Friday, October 30, 2009

Man Utd make Fabio booking appeal

Twins Fabio and Rafael da Silva
Fabio da Silva (left) was booked rather than brother Rafael

Manchester United have asked the Football Association to overturn the yellow card shown to Fabio da Silva against Barnsley in the Carling Cup.

Da Silva was booked by Chris Foy for a foul on Jamal Campbell-Ryce but the offender was his twin brother Rafael.

The FA confirmed it has been approached by the Old Trafford side and the submission will be heard by a regulatory commission on Tuesday.

The Brazilian twins, 19, helped United win 2-0 to reach the quarter-finals.

However, the holders finished the game with 10 men after Foy sent off Gary Neville for clattering into Adam Hammill.

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England quartet up for Fifa award

2008 winner Cristiano Ronaldo
Ronaldo is in the running to win the award for a second successive year

England stars John Terry, Steven Gerrard, Frank Lampard and Wayne Rooney have all been shortlisted for the Fifa World Player of the Year award.

The quartet are among 23 players in the running to win the prize, with the winner revealed on 21 December.

Barcelona's Lionel Messi is the strong favourite ahead of last year's winner Cristiano Ronaldo, now at Real Madrid.

There are also 10 nominees for the Fifa Women's World Player, including England striker Kelly Smith.

Six Spaniards have been shortlisted for the men's award and six from Champions League winners Barcelona, including midfield duo Xavi and Andres Iniesta as well as Messi.

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Liverpool's Fernando Torres is in the running, as are Chelsea trio Michael Ballack, Didier Drogba and Michael Essien.

The prizes are voted for by the captains and head coaches of the men's and women's national teams and at the beginning of December Fifa will announce the names of the five men and five women who have received the most votes.

The winners will then be revealed at the 19th Fifa World Player Gala at the Zurich Kongresshaus on Monday 21 December.

Nominees for 2009 Fifa World Player of the Year award:

Michael Ballack (Germany), Chelsea
Gianluigi Buffon (Italy), Juventus
Iker Casillas (Spain), Real Madrid
Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal), Real Madrid
Diego (Brazil), Juventus
Didier Drogba (Ivory Coast), Chelsea
Michael Essien (Ghana), Chelsea
Samuel Eto'o (Cameroon), Inter Milan
Steven Gerrard (England), Liverpool
Thierry Henry (France), Barcelona
Zlatan Ibrahimovic (Sweden), Barcelona
Andres Iniesta (Spain), Barcelona
Kaka (Brazil), Real Madrid
Frank Lampard (England), Chelsea
Luis Fabiano (Brazil), Sevilla
Lionel Messi (Argentina), Barcelona
Carles Puyol (Spain), Barcelona
Franck Ribery (France), Bayern Munich
Wayne Rooney (England), Manchester United
John Terry (England), Chelsea
Fernando Torres (Spain), Liverpool
David Villa (Spain), Valencia
Xavi (Spain), Barcelona

Nominees for 2009 Fifa Women's World Player of the Year:

Nadine Angerer (Germany)
Sonia Bompastor (France)
Cristiane (Brazil)
Inka Grings (Germany)
Mana Iwabuchi (Japan)
Simone Laudehr (Germany)
Marta (Brazil)
Birgit Prinz (Germany)
Kelly Smith (England)
Abby Wambach (USA)

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Man Utd v Blackburn

Barclays Premier League
Venue: Old Trafford Date: Saturday, 31 October 2009 Kick-off: 1730 GMT
Coverage: BBC Sport website, BBC Radio 5 Live, BBC Radio Lancashire, Final Score, live on ESPN & highlights on Match of the Day

TEAM NEWS

Manchester United are facing a defensive crisis with Nemanja Vidic and Rio Ferdinand both doubtful with calf injuries and Gary Neville suspended.

Ryan Giggs is also carrying a knock, while Darren Fletcher, Danny Welbeck and Ji Sung Park remain sidelined.

