jose - soccer

Liverpool have now knocked both Manchester clubs out of cup competitions in the space of four days, which counts as success in these parts whatever the league situation. Last week Kenny Dalglish was scathing of his players' efforts in losing to lowly Bolton Wanderers, this time the smile was back, at least until he was asked a question about the Liverpool fans' constant booing of Evra. Before considering the football, what there was of it, you will be wanting to know about the chanting. Liverpool obviously won the volume contest. There were far more people singing: "There's only one lying bastard," than were rejoining with: "There's only one racist bastard." With all the pre-match debate focusing on Evra's participation, United's goalkeeping situation had been overlooked, Ferguson sprang a surprise by choosing this high-profile encounter to reintroduce David de Gea to first-team duties. It was not a decision that paid off.

Liverpool began to crowd out the young goalkeeper at corners and took the lead after 21 minutes when Steven Gerrard swung one over from the left and De Gea came for the ball but found himself blocked by Andy Carroll, leaving Daniel Agger an easy header. United had begun the match looking the more threatening, with Antonio Valencia striking a post after a good run, though until the first goal there was little apart from the rivalry between fans to quicken the pulse and almost no chance of the occasion being remembered for the football, as had been the wish of both managers beforehand. Playing with only Carroll up front Liverpool rarely bothered De Gea apart from set pieces, and though United also lacked their usual attacking edge in the absence of Wayne Rooney they managed to get back into the game with a well-worked goal before the interval. Antonio Valencia sent Rafael da Silva racing down the right with a backheel flick and, though José Enrique was still favourite to reach the ball first, the United full-back took on his opposite number and delivered a low cross, met perfectly at the near post by Park Ji-sung with a firm finish that surprised Pepe Reina.

Liverpool had an appeal for a penalty turned down at the start of the second half when Chris Smalling stumbled in the area and appeared to put his hand on the ball in falling, then a minute later a rare chance fell Danny Welbeck's way and he failed to take advantage, pushing the ball past Reina towards an empty goal but not firmly enough to prevent Martin Skrtel arriving to tidy up behind his goalkeeper. Charlie Adam came on for the last half-hour and immediately offered a more direct threat than Jamie Carragher had managed from defensive midfield, launching a high cross intended to test De Gea and presumably gaining encouragement when the goalkeeper fumbled it to concede another corner. When Gerrard tried the same tactic from a similar distance it was clear Liverpool had been instructed to play on De Gea, though the Liverpool captain left the field shortly afterwards, making way for Craig Bellamy. Just when it looked as though the afternoon would end in a tame draw, Liverpool struck. (guardian.co.uk)

Gerrard was replaced by Liverpool's midweek hero Craig Bellamy with just under 20 minutes to go as both sides pressed for a winner. The game looked to be heading towards a draw until Kuyt — another second-half sub — became the hero with his first goal of the season. Reina's long boot forward was flicked on by Carroll over the head of Evra and the Dutch striker found himself clear through on goal to fire past De Gea at his near post. Kuyt should have put the game to bed moments later after Carroll had hit the bar but it wasn't to matter for the Reds who can now look forward to Sunday's draw. (thesun.co.uk)

David Beckham has made his debut for Italian giants AC Milan against Hamburger SV in the Dubai Football Challenge at the The Emirates Sevens Stadium in Dubai. It was feared that the midfielder - on loan from LA Galaxy - would miss the game following an injury picked up in training, but he was given the all clear after a last minute fitness test.

But Italy striker Francesco Totti claims his arrival will weaken the team. Beckham played the firsthalf of a friendly against Hamburg in Dubai and is due to make his Serie A debut at Roma on Sunday. But with huge competition for starting places, Roma captain Totti believes including Beckham - on loan from LA Galaxy - will "unbalance" Milan. "I like Beckham a lot and I'm glad he's chosen to play in our league," he said. "But let's hope Carlo Ancelotti fields all his big-name players together. I honestly think that could be an advantage for us as the team would be unbalanced."

Francesco Totti, the Roma captain, says he is excited by the arrival of David Beckham in Italy. The England midfielder could make his debut for AC Milan in a friendly with Hamburg tonight after agreeing a two-month loan deal from Los Angeles Galaxy and Totti has expressed his admiration Beckham.

"I am really curious about David's arrival to Italy," he said. "He is an icon. I am delighted he has chosen to play in our league, even if it will be for a short spell. "Beckham is a lad I like a lot just as I like his wife. They are two beautiful people to see. Many will envy them."

(source: timesonline&mirror.co.uk)

LIVERPOOL have maintained their grip on first place in the Barclays Premier League table with a stunning 5-1 win against a toothless Newcastle United at St James' Park. Reds captain Steven Gerrard scored twice and had had it not been for Newcastle goalkeeper Shay Given, the hosts could have been on the wrong end of a double-figure disaster after being completely outclassed. The Republic of Ireland international made five world-class saves in 10 minutes to prevent Newcastle from total capitulation before the midway point of the first-half.

