England: Premier League Weekend Review, Reports & Analyses

Another entertaining weekend in the Premier League saw some stunning goals, most notably Wayne Rooney's spectacular overhead kick which clinched the Manchester derby. West Ham continued the recent trend of epic comebacks after recovering from three goals down to seal a miraculous 3-3 draw at West Brom, earning a valuable point that could be crucial come the end of the season. Meanwhile, Arsenal kept the pressure on at the top of the table with an all-too-easy win over Wolves, Spurs came from a goal down to beat Sunderland and Wigan held Liverpool at Anfield.

Review

Manchester United 2 - 1 Manchester City
Paul Wilson at Old Trafford
Phil McNulty at Old Trafford

West Brom 3 - 3 West Ham
David Lacey at The Hawthorns

Liverpool 1 - 1 Wigan
Richard Jolly at Anfield

Sunderland 1 - 2 Tottenham
Louise Taylor at the Stadium of Light

Five Things We Learned

Song Indispensable for Arsenal

It's a sign of how far Alex Song has come in his career that the kid who was once excited to meet France's one-cap wonder Frederic Nee in the Bastia changing-room, can now laugh at the prospect of facing the most prolific strike-force in Europe in the Champions League Round of 16 next week.

European Weekend Review

Real Madrid closed the gap on Spanish leaders Barcelona, while Borussia Dortmund saw their big lead cut in Germany.

AC Milan thrashed Parma to stay clear in Serie A, Lille remain dominant in Ligue 1 and PSV and Twente both picked up victories.

Review

Ronaldo Retires

Brazilian icon Ronaldo has confirmed in a tearful press conference that he has scored his last goal in a prolific and storied career in football that saw him become the top scorer in the history of the World Cup.

The Fifth Official

Few of us like Monday but The Fifth Official does, for it brings with it a chance for him to point the finger and laugh. Here he pulls out the pretty, the puzzling and the downright pig-ugly from a week brimming with potential victims.

The Joy of Six: Great Comebacks

From a 19th century England v Scotland classic, to Charlton's goal blitz at Huddersfield, here's half-a-dozen turnarounds.

The Big Interview: Xavi

Xavi, who visits Arsenal with Barça next week, on his football education, Cesc Fábregas and the greatness of Paul Scholes.

I'm a romantic, says Xavi, heartbeat of Barcelona and Spain.

England: Premier League Previews & Predictions

All eyes will be on Old Trafford on Saturday lunchtime as Manchester United and Manchester City prepare to renew old rivalries. It was the corresponding fixture last season which saw the two sides play out an enthralling 4-3 encounter, with Michael Owen popping up deep into injury time to net a last-gasp winner for the Red Devils. Elsewhere this weekend there are a number of intriguing clashes, including what is a relegation six-pointer at the Hawthorns as West Brom, having just appointed Roy Hodgson, take on West Ham. Meanwhile, Wolves will be hoping to build on their remarkable victory over United when they travel to Arsenal, who will no doubt be fired up following their capitulation at Newcastle.

Preview

Team News

Manchester United vs. Manchester City
Paul Merson's Preview
John Brewin's Preview
David Lacey's Preview

Lawro's Predictions

Italy: Serie A Weekend Preview

Inter Milan will have to overcome a major hurdle this weekend in their pursuit of another Serie A title.

The defending champions travel to Turin on Sunday night to meet Juventus, who despite trailing leaders AC Milan by 11 points still harbour hopes of winning the scudetto.

Inter, meanwhile, are five points adrift of Milan but just two points behind second-placed Napoli and with a game in hand.

Preview

Spain: La Liga Weekend Preview & Eduardo Alvarez's Quiniela

Real Madrid, in second place behind Barca by a daunting seven points, travel to the Catalan capital on Sunday to take on Espanyol, buoyed by a 4-1 win at home to Real Sociedad - a game which saw Emmanuel Adebayor score his second goal for the club following his loan move from Manchester City.

Preview

Quiniela

Where Now For Spurs?

It is back to the drawing board for Tottenham Hotspur. West Ham have been selected as the preferred bidder to move into the Olympic Stadium in Stratford after London 2012, meaning Spurs will remain at White Hart Lane - for the time being at least.

Why the witch-hunt against Cesc Fábregas gets my goat

Are those who are out to get the Arsenal captain the same people who knobbled Hennes the Billy Goat?

