Tag Archives: premier

Porto no Champions pushovers warns Ronaldo

Cristiano Ronaldo has warned holders Manchester United that Champions League quarterfinal opponents Porto will be no pushovers, ahead of Tuesday’s first leg clash at Old Trafford. “Porto are a very good team,” said Portugal’s World Player of the Year. “They are top of the league back home, ahead of Sporting Lisbon and Benfica and we know how strong they can be.” But Ronaldo, who scored twice in the dramatic 3-2 win over Aston Villa that sent United back to the top of the Premier League, is confident enough to predict that United will reach the last four “The good thing is we have two games against them and I feel that will be enough to get us through,” he said.

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Shearer tastes defeat as Chelsea move up

Alan Shearer’s first game in charge of Newcastle ended with a 2-0 defeat to Chelsea to leave the north-east giants deep in relegation trouble in the Premier League. Second half goals from Frank Lampard and Florent Malouda earned title challengers Chelsea a valuable three points which lifted them to second place ahead of Liverpool’s match later on Saturday at Fullham.

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Liverpool rout Villa to close on United

Liverpool continued their remarkable recent form with a 5-0 rout of Aston Villa at Anfield on Sunday which takes them to within a point of faltering Premier League leaders Manchester United. Liverpool have scored 13 goals in their last three matches, beating Real Madrid 4-0 in the Champions League, United 4-1 last weekend at Old Trafford and now the latest demolition of fifth-placed Villa. Dirk Kuyt put them ahead in the eighth minute as he reacted quickly to fire home with Albert Riera scoring a superb second just after the half hour mark.

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Gerrard sent to trial on affray charge

A Liverpool court dropped an assault charge against English football star Steven Gerrard for a nightclub brawl in December but ordered him to appear at trial next month, a court spokeswoman said Friday. England international Gerrard, who plays for Liverpool in the Premier League, still faces a charge of affray for the brawl, said Joe-Ann Forrest, a spokeswoman for North Sefton Magistrates Court in Liverpool. He will go on trial on April 3 along with six other men involved in the incident, she said.

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Vidic gets two-game ban after sending off

Manchester United central defender Nemanja Vidic will be suspended for their next two Premier League matches after his sending off against Liverpool on Saturday. The Football Association (FA) confirmed Vidic’s ban on Monday after he was dismissed during United’s 4-1 home defeat to Liverpool, which throws open the English title race

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Arshavin breaks duck as Arsenal go fourth

Andrey Arshavin scored his first goal for Arsenal, as Arsene Wenger’s side followed-up their midweek success on penalties in Rome by thumping Blackburn 4-0 on Saturday to move up to fourth place in the Premier League. The Gunners went ahead in the second minute when Theo Walcott’s cross from the right was sent goal-bound by Arshavin, but Dutch defender Andre Ooijer got the final touch to register an own goal. However, Russian Arshavin was not to be denied his goal — and it duly came in the second half when he ghosted past defender Danny Simpson before lifting the ball over goalkeeper Paul Robinson into the roof of the net

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Ferdinand boost for United quintuple bid

Manchester United received a major boost in their quest for an unprecedented quintuple as injury doubts over central defender Rio Ferdinand lifted ahead of their Champions League last 16 return tie against Inter Milan on Wednesday. Ferdinand turned his ankle in the 4-0 thrashing of Fulham which put United into the semifinals of the FA Cup on Saturday and was rated a major doubt for the the second leg with the two teams tied 0-0 after their San Siro clash a fortnight ago. “Rio is a bit of a concern,” manager Alex Ferguson had told United’s television channel MUTV

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Man Utd win Carling Cup after penalty shootout

Manchester United stayed on course for an unprecedented clean sweep of major trophies this season with a penalty shootout victory over Tottenham Hotspur to win the Carling Cup at Wembley. After the final ended Sunday in a goalless stalemate after regulation and extra time, United kept their nerve to win on penalties 4-1.

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United defensive ‘nightmare’ for Inter clash

Title holders Manchester United are facing a "nightmare" injury crisis in central defense ahead of their Champions League San Siro showdown with Inter Milan on Tuesday. Manager Alex Ferguson revealed the extent of the problem of Saturday’s 2-1 victory over Blackburn on Saturday which saw Jonny Evans aggravate an ankle problem.

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