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Manager Arsene Wenger accepts Arsenal have little margin for error if they are to force their way back up the Barclays Premier League table, starting with Saturday's match against West Brom.

The home defeat by Swansea last weekend made it just two wins in eight matches since the international break as the Gunners slumped to 10th place.

While Wenger maintains there is plenty of time left to make up the gap on the top four - which currently stands at five points - the Arsenal manager knows his beleaguered team cannot produce many more below-par performances as they prepare to tackle the fifth-placed Baggie at Emirates Stadium.

``The danger of our situation is the margin for error is very small, but it is also a good opportunity to show we can be consistent, and I believe we can be,'' Wenger said.

``Let's not go overboard. We have 24 games to play, we are in all the competitions, how many clubs would love to [be], so it is down to us to make the season right and to turn the season around well on our side.

``I am confident we will and I believe we have the quality to do it.''

Midfielder Mikel Arteta was one of several first-team regulars to miss the midweek Champions League trip to Olympiacos, where a 2-1 defeat saw the Gunners miss out on top spot in Group B and with it seeding for the last 16.

The Spaniard revealed the squad were determined to put matters right on Saturday, with many having worked overtime at London Colney, analysing recent performances on DVD.

Wenger is confident of the desired response. He said: ``There is one thing I don't question and that is the attitude and spirit of this team. But I can say that all day - what is important is that we win the game when we play, and that is what we want to do.

``We were a bit jaded [against Swansea], even if that is not accepted by many players, because we had two away games after the Champions League. I am confident we have refreshed and can show that.

The Gunners will be without forwards Lukas Podolski (hamstring) and Theo Walcott (calf).

Defender Bacary Sagna (foot) is a major doubt, but Laurent Koscielny (thigh) is definitely out.

Full-back Andre Santos (stomach muscle) and midfielder Abou Diaby (thigh) continue their rehabilitation.

Steve Clarke expects a positive response from West Brom after their mini-slump but insists what they achieve over an entire season is how success or failure should be judged.

The Baggies are looking to bounce back from successive defeats against Swansea and Stoke after previously climbing to third spot in the Barclays Premier League.

It has led to critics questioning whether Albion have the credentials to sustain their flying start although Clarke is adamant there have been no idle boasts from within the squad.

Head coach Clarke said: ``I'm not looking for a response, I'm expecting it because that's what they've done before. We've had two defeats before this season, then we lost two games in the space of four days last week.

``It is not a disaster in terms of the whole picture and what we are trying to do this season. It is the Premier League and it is a difficult place to win week in and week out.

``Even the top sides don't win every week. There is no reason to expect you should win every game.

``It's a league where you can have a run of difficult results. Our aim is to make sure we get back on a positive footing as soon as possible with a good performance at the Emirates this weekend.''

Clarke added: ``We've never said that we are a top-six side, we've never said anything about the team.

``All we've said is that we are a good, honest, hard-working bunch, we know we can compete in the Premier League and we try to do that every week.

``We haven't tried to pigeonhole ourselves at all. We are working towards the whole season - not a bunch of five or six fixtures. We work towards the points total for the whole season.''

Clarke has virtually a full squad to choose from.

Goalkeeper Ben Foster is the only absentee as he continues his rehabilitation work after undergoing a second groin operation, with Boaz Myhill again deputising.

Clarke has to decide whether to recall the likes of striker Peter Odemwingie and midfielders James Morrison and skipper Chris Brunt, who were rested for last weekend's encounter with Stoke.




http://espnfc.com/en/preview/345712/preview.html?soccernet=true&cc=3888

Martin O'Neill's first anniversary as Sunderland manager arrived this week with the Black Cats mired in the Barclays Premier League's bottom four - but it is nothing the Northern Irishman has not been through before as he prepares to meet Chelsea.

Having taken over from Steve Bruce with Sunderland in a similar position, O'Neill made an instant impact and appeared to have turned things around, but the end of the campaign was tough and they have carried on in the same vein this season.

The Black Cats head into Saturday's home clash with the Blues having won only two of their last 22 league games and stuck one point above the relegation zone.

But O'Neill remains confident there are much better times ahead, and he has the experience to back it up.

He said: ``I've been in management 20 years. I've had tougher times at other clubs and we've come through them. When I went to Leicester City, the first 10 or 11 games I couldn't win a match to save my life.

``We turned that round and were pretty successful.

``The first year at Aston Villa was exceptionally tough indeed. We'll pull round and, inevitably I hope, we'll get a team that the supporters are really proud of.

``It's been a tough start to the season. It hasn't come as any major surprise to me. The team is essentially the same as last season so it's a tough struggle, but we'll get there.''

As well as his own experience, O'Neill also believes last season's struggles put Sunderland in a good position to turn things around. He said: ``There's lots of elements attached to this. The unity is very important of course but the players this time last year were in a similar position so we've got a bit of experience of that.