West Brom appoint former Liverpool manager Roy Hodgson as head coach

"West Bromwich Albion are delighted to announce they have appointed Roy Hodgson as the club's new head coach. The 63-year-old former Internazionale, Switzerland, Fulham and Liverpool manager has this morning committed himself to the club until June 2012."

Dominic Raynor: Off The Ball

Off The Ball never rests in its mission to scratch around the underbelly of professional football to find the most bizarre, humorous and inexplicable stories.

This week, John Carew's new tattoo is a pain in the neck, "Shameless fatty" Ronaldo slams "terrorist" Corinthians fans, Rafa Benitez swaps 'facts' for 'statistics' and Benni McCarthy is fined £200,000 for being overweight.

Hernanes' Epic Foul on Benzema

Here's the early front runner for 2011 foul of the year. Simply the best.

Zinedine Zidane explains Qatar support

In an interview with sports daily L'Equipe on Wednesday, the former France star who inspired his country to the 1998 World Cup title denied suggestions he received huge sums of money to promote the bid.

Grant Wahl: Beckham reinforces his lack of commitment to MLS; more mailbag

With the cancellation of Wednesday's friendly between the U.S. and Egypt in Cairo, it's an unplanned slow day in the world of American soccer. So let's open the mailbag and answer some of your questions:

International Friendlies: Round-Up, Reports & Analyses

Round-Up

Denmark 1 - 2 England
Kevin McCarra at Parken Stadium
Five Things We Learned

Argentina 2 - 1 Portugal
Andy Brassell at Stade de Geneve

Germany 1 - 1 Italy
Raphael Honigstein's Report

France 1 - 0 Brazil
Report

Louise Taylor: Why it's continental glamour or bust for Sunderland and Newcastle

Andy Carroll and Darren Bent have fled, but if the north-east teams want to retain their other star players they must qualify for the Europa League.

Real Madrid top football rich list for sixth year

Real Madrid have topped the league table of the world's 20 richest football clubs for the sixth straight year, according to Deloitte.

Its Football Money League, based on season 2009-10, also said the combined revenues of the 20 clubs had passed 4bn euros (£3.8bn) for the first time.

Real's arch-rivals Barcelona retained second spot in the list, ahead of Manchester United who remain third.

Manchester City were the biggest climbers, up from 20th to 11th place.

Arsenal, Chelsea and Liverpool were fifth, sixth and eighth respectively.

Olympic bosses back West Ham bid

Olympic Park Legacy Company executives have decided the offer from the club - which would retain the athletics track - is better than Tottenham's rival bid.

They are expected to ask the company's board to announce West Ham as the preferred bidder on Friday.

International Friendlies: Previews

A busy FIFA date on Wednesday features a juicy slate of international friendlies, as European nations prepare for next month's Euro 2012 qualifying to resume, and South American sides have their eyes on this summer's Copa America.

Denmark vs. England: Preview

France vs. Brazil: Preview

Portugal vs. Argentina: Preview

Daniel Alves: Racism a constant problem in Spain

Brazilian right back Daniel Alves says he is subjected to racist insults from spectators during nearly every match he plays with Barcelona in the Spanish league.

Stadium bid part of wider Spurs-Galaxy alliance

David Beckham’s training stint with Tottenham is part of a “strategic alliance” that will see further exchanges of players between the Los Angeles Galaxy and the Premier League club. Tim Leiweke, president of the AEG group which owns the Galaxy, said the trans-Atlantic partnership will grow even stronger if AEG and Tottenham win their joint bid to take over London’s Olympic Stadium after the 2012 Games.

Chelsea's lost generation of youth team talent on the road to nowhere - or Bolton at least

Chelsea's sporting director Frank Arnesen says that the capture of Fernando Torres doesn't "close the door" for others, but the club's academy continues to loan out young talent on a regular basis. John Terry was the last player to come through the ranks and establish themselves in the first team.

Pointless friendlies have turned Manchester United versus Manchester City into the jetlag derby

Manchester United forward Javier Hernandez will line up for Mexico against Bosnia-Herzegovina in Atlanta tonight in a friendly international that kicks off at 1am UK time.

He will then spend most of Thursday kicking his heels in a hotel before taking an eight-hour flight from the United States that will see him arrive back in Manchester at just after 10am on Friday morning.

