The Silkmen are still searching for an end to the winless run that has now spanned twenty games, but their point from the Cheshire derby keeps hopes of league survival alive.
The game was actually fairly entertaining and under different circumstances could have been described as enjoyable.
Crewe looked a very talented side and carved openings behind the Macclesfield defence time and time again – the returning Veiga had to produce a man-of-the-match performance to deny the Railwaymen the full three points. But there was a general positive feeling. We had perhaps had some luck (a very welcome sight), yet we also showed a bit more fight – the frustration is that if we had played like this against most previous visitors to the Moss we could have been safe already.
As it is the gap to safety remains at three points – combined with a superior goal difference and a stuttering Barnet side, our survival hopes remain alive. But while the gap does not widen, it is also not being closed. One more bad weekend will likely be enough to sink us. In fact with our trip to Bradford (now safe) and Barnet travelling to Southend (still with faint hopes of a top three finish), it seems this weekend could be a case of now or never.
The situation at the bottom has just become even more intriguing as Barnet have made a sudden managerial change, replacing Lawrie Sanchez with Martin Allen. With just three games to go it does seem like a rather panicked decision and certainly Sanchez has a right to be more than a little aggrieved that his club have lost faith in him at this stage.
Barnet will of course be hoping they get that new manager boost – a boost that has not really materialised for the Silkmen. Certainly Brian Horton’s arrival has not seen an upturn in results although he has brought his own approach. Having not led the squad through the turmoil of past seasons he was never going to be as close to the players as Simmo. This has perhaps manifested in a slightly more ruthless style – Colin Daniel was dropped to the bench having been put at fault for Vale’s winner on Monday, while Zac Aley has vanished from the squad having played the Shrewsbury frontline onside for their killer third on Good Friday.
However he does still have to contend with the casualty list, with Matt Smith and George Donnelly both injured the frontline options have been heavily depleted. Fortunately the return of Draper, even half fit, and an improved performance from Ben Mills’ reduced the impact, but the extensive collection of injuries continues to plague us.
With the same resources at his disposal Horton has yet to improve on results and the win column remains untroubled in 2012. Obviously arriving with the team on such a bad run, it was always going to difficult to halt the slide and we will never know if Gary Simpson would have garnered more points if he had been kept on. Not everyone was convinced by the appointment of Horton, but with safety still a possibility he still has time to prove he was the right choice.
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You can follow me on Twitter for even more Macclesfield discussion @AP_Macc
The news has been confirmed, Didier Drobga will leave Chelsea at the end of the season. The Ivorian’s future at Stamford Bridge had been subject to much speculation since the club’s refusal to offer him the two year contract he required to stay. And now, having fired Chelsea to Champions League glory, he will move on after eight fantastic years. To remember the Drog, here are 10 of his more memorable moments (not all of them good)!
DROGBA’S BLUNDERS
10. Champions League 2009 vs Barcelona
Chelsea stood on the brink of knocking Barcelona out of the Champions League semi-final in 2009, but Andres Iniesta scored a priceless away goal that ended the Blues’ hopes for another year. However, Chelsea’s fury was aimed at Norwegian referee Tom Henning Ovrebo, whose performance Gus Hiddink later described as one of the worst ever. Drogba, as per usual, was most vocal in his criticisms, shouting ‘it’s a f*****g disgrace at TV cameras when he came off the pitch. Four match ban for that then Didier.
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9. Champions League Final 2008 vs Manchester United
Chelsea and Manchester United were locked at 1-1 in Moscow in extra time with the Champions League at stake. With tensions rising, a fracas broke out on the pitch. However, Drogba showed his petulant side, slapping Nemanja Vidic in the face (brave call!) and receiving a red card. His side missed his presence in the shootout, as John Terry hit the post with the chance to win the game.