Liverpool assistant manager Sammy Lee said: ``I think we are improving with every game we play and that is all we can look for. You haven't seen the best of Liverpool yet. "You win nothing in December but you can certainly lose a lot. We're very pleased to be going into the New Year at the top."

Newcastle boss Joe Kinnear - whose 62nd birthday celebrations on Sunday have been distinctly muted having been beaten by Wigan on Friday and now Liverpool - said that his depleted side had not been able to hold off the attacking hordes from Liverpool. "We were short of six or seven players and everything that could go against us did go against us. "We had to play one of the best teams I've seen for a long while. You have to take your hat off to Liverpool. They were in command for a long time and could have put the game to bed in the first half."

Arsenal target Given began his run of jaw-dropping stops in the 10th minute as he pushed away a fierce near post strike from lone Liverpool forward Dirk Kuyt. Within a minute England midfielder Gerrard weaved his way around three United defenders only to see his left foot shot palmed away by Given.

However, the onslaught had only just begun and in the 14th minute the Magpies 'keeper denied Gerrard again as he sprung to his right to claw away a rising left footed shot. But that stunning save was eclipsed by an even better show of agility five minutes later as Given denied the Brazilian midfielder Lucas from point-blank range. When the former Gremio player saw his header, from a Gerrard corner, beaten away by the Newcastle goalkeeper moments later, the visitors must have begun to fear this would be no easy win on Tyneside.

United, for their part, had barely managed to break beyond halfway and the Magpies' owner, Mike Ashley, must have been wondering whether he had been premature in announcing his decision to take the club off the market for the foreseeable future. If his aim had been to usher in a period of calm at St James' Park, the effect had not extended to the pitch. Liverpool continued to press forward at will and two goals before half-time appeared to end the game as a contest. Inevitably, given his sensational start to the match, it was Gerrard who broke the deadlock in the 31st minute when he drilled Yossi Benayoun's pass in off the post. Poor Given had no opportunity to reprise his heroics and the Irishman was stranded again five minutes later when defender Sami Hyypia was given the freedom of the Newcastle penalty area to head home Gerrard's corner.

The experienced Finn could have grabbed a second three minutes before the break only for a diving Given to push the ball into the path of Newcastle's Charles N'Zogbia, who cleared. These were torrid times for United but, incredibly, Canada international defender David Edgar reduced the arrears on the stroke of half-time by heading in Danny Guthrie's corner.

Liverpool's third, five minutes after the restart, had an element of luck about it, with referee Mark Halsey failing to spot Lucas's hand ball, but Dutch international Ryan Babel tapped-in from five yards despite being surrounded by several Newcastle players. Gerrard grabbed his second from Lucas's astute through ball in the 66th minute. And when substitute Xabi Alonso wrapped things up with a well taken penalty 13 minutes from time with Gerrard off the field, after his fellow replacement David Ngog had been brought down by Edgar, Liverpool could celebrate heading into 2009 on top of the Premier League pile.

Agence France-Presse, source: foxsport)

Back attendance Francesco Totti bring positive impact to the AS Roma appearance. Assists on the 'Prince of Roma' Giallorossi successfully won this prestigious party, Derby della Capitale, defeat Lazio 1-0 advanced in the league Serie A in Italy this week to the 12 that took place at the Olimpico Stadium, Roma. The only goal victory over Roma produced Julio Baptista five minutes after the second round began.

Although not able to take the position that the team still fall under the board in the forum, at least, victory in the Derby party candidate to become spiritually supplies for Totti and reduce the burden of pressure that perch on the shoulders the coach Luciano Spalletti.


Prove a Derby party, the second team since the beginning of each race to create opportunities through wicket opponent. Rome, which appear super-offensive, in addition to Totti, Spalletti also lower Mirko Vučinić and Baptista, the road appears to control the game in the first 10 minutes. In the 18 minutes, Roma's first opportunity to get through Vucinic utilize the bait bounce Christian Panucci.

Lazio heading reply through their top scorer, Mauro Zarate is still on the rebound rule wicket Doni. In 30 minutes, backlash distance Zarate fall right in the embrace Doni. Three minutes later, turn Rome. I kick the ball Vucinic utilize vomiting in the penalty box bounce away. Similarly, speculation Baptista backlash in the four minutes before the first round ended.

At the beginning of the second phase, Roma appear more ferocious. Less than five minutes, Totti's moving through the right side of defense Biancocelesti. Bait side with a perfect successfully used by Baptista. The ball led to the far goalpost pole Carrizo. 1-0 to Roma. Not until one minute later, Lazio narrowly equate success Zarate position when the extraordinary can still blocked out by Doni.

In 60 minutes, Lazio coach, Delio Rossi to make changes with the formation Mourad Meghni and attract exit Stefano Mauri. Lazio seek more viable goal replies. Five minutes later, Goran Pandev speculative kick from outside the penalty box only thin sideways in the right goalpost Doni.

One minute later, Lazio beaten after referee Gianluca Rocchi dropping the second yellow card alias red card to Cristian Ledesma. Although the deficit players, Lazio still able to compensate Roma game. In the minutes to-69, kicking team captain, Tomasso Rocchi still thin on the rebound rule wicket Doni.

