13 May 2012
FINAL MATCH DAY: ENGLISH PREMIER LEAGUE
Manchester City Hope to End a 43-year EPL Title Drought
QPR manager, Mark Hughes aims to stop Manchester City on Sunday
YAHOO SPORTS
The last day of a fascinating English Premier League season should be the final lesson in just how far an unthinkable amount of cash, in this case a cool half billion dollars, can take at team. Yet for all the lavish spending indulged by Manchester City's oil sheikh owners in pursuit of a championship, and with an EPL title now a single, tantalizing victory away, there is one factor no amount of money can eliminate.
That would be soccer's extraordinary ability to conjure up the remarkable, the impossible and the downright ridiculous at the moments of greatest importance. It is why logic would dictate that City, having triumphed over Manchester United and at Newcastle in its previous two games, will be taking nothing for granted against Queens Park Rangers, one of the most inept teams in the division. City, so dominant in the early part of the campaign, has recovered spectacularly from a mid-season dip that saw it fall behind United and seemingly surrender its chance of being crowned English soccer's champion again after a 43-year wait.
Its home record has just one blemish, a draw against Sunderland in March, to go along with 17 wins, most by a comfortable margin. Still, soccer's perverse nature means the three points that would guarantee the title cannot be regarded as a foregone conclusion, even against QPR, 17th in the table and in real danger of being relegated.
To thicken the plot is the delicious irony surrounding Mark Hughes, the QPR manager who was sacked from the same role at City in December 2009.
Hughes was embittered at the time and still harbours hostility toward his former employers over the manner and timing of his dismissal. Depriving them of the title would only be of secondary satisfaction to him, though, with QPR's own survival at stake.
Hughes was hired in January and spent heavily on new players, but was unable to reverse the ambitious West London club's fortunes. Defeat, coupled with a Bolton victory at Stoke on Sunday, would send QPR down and probably cost Hughes his job.
As if more intrigue was needed, the beneficiary of a QPR miracle would be United, the team where Hughes spent most of his playing career and became a fan favourite over two separate stints as a hard-working and clinical forward.
Even though relations between Hughes and United boss Sir Alex Ferguson have become frosty, Ferguson still is hoping for a favour and has the Red Devils primed to capitalize on any City slip-up. United visits Sunderland on the final day level on points with City, but the two clubs' respective goal difference means United has a chance at winning the title only if City fails to claim all three points.
"You never know," Ferguson said. "Stranger things have happened in this game of football. They are red-hot favourites, but we have won the title three times on the last day and we don't mind doing it again."
City has proven its big-game mentality and with the most expensively assembled squad in English soccer history, it should have more than enough tools to get the job done. An example that money doesn't just talk, but screams its lungs out, came when Cote d’Ivoire midfielder, Yaya Toure scored the two late goals needed to get past Newcastle last Sunday. Toure is a solid professional who generally shuns the superstar lifestyle, but his services do not come cheap. With a weekly pay packet of about $500,000, he is the highest paid player in the EPL.
While a title triumph would mean a great deal to every City player, the real beneficiary would be manager, Roberto Mancini, who looked to have crumbled under an onslaught of mind games from Ferguson during the cold winter months, but found new life in the spring. Failure to win silverware could have resulted in Mancini being discarded in the summer, but now he might be one victory away from inking a lucrative contract extension.
At the other end of the spectrum, the day dubbed Survival Sunday carries extreme repercussions for those in danger of seeing their EPL life extinguished for the time being. What was a six-team fight for survival just three weeks ago has now boiled down to a two-way scrap. Wolves and Blackburn will play next season in the second-tier Championship, Wigan and Aston Villa have secured their top-flight status, and either Bolton or QPR will slip through the trapdoor. .
Bolton carelessly let a two-goal lead slip against West Bromwich Albion last weekend when a victory could have boosted its chances, and it must beat Stoke then pray QPR loses at City.
Watching on from the stands will be Fabrice Muamba, the Bolton midfielder whose heart stopped beating for more than an hour after he collapsed during a game at Tottenham last month and whose recovery has served as inspiration for his colleagues.
