Liverpool full back Jose Enrique has stated that despite Saturday’s 2-1 loss to Manchester United, the club are still in the race for Champions League qualification.
The defeat at Old Trafford means that the Merseysiders are four points adrift of Arsenal in fourth place, but the Spaniard feels that this deficit can be clawed back.
“We lost against United but the truth is that we have to win more games at home,” he told the club’s official website.
“We are still in the race to be in the Champions League next season.
“It’s hard but Chelsea and Arsenal have lost many points too. Chelsea lost this weekend and we can’t forget Newcastle.
“It’s really important that we have to play these teams at home and we’ll have another man – you play with 12 with our fans.
“It is hard to beat Manchester United at home but against teams like Blackburn and Swansea at home we need to win the points.
“There are many games left and we have to beat many teams to try and be there.
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“You never know in football – that’s why everyone likes it. But we’re still in the race,” he concluded.
Blackpool have had a bid for Swansea City’s Spanish right-back Angel Rangel rejected by the Championship club.
Seasiders boss Ian Holloway is seeking to strengthen his squad ahead of their bow in the Premier League, but the Swans are in no mood to part with one of their star performers.
Manager Brendan Rodgers told the club’s official website: “An offer has come in to the chairman from Blackpool for Angel. It has not been accepted.
“The situation is under control and I am due to have a meeting with Angel. I want him to stay and there is an offer of another contract on the table for him.
“There is bound to be interest in him because he’s a quality player. Angel is 27, in the last year of his contract and desperate to play in the Premier League. But so are we.
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“We have no need to sell him financially and I think this is the place to be.”
Rangel joined City in the summer of 2007 from Terrassa FC and has since scored three times in 138 appearances in all competitions.
After Crystal Palace secured their first away victory of the season last Tuesday against high-flying Norwich, is it time Palace can forget about their poor away form and start securing wins?
George Burley’s men went into the game without an away win all season, with the embarrassing record of scoring no goals and conceding 12.
Palace’s not-so-great record was looking to continue at half-time when the Canaries went into the interval with a 1-0 lead after Grant Holt had scored for the hosts against the run-of-play.
But character has never been a problem for Crystal Palace over the years and after two quick-fire goals from on-loan defenders Antony Gardner and Julian Bennett, Palace deservedly secured their first away win of the season.
It hasn’t been a case of the Eagles playing badly and getting out-played for 90 minutes though, with the majority of fans and pundits agreeing to the fact that Palace are playing some of the best football in the championship, they just can’t put those chances away.
Palace possession percentage of 65% shows their authority over Norwich and one can only wonder how the score stayed 2-1.
But this has been a recent problem for Palace; they clearly have the ability to create these chances but they obviously lack the maturity to put these chances away at the moment.
The squad possess great talent in Wilfred Zaha, who again put in an impressive performance that eventually lead to his manager comparing him to Theo Walcott, and Nathaniel Clyne who constantly impresses at right back.
As a Palace fan myself, I think that the most frustrating aspect is that we are playing some of the best football us fans have seen for a while, but the attacking spark we have never usually lacked; with the likes of Victor Moses and Andrew Johnson banging in the goals, missing this season.
However, I don’t think that is Burley’s fault and although my opinion of him is still undecided; I believe he has done extremely well to bring in the players he has and he has retained Palace’s image as a people’s club very well.
To secure the vital loan signings of Antony Gardner and James Vaughan, along with the huge coup of signing influential midfielder Edgar Davids on a pay-as-you-play deal, is extraordinary even for a man with Burley’s track record.
After experiencing the many highs and lows that have come with being a Palace fan, including the play-off final and that nerve-racking draw at Sheffield Wednesday last season that secured our Championship status, I have never lacked enthusiasm and it is finally starting to grow after that win on Tuesday.
Hopefully Palace can start to believe in themselves and with the likes of Ambrose and Danns set to return from injury, things may just start to get better if you’re a Palace fan.
I couldn’t think of supporting any other club apart from Palace and in my opinion the Championship is one of the best leagues in the world.
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It doesn’t attract anywhere near the amount of negative headlines that the Premiership does and the talent on show is sometimes equal to the Premiership.
