European Capital of Trophies

[m_vaughan]

Two veterans out is not a good sign unless the youngsters step up and take over the responsibility.

 

[mattfb]

Huge blow losing Scholes, hopefully you guys can still win without him though.

Good stuff mate, keep it up

 

[shantanu_rooney]

UEFA Champions League - Matchday Three Results
17th October, 2009

El Hamdaoui scores twice against AC Milan

Tuesday, 17th October 2009

Group E
FC RB Salzburg 1-2 Man Utd
Muller 33 ; Owen 54, Anderson 80.

Stuttgart 3-2 Rangers
Pogrebnyak 49, Cacau 64, Khedira 82 ; Boyd 11, Wilson 71.

Group F
Dinamo Kiev 1-1 Barcelona
Gusev 69, Magroa(s/o) 56 ; Messi 76.

Juventus 3-0 Dinamo Zagreb
Del Piero(pen) 21, 87, Marchisio 47.

Group G
AZ 3-1 AC Milan
El Hamdaoui 5, 14, Dembele 38 ; Onyewu 59.

Standard 2-1 FC Kobenhavn
Jovanovic(pen) 9, Christiansen(og) 26 ; Kvist 35.

Group H
Bordeaux 1-1 Arsenal
Chamakh 42 ; van Persie 2.

Rubin 0-0 FC Porto.​

​

 

[mattfb]

Nice comeback from Man Utd to win there. Surprised to see AZ beat Milan so easily there too.

Awesome presentation mate, kiu.

 

[shantanu_rooney]

UEFA Champions League - Matchday Three Results
18th October, 2009

Frank Lampard scored twice in the 5-0 win over Celtic

Wednesday, 18th October 2009

Group A
Chelsea 5-1 Celtic
Suarez 12, 19, Carvalho 31, Lampard 33, 37 ; Flood 72.

Real Madrid 3-0 Unirea Urziceni
Xabi Alonso 14, Kaka 56, Ronaldo(pen) 71.

Group B
CSKA Moscow 1-0 Anderlecht
Guilherme 55.

Wisla 1-2 Sevilla
Brozek 80 ; Romaric 5, Kanoute 31.

Group C
Fiorentina 4-0 Zurich
Montolivo 47, Gamberini 55, Baumgartner(og) 59, Jovetic 73.

Marseille 1-1 Bayern Munich
Cabanas 45 ; van Bauyten 68.

Group D
Besiktas 1-3 Inter
Nihat 53, Ferrari(s/o) 65 ; Stankovic 22, Materazzi 32, (pen) 67, Muntari(s/o) 51.

Wolfsburg 1-1 Liverpool
Grafite 89 ; Torres 17.​

​

 

[shantanu_rooney]

Liverpool v Manchester United preview
24th October, 2009

Its Rafa vs Jose​

Anfield
Kick-off: 14.00 GMT

Tale of the game: Both teams Liverpool and their rivals Manchester United are in good form in the Premier League by winning the last five matches. Liverpool did the double over United las season.

The 4-1 win at Old Trafford was the 100th Premier League victory under Rafael Ben?tez and United's heaviest home reverse for 17 years. In the game at Anfield, Liverpool won 2-1 with a late goal from Ryan Babel - before United had Nemanja Vidic sent-off. And in the game at Old Trafford, Vidic was red-carded again.

Liverpool remain hopeful that Albert Riera and Steven Gerrard will be fit but centre-back Martin Skrtel is suspended for the game

United have fitness concerns over new-signing Gabriel Obertan but David Silva is poised to return after suffering a knock in last week's defeat of Bolton and Darren Fletcher has overcome a heel problem. Ryan Giggs (gashed leg) and John O'Shea (thigh) is set for a couple of weeks on the sidelines.

WHAT ARE THEY SAYING

Jose Mourinho: "Manchester United and Liverpool games, are massive games. That will never change. The game has never changed and it is still a massive game and 'the game' as far as I am concerned. I think if you go to Anfield at any time it is a hard game. It is always a hard game for both teams and that will be no different on Sunday."

Rafael Benitez: "It's very important when you play against the top sides to show character and belief. That's what we must do on Sunday against United. We showed good character last season. We will need to do the same this year if we want to compete and be at the top of the table again."

TEAMS

Liverpool (Probable, 4-2-3-1): Reina; Johnson, Carragher, Agger, Aurelio; Mascherano, Lucas; Kuyt, Gerrard, Benyoun; Torres.
Manchester United (Probable, 4-4-2): Van der Sar; Neville, R Ferdinand, Vidic, Evra; Valencia, Fletcher, Carrick, Silva; Berbatov, Rooney.
Referee: Peter Walton. Matches: 19. Red Cards: 2 Yellow Cards: 34.
Last season: Liverpool 2, United 1; United 1, Liverpool 4.

Betting Odds: Liverpool 13/8, Draw 2/1, Man Utd 6/4. ​

 

[shantanu_rooney]

Owen returns to haunt Liverpool
25th October, 2009

Michael Owen scores the late equaliser​

Manchester United stunned Liverpool with a late equaliser from Michael Owen after Fernando Torres' sixth goal of the season looked to have given the Reds all three points at Anfield.

Torres put Liverpool in front with a bullet header in the 73rd minute but they had to settle for a point when former Liverpool star Michael Owen's spectacular volley beat Pepe Reina from six yards. The point was enough to stretch Manchester United's unbeaten start to the Premier League.

While Liverpool had begun brightly, it was Manchester United who created the first clear cut chance of the match in the 15th minute when Wayne Rooney headed a cross from Dimitar Berbatov back into the path of David Silva. However, under pressure from Javier Mascherano, Silva was unable to connect with the ball as it bounced dangerously in the penalty area.