``We'd obviously hope that experience plus the spirit that exists in the squad would give us a headstart.''

Defender John O'Shea and striker Steven Fletcher are both in contention.

O'Shea is the more likely to feature having trained this week following a calf injury, while leading scorer Fletcher will be assessed on Friday.

The Scot was forced off at half-time in last weekend's defeat by Norwich with an ankle problem and saw a specialist this week.

Captain Lee Cattermole is expected to be out for another two months after damaging knee ligaments.

Chelsea received mixed news on the injury front with John Terry's unavailability for the FIFA Club World Cup tempered by the imminent return of Frank Lampard.

Terry has been advised against travelling to the tournament in Japan due to the possibility that his recovery from knee ligament damage may be hampered by inflammation during the 12-and-a-half hour flight.

Interim manager Rafael Benitez has refused to set a date for his comeback, but was able to confirm that Lampard will participate in Saturday's Barclays Premier League clash with Sunderland.

Lampard has been sidelined since October with a calf problem but has been passed fit, while Daniel Sturridge could feature in the Club World Cup but will not play at the Stadium of Light following his battle with a hamstring injury.

Chelsea depart for Japan on Saturday evening and while Benitez admitted Terry was disappointed to have missed out, he understands his rehabilitation requires patience.

``John was quite excited about the competition because it was something different and a great opportunity,'' the Spaniard said.

``But we had to be cautious because of his knee problem. He wanted to go and to help, but it's better that he stays.

``We don't know when he'll play. With this type of problem you have to wait and see how he reacts.

``He's training very hard, but knees are a special case because it's not muscle there are lots of joints to fix. He knows we have to be patient.''


http://espnfc.com/en/preview/345704/preview.html?soccernet=true&cc=3888

West Ham (Possible, 4-2-3-1); Jaaskelainen; Demel, Reid, Collins, O’Brien; Tomkins, Noble; O’Neil, Nolan Jarvis; Cole
Out: Carroll (ineligible/knee), Vaz Te (shoulder), Diarra (thigh), Collison (knee).

Liverpool (Possible, 4-3-3): Reina; Johnson, Agger, Skrtel, Enrique; Allen, Gerrard, Lucas; Sterling, Shelvey, Suso.
Out: Suárez (suspended), Borini (foot), Kelly (knee).

Referee: Lee Probert


Team News
West Ham welcome Yossi Benayoun back into their squad.

The former Liverpool midfielder missed the Hammers' 3-1 win over Chelsea as he was ineligible to appear against his parent club.

Andy Carroll could be missing for two months but would not have been able to feature against Liverpool due to the terms of his loan, whilst Ricardo Vaz Te, Alou Diarra and Jack Collison are all definitely out.

Meanwhile, Liverpool striker Luis Suárez is suspended.

Manager Brendan Rodgers has played midfielder Jonjo Shelvey in a 'false nine' position before and could do so again as a stop-gap with no other senior strikers fit.

Captain Steven Gerrard, left out of the Europa League squad which beat Udinese in Italy because of illness, will be restored at Upton Park as will the rested Daniel Agger and Lucas Leiva.

Match Notes
West Ham seek to harness the momentum from last weekend’s dramatic win over Chelsea by thwarting a resurgent Liverpool, who have lost once in their last 10 Premier League matches.

Brendan Rodgers’ attacking options are severely hindered by the absence of Luis Suárez, serving a suspension after the Uruguayan amassed five yellow cards already this season.

It is a novel assignment for the young manager, facing West Ham for the first time in his career.


http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/competitions/premier-league/9724922/West-Ham-United-v-Liverpool-match-preview.html

liverpool finally qualify to 2nd round of europa league cup... Upppppppppppppp liverpool

Liverpool travel to Udinese looking for the
win to guarantee their place in the last 32
of the Europa League.
The Reds are currently second in the group
and a win over Udinese, who are already
out, will ensure their progression into the
knockout stages.
A draw could be good enough if Young
Boys fail to beat Anzhi, but a defeat in Italy
will mean an early exit from Europe for
Brendan Rodgers' side even if Young Boys
also lose as as the Swiss side would be top
of a three-way head-to-head involving the
Reds and Udinese.
Rodgers has named a strong squad with
Luis Suarez set to start as he is suspended
for this weekend's Premier League clash
with West Ham.
Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard is missing
through illness, while Daniel Agger and
Lucas Leiva have been rested.
Udinese coach Francesco Guidolin could rest
a number of his top stars as he looks to
concentrate on Serie A.
If Antonio Di Natale plays he will equal
Valerio Bertotto's Udinese record of 33
appearances in UEFA club competition.
Giampiero Pinzi is available again after injury
as Udinese look to end a run of three
straight defeats in the Europa League.

