It is simply ridiculous for a man of Steven Gerrard ’s caliber to be doubted. Gerrard is one of the best footballers (a complete player) of his generation with everything in his armour. Pass, shoot, tackles, headers, goals, vision, strength…you name it, he has got it all. It would not surprise me if we put him in goal and he takes Pepe’s place too. He is a world class midfielder and he will be vital for everything Liverpool will do next season. Every footballer goes through a rough patch in their career and yes we played better football towards the second half of the season when Gerrard was injured but this certainly does not mean we are a better team without Steven Gerrard. We can only get better and stronger with him coming back into the team and we should be optimistic about how good we can get having him back rather than dwelling on the negatives. I think Stevie will be back with all guns blazing and the contributing factors will be:

1) Fitness : After his groin operation which was a successful one last season, he is claiming he feels fitter than ever and very confident about his physical condition. This is brilliant news for Liverpool because these niggling injuries have certainly taken their toll over him and he has not been performing to his capability. If he is as fit as he is claiming and is to have a strong season appearance wise, it will certainly help our cause to finish in the top 4 and higher.

2) Mentality : This break from football, the longest since he made his debut for LFC at the young age of 18 was a much needed one. Physically he seemed drained but he needed a break from football mentally as well. It takes a lot mentally playing week in week out for as long as he has done and this break can only do him a world of good. Having a wee bit more time for his social life can only benefit him. He will be back fresher not only in terms of his physical fitness but also fresher and sharper in terms of mentality.

3) Motivation : Motivation plays a major role in a footballer’s performance and with King Kenny at the helm we can rest assure that there will be no lack of motivation (which happened during Roy’s 6 months in charge). There will be a burning desire to go all out and achieve what has eluded the Anfield trophy cabinet over the past to two decades and what we believe is our birth right. I am not saying Steven Gerrard lacks that motivation but simply stating that there will be that extra bit of it with Kenny back and with everything that has happened surrounding the club.

4) Transfers : One world class player can only do so much in a team sport like football. There have been times when Steive has single handedly lifted the team to victory most famously in Istanbul(05) and Wembley(07). Adding a few more top players this summer will take the burden and responsibility from Gerrard which can only be better for him and the team ultimately. This will be a major factor in our title charge.

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5) Kenny Dalglish : King Kenny is Liverpool through and through and he understands the Liverpool way better than anyone else. Dalglish’s achievement both as a player and as a manager commands the respect which Hodgson could never get from the players or the fans. Everyone looks up to Kenny and he brings in the motivation and desire to play for him which Roy failed to do and thus struggled. After a dismal reign of the bloody cowboys, we needed a leader who could steady the ship and keep his calm when everything around him was in utter chaos and since the arrival of Dalglish he has been nothing but that. He is an idol for the fans, an inspiration for all the players, a hero for everyone connected to Liverpool Football Club and is a living legend. This will be a influentional factor for Steven and the team next season.

6) Owners and Stabilty : Now that everything on and off the pitch seems stable and we have stopped making the headlines for all the wrong reasons we look to be heading towards the right direction. Now we seem to have owners who understand what our club means to the fans and are interested in the well fare of the club and not just in making profit. For the local boys (Stevie and Carra) who are so attached to the club, it does matter how the club is being and it will have an impact on them. So now with everything in place we can look towards a bright and successful future.

7) And finally Man Utd breaking our title record :

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It was a very painful day for all related to LFC when ManU claimed the 19th title. It was heart breaking to see them go past us and claim what seemed to be near impossible two decades ago. But let’s face it, we certainly have not been good enough and have ourselves to blame for this. Born and bred in the red half of Merseyside, Steven Gerrard will want nothing more than to break United’s record and get LFC back on top where we belong. There will be a fire in his belly next season as this determination will drive him more than ever. Manchester United beating us for the 19th title will only make him hungrier for success. He will be ready for all challenges that comes his way and he should have a sensational season.

So we will surely be back not to knock Manchester United off their perch as Fergie once claimed to do to Liverpool but we will be back to take what is ours.

This article was written by Bikesh Shrestha and is courtesy of our partner website ourkop.com

Fulham boss Martin Jol praised his team’s attack after a 4-0 second-leg win over Crusaders saw them progress in Europa League qualifying.The West Londoners’ crushed the Northern Irish side 7-1 on aggregate courtesy of their win at Craven Cottage on Thursday as Andrew Johnson, Damien Duff, Bobby Zamora and Steve Sidwell netted.