Blackburn's latest swine flu victim is Jason Roberts, who has been told to stay away from training.

Defender Chris Samba is doubtful but Pascal Chimbonda has recovered from a calf strain.

Man Utd

Suspended: Gary Neville (three matches)

Doubtful: Ferdinand (calf), Giggs (unspecified), Vidic (calf)

Injured: Fletcher (ankle), Hargreaves (knee), Park (knee), Wellbeck (knee)

Blackburn

Doubtful: Chimbonda (calf), Grella (thigh), Samba (virus)

Unavailable: Roberts (virus)

MATCH PREVIEW

Swine flu-hit Blackburn head to Old Trafford to face a Manchester United side still pig sick following last weekend's defeat at Anfield.

Part of the challenge is how you react to disappointment... we lost 4-1 to Liverpool at home last season, which was a travesty, but the players buckled down and we went on to win the league
Man Utd boss Sir Alex Ferguson

A Carling Cup victory over Barnsley will have gone some way to mending United's wounded pride, but Sir Alex Ferguson will demand maximum points against a side who have managed just one Premier League victory at Old Trafford in 15 attempts.

Sam Allardyce has already outwitted one Ferguson this week. Peterborough found Blackburn in rude health and the Rovers boss will have been pleased by his players' response to his stinging attack on their "pathetic" 5-0 defeat at Chelsea.

Reportedly accused of being a Ferguson "loyalist" by Wigan's Roberto Martinez, Allardyce will expect no favours here and would be forgiven some trepidation ahead of another fixture away from Ewood Park.

The Lancashire club have suffered nine successive away defeats in the league, conceding 30 times and mustering only four goals in response. Never mind swine flu, Allardyce needs to find an urgent cure for Rovers' travel sickness.

MATCH FACTS

Head-to-head

• These sides have met on 106 previous occasions. Man Utd have won 48 to Blackburn's 31.

• United have taken 16 of a possible 18 points from their last six meetings with Blackburn Rovers in the league, conceding only three goals in the process.

• Blackburn have lost 11 of their 15 Premier League trips to Old Trafford, winning only once - a 2-1 victory in September 2005.

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Man Utd

• The Red Devils have benefited from three own goals this season, including two in their last three Premier League fixtures.

• United have shipped 11 goals in their 10 league games so far, equalling their third-worst defensive performance ever at this stage of a Premier League season.

• Referee Phil Dowd has given more red cards against United than any other side in the Premier League (five). United have lost five of the 12 matches that Phil Dowd has officiated in the Premier League.

• United are the only team not to concede a goal from a set-piece in the Premier League this season.

• Ryan Giggs has scored 99 Premier League goals for United, and Paul Scholes has 98.

Blackburn

• Rovers have lost their last nine away league games, including their final five last season. They have conceded 16 goals in their four league games away from Ewood Park this term.

• Rovers' last away win in the top flight was a 2-1 triumph at Fulham on 11 March.

• Ten points after nine games is Blackburn's worst start to a season for five years.

• Blackburn have conceded a goal with every 37.3% of shots that they have faced, a Premier League high.

LEADING GOALSCORERS
Wayne Rooney

Man Utd

Rooney: 7 goals (6 league); Berbatov: 3 goals (3 league); Owen: 3 goals (2 league)

David Dunn

Blackburn

Dunn: 5 goals (4 league);
McCarthy & Pedersen: 2 goals (0 league)

MATCH OFFICIALS

Referee: Phil Dowd

Assistant referees: David Richardson & Scott Ledger

Fourth official: Kevin Friend

LAST LEAGUE MATCH LINE-UPS

Man Utd (L0-2 v Liverpool, a): Van der Sar, O'Shea, Ferdinand, Vidic, Evra, Valencia, Carrick, Scholes (Nani 74), Giggs, Berbatov (Owen 74), Rooney.
Subs Not Used: Foster, Neville, Anderson, Fabio Da Silva, J Evans.

