Kallstrom’s dream come true

The reigning champions are seventh, 18 points off leaders Chelsea and Manchester City inflicted United’s sixth home league defeat this season.

” I am the one who picks the team, ” Moyes said. ” I take responsibility and always will do. It is disappointing.

” I thought it would be a tough year but I had still hoped it would be more competitive. ”

The defeat means Manchester United have lost more home league games this season than in the last 3 seasons combined.

In nine matches against the Premier League top five, they have won just once, against Arsenal in November.

Despite reaching the quarter-finals of the Champions League, Manchester United have fallen well short of the consistency which saw them win the title by 11 points under Sir Alex Ferguson before his retirement last summer.

” Everybody knows this is a job that is going to take a little bit of time to get the way we would like but that is the job, added Moyes, 50.

” Other clubs have to do rebuilding jobs – we hope it won’t take as long as some others but we have a period of time to get to that level.

” There are a lot of really good players in this squad, a lot of internationals, who, on their day, can be a match for most players. ”

The former Everton boss admits he hoped Manchester United would be “closer to the top of the league than we are at the moment, ” but believes his side did not “lack effort or commitment” against their city rivals.

City, who were the last team to deny Manchester United the title – in 2012 – scored through Edin Dzeko after 43 seconds at Old Trafford and the Bosnian doubled the lead before Yaya Toure struck a third late on.

” We never came out of the blocks, ” added Moyes. “We never got started. For Manchester City to score inside the first minute gave them a really big lift.

“I told the players at half-time that we wanted to start the second half stronger and that we needed to play in their half but we never really got that.”

Manchester United striker Wayne Rooney said the team’s record at Old Trafford is “not good enough”, adding: “We can’t lose six home games in a season. We have to put that right and make this a place teams fear again.

“We know we have to respond. It’s a bad night for us all but we have to move on.”

Speaking to MUTV, Rooney added: “We didn’t deserve to win. We weren’t clinical enough and we didn’t create enough chances.

“No-one likes to lose a derby game – they’re big games and they’re great to win, but when you lose it’s not a great feeling.”

Former Manchester United midfielder Paul Scholes has asked the club to stick with Moyes despite the defeat.

“You have to stand by him,” Scholes told Sky Sports. “He’s made a couple of signings that haven’t quite worked out yet as he would have liked and in the summer he’s going to need backing.”

Scholes, who retired at the end of last season, added that the club need to stregthen in the summer, particularly in defence and midfield.

“Centre midfield you could say they’ve been looking for that for quite a few years now and maybe haven’t quite come up with the answer,” he said.

“I think defensively as well, with Nemanja Vidic going – it looks like Rio Ferdinand and maybe Patrice Evra going as well, there’s three of your back four gone – that’s another area that he’s got to look after.”

Merseyside clubs in battle for Dzsudzsak.

By

Ben Reardon

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Mar 26, 2014

Liverpool are set to battle Everton in the race to sign Dinamo Moscow winger Balazs Dzsudzsak.

The highly rated Hungarian is keen to play in the Premier League, and has set his heart on participating in the Champions League next season.

Dinamo Moscow are unlikely to qualify for the European showpiece, as they are four points behind leaders Zenit in the Russian Premier League.

And Dzsudzsak has been superb for his side this season, with Liverpool ready to put in a bid for the 27 year old.

However, Everton have entered the race to sign the player, with Roberto Martinez keen to bolster his squad.

By Ben Reardon

@BenReardon1

Paul Scholes Slams Arsenal and Jack Wilshere, but Defends David Moyes

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Mar 26, 2014

Paul Scholes pulled no punches in his analysis of the Gunners as potential title challengers on Tuesday evening, labelling it “a typical week for Arsenal” on a night that saw them draw 2-2 at home to Swansea City.

Appearing as a studio pundit for Sky Sports’ coverage of the Manchester derby, the ex-Manchester United midfielder wasn’t left impressed by Arsene Wenger’s side, who came from 1-0 down to lead the game, only to then lose two points through a 90th-minute Mathieu Flamini own goal.

