Plucky Luton Force Replay Against Liverpool

Liverpool were given a real game by League One side Luton at Kenilworth Road as Kevin Blackwell's side held the Reds to a 1-1 draw.

An entertaining game saw Liverpool eventually take the lead through Peter Crouch, only for a Riise own-goal to hand Luton a deserved share of the spoils.

First Half

Rafa Benitez picked a strong Liverpool side to face Luton. The notable inclusions were Charles Itandje in goal and a start for Lucas in midfield. Peter Crouch and Dirk Kuyt started upfront for the Reds.

Luton acquitted themselves well in the first half keeping the Premiership giants goalless. It was however the visitors who got off to the better start.

With just 25 seconds on the clock, Dutch winger Ryan Babel set off on a mazy run, which saw him beat three defenders before forcing Brill into a fine save at his near post.

The home side should then have taken the lead with Edwards missing a glorious early chance. Played through and with Steve Finnan playing him onside, Charles Itandje stood tall and saved well with his foot to save the Reds' blushes.

Four minutes later and Kuyt and Crouch combined well to provide the Dutch striker with a shot on goal from the edge of the area. However, Kuyt fired high and wide when he really should have hit the target.

With 20 minutes gone the Hatters began to come more into the game and started to cause the Liverpool back line some problems. Drew Talbot skinned Sami Hyypia at the byeline, but lacked options coming in as he crossed low, and Itandje cut out the ball.

The financially struggling side were giving a good account of themselves with the possession statistics looking rather favourable for Kevin Blackwell's side. Another fine move on the half-hour mark saw Finnan outnumbered on the right, only for Jamie Carragher to come across and clear the danger.



Liverpool then reminded Luton of the danger they posed with Peter Crouch forcing Brill into a fine save with a shot from the edge of the box.

But with the half time whistle approaching, it was the home side that finished the strongest. Drew Talbot, who was becoming the clear dangerman for Luton, fizzed in an inviting low ball from the right which flew across the face of the Liverpool goal with nobody coming in to apply the finishing touch.

Second Half

The second half began much like the first with Liverpool starting better, but the home side coming more and more into the game.

Four minutes after the restart and Kuyt fired a great ball across the Luton box, only for Benayoun and Crouch to be unable to make the all-important contact. John-Arne Riise then saw a blasted shot clip off a defender a look goal-bound. Luton keeper Dean Brill although going the wrong way, stuck out a hand to save superbly.

Luton were however not going to be bullied by the Premiership side and had a marvellous chance of their own on 54 minutes. Currie dinked in an inviting cross to Talbot, but the midfielder headed over when it seemed he had to score.

Liverpool were finding it increasingly difficult to impose their quality and were making very hard work of breaking down the Luton defence. Riise was unlucky not to see a red card when bringing down Talbot, with referee Webb believing him not to be the last man.

Then rather against the run of play, Liverpool took the lead on 74 minutes. A poor header by Chris Perry allowed substitue Voronin to charge through on goal. His shot was saved well by Brill, but Crouch was on hand to slide home the rebound.

The lead however only lasted three minutes as Luton deservedly got themselves back into the game. Man of the Match Talbot fired in a dangerous cross from the left towards striker Edwards. Riise, who was tracking the forward attempted to cut-out the ball, only to see it rebound off his arm and past Itandje into the Liverpool net.

The last ten minutes saw Luton the more adventurous side and the lack of quality in the Liverpool side must have surprised the 10,000 fans inside Kenilworth Road.

In the end Luton probably deserved more than a draw, but as far as their bank balance is concerned, a lucrative replay at Anfield is the ideal result.

Surely on this kind of display, a wealthy backer out there will be tempted into investing in this talented side.

