Football News: Real want Ronaldo to strike

End-game becomes a farce as Real Madrid urge Ronaldo to go on strike

The Sun and Tribal Football are reporting that Real Madrid are urging Ronaldo to go on strike, to force Manchester United's hand over Ronaldo's proposed transfer.

Real Madrid president, Calderon is being quoted via second hand 'sources' that they want Ronaldo to go on strike at Manchester United until the transfer window closes on 31st August.

It's all becoming very nasty, sad and disappointing really. A lot is just newspapers filling the column inches, but there can be little doubt Real Madrid have turned Ronaldo's head, and both are now trying to engineer a move.

As we've said before, wouldn't it be great if just for once a club stood up to a player and let him either stick to his contract or as Ferguson put it, 'rot in the stands'. It would be fascinating if the Glazers and Manchester United really did refuse to buckle to Real Madrid and Ronaldo.

Whether Ronaldo moves to Real Madrid or not, its once again showing the money driven, dark side of football. We can only hope Manchester United back up their words with action. More power to their elbow we say!!

Premier League Results: Liverpool 3-0 Sunderland

Crouch exposes Rafa's folly, as Liverpool overcome Sunderland

A goal and an assist from Peter Crouch, enabled Liverpool to eventually overcome a dogged Sunderland at Anfield. Rafa Benitez's incredulous decision to previously stick with a woefully out of form Dirk Kuyt, was exposed by Crouch's contribution. Put simply, Crouch consistently gets and makes goals, Kuyt doesn't. Where would Liverpool be if Crouch had not been warming the bench so often? A lot closer to the top would be the answer from most Liverpool fans.

In the first half Liverpool were all toil, neat play, but precious little end product. Only Pennant caught the eye with his pace and direct running. On the left, Lucas who was preferred to Harry Kewell was not providing any width, having a tendency to drift in-field. That said he still worked harder, and looked more effective than Kewell has in recent games.

Sunderland, undertstandably were out to contain Liverpool and get a point. Anything else to them was a bonus, and they showed virtually zero attacking threat throughout the game.

Sunderland were eventually prised open, when after an attack broke down, Jamie Carragher of all people, took on the opposite fullback and crossed superbly for Crouch to head home. Soon after Crouch flicked on Gerrard's touch, Torres sped away and finished superbly to wrap up the game for Liverpool. In the 89th minute Nosworthy was adjudged to have upended Pennant, and Gerrard stepped up to convert to seal a 3-0 win for Liverpool.

Roy Keane afterwards was disappointed not to have got at least one penalty, particularly when Carragher blocked a shot unintentionally with his arm.

Benitez will have been pleased with the confidence boosting win, and with the fact that Pepe Reina became the fastest keeper to reach 50 clean sheets in the clubs history. Then defending has never really been the problem for Liverpool during Benitez's reign, its at the other end Liverpool have problems. Until they can complement their central midfielders and Torres with players who would get into the squads of Manchester United and Arsenal they will always be scrapping for fourth, maybe third spot.

Premier League News - Results

Arsenal march on, Manchester United rescue a point and Chelsea falter

It was a day of draws in the Premier League as four of the eight games ended in stalemate. At the top, Premier League title-holders Manchester United, rescued a point at Tottenham thanks to a late, late goal from Carlos Tevez. Chelsea were also held to a draw at Portsmouth, with new boys Defoe and Anelka netting. While this was going on, Arsenal continued their seemingly relentless march, with a superb 3-1 win at Manchester City.

Over at Ewood Park, two of the teams chasing the Premier League fourth spot, Blackburn and Everton, played out a scoreless draw. This allowed Liverpool to move up into fifth position, as they eventually overcome Sunderland 3-0 at Anfield. Peter Crouch, given a rare start netted on 57 minutes, with Fernando Torres adding a second, and Steven Gerrard converting a penalty on 89 minutes to wrap up the points.

In the Premier League basement, Birmingham and Derby played out a 1-1 draw, which is no good to either side at this time of the season. Wigan meanwhile had a priceless 1-0 home win against West Ham. Of the other basement teams, Bolton had a great result away to Reading, winning 2-0. Nolan and Helguson the scorers.