Five minutes later, Lazio again get the chance. Working with Rocchi, Pandev throw hard shot that can still be blocked Doni. In the minutes to-77, Roma nearly get the second goal when backlash Jeremy Menez incoming replace Totti can still be blocked Carrizo.

Four minutes before the normal time ended, Rome must appear with 10 players when Simone Perrotta got second yellow card. Lazio since we had more touchdown find a reply. Opportunities occur in gold to-89 minutes when heading back the origin of Switzerland, Stephan Lichtsteiner still bounce in the wicket of the ruler. Until the final whistle sounds, a score of 1-0 for Roma remain unchanged.

Line-up:
Roma:
Doni, Tonetto, Juan, Mexes, Panucci (Cassetti), De Rossi, Brighi, Perrotta (KK, KM), Vucinic (Taddei), Baptista, Totti (Menez).
Lazio:
Carrizo, Radu (KK), Rozehnal, Siviglia, Lichtsteiner, Ledesma (KK. KM), Mauri (Meghni), Brocchi (roma), Zarate, Rocchi (Inzaghi), Pandev.
Referee: Gianluca Rocchi.

(source:liputanbola.com)

Roma coach Luciano Spalletti held an emergency meeting with his squad as they prepare to face Chelsea, writes Tom Collomosse.
Spalletti's job is under threat after his side were thrashed 4-0 at home by Jose Mourinho's Inter Milan at the weekend, and another heavy defeat at Stamford Bridge tomorrow would leave him in an even more vulnerable position.
Roma are 14th in Serie A after collecting only seven points from their first seven matches. Spalletti held talks with his players at the training ground and admitted: "When you go through a period like this, it becomes even more difficult to convert your chances because everything is out of order."
Francesco Totti added: "Our league position is very worrying."
Skipper Totti, who has had a knee problem, is fit to play at Stamford Bridge, but former Arsenal striker Julio Baptista misses the game as he has yet to recover from a knock.
Serie A Roundtable Part I: Roma Crisis—When and How Will it End?
In the first ever Serie A roundtable on Bleacher Report, Salaar Arshad Shamsi, Marzia Hazra, Daniel Penza, and Zahi Sahli have their say over Roma's current form crisis.

Salaar Arshad Shamsi:
Roma have had a pathetic start to their season, both in Europe and in the Serie A. Luciano Spalleti's men are in the bottom half of the league table and have already suffered a defeat at the hands of FC Cluj in the Champions League. A victory at Bordeaux followed by a defeat at Siena summed up a mixed bag for the Romans but the question remains:
"How can they get out of this hole?"
Well, Roma have plenty of quality in their side with the likes of De Rossi, Vucinic, Totti and Taddei and players like Riise, Baptista and Menez have been fine additions so Roma should be able to overcome this early glitch by mid-season but a poor start probably means they have destroyed their chances of Champions League action next season.

Marzia Hazra:
Roma has started the season disastrously and seven points in six games definitely qualifies for a crisis.
The club has had their most important player sidelined for the majority of the season as the captain only has made three brief appearances so far. Considering the fundamental role Totti plays for his team, it is in some sense understandable the position the club now find themselves in.
Although Totti’s absence most likely is the biggest factor to Roma’s crisis I also have to take into consideration the injuries that have haunted several of the defenders. In addition to that there is always Spaletti’s recent inability to change the picture of the game with tactics—he just looks so lost.
On top of that, Roma lack players in the central striker role and without Totti there are no natural replacement for him in the squad. The club has built their entire team around one player, and when that player isn’t around things tend to fall apart.
Reports have suggested that Roma and Inter could go in for a swap deal with Aquilani going to Inter in exchange for Hernan Crespo—considering the excess of central strikers the Nerazzuri have.
Roma—including the club, supporters and coach—need to stop putting all their hope on a single player. Just this the weekend Spalletti told Corriere dello Sport that Totti would save the team with his (planned) return against Inter, that he himself would make the difference.
The players have missed so many given goals this season, there is close to no will and the confidence seems washed away in the absence of the skipper. What Roma needs to do is to make all the players take responsibility for their own and stop looking sideways at Totti.

Daniel Penza:
It's hard to say when Roma will regain their form because, aside from Riise and Julio Baptista, they are basically the same team. So meshing together as a team shouldn't really be an issue.
So, with that being said, when Francesco Totti returns from injury, things will have to get better. He is the captain and the driving force of that team. Yeah Daniele De Rossi is the future captain, but the current captain is needed right now to stabilize things in the capital city.

Zahi Sahli:
Roma equals Totti. It is as simple as that. Totti is not playing and hence Roma cannot get the right results. But there is no reason why Roma can't get back to their winning ways. They have an excellent team with three of the best center midfielders in Italy, a good defense and have added quality to their attacking line after signing Julio Baptista.
Roma have maintained faith in Luciano Spalletti after having a good season last term. The current drop in form does not mean Roma will be deluded forever. They will return to their top form. The players and the manager should have faith in the quality of the squad's abilities, and the results will come soon.

Tom Collomosse, Football Correspondent
www.thisislondon.co.uk