₦airaland Forum

Manchester United player to watch - Robin Van Persie. “With this player you’re not taking a gamble, you know. What you’re buying is pure gold.” Ron Atkinson was speaking about Bryan Robson in September 1981. Had he bought Van Persie, he would have been expressing similar sentiments. Barring a return to the injury problems of his Arsenal days, Van Persie should streak clear with his second successive brace of Player of the Year awards. Whether United win the title or not depends on the health of Van Persie. What Ferguson bought was pure goals.

Liverpool player to watch - Luis Suarez. Whether individual awards are important depends on your point of view, but Van Persie does have a significant rival in Suarez. Sidestep his infamy and feel the quality of his play this season. Until Daniel Sturridge arrived, Liverpool had a one-man attack, and such has been the Uruguayan’s level of performance that a player who may eventually cost up to £15 million should still not be sure of a regular starting place. Suarez will be watched keenly by those United fans unwilling to let him forget his transgressions with Patrice Evra, but their players must be similarly vigilant too.

Key battle: Michael Carrick v Lucas Leiva. When Lucas suffered the type of muscle injury that often follows recovery from a long-term absence, Rodgers was robbed of one of his first names on the teamsheet. Lucas had become one of those players whose reputation grows when they are not available; his knee injury was undoubtedly costly to Kenny Dalglish last season. Now Liverpool’s midfield is taking shape at last, with Steven Gerrard looking happy to have Lucas back alongside him. Carrick, by contrast, is close to being an ever-present in United’s much-maligned midfield, and has been the unit’s outstanding performer in recent weeks. He was certainly missed at West Ham last week. Like the Brazilian, his work is understated, and recognised most keenly in its absence.

Trivia: Old Trafford’s first ever match, back in February 1910, was against Liverpool, who dampened down the opening party with a 4-3 victory.

Stats: Daniel Sturridge, who is set to make his Premier League debut for Liverpool, scored his last goal for Chelsea against United, in their 5-4 loss at Stamford Bridge in the Capital One Cup on Halloween last year.

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sunderland pls score one goal make i collect my nairabet money...grin grin... Na both to score i predict ooooooooooooo

i pray both team to score so that i wnt lose my nairabet money

we dey watch our match here..no dey call my suarez rabbit teeth o mukina

@ last poster ---- do u know that luiz suarez has been battling injury for the past 2weeks now but we cant just leave him because he is liverpool messiah.he had a swollen ankle for 2weeks now and yet still manage to play and score goals.. A win for liverpool will give them an edge because some of the clubs above 10th postion are dropng points including arsenal.. This match is not gonna be easy for the red because past record depict that sunderland is a bug to the red side..

arsenal pls lose this match..gbam

@ trendy - wassup with u..are u a liverpool fan ? Hook me up on facebook my nick - ola aol.. Expecting yur beep... Suarez should leave liverpool by the end of the season if liverpool fails to reach top four

@ mukinat - knw dey call my brother rabbith teeth o.... He is on fire... 13goal leaue goals knw be beans nah yet he is not a striker...

kai ! Mukina change that score to 1-1.. Up newcastle..... Foolish assnail fans catch me if u can... Pakam

up newcastle... Assnail trophless club for 8years...buhaahahahhahahhahaha

mukinat na me and u today.. Shebi u dey laff me when liverpool lost to stoke city.. I swear if arsenal win this match i go sell my papa house for lagos give charity... Pakam

arsenal to lose this one...gbam

@ mukina - we accepted that we bleeped up but your arsenal too na mumu club...no trophy for almost 8years... Those stoke city player were just too rough.. Make arsenal winger kon take pepe reina frm liverpool because he is a flop... Na only luiz suarez i just dey pity for that club..suarez likely to be in chelsea by the end of season... Breden rodger is a middle coach not a world class coach at all .. Now he can signed another flop player sturridge...

to be candid it will not be easy for liverpool.. I pray we win this match

Sir Alex Ferguson is certain to make changes for Manchester United's Boxing Day encounter with Newcastle.

United's failure to beat Swansea saw their advantage in the Premier League title race trimmed to four points.

Danny Welbeck, Javier Hernandez, Chris Smalling and Darren Fletcher will be amongst those hoping to be involved, while Rafael needs to shrug off the hamstring injury that kept him out of the Liberty Stadium encounter.

Jonny Evans remains wary of Newcastle's African jewels despite the Magpies' woeful recent form.

Alan Pardew's men secured only their second win in 12 games with an unconvincing display against QPR on Saturday.

