Team News Manchester United Vs West Ham

<div class="MsoNormal" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #323232; font-family: Lato, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.35; margin-bottom: 16px; word-wrap: break-word;">Manchester United face a tough visit to Upton Park this afternoon, with Sam Allardyce’s men looking to continue their good home record against big teams this season.<o:p style="box-sizing: border-box;"></o:p></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #323232; font-family: Lato, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.35; margin-bottom: 16px; word-wrap: break-word;">United head into today’s encounter in fourth place, but could leapfrog Southampton and claim third place in the Premier League with all three points.<o:p style="box-sizing: border-box;"></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #323232; font-family: Lato, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.35; margin-bottom: 16px; word-wrap: break-word;">However, eighth place West Ham are having a good season by their standards and already claimed victory against the likes of Manchester City and Liverpool at home this season.<o:p style="box-sizing: border-box;"></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #323232; font-family: Lato, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.35; margin-bottom: 16px; word-wrap: break-word;">United have won 12 of their last 15 matches against West Ham in all competitions and West Ham have failed to get a single win from their last six matches against the Red Devils. But with West Ham undefeated in nine of their last 10 home matches this season, you can be sure that the East London team will be confident of achieving a crucial point at least.<o:p style="box-sizing: border-box;"></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #323232; font-family: Lato, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.35; margin-bottom: 16px; word-wrap: break-word;">In team news, Sam Allardyce will have problems at the back with James Collins, James Tomkins, Carl Jenkinson and Winston Reid all doubts for the match, while Cheikhou Kouyate and Andy Carrol are also both likely to be sitting this match out. While Louis van Gaal’s lengthy injury list has now been narrowed down to only one player, Michael Carrick.<o:p style="box-sizing: border-box;"></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #323232; font-family: Lato, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.35; margin-bottom: 16px; word-wrap: break-word;">Here’s how the teams will line up.<o:p style="box-sizing: border-box;"></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #323232; font-family: Lato, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.35; margin-bottom: 16px; word-wrap: break-word;"><strong style="box-sizing: border-box;">West Ham United:</strong> <o:p style="box-sizing: border-box;"></o:p>Adrian; Jenkinson, Tomkins, Kouyate, Cresswell; Song, Noble, Nolan, Downing; Sakho, Valencia.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #323232; font-family: Lato, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.35; margin-bottom: 16px; word-wrap: break-word;"><strong style="box-sizing: border-box;">Manchester United:</strong> <o:p style="box-sizing: border-box;"></o:p>De Gea; Valencia, Jones, Rojo, Shaw; Blind, Rooney, Di Maria, Januzaj; Van Persie, Falcao</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #323232; font-family: Lato, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.35; margin-bottom: 16px; word-wrap: break-word;"><b style="box-sizing: border-box;">What is your prediction for today’s game? Have your say in the comments section below.</b></div><!-- Go to www.addthis.com/dashboard to customize your tools --> <br /><div class="addthis_native_toolbox"></div>

Team News Manchester United Vs West Ham

Manchester United face a tough visit to Upton Park this afternoon, with Sam Allardyce’s men looking to continue their good home record again...

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Ideye rescues a point for the Baggies