Shakhtar Donetsk vs.
Juventus: Preview and
TV schedule
By Zach Woosley on Dec 5, 9:33a +
S hakhtar is through to the next round,
Juventus just need a point to secure their
spot. A bland, scoreless draw seems in the
cards, but you never know.
Oh what a twisted web Shakhtar and
Juventus could weave today in the Ukraine.
Shakhtar is safely through to the Round of
16, while Juevntus simply need one point to
secure their place. Sure winning the group
is always preferable to improve your
chances of avoiding a "big" club in the next
round, but so making sure you're in the
next round is also good.
Of course, just what these teams will do is a
mystery. They've said all the right things to
the press but there's a good chance they'll
just kick the ball around for 90 minutes and
both start preparing for the knockout
round draw.
CONSPIRACY!
If this match ends as a dull scoreless draw
you can expect all sorts of cries from
various English fans and media outlets
claiming some kind of nefarious conspiracy.
This is stupid because Chelsea would be
glad to just get their point and move were
they in the same position as either of these
teams.
Shakhtar Donetsk injuries and
suspensions
Out: Luiz Adriano (suspended). In doubt:
Dmytro Chygrynskiy (thigh), Tomas
Hubschmann (thigh).
Juventus injuries and suspensions
Out: Claudio Marchisio (suspended).
Adriano is suspended for his infamous goal
against Nordsjaelland, while both defenders
Chygrynskiy and Hubschmann's availability
is up in the air with both struggling with
thigh injuries. Juventus's Marchisio will sit
this one out serving a one-match ban for
yellow card accumulation.
Match Date/Time: 10:45 p.m. local, 2:45
p.m. ET
Venue: Donbass Arena, Donetsk, Ukraine
TV: DirecTV (U.S.), Sky Sports Red Button
(U.K.)
Online: FOX Soccer 2 Go (U.S.), Sky Sports
Interactive (U.K.)
Claudio Villa

front page mod

Rafael Benitez today insisted he did not need another ``miracle'' to rescue Chelsea from Champions League humiliation.

Benitez famously masterminded what was dubbed 'The Miracle of Istanbul' seven and a half years ago when Liverpool produced one of the greatest comebacks in European Cup final history to beat AC Milan.

But he declared this afternoon that Chelsea did not require divine intervention to avoid becoming the first Champions League holders to crash out of the competition before Christmas.

That is despite the Blues going into tomorrow's final Group E game needing to beat Nordsjaelland while hoping Shakhtar Donetsk produce the same result against Juventus.

Anything else and the team which ended their agonising wait for Champions League glory just six months ago will suffer the indignity of continuing their European campaign in the Europa League.

Interim manager Benitez acknowledged Chelsea might need ``a bit of luck'' tomorrow night but said: ``I don't think it's a miracle.

``We have to do our job and wait for the other teams.''

Chelsea are on their worst run in the Barclays Premier League for 15 years after failing to win any of their three matches since he took charge.

That has piled on the pressure for the former Liverpool boss, whose appointment sparked a huge supporter revolt, something which may intensify at Stamford Bridge tomorrow.

Benitez, who had an ill-fated spell in charge of Inter Milan after they won the competition, admitted it was ``normal'' for teams to lose some of their hunger the following season.

He said: ``It's like, 'Okay, we have done the most difficult thing'.

``It changes a little bit the perception, changes a little bit the approach for the next competition.

``That is the difficult thing, to manage the hunger of the players and the hunger of the staff.

``It's part of our job to push them and try and try to keep the competition.''

Nordsjaelland boss Kasper Hjulmand, meanwhile, is aiming to deliver the knockout blow to Chelsea's Champions League hopes and exploit the unrest at Stamford Bridge.

Hjulmand backed the European champions to weather the supporter revolt against Benitez and their alarming slump in form over the past six weeks.

But he was hoping to delay their revival for another 24 hours by masterminding the greatest triumph in the Danish champions' history.

Hjulmand said: ``They have a little dip right now but they'll come back and they'll show who they are in the near future.

``Hopefully not tomorrow but, after that, it's just a matter of time.''

Benitez is expected to be the victim of more jeers, abuse and protest banners at tomorrow night's game.

``It is weird,'' Hjulmand said of the fan reaction he hoped to exploit.

``The psychology is, of course, to see if we have a result as far as possible.

``We can only focus on what's important for us and that's what we're going to do on the pitch, no matter what happens outside, no matter what we see or hear.

``This is all about us performing and we have to be very concentrated and play maybe our best match ever to get a result.'


http://espnfc.com/en/preview/355722/preview.html?soccernet=true&cc=3888

it was the mod that made mistake and not me ...

go and complain to the mod that made the mistake @ 1st poster

Ajax coach Frank De Boer believes his young side are on the ``right track'' as they try to secure their place in the Europa League by ending their Madrid hoodoo.

The Dutch champions will bid to hold onto third place in Group D and outmuscle Barclays Premier League champions Manchester City into the second-tier European berth by scoring more points than their English rivals in their final Champions League group match.

Last season, Ajax saw their hopes of reaching the last 16 ended by Real with a home defeat and have struggled to find success in Spain over the years.