Line-ups:

Luton: Brill, Keane, Coyne, Perry, Goodall, Bell, Currie, Edwards, Spring, Andrew, Talbot

Subs not used: Hutchison, Jackson, Robinson, O'Leary, Furlong

Liverpool: Itandje, Finnan, Riise, Carragher, Hyypia, Lucas, Alonso (Mascherano 74), Benayoun (El Zhar 86), Babel (Voronin 70), Crouch, Kuyt

Subs not used: Martin, Hobbs

Goals:

0-1 Crouch (74)

1-1 Riise o.g (77)

Cards:

Yellow: Alonso (45) Riise (68) Hyypia (83)

Attendance: 10,226

Referee: Howard Webb

English Press: Ferguson Sparks Berbatov Bidding War

The Mail on Sunday contends that Man Utd boss Alex Ferguson wants to land Tottenham striker Dimitar Berbatov from under the noses of Chelsea.

Other clubs, such as Real Madrid and Manchester City, have also shown an interest, meaning that a bidding war could potentially take place in January or, more likely, in summer.

However, with Spurs potentially valuing the player at over £31m (41m euro), Ferguson is keen to avoid inflating the Bulgarian's price tag beyond reasonable sense.

The Mail on Sunday adds that Ferguson and the other managers involved are unfazed by Spurs' "hands-off" warning, although Real Madrid seem unlikely to make a full cash offer. Instead, they'll offer a part-exchange.

However, if Ferguson's interest proves to be genuine, then the price could be raised significantly for the key striker.

Arsenal Mid-Season Review: Exciting Times Are Back

The 2007/8 season promised to be an interesting spectacle for Arsenal supporters and critics alike, long before the first match even kicked off.

Countless column-inches of feverish conjecture devoted to Thierry Henry’s sudden departure, the scant spending on new signings compared to many other Premier League clubs, doubts over Arsene Wenger’s future, and questions about the experience of the young Arsenal squad preceded the campaign and dominated the summer transfer window.

Wenger, however, remained characteristically optimistic. “If you ask me if we have the potential to achieve success this year then I say ‘yes, without a doubt’. It is important not to relate only success with money,” he said with a playful swipe at his West London rival.



The Gunners’ attractive, free-flowing style of football has certainly won them many supporters; Pele recently declared himself a fan, and Reading’s Dave Kitson, despite being a Spurs fan, said effusively: “They are without doubt the best footballing team on the planet right now.” In last season’s campaign, though, style triumphed over substance and failed to win trophies.

On August 12th, the first match of the season, Fulham visited the Emirates and it seemed like history could be repeating itself. Just two minutes in, Jens Lehmann gifted David Healy an early goal-scoring opportunity, which he just couldn’t miss.

Despite Van Persie leading a fluid counter-attack, Arsenal’s opener remained elusive. An 84th minute penalty restored the balance and now revitalised, Arsenal pushed forward. In the dying seconds of normal time a decisive shot from the silky Hleb sealed the win.



Where Arsenal had looked uncomfortable at home last season, this was just what was required – the perfect tonic – snatching victory from the jaws of defeat. “Cut out the fancy stuff and shoot!” a frustrated fan had been heard to shout early on in the match; the season now looked a lot more interesting as Arsenal had proved that they could.

Like December’s 4-1 away win over Everton, the victory at Fulham showed the current squad’s self-belief and hunger for success. A willingness to adapt the style of play and to go long when necessary showed a ruthless edge that Arsenal had previously been lacking. Above all it showed a growing realisation that beautiful football alone does not get results.

The Champions League results also mirrored much of what was happening at home. The 3-0 home victory over Seville, 1-0 away win at Steaua Bucharest and 7-0 home demolition of Slavia Prague complemented the domestic league results. Arsenal’s unbeaten run now extended to 28 matches in all competitions – a club record – and reflected the rising confidence of Wenger’s young side.



November, historically Arsenal’s worst month, started with a scoreless draw in Prague, which sealed a place in the knockout stage of the competition, but wasn’t enough to take the top spot in Group H. In Seville at the end of the month, Wenger took the gamble of rotating the team in order to rest players for a tough December.