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8. Premier League 2007 vs Arsenal
While Didier was undoubtedly a special player, he became somewhat of a hate figure for opposition fans for his on-field theatrics. However, the one that really springs to mind was him and Jens Lehmann’s ‘dive-off’ after a clash in the Premier League. Oscar winning and utterly disgraceful.
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Continued on Page TWO
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DROGBA’S HEROICS
7. Premier League 2007 vs Everton
As Chelsea struggled to keep up with Manchester United at the top of the Premier League table, they could barely afford to drop points. However, the Blues visited GoodisonPark where a resolute Everton side held them till the 87th minute at 2-2. Step forward Drogba with arguably his best goal for the club. 35 yards out, the Ivorian let rip with a half-volley that flew past Tim Howard and kept his side in touch at the top.
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6. FA Cup 2012 vs Tottenham
Neither Chelsea or Spurs had yet to register in the FA Cup semi-final in a season-defining match for both clubs. However, Drogba proved the difference, controlling a long ball and turning his marker before lashing the ball high into the top left hand corner. The Blues went onto to win 5-1 and Drogba had scored yet again at the home of English football.
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5. FA Cup 2010 vs Portsmouth
Another Wembley appearance, another Wembley winner from the Drog. While no one expected Portsmouth to ever run Chelsea close, they proved tricky opponents. Kevin Prince Boateng missed the opportunity to put his side into the lead from the spot and Drogba made him pay three minutes later, bagging a free kick to help Carlo Ancelotti’s men complete the double.
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4. FA Cup Final 2012 vs Liverpool
Chelsea were cruising at 1-0 after Ramires’s opening goal and once Drogba doubled the lead, finishing neatly just before the hour mark, it seemed as if Chelsea had sealed the win. However, Liverpool produced a stirring fightback, inspired by Andy Carroll, and in the end, Drogba’s goal, his fourth in an FA Cup final, proved to be the winner.
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Continued on Page THREE
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3. Champions League 2012 vs Barcelona
No one gave Roberto Di Matteo’s side a chance in hell of beating Europe’s supposed best over two legs in the Champions League semi-final. To stand any chance in the Nou Camp, Chelsea had to win at Stamford Bridge. Drogba’s tireless work rate and ability to hold the ball up proved crucial, but he provided the only goal as well, turning home a Ramires cross to set up the now infamous second leg victory.
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2. FA Cup Final 2007 vs Manchester United
Manchester United and Chelsea seemed to have battled each other into submission in the first Cup Final held at the new Wembley as neither side could find the breakthrough and the match seemed destined for a penalty shootout. Drogba had other ideas though, playing a one-two with Frank Lampard before poking past Van der Sar to seal victory with four minutes remaining.
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1. Champions League Final 2012
With Chelsea one down in Munich, the Blues won a corner with two minutes left on the clock. Having barely registered a shot all game, their chances of recovery looked slim. However, from Juan Mata’s corner, the big man rose highest of them all to nod a stunning equaliser beyond Manuel Neuer. Drogba’s influence didn’t end there either. Faced with the decisive spot kick in the shootout, Drogba personified calmness as he slotted the ball home to seal the greatest triumph in Chelsea’s history.
Real Madrid are ready to make a move for Manchester City’s star playmaker David Silva in the summer, according to Mirror Football.
The Santiago Bernabeu club have been long-term admirers of Sergio Aguero, and it was initially expected that the newly-crowned La Liga champions would move for the Argentine striker when the transfer window reopened.
However, with Cristiano Ronaldo, Karim Benzema and Gonzalo Higuain already competing for places in attack, Jose Mourinho may well turn his attention to Silva instead.
The Spain international is being eyed up as a possible competitor to Mesut Ozil, who currently is the side’s first-choice playmaker.
Silva starred throughout the season for the English champions, and is widely regarded as one of the most technically gifted players in the Premier League.
The attacking midfielder has two years remaining on his current contract, but recently stated that he is happy at City.
