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- Manchester Citys manager Manuel Pellegrini quick to renew old rivalries
- Louis van Gaal: Manchester United need time to adapt to my methods
- Romelu Lukaku makes Arsenal endure another command performance
- QPRs Robert Green stays grounded to keep critics at bay
- Gus Poyet warns Louis van Gaal to avoid culture shock in Premier League
- Gary Neville and Jamie Carragher aiming for accuracy and honesty
- Gary Nevilles eye for detail rules MNFs world of the sonic screwdriver
- Arsène Wenger believes Arsenal have spirit and resolve to win title
- Said & Done: Malky Mackays respect agenda; Freds weapons; model news
- No surprise that Liverpool found Mario Balotelli was going for a song
- Scottish roundup: Jason Scotlands added time goal seals Hamilton win
- Olivier Giroud rescues a point after Arsenal show backbone at Everton
- Nottingham Forests Stuart Pearce hails new boys after rout of Reading
- Manchester United make breakthrough in bid for Real Madrids Ángel di María
- Everton v Arsenal as it happened
- Football League: your thoughts
- José Mourinho irritated by Chelseas lazy start against Leicester
- Premier League: Everton v Arsenal in pictures
- Fulham bottom of table and Felix Magath faces flak after Derby thumping
- Mario Balotelli set to seal £16m Liverpool switch in next few days
- Premier League clockwatch as it happened
- Diego Costa saves profligate Chelseas blushes against Leicester City
- Mauro Zárate inspires West Ham to a resounding win over Crystal Palace
- Southampton held to goalless draw by West Brom at St Marys
- Swansea winger Nathan Dyers fine finish sends Burnley home pointless
| Manchester Citys manager Manuel Pellegrini quick to renew old rivalries Posted: 23 Aug 2014 02:30 PM PDT Chilean bristles at suggestions that Liverpool lost the Premier League title last season rather than his team winning it Last weekends opening round of Premier League fixtures was merely a prologue. The season proper starts at the Etihad on Monday night when Liverpool are the visitors in the first head-to-head between genuine title contenders. Manchester City and Liverpool were the stories of last season, certainly its memorable closing stages, and though Manuel Pellegrinis side ended up on top and the manager is in a position to let bygones be bygones last season is finished, for us and for Liverpool it only takes the slightest of prompts to reopen the rivalry. Continue reading... |
| Louis van Gaal: Manchester United need time to adapt to my methods Posted: 23 Aug 2014 02:29 PM PDT Manchester United manager says his teams often start slowly Louis van Gaal delighted with fans reaction to early setback Continue reading...  |
| Romelu Lukaku makes Arsenal endure another command performance Posted: 23 Aug 2014 02:10 PM PDT The £28m striker unnerved Arsenal on their return to Goodison Park, but Evertons threat disappeared when he went off Continue reading...  |
| QPRs Robert Green stays grounded to keep critics at bay Posted: 23 Aug 2014 02:00 PM PDT The keeper best remembered for one England error four years ago has found the measured calm to keep thriving at QPR Robert Green is on guard. Maybe that is the way of the goalkeeper, always looking to keep you at bay, never willingly letting anything past him. Or maybe it is because the interview has only just started and already the conversation has turned to his infamous mistake in Englands opening game of the 2010 World Cup. He is probably wondering why he has agreed to speak given that it has taken less than 10 seconds for old wounds to be reopened. That is the point, though. Green was ridiculed mercilessly after letting Clint Dempseys shot slip through his grasp in that 1-1 draw with the USA and he certainly did not appear to hold journalists in the highest regard when he made an obscene gesture towards the press box at Upton Park after helping West Ham beat Tottenham Hotspur 1-0 a few months after the World Cup. So what has changed since then? Continue reading... |
| Gus Poyet warns Louis van Gaal to avoid culture shock in Premier League Posted: 23 Aug 2014 02:00 PM PDT Sunderland beat Manchester United twice last season Poyet believes all the pressure is on Sundays visitors Continue reading...  |
| Gary Neville and Jamie Carragher aiming for accuracy and honesty Posted: 23 Aug 2014 02:00 PM PDT Former players accept it can be difficult to criticise old colleagues and friends but insist that is part of the job Criticising friends, former team-mates and ex-employers is an occupational hazard for one-club men attempting to make their way in the world of punditry but it is one Gary Neville and Jamie Carragher feel they have negotiated well. Neville, for all the plaudits he has received since beginning his work with Sky Sports, has occasionally been criticised for giving players he works with in his capacity as England coach an easy ride. In January 2013 David de Gea was savaged by Neville, who blamed the goalkeeper for a soft late equaliser conceded by Manchester United, going so far as to highlight the reaction of the players team-mates in an effort to show their contempt for the Spaniard. A few weeks later Joe Hart received a comparatively free pass for a worse rick, with Neville suggesting a shot the Manchester City man had let through his hands was just one of those misfortunes that befalls goalkeepers occasionally. Continue reading... |
| Gary Nevilles eye for detail rules MNFs world of the sonic screwdriver Posted: 23 Aug 2014 02:00 PM PDT The former Manchester United full-back runs the discussion and makes sure Skys big football night does not miss a beat Lurk behind the scenes for long enough and one thing quickly becomes clear: Monday Night Football is Gary Nevilles world and everyone else involved just lives in it. The four-hour Sky Sports football marathon is ostensibly a live three-hander between Neville, fellow pundit Jamie Carragher and the presenter Ed Chamberlin, backed by a 30-strong on-site support staff. Over the course of several hours watching them plan, rehearse and broadcast it becomes abundantly clear that Neville is something of a control freak whose enthusiasm and quest for perfection borders on the endearingly psychotic. If everybody was as fastidious about their work as Neville, the world would be a far more efficient place. Quite what the MNF producer Scott Melvin and the director Duncan East, whose job it is to control this control-freakery, make of this is unclear. Consummate pros, they seem content to let the former Manchester United full-backs remit extend to floor-managing, cue-delivery, stage direction and assorted other aspects of the production process and merely roll their eyes good-humouredly at the occasional mini bouts of petulance that ensue when things do not go his way. Continue reading... |