<h2 style="-webkit-backface-visibility: hidden; background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: Oswald, sans-serif; font-size: 28px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 10px 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 560px;"><img src="http://soccerblitz.net/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/Brown-Ideye_3261951-620x400.jpg" style="background-color: transparent;" />Super Eagles striker, Brown Ideye was the saviour of the day as West Brom came from behind to secure a point .</h2><div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 23px; margin-bottom: 15px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The Baggies’ record signing almost left the club in the final hours of the winter transfer window on Monday but came off the bench at half-time at Turf Moor to head in the equaliser.</div><div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 23px; margin-bottom: 15px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Burnley were two up inside 32 minutes through Ashley Barnes and Danny Ings but Chris Brunt pulled one back just before half-time for Albion.</div><div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 23px; margin-bottom: 15px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">It was a first Premier League goal of the season for Brunt, who lost the captain’s armband to deadline-day signing Darren Fletcher.</div><div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 23px; margin-bottom: 15px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The point was enough for Burnley to climb back out of the relegation zone but they desperately needed all three with an extremely tough run of fixtures coming up.</div><div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 23px; margin-bottom: 15px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Saido Berahino’s “naughty chair” was parked on the bench as the Baggies striker was dropped following an interview where he spoke of wanting to move on to bigger things, but he was called upon in the 18th minute after an injury to Victor Anichebe.</div><div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 23px; margin-bottom: 15px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Burnley boss, Sean Dyche, meanwhile, named an unchanged starting line-up for a 10th successive Premier League match.</div><div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 23px; margin-bottom: 15px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The club have come in for criticism from some supporters this week after failing to add to the squad during the transfer window, but holding on to Ings was a significant consolation.</div><div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 23px; margin-bottom: 15px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Dyche substituted the striker at Sunderland last weekend because he felt constant speculation had affected the 22-year-old, but there was nothing sluggish about Ings as Burnley made a flying start.</div><div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 23px; margin-bottom: 15px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">After Ings fired over, the hosts thought they had scored when Kieran Trippier’s cross was touched back to Scott Arfield by Barnes, but Ben Foster reacted superbly to push the midfielder’s shot onto the underside of the crossbar.</div><div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 23px; margin-bottom: 15px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">However, West Brom, who had thrashed Burnley 4-0 in September, could not stem the tide and it was no more than Burnley deserved when Barnes headed in the opener in the 11th minute.</div><div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 23px; margin-bottom: 15px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">This time Dean Marney’s cross from the right was dummied by Ings, who then picked up Arfield’s header and hooked the ball across goal for his strike partner.</div><div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 23px; margin-bottom: 15px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Berahino was unsurprisingly given a mixed reception by the travelling supporters when he made his entrance, and West Brom at last began to manage a few forays into the Burnley box. Joleon Lescott might have done better with a header from Fletcher’s free-kick.</div><div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 23px; margin-bottom: 15px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">In the 32nd minute, however, Burnley doubled their lead as Ings finished off a fine move with his eighth of the season.</div><div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 23px; margin-bottom: 15px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Marney’s pass out to the right was dummied by Trippier which freed George Boyd, and his cross was perfect for Ings to head in off the post.</div><div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 23px; margin-bottom: 15px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">It all looked rosy for the hosts but they had lost two of their previous three games from 2-0 up and their Achilles heel came back to bite them again.</div><div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 23px; margin-bottom: 15px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Burnley have conceded more headed goals than any other team in the Premier League and, with the first half into injury time, Brunt was allowed to head in Callum McManaman’s corner from five yards. The ball seemed to come more off shoulder than head but Clarets goalkeeper Tom Heaton was helpless as it bounced over him and into the net.</div><div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 23px; margin-bottom: 15px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Both managers made changes for the second half. Burnley’s was forced as Michael Kightly replaced the injured Marney, while Tony Pulis sent on Ideye for Chris Baird, with Brunt dropping to left-back.</div><div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 23px; margin-bottom: 15px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">There was a half-hearted Burnley appeal for a penalty when Barnes tumbled under pressure from Craig Dawson trying to reach another excellent Trippier cross, but referee Mike Dean was unmoved.</div><div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 23px; margin-bottom: 15px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">With 67 minutes gone, West Brom drew level as Burnley were exposed at a corner once again.</div><div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 23px; margin-bottom: 15px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">This time Brunt’s delivery from the right found record signing Ideye all alone in the centre of the box and he headed in his third goal for the Baggies.</div><div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 23px; margin-bottom: 15px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">It was Burnley’s turn to threaten from a corner nine minutes later but Lescott was in the right place to clear Jason Shackell’s header off the line.</div><div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 23px; margin-bottom: 15px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The final chance of the game went to Berahino but he could not quite reclaim his hero status as a combination of Heaton and Ben Mee on the line denied what appeared a certain goal.</div><!-- Go to www.addthis.com/dashboard to customize your tools --> <br /><div class="addthis_native_toolbox"></div>

Ideye rescues a point for the Baggies

Super Eagles striker, Brown Ideye was the saviour of the day as West Brom came from behind to secure a point . The Baggies’ record signing a...

