Some players like lots of time and space, others can operate in crowds.

To play in central midfield you need to be at one end of what we'll call the space-time continuum; if you are not at the right end you may struggle in that role. In that case you need to find somewhere else where you will get space and time.

The All-American showdown went to Landon Donovan, Tim Howard and Everton.

Donovan came up with two assists to guide the Toffees to a 2-1, come-from-behind victory over Clint Dempsey's Fulham at Goodison Park in the fourth round of the FA Cup on Friday.

Donovan hit summer acquisition Denis Stracqualursi with a pinpoint left-footed cross from the right in the 27th minute, and the Argentine headed it past Fulham goalkeeper David Stockdale to pull Everton level at 1-1.

Danny Murphy converted a 14th-minute penalty to put Fulham up at Goodison Park, but it would be Everton advancing to the Fifth Round of the FA Cup. Denis Stracqualursi equalized in the 27th minute and Marouane Fellaini headed in the winner in the 73rd. Landon Donovan and Tim Howard started for Everton, with Clint Dempsey in the lineup for Fulham.

A brilliant Rafael Van der Vaart strike guided Tottenham Hotspur to a 1-0 win at Watford while Marouane Fellaini's decisive second-half goal saw off Fulham in Friday's all-Premier League FA Cup Fourth Round clash at Goodison Park.

Van der Vaart struck right before half-time from 30-yards out to stun Vicarage Road and give the Spurs a slender advantage that the hosts were not able to overturn.

Clint Dempsey hit a second-half hat-trick to lead his Fulham side to an unlikely 5-2 victory over Newcastle United at Craven Cottage in one of the most eye-catching football scores of the day.
It was a typical case of a game of two halves as Fulham wrestled the initiative from Newcastle after a one-sided first half.

Newcastle's hopes of taking advantage of Chelsea's draw at Norwich were stopped by a five-goal second-half blitz from Fulham as they lost 5-2 at Fulham.

Fulham were poor in the first-hald and it was no surprise that Newcastle scored first thanks to a Danny Guthrie thunderbolt from outside the area.

By Alan Duffy

Fulham 5-2 Newcastle United Premier League 21 January 2012

"I gave a free-kick against you because I hate you and your big head of lovely big hair"

Newcastle were always going to face their biggest test when the Africa Cup Of Nations robbed them of two of their star performers this season, Demba Ba and Cheik Tioté, and judging on today's result, the Magpies could face a difficult month.

Two weeks ago Clint Dempsey made headlines with his first career hat trick, hitting the back of the net three times in Fulham FC's 4-0 FA Cup Third Round win over Football League One (English second division) side Charlton Athletic.

Now, just a day after being named 2011 U.S. Soccer Male Athlete of the Year, Dempsey is in the news again, with another three goal performance.

This morning, Clint Dempsey became the first American to score a hat trick in the Premier League, leading Fulham to a come-from-behind 5-2 win over Newcastle at Craven Cottage. Danny Guthrie put Newcastle on top with a goal from distance in the 42nd minute, but Fulham's Danny Murphy converted a penalty kick following a foul by Davide Santon against Damien Duff in the 50th minute to tie the match
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Alan Pardew acknowledges that Newcastle United's 5-2 defeat at the hands of Fulham has left him frustrated but defended his players, insisting that they have a lot to be proud of for their overall showing this season.

Clint Dempsey's famous hat-trick and two second-half penalties from Danny Murphy and Bobby Zamora condemned the Magpies to an emphatic loss despite Danny Guthrie's stunning opening goal at Craven Cottage.

Newcastle's hopes of taking advantage of Chelsea's draw at Norwich were stopped by a five-goal second-half blitz from Fulham as they lost 5-2 at Fulham.

Fulham were poor in the first-hald and it was no surprise that Newcastle scored first thanks to a Danny Guthrie thunderbolt from outside the area.

Have you ever seen anything like it?

One of the worst first half performances in memory. Newcastle were very impressive, well drilled, pressurising perfectly, timing their confrontations and ganging up on our players relentlessly. We couldn't keep the ball. They could, spraying it around and running us ragged.

By Alan Duffy

Blackburn Rovers 3-1 Fulham Premier League 14th January 2012

Steve Kean watched his side produce a superb battling performance at Ewood Park on Saturday, a performance which ultimately moved Blackburn out of the relegation zone for the first time since September.

