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.

Barcelona won the FIFA Club World Cup for the second time in three years on Sunday with a commanding victory over Brazilian side Santos.Lionel Messi scored twice to cap a brilliant performance and Cesc Fabregas and Xavi also got on the scoresheet in a one-sided contest in Yokohama.

Barcelona, who were without striker David Villa after he broke the shinbone in his left leg in their 4-0 semi-final victory over Al-Sadd.

Liverpool Reserves produced another exhilarating display of attacking football to overwhelm Bolton 3-1 on Tuesday afternoon.
Second-half goals from Suso, Adam Morgan and Raheem Sterling did the damage as the young Reds made it two wins on the spin in the Barclays Premier Reserve League North.
Michael O'Halloran grabbed a late consolation for the visitors but it did little to take the gloss off an accomplished showing.

By JOHN BOSCHINI

Lionel Messi took another step towards becoming the most prolific goal-scorer in Barcelona's history as the 24-year-old striker scored his 200th, 201st and 202nd goal for the club.

Messi's clinical penalty kick was the opening goal in Barcelona's straight-forward 4-0 victory over Viktoria Plezen as the defending champions officially booked a place in the knockout rounds and take pole position in Group H.

What ho Arsenal fans. How do? Last week I wrote with regards to my slutiness for Arsenal victories and fortunately, my lascivious appetite hath been rewarded to the point that I may have to check myself into Arsenal's new state of the art medical centre for a check up. Whereupon I will doubtless be told that "the chronic itching will be gone in a matter of days, not weeks.

A nice cutback goal from Dempsey and strong play from Shea and Howard as US walks away 1-0 winners in Klinsi's first US win, a win over Honduras.Video: USSoccer
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Match Review: Liverpool 2 Wolves 1

Liverpool bounced back from their defeat against Spurs with three points against Wolves at Anfield yesterday. The win ended a spell of two league defeats for the Reds and saw them climb back up to 6th in the table claim their first September Premier League win since the 6-1 victory over Hull City in 2009.

Liverpool 2-1 Wolves | Premier League match report

His achievements have given Kenny Dalglish a line of credit not available to the likes of UBS or Northern Rock. He could have survived an early exit from the Carling Cup and a home defeat by Wolverhampton Wanderers, which so bankrupted Roy Hodgson's regime.

Goals:
Johnson (og) 12'
Suarez 38'
Fletcher 46'
Phew. Excellent, if direct, first half. Terrifying, nerve-shredding second. This team doesn't do anything the easy way.
Despite Wolves running at defenders for the first five to ten minutes, snuffed out by Enrique in open play and Carroll on set pieces, Liverpool settled with another early strike.

Brighton & Hove Albion 1-2 Liverpool | Carling Cup third-round report

Liverpool survived a stylish second-half fightback by Brighton to progress to the fourth round of the Carling Cup thanks to goals from Craig Bellamy and Dirk Kuyt, before a late penalty from Ashley Barnes gave the Championship club some reward for their efforts.

Arsenal came from behind to seal their spot in the Champions League group stages with a terrific 2-1 win over Udinese after a fraught contest in Italy.

The Premier League side claimed a 3-1 victory on aggregate courtesy of second-half goals from Robin van Persie and Theo Walcott, but it was far from an easy ride in a hot and humid Udine.

Sergio Agüero made an impressive debut for Manchester City and he scored twice and assisted on another as Manchester City beat Swansea City 4-0.

Aguero started the game on the bench as Man City lacked that cutting edge in front of goal in the first half. Swansea goalkeeper Michal Vorm was impressive in his debut for the Welsh site making a string of saves while David Silva and Gareth Barry both hit the crossbar

But eventually Man City's class told in the 57th minute when Vorm failed to hold Adam Johnson's curling effort into the path of Džeko, who tapped in.

Sergio Agüero made an impressive debut for Manchester City and he scored twice and assisted on another as Manchester City beat Swansea City 4-0.

