Article courtesy of the excellent Live4Liverpool website

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What, above all, strikes me is the accuracy of the phrase ‘mid-table’ as it currently stands. Six points behind the Champions’ League Places, Five above the relegation zone. Few Liverpool supporters would openly admit it, but that represents six very good weeks for the new regime and for Roy Hodgson and his men. It was a mere 39 days ago that Everton quite frankly dismantled the Reds in a very one sided Merseyside Derby, leaving them marooned firmly in the bottom three.

Of course, the pessimists will point to Wigan and particularly Stoke as dropped points and poor performances, but six league games have seen four wins, including two against sides in the top five, signs that things are going in the right direction.

I have been very interested to see the criticism being thrown in the direction of Roy Hodgson, particularly as much of it would appear to come from internet and media forums, as opposed to those supporters inside Anfield on match day itself. It is not my place to decide on Hodgson’s future, although I will openly admit that I do not think that he is the appropriate manager to rebuild the club.

However, I do believe that he has the right to more respect than that afforded by some of the derisory and derogatory comments that I have noticed on various sites. In fact, anyone deserves more respect than some of the vitriol that has been aimed from certain quarters at the Liverpool manager.

Liverpool supporters need to be absolutely honest about where the club is right now. That status is as a former giant brought to its knees and rocked to its very foundations by the previous regime, and with a playing squad boasting some enviable talent but lacking in depth.

Bolton, Stoke and Sunderland apart, Liverpool are finally very much on the periphery of the battle that supporters expect them to be fighting this season, and that is competing with Manchester City and Tottenham Hotspur for the final Champions’ League place.

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In this respect, Sunday afternoon’s clash at White Hart Lane becomes Liverpool’s most important game of the season. Defeat is not an option as it would leave the Merseyside club some six points behind Spurs, and potentially nine points behind the top four. A draw would be no disaster, whilst a win would be a real confidence boost.

There are no reasons why Liverpool should not head to North London with confidence. Although they have lost on their last two visits to the Lane, it has historically been a good ground for the Reds. Spurs have notoriously struggled this season after midweek European fixtures, and Liverpool should be brimful of confidence after last week’s victory, albeit against a very poor West Ham. Whilst the loss of Steven Gerrard is an undoubted blow, it has afforded Raul Meireles with an opportunity to play in a more natural position, in which he seemed to thrive last weekend. In addition, Fernando Torres is looking more like himself with every passing week.

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This does bring me to a real area of concern with regard to Roy Hodgson, and those are his terribly negative tactics away from home. I understand that he might wish to employ a 4-2-3-1 counter attacking formation, but even counter strategies work only if you get enough bodies forward to support the lone front man. Torres has, at times, been woefully isolated away from Anfield, and this will have to be remedied if Liverpool are to have any success. Such is the gap behind the deep midfield and the front man, that possession is consistently ceded.

I, like many others, grew up in a period when Liverpool Football Club dominated British and European football. It gives me absolutely no pleasure to speak about Liverpool in peripheral battles and fighting to rise from mid-table obscurity. However, that is the reality of things right now. There is talent in the squad, if not depth, and certainly Mr Hodgson needs to be more demanding of them.

They said that Rome wasn’t built in a day, yet Liverpool Football Club conquered it twice. Liverpool Football Club was certainly not built in a day, but two utterly despicable men brought it to its knees. Time is an enemy in modern life, but time is exactly what will be required to rebuild this club from its foundations. For now, Liverpool supporters should be grateful to have banished the Texans to the past, and to be climbing what is a very tight Premier League table.

Read more Liverpool blogs at the excellent Live4Liverpool website

Wolves could be set to make big moves in January and bring former favourites Joleon Lescott and Robbie Keane back to Molineux.

Robbie Keane has fallen down the pecking order at Tottenham and now looks certain to leave in January with Aston Villa, Blackburn and Birmingham also interested in the Republic of Ireland star. Keane has over 100 Premier League goals and 45 international goals to his name and at the age of 30 looks to still have a lot of offer in England’s top flight.

