Tale of the game
Sunderland are unbeaten against Arsenal in the last three meetings, home and away, but in their last 10 League visits they have lost eight, drawn two and conceded 24 goals. In the Premier League, they have drawn their last three games and have failed to win in 12, their last victory coming at home to Arsenal in November when Darren Bent scored the winner.
Arsenal are six points off leaders Chelsea after beating Liverpool in what was their first win in four but manager Arsene Wenger will be concerned that his side has managed just two goals in four outings.
Sunderland are without Lee Cattermole and David Meyler, both suspended, while Kieron Richardson, Andy Reid, John Mensah, Fraizer Campbell, Anton Ferdinand and Jordan Henderson are out while Steed Malbranque undergoes a test on a chest injury.
On Wednesday they went to Porto in the Champions League and with an under-strength side were beaten 2-1, with stand-in goalkeeper Lukasz Fabianksi the culprit. Manuel Almunia, William Gallas, Alex Song, Eduardo and Andrei Arshavin were all absent but should all be available.
Who’s saying what?
Steve Bruce:
“The way football is now it is my turn at the minute [to be under pressure], we haven’t won in 12 games and it is there for everybody to see,” he said. In those 12 we have drawn six so we’ve been close, we’ve conceded four times in the last five minutes and that has cost us. Read more…
Tale of the game
United have the chance to return to the top of the Premier League because of the early kick-off and they face Everton on the back of an eight-match unbeaten. In that period, going back to the 3-0 loss at Fulham in December, they have taken 20 points from a possible 24. They miss the suspended Nani – sent-off in the 1-1 draw at Aston Villa – and Rio Ferdinand, also banned, while Ryan Giggs is ruled out with a broken arm. Wayne Rooney will be looking to add to his 21 League goals.
Everton, 2-1 winners over Sporting Lisbon on Tuesday in the Europa League, have won four of their last five League games and have Steven Pienaar available after suspension following his dismissal in the one blip, the 1-0 defeat by Liverpool, their only loss in 11 League games. But Marouane Fellaini is out, as is Tony Hibbert and Phil Jagielka. And, on Tuesday, Tim Cahill injured a calf and looks doubtful.
Who’s saying what?
Sir Alex Ferguson:
“It doesn’t matter where we go at the moment, [Wayne Rooney has] been without a doubt the main player, the star, over the past few weeks. He’s in such great form and that gives us a great confidence. The last few months or so his game has just taken off. Confidence has something to do with it but he has been in absolutely incredible form. Read more…
Bellamy, who was reportedly involved in a heated row with Mancini this week, will be considered for a place on the substitutes’ bench against Liverpool at Eastlands on Sunday if he emerges unscathed from training on Saturday.
But 19-goal top scorer Tévez will be in Buenos Aires when Man City kick-off a game crucial to their Champions League aspirations after being granted permission to return to Argentina following the birth of daughter Katie, who was born six weeks prematurely last Monday.
Although Mancini is keen for the £25 million forward to return to England in time for next Sunday’s trip to Chelsea, if not Wednesday’s FA Cup fifth-round replay at Stoke, the City manager is reluctant to impose a deadline on the 26 year-old.
But with preparations for the Liverpool game disrupted by the Bellamy saga, plus Patrick Vieira’s three-match ban for violent conduct, Mancini insists that his biggest concern revolves around Tévez rather than Bellamy. Read more…
David Ngog’s 81st-minute winner spared Liverpool’s blushes as they began their Europa League campaign in disappointing fashion against Unirea Urzinceni.
The Romanian side’s defensive approach looked like earning them a draw in the first leg of their last-32 clash.
Liverpool dominated possession but were unable to break down the visitors and created few clear-cut chances.
But, with time running out, Daniel Pacheco knocked down Ryan Babel’s cross and Ngog headed in from close range.
Steven Gerrard went close to adding a second goal seconds later with a rasping shot that flew inches wide, but a second goal would have put an undeserved gloss on what became a difficult night for Rafael Benitez’s side. Read more…
Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger was unhappy with referee Martin Hansson after what was deemed a Sol Campbell backpass led to Porto’s 2-1 Champions League win.
Keeper Lukasz Fabianski was penalised for picking up the pass and Falcao scored from a quickly taken free-kick.
Campbell had cancelled out an own goal by Fabianski in the last-16 first leg.
“The backpass was accidental, it has to be intentional to be a free-kick,” said Wenger. “When the referee gives it he has to allow us a chance to defend it.”
