..::Football III::..

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Mourinho: Chelsea aren't boring - and here's why!..

Jose Mourinho has provided an impassioned defence of his Chelsea team after accusations that the Blues are boring.

The west Londoners move a step closer to winning the Premier League title by claiming a 0-0 draw at Arsenal on Sunday, meaning they will be crowned champions if they win their next two games, against Leicester and Crystal Palace.

Gunners supporters roundly chanted 'boring, boring Chelsea' as the full-time whistle blew at the Emirates Stadium but Mourinho has hit back at those that have called his team's playing style into question.

He told reporters on Monday: "I met this morning an Arsenal fan. A gentleman that lives almost next door to me. An Arsenal fan for more than 50 years. And he congratulated me for my press conference. He said I was spot on.

"It cannot be true [that Chelsea are boring]. If we are boring and if the number of goals is what decides if a team is good or if a team is bad, if a team is boring or if a team is not boring, then we have in the Premier League 18 teams that are more boring than us.

"In this criteria only Man City is the team with more quality than us. If football is only the amount of goals that is scored, then Man City is the best team, Chelsea is the second best team.

"So there is something here that if a good team is a team with more points, we are the best team. If a good team is a team with more victories then we are the best team. If the best team is one with less defeats, we are the best team.

"If the best team is the team that leads [the table], we are the best team. The best team with least goals conceded, we are the second best team. Most goals scored, we are the second best team.

"In any criteria you can find, we are the best team or the second best team. It's as simple as that."

 

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Vermaelen now fully fit - Luis Enrique

Barcelona boss Luis Enrique has revealed that Thomas Vermaelen has finally been declared match fit - but refused to confirm whether the defender will feature before the end of the season.

Injuries have prevented the Belgium international from making a single appearance for the Catalan club since arriving at Camp Nou from Arsenal last summer in a €19 million move.Vermaelen's latest setback came in November when he was forced to undergo surgery on a hamstring problem.

The versatile centre-half is back working with the first team, though, and the coach believes that his involvement with the main group will be a huge boost to the Blaugrana's treble bid.However, Luis Enrique hinted that Vermaelen might be restricted from supporting his colleagues from the bench rather than in defence.

"His return is very good news," the Barca coach told reporters. "He arrived injured but he got over his physical problems with hard work on the part of everyone, but especially him.

"He will add to our options and will certainly will help us. We'll see whether from on the field or off it."

Barca beat Espanyol 2-0 on Saturday to ensure they remain two points clear of Real Madrid in La Liga and Luis Enrique is of the opinion that the Catalans must win all of their remaining matches to keep Los Blancos at bay, starting with Tuesday's visit of Getafe.

"Real Madrid are very close and we have to keep winning games," the former Spain international stated. "We depend on us; we have to do things very well against Getafe because they will give us some difficulties.

"The reality is that there is little difference between the first and the second in the table. We will try to control the game against Getafe, throughout the season there are many surprises, the key game to win the league title is tomorrow."

 

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Barcelona to make move for Laporte if Laporta is elected

Joan Laporta is lining up a move for Athletic Bilbao defender Aymeric Laporte as part of his expected Barcelona presidential campaign.

The former club chief has not officially announced his candidacy for the upcoming elections, but is expected to confirm that he will run at the last minute.

The 52-year-old, who presided over the club from 2003 to 2010 - during which time the Blaugrana won four league titles and two Champions Leagues - is already making moves to invest in the team should he be re-elected.

Barca are closing in on a move for 20-year-old centre-back Laporte and are ready to match his release clause at Athletic, which his believed to be between €30 and €36 million.

The Camp Nou club are currently banned from registering new players after irregularities in the signing of minors, meaning they would buy the player in the summer but he would remain at San Mames until January 2016.

Laporta has a good relationship with Laporte's agent, Jorge Mendes, and sources have told Goal that the club would offer him a five year deal with an annual salary of €3.5 million.

If the deal goes through this summer, Athletic would not play the France Under-21 international in European competitions next season to ensure he is eligible for Barca's Champions League campaign when he completes the move in January.

 

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Ronaldo: Ibrahimovic is my favourite player in Ligue 1

Brazil icon Ronaldo has hailed Zlatan Ibrahimovic as his favourite player in France, stating the Paris Saint-Germain attacker "always stands out".The Sweden international has been a pivotal player for the Ligue 1 side since joining in 2012 from AC Milan, helping fire the club to two league titles.

And Ronaldo insists he is still a "great" player and always impresses him when he visits the Parc des Princes.

"I often go to Paris, and every time I go to the Parc des Princes, Ibra achieves great things, he stands out," he told Canal Plus."He's my favorite player in Ligue 1."