So before I get involved in this Rooney talk; ‘Will he go city?’, I’d rather focus on my teams performances and the way that the championship is constantly overlooked by these stories that the players themselves seem to enjoy reading.
There’s a good team in the Championship called Crystal Palace who need a striker Wayne?
In amidst all of the thrills and spills of Euro 2012 Arsene Wenger was gracious enough to offer the Gunners supporters a fleeting update on the (long-winded) deal to sign striker Oliver Giroud. Tying up the transfer of 25-year-old has proved problematic for Wenger owing to the French international’s involvement in Poland and Ukraine but he did reveal that it is ’90 percent’ complete meaning Giroud will almost definitely be wearing red next season. With Lukas Podolski also bound for the Emirates Stadium following the European Championship’s are we seeing a shift in Wenger’s transfer strategy? For much of the early part of his reign the 62-year-old relied heavily on unearthing and developing young talents turning them into world class players. The last few years saw him seemingly cornered into buying big names with little long-term value to end a trophy drought that now in it’s seventh year. The acquisitions of Podolski and Giroud along with the chase of midfielder Yann M’Vila seem to indicate that Wenger has meshed the two ideologies together. The Gunners will be the ones to watch next season.
This week on FFC should Wenger look to bring Mathieu Flamini back to North London, which Magpies star is he reportedly chasing and what does Giroud’s imminent arrival mean for Robin Van Persie?
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Best of FFC
Should Wenger take a transfer punt by bringing back old boy?
What next for Aaron Ramsey?
What does this signing mean for Arsenal’s talisman?
Is impact sub the ideal way to get the best from Walcott?
Hernandez concerned about Arsenal’s valuation
Arsenal close to finally tying up £12m French deal
Arsenal set to enter race for Newcastle ace
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Best of WEB
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One Of Us Speaks – We Know What We Are – A Cultured Left Foot
Too high, too low, or just right? – Gunnersphere
Thoughts on the fixture list – Online Gooner
What Wenger will do with this man if he signs for Arsenal – Gunnersphere
Those old familiar faces- Arseblog
Matty Flamini – Would you have him back? | Yann M’Vila – we’re your only option | Giroud has NOT signed for Arsenal – Le Grove
Barca want Vermaelen & Why keeping Arsene Wenger is a Must….. – Highbury House
Walcott To Quit Arsenal? Well no, actually. – Transfer Tavern
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Quote of the Week
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“He will stay at Arsenal. There is no reason why a top player, a big champion would want a move to Serie A in terms of the prestige of the League, the level of play or financial considerations. If he moves there I will buy you a Caramello.” Arsene Wenger bets an Italian journalist that Robin Van Persie will remain at Arsenal
Arsene Wenger revealed after Wednesday's Champions League demolition of Braga that he always thought Cesc Fabregas would stay at Arsenal in the summer despite being linked with a return to Barcelona.
The Spain international scored twice in the 6-0 romp against last season's Portuguese League runners-up, netting the Gunners' opening goal from the penalty spot before heading home a simple a second.
"He has taken another dimension," said the Arsenal boss of Fabregas after the game."People forget he is 23, where other players start.
"Cesc has a fantastic influence. What is important is that he leads the team to winning.
"What I like is he gave the ball to Carlos Vela when he could have tried to score a third himself – that reflects the way we want to play the game and on a leader who does what the game wants, not being selfish.
"He arrived here at the age of 16 and enjoys the way we play. What more do you want to be happy?
"Also it is a fantastic opportunity for the players playing alongside him – if you are 18, like (Jack) Wilshere, and you see Fabregas, it is a big opportunity to learn a lot.
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"It wasn't easy for him in the summer, he was under a lot of pressure of course, but I never had any doubt that he loves the club and he wants to do well for us.
