Crues Control!

United, fresh their narrow defeat at the hands (it should be feet), of Crusaders, must do battle with the men from Tigers Bay at the Showgrounds tomorrow in the Dankse Premier league. United came so close to ending the Crues unbeaten run of 23 games and now we have a chance to halt their run of 24 games unbeaten, but this time its going on a real football pitch and its going to be no place for namby pamby's we think. Of course the ref might think otherwise and he might be as biased as that 'love child' the other night, but if we keep our heads we can do it. If we keep playing the football and stringing passes together the Crues will show their frustration and then we will have them.

As usual when it comes to team news, we don't have any, but Marky and Cookie could be both doubtful, as Cookie didn't play on Tuesday and Marky came off injured at halftime, so we may be down to the 'bare bones' defensive wise. But hell, we've been here before and the boys haven't let us down, so we predict they wont let us down tomorrow. Will Fergie change his tactics for tomorrows game? Its anybody's guess, but who's available will dictate who he plays and the tactics he uses. We at 'Sport were wondering if he might bring in Addis for Dwayne in goals, as Dwayne could be blamed for the first goal we conceded on Tuesday night and for giving away a needless corner, which they eventually scored the winner from.

But later on he kept us in the match with a double save when the linesman had 'missed' a blatant offside or did the lino just avert his eyes. A lot people are of the opinion that the ref on Tuesday, Colin Burns, was the worst they ever seen, but we see just as bad week in and week out, but its just not as barefaced as that which Burns did on Tuesday night, but at the end of the day it's what we have grown to expect from Belfast referees. We just have to score more goals than them and even an incompetent love child like that on Tuesday, will not be able to take the points away from us, but he'll try. But we believe we have right on our side and we'll prove tomorrow, so come on Sky Blues, lets shag those paper tigers!

Away Day!

Well we suppose that is a wrong statement, the apt title should be 'away night', but we like 'away day' and on this site, what we like, goes, so there. Having got that off our chest we would like to inform fans about team news, that is if we had any, but like you we are none the wiser. Will Fergie tinker with the team that started at Lurgan on Saturday? It's anybody's guess, we felt sure he was going to bring back Ally on Saturday, but alas we were wrong. Dwayne, played on Saturday and he had a stormer, but Fergie has a policy of starting the 2nd string keeper in cup matches and we won't be surprised if Addis gets the nod, but it would be harsh on Dwayne.

Cookie had to come off at Glenavon and Archie suffered a knee injury early on, so they might both be doubtful and its a good job we have cover in depth. Cush has struggled in last three games, but we need him, for in absence of strikers, he is our only reliable marksman. The novelty of playing Captain Jenks as a target man is starting to look foolhardy, as defenders are coming to grips with his box of tricks and reading him every time, but we have nothing more in our cupboard. Liggie, MM and Dolan are all struggling and they can't hold down  a place in our starting X1. We were saying six weeks ago that Spike was going to have to take a chance on one of them and start him in about 4 or more matches.

But alas he didn't take our advice, he chose to go down the road of converting Jenks to a target man and we are no further forward than we were a month ago. We're still relying on Cush for goals and we bring on the strikers when there's only 20 mins or less to go and expect them to deliver the goods. It takes a very special type of player to do that and we haven't got one, Liggie did deliver a killer blow to tomorrow night's opponents, when coming on a sub, but that 23 matches ago and he hasn't done since. We used to be  dangerous at set-pieces, but now that Cush is taking them, corners and free-kicks come to nothing. No doubt some smart-alec will say the manager says who takes the frees and the corners.

If it is, he needs to have a rethink, we must have forced half a dozen corners on Saturday and we never troubled the Glenavon defence with one of them. We seem to have changed our policy when we are defending set-pieces too, Captain Jenks is not coming back to help our defence and with the 'big men' on the Crues side tomorrow night his help could be crucial. Crues manager Stephen Baxter made some changes to his team when we played them in the Shield semi-final and we only hope he treats us as lightly tomorrow night and we will have a chance. Baxter has his eye on the league but we on the other hand have all to play for and if we get to the final ,who knows what could happen. Come on Sky Blues, let's rumble!

Arsene Wenger urges Arsenal to 'be themselves' at Manchester City

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger says his side have to 'be themselves offensively' at Manchester City on Saturday, something he felt was lacking on their visit to neighbours United.

Arsene Wenger: Arsenal up against Manuel Pellegrini's Manchester City on Saturday

The Gunners were beaten 1-0 in a low-key game at Old Trafford in November but have recovered and could move eight points clear at the top of the Premier League with a win in the lunchtime kick-off at the Etihad Stadium.

Despite such reassuring form, Wenger knows his team must deliver a performance that is much more in keeping with their traditional attacking style against a City side that have been in lethal form on their own ground and whose confidence got a boost with the midweek win at Bayern Munich.

"People forget that United had two shots on target on the day and they scored a goal off a shoulder (of Robin van Persie) from a corner, but I believe we were not completely ourselves offensively and that is what we want to do better, to be dangerous offensively," Wenger said.

"However, a team is not set there (following a poor performance). After they do it, they grow.

"Sometimes if they do it they stop, learn from it and then grow again."It is what we want to show at City. We learn from it and we go again."

Wenger does not want his team to be overawed by their status as Premier League pace-setters and is confident they can perform under pressure.

"I don't see why you should be scared," he added.

"Last season when we went to Newcastle on the last day and we had absolutely to win you could think 'if we don't win it will be a disaster', but today we are in a position where we can look much more at the game in a positive way."

Wenger, though, warned Arsenal will have to be on their guard against City's expensively assembled squad, which has been potent in attack at home this season, thrashing United 4-1 in September, sticking seven past Norwich and hitting Tottenham for six last month.

