By Alan Duffy

Manchester United 2-1 Liverpool Premier League 11th February 2012

The Evra/Suarez circus which preceeded the game before, once again, polluting the proceedings throughout the 90 minutes and beyond, has already been well covered by Pies, so I'll focus on the football.

Sunderland manager Martin O'Neill has backed tomorrow's opponents Arsenal to silence their critics, making it clear that the Gunners have sufficient talent to prevail at the Stadium of Light.

Arsene Wenger's men are three points adrift of fourth-place Chelsea and have relied heavily on the incredible form of skipper Robin van Persie, who scored a brilliant hat-trick in last weekend's 7-1 rout of Blackburn.

AZ dominated ADO Den Haag on Wednesday, winning 6-0 in a rescheduled Eredivisie game. Charlison Benshop had a hat-trick and Maarten Martens scored before Jozy Altidore subbed on in place of Benshop in the 76th minute. Altidore added two more, with goals in the 85th and 88th minutes at the Kyocera Stadion.

After a red-hot start to the season, Jozy Altidore had lost his starting role for AZ Alkmaar and was mired in a bit of a scoring slump.

At the very least, that slump is now over.

Altidore scored twice in a four-minute span as a substitute in AZ's 6-0 rout of ADO Den Haag on Wednesday to break a two-month scoring drought.

On a night when AZ starter Charlison Benschop bagged a hat trick, late sub Jozy Altidore has come on to hit a brace of his own, capping a 6-0 win at ADO Den Haag. They were both simple finishes, coming less than two minutes apart on assists by Brett Holman and Maarten Martens.Jozy had been without a goal since December 4th, but now his league total stands at seven and his haul across all

Some areas of the press are suggesting that it hasn't been such a stellar year for Gareth Bale in comparison with last season. Those reports tend to just point to the winger's hat trick in the San Siro but they conveniently forget that this has been a much more consistent campaign for the Welshman.

After a disappointing start to this calender year, Arsenal were finally able to secure their first Premier League win of 2012, picking up 3 vital points against Blackburn Rovers in a 7-1 demolition at The Emirates.

Once again, Robin van Persie showed just how important he is to this Arsenal side scoring three and making two others during a numbingly-cold afternoon in North London.

Robin Van Persie scored a hat-trick and gave three other assists in the 7-1 win over Blackburn this weekend, but the teamwork amongst him, Theo Walcott and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain was a joy to watch as they terrorized the Rovers defence. The Ox was starting his fourth game in a row for Arsenal and Van Persie [.

Well, we kind of had an idea that Arsenal were playing well but not getting the results. It was a matter of details according to Arteta, Wenger, and others. It all came good in this one as Blackburn were the hapless victims of a rampant Arsenal side.

Chance conversion was another issue which was put to bed, at least temporarily, with 7 out of 8 shot on target registering on the scoreboard.

Arsenal's massive 7-1 victory was highlighted with another special performance from Robin Van Persie, who bagged a hat-trick on the night, but it was youngster, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain.

The youngsters scored two goals on the match and once again provides an important contribution for his club, leaving his manager, Arsene Wenger in awe with Oxlade-Chamberlain speedy development.

Ever have one of those days where you wish you hadn't gotten out of bed? Steve Kean is having one of those seasons. Arsenal, came into the game without a win in 2012. Blackburn came in sucking. It was bound to get ugly and it did. Quickly.Oh, where to begin... Van Persie with a goal in the 2nd minute to start out his hat-trick.

Match Report Video By the numbers

I think we can safely say this morning that's just what the doctor ordered.

Three points, a good performance, and a day which brought no controversy, animosity, angst or worry. For a moment it looked a bit shaky, when Pedersen equalised with Blackburn's first attempt on target, but instead of setting us back it sparked us back into life and withing a couple of minutes we were two goals to the good.

Irishman Eamon Zayed scored an amazing five minute hat-trick as Perspolis came from 2-0 down to bag a sensational 3-2 win over Esteghlal in the Tehran derby. 'Unbelievable'. 'Sensational'. 'Divine'. 'Pre-destined'. These were just some of the back-page headlines running across Iranian newspapers as Perspolis won a fantastically contested Tehran derby away at their bitter [.

