Liverpool seems to have lost its ground in FA Cup as well that is why they failed to impress anyone in the Thursday's Europa League semifinal first leg at Villarreal. Although, margin of defeat was just 1-0 but it was more a psychological loss than the in-field disappointment and manager Jurgen Klopp accepts that his team played rather immaturely, although, excused their experience for all the nasty mistakes they did. However, first half was a tight finish when both the sides struggled to score the net and it was the second half when Villarreal's Cedric Bakambu could score the winner for his side. Moreover, one goal first leg advantage would help Spanish club prepares better for the return leg to be played at Anfield next week and looking at their last night show, it is highly unlikely they would change current winning combination. Anyways, without being critical to his own team, Klopp issued his gross satisfaction over the show despite the fact that Reds missed several opportunities … [Read more...]
A devastating display by United during 2-0 Liverpool loss: Paul Scholes and Rio Ferdinand
Whenever a player, who has been associated with a single side throughout his professional career, sees disturbing form of his side, it feels him like killing of the legacy he left with his most loved side and this is something that seems to be happening with Manchester United who is passing through worst phase in recent time. This is the same team who was once called the invincible when used to play under Alex guidance and now after Scott’s retirement, Red Devils could never recover from the stigma. First David Moyes and then Van Gaal none of them could bring any joy for the biggest English club and this year too they are not close to even a Champions league qualification after having been on the top of the board last month. ManU latest 2-0 defeat to Liverpool in Europa League again made it sure Dutchman is not the man who can bring golden era back for Old Trafford side and former United legend Paul Scholes and Rio Ferdinand are the two who are deeply stunned to see their side’s peril … [Read more...]
Hooligans attacked Liverpool fans in St Petersburg
In another terrifying incident in an Europa League match between Liverpool and Zenit, here in Zenit St Petersburg stadium on Thursday, Liverpool’s fans were reportedly beaten up before and during the match by a bunch of hooligan said to be the host fans. A local news channel flashed the news about 40 peoples’ strong group who attacked the traveling fans when they landed on the metro stations to attain the match. The attack was so severe that supporters had to take the shelter inside stadium itself until security forces used bats to scatter the hooligans. Surprisingly, it all happened when Zenit had ensured that there would be adequate protection inside and outside of the ground so that match could be played in a clean atmosphere, but on the contrary, everything that happened was against the commitments. Actually, racism has ever been a biggest cause of ground attacks in this part of world, perhaps not too far ago, a group of strong hooligans warned Zenit to avoid playing with any black … [Read more...]
Chelsea is out from Champions League
So, finally, Chelsea has to taste the bitterness of being the first title holder to be ousted in the first round of Champions League. Despite investing millions of dollars on high profile players, and even after sacking a well-known admired soccer coach, The Blues could not survive as the Champions. Just seventh month ago, this was the same team which celebrated its Champions League triumph in most astonishing way, and now the same team is being ogled by the world for their miserable preference in the league. However, the good point of their exist is their 6-1 victory over FC Nordsjaelland which is the first for its new manager Rafa Benitez who was managing his fourth match after ex-manager’s sudden sacking. Other two group teams’ clash put Chelsea on the fourth place in group E, which means, it is out of the league now and will move to Europa League. So, the next competition for English cash rich club would be Europa League which would again be a tough task for it, however, its … [Read more...]
Five-year Ban for Violent Roma Fans
Some sort of violence has ever been a part of soccer games, especially if a match is being played at a crucial stage or between two teams having long running revelry. But, no violence has probably been as severe as it happened in a Europa League group stage match in Italy when many Tottenham fans were planned attacked by Roma fans. Perhaps, the injuries were so grim that some of them were in critical condition when they were taken to a nearby hospital. One fan: Ashley Mills, 25, of Essex, was stabbed by an unidentified man and remained in the hospital, while some are discharged after giving first aid treatment. The planned attack was carried out by a group of peoples who stormed the Drunken Ship pub in Rome last week and stabbed many Tottenham supporters ahead of a Europa League clash with Spurs. Two AS Roma fans: Francesco Ianari, 26, and Mauro Pinnelli, 25 have earlier been booked under attempt to murder charge, but later in court, their charges were downgraded to aggravated wounding … [Read more...]