On Saturday afternoon, just before 12.45, a big-spending manager will take his seat in the dugout at Anfield aware that his side is desperate for a victory to ease the mounting pressure. Defeat will bring an avalanche of criticism. Yes, Mark Hughes could be in for a torrid afternoon if his Manchester City side is beaten by Liverpool. Click to continue reading...

Les joueurs algeriens blessés au Caire
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A cellphone camera captures the stoning of the bus carrying the Algerian soccer players by Egyptian fans as they travel through Cairo.

Matches between these two countries have never ended well.

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Where to begin with this one? If you approached fans of Columbus and let them know in advance of the game, that they would take a two goal lead within the first 35 minutes at home, against the worst road team in MLS, they would have taken that in a hearbeat. And that's just what did happen, as two Guillermo Barros Schelotto goals got the Crew off to the start they needed.

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Chelsea's unstoppable striker Didier Drogba struck twice in the span of six minutes to silence over 50,000 Atletico Madrid fans at the Vicente Calderon stadium. Atletico's Argentine sensation Sergio Aguero netted either side of Drogba's brace, but that was not enough to prevent the Rojiblancos from UEFA Champions League elimination.

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Fox Soccer Channel today put out a press release on the growth of its ratings numbers over the past year, its first as a Nielsen-rated channel.

Among reports of increases in Serie A and English Premiership viewers, the statement also points out that "Major League Soccer audiences are up 89%, averaging 51,000 viewers last month vs.

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By now, it must be obvious.

The best player in the Premiership on this day was Yossi Benayoun. No words can describe the moment of genius that possessed him to split the Man Utd defense, in so comprehensive a fashion as that pass that isolated Fernando Torres, a move which had Rio Ferdinand grab him futilely.

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A shambolic display with inept defending. Crosses, corners, and long balls and and out of position Tim Howard in each situation. To be fair to him, the defense gave no help. It was so bad that fans started exiting the stadium after the fourth goal in the 51st minute. Moyes looked like he has swallowed a toad.

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Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez is on a collision course with Denmark over the fitness of Daniel Agger.
The Reds centre half has managed just 68 minutes for the reserves this season so far, as he slowly returns from a back problem, but looks set to play for his country in two games over the next four days. Click to continue reading...

United were rather fortunate to take all three points in the corresponding fixture last season. The Potters had a fantastic record at home, that they look like carrying through to this season, and it took a last minute goal from Carlos Tevez to ensure United emerged victorious that day.

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SO we are a couple of days away from a pretty tough test against Brisbane Roar at Suncorp.
FP was having a flick through history (philosophically speaking, of course) and basically it says that the Glory sucks at Suncorp – we've never won a game there.
But records were meant to be broken, weren't they? Click to continue reading...

Hull boss Phil Brown has once again warned Liverpool counterpart Rafa Benitez to forget about landing Michael Turner on the cheap this month.
The Tigers were narrowly beaten 2-1 at Chelsea on Saturday and while Brown was disappointed to lose so late on, his more immediate task is hanging on to Turner and Andy Dawson before the transfer window closes at the end of the month. Click to continue reading...

I keep going over a few different things in my head for this big game today. While we all know the US has never won in Mexico I do feel that this time things could be different. At the very least a draw would be huge but a win would easily signal a trip to South Africa for this bunch.

So what steps do the US need to take to get a least a point out of this trip to the Azteca?

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Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez has confirmed his interest in signing Hull defender Michael Turner.
Benitez is in the market for a new central defender following the departure of Sami Hyypia and he has targeted a move for Turner.
Turner enjoyed a fine season with Hull last term and Benitez is believed to have been impressed by the former Brentford man. Click to continue reading...

Xabi Alonso has admitted his "relief" that Real Madrid and Liverpool are in negotiations over his future as the long-running saga over the Spanish international's possible £30 million move to the Bernabeu draws closer to a conclusion.
Christian Purslow, the Liverpool managing director, met Jose Angel Sanchez, his Real Madrid counterpart, before the Premier League side's 3-0 defeat to Espanyol in Barcelona last night to discuss the move after Real requested face-to-face talks. Click to continue reading...

Barcelona president Joan Laporta has defended the club's attempts to sign Zlatan Ibrahimovic and insisted the money involved is not comparable to that splashed out by Real Madrid this summer.

Madrid have spent over 200million euros bringing in Cristiano Ronaldo, Kaka, Karim Benzema and Raul Albiol while so far it has been much quieter at the Nou Camp where they have only signed Maxwell.

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I know I've kinda overlooked MLS the last couple of week, with all the USMNT and transfer happenings, but today I will make up for that. And, of course, the new MLS Club Ladder is up at S365...#1 - President Obama received a signed Samba Kings shirt and then some stick from his Brazilian counterpart at the G-8 Summit, but apparently concluded the meeting by insisting that will not happen the next Click to continue reading...

Oh Ronaldo, he makes it so easy for us sometimes! Anyway, mano has spoken up about CR's arrival at Madrid and why you should believe in Adriano Barbecue Chips again.

"In my case and that of Adriano, we both made history in the field.

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Real Madrid will finally be granted a fair opportunity to negotiate with Liverpool for the transfer of Xabi Alonso.
According to AS, the Anfield outfit's new managing director, Christian Purslow, has told his counterpart in the Spanish capital, Jorge Valdano, to give him a few days before opening formal discussions as he first wants to undertake an extensive revision of the club's accounts to determine their economic situation and set an appropriate asking price for the midfielder. Click to continue reading...

