Manchester City to win the title this season? The bookmakers generally believe that they are in with a chance, with some placing them 3rd favourites after Chelsea and Man Utd. Having them being favoured over Arsenal is rather surprising, considering Manchester City have never finished above Arsenal in the league in the Premiership era. However, with the big money signings such as Silva, Yaya Toure, and Balotelli and Milner looking to be on the way, they have nearly spent more money than the rest of the premiership combined.

City missed out on 4th last season in the last week of the season, and with the high quality additions they have added qualifying for the champions league is a minimum. Not too many pundits or fans alike are expecting them to lift the illustrious trophy come May. Finishing above rivals Man Utd would be a dream come true for all city fans, but a dream that is not likely to happen this season. Most people will be surprised if the trophy went to someone other than Chelsea or Man Utd.

The last time it wasn’t won by them was back in 2004, where Arsenal didn’t lose a league game all season. There is also debate over whether Man City can actually gel as a real team – in the past we have seen Real Madrid and Chelsea in their early years not being able to play the fantasy soccer they would have wanted to play as they piled a bunch of stars on the field. Instead it took years to get the formula right and turn these teams into world class challengers. If Man City get the formula right, with the class they have in their team, there is no doubt they can play the exquisite football needed to quality for European competitions and even challenge for the Premier League title.

Newcastle striker Michael Owen is still thinking about whether to sign a new contract or not at Newcastle. However it all seems very obvious he is stalling on a new deal only to be free agent next summer. The injury struck player seems to be wanting out of St. James´ Park and is heading south.

Potential clubs include former club Liverpool, Arsenal, Chelsea and Manchester City.
Liverpool would seem the ideal club for the Kop and Michael Owen himself (having his family in the area still). Chelsea would like to sign a striker in January and having the buying power they could snap Owen in January already for a smaller fee. That move would certainly irritate other interested clubs waiting for Owen to see out his contract until next summer. However, Frank Lampard has stated that although Owen is a great player he thinks Chelsea have got enough strikers at the club already.

Manchester City and Arsenal need an experienced player but the question is would Owen choose another club instead of Liverpool? We believe Owen will choose Liverpool, knowing he could well be third or even fourth in the pecking order at Anfield. A move to Merseyside would feel like home to him and the Liverpool physios are famous for treating players in an exceptional way.

The conclusion is that Newcastle have finally understood that Michael Owen is not going to sign a new deal and he will sign for a club in the south. Our shot is Liverpool. Only time will tell though…

Saturday:

Aston Villa - Fulham 0 - 0
Middlesbrough - Newcastle 0 - 0
Stoke - Hull 1 - 1
Sunderland - Bolton 1 - 4
Wigan - West Brom 2 - 1

Sunday

Manchester City - Manchester Utd 0 - 1
Portsmouth - Blackburn 3 - 2
Tottenham - Everton 0 - 1
Chelsea - Arsenal 1 - 2

Monday

Liverpool - West Ham 0 - 0

Brazilian playmaker and Milan superstar Ricardo Kaká has been quoted as wanting to play for Manchester City. Kaká told the media he was impressed by English football, just ahead of the clash against Portsmouth. The Brazilian wouldn’t be alone in the team as Robinho and Elano already at the club.

Not many would believe such a move would become a reality, although one should not forget Robinho signed for City, Tevez once signed for West Ham…

In football everything is possible but Kaká in City? Hm…. we’ll give it an honouring 10% chance!

Arsenal captain William Gallas has done it again. Sink into deep water that is. Last month this “captain” was caught by a photographer leaving a nightclub with a cigarette in his mouth, resulting in a two-week fine. This guy is supposed to be a role model for teenagers in the world of football but also someone to look up to at the Arsenal training ground.

This time…. he insults his own players. Perhaps you’d say “oh come on, as usual media is exaggerating”. Well not this time though. Gallas talked to the media for a long long time, basically insulting his mates in every sentence.

Gallas tries to explain the problems at Arsenal:

“There comes a time where we can no longer comprehend how this can happen. I am trying to defend myself a bit without giving names. Otherwise I’m taking all the blame. It’s very frustrating. I’m 31, the player is six years younger than me.”

And on…

“Big contracts — which Arsenal’s teenage players have now and United’s starlets waited years for — may be a factor. That makes the difference, perhaps. You can rest on your laurels, that’s for sure. The problem is that the Manchester youngsters have been through something, they have won something.

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger is really put under pressure now. Gallas should loose his captaincy and probably his place in the team as well. Not based on his comments only but because he is trying to force a way out of Arsenal. Not long ago he angered Gunners fans by stating he would like to move to France and play for a big club (uhm how many big clubs are there in France?)…

Yare yare (well well) as they say in Japanese, I mean surely Gallas is behaving in a natural manner.
Of course if I was a dreaming human being, coming from a difficult and poor background and all I wanted was to play football, and then I get this chance to play in Chelsea and then TO CAPTAIN ARSENAL FC, of course I would want to leave for a French team… surely you agree!

Liverpools official web page interviews club captain Steven Gerrard on his Top 5 games.

Here you can read what the superstar and Kop hero answers…

#5
I’m going to go for this season’s derby triumph over Everton at Goodison Park. We controlled the game from start to finish, thoroughly deserved our victory, and could have won by more than two goals. It’s always a great feeling to beat Everton and that’s why this game - because we were so dominant - has to be in my list.

#4
The 2001 FA Cup final when Michael Owen pulled it out of the bag for us when it looked as though we were going to lose. At one stage it looked like we’d have to settle for a runners-up medal because Arsenal had been the better side on the day and were deservedly ahead, but Michael was the hero and got us out of trouble with two bits of magic.

