SPANISH FOOTBALL tonight with three games of Round 23 scheduled of LA LIGA. Great matches, surprises & big news that I will get into now. Here is a brief summary of the events, final results & scorers. Diego flys against Racing RACING DE SANTANDER hosted ATLETICO DE MADRID & will be happy to have managed a 0 - 0 result.

My brain is an arsehole. "Just one gigantic whiskey before you go to bed. Go on!"

I need to stop listening to my brain although I'm not sure who I should listen to in that case. I guess it's another reason why I've always been a fan of butlers. "Should I have one gigantic whiskey before I go to bed, Carmichael?

As Arsenal head towards the business end of the season, their manager Arsene Wenger has said that the Gunners should be optimistic about their chances.

The North Londoners will face Sunderland on Saturday at the Stadium of Light, with their aim being to keep pace with their city rivals Chelsea.

It may not have been a man of the match-calibre performance, as those honours would have to have gone to one of the defenders—and probably either Glen Johnson or Martin Skrtel. And he likely didn't even have as good a game as his previous two against Wolverhampton and Manchester United. Regardless of that, however, after nearly a full calendar year filled almost entirely by futility as he struggled first with fitness and then with fitting in, it's understandable that on the back of three strong showings on the bounce people would be eager to look for any upside they can find in the 2012 edition of Andy Carroll.

After Grayson – A new dawning for our club? A solid 3-0 win for caretaker manager Redfearn at Bristol sees him given at least the next three games in charge, before the board makes a managerial decision. But with the club CEO on holiday and the chairman staying in Monaco as he has a cold (!), no new managerial position was likely to be even looked at, let alone considered this week.

After Grayson A new dawning for our club? A solid 3-0 win for caretaker manager Redfearn at Bristol sees him given at least the next three games in charge, before the board makes a managerial decision. But with the club CEO on holiday and the chairman staying in Monaco as he has a cold (!), no new managerial position was likely to be even looked at, let alone considered this week.

Manchester United vs Liverpool
11 February 2012
12.45 GMT
Old Trafford

History:
Total: 184
Liverpool Wins: 62
Manchester United Wins: 71
Draws: 51

Last Premier League Meeting: 15 October 2011 – Liverpool 1-1 Manchester United (Gerrard)

Form:
Liverpool: While the Reds have been unstoppable in the cups, their league form has been questionable.

Luis Suarez has been back in action for twenty-five minutes, and he's already lucky he hasn't been banned two or four or seventeen more times. In related news, the buildup to a match against Manchester United is always so very much fun...

* In amongst all the excitement over Kenny Dalglish reminding the world that the club never thought Suarez' ban was an entirely appropriate punishment, following Monday's match there was an even more ridiculous Suarez b-plot that popped up when Wayne Rooney hopped on Twitter to suggest that the Liverpool striker should be banned for his mis-timed kick to Scott Parker's midriff.

Photo by ISIphotos.com

The U.S. Soccer community lost a legend Tuesday, as Harry Keough, a national team captain during the memorable 1950 World Cup and a member of the National Soccer Hall of Fame, died at age 84.

Keough was one of the last surviving members of the 1950 team that beat England, 1-0, in what is considered to be one of the greatest upsets in all of soccer.

A few notes from around the club today, including the signing of another young talent (as seen below).

Window shopping

Mikel to be fit for Saturday, Lampard likely
• After some seven weeks on the shelf, John Obi Mikel is finally ready to resurface.

One of the most pleasing aspects of the 2012 Africa Cup of Nations was that two co-hosts, Equatorial Guinea and Gabon, have both managed to qualify for the Quarter Finals... Gabon in particular have looked an impressive outfit, winning qualification Group C with three wins from three games, including a 1-0 win over Tunisia which [.

With Liverpool facing Harry Rednapp's Spurs next Monday night,
statistics over the years show that Liverpool have the edge over Tottenham in the Primiership down the years as shown in the graph below.
However, in the last three games between the two sides its Spurs who are on top with a thumping 4-0 beating of Liverpool, preceded
by a 2-0 defeat at Anfield last May.

Critics may already be writing off Arsenal's chances of a top-four finish after last night's goalless draw at Bolton but manager Arsene Wenger has evidence that his side his actually improving.

In his post-match press conference, Wenger was reminded that earning only a point in their last four fixtures had pushed the Gunners to seventh position in the Premier League standings.

In three short hours we face a stiff test. No, Bolton aren't that good. But for this is a test for Wenger and the boys.