De Boer, who played in the last Ajax side to win on Spanish soil - against Atletico Madrid in the 1996/97 season - is confident his team can do enough to book their place in the Europa League after a morale-boosting Eredivisie win over PSV Eindhoven at the weekend.

''I think we dominated over eighty minutes,'' De Boer told NUSPort after the 3-1 win over PSV at the Amsterdam ArenA.

``Most teams dig themselves in when they arrive at the Arena. We have got increasingly an answer.

``I think that is a great compliment to this young team. I feel that we are on the right track.

``I'm proud of the boys. They have our concept to play for 90 minutes.''

However, De Boer has received a blow ahead of the Real game when it was revealed striker Ryan Babel suffered a setback in his recovery from a dislocated shoulder.

Babel picked up the problem against PEC Zwolle on November 11 and was expected to be out for six weeks but may now be missing until after the new year.

``I will be back after the winter break,'' Babel told De Telegraaf. ``The injury itself is not so bad but with shoulder injuries you have to be careful.''

Danny Hoesen, who scored in Ajax's 3-1 victory over PSV at the weekend, could be handed a start in place of Babel.

Jose Mourinho's Real have already booked their place in the last 16 and go into the match knowing second place in the group has been secured.

Real cannot win the group due to their head-to-head results with leaders Borussia Dortmund, so Mourinho could decide to change things around for the Bernabeu clash.

Defender Alvaro Arbeloa is suspended and could be replaced by Raphael Varane while midfielder Xabi Alonso may be rested after playing a lot of minutes in recent weeks.

Luka Modric could fill in for Alonso by dropping further back into midfield while defender Sergio Ramos might also be given a break.

It is unlikely that Mourinho will want to finish off the group stages with anything but a flourish, so Cristiano Ronaldo and Karim Benzema could still feature.


http://espnfc.com/en/gamecast/355720/gamecast.html?soccernet=true&cc=3888

The buzz surrounding defensive midfielder Lucas Leiva's long-awaited return may appear odd for a Liverpool team struggling for goals, but manager Brendan Rodgers sees him as a vital cog in his masterplan.

A thigh injury has sidelined the Brazil international since late August, restricting him to just four matches in 2012 as the 25-year-old was out for eight months after a knee operation last December.

His absence was highlighted as one of the reasons for the Reds' dip in form under Kenny Dalglish after Christmas and Rodgers believes his team have suffered equally.

Summer signing Joe Allen has been tasked with defensive duties in the intervening period but Rodgers hopes Lucas's return will free the Wales international to have a greater effect further forward.

``Lucas has worked really hard on and off the field and it is great credit to the medical team who have worked very hard with him,'' Rodgers said.

``He is at the best point he could be in training and I am not sure how much further he can go with the training because it is now about the games for him.

``It is just about getting the balance. It is finding the solution to control the game.

``We need three different types; one (Lucas) who is maybe more defensive, another (Allen) who can link the game and still get forward and another (Steven Gerrard) who can push on into the box and get goals.

``That is the balance we have been looking for and that has been the job this season, trying to manage that through all the games.''

Lucas, after a difficult start immediately after his arrival from Gremio for £5million in 2007, has proved his importance to the side over the last couple of years.

He was the club's young player of the year in 2009-10 and player of the year the following season to cement his place as an integral fixture in the side.

Having overcome a cruciate ligament injury, the first serious problem of his career, Lucas expected to return stronger only to manage just 74 minutes of Barclays Premier League action before being sidelined again.

But he is relishing a return against Southampton on Saturday at Anfield.

``I have been out for a long time so I think that my performance will get better as I get more games, but I am really looking forward to the weekend,'' he told liverpoolfc.com.

``It's another step forward. I think it will be like a fresh start for me.''

Southampton's Morgan Schneiderlin is looking forward to Saturday's ``extra special'' trip, when he plans to get one over on idol Steven Gerrard.

The Reds captain has come under scrutiny of late, having yet to reproduce his best form under Brendan Rodgers, but is still adored by the Liverpool faithful and also by one of those set to line up against him at Anfield.

Southampton midfielder Schneiderlin began to follow the Merseysiders in his native France and cannot wait to pit his wits against the England star.

``It is a bit extra special to play Liverpool,'' said Schneiderlin, whose side's manager Nigel Adkins and top scorer Rickie Lambert are both ardent Liverpool fans.

``In France when you watch TV, you had to choose between Liverpool and Manchester.

``A lot of people six or seven years ago chose Manchester United, I chose Liverpool because I used to, and I still, love Steven Gerrard as a player.

``It will be special and I can't wait to play against him, but unfortunately he is going to feel bad because we're going to bring back three points.

``I will treat him like another player on Saturday. I just want to confront him and see what I can do against him.

``Of course, he is one of the best players in the world and that's what I want to play against every game. The best.''

