After an International break that completed the 32-team field for the World Cup next summer in South Africa, the EPL surges back to action this weekend with an important fixture at Anfield.

That game is on ESPN in glorious high definition. Here's the entire TV schedule.

Now, on to the previews:

Liverpool vs.

Click to continue reading...

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...

Rafa Benitez today revealed that he originally bought Robbie Keane to be the linkman between Gareth Barry and Fernando Torres.But when he failed to sign Barry, Robbie Keane was quickly sold "as collateral damage".That clears that one up then. I thought Keane was sold because Benitez didn't fancy him as a player. Click to continue reading...

Everywhere you look or listen, Rafa Benitez's ability to manage Liverpool Football Club is being questioned. I've not been immune to criticising the Spaniard myself, as followers of the Soccerlens Podcast will testify, but I'm far from alone in highlighting his deficiencies. Even Liverpool's loyalist fans are split on whether the goatee-ed one is still the man they want to lead them forward.

Click to continue reading...

There were no punch-ups and no fists flying in Manchester City's dressing room last week. Just good old-fashioned verbals.

Typically, it was a vintage performance by Craig Bellamy, bawling out his team-mates after they tossed away a win. In the line of fire was City's back four - Pablo Zabaleta, Kolo Toure, Joleon Lescott and Wayne Bridge - following their draw with Burnley.

Click to continue reading...

The matches to watch after you realize- AHHH LOOK OUT GARETH BARRY THE FLYING GIANT IS GOING TO NINJA KICK YOU!!!

Saturday

Russia v Slovenia at Luzhniki Stadium The beginning of the end of the long, drawn out process that is World Cup qualifying is finally here with the first leg of the playoff fixtures.

Click to continue reading...

At the start of the season, Arsene Wenger's young Gunners were written off as title challengers by many analysts and TV pundits. Some even argued that the new Manchester City powerhouse would take over Arsenal at the top of the table.

It was an easy assumption to make as City made news every day during the transfer window.

Click to continue reading...

The England squad to play Brazil next Saturday in an International friendly has been announced. The main news for Man United is that Michael Owen has yet again not been included in the squad. This isn't much of a surprise, he hasn't played that much for United, so why would he get into the England squad? Click to continue reading...

Prior to England's friendly against Brazil on Saturday I have been thinking about one possible tactical option available to Fabio Capello as he plans England's World Cup strategy.

There is no doubt that Capello has done a great job of taking an underachieving group of players and turning them into an effective team.

Click to continue reading...

How much longer does he have?

Portsmouth Vs Liverpool Tickets Still Available!

Join Our Facebook Fan Page for the Latest News/Rumours/Forums/Videos/WAGS/Funny Stuff/Features!

1. Robbie Keane Whether you agreed with the signing of the Tottenham man or not, Rafa failed to give the striker a decent chance and clearly his lack of confidence in the Irishman had a negative influence on the forward.

Click to continue reading...

There are several international friendlies on Saturday, November 14, 2009 while the final 2010 World Cup Final spots are determined. One of the more high profile friendlies is England v Brazil which will be at the Khalifa International Stadium in Doha, Qatar. Both nations have qualified for next summer's world cup and are two of the favorites to advance far into the tournament.

Click to continue reading...

The timing could never had been better. Precisely ten years after the fall of the Berlin Wall, another barrier in Europe is being taken down: the wall between the strong and the weak of European football; between the Champions League and the Europa League; between the Big Four and the Little 16.

Click to continue reading...

There has been a steady stream of rumors about Maicon potentially leaving Inter since last summer, though nothing has come of them and it seems nothing will. Says Maicon's agent, Antonio Caliendo:

"Every day there's a story linking Maicon to a different club. First it was Real Madrid, then Manchester United and now City.

Click to continue reading...

Now updated after the Ukraine and Belarus games (and some 'interesting' feedback) below is the squad we think Don Fabio should take to South Africa, with reason for inclusion - and exclusion...

Who should go... Goalkeepers

David James - Has been first choice for a while now, and we are yet to find a better alternative

Rob Green - He is the closest we have to a better alternative.

Click to continue reading...

I don't know how I hadn't seen this before but a little bit of web-surfing awaiting news of whether Wayne Rooney is a Dad yet brought me to this video. It's a touch of genius! Obviously heavily edited but it's as funny as fcuk! For more like this one check out talkSPORTmagazine for even more like [. Click to continue reading...

Whilst defeats inevitably brings with it the criticism and analysis a side faces, conversely, can draws mask the problems that a side has?
Yet another point yesterday, and in the context of the game with the penalty save (more of a miss?) and wonderful and brave double save at the end of the first half from Shay Given, it can be viewed as a point gained given that we again avoided what could have been a defeat. Click to continue reading...

Fulham came from two goals down to hold Manchester City to a draw 2-2. This played a spoiler to City's clean record at home as they have won their last seven games at Eastlands. While the match saw some tense minutes in the first half, no team could score. Joleon Lescott broke the shackles [...] Click to continue reading...

Our man in the North was at Eastlands on Sunday:

Man City 2-2 Fulham

A crazy match, as our trips to Eastlands always seem to be. The common factor, of course, is the home side: City's star-studded ranks play with such abandon – committed to attack despite leaving generous space behind – that it seems Hodgson's normally conservative outfit can't help but join in the fun.

Click to continue reading...

England legend Gary Lineker has proclaimed that Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez made a mistake during the summer by signing Glen Johnson, when he should have opted to bring in Gareth Barry instead.
The current Manchester City midfielder was being chased by the Spaniard, as the boss intended to edge out Xabi Alonso to lure the Englishman into being a part of the 'Rafalution'. Click to continue reading...