At first it appeared to be paying off, as Eduardo controlled Bendtner’s probing cross and prodded it home from close range. After Keita’s equaliser midway through the first half, though, Arsenal looked rattled and the perennial problem of defensive composure under pressure reared its head again. Seville’s eventual 3-1 win left Arsenal with the runner-up spot, even despite their subsequent 2-1 victory over Steaua Bucharest at the Emirates.



The unbeaten Premiership run finally came to an end with a 2-1 defeat by Middlesbrough on December 9th. A wrong turn by the team’s coach driver led to a late arrival at the Riverside and little time for preparation. It seemed to be an apt metaphor for what was to follow. Without Fabregas, Flamini, Hleb and Van Persie, all of Arsenal’s chances seemed to be heading in the wrong direction, until Rosicky’s 93rd minute consolation goal hit the target. Shrugging off suggestions of a crisis in depth and experience, Arsenal went on to take 10 points out of 12 in the next four matches.



Now at the mid-point of the season, Arsenal are two points clear of Manchester United at the top of the table; through to the knockout stages of the Champions League, and with hopes very much alive in the two domestic cup competitions many of the pre-season criticisms appear to have been answered. Arsene Wenger’s optimism, it seems, could be well founded.

Throughout all of the ups and downs he has uncompromisingly and unapologetically stuck to his system of play. The method he has developed at Arsenal is based on the collective harnessing of individual talent into a cohesive team effort, to the extent that players who frequently feature for their home country often have difficulty making it into Wenger’s starting XI – a strategy which can lead to some bruised egos. Germany’s national keeper Jens Lehmann has often voiced his feelings at being left on the bench in place of the un-capped Manuel Almunia.



Yet the Spaniard has repaid his manager’s faith with a display of solid form this season. While many of his contemporaries have a tendency to parry the ball away – regularly leading to dangerous situations in front of the goal – Almunia’s preference for catching and holding onto it makes him an effective shot-stopper. In a few short months, he has become one of the Premier League’s top-performing goalkeepers.

French international Lassana Diarra, who arrived from Chelsea on the August 2007 transfer deadline day, has also expressed his frustration at not being included in the starting XI more often; however many feel that more time is needed for him to adapt his skills into Wenger’s style of play.

Entering the New Year with the first half of an already-turbulent season behind them, the Gunners appear to be in a strong position. The 2006/7 financial results place them firmly among the world’s richest clubs; the 2-2 grudge match with Manchester United, watched by an estimated 1.5 billion people, may not have produced the most beautiful or inspiring football, but it reaffirmed Arsenal’s position as a truly global football phenomenon, and demonstrated their ability to grind out a result when needed. Even Sir Alex Ferguson admitted that the North London outfit have a “massive chance” at the title.



But there are many more hurdles to overcome before Arsenal take their first title since 2004. Key defender Kolo Toure, the only player to be on the pitch every minute of every Premiership game, could miss up to eight fixtures for the Gunners if his native Ivory Coast go all the way in the African Nations Cup, which is a worry for a team that has had more than one defensive wobble this season.

The Champions League tie against AC Milan will also be a challenge, and the Gunners still have to face Manchester United and Chelsea at their respective home grounds. “We have belief, we have talent, we are ready to fight,” Wenger has said. All of the necessary components are in place, but only time and performances on the pitch will tell if this young Arsenal team has the mettle to lift the Premier League trophy in May.

Ballack helps Blues fight back

A first-half Danny Murphy penalty was cancelled out by Salomon Kalou's header and a Michael Ballack spot-kick after the break.

It was Roy Hodgson's first game in charge of Fulham, and he brought Moritz Volz back after a one-match suspension, while Diomansy Kamara came in for the suspended Hameur Bouazza.

After the players and crowd paid their respects to Motherwell captain Phil O'Donnell with a minute's applause, Fulham started well, Kamara firing in a low shot at the near post which Hilario parried.

Then Chelsea's Joe Cole put a perfectly-weighted pass through to Salomon Kalou but his effort was comfortably saved by Fulham keeper Antti Niemi.