Scholes was relentless in his assessment of Arsene Wenger’s side, who at one point looked like favourites for this year’s league title, but now sit fourth

“For one reason or another, the players just seem to go missing. The Artetas, the Cazorlas, the Rosickys, Ozils although I know he has not played for a bit. They go on the pitch with no discipline. It’s as though ‘you four, five midfielders go out there and do what you want—try and score a goal. A few nice one-twos, nice tippy-tappy football—but don’t bother running back.’ That is my thoughts on it.

When we played against Arsenal teams it was really tough. Now, you play Arsenal and just get stuck in and you have won the game. Wilshere, what a really top young player, but he has not really gone on. He needs players like (Patrick) Vieira to take him to the next level. Injuries have not helped him but his development, from being 17, he does not look any better player now than when he was 17.’

Scholes appeared against Arsenal 29 times in his career, per Transfermarkt, winning 14 times and losing on 11 occasions with four draws, including fixtures against The Invincibles team of the early 2000s.

Ba is lining up a move from Chelsea this summer

By

Kyle Farrington

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Mar 26, 2014

Demba Ba, has endured a rough spell since his move to Chelsea in 2013 from Newcastle. The 29 year old enjoyed his best football at the Magpies, but since his move to Chelsea, Ba has found it hard to even make the starting eleven.

With Fernando Torres and Samuel Eto’o ahead of him in the squad, Ba has had limited opportunities to make an impact at Stamford Bridge and now looks set to bring an end to his Chelsea career at the end of the season.

“My agent has spoken to the club about a departure and he has started speaking with other clubs about a contract for next season.

“I hope we can find the best option possible. I’d like to stay in England. I like other leagues, too. I’d like to try the Italian league.

“Nothing’s been confirmed but there are a few teams in Italy who play very good football.”

With Ba opening up his options it looks like this summer will be the end of his Chelsea career and open up a new chapter in his Football career.

Written by Kyle Farrington

Bertrand will decide on his future in the summer

By

Kyle Farrington

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Mar 26, 2014

Ryan Bertrand is now 24 and currently on loan to fellow Premier League club Aston Villa. Bertrand has repeatedly been loaned out throughout his career to gain first team experience, due to Ashley Cole being the long term number one left back at Chelsea.

Jose Mourinho insists the English left back is still part of his plans, but with stiff competition from Ashley Cole and Cesar Azpilicueta, Bertrand’s future may be away from Stamford Bridge. Bertrand is desperate to be playing regular football and hasn’t ruled out staying at current club Aston Villa on a permanent basis.

“It’s flattering to hear what Jose Mourinho said but there’s no more waiting around for me in terms of wanting to be a Chelsea player.

“Come the summer I need to be the No.1 left-back, wherever that will be.

“I have ambitions but I have to be realistic as well. I will sit down and consider all my options.

“Staying here isn’t something I would rule out. I’ve had years of playing but since I was 17 I have been on loan, basically.

“I’ve spent the past few years at Chelsea, in and out of the team, and the experience I’ve gained from that is I’m happy just playing. That’s what it comes down to in football.

“If you’re getting the respect from your peers that you deserve, that means a lot.”

If Bertrand can become a regular, whether at Chelsea or another Premier League team, his ambitions could soon lead to him being a contender for the left back position in the England squad, although Brazil may come too soon for Bertrand and his international ambitions. His Premier League future is at the forefront of his mind and come the summer, Bertrand will decide whether he puts an end to his Chelsea career, or becomes a regular left back at Stamford Bridge.

Written By Kyle Farrington

Cabaye pleads with Hazard to move to Paris.

By

Ben Reardon

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Mar 26, 2014

Yohan Cabaye has urged Eden Hazard to join him at Chelsea in the summer.

Hazard has been superb for Chelsea this season, helping Mourinho’s men to the top of the Premiership table.

