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English Premiership

7th January 2010

• Liverpool have signed Maxi Rodriguez
  The Reds have managed to sign the Argentine midefielder from Atletico Madrid for a 1.5mil pounds deal. The 29-year-old has penned a 18-month contract. He will now join his national team captain Javier Mascherano and former A. Madrid team-mate Fernando Torres.

2nd January 2010

• Liverpool need a right-back
  Benitez is looking for a replacement for Glen Johnson, who could miss up to two months with his knee injury and has set his eyes on Greece international full-back Vasil Torosidis.

1st January 2010

• Chelsea to buy David Villa for 40mil pounds
  The Blues are looking for a replacement for Didier Drogba, who is going to participate in this months African Cup of Nations. Chelsea are looking at the Valencia striker to boost their chances of winning the Premiership.
• Liverpool looking to get Maxi Rodriguez
  The Reds are targeting Atletico Madrid’s Maxi Rodriguez for a loan deal, ahead of Real Madrid’s striker Van Nistelrooy.

30th December 2009

• Van Nistelroy loan deal for Liverpool
  Benitez is set to sign a loan deal for Real’s striker. By signing Van Nistelroy, Rafa looks to strenghten his strike force. He also hopes for a full contract for the Dutchman.
• Nemanja Vidic might be off to Real Madrid
  Real are keen on Vidic and are ready for a swoop deal. Manchester United are commanding a 30mil pound price and have also pinpointed Simon Kjaer as his replacement. The other replacement candidates are Bruno Alves and Jack Rodwell

28 December 2009

• Bolton looking to sign veteran Real Madrid midfielder- Guti.
  According to Mirrorfootball, Bolton manager Gary Megson is making a sensational bid to sign Real Madrid legend Guti on loan for the rest of the season. Guti has been out of favour at Real and was told he could find a new club. Guti would cost around £2million in wages for half-a-season. Bolton hope to pull off the deal quickly to get Guti on board and playing after his own stop-start season and they will be attempting to get him in at the beginning of the month rather than at the end.
• Fernando Torres is ready to quit Liverpool if they fail to finish in the top four this season.
  Rafa Benitez has already turned down a £70million bid from Manchester City and earlier Chelsea’s bid for the Spanish star. Torres left his boyhood team Atletico Madrid because they could not match his Champions League and trophy- winning dreams. Now with Liverpool’s slump, Torres might have to accept the offers coming his way, to fulfil his trophy ambitions.
• Arsenal might sign City’s Craig Bellamy
  The Welsh star had apparently led a protest against the sacking of coach Mark Hughes and was left on the bench by new manager Mancini for the club’s recent win. Arsenal on the other hand are lloking to strenghten their strike-force after Van Persie’s injury.
• Rafael Benitez eyeing Goran Pandev
  Liverpool keen on signing Lazio’s striker Goran Pandev in a free transfer, next month. The 26-year-old recently won a batle against the club, unwilling to sell him for less than £18million. Benitez will have to sell Dutchman Ryan Babel to come up with the cash to buy in the next transfer window. Other players on their way out will be Ukrain’s Andrei Voronin and Italy’s Andrea Dossena and the Swiss Philipp Degen.
• Stoke want to buy Ryan Babel
  Manager Tony Pulis wants to strengthen his squad and is looking to buy Liverpool’s out-of-favour player, Babel (left wing, forward). He also has his sights set on Villa’s Emile Heskey(striker) and Sunderland’s Kenwyne Jones (striker).

Spanish Premira Liga

2nd January 2010

• Real Madrid to bid for Rooney
  The Galacticos are calculating a £60million bid for Manchester United’s Wayne Rooney. Real’s star player and ex-United man- Ronaldo has publically acknowledged many-a-time that he would like Rooney to come to Spain.

30th December 2009

• David Silva to Barcelona?
  Barcelona are still keen on signing Fabregas during this transfer window. Another player they look to buy is David Villa. With Henry leaving he would be a potential replacement for the Frenchman.

Portsmouth 2-0 Burnley

Bottom placed Portsmouth played well to earn a victory over Burnley. It was the first match for Avram Grant as Portsmouth manager, and it was a delightful welcome for him.

Brunley squandered quite a few opportunities to go ahead and will surely regret the missed chances.

Portsmouth didn’t give up and kept pushing forward. Portsmouth had a great chance to go one-up from a penalty but Dindane managed to miss it. However, later in the game he scored adding to the lead given to the home team through Hermann Hreidarsson’s brilliant left-footer.

Portsmouth are now temporarily off the bottom place.

Blackburn 0-0 Liverpool

Liverpool earn another frustrating draw. The first half had nothing interesting happening. Both teams evenly matched up until the break.

At the start of the second half Blackburn had some great opportunities, through Chelesa’s loan signing- Di Santo. The youngster played well.

Liverpool also had decent opportunites, the most tlling one being a terrific run by Glenn Johnson to put N’gog on goal, but N’gog somehow skewed the shot on the top-bar. The rebound was hit off target.

Liverpool surely looked like they were missing Torres, The Reds were just unable to put the ball in the back of the net.

Wonder why Benitez wasn’t looking to bring Aquiliani on as a substitute, Nabil El Zhar was brought in as a late substitute.

