SoccerBlogs

Newcastle United Logo (Google Creative Commons)

Relegated Queens Park Rangers host Newcastle United at Loftus Road this morning in one of the most important match ups of the season for the Magpies.

Newcastle is just above the relegation zone with just three points separating them from 18th placed Wigan Athletic and only goal difference keeping them above rival Sunderland in joint 17th.

Carragher & Gerrard play last ever game together - originally posted on Soccerlens.com

As news emerged last night that Steven Gerrard would miss Liverpool's two remaining Premier League games this season with a shoulder injury, the realisation struck that Gerrard and Jamie Carragher had shared the pitch together for the final time in their illustrious careers.

Jack Wilshere of Arsenal (Photo by Shaun Botterill/Getty Images)QPR

This Saturday, 4th of May, Queen Park Ranger will host Arsenal for the 36thmatch-week Both teams arrive to thebeggingof May withdifferentgoals, Arsenal is still fighting for a UEFA Champions League 2013/2014 spot, while QPR already knows its fate.

Chelsea defender John Terry (Wikimedia Commons)

Following on from last week's look at five English Premier League midfielders that could be transferred this summer, it is the boys at the back in the focus this time around.

SWOL selects five defenders whose futures may lie elsewhere of their current clubs—from the veteran captain whose days might be numbered, to the international left-back reportedly attracting the attention of some rival clubs.

With no early or late kick-off, today's Premier League matches take on an unusual twist by having seven matches all played at once. It's a good day for multi-tasking, but a bad time for trying to savor every minute of the best matches.

The biggest match of the day is arguably Queens Park Rangers against Stoke City in a relegation battle at Loftus Road.

Ifthey're relegated? They mean when they're relegated, right?

Here are tonight's Premier League news headlines:

• QPR likely to be stuck with their overpaid failures if they are relegated— The Guardian
• Millwall fans' Wembley riot fuelled by cocaine — The Mirror
• Dave Whelan not manager Roberto Martinez could lead out Wigan at the FA Cup final — The Independent
• Vincent Kompany denies late penalty claims in Manchester City's FA Cup victory over Chelsea — The Mail
• Andy Carroll open to West Ham offer as he ponders uncertain future — The Guardian
• BT and Sky kick off pub sports price war — Financial Times
• Manchester City's fluidity proves key against Chelsea in semi-final | Michael Cox — The Guardian
• FA Cup: Chelsea's Rafael Benitez irked as 'clear penalty' not given— BBC Sport
• Tony Pulis says Stoke face 'five-game season' to stay in Premier League — The Guardian
• VIDEO: Stoke are in a dogfight, admits manager Tony Pulis —BBC Sport
• Linesmen must be allowed to turn professional — The Daily Mail
• Mancini says his Manchester City side will not be complacent in the FA Cup final — BBC Sport
• Hillsborough victims' families demand swift justice for people behind cover-up — The Guardian
• Stoke fans Munich taunts to Manchester United — The Mail
• Paolo Di Canio invokes mother's memory after Sunderland's derby win — The Guardian
• Brendan Rodgers hopes to convince Jamie Carragher to play on at Liverpool — The Mail
• FA reviews Wembley policing with late start blamed for Millwall violence — The Guardian
• Cardiff can reach the Premier League against Charlton on Tuesday — BBC Sport
• Dave Whelan says Premier League survival remains Wigan's priority — Sky Sports
• Referee Mark Clattenburg forgot his cards for second half of Reading–Liverpool — 101GG
• Sir Alex Ferguson denies Man Utd are set to sign Falcao — Pro Soccer Talk
• Rumour Mill: Sky Sports want to showcase The Neville Bros — ToffeeWeb

The Nightly EPL is tomorrow's news today.

French striker Loic Remy has only played eight matches so far this season for Queens Park Rangers, but while he hasn't been able to turn around the club's form, he has achieved an impressive five goals in eight league appearances.

Remy's prowess in front of goal is something to marvel, similar to Demba Ba's clinical scoring when he played with West Ham United even though he wasn't able to help them stay up two seasons ago.

Wigan Manager Roberto Martinez (Google Creative Commons)

Both Queens Park Rangers and Wigan Athletic find themselves in particularly precarious positions in the Premier League table and could both be relegated when the season ends. QPR are in more dire straits than their Sunday opponents, sitting in 19th place with just 23 points from 31 matches.