While money is flush at the top of the EPL tree, the financial ramifications at the bottom are even more significant.
Dropping out of the EPL can cost a team up to $60 million and often leads to a fire sale of the highest-salaried players.
Survival Sunday will begin with no shortage of storylines and should have no shortage of drama.
Tags: Sports, World, Manchester City, EPL
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-The final day of the 2011/12 Premier League season on Sunday, 13th May, will finally draw a line under the remaining situations to be settled.
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-The final day of the 2011/12 Premier League season on Sunday, 13th May, will finally draw a line under the remaining situations to be settled.
The big focus, naturally, is on the title race, where the battle of Manchester has been raging all season.
Manchester City are in the driving seat as they host relegation threatened QPR at the Etihad Stadium, knowing that a win will guarantee them their first league title in 44 years.
- Manchester City stand on the verge of lifting the Premier League trophy. If they beat QPR at home, the title is theirs.
City have dropped just two points at home this season and the blue side of Manchester is looking favourite to be celebrating on Sunday. But QPR need a point from their trip up north to guarantee their Premier League survival, so former City boss Mark Hughes may just have a score to settle.
Sir Alex Ferguson will be hoping that there will be one final twist in the tale of the season, come Sunday. The Red Devils will be ready and waiting to pounce, should City slip up, as United head to the Stadium of Light to face Sunderland.
In order for Man United to win the league, they have to better what Man City accomplished against QPR. If City win, then United will not be defending their league title, even though they go into the final day level on points with them. United are trailing in goal difference by eight to Man City and that is highly unlikely to be overturned.
So while the title race will be the highlight of the day, there is a three-way race going on behind the two Manchester clubs in order to try and book a Champions League spot next season.
Arsenal will start the day in third place, but their winning ways have deserted them recently. The Gunners head to the Hawthorns to face West Brom without a win in their last four matches now.
Arsene Wenger’s men hold just a one-point advantage over fourth placed Spurs, who have home advantage in a London derby against Fulham at White Hart Lane. Like Arsenal, a win for Tottenham would secure a top four finish, but any slip ups at this stage could be highly costly.
That is because Newcastle are waiting in the wings to capitalise on any mistakes from the two north London sides above them. Newcastle are just a point behind Spurs and two points adrift of Arsenal, so the Magpies have everything to play for.
However, Alan Pardew’s men have a very tough end of season fixture as they head across the country to face an in-form Everton at Goodison Park. Only a win will do for Newcastle now and along with that, they would need either Spurs or Arsenal to fail to win.
Should Newcastle draw and Tottenham win, those two would finish level on points, but Tottenham would take fourth because of a far superior goal difference.
- Wenger, Redknapp and Pardew are in a three-way fight for Champions League places. One will be left disappointed tomorrow. However, if Chelsea win the Champions League, only one of these managers will be competing in Europe’s top club competition next season. Photo: Daily Mirror
Getting a Champions League place out of a fourth place finish is dependent on Chelsea losing this season’s final against Bayern Munich. If Chelsea win the final, then only the top three sides in the EPL will enter the tournament along with the Blues next season.
The other outstanding business to be settled on this super Sunday in the Premier League is who will be joining Blackburn and Wolves in the Championship next season?
Two clubs are fighting for their survival on the final day of the season, QPR and Bolton. QPR are two points ahead of 18th placed Bolton, but the R’s have that daunting trip to title-chasing Manchester City, while the Trotters have a winnable fixture away at Stoke. So while Rangers hold a slender advantage, Bolton actually look as if they have a big window of opportunity to jump through and maintain their Premier League status.
Predictions:
Man City v QPR: Home win. Tough to see City letting this slip after two defining games against United and Newcastle. City lift title, QPR get relegated.
Man City v QPR: Home win. Tough to see City letting this slip after two defining games against United and Newcastle. City lift title, QPR get relegated.
Sunderland v Man Utd: Away win. The Red Devils have seemed a little lifeless in the run in, but would expect a response in a tough match.
West Brom v Arsenal: Draw. The Gunners are faltering at the wrong time and the Baggies are a good, solid side at home. Good enough to frustrate Arsenal. Arsenal drop to fourth.