"We need to make sure we have the ball," Wenger said.

"When they have the ball they are dangerous: (David) Silva, (Yaya) Toure, (Sergio) Aguero, (Alvaro) Negredo - they have potential to be dangerous.

"For us, it is important we have the ball."

SkySports

Manchester City v Arsenal: Arsene Wenger braced for toughest test of Premier League season so far

Arsène Wenger is ready for Arsenal's biggest test of the season when he takes his side to Manchester City on Saturday lunchtime.

Arsene Wenger

The doubts are everywhere expressed. While Arsenal might be enjoying a five-point lead at the top of the table as Christmas approaches, while they might be playing the most attractive and progressive football in the country, many question whether the squad have sufficient depths of resolve and experience still to be doing so come next May.

After all, we have seen this before in the fallow years since Arsenal last won the league: any flowering of promise wilts under the pressure of maintaining a sustained campaign.

At one point in both 2004-05 and 2007-08 Wenger’s teams enjoyed leads as luxurious as this season’s five points only to finish well off the pace. Which is why manager Arsène Wenger believes that the encounter with Manchester City on Saturday has a resonance that goes way beyond the three points on offer.

“It is a game where we can make a difference,” Wenger said. “If we win it will have an influence on some people. Not everybody, but some people.”

What Wenger’s players can do on Saturday is give definitive demonstration that – unlike their predecessors in the noughties – they are indeed made of the right stuff.

“Of course it [would] strengthen your beliefs,” said Wenger of the signal victory at City would send out. “But I am convinced we believe in ourselves anyway, no matter what happens.”

Examinations do not come more challenging than a visit to the Etihad. In a clean sweep of home wins this season, Manchester City have eviscerated every Premier League guest. Were they not such jittery travellers, Manuel Pellegrini’s side would be galloping towards the title, rendering redundant any fretting over Arsenal’s own championship credentials.

“You make them think they are playing away,” smiled Wenger of the tactical challenge posed in east Manchester. “City have a very strong squad, but I look at my squad and think I do not envy them.”

Ending the season’s most gilded home run would send out all sorts of messages about Arsenal. Not least end the nagging doubt that they suffer from a failure of nerve when faced with proper opposition. And sometimes not even that proper. After all, on their last visit to Manchester they failed to do what West Bromwich Albion, Everton and Newcastle United have all managed this season: win at Old Trafford.

“We have been very consistent away from home,” insisted Wenger. “The only blip we had was at Manchester United and people forget that United had two shots on target on the day and they scored a goal off a shoulder from a corner. But that’s what we can learn from the Man United game. We forgot a little bit to project ourselves forward. And that's what we want to do better tomorrow, to be dangerous offensively.”

They will certainly need to be more dangerous offensively than on Wednesday when they were beaten by Napoli in the Champions League. That and retain more possession.

“We need to make sure we have the ball,” agreed Wenger. “When they have the ball they are dangerous: [David] Silva, [Yaya] Toure, [Sergio] Agüero, [Alvaro] Negredo, they have the potential to be dangerous. For us it is important we have the ball.”

And if victory can send out a signal of intent, so losing carries huge implications. Although Arsenal will remain at the top of the division, with Chelsea as their next opponents, defeat could rapidly become a morale-sapping pattern. Not that Wenger believes such a consideration adds pressure.

“I don’t see why you should be scared. Last season when we went to Newcastle on the last day and we had absolutely to win you could think, ‘If we don’t win it will be a disaster’. Today we are in a position where we can look much more at the game in a positive way. Let’s not forget as well that if you are in City’s position and they lose, then they are nine points behind, so they have more negative pressure than we have.”

Whatever the final implications of the game today, it would have assisted Wenger in his preparation for his most significant challenge yet this season had he not been obliged to play away at the club with the best home record in the division barely 48 hours after returning from a strenuous Champions League tie in the south of Italy. Not that he is seeking to take issue with the intricacies of the Premier League fixture programme. He is not Jose Mourinho after all.

“That is not an excuse for us at all,” he says of being obliged to play on a Saturday lunchtime after a Wednesday game in Europe. “We have the fixtures we have. If you had given me the opportunity to do it, I would not have done it like that. But I do not complain. It is another opportunity to show we have the mental strength to deal with it.” Thus it is that every week we learn more about what Wenger’s exciting Arsenal team are really made of.

The Telegraph

Hot'n Cold!

We just noticed, we've reached the halfway stage in the Dankse premiership and nobody's mentioned it, but the league table is starting to take on a familiar look. The four Belfast clubs, Crues, Blues, Reds and Glens are starting to pull away from the rest of us. Portadown, in fifth place seems to be the only club outside the city that has a chance to catch them. That is not to say if another club further down the league were to go on a winning run, they couldn't win the league, potentially they are 57 points out there, but it would take a major transformation in any clubs make-up for that to happen and we haven't seen any omens of that event.

When we played tomorrow's opponents in the first match of the season and they beat us so convincingly, we wondered if we were seeing the birth of such a team, but alas it has all fizzled out in the cold realities of the Irish league. Going into tomorrow's game, Glenavon are just 2 points better off than ourselves (25-23) and a win for the Sky Blues could move us up at least a place or maybe if results go our way, two or even three places. But we're getting ahead of ourselves here, we blow hot or cold, there's no in-between with us, we either win, or we lose.