Joleon Lescott is another player reportedly on Mick McCarthy’s Christmas wishlist. The defender who cost Manchester City over £20 millon in 2009 has struggled to secure a first team place at Eastlands this season and is seeking a move to put himself back on Fabio Capello’s radar.

Both players graduated from Wolves’ academy and became firm favourites with the Molineux crowd, with many considering Lescott to be the finest player to wear a Wolves shirt in the last 10 years. The possibility of the return of Joleon Lescott would be a massive boost for Wolves who have conceded 30 goals already this season.

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While Keane and Lescott would certainly help Wolves’ survival bid, money could prove to be the stumbling block for both deals. It is likely that Wolves would need to break their wage structure in order to secure both signings and the fee for both players would be around the £17 million mark.

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South Korea coach Cho Kwang-rae believes a meeting with Iran was always likely if his side were to reach the latter stages of the Asian Cup.Ranked third in Asia going into the tournament, South Korea beat India 4-1 in their final match of Group C, but the margin of victory could and perhaps should have been greater in Tuesday’s one-sided encounter.

Their failure to convert multiple opportunities – while also conceding a soft goal from the penalty spot – means Korea finish second behind Australia in the group.

They must now overcome relative heavyweights Iran in the quarter-finals of the Asian Football Confederation’s elite competiton.

“I don’t worry so much about the chances we missed tonight,” Cho said.

“When it comes to Iran, they are one of the powerhouses of Asian football so we’d likely have to beat them at some point to win the tournament.”

“I am quite satisfied about the result of tonight’s match, we had chances to score many goals but I was happy with the players’ attitude towards the game, they took it seriously and did their best.”

“If we can continue these performances, I believe the team will do an excellent job for the quarter-final match.”

Cho believes his team have improved since their last meeting with Iran – a 1-0 home defeat in September – and is confident of progressing to the last four at their expense.

“I’ve seen the Group D games and I’m comfortable about meeting Iran because we played a friendly match in Seoul and if you compare our team from then, we’re much better now,” he said.

“I believe we can control the game against Iran.”

Despite his side losing all three of their matches in Group C, India coach Bob Houghton believes the tournament was an important experience for his players.

“It was the third of three difficult games in eight days,” Houghton said.

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“For our team, it was a real challenge, we got through it, we’re richer for the experience, the boys enjoyed it and they’ve learned a lot from it.”

“So I think we can go home and push on from here and do even better things in the next four years.”

“They don’t give up. In all three games we’ve been goals down at half-time and they’ve kept going and kept it close in the second-half. They’ve battled until the end and you can’t ask for more than that.”

UEFA president Michel Platini has reignited the debate over goal-line technology recently in an interview with The Independent. He claims to be obstinate in his convictions that goal-line technology isn’t for football and will remain unpersuaded by continued arguments for its implementation. But FIFA president Sepp Blatter has been more receptive over his thoughts regarding the idea, claiming that the issue will be assessed. Whereas Platini has different ideas concerning the overcoming of injustices and mistakes made by referees, his notion is to introduce more ‘policemen’ to ensure the fair enactment of the laws of the game.

Effectively Platini is declaring that football should employ more officials to ensure that there aren’t any discrepancies and that unfairly disallowed goals are eradicated from occurring in the future. Platini states: “The referee is alone, one man in an area 120 metres by 80 metres. There are things he doesn’t see. That’s why we propose in the Champions League to have an additional official on the line.” But through experience and observable evidence we have seen mistakes made by these extra officials who are supposed to be decreasing the chance of error. My logic is that humans are fallible, we can take this as self-evident, and the introduction of more officials leads to an increase in chance of humans making error because more of them exist.

Platini fears the old adage of ‘give them an inch and they’ll take a mile’, so that if goal-line technology is introduced then we won’t be satisfied with this and will go mad by using it for offsides and penalty decisions. But how does progress ever occur without a step? In both instances, offsides and penalties, a goal isn’t necessarily the final outcome, but a ball crossing the goal-line is by virtue of that act a goal. This is why it is such a pain to fans, players and managers alike, as you’ve not been rewarded for what the rules stipulate.