Arsenal are now back on top of the Premier League on 60 points, Manchester United in second on 58, and Chelsea back in third on 54. Its certainly going to go to the wire, with Manchester United and Arsenal going head to head, to the end of the season. Those in the dreaded Premier League drop places are still Birmingham, Fulham and Derby.

Premier League: West Ham 1-0 Liverpool

Yet more ammo for the Texan's gun as Liverpool take a Hammer blow

Time is surely running out on Rafa Benitez's reign at Liverpool. Liverpool's Premier League season has almost completely unravelled, and seems in a tailspin of toothless football, low confidence and alarming signs of a team that, subconsiously at least, believes it's manager is a lame duck.

This game was oh so typical of Liverpool's form of late. All neat football with precious little end product. To a man, Liverpool's attack was nigh on anonymous. Kewell and Benayoun went missing in action, while Torres and Gerrard only showed flashes, with the latter in particular looking dangerous in the last twenty minutes. Dirk Kuyt was what he always was; an ineffective workaholic. What Peter Crouch must do to get a game is beyond all but Benitez.

Liverpool started the game reasonably well, but were giving the ball away in the last third too much, and yet again failed to convert the half chances that came their way. Benayoun tried an ambitous lob, when a driven shot would have been better, and Torres was almost put through by Kuyt. West Ham recovered from their slow start, to force an error from Steve Finnan, as he headed onto his own bar. Boa Morte then missed the first of three great chances, and the sides went in level at half time.

Liverpool again came out brightly, with Harry Kewell just unable to connect at the far post from a cross, and Torres unlucky not to convert from substitute Babels pull-back. Lucas, the other substitute, was also unlucky with a great effort, after some great inter-play with Steven Gerrard.

However West Ham were still threatening Liverpool from set pieces, and were the last 20 minutes apart, very much in the game, with Boa Morte missing two great chances. As the game seemed certain to end in a draw Ljungberg broke from one end to the other. One twist inside the otherwise excellent Jamie Carragher, and it was disaster for Liverpool. Noble stepped up to dispatch the penalty with great aplomb.

Overall, it was a disasterous night for Liverpool and Rafa Benitez, who must feel his grip on Anfield weakening with every game, as Liverpool's agony in the Premier League goes on. Having said that, only three defeats in the league by February and the second best defensive record shows there's a great team in their trying to get out. Stability is a by-word for success, which tells you much about Liverpool's season.

Premier League News - the title race

Manchester United pile on Newcastles misery, Chelsea squeeze past Tottenham and Arsenal stumble

Manchester United became Premier League leaders again and piled on the gloom for Newcastle, defeating them 6-0 in a game that was remarkably 0-0 at half time. Cristiano Ronaldo got a hat-trick, Carlos Tevez (why can't he stop the dummy celebration) two and Rio Ferdinand the other.

Arsenal, maybe not surprisingly to those who have watched Alex McLeish's Birmingham recently, dropped two points to the boys from 'Brum. Birmingham had the temerity to come back from a goal down, and defend excellently to take a deserved point.

Chelsea, showed they are still very much in the Premier League ce, squeezing past Tottenham at Stamford Bridge 2-0. Sean Wright-Phillips continued his recent excellent form, sealing the points with a great drive after being set up by Joe Cole. Belletti has opened the scoring with a screamer.

The Premier League really is now a three horse race, with Arsenal, Manchester United and Chelsea well clear of the chasing pack. Premier League wannabes Liverpool are realistically playing for fourth spot in what has become a season of instability and turmoil for them. Not gone to script for the men from Anfield has it?

Manchester City and Everton are keeping up their good form and are perfectly capable of taking that Premier League fourth place. Meanwhile over at Aston Villa, Martin O'Neill is quietly working his magic, with Villa also one of the four clubs on 39 points.

Premier League News & Results - Liverpool 1-1 Wigan

Benitez gives Yanks loaded gun as Reds fire blanks again

The pressure mounted further on Rafael Benitez as his stuttering Liverpool side stumbled to a draw at home to Wigan. Hopes of a Premier League title seem laughable for Liverpool, and a more realistic proposition is the struggle for fourth place, as Manchester City continue a great season under Sven-Goran Eriksson.