If you look at our position in the league, you will see that out of the 19 games we've have played, we won 7, lost 10 and only drew 2. If we could reverse that form in the other19 matches we have to play yet, we hazard a guess that we would be in the heralded top six place, that we so much covet. That has to our aim for the second half of the league, garner more points from the remaining fixtures than we did the first time around, starting out with a result tomorrow at Mourneview Park. The weather forecast is not too promising, gale force winds, but we have the players to deal with that.

Thommo, fresh his one game ban should start and Ally could be added to the starting line-up and we'll have our first choice keeper Dwayne, in out team for the first time in 2 months. With Cookie and Captain Jenks we have a wealth of experience playing in all sorts of weather and we have players like, Tony K , Sparky and the classy JT, who are able to adapt to anything. With Cush, getting fitter with every match, it promises to be a good game and lets hope we get the right result. With freak conditions it could be a freak result, but from experience, it seldom is, so come on Sky Blues, lets shag those Mourneviewers!

Calhanoglu to Arsenal FC? Strootman to snub Man Utd? Luiz to FC Barcelona?

David Luiz

- Barcelona are readying a £29m bid to tempt Chelsea to part with defender David Luiz in January, according to the Daily Star.

- Nemanja Matic, who has been linked with the likes of Liverpool and Manchester United, has emerged as a target for Paris Saint-Germain, with coach Laurent Blanc admitting he would like to sign the Benfica defender.

- Kevin Strootman, who continues to be linked with Manchester United, is happy at Roma, his agent has said.

"Kevin is very happy in Rome and his intention is to stay here for a long time," Chiel Dekker told Sky Sports.

"They have started a project and a new team and he has adapted well to his new club."

- Hakan Calhanoglu, who has been linked with Arsenal and Liverpool, is not up for sale, insist Hamburg.

Hamburg sporting director Oliver Kreuzer told the Hamburger Abendblatt: "Of course, every player has a price. But we do not have any interest in selling him."

- Arsenal will test Hamburg’s resolve to keep Calhanoglu with an offer next month, according to the Daily Mail.

- CSKA Moscow playmaker Keisuke Honda will join AC Milan on a free transfer next month.

CrunchSports

Football transfer rumours: Wayne Rooney to Chelsea?

This photograph is not a mock-up, even though Wayne Rooney appears to have black hands in it. Photograph: Lars Baron/Bongarts/Getty Images

The Mirror has superimposed a photo of Wayne Rooney's head on to a Chelsea player's body to illustrate its story that the London club plan to renew their efforts to sign the Manchester United striker this summer. Helpfully stating that the picture is a "mock-up" for the benefit of anybody who might not know that Rooney has (a) never celebrated a goal while wearing full Chelsea kit and (b) not got the hands and neck of a black man, the story goes on to state that Chelsea are on "red alert" to renew their efforts to bring him to Stamford Bridge, having apparently discovered that zero progress has been made between the player and his club as far as a new contract is concerned.

David Moyes is reported to have sent a team of emissaries to Italy to discuss a deal that would see the versatile Colombian midfielder Fredy Guarín head to Old Trafford in January. Internazionale are prepared to sell Guarín, who would be available for approximately £15m, can play in a variety of positions, and is eligible to participate in the Champions League.

Tottenham Hotspur want to bring the Atlético Madrid midfielder Koke to White Hart Lane, but they may have to participate in a tug of war with Manchester United. The Premier League champions have been scouting the 21-year-old and David Moyes was at the Vicente Calderón Stadium on Wednesday night to watch him score in his side's 2-0 Champions League win over Porto. With Milan and Atlético's city rivals Real also interested in the £15m-rated player, competition for his signature is likely to be fierce.

Manchester United scouts are also keeping their beady eyes on Sporting Lisbon's 21-year-old Portuguese international midfielder William Carvalho, while Hull City are prepared to rescue the 28-year-old Swedish midfielder Seb Larsson from his Sunderland hell; specifically the hell of having to play for Premier League propper-uppers Sunderland each week.

Expect the scramble to turn the head of the 19-year-old St Étienne defender Kurt Zouma to hot up now that the Ligue 1 player's manager has conceded he may have to cash in his prize asset during the January transfer window. He is unlikely to be short of customers with Manchester United, Liverpool, Chelsea, Manchester City and Monaco all believed to have been keeping tabs on the French youth international. "As coach I always want to keep my good players, but there are obligations before the summer because there are budgets to do," said Christophe Gaultier. "I know that three clubs are following Kurt very closely. Will they make offers when the window opens? Anything is possible."

Real Sociedad's winger Antoine Griezmann hails from France and is wanted by Arsenal, while West Ham's manager Sam Allardyce has decided the problem of his team's paucity of goals could be solved by bringing the Seattle Sounders striker Obafemi Martins, 72, to the Boleyn Ground on loan.

Perhaps having given the Premier League table a cursory glance, Wesley Sneijder has decided he has no interest in signing for Manchester United and is happy enough in Turkey, playing for Galatasaray. The Dutch midfielder and Didier Drogba certainly looked content as a pigs in muck as they rolled around in the slushy bog that passed for the pitch of the Turk Telecom Arena on Wednesday afternoon, when Sneijder mugged an Old Lady from Turin to send the Turkish side through to the last 16 and eliminate Juventus from the Champions League.

And expect the West Brom manager Steve Clarke's demeanour to be even more dour and hangdog than usual now that he's been told he'll have no money to spend in the January transfer window. Bah!

The Guardian

Rooney linked With Move To Real Madrid

Wayne Rooney

The tabloids are having a field day recently, with the current Manchester United strikers being the main focus of their attention. First, van Persie is set to go, and now Rooney is ready to follow suit.

News coming out of Old Trafford is that Real Madrid is set to offer £50m plus Angel Di Maria or Sami Khedira in exchange for unsettled striker Wayne Rooney. It seems that the 28 year old England star is destined to leave Old Trafford at some stage, amid endless speculation about his rocky relationship with manager David Moyes.

