victories are hardly Wenger's hallmark but this one delivered an important message to Manchester City and company. "I'm very happy, it was a very tense game against a very good Newcastle side," said Arsenal's manager. "We have shown another aspect of our team; resilience and fight. There's a great solidarity in the side. We believe in ourselves. We are determined." Pardew's sole consolation was Wenger's assertion that he is not interested in luring Yohan Cabaye from Tyneside next month. "I'm disappointed for the players and our fans," said Newcastle's manager. "It was a very even, very tight, really interesting game. I don't think we've done much wrong." The only possible criticism of Pardew was his decision to begin with the richly gifted Hatem Ben Arfa on the bench, preferring Yoan Gouffran as the left-sided attacking midfield element of his 4-2-3-1 formation. Part way through the first half Ben Arfa returned to the home dugout after a brief warm-up and, en route, stopped off by the visiting technical area to share a joke with Wenger. No matter that Giroud was receiving treatment at the time, Arsenal's manager only had eyes for Newcastle's No10 as they exchanged the broadest of smiles. If Tynesiders feared the pair may have been plotting a future together in North London, Wenger could well have simply been imploring Ben Arfa to stay put as substitute. It is hard to argue with a manager whose side kicked off having won seven and drawn one of their previous nine games but not for the first time Pardew's omission of his most gifted individual from Newcastle's starting XI seemed a shame. An opening half that never really quite got going could certainly have done with Ben Arfa's fancy footwork. For all the wonderful collective talent on view – even if a shoulder injury deprived Arsenal of Mesut Özil for the first of two or three games – clear-cut chances were rare. Hard as Cabaye clearly, if forlornly tried to impress Wenger, - remember how he went on strike last August, refusing to play for Pardew in the hope of forcing a move to the Emirates through - his biggest creative input was supplying a long diagonal pass for Mathieu Debuchy which the otherwise excellent right back could not quite control. Not that Cabaye had a bad game; he and his team-mates excelled in the slightly more destructive discipline of refusing Arsenal time to settle or establish any sort of real passing rhythm. While Jack Wilshere had his central-midfield moments he found himself frequently frustrated by Tioté, Cabaye and friends. Although Santi Cazorla's change of pace presented Newcastle with sporadic frights, Tim Krul was largely well protected. It spoke volumes that Giroud's biggest early impact was collecting that yellow card for felling Tioté. Wojciech Szczesny was hardly overworked but Arsenal's goalkeeper was probably relieved when Mathieu Flamini's clumsy challenge on Moussa Sissoko on the edge of the area did not result in a penalty. Sissoko very nearly scored shortly before the break, the midfielder seeing a powerful shot finger-tipped away by Szczesny following a wonderful home break initiated by Laurent Koscielny's rare sloppiness and Vurnon Anita's quick-thinking incision. From the ensuing corner, Debuchy's header struck the underside of the bar. With the stalemate persisting and the hour mark reached Pardew finally introduced Ben Arfa but before he could begin justifying Wenger's worst fears, Giroud scored. Cazorla won a free-kick against Tioté 35 yards out and, by delicately heading Walcott's poorly defended free kick beyond Krul, a striker now virtually indispensable to Arsenal reminded everyone he should never be written off. Walcott soon followed suit; only Debuchy's late intervention on the line prevented the otherwise thoroughly subdued England forward dinking Arsenal two up. As it was their single-goal lead was harsh enough on Pardew's side who had another forlorn penalty shout when Flamini – later skinned during a thrilling Ben Arfa cameo – appeared to foul Debuchy. Wenger's replacement of Walcott with Carl Jenkinson, a defender, confirmed that Arsenal were clinging on as Pardew's late switch to 3–5–2 promised to pay dividends. "It's just frustrating we haven't got a point," said Newcastle's manager. "The margins were so fine." Man of the match Mathieu Debuchy (Newcastle United) theguardian.com © 2013 Guardian News and Media Limited or its affiliated companies. All rights reserved. | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds  |
| Posted: 29 Dec 2013 07:32 AM PST Romelu Lukaku may well be offered an open bar tab by Joel Robles after the striker's winner saved the goalkeeper having the worst of memories from a full league debut for Everton. The home side were cruising towards three points courtesy of Seamus Coleman's impressive opener when Robles, in for the suspended Tim Howard, allowed a speculative 30-yarder from Gastón Ramírez to go through his fingers. As Goodison Park tried to make sense of the howler, Everton moved upfield via the substitute Steven Pienaar. His ball from the left was moved further along by James McCarthy to Lukaku. The Belgian made no mistake, thumping home past Kelvin Davis. This allowed Everton to bounce back after the disappointment of the Boxing Day defeat to Sunderland and take them above neighbours Liverpool into the top four for new year. The news from Roberto Martínez is that his attractive side could be better. "I think we can improve," the manager said. "Thirty seven points is an outstanding return halfway through. We have had two defeats [and the seven] draws have been more unfair draws than lucky ones." Of the victory, he added: "It was a completely different test to the one we had on Boxing Day. Southampton are a very good side and we knew that and we had to be perfect in our performance and the two goals were of outstanding quality. We defended well and had real concentration which we needed against Southampton." Lukaku also praised the display. "We played well and showed great mentality and hopefully we can continue it on New Year's Day [at Stoke City]. It was important to bounce back – we want to finish as high up as possible and if we show the same consistency and performance we can improve on last season." Martínez defended his stand-in keeper. "There was nothing Joel Robles could do," the Spaniard said. "The swerve in that ball from Gastón Ramírez made it impossible for him." The first half had been entertaining yet lacking in consistent quality. Coleman was the standout performer, with Adam Lallana also proving to be impressive when proceedings passed through him. The visiting captain left his best to the closing moments of the half when a juggling act left Leon Osman and Sylvain Distin the patsies in a move that finished with Lallana's volley missing by inches. Coleman then produced the solo effort that tingled the senses. He surged down the right, beat James Ward-Prowse and by the time Luke Shaw – the left-back caught out of position – moved over, the Irishman had shot past a helpless Davis. This came against the run of play. Jack Cork, Jay Rodriguez, Lallana and Rickie Lambert had been taking the Saints geometric passing game to Everton and appeared the likelier to score first. Immediately after Coleman's intervention they came close to equalising when Lambert's chipped return to Lallana was not capitalised on. Apart from a Lukaku run down the same flank that produced Everton's advantage Martínez's side continued on for a spell in disjointed fashion. This found its personification in the disappointing Ross Barkley, whose burst from near his area before an awry pass was indicative of his contribution throughout. After the interval Shaw entered the match, tearing down his wing before sliding in a cross that deserved a finish: ; instead, the ball rolled to safety. The visiting manager could count himself unlucky that his team left with nothing. "I thought it was a great game, both teams played positive football, it's a shame we did not get a positive result," said Mauricio Pochettino. The sight of Leighton Baines completing his first game since the broken toe suffered in the Merseyside derby on 23 November sealed a satisfactory day for Everton though Phil Jagielka will be out for up to a month, Martínez stated. Man of the match Seamus Coleman (Everton) theguardian.com © 2013 Guardian News and Media Limited or its affiliated companies. All rights reserved. | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds  |
| Newcastle United v Arsenal – as it happened Posted: 29 Dec 2013 07:30 AM PST Arsenal beat Newcastle 1-0 at St James' Park after a second-half goal from Olivier Giroud to go top of the Premier League  |
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