Blackburn were also suffering from some kind of jitters in front of goal, like their counterparts. They also had numerous opportunities to seal the deal, but were unsuccessful.

Although Blackburn will be happy to gain a point after a rigorous mid-week game.

West Ham 0-4 Manchester United

It was a thumping win for the defending champions. Scholes opened the score just before half-time.

Wonder kid- Darron Gibbson scored another glorious strike just over the hour mark and added to the lead.

The Hammers had decent chances as well but couldn’t convert. Diamanti had an awesome shot on goal, but Kuzczak pulled an even better save.

Two quick goals were scored by Valencia and Rooney which took the match away from the home team.

Arsenal 2-0 Stoke City

Prior to the match Arshavin had stated that Arsenal were missing Van Persie upfront and also some tall statured players(Arshavin himself being around 5′ 8″).

Arshavin looked lively on the field and managed to win a penalty after forcing an error from Delap. Skipper Fabregas came up to take the spot-kick but Sorensen saved it.

Arshavin scored another brilliant goal from a Fabregas cross.

Ramsey scored the second to give Arsenal a 2-0 victory over Stoke City.

Wigan 2-3 Birmingham

Wigan took the lead in the first half through N’Zogbia’s 33rd minute strike.

Sebastian Larsson equalized for the visitors in the 61st minute and five minutes later Christian Benitez gave Birmingham the lead. Later Larsson extended the lead by scoring his second goal in the game.

Jordi Gomez pulled one back late in the match, but it was just too late for the homeside.

Until today’s loss, Wigan were undefeated at home after leading 1-0.

Aston Villa 3-0 Hull

Villa scored early in the game through Richard Dunne from a Milner assist. 15 minutes later Milner celebrated his own strike and also Villa’s 2-0 lead.

Aston Villa kept attacking Hull City, they won a penalty which was taken by Carew.

Wolves 2-1 Bolton

The fastest goal of the day was scored by Wolverhampton’s Jody Carddock in the 3rd minute.

Nenad Milijas added to the lead. Bolton struck a late goal through Johan Elmander.

Both sides looked to attack but the game ended 2-1 to Wolves.

Manchester City 2-1 Chelsea

The final match of the day was the most exhilirating encounter. Both sides were looking to attack from kick-off.

Chelsea took the lead when Anelka’s shot could have been saved by Given, but unfortunately the ball bounced into the net off Adebayor back. Adebayor took revenge later in the half, scoring from a corner.

The second half got into a high-tempo mode. Both sides were driving players forward and referee came into action many-a-times producing yellow cards and giving free-kicks. Chelsea and Man City had good chances, Chelsea didn’t manage to capitilize. City were awarded a free-kick just outside the box, which was wonderfully converted by Tevez to give City the lead.

Drogba won a penalty for Chelsea after drawing a foul from Onuoha, late in the game. Given came to City’s rescue by saving Lampard’s penalty and thus ensuring a win for Man City.

Shay Given saves Lampard's penalty

City’s Micah Richards and Wayne Bridge both seemed to be injured, Bridge was carried off on a stretcher after a sliding tackle from Belletti. Chelsea’s Terry also limped off late in the second half.

Bolton (2) V/s Liverpool (3) held at the Reebok Stadium.

Bolton started off the match looking good and leading the score sheet twice with goals from Kevin Davies (33’) and Tamir Cohen (46’). Liverpool took time to warm-up but looked free flowing in the second-half.

The first goal of the match came from a Bolton corner which was smartly delivered by Taylor right into the penalty area and was converted by the Wanderers’ skipper. Tamir Cohen marked his successful return to the starting line-up with a goal against Aston Villa and the Israeli didn’t disappoint in this match either. Cohen gave Reina no chance with a powerful left-footed shot.

The first Kops equalizer was scored by Glen Johnson just before the first half came to an end, while the second was scored by Fernando Torres (50’). The 2^nd Reds equalizer came right after Davis was sent-off after receiving a second yellow card for a challenge on Lucas. Fabrice Muamba tried his best to man-mark Steven Gerrard, but a thrilling comeback by Liverpool was once again scripted by the inspirational captain. His powerful strike in the 82^nd minute was enough to see Liverpool home. Dirk Kuyt showed another impressive performance, he assisted the 2^nd goal by bringing down the ball right into Torres’ path and looked sharp throughout the match till he was substituted for Dossena in the 88^th minute.

Team Line-ups:

Bolton: Jaaskelainen, Samuel, Knight, Cahill, Ricketts, Davis, Muamba, Taylor, Cohen (Steinsson 77), Kevin Davies, Elmander (Basham 58) (Subs not used: Al Habsi, O’Brien, Riga, Chung-Yong, Robinson)

Liverpool: Reina, Johnson, Gerrard, Torres, Riera (Benayoun 63), Kyrgiakos, Kuyt, Mascherano (Voronin 73), Lucas, Insua, Carragher (Subs not used: Plessis, Kelly, Skrtel, Dossena, Gulacsi)

Roundup of other matches:

Tottenham Hotspur 2-1 Birmingham City

Stoke City 1-0 Sunderland

Wolverhampton Wanderers 1-1 Hull City

Blackburn Rovers 0-0 West Ham United

Chelsea 3-0 Burnley

Manchester United 2 – 1 Arsenal