Platini uses the comparison of Rugby, saying five or six tries are scored, or not, in a game. Whereas the frequency of goal-line disputes is minimal and shouldn’t warrant this rather large expenditure of resources. He also speaks of Frank Lampard’s ‘goal’ against Germany and says: “What do you do? Do you bring the play back? And perhaps there was a foul before Lampard’s shot. Do you bring the play back to there or back even further because before the foul there should have been a corner?” This is poor rhetoric, as the simple answer would be that goal-line technology is used solely for that purpose and that alone. You stop the game if in doubt, it gets looked at and awarded, if not then a goal-kick or centre-kick is taken to allow possession for the opposing team.

The best is saved for last from Platini, as he claims that: “Football is human. I understand people want more justice, so let’s give them more policemen. In tennis there is video technology but no contact between players, and 12 referees. Let’s try more referees first.” First of all his example of tennis failures miserably, as technology was introduced to rectify mistakes made by the 12 line judges. So football has to persevere through more referees, until finally, the governing bodies realize that human fallibility is ubiquitous, and only then could goal-line technology be possible.

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South Korean midfielder Park Ji-Sung will retire from international football effective immediately.

Park’s retirement was announced by his national team coach, Cho Kwang-Rae, on Friday after South Korea beat Uzbekistan 3-2 in the Asian Cup’s third place play-off match.

Park, 29, took no part in the match on doctor’s advice and will end his national career with exactly 100 caps while his national teammate, 33-year-old defender Lee Young-Pyo, has also played his last match of international football.

“I would like to say something about Park Ji-Sung and Lee Young-Pyo,” Cho said after the match.

“From today they are going to be retired from their national football careers. I want to say they did a remarkable job for Korean football and I want to say I have loved working with them.”

“It would be better if I could keep both of them in the national team but they have done an excellent job in international football and I’m sure the Korean fans would like to congratulate them for all their hard work. There are also many new players coming through.”

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Park’s retirement will come as no surprise and he will hold a press conference in Seoul on Monday to explain the reasons for his retirement.

With Barcelona once again declaring any movement for Fabregas is dead and buried, one can only assume that they are organizing a bid as we speak. The Spanish giant has been trying in vain to prize the Arsenal playmaker back to his spiritual home for years and with Xavi not getting any younger their desire for Fabregas can only be fermenting rather than floundering.

Even with such talent as Wilshere and Song, the huge fee demanded by Arsenal would give Wenger the license to make an uncharacteristically expensive signing in order to attempt to fill the void left by the Gunners’ talisman. So, in no particular order, let’s have a look at the talent on offer:

1. Jordan Henderson

Sunderland’s young player of the year has gone from strength to strength in the past two years after impressing on loan at Coventry. With Man United’s interest public knowledge along with a reported “host” of clubs keeping tabs on the 20 year old it would be optimistic to say that he will still be at Sunderland come the start of next season.

Described by FIFA as “composed, athletic and powerful” he was listed in their 2011 shortlist of 13 players to watch. A tireless performer he can also be utilized on the right side of midfield but prefers to play through the centre. A perfect candidate for Arsenal’s coaching staff with their tremendous record of cultivating young talent.

He’s struggling with form as of late but there is no doubt that the old cliché rings true when it’s said of Henderson that his class is permanent. The problems arise with the transfer fee Sunderland would demand – rumoured to be north of £20 million. The endemic inflation in value of domestic talent within teams of the same league may prove too much of a stumbling block for Wenger’s frugal personality as well as the lack of Champions League experience.

2. Marek Hamsik

The two time young Slovak player of the year plies his trade in Italy at Serie A club Napoli and has impressed since joining in 2007. An extremely gifted playmaker he has an eye for goal and has already chalked up 8 league goals this season for Napoli. He is known for his fascinating ability to read the game together with his sound anticipation.

Probably one of the favourites to sign for Arsenal if Fabregas goes, he would paradoxically be one of the most expensive after signing a contract extension keeping him tied to the Azzurri until 2015. His valuation is reportedly around the €40 million mark (£34 million) which seems extreme but given that Arsenal would be likely to receive the same amount, if not more, for Fabregas it would be a good deal.

The 23 year old is the most like for like replacement on the market but with Napoli performing well in the league Hamsik may intend to lead his club into the Champions League next year. If he does indeed sign for Arsenal he would be a great addition not only to the London club but also to the Premier League – plus he is fantastic on Football Manager so he has to be amazing, right?