| Arsène Wenger believes Arsenal have spirit and resolve to win title Posted: 23 Aug 2014 01:49 PM PDT We gave a great response with complete desire to come back Alexis Sánchez is not completely ready physically Arsène Wenger claimed Arsenal can challenge for the Premier League title providing they maintain the spirit and resolve that salvaged a dramatic point at Everton. Roberto Martínezs side were two up at half-time and looking on course to repeat last seasons comfortable 3-0 victory only for Arsenal to produce a stirring recovery. Aaron Ramsey scored his second goal of the season to give Wengers team hope in the 83rd minute before Olivier Giroud, who replaced the £35m summer signing Alexis Sánchez at half-time and sparked the comeback, headed Nacho Monreals cross beyond Tim Howard in the dying seconds. Continue reading... |
| Said & Done: Malky Mackays respect agenda; Freds weapons; model news Posted: 23 Aug 2014 01:45 PM PDT Also featuring: Barcelona; Mario Balotelli; Bayerns big reveal; and the bees around footballs honeypot 2012: Malky Mackay, telling the Mail what makes Cardiff different: a) having the players park their cars neatly: Its about respect and good manners. Its important; b) having a top-down ethos: It comes from the manager standards and respect come down from the top; c) keeping that culture intact: I wont have people here wholl corrupt the place. Continue reading... |
| No surprise that Liverpool found Mario Balotelli was going for a song Posted: 23 Aug 2014 01:42 PM PDT Mario Balotelli has talent but Liverpool will have to work at making the pros outweigh the cons on his return to the Premier League It goes back a few years now, but you might remember the old television commercial for Allied Dunbar that Jamie Carragher mentioned the other day, with its version of Irving Berlins Lets Face the Music and Dance and the little scene that unfolds when a man is shaving in the bathroom mirror and finds a pregnancy test at the back of the medicine cabinet. The man is still covered in foam as he marches downstairs to confront his daughters, and that is the point when his wife intervenes. I think were the ones who should have been more careful, she says. Then the music starts: There may be trouble ahead This was Carraghers response to the news that Liverpool had decided the good did outweigh the bad when it came to Mario Balotelli and that he was worth a punt. It was a decent price, he said, but he couldnt help think back to that advert: a settled family taking in the news that a new arrival was on the way and trying to be happy despite that nagging sense that, yes, it might change their lives for their better, but it would also need an awful lot of energy. Continue reading... |
| Scottish roundup: Jason Scotlands added time goal seals Hamilton win Posted: 23 Aug 2014 01:16 PM PDT Ross County still pointless after Dundee Uniteds late rally Rangers comfortable 4-1 winners over Dumbarton Hamilton won their third Scottish Premiership game in a row with a dramatic 2-1 comeback victory over Partick at Firhill. A stunning goal by Kallum Higginbotham just six minutes from time looked to have given Partick the points, but immediate responses by Hamilton substitutes Tony Andreu and Jason Scotland saw the Lanarkshire men collect all three points. Continue reading... |
| Olivier Giroud rescues a point after Arsenal show backbone at Everton Posted: 23 Aug 2014 11:56 AM PDT |
| Nottingham Forests Stuart Pearce hails new boys after rout of Reading Posted: 23 Aug 2014 11:51 AM PDT Stuart Pearce praised Nottingham Forests new signings for making an immediate impact after three of them scored in this impressive win over Reading. Michail Antonio struck twice and set up another for Matty Fryatt, while the £5m striker Britt Assombalonga also scored as Forest romped to an emphatic victory. Another two new signings, Chris Burke and Jack Hunt, also played their part in the goals as the Championship leaders provided another demonstration of their promotion credentials. Continue reading... |
| Manchester United make breakthrough in bid for Real Madrids Ángel di María Posted: 23 Aug 2014 11:42 AM PDT United closing on £48m deal for 26-year-old Argentinian Di María has turned down new Real Madrid contract Manchester United believe they have made a significant breakthrough in their pursuit of Real Madrids winger Ángel di María. United, who have been linked all summer with a deal to sign the 26-year-old Argentina international, are understood to be in advanced talks over a deal worth more than £48m. Continue reading... |
| Everton v Arsenal as it happened Posted: 23 Aug 2014 11:27 AM PDT Arsenal were outplayed for 83 minutes before coming back at Everton and nearly nicking an astonishing win.
And thats that! This draw will feel like a victory to Arsenal, and a defeat to Everton. The home side were so much better than the visitors for 83 minutes. But Arsenal refused to give up, and could easily have won the game at the end. A brilliant show of determination by Arsenal, though Everton will take many positives from their performance too, when the sting of conceding a second late equaliser in two weeks dies down. The first heavyweight showdown of the season wasnt too bad, huh?
90 min +3: The Arsenal fans are pointing out the changes to the scoreline via the mediums of song and swearing.
90 min +2: Giroud is not too far away from planting the nut on a cross from the right wing. It sails out to the left of Howards goal. Everton have fallen apart. Theyre clinging on for the draw now!
90 min +1: There will be four added minutes. Cazorla attempts to float a chip over Howard from a tight position on the left. The keeper snaffles.
Monreal chases a lost cause down the left. He picks up the ball by the left-hand corner flag, and whips a cross to the near post, where Giroud ghosts in between Jagielka and Distin, and plants a wonderful header into the left-hand side of the net, Howard rooted to the spot! Goodison falls silent in disbelief. What resilience by Arsenal!
89 min: Everton have a chance to fling a free kick into the Arsenal box from a favourable position 30 yards out down the left. But they opt to tiki-taka down the clock. They lose the ball after 0.000001 seconds. Not a great idea, because...