However, Cabaye wants to be reunited with Hazard, who he played with at Lille, and stated in the French press.

‘Who would I recruit if I was athletic director? Hazard is a player I would like to see at PSG.

‘It would do so much good in Paris and for the championship. He is one of the best players I’ve played against.’

He can make the difference at any time, can be dangerous every time he touches the ball.’

Hazard joined Chelsea, from Lille in 2012, and has been a real hit during his time at the Bridge.

By Ben Reardon

@BenReardon1

My best is yet to come, warns Sturridge

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Mar 26, 2014

Liverpool striker Daniel Sturridge has fired a warning to the rest of the Premier League by claiming he still hasn’t reached his best just yet.

The Reds striker has been superb for Brendan Rodgers since completing his move from Chelsea back in January 2013, scoring 33 goals in just 42 appearances, but he is still confident that he hasn’t shown what he’s really capable of.

Sturridge and co. are in a brilliant position to win their first ever Premier League title, and with both Sturridge’s former-team’s, Chelsea and Manchester City having to play at Anfield, confident is high within the Liverpool camp.

It has taken the English striker some time to settle into the Premier League, but after failing to impress at City and Chelsea, Sturridge finally believes he is ready to show the world what he can really do.

“Good things come to those who wait as they say,” Sturridge said.

“I’ve had to wait my time. I think that in the end all the things that I have been through in the past have helped me to get to where I am today.

“I thank Chelsea and Man City for what they have done for me in the past. It’s been an amazing journey so far and the journey hasn’t finished.”

Written by Alex Batt – @AlexBatt – @AlexsArticles

Arsene Wenger accepts title-race defeat

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Mar 26, 2014

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has accepted that his side are now out of this year’s Premier League title race.

The Gunners conceded a last minute equaliser to Swansea City last night at the Emirates Stadium which has left them way short in the race for the title, as Chelsea, Manchester City and Liverpool all continue their impressive end-of-season form.

Wenger was hopeful that his side could bounce back from the 6-0 drubbing at the hands of Chelsea at the weekend, but a Mathieu Flamini own-goal ended all hopes for Arsenal and their main aim is finishing fourth now as Everton and Tottenham look to close Wenger’s men down.

Arsenal are six points behind Chelsea, but are only six points ahead of Everton, who have a game in hand, and after last night’s 2-2 draw, Wenger admitted that they are looking over their shoulders rather than ahead of them.

“Winning the title isn’t our biggest worry at the moment because we have to be realistic,” said Wenger.

“Man City look unstoppable and are favourites because they have two games in hand. We have not much room to come back into it.

“We have to look behind us; of course, we also have to look in front of us, but as well behind us.

“Everton won, so we have to focus and prepare well for the next game. It will be open until the end, we can still have surprises.

“The result is very disappointing but the spirit we put in and the effort we put in was great. We have to take it on the chin.”

Written by Alex Batt – @AlexBatt – @AlexsArticles

Sagna set for Premier League stay, according to Inter president

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Mar 26, 2014

Arsenal defender Bacary Sagna could be set to leave the club in the Summer for free once his current contract expires, but according to Inter Milan president Erick Thohir, the French right-back wants to stay in England.

The president of the Italian side revealed earlier this week that he would love to sign the 31-year-old defender in order to strengthen his side and bring back the glory days at the club, but he has now hinted that the defender will remain in the Premier League, with Manchester City and Liverpool both linked with signing him.

The Gunners have offered Sagna two extensions, but have seen both declined due to not meeting Sagna’s demands, and Thohir has now revealed that Sagna has rejected the chance to hold talks with the Italian club as well.

“I think (Bacary) Sagna won’t arrive because he has decided to stay in the Premier League,” Thohir told reporters at Milan airport.

“Right now we only have (Yuto) Nagatomo and Jonathan. If one of them gets injured you need somebody else to come in.

“But we have to accept the fact he (Sagna) wants to stay in England. We understand and in that case we might bring in a young player from our academy.”