Shaun Wright-Phillips fizzed a cross-shot past Niemi's right-hand post, but at the other end Moritz Volz broke into the penalty area and was tripped by Joe Cole. Referee Mark Halsey pointed to the spot and Danny Murphy sent Hilario the wrong way to get Hodgson's reign up and running with the first Premier League goal of 2008.



Although Chelsea were enjoying plenty of possession, Fulham were working prodigiously to impress the new manager.

Kalou went sprawling after pushing the ball past Niemi but the striker was offside so there was no question of a penalty.

After Tal Ben Haim fouled Clint Dempsey 30 yards out, Murphy curled the resulting free-kick over the bar. Then Hilario saved from Simon Davies before the break.

Chelsea manager Avram Grant made a half-time change, sending on Jon Obi Mikel for Steve Sidwell, and Chelsea were soon claiming a penalty when a Wright-Phillips cross struck Dejan Stefanovic's arm.

But the Blues were soon level, when Alex headed a Wright-Phillips corner back across goal for Kalou to nod home the equaliser.

Almost inevitably, they took the lead - and it was through another penalty. Michael Ballack had his shirt pulled by Dempsey as a Juliano Belletti free-kick floated into the area. Halsey again pointed to the spot and Ballack converted the spot-kick himself.

The German then fired in a 30-yard free-kick that flew narrowly wide, before Hodgson sent on Seol Ki-Hyeon for Volz, and Alexei Smertin (against his old team) for Steven Davis.


Moments later, Joe Cole shot narrowly wide as Chelsea asserted themselves and pressed home the initiative.

In Hodgson's last change, David Healy came on for Kamara with 15 minutes to go, but it was looking comfortable for Chelsea.

Healy quickly unleashed a volley from the edge of the area which flew over.



Fulham: Niemi, Volz (Ki-Hyeon 68), Bocanegra, Stefanovic, Konchesky, Davis (Smertin 70), Davies, Murphy, Omozusi, Dempsey, Kamara (Healy 77). Subs Not Used: Warner, Kuqi.

Booked: Stefanovic. Goals: Murphy 10 pen.

Chelsea: Hilario, Belletti, Alex, Ben-Haim, Bridge, Wright-Phillips (Pizarro 88), Sidwell (Obi 46), Essien, Ballack, Joe Cole (Ferreira 90), Kalou. Subs Not Used: Taylor, Sinclair.

Goals: Kalou 54, Ballack 62 pen.

Attendance: 25,357

Referee: Mark Halsey (Lancashire).

Arsenal keep pace at the top

A quick-fire goal by Eduardo and an inspirational effort from Emmanuel Adebayor proved the difference in a game that West Ham deserved a lot more from.

Arsenal maintained their top-of-the-table status with a 2-0 win over London rivals West Ham United, but matters rarely went their way in a match that the Hammers should have at least drawn.

Eduardo’s instinctive finish from Fabregas’ cross gave the Gunners the lead (3). But West Ham refused to buckle and should have equalised on a number of occasions.

However, Emmanuel Adebayor made the East Londoners pay with an outstanding curled lob from the bye-line after deceiving Robert Green (21).

Once again the Hammers fought back and could have clawed their way back into the game, but a number of their efforts were either blocked off the line or fell just the wrong side of the posts.

First Half

A better start couldn’t have been envisaged by the capacity crowd at the Emirates Stadium as Arsenal scored three minutes into the match.

West Ham had hardly touched the ball before Thomas Rosicky slipped Cesc Fabregas down the right-flank. The Spaniard looked up and picked out an unmarked Eduardo with a precise cross-pass, and then looked on in admiration as the Brazilian-born Croat striker showed great technique to chest the ball down before applying his customary cool finishing ability to slide the ball past a hapless Robert Green (3).

The goal raised the roof inside the ground, but in-truth it was a defensive calamity from the Hammers to allow Eduardo the space to score.

But West Ham bounced back and only ten minutes later came within inches from equalising. Mark Noble and Anton Ferdinand tried to repeat the goal-scoring trick they managed against Chelsea, with Noble putting a precise ball onto the defender’s head from a corner, but Gael Clichy was athletic enough to clear the ball off the line.