Liverpool responded with a quick counter-attack and Mascherano's burst out of defence ended with a neat pass to Yossi Benayoun on the right flank. Unfortunately for Liverpool, Benayoun could not deliver the required cross and his overhit effort eluded everyone in the penalty area before rolling out for a throw-in on the opposite wing.

Liverpool lost centre-half Daniel in the 28th minute when he fell awkwardly trying to head clear and he was replaced by Greek defender Sotiris Kyrgiakos. But despite the changes, Liverpool should have taken the lead in the 30th minute when Torres' cross found Steven Gerrard at the far post. The England international cleverly brought the ball under control before pulling it back for the lurking Benayoun.

But the Liverpool winger's shot was well saved by Edwin van der Sar, who then came up with a super stop to deny Gerrard. The England midfielder's shot was destined for the top corner until the acrobatic Van der Sar turned his effort around the upright. Torres then failed to test Van der Sar with a free header from Gerrard's resultant corner.

In the 35th minute, Torres had better luck when he climbed highest to meet a corner from Ryan Babel. But once again the towering frame of Van der Sar was able to collect his header from just under the crossbar. Three minutes later referee Peter Walton penalised Nemanja Vidic for hauling down Torres at the second attempt but the Spaniard striker could not find the target with his 20-yard free-kick.

Torres squandered a superb chance to put Liverpool in front in the 45th minute. Andrea Dossena sped down the left flank before supplying Benayoun. The Israel winger turned and found Torres unmarked on the six-yard box but the Spaniard completely miscued and the chance went begging.

Manchester United replaced Berbatov and defender Vidic with Michael Owen and Jonny Evans at half-time. In the 50th minute Carrick was a whisker away from scoring an own goal when he headed Gerrard's free-kick just inches wide of Van der Sar's right-hand upright.

Manchester United's new attacking dimension gave Liverpool some cause for concern in the early stages of the second half and the home side lost their impetus as a result. Liverpool's final ball left a lot to be desired and they were often forced to shoot from outside the penalty area as Manchester United continued to stifle them.

Mascherano was forced to snatch at a shot in the 59th minute when he created an opening on the edge of the penalty area and his effort went well wide of the target. Liverpool's frustration was enough for Benitez to make a further change in the 63rd minute when the disappointing Benayoun was replaced by Dirk Kuyt. But moments later it was Van der Sar who rescued United once more when a delightful chip from Gerrard saw the Dutch tip his effort around the post.

United lived even more dangerously from the corner when Van der Sar punched the ball straight to Carragher, whose shot was then cleared off the line by Patrice Evra. But the deadlock was finally broken in the 73rd minute when Torres rose unchallenged to head home a corner from Kuyt.

However, Liverpool's hopes of claiming all three points evaporated in the closing stages when Owen stunned the home crowd two minutes from time. Glen Johnson failed to clear a shot from Rooney and the former Liverpool striker Michael Owen sent his volley into the roof of the net.

__________________________________________________​

Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez: "We played very good football, created a lot of chances and almost scored more goals - then the other team scored. That's the reason people like football. It was a good attacking game. We have good players and a strong squad but we are disappointed we didn't win today."

Manchester United boss Jose Mourinho: "I felt the performances of my two centre-halves (Rio Ferdinand and Nemanja Vidic/Jonny Evans) and goalkeeper (Edwin van der Sar) were outstanding. There was a bit of a misunderstanding with the corner they scored from, but I thought we did very well."

__________________________________________________​

Liverpool: Reina, Johnson, Carragher, Agger(Kyrgiakos 30), Dossena, Lucas, Mascherano, Benayoun(Kuyt 63), Gerrard(C), Babel, Torres.
Subs Not Used: Diego, Bruna, Aquilani, Voronin, Aurelio.

Booked: Johnson, Mascherano.

Goals: Torres 73.

Man Utd: Van der Sar, Rafael, Ferdinand(C), Vidic(Evans 46), Evra, Valencia, Carrick, Flecther(Anderson 76), Silva, Rooney, Berbatov(Owen 46).
Subs Not Used: Kuszczak, Neville, Park, Obertan.

Booked: Vidic, Silva.

Goals: Owen 90.

Att: 45,362.

Ref: P Walton.

Man of the Match: Edwin van der Sar.​

 

[mattfb]

Nice late goal there for Man U, Owen seems to have a habit for it in real life and in Football Manager!

Great work mate, kiu.

 

[m_vaughan]

What a time and place for Owen to score a goal.

 

[shantanu_rooney]

Barclays Premier League - Matchday Ten Results
25th October, 2009

Dirk Kuyt and Nemanja Vidic in action

Saturday, 24th October 2009

Birmingham 0-0 Sunderland.

Burnley 0-2 Wigan
Marica 77, 81.

Hull 2-1 Portsmouth
Mendy 78, Altidore 90+1 ; Utaka 90+4.

Tottenham 2-0 Stoke
Modric 8, Crouch 37.

Chelsea 1-0 Blackburn
Lampard 77.

Sunday, 25th October 2009

Bolton 0-1 Everton
Osman 81.

Liverpool 1-1 Man Utd
Torres 73 ; Owen 90+3.

Man City 2-1 Fulham
Robinho 19, Toure 79 ; Murphy(pen) 48.

Wolves 1-1 Aston villa
Milijas 88 ; Heskey 2, Warnock(s/o) 75.

West Ham 1-1 Arsenal
Gabbidon 67 ; Bendtner 90+3.​

​

 

[mattfb]

Quite a few late winners/equalisers that round. Everton, United, City, Wolves, Arsenal..

 

[m_vaughan]

Arsenal steal a point right at the end just like United.