The win sees Fulham advance to the third round of qualifying and Jol praised Johnson and Zamora, who played up front and combined well after only scoring 10 goals between them last campaign.

“Even if you have got a tough defence you know you can score goals. Last year, Bobby was of course injured and Andy was the same – he only had 16 starts,” Jol said.

“So we had some trouble with injuries and luckily enough we had (Clint) Dempsey and he was our top scorer”

“I feel there is a lot more goals in Andy Johnson. Every game when I see him he is quick and he can score goals. I think he has scored three goals already and that is what you want, not the two goals last year.”

Fulham won the first leg in Northern Ireland 3-1 and Johnson opened the scoring in the 19th minute on Thursday to extend that advantage.

They then added three goals in a 15-minute spell beginning in the 56th minute and Jol said he was pleased with the performance.

“You always want to play perfect football and of course the first half we started well,” Jol said.

“The first half an hour I thought was good. Good movement and everybody was involved.”

“After that there were a few sloppy spells and that is not what you want.”

“But the second half was okay and of course we had to substitute a few players because we have 17 or 18 players who want to be involved.”

Fulham will meet Croatian side RNK Split, who beat Slovenian outfit NK Domzale 5-2 on aggregate, in the first leg of their third round qualifying tie next Thursday.

Arsene Wenger believes Manchester City’s 400 million-pound sponsorship deal is a threat to UEFA’s Financial Fair Play regulations.English Premier League club City’s commercial arrangement with Etihad Airways, which will see the City of Manchester Stadium rebranded, comes before the first season in which UEFA’s new regulations are implemented.

The Financial Fair Play regulations will require all clubs to break even by 2013/14, or risk exclusion from the Champions or Europa leagues.

Arsenal manager Wenger, a vocal critic of large cash injections into clubs by wealthy owners, is concerned deals such the one between City and Etihad will undermine the UEFA initiative.

“It raises the real question about the credibility of the Financial Fair Play,” Wenger said at a press conference in Kuala Lumpur as part of Arsenal’s tour of Malaysia.

“That is what it is all about. (City) give us the message they can get around it.”

“It means the Financial Fair Play will not come in. It is as simple as that. I can understand how they do it but it raises the real question – the difficulty and the credibility of Financial Fair Play is at stake.”

“Plus, normally the sponsorship has to be at the market price if the Financial Fair Play has to have a chance. It cannot be tripled or quadrupled because that means it is better we don’t do it and leave everybody free.”

“That can be defended, but if they bring the rules in they have to be respected.”

When asked if he would discuss his concerns with countryman and UEFA President Michel Platini, Wenger replied: “I don’t need to because it looks to me that he (Platini) is very strongly determined on that.”

“He’s not stupid, he knows as well that some clubs will try to get around that and at the moment I believe they are studying, behind closed doors, how they can really strongly check it.”

“That’s where the Financial Fair Play is at stake.”

Sochaux striker Modibo Maiga is refusing to play for the club according to Sky Sports, as he wants to move to Newcastle United.

The French club are refusing to do business with the Magpies after they submitted a £7 million bid for the Mali international.

Maiga was angered after learning that the club rebuffed Newcastle’s offer and refused to play against Caen at the weekend also stating he won’t play for Sochaux again.

The 23-year-old is desperate to play in the Premier League and is now trying force through a move to St James’ Park after rejecting a new contract. 

Maiga said: “Yes [they have made me an offer], but before the Newcastle offer I have not been offered anything, but now I would like the chairman to consider my interest. I want to leave.

“I met everyone at Newcastle. They want me and it is not just any club. Premier League is a dream.

“That is the kind of game I like, it suits me and it is good for my career. I want to leave, he has to accept that and negotiate.” He added

“I told the coach I would play and respect my contract, but the chairman has to talk about my transfer first. I don’t want to annoy Sochaux, but I want it to be sorted out with Newcastle.”

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The Malian joined the Ligue 1 club from Le Mans last summer and had a superb season scoring 15 goals and would join  Demba Ba in the North East as Pardew continues to try and replace Andy Carroll.

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Arsenal have agreed a £6.2 million fee for Brazil international left back Andre Santos, who is set to join the Premier League club from Turkish side Fenerbahce according to The Telegraph.