87 min: How many times do they do that? It is fucking unbelievable! Arsene Wenger, there, arms thrown out wide, complaining at some Everton timewasting.
85 min: Mirallas is replaced by Atsu. Arsenal come at Everton again, hope renewed. A corners won down the right, and Giroud wins a header, level with the right-hand post, ten yards out. His effort sails wide left of goal, but Ramsey wasnt far away from guiding that home. Everton had looked so comfortable, Arsenal so impotent. And now look!
Now this is something! Cazorla drops a shoulder and makes a yard of space for himself down the left. He whips a low cross into the six-yard box. Ramsey, coming in from the right, slaps the ball home from a couple of yards out. This is back on for Arsenal! Itd be some escape!
82 min: Ozil standing around on the left a lot. Eventually Monreal tries to up the tempo by making off with the ball and whipping a cross straight through the area. Not ideal, but its something.
80 min: Ramsey, cutting in from the left, shanks an appalling shot miles right of goal. He wears the expression of a man who knows this isnt a good day at the office.
79 min: Everton look the more likely to score now. Coleman is an inch away from latching onto McGeadys pass down the inside-right channel and breaking into the box, but Mertesacker intercepts with a wonderful last-ditch sliding tackle. The corner comes to naught.
77 min: McGeady is in the thick of it immediately, racing down the right and pulling a ball back to the right-hand corner of the D for Naismith, who shoots crazily over the bar for three rugby points. Soon after the restart, Flamini is in the book for a late slide on McGeady.
76 min: And now Lukaku is replaced by McGeady.
74 min: A final roll of the dice by Arsene Wenger. Campbell and Cazorla come on for Oxlade-Chamberlain and Wilshere.
73 min: Coleman in space down the right. His cross to the far post is an inch away from finding the head of the inrushing Baines. Mertesacker eyebrows away in the nick of time.
70 min: Baines embarks on a determined run down the left. He reaches the byline, not too far from the goal, but the cutback is behind his attackers and the move breaks down.
69 min: Arsenal break upfield, and after a little pinball on the edge of the Everton area, the ball falls to Giroud. The striker hits low and hard towards the goal, but Howard smothers. This is better from Arsenal (if you ignore the three-on-two chance they gave up 60 seconds ago).
68 min: Mertesacker slips and allows Lukaku to tear off down the right wing. He cuts inside and has options ahead, either side, Mirallas and Naismith. But he hesitates, considers shooting, then attempts a ludicrous backheel back to the right wing to release Naismith. Nope!
67 min: Finally a little end product from Arsenal. The balls nudged in from the right wing, allowing Giroud to spin on the right-hand edge of the D and lash a low shot millimetres wide of the right-hand post. Not sure Howard was getting a hand to that, were it on target. Perhaps.
65 min: Arsenal are pinning Everton back a little here. But theyre not doing very much with all the territory. Everton look comfortable enough in defence as the visitors attempt to triangulate their way through a thick blue wall. I guess its too premature to call all that Arsenal title talk too premature, opines Niall Mullen. Still its hard to see how they can do it with that back 5. If you took Evertons back 5 and Arsenals front 6 youd have a hell of a team.
62 min: Ramsey and Oxlade-Chamberlain shuttle the ball to the right for Debuchy, who has opportunity to cross, hesitates, and settles for a corner off Barry. The resulting set piece is a homage to early Hollywood, a mishit corner, then a fresh-air swipe in lieu of a defensive clearance. The ball sails straight through the area and away from danger.
59 min: Arsenal are second best right now. And Everton are first to nearly everything. Naismith - who has been nothing short of brilliant this evening - so nearly robs a dawdling Monreal down the Everton right. A luckier bounce of the ball in a block challenge, and hed have been haring off towards the Arsenal area.
56 min: Chambers has been a booking waiting to happen, and finally hes shown a yellow card. Its a common-or-garden clip on Naismith, but the totting-up procedure will have cost him there. To be fair to the young man, he doesnt complain, perhaps expecting the inevitability of his punishment. I wonder if this season might prove a steep learning curve for this very promising young player?
55 min: Everton take the sting out of the game by passing it around the back for a while. Everton sides of old might have opted to ratchet up the heat after that challenge, but this is a clever team, with a street-smart manager. Arsenal cant get the ball right now, and they dont look particularly happy. Everton are in total control.
53 min: Brouhaha! Wilshere comes clattering into Barry. Hes late, and its clumsy. Its a lunge, but not a two-footed one, and hes only caught Barrys hanging boot. A yellow card seems about right, though for a second, with most of the players congregating for a high-octane chat, anything was possible.
52 min: Osman twists down the left and into the area. His dinked cross hits the arm of Ramsey, and theres a penalty appeal. But in fairness to Ramsey, the pair are ludicrously close together, and he also appears to be withdrawing his arm, rather than wafting it in the general direction of the ball. No penalty, which seems fair.
50 min: Giroud comes through the back of Baines. Its probably fair to say that Arsene Wenger has given his side a rocket; theyre contesting every ball as though their lives depend on it. Theyre in danger of losing the head right now, but too much commitment is probably preferable to not enough.
47 min: Naismith and Debuchy go up for a high ball. The former plants his knee in the back of the latter. Then the prone Debuchy plays David Beckham to Naismiths Diego Simeone. The referee sees the kick out, but opts to ignore it. Grown men Im describing here.
45 min 57 seconds: Giroud should have halved the deficit within a minute of his introduction! Oxlade-Chamberlain has the ball at his feet 30 yards out. He scoops a delightful pass down the inside-left for the French striker, who is facing the goal, on the left-hand corner of the six-yard box, with a ball dropping perfectly in front of him. He volleys wildly over the bar. What a start to the half that would have been!