Whereas last season they were scoring goals for fun, this time around it has been far harder, and rather than challenging for a Champions League spot, they have been nervously looking over their shoulders at the drop zone.

But Evans does not feel that is a reason for Manchester United to take it easy at Old Trafford on Boxing Day.

The Northern Ireland international knows Senegal duo Demba Ba and Papiss Cisse can cause problems for any defence.

``Those guys are both very powerful,'' said Evans.

``What Newcastle do very well is work the ball wide and put it in the box.

``A lot of their goals come that way because Ba and Cisse don't give you a minute.

``When the ball is floating around in the box, they beat people in the air and their goal record is what got Newcastle to where they were last year.''

United have already beaten the Geordies' twice this term, including in the Premier League at St James' Park with what many feel is still their best 90-minute performance of the campaign.

Evans was one of them men on target, and he accepts it was a performance that set a standard which needs to be followed.

``In the last couple of seasons we have gone away to places like Newcastle and either lost or drawn,'' he said.

``This time it was very important to win. We were well prepared, had the right mindset and defended well.

``With the goals as well it was one of our best performances of the season.''

Pardew will be without midfielder Cheick Tiote.

The Ivory Coast international collected his fifth booking of the season against QPR and is suspended.

Otherwise, Pardew will have only his long-term absentees missing for the game at Old Trafford, with Hatem Ben Arfa, Steven Taylor (both hamstring), Yohan Cabaye (groin) and Ryan Taylor (knee) sidelined.

Pardew has warned Ferguson there will be two angry managers in the dug-outs.

The Scot was apoplectic after the draw at Swansea which saw the leaders drop two precious points, but also striker Robin van Persie react furiously after being struck in the back of the head by the ball when defender Ashley Williams blasted it into him as he lay on the ground.

Ferguson later voiced the opinion that the Dutchman could have been killed in the incident and called for retrospective action to be taken, and he was not placated by Williams' insistence that it had been accidental.

All in all, he was not a happy man as he left South Wales, but Pardew has admitted he is still smarting too despite ending a run of six league defeats in seven attempts with the win over QPR.

He said: ``I'm not happy either. Although we have won, the away form hasn't been great, so there will be two teams with a little bit to prove, two managers smarting a little bit with their teams.

``It will make for a really professional game. Sometimes on Boxing Day, you can get a loose game - I don't think this will be.``


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Stoke City v Liverpool: match
preview
Back in the fold: Raheem Sterling, rested
against Fulham, could return for Liverpool at
Stoke
Picture: ACTION IMAGES
Read a full match preview of the Premier
League game between Stoke City and
Liverpool at the Britannia Stadium on
Wednesday Dec 26 2012, kick-off 19.45 GMT.
Wednesday, December 26
Stoke City v Liverpool
Britannia Stadium
Kick-off : 19.45 GMT.
TV: Highlights, BBC ONE Match of the Day.
Stoke (Possible, 4-4-1-1): Begovic; Cameron,
Huth, Shawcross, Wilkinson; Shotton,
Whelan, Nzonzi, Etherington; Walters; Jones.
Out: Adam (compassionate leave), Delap
(hernia), Wilson (ankle).
Test: Owen (match fitness).
Liverpool (Possible, 4-2-3-1): Reina;
Johnson, Skrtel, Agger, Enrique; Gerrard,
Lucas; Sterling, Shelvey, Dowining; Suárez.
Out: Assaidi (knee), Borini (foot), Kelly (knee).
Referee: Howard Webb (Matches 13, R2
Y48).
Team News
Stoke striker Michael Owen could make his
first-team comeback against his old club.
Owen, who has not played for the Potters
since Oct 27 due a hamstring problem, has
been working on his fitness and may be
ready to feature in the 7.45pm Premier
League kick-off. It remains to be seen
whether or not another former Red,
midfielder Charlie Adam, will be involved
after he missed Saturday's 0-0 draw at
Tottenham having been granted
compassionate leave following the death of
his father.
Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers has no
new injury problems to contend with and is
unlikely to make any changes. Winger
Raheem Sterling may come back into the
side having been rested for the victory over
Fulham. Midfielder Joe Allen, however, may
remain on the bench as Rodgers said they
were managing a pelvic problem with the
Wales international.
Match Notes
Predicting results from Liverpool this season
is proving a thankless task, but trips to the
Britannia Stadium have frequently been
arduous, regardless of the manager or
personnel. Stoke have never lost a league
game at home to Liverpool since their
promotion. The presence of Luis Suárez will
represent an intriguing subplot, after Tony
Pulis attacked his alleged diving during the
0-0 draw at Anfield in October.
Betting: Home 23-10, Away 5-4, Draw 11-5.
Stat of the game: Stoke are unbeaten in 15
home league games, their best top-flight
sequence for 38 years.
John Percy's prediction: Stoke 2 Liverpool