Spurs v Fulham: Home win. Fulham are a good side, but Spurs have the bigger incentive to go chasing three points. They should do, Fulham have been poor on the road. Spurs land third place.
Everton v Newcastle: Draw. Tough match to call, both have great qualities. Everton don’t give up much on home soil and it looks a very even match. Magpies miss the top four.
Stoke v Bolton: Away win. Bolton simply have to give it their all and Stoke are not a high scoring team and not in the greatest form. Bolton survive.
Chelsea v Blackburn: Home win. Chelsea will have one eye on the Champions League final, still good enough to ease past a relegated Rovers.
Norwich v Villa: Home win. Hugely disappointing season for a poor Villa side. Norwich should go out with style here, even though both are stumbling towards the finish.
Swansea v Liverpool: Draw. The Swans and their exciting passing game could give the Liberty Stadium faithful something to cheer about with a point here.
Wigan v Wolves: Home win. Wolves are without a win in 13 games and Wigan have been the form team in the Premier League over the last eight matches.
09 May 2012
Liverpool defeat Chelsea : Match Review
Liverpool avenged their FA Cup final defeat by handing Chelsea a 4-1 defeat after a series of defensive errors from the Blues.
By ESPNSTAR.com staff
Luis Suarez set up Liverpool's first goal in spectacular manner in the 19th minute, bringing the ball from the right throw-in line and nutmegging John Terry before cutting the ball into goal via Michael Essien.
Henderson then capitalised on another mistake from Terry five minutes later, latching onto Maxi Rodriguez's pass while the defender slipped, leaving Henderson to curl the ball past Ross Turnbull to double Liverpool's lead.
Agger added yet another goal in mere minutes after Andy Carroll headed back a corner kick to an unmarked Agger. The Danish defender made no mistake from the six yard box and headed it past three Blue shirts on the line and into the net.
Stewart Downing was then given a chance to rub salt into Chelsea's wounds in the first half injury time when Liverpool were given a penalty when Branislav Ivanovic elbowed Carroll in the box, but his penalty struck the upright.
Chelsea were given a briefest glimpse of hope five minutes after the second half started when Ramires bundles in Florent Malouda's freekick, but a Turnbull mistake gave Jonjo Shelvey an open goal which he made no mistake and volleyed into.
Liverpool
Jose Reina - 7.5
Reina could do little with the scrappy goal Ramires scored but pulled off an excellent safe to deny Lukaku from point blank range.
Also, he gave insight to a goalkeeper's version of a celebration after making the superb save, aiming a vicious kick that Jonny Wilkinson would have been proud of at the post. As if Liverpool haven't struck the woodwork enough already this season.
Glen Johnson - 7
Johnson was useful marauding up to assist Downing in attack and was hardly tested in the defensive aspect of the game.
Martin Skrtel - 7
Skrtel gave a performance reminiscent of a certain basketball player from the 1990s - clad in red, heavily tattooed, commanding inside the box and absolutely dominant in the air.
Jamie Carragher - 7
Carragher was strangely not made to work by the Chelsea players despite his apparent disadvantage in the speed department. The veteran was calm and composed in the box and easily saw off the Chelsea attack.
Daniel Agger - 7.5
The Dane slotted easily into the right back position and kept Malouda to a muted performance. He also managed to get his name on the scoresheet as well with a well-aimed header to beat a total of four Chelsea players guarding the goal.
Maxi Rodriguez (Off 82') - 7.5
Rodriguez intelligently exploited the space allowed by the narrow Chelsea midfield and worked passes up to his forwards all match long, providing the assist for Henderson's goal.
Jordan Henderson - 7.5
The much-maligned youngster showed what he could be capable of given the space and time while being played in the right position, grabbing a goal after cooly slotting the ball past Turnbull. He's not quite the world class act yet, but his energy and running bodes well for him in the middle of the park.
Jonjo Shelvey - 8
The 20-year-old played a deeper role for Liverpool, winning the ball in his half and launching counter attacks on several occasions. Also, he scored a gem of a goal, volleying the ball into an open net. It sounds like it's easy to do that, but it's not. Especially not in the manner that Shelvey powered it in.