Arsene Wenger is keen to add new faces to his squad following the 8-2 humiliation by Manchester United on Sunday, and the 28-year-old looks set to move to the Emirates.

The signing would go some way to plugging the gap left by Gael Clichy, who moved to Manchester City earlier in the summer.

Santos has played 22 times for his country and helped the Istanbul based club to the Turkish Super Lig title in 2010-11.

Meanwhile, the Gunners are widely believed to be on the verge of signing South Korean striker Park Chu-Young, with a £10 million transfer ready to be announced on Tuesday.

The 26-year-old has scored 25 goals for Monaco in two and a half seasons in France, but is thought to want a move away from the Stade Louis II following their relegation to the second tier.

One player leaving Arsenal is Armand Traore, who has moved to QPR on loan after a torrid afternoon at Old Trafford on Sunday.

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Sir Alex Ferguson believes that the media have an agenda against De Gea and all want the young Spaniard to fail. Speaking ahead of today’s Super Sunday clash against Chelsea, the Scot spoke out for the second time this week when pressmen questioned who will be between the sticks at Old Trafford this afternoon.

Elsewhere in the papers Villas-Boas calls for the introduction of B-teams; Barton set for FA probe, while Lescott glad to be on the Blue side of Manchester.

Villas-Boas calls for introduction of B-teams – Guardian

Kean shrugs off protest and claims 99 per cent of fans behind him – Independent

You all want De Gea to flop at United, says furious Ferguson – Daily Mail

Flop Torres set to be loaned out in January – Mirror

Wayne Rooney bids to do the impossible – Independent

Arsenal battle it out to sign Valencia starlet Paco Alcacer – Metro

Barton could face FA probe after rant and branding Wolves midfielder Henry an ‘idiot’ – Daily Mail

Lescott glad to be on the blue side of Manchester – Mirror

Spurs plan to resurrect move for Brazilian striker – People

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Downing: I was so close to joining Tottenham – Independent

‘Gutted’ Saha takes to Twitter after being left out of Everton squad – Daily Mail

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Since Torres scored the infamous goal against Germany in 2008, there haven´t been all that good performances from Fernando Torres in a España-shirt. But recent performances has seen Torres find his way back into the hearts, and mostly hopes of a nation. “The kid”, often called in Spain has seen players like Villa, Llorente and Negredo take his place in recent times. But Spain´s National Team coach, Vicente Del Bosque has said before that “Torres is one of us”, despite the fact that it was quite a while ago that Torres performed on the international stage with Spain.

I’ve seen signs that he could prove to be a joker during the European Championships next year, something we´ve all seen during the recent weeks with Chelsea, and this hasn´t gone unnoticed as Vicente Del Bosque says he´s in the troop:

“Because he has proved to be good in his club. He has had his verdicts that haven´t passed by anybody but for the European Championships nobody will receive priveleges.”

You could agree to that extent that Torres has performed for Chelsea during recent weeks, but on the other side there are many fighting for places in Spain´s starstudded side. Torres will have to prove his critics wrong and I hopefully think he will, as having a Fernando Torres in your side (which are expected to win gold again) is of benefit rather than what some pundits want to claim: A burden they say.

Del Bosque is also very keen on reiterating the same answer when questioned about Torres, something that may annoy Torres himself in more than one way:

“You got to extend the perspective far more before those in power try to judge him permanently. We have to be just, there has been much competition (for places). Torres has a precedent and a present but I am not a traitor and he´s found stability and performed good for his club, as anyone have seen.”

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El Niño, or the kid, is a major plus to any team, but he might get to have a smaller role this time around in Spain´s quest for gold.

Football is a funny old game. One minute your team looks like they have a match or a league title in the bag, the next it can escape their grasp. The term ‘choke’ is synonymous in sporting circles with people or teams that are in a commanding position but suffer a meltdown mentally, losing their composure and consequently the match or competition. With the United States choke against Panama in the Gold Cup fresh in the memory, I have decided to look at some of the famous footballing chokes over the years.