Eighth meets ninth in the final Premier
League game on Boxing day as Liverpool
travel to Stoke.
Eighth meets ninth in the final Premier
League game on Boxing day as Liverpool
travel to Stoke.
Liverpool go into the game buoyed by their
thumping 4-0 win over Fulham as they
bounced back from their shock defeat to
Aston Villa in style.
Stoke also picked up an impressive point at
Tottenham after securing their ninth clean
sheet of the campaign in the stalemate at
White Hart Lane.
The Potters enjoy a fine home record
against Liverpool and they will be looking to
extend their current eight game unbeaten
run in the Premier League..... Source - skysport

Eighth meets ninth in the final Premier
League game on Boxing day as Liverpool
travel to Stoke.
Eighth meets ninth in the final Premier
League game on Boxing day as Liverpool
travel to Stoke.
Liverpool go into the game buoyed by their
thumping 4-0 win over Fulham as they
bounced back from their shock defeat to
Aston Villa in style.
Stoke also picked up an impressive point at
Tottenham after securing their ninth clean
sheet of the campaign in the stalemate at
White Hart Lane.
The Potters enjoy a fine home record
against Liverpool and they will be looking to
extend their current eight game unbeaten
run in the Premier League.

Grant Holt is back in training after overcoming a hamstring injury and is set for a return to the Norwich side for their Boxing Day clash with Chelsea.

But City will be without defender Steven Whittaker, who suffered a recurrence of a hip injury when the Canaries' 10-match unbeaten run in the Barclays Premier League was ended at West Brom on Saturday.

Russell Martin is in line to replace Whittaker at the back while Holt is expected to return up front in place of Steve Morison.

Ryan Bennett is also back in training and manager Chris Hughton is positive about his chances of featuring against either Chelsea or Manchester City on December 29.

Hughton is braced for a ``formidable'' challenge from a Chelsea side he believes could still be in the hunt for the title.

The Canaries were beaten 4-1 at Stamford Bridge earlier this season and they face Chelsea just three days after the Blues stunned Aston Villa 8-0.

The Chelsea supporters may not be entirely convinced by manager Rafael Benitez, but Hughton agrees with the Spaniard that their title bid is not over yet.

Chelsea are third in the league, 11 points behind leaders Manchester United and seven behind Manchester City with a game in hand.

``They have great attacking options. We experienced that at their place a couple of months ago,'' Hughton said.

``Victor Moses is starting to show his real quality now. Fernando Torres is hitting very good form.

``The fact they kept a clean sheet against Aston Villa as well shows the quality and depth they have throughout the squad.

``David Luiz playing in midfield is a role everybody felt was a role he could do and he showed some real quality.

``They are fairly formidable. They are placed very well in the league with a game in hand. They are still in the Capital One Cup with a great chance to progress (to the final).

``At the moment Chelsea are on a high and he [Benitez] will be judged on that.

``He will perhaps look at the two teams above them at the moment and think `will they go through the season without dropping points?'

``That is very difficult. Swansea showed against Manchester United that everybody is fighting. If they (Chelsea) put a good run together then everything is possible.''

Benitez looks set to be without Chelsea captain John Terry again.

Terry is still suffering inflammation on his knee following surgery and is unlikely to be fit at Carrow Road.

Ryan Bertrand also remains a doubt after he was forced off in Wednesday's Capital One Cup quarter-final at Leeds and was not included in Sunday's line-up against Aston Villa.

Benitez is refusing to dismiss Chelsea's hopes of winning the title despite the sizeable gap between themselves and leaders Manchester United.

Asked if he will tell his players they can still win the league, Benitez said: ``We will see after two or three more games.

``You could see the team had confidence in themselves, they believed, and that was there to the end.

``They had good movements, created chances. Now we have to sustain this run and it will be easier for me to say we can compete.'


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Stoke striker Michael Owen could make his first-team comeback against his old club when Liverpool visit the Britannia Stadium on Boxing Day.

Owen, who has not played for the Potters since October 27 due a hamstring problem, has been working on his fitness and may be ready to feature in the 7.45pm Barclays Premier League kick-off.

Owen has plenty of happy memories from his time at Liverpool, but does not look back too fondly on the occasions he has played against them.

The former England international enjoyed the most prolific days of his career at Liverpool, where he came through the youth ranks.

