A first win of 2012, seven goals, a striker in the form of his life, and one of the most exciting young talents in the country. Finally a day really worth cheering about.

The emergence of Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, in particular, is great news for the club. In recent times Arsene Wenger seemed to have lost his touch with bringing in exceptional young talents, with the likes of Diaby, Denilson and Walcott not fulfilling their potential, and the most exciting player, Wilshere, coming up through the club's academy.

Against Wolves, Jordan Henderson only misplaced four of his passes from open play for a completion rate topping 90%. He may not have connected on any of his seven attempted crosses, which does rather drag down his overall numbers, but it is nonetheless an impressive statistic. As for how he achieved such a high completion rate, the answer is a fairly simple one: He kept it simple.

It's been awhile since I trawled through the Guardian chalkboards for interesting items. I know, we all missed it.
I remain convinced that Liverpool changed tact in midfield during the interval. The key seemed to be Spearing, more willing to stay in his own half and shield the defense rather than pressing higher up the pitch and leaving gaps.

By 1970's Gooner Fabiansky Needs to improve his kicking. Other than that had a good game. Came out to collect the high balls when he could and relieved the pressure that we all feel when crosses come in. 6 Coquelin Improves with every game and plays with confidence. With Jenkinson still out I think he will be a very able understudy to Sagna.

Video: FA Cup: Everton/Fulham

In a showdown between two of the USA's best attackers, Landon Donovan prevailed providing both the crosses that resulted in two perfect strikes as Everton beat Clint Dempsey and Fulham. The man from Nacogdoches had a quieter evening.

Donovan has had an instant impact on Everton making the best of his two month loan and Dempsey is on par to repeat last season's success, most recently scoring a hat trick against Newcastle.

U.S. Soccer fans were dialed in to yesterdays' FA Cup fourth round clash between Everton and Fulham that featured Tim Howard, Landon Donovan and Clint Dempsey. The home side walked out 2-1 winners, with Donovan serving up assists on both goals for the Toffees. The win was the first for Everton against Fulham in their FA Cup history.

After each match the contributors to New England Soccer Today will rate the performances of the United States National Team players who made an appearance on a 1 to 10 scale (1 horrendous, 5 average, 10 perfection). This week Brian O'Connell, Julian Cardillo and Sean Donahue contributed ratings for the USA's 1-0 victory over Panama.

Kenny Dalglish may have threatened to axe some under-performing players in the Liverpool squad following Saturday's humiliating 3-1 loss to Bolton but he has firmly maintained his support behind winger Stewart Downing.

Downing cost the Reds £20 million during the summer transfer window and despite showing sparks of brilliance, the England international has yet to score or provide an assist in his Liverpool career.

Arsenal 1 (Van Persie 71) Man United 2 (Valencia 45, Welbeck 81)
(Premiership)

The bare facts make for grim reading. Defeat to United leaves us fifteen points behind them, and eighteen off the pace set by their city rivals. Our own neighbours remain ten points above us despite their loss earlier in the day, and that critical fourth spot is still an elusive five points away.

Let's get this out of the way right at the beginning: Christian Sivebaek sees himself as a wide midfielder. During our relatively brief conversation, the 6-foot-3, soon-to-be 24-year-old made that point abundantly clear. Sivebaek said he could play on the right or on the left, but indicated he's never played as a central midfielder and left little doubt that he felt his skills were being wasted as a right back.

Everyone loves to know the trialists, so let's start off with the fact that Jonathan Prieto and Alex Caskey make their return to Seattle Sounders FC. Joining them are Academy Alumni Darwin Jones and two keepers in Andrew Weber (formerly of the San Jose Earthquakes) and Tyrel Lacey. The first session consisted of the draftees (except for Banton and Feighner who aren't in town yet) and a handful of returning players.

Arsenal relying on van Persie and midfield strength to beat Manchester United - originally posted on Soccerlens.com

In August Manchester United and Wayne Rooney inflicted a resounding 8-2 defeat on Arsenal, with Rooney netting a hat-trick. However, since then it is Robin van Persie who has lit up the Premier League.

As exciting a name for the future as Joao Teixeira might be, most would agree he isn't going to make a difference when it comes to where Liverpool finishes this season. On the other hand, when it comes to just what the biggest shortcoming of this Liverpool squad is—the biggest thing holding them back—very few seem to agree on anything.