Were off again! And Arsenal are off without Alexis Sanchez, who has been hooked in favour of Olivier Giroud. Heres Charles Antaki: The fullness and frankness of Wengers exchange with the fourth official would have included a) a contrite admission that his team have been rubbish; b) that the experiment of having Sánchez playing up front has failed dismally; and c) that were he able to make 11 substitutions he would be very tempted to do so. What part in the exchange the fourth official would play is unclear, besides nodding sagely.
Arsenal dont get to the interval in one piece. Lukaku rolls Mertesacker down the right wing, powerful brilliance. He then skips over Monreals sliding challenge, and bombs into space. He drifts inside, then just as he appears to be cocking his leg to shoot, dinks a little ball down the inside-right channel to release Naismith into the area. Naismith hammers a low first-time shot into the right-hand corner. What a lovely move ... although Arsenal claim Mertesacker was clipped, and Naismith was half a yard offside. The latter complaint appears more valid.
43 min: Mertesacker is booked for an agricultural lunge on Naismith. The visitors will be desperate to hear the half-time whistle.
41 min: Lukaku, striding down the inside-right channel, shapes to shoot but opts to release Naismith down the wing instead. Too much weight on the pass; goal kick. From the restart, Naismith nearly charges down a Szczesny kick upfield. Then Arsenal give the ball away in the middle of the park, allowing Mirallas to dance down the left. His low cross is behind Lukaku, who cant retrieve the situation. A more accurate cross, and that would have been a second for Everton. Arsenal are a shambles.
38 min: Arsenal are second best to everything right now. Its been a poor show since they fell behind. Only Oxlade-Chamberlain is coming out of this with any credit. He powers forward on a dribble, then charges down a poor Coleman clearance. No reward for all that hard work, though, as the ball clatters off his shins and out for a goal kick. But hes been very impressive this evening.
36 min: Ramsey concedes possession needlessly in the centre circle. Mirallas tries to beat Szczesny from the halfway line. The keeper was off his line, so fair enough. The effort flies harmlessly wide right of goal, and the keeper was scampering back to deal with any danger anyway.
35 min: Mirallas takes the resulting free kick himself, and is inches away from whipcracking a stunning set piece into the top left. Szczesny wasnt getting to that. Half the ground think the balls gone in, but thats the side netting.
34 min: Everton stroke it around the back for a bit. Its entertainment for the crowd, and very frustrating for Arsenal, who cant get a touch. Eventually the balls zipped down the left wing for Mirallas, who on the left-hand edge of the Arsenal box is rugby-tackled by Chambers. That should be a booking, but the referee shows leniency to a young player.
31 min: A poor clearing header from Jagielka is latched onto by Oxlade-Chamberlain, Arsenals best player so far. Oxlade-Chamberlain has another first-time shot from the edge of the box, once again looking to thread one into the bottom left. Hes not caught it properly, though, and the ball flies well wide left. Slightly better from Arsenal, though; theyve been poor since the goal.
29 min: Baines comes clattering into Debuchy. Hes booked, much to the displeasure of the Goodison faithful. But he can have no complaints, that was as late as challenges come. If there was a few joules more energy in that mistimed tackle, we could have been in red-card territory. As it was, yellow will do.
27 min: Baines hugs the left-hand touchline. He whips a low pass up the wing for Osman, who was a whisker away from nudging the ball infield to release Mirallas into the area. Hed have been one-on-one with Szczesny. Arsenal are leaving all sorts of gaps at the back.
25 min: Its end to end right now, with Baines sticking a cross down Szczesnys throat from the Everton left, then Ramsey nearly tin-opening a chance up the other end by twisting and turning on the edge of the home box. The Wales international cant quite get his shot away.
22 min: This should be 2-0. A simple ball down the middle by Everton. Naismith eyebrows it on for Mirallas, who is clear on goal! Chambers is right behind him. Mirallas chests the ball down with his nipple, leans back, and wafts a weak effort to the right of goal. On target was the bare minimum there. On the touchline, Roberto Martinez claims Chambers clipped Mirallas, who went down as he shot. Its really not very clear after a couple of replays, so the referee should be cut some slack if hes missed that one. For what its worth, to the naked eye it looked like Mirallas simply lost his balance while ballsing up the shot.
The free kicks shuttled out to the left wing, then inside to Barry, to the left of the Arsenal D. Barry lifts a diagonal ball over the Arsenal back line. The cross evades Lukaku, but Colemans bombing in from the right, and the full back heads powerfully into the top-right corner, giving Szczesny no chance whatsoever! Arsenal do the George Graham thing, claiming offside, but Ozil was playing both Lukaku and Coleman on. Brilliant goal!
18 min: Sanchez puts his shoulder into a 50-50 challenge with McCarthy, flipping the Everton midfielder into the air like an old sock. Everton arent very happy with that challenge, but a free kicks all theyre getting, just in front of the centre circle. Never mind, because ...
15 min: Coleman, clearing up to the right of his own goal, should put his foot through the ball. Instead, he attempts to thread a pass through the area. Its inevitably intercepted by Oxlade-Chamberlain, who sends a first-time shot whistling inches wide left.
13 min: Lukaku overpowers Monreal down the right and romps forward. His low forward pass towards Naismith is intercepted well by Mertesacker. Arsenal flood upfield, where Ramsey, his back to goal on the left-hand edge of the Everton area, tries to spring the offside trap with a backheeled volley. Theres confidence.
11 min: Oxlade-Chamberlain is looking lively, as he so often does. He scampers down the inside-right channel, taking advantage of a little space Everton have left him, and decides to shoot from 30 yards. Its optimistic, and always heading over, but it was a decent enough effort and not a million miles away from the top-right corner. After a slow and slightly sloppy start, Arsenal are in charge of this game right now.