Ibrahimovic has scored 28 goals in 34 games in all competitions this season.

 

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Dortmund must decide Gundogan future soon - Zorc

Borussia Dortmund sporting director Michael Zorc has admitted the club will have to make a decision over the future of Ilkay Gundogan soon.

Reports emerged in Germany on Friday that the midfielder was close to a transfer to Manchester United, but the club's CEO Hans-Joachim Watzke has denied that there has been any contact between the two clubs.

Zorc accepts, however, that with his contract set to expire in 2016, the club must consider if they want to sell Gundogan in order to avoid losing the player for free, as they did with Robert Lewandowski.

"Gundogan's situation isn't straightforward, because his contract expires in 2016. There will be a decision soon," he told Kicker.Defender Mats Hummels is another BVB star to be linked with a summer exit but Zorc is more confident over the prospect of keeping the World Cup-winner.

"As far as I know, Hummels' contract still runs until 2017. We did not receive any offer that we should think about," he said.

"There will surely be some changes to the team this summer. Maybe more changes than in recent years. But we won't radically change our team."Zorc is now looking forward to Tuesday's DFB-Pokal semi-final with Bayern Munich.

"Knockout matches have a certain appeal, because you can solve everything in one match. The final in Berlin is a dream goal for us. We have many beautiful and some not so beautiful memories from that stadium.

"The final is important and the team who qualifies can be proud. Getting to Berlin was always an important goal. Of course we know that we are not the favourite in this semi-final but that is not important."

 

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'He's a very talented player' - Rodgers praises Liverpool target Depay

Brendan Rodgers admits that Liverpool target Memphis Depay is a "very talented player" as the club step up their summer recruitment plans.

The Reds have stolen a march on Manchester United in the race to acquire the PSV forward, who has scored 27 goals in all competitions thus far this season.

Depay is understood to have held talks with the Reds last week and Rodgers admits that Liverpool are in the market for more firepower.

"The kid [Depay] is obviously a very talented player," he said.

"It is clear we need a goal threat for next season. There will be a raft of players that will be looked at. Then it will be up to the club to see if they are affordable and available.

"There are targets that have been identified as a priority. We will have to see if they are available."

Liverpool drew 0-0 with West Brom at the weekend and currently sit in fifth in the Premier League, seven points behind fourth-placed Manchester United, although the Reds do have a game in hand.

Nevertheless, Rodgers is sure the club will be able to acquire ther top targets this summer regardless of whether they qualify for the Champions League.

"That will be more for the players to decide," he said.

"If the project is right for them to learn and develop, even if we are not in the Champions League, players will maybe still want to come here.

"Of course they will want to play in the Champions League, but if they have watched us over a few years – and this is a season we miss out on – if we can regroup, get some quality starters in for the summer, we can go on another great adventure next season and hopefully get back in there."

 

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Klopp could replace Guardiola at Bayern - Beckenbauer

Franz Beckenbauer believes Jurgen Klopp could succeed Pep Guardiola at Bayern Munich.

The Borussia Dortmund coach has confirmed he will leave the club at the end of the season after seven years in charge in which he has led them to two Bundesliga titles and a Champions League final.

Guardiola insists he will still be Bayern Munich coach until the summer of 2016 but is yet to open talks with the newly-crowned champions over a new contract.

Bayern legend Beckenbauer says he could see Klopp in charge at the Allianz Arena, should the Spanish coach leave any time soon.

"Of course I could imagine Klopp as Guardiola's successor," he told Sky. "When I was president, we often talked about Klopp and believe he would fit very well at Bayern.

"Klopp is definitely an option at Bayern. The question is, how long Guardiola will be in Munich. I hope for a long time, but Klopp would be considered.

"I can't imagine that Guardiola would leave in 2016. He likes Munich. He has had success with the team and he knows that he can succeed in the future. He has everything he wants."

Bayern, who clinched the Bundesliga title after Wolfsburg's defeat to Borussia Monchengladbach, face Barcelona in the Champions League semi-finals and Dortmund in the DFB-Pokal last four in their hunt for the treble.

And Beckenbauer believes Guardiola will need a fully fit team at his disposal to stop Lionel Messi and get past Luis Enrique's men."Messi is a divine player. The whole team stands and falls with Messi. If Bayern manage to take Messi out of the game then they have a chance," he said.

"If you really want to have a chance against Barcelona, ​​then you need to have a complete team. You need Franck Ribery, David Alaba and Arjen Robben.