With 18 months left on his current deal, Man United are desperately trying to convince Rooney to sign a long term contract with the club, but reports are suggesting that Rooney believes it is time to pursue a new challenge away from Manchester.

If Rooney was to move to the Bernabeu, he would link up with his old team mate Cristiano Ronaldo as well as Gareth Bale, creating potentially the most prominent attacking force in world club football.

Without question, Rooney has been United’s top player so far this season, with ten goals and ten assists in twenty appearances across all competitions. He would be a huge loss for the Champions, but their current form is surely going to have a major influence on his future plans.

If United fail to qualify for the Champions League, Rooney will leave, without question. As the season progresses, their chances of achieving this are becoming more difficult, so maybe a move to Madrid is the correct option?

Either way, United will be well aware that Rooney’s value will decrease dramatically if he remains at the club into the final year of his current contract. It will come as no surprise to many if you see a whole new strike force at Old Trafford next season.

Angel Di Maria or Sami Khedira would be a great addition to Moyes’s squad, but losing Rooney and possibly van Persie also would be a huge blow to the club. Here’s hoping it happens…YNWA!

football.co.uk

Rooney's whopping £45m earnings puts him top of Britain's football's rich list... and Joe Cole and Milner are surprise names in top 10

His Manchester United team may be floundering in ninth in the Premier League table, but star striker Wayne Rooney tops the rich list for English footballers.

The usual suspects make up the top 10, with Rio Ferdinand, Chelsea pair Frank Lampard and John Terry and Steven Gerrard all in the top five, but West Ham's Joe Cole is the surprise inclusion, coming in sixth ahead of the likes of Ashley Cole, Michael Carrick and Ashley Young. James Milner is the youngest player on the list at 27.

Rooney, 28, is head and shoulders above his nearest rival, United team-mate Ferdinand, with an estimated net worth of a staggering £45million. The man England are banking their World Cup hopes on earns approximately £250,000 a week before taxes on his current deal, and also earns through endorsement deals such as Nike.

Raking it in: Wayne Rooney tops the rich list for English footballers with an estimated net worth of £45m, according to Wealth-X

Endorsements: Rooney, here in a Nike advert with Rory McIlroy, earns some of his wealth through numerous endorsement deals

Runner-up: Rooney's Manchester United team-mate Rio Ferdinand is second on the list with an estimated net worth of £37m - he has numerous interests including a restaurant, Rosso in Manchester, and magazine, #5

Third place: Chelsea's Frank Lampard, pictured with the Chancellor of the Exchequer and fiancee
 Christine Bleakley, has a net worth of £29m

Ferdinand, 35, is £8m behind Rooney with an estimated net worth of £37m, according to a rich list from Wealth-X.

The defender has numerous business interests including the Rosso restaurant and his #5 magazine.

Chelsea's Frank Lampard is third on the list, with £31m, while former England captain John Terry shares fourth spot with the current England skipper Steven Gerrard, both with £29m.

There is then a sizable drop to sixth place, where surprise name Joe Cole, worth £22m, sits. Cole has his own business venture, Joe Cole Promotions, and owns various properties including in the Caribbean and Dubai. He earned £90,000 per week while at Liverpool, and the club also gave him a £3m pay-off when he exited Anfield.

Thrifty: John Terry may be worth an estimated £29m, but he was spotted shopping in Poundland
by Chelsea fan Jack Jeffrey (right) last week

A tale of two skippers: Current England captain Steven Gerrard shares fourth place with former captain John Terry

Surprise name: Hello! Magazine paid £2m for exclusive photos of Joe Cole and Carly Zucker's wedding - but the West Ham man donated the fee to charity

Cole also received £2m from Hello! magazine for the wedding photos from his marriage to Carly Zucker in 2009, but donated the money to charity.

Chelsea's third player on the list, Ashley Cole, has an estimated worth of £20m. The left back was previously higher on the list, but his divorce from Cheryl Cole in 2010 impacted hugely on his assets.

Injured Manchester United midfielder Michael Carrick is worth £16m, while Ashley Young and James Milner, the youngest player on the list at 27, share the final spot both worth an estimated £13m.

Impact: Divorce from Cheryl Cole had a bearing on Ashley Cole's net worth

Michael Carrick

James Milner

Ashley Young

THE ENGLISH FOOTBALLERS' RICH LIST

1) Wayne Rooney (£45M)

2) Rio Ferdinand (£37m)

3) Frank Lampard (£31m)

4) John Terry, Steven Gerrard (both £29m)

6) Joe Cole (£22m)

7) Ashley Cole (£20m)

8) Michael Carrick (£16m)

9) Ashley Young, James Milner (both £13m)

DailyMail

European Football - Ronaldo, Messi and Ribery up for Ballon d'Or

Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi and Franck Ribery are the final three names left in the running for the 2013 FIFA Ballon d'Or as the final shortlist was revealed.

Eurosport - Ballon d'Or 2013 new picture Ribery Messi Ronaldo

Zlatan Ibrahimovic missed out on the top three despite a superb season with Paris Saint-Germain that saw him score an endless stream of dazzling goals.

Ribery was the star player in the Bayern Munich team that won the treble of Bundesliga, DFB Pokal and Champions League last season, but is still considered an outside bet to win the award.

Messi spearheaded Barcelona's Liga success last season, but injuries have kept him from producing his best football in the last few months, hurting his chances of claiming his fifth consecutive Ballon d'Or.