AC Milan, Champions League Final 2005

The Champions League final is the biggest stage in world club football and AC Milan and Liverpool contested the 2005 final in Istanbul, Turkey. The game was a story of two choking sides, firstly Liverpool were the team to freeze up as they were overawed by the occasion and let in a soft goal in the first minute to veteran Italian defender Paolo Maldini. From there Rafa Benitez’s team conceded two more in the first half, with Kaka the architect and Argentine striker Hernan Crespo the executioner. Half time; Liverpool 0 Milan 3, it looked like it could get embarrassing for the English side. However choking can be infectious and the Rossoneri caught the bug in the second half, as Steven Gerrard inspired his side to fight back and the Italian side capitulated under the pressure of being 45 minutes away from European glory. Goals from Gerrard, Vladimir Smicer and Xabi Alonso saw the match finish 3-3, go to penalties and it was Milan’s darling Andriy Shevchenko who eventually crumbled under the pressure and missed the decisive penalty, giving Liverpool the Champions League title.

Bayern Munich, Champions League Final 1999

Manchester United and Bayern Munich contested the 1999 Champions League final in the Nou Camp, Barcelona, in what would be a prime example of the footballing choke. In an end to end match the German side started the brighter, and deservedly took the lead through a Mario Basler effort after only six minutes. United attacked well but the German side had key chances to win the game by getting the decisive second goal; firstly Mehmet Scholl hit the post and then Carsten Jancker struck the crossbar with an overhead kick. With time almost up, Die Roten started to defend and retreat, looking to protect their precious goal advantage. Enter substitutes Teddy Sheringham and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer. In injury time Peter Schmeichel came forward to attack a United corner, and in a me-lay in the German box Sheringham managed to convert a poor clearance and give The Reds parity. However the best was yet to come as less than thirty seconds later Solskjaer toe poked home the winner following a Sheringham headed effort. Totally capitulation and a great football choke achieved by Ottmar Hitzfeld’s team in three minutes of injury time.

Tottenham, vs Manchester United, September 2001 and April 2009

Tottenham took on English Champions Manchester United at White Hart Lane on Saturday September 29th 2001, with much anticipation around the London club. In a barnstorming first half performance by the home side, goals from Dean Richards, Les Ferdinand and Christian Ziege gave Spurs a 3-0 lead at the break. North London was full of energy. This could be the start of something big for Glenn Hoddle’s men. Sir Alex Ferguson and United had other ideas as five second half goals from Andy Cole, Laurent Blanc, Ruud van Nistlerooy, Juan Sebastian Veron and David Beckham broke Spurs hearts and the game ended 5-3.

Almost eight years later and Harry Redknapp took his talented Tottenham side to Old Trafford to lock horns with The Reds, and in an attacking performance in the first half the London club found themselves 2-0 up at half time with goals from Darren Bent and Luka Modric. Redknapp will have urged his team not to solely sit back and defend, to have belief in themselves and to go and win the game in his half time teamtalk, but instead his team choked and again conceded five second half goals to Cristiano Ronaldo (2), Wayne Rooney (2) and ex-striker Dimitar Berbatov, with the game finishing 5-2 to United.

Continued on Page TWO

Chelsea, vs Arsenal, October 1999

Fourth placed Chelsea hosted second placed Arsenal at Stamford Bridge in a highly charged match on 23rd October 1999, with local bragging rights and the Premiership title up for grabs. Arsene Wenger had started to mould the Gunners team into his own, an had signed Nigerian striker Nwankwo Kanu from Inter Milan in February 1999. In the match Chelsea took the lead through Norwegian striker Tore Andre Flo on 39 minutes and Dan Petrescu gave The Blues a 2-0 advantage on 51 minutes. The chant of “we want five” rang around The Bridge from a euphoric Chelsea support. In a wet and windy day, Kanu stepped up and got one back for Arsenal on 75 minutes, slotting home a miscued Marc Overmars shot, and the home side, and their fans, became slightly edgy. Kanu shocked the home faithful with seven minutes remaining as he drove home an Overmars cross, but the African striker still had more to come. In the last minute of the game, Kanu closed down a clearance and found himself close to the cornerflag, confronted by home keeper Ed de Goey, who had rushed out of his goal. The lanky striker avoided de Goey’s sliding tackle and converted from the tightest and most impossible angle to give the Gunners the match 3-2, with Chelsea in despair.