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3. Eden Hazard

Lille’s 20 year old midfield sensation has been on the Gunner’s radar for some time now and the sale of Fabregas would act as the catalyst upon which interest would evolve into action. A member of the 2010 Ligue 1 Team of the Year as well as the first international player to be voted the best young player of the season, Hazard has exciting potential.

Zinedine Zidane said of Hazard: “he will be a major star in the future”, adding that he would buy him “with his eyes shut.” Not bad coming from one of the greatest midfielders the game has ever seen. He has 17 caps already for Belgium and is known for the accuracy of his passing and the mesmerizing skill he possesses. Definitely one for the romantics of the game, he would fit into Arsenal’s ethos on the pitch beautifully.

Another player who recently signed a contract extension Hazard has another three years on his existing contract and wouldn’t be an easy target with Lille desperate to hold onto him. Sitting top of Ligue 1, Lille look set to qualify for the Champions League next season and Hamsik may wish to gain some vital experience whilst in France before moving on to pastures new.

4. Yoann Gourcuff

Signed by Lyon Last year the former French player of the year has been hailed as the new Zinadine Zidane for his playing style. The reasons for this may lie within the fact that he took over the role of playmaker for France – the first player to do so since Zidane retired back in 2006.

Loaned to Bordeaux by AC Milan, Gourcuff went on to win the double with the French side and was instrumental in the success. That was enough for the newly crowned champions to trigger the 24 year olds’ release clause of €15 million much to the disappointment of his parent club. Christophe Dugarry said that he had been “cured” by watching Gourcuff play since feeling sick since Zidane retired.

Last season was disappointing for Bordeaux and they failed to qualify for Europe which, and Arsenal should take heart from this, led to his departure to Lyon for €22 million. With Lyon struggling in the league this year and European Qualification again hanging in the balance Wenger would have a good chance of getting his man if they fail to earn their place on the European stage. Somewhere around the €30 – 35 million mark should be too tempting for both Lyon and Gourcuff.

5. Alan Dzagoev

Not exactly a name you would expect to find on a Russian mans birth certificate; the 20 year old is a technically sound midfielder who enjoys getting forward and scoring goals. He was voted the best young player of the year by the Russian Football Union in 2008 and is currently turning out for CSKA Moscow.

A vocal presence on the pitch Dzagoev is an enthusiastic, encouraging player and happens to be the youngest outfield player ever to play for Russia. When Real Madrid came calling three years ago he distanced himself from rumours insisting that should he move he would like to go to his favourite club, Chelsea. Might playing in the same league as them do for Dzagoev?

With Champions League experience under his belt he would be a solid signing for Arsenal and would be pleased to be working with fellow Russian international Arshavin. With his contract set to run out in 2012 Dzagoev would also provide the cheapest option should Wenger wish to pursue that route. Just for a bit of random trivia good old Alan shares the same birthday with fellow shortlister Jordan Henderson.

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Click HERE to see the original article. This article was first published on TransferTavern

Written by J Scollen

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Gent consolidated third place in the Belgian First Division with a 4-1 victory over Standard Liege on Sunday.The hosts at Jules Ottenstadion went ahead in the ninth minute, when Ivorian Yaya Soumahoro found the back of the net.But Liege hit back seven minutes later through Senegalese striker Mbaye Leye.From there, Yassine El Ghanassy and Bernd Thijs scored to put Gent 3-1 up at the break, before a Kanu own-goal handed the home side their fourth late on.Defender Cesar Arzo was dismissed in the 86th minute for Gent, but it did little to alter the result.Anderlecht surrendered top spot on the table after being upset 2-0 by Westerlo.The hosts at Het Kuipje opened the scoring on the hour mark through an Aleksandr Iakovenko spot kick, before Dieter Dekelver netted 17 minutes later to gift Genk top spot on goal difference from Anderlecht.The three points moved Westerlo into 10th spot on the table.