Ronaldo had been expected to miss out until a few months ago, but his outrageous goalscoring so far this season for Real Madrid - 25 goals in 18 matches - allied to his devastating play-off hat-trick to put Portugal into the World Cup have turned things around.

That display against Ibrahimovic's Sweden came after the initial voting deadline had passed for the coaches, international team captains and journalists who make up the expert panel.

But FIFA controversially extended the deadline for votes after Ronaldo's heroics, also allowing the panel to change their original votes. As a result, Ronaldo is now a 1-2 odds-on favourite with most bookies.

YahooSports

Powerhouses Chelsea, Manchester United stunned: EPL

Liverpool cruises past West Ham

Dejected Chelsea players look on after conceding a third goal to Stoke City at Britannia
 Stadium on December 7, 2013 in Stoke, England. (Michael Regan/Getty Images)

The most unpredictable Premier League season in years threw up more surprises Saturday when Chelsea conceded a 90th-minute winner at Stoke and beleaguered defending champion Manchester United lost to Newcastle for a second home defeat in four days.

With Manchester City being held 1-1 at Southampton, Liverpool was able to capitalize on its rivals' slip-ups by thrashing West Ham 4-1 to go second, with Luis Suarez following up his spectacular quadruple in midweek by scoring again at Anfield.

It was a good day for Arsenal, which retained its four-point lead ahead of its game against Everton on Sunday. Chelsea's 3-2 loss at Stoke, sealed by Oussama Assaidi's late strike, saw Jose Mourinho's side drop to third on goal difference behind Liverpool.

United's flimsy hopes of retaining its title took another battering by losing 1-0 to Newcastle at Old Trafford, leaving the champions languishing in ninth place — 12 points behind Arsenal — and placing further scrutiny on David Moyes in his turbulent first season as Alex Ferguson's successor.

"I don't think (the fans) or me expected us to have lost five games by this time of the season," said Moyes, who still believes United will be "very close" to the title come May.

Yohan Cabaye's 61st-minute goal earned Newcastle its first win at Old Trafford in 41 years and left United supporters further disheartened after a loss by the same scoreline to Everton on Wednesday.

The way the champions are playing, a place in next season's Champions League could even be out of reach, although the top four is wide open with the big teams continuing to drop points.

Tottenham downs Sunderland

Also Saturday, Sunderland stayed bottom after squandering a lead to lose 2-1 at home to sixth-place Tottenham, which has picked up seven points from a possible nine since being humiliated 6-0 by Man City last month. Crystal Palace beat Cardiff 2-0 for a third win in four matches since the departure of Ian Holloway and Norwich won 2-0 at West Bromwich Albion.

There was a minute's applause before each Premier League game in honour of former South Africa president Nelson Mandela, who died on Thursday at the age of 95.

Chelsea and Man City were looking to apply pressure on Arsenal but couldn't hold onto their leads away from home.

Andre Schuerrle put Chelsea in front and then equalized for 2-2 after Stoke had hit back through goals by Peter Crouch and Stephen Ireland, only for Assaidi to grab the winner with seconds left of normal time.

"I don't feel comfortable enough to tell you what I think about the game. We're in trouble," said Mourinho, bemoaning his team's lack of organization.

Sergio Aguero moved to 12 goals for the campaign — two behind Suarez's league-high tally — to give City the lead at Southampton, but Pablo Osvaldo delivered a brilliant equalizer just before halftime by leaving Vincent Kompany on the ground, turning Pablo Zabaleta and floating in a curling shot from the angle just inside the area.

"I'm pleased with the point," said City manager Manuel Pellegrini, whose side's away form has been erratic this season.

Suarez couldn't reproduce his exploits of Wednesday, when he scored four stunning goals against Norwich, but he once again proved to be the difference for Liverpool in a game of three own goals against West Ham.

Guy Demel and Joey O'Brien put in their own net to bookend the victory after good work by Suarez, who scored himself with a powerful header in the 81st minute to make it 3-1.

Mamadou Sakho netted Liverpool's second, with West Ham replying through Martin Skrtel's own goal before losing Kevin Nolan to a red card with eight minutes left.

"In the end we had 29 attempts at goal, and we could have scored more than four. It was a great victory," said Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers, whose captain Steven Gerrard limped off injured midway through the second half.

Liverpool has scored 17 times in its last four home games but United found goals hard to come by this week, failing to score in successive games to lose back-to-back home matches in the league for the first time in 11 years.

Without the suspended Wayne Rooney and with Robin van Persie lacking sharpness in his first match back after a month out, United lacked a cutting edge against Newcastle, which controlled midfield and pounced when Cabaye's sidefooted effort deflected into the corner.

"When I came here I knew it wasn't always going to be easy and it's proving that way," Moyes said.

As the pressure on one coach increases, so it relents on another as Tottenham manager Andre Villas-Boas punched the air in delight after his team's second away win in four days. John O'Shea's own goal in the 50th sealed Spurs' victory at the Stadium of Light.

CBC

Premier League: Everton deny Arsenal as Gerard Deulofeu rescues 1-1 draw

Arsenal had to settle for a 1-1 draw with Everton as Gerard Deulofeu's equaliser cancelled out Mesut Ozil's opener in an absorbing encounter at Emirates Stadium.

Everton held Arsenal to a 1-1 draw in a pulsating game at Emirates Stadium

Everton followed up their victory at Old Trafford in midweek with another impressive performance - but it was Arsenal who looked set to emerge triumphant when Ozil struck in the 80th minute.

However, Deulofeu fired in a terrific finish four minutes later and the Gunners were unable to grab a late winner as Olivier Giroud struck the woodwork in the dying seconds.

The result leaves Arsenal five points clear at the top of the table, while Everton remain fifth and have still only been beaten once in the Premier League this season.