Blackburn (L0-5 v Chelsea, a): Robinson, Jacobsen (Salgado 60), Olsson, Nelsen, Givet, Andrews, Nzonzi, Pedersen (Hoilett 69), Emerton, Diouf, Roberts (Kalinic 53).
Subs Not Used: Brown, McCarthy, Reid, Jones.

MOST RECENT MEETING

Man Utd 2-1 Blackburn (21 February 2009)

Man Utd scorers: Rooney 23, Ronaldo 60

Blackburn scorer: Santa Cruz 32

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Larsson bids emotional farewell

Henrik Larsson
Larsson found it hard to keep his emotions in check

Striker Henrik Larsson fought back the tears as he said farewell to football and admitted his decision to retire had left an "emptiness".

The Swede took to the pitch for the last time in Helsingborg's 2-0 Swedish League loss to Djurgarden on Wednesday.

He was given a standing ovation from the crowd.

The 38-year-old scored over 300 goals during spells with Helsingborg, Feyenoord, Celtic, Barcelona and Manchester United.

Tributes from the likes of Sweden coach Lars Lagerback, United boss Sir Alex Ferguson and international team-mate Zlatan Ibrahimovic were played at the ground.

"It really hits you when meet all this love," said Larsson, who will not play in Helsingborg's final match of the domestic season at Elfsborg on Sunday.

"I'm normally quite a cool character but right now I feel like I could cry.

"It's huge to be able to end it on our home ground and it has to end some time. It's rubbish to end things this way (with a defeat) but you can't have everything in life."

Larsson, who won 106 caps for Sweden, was also moved by Helsingborg's decision to retire the number 17 shirt in his honour.

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"It's a fantastic gesture by the club, to retire it for ever. I'm very moved," he said.

Larsson will now take time out to think over how best to fill the void left by his retirement, although he has already been linked with several coaching jobs, including at Celtic.

"I don't know if I have to go down to the employment agency and do certain things, but I have the luck and luxury to be able to say no to jobs which are offered to me," he added.

"But obviously there is an emptiness at present, and I need to fill that emptiness with something.

"I'm fortunate enough to have earned enough money to be able to sit back and not panic, but I have to do something. I can't just glide through the rest of life."

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Fulham v Liverpool

Barclays Premier League
Venue: Craven Cottage Date: Saturday, 31 October 2009 Kick-off: 1500 GMT
Coverage: BBC Sport website, BBC Radio 5 Live, commentary on BBC Radio Merseyside 95.8 FM, Final Score & highlights on Match of the Day

TEAM NEWS

Fulham's Simon Davies has an outside chance of returning from a foot problem but Danny Murphy (knee) is still out.

Kagisho Dikgacoi sits out the match as he completes a three-game suspension.

Liverpool expect top scorer Fernando Torres to start at Craven Cottage but captain Steven Gerrard remains doubtful with a groin problem.

Javier Mascherano returns after serving a one-game ban against Arsenal, while Alberto Aquilani should be on the bench after an encouraging cameo in midweek.

Fulham

Suspended: Dikgacoi (one match) Doubtful: Davies (foot), Konchesky & Murphy (knee)

Injured: Etuhu (knee), Kallio (Achilles), Stockdale (knee)

Liverpool

Suspended: None Doubtful: Gerrard & Torres (groin)

Injured: Kelly (ankle), Riera (hamstring)

MATCH PREVIEW

Three days after their Carling Cup exit to Arsenal, Liverpool return to the capital on the back of five defeats from their last six league and cup games.

He [Alberto Aquilani] needs to improve his match fitness, but you could see that he can pass the ball and can make a big difference in the final third
Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez

The League Cup may not have been one of Rafael Benitez's priorities at the start of the season, but the loss to an inexperienced Gunners side halted much of the momentum garnered from last Sunday's win against Manchester United.

Despite the Reds' struggles, their league form - four wins from six games - has just about kept them in touch with the Premier League pace-setters.

Six months ago the Reds left it late to secure victory at Craven Cottage, with Yossi Benayoun's injury-time strike keeping their title hopes alive.