Stewart Downing - 6
We're not sure whether it's luck, or if he's ordered on purpose to continue striking the frame of the goal to prove that he's really, really accurate. First, he struck the crossbar with a sweet volley from outside the box, then he hit the upright with a penalty kick despite sending Turnbull the wrong way.
Perhaps he is genuinely keen on keeping the record of being the player with the most shots without scoring in the Premier League (it's 70 and counting now).
Luis Suarez - 8.5
Suarez almost netted a hat-trick of nutmegs after he put the ball through John Terry's splayed legs twice in the opening minutes, but the Chelsea captain seemed to have picked up on the Uruguayan's little game, but that was not before Suarez opened the scoring with some nifty footwork to force Essien's own goal.
He was the chief tormentor of Chelsea's defence, twisting and turning, dropping deep, hanging off the shoulder and testing the jittery back line on as many occasions as possible.
However, it was no excuse for an absolutely cynical challenge where he tried to haul Ivanovic back by hooking his arm around the defender's neck.
Andy Carroll - 8.5
The born-and-bred Geordie continued his recent surge in form with an excellent outing, bullying Terry and Ivanovic whenever the ball came sailing through the air.
Carroll was key in pushing the play up for Liverpool, holding the ball up well and playing his team mates into space. The only thing missing was a goal to accompany the assist he provided for Agger's goal.
Substitutes
Dirk Kuyt (83') - N/A
Raheem Sterling (On 83') - N/A
Chelsea
Ross Turnbull - 4.5
It seemed like Turnbull was a victim of lacklustre defending after conceding three goals he could do little about in the first half. But then he decided to share responsibility with his mates on the hour mark, literally passing the ball for Shelvey to display his excellent tee-and-volley skills.
Paulo Ferreira - 4
It's hard to blame Ferreira for a poor performance, given that this is only his fourth appearance in the league this season. He was rusty, slow to challenge Maxi Rodriguez and looked vulnerable whenever challenging Carroll in the air.
John Terry - 3.5
The game was an absolute nightmare the Chelsea skipper, being nutmegged twice by Suarez, slipped and gave Henderson the goal, mixed up in the box to allow Agger a free header and was generally poor in challenging Carroll for the ball.
On the bright side for Chelsea, Terry seems to have taken his responsibility as Chelsea's hero very seriously as he seems hell bent on convincing his team mates he won't be missed in the Champions League final.
Branislav Ivanovic - 4.5
Ivanovic was almost as poor as Terry in the heart of defence and, perhaps in their defence, they conspired to remind the Blues how little they will be missed come May 19th.
The Serb was constantly losing out on battles, needlessly hauled Carroll down to concede the penalty and was involved in a series of niggly incidents with Suarez.
Ryan Bertrand - 6
The young defender was one of Chelsea's better players, holding his own against Downing and assisted higher up the pitch when the overlapping run was needed on the attack.
Michael Essien - 5
The normally-reliable workhorse seems to still be struggling to regain his former confidence as he looked severely out of pace in midfield and was late on his tackles on several occasions.
Oriol Romeu - 5.5
Romeu finally made his return after an extended exile from the team, but he was almost exclusively bypassed by Liverpool's lobbed passes across the midfield.
Ramires - 6.5
The Brazilian is one that Chelsea will genuinely miss in the Champions League final, with his work rate, sharp passing and the knack to turn up where the goal is. Ramires showed that he is one of Chelsea's most consistent players, scoring their only goal of the game from Malouda's freekick.
Daniel Sturridge (Off 68') - 4.5
Sturridge contributed little down the left wing to test Johnson and he offered Bertrand little help defensively down the flank as well.
Fernando Torres - 5
Isolated up front, Torres had to drop deep several times to get the ball, but the attack was simply not clicking to get the ball to the Spaniard in the box. The former Liverpool man took it upon himself to create chances, taking the ball down the right and smashing it against the crossbar in the first half, but was hardly a threat after that.