Unchanged Everton made a positive start, with a counter-attack seeing Kevin Mirallas get away down the right and send a low ball straight through the Arsenal six-yard box.

The Toffees - who were on a seven-match unbeaten Premier League run - continued to dominate possession, with Costa Rica full-back Bryan Oviedo, who scored the winner at Old Trafford, a constant danger on the overlap down the right.

After such an uncharacteristic slow start, Arsenal began to find some possession in midfield. A sweeping counter by the hosts, started from Ozil deep on the left, saw Santi Cazorla freed on the overlap down the right - and his low centre flew across the face of goal, with only a touch needed from the onrushing Kieran Gibbs to put the ball into the net.

It proved only a temporary rally as Everton were soon back on top, with England World Cup hopeful Ross Barkley most impressive as he drove at the Arsenal defence.

Finally, the home side managed to fashion an opening as Giroud was played through on goal in the 43rd minute, but Tim Howard was out quickly to block from the France forward.

The American had to be alert again in first-half stoppage time when Aaron Ramsey broke through the middle of a crowded penalty area.

There was at least more purpose to Arsenal at the start of the second half, as Gibbs crashed a 20-yard effort wide following a corner.

Ozil's ball in from the right was knocked back by Jack Wilshere, but Cazorla could not get any power on his header, which was straight at goalkeeper Howard.

Arsenal goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny had to be alert when Everton broke quickly in the 54th minute, with Barkley playing in Steven Pienaar, whose 20-yard drive was turned away.

The Gunners were soon back on the offensive, with a cross from Gibbs met by Ramsey at the far post, and his angled half-volley was blocked by Howard.

James McCarthy was shown a yellow card for leading with a high boot into a challenge with Ramsey, which saw the Everton midfielder collect a caution, his fifth of the season which will result in a suspension.

Szczesny saved from Barkley's 18-yard strike before Arsenal made a triple substitution with 23 minutes left as Cazorla, Wilshere and Ramsey were replaced by Theo Walcott, Tomas Rosicky and Mathieu Flamini.

Flamini dragged his angled shot wide of the far post after Walcott's determined run into the right side of the Everton penalty area.

Howard was booked for time wasting with 13 minutes remaining and on the break a Mirallas shot was deflected behind, with Sylvain Distin heading over from the resulting corner.

Arsenal took the lead with 10 minutes left. Rosicky's sweeping cross out to the right was met by Walcott, who headed it straight back through the Everton six-yard box. Giroud completely missed his kick, but Ozil was on hand to crash the ball into the roof of the net.

The lead, though, lasted only four minutes as Deulofeu smashed in from the right side of the box less than five minutes after coming on as a substitute, after Arsenal had switched off at the back.

Giroud almost snatched victory in stoppage time when his stunning 25-yard drive struck the woodwork, but Everton deserved to share the points.

SkySports

Red Flag!

United won't need any red flags to get them going tomorrow at Shamrock Park, against Portadown, they have enough incentive already, trying to keep their unbeaten run going. We fully realise that our unbeaten record is still in it's infancy (4 games), but big trees from little acorns grow and it would be nice if we could keep it going for another game at least. Ports fans will not need any reminding that this 'run' started off when United beat them comprehensively in a league cup match at  Showgrounds on Tuesday November 12. Nor will they need reminding of the score, 4-0 in the Sky Blues favour.

One of the architects of that league cup victory, Thommo,  is unavailable due to suspension and another one, Cookie Munster, must be rated doubtful, as he was rumoured to have a broken a toe against the Ducks last Saturday. In the absence of Thommo, Spike could maybe move Captain Jenks back into midfield and if Ally's fit, he could play with Mario, Liggie or MM, taking the Captain's place at striker. If Ally's not fit, he would have to shuffle the pack a bit more and could elect to go with a 4,4,2 formation, but like the Iron lady, Spike not known for one to change tactics, but needs must.

If Cookie doesn't make it, Spike could play Archie alongside JT, with Ruddy taking Archie's place or he could have Marky reverting to central defence, with Tony K taking over his position and Gavin filling Tony's position. The enigma that is Alan D could be a surprise selection for Thommo's place in the side, but we feel sure that Fergie will not want to gamble on such an inconsistent player as Alan D has turned out to be. When he first signed for the Sky Blues he was like a breath of fresh air, but so far this season he has been a shadow of that player and we cannot afford to carry any passengers.

Maybe like last week we'll turn up at Shamrock Park, only to be informed that one or more of our players didn't train all week and they are not playing. Omar, when he was on the forum, had said the forum lads (and lassies), had asked for a heads-up on the state of injuries, so they would have an idea who was playing. This idea was put to the 'powers that be' and the silence was deafening and it never materialised. The excuse trotted out to the forumites, was that the management team thought that it would give our opponents an edge, we never heard so much claptrap, well not for a week at least.

We are going need all our players focused on the game tomorrow, as the Ports carved a good victory at the Oval last Monday and they'll want to build on that. Their manager, Ronnie McFall needs no introduction to United fans, we normally get to cheer him off once a season, when he falls foul of the referee, but we are not expecting that tomorrow. But if we frustrate the Ports, as we did on our first two meeting this season, you never know and like his team, when Ronnie gets rattled, a red mist comes over him and he gets the blues. So come Sky Blues, let's shove it to them, let's shag those apple pickers!

U.S. draws into 'Group of Death' for 2014 World Cup

FIFA Secretary General Jerome Valcke holds up the name of USA for Group G. (Getty Images)

United States head coach Jurgen Klinsmann described his team's World Cup draw as "the worst of the worst" after it was pooled with Germany, Portugal and Ghana in one of two "Groups of Death."

