Premier League Goals

Speaking in the aftermath of his team’s tepid display at Goodison this evening, the Frenchman has declared that he is relieved with the solitary point.
by Shane Evans

Liverpool drew again, this time against Wigan Athletic, and Benitez was keen to point some fingers.
by Shane Evans

Inter striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic hailed his team’s resilience following tonight’s crucial 2-0 victory at Catania tonight.
by Shane Evans

The Gunners dropped two points at Goodison but it could have been three had it not been for a late Robin van Persie equaliser. Tim Cahill scored for the Toffees.
by Shane Evans

Milan hosted Genoa tonight in a hard fought encounter at the San Siro, which ended in a 1-1 draw thanks to goals from David Beckham and Diego Milito. Goal.com rates the players on show.
by Shane Evans

LONDON – Liverpool’s bid for a first English title since 1990 suffered a fresh setback on today as Rafael Benitez’s side were held to a 1-1 draw at Wigan.

A late penalty equaliser from Egyptian striker Mido earned Wigan a deserved…

LONDON – Robinho claims the teenager accusing him of a serious sexual assault is an "opportunist" in a protest of innocence to Brazil coach Dunga today after his arrest by British police.

The 25-year-old forward spoke…

Dundee United suffered their second Hampden penalty shoot-out heartache in 11 months when they crashed out to Celtic in the semi-finals of the Co-operative Insurance Cup.

Manchester City have endured so many negative headlines they will find comfort in that there is another club who inspire an even greater sense of tragi­comedy. Newcastle United were certainly generous opponents for City at a time when they are still brooding from the failed £91m bid for Kaka and find their best player at the centre of a rape investigation.Robinho, currently on police bail, certainly did not look like a man with the weight of the world on his shoulders, from the moment he flashed a thumbs-up to the cameras to when he produced the best pass of the game for Shaun Wright-Phillips to score the first goal. Craig Bellamy doubled the lead with a debut goal 12 minutes from the end and Andrew Carroll’s reply flattered Newcastle on an evening that restored the sense of optimism at Eastlands. If City’s masterplan had come off, this would have been the night when Kaka was introduced as the world’s most expensive footballer and a shudder would reverberate around the sporting world. Bellamy somehow doesn’t have the same ring. Nor, indeed, does Nigel de Jong, the club’s other debutant. Yet Bellamy looked lively and alert on his debut while it was one of De Jong’s snappy tackles that was partly responsible for removing a dejected Michael Owen from the game.The sight of Owen limping to the touchline – eyes lowered, shoulders slumped, hands on hips – has become almost as recognisable these days as that boyish grin when he pounces inside the penalty area. He lasted only 18 minutes here before a swollen ankle left him trudging to the dugout and, high in the Colin Bell stand, a portly middle-aged man braving the cold in an open-necked shirt could be seen despairingly shaking his head. This was Mike Ashley’s first appearance at a Newcastle match since supporters turned against him in autumn and it must quickly have become apparent to him that his difficulties selling the club might be a whole lot worse this summer. It is no exaggeration to say Newcastle look like a side that has the chilly fingers of relegation closing around their neck.With Robinho eager to impress, Stephen Ireland flitting left and right and Wright-Phillips scampering along the right wing, City were the better side in the first half by a country mile. Robinho, in particular, was always keen to get on the ball and the home side had so much possession they should probably have had more to show for it than just that moment, 17 minutes in, when they sliced their way through the visiting defence to take the lead.It came from a slick exchange of passes, Bridge crossing from the left and Robinho controlling the ball with his usual assured touch before showing his ability to produce the killer pass. Wright-Phillips had got behind his marker, José Enrique, and Robinho’s ball was beautifully weighted for the winger to fire a low shot beneath Stephen Harper in the Newcastle goal.Newcastle, in stark contrast, could barely put together an exchange of half a dozen passes. Joey Barton, playing the role of pantomime villain at his old club, was dismal, although at least he seemed to be trying. Others in black and white seemed content to do the bare minimum.Perhaps the most revealing sight was the sight of large expanses of empty seats in the away section. Newcastle’s supporters used to sell their ticket allocations as a matter of routine and Manchester is far from the longest journey they have to make. The ones who were here tried to rouse their team but it is easy to understand their disillusionment and they had more bad news to digest before the game in the form of confirmation that Shay Given will be leaving. The official explanation for his absence was that he had a “knee injury” although the only people who are likely to believe that are those who think there are fairies at the bottom of the garden. Unofficially, Given is expected to join City before the transfer window shuts on 2 February. “I’ve bent over backwards to keep Shay, and I have told the powers-that-be that he has got to stay,” Joe Kinnear said before the game.Newcastle improved in the second half and had reasonable claims for a penalty when Micah Richards barged Steven Taylor to the ground. Mark Hughes, the City manager, will be disappointed by the manner in which his side lost their impetus. Nonetheless, Newcastle’s frustrations were epitomised by Barton hurling his boot after being substituted.There was worse to follow in the 78th minute when Bellamy controlled Pablo Zabaleta’s cross and manoeuvred the space to fire a left-foot shot past Harper, but then Newcastle made it 2-1. David Edgar dispossessed Wayne Bridge and crossed for Andrew Carroll to score.Premier LeagueManchester CityNewcastle Unitedguardian.co.uk © Guardian News & Media Limited 2009 | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds

The grind goes on. Chelsea’s pursuit of the Premier League leaders has been maintained, though it said much for this downbeat occasion that the most raucous cheer to erupt here was prompted by confirmation of Wigan’s equaliser against Liverpool at a distant JJB Stadium rather than anything conjured by their own team. Luiz Felipe Scolari will take his team to Anfield on Sunday above the Merseysiders on goal difference. There was much to be gained from squeezing out victory last night.In many ways this was as unconvincing a success as that achieved against Stoke City in their previous league game. It merely lacked the late drama of that turnaround. The win had to be chiselled from stubborn opponents intent merely upon survival, with the sheen provided by Salomon Kalou’s second goal, nodded in from Frank Lampard’s corner after Ross Turnbull’s horrible misjudgement of the flight of the ball. Chelsea remain a side lacking the pizzazz and creation to run riot. They have, at least, retained the dogged desire to prevail.It had always felt likely to prove as much a test of Chelsea’s patience as their pedigree. The visitors arrived without a win in this arena in 34 years or, more pertinently, a success of any kind against anyone in the division since early November, a sequence stretching back 10 games. Opponents visit Stamford Bridge seeking to contain at the best of times. Given Boro’s miserable recent plight, massed defence was the height of ambition.There was an admirably rugged and committed nature to the visitors’ approach, the frenzy of tackles mustered by the back four and the midfield quintet stifling the home side’s intent and choking the mood of optimism in these parts generated by three successive wins. The first wailed discord from the stands duly erupted just after the half hour, anguish spilling over as yet another laboured home attack ran aground on massed ranks of red. This was too familiar, the lack of invention driving the locals to despair.Scolari, his agitation having long been evident on the touchline, duly directed his frustration at the visitors’ assistant manager, Malcolm Crosby, after Mohamed Shawky was penalised for hand ball. The fourth official, Steve Bennett, stepped in to curtail the furious finger-wagging and was called upon again as the players retreated at the interval, Scolari’s mood having long since darkened.There had been good reason to curse Ashley Cole’s inability to convert José Bosingwa’s cross at the far post, the full-back nodding down and into the side-netting with Ross Turnbull exposed. Thereafter, Boro rather kept the hosts at arm’s length, optimistic shots rarely testing the goalkeeper while Salomon Kalou found the roof of the net from Frank Lampard’s corner.Desperate times called for desperate measures, with Didier Drogba – a pale shadow of his former self this term – summoned from the bench for the ineffective Florent Malouda at the interval. The Ivorian was needed as a battering ram to discomfort David Wheater and Chris Riggott. He might have scored with his first involvement, intercepting a hurried clearance and squirting a shot wide of the far post, but his mere presence served to unsettle. Chelsea were grateful to generate a new kind of threat. Too much of this had been uninspired, as if Boro’s refusal to wilt had been enough to flummox.Drogba provided muscle to undermine the visitors’ resolve. Kalou had already flicked over from close range when, just before the hour mark, Lampard’s corner was headed down by Alex. Drogba leapt with Wheater, the African’s frame choking the clearance, and the loose ball was dispatched emphatically beyond Turnbull by Kalou to pierce Boro’s resistance.The Teessiders’ strategy was effectively wrecked in arrears, the introduction of Afonso Alves and Tuncay leaving them vulnerable where they had been resolute. Nicolas Anelka might have settled the contest on the break. Lampard, certainly, should have buried the Frenchman’s cross as they tore downfield from a Boro corner. The miss maintained the anxiety in the stands, every backward pass greeted with grumbling discontent, but Chelsea had their win. A greater test awaits.Premier LeagueChelseaMiddlesbroughguardian.co.uk © Guardian News & Media Limited 2009 | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds

Sir Alex Ferguson reveals his pride after Manchester United set a new record of 11 straight Premier League clean sheets by beating West Brom 5-0.

Man Utd go three points clear at the top of the Premier League table after thrashing West Brom at The Hawthorns.

Manchester United’s worsening injury crisis is not helped by next week’s Everton clash being moved 48 hours earlier.

Liverpool lose ground with draw at Wigan, but Chelsea beat Middlesbrough.

Dates confirmed for Liverpool and Fulham at OT and the FA Cup 5th rd.

Sir Alex hopes to welcome back two more injured players this weekend.

Van Persie strikes in injury time to rescue a point at Goodison

Wenger on his side’s character, Van Persie’s form and transfers

Bilic includes striker in squad to face Romania on February 11

In this week’s Counterattack, Greg Lalas, writer of “The Target Man” column, steps in to take on Allen Ramsey, bard of “The Short List” column, in a debate over where MLS fits in with the best leagues in the world.
by Shane Evans