TOP 100 SOCCER SITES
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| Liverpool takeover: Tom Hicks and George Gillett can't rival these disastrous owners Tom Hicks may be bad, but at least he's never tried to burn down Anfield. telegraph.co.uk |
Schwarzer grabs the gongs Goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer has again grabbed the glory at Australian football's big awards night, scooping two of the three major titles on offer. foxsports.com.au |
Nothing else matters for the Old Firm A midfield battle awaits in the Old Firm derby, as Rangers make Celtic – not Europe – their priorityThere has never been any question of Rangers juggling two equal priorities this season. The club's midfielder Steven Davis was honest enough to admit this week: "I think we all know the answer to that," in reply to a query as to which was the more important game out of the upcoming meetings with Valencia and Celtic.Arguably, if Rangers finish third in their Champions League group, the Europa League could be regarded as a nuisance into the new year with personnel issues and a domestic championship defence in mind. The riches on offer from a last-16 place in the senior competition would render that sort of progression a different story altogether. The latter prospect, with a trip to Spain and the Mestalla to come, remains a long shot.Not that Rangers' thin squad, or safe knowledge that they won't lift the Champions League trophy in May, should fuel thoughts that they have little interest in European competition. The display against Valencia on Wednesday evening proved that much, with the excellent Ibrox encounter a timely antidote to some utterly depressing occasions – both on the club and international scene – for Scottish teams against continental opposition over the past two years.Walter Smith doesn't have the luxury of rotating his playing staff for Sunday's eagerly anticipated trip to Celtic Park. The Rangers manager even admitted on Tuesday that training is virtually nonexistent for his squad at present, amid concern over a ruinous batch of injuries. Neil Lennon's variety of options, particularly in attack, rightly make Celtic the narrow favourites to claim this season's SPL title.Yet Rangers have factors on their side that should not be underplayed, particularly with Sunday's derby in mind. Namely, that is, course and distance specialism added to a midfield that could prompt Lennon into tactical variation.That Rangers midfield will almost certainly be supplemented by the return of Lee McCulloch. The former Wigan Athletic man has grown in influence since being deployed as a holding midfielder by Smith; McCulloch is pivotal as Rangers revert from their 5-4-1 European template to that of 4-5-1 against their oldest foes.McCulloch, Maurice Edu and Davis would provide a fulcrum to the team that would seriously test Celtic for the first time in this campaign. Lennon has understandably been affected by an injury sustained by his captain, Scott Brown, whose dig and energy is invaluable to the Celtic cause. The two players deployed as central midfielders for Celtic in last Sunday's win at Dundee United, Ki Sung-yong and Joe Ledley, are noticeably short on the bite of which Rangers are hardly lacking.Lennon's response to that frailty could be to recall EfraÃn Juárez, the Mexican who has rather surprisingly failed to feature much recently given his promising start in Celtic colours. Sceptics could suggest that any deviation from the 4-4-2 system that has served him so well would be an example of Lennon affording too much respect to the opposition.Celtic's only other potential concern can relate to inexperience of this particular fixture. Anthony Stokes, Juárez, Emilio Izaguirre, Fraser Forster and, particularly, Gary Hooper have all looked impressive enough during their early weeks in green and white. Still, Celtic could field as many as eight Old Firm debutants, a risk emphasised by the experience – and a successful one, if more through financial constraints than design – within the Rangers ranks.Smith has a terrific record against Celtic, as Lennon will be all too aware. The psychological importance of Celtic's win over Rangers late last season – a game that was meaningless other than as Lennon's first Old Firm match as a manager – could be borne out by Sunday's events.Lennon lacks management experience, but is hardly a novice where this game is concerned, meaning he has plenty of wisdom to impart on any nervous debutants. Anxiety may be prevalent elsewhere if the timing of leaked information relating to Celtic's latest gripe about refereeing is anything to go by.Thankfully, old adages regarding form books and windows can be ignored; both teams have been flawless on the domestic scene thus far. If the value of this fixture is often overstated, this time it would be folly to place too little emphasis on proceedings. It promises to be utterly compelling.CelticRangersScottish Premier LeagueEwan Murrayguardian.co.uk © Guardian News & Media Limited 2010 | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds guardian.co.uk |
