Timothy Chandler returned to Nurnberg's starting lineup on Sunday, playing the full minutes in the midfield in a sloppy, icy encounter at Augsburg which saw both teams settle for a draw.

In the second preseason game of the season, KC once again took care of business, this time against their First Kick opponent DC United. What would be assumed to be the first team started the game again for Kansas City. It was the same lineup as KC put out against San Jose last weekend, with one exception.

Suarez has been recalled to the starting lineup in what promises to be a heated encounter against Manchester United.

Liverpool: Reina, Enrique, Johnson, Agger, Skrtel, Spearing, Gerrard, Henderson, Downing, Kuyt, Suarez.

Subs: Doni, Carragher, Bellamy, Carroll, Adam, Shelvey, Kelly.

Photo: Daniel Gajdamowicz

With the signing of Lionard Pajoy, the Union may just be nearing the end of their offseason transactions (at least for outfield players). In a set of three installments, PSP's Eli Pearlman-Storch outlines the most likely formations for the Union in 2012 and how the roster, as currently composed, is suited to play in each.

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.

*Despite the presence of watching projected NFL top draft choice Andrew Luck in Carson today, the Galaxy lost 4-1 to the Portland Timbers at Home Depot Center. Dan Keat had a goal on a bicycle kick in the losing cause. The Galaxy starting lineup: Saunders; Jordan, Meyer, DeLaGarza, Dunivant; Franklin,

Colorado faced Chivas USA in a scrimmage at the HDC today. A late Qunicy Amarikwa goal from a Steven Emory assist gave the burgundy boys a 1-0 win. Of course its preseason so its meaningless but wins are always better than losses. The starting XI (trialists makred with a *):
Angulo* - Cummings - MullanLarentowicz - Castrillon - MastroeniZapata* - Marshall - Wynne - KimuraPickens
After subs the team finished with the the following lineup:
Cascio - Amarikwa - AkpanThompson - LaBauex - EmoryFreeman - Palguta - Guido* - AbabioJoyce
Guido is a local player playing with the team while they're in California.

A year ago, the Seattle Sounders opened their season on March 15. This year, they will essentially do so eight days earlier. On paper that might not seem like a huge difference.

But unlike last year when they opened against a LA Galaxy team that was in the same stage of its season, the Sounders' first opponent will be Santos Laguna, a Mexican Primera side that will have already played nine matches.

The Dynamo had another positive preseason match today, defeating San Jacinto College 4-0. Goals from Nathan Sturgis, Will Bruin, Adam Moffatt and trialist Jorge Escobar did the damage for Houston.

Houston Dynamo Press Release:

The Houston Dynamo continued their 2012 preseason with a 4-0 victory over San Jacinto College, Wednesday morning, at the Houston Amateur Sports Park.

Another Philadelphia Union player is on his way out of the club, as Kyle Nakazawa will be traded, the Brotherly Game has learned.

Sources tell the Brotherly Game that the Nakazawa will be moved to the LA Galaxy in a move that one of the sources said will be announced tomorrow. The trade has been in the works since sometime last week.

After losing 2-1 to the New England Revolution in a preseason scrimmage in Casa Grande, AZ last weekend, FC Tucson head coach Rick Schantz had a funny remark that made its way into the end of the PDL side's press release. "New England looked a bit surprised but they eventually realized we were better than they expected," he quipped.

Michael Bradley was in the starting lineup for Chievo's game against Lazio on Sunday, however a late collapse after his 74th minute exit saw a narrow deficit turn into an embarrassing home loss.

When you think of the best teams in the Western Conference, the Houston Rockets don't come to mind right away. But the Texas team has now won nine of their last ten games after dropping the New York Knicks by a final score of 97-84.

The Rockets, now 12-8 on the season, were led by Chase Budinger's 19 points off the bench.

Ducky's Note: Rathna Prashanth looks at a novel way to solve Torres' striking problem. By getting rid of Drogba!

Legend, proven goal scorer, leader on the pitch- these are some of the terms that describe the powerful Ivorian Drogba, aka the Top Dog of the Bridge. At 150 goals and still counting, not only has he been an amazing goalscorer for Chelsea, he has also been a tremendous athlete.