Two goals from Didier Drogba and a fine free kick from Yaya Toure gave Ivory Coast a comfortable 3-0 win over Co-host Equatorial Guinea to send the Elephants through to the Semi final where they will face either Gabon or Mali.

In the day's earlier match Zambia beat 10 man Sudan with a scoreline to make it through to the semis for the first time since 1996.

Manchester City moved three points clear at the top of the Premier League thanks to a convincing 3-0 win at home over Fulham.

Heading into the Fulham match a lot of questions were being asked about a City side that had lost four of their eight matches in 2012, exiting the FA and League Cups and seeing Manchester United draw level with them on points at the top of the Premier League.

Manchester City moved three points clear at the top of the Premier League thanks to a convincing 3-0 win at home over Fulham.

Heading into the Fulham match a lot of questions were being asked about a City side that had lost four of their eight matches in 2012, exiting the FA and League Cups and seeing Manchester United draw level with them on points at the top of the Premier League.

By Alan Duffy

Arsenal 7 (Seven)-1 Blackburn Rovers Premier League 4th February 2012

After a sustained period of dismal performances and almost no points, Arsenal needed to rediscover their mojo on Saturday if they were to stay in the hunt for a top-four finish.

szólj hozzá: Arsenal Blackburn 7:1 HIGHLIGH

In which RVP scores a sublime hat trick. In which the Ox is unleashed. In which Song continues to find his passing groove. In which Thierry Henry scores his first Premiership goal on his return. In which Theo Walcott made the right choices. In which Frances Coquelin showed why the flanks are so important.

Meet one of football's unsung heroes - the workers who cleaned the pitch at half-time during Inter Milan vs Palermo on Wednesday. Diego Milito scored a hat-trick in the second half, so their efforts must have paid off! / via Daylife

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Former Rep of Ireland u-21 striker Eamon Zayed (28) became a hero for his new Iranian club Persepolis Tehran after he scored a late,late hat-trick to secure a 3-2 win in the Tehran derby last night.

Persepolis trailed 2-0 with just nine minutes remaining on the clock before Zayed found his scoring boots to fire a hat-trick in just over 10 minutes.

Alfredo Morales will earn his first Bundesliga start against Steve Cherundolo and Hannover while Preston Zimmerman's midweek hat-trick could push him into Darmstadt's lineup against Wehen.

At least for 2011-12.

Having already played once this season to raucous applause, Palermo and Inter danced once again at the San Siro today amidst the snow. Their first meeting was nice, Palermo snatching a 4-3 victory and giving neutrals the joyous gift of 7 goals. Tonight they did one better collectively a 4-4 draw, taking their tally for the year to an utterly absurd 15 goals.

On this side of the Atlantic, the football news that received quite a bit of attention over past few days was Friday's FA Cup tie between Everton and Fulham, featuring Clint "Hat Trick" Dempsey, Landon Donovan, and Tim Howard. Everton won, and as SI.com put it,

Landon Donovan etched his name further into Everton lore with two assists in the Toffees' FA Cup victory over Fulham.

Coach Tozer thanks the fans after his 700th victory. By: Brandon Arendt
On a day that saw literally everything go Milwaukee's way, history was made. Wave Coach, Keith Tozer, became the first coach in American Soccer to reach a historic 700 victories. All on the legs of a dominating 25-10 performance by the Wave over Syracuse.

Ian Bennett had a hat trick and the Milwaukee Wave allowed just two goals over the final three quarters en route to a 25-10 victory over the Syracuse Silver Knights on Sunday afternoon at U.S. Cellular Arena, giving legendary coach Keith Tozer his 700th career victory.

Tozer is the winningest coach in indoor soccer history with a 700-433 record in 27 seasons, the past 19 with the Wave.

Arsene Wenger goes in to today's FA Cup clash knowing that realistically it is the only trophy that can end our seven-year silverwear drought. That's probably why he is set to start RVP up front against Alex McLeish's men at the Emirates.

But as you would ecpect given the lack of success at the club of late, AW is also eyeing new talent for the future.