It was a night of mixed emotions for the injury-hit Gunners in Portugal.
Fabianski allowed Silvestre Varela’s cross slip into the net after only 10 minutes, but Campbell soon hit back with a header to equalise and score his first Arsenal goal since the 2006 Champions League final. Read more…
Bayern Munich clinched a controversial 2-1 win over 10-man Fiorentina at the Allianz Arena on Wednesday night to give them a slender advantage going into the second leg of their Champions League tie in Italy in a fortnight’s time.
Arjen Robben put the Bundesliga side ahead with a penalty on the stroke of half time, but Per Kroldrup gave Fiorentina a deserved equaliser five minutes into the second half.
Referee Tom Henning Ovrebro, who led the controversial semi-final between Barcelona and Chelsea last season, then harshly sent Massimo Gobbi off for an innocuous tackle before allowing Miroslav’s Klose to remain on the field for a much more dangerous challenge.
To rub salt into the Fiorentina wounds, it was Klose who nodded in the winner while clearly offside.
Given their recent Serie A form and the fact Bayern have won their last 12 games, Fiorentina came into the game as clear underdogs. Read more…
Arsène Wenger’s side can overturn the deficit in the return but bad memories will linger of Lukasz Fabianski’s error-riddled goalkeeping and Porto’s cynical targeting of Cesc Fabregas, who was shamefully given no protection by a poor referee.
Once again, a major game was undermined by Martin Hansson, the official who failed to notice the Hand of Gaul against the Irish.
The Swede took action against Porto’s serial fouling of Fabregas only with six minutes left when he finally deigned to caution Fernando.
How Hansson failed to spot Ruben Micael’s disgraceful clattering of Fabregas just before half-time defied belief. It almost sparked a riot.
High-profile games like this deserve better referees. And better keepers. Fabianski was desperately at fault for Porto’s first, fumbling in Varela’s cross. When Sol Campbell rolled back the years with a majestic header, Arsenal believed they could come away with a draw or more. Their Polish keeper then messed up again, picking up Campbell’s back-pass, leading to Falcao’s winner and sending the home crowd howling with laughter Read more…
A player of Beckham’s calibre and willing deserves a proper send-off. If it is to be his last game there, he deserves no less than a genuine contest, not just a teary-eyed curtain call, and although Manchester United will start as hot favourites, they will afford AC Milan respect after this.
Briefly, it seemed as if David Beckham’s return to Old Trafford next month would be strictly ceremonial. Clarence Seedorf’s sublime back-heel changed that, and for the best, too.
The stronger team won here, but not with ease. The best football of the game was played by Milan before half-time when they had enough chances to go three clear.
Manchester United drew level courtesy of a fluke and got back in the game because Milan ran out of puff. For all the talk of the magic worked in the laboratories of the training camp at Milanello, the home side looked exhausted as the hour passed. Players that had dominated the first 45 minutes fell off the radar: Ronaldinho, in particular.
They say the great ones never lose it but that is not true. Ronaldinho lost it dramatically at Barcelona, which is why he ended up at AC Milan, a great club in temporary decline since winning the Champions League in 2007. Milan are an aging team and Ronaldinho is old before his time. Read more…
Manchester United secured an historic win at the San Siro as they drew first blood in an enthralling Wayne Rooney was the match-winner with a brace of second-half headers to earn United a precious first-leg advantage.
They came after Paul Scholes’ fortunate equaliser but Milan played their part after Ronaldinho’s deflected opener.
Champions League last-16 tie with AC Milan.
Clarence Seedorf’s skilful 85th-minute finish gave Milan hope, while Michael Carrick was sent off in injury time.
Carrick’s second yellow card - for kicking the ball away - capped a frantic finale as Milan, who had bossed the opening hour, threatened to deny United a first win in the stadium.
And that, combined with Seedorf’s late goal, served to take the edge off the win, even though United showed just about enough to suggest they can keep Milan at bay in the second leg on 10 March.
It was a strange affair for Sir Alex Ferguson’s men, who in many ways can consider themselves fortunate to have come away with the win after a first hour in which they looked a shadow of a side that has gone nine games unbeaten.
Before the match, Ferguson had talked pointedly of avoiding the “circus” that surrounded David Beckham’s first match against his former employers.
But whether they had been caught up in the pre-match hype or merely overwhelmed by the occasion, United barely got out of first gear in a nervy half-hour.
Poor in possession, toothless in attack and ill-organised in defence, the visitors allowed Milan the freedom of the San Siro as the hosts quickly got into their stride. Read more…