Last night, I was at work and I missed the USA at Panama match on Galavision from Estadio Rommel Fernandez in Panama City. Too bad, it would have been my first look at lots of young USMNT prospects making their debut with the senior NT. The starting lineup was Nick Rimando in goal, AJ De La Garza, Michael Parkhurst, Geoff Cameron, and Zach Loyd in the back, Ricardo Clark and Jermaine Jones in the
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Most of last night's headlines might have been about the U.S. men's national team's friendly in Panama, but that was not the only place south of the border where an American was playing.

Lost amid the U.S. team's 1-0 win, Jonathan Bornstein made his season debut, starting and going the distance in Tigres UANL's 1-0 first-leg loss to Chilean club Union Espanola in the Copa Libertadores.

The United States is running out of chances to find some solid form before World Cup qualifying starts in summer. Tonight, they take on a Panamanian team they really should beat and they will be returning to the 4-4-2 that Jurgen Klinsmann has seemed so intent on doing away with. Chris Wondolowski will start alongside Teal Bunbury at forward.

With the first friendly of 2012 producing a thrilling, though somewhat disappointing 1-0 victory against Venezuela on Saturday, the U.S. men's national team is now in Panama preparing for the first tough road match for this young group.

Jurgen Klinsmann scheduled this Panama match with the expressed purpose of testing inexperienced players in a hostile environment, and the opponent is one who should provide a tougher test than the one provided by Venezuela.

By FRANCO PANIZO

Neven Subotic is one of the top young centerbacks playing in Europe, but his future is under threat after Geman authorities opened a sexual assault investigation against him.

Subotic and three others are under investigation after a 21-year-old woman claimed she was the victim of a sexual assault.

Before we dig into some of my takeaways from tonight's battle with Venezuela (another three-pointer!), the original starting lineup: Bill Hamid, A.J. DeLaGarza, Michael Parkhurst, Geoff Cameron, Heath Pearce, Jeff Larentowicz, Jermaine Jones, Graham Zusi, Benny Feilhaber, Brek Shea, Teal Bunbury. As for the highlights, check out the ESPN3 replay here.

Here is the USA's starting lineup against Venezuela:
Hamid
DeLaGarza Parkhurst Cameron Pearce
Larentowicz Jones (capt.)
Zusi Feilhaber Shea
Bunbury
1-Bill Hamid2-A.

Photo by Tracy Allen/ISIphotos.com

By DAVID GUBALA

The Chicago Fire will swap the crispy, cold ways of Chicago for the sunny rays of Ave Maria as they travel to Florida to officially kick off the preseason camp for their 15th season in Major League Soccer.

Jozy Altidore hopes to return to AZ's starting lineup when they look for a second straight win over Ajax while Charles Kazlauskas and Helmond can continue their hot streak against MVV Maastricht.

The U.S. men's national team will play its first match of 2012, and an MLS-heavy squad will take the field against Venezuela on Saturday night in Arizona with many players looking to impress Jurgen Klinsmann and work their way into the full senior team mix.

Some familiar faces are back in the mix as Benny Feilhaber and Ricardo Clark are in camp, while Heath Pearce joins them as the only players on the camp roster with more than 30 caps.

Rumors are doing the rounds today both in papers and online that Liverpool are looking to offload striker Andy Carroll, just one year after he was signed for a club record of £35million. Personally I think this is just talk to feed the rumor mill.

Sure he hasn't lived up to his over inflated deadline day transfer just yet, but people need to remember he is still only 23 and if it wasn't for a few great saves or the cross bar being a couple of inches higher he would have an extra 3 or 4 goals this season and things wouldn't look all that bad considering the minutes he has actually played.

Guardian: Liverpool 5-1 Oldham Athletic | FA Cup third round match report

Shunning the FA Cup in protest at the eight-match ban handed to Luis Suárez was among the more ludicrous proposals put to Liverpool by indignant supporters. Mercifully it was given short shrift by the Anfield club and Kenny Dalglish's team as they ended another turbulent week by overcoming an obstinate Oldham Athletic to secure their place in the fourth round.

