World Cup and European leagues

[ScotsFan]

Don't look now, but ManU is only 5 points shy of league leading Chelsea and Liverpool thanks to Arsenal's come from behind win over Chelsea yesterday at the Bridge.  8)  IIRC, Chelsea hadn't allowed a 2nd half goal all season and the Gunners (more specifically Robin van Persie)  put 2 on the Blues in the 2nd half of yesterday's game!

Of course, Liverpool can stretch that lead back out to 8 with an almost assured home win over West Ham later today...     

[sac]

Don't look now, but ManU is only 5 points shy of league leading Chelsea and Liverpool thanks to Arsenal's come from behind win over Chelsea yesterday at the Bridge.  8)  IIRC, Chelsea hadn't allowed a 2nd half goal all season and the Gunners (more specifically Robin van Persie)  put 2 on the Blues in the 2nd half of yesterday's game!

Of course, Liverpool can stretch that lead back out to 8 with an almost assured home win over West Ham later today...     

Liverpool might have it right this year.........they're going to play without Torres for awhile though.  December hasn't been to kind to Liverpool in the past that I recall.  I don't know if it still stands but at one time every Premiership winner had led at Christmas (ie boxing day).

[Hoosier Titan]

Don't look now, but ManU is only 5 points shy of league leading Chelsea and Liverpool thanks to Arsenal's come from behind win over Chelsea yesterday at the Bridge.  8)  IIRC, Chelsea hadn't allowed a 2nd half goal all season and the Gunners (more specifically Robin van Persie)  put 2 on the Blues in the 2nd half of yesterday's game!

Of course, Liverpool can stretch that lead back out to 8 with an almost assured home win over West Ham later today...     

Aaagh, don't jinx the Reds, please!  They can beat Chelsea at Stamford Bridge but got drawn at Anfield by Stoke.  Here's hoping.

[Greek Tragedy]

No, go ahead, jinx them! 

[Hoosier Titan]

Ah well, a point's a point.  It would only have been a jinx if I'd said it.  ;-)

[sac]

Of course, Liverpool can stretch that lead back out to 8 with an almost assured home win over West Ham later today...    

0-0 Final

[Hoosier Titan]

Liverpool are assured to start the New Year atop the table after their 5-1 thrashing of Newcastle today.  The score in no way reflects the imbalance of the match; without Shay Given in goal, the Toon would have given up at least six goals by half time.  Given was absolutely outstanding, making more great saves than most keepers do in a win.  Newcastle have a great keeper and two outstanding strikers, Michael Owen and Damien Duff--it's the guys in between who need upgrading.

Of course, there's lots of football to be played, but Liverpool have reason for optimism.  Robbie Keane has found the goal, and they've gotten to this point largely without Fernando Torres.  Yossi Benayoun and Ryan Babel were unhappy with their playing time, and both have played key roles in recent wins.  No point in bringing Torres back too soon; cold weather's not kind to hamstring injuries.  The defense appears to be in good order.  Andrea Dossena is not the answer at left back, but teenager Emiliano Insua has impressed in the last couple of games.  And Jamie Carregher is playing well at right back. 

It's awfully quiet in here.  Any thoughts on the transfer window?  Will Drogba go to Inter?  Where will Michael Owen go?  (I can't imagine he'll want to stay at Newcastle). 

[sac]

I thought I read the other day Owen wasn't leaving Newcastle at the window and would give them the first opportunity to resign him this summer.

ManU plays Chelsea next Sunday, nice chance for Liverpool to pick up 2 or 3 points on someone with a win over Stoke.

[Greek Tragedy]

I think it's funny that Spurs sells Defoe last year for 9 million pounds and then Spurs buys him back for 15...I realize there are some other clauses and money changing hands, but they were idiots to sell Defoe in the first place.  It reminds me of Shaun Wright-Phillips going to Chelsea for the "big time," rotting on the bench (surprise, surprise) and then realizing the error of his ways and getting sold back to Manchester City for a healthy profit for Chelsea. 

I'm not too worried about Manchester United not keeping Tevez...