Since leaving the Reds in 2004 though, he has failed to score a single goal against them and Owen admits he has rarely had much fun when being on the opposing team.

The 33-year-old will be hoping the trend changes when the Potters host Liverpool.

Owen - who departed Anfield for Real Madrid and moved on to Newcastle and Manchester United before joining Stoke this season - told Independent Sports News: ``It is a strange feeling really playing against your old club, especially one where you were there for around 15 years.

``Liverpool are a big part of my life and career and I had some of the best times of my life at the club.

``So certainly I have happy memories. I have not been so happy playing against them since; I have never scored and not particularly enjoyed it.''

It remains to be seen whether or not another former Red, midfielder Charlie Adam, will be involved after he missed Saturday's 0-0 draw at Tottenham having been granted compassionate leave following the death of his father.

Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers has no new injury problems.

Winger Raheem Sterling may come back into the side having been rested for the victory over Fulham.

Midfielder Joe Allen, however, may remain on the bench as Rodgers said they were managing a pelvic problem with the Wales international.

Winger Stewart Downing is set to play again and admits Rodgers telling him he could leave provided a ``kick up the backside''.

He insists he never wanted to move on but the message from the Northern Irishman meant he had to start seriously considering he may not have a future at Anfield.

Downing was left confused and surprised by his continued absence from the first team - hinting that the decision had not been made on football grounds.

``I wanted to stay, I didn't want to leave but it was out of my hands,'' said the 28-year-old.

``I was out of the team and frustrated and I said if something big came up I'd look at it.

``We had that conversation and, to be honest, I thought I was on my way in January.

``I was a little bit surprised when he (Rodgers) said I could go. ''He came in and was pleased with me at the start and then all of a sudden things changed quickly and I could go.

``I don't know who makes that decision but one minute I was being told I was doing well and the next I was told I could go. It was a bit confusing.

``But it is a kick up the backside. I then had nothing to lose as I was going.

``If it was a gee-up for me then maybe it's worked because the performances are coming now.''

http://espnfc.com/en/preview/345681/preview.html?soccernet=true&cc=3888

hav been single for about 26yts.. Still counting..gbam

am a die hard liverpool fan and i will support chelsea today because of the coach...

sometime u lose and sometimes u win... Pepe reina as far as am concern is a flop.. Suarez is too selfish and he is killing games... One love ...still remain red for life

game on

a win for liverpool may push them to 6th position..

Sir Alex Ferguson has confirmed Nemanja Vidic will return to the Manchester United squad for the encounter with Sunderland.

Vidic has been out since September following another bout of knee surgery and, while Ferguson has not decided whether to start with the Serbian at Old Trafford, he confirmed it was a major boost to have him back.

``Nemanja is back in the squad,'' said Ferguson. ``He is a top defender and our captain.''

Ferguson also confirmed Shinji Kagawa would begin training with the first-team again after a two-month absence.

However, Jonny Evans has been ruled out of the game with a hamstring injury.

``I felt it would be a problem for Jonny at the start of the second half last week,'' said Ferguson.

Meanwhile, Ferguson insists revenge will not be a factor for his side.

The United camp were irritated at the way Sunderland fans reacted so gleefully when Sergio Aguero scored his injury-time winner at the Etihad Stadium to earn Manchester City the title last term.

After beating Sunderland at the Stadium of Light, the Red Devils players were still on the pitch when Aguero's strike went in.

At the time, Ferguson was unhappy, while Wayne Rooney said in his autobiography that Sunderland was a fixture he would be looking out for more keenly than usual this term.

However, it seems that will not be part of the Scot's team talk.

``It was disappointing given the number of players we have given them down the years, but there was no malice in it and there is no element of revenge,'' said Ferguson.

``Winning the game is more important for us given what we achieved last week.

``Now we really need to kick on and make sure we retain our lead at the top of the league.''

Meanwhile, Sunderland manager Martin O'Neill has challenged his side to play with more freedom against the Barclays Premier League leaders following their morale-boosting win over Reading.

The Black Cats boss celebrated a year in charge of the club with a 3-0 victory over the Royals on Tuesday night which lifted his side out of the relegation zone.

It was Sunderland's third league win of the season was very timely ahead of a tricky set of fixtures which will see them take on Man Utd, Manchester City, Southampton and Tottenham before the New Year.

However, O'Neill is refusing to see the next run of games as a barren patch when it comes to points, especially after their performance earlier this week.

``Of course winning matches is very important but it's given everyone that confidence boost and hopefully we will be able to continue that between now and the Christmas period and into the New Year,'' O'Neill told reporters.