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As Liverpool fans continued to debate last week whether Roberto Martinez was the man to reinstate them to the Premier League’s upper echelons the news that Brendan Rodgers would be their new messiah must have been like a bolt from the blue. After all everyone including the media thought Martinez would be the man to replace Kenny Dalglish in the Reds dugout. It must have come as somewhat of a surprise to learn Rodgers was the man Fenway Sports Group had pinpointed to lead them into a new era. His record at Swansea is certainly an admirable one and he’s certainly proved his top-flight credentials after guiding the South Wales club to 11th in their first season after promotion from the Championship 12-months prior. More so the preference for his teams to play an attractive brand of possessional football, closely resembling the tiki-taka philosophy, has won him a legion of admirers. It will be interesting to see whether he can mould the Reds to his requirements and implement his style upon a playing squad that drastically underachieved under Dalglish.
This week on FFC do the Liverpool owners need to act under a degree of stoicism with Rodgers and could an Icelandic midfielder he managed at Swansea be following him to Merseyside?
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Best of FFC
Liverpool Must Exercise Patience To Exorcise Demons
Have Liverpool missed a big trick here?
The man to oversee the Anfield rebuilding process?
Time for English football to break away from tradition?
Liverpool looking to hijack Swans £6.8m deal
Ligue 1 ace confirms Liverpool interest
Caption Competition: Chelsea and Liverpool stars clash on the course
Changes to English football mean nothing in the wrong hands
A huge investment that delivers no guarantees
Gone but certainly not forgotten at Anfield
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Best of WEB
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Why Rodgers Is The Perfect Man To Usher In A New Red Dawn – Live 4 Liverpool
“The truth is…” – Agent responds to £30m striker speculation. Still a chance…? – Liverpool Kop
FSG = Future Success Guaranteed? – This is Anfield
“It’s legal! – Luis Suarez can’t really believe this…can he? – Liverpool Kop
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Rodgers: Blueprint for a Bright Red Future – The Tomkins Times
A Rational Look at Raheem Sterling – Live 4 Liverpool
LFC manager search: Brendan Rodgers in profile – This is Anfield
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Quote of the Week
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“This is a long-term plan, that was important for me. It’s going to be over a number of years. First and foremost I want to defend the principals of this great club, which is about offensive, creative football but with technical discipline and to maintain the values of the club.” Brendan Rodgers talks about his vision for Liverpool after being appointed manager at Anfield.
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Liverpool unveil Brendan Rodgers as their new manager
Roberto Di Matteo has admitted that he is fully aware of the pressure on him to deliver with Chelsea in 2012-13, after moving from the interim manager to permanent boss of the Stamford Bridge club.
The Italian coach filled in on a temporary basis last term and excelled after Andre Villas Boas’ dismissal, leading the west London side to the Champions League and FA Cup trophies.
Despite this, Chelsea are on something of a transfer push this summer, signing Eden Hazard, Marko Marin and Kevin De Bruyne, and Di Matteo knows he needs to succeed to keep his job.
“I am very happy to be here,” he told reporters at a press conference, reported by Sky Sports.
“I was going to respect and accept any decision [from the board] but I am looking forward now to working with this group of players and hopefully bringing further success.
“The pressure will always be there. There has been speculation from day one and I have lived with it from day one.
“I have lived with it and I focus on my job and everyone else can say and write what they want.
“I have been in football all my life. I clearly know that managers are judged by results, as simple as that. It’s no different for me than anybody else.
“The end of the season was remarkable and the team was outstanding in achieving those targets, but that is the past – now we look to the future and we have to start again.
“We have to try and get running from the start and be competitive in all the competitions we are involved in.
“With Chelsea you are always looking to compete and be in the frame to win something at the end of the season, that will be the key.
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Brendan Rodgers is attempting to tie up a deal of to bring Fulham’s Clint Dempsey to Liverpool, according to The Daily Mail.
The transfer is expected to be completed at the end of the week and will relieve the Anfield faithful after losing out on the signature of Gylfi Sigurdsson.
