Liverpool 4 - 1 Arsenal

Peter Crouch's first hat-trick at club level saw Liverpool leap-frog Arsenal to go third in the Premiership.

Crouch turned in Alvaro Arbeloa's cross to put Liverpool ahead after four minutes, then headed in from Fabio Aurelio's delivery in the 34th minute.

Daniel Agger glanced in another brilliant Aurelio cross on the hour before William Gallas poked in from almost on the line for Arsenal.

Crouch then made it a treble with a neat turn and finish after 80 minutes.

Interview: Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez
Interview: Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger
Interview: Liverpool co-owner Tom Hicks

Liverpool recalled Crouch, who missed England's two Euro 2008 matches to have an operation on a broken nose.

And the giant striker was the central figure in a first 45 minutes that saw Liverpool cruise into the lead.

He provided the perfect finish to a delightful Liverpool build-up in the fourth minute, sweeping in at the near post after Jermaine Pennant's neat flick set up Arbeloa for the cross.

Arsenal looked lethargic, but threatened briefly when Emmanuel Adebayor headed just over.

But Crouch was in rampant mood, ignoring the better-placed Steven Gerrard to fire an ambitious shot across the face of goal after 26 minutes.

The unpredictable Julio Baptista should have drawn Arsenal level five minutes later when he was played in by Adebayor, but the man who scored four at Anfield in a Carling Cup tie earlier
this season side-footed tamely wide.

And it proved an expensive miss as Liverpool doubled their advantage 11 minutes before half-time.

Xabi Alonso's quick free-kick found Aurelio, and Crouch soared to meet his perfect cross to send a brilliant header high past the diving Jens Lehmann.

Arsenal's luck was out again after 53 minutes when Adebayor's low left-foot shot rebounded to safety off the post.

There was some concern for Liverpool when captain Gerrard went off two minutes later.

He needed to have an ice-pack applied to a thigh injury - with boss Rafa Benitez hoping he will recover in time for Tuesday's Champions League quarter-final first leg against PSV Eindhoven.

But the smiles were back on Liverpool faces just on the hour when a superbly delivered free-kick from Aurelio was glanced past Lehmann by Agger.

Adebayor was still battling away, but he was cursing again after 63 minutes when his header was turned on to an upright by Liverpool keeper Pepe Reina.

Arsenal pulled a goal back with 18 minutes left, Gallas turning home from almost on the line after Kolo Toure touched on substitute Tomas Rosicky's corner.

But any hopes of an unlikely Arsenal comeback were snuffed out after 80 minutes when Crouch turned Toure expertly before firing past Lehmann.

Liverpool striker Peter Crouch:"It was pleasing for us to get four goals and beat a class side.

"The manager let us know beforehand we've had some disappointing results against Arsenal this season.

"You don't care how they come but it was a nice hat-trick, I'm pleased with it. It is a special moment."

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger:"We are not certain of being in the top four.

"There is not a big enough gap even if maybe my players felt they had done enough.

"That is not the case. We will have to give our best in every game now, we must win all our home matches and pick up some away wins too.

"My players are now concerned. They did not produce what was expected."

Liverpool: Reina, Arbeloa, Carragher, Agger, Aurelio, Pennant, Alonso, Mascherano (Riise 82),
Gonzalez (Zenden 69), Gerrard (Kuyt 56), Crouch.Subs Not Used: Dudek, Fowler.

Booked: Alonso.

Goals: Crouch 4, 35, Agger 60, Crouch 81.

Arsenal: Lehmann, Eboue (Hoyte 82), Toure, Gallas, Clichy, Hleb, Fabregas, Diaby (Rosicky 65), Denilson, Julio Baptista (Ljungberg 65), Adebayor.Subs Not Used: Almunia, Senderos.

Booked: Diaby, Lehmann, Fabregas.

Goals: Gallas 73.

Att: 43,958.

Ref: S Bennett (Kent).

From : BBC Sports

Andorra 0-3 England

Steven Gerrard spared England and coach Steve McClaren's blushes with a crucial double strike to break Andorra's resistance in the Euro 2008 qualifier.

England were jeered off after a shameful first 45 minutes in Barcelona.

But Gerrard broke the deadlock with a low 20-yard drive after 53 minutes, then slid home a neat finish with 15 minutes left in an ill-tempered clash.

Debutant David Nugent scored in the last minute after Jermain Defoe saw a shot saved by keeper Koldo Alvarez.

Interview: England skipper John Terry
Interview: England boss Steve McClaren
Interview: England's Steven Gerrard

England, as expected, were without Frank Lampard after he was ruled out with a broken wrist sustained in training.

And he may have been grateful for sitting out a shambolic first half that was notable for the persistent abuse aimed in the direction of McClaren and his team by furious England supporters.
Andorra's only threat was a physical one, with Wayne Rooney targeted for rough treatment and Owen Hargreaves cynically elbowed by Justo Ruiz.