Twenty-six hours later, United will take on Manchester City in one of the most crucial Manchester derbies in years — a fixture which could prove pivotal in the Premier League title race — and Hernandez will somehow have to raise himself to pull on his ‘Chicharito’ shirt if Sir Alex Ferguson chooses to select him for his squad.

How Much More Unlikable Can Arsenal Get?

Liverpool have a history of near-hysterical levels of imagined persecution and self-mythologising. Everybody knows they had the chippiest fans of all the top teams. Now they’re not a top team, so who’s next? Given the actions of the past few years and particularly the last few weeks, it has to be Arsenal. The Islington Set are a churlish bunch.

How Mick McCarthy went on to become a big noise at Molineux

The Wolverhampton Wanderers manager was destined to be a colliery electrician until a timely intervention by Barnsley diverted his attentions to full-time football.

Clasico Madness is Coming

We are very close to enjoying -- and enduring -- at least four Real Madrid versus Barcelona Clasico matches between now and the end of the season.

Let the mind games begin.

Buffalo Billionaire Lifts Soccer in English Town

The phone first rang a year ago in January. The caller identified himself as Bob Rich, a billionaire American businessman and sports team owner. He had English royals among his ancestors. For Christmas, his wife had bought him the title Lord of Bedlington. And he wanted to do something, well, lordly. In particular, he wanted to sponsor the Bedlington Terriers soccer club. This had to be a joke.


A guy named Rich wanted to help finance a team that played at a stadium called Welfare Park? Right.

Sid Lowe in Spain

Chief executive Gil Marín's plans are falling apart, but it looks like coach Quique will be the one to go.

How long until Atlético Madrid's manager takes the exit door?

Martin Rogers: Dempsey’s cup dreams keep him in Europe

United States international Clint Dempsey plans to end his career in the English Premier League and has no intention of returning to Major League Soccer.

American fans had hoped that Dempsey, who has established himself as one of Fulham’s best performers in the EPL, would follow the example of Brian McBride, Kasey Keller and others by coming home to play for a couple of years before retirement.

“If I had to say right now, MLS is not in my plans,” Dempsey said in an interview this week.

“No disrespect, but I want to finish at the highest level and I think the highest level is in Europe.”

Lawro: Why Rooney and Drogba are in my all-time greats

Strikers, goalscorers and spectacular forwards.

They are what every manager, fan and chairman dreams about and they even make some clubs spend outrageously to get the best.

It makes you think about who is the best striker in the Premier League now and which forwards are the best since the league began.

Here's my take on the best five now and the best five of all time (in no particular order). Sorry, but there's no place, even at £35m, for Andy Carroll because, for him, it's all about potential.

International week – oh no, not again. Do we really have to?

Stars don't care about international football.

But then neither do fans.

Sir Geoff Hurst believes players do not have pride in the shirt any more

Sir Geoff Hurst was standing in a long queue for a taxi recently, inching slowly towards the front.

Standing at the head of the queue was a man in his early 20s, who shouted back: “Would you like the cab, Sir Geoff?” A grateful nation never forgets. Memories of July 30 1966 are passed down from generation to generation.

Thanking him, Hurst politely declined the offer.

Raphael Honigstein in Germany

The most incomprehensible thing about Bayern Munich's second-half collapse at Köln was its eerie predictability.

Miracle of Müngersdorf sees Bayern implode and Köln reach state of bliss.

Paolo Bandini in Italy

The Italian champions are closing in on leaders Milan playing a brand of Brazil-like attacking football.

Internazionale's epic win over Roma shows Leonardo has made his mark.

Americans On The Continent: The Window Shuts

Michael Bradley completed his move to Aston Villa on loan from Bundesliga side Borussia Monchengladbach until the end of the current season. The deal reportedly includes a clause to sign the 23-year-old for around $6 million.

Jozy Altidore also moved on loan, taking his talents from Spanish title-chasers Villarreal to Turkish Super Lig joint leaders Bursaspor till season’s end. Altidore will hope to see his first action this weekend when his new side faces Eskisehirspo away from home on Sunday.

The Rest

Americans In The UK: Dempsey Saves Fulham

On Saturday, the Cottagers struggled to get anything going against Aston Villa. They scored an own goal early on and failed to truly test the keeper much in the first half. However, Andy Johnson tallied eight minutes into the second stanza before the Villains regained the lead 20 minutes later.