The Iceland international held back from a permanent move to Swansea following Rodgers’ departure from the club but Tottenham Hotspur swooped in late on and snatched him from under Liverpool’s nose.
Dempsey, 87-times capped by the USA, could become Rodgers’ second signing of the summer, following the capture of former Chelsea striker Fabio Borini from Roma last week.
The 29-year-old’s goal scoring record has improved year upon year for the Cottagers, with his 17-goal haul last season representing his most prolific to date.
Dempsey is capable of playing anywhere across the midfield and forward lines and his versatility would therefore make him a very astute signing.
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He may be unlikely to play with Andy Carroll however, who continues to be linked with a move away from Liverpool with reported interest from West Ham United, AC Milan and his former club Newcastle United.
There’s simply no satisfying some people, is there? Just as Chelsea continue their unremittingly impressive start to the Premier League, it seems as if Roberto Di Matteo’s side are yet to convince the doubters of their championship credentials. But although their superb Eden Hazard-led charge out of the blocks has been superb, they’ve still got a hell of a way to go before they can be taken as any kind of serious challengers to Manchester City’s throne.
The talk at the beginning of the season circled around the buzzword of expectation. The visions of last season’s unprecedented success are all but champagne blurred memories. No one can ever take away Chelsea and Roberto Di Matteo’s amazing cup achievements last term, but this time, things are different. The Italian is now expected to win football matches and expected to challenge for silverware. There will be no plucky atmosphere of underdogs this term.
The scale of this summer’s investment has only cranked up the feeling of expectation, too. When you pay the sort of money that has been shelled out for the likes of Eden Hazard and Oscar amongst others, you would imagine that Roman Abramovich wouldn’t mind seeing some kind of return on that.
Martin Tyler described Didier Drogba’s Champions League winning penalty as the biggest moment in the history of Chelsea Football Club. While the prestige and stature of winning a European Cup ensures that statement is correct, it is still after all, a cup. It has been bleated a thousand times within these articles, but while the best club doesn’t always win the cup, they always win the league. Premier League success is the yardstick amongst what everything else shall always be measured by and the Blues must ensure they are competitive on the domestic front.
Pre-season form suggested that this might not necessarily be quite as cut and dried as some observers predicted. Using the new term’s period of preparation and condition as some form of barometer for their Premier League fortunes has made a mug out of many. Although a string of pre-season defeats didn’t look particularly encouraging, especially after a lackluster 3-1 defeat at the hands of Brighton and Hove Albion at the beginning of the month. While Hazard looked a mercurial talent, the rest of the team seemed to have some real work to do as both Di Matteo and Frank Lampard testified.
Some even continued to doubt the Stamford Bridge recruitment policy. Although they were in need of beefing up the attacking side of things, there was even a feeling that things were looking too top-heavy and unbalanced. Hazard’s £32million acquisition was followed by the arrivals of Marko Marin from Werder Bremen and the highly rated Oscar from Internacional. Victor Moses has since also joined but Cesar Azpilicueta has been their only defensive bolster.
So what did Chelsea do amongst the swirl of doubt and whispers of disapproval? Predictably, they’ve gone and won their first three games on the bounce, scoring eight goals in the process and playing some superb attacking football. Eden Hazard has arguably been the man of the match in every game they’ve played and Fernando Torres looks like something of a man reborn, leaving a large smattering of egg on many observers’ faces.
It’s somewhat pointing out the obvious, but you simply cannot look past the performances of Hazard in this early season galvanization of Stamford Bridge. The Belgian gave the impression he bestowed the sort of levels of confidence that veer perilously on the side of arrogance, before his big money switch to the Blues. Some thought that’d be an issue. Instead, it seems to have catalysed the fortunes of both him and his teammates as he’s swaggered around the first three games of the season, clocking up four assists and one goal in the process.
