Liverpool 0 Tottenham Hotspur 2: match report

Party pooper: Rafael van der Vaart (centre) is congratulated by his Tottenham Hotspur team-mates after the Dutchman put his side ahead after just nine minutes at Anfield
Photo: GETTY IMAGES


By Rory Smith, Anfield
Last Updated: 10:54PM BST 15/05/2011

Read a full match report of the Premier League game between Liverpool and Tottenham Hotspur at Anfield on Sunday May 15 2011.

Rarely can a poisoned chalice have been so fiercely contested.

Liverpool have long aspired to the Europa League as the only coronation gift available to Kenny Dalglish; Tottenham Hotspur have long scorned it as an unwelcome consolation. Seeing their Thursday nights booked up is hardly a prize either will treasure; both fought until their last breath to earn the right to complain, long and loud, next season.

Spurs are worthy of what will, if they beat Birmingham next week, be their place in Europe, although justice was only done in the most unjust of circumstances. They deserve it for this display and this season. They started brightly, endured a predictable dip and ended on a high. Both in this display and in this season.

But that their guests are better prepared, equipped and suited to an autumn of far-flung travel will not assuage Liverpool’s anger. Dalglish’s side fell behind to a fortuitous opener from Rafael van der Vaart and they lost thanks to the sort of decision which would have sent Ryan Babel scrambling to Photoshop.

Even Spurs seemed taken aback to see Howard Webb point to the spot when John Flanagan and Steven Pienaar’s shoulders collided outside the box. There was no intent from either party; Webb’s decision, and Luka Modric’s coolness, certainly spoiled one.

“I’m not here to sponsor the FA,” Dalglish said. “It is just unhelpful to everyone that we cannot express our true thoughts and it’s even more disappointing that the officials get away scot-free without having to come and explain their decisions.”

That anger was manifest in the Scot’s fans and players, too. On this of all days, when Dalglish was unveiled to a deafening roar as the club’s permanent manager, when Fenway Sports Group, the owners who have done so much to steer Anfield back on course, were present. Little wonder Pepe Reina, Lucas and Martin Skrtel were so ruthless in dealing with a streaker. It was no laughing matter.

Yet hindsight will tell them that sixth place, after the start to their season, is a feat. It will tell them that Spurs deserved this, Webb or no Webb. It will tell them, too, that for all Redknapp’s insistence that he has no interest in the Champions League’s ugly sister, he knows – to misquote Ian Holloway – that it is better to go home at the end of the night with someone, rather than all alone.

“I scared them into it,” the Spurs manager said. “I told them that if we qualified through the Fair Play league, we’d be back playing in June. We are not fighting for the Europa League. We are fighting for fifth, because you want to finish as high as you can.”

It worked. Spurs started excellently, pressing high, suffocating their hosts. Van der Vaart’s opener, volleyed in off Glen Johnson, was ample reward.

Andy Carroll missed the best chance of the half by ballooning a Skrtel cross over, while Luis Suárez, usually electrifying, offered the Kop the odd jolt rather than full charge.

When Webb intervened, Liverpool could not muster a response. Anfield will not be blessed with Europe next season. Spurs, now that they are there, may not appreciate it, but Liverpool will tell them that, even with poisoned chalices, you do not know what you’ve got until it’s gone.

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Arsenal 1 Aston Villa 2: match report

Double delight: Darren Bent scored two first-half goals as Aston Villa beat Arsenal at the Emirates
Photo: ACTION IMAGES


By John Ley, Emirates Stadium
Last Updated: 10:55PM BST 15/05/2011

Read a full match preview of the Premier League game between Arsenal and Aston Villa at the Emirates Stadium on Sunday May 15 2011.

It was described as a lap of appreciation but it was more like a walk of shame around a near-deserted Emirates Stadium as Arsenal finished their home programme with another embarrassing defeat that could leave them having to qualify for the Champions League.

Arsenal conceded two goals in the opening 15 minutes to the rampant Darren Bent and could drop to fourth place on Tuesday night if Manchester City beat Stoke.

“It’s very disappointing,” Arsène Wenger admitted. “We were caught by a very bad start. We dropped three points that could cost us automatic qualification for the Champions League. It will be a big setback [if they have to qualify] but we will adapt our preparation to it.”

Of the 'lap of appreciation’ in front of as few as 15,000 patient fans, the Frenchman insisted: “It was not embarrassing, it was our job to thank the fans and you never have to be embarrassed when you do your job. It was not through glory but no matter what kind of result happened you have to respect your fans.”

Arsenal were missing key players, including captain Cesc Fabregas, who has been ruled out for three to four weeks with a thigh injury, meaning that he misses the final-day trip to Fulham and Spanish international action.

But even the inclusion of Fabregas may not have prevented this poor performance. The home supporters booed their team off at the interval and again at full-time and in between they responded to the controversial 6.5 per cent season-ticket price rise for next season by singing: “Six per cent, you’re having a laugh.”

And Villa were having a chuckle early on, taking an 11th-minute lead through Bent. When Stiliyan Petrov sent the ball high over the Arsenal defence Bent was unmarked. The England striker was played onside by Sébastien Squillaci but still had much to do as he chested the ball before volleying it into the top corner.

Four minutes later, James Collins’ low pass sent Ashley Young forward, and his ball past the returning Thomas Vermaelen handed Bent the chance to claim a second, which he took with a neat finish.

Arsenal responded and could have had a penalty when Aaron Ramsey was brought down by Richard Dunne, while Robin Van Persie hit the post.

At half-time Wenger replaced Squillaci, with Alex Song moving into defence and replacement Marouane Chamakh going into attack. But the change offered little improvement.