We've lost three games in a row in the league for the first time since 2007. We should have drawn all three, and we could have won any of them. We're in 6th spot in the league, six points behind Chelsea and have a worse defensive record than West Brom.

One thing I have noticed in recent weeks is the lack of real chances we are creating for ourselves. The thing is, because of this happening, the likes of Danny Sturridge (as he demonstrated yesterday) have taken a selfish approach to his game and is shooting whenever he gets the ball in or around the box rather then lift his head up and look for a killer pass or to create a chance for someone else.

It's a real shame that Yohan Cabaye has been hit with a violent conduct charge. Yohan Cabaye after scoring against Manchester United And it's a very high likelihood that he will miss the next three games, but we should know by 6:00 pm tonight. That's when he and Newcastle have to decide whether they [.

Blake Griffin had a night to remember on Monday. While it ended with a 112-100 victory over the Oklahoma City Thunder, everyone was talking about something else: Blake Griffin's dunk over Kendrick Perkins. If you haven't seen it, you must click the link and watch the video.

Including those amazing two points, Griffin poured in 22 points, seven rebounds, two assists, two steals and two blocks.

Dan Borislaw hijacking the magic out of women's professional soccer

What a blow to women's soccer after that magnificent exposition by the US national team at the CONCACAF Olympics qualifiers. The WPS has decided to cancel the 2012 season after running into a retaliatory lawsuit bought by the former owner of the magicJack, Dan Borislow.

Wolverhampton Wanderers vs Liverpool
31 January 2012
19.45 GMT
Molineux

History:
Total Appearances: 98
Liverpool Wins: 47
Wolves Wins: 33
Draws: 17

Last Premier League Meeting: 24 September 2011 – Liverpool 2-1 Wolves (Johnson og, Suarez)

Form:
Liverpool: Liverpool's odd season in which they seem to be unstoppable in the cups but fragile in the league continues.

Wolverhampton Wanderers vs Liverpool
31 January 2012
19.45 GMT
Molineux

History:
Total Appearances: 98
Liverpool Wins: 47
Wolves Wins: 33
Draws: 17

Last Premier League Meeting: 24 September 2011 – Liverpool 2-1 Wolves (Johnson og, Suarez)

Form:
Liverpool: Liverpool's odd season in which they seem to be unstoppable in the cups but fragile in the league continues.

Wolverhampton Wanderers vs Liverpool
31 January 2012
19.45 GMT
Molineux

History:
Total Appearances: 98
Liverpool Wins: 47
Wolves Wins: 33
Draws: 17

Last Premier League Meeting: 24 September 2011 – Liverpool 2-1 Wolves (Johnson og, Suarez)

Form:
Liverpool: Liverpool's odd season in which they seem to be unstoppable in the cups but fragile in the league continues.

Arsene Wenger has openly spoken of his delight about Arsenal's thrilling come-from-behind 3-2 win to progress to the FA Cup fifth round at the expense of Aston Villa but refuses to discuss the half-time conversation with his players.

The Gunners were 2-0 down heading into the interval following goals from Richard Dunne and Darren Bent but two second-half penalties from Robin van Persie and a deflected goal strike from Theo Walcott completed a memorable triumph.

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.

Photo by Stephen Brashear/ISIphotos.com

The U.S. women's national team has been a wrecking crew during its run at CONCACAF Olympic qualifying, but there is still one more piece of business to take care of before it can celebrate.

With a win Friday night over Costa Rica (8 p.

7:45am ET, live in the US on FSC.
Last four head-to-head:
1-1 (h) 10.15.11
3-1 Liverpool (h) 03.06.11
0-1 United (a; FA Cup) 01.09.11
2-3 United (a) 09.19.10
Previous round:
Liverpool: 5-1 Oldham (h)
United: 3-2 City (a)
Last three matches:
Liverpool: 2-2 City (h); 1-3 Bolton (a); 0-0 Stoke (h)
United: 2-1 Arsenal (a); 3-0 Bolton (h); 3-2 City (a)
Goalscorers (all competitions):
Liverpool: Bellamy, Suarez 8; Gerrard 5; Carroll, Maxi 4; Adam, Skrtel 2; Downing, Henderson, Johnson, Kelly, Kuyt, Shelvey 1
United: Rooney 18; Welbeck 9; Berbatov, Nani 8; Chicharito 6; Valencia 4; Giggs, Owen, Young 3; Anderson, Carrick, Fletcher, Jones, Park, Smalling 2; Macheda, Scholes 1
Referee: Martin Atkinson Mark Halsey
Atkinson was supposed to be in charge, but pulled out Thursday with a virus.