Schneiderlin pinpoints Gerrard's finest hour seven years ago as the reason for his soft spot for Liverpool.

``I remember the day when Liverpool played AC Milan in the Champions League final,'' he said.

``I was in the academy at Strasbourg and we all watched the game in the same room and it was just an amazing atmosphere.''

While Liverpool come into the game on the back of a defeat at Tottenham, Saints are in the midst of a four-match unbeaten run.

Recent performances have been a far cry from those at the start of the season and Schneiderlin believes there is a growing momentum at St Mary's.

``It is very good when you look at the start of the season,'' he said.

``It was very tough, very hard but we have grown in confidence. Now we have been unbeaten in four games, it is very good.''


http://espnfc.com/en/preview/345895/preview.html?soccernet=true&cc=3888

mukina na wa for u o.. Shey tottheham vs liverpool match knw be star match again .. Y u knw put am for front page....

Rafael Benitez refuses to bow to pressure to apologise for his controversial comments about Chelsea as he prepared to run the gauntlet with their fans again.

Blues supporters called for their new manager to say sorry for what they perceive as criticism of them while he was in charge at Liverpool.

Benitez endured a savage reception upon his introduction as Chelsea boss in Sunday's Barclays Premier League draw against Manchester City and fan groups have suggested there will be no let up in Wednesday's west London derby with Fulham.

The chair of Chelsea Supporters' Group said an apology would help win over some fans but, as during his unveiling on Thursday, Benitez questioned the accuracy of some of the quotes attributed to him.

``The problem is we can analyse what I said and didn't say,'' he said.

``We can't be checking if it's true or not. I'll try my best to win their trust. That's it.''

Benitez admitted he did not know whether there would be a repeat of the vicious booing, chanting and placards that were directed at him on Sunday.

``To be fair, I don't know,'' he said. ``But I can say that, since coming here, I've worked really hard, coming in at 8.30am and leaving at 8.30 at night, doing my job, talking to players and staff and trying to be ready for the game.''

Such abuse cannot be nice but Benitez added: ``I can't worry if I'm upset or not.

``If it was a player, I'd be telling him to concentrate on his job. The best way to change things is to win games.''

Gary Cahill has recovered from illness and is in contention.

Defender Cahill was only able to start on the bench in Benitez's first game in charge, but he could return for the Spaniard's second Barclays Premier League at the helm.

Daniel Sturridge is close to returning from a hamstring injury, while John Terry (knee) and Frank Lampard (calf) are also progressing.

Fulham manager Martin Jol believes the clash is a ``must-win game'' for Chelsea and his under-fire counterpart.

The Dutchman said of the fans' reaction to Benitez: ``I don't think I have experienced it before in my career, but of course, in England he was at Liverpool, a big club.

``He said probably a few things about Chelsea and I have done that in the past because you are like a chameleon.

``You get the colours of the club you are at and that is what he did so I think after a couple of wins I feel he will win them over.

``It is not only about the manager, it is about the club and winning games.

``Hopefully he won't start tomorrow. I feel it is a must-win game for them. They have to probably win, to have a result, tomorrow otherwise that will be problematic.''

Captain Brede Hangeland is one of a number of key players missing for the Cottagers.

The Norway international serves the second of a three-match ban at Stamford Bridge and is joined on the sidelines by Alex Kacaniklic, Bryan Ruiz and Kieran Richardson (all hamstring).

Simon Davies (hip) remains out but Jol can call upon Kerim Frei after a loan spell at Cardiff.

http://espnfc.com/en/preview/345722/preview.html?soccernet=true&cc=3888

Tottenham manager Andre Villas-Boas thinks football fans are well within their rights to criticise their manager after a weekend which saw both Rafael Benitez and Arsene Wenger come under fire.

Chelsea supporters made their dissatisfaction clear over the appointment of Benitez as interim head coach at the weekend when they jeered the Spaniard and chanted the name of the man he replaced, Roberto Di Matteo, before the Blues' 0-0 draw against Manchester City.

Benitez was not the only manager to feel the heat from the terraces as Arsenal boss Wenger was also jeered for his decision to substitute Olivier Giroud for Francis Coquelin during their goalless draw at Aston Villa on Saturday.

Villas-Boas, whose side face Liverpool on Wednesday, has himself has been subjected to boos from some Spurs fans on occasion this season, but he insists supporters should be entitled to air their views if they think something is not right with their club.

Villas-Boas, who was sacked by Chelsea after less than nine months in charge of the club, told a press conference: ``The fans have the right to everything in my opinion.

``They are the ones who breathe the biggest passion for the football club, they are the essence and they breathe the values of the football club.

``They are entitled to whatever they want to say or chant; disappointment, belief, encouragement, positiveness.

``It is all down to them, football is about them, it is about their passion.

``They have the right more than anybody to show that. (As a manager) you have to take it. Sometimes we don't like what we hear but that's life.''