Florent Malouda - 5
Malouda constantly tried to provide some width for Chelsea but Agger got the better of him throughout the match. His only contribution was the freekick which he crossed in for Ramires to score.
Substitutes
Romelu Lukaku (On 68') - 5.5
The highly-rated youngster came on and added an element of physicality to Chelsea's attack but he couldn't make it count, having had his header from six yards out saved by Reina.
07 May 2012
EPL Man Utd vs Swansea: United take it to last day
First-half goals from Paul Scholes and Ashley Young gave Manchester United a very hollow 2-0 victory over Swansea at Old Trafford.
The result ensures the Barclays Premier League champions will take the defence of their trophy into the final day.
However, it will now require a relegation-threatened QPR outfit managed by Red Devils old boy Mark Hughes to avoid defeat at the Etihad Stadium next Sunday to prevent Manchester City claiming their first title since 1968.
Asked on TV prior to kick-off whether City now had one hand on the trophy after their 2-0 win at Newcastle, Sir Alex Ferguson ruefully replied "two, probably".
There was no doubt the events in Newcastle had an effect on the crowd, who were subdued in the extreme and failed to respond when goaded about their plight by gleeful Swansea counterparts, making their first Old Trafford visit since 1983 and already preparing for another trip next season.
It took United's players some time to shrug off their pain too and Nathan Dyer wasted a decent chance to put the visitors ahead.
However, once the Red Devils got going, there was a purpose to their play.
Had they enjoyed a bit of good fortune in front of goal, they might have made inroads into the 10-goal goal difference advantage City enjoyed at kick-off.
Wayne Rooney had a volley turned away by Michel Vorm, Javier Hernandez wasted two close-range opportunities and Chris Smalling sent an instinctive header wide as the hosts set up camp around the Swansea penalty area.
As it was though, by half-time, all they had managed to do was cut out the goals Yaya Toure scored at the Sports Direct Arena.
Scholes claimed the opener, flicking home a Michael Carrick shot that was bound for the opposite corner.
It was the 37-year-old's fourth Premier League goal since he came out of retirement in January, his highest haul for five years.
Young got the second, latching onto the loose ball after Rooney's shot had been blocked.
With Antonio Valencia causing problems on the other wing, it merely raised obvious questions over Ferguson's team selection at the Etihad Stadium on Monday, when defeat handed over the leadership and - in all probability - the championship.
Not that Ferguson will ever be deflected from the view that United tossed away their chances in that barmy couple of minutes against Everton on their last appearance at Old Trafford a fortnight ago, when a 4-2 lead became a 4-4 draw.
That Young chased into the goal to grab the ball after his goal suggested there was some purpose about United and they were quickly into their stride after the break.
Rooney's attempt to roll a pass across goal to give Young a tap-in was intercepted by Dyer.
Hernandez was inches away from heading home before Valencia smashed a shot goalwards, forcing Vorm into another save.
Yet the loose defending that has been evident far too often this season was also apparent.
Allen was given far too much room to shoot on the edge of the area and when his shot was deflected by Danny Graham, it took an impressive manoeuvre from David de Gea to keep it out.
Dyer then curled a shot over when he should have at least kept his effort on target, and Swansea came close again when De Gea turned away Gylfi Sigurdsson's free-kick.
The introduction of Tom Cleverley for Scholes midway through the second period should have provided United with some additional energy, although it took a while for it to become evident.
In that time, an agitated Rooney picked up his first Premier League booking for a foul on Luke Moore.
It was another of those days when United's star striker was not in the best of moods, and chipping wide after being sent clear by Carrick did not improve matters.
Ferguson had already decided Rooney's performance was going to be cut short anyway, for what is likely to be Dimitar Berbatov's last appearance in a United shirt.
At #30.75million, the Bulgarian represents United's last big-money purchase.
But if, as even their staunchest fans now think, the championship heads across town next weekend, they will expect the Glazer family to loosen the purse-strings once more this summer.
And a generally disappointing day ended on a low note for Rio Ferdinand, who came off near the end after suffering what appeared to be a hip injury that could have implications for his hopes of featuring at Euro 2012.