Klinsmann could scarcely believe his ill fortune after the draw was made in Bahia, Brazil, with the Americans lumped into Group G and a situation that immediately installed them as long shots to reach the last 16.

To add to his discomfort, Klinsmann's side also will have to battle a grueling travel schedule, including a visit to the Amazonian jungle city of Manaus with its extreme humidity and hostile weather environment.

"It is one of the most difficult groups of the whole draw," Klinsmann said. "It couldn't get any more difficult or any bigger but that is what the World Cup is all about.

"We are looking forward to the challenge and we don't see ourselves as any kind of outsiders. If you want to get into the top 10 or 12 teams in the world you have to beat these guys.

"We discussed before the draw that there could be some difficult schedules and we hit the worst of the worst. Every coach said, 'Anything but Manaus' and we got Manaus."

Germany is one of the strongest teams in the tournament and reached the semifinal in 2010, while Portugal will be led by Cristiano Ronaldo, currently the world's best and most dominant player.

Supposedly the weakest opponent, Ghana, eliminated the U.S. at the round of 16 stage four years ago. The Ghanaians also ended the Americans' 2006 World Cup with a victory in the teams' final group game.

"After two losses, it's about time to beat them, I guess," Klinsmann said.

The Ghana matchup will be the first for the U.S. and is scheduled for Natal on June 16. Portugal follows in Manaus six days later before group action ends against Germany in Recife on June 26.

"I kind of had a feeling in my stomach that we were going to get Germany," said Klinsmann, who starred for the West Germany national team as it won the 1990 World Cup and later led the German side to the 2006 semifinals on home soil.

The "other" Group of Death is Group B where 2010 finalists Spain and the Netherlands square off in the opening match. Host nation Brazil kicks off the tournament against Croatia in Sao Paulo on June 12.

Group A:
Brazil – Host nation is a clear favorite to win it all and was the seed no one wanted to meet.
Croatia – Shaky in qualifying and winless in World Cups since 1998; Luka Modric is a shining light.
Mexico – Fortunate to qualify after desperate CONCACAF form pushed it to the brink of elimination.
Cameroon – Lowest-ranked of the African nations after patchy form over the past year.

Group B:
Spain – Defending champion started slowly in 2010, losing to Switzerland in first game.
Netherlands – 2010 runner-up was somehow unseeded and a team nobody wanted to face.
Chile – Struggled early in qualifying but was near perfect late on and will be a real threat.
Australia – Fired coach Holger Osieck after heavy friendly defeats and comes in with little momentum.

Group C:
Colombia – Radamel Falcao heads a deep squad keen to shine after missing last three tournaments.
Greece – Not much fun to watch; defensively excellent but short on attacking firepower.
Ivory Coast – Eliminated in the Group of Death last time, Didier Drogba’s back for one last shot.
Japan – Greatly improved team more than capable of creating some shocks against bigger opponents.

Group D:
Uruguay – Reached the semis four years ago but survived a qualifying scare this time around.
Costa Rica – Qualifying success was built upon outstanding home form, struggles on the road.
England – Lacking in confidence and inspiration and comes in with its lowest expectations in decades.
Italy – Champions in 2006, awful in 2010, full of talent and believes it can go all the way.

Group E:
Switzerland – Considered the weakest seeded team but a skillful unit capable of going deep.
Ecuador – Clinched a World Cup spot for only the third time and has never gone past the last 16.
France – Scraped through with a playoff comeback, hopes to atone for humiliating 2010 campaign.
Honduras – Has reached two previous World Cups but has yet to record its first victory.

Group F:
Argentina – Lionel Messi heads a confident team looking to secure first title since 1986.
Bosnia-Herzegovina – The only newcomer in the 32-strong field, highly talented but unpredictable.
Iran – Managed just one point from three games in 2006 and failed to qualify in 2010.
Nigeria – One of the youngest squads in the tournament that should not be underestimated.

Group G:
Germany – Third in 2010 and aims to build on positive vibe created by its dominant club teams.
Ghana – Knocked out the U.S. in 2010 before being heartbreakingly denied a semifinal spot.
United States – Regarded as the strongest team in its pot after topping CONCACAF group.
Portugal – Cristiano Ronaldo single-handedly won a tense playoff but has yet to shine at World Cup.

Group H:
Belgium – Reached first World Cup since 2002 after huge improvement and a superb qualifying campaign.
Russia – Finished first in a tough qualifying group that also featured Portugal and Sweden.
Algeria – Bottom of the U.S. group in 2010 and one of the weakest teams, at least on paper.
South Korea – An easy campaign became nail-biting late on; finally booked place on goal differential.

Yahoo Sports

The 2014 World Cup draw: Team U.S.A. is screwed

The red, white, and blue land in the Group of Death

Sorry, buddy. (Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)

The draw for the group stage of the 2014 World Cup took place today in Brazil — and it does not look pretty for the United States.

The full draw

That's right. Not only will the U.S. face off against Germany, ranked the second-best team in the world by FIFA, but also Portugal, which is led by one Cristiano Ronaldo, who has been in amazing form of late. Furthermore, while the U.S. should technically be the favorite against Ghana, the Black Stars have a nasty habit of breaking American hearts at World Cups.

Sorry, USA. Better luck in 2018.

The Week

World Cup draw: Spain opens against Netherlands in 2010 final rematch

Host Brazil faces a relatively easy path to the knockout stage while U.S. was drawn into the toughest group with Germany, Portugal and Ghana.