In-form Benayoun has been one of the few sources of invention in the Liverpool midfield this season. But the return to fitness of Alberto Aquilani, who impressed off the bench at Arsenal, could give the Reds another creative outlet.

Fulham showed resilience to hit back from two goals down at Manchester City but the biggest post-match talking point was Bobby Zamora's glaring miss.

It emerged this week that Zamora likes to relax away from football by fishing with England captain John Terry, but after ballooning the ball over from point-blank range at Eastlands, the Fulham striker may be reflecting on the one that got away.

MATCH FACTS

Head-to-head

• Fulham have failed to score in their last four games against Liverpool (L3, D1).

• Clint Dempsey was the last Fulham player to net against the Reds, scoring the only goal at Craven Cottage on 5 May 2007. Liverpool fielded a makeshift line-up for that match, which preceded the Reds' Champions League final against AC Milan.

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Fulham

• Fulham have won one of their last five league games.

• The only Fulham player to score a hat-trick against Liverpool is Elton John's uncle Roy Dwight, who did so in 1956. The last Liverpool player to net a treble in the fixture was Billy Liddell in 1954.

• Roy Hodgson's side have failed to score in only one of their last 10 games in all competitions (at home to Arsenal last month).

Liverpool

• Rafael Benitez's side have won four of their last six league games. However, they have lost their last two away games in the top flight (at Chelsea and Sunderland).

• Liverpool have netted 24 goals in 10 league games so far. At the start of the weekend, only Arsenal (29) had a better record.

• Should the Reds win at Craven Cottage, they will have five points fewer than at the same stage last season, when they claimed 26 points from their opening 11 games.

• Defeat at Arsenal was the sixth season in a row Liverpool had lost to London opposition in the League Cup.

• Fernando Torres needs three goals to reach 50 league strikes for the Reds. Should he score them in the next 13 games he will have achieved the feat quicker than any other Liverpool player ever. Only 13 of his goals have come away from Anfield.

LEADING GOALSCORERS
Danny Murphy

Fulham

Murphy & Zamora: 4 goals (2 league)

Fernando Torres

Liverpool

Torres: 9 goals (9 league);

Benayoun & Kuyt: 4 goals (3 league)

MATCH OFFICIALS

Referee: Lee Mason

Assistant referees: Michael Murphy & Simon Long

Fourth official: Simon Bennett

LAST LEAGUE MATCH LINE-UPS

Fulham (D2-2 v Man City, a): Schwarzer, Pantsil, Hangeland, Hughes, Kelly, Duff, Greening, Baird, Dempsey, Kamara (Seol 90), Zamora.

Subs Not Used: Zuberbuhler, Nevland, Gera, Riise

Liverpool (W2-0 v Man Utd, h): Reina, Johnson, Carragher, Agger, Insua, Lucas, Mascherano, Benayoun (Skrtel 90), Kuyt, Aurelio, Torres (Ngog 80).

Subs Not Used: Cavalieri, Voronin, Babel, Spearing, Degen.

MOST RECENT MEETING

Fulham 0-1 Liverpool (4 April 2009)

Liverpool scorer: Benayoun 90

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Arsenal v Tottenham

Barclays Premier League
Venue: The Emirates Date: Saturday, 31 October 2009 Kick-off: 1245 GMT
Coverage: Live on Sky Sports, BBC Sport website, BBC Radio 5 Live, local radio, Final Score & highlights on Match of the Day

TEAM NEWS

Arsenal keeper Lukasz Fabianski picked up a thigh injury in midweek so Manuel Almunia could return for the first time since September.

Manager Arsene Wenger is still without the midfield trio of Tomas Rosicky, Denilson and Theo Walcott.

Tottenham's Aaron Lennon is set to miss out with an ankle knock so David Bentley is expected to take his place.

Spurs are also sweating on the fitness of Jonathan Woodgate, who suffered a head injury in the same game.