Written by Alex Batt – @AlexBatt – @AlexsArticles

Sir Alex Ferguson verbally abused by United fans for appointing David Moyes

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Mar 26, 2014

Manchester United supporters vented their anger at the former manager Sir Alex Ferguson at the end of the shambolic 3-0 derby defeat to Manchester City at Old Trafford. In the first signs of open revolt at David Moyes, fans furiously questioned Ferguson’s decision to appoint the Scot as his replacement.

With Moyes also receiving verbal abuse from supporters and stewards being asked to guard “The Chosen One” banner that hangs at the stadium’s Stretford End after the 167th Manchester derby, the ire shown towards Ferguson, who is a club director, will cause serious questions at boardroom level.

Moyes has consistently spoken of how the support has stood by him throughout his overseeing of a dismal title defence. This defeat guarantees United will end with their poorest ever points tally in the Premier League era, with their previous lowest being 75.

City took only 43 seconds to take the lead through Edin Dzeko, who also scored again in the 56th minute, before Yaya Touré sealed United’s humiliation with a third for City at the end. That provoked fans to target Ferguson as he sat in the directors’ box at the final whistle.

Written by Steve Milne

Suarez can surpass the greats of Liverpool

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Mar 26, 2014

The Uruguayan’s devastating form in a season that started in personal shame has seen him net 28 goals – which ties Fowler’s personal best from 1996 and is only six short of the Premier League record jointly held by Andy Cole and Alan Shearer.

In tandem, and more significantly, Liverpool have stormed into title contention and sit third, four points off Chelsea with a game in hand as they hunt their first title since 1990.

It is a staggering turnaround for a club that finished seventh in Brendan Rodgers’ first season – and likewise for the striker, who missed the first five games of the campaign for biting Chelsea’s Branislav Ivanovic.

Former Liverpool winger McManaman said: ‘He’s going to break Fowler’s record. He missed the first five games of the season and that suggests he will go down in Liverpool history.

‘If he takes them to the league title everybody will say he is the greatest centre forward ever (at Liverpool).

‘But Liverpool have been blessed with some centre forwards. You quickly forget but the fact that you are even talking about Suarez after only a couple of years at Liverpool in the same breath as

Robbie or Kenny or Rushy and you can go on and on shows how much he has learned at Liverpool and improved.

‘He had a great season last year but he has gone and bettered that playing fewer games.’

Suarez was agitating for a move away from Anfield last summer, but committed his future to the club in December by signing a new four-and-a-half year deal.

He is set to be the subject of significant interest again after this campaign, but McManaman is confident there will be no doubts over his future if Liverpool secure a Champions League spot.

‘I think he will stay,’ said McManaman, speaking in Kuala Lumpur ahead of the Laureus World Sports Awards.

‘He’s signed a new contract.

‘It’s important for superstars to play in the Champions League every week. It is the over-riding fact that they want to test themselves against the best players.

‘Liverpool are on the right track. If they finish suddenly finish sixth in the league there will be question marks but if they win the league or second or third and are in the Champions League there won’t be any assumptions about whether he stays or goes.

‘He will stay and it will be up to Liverpool whether they want to sell him rather than the other way round.’

Referring to Liverpool’s rapidly escalating prospects under Rodgers, McManaman said: ‘They are exciting, scoring goals, letting goals in, really playing entertaining football – that’s what we want to see.

‘Of course they can do it. It’s just that the strength of the squad and Chelsea and Manchester City have got real strength in depth.

‘Like Arsenal, everybody was expecting Liverpool during March to drop points but suddenly they go to Old Trafford and won, go to Cardiff and won and suddenly everybody starts to think that they are quietly chipping away.

‘Look, it would be great if they did (win the title) but it will be hard with Manchester City at Anfield, Chelsea at Anfield.

‘Anybody who has been involved with Liverpool does not expect miracles this year. You don’t expect to jump from seventh last year, 20 points behind Manchester United, to winning the league.