Stadium:Craven Cottage
Kick-off time:3pm ET/8pm UK time
US TV:Live on ESPN Deportes and ESPN3.com
UK TV:Live on Sky Sports 1
Radio: Live on Talksport.com

Fulham starting XI: Schwarzer; Riether, Senderos, Hangeland (c), Riise; Dejagah, Sidwell, Karagounis, Duff; Ruiz, Berbatov

QPR starting XI: Cesar; Bosingwa, Samba, Hill, Traore; Townsend, Jenas, Mbia, Taarabt; Remy, Zamora

With eight matches to go in the Premier League this season, Queens Park Rangers will desperately need to get all three points today to have any hope of staying in the league next season.

Premier League title race is over but there's much still at stake - originally posted on Soccerlens.com

With the World Cup qualifiers for March behind us, the focus shifts firmly to the English Premier League where except for the wide chasm between Manchester United and the rest, there's still plenty to play for.

Jamie Carragher's final match for Liverpool will be this Sunday against Queens Park Rangers.

Since joining Liverpool's youth team in 1990, Carragher has made 507 appearances for the club. In modern-day football, it's so rare to see a footballer be a one-club man.

Now we have a clip of Jamie Carragher's first TV interview when he was 18-years old and playing for Liverpool reserves.

As if it couldn't get any worse for Queens Park Rangers, the club's star striker Loic Remy has been arrested on suspicion of rape. The French international was arrested along with two other men, one being his cousin, after a woman allegedly was gang-raped by the three men in London last week.

Reportedly, the woman visited Remy in his apartment in Fulham, where Remy's cousin and friend were also present.

Today's matches in the Premier League had a little bit of everything —last minute goals, players jumping into crowds, karate kicks and much more.

If you missed any of the highlights, or if you want to see them again, here are the highlights for gameweek 32 of the Premier League, Sunday edition from April 7, 2013.

By DAN KARELL

Last Tuesday, Toronto FC announced that they had signed three new players from abroad on-loan, with manager Ryan Nelsen looking to shore up the porous back line and increase the goal scoring chances.

One of the players signed was Queens Park Rangers defender Tal Ben Haim, but on Monday, President and General Manager Kevin Payne shed some light on the situation, saying that he wasn't sure if Ben Haim would ever see the field in a TFC uniform.

Toronto FC manager Ryan Nelsen has once again delved into his rolodex to strengthen his side as the club today announced the acquisition of defender Tal Ben Haim on loan from Queens Park Rangers. QPR being Nelsen's former team.

The 31-year-old Israeli international has made over 300 appearances during nine seasons in England, eight of which have been in the EPL.

If you missed any of the seven matches in the Premier League today, watch the match highlights below. While the games weren't as exciting as the final day of the Championship season, for good reason, there was still plenty to enjoy.

There was one match, in particular, that was my match of the day that opened up the entire battle to avoid relegation.

QPR: Guilt reigns over the ramshackle band of deadwood, egotists, and raw talent - originally posted on Soccerlens.com

And there they go, Harry Redknapp's QPR, into the abyss. Like a shrivelled balloon found under the sofa, the Hoops looked a long deflated side on the weekend against Reading, and were unable to show the necessary fight when it truly mattered.

Queens Park Rangers supporters are upset at defender Jose Bosingwa who was caught laughing and smiling after the club were relegated after the end of yesterday's nil-nil draw against Reading.

Bosingwa was snapped laughing and smiling on his way down the tunnel. The timing of Bosingwa's good mood was incredibly inconsiderate to QPR supporters and the club.

In today's matches, Chelsea played Swansea City with the Blues wanting to get all three points in order to try to get closer to securing a top four finish and UEFA Champions League qualification. Against a Swansea City side that saw the return of left back Neil Taylor who had a near-season long injury, could Chelsea win at home?

Three matches, each with their own story lines. Reading against QPR is the battle of the soon-to-be relegated teams. Which one still has some fighting spirit left? Which one wants to try to avoid being the bottom club in the Premier League this season? Which manager is still able to motivate his players no matter what the predicament his team and players face?

What would the Premier League table look like if the first goal scored in the 2012-13 season matches settled the outcome of the games?

Thanks to Opta, they've created the alternative league table below, which reveals some interesting observations:

Chelsea would be top of the table if the first goal in their matches settled the score.

On a rather disappointing day in the Premier League, there still were some interesting highlights including red cards, an attempted own goal from 40 yards, clubs heading closer to relegation, and fisting-pumping managers.