Chamakh did have the ball in the net but was harshly penalised for a push on Kyle Walker. A consolation goal arrived in the final minute, predictably from Van Persie, claiming his 20th goal in 22 games in 2011. Sadly, his team-mates have failed to maintain such consistency.

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Chelsea 2 Newcastle United 2: match report

Last gasp: Steven Taylor celebrates after scoring Newcastle's late equaliser at Stamford Bridge
Photo: AP


By Telegraph staff and agencies
Last Updated: 4:44PM BST 15/05/2011

Read a full match report of the Premier League game between Chelsea and Newcastle United at Stamford Bridge on Sunday May 15 2011.

Carlo Ancelotti's new-look Chelsea looked anything but challengers for next season's Premier League title as they threw away victory against Newcastle.

In what could be his final home game in charge, Ancelotti's team selection very much appeared to have the new campaign in mind and it looked promising when Branislav Ivanovic scored inside two minutes.

But Jonas Gutierrez soon levelled after unwittingly deflecting in Ryan Taylor's free-kick and although Alex headed the Blues back in front late on, Steven Taylor snatched a draw at the death.

After seeing Manchester United depose them as champions yesterday, this afternoon's game was Chelsea's chance to lay down a marker for next season as they paraded their new home kit.

Despite appearing resigned to losing his job in the summer, Ancelotti's line-up reflected this as he made several changes, including starting Fernando Torres, Yossi Benayoun and Josh McEachran.

And despite Ancelotti's protestations that they could play together, he decided against pairing Didier Drogba with Torres.

It took the new-look Chelsea less than 10 minutes to open their account, Frank Lampard's corner flicked on by Torres for Ivanovic to volley home.

The home side continued to dominate as Roman Abramovich watched on from the Stamford Bridge directors' box.

But they undid the good work in the ninth minute when Alex gave the ball straight to Peter Lovenkrands and John Terry tripped the striker, earning a booking.

Making a rare start, Ryan Taylor struck the free-kick, which took a huge deflection off Gutierrez and flew past the wrong-footed Petr Cech.

If that was unlucky for Chelsea, they were fortunate in the 16th minute when Shola Ameobi beat Cech in the air and the striker's goalbound header was cleared.

The hosts also enjoyed a let-off when Ramires lunged horribly at Danny Simpson but failed to earn even a booking.

A crucial interception from Alex cut out a dangerous Shane Ferguson cross, while Ryan Taylor went close to deflecting the ball into his own net at the other end after Ashley Cole's centre sparked panic.

But as the half wore on, Chelsea began to look like a side that had not played together before as Newcastle more than matched them.

The hosts' passing was sloppy, while Torres' inability to hold the ball up was not helping and it appeared only a matter of time before Drogba entered the fray.

Torres wasted a good crossing chance immediately after the restart as his touch began to desert him, with any confidence he might have gained from ending his goal drought last month appearing to have evaporated.

Cole saw a header deflected behind and Ramires flashed wide from 30 yards, although Newcastle remained a threat and Gutierrez looped a header straight into Cech's arms and also curled too close to the goalkeeper from 25 yards.

Lampard had just been booked for going straight through the back of Joey Barton and Ivanovic soon followed suit for tripping the impressive Ferguson.

The resulting Taylor free-kick was clutched by Cech, despite the looming presence of Ameobi.

With a little more than 25 minutes remaining, Ancelotti abandoned his experiment, introducing Drogba, Florent Malouda and Michael Essien for McEachran, Ramires and Benayoun.

Newcastle then lost Ferguson to injury, Kazenga LuaLua coming on.

A brilliant Drogba free-kick evaded everyone and Simpson was carded for a foul on Essien as Chelsea tried to crank up the pressure.

Cole made a hash of a glorious Drogba lay-off before Terry headed over under pressure.

Newcastle introduced Nile Ranger for Gutierrez and they went close themselves when Lovenkrands' overhead kick screwed off target, the forward immediately replaced by Ameobi's younger brother Samuel.

But that 83rd-minute change came during a Chelsea free-kick which set up the home side's second goal, Lampard crossing and Alex leaping above Tim Krul to head home and net for the first time since October.

Ryan Taylor almost levelled in stoppage-time before namesake Steven did, taking advantage of slack marking to nod in Ranger's header back across goal.

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Fulham 2-5 Liverpool: Reds romp to easy win in west London

By Michael Wade
Monday, May 9


Liverpool’s resurgent end of season form continued apace as they brushed Fulham aside to win 5-2 and leapfrog Spurs into fifth place.

With fifteen goals in the last five matches and no defeats Kenny Dalglish’s in form side are ending the season with a real flourish and the Cottagers were just the latest team on the receiving end as Liverpool flew into a 3-0 lead within 16 ferocious first-half minutes.

Maxi struck twice in the first seven minutes to claim his fifth and sixth goals in the last three games, the first coming within the opening minute after a defensive scramble saw the ball fall invitingly to him inside the six-yard box.

The second was slightly harder as the Argentinian headed in Glen Johson’s right-wing cross from a tight angle, and before Mark Schwarzer had recovered from the double blow he was dealt a third as he let Dirk Kuyt’s speculative effort slip through his hands.

Fulham recovered for the early part of the second-half and attempted to fight back, Moussa Dembele’s precise 57th minute finish beating Pepe Reina but further goals from Maxi, to complete his hat-trick, and Luis Suarez completed a memorable night in west London.

Steve Sidwell struck a second consolation in the 86th minute, casually shooting into the top corner from the edge of the box. That result leaves Fulham tenth.


- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

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