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Schurrle Shows Chelsea What they are missing!!!

<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.6000003814697px; line-height: 18.0000019073486px; margin-bottom: 10px; text-align: justify;"><img src="http://fcnaija.com/post/1423331264.png" style="background-color: transparent;" /><span style="font-family: Candara; font-size: 12.6000003814697px; line-height: 1.42857143;">New Wolfsburg man, Andre Schurrle made his debut for Bundesliga’s second-placed team on Saturday and the former Chelsea man did not disappoint.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.6000003814697px; line-height: 18.0000019073486px; margin-bottom: 10px; text-align: justify;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Candara;">Schurrle returned to the Bundesliga on deadline transfer day for £22 million and manager, Dietr Hecking thrust the World Cup winning player straight into action on Saturday at home to Hoffenheim at the Volkswagen Arena.<o:p style="box-sizing: border-box;"></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.6000003814697px; line-height: 18.0000019073486px; margin-bottom: 10px; text-align: justify;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Candara;">Schurrle started on the left wing for as he replaced the injured Ivan Perisic. And it did not take long for Schurrle to show his quality as he crossed perfectly for Bas Dost to score after three minutes.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.6000003814697px; line-height: 18.0000019073486px; margin-bottom: 10px; text-align: justify;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Candara;">The former Chelsea FC star should have had a debut goal in the 28th minute but his rasping effort came off the cross bar but Kevin De Bruyne gobbled up the rebound by heading into an empty net.<o:p style="box-sizing: border-box;"></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.6000003814697px; line-height: 18.0000019073486px; margin-bottom: 10px; text-align: justify;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Candara;">Schurrle was shown a yellow card on 41 minutes and replaced in the 87t minute by Marcel Schaefer.</span></div><!-- Go to www.addthis.com/dashboard to customize your tools --> <br /><div class="addthis_native_toolbox"></div>

Schurrle Shows Chelsea What they are missing!!!

New Wolfsburg man, Andre Schurrle made his debut for Bundesliga’s second-placed team on Saturday and the former Chelsea man did not disappoi...

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Juventus 3-1 AC Milan

<div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;"><img src="http://fcnaija.com/post/1423346590.jpg" style="background-color: transparent;" />Luca Antonelli scored on his Milan debut, but Juventus emerged 3-1 WINNERS as Max Allegri beat Pippo Inzaghi.</div><div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;"><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /></div><div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;">There was a big gap between the giants going into this game, as Juve hoped to extend their seven-point lead at the top of the table and the Rossoneri wanted to build on last week’s WIN  over Parma, their first Serie A success of 2015.</div><div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;"></div><div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;">Carlos Tevez – who started despite suffering from flu symptoms – opened the scoring.  However, Milan equalised with their debutant Luca Antonelli, who got a glancing header from a corner. He had already beaten Juve this season with Genoa and it was a special moment for the man who grew up in the Rossoneri youth academy only to return years later.</div><div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;"><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /></div><div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;">The celebrations did not last long, as Muntari was caught in possession and Morata forced a great fingertip SAVE out of Diego Lopez.</div><div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;"><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /></div><div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;">From the resulting corner, Tevez knocked it down for a Leonardo Bonucci flick from six yards with his back to goal. The defender’s run to the crowd didn’t quite go to play, as he fell head-first over the advertising boards.</div><div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;"><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /></div><div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;">Juve extended their advantage when Claudio Marchisio’s snapshot cannoned off the upright and into the path of Alvaro Morata.</div><div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;"><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /></div><div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;">Morata had the ball in the back of the net again, but was offside on Simone Padoin’s scuffed finish. Diego Lopez stuck out a foot to deny Marchisio from point-blank range.</div><div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;"><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /></div><div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;">There wasn’t even a free kick when Chiellini ran into Pazzini elbow first, but Tevez was booked and will be suspended for next week’s trip to Cesena.</div><!-- Go to www.addthis.com/dashboard to customize your tools --> <br /><div class="addthis_native_toolbox"></div>

Juventus 3-1 AC Milan

Luca Antonelli scored on his Milan debut, but Juventus emerged 3-1 WINNERS as Max Allegri beat Pippo Inzaghi. There was a big gap between th...

