TOP 100 SOCCER SITES
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| Reading 1-1 Liverpool It has become a familiar script over the years, but Liverpool supporters will never tire of the sight of Steven Gerrard rescuing their team. Behind to Simon Church's early effort and playing like a side who had lost rather than won their previous two matches, Liverpool earned a reprieve and a replay at Anfield on Wednesday week after Gerrard equalised with a goal that owed more to luck than judgment.Thereafter, the anticipated Liverpool onslaught did not arrive on a night when Reading looked more like a team going for promotion than one struggling against relegation. Some 33 places separate the two sides on the league ladder, but there was no evidence of that chasm as Reading, inspired by the outstanding Jobi McAnuff, played with confidence and belief. Rafael BenÃtez, the Liverpool manager, will be grateful to emerge with a draw.The last time these two clubs met, in the Premier League a little more than two years ago, Reading had triumphed 3-1, and Liverpool must have feared another uncomfortable evening when Church bundled the home side in front. The goal was no more than Reading deserved after a bright opening period during which Brian McDermott's side took the game to Liverpool, with a high-tempo approach that was reminiscent of happier times under the watching Steve Coppell.That McAnuff played a part in the build-up was no surprise. The winger had already troubled Emiliano Insúa with his footwork when the full-back tripped him on the edge of the Liverpool area. Ryan Bertrand flung a flighted cross deep towards the back post where Grzegorz Rasiak, stationed desperately close to the byline, did wonderfully well to cut the ball back for Church to turn it over the goalline.Liverpool were rattled and unable to find any fluency, but when Fernando Torres sent a free header wide in the 32nd minute it should have served as a warning Moments later, Gerrard grabbed the equaliser when his cross from the left crept into the far corner after Adam Federici, the Reading goalkeeper, was caught out when Dirk Kuyt ran across his line of vision but failed to get a touch. At first glance Kuyt looked offside, but television replays showed Matt Mills played him on.The complexion of the game began to change as Reading conceded possession and Liverpool grew in confidence. Gerrard was becoming a more influential figure, the captain's slide-rule pass releasing Torres just before the interval only for Federici to dash from his line to save. Next it was Fábio Aurélio's turn, the ersatz winger – one of four changes to what remained a strong Liverpool side – escaping on the left before dragging across the face of goal.Reading, however, started the second half like they did the first, moving the ball with purpose and taking the game to Liverpool. Gylfi Sigurdsson, who was unfortunate not to win a penalty before the interval when Martin Skrtel tugged at his shirt, struck a swerving shot from 30 yards that Pepe Reina was forced to parry. Back came Reading again, Church delivering a low centre from the right behind the Liverpool defence that required only a touch.BenÃtez responded by replacing the ineffective David Ngog with Alberto Aquilani, allowing Gerrard to take up a more attacking role. The Italian thought he had scored his first Liverpool goal when he scrambled the ball home following Gerrard's corner, but Martin Atkinson, the referee, signalled that Ben Hamer, who had taken over in goal following an injury to Federici, had been fouled. Reading continued to threaten, but Torres wasted a wonderful chance to win the game for Liverpool in stoppage time when he headed Yossi Benayoun's cross over with the goal at his mercy.FA CupReadingLiverpoolStuart Jamesguardian.co.uk © Guardian News & Media Limited 2010 | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds guardian.co.uk |
Vieira confirms plan to rejoin Mancini • Midfielder leaves Inter to further World Cup ambitions• We will miss him, says José MourinhoPatrick Vieira has confirmed he is leaving the Serie A champions, Internazionale, to join Manchester City. The France captain has also revealed that he decided to leave San Siro to further his ambitions of playing in a fourth World Cup."I set myself an objective: I want to go to the World Cup," said the 33-year-old former Arsenal captain, who still leads the national side when selected but last played in a competitive fixture for France in September 2007."The important thing for me is to go to Manchester City and to show the coach [Roberto Mancini] I'm the same player as when he was in charge of Inter."Vieira played his final match for Internazionale in a 1-0 victory over Chievo last night. "He was great in his last game for us," the Inter manager, José Mourinho, said. "He is a player that we will certainly miss now that he is leaving. It was the best way to say goodbye to us and I wish him all the best in his new life. I don't know where he is going. He doesn't have to tell anyone. We couldn't have stopped him from leaving."Transfer windowManchester CityInternazionalePremier Leagueguardian.co.uk © Guardian News & Media Limited 2010 | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds guardian.co.uk |