In fairness to Chelsea, the whole team has deserved merit for their superb start to Premier League proceedings. Juan Mata has been equally superb as his attacking colleagues and Ryan Bertrand has also caught the eye in these tentative stages of the season.
But whilst the doubters can hold their hands up in some respects, some certainly feel as if they’re overstepping the mark in these revised predictions for Chelsea’s season. If pre-season fortunes are a poor barometer for a team’s league fortunes, than the opening three games can hardly be taken as gospel. It’s early days at Stamford Bridge and Roberto Di Matteo’s men are yet to be really tested by one of the bigger boys.
You can only beat what is in front of you some will say, and to all intents and purposes, that’s bang on the money. Wins away to Wigan and at home to Reading don’t constitute the most strenuous of tests. Newcastle did of course finish above the Blues last season but without taking anything away from Chelsea’s performance, the Magpies looked jaded after a mid-season trip to Greece in the Europa League.
They have certainly looked more impressive than the likes of Tottenham Hotspur and Arsenal so far and perhaps with their scale of investment, that is to be expected. Both North London clubs have faced their fair share of problems pre-season but they will improve. Chelsea currently look a step above the pair but that doesn’t mean that will necessarily transcend into some form of title push or even remain the case, as the season continues.
An away win against Wigan came before conceding two goals to the promoted Reading, in a game that they were very lucky to come out with three points. They may have had their fair share of chances, but the truth is that at 2-2, they shouldn’t have beaten the Royals. Chelsea’s third came courtesy of a shocker of an offside decision and the fourth was a sucker punch as Reading sent Adam Federici up for a corner. They might have made a more impressive start than the two Manchester clubs, but they still have to improve.
The 3-2 Community Shield defeat to Manchester City suggested that whilst Chelsea didn’t necessarily get the rub of the green, they have some work to do before they start harbouring title hopes. Branislav Ivanovic’s dismissal harmed the game as a contest, but Chelsea were outplayed and outmanoeuvred for large periods of the game. If Manchester City represent a well-oiled machine, then Chelsea resembled something of a cautious prototype – full of promise, but not quite ready to fire on the production line.
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The next few weeks will tell us all we need to know about just how much promise Roberto Di Matteo’s prototype is showing. Friday’s Uefa Super Cup fixture against Atletico Madird will offer a tough examination, but perhaps the first, big test in the league will come away to Arsenal at the end of the month. You get the feeling that they’re perhaps only one injury to Fernando Torres or Eden Hazard away from a spot of bother. But if they continue their current level of performance, it’ll be exciting to see what this season has in store for them.
Chelsea haven’t committed a crime, but they’re certainly innocent until proven guilty. As opposed to waiting for the team to slip up, perhaps some should appreciate their current level of output for what it is today.
How do you rate Chelsea’s current form? More than just a promising start? Or are some reading too much into their current Premier League form? Tell me what you think on Twitter: follow @samuel_antrobus and bat me all your views.
Liverpool are set to miss out on yet another transfer target, as Real Madrid playmaker Nuri Sahin looks to have opted for a loan move to The Emirates despite Liverpool submitting a more attractive offer. It is thought Sahin’s decision was based upon wanting Champions League football, a competition Liverpool have failed to qualify for in the last three seasons.
The sad truth of the matter, is Liverpool’s failure to qualify for Europe’s elite competition, is now having a big impact on their transfer business. Brendan Rodgers is having to wheel and deal in a manner it seems only Harry Redknapp is capable of, as he attempts to build a squad capable of challenging for the top four.
The setbacks he has suffered in the transfer market prove that Liverpool is no longer viewed as the ‘dream move’ it once was for so many players. Whether it be through lack of funds or lack of Champions League football, there seems to be a fundemental problem in attracting the right calibre of players to Anfield.
Glyfi Sigurdsson became the first player to snub the Rodgers revolution, despite playing some fantastic football under the Liverpool boss at Swansea. Many Liverpool fans were furious at Sigurdsson’s decision to snub the Reds for a bigger pay packet at Tottenham, but the Icelandic midfielder claimed the move was entirely based on footballing reasons.
