By Alan Duffy

Stoke City 1-2 West Bromwich Albion Premier League 21st January 2012

West Brom secured a vital three points away at a blustery Britannia against a Stoke side who never really got into their stride.

Liverpool manager Kenny Dalglish failed to come up with the winning formula at Anfield as his side were held to a goalless draw against Stoke.
An unfamiliar line-up to combat the visitors' obvious physical strengths initially appeared to cause more problems for the Reds than it did their opponents.

We're not gonna do this. Not right now. Just go read the Blackburn recap. Or the Swansea recap. Or any other match in which Liverpool never really looked like doing something worth watching, subtract any chances that were created but not taken, punch yourself in the face for watching the whole thing, and then go back to drinking yourself into oblivion.

Liverpool turn their attentions back to the Premier League this weekend when they welcome Stoke to Anfield after two games in the FA Cup and Carling Cup.
The Reds go into the clash boosted by the news that skipper Steven Gerrard has signed a new long-term deal which is likely to see him end his playing career at Anfield.

By Chris Wright

You may be aware that, in glorious 20-20 retrospect, Tottenham were fairly hard done to against Stoke yesterday. The Potters ran out as 2-1 winners, but it turns out that Spurs were denied by a couple of goal-line handballs, had a man sent off rather softly and saw an Emmanuel Adebayor goal disallowed for offside despite Marc Wilson playing him on by a couple of feet.

A plethora of former Tottenham players suited up in a Stoke City uniform and fully played their part in ending the Spurs' 11-game unbeaten run with an impressive 2-1 win at the Brittania Stadium.

Matthew Etherington, who was a Spurs player between 2000 and 2003, scored twice in the first half, with his opening strike being assisted by Peter Crouch, who just left White Hart Lane this summer.

Steve Clarke believes it would have been impossible for any goalkeeper to save what he describes as a 'very special goal' from Luis Suarez on Wednesday night.
The Uruguay international fired both goals as the Reds progressed to the Carling Cup quarter-finals with a 2-1 win over Stoke City.
But it was Suarez's first - involving a nutmeg on Ryan Shotton and a sensational curl beyond Thomas Sorensen - that drew looks of awe from all four stands in the Britannia Stadium.

By Chris Wright

'Twas a damn fine effort Sir!

A second-half double from a fizzing Luis Suarez was enough to see Liverpool into the quarter-finals of the Carling Cup at the Britannia last night, after Kenwyne Jones had put Stoke one up a minute before half-time with a neat near-post diving header.

Stoke City 1 Jones 44′
Liverpool 2 Suarez 54′ 85′

After the first half it seemed as though it was going to be the same old story for Liverpool: Possession, passing, at times slick play, and an inability to finish. Throw in a Kenwyne Jones goal a minute before the break after sloppy defending led to Stoke's first and only chance of the half, a hostile venue, and another referee who seemed determined not to call anything on Luis Suarez, and it had the makings of a hugely frustrating day for the visitors.

Stoke City have enjoyed a promising start to the season and it is clear that despite the increasing number of matches they have been playing due to Europa League involvement, Tony Pulis' men can cope with the challenging demands.

One of the reasons why the Potters have been so impressive is a strong defense, anchored in the Premier League by Bosnian goalkeeper Asmir Begovic, who has been able to focus exclusively on the domestic front due to the presence of veteran Thomas Sorensen in the squad.

Stoke City have enjoyed a promising start to the season and it is clear that despite the increasing number of matches they have been playing due to Europa League involvement, Tony Pulis' men can cope with the challenging demands.

One of the reasons why the Potters have been so impressive is a strong defense, anchored in the Premier League by Bosnian goalkeeper Asmir Begovic, who has been able to focus exclusively on the domestic front due to the presence of veteran Thomas Sorensen in the squad.

N.B-52 will be starting in Denmark's vitally important clash with Cyprus on Friday evening @ the GSP Stadium in Nicosia @ 19.30PM. The Dane's then face Portugal in Parken @ 19:15, Copenhagen next Tuesday evening. Denmark will be missing key players such as talented attacking Ajax full back N.

By Chris Wright

Pies pick of the photos from last night's League Cup third round action...

The sun sets dramatically behind Elland Road before kick-off of Leeds' game against Manchester United

Wolves' Richard Stearman and Millwall's John Marquis do battle in the air over Molineux.

Click here to view the embedded video.

Apparently, 28,00o Danish women suffer domestic violence at the hands of their partners a staggering statistic that Simon Kjaer, Daniel Agger and Thomas Sorensen have made a focal point in the above video, which was produced to draw attention and awareness to the issue.

So, it went to the last minute but featured player Nicklas Bendtner is gonna be playing week in-week out in the English Barclays Premiership for the Black Cats', Sunderland Afc. This move is only a positive thing for Nicklas and to all his supporters. Just as the Danish manager Morten Olsen said the most important thing for NB is to get solid playing time in a highly competitive league.

Football transfer rumours: Gary Cahill to Liverpool

All today's Rumours are feeling sick Summer's gone. You can tell because it's raining outside, and football's coming back. Oh summer! Cycling, cricket, golf, even the odd shaft of sun finding its way through the cracks in the curtains every now and then.

Nicklas Bendtner is likely to play in his favored central striker role on Saturday, when Denmark make a short trip to Oslo, Norway to play a decisive qualifier for the European Championships in 2012. Reporters asked him what his thoughts are that Stoke powerful target man John Carew will be missing for the Norwegian's and his own form.

The Arsenal and Denmark striker Nicklas Bendtner is often castigated for his over-confidence and big-headedness, but his Danish team-mate Thomas Sorensen reckons that the Gunners' striker used to be even MORE big-headed when he was younger! The Arsenal sports psychologist Jacques Crevoisier recently said that in tests for ‘self perceived competence,' (i.

COPENHAGEN, Denmark — Ashley Young scored his first goal for England as Fabio Capello's side came from behind to beat Denmark 2-1 in a morale-boosting win ahead of their Euro 2012 qualifier against Wales next month. Aston Villa player Young, recently converted from winger to striker, came off the bench to give England victory after [.

Nicklas Bendtner has been selected in the Denmark 21- squad for their upcoming game this Wednesday Vs England @ the Parken Stadium, Copenhagen, Viewers in England can catch the game on ITV 1, It should be an interesting game with NB52 expected to start.

The squad is as follows . . .

By Ollie Irish

A memorable third round, with plenty of shocks, although you can't help but feel that several Prem managers will quietly be very happy to be out of the competition this morning. Sad but true not being relegated is now way more important than a decent cup run that would (at best) probably end in semi-final defeat against Man Utd or Chelsea.