TOP 100 SOCCER SITES
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| Liverpool 2-0 Wolves Liverpool were insulted by having to face a full-strength Wolves team, but the deepest grievance at Anfield belonged to Mick McCarthy. His team were intensifying Rafael BenÃtez's problems before an agitated home crowd when, after a touch of theatrics, a case of mistaken identity and various influences in the dug-out, they were fatally reduced to 10 men. "They needed a break and they got it," said McCarthy. Liverpool had been reprieved.Both BenÃtez and the Wolves manager claimed Stephen Ward was sent off in the 52nd minute on the intervention of the fourth official, Phil Dowd, who informed referee Andre Marriner he had booked the wrong man in Christophe Berra when the left-back had invited a second yellow inside five minutes with a push on Lucas Leiva.Dowd cannot be condemned for getting a decision right, but McCarthy's anger was not directed solely in the official's direction, as his sarcastic applause to the Liverpool bench indicated. That came after BenÃtez appeared to signal to Dowd, using a finger on each hand to indicate the player's No11 shirt, that Ward was the guilty party."I'm not convinced it was a sending-off. I'm not sure how much contact there was," said McCarthy of the contest's indisputable turning point. "The referee eventually got the right guy, but he got a bit of flippin' assistance, didn't he? I'm not sure the fourth official, Phil Dowd, knew who it was, but they [the Liverpool bench] quickly let him know. He wasn't sure, but they told him. They sent the reinforcements in."BenÃtez, rescued nine minutes after the turning point by Steven Gerrard's return to the goals and a late insurance from Yossi Benayoun, confirmed Dowd had played a part. "The fourth official kept saying, it was the number 11, the number 11. It was clear it was a sending-off."The Liverpool manager was grateful for the controversy. A moribund contest ignited when Liverpool capitalised on a foolish back-heel by the Wolves midfielder Matthew Jarvis and Lucas sprinted clear of Ward. The Brazilian had the beating of the defender, but fell easily under a push and a booking was guaranteed, only for Marriner to cause pandemonium. A delegation led by Lucas and, from his own penalty area at the opposite end of the field, Liverpool goalkeeper Jose Reina ensured Ward eventually walked, a victim of his own foolishness as much as the inconsistency of a referee who had allowed Gerrard to escape with only a warning for two heavy fouls. Wolves' resistance was fatally undermined. "We were comfortable for an hour," argued McCarthy legitimately.A full league debut for the Italian midfielder Alberto Aquilani, four months on from his £18m arrival from AS Roma and two months after his first appearance for the club, encouraged thoughts of an improvement in the sterile display that led to Liverpool's appalling defeat at Portsmouth last weekend. Gerrard, who has struggled to recapture his usual heights after injury, must also have believed that his waning influence – arguably a direct result of the passes drying up from the areas Xabi Alonso used to frequent – would be restored. Until Ward's dismissal, however, both were forlorn hopes.Aquilani started brightly before fading – as might be expected of a central midfielder who has played little this calendar year but could benefit from BenÃtez's protection no longer, with Javier Mascherano beginning a four-match suspension. Wolves were content to invite the home side forward, but on the break they unnerved Liverpool. Sylvan Ebanks-Blake was the first to inject doubt into the Liverpool defence when, from Jarvis' run and cross from the left, he turned Jamie Carragher at the near post only for Reina to smother his low shot.Nenad Milijas was a frequent threat from the edge of the Liverpool areaalthough the Serbian international's accuracy failed to match his adventure, and Wolves ought to have led after Reina tipped a goal-bound free-kick from the midfielder over his bar. From three yards out, unmarked, Kevin Doyle somehow headed high and wide of the target from the resulting corner. Against 10 men, and with McCarthy struggling to introduce his defensive substitutions, Liverpool finally discovered the potency their play had previously lacked.Gerrard rose above Milijas to meet Emiliano Insúa's immaculate cross with a classic centre-forward's header. From another inviting delivery by the Argentinian, Benayoun was granted the freedom of the visiting area to make the game safe with a close-range shot that deflected off Karl Henry and through the grasp of Marcus Hahnemann. "We needed these three points," admitted BenÃtez.THE FANS' PLAYER RATINGS AND VERDICTStephanie Jones, Observer reader It was a win, which was good, and we didn't concede a goal, which was great. Once they were down to 10 there didn't seem any doubt we'd win and it was Insúa's endeavour that made the first goal. Then the match settled and we passed it around . It was ludicrous that the ref needed help from three yards away on the sending-off. I give Reina a 10 for coming all the way up the pitch and helping him do his job. Aquilani was great, worked really hard and hopefully we'll see more of that.The fan's player ratings Reina 10; Johnson 6, Carragher 7, Agger 7, Insúa 6; Lucas 8, Aquilani 8 (Pacheco 84 8); Benayoun 8 (Spearing 88 n/a), Gerrard 7, Aurélio 6 (Kuyt 76 6); Torres 6Arthur Williams, Observer reader Until the sending-off – which was justified – we made Liverpool look fairly ordinary. I thought we might at least get a draw, so it's a pity. McCarthy will be disappointed with Ward's foolishness and the result, but not the performance overall. I think we had the better of the first half. Reina made a disgraceful run from one end of the pitch to the other – I don't know why he thought he had to do the ref's job. Disappointing not to get something out of what looked quite promising.The fan's player ratings Hahnemann 8; Stearman 8, Craddock 7, Berra 7, Ward 7; Foley 5, Henry 6, Milijas 6 (Mancienne 62 6) Jarvis 8; Doyle 6 (Elokobi 58 5), Ebanks-Blake 6 (Iwelumo 66 6)TO TAKE PART IN THE FANS' VERDICT, EMAIL FANS.PREMIER@OBSERVER.CO.UKPremier LeagueLiverpoolWolverhampton WanderersAndy Hunterguardian.co.uk © Guardian News & Media Limited 2009 | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds guardian.co.uk |