Aguero started the game on the bench as Man City lacked that cutting edge in front of goal in the first half. Swansea goalkeeper Michal Vorm was impressive in his debut for the Welsh site making a string of saves while David Silva and Gareth Barry both hit the crossbar

But eventually Man City's class told in the 57th minute when Vorm failed to hold Adam Johnson's curling effort into the path of Džeko, who tapped in.

Sorry for no United match reaction this weekend; a youth soccer tournament intervened. That said, watching my girls roller-coaster through the tournament was a lot like watching United's uneven 2011 progress. So much so, in fact, that those thirteen girls in red shirts running through the rain were starting to look distinctly like tea leaves in which I could read United's valiant, but ultimately futile, stretch run.

Bring on the Eastern Conference leaders, please.

The Colorado Rapids faced the conference leaders for the second time in nine days and emerged with three points. This time it was in Philadelphia where the Rapids defeated the Union 2-1.

While it wasn't as dominating as the 4-1 beating Colorado delivered to the New York Red Bulls on July 20, it was an even more rare creature.

McLeish's first game in charge ended in a comfortable 3-1 at the Bescot thanks to a brace from Darren Bent and rare goal from Emile Heskey, but it could have been much more with several players going close throughout the game, notably Nathan Delfouneso during a strong second half performance.

Damn, harder to find the highlights than you could believe, but here they are, because, damn, you need to watch this game. Replay is on ESPN2 tonight at 11pm CST and ESPN3...Either way, a 2nd minute own goal off a bad deflection by Brazil opens the scoring for the US. It was a sweet cutback, and anyone will tell you, just get the ball in front of the net, because you never know what happens.

Call it an episode of Chester Shore.

Shots shots shots-shots-shots. But not much game.

Breaking down the defense

The Union huffed and puffed (and an appearance by Hugh Jackman nearly blew the house down), but Jimmy Nielsen and shooting display worthy of a Die Hard villain left Philadelphia with a single point from two matches against inferior competition.

Put all your partisanship aside and enjoy the ball in flight. It's been switched crossed field from the inside-left position by the skillful, balding, English bulldog in ballet slippers to the man on the right touch in all black boots and pomade-infused black hair. Taken out of the air with the inside of the foot and stopped dead by the simplest of grace, the game has changed from a waltz on spiked Lucozade to an aguardiente-inspired pasillo remix.

By JOHN BOSCHINI

The Chicago Fire dominated the visiting Vancouver Whitecaps in every category except the scoreline as the two teams battled to a scoreless draw at Toyota Park.

Chicago began the game with a flurry of chances that went begging.

Celtic 6-2 Rangers, August 2000 Your boys took one hell of a beating is a post from: Just Football

by William Heaney

While Martin O'Neill's appointment as Celtic manager was warmly welcomed by the club's fans in July 2000, the general consensus was that he would have a huge task on his hands to build a successful side.

Juan Agudelo's stunning second-half goal was the cherry on top of the delicious sundae that was the Red Bulls resounding 4-0 victory over hated rivals DC united last night in the nation's capital. It's a goal that will be talked about for a long time, and could very well be in the running for MLS Goal of the Year honors when all is said and done.

By JOHN BOSCHINI

There were no surprises in Wednesday's UEFA Champions League quarterfinals as Real Madrid and Schalke used virtually insurmountable leads to carry them into the semifinals.

Tottenham's European dreams came to an end with a 1-0 defeat (5-0 on aggregate) to Real Madrid at White Heart Lane.

Reina
Kelly Kyrgiakos Agger Wilson
Lucas Poulsen
Kuyt Meireles Cole
Ngog
Goals:
Kuyt 86'
Just enough. Barely. But just enough will do.
There were a lot of similarities to the last leg except where it counts, in the result. Liverpool deployed a similar 4-2-3-1 formation, with key players still absent.

Reina
Kelly Skrtel Agger Johnson
Lucas Poulsen
Kuyt Meireles Maxi
Torres
Goals:
Torres 36' 90+1'
Meireles 50'
After four games, performances finally lead to a result. A deservedly comprehensive three-goal away win, for Dalglish's first victory in his second stint as Liverpool's manager.