10 min: Nope. Pienaar ambles off down the tunnel looking pained, the Everton physio throwing a sympathetic arm around his shoulder. Osman comes on in the South African internationals stead.
8 min: Pienaar is down again, perhaps still suffering from that early knee in the back, opines Dr Murray, the Guardian quack who has no idea. It doesnt look like hes going to continue.
6 min: Arsenal finally get their foot on it. And they nearly open Everton up wonderfully. Debuchy sprays a low pass up the right wing to release Oxlade-Chamberlain, who whips a cross into the centre just before the ball goes out of play for a goal kick. Sanchez is lurking in the middle, but Barry is tracking back well, spotting the danger and intercepting on the right-hand corner of his own six-yard box. Lovely play all round.
4 min: A brisk, sunny evening on Merseyside. Arsenal yet to wake up. Theyve hardly touched the ball! Everton are only fannying around in the middle of the park, its true, but even so. A very lop-sided start to this game.
2 min: The corner comes to naught. Szczesny lumps his goal kick straight out of play. Arsenal should be turning up soon.
And were off! Everton get the ball rolling, and theyre kicking towards the Park End in the first half. They knock it around the back awhile. Barry eventually loops a pass forward down the inside-left channel for Pienaar, who is kneed in the back by Chambers as the Arsenal youngster concedes a corner.
The teams are out! Everton are in their very distinguished blue shirts with acceptable badge. Some prefer a 1960s-style white collar to the 1930s-influenced darker blue, but no white is better than too much white...
Everton: Howard, Coleman, Jagielka, Distin, Baines, McCarthy, Barry, Mirallas, Naismith, Pienaar, Lukaku. Arsenal: Szczesny, Debuchy, Chambers, Mertesacker, Monreal, Flamini, Ramsey, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Wilshere, Ozil, Sanchez.
The last staging of this fixture, back in April, made fools of us all. Everton obliterated Arsenal at Goodison Park, and the result felt epochal. Roberto Martinezs fresh, exciting side scored three. Arsene Wengers Champions League perennials were lucky to get nil. At one point Evertons right back, Seamus Coleman, ran up the wing juggling the ball for 30 yards. The Gunners 16-year residency of Europes premier competition appeared over. The new wave was crashing through. It was Evertons biggest win against Arsenal for a quarter of a century, since Pat Nevin scored twice as Colin Harveys side, inspired by Norman Whiteside, battered George Grahams champions 3-0 in October 1989. That result put the Toffees on top of the table, a very good day all in all, seeing Liverpool were busy getting skittled 4-1 at Southampton. However, just as those particular results proved illusionary - Everton finished sixth that season, while their city rivals went on to lift the title - so too did last Aprils victory. Everton, with Champions League football in their grasp, collapsed afterwards, losing three of their final five matches. Arsenal meanwhile regrouped to win all their remaining fixtures, and sauntered towards the Champions League yet again, time to twirl a cane, enough puff left to whistle a jaunty trill. Continue reading... |
| Football League: your thoughts Posted: 23 Aug 2014 11:24 AM PDT Felix Magaths Fulham hit new low, Nottingham Forest and Watford march on while Barnsley are League Ones big winners Felix Magath is under growing pressure after Fulhams poor start to the season hit a new low when they were crushed 5-1 at Derby County. The German managers young side looked worryingly frail at the back and fell apart as Derby ran riot in the second half with Chris Martin scoring twice. Jamie Ward gave Derby a half-time lead and although Scott Parker equalised, Martins double and strikes from Craig Bryson and Simon Dawkins made it a miserable day for Fulham, who have lost four out of four since dropping to the Championship. Blackpool are the only other side still searching for their first point following a 1-0 loss at Wigan, for whom Oriol Riera scored the winner after 35 minutes. Continue reading... |
| José Mourinho irritated by Chelseas lazy start against Leicester Posted: 23 Aug 2014 11:23 AM PDT Mourinho puts blame on training rejig prompted by weather Manager wants dropped Fernando Torres to stay at Chelsea José Mourinho laid the blame for Chelseas slow start on the unseasonal weather, the manager moved to complain that felt his side had been lazy before recovering to beat Leicester 2-0 at Stamford Bridge. After labouring through the first half, Chelsea made the breakthrough with a well-taken goal from the £32m striker Diego Costa. Eden Hazard stroked in a second on 77 minutes to maintain Chelseas 100% opening to the season. Continue reading... |
| Premier League: Everton v Arsenal in pictures Posted: 23 Aug 2014 10:28 AM PDT The best images from from Goodison Park where Arséne Wengers team have it all to play for against a strong Everton team Continue reading... |
| Fulham bottom of table and Felix Magath faces flak after Derby thumping Posted: 23 Aug 2014 10:07 AM PDT Felix Magath said he remains confident he can take Fulham back to the Premier League but admitted there must be changes after this thrashing by Derby. A fourth consecutive defeat leaves Fulham below Blackpool and Bolton at the foot of the Championship. That was the worst performance but the good thing is that it is clear we have to change something, Magath said. The result was very bad and so now is the time to change. A few minutes after the game is not the time to talk about what we will change but for sure there will be new players in. Continue reading... |
| Mario Balotelli set to seal £16m Liverpool switch in next few days Posted: 23 Aug 2014 10:02 AM PDT Talks with Liverpools Brendan Rodgers go well Mario Balotelli set for £80,000-a-week contract Mario Balotelli is set to seal his return to the Premier League within the next few days following constructive talks with Brendan Rodgers. Liverpool have agreed a £16m fee with Milan for the Italy international and a three-year contract worth a basic £80,000-a-week plus £40,000 in performance and behaviour incentives. The deal, however, was dependent on the Liverpool manager being convinced of Balotellis willingness to develop at Anfield and it is understood their meeting at Melwood training ground on Friday progressed well. The 24-year-old had the second part of his medical on Saturday before returning to Italy and is expected back on Merseyside to complete the transfer on Sunday or Monday. His contract includes an option for Liverpool to keep the former Internazionale and Manchester City forward for a fourth year. Continue reading... |
| Premier League clockwatch as it happened Posted: 23 Aug 2014 09:11 AM PDT
Thanks for your company and emails, on an afternoon of few surprises, though Chelsea were made to work harder for their victory than might have been expected. Palaces gloom continued with a bad home defeat in a winnable game against West Ham and Swansea made it two wins out of two. In the Championship, its looking good for Derby and Forest, and rather alarming for Fulham and Blackpool. But its ridiculously early days yet. Now you can join Scott Murray for hot Everton v Arsenal MBM action. Bye.
