I was watching the FA Cup game between Liverpool and Everton last night. Besides the great goal from Steven Gerrard, I also noticed how good Liverpool FC clothing looks like.

The picture below is taken from fcfootballblog.com/liverpool-football-shirts where you can also read a great post and review about liverpool football kit.

Liverpool football kit

Barcelona midfielder Xavi is set to pledge his future to Barcelona and has hinted that he wants to finish his career at Nou Camp. Xavi has been at the club all of his life and seems to enjoy the development of the club. Barca top the table and have started La Liga in the best fashion.

Barcelona are very keen to keep the superstar in Barcelona and club president Joan Laporta states: ‘For us, he is a key player and is an example to every youngster that we have in the youth ranks’.

One key factor seems to be that Xavi never complains, he symbolizes Barcelona in many ways and is a role model for youngsters. Laporta continues: ‘I think that Xavi only has Barça as an option at the moment. He knows that we will do everything that we can, and perhaps even a little bit more, because we are talking about one of our own youth team products.’

Negotiations will start in the coming weeks between the two parties.

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

Paolo Maldini was born in June 26, 1968 in Milan, Italy.

He was handed his debut in 1985 by Sweden and AC Milan legend Nils Liedholm (manager of Milan at that time). The sixteen year old came in as a left back and continued to play there for the rest of his career, although he was deployed as a centre back in later years.

Famous for wearing the #3 shirt this Italian legend is one of very few players who have only played for one club all of their career. In 1988 he won his first scudetto with Milan and the success continued with Milan’s amazing back four with general Baresi, Costacurta, Tassotti and Maldini.

Maldini is the first ever defender to win the World Player of the Year Award (World Soccer magazine). With his precise tackles and exceptional reading of the game he lead Milan to many victories. He also captained both Milan and the Italian national team for many years.

Among the records he holds, we may name: 8 Champions League finals and seven scudettos. He is also a tremendous person on and off the pitch, making him popular among rival teams as well as referees. His unusally few yellow cards prove his clean record and he has donated a lot of money to different charities in Italy and abroad. All these attributes made him a natural leader and Milan player Gennaro Gattuso describes him well: He’s a true leader, he never raises his voice and he never shouts at anyone. Even away from the pitch, Paolo’s the kind of guy who never loses his temper.

His best moments are many and include Champions League gold medals and scudettos but also World Club Cup medal and reaching a Euro final with Italy as well as a bronze medal in 1990 World Cup and a silver medal in the penalties loss to Brazil in the World Cup of 1994 in the USA.

His love for AC Milan cannot be mistaken, and he states himself: ‘I was already playing in the first team at just 16 years of age. Everything happened so quickly I didn’t have time to realise what was going on,” he says. “I’m proud to have been at this club since I was 10 and proud to be the only player here born in Milan. For someone born and bred in this city, playing for Milan is really special’.

He has reached the age of 40 now and is still playing for Milan. Voices have been heard claiming he should wait with his retirement until Christian (his twelve year old son) grows up. Adriano Galliani, Milan transfer guru comments: “What would be perfect, would be if he could wait until his son starts playing before calling it a day.”

No matter when he retires Milan prepare to retire his #3 jersey forever or until when and if Christian Maldini makes it into the first team…

N.B Paolo Maldini has also been awarded a “knight’s medal” in Italiy for his contributions in different areas.

What a legend, what a man and what a role model!

Honours:
7 League Titles
5 UEFA Champions League
2 European/South American Cups
5 UEFA Supercups
1 Italian Cup
5 League Supercups
1 FIFA Club World Cup

Owen Hargreaves is out for the rest of the season after undergoing a surgery on his right knee. Manchester United have been without Hargreaves for two months and now pressure rises on Paul Scholes to return to the first team. Ironically Scholes is also out with a knee injury.

Sir Alex Ferguson wants to compete on several fronts and his side will go through many challenges in the few next months if they are to keep up with Chelsea and Liverpool at the top.

——————————————————————
Simultaneously Cristiano Ronaldo is trying to negotiate a salary increase to make him one of the best paid footballers of the world. Ronaldo himself thinks he deserves a pay rise, especially since scoring 42 goals in all competitions last year.

Outsider: Jamie Carragher - Liverpool. The work rate of this guy and his tremendous tackles and positioning are on the spot. Carragher is a true professional and unfortunately he doesn’t deserve his due credit. His off-pitch engagements for poverty and local schools gives him an extra plus.

Here’s the list of the 10 best central defenders in the world TODAY.

10. Maldini - a living legend, an active legend, such an intelligence and positioning on the pitch

9. Carvalho - Superp defender who together with John Terry built the Chelsea Wall.

8. Ferdinand - has still got the speed and air prowess.

7. Marquez - such a morale in each single game - makes him a dream for every manager

6. Nesta - Alessandro Nesta has over and over again with his perfect tackles shown that despite his injuries he is still one of the absolutely best defenders in the world.

5. Ramos - The Real Madrid player will probably be one of the top-three defenders of the world. His major set-back is that he is a bit reckless in various situations. Time is on his side though…

4. Terry - The English giant is worth gold for Scolari and has proven his qualities both in Europe and in the Premier League.

3. Vidic - Totally deserves his position as the 3rd best defender in the world. His work rate is tremendous and he never complains. Sir Alex Ferguson should be a happy manager…

2. Puyol - A true fighter, a lion’s heart really. Ever present to rescue his attacking team. An enormous giant who’s doing almost a two man’s work. Is at his peak at the moment.