Richmond Kickers Press Release - http://www.richmondkickers.com/
RICHMOND, VA – (Thursday, January 5, 2012) – The Richmond Kickers are pleased to announce the return of forward Edson Elcock for the 2012 season, pending USSF approval.
"We are delighted that Edson has decided to return as he has contributed greatly to the club's success over the last couple of seasons," commented Leigh Cowlishaw, Richmond Kickers Head Coach and Director of Soccer.

BREAKING NEWS: The NSC Minnesota Stars will ring in 2012 with the unveiling of a new logo, designed by our good Friend-In-Football Kevin Joseph, on Mon Jan 9 at 7:30pm at Brits Pub in downtown Minneapolis. See you there!
STARTERS
The 2012 NSCAA Convention will take place January 11-15 in Kansas City MO.

Photo by ISIphotos.com

Landon Donovan's return to Everton is the story of the day in American soccer, and he'll look to make an immediate impact when the Toffees host Bolton at Goodison Park. Donovan has secured a place in the starting lineup, as has goalkeeping stalwart Tim Howard, who is making his 250th Premier League appearance.

Photo by ISIphotos.com

Landon Donovan's second foray into the Premier League gets underway later today, with Everton's match against Bolton (3 p.m., Fox Soccer Plus/FoxSoccer.tv). Early rumblings have Donovan slated for the starting lineup, though that has yet to be announced publicly by Everton.

By "The Other 87 Minutes" / Senior Unemployed English Major Correspondents
As you might have heard, there's some kind of election-thing going on today (We hear it may be important or something). In honor of those brave Iowans who are secluding themselves in small rooms everywhere to argue about which, we bring you this, a squad made up of Republican candidates for the 2012 presidential nomination, past and present.

Today's result says a lot to me about where this team is right now. There's not enough depth, and there's not enough finishing. Not only is the league race way out of reach, but we have to stop and wonder about the likelihood of overtaking Spurs, and also finishing 4th. Hopefully this one will motivate Wenger to do some real spending in January, although I'm still not holding my breath.

Every coach wants to have players on their team that are assertive and willing to accept leadership responsibilities. No matter how demanding a coach or his staff can be in practice, ultimately, success will come down to their players being able to hold their teammates to high standards and demands during the game.

New York Knicks rookie bigman Josh Harrellson got the start on Saturday night and was really impressive as the Knicks defeated the Sacramento Kings. He had 14 points and 12 rebounds, while nailing 4-of-8 from downtown. In the fantasy basketball world, those stats look like gold for a player available on the waiver wire.

Despite the numerous struggles WPS was faced with in 2011, the Boston Breakers remained a solid squad. Thanks to an impressive post-World Cup run, the club earned its second-consecutive playoff appearance. Although they may have fallen short of the Championship game, 2011 was a remarkable year nevertheless for the Breakers.

If your fantasy basketball team is struggling to find a center, consider looking at a sleeper such as Byron Mullens of the Charlotte Bobcats. While the 7-footer out of Ohio State is barely owned in fantasy leagues, his potential is relatively high.

The 22-year-old spent the last two years at the end of the bench for the Oklahoma City Thunder.

It is no real surprise that the Scottish Premier League race already appears to be down to the two usual suspects. How Rangers and Celtic have gotten to their current positions, though, is a story in itself.

Heading into Wednesday's latest edition of the venomous Old Firm Derby (2:45 p.

Liverpool: Maxi 53′
Blackburn: Adam (og) 45′

Liverpool drop points again at Anfield, failing convert their late surge into a winning goal against a stubborn Blackburn Rovers side. The return of Steven Gerrard and two late chances got our hopes up, but in the end it was the same frustrating story we've seen from Liverpool so many times in the past year.

There are only a handful of games across the soccer world on Thursday, but a pretty crucial one is taking place at White Hart Lane, where Chelsea and Tottenham do battle in a London derby (3 p.m., ESPN2/ESPN3.com/ESPN Deportes).

Tottenham sits in third place in the Premier League, two points ahead of the Blues with a game in hand.

In the spirit of the 125 anniversary celebrations, and in a follow up to Darren's recent blog about Arsenal's history, I now ask the question of whether the current team is the most multicultural team in history. I wasn't the first one to notice it, but we've recently used a couple of different lineups where every player hailed from a different country.