The English Premier League had four matches on Sunday, October 25, 2009 including Manchester City v Fulham. The match was a chance for Man City to stay in position for a top 4 finish while Fulham is needing points away from Craven Cottage if they want to repeat a top-1o finish in the EPL table. Here's a recap along with video highlights for the match.

Click to continue reading...

There's a interview with Gareth Barry in today's Observer by Paul Hayward ahead of the Fulham game, in which he discusses - amongst other things - his summer move. Hayward is clearly a fan, and there is an interesting paragraph that details a recent observation of Barry:

In a recent City home game I began listing the variety of Barry's passes and charting his influence on team-mates in an expensive, attack-minded side.

Click to continue reading...

Portsmouth Vs Tottenham Tickets Still Available!

Join Our Facebook Fan Page for the Latest News/Rumours/Forums/Videos/WAGS/Funny Stuff/Features!

TOTTENHAM will make a £6million move for Manchester City midfield ace Michael Johnson in the January window.

Click to continue reading...

"I lost sight of the official ball and stayed on the red one. I went for the red ball instinctively as it was the closest to me and the other went past me."
Pepe Reina on THAT beach ball.

"You have to say he was right on the spot and kept up with play well."
Mischievous Mark Hughes praises Alan Wiley's handling of the Wigan-Man City game, following Sir Alex Ferguson's comments that the official was too unfit. Click to continue reading...

Â

Everybody's favorite international star-to-MLS rumor re-appeared over the weekend, and while nothing has really changed with regard to the long-discussed potential THierry Henry to New York Red Bull rumor, it still managed to resurface and create a little more buzz.

This time around it was the Daily Mail with a story on how Henry is set to pass on a move to Manchester City in order to join the Red Bulls after the 2010 World Cup.

Click to continue reading...

Â

Everybody's favorite international star-to-MLS rumor re-appeared over the weekend, and while nothing has really changed with regard to the long-discussed potential THierry Henry to New York Red Bull rumor, it still managed to resurface and create a little more buzz.

This time around it was the Daily Mail with a story on how Henry is set to pass on a move to Manchester City in order to join the Red Bulls after the 2010 World Cup.

Click to continue reading...

A financial disaster waiting to happen? Ryan Baxter takes a look at the figures.

Join Our Facebook Fan Page for the Latest News/Rumours/Forums/Videos/WAGS/Funny Stuff/Features!

Manchester City's billionaire owners have wasted no time in splashing the cash in an effort to win silverware and establish the club among the world's elite.

Click to continue reading...

We have seen Tottenham challenge the top 4 place few years back, then Villa doing the same last season, nut never have we seen so many sides capable of upsetting the title contenders as this season. Manchester City, Tottenham and Aston Villa all look capable of upsetting the odds, especially since Liverpool look to be all over the place at the moment.

Click to continue reading...

Wenger gives his reasons for not pursuing midfield pair.

Join Our Facebook Fan Page for the Latest News/Rumours/Forums/Videos/WAGS/Funny Stuff/Features!

Wenger revealed why he had not bought either Xabi Alonso or Gareth Barry in the summer.

Click to continue reading...

.The eight successive International win came to a halt with a loss away to Ukraine in Dnipro Stadium on Oct 10. Ukraine won the match with one goal scored by Sergei Najarenko at 29 minutes. Coach Fabio Capello was disappointed as England failed to impress with big names like Gareth Barry, Wayne Rooney, Rio Ferdinand, [. Click to continue reading...

Decent embeddable highlights of England's 3-0 win over Belarus have been hard to come by. If you want to watch again, then The FA's YouTube channel has a solid five minutes available here though.

With qualification assured long ago, and Gerrard and Rooney absent, this game was all about learning.

Click to continue reading...

Several City stars will be casting their minds forward to next summer's World Cup after the final round of qualifying games on Wednesday night.

Shaun Wright-Phillips bagged his fifth goal for his country as England eased to a 3-0 win over Belarus at Wembley. He gave a good account of himself despite playing on the left flank, and he was joined in the starting line-up by Wayne Bridgeand Gareth Barry, who helped set up Peter Crouch's fourth-minute opener.

Click to continue reading...

Who hates international football week(s)? Hands up. You at the back? Yep, me too.
International football week(s) means no Arsenal, so that means no proper football. I hate that. Almost as much as I hate treading in dog-shit as soon as I've slipped on a brand new pair of white Reebok work-outs fresh from the box. Click to continue reading...

Ah, I get it now – he has an adamantium right foot. Figures.
Despite looking increasingly like a mutant cross between Wolverine and how I imagine Ryan Reynolds' grizzly older brother might look, Becks rolled back the years to put in a man-of-the-match stint for England against Belarus last night at Wembley. Click to continue reading...

Makes a change from Barcelona!

Watch England vs Belarus Live Online!

Manchester City have reportedly entered the race to sign Arsenal midfielder Cesc Fabregas.

However, the wealthy Premier League side will face stiff competition for the player's signature from Spanish giants Real Madrid and especially Barcelona, according to Spanish newspaper AS.

Click to continue reading...

"I've gotten used to 4-3-3. I've not played 4-4-2 for four or five seasons, and my game has to be different in that system. Last year I was bombing forward into the box.

"Now I have to adjust, and it will make me a more rounded player eventually. I have to play with more discipline, especially when Gareth Barry gets forward, but I feel like I'm getting there.

Click to continue reading...