Arsenal

Suspended: None Doubtful: None

Injured: Denilson (back), Djourou, Rosicky and Walcott (all knee), Fabianski (thigh), Wilshere (ankle)

Tottenham

Suspended: Defoe (1 game)

Doubtful: Lennon (ankle); Woodgate (concussion)

Injured: Giovani (ankle), Modric (broken leg)

MATCH PREVIEW

Saturday's match will be the 162nd league meeting between these two hated adversaries, but you have to go all the way back to the 142nd encounter to find the last time Spurs beat Arsenal in the league.

If you look at the two squads, you look at us and think, 'We're definitely on a par,' but that will only be judged at the end of the season
Tottenham's Robbie Keane

It is a record that is the cause of much anguish in the Tottenham half of north London and they know if their ambitions of qualifying for the Champions League are realistic, this is the kind of hoodoo that must come to an end.

Arsene Wenger has overseen a whopping ten-year unbeaten league run against the Lilywhites; in the same time Spurs have gone through seven managers, umpteen false dawns and some damaging derby defeats.

Results have seen optimism soar that this is the year that Tottenham can make the step up to the top four, although Spurs fans know a slap in the face is always lurking round the corner and Stoke were quick to administer one last week.

Arsenal took a hammer blow of their own after letting a comfortable two-goal lead slip at Upton Park, but excellent midweek Carling Cup results for both clubs helped steady the ship.

The Gunners are the league's top scorers, but they have shipped more goals at this stage than in any other Premier League season, while Spurs have been crashing in goals for fun. All the evidence points to a repeat of last season's epic 4-4 draw - neutrals will have their fingers crossed history repeats itself.

MATCH FACTS

Head-to-head

• Arsenal are undefeated in their last 19 meetings with Tottenham Hotspur in the Premier League. Spurs' last victory over their North London rivals in the top-flight came in November 1999 and their last away win at Arsenal was in May 1993.

• The Gunners have dropped only four points from a possible 30 in their last 10 Premier League home meetings with the Lilywhites.

• But Tottenham are unbeaten in their last four matches against Arsenal (two league, two cup).

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Arsenal

• The Gunners have taken only 14 points from a possible 33 in their last 11 London derbies in the Premier League.

• Arsenal have conceded 13 league goals so far this season, which is their worst-ever defensive record in the Premier League after nine games of the season.

• A league high of 12 different nationalities have scored for Arsenal this season.

• Arsenal currently have 997 points under the management of Arsene Wenger in the Premier League.

Tottenham

• Tottenham have scored nine goals in their last three matches against Arsenal in all competitions.

• Spurs have twice scored four goals in a match against Arsenal in the last five years, but haven't ended up on the winning side in either game.

• 11 of Spurs' goals this season have come from English players, a joint-league high along with Sunderland.

LEADING GOALSCORERS
Robin van Persie

Arsenal

Van Persie: 6 goals (5 league);
Vermaelen & Fabregas: 5 goals (4 league)

Jermain Defoe

Tottenham

Defoe: 7 goals (6 league); Keane: 6 goals (4 league)

MATCH OFFICIALS

Referee: Mark Clattenburg

Assistant referees: Peter Kirkup & Stephen Child

Fourth official: Stuart Attwell

LAST LEAGUE MATCH LINE-UPS

Arsenal (D2-2 v West Ham, a): Mannone, Sagna, Gallas, Vermaelen, Clichy, Eboue (Bendtner 82), Song Billong, Fabregas, Diaby (Eduardo 88), Arshavin, van Persie. Subs Not Used: Almunia, Nasri, Ramsey, Silvestre, Gibbs.

Tottenham (L0-1 v Stoke, h): Gomes, Corluka, Woodgate (Dawson 14), Bassong, Assou-Ekotto, Lennon, Huddlestone (Jenas 71), Palacios, Kranjcar, Keane (Pavlyuchenko 63), Crouch. Subs Not Used: Cudicini, Hutton, Bale, Naughton.

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