FIFA SECRETARY GENERAL JEROME VALCKE HOLDS THE SLIP SHOWING "URUGUAY" DURING THE DRAW FOR THE 2014 WORLD CUP AT THE COSTA DO SAUIPE RESORT IN SAO JOAO DA MATA, BAHIA STATE, DECEMBER 6, 2013. THE 2014 WORLD CUP FINALS WILL BE HELD IN BRAZIL FROM JUNE 12 THROUGH JULY 13.

Defending champion Spain will play its opening 2014 World Cup game against the Netherlands, a repeat of the ill-tempered 2010 final, while host Brazil faces a relatively easy path to the knockout stage after Friday’s draw.

Argentina, champion in 1978 and 1986, first plays Bosnia-Herzegovina, the only World Cup newcomer among the 32 teams. After that game at the Maracana stadium in Rio de Janeiro, the Argentine team of four-time world player of the year Lionel Messi then plays Iran and finally Nigeria. In six previous World Cup encounters, Nigeria has beaten Argentina just once.

Argentina will be heavily favoured to come out top of its Group F. If so, it could find either Switzerland or France in its way in its first knockout game. Those European nations will be hoping to come out on top of their Group E that also includes Ecuador and Honduras.

The Spain-Netherlands match is on June 13, a Friday. When they met at the 2010 final, referee Howard Webb showed a record 14 yellow cards — two leading to red for the Netherlands’ John Heitinga.

England could also face hostility from the home crowd after the city’s mayor said he did not want the English in Manaus because they complained about the venue’s climate.

The United States was drawn into a tough group with Germany, the winner in 1954, 1974 and 1990, as well as Cristiano Ronaldo’s Portugal and Ghana, a quarter-finalist in 2010. The U.S. is coached by former Germany striker Jurgen Klinsmann.

Brazil starts its campaign for a sixth World Cup title with an opener against Croatia. Mexico and Cameroon are also in the group.

Colombia, Greece, Ivory Coast and Japan are in Group C, with Uruguay, Costa Rica, England and Italy in a strong Group D.

One of the easiest groups on paper looked to be E, with Switzerland, Ecuador, France and Honduras.
Russia, host of the next World Cup, is in Group H with Belgium, Algeria and Korea.

The Star

Your guide to the World Cup draw... who can England face? Who's heading for a group of death? And where do you watch it?

As England join the 31 other nations in Brazil to learn their fate for the 2014 World Cup group stage, here's Sportsmail's ultimate lowdown on Friday's draw.

I can't wait to see the World Cup draw, when is it?

On Friday at 4pm UK time, the powers of the beautiful game will congregate at the Costa do Sauipe Resort in the Brazilian state of Bahia to pick the groups for next summer's tournament.

Representatives from each of the 32 nations, as well as 1,300 guests and around 2,000 media representatives, will watch on the edge of their seats as the game's luminaries decide their fate.

You can watch it on BBC Two from 4.30pm - or follow it live on MailOnline Sport from 3pm.

The stage is set: Workers put finishing touches Brazil 2014 FIFA World Cup final draw venue

Packed house: Around 2,000 of the world's media will be crammed into the Bahia resort for the draw

Legend: Sir Geoff Hurst is one of the World Cup Winners to help out with proceedings at the draw

Glitzy: Actress Fernanda Lima is one of the presenters

Who's going to be performing the draw?

England will be hoping for a good omen as 1966 hat-trick hero Sir Geoff Hurst is one of the former stars helping with the draw.

He'll be helped by fellow World Cup winners Cafu, Fabio Cannavaro, Zinedine Zidane, Lothar Matthaus and Mario Kempes. FIFA chief Jerome Valcke is the master of ceremonies.

The evening's presenters are Brazilian celebrity couple Rodrigo Hilbert and Fernanda Lima, whom we can only assume was chosen for her intricate knowledge of Chile's attacking 3-3-1-3 formation.

So, on to the important stuff, who can England get?

England are in Pot Four, which is for the unseeded sides from Europe, alongside sides like Italy, Holland and Portugal.

Well, they're in Pot Four at the moment. One team from Pot Four will be randomly placed into Pot Two - as there are a surplus of European teams.

That means - already not safe from facing a giant like Brazil, Spain, Germany or Argentina, the seeded teams in Pot One - England could well end up drawing one of those AND Italy or Holland.

Sounds scary. So what's the absolute worst case scenario for Roy Hodgson's men?

Potentially, Brazil, Holland and Mexico. Or Argentina, France and USA.

All smiles: But Roy Hodgson's men could face a 'group of death' with Brazil, USA and France

And the famous 'easy group'?

There's no easy games in international football, but if you insist: Switzerland, Honduras and Algeria (remember them?).

These things are never just about the draw, though, are they? What have Brazil got lined up in the way of entertainment?

The last spate of musical acts handed the big gig were announced on Friday, with Brazilian singers Alexandre Pires and Vanessa da Mata added to the list, as are Companhia de Danca Deborah Colker, who are a contemporary dance troupe known the world over, apparently.

Emicida, Alcione, Margareth Menezes and percussion group Olodum were already on the bill, which will be a typically colourful celebration of Brazilian culture, music and football. 

The event, FIFA says, is inspired by the tournament's official slogan, which is 'Brazil: All in One Rhythm.'

Right, so I'm ready for the draw - now how do I get tickets for next summer?

With great difficulty. The first batch of over 1million tickets have already been snapped up, with the latest release of seats selling out in seven hours.

A Heathrow to Rio De Janeiro flight will also set you back £1,600, while estimates for England fans travelling to the three group games (and let's hope there's more than that) range from £7,000 to £10,000.

That's for travel, match tickets and accommodation - and for a standard three-star hotel, you're looking at £350 a night.

DailyMail