James Milner's versatility is big winner for both Aston Villa and England Villa's in-form midfielder James Milner is looking to torment West Ham. telegraph.co.uk |
Fulham eye James Beattie loan deal Roy Hodgson keen to bolster his squad's attacking options, especially as Clint Dempsey is out for six weeks. telegraph.co.uk |
Robinho just another broken Brazilian Manchester City's £32.5m flop is treading the well-worn path previously used by the likes of Mirandinha and Rafael ScheidtRobinho has added to the exoticism of the Premier League, but not in the manner intended. Few will ever forget a £32.5m acquisition who was demoted to the substitute's role with Manchester City and then humiliated by still being taken off in the defeat at Everton.The attacker can undoubtedly be faulted, but there is a traditional tone to Robinho's decline in this country. While his story entails a far higher budget it still has echoes of Mirandinha's career. The forward was bought by Newcastle United in 1987, shortly after he had scored against England. Mirandinha's international career came to a rapid end, but he did have temporary prestige.It was sufficient to bewitch Newcastle United that summer. "I don't see any risk attached to it," the then manager Willie McFaul said of the purchase from Palmeiras. Within two years, McFaul had been sacked and the St James' Park club was relegated. Mirandinha had not been incompetent, but his scoring record was mundane.When Mirandinha next caught the eye, it was in the closing weeks of last season. He observed that Alan Shearer was a "bad choice" to manage the team in its most recent and unavailing relegation struggle. Like Mirandinha, Brazilians have registered in England without capturing the country's imagination. Sylvinho, for example, is on the books with Robinho at City. Chelsea find Alex a worthy member of the squad and Arsenal appreciate Eduardo da Silva, a striker from Rio de Janeiro who subsequently opted to represent Croatia.England is still out of step with the countries it regards as its peers. Great Brazilian performers have tended to confine themselves to Spain and Italy when they come to Europe, although work-permit issues are also a barrier to coming here. The impact elsewhere has been astonishing and since the inception of Fifa's world player of the year award in 1991, the prize has gone to Brazilians on eight of the 19 occasions it has been awarded. Ronaldinho has won it twice and Ronaldo three times.The latter was with PSV Eindhoven, but had switched to Camp Nou by the time he was first given the Fifa prize as a 20-year-old in 1996. Indeed, the Brazilian recipients have all been at either Barcelona, Real Madrid, Internazionale or Milan when presented with the accolade. It seems unlikely that such individuals feel compelled to confine themselves to Spain and Italy. Brazilian footballers are often hard-nosed and adaptable. In any case, a rainy night in the Stadio delle Alpi is as chilling as a bitter one on Tyneside.Rafael Scheidt, admittedly, was an unforgettable exception. Celtic paid £5.6m for an individual who scarcely appeared for them. The defender explained how a later manager at the club informed him he had no future there. "I like players who are not like you," said Martin O'Neill. "I like footballers who play well."The transition to Europe is seldom so disastrous. If Anderson has faltered a little at Manchester United it will not be the weather that has unsettled him because there are many frosty mornings in his home state of Rio Grande do Sul. He is in good hands, but dealing with footballers from other cultures and continents has not been the forte of British managers. Perhaps it is no coincidence that Gilberto Silva gave exemplary service to Arsenal under the command of a Frenchman, Arsène Wenger.The Premier League was a relative latecomer to globalisation. After all, José Altafini, who would be capped for Brazil and then Italy, exchanged Palmeiras for Milan 52 years ago. When an English club does try to make a belated breakthrough the tone can be laughably strident. "They bottled it," said the Manchester City chief executive, Garry Cook, when Kaká remained with Milan a while longer.The Brazilian most warmly remembered in England may be Juninho. He came to Middlesbrough in 1995, when he was 22, and loved places like Roseberry Topping in the North York Moors, as well as a certain nightclub in Redcar. His mum was so enraptured by Marks & Spencer that she thought of buying a house nearby. It is our loss that English football has otherwise been so poor at attracting and getting the best out of the world's supreme footballing race.RobinhoManchester CityPremier LeagueKevin McCarraguardian.co.uk © Guardian News & Media Limited 2010 | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds guardian.co.uk |