``We have a real battle on of course against Manchester United but we can go there with some confidence because of the result during the week and actually go and play with some freedom as well.

``Someone was suggesting a few days ago that these are not our battles but that's not the point but that's too easy.

``We have to go and compete every single week in this league and I don't think you can start to allocate points here and take points away there. Go and play.''

If Sunderland were to win at Old Trafford it would be the first time they have done so since 1968.

O'Neill could be forced into making some changes after the win over Reading came at a cost.

Winger Adam Johnson suffered a dead leg and Danny Rose was also replaced after he picked up a knock on his ankle.

Defender Phil Bardsley looks set to be ruled out and joins captain Lee Cattermole on the sidelines after he damaged knee ligaments in Tuesday's match.

However, O'Neill remains hopeful that striker Steven Fletcher could feature despite an ongoing ankle problem.



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Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers believes the criticism levelled at his players this season has actually helped their progress and he now setting their sights on second-placed Manchester City.

After the club's worst start to a campaign for more than a century the Reds now sit just four points behind fourth-placed Everton, with their record over the last 11 matches bettered only by the top two of Manchester United and City.

But having seen his players criticised early in his Anfield reign Rodgers now believes they should now not be restricting themselves to thinking purely about securing Champions League qualification.

``They have been hammered left right and centre by numbers of people,'' said the Northern Irishman. ``When you are a club that is the size of Liverpool then that criticism comes.

``It is well documented, which is incredible really, but when you have won the titles and championships you have before that will come your way.

``But I was quite calm because their focus and concentration has been first class, our mentality was very much relaxed as we can only worry about ourselves.

``The cause we created here was to continue to fight. We know what will come our way when you don't win games and we are trying to still improve so the feeling was fine.

``You can see in their performances it hasn't affected them and, if anything, we have grown from that and it has been the lever for us to continue to work well.

``Everyone has their opinion on Liverpool and I understand that because of the standards set by this club in the 1970s and 1980s.

``But for a club that has been very poor and disastrous by all accounts from other people we lie four points off top four. For me the ambition is to grow higher. We are 11 points off second and that can all turn around very quickly so you need to get consistency - and that is what we have at the minute.''

Top scorer Luis Suarez returns after a one-match suspension for the visit of Villa, with defender Jose Enrique Liverpool's main injury doubt.

The Spaniard was forced off with a hamstring injury in the first half of last weekend's victory at West Ham but will be given as long as possible to prove his fitness.

Meanwhile, Aston Villa boss Paul Lambert is demanding goals from all areas of his team as he comes to terms with being without record signing Darren Bent for the festive programme.

Bent will be sidelined ``for a few weeks'' after suffering a hamstring injury during Villa's 4-1 midweek win at Norwich in the Capital One Cup.

Andreas Weimann came off the bench to effectively replace Bent with a two-goal blast at Carrow Road and is described by Lambert as ``a natural finisher''.

But Lambert knows the importance of players chipping in from all areas of the pitch as Villa look to improve on a tally of 12 goals in 16 Barclays Premier League matches at Liverpool.

Lambert confirmed: ``Darren went for a scan and has got a problem with a hamstring that will keep him out for a few weeks.

Asked if the striker would miss the Christmas programme, Lambert said: ``Yes, probably the way it is looking. Maybe four weeks.

``It's a blow for him. In football you just never know when it might happen on the pitch. I saw him do it but we have just to get it healed.''

Weimann, Christian Benteke and Gabriel Agbonlahor have shouldered the responsibility for the majority of Villa's goal output, although Brett Holman has netted twice in the last three games.

But Lambert said: ``You are looking for goals all over the pitch. It's not just about Christian, Andreas and Gabby.

``You have got to spread it out if you can. The way we are playing we are certainly creating chances, which is the pleasing thing.

``You just hope the lads will be confident enough to go and take them.''

Villa midfielder Ashley Westwood is available after being cup-tied for the triumph at Norwich and defenders Joe Bennett and Enda Stevens are also back in contention after recovering from knee and ankle injuries respectively and returning to training.


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@ dl - am also in ojodu abiodun (berger))..let hook up... Send an e-mail or inbox me on my f.b - ola aol

anybody frm ojodu berger abiodun l.g should hook up with me.. I reside in lagos though

@ 12inche - am also serving in ogun ojodu berger precisely..let hook up .. Add me up on facebook - ola aol .. My emil is olaklives05@yahoo.com

if messi is truely the best ,let him leave spanish league a.k.a la liga and go to seria A or epl whether he will be scoring goals like basket ball.. If he is truely all time best footballer why is it that argentina didnt win the world cup?