"He's a leader and he shows that in his attitude on and off the pitch."Subscribe to Football FanCast News Headlines by Email
Injured Arsenal captain Cesc Fabregas has handed Arsene Wenger a fitness fillip ahead of Tuesday’s Champions League trip to Barcelona.Fabregas believes he will be fit to play after sitting out Saturday’s English Premier League clash against Sunderland on Saturday with a hamstring problem.The Spain midfielder starred in Arsenal’s first leg 2-1 win over Barcelona before suffering the injury against Stoke two weeks ago and missed last Sunday’s League Cup Final defeat by Birmingham City.Arsenal manager Wenger, who is already without Theo Walcott and striker Robin van Persie for the second leg of the last-16 tie, has been loathe to talk up the chances of his best player making a comeback for the trip to Camp Nou.But Fabregas said: “As far as my injury is concerned, I am feeling really good at the moment. I am doing everything I possibly can to get ready as soon as I can.””Physically I feel good and it was good to have a bit of a rest too because I am sure I will come back stronger.””It may have even been possible for me to be on the bench for today’s game (against Sunderland), but we decided together that it would be better for me to rest well instead, have a good training session on Sunday, take a look Monday and then hopefully fly to Barcelona.””I am optimistic that everything should be okay for Tuesday.”
Manchester United started their 2012/13 Premier League campaign with a 1-0 defeat against Everton at Goodison Park on Monday night, with their players left asking many questions of each other.
The patched up Man United defence couldn’t cope with Belgian forward Marouane Fellaini all night and it was ultimately he who scored the winner.
Here are Manchester United duo Paul Scholes and Nemanja Vidic remonstrating with each other after the goal, presumably discussing why Michael Carrick was left to pick up Fellaini from the corner.
Can you come up with a funny caption for this picture?
Leave your suggestions in the comments section below…
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This week you can win a copy of 32 Programmes!
32 Programmes tells the story of how Dave Roberts made the selection of his most important programmes, and how the process brought back a flood of nostalgia for simpler times.
It’s the story of youthful football obsession, crushes on disinterested girls, rubbish jobs and trying to impress skinheads.
But most of all, it is the story of a man’s life and loves, of family, friends and football.
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Southampton welcome Tottenham to St Mary’s on Sunday looking to move out of the bottom three, while Andre Villas-Boas will be hoping for three more points to propel his side into the top four.
Southampton’s problems have been in defence this season, after they conceded another four at Upton Park during their last Premier League outing.
It’s a problem Nigel Adkins will have to address if his side are to get anything out of this fixture, with Tottenham looking very good going forward of late.
They lost a cracker 4-2 at home to Chelsea last time out, and will be looking to bounce back.
Gareth Bale is set to return to face his former club, after missing the Chelsea defeat to be with his partner as she went into labour.
Southampton will once again be without record signing Gaston Ramirez. Nigel Adkins explained how he expects the Uruguayan to be absent for another month at least.
Prediction: Southampton 0-3 Tottenham
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England manager Roy Hodgson has decided to get rid of any standby list for future squads after he received nothing but criticism for his secondary selections prior to Euro 2012.
Hodgson was snubbed by the likes of Micah Richards and Michael Carrick who were offered the chance to sit around and wait for their place in the Euros squad and it seems Hodgson is happy to keep that sort of information to himself.
“I won’t have a standby list,” Hodgson told the Guardian, “I have made that mistake once in the past. The future standby list will be in my head. I will know who I want to bring in if anyone goes out.”
After receiving much criticism for selecting Liverpool’s Martin Kelly ahead of Rio Ferdinand on the standby and subsequent first team list, it is understandable that Hodgson will now keep this information secret as he selects his first World Cup qualifying squad this Thursday.
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Alan Pardew has blasted the agents who distracted his stars during the transfer window following a disappointing 1-1 draw at home to Aston Villa.
Newcastle managed to keep the key members of their squad that finished fifth last term, but not without vast speculation in the process. Cheick Tiote, Yohan Cabaye, Papiss Cisse and Demba Ba were all linked with summer moves but remained on Tyneside.
Pardew stated to The Daily Mail, “I have some sympathy with the players because if people or agents, and not necessarily their own agent, a different agent call them and offer them double money, it’s going to affect you.
“It’s not just us, its other clubs. There are some terrible people and agents in and around the game who do things like that, ring a player up and promise him the earth.”
One of Newcastle’s stars did save the day, France international Hatem ben Arfa blasting a rocket on his supposedly weaker right foot into the top corner, leaving Brad Guzan helpless, for the Toon Army’s equaliser.
Pardew added, “Hatem is a wonderfully gifted footballer. I didn’t actually realise it was his right foot until I watched the replay because I didn’t expect him to have that power.”
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