And more: League One: Barnsley 4-1 Gillingham, Bradford 0-1 Peterborough, Colchester 0-1 Doncaster, Fleetwood 0-0 Chesterfield, Leyton Orient 0-0 Walsall, MK Dons 0-0 Coventry, POrt Vale 0-2 Notts County, Preston 1-0 Oldham, Rochdale 1-1 Bristol City, Sheffield Utd 1-0 Crawley, Swindon 2-0 Crawley, Yeovil 1-1 Scunthorpe
Premier League: Chelsea 2-0 Leicester, Crystal Palace 1-3 West Ham, Southampton 0-0 West Brom, Swansea 1-0 Burnley Championship: Blackburn 3-2 Bournemouth, Brentford 1-1 Birmingham; Brighton 2-1 Bolton, Derby 5-1 Fulham, Huddersfield 1-1 Charlton, Millwall 0-1 Rotherham, Middlesbrough 2-3 Sheffield Wednesday Nottingham Forest 4-0 Reading, Watford 4-1 Leeds, Wigan 1-0 Blackpool, Wolves 1-0 Cardiff
Another grim afternoon for pointless and managerless Palace concludes
Blackburn 3-2 Bournemouth, Brentford 1-1 Birmingham; Derby 5-1 Fulham, Dagenham, 2-0 Mansfield, Fleetwood 0-0 Chesterfield, Leyton Orient 0-0 Walsall, Bury 2-1 Plymouth, Colchester 0-1 Doncaster Another goal at Watford, who now lead Leeds 4-1
Goal! Wolves 1-0 Cardiff. Wolves pressure pays off at last
Lacklustre stuff at St Marys
The expected home win wrapped up in the end
Swansea hang on then
Goals! Its now Derby 5-1 Fulham, Chris Martins 87th-minute goal and Simon Dawkins a minute later applying the gloss to another home win for Steve McClarens team. And Bournemouth have scored another at Blackburn - theyre only 2-3 down now. Hearts are 4-0 up at Raith.
More from Scotland: Chris Erskines second goal has put Dundee United 2-1 up against Ross County, and Dumbarton have pulled one back at Rangers. Only 1-4 down now, the scoreline I have in the office sweep, happily.
Didier Drogba is on, at Chelsea, replacing Diego Costa and earning the expected rapturous greeting. In the Championship, Moses Odubajo has scored his first goal for Brentford to make it 1-1 against Birmingham, and Bournemouth have pulled a goal back through Brett Pitman at Blackburn. They trail 1-3.
A goal in Scotland. Its St Mirren 0-1 Dundee, Peter McDonald scoring after 80 minutes. Rangers now lead Dumbarton 4-0 in League One.
Everton: Howard, Coleman, Jagielka, Distin, Baines, McCarthy, Barry, Mirallas, Naismith, Pienaar, Lukaku. Subs: Robles, McGeady, Besic, Atsu, Osman, Stones, Alcaraz.
Eden Hazard cuts back on to his right foot, shoots low across Schmeichel, and it takes a deflection and goes in. Game over. Middlesbrough have pulled a goal back against Sheffield Wednesday through Grant Leadbitters 72nd-minute penalty. Its now 1-3.
In other repelling-pressure news, Ben Foster has come to West Broms rescue a couple of times at Southampton but its still goalless. And theres a similar story at Wolves, who still havent managed to break down Cardiff.
Burnley are knocking on the door, and then rapping forcefully on the window, at Swansea, but are denied by a fine Fabianski save and still trail. And its Watford 3-1 Leeds in the Championship, Forestieri scoring on 67 minutes.
Goal! Britt Assombalonga, Nottingham Forests summer signing from Peterborough, has proved his worth again to make it Nottingham Forest 4-0 Reading. The new season continues to be a struggle for Nigel Adkins side.
Poor defending from Palace ends their second-half revival, Carlton Cole capitalising to drill in a third for the Hammers. League Two leaders Morecambe are ahead again at Cambridge.
Another goal at Derby! Its 3-1 now, Chris Martin extending the Rams lead, so it looks like being played four lost four for Fulham.
Diego Costa has made it two goals in two games, with Chelseas 18th shot on target finally giving them the lead. Derby are back in front against Fulham through Craig Bryson
Sending off and goal! Giuseppe Bellusci has been sent off and conceded a penalty for Leeds, and Troy Deeney scored from the spot to make it Watford 2-1 Leeds.
Some more lower division goals: Rochdale have equalised against Bristol City, making it 1-1. In League Two its Cambridge 1-1 Morecambe, Tom Elliott bringing the home side level, while in Scotland Rangers and Hearts are both now 3-0 up
Fulham equalise at Derby! Having been comprehensively second-best in the first half, Fulham fielding seven players under 21 today have drawn level through one of their olduns, Scott Parker after 54 minutes. And across the East Midlands, its Nottingham Forest 3-0 Reading
Leicester nearly score! The visitors have a two-on-one break, and David Nugent is foiled by Thibaut Courtois. Its end-to-end at the Bridge at the moment. At the foot of League Two, its now Newport 1-1 Burton. In the 1933 FA Cup Final, Everton became the first club to employ kit numbers (111) on the back of the players shirts. (as I recall the opposition were numbered 12-22).Everton playing WM formation would have given a back three of; 2 (right back) 3 (left back) and 5 (centre half), 4 and 6 being left half and right half. an average shirt number for the the defence being 3.33333333r
Against the run of play, Chamakh drives in a fine goal from 25 yards to put Palace back in it. In the second tier Nottingham Forest are now 2-0 up on Reading, through Michael Antonio again. And a slight shock at the Den, Ben Pringle putting Rotherham ahead at Millwall. While 10-man Huddersfield are ahead against Charlton.