Didier Drogba set for Chelsea return as Frank Lampard stays on sidelines Chelsea striker set for return against Wolves as Frank Lampard remains on sidelines. telegraph.co.uk |
Tottenham 1-1 Everton It always felt as though Tottenham Hotspur would be hard pushed to follow the drama and emotion of their Champions League tie against Internazionale at San Siro on Wednesday night. Against a renascent Everton, their return to the bread and butter of the Premier League came with a dull thud.There was a flatness about proceedings at White Hart Lane, particularly in the second half, as the home crowd were left to lament the energy-sapping demands on their players. This difficult fixture came a little more than 48 hours after Harry Redknapp's men had boarded the return flight from Milan.Everton offered little as an attacking threat but they managed to subdue Tottenham's principal attacking dangers, namely Rafael van der Vaart and the man-of-the-moment Gareth Bale. Van der Vaart ended up taking his frustrations out on an advertising hoarding, after a decision went against him. The Dutchman, who was booked for dissent, ought now be able to attest to the solidity of the pitch-side boards.He could do the same with the Everton backline, who conceded in the Premier League for the first time in five and a half hours only when the goalkeeper Tim Howard dropped an almighty clanger. Phil Neville and his defensive cohorts emerged with honours."The ammunition that Tottenham have got coming forward is always going to test you," David Moyes said. "But the defenders stuck to their jobs. Phil Neville is a great leader and the team seems to function much better with him in it. He motivates, cajoles and today, he did some canny defending on Bale as well."Harry Redknapp had to admit that Neville had played Bale "as well as anyone has done for a while" and he noted that John Heitinga had "got around" Van der Vaart, serving to fracture his rhythm. The Tottenham manager could be pleased with the performance of Younes Kaboul in his defence, though. "Younes has got everything to be a top centre-half," he said.Tottenham seem intent these days on making things more interesting by giving their opponents a head start and so it surprised nobody when Everton went ahead. It was a goal laced with individual brilliance. Leighton Baines sized up a 20-yard free-kick and, with the sweetest of swishes of his left boot, he bent the ball over the wall and into the top corner. Mikel Arteta's absence with a hamstring injury had a fringe benefit for Everton."Someone said that Leighton normally can't get Mikel off those free-kicks," Moyes said, smiling. "But Leighton does have that ability. I actually thought the Tottenham wall was too big and I hoped that he didn't try to go over it."If the opening goal was a thing of beauty, then the equaliser was a contender for the end-of-year blooper reels. Alan Hutton's right-wing cross offered a simple opportunity for Howard to claim but, shockingly, he missed his punch. Peter Crouch smuggled the ball back from beyond the far post and Van der Vaart tapped home from about half a yard, the most straightforward, by some distance, of his five goals in six games. It was not Howard's first howler of the season. He was badly at fault for Blackburn's winning goal on the opening day."Tim came in at half-time and said it was his fault," Moyes said. "It was a misjudgment or maybe the sun was in his eyes, I don't know. But I said it was important that he kept going, that he kept coming for the ball and he did."Tottenham created openings but it was not their day or Crouch's. He felt that he should have had a penalty in the first half when Neville nudged him into Phil Jagielka but there was less doubt that he ought to have put his team ahead in the 45th minute. From Hutton's cross, he rose unchallenged but his header lacked power. Redknapp was not difficult to lip-read on the touchline. Yes, Harry, it was a great chance.The second half drifted. Crouch had chances only to lack conviction and Bale glanced wide from the substitute Sandro's cross. Everton had looked happy with the point for some time.Premier LeagueTottenham HotspurEvertonDavid Hytnerguardian.co.uk © Guardian News & Media Limited 2010 | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds guardian.co.uk |