Roman Pavlyuchenko claims Harry Redknapp is 'mocking' him • Striker says he has become a joke in London• Speculation mounts over move from White Hart LaneRoman Pavlyuchenko looks as though he could be on his way out of Tottenham in the January transfer window after reportedly claiming in the Russian press that manager Harry Redknapp is "mocking" him by leaving him out of the team.Speaking to the Russian press, Pavlyuchenko said: "You cannot even imagine how tired I am of sitting on the bench. Do you want to hear a joke in London? It goes: Harry Redknapp put Roman Pavlyuchenko into the starting line-up. For me it would be funny if it was not so painful. I have a feeling that our manager is mocking me."Pavlyuchenko joined Spurs in the summer of 2008 from Spartak Moscow for £13.8m but has struggled for regular first-team football at White Hart Lane. This season he has made just four substitute appearances in the Premier League. His only starts this season have come in the Carling Cup, where he has played two games and scored once.Pavlyuchenko also claims Redknapp told him he would be involved in the Carling Cup encounter with Manchester United at Old Trafford, only to be kept on the bench again. "On the eve of the match he asked me to come to see him. He said: 'Tomorrow will be a chance to show your best in front of 75,000 spectators. We need to use it.' He used it by keeping me on the bench for 90 minutes."Tottenham HotspurHarry RedknappPremier Leagueguardian.co.uk © Guardian News & Media Limited 2009 | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds guardian.co.uk |
Mozambique 2-2 Benin Africa Cup of Nations: Benin blew a two-goal lead as they were held by their fellow underdogs in Angola guardian.co.uk |
De Rosario on Canadian team for Jamaica friendly After a lengthy absence, Dwayne De Rosario is set to make his return to Canada's national soccer team. cbc.ca |
Senderos ready for a new start at Everton • Swiss defender hopes to 'grow as a player and a man'• 'I am not bitter at leaving. Arsenal gave me a fair chance'Philippe Senderos has conceded he can have no complaints about being frozen out of Arsenal by Arsène Wenger and that his six-month loan to Everton marks a critical period for a career in need of revival at club and international level.The 24-year-old was unveiled as Everton's second loan signing of the transfer window today and becomes a free agent when his Arsenal contract expires this summer, having made only two Carling Cup appearances for Wenger's team this term. Senderos admitted he is under pressure to impress David Moyes quickly in his attempts to secure a permanent transfer to Goodison Park, with no agreement for a long-term deal in place at present, and to secure a role in Switzerland's World Cup squad after the manager, Ottmar Hitzfeld, said he would not consider players confined to the sidelines.Senderos's current options are a far cry from the clamour for his signature as a highly rated teenager but the centre-half, who was also sent on loan to Milan for a season by Wenger, admits he failed to seize the opportunities that came his way at Arsenal."They gave me a fair chance," Senderos said. "But at big clubs you have a lot of players and two or three games a week and, if they come in and do well, they will take your place. That's what happened to me. I don't think I've been unfairly treated apart from the last few months but even then the players in the team were doing well and staying in."I am not bitter at leaving. Arsenal are a big club who gave me a lot and I owe a lot to them. They took me from Switzerland when I was 18 and I got to play in a Champions League final and to win the FA Cup. I am proud to say I was an Arsenal player but I couldn't go on not playing every week. I needed to move. I didn't just move to Everton for opportunities, I've moved to Everton because it's a massive club and I can see myself growing as a player and as a man here."Moyes confirmed Everton have concluded a deal to sign the Slovakia goalkeeper Jan Mucha on a free transfer from Legia Warsaw when his contract expires with the Polish club at the end of this season. Having signed Landon Donovan and Senderos on loan this month and made inquiries about a free transfer for the Leeds United striker Jermaine Beckford at the end of the season, the Everton manager believes this window indicates that the days of exorbitant transfer fees are numbered – with the exception of isolated clubs such as Manchester City and Chelsea."Not every club has the same problems but, if you see some of the debts the really big clubs have now, then what is it like for those who don't have the same revenue?" asked Moyes. "It has been like this for a while now and maybe transfer fees are going to be a thing of the past. Maybe there are not going to be many of the big ones in seasons to come. And that will apply to a lot of clubs."Senderos is likely to be on the bench tomorrow when Everton host Sunderland, with Mikel Arteta doubtful after suffering a groin strain in a behind-closed-doors game arranged to improve his recovery from a cruciate injury on Monday.EvertonDavid MoyesArsenalPremier LeagueAndy Hunterguardian.co.uk © Guardian News & Media Limited 2010 | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds guardian.co.uk |