On the 20th minute, the East London outfit almost un-did the North Londoners again, but this time with a slick passing move that finished with former Gunner Fredrick Ljungberg turning and firing a near-post shot that Manuel Almunia saved.

Only a minute later and Arsenal delivered a sickening body-punch, although one that left everyone gawping in awe. Clichy’s long-ball had Green rushing out to claim the ball, only for Emmanuel Adebayor to sneak in first and head the ball past the keeper. But with the ball tight to the bye-line, Adebayor took aim and curled the ball from an impossible angle over the covering the defender and into the net off the far-post (21).

The goal was roundly clapped by all and reminded the more intuitive Arsenal fans of a sublime effort performed by ex-Gunner Kanu, who scored a replica goal on his way to a hat-trick against Chelsea a few years back.

West Ham once again tried to bounce back into the game, with Noble curling a corner for Matthew Upson, but the defender’s goal-bound header was blocked by Kolo Toure.

Alan Curbishley’s men commendably fought back into the game and forced another great chance through full-back John Pantsil, whose overhead kick beat Almunia but not the post.

The score-line at half-time didn’t reflect the way the match went, but a West Ham player did receive the biggest cheer of the match, as Ljungberg was widely applauded from both sets of fans after being forced from the pitch with an injury.

Second Half

The second 45 minutes continued in the same rich vein of free-flowing fast football that its predecessor did, but only this time it was West Ham starting the brighter.

Within a minute and West Ham once again failed to apply the crucial final touch on a great opportunity, as George McCartney somehow managed to flick Noble’s near-post corner an inch wide of the post from six yards out.

Thankfully the match didn’t take a break from the relentless pace that had been set.

Both sides continued to trade swift, slick passing patters, as well as a fair few stinging tackles.

Arsenal came close to increasing their lead via long-range shots from Toure and Fabregas, plus another cute lob from Adebayor that beat Green but bounced wide of the far-post.

But West Ham responded in kind, with Pantsil and lone-forward Carlton Cole firing shots from outside of the area that had Almunia scrambling across his goal.

Just past the hour-mark and Eduardo appealed, unsuccessfully, with half of the Emirates crowd after stumbling in the box from a tug on the shirt by Lucas Neill.

The striker received the game’s second biggest standing ovation when he was replaced shortly later by Theo Walcott.

The young England international made an instant impact as he skipped away from Noble and then past Neill’s challenge, but his eventual shot was weak and saved comfortably by Green.

The Hammers bought Dean Ashton on late in the game but there was not much the bulky forward could do to change the way the match was going.

The final whistle was sounded minutes later to signal the fact that Arsenal enter the New Year as league leaders.

Chelsea chair blasts African Nations Cup

Chelsea chairman Bruce Buck has called on FIFA to deal with the 'craziness' of the international calendar as the club prepare to lose four players to the African Nations Cup in January.

The Blues go into their opening game of 2008 with eight players on the treatment table, including Ivory Coast striker Didier Drogba, but with Mikel John Obi, Salomon Kalou and Michael Essien all fit.

These four, assuming Drogba recovers from his knee surgery in time, will head off to Ghana to play in the finals and leave Chelsea's squad even more depleted.

Captain John Terry, goalkeepers Petr Cech and Carlo Cudicini, plus Claude Makelele, Andriy Shevchenko, Florent Malouda, Frank Lampard and Drogba are all sidelined and none are likely to return against Fulham tomorrow.

The African Nations Cup will increase the pressure on Grant to make swift moves into the transfer market during the January window, but Buck hopes that FIFA can solve the problem in the future.

Buck said: 'We will lose several players to the African Nations Cup. This is unfortunate because it is a very difficult time of the season and we will need all of our players to help.

'We do recognise, however, that a player's greatest honour is to play for his country and we have to respect that.

'We can only hope that FIFA will stop some of this craziness in the years ahead and adjust the calendar so that club football is not continually interrupted and disrupted for international events when a better thought-out calendar could solve these anomalies.'