‘You just want progression and we have had it in bucketloads this year. And if Liverpool can qualify for the Champions League without having a qualifying game, finishing first or second, that would be even better. If they win the league that would be incredible.’

Written by Steve Milne

Suarez has been a model of brilliance

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Mar 26, 2014

Brendan Rodgers believes the rehabilitation of Luis Suarez’s image will be finally complete if he is crowned the PFA’s Player of the Year.

The Uruguay striker has been the standout performer in Liverpool’s campaign and he only needs one goal against Sunderland on Wednesday evening to break Robbie Fowler’s club record of 28 strikes in a Barclays Premier League season.

What has made Suarez’s achievements all the more remarkable is that he only played his first game in the league on September 29 at Sunderland, after he had returned from a 10-match ban for biting Chelsea defender Branislav Ivanovic.

Suarez certainly had something to prove, given that incident and the fact he agitated to leave Anfield last summer, but Liverpool manager Rodgers now believes the 27-year-old is more content than he has ever been – and warned that he expects him to improve further.

‘I think Luis was well on the way to winning (the PFA award) last season when he had that unfortunate incident, which may have curtailed that,’ said Rodgers.

‘But this year he has been a model of brilliance. If anything he has improved on that level this year.

‘I think it’s been nice for people to see the other side of him. People don’t see he is a real, quiet humble guy off the field who becomes a gladiator when he crosses the white line. A few people have seen the other side of him this year.

‘In this country we like to see good people doing well so certainly for him it would be a wonderful step forward in his life and his career if he gets it. He’s a real strong pillar of our team. He’s really dominant, that’s why I had no hesitancy making him skipper against Tottenham (in December).

‘Of course he makes me earn my money at times, but he is a good man and been incredible for Liverpool in my time here. He’s been brilliant for me, on and off the field. I’m not sure how the voting works, but if it’s down to the majority of football people, I’m sure they’d vote for Luis.

‘But listen, nothing surprises me. There are some outstanding players so you never know. (Eden) Hazard has been great, and of our own boys, Steven Gerrard has been brilliant, and Jordan Henderson. But Luis consistently, from when he came back into the team, has been remarkable.’

Suarez signed a long-term contract before Christmas and Liverpool will look to reward more of their players in the summer with similar new deals but Rodgers is confident the Uruguay international can be the club’s standard-bearer going forward.

‘I see him every day and he is settled,’ said Rodgers. ‘I think his aim was always to play for Liverpool in the Champions League and he has fought so hard in order to help us do that. Hopefully we can continue on the right path and he can continue to play a big part in that.

‘I look at the squad we want and we won’t be losing any, we will be looking to add. There is a real exciting mix there and hopefully it can see us challenging for a number of years.’

Written by Steve Milne

Real Madrid interested in Southampton star

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Mar 26, 2014

According to reports in Italy, Spanish side Real Madrid are showing interest in Southampton starlet Luke Shaw.

The 18-year-old, who has made a real impression in his first Premier League season, is already being monitored by Premier League trio; Manchester United, Liverpool and Chelsea, but it now appears that interest in him has gone global as Madrid prepare to make a Summer bid for his services.

Reports suggest that Shaw is attracting interest from Madrid, while his team-mate, Adam Lallana, is wanted by Jose Mourinho’s Chelsea.

Sky Italia’s Gianluca Di Marzio had this to say on the reports: ‘Big clubs are interested in Southampton’s jewels. Real Madrid is pursuing wingback Luke Shaw, born in 1995, while Chelsea is strongly interested in Adam Lallana. Both players have very high valuations, each around 30 million euros (£25m), the clubs interested have been warned.’

Southampton have made it clear that they do not want to be selling their star-players, but if big time formal offers come in, it would be hard to reject.

Written by Alex Batt – @AlexBatt – @AlexsArticles

Olivier Giroud is staying, claims agent

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Mar 26, 2014