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Liverpool V Everton Report

<div class="g-plusone" data-annotation="none" data-size="tall"></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.3999996185303px;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img src="http://fcnaija.com/post/1423337372.JPG" style="background-color: transparent;" />The Merseyside derby between Liverpool and Everton ended in a goalless draw at the Goodison Park.<o:p style="box-sizing: border-box;"></o:p></span></span></div><span style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"></span><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.3999996185303px;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers handed a rare start to youngster Jordan Ibe on a night that was made more significant by Steven Gerrard as it represented his last Merseyside derby before his move to MLS side LA Galaxy.<o:p style="box-sizing: border-box;"></o:p></span></span></div><span style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"></span><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.3999996185303px;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Jordan Ibe was not fazed by the occasion as he put in a good shift and in the first half powered a right foot shot from the edge of the box onto the post but Everton survived.<o:p style="box-sizing: border-box;"></o:p></span></span></div><span style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"></span><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.3999996185303px;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Sterling also went close but his shot was SAVED by Joel Robles and at the other end Steven Naismith capitalized on an error by Emre Can but failed to score.<o:p style="box-sizing: border-box;"></o:p></span></span></div><span style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"></span><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.3999996185303px;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The home side sent on NEW LOAN signing Aaron Lenon as they try to end Gerrard’s last Merseyside derby with a defeat but the Reds were very strong on the night and manager Brendan Rodgers threw into the Frey Daniel Sturridge for Phillip Coutinho as they chased the winner.<o:p style="box-sizing: border-box;"></o:p></span></span></div><span style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"></span><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.3999996185303px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Steven Gerrard nearly had a perfect day in the last five minutes when he fired in a left foot shot from just outside the box but if went wide as the game ended goalless on a very exciting derby weekend across Europe.</span></span><br /><a class="twitter-share-button" data-count="none" href="https://twitter.com/share">Tweet</a><script>!function(d,s,id){var js,fjs=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0],p=/^http:/.test(d.location)?'http':'https';if(!d.getElementById(id)){js=d.createElement(s);js.id=id;js.src=p+'://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js';fjs.parentNode.insertBefore(js,fjs);}}(document, 'script', 'twitter-wjs');</script><a class="wa_btn wa_btn_s" data-href="" data-text="Take a look at this awesome website:" href="whatsapp://send" style="display: none;">Share</a><br /><div id="fb-root"></div><script src="http://connect.facebook.net/en_US/all.js#appId=173511999379139&xfbml=1"></script><fb:like expr:share_url="data:post.url" font="" send="false" show_faces="true" width="450"></fb:like>

Liverpool V Everton Report

The Merseyside derby between Liverpool and Everton ended in a goalless draw at the Goodison Park. Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers handed a...

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Chelsea move seven points ahead of City