[ScotsFan]

ManU plays Chelsea next Sunday, nice chance for Liverpool to pick up 2 or 3 points on someone with a win over Stoke.

Or not...

Not only did Liverpool not gain any points, but they lost ground as well.  ManU dismantles Chelsea to the tune of 3-0 at Old Trafford today and thanks to Stoke holding Liverpool to a scoreless draw are now only 5 points adrift with still 2 games in hand!  And Chelsea is only a single point ahead of the Red Devils and United hold 2 games in hand on the Blues as well.

ManU can pull to within 2 points of the Reds with a win at home vs. Wigan on Wednesday and if the Red Devils are able to pick up their full 6 points on the week, they could be sitting atop the table alone by this time next Monday depending on how Liverpool fairs in the Merseyside derby with Everton.  At least Liverpool gets their crosstown rivals at Anfield where they haven't lost to the Blues since 1999...

[sac]

Its a repeat of past failures, losing out on points to weaker teams for Liverpool.

Thats 2 draws to Stoke who are sitting #17, and a loss to Tottenham #18.  Thats alot of wasted points in the final tally.

[Hoosier Titan]

Interesting how results look, depending upon which team you support.

Man U has also "thrown away" a lot of points this season in draws with Portsmouth, Newcastle, Tottenham, Everton, Aston Villa, and the previous encounter with Chelsea.  Of course there are also the losses to Arsenal and Liverpool.

The up side for Liverpool in Man U's beating Chelsea is that Chelsea's goal differential lead has diminished substantially.

The fact is that ALL the contenders have lost points this season in matches they should have been able to win.  The season is still on--should be a great conclusion!

[ScotsFan]

Interesting how results look, depending upon which team you support.

Man U has also "thrown away" a lot of points this season in draws with Portsmouth, Newcastle, Tottenham, Everton, Aston Villa, and the previous encounter with Chelsea.  Of course there are also the losses to Arsenal and Liverpool.

The up side for Liverpool in Man U's beating Chelsea is that Chelsea's goal differential lead has diminished substantially.

The fact is that ALL the contenders have lost points this season in matches they should have been able to win.  The season is still on--should be a great conclusion!

I'll give you the draws with Pompey, Newcastle, and Spurs as points thrown away by United.  But, away draws with 6th place Everton, 4th place Villa and 2nd place Chelsea are hardly poor results.  And the losses to Aresnal and Liverpool were at the Emirates and Anfield which are never easy places to win if you're the away team. 

If these results were all happening to United at the friendly confines of Old Trafford, than I would agree that they would be considered points thrown away. 

Also, Liverpool has a history of losing points to teams that are fighting to stay up so the draw with Stoke raises the red flags as to say here we go again with Liverpool...

[Hoosier Titan]

[I'll give you the draws with Pompey, Newcastle, and Spurs as points thrown away by United.  But, away draws with 6th place Everton, 4th place Villa and 2nd place Chelsea are hardly poor results.  And the losses to Aresnal and Liverpool were at the Emirates and Anfield which are never easy places to win if you're the away team. 

If these results were all happening to United at the friendly confines of Old Trafford, than I would agree that they would be considered points thrown away. 

Also, Liverpool has a history of losing points to teams that are fighting to stay up so the draw with Stoke raises the red flags as to say here we go again with Liverpool...

Liverpool's draw yesterday with Stoke was away from home, as was the loss to Tottenham.  And I don't see that "history" means much of anything in sport.  I think Fernando Torres's health is likely to be much more relevant to Liverpool's season than any history.  I know you'd like to see red flags for Liverpool--I'm saying that both Liverpool and Man U have blown chances (as have Chelsea, Arsenal, and everyone else.)  There's still a lot of football to be played, and right now Liverpool are still in front.

[sac]

It was a weekend that deserved to be in April

ManU 1 Bolton 0.........Berbatov a 90th minute goal

Chealsea 2 Stoke 1 ........Belleti an 88th minute goal, Lampard 4 minutes into xtime.

Liverpool 1 Everton 1......Cahill's 87th minute goal draws at Anfield.