Midfielder Sandro has been passed fit despite being carried off on a stretcher with a stomach injury against West Ham.

Mousa Dembele may start his first game in over a month after overcoming a hip problem, but Emmanuel Adebayor is suspended.

Scott Parker (Achilles), Benoit Assou-Ekotto and Younes Kaboul (both knee) remain sidelined.

Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers admits the club will have to at least give an indication they are capable of qualifying for the Champions League if they are to attract top-quality players.

The Reds have failed to finish in the top four in the last three seasons and that has undoubtedly impacted on the signings successive managers have been able to make.

Nine points currently separate them and fourth-placed Chelsea but Liverpool could strike a significant psychological blow if they beat Tottenham, who are only four points better off than them.

Spurs have shown over the last couple of years what effect the lure of Europe's elite club competition - combined with a healthy transfer budget - can have. In the summer they signed two of Liverpool's major targets midfielder Gylfi Sigurdsson and forward Clint Dempsey from under the nose of Rodgers as a result of better financial backing.

The Reds boss knows he cannot compete with the money counterpart Andre Villas-Boas has at his disposal and accepts rebuilding for a top-four challenge may take a while.

Rodgers said: ``Over the course of the summer they invested something in the region of £55million net in terms of everything they were putting into the group.

``But it is not just in the last window, Tottenham have been building the group steadily and have worked their way up the league to become challenges for those Champions League positions.

``We are trying to arrive in that position and we see that what sometimes it takes in order to do that.

``Of course Liverpool want to be in for the top players and top talents and this is a club which will bring those players here.

``But obviously a lot of players want to be in the Champions League so if they want to come in here that is an area we want to get into in the coming years. We know we are not too far away and are very close to be arriving in that zone that we want to be in.''


http://espnfc.com/en/preview/345723/preview.html?soccernet=true&cc=3888

am currently serving in ogun state - ojodu berger-abiodun lg... Am a batch b corper... It only 1000corpers ogun state govt pay.. U dude shud add me up on facebook - ola aol.. Am not on b.b ..lol

@ hurricane- this match is gonna be a cracker because it an away match..to be candid it not gonna be easy for the red today.. If liverpool should win today they will climb to 8th position just a point below arsenal. Today's game will be a test whether liverpool is serious about top 4 or not. I believe if breden rodger is a good coach today's match should be a problem to him because that is former club and players and he ought to know their strength and weakness if truely he is a good coach. Mod front page

mod add this to the front page..... My suarez is gonna score tommorrow

Swansea City v Liverpool: match
preview
Swansea v Liverpool
Popular: Former Swansea manager Brendan
Rodgers returns to the Liberty Stadium for
the first time since taking over at Anfield
Picture: ACTION IMAGES
Read a full match preview of the Premier
League game between Swansea City and
Liverpool at Liberty Stadium on Sunday Nov
25 2012, kick-off 13:30 GMT.
Sunday, November 25
Swansea City v Liverpool
Liberty Stadium
Kick-off : 13.30 GMT
TV: Live Sky Sports 1, Highlights BBC ONE
Match of the Day2.
Swansea (Possible, 4-3-3): Tremmel; Rangel,
Chico, Williams, Davies; De Guzman, Britton,
Hernandez; Ki, Michu, Dyer.
Out: Lita (thigh), Situ (Achilles), Taylor (ankle),
Vorm (groin).
Tests: Graham, Davies and Moore (illness).
Liverpool (Possible, 4-3-3): Reina; Johnson,
Agger, Skrtel, Wisdom; Allen, Gerrard, Suso;
Enrique, Sterling, Suárez.
Out: Borini (foot), Kelly (knee), Lucas (match
fitness).
Test: Wisdom (knee).
Referee: Jon Moss. Matches 6, R1 Y22.
Team News
Swansea manager Michael Laudrup has Ki
Sung-yueng and Kyle Bartley back in his
squad.
Ki missed the win at Newcastle with a
hamstring problem, while defender Bartley
returns after a lengthy absence with a thigh
problem.
Goalkeeper Michel Vorm is a couple of
weeks away from full fitness after a groin
injury while Danny Graham, Ben Davies and
Luke Moore are struggling with illness but
should be available.
Defender Andre Wisdom is expected to be fit
for after sustaining a knee injury in the
Europa League on Thursday night.
The 19 year-old was taken off in the first
half as a precaution but manager Brendan
Rodgers, who will restore the likes of Steven
Gerrard and Luis Suárez to the starting line-
up, is confident the right-back will be ready
in time.
Meanwhile, midfielder Lucas Leiva returned
to competitive action on Friday after three
months out with a thigh injury after playing
45 minutes for the under-21s but is
probably a week away from rejoining first-
team squad.
Match Notes
The return of former manager Brendan
Rodgers dominates this intriguing Sunday
contest.
Rodgers left the Liberty Stadium for Anfied
in the summer and will be keen to win this
particular game if only to address their
modest league form.
Swansea, who were 2 1 winners at
Newcastle last week, will need to find a way
of preventing Joe Allen dominating the
midfield much as he did for the Swans last
season.
Betting: Home 21-10, Away 23-20, Draw
12-5.
Stat of the game: Swansea manager
Michael Laudrup has 16 points, three more
than Brendan Rodgers had in his first 12
games at Swansea last season.
Graham Clutton’s prediction: Swansea City
2 Liverpool 1.
RELATED ARTI. Front page pls.this is gonna be a cracker