Ricardo Clark got a little redemption but that's about it. (Getty Images)

It has been a long time coming for the US Men's National Team. A solid three-game winning streak.

Typically these sorts of things happen around the January friendly time. It certainly isn't the first time this has happened but with Jurgen Klinsmann in as boss, it is.

Photos by ISIphotos.com

U.S. national team stars Landon Donovan and Clint Dempsey have not shared a field together since the CONCACAF Gold Cup final, but Friday they are slated to do so -- as opponents.

Everton and Fulham meet in a fourth-round FA Cup match at Goodison Park, and Fox Soccer Channel has picked up the 3 p.

Photo by Stephen Brashear/ISIphotos.com

They might have been held to single digits on the scoreboard for the first time during the CONCACAF Olympic qualifying tournament, but the U.S. women's national team remains on a roll.

Carli Lloyd netted a hat trick, and the U.

When Arsenal's first team are underperforming, Arsene Wenger has always been comforted by the fact that he has had a plethora of promising youngsters ready to bring in and rejuvenate the team, but even that may no longer be true. The Arsenal first-team may have lost three games in a row, but the reserve side's [.

MISL NEWS RELEASE: Tuesday, January 24, 2012
Milwaukee's Bennett Named Player of the Week Recorded 15 points as the Wave took a pair of victories from three games
TAMPA, Fla. – The Major Indoor Soccer League announced on Tuesday that Milwaukee Wave forward Ian Bennett had been named the league's Player of the Week for the 12th week of the 2011-12 season.

So I started writing a blog the other night, canned it, and came back to it again with the intention of letting time dilute my disappointment. Why? Well the first effort was just too doom-laden, hairshirt-wearing, chest-thumping and – well it was a miserable read all round. I didn't enjoy writing it so I added one and one together, made two, and realised that nobody of a sound mental disposition would much care to read it either.

The Arsenal captain Robin Van Persie was yet again the goalscorer for the Gunners yesterday, but for the FIFTH time this season the Dutchman has scored but Arsenal have gone on to lose the game. Arsenal have now lost three games in a row and Van Persie has been the one player that has held [...]

Instead of a preview, I thought I'd look at some classic Arsenal matches against this week's opponents. And when those opponents are Man Utd, there's a lot of games to choose from. So, rather than one game, I thought I'd look at a whole season: 2004-2005. That year, we played United in three games that can genuinely be described as epic (we also opened the season by beating them in the Charity Shield).

As we are all aware, Emmanuel Adebayor will be force to sit this one out but is it a simple case of bringing in Jermain Defoe as a straight replacement. Could Harry accommodate Pavlyuchenko in a 4-4-2 or even play five across the midfield tomorrow.

The other issue surrounds club captain Ledley King who may be a bigger doubt for the game than was suggested earlier in the week.

By: Peter Espinosa
Thirteen hours is the time it takes for the bus to leave Hartman Arena on its way to US Cellular Arena in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The Wings have made three of their scheduled four trips to play the Milwaukee Wave this season and before they venture into the champions house again, the Wave will play in Wichita three times in one week.

So yesterday was a day without Wikipedia.
How did we all cope?
Maybe by using the various workarounds that let you bypass Wiki's self-imposed protest blackout. Or whiling away the hours following STV's #fitbawiki chat on Twitter.
Or you could have gone old school and picked up a book.

All because Liverpool hasn't made a move yet in the transfer market doesn't mean that people aren't saying they're about to. So join us for the latest fun-like substance as we run down the latest collection of names being linked into—and out of—the club as the end of the January window edges into sight.

Montpellier Hérault SC vs. Olympique Lyonnais

Week 20 – Ligue 1, Stade de la Mosson.

Alive in four out of four competitions! Bravo Les Gones!

A potential rearranging of top league table spots is on the cards this weekend. Six of the top seven teams go head-to-head against each other PSG vs.

Sunderland's experienced Ireland international defender John O'Shea has spoken of the positive impact James McClean has had on the team since emerging on to the scene as a substitute in the 2-1 win over Blackburn on December 11.
McClean's impact has gradually increased and he has started in each of Sunderland's last three games.

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For whatever reason, the story of this week's Coppa Italia rounds has been free kicks and their fashionably late arrivals. Three games stole the headlines with late, late drama on the back of excellent free kicks, one each the last three days.

Today it was Goran Pandev's controversial oh-no-he-didn't/oh-yes-he-did ball which no one will remember by about.