If you look at the statistics from the past three seasons, Tottenham have finished 4th, 5th and 4th, only missing out on Champions League football this season after Chelsea won the competition to claim their last spot. Liverpool have finished 7th, 6th and 8th in the same time period, and last year finished a massive 17 points behind Tottenham in 4th place.
Yes, the money would have been a factor in Sigurdsson’s decision, but even so you can understand his reasons for opting for a move to White Hart Lane based on Liverpool’s recent run. Liverpool fans will tell you they would never expect to see a player choose Tottenham over their famous club, but the current truth is that Tottenham have been a better side than Liverpool for the past three years.
For me, the problems began in the summer of 2009. Rafa Benitez had guided the Reds to their best ever Premier League season, which saw them narrowly pipped to the title by Manchester United. The following summer would prove crucial in determining whether they would be able to take the next step.
Benitez was not backed in the transfer market at the most crucial time of his tenure by former owners Tom Hicks and George Gillette. Alonso left for Real Madrid, a crocked Alberto Aquilani was bought in alongside Glen Johnson, Liverpool’s only major signing.
They finished 7th that season, Benitez was axed, Hodgson was bought in and the rest is history. Liverpool have been out of the top four ever since, and been underwhelmed with the transfer business done by first Hodgson, and then Kenny Dalglish.
It is a depressing thought for Liverpool fans, that only three years ago top players like Xabi Alonso, Javier Mascherano and Fernando Torres were gracing the Anfield pitch. All three have now moved on, and countless names have been drafted in on the cheap as Liverpool have looked to re-establish themselves in Europe’s elite competition. The likes of Christian Poulsen, Milan Jovanavic and Joe Cole have all arrived with huge salaries and made little to no impact during their time at Anfield.
Kenny Dalglish was given plenty of cash in a bid to get Liverpool back as quickly as possible, but was let down by the likes of Stewart Downing, Jordan Henderson and Andy Carroll. Rodgers is now paying the price with a limited transfer budget.
It has been a remarkably quick decline for Liverpool, and one Rodgers is tasked with halting. The lack of Champions League football is making this task far more difficult then he perhaps envisaged.
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Sahin now looks set to join Sigurdsson on Rodgers list of failed transfer targets. Cristian Tello of Barcelona is another thought to not fancy the move to Merseyside, whereas Liverpool have failed to meet Fulhams valuation of Clint Dempsey. You would have thought a 29-year-old in the final year of his contract should not be a particularly hard deal to tie up?
Rodgers has made some decent signings with the likes of Borini and Allen bought in, but faces a tough task during the final few days of the transfer window to convince players Liverpool is still a top club, despite the lack of Champions League football. In all honesty, he is not the biggest of managerial names. Whereas before players would join Liverpool saying ‘I want to play under Benitez’ or ‘I want to play under Dalglish.’ Last season apart, Rodgers is something of an unknown quantity.
Rodgers has bought in players he already knows and worked with before, and is hoping to sell his philosophy of football to potential new signings. Whether this is enough to attract the top players remains to be seen. This transfer window has proved the lack of Champions League football is making his task all the more difficult.
England manager Roy Hodgson has expressed his concern that he only has a handful of players to select from that play regularly for their Premier League clubs, according to The Telegraph.
England begin their World Cup qualifying campaign with a trip to lowly Moldova on Friday, followed by a potentially tricky tie against Euro 2012 co-hosts and group opponents Ukraine at Wembley on Tuesday.
Although the prospect of facing a Moldova side who are currently ranked 137th in the FIFA World Rankings won’t cause Hodgson too many sleepless nights, the fact that the majority of his squad haven’t played too many minutes on the pitch will come as a concern to the manager.