And Schmeichel has already had to save well from Ivanovic to keep Leicester level at Chelsea. Burnley have begun well after the break at Swansea too, but are still behind.
More on squad numbers: Ed Keane writes in, pointing out: I do believe that in Euro 2012 Ireland had 1 to 11 on the pitch, using the phrase on the pitch in its loosest possible terms, certainly for the first game. Guess you could say Trapattoni had his favourites. Do I get a prize by the way?
And more half-times: League One: Barnsley 2-0 Gillingham, Bradford 0-0 Peterborough, Colchester 0-0 Doncaster, Fleetwood 0-0 Chesterfield, Leyton Orient 0-0 Walsall, MK Dons 0-0 Coventry, Port Vale 0-1 Notts County, Preston 1-0 Oldham, Rochdale 0-1 Bristol City, Swindon 1-0 Crewe, Sheffield Utd 0-0 Crawley, Yeovil 0-0 Scunthorpe
Championship: Blackburn 3-0 Bournemouth, Brentford 0-1 Birmingham, Brighton 1-1 Bolton, Derby 1-0 Fulham, Huddersfield 0-0 Charlton, Middlesbrough 0-2 Sheffield Wednesday, Millwall 0-0 Rotherham, Nottingham Forest 1-0 Reading, Watford 1-1 Leeds, Wigan 1-0 Blackpool, Wolves 0-0 Cardiff Huddersfield have had Murray Wallace sent off for serious foul play against Charlton
Chelsea 0-0 Leicester; Southampton 0-0 West Brom; Crystal Palace 0-2 West Ham; Swansea 1-0 Burnley
Leicester have the measure of Chelsea thus far, and it remains 0-0 at Stamford Bridge. Sheffield Wednesday have doubled their lead at Middlesbrough, through a header from Stevie May. A signing to watch? Elsewhere in the Championship, Wolves are on top and impressing, but not scoring, against Cardiff. Its goalless at Molineux, and its Brighton 1-1 Bolton. Er, my maths not good, but lowest combo for positions 1,2,3,4 is,er.1,2,3,4?
And another! And another cracker, by the sounds, from the perhaps unlikely figure of Stewart Downing after a fine solo run. Things arent getting any less stressful for Palace. At the other end of the league,pointless League Two strugglers Accrington and Newport are both winning, 2-1 and 1-0 respectively, against Luton and Burton respectively.
More misery for Palace, as Mauro Zarate puts the Hammers ahead with a fine 25-yard volley into the corner, making amends for an earlier bad miss. In the Championship Leeds are level against Watford through Gabriel Tamass own goal, and Wigan are leading Blackpool 1-0.
Its a squad game nowadays musings Another email about Chelsea, this time from Rudi Edsall: Ive noticed that Chelseas defence has a 28, 24 and 26 in it. Ivanovics 2 brings it down a bit, but at 20, that would surely have to be the highest average number across a back four ever?
To Stamford Bridge, and a fair amount of Chelsea pressure, as might be expected, against Leicester but Nigel Pearsons side are holding their own. While West Ham are coming back at Palace now, according to Paul Merson, but both games remain goalless.
The first Premier League goal of the day arrives at last, through Nathan Dyer at the Liberty. More in the Championship, and Felix Magaths magic touch continues to be absent. Jamie Ward has put Derby 1-0 ahead against Fulham. And Blackburn are now 3-0 up against Bournemouth, Rudy Gestede scoring on 24 minutes.
Blackburn are now 2-0 up against Bournemouth, Grant Hanley scoring in the 17th minute. Might Rovers be worth a cheeky punt for a promotion spot, having been superceded as the main Crisis Club in the division? Its also Watford 1-0 Leeds, through Fernando Forestieri.
More Football League goals: Brentford are now behind against Birmingham, Paul Caddis scoring from the spot after Craigs foul, while a slick team goal has given Nottingham Forest the lead against Reading , Michail Antonio providing the finishing touch. In League One the well-fancied Bristol City are 1-0 up at Rochdale through Luke Freemans 16th-minute goal.
Red card! Brentfords Tony Craig has been sent off for serious foul play against Birmingham. Its 0-0 there but Marc Warburtons side have a job on their hands. Lee McCulloch has put Rangers ahead against Dumbarton.
Goal! Its Blackburn 1-o Bournemouth in the Championship, and the prolific Jordan Rhodes - a striker who now surely has And its that man again status at Ewood has put Rovers ahead against Bournemouth. And League Two leaders Morecambe are ahead again, 1-0 at Cambridge, through Paul Mullin.
A goal in Scotland, Kilmarnock leading Motherwell 1-0 through Robbie Muirheads goal. Palace coming more into it against West Ham too, were told. But its still 0-0 at Selhurst.
In the Championship Sheffield Wednesday are looking in better shape than they have for a while so far this season, and are 1-0 up at Middlesbrough, through Atdhe Nuhius sixth-minute goal.
Early skirmishes: Early chances for Chelsea, West Brom and Swansea respectively, while in League One Preston have gone 1-0 up against Oldham through Jack King. Theyre already living up to their perennial billing as play-0ff fallers at the last.
And the games kick off. While were waiting for a goal, why not read a report on a game that didnt have any? Heres @StuartJamesGNM on Aston Villas goalless draw with Newcastle.