Chelsea are once again in pole position to
sign in-demand Atletico Madrid striker
Radamel Falcao after Manchester City cooled
their interest, according to the Sunday
Mirror. The report claims that Atletico
general manager Migel Angel Gil Marin and
Falcao’s agent Jorge Mendes met with City’s
new sporting director Txiki Begiristan last
week but were told that the Premier League
champions would not be making a firm
offer for the prolific Colombian.
While the Mirror claims that the situation
could change if City find a buyer for striker
Mario Balotelli, the news, if true will come as
a boost to Chelsea, who would doubtless
have been loathed to get into a bidding war
with City and their vast wealth. However, the
Blues may still face competition from Real
Madrid for Falcao’s signature.
Chelsea’s need for a striker has been
exacerbated in recent weeks with Fernando
Torres continuing to struggle to produce
the goods amid the club going on a dismal
run of two points from four Premier League
games.
The Daily Mail reports that Torres could be
left out of Chelsea’s crucial Champions
League encounter against Juventus in Turin
on Tuesday, further calling into question his
future at the club. According to the Mail,
Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich is ready
to dispense with the £50 million signing and
now Torres is ready for a move back to
Spain.
It is mooted that Torres could rejoin former
club Atletico Madrid as part of a deal to
bring Falcao to Stamford Bridge.
That may not be the end of the
strengthening to the Blues’ front line, with
the Sunday People reporting that
Abramovich is seeking to combine Falcao
with Liverpool striker Luis Suarez in a new
look Chelsea attack. According to the story,
Abramovich believes Suarez can be tempted
to Stamford Bridge if Pep Guardiola is
appointed as manager.
The Chelsea manager’s job has come back
into the spotlight of late with the pressure
said to be mounting on Roberto Di Matteo
following recent results.
Suarez has recently been linked with a big-
money move to Manchester City, although
Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers has
quashed talk of the Uruguayan leaving
Anfield. The People claims that Liverpool will
ask for £50 million for Suarez and that
Abramovich is ready to pay that sum.
Particularly with Financial Fair Play rules set
to be implemented it seems implausible that
Chelsea will spend what would likely amount
to close to £100 million on two forwards.
Some money could soon come off the
Chelsea wage bill, with Ashley Cole linked
with a January move to Real Madrid by the
Daily Mirror. The 31-year-old left-back is out
of contract at the end of the season and his
future is in doubt due to Chelsea’s policy of
not offering players over the age of 30
longer than one-year deals.
The move could make sense with Cole
having reportedly remained close with Real
Madrid manager Jose Mourinho. Cole has
also been linked with a reunion with
another of his former Chelsea managers in
current Paris Saint-Germain boss Carlo
Ancelotti.. Front page pls