England’s back line is not a problem. Goalkeeper Joe Hart is a certain starter for Roberto Mancini at Manchester City. Additionally, England’s defence should all be ready and fit for the Moldova and Ukraine encounters.
Likewise, Leighton Baines, Ryan Bertrand, Gary Cahill, Phil Jagielka, Glen Johnson, Kyle Walker and Joleon Lescott have all featured for their respective clubs in the first three weekends of the Premier League season.
John Terry has also been declared fit for the Moldova game after suffering from a neck injury which had seen him absent for Chelsea’s victory over Newcastle in the Premier League and their defeat at the hands of Atletico Madrid in the UEFA Super Cup last Friday.
The only minor setback in defence for Hodgson is the withdrawal of Ashley Cole from the Moldova game after he suffered a knock to ankle during the Super Cup game aforementioned. The 31-year-old will be reassessed by the England medical team just before the Ukraine match.
It is in midfield and attack where the 64-year-old Hodgson will be feeling uneasy. Liverpool’s Steven Gerrard and Manchester United’s Michael Carrick are the only week-in-week-out starters for their respective clubs.
Other England inclusions such as James Milner, Tom Cleverley, Frank Lampard, Alex-Oxlade Chamberlain and Theo Walcott can only currently be described as squad players rather than key members of the first team judging by the Premier League team-sheets at present.
One would assume that Adam Johnson will become a first-team regular for Sunderland after joining the black cats for £10 million last week. However, it will take him time to regain his match sharpness after being left out of the cold at Manchester City last season.
Hodgson will have even more of a selection dilemma up front following the withdrawals from Wayne Rooney and Andy Carroll. Of the three strikers that the England manager has at his disposal, none of them are guaranteed picks for their clubs.
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Arguably, all three players have been hindered by new arrivals at their respective clubs. Danny Welbeck may be encounter limited first-team action by the arrival of Robin van Persie, Daniel Sturridge hasn’t started a game following the arrival of Eden Hazard at Stamford Bridge and Jermain Defoe may have to accept being second choice striker at Tottenham after capturing Emmanuel Adebayor from Manchester City.
England should have the strength in depth to overcome Moldova and Ukraine in their opening two fixtures and perhaps throughout the whole World Cup qualification campaign. However, lingering is the concern that once a major tournament arrives, will the new exciting youthful looking England side have played enough minutes on the pitch to cope with the world’s best?
Robin Van Persie’s late penalty earned Manchester United all three points against Liverpool on an emotionally charged afternoon at Anfield that saw Jonjo Shelvey sent off.
Victims of the Hillsborough disaster were remembered in poignant scenes with both clubs setting aside their rivalry to observe the pre-match ceremonies with impeccable decorum. There also no repeat of the ugly scenes from Old Trafford when Luis Suarez refused to shake Patrice Evra’s hand as the pair carried out the pre-match ritual with zero fuss.
When the action did get underway Liverpool dominated but lacked the finishing touch that would have brought them a well earned lead, Steven Gerrard going closest with a shot that sailed narrowly wide. United were struggling to deal with the home sides fluent passing and movement but were offered a route back into the game after Jonjo Shelvey was shown a straight red card for a reckless lunge on Jonny Evans much to the annoyance of Brendan Rodgers.
The Reds boss threw Suso on at the break in place of Fabio Borini and the youngster made an immediate impact as his cross fell to Glen Johnson, who did brilliantly to tee up Gerrard to volley past Anders Lindegard at the Kop End. That kicked Sir Alex Ferguson’s men into gear and they were level in the 51st minute as Rafael curled a brilliant effort past Pepe Reina after Shinji Kagawa chested Antonio Valencia’s cross from the right into his path.
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Lindegard twice came to his sides rescue as Liverpool pressed forward, saving from Luis Suarez and Suso, before Van Persie snatched victory from the penalty spot after Johnson brought down Valencia in the area after a collision between him Daniel Agger in the centre conceded possession, the latter worryingly leaving the field on a stretcher.