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                                                    Photo by ISIphotos.com

I was going to do a standard "Look Back" on the USA-Brazil game when it dawned on me that at this point there aren't many people interested in looking back at that mess.

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                                                    Photo by ISIphotos.com

I was going to do a standard "Look Back" on the USA-Brazil game when it dawned on me that at this point there aren't many people interested in looking back at that mess.

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Somewhere up in that Parque Central up in the sky my wife's grandmother is smiling. I remember when I was courting my beautiful wife I tried to earn brownie points and got burned for it. "Grandma, you look like a Peñarol fan."
Suddenly her Jedi powers took effect. "Peñarol! You must not like yourself too much! Click to continue reading...

Cup games are always something different as it's a no-hold barred contest between the two team that whoever lose - OUT YOU GO!! simple as that.
The match between Geylang United and Brunei DPMM was my first League Cup match having just returned from my Down Under trip.
This was deemed "NO-GOAL"
Was late for the game as it was last minute decision to be at the ground for this match, so I missed the first goal of the night. Click to continue reading...

It was a packed house in the U.S. press conference, with several U.S. journalists having made the trip from the States while there is heavy interest from the Costa Rican media. So far, the locals have been impressed with Bob Bradley's willingness to discuss the circumstances surrounding the game - you get the sense his counterpart is not quite so forthcoming. Click to continue reading...

Liverpool manager Rafa Benitez is hoping to revive his interest in Middlesbrough defender David Wheater after the Riverside club were relegated from the Premier League.
Benitez tried to sign the England under-21 international last summer and enquired about his availability in January but his Middlesbrough counterpart Gareth Southgate was unwilling to part with one of the key players in his side's battle for survival. Click to continue reading...

26th July 2009
Singapore National Team v Liverpool Football Club
National Stadium, Singapore
7.00pm Kick Off
‘The Kop' (East Entrance): $88
North Entrance : $88
South Entrance : $88
Grandstand Lower : $88
Grandstand ‘RED' : $188
The Kop? Click to continue reading...

Ian Rush wrote for the Liverpool Echo today claiming there was no problem with Rafael Benitez's decision to make a point of not congratulating Sir Alex Ferguson on the title.

Whilst Benitez wasn't expected to kiss and make up with Ferguson, who got the better of the FSW this season, it surely shouldn't have been too much to ask to say a simple 'well done' to the manager.

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These are the two arguably most exciting players of football at the moment and they have a lot in common. Both are very young and exciting to watch, while at the same time they have quickly become key players in their respective teams. They will meet in Champions League final this season but these meetings could become more frequent if Ronaldo leaves Manchester United for Real Madrid at the end of the season.

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Tevez - listening to offers?

Well another week has meant another win for the top two, another bad week for Arsenal and of course another week of transfer rumours.

For months now specualtion has never really gone away that Manchester United will not stump up the reported £30 Million or so that Media Sports Investments want for him.

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With J Hutcherson -- Credit Women's Professional Soccer commissioner Tonya Antonucci for doing what her Major League Soccer counterpart failed to do and publicly asking US Soccer about the quality of the officials assigned to her League's games. As part of the announcement that she was using commissioner discretion in the aftermath of Sunday's Freedom - Athletica game, Antonucci also "directed that the circumstances of this match be brought to the attention of the US. Click to continue reading...

Saturday's final Old Firm match of the season could go a long way to deciding who wins the Scottish Premier League but both Celtic manager Gordon Strachan and Rangers counterpart Walter Smith are playing down suggestions of a title decider.

Here, BBC Scotland reviews how the final Old Firm derby of the season has impacted the SPL title race in previous campaigns.

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Rafa Benítez could not resist a dig at Sir Alex Ferguson on Saturday.Asked about criticism he received from both Manchester United's manager and Sam Allardyce following Liverpool's recent win against Blackburn, the Spaniard retorted. "Maybe people have nothing to do."
Ferguson claimed that when Liverpool assumed an early 2–0 lead Benitez made a hand motion indicating the game was over but his Anfield counterpart insists it was merely a self deprecatory gesture intended for Xabi Alonso who had ignored his instructions and created a goal. Click to continue reading...

Valdes - 6.5 - Had a decent night. Kept another clean sheet. Now he has not conceded a goal for 632 minutes in the league. Looked a bgit more nervous in the end but was sloid otherwise.
Abidal - 7 - Was solid throughout the match. It's true that capel did get past him at some time. But that's ok. Click to continue reading...

Rafa Benitez believes Sir Alex Ferguson is feeling 'nervous' as the Premier League title race hurtles towards a gripping climax.
Liverpool are breathing down Manchester United's necks at the top of the table having been galvanised by last month's 4-1 win at Old Trafford.
Benitez's side briefly dislodged United at the summit on Saturday after thrashing Blackburn Rovers 4-0 before the reigning champions laboured to a 2-1 win at Sunderland. Click to continue reading...

Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson has suggested that Liverpool's Rafael Benitez is becoming consumed by the war of words between the two.
He claims it was "fantastic" to hear his Liverpool counterpart renew hostilities while preparing for the Champions League quarter-final against Chelsea. Click to continue reading...

Guus Hiddink has insisted Chelsea must not believe their place in the Champions League semi-final is already booked because of Liverpool's rich history of doing "impossible" things in the competition.
The Chelsea manager admitted the 3-1 win, which leaves Rafa Benitez's side needing a miracle at Stamford Bridge next week to progress, was "unexpected" but said he would urge his players not to take anything for granted, especially with captain John Terry suspended. Click to continue reading...