Here are the match highlights from Premier League Saturday, gameweek 34:

Video: Fulham v Arsenal Premier League Highlights 04/20/13

Video: QPR v Stoke City Premier League Highlights 04/20/13

Video: Swansea City v Southampton Premier League Highlights 04/20/13

Video: Sunderland v Everton Premier League Highlights 04/20/13

Video: West Brom v Newcastle Premier League Highlights 04/20/13

Video: West Ham v Wigan Premier League Highlights 04/20/13

Video: Norwich City v Reading Premier League Highlights 04/20/13

Premier League Saturday, Gameweek 34 Match Highlights [VIDEO] is a post from EPL Talk - Independent voice of EPL soccer fans since 2005.

In recent years, the Premier League has witnessed some of the harshest managerial sackings in soccer. The majority of dismissals in recent years have been at the expense of a manager who has just gained promotion with his side to the Premier League. Managers have been sacked (some unfairly) for their work in the top flight, whilst others have been replaced for reasons that are still unknown today.

It was a low-scoring day in the Premier League today, but as usual there were plenty of talking points including a controversial penalty kick, a shot that did or didn't cross the line, as well as clubs reaching safety in the league on a very rain-soaked day in England.

Here are all of the match highlights from today's five Premier League matches played on Saturday, April 13, 2013:

Video: Arsenal v Norwich City Premier League Highlights 04/13/13

Video: Reading v Liverpool Premier League Highlights 04/13/13

Video: Southampton v West Ham Premier League Highlights 04/13/13

Video: Aston Villa v Fulham Premier League Highlights 04/13/13

Video: Everton v QPR Premier League Highlights 04/13/13

Premier League Saturday, Gameweek 33 Match Highlights [VIDEO] is a post from EPL Talk - Independent voice of EPL soccer fans since 2005.

With a packed roster of matches being played out over the weekend, we have plenty to talk about regarding this gameweek.

1. Manchester City get a glimpse of an alternate reality

Still 12 points clear of their noisy neighbors, United possibly just can't throw it away from here.

The Football Association expect the Premier League clubs to approve goal-line technology, with the technology set to be launched in the Premier League beginning with the 2013-14 season.

The Premier League clubs meet on Thursday to discuss several agenda items including Financial Fair Play.

If approved, there's no guarantee that the Premier League will use the GoalControl goal-line technology that FIFA approved last week.

Which clubs have the best attacking efficiency and best defensive resiliency in the Premier League for the 2012-13 season-to-date?

On the basis of attacking efficiency, the research is measured based on the number of shots taken per goal scored.

For defensive resiliency, it's measured on the numbers of shots faced per goal conceded.

By MICHAEL KLINE

The relegation battle in the English Premier League will be kicked up a notch this weekend, with six of the bottom nine clubs pitted against each other, and the ever-important goal of staying in the top division on the line.

Reading and Southampton will accompany Saturday morning's breakfast, and a loss may very well doom The Royals to the Championship next season.

The interesting thing about most statistics is that they often reveal remarkable facts that you otherwise wouldn't know. At least the ones that are published do.

This week, we've looked at the footballers who have the best win percentages for their Premier League club as well as which Premier League clubs have the squads with the youngest average age.

Which player has the best win percentage at every Premier League club that has played in the top flight of England from 1992-2013?

Some of the findings may surprise you. Out of the 45 teams who have played in the Premier League since it was founded, there are memorable names from the history of British football with greats such as Alan Shearer.

Which club has the youngest average age in the Premier League? And vice-versa, which club has the oldest average age? The answers may surprise you.

First, the club with the oldest average is the one that sits at the very bottom of the league — Queens Park Rangers, where the average age is 28.

In case you missed it, Bobby Zamora auditioned for the upcoming remake of the "Everyone Was Kung-Fu Fighting" music video today in his match for Queens Park Rangers against Wigan Athletic. The problem was that Wigan's Jordi Gomez was in his way.

Zamora kicked Gomez in the head and was subsequently given a red card, leaving the R's down to ten men.

It was yet another one of those matches where it was a game of two halves. Fulham dominated the first half. Queens Park Rangers dominated the second 45 minutes.

But there was only one winner, while the loser walked off the pitch extremely disappointed.

Here are tonight's highlights from Fulham versus QPR:

Video: Fulham v QPR Premier League Highlights 04/01/13

Fulham vs Queens Park Rangers, Premier League Gameweek 31 Match Highlights [VIDEO] is a post from EPL Talk - Independent voice for EPL soccer fans since 2005.