And now, the resolution of The Bent Musket's 2011 season grades for the New England Revolution! Corey, Matty, and I have looked at the four major areas of the team - goalkeeping, defense, midfield, forwards - and assigned our grades on a 4.0 scale.

Unfortunately for the New England Revolution, we don't curve based on the rest of the league.

BY ADAM SERRANO

It appears that injury bug has hit the U.S. January camp and that may render two key players for the senior team and Under-23 side doubtful for upcoming friendlies.

Under-23 right winger Josh Gatt was unavailable for training on Monday after suffering an apparent ankle injury on Sunday evening.

I exaggerate to make a point, of course, but the game yesterday seemed to sum up 'bad Fulham' under Martin Jol. When we get it right, we're excellent. When we don't we're extremely frustrating. This is shown in the second diagram, illustrating our habit of trying to walk the ball through massed defences (who have funneled us accordingly, knowing that we can't hurt them wide).

I've seen some hand-wringing and questions as to how Liverpool were lined up yesterday, especially in the second half.
I tried to explain the set-up and the reasons for it in yesterday's match review, but pictures always make things easier. Not a 1000 words easier, but easier nonetheless.

By FRANCO PANIZO

FT. LAUDERDALE, Fla. -- Most of the positive talk during the 2012 MLS Combine has surrounded the forwards and attacking midfielders, but one player who has performed well and does not play either of those positions is Chris Blais.

The 6-foot-4, 195-pound goalkeeper was one of the more consistent performers through the event, showing good command of his area and making a handful of fine saves in the process in all three of his team's games.

So, how's that crossing toward Carroll thing going?
Through the first 17 league games, Liverpool averaged just under 19 crosses per match. In the three since, Liverpool are averaging exactly 35 crosses per match, with 43 against Blackburn, 26 against Newcastle, and 36 against City.

If Carroll starts he'll be looking for those delicious crosses from Gerrard...Liverpool travel to the City of Manchester Stadium on Tuesday evening to face Mancini's side for the first of three times this month. The Reds will be looking to take advantage of City after they lost to Sunderland on Sunday.

Round 1 Of 3 Versus City

If Carroll starts he'll be looking for those delicious crosses from Gerrard... Liverpool travel to the City of Manchester Stadium on Tuesday evening to face Mancini's side for the first of three times this month. The Reds will be looking to take advantage of City after they lost to Sunderland on Sunday.

David de Gea has claimed that he reckons he can be as big a legend for this club as Edwin Van der Sar, despite his early mistakes for the club.

"Hopefully, I will equal or even surpass the performance and ­contribution he made to the club," said de Gea. "Let's face it, all goalkeepers make mistakes once in a while and none of us like it when we do.

By 1970's Gooner I call it as I see it. And Walcott looked slightly out of touch against QPR. His crosses left a lot to be desired and he rearely got beyond his man. There was a better balance in the team of course when compared to when Benayoun was deployed on the side in the game against Wolves.

Even the return of Steven Gerrard cannot end Andy Carroll's barren run | Richard Williams

Liverpool's captain came on and lifted his team but the £35m striker from Newcastle could not capitalise against his old club When Steven Gerrard finally arrived to sort out the lamentable crossing that had hobbled Liverpool's efforts during the first hour, Andy Carroll began to look like a centre-forward once again.

Seattle Sounders FC signing Adam Johansson fills the hole at right back left open from the loss of James Riley, but Technical Director Chris Henderson sees him as adding more to the role rather than a like-for-like swap;

I think losing James Riley, a seasoned veteran in our league, it's tough to lose James.

I have said it's no surprise that we drew 1-1 in this one really based on our performances of late. We pick ourselves up for the big games like Newcastle, City and Spurs in the league but for some reason our performances suffer against the likes of Wigan and now Fulham!. In saying that I mean no disrespect to both those sides and to Fulham especially as I don't think Fulham fans thought they would come away with anything after being stuffed 5-0 at home to United.

Of all Liverpool players, Stewart Downing was perhaps the most influential in Monday's draw with Blackburn Rovers. After the game, LFC supporters had plenty to say about the winger's performance.
To start, please don't mistake "influential" for a glowing review. It's more of a way of saying he was key to the outcome of the game.