Suarez double helps sink
Wigan
Striker Luis Suarez proved just how valuable
he is to Liverpool with two goals and an
assist to help secure a 3-0 win against
Wigan.
The Uruguay international struck twice in
nine second-half minutes and also played a
part in the third which saw Jose Enrique
score his first goal for the club.
Reports this week that Manchester City were
ready to make a £40million bid for the
striker in January were dismissed by
Roberto Mancini and Brendan Rodgers, with
the latter confidently stating his prize asset
was not for sale.
And in any case, scoring in five successive
matches to take his tally to 10 in as many
appearances would appear to have boosted
Suarez's price tag by several million more.
Not that Liverpool would consider - or could
even countenance - selling a player who is
so vital to any chance of success in the
short- to medium-term.
Without the 25-year-old's input this season -
from goals and assists - the Reds would be
in the bottom three.
It is difficult to put a price on exactly how
much that is worth to a team still growing
into Rodgers' way of working but it is safe
to say it would likely take much more to
replace what he has brought to the side this
campaign.
Yet Suarez was strangely subdued in a first
half which had very few talking points.
With goalkeeper Jose Reina making his first
appearance since October 7, Rodgers
reverted to back four having opted for three
centre-backs at Chelsea last weekend.
Somewhat surprisingly he selected Enrique
on the left of midfield but before the half
was out he had tinkered with his tactical
line-up having seen his side fail to get a grip
on the game.
The hosts began well with Suarez's cross
turned behind by Ben Watson and Daniel
Agger's header from the corner tipped just
wide by the outstretched hand of Ali Al
Habsi.
After Reina shrugged off some of the
rustiness with a routine save from Arouna
Kone's long-range effort both Agger and
Suso headed over.
It was virtually the young Spaniard's last
involvement as just past the half-hour he
was replaced by Jordan Henderson with
Gerrard moving forward to play in the hole
by Suarez in an attempt to get more support
for the Uruguay international.
By then Wigan had lost Watson to a painful
shin injury after he was caught by Raheem
Sterling, with Ivan Ramis' subsequent free-
kick deflected behind off the wall.
There followed plenty of possession without
much penetration from both sides.
Whatever was said by Rodgers to his team -
and Suarez in particular - at half-time had
the desired effect as Liverpool came out a
side with much greater purpose.
It took them just over two minutes to prove
it with a swift drive forward for the opening
goal.
Andre Wisdom's pass into space gave
Sterling, who had also had an
uncharacteristically quiet 45 minutes, the
chance to nip in front of Maynor Figueroa
and run at the Wigan defence.
When he crossed for Suarez the
Uruguayan's first-time shot, assisted by a
slight deflection of Ivan Ramis, beat Al Habsi.
If the goal energised the home side it
ignited Suarez, who was rampant after that.
Enrique drove infield from the left and
poked in a through-ball which still required
plenty from Suarez but in his current form
there was only going to be one outcome
and he easily beat the goalkeeper.
The third goal had a touch of fortune but
only in its origin.
A throw-in down Wigan's left should have
gone to the visitors but the officials
awarded it to Liverpool and it was from that
they finished off the game.
Suarez again had major part to play, sliding
a pass through the inside-right channel to
Sterling whose shot was parried by Al Habsi
into the path of Enrique who could not miss
from a few yards out.
The Spaniard, benefiting from his advanced
position, celebrated only his second goal in
five years in English football, his first coming
for Newcastle against Nottingham Forest in
March 2010.
Confidence was now surging through a
Liverpool side who had previously been so
timid and reticent in front of their own fans
in 2012 - having previously only won three
league matches at Anfield all year.
That was typified by Glen Johnson's run,
starting on the halfway line close to the left
touchline, which saw the England defender
drive just wide with his right foot from the
edge of the area.
Suarez eventually departed to a well-
deserved standing ovation late on as
Rodgers protected his investment on the
back of seven-match unbeaten run.

i pray both club score over 2goals in total... bet tinz... Mukina tell yur arsenal make them no burn my money o

@ torees - na today u go fall frm aproko tree... My club liverpool nearly sink u last week

Liverpool (Possible, 4-3-3-): Reina; Wisdom, Agger, Skrtel, Johnson; Allen, Gerrard, Suso; Assaidi, Sterling, Suarez.
Tests: Agger (groin), Skrtel (illness).

Wigan (Possible, 3-4-1-2): Al Habsi; Ramis, Caldwell, Figueroa; Boyce, Watson, McCarthy, Beausejour; Maloney; Kone, Di Santo.
Out: Crusat (knee), Alcaraz (groin).
Test: McArthur (dead leg).

Referee: Kevin Friend


Team News
Goalkeeper Jose Reina is set to return for Saturday's visit of Wigan after a five-week injury absence.

The Spain international has recovered from a hamstring injury and is likely to replace Brad Jones, who has deputised in the last four league matches.

Midfielder Jonjo Shelvey is fit after a thigh problem forced him out of the England squad this week while centre-backs Daniel Agger (groin) and Martin Skrtel (illness) are expected to be included.

Wigan have winger Ryo Miyaichi back. Miyaichi, on loan from Arsenal, has not been involved in the last five games due to a pubic injury but is now training with the group again.

James McArthur, who has been sidelined recently by a dead leg, is a doubt, while fellow midfielder Albert Crusat (knee) and defender Antolin Alcaraz (groin) are not yet ready to return.

Match Notes
A meeting between the two leading candidates for the Liverpool job last summer. Brendan Rodgers got the gig, Roberto Martinez unsurprisingly gives the impression he turned it down (even though he didn’t). The fact there is little between Liverpool and Wigan in the Premier League means it is not entirely beyond the realms of possibility Martinez thinks he had a lucky escape. Wigan won at Anfield last season, contributing to Kenny Dalglish’s demise. Martinez would undoubtedly take as much satisfaction from a repeat performance. Chris Bascombe

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/competitions/premier-league/9677691/Liverpool-v-Wigan-Athletic-match-preview.html

my fear is liverpool keeper jones who is even worst than reina (hamstring)

my fear is liverpool keeper(jones) because he is worst than reina .. Chelsea will surely score that day no doubt .. Am a die hard liverpool fanz

@ cfc- suarez knows how to dribble john terry.remember how he disgrace him last season.. The fact is that liverpool doesnt have a good keeper for now so chelsea will surely score that day , however suarez is the only key man and if tame very well then liverpool is finish.. But still, chelsea should be vary of him because he is on fire now.. U all should watch the classic world class goal he wrecked against newcastle on sunday...