Real Madrid, 2003-2004 La Liga Season

In the 2003-04 La Liga season, Real Madrid had a star studded team full of world beaters, were champions from the previous season and followers at the Bernabeu had Ronaldo, Beckham, Figo, Roberto Carlos and Zidane to surely lead them to a second consecutive title. This looked very likely, as by the end of February Los Blancos were eight points ahead at the top of the standings and looking for the treble. However a four month choke by Carlos Quieroz’s side saw them lose the Copa del Rey final to Real Zaragoza, get kicked out of Europe at the hands of Monaco and lose their grip on the domestic title. A loss in El Classico and a 4-1 home defeat to Real Sociedad on the last day of the season saw Valenica lift the title, and the Galacticos finish fourth behind Barcelona and Deportivo La Coruna.

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Newcastle United, 1995-96 Premier League Season

Kevin Keegan’s Newcastle side of 1995-96 were labelled ‘The Entertainers’, as the Toon amassed a quality side with the likes of Les Ferdinand and David Ginola in their ranks. Keegan’s men dispatched all in front of them and rushed into a 12 point lead at the top of the Premier League. The Geordies had finished second a couple of years earlier, but for the St James Park faithful this would be the season of glory. However Keegan’s men fell victim to a run of inconsistent form and perennial strong finishers Manchester United caught Newcastle up, and won the league from under their noses. Newcastle have fallen from grace since, and the choke of 1996 has significantly impacted upon the team’s fortunes.

The old cliches of ‘it’s not over til it’s over’ and ‘it’s a game of two halves’ spring to mind when reminiscing about some of the great footballing chokes, and it shows that a team must be mentally prepared as well as physically and tactically to succeed at the highest level.

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Manchester City midfielder James Milner has stated that the team spirit at the club is excellent, and this could be a key reason for the side’s success.

The Etihad Stadium outfit sit on top of the Premier League, are unbeaten and five points clear of cross-town rivals Manchester United.

Despite a number of controversial players causing problems in the past, Milner has hailed the squad’s togetherness.

“We’ve a good bunch of lads and there’s always banter going on. We enjoy ourselves,” he told Mirror Football.

“That’s important – the spirit – because when things aren’t going well on or off the field, you need to pull together for that last-minute winner or to grind out a result if you’re down to 10 men.

“That’s when wanting to run that extra five yards for your team-mate comes into it,” he stated.

Despite an influx of high profile foreign players, Milner feels that the English core to the side could be the recipe for success.

“Look down the squad list, it’s full of top players.

“We’ve a good core of English players, which you need, just as you need a core of Italian players in Italy, say, but we’ve got good foreign players as well.

“We want to win and it’s exciting times here. We won’t get ahead of ourselves, but we all want to create history for this club and to win trophies.

“I’m here to win the medals I can look back on when my career is over. I hope the FA Cup is just the first of many.

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“It was great for our fans – sharing a city with a club that’s done so well over the years has been tough on them. Now it’s down to us to get on a par.

“They [Manchester United] have set those standards and we have to match them,” he concluded.

By Gareth McKnight

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Championship side Cardiff City piled more misery on lowly Blackburn Rovers on Tuesday night, as the home team defeated the Premier League basement dwellers 2-0 in Wales.

Veteran Scottish striker Kenny Miller opened the scoring for the hosts in the first half, before Anthony Gerrard doubled Cardiff’s lead early in the second period.

The defeat leaves Steve Kean with a disgruntled and frustrated Lancashire fan-base to deal with, and attention will now turn to picking up points in the Premier League to avoid being bottom at Christmas.

The Scottish coach was clearly disappointed with the result, but admitted his team selection was effected by the upcoming league clash with Swansea on Saturday.

“The side we put out tonight was with one eye on Swansea at the weekend,” he told Sky Sports.

“I felt that we started the game very well. I felt the first 15 minutes we had the best two opportunities and then when Cardiff managed to score they had a good period

“I took the decision to make five changes and on top of that we have (Christopher) Samba and (Martin) Olsson back so we will have seven faces fresh for Swansea.

“Saturday’s a massive game for us and a game we need three points from; obviously I’ve got one eye on it.

“We’ve some very good games at home coming up, teams that are within touching distance of us and these are our cup finals, the league games coming up are all cup finals,” he concluded.

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Cardiff supporters meanwhile will be dreaming of glory, as they enter the semi finals draw for the cup, and are joined in the hat by Liverpool, Manchester City and either Manchester United or Crystal Palace.

By Gareth McKnight

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