The Legend of Clint Dempsey continues to grow at Craven Cottage.

Just over a month removed from eclipsing Brian McBride's record 36 career goals scored by an American in the English Premier League, the former Revolution midfielder pulled the trigger three times in a 4-0 FA Cup tournament victory over Charlton Athletic on Saturday.

Don't look now, but Fulham are tied with Wolves for the most yellow cards in the league (37). We had 52 yellow cards all of last season, 46 in 2009-10, and 40 in 2008-09.

Brede Hangeland, Chris Baird, Danny Murphy, Moussa Dembele, and Steve Sidwell all have 4 yellow cards. Mark Schwarzer has one.

Like James Brown and his brand new bag, Manchester United have rediscovered their "groove". For a team supposedly in crisis, this win – and indeed, the general response post-Basel – serves as an emphatic reminder to the critics that they are very much still a force. Ryan Giggs perfectly summed up what was so good about Manchester United's performance against Fulham last night: "When you have so many options on the ball – people running in behind, people dropping in the hole – we're a very difficult team to play," Giggs eulogised after the impressive 5-0 win.

Like James Brown and his brand new bag, Manchester United have rediscovered their "groove". For a team supposedly in crisis, this win – and indeed, the general response post-Basel – serves as an emphatic reminder to the critics that they are very much still a force. Ryan Giggs perfectly summed up what was so good about Manchester United's performance against Fulham last night: "When you have so many options on the ball – people running in behind, people dropping in the hole – we're a very difficult team to play," Giggs eulogised after the impressive 5-0 win.

Ha ha. What crisis?

Playing the league's bottom team at a time like this was always likely to be one of those tricky games. On the one hand, you would rather be playing a bad team than a good one; on the other, lose this one... doesn't bear thinking about.

Anyway, it didn't happen, owing to two marvellous goals involving Bryan Ruiz's wand of a left foot.

It was a match that Liverpool should have won, if only they'd taken their chances. If only the officials hadn't overturned an offside Luis Suarez goal that wasn't. If only Kevin Friend hadn't given Jay Spearing a questionable red card or if only he had awarded a penalty and not a free-kick when Charlie Adam was felled as he entered the sixteen-yard box.

Fulham 1-0 Liverpool: Late Goal Sinks 10-Men Reds

A Clint Dempsey goal five minutes from time gave Fulham victory over 10-men Liverpool. The USA international struck after Reds goalkeeper Pepe Reina uncharacteristically fumbled Danny Murphy's low shot. By that time, Liverpool were down to 10-men after referee Kevin Friend controversially chose to dismiss Reds' midfielder Jay Spearing after a challenge on Moussa Dembele.

Fulham striker Clint Dempsey struck a late winner as Liverpool's outstanding form on the road ended during a controversial evening at Craven Cottage.
Dempsey stabbed home a long-range 85th-minute shot by Danny Murphy that had bounced off the arms of Jose Reina, to secure only Fulham's third Barclays Premier League win of the season.

Fulham goalscorer Clint Dempsey admits the dismissal of Liverpool midfielder Jay Spearing was crucial on Monday night as the Cottagers celebrated a 1-0 victory.
Dempsey's opportunist goal five minutes from time settled the Craven Cottage game in Fulham's favour, though they only came into the ascendancy after Spearing saw red for a challenge on Moussa Dembele 13 minutes previously.

An unfortunate defeat at Craven Cottage, 1-0 at the hands of Martin Jol's Fulham.
It was a very open game with lots of shots on goal by either team as both Pepe Reina and Mark Schwarzer were kept busy throughout the match.
The turning point in the game was the sending off of Jay Spearing for a crude tackle which was deserving of a yellow card but the ref saw red and sent young Spearing off.

Clint Dempsey punished an error from Liverpool goalkeeper Pepe Reina to score five minutes from full-time and guide Fulham to a famous 1-0 win at Craven Cottage.

The result was reminiscent of the Cottagers' 1-0 win over the Reds in May 2007, when Dempsey scored his first goal for the club to secure their top flight status.

Clint Dempsey punished an error from Liverpool goalkeeper Pepe Reina to score five minutes from full-time and guide Fulham to a famous 1-0 win at Craven Cottage.

The result was reminiscent of the Cottagers' 1-0 win over the Reds in May 2007, when Dempsey scored his first goal for the club to secure their top flight status.