Alvarez did well to repel the few moments when England did threaten, saving well from Andrew Johnson and Gerrard.

The busy Johnson also curled an angled drive just over and Stewart Downing was off target twice when he should have done better.

England departed at half-time to a crescendo of jeering, but were able to cheer their fans by finally breaking the deadlock after 53 minutes.

Rooney touched the ball into Gerrard's path and he made no mistake with a low drive from 20 yards.

Rooney then managed to rule himself out of the visit to Estonia in their next qualifier in June when he received a yellow card, along with Oscar Sonejee, as their running battle continued.

The Manchester United star was wisely withdrawn on the hour to avoid further trouble and was replaced by Defoe, while Micah Richards was stretchered off injured - with Kieron Dyer going on.

Gerrard wrapped up the win for England after 75 minutes, racing on to a clever touch by Defoe to slide a precise finish past Alvarez.

And McClaren then gave a debut to Preston's Nugent, the youngster going on for Johnson.

He was narrowly off target after good work by Downing, but claimed England's third as Defoe's

shot rolled towards the goal-line.

Andorra: Alvarez, Sonejee, Lima, Ayala, Bernaus, Escura, Vieira, Genis Garcia, Justo (Fernandez 88), Pujol (Martinez 69), Toscano (Moreno 90).Subs Not Used: Alfonso Sanchez, Somoza, Rubio, Jimenez.

Booked: Lima, Toscano, Sonejee, Genis Garcia.

England: Robinson, Richards (Dyer 61), Terry, Ferdinand, Cole, Lennon, Hargreaves, Gerrard, Downing, Johnson (Nugent 79), Rooney (Defoe 61).Subs Not Used: Foster, Carragher, Barry, Carrick.

Booked: Rooney, Hargreaves, Cole.

Goals: Gerrard 54, 76, Nugent 90.

Att: 12,800

Ref: Bruno Miguel Duarte Paixao (Portugal).

A Big Sorry out to you

Hey guys, hmm, id like to send out a big sozz to all of our readers, because this blog has been offline for the past two weeks. Now we're back and we are stronger than ever. Alot has happened since we last updated the site, but now were up and running. Yesterday's game against Andorra proved to be a big challange for England, which shouldn't have been the case. We won it 3-0, but never the less it was a very lackluster performance, and we didnt really feel that we did the job. This game ofcourse comes after the 0-0 in Tel Aviv. Next we have our PL showdown with Liverpool, and ofcourse we will be covering that. Enjoy!

Domenech rejects Wenger criticism

Raymond Domenech has rejected the suggestion that striker Thierry Henry's below-par form is due to the number of games he has played for France.
Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger was very unhappy France picked Henry for a friendly against Bosnia in August.

"Wenger is saying that a match in August can explain an injury in March," said Domenech.

"But it has to be known that every time Henry has played for France, he was playing for Arsenal three days later."

Henry will miss the rest of the season after damaging stomach and groin muscles in his team's Champions League exit to PSV Eindhoven earlier this month.

Prior to that game Henry had missed a number of games for Arsenal but had played in every international match for France since 16 August.

"We have a clear conscience because we have never made our players take risks," Domenech said.

"I'm seriously starting to get tired of Mr Wenger.

"Wenger does not know everything and is not the only one with the right to exist in football.

"Even Uefa president Michel Platini has noted that his remarks were stupid."

Wenger is annoyed that Henry, 29, has played so many games for France this season.

"I feel Henry has been badly managed by France," said Wenger.

"After the World Cup final I gave him a holiday. France called him up less than 14 days after he came back - and they played him in the whole game.

"It was a friendly, so why did they need to play him in the whole game? And he has played every friendly since, when he was already on his knees."


Domenech has used Henry in seven international matches this season - including three friendlies - and played him for 90 minutes in all but one of the games.

Meanwhile the French coach has called up Arsenal's Abou Diaby and Chelsea's Lassana Diarra for the first time for France's Euro 2008 qualifier against Lithuania and a friendly against Austria later this month.

From : BBC Sports

Wenger faces FA disrepute hearing

Arsene Wenger is facing a Football Association disrepute hearing after he was charged with improper conduct.
The charges relate to comments Wenger made after the Carling Cup final fracas and defeat to Chelsea at Cardiff.

He has been asked to explain his claim "the whole system is not honest", a reference to FA disciplinary rules.

Wenger also suggested the assistant whom referee Howard Webb consulted before sending off striker Emmanuel Adebayor was a "liar".

Wenger has until 30 March to respond.

This is not the first time Wenger has been at odds with the Football Association this season.

A date for his personal hearing into an improper conduct charge after a confrontation with referee Steve Bennett during the Portsmouth match at the Emirates Stadium in December has still not been finalised.

And Wenger was fined £10,000 and warned about his future conduct for a touchline bust-up with then West Ham manager Alan Pardew at the end of November.

From : BBC Sports