Finally, Dempsey stepped up to level the score. The equalizer came in the 78th minute when the striker powered in a header following Danny Murphy’s corner kick. The goal was Dempsey’s ninth in the Premier League this season, ranking him fifth in the league. In addition, out of his nine goals, five of them were either winners or tied the game after Fulham had been trailing.

The Rest

Steve Davis: MLS Experiences Growing Pains

Kids grow up so fast, don't they? One day we're picking up their little toys, the next we're picking up the tab for their college.

It's the same with Major League Soccer. It's growing up fast, now into the wonder years. There's still plenty of room to grow for the 16-year-old operation, but evidence keeps breaking that MLS is maturing fast -- which has its good and bad points. Progress comes at a price, after all.

Paul Marshall's Ligue 1 Focus

Lille and Barcelona don't have too much in common. One is a cosmopolitan Mediterranean metropolis, the other an unremarkable Eurostar stop on the fast track from London to Paris. However, like Barcelona - and unlike Ashford in Kent, the other town rendered famous by the Channel Tunnel rail link - Lille have a football team the envy of the country.

Phil Ball in Spain

It's always interesting to visit the 'Bernabow', whether the hosts are ten points adrift of first place or ten points ahead. There's always a feeling, as you mingle outside with the crowds (as long as you're not robbed in the style of Harry Redknapp) that you're at the centre of the universe, and that no other place can be quite as significant.

No goals in the Ruhr derby between Borussia Dortmund and Shalke, but plenty to shout about

Beery and boisterous on any weekend, the Bundesliga was about to go off the scale with Ruhr bragging rights up for grabs between Borussia Dortmund and Schalke in the Revierderby, the Bundesliga's biggest derby clash of them all.

Luca Toni: Van Gaal Showed Us His Balls

"The coach wanted to make clear to us that he can drop any player, it was all the same to him because, as he said, he had the balls," said Toni.

"He demonstrated this literally (by dropping his trousers). I have never experienced anything like it, it was totally crazy. Luckily I didn't see a lot, because I wasn't in the front row."

England: Premier League Weekend Review, Reports & Analyses

One of the most remarkable weekends in Premier League history saw a record 41 goals scored in eight games on Saturday, while Liverpool spoiled Fernando Torres' Chelsea debut on Sunday. Newcastle produced a heroic display in undoubtedly the game of the weekend at St James' Park - coming from four goals down to draw 4-4 with Arsenal. Manchester United's unbeaten run came to an abrupt end following a 2-1 defeat at Wolves.

Review

Wolverhampton
2 - 1
Manchester United
Joe Lovejoy at Molineux

Everton
5 - 3
Blackpool
Georgina Turner at Goodison Park

Newcastle
4 - 4
Arsenal
Duncan White at St. James' Park
Interpol deny match-fixing investigation
Sagna claims Dowd rant


Chelsea
0 - 1
Liverpool
Kevin McCarra at Stamford Bridge
Phil McNulty at Stamford Bridge
Richard Williams at Stamford Bridge

Alan Hansen's Review

Five Things We Learned

Italy: Serie A Weekend Preview

Inter Milan moved ominously up to third in the Serie A standings with a thrilling 5-3 win over Roma. AC Milan saw their advantage at the top cut to three points after being held to a 1-1 draw at Genoa. Napoli took advantage of Milan's failure to beat Genoa as they closed the gap at the top to just three points with a 2-0 home win over second-bottom Cesena.

Review

Spain: La Liga Weekend Review

Cristiano Ronaldo grabbed a brace as Real Madrid enjoyed a 4-1 victory over Real Sociedad at the Bernabeu. Lionel Messi fired a hat-trick as Barcelona crushed Atletico Madrid.

Third-placed Villarreal lost 1-0 at home to Levante, whose win bolstered their hopes of avoiding relegation.

Villarreal had claimed 31 points from a possible 33 at their El Madrigal home this season and would have moved to within three points of second-placed Real Madrid with a victory.

Review

West Brom sack manager Roberto Di Matteo

“On behalf of the board, I would like to thank Roberto for his efforts over the past 19 months, particularly for his contribution towards last season's promotion success and our very promising start to the current campaign.

“We wish him and his family well for the future.”

The Fifth Official

Few of us like Monday but The Fifth Official does, for it brings with it a chance for him to point the finger and laugh. Here he pulls out the pretty, the puzzling and the downright pig-ugly from a week brimming with potential victims.