<div class="g-plusone" data-annotation="none" data-size="tall"></div><h2 style="-webkit-backface-visibility: hidden; background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: Oswald, sans-serif; font-size: 28px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 10px 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 560px;"><br /></h2><h2 style="-webkit-backface-visibility: hidden; background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: Oswald, sans-serif; font-size: 28px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 10px 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 560px;"><img src="http://soccerblitz.net/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/hazard-620x400.jpg" style="background-color: transparent;" />Chelsea extended their lead at the top of the table to seven points after seeing off an Aston Villa team who finally ended their Premier League goal drought after 11 hours.</h2><div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 23px; margin-bottom: 15px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">With nearest rivals Manchester City held at home by Hull, Branislav Ivanovic’s winner secured a vital victory for the leaders.</div><div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 23px; margin-bottom: 15px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Villa, who had not scored in the league since 20 December, responded well after falling behind to Eden Hazard’s early goal and levelled through Jores Okore’s header at the start of the second half.</div><div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 23px; margin-bottom: 15px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">But Ivanovic restored the Blues’ advantage after 66 minutes and they went on to secure Jose Mourinho’s first win at Villa Park at the sixth attempt.</div><div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 23px; margin-bottom: 15px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The spirit Villa showed in defeat will be scant consolation for Paul Lambert’s struggling side, whose winless run now stands at nine league games, but it appeared they were heading for a far worse defeat when Hazard opened the scoring after eight minutes.</div><div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 23px; margin-bottom: 15px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">That goal was scored far too easily from Villa’s point of view, with their defence being carved apart as Oscar escaped down the right and fed Willian, who found Hazard running into the area to slot home.</div><div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 23px; margin-bottom: 15px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Villa’s main tactic in Lambert’s 100th league game in charge seemed to be to fire a succession of crosses into the box, despite that fact their out-of-form target man Christian Benteke was dropped to the bench and Gabriel Agbonlahor did not offer much of an aerial threat in his place.<br />Blues keeper Thibaut Courtois gave them hope when he flapped at a couple of deliveries but Chelsea remained comfortable and even created further chances to extend their lead.</div><div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 23px; margin-bottom: 15px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">That all changed after half-time, when Villa finally found a way to hurt Mourinho’s men.</div><div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 23px; margin-bottom: 15px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Carles Gil had already shown some neat touches before slipping past Oscar on the by-line and lifting in a perfect pass for Okore to power home a downward header.</div><div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 23px; margin-bottom: 15px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The goal brought wild celebrations from Villa’s players and fans – with Okore booked for running into a crowd, who had not seen a league goal from their side since 20 December.</div><div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 23px; margin-bottom: 15px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Ironic chants of “we score when we want” followed from the home supporters and with Chelsea pegged back in their own half, for a few minutes it least, it appeared more might follow.</div><div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 23px; margin-bottom: 15px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Not for the first time this season, the Blues found themselves in a battle, but they responded in perfect fashion.</div><div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 23px; margin-bottom: 15px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Mourinho’s men held firm at the back and began to build their own spell of pressure. Willian sent two shots skidding narrowly wide but the waves of Chelsea attacks were becoming relentless.</div><div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 23px; margin-bottom: 15px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Villa cracked after 66 minutes, when they failed to deal with Cesar Azpilicueta’s run and cross into the area.</div><div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 23px; margin-bottom: 15px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The ball broke for Ivanovic on the edge of the box, who fizzed an unstoppable first-time shot into the top corner.</div><div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 23px; margin-bottom: 15px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Tweet</div><div id="fb-root"></div><script src="http://connect.facebook.net/en_US/all.js#appId=173511999379139&xfbml=1"></script><fb:like expr:share_url="data:post.url" font="" send="false" show_faces="true" width="450"></fb:like>

Chelsea move seven points ahead of City

Chelsea extended their lead at the top of the table to seven points after seeing off an Aston Villa team who finally ended their Premier Lea...