Liverpool started brightly enough, but again didn't quite convince, as they struggled to breakdown a newly resolute Wigan. Steve Bruce's team seemed to be winning every vital tackle and interception as Liverpool tried to prise a way through. Michael Brown in particular was a thorn in the side of Liverpool, as he continually broke up attacks and very nearly opened the scoring with the best effort of the first half.

In the second half Liverpool got an early goal and it was one Fernando Torres deserved for his constant efforts against a stubborn Wigan defence. Torres and Gerrard combined to put Finnan in behind the Wigan defence, and he squared for Torres to finish. Gerrard very nearly put the game beyond doubt with a great free-kick, and followed up on the rebound which Kirkland smothered. The goal seemed to settle Liverpool and there was no real sign of an equaliser until disaster struck in the 79th minute.

Gerrard cleared poorly from inside his own penalty area, the ball cannoned off Mascherano to Bramble, who belied his comic status to finish superbly from the edge of the box.

Rafael Benitez was as animated as he's ever been on the Liverpool touchline and soon threw on Crouch and Kuyt in a desperate attempt to force a winner, however it was not to be. The result really leaves Liverpool's outside hope of a Premier League title looking dead and buried, and will greatly increase the pressure on Rafael Benitez and his relationship with the club's American owners.

Manchester City 0-0 Liverpool

Liverpool fire blanks as Benitez's title push over?

Liverpool failed to take a much needed step towards to the Premier League top two today, drawing one of their two games in hand away to Manchester City. In a game that Liverpool generally edged more than dominated, they just couldn't convert any of several good chances to take all the points.

Torres in particular had an off day, missing one glorious chance set up for him after great interplay between Aurelio and Kewell. In general Torres just wasn't at the races today, scuffing chances and passes throughout. That said man of the match Richard Dunne, and Micah Richards were colossal in defence for City.

Liverpool started the game slowly in a cagey first half, but began to get into it after the half hour mark. Fabio Aurelio led the charge, with two excellent long range strikes that Hart had to tip over. Before that the only effort of note had been a Harry Kewell effort that Hart struggled to gather.

The second half saw Liverpool push more and more for a winner, so much so that City were hanging on desperately by the games end. Torres twice and Benayoun missed great chances to put Liverpool, in what surely would have been a winning lead. Late on there was an amazing piece of defending by Dunne, when he cleared off his line after Hart had only parried Kuyts header.

All in all it was a good point for City but two vital points dropped for Liverpool. Benitez has won the title from the back of the field before but you can't see this Liverpool team doing it to take the Premier League. In reality it was not the points dropped here today that is halting Liverpool's Premier League title challenge, its the two points from nine gained from their rivals that is their undoing. With those gained at home, it's hard to see that being improved on in trips to Stamford Bridge, Old Trafford and the Emirates.

For Manchester City, they can be satisfied at a good performance against one of the Premier League top sides. There tremendous progression under Sven-Goran Eriksson continues.

Premier League Results

The Premier League Title see-saw begins

It was a day of some surprises in English Premier League results as the see-saw battle for the title swung back Arsenal's way.

Biggest surprise of the day was Manchester United's 2-1 loss away to West Ham, with Christiano Ronaldo missing a penalty.

Another surprise result was Arsenal's 4-1 win at Everton. A great result given Evertons recent form. By all accounts the scoreline didnt reflect the game, but some great finishing by Eduardo da Silva saw off a spirited Everton.

Chelsea heaped more misery on Sam Allardyce's Newcastle, winning 2-1 at Stamford Bridge. Newcastle's performance was vastly improved but they couldn't hold out, and Kalou netted a late winner.

In other Premier League results Sunderland had a great 3-1 win at home to Bolton, while Aston Villa continued their good form, winning 2-1 at Wigan. Tottenham and Reading had a go at taking back the mantle for Premier League's best game from Chelsea and Aston Villa, sharing an amazing ten goals in a game Tottenham won 6-4!

At the top of the Premier League table, Arsenal are leading by two points from Manchester United with Chelsea and Liverpool six and eleven points behind respectively, though Liverpool have two games in hand.

At the bottom in the Premier League drop zone, Sunderland are now out of the bottom three, with Wigan and Fulham joining Derby in the dreaded bottom three spots. Wigan in particular look in freefall and with a trip to Liverpool to come, its not looking good.