United will go into the international break ruing, what could have been, a draw (even, to the optimists, a win). Prior to the game, whilst I predicted a 1-1 draw, a nagging feeling told me a defeat to Chelsea was a perfectly possible and in a parallel universe, even deserving, given our recent form and I had my mind made up preparing for the worst.

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I've made it clear in recent weeks that Chelsea's November fixtures against Man Utd and Arsenal will give the clearest indication so far of the strength of Chelsea's challenge this season. As it was, Chelsea came through the first of those tests yesterday – but without flying colours.
To have expected flying colours would have been wishful thinking however.

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I've made it clear in recent weeks that Chelsea's November fixtures against Man Utd and Arsenal will give the clearest indication so far of the strength of Chelsea's challenge this season. As it was, Chelsea came through the first of those tests yesterday – but without flying colours.
To have expected flying colours would have been wishful thinking however.

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In this week's Match of the round, we travel to Etihad Stadium, where Melbourne lost both a match, and their epic pride, going down 4-0 in front of 18,000 fans. A quiet first half and start of the second was ignited by a rampant Central Coast side.

Ernie Merrick left his side unchanged for his side's clash with Central Coast, the standout being Carlos Hernandez, who is in blistering form for the Victory.

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Chris Hughton makes three changes to the side which won at Sheffield United on Monday night. As expected Steven Taylor returns for Tamas Kadar, Danny Guthrie comes in to give some creativity in midfield in place of Nicky Butt, and Marlon Harewood will get his big chance in front of the Newcastle fans this afternoon. Click to continue reading...

Chelsea v Manchester United
English Premier League
Sunday, 08 November, 2009
Stamford Bridge

The last 5 titles in the Premier League have been shared by Manchester United and Chelsea, and as the two best sides in England go head to head on Sunday, it's bound to be a memorable game no matter what the outcome.

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Ryan Babel's speculative, yet spectacular drive from 30 yards into the top corner on 83 minutes looked to have won the match in France on Matchday 4. All sorts of things were going through my head. "Maybe we can sneak through this group after all," or "FINALLY! We're back on track! We can do it," [.. Click to continue reading...

This weekend plays host to arguably the match of the Premier League season when Carlo Ancelotti's Chelsea take on reigning champions Manchester United in what could be reasonably termed, a championship "six-pointer".

To honour this occasion, we look back over some of the finest games between these two giants of English football:

You can catch the Soccerlens preview for the Chelsea Manchester United game and our predictions in this week's podcast.

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Inter Milan v AS Roma
Serie A
Sunday, 8 November 2009
San Siro
Kick off: 20:45

As Internazionale faces AS Roma at the San Siro this Sunday, Roma manager Claudio Ranieri will be hoping that the evidence he is looking at is wrong.

Exhibit item A tells Ranieri that Roma without Francesco Totti does not offer much this season.

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A wonderful season followed up by a dreadful one... it is just like the Houllier days! After losing just twice in 2008-2009 in the league, and only five times overall in all competitions, we have ALREADY lost 8 matches in our first 16... sparking horrific pieces of speculation in the media, amongst supporters, and assuredly [. Click to continue reading...

Two more goals from Didier Drogba – who now has 12 goals from 13 appearances this season – were only slightly tarnished by Aguero's injury time equaliser last night. Chelsea are safely through to the knockout stages of the Champions League, and a rusty performance at the Vicente Calderon will be forgotten should Chelsea up the ante against United at the weekend.

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Two more goals from Didier Drogba – who now has 12 goals from 13 appearances this season – were only slightly tarnished by Aguero's injury time equaliser last night. Chelsea are safely through to the knockout stages of the Champions League, and a rusty performance at the Vicente Calderon will be forgotten should Chelsea up the ante against United at the weekend.

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Newcastle got the result they needed tonight at Bramall Lane and kept their 8th clean sheet of the season as Argentine International Fabricio Coloccini made his long-awaited return to the side after a troublesome groin injury. That was the good news, but the bad news is that we had to rely on a Sheffield United own goal to [. Click to continue reading...

In the (self-dubbed) newbie derby, Gold Coast have been defeated by a rampant North Queensland Fury side. Robbie Fowler lead the team from start to finish, getting on the scoresheet twice. The defeat has added to the horrible week that the Gold Coast have suffered, including a 6-0 whitewash by Wellington, and a huge condemnation by the public over club owner Clive Palmer's (right) decision to cap crowds at 5,000 to save money.

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If No. 4 isn't up for goal of the season, the whole list is a sham. That was truly as elegant as team goal as I've seen. Sheer audacity and brilliance. (P.S. Only Spanish commentary could enhance this display) Bonita Gol.

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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...

A Much Improved Bolton Suffer Heavy Defeat

• Tuesday, Ocotber 31, 2009
• Venue: The Reebok Stadium
• Attendance: 22,680
• Referee: Peter Walton

• Jlloyd Samuel [45+1]
• Frank Lampard [45+2]
• Paul Robinson [57]
• Deco [61]
• Paulo Ferreira [80]
• Zat Knight (og) [82]
• Didier Drogba [90+1]

It was going so well until the stroke of half–time, a clipped heel took Drogba down, Chelsea ahead and The Wanderers down to 10 men.