The US WNT overcame early match nerves and a very game Costa Rican team through goals scored by Tobin Heath, Carli Lloyd, and Alex Morgan. This win qualifies them for the London Olympics. In the other semi-finals, Canada held off Mexico, 3-1, to also book their spot. The final will be played tomorrow and pits two of the most potent goalscorers in the game.

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.

Barcelona might have won the latest el clasico, but it is Real Madrid who are threatening to run away with the La Liga title.

Real Madrid are now seven points clear at the top of the Liga after their 3-1 win over bottom side Real Zaragoza while Barcelona's poor away form continued as they were held to a scoreless draw at Villarreal.

SPANISH FOOTBALL action tonigt with four matches of Round 21 played of the SPANISH LEAGUE. Here is a run down of all the main events, scorers & the final scores. Fernando Llorente Madrid Club RAYO VALLECANO played a good match but lost 2 - 3 to ATHLETIC CLUB BILBAO with an inspired FERNANDO LLORENTE on the field who scored a HAT-TRICK for Bilbao ( 15th , 22nd & 67th min).

Liverpool vs Manchester United FA Cup Highlights 2012 2-1 Video Goals Agger Park Kuyt is a post from Soccer Blogger. Follow Soccer Blogger on Twitter

Liverpool vs Manchester United FA Cup Highlights 2012 2-1 Video Goals Agger Park Kuyt is a post from Soccer Blogger. Follow Soccer Blogger on Twitter Liverpool vs Man Utd FA Cup 2012 ( Liverpool Manchester United video below) Final score and result: Liverpool vs Manchester United 2-1 ( Agger, Kuyt/ Park) Anfield, Liverpool- 28 January, [.

The latest ITS Wag of The Week is Melissa Satta the underwear model girlfriend of AC Milan midfielder Kevin-Prince Boateng who has recently revealed the former Portsmouth star gets injured because he has too much sex! Prince Boateng has been hampered by a series of niggling injuries mainly to his thigh having started just 15 [.

Everton vs Fulham 2012 FA Cup Highlights 2-1 Goals Video Stracqualursi Murphy Fellaini is a post from Soccer Blogger. Follow Soccer Blogger on Twitter

Everton vs Fulham 2012 FA Cup Highlights 2-1 Goals Video Stracqualursi Murphy Fellaini is a post from Soccer Blogger. Follow Soccer Blogger on Twitter Everton vs Fulham 2012 ( Everton Fulham Video below) Final score and result:- Everton vs Fulham 2-1 ( Stracqualursi, Fellaini/ Murphy pen) Goodison Park, Liverpool- 27 January, 2012- Friday Marouane Fellaini's [.

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.

Six of the seven matches to be played this MISL season between the Milwaukee Wave and the Wichita Wings are now done and dusted. The first five games were played with real fervor and desire to win from both clubs. It wasn't until game six this past Thursday, that both teams had seen enough of each other.

Today at noon, or if you're on the East Coast 3 p.m., Fox Soccer will be broadcasting Everton vs Fulham in a FA cup match up. I bet you're asking yourself why I'm bringing this up here? Two of America's best players will be on display, on opposite sides of the ball. The LA Galaxy's Landon Donovan who is on loan to Everton, and Clint Dempsey - the only American to bag a hat trick in England's top flight.

Fulham midfielder Clint Dempsey has made it clear that he would like his long-term future to be at a club with Champions League aspirations, alerting many potential suitors to make a move for the U.S. international.

Dempsey has scored nine goals in 22 matches so far this season, with his most recent accomplishment being a remarkable hat-trick the first for an American in the Premier League against Newcastle United.

As I mentioned in my earlier Hat Trick post, we will have a gamethread on HTIOT going for the USMNT match tonight. The US will look to carry over the momentum from their win at the death vs. Venezuela into tonight's match. I am pretty excited to see how the USA will look tonight against an up-and-coming Panama side.

While Landon Donovan has shined in the spotlight as the premier US men's soccer player, Clint Dempsey is quickly stealing the show, most recently with his hat trick against in... Read more »

It's high time again for another hat trick and QOTD. Today's piece will focus a bit more on the USMNT as a couple of big games loom tonight and this weekend. One of the matchups includes two American soccer icons in a clash this weekend, which should make for must watch TV. Also follow after the break to have your say in the QOTD.