Fulham 1-0 Liverpool | Premier League match report

A tight contest could be settled only by a grand mistake. The Liverpool goalkeeper Pepe Reina mishandled Danny Murphy's attempt in the 85th minute and Clint Dempsey knocked home the loose ball. The midfielder had hit the bar five minutes earlier as Fulham thrived after the red card shown to the visitors' midfielder Jay Spearing for an uncontrolled challenge on Moussa Dembélé after 72 minutes.

Clint Dempsey has tapped home a spilled Danny Murphy shot with five minutes remaining to put Fulham up 1-0 on 10-man visitors Liverpool. It was his fourth goal of the EPL season and sixth across all competitions this term.- Greg Seltzer

Fulham v Liverpool – preview

THE REDS travel to West London for tonight's Premier League tie with Fulham and will be looking for a win to move them up from 7th place in the table. Two former Reds could make appearances for Fulham this evening – their captain Danny Murphy and recent signing John Arne Riise.

Trip To Craven Cottage

Most people hate him now after his Chelsea own goal but i still love the big Norweigan!... Liverpool make the long trip down to Fulham for a Monday night fixture this week. The Reds have just come off the back of a 2-0 win over Chelsea in the League Cup and are in fighting form at the moment.

Most people hate him now after his Chelsea own goal but i still love the big Norweigan!...Liverpool make the long trip down to Fulham for a Monday night fixture this week. The Reds have just come off the back of a 2-0 win over Chelsea in the League Cup and are in fighting form at the moment.

Liverpool visit Craven Cottage tomorrow and a Fulham side that's struggled to piece together any sort of positive results domestically, winning only twice thus far on the season. They've got nearly identical records home and away, with their first and only win at home coming in early October.

Squad sheets: Fulham v Liverpool

Mixed emotions will accompany Liverpool on their annual trip to the Thames. The squad will reflect fondly on how they beat the hosts 5-2 in this fixture last season with a breathless and, at times, awesome, attacking display, but there will also be sadness at the recent loss of Lucas Leiva to a season-ending knee injury.

We bought Bryan Ruiz from FC Twente for 10 million, or whatever it was. There's an element of food-chaining here, isn't there? We bought their best player; they didn't buy ours. Which ought to imply that we're a better team, particularly as Ruiz promising though he may be is not yet in Fulham's best XI.

Come on Robin be honest, you can't dribble past 4 players can you?

One more match before the return of Samir Na$ri to the Grove. Not as if Arsene Wenger sees Manchester City as any kind of a threat. Such is the confidence of the team at the moment, the manager looks to put his second string side to face the league leader.

There are stats that could make Fulham's visit to the Emirates look like a walk in the park for Arsenal. The Cottagers haven't won away against Arsenal in any competition, losing 22 of the 25 games played. They are currently just 2 points above the relegation zone and have won only 2 of their 12 league games.

Arseblog has teamed up with Thomas Cook Sport, official travel partner of Arsenal, to provide two pairs of tickets for this Saturday's game against Fulham.

To be in with a chance of winning, simply answer the following question:

Which current Fulham midfielder started his football career at Arsenal?

Not to be taken too seriously GK – Paul Robinson The Blackburn goalkeeper has retired from international duty, presumably due to the time taken commuting from 22 Ramsay Street, Australia. Add this to also owning the Erinsborough news, and it's a wonder Robbo finds time for footy at all. RB – Glen Johnson Often criticised [.

Not to be taken too seriously GK – Paul Robinson The Blackburn goalkeeper has retired from international duty, presumably due to the time taken commuting from 22 Ramsay Street, Australia. Add this to also owning the Erinsborough news, and it's a wonder Robbo finds time for footy at all. RB – Glen Johnson Often criticised [.

Fulham playing Wigan means one thing: Clint Dempsey will score a goal. Those of us bold enough to put money where our mouth is were able to turn £3 into £13.38. Thanks, Clint; thanks Wigan!

Perhaps the result was a bit hard on Wigan, who had most of the ball and spent much of their time in Fulham's half, but when you've lost six on the spin you need a spot of luck, and that was missing today.

In London for a conference and I could not miss an opportunity to see the two best American players in the Premier League; Tim Howard and Clint Dempsey, meet at Craven Cottage on a beautiful Sunday in London.

If you have never been to Craven Cottage before, the ground is situated right next to the river Thames.