Lazio boss Edy Reja said a positive attitude is the key if his side is to defeat city rivals Roma in their derby at the Stadio Olimpico on Sunday.Reja’s side have had the better of their arch nemesis this season, with Lazio currently two spot ahead of Roma on the Serie A table in fourth position.But despite their good form, they have not beaten Roma in their last four attempts, and Reja said they must believe in themselves if they are to win the three points on Sunday.”We need to go on the pitch with the right determination and being convinced we can win the game,” Reja said.”We’ve always had this attitude, with care and intelligence and taking into consideration Roma’s qualities.””They will do their best because they know it will be essential for them to win, if they want to have some hope to do the Champions League next year. Our aim will be not to let them do it.”

As we all know, Manchester United and Arsenal are set to meet in the FA Cup on Saturday in a game which we are all looking forward to. Both respective managers have been in the headlines recently for their inability to say anything nice about well, anyone. Inevitably, it’s going to be billed as a feisty affair – they always are. But off the back of recent results for both clubs, is this Saturday’s game more than just a cup-tie? Could it shape the rest of their season?

From being in the hunt for four trophies, Arsenal’s season has taken a dramatic nose-dive. If the Carling Cup final defeat to Birmingham wasn’t hard enough to take, a draw against Sunderland in the league, which could have put them right on United’s heels, was just a damn right kick in the teeth. Throw on top of that being outclassed once again by Barcelona and denied European glory for at least another year, and you’ve got yourself a pretty miserable week, if you’re an Arsenal fan. Yes, I know, it was all the referee’s fault, apparently, but the fact remains that the Gunners were chasing four trophies, and it’s now only two. United haven’t imploded quite so dramatically – yet – but the warning signs are definitely there. Sir Alex Ferguson’s men have lost three of their last five and have let their rivals back into the title race when it seemed all but destined to end in another championship winning season for the Red Devils. It isn’t unusual for any team to hit a blip, and yes, you could argue that is what United are experiencing. The problem is, more worryingly than anything else, for the first time in years, United’s strength in depth doesn’t look good enough, and their ageing stars is a topic which we seem to spend half of our lives debating.

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Both sides are in need of a massive pick-me-up before this weekend’s clash. A win for either club could really rejuvenate their season. Arsenal are still very much in with a shout of winning the league, but given the past week or so, everything points to another year of disappointment. Arsene Wenger’s men have a bit of a reputation for failing to see the league through, despite their unquestionable quality. Imagine what another defeat, and another competition passing by would do to the team?

Similarly, if United lose to another of one their closest rivals, it could be the beginning of the end of their season. Old Trafford expects trophies. What the fans don’t expect is below par performances against Chelsea and Liverpool, and an away record which would be better suited to that of a mid-table team. Saturday is a must win – for both teams.

It all makes for a pretty interesting spectacle for the neutral. Both teams dare not lose for the sake of the rest of their season, but we can’t forget that this is a cup-tie. Maybe not on Saturday, but it will have to be decided one way or another, and with Manchester United still fighting on the European front, I’m sure they would rather not have to squeeze another fixture in, especially with it being a reply at the Emirates.

For whichever team that loses, it will take one almighty effort to restore the belief in the side and bring back the form which has kept them both hunting Premier League glory. It’s a bold statement, but it wouldn’t surprise me to see the winner of this Saturday’s tie go on to clean up on the domestic front. For the other, it could be a long end to an already drawn-out Premier League campaign. More than just a game? United-Arsenal normally is. But this one is definitely more than just a cup-tie.

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To celebrate the return of 41 year-old Jens Lehmann to the Premier League this week, we take a look back at a list of ten other players to have made an impact at the top level at an age when others may already be sitting at a desk on Soccer Saturday.

Lehmann may appear set for a stint warming the bench at the Emirates for the remainder of the campaign, yet we should remember that there are a catalogue of players who were still churning out high quality performances across Europe’s top divisions deep into their thirties and early forties.

For many , playing on at the highest level well past an anticipated retirement date is a rare luxury. The ten players I present to you now have displayed remarkable longevity, stamina and professionalism to extend their careers in one of the most physically demanding of sports.

All ten of the names on this list are undoubtedly deserving of this recognition, but which other players would you add to this role of honour? Pop any suggestions as a comment below or find me on Twitter.

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