Chelsea transfer angst Salman Majid writes with a measure a very very small measure, mind of concern for Fernando Torres: Torres not even in the squad, does this confirm what most of us Chelsea fans have been waiting for? Talking of his replacement, how about an £8 million Romy for the £50 million flop?
Match report: Read all about Ipswich 0-1 Norwich here.
An early verdict on the Villa-Newcastle game:
Lancashire team news:
FT at Villa Park: Its finished Aston Villa 0-0 Newcastle. So the new Newcastle, for all the encouraging signs and noises, still havent scored this season.
Red card! Newcastles Mike Williamson has been sent off at Villa for a second yellow card. Its 0-0 in injury-time now. And more teams:
More team news:
Early emails: Afternoon Tom, begins Simon McMahon. On my way to Tannadice to see Dundee United take on Ross County in the SPFL game of the day. Inverness shocked Celtic in the early kick-off, winning 1-0. Other matches include Kilmarnock - Motherwell, St. Johnstone - Aberdeen and Partick Thistle - Hamilton. Looking forward to some classic clockwatch banter this afternoon. No harm in that, eh? I predict a ludicrous penalty to Leicester followed by an even more ridiculous red card. Every Leicester player that falls over will be granted a free kick whilst he will wave play on if a Chelsea player has the temerity to fall over, having been fouled.
Surprise in Scotland: Inverness have beaten Celtic 1-0 in the Scottish Premiership
Final score: Norwich have beaten Ipswich 1-0, thereby earning themselves bragging rights in East Anglia but remember, with rights come responsibilities. Thats Norwichs third straight win since their opening-day defeat by Wolves.
A flurry of team news:
Its still Aston Villa 0-0 Newcastle at Villa Park, which is being described by Scott Murray here. Norwich are still leading Ipswich 1-0 in the East Anglian derby at Portman Road, and stirrings of competitiveness in Scotland, as Inverness have gone ahead against Celtic, whose Eoghan OConnell has gifted the home side the lead with an own goal.
Oh football, football, football. A week in and the best OK, most glamorous, OK most combustible league in the world is again bogged down in unsavoury talking points and unusual talking points waiting to happen. And while you cant say that the Malky Mackay text affair has in any way whetted the appetite for actual football, the possibility of a return to the Premier League for Mario Balotelli can, in all manner of ways. The Italian wont be in action today of course, or on Monday when Liverpool visit Manchester City, but extra attention will inevitably be focused on Selhurst Park, where still-managerless Crystal Palace, thwarted in their quest for Mackay, face West Ham with both sides looking for their first points of the season. And while hindsight can now tell us that their reputation is best off without the former Cardiff manager, its only added to the sense of chaos that has enveloped Selhurst since Tony Puliss departure. Elsewhere among todays 3pm kick-offs, an already swaggering Chelsea will be expected to see off another newly-promoted side, Leicester; Ronald Koemans new-look Southampton will be fancied to beat West Brom after a promising showing in defeat at Liverpool; and Burnley, also reasonably impressive last week in defeat against Chelsea, travel to Swansea, mightily impressive in victory against Manchester United. The pick of the Championship games looks to be Wolves v Cardiff, and not just because of the unpleasantness involving the latters former manager and current owner that has thrust them back into the spotlight, but because Ole Gunnar Solskjaers team have started brightly and Wolves, maintaining the momentum gained in their League One title-winning campaign, should offer them a stern test. Early leaders Nottingham Forest host Reading, who were stunned by managerless Huddersfield in midweek, while we wonder where ailing Blackpool will get a win, or a point, or a single reason to be cheeful, from. They visit well-fancied Wigan, though the Latics have also started poorly. In League One, unlikely pace-setters Fleetwood face Chesterfield and Coventry fans, buoyant at finally securing a return to the Ricoh Arena, travel to MK Dons in good spirits. Equally unlikely League Two early leaders Morecambe visit Football League returnees Cambridge.
Tom will be here shortly. Continue reading... |
| Diego Costa saves profligate Chelseas blushes against Leicester City Posted: 23 Aug 2014 09:08 AM PDT |
| Mauro Zárate inspires West Ham to a resounding win over Crystal Palace Posted: 23 Aug 2014 09:08 AM PDT Crystal Palaces supporters arrived determined to roar their side on and make sure a bad week ended on a happy note. The Palace ultras, that vociferous little group of fans behind one of the goals at Selhurst Park, banged their drums and led the chants and briefly it seemed that everything was going to be all right; it did not matter that Palace have been unwittingly caught up in the Malky Mackay scandal, that their technical director, Iain Moody, has had to resign and that they cannot find a replacement for Tony Pulis. The mood was defiant, Palace had the 12th man and that was going to be the difference. It was a nice idea but not a particularly logical one and that early optimism was eventually replaced by frustration and sadness at the dispiriting situation in which Palace find themselves. There were even boos when Keith Millen, the put-upon caretaker manager, substituted Barry Bannan in the second half. Palace are managerless, pointless and only going in one direction unless Steve Parish can convince someone to accept a job that is growing more unattractive with each passing day. There was no movement here. Palace are in limbo and West Ham, inspired by Mauro Zárate, could hardly believe their luck. Continue reading... |
| Southampton held to goalless draw by West Brom at St Marys Posted: 23 Aug 2014 08:59 AM PDT |
| Swansea winger Nathan Dyers fine finish sends Burnley home pointless Posted: 23 Aug 2014 08:56 AM PDT Swansea did their summer recruitment among World Cup players from South America; Burnley did their shopping at Blackpool, Bolton and Middlesbrough. No surprises in this result then. The Swans, who defeated Manchester United at Old Trafford on the opening day, remain one of the most attractive teams in the Premier League a situation unlikely to change with the arrival of Argentinas Federico Fernández and Jefferson Montero of Ecuador. Continue reading... |
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