Goals:
Adam (og) 45'
Maxi 53'
Liverpool have been massively unlucky in an awful lot of matches, but this one's going to take some beating. Another terrible, horrible, no good, very bad home draw in a season already chock-full of them.
Blackburn had exactly one chance, from Dunn in the 79th, on the break and spoiled by his own teammate.

Everybody I talked to said the same thing – we were up for it like no other game in recent memory. Not just a derby, this one has become more sour over the last few years. There's a bitter edge to it, compared with the intense but long-standing rivalry with the Arsen*l, heightened by the welcome but unusual sensation of being third and favourites.

We ended up giving a good account of ourselves against Man City but not winning, which was pardonable enough, but embracing the tag of honourable losers is not an act any team should partake in with any relish or frequency. Getting a positive result was the most important thing against Villa, and it gave me perverse pleasure when we managed to do it in spite of being quite poor overall.

Match report Video and highlights -

There was nothing more important than taking three points last night. A good performance is always welcome, but winning after playing some way below par is also welcome. Winning after playing some way below par and very late in the game against a team managed by Alex McLeish, is more welcome than Johnny Beer and Fred Rum around my house.

The feeling on the Chelsea forums can be described as depressed whilst still cautiously optimistic. Their predictions hinge on whether or not Bale and King are available for us. King because in the games he's played for us this season we have 25 out of 27 points. Bale because up against Bosingwa, they reckon he'll easily be able to get in behind him and get crosses in.

The result at Carrow Road today was not good, but the performance was very good, but Newcastle paid dearly for very poor defending from crosses and corners into the box this afternoon. The good news is that Davide Santon looks some player, and we'd be very surprised if he doesn't start at either full-back position next Saturday against Swansea City.

Photo: Earl Gardner

Editor's note: At the end of the 2010 season, we posted a series of season reviews of every Philadelphia Union player. Over the next several weeks PSP continues with a review of the 2011 season.

Justin Mapp heads to Montreal after an inconsistent one-and-a-half year stint in Philadelphia.

In today's announcement the Seattle Sounders made it clear that Michael Gspurning (guh-SHPURN-ing) is not replacing Kasey Keller, but instead the team's new goalkeeper. Long having been rumored to sign with the club, Gspurning's signing is finally official. The Austrian earned 3 CAPs with the national team and 96 appearances in the Greek and Austrian top-flights, twice being named an All-Star in Greece.

Since his summer transfer from Newcastle, Jose Enrique has put in some exceptional performances for Liverpool, but his former Manager Alan Pardew has suggested that the Spaniard may be partly to blame for Andy Carroll's struggled at Anfield.
Pardew, whose Newcastle team is three points head of Liverpool in the table, observed:
"I had an issue with Enrique putting the ball into the box for him [Carroll].

Newcastle United boss Alan Pardew: Liverpool are not playing to Andy Carroll's strengths

Toon boss also feels that left-back Jose Enrique may not be ideally suited to provide crosses for their former forward, but backs Steven Gerrard to be involved in Euro 2012

View the full story here: Goal

A news article on 2011-12-04 13:07:00 from: Goal

This news item has been reproduced from today's media.

Newcastle United manager Alan Pardew believes that Liverpool is not playing to Andy Carroll's strengths.
The young hitman made a record £35 million move from the Magpies to Merseyside during last season's winter transfer window, but has scored only four league goals since his big-money move to Anfield.

Featured image: Paul Rudderow

When I was gathering the season stats for all of the Philadelphia Union players to share with the PSP writers for our forthcoming 2011 season review series I realized no passing stats were available, either for the club or for individual players. Actually, that's not precisely true; you can find passing percentages for the team on a game-by-game basis by clicking on the Stat tab for each game's MatchCenter page at MLSsoccer.

Pepe Reina once went 11 games without conceding a goal for Liverpool, a fantastic achievement that illustrates his prodigious ability between the sticks. This season, Reina hasn't been as lucky, but he's still been integral to the club's excellent 11 game unbeaten run. Liverpool legend Gary Gillespie is a big fan of Reina, but argues that he still needs to improve one specific area of his game.