1. Fabio Cannavaro - Splendid at the 2006 World Cup but has also taken Real Madrid to a next level. He is also the main driving force that has made Sergio Ramos such a great defender. Fabio is a true footballer, with a good heart on and off the pitch. We all started to play football because we loved the game. Not many players keep that love throughout their career but Cannavaro has done it for many years. With his tackles, heading skills and determination and pace makes him certainly the best defender in the world.

//Footie Source

Chelsea - Liverpool 0-1
Goal: Alonso 10′

Chelsea’s 4 year home record broken…

Tottenham - Bolton 2-0
Goals: Pavlyuchenko 17′, Bent 76′
Harry Redknapp’s first game in charge

Man City - Stoke 3-0
Goals: Robinho 14′,47′,72′
Hattrick and honeymoon over for Stoke?

West Ham - Arsenal 0-2
Goals: own goal 75′, Adebayor 90′
Zola back on earth again (he should be, Cole sent off as well)…

Wigan - Aston Villa 0-4
Goals: Barry 22′ (pen), Agbonlahor 57′, Carew 62′, Sidwell 90′
Embarrassing Wigan…

Delight-of-the-Day: Liverpool ending Chelsea’s unbelievable record

Hot #1: Robinho - hat-trick and starting to pay back for those £32 millions

Hot #2: Liverpool - the team is showing real quality especially since they have been without Torres…

Hot #3: Redknapp - not Jamie but his father, Mr Harry Redknapp will give stability to Spurs

Icy #1: Newcastle - somebody knows what they do? Anyone?

Icy #2: Wigan, 0-4?????

BACK?!!!

Now let us rewind the tape back to 2003! Ronaldinho’s brother Roberto helped him from Gremio to Paris SG in the French league a couple years earlier. And now, 2003, Roberto was again instrumental in the way to handle the situation to bring his brother to Barcelona. Man Utd were after the young superstar. The brothers were convinced that the tempo and technique of the La Liga would suit Ronaldinho better than the Premier League. And off they went - to Barcelona.

5 years of success, brilliant football and superb goals included also some TV ads, drinks and late nights at different pubs (at least in later years). Was the smile vanishing? Was that all? 5 years of entertainment? Was Ronnie getting tired of all that money? Or was it all a huge mastermind plan, a plan produced by a certain brother? We all now and they have not made any secret of it: Ronaldinho wanted to play for Italian giants Milan. The problem would only be that he would never be allowed to leave for less than 100-150 million Euros. At least!!!

Most players need to be in form to produce. There are players relying on fitness and other skills to play good football, such as pace or determination. But Ronaldinho was born with football as a second mother and he was graced with the gift of football. He didn’t play good last year. That is an obvious thing you would say. But my point is that he didn’t ACT well either. Ronaldinho is the worst actor I’ve seen. Not to patronise the guy. He is one my great idols. When Ronaldinho doesn’t play well it is like the ball isn’t round anymore. It all looks weird and artificial. He didn’t even run as he used to. He didn’t even pass the ball as he used to. It all looked crazy and annoying at times.

He looked tired when he should’ve had heaps of energy left. He looked pale and uninterested. He looked boring when he has been the football entertainment #1 last five years. So when Ronaldinho doesn’t play good, something is wrong. With a huge W.

Plan: “Destination Milan”.
Commence date: 2007-08-01
Target date: 2008-06-01
Completion date: 2008-07-17

A bit later than Roberto expected but still, he landed. The hero, the man, the idol, the Milanese heart.
Fitness levels low! Motivation unknown! But those factors are rather human than problematic.
Fitness coaches at Milanello have worked hard last few months. Now it is time to see the old young Ronaldinho.

He is blessed with a technical genius that we can see in only one more player, Kaká. Messi is still a couple years adrift (time is on his side though). Ronaldinho scores goals again and he plays fantastic football again. Ronaldinho is finally Milanese - he has got what he wanted. Some would say it is too early to determine whether he is back again, altough he scored 2 goals against Sampdoria in the weekend. A couple of months more and he will produce the magics. Next season he should be back to top-form, very much according to schedule (World Cup is 2010 next time).

Was it all worth it? For Ronaldinho and Milan it was! At least he is smiling again…

Sir Alex Ferguson is without a doubt the most successful manager in Champions League. He has 74 wins (before the game against Aalborg) in the competition while Ottmar Hitzfeld, who is in the second place, has “only” 47 wins.

Here is the list of 10 most successful managers in Champions League:

WINS, MANAGERS, GAMES

74 Alex Ferguson, 141

47 Ottmar Hitzfeld, 95

46 Arsène Wenger, 106

43 Carlo Ancelotti, 89

42 Louis van Gaal, 68

38 Fabio Capello, 77

38 Marcello Lippi, 76

34 Vicente del Bosque, 60

33 Rafael Benítez, 61

26 Héctor Cúper, 52

Chelsea - Aston Villa 2-0
Goals: Joe Cole 21′, Nicolas Anelka 43′

Tottenham - Hull 0-1
Goal: Geovanni 9′

Portsmouth - Stoke 2-1
Goals Portsmouth: Crouch 25′, Defoe 51′
Goal Stoke: Fuller 45′

Manchester City - Liverpool 2-3
Goals Man City: Ireland 19′, Garrido 42′
Goals Liverpool: Torres 55′, 73′, Kuyt 90′

Everton - Newcastle 2-2:
Goals Everton: Arteta (pen) 18′, Fellaini 35′
Goals Newcastle: Taylor 45′, Duff 46′