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A.Madrid Trash R.Madrid

<div class="g-plusone" data-annotation="none" data-size="tall"></div><img src="http://fcnaija.com/post/1423326810.jpg" /><br /><a name="more"></a><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS'; font-size: 12.6000003814697px; line-height: 18.0000019073486px;"> </span><br /><h2 style="-webkit-backface-visibility: hidden; background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: Oswald, sans-serif; font-size: 28px; line-height: 32px; margin: 10px 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 620px;">Real Madrid were taken apart by Atletico Madrid at the Estadio Vicente Calderon with Cristiano Ronaldo and Gareth Bale spectators as Diego Simone’s side ran riot in a 4-0 victory.</h2><div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 23px; margin-bottom: 15px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">It is the first time in 64 years that Real have lost three straight games in the ground of their neighbours but this was different – this was embarrassing for the richest club in football, smothered from the first kick to last by their poor-relations city neighbours.</div><div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 23px; margin-bottom: 15px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Real’s £250m forward line of Bale, Ronaldo and Karim Benzema mustered just one shot in a first half dominated by Atletico Madrid who scored twice through Tiago and Saul.<br />And in the second half the suffering CONTINUED when the brilliant Antoine Griezmann added a third and Mario Mandzukic made it four.</div><blockquote style="background-color: white; border-left-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-left-style: solid; border-width: 0px 0px 0px 1px; color: #777777; font-family: verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: italic; line-height: 22px; margin: 10px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 40px; quotes: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><div style="border: 0px; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 15px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><strong style="border: 0px; font-size: 14px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">A shell-shocked Carlo Ancelotti said after the game. ‘They deserved to WIN because they won in every facet: they won the battle and they won the football match. We will have to change our attitude going forward.</strong></div><div style="border: 0px; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 15px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><strong style="border: 0px; font-size: 14px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">‘We were second to everything; we lost all the aerial challenges, we weren’t in the game. None of our players played well. It’s the worst performance since I have been the manager.’</strong></div><div style="border: 0px; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 15px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><strong style="border: 0px; font-size: 14px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Simeone said: ‘The way the players carried out the plan was brilliant. We went about the job very seriously and now we need to keep going forward the same way.’</strong></div></blockquote><div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 23px; margin-bottom: 15px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Asked if they were now title candidates he said: ‘We still take it one get at a time.’ And when it was put to him that it was one of his greatest games in charge of Atletico Madird he said: ‘No, it was just another a league game’.</div><div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 23px; margin-bottom: 15px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Atletico Madrid shot out of the blocks. In contrast Real Madrid were strolling and it wasn’t long before they were paying the price for that lack of intensity. Gabi’s Corner on 13 minutes was brought down by Mandzukic who laid it back to Tiago on the edge of the area.</div><div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 23px; margin-bottom: 15px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The former Chelsea midfielder shot through a crowded penalty area and Iker Casillas fumbled the effort and allowed it to squirm over the line. ‘Iker Iker’ sung the Atletico Madrid supporters. They had been given a helping hand by Real’s keeper, not that they needed it.</div><div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 23px; margin-bottom: 15px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Real Madrid were playing without three of their first-choice back four and it was showing with Fabio Coentrao struggling to deal with Arda Turan and Nacho and Raphael Varane not able to handle Mandzukic.</div><div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 23px; margin-bottom: 15px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Perhaps their preoccupation with the Croat striker was the reason why they left Saul in so much space in the penalty area on 19 minutes. The young midfielder who was out on LOAN at Rayo Vallecano last season and interesting a host of Premier League clubs had only been on the pitch for nine minutes replacing the injured Koke.</div><div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 23px; margin-bottom: 15px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Siqueira got away from Dani Carvajal, dribbled along the byline and pulled the ball back where Saul finished with an acrobatic scissor kick past a this-time faultless Casillas.</div><div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 23px; margin-bottom: 15px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Carvajal had received no support from Bale who had more importantly been anonymous in attack down the Madrid right. Likewise Ronaldo was missing in action down the left. By half time Carlo Ancelotti had seen enough and put Ronaldo at centre forward bringing, on Jese at the EXPENSE of Sami Khedira but it made no real difference.</div><div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 23px; margin-bottom: 15px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Real were fortunate to only be two goals down at half-time. Griezmann had scored what would have been a third only to be incorrectly flagged offside. And a Godin shot had hit Khedira on the face and then the hand leaving Atletico players demanding a penalty.</div><a class="twitter-share-button" data-count="none" href="https://twitter.com/share">Tweet</a><script>!function(d,s,id){var js,fjs=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0],p=/^http:/.test(d.location)?'http':'https';if(!d.getElementById(id)){js=d.createElement(s);js.id=id;js.src=p+'://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js';fjs.parentNode.insertBefore(js,fjs);}}(document, 'script', 'twitter-wjs');</script><a class="wa_btn wa_btn_s" data-href="" data-text="Take a look at this awesome website:" href="whatsapp://send" style="display: none;">Share</a><br /><div id="fb-root"></div><script src="http://connect.facebook.net/en_US/all.js#appId=173511999379139&xfbml=1"></script><fb:like expr:share_url="data:post.url" font="" send="false" show_faces="true" width="450"></fb:like>

A.Madrid Trash R.Madrid

  Real Madrid were taken apart by Atletico Madrid at the Estadio Vicente Calderon with Cristiano Ronaldo and Gareth Bale spectators as Diego...

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