#3
I have to include another FA Cup final - this time the victory over West Ham two years ago. To be honest I thought we’d win the game comfortably but they made life really difficult for us and in the end we had to settle for penalties. I know I scored the two goals and that it has been labelled the ‘Gerrard final’, but that’s unfair on the rest of the team. I scored the goals and may have got the man of the match award on the day, but we did it together.

#2
The 2001 UEFA Cup final win over Alaves is a game none of us will ever forget. Before the match I was really confident it would be very straightforward because, on paper at least, we were a lot stronger than they were. But that’s football. It was a great game to play in and a great result in the end.

#1
There’s no other game I could select than the 2005 Champions League final. To be three goals down and come back to lift the trophy was amazing. I’ve seen the highlights many times since on the television and it’s always brilliant to watch.

//Thanks to liverpoolfc.tv

Inter Milan striker Hernan Crespo is according to the Italian and Spanish newspapers on his way to Madrid club.

Real Madrid is looking for a striker after receiving the news that Ruud van Nistelrooy is out for a season and Crespo is a top target. It is believed that his agent will fly out to Madrid for a talk with sports director Mijatovic in a matter of days.

Other names that are being mentioned are Andrei Arshavin, Didier Drogba, Mario Gomez, Vagner Love, Mirko Vucinic.

Everton - Middlesbrough 1-1

Just as we predicted, Everton and Middlesbrough shared the points at Goodison Park in an early encounter. Everton should be happy Yakubu was back in the starting XI to save the face of Moyes. In the first half Gary O’Neill had shocked the Blues with a finish in the bottom right corner in the 8th minute already.

Everton fought their way back into a fairly even game, had a possession of 64% and 11 corners against 1 for Middlesbrough. Everton super hero Yakubu was assisted by Mikel Arteta and scored the equalizer in the 65th minute from a very close range. Yakubu was substituted in the dying minutes and the match ended 1-1.

Let’s say Middlesbrough were a bit more happy with a point than Europe aiming Everton.

We start off with the Premier League…

Two games are to be played today. An early clash at Goodison Park 13.30 CET between Everton and Middlesbrough. Yakubu returns for this important Sunday clash.

Our tip: 1-1, it should be a close fight for places up the table

The later fixture is at 16.00 CET. Hull City host a falling Manchester City side as pressure piles on Mark Hughes to start producing. Hull on the other side need to keep on winning at home soil as their honey moon seems to be over. The Tigers should be able to shake an inconsistent Man City side.

Our tip: 2-1, a tough game to predict but with players such as Robinho on the pitch there should be goals at least.

——————-
Serie A

Siena - Bologna
Atalanta - Napoli
Cagliari - Fiorentina
Udinese - Reggina
Catania - Torino
Milan - Chievo
Sampdoria - Lecce

The interesting game will take place at the Olimpico in the eternal city of Rome.
Roma - Lazio!!!

There is an incredible 15 point gap between the two Rome teams and Lazio have produced fine results in the Serie A to climb up to an honouring 5th spot in the table. Roma however have done the opposite and Spaletti is under huge pressure despite winning against Chelsea in the Champions League.
You know how a derby works… the league table counts for nothing and it will be a very interesting match indeed… As usual when it comes to a Rome derby.

Our tip: 2-1, Roma must win this game for the players to dare show themselves at the training ground on Monday.

——————
La Liga

As we stated last night, Real Madrid crashed away to Valladolid and leaves room for Barcelona to extend their gap to the capital team. Fixtures of Sunday:

Almeria - Mallorca
Getafe - Sevilla
Real Betis - Rac Santander
Espanyol - Numancia
Malaga - Villarreal
Atl Madrid - La Coruna
Bilbao - Osasuna
Recreativo - Barcelona

Tricky games for top teams Barcelona and Villareal…

————
One Bundesliga fixture

Werder Bremen - FC Cologne
Werder need a win to start show their true worth…they have been a dissapointment so far…

May the best teams win…or draw…

Bolton - Liverpool 0-2
Liverpool are back on track again after losing 4-2 to Tottenham in the League Cup.
0-1 Aurelio assisted Kuyt who scored a header. 0-2 Torres assisted Gerrard, header again.

Fulham - Tottenham 2-1
Spurs goalkeeper Gomez’ howler cost Harry Redknapp’s side dearly.
Tottenham back on earth again

Blackburn - Sunderland 1-2
Samba put Blackburn ahead in front of 22000 at Ewood Park.
A magnificent comeback by Sunderland and a superb finish by Cissé eased the pressure on Keane.

West Ham - Portsmouth 0-0
31 shots in the game and still 0-0. A striker for sale anyone?

Man Utd - Stoke 5-0
Two free-kick goals by Ronaldo and a superb one from youngster Welbeck.
Carrick and Berbatov (his first) also scored to help trash poor little Stoke.

Newcastle - Wigan 2-2
3 goals in the last 10 minutes made this game a bit more interesting than it really was.
Newcastle dominated the game but Bramble clinched a point for Wigan.
Good news for England, Michael Owen scored one…

Arsenal - Aston Villa 0-2
Even though Villa missed a penalty they shocked Wenger and all of the British people with a superb showing. O’Neill is starting to show his real genius. Agbonlahor was amazing. Arsenal wasn’t…

West Bromwich - Chelsea 0-3
Hot as red iron Anelka produces another splendid performance for Chelsea.
Scolari must be a happy man. Two goals from the irrational Frenchman this time…
Chelsea still on top of the league.