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Manchester United bounced back from last week Liverpool defeat after recording a two goals win to down Blackburn Rovers at Old Trafford. Man United attacking duo Dimitar Berbatov and Wayne Rooney...
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Everton v Aston Villa
English Premier League
Saturday, 31 October 2009
Kick-off: 1500 GMT

Everton's injury crisis shows no sign of abating and they are now without 10 senior players for the match against Aston Villa but defender. Leighton Baines and Louis Saha their highest goalscorer this season could return to the fold.

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Fulham v Liverpool
English Premier League
Craven Cottage
Saturday, 31 October 2009
Kick-off: 1500 GMT

Three days after their Carling Cup exit to Arsenal, Liverpool return to the capital on the back of five defeats from their last six league and cup games.

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Arsenal v Tottenham Hotspur
English Premier League
Emirates
Saturday, 31 October 2009
Kick-off: 1245 GMT

With both sides residing in the top-four for much of the early season, one of the country's oldest and fiercest derbies takes on added significance as Tottenham make the short trip down the Seven Sisters Road to face familiar foes Arsenal.

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Bolton Wanderers v Chelsea FC
English Premier League
Old Trafford
Saturday, 31 October 2009
Kick-off: 1500 GMT

Chelsea and Bolton face off for the second time this week, this time in the Premier League.

Their previous meeting saw Chelsea dump Bolton out of the Carling Cup thanks to a 4-0 thumping, and Ancelotti will be hoping for more of the same from his table-topping team.

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Manchester United v Blackburn Rovers
English Premier League
Old Trafford
Saturday, 31 October 2009
Kick-off: 1730 GMT

Swine-flu and poor defending will be the talk of the day, as Manchester United take on Blackburn Rovers in a late kickoff on Saturday.

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League Cup, Fourth Round Chelsea Give Wanderers The Blues

• Tuesday, Ocotber 28, 2009
• Venue: Stamford Bridge
• Attendance: 41,538
• Referee: Andre Marriner

• Salomon Kalou [15]
• Florent Malouda [26]
• Deco [67]
• Didier Drogba [89]

It was never going to be easy for The Wanderers to get a result at Stamford Bridge but who would have known that it was going to so easy for Chelsea.

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Our hunt for another trophy will continue for yet another competition after we were valiantly knocked out against a vibrant Arsenal side at the Emirates in a 1-2 defeat. At times in domestic cup competitions, we have looked toothless and our reserves have looked lost and out of sorts. Today, this was not so much [. Click to continue reading...

It's a celebration, bitches.

Via the Guardian ... "The competition may change, the advertising hoardings spinning to proclaim Champions League or Premier League or Carling Cup, but Chelsea's swashbuckling home form remains a constant. A tenth consecutive win here, achieved gracefully and impressively last night, has propelled Carlo Ancelotti's team into the quarter-finals.

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Arsenal v Liverpool
Carling Cup Fourth Round
Emirates Stadium
Wednesday, 28 October 2009
Kick-off: 1945 GMT

A week ago both Liverpool were dreading this fixture, an unwelcome distraction in a tough schedule with morale at Anfield low and Arsenal's star on the rise.

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Manchester United went throw to the next round of Carling cup after defeating Barnsley away at Oakwell Stadium in the fourth round of the competition which United won last year. Two goals from Danny...
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Ahhh yes... the season-boosting 2-0 win over our greatest rivals has indeed happened, and our optimism has finally been able to kick in after losing four straight matches. Goals from Torres and Ngog, as well as a third straight red card from Nemanja Vidic in this fixture, led to our incredibly important three points gained. Click to continue reading...

First Prem Home Win of the Season

• Sunday, October 25, 2009
• Venue: The Reebok Stadium
• Attendance: 21,547
• Referee: Phil Dowd

• Chung-Yong Lee [16]
• Gary Cahill [27]
• Kevin Davies [30]
• Louis Saha [32]
• Marouane Fellaini [55]
• Gary Cahill [57]
• Jlloyd Samuel [61]
• Marouane Fellaini [63]
• Ivan Klasnic [86]

The Wanderers' great start was evened out by the visitors but persistence earned Bolton a late goal and their first three points to be won at The Reebok since April.

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Franco Colomba had been waiting by the phone for what seemed like ages. Then the call came, and he said: "Yes". He was back in the game. The Menarini family wanted him to become Bologna's fourth manager in under a year. Colomba turned to his wife and said: "From this day forward you can call me ‘mister' again.

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Let's make no pretence about this: we were beaten fair and square by Liverpool. We can talk all we want about refereeing incompetence; true there were a few errors but the crucial ones were offset on the other side too. Nothing however disguises the fact that yesterday was a defeat that was fully deserved.

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Today, we witnessed a colossal, team-performed master class. From front to back, the effort was palpable from the kick-off. Many are saying that Manure had an off day or that they didn't play well. Quite simply, we didn't allow them to play by virtue of tactics, the eleven on the pitch, passion & desire. Click to continue reading...

Despite a woeful recent record away from home, you might have expected Allardyce's Blackburn to have put up more of a fight against Chelsea yesterday. But this was a masterclass performance from the Ancelotti's men who unleashed a second half blue-coloured blitzkrieg to put five past a hapless Blackburn Rovers.

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Despite a woeful recent record away from home, you might have expected Allardyce's Blackburn to have put up more of a fight against Chelsea yesterday. But this was a masterclass performance from the Ancelotti's men who unleashed a second half blue-coloured blitzkrieg to put five past a hapless Blackburn Rovers.

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