"I also think they need perfect performance against Borussia Dortmund, Klopp announcing his resignation gives them additional motivation. They want to give him something to wave goodbye and this can only be the trophy."

 

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Title dream still alive for Lyon - Fournier

Lyon coach Hubert Fournier told his team they can "keep dreaming" after reclaiming top spot in Ligue 1 on Sunday.Fournier's men moved back above reigning champions Paris Saint-Germain, who have a game in hand, courtesy of a 4-2 win at Reims.

Corentin Tolisso and Alexandre Lacazette struck in the opening six minutes before a Maxime Gonalons own goal brought Reims back into the contest.

Clinton N'Jie's 20th-minute goal restored Lyon's two-goal advantage and they saw out the victory after a Mickael Tacalfred own goal and Gaetan Charbonnier strike in the dying stages."We drop nothing," Fournier said.

"Four games to go, we are top of the league, so we can keep dreaming for the next fixtures."

Fournier said it was a tricky encounter for his team, and felt their finishing let them down during the second half."It was a very good start. The first 20 minutes were interesting," he said.

"After that, we did not know if we had to attack or defend at the end of the first half.

"And at the beginning of the second half, we had to recognise that we had to cope with a team of Reims who gave everything to try to come back into the game, the balance of power changed. We needed other virtues, to defend, to protect ourselves, we made a lot of fouls so we were under pressure.

"As we didn't have the same finishing in the second half, especially in counterattacks, we were happy to score that fourth goal that ended the game."

 

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How Harry Kane went from struggling teenager to Young Player of the Year

One of the wonders of English football’s Young Player of the Year is that he does not immediately catch the eye – but Harry Kane has always been that way.

The Tottenham and England striker won the PFA award on Sunday in recognition of a sensational season in which he has scored 30 goals for the club he joined as an 11-year-old.

In the space of six months, Kane has graduated from Spurs reserve to the most lethal striker in the Premier League. He has done it through the same phenomenal desire to improve that stopped the club from casting him aside as a young teenager.

“At the age of 13 Harry’s agility was 10 per cent down on the other recruits, and his jumping was 30% down,” John McDermott, Tottenham’s academy director, tells Goal. “He was not fast. He was the runt of the litter – 30% down on the rest of the group!

“Harry had something immeasurable. His great strength was his mental desire to improve. He really wanted to get better and he worked so hard to do it.

“If we judged him just on the data, we might have released him. Certainly when I was at Watford [where McDermott worked at the start of his career in developing young players] I would have missed Harry."

It is a view shared by everyone that has worked with Kane from all of his former youth coaches, to the managers who had him on loan, to current Spurs boss Mauricio Pochettino, who did not give the 21-year-old his first league start of the season until November.

Kane scored goals at every youth level, but there was always a concern over whether he had the speed and strength to reproduce that form at the top level, despite his natural finishing ability in front of goal.

Less than two years ago, Kane was struggling to get into the Leicester City team during his last loan move before returning to Tottenham after previous temporary spells at Leyton Orient, Millwall and Norwich.

Since the start of this season, he has transitioned from useful substitute, to cult hero, to Tottenham’s star man. He plays like the kid from Chingford living the dream and everybody has wanted a piece of the Harry Kane story this term.

Also in contention for the Premier League golden boot – he currently has 20 league goals, trailing Sergio Aguero by one – Kane’s year was summed up when he scored just 79 seconds into his England debut against Lithuania in March.

Kane’s consistency and longevity will ultimately define his career - not recognition as the best young player in the country. Tim Sherwood, who worked with Kane in the Spurs youth set-up and gave the striker his first league start, says he will be the same "whether he earns £1-a-week or £100,000-a-week".

Kane is at the heart of the Tottenham squad along with fellow youth products Nabil Bentaleb, Ryan Mason, Andros Townsend and Danny Rose. The Spurs academy employs more than 40 staff and has been so successful under McDermott’s leadership that Pochettino has dubbed it the best in the country.

McDermott and his team work on every aspect of a player’s development. He said: “Training, technical, tactical, diet, social, mental – and faith. Faith in the club’s strategy, the big plan, and faith in the manager. They have to believe in it.”

Pochettino himself recently said: “These players identify with the culture of the club and feel the club. If you stay 10 or eight years in the club, when you arrive in the first team it’s difficult for you to leave. The academy is always the heart of any club.”

McDermott was speaking to Goal at the recent Science and Football event at the FA’s new training centre in Burton-upon-Trent. He gave a presentation on youth development in which he spoke extensively about data-based analysis of players’ ability and potential.

“For a player relying on athleticism and agility, stats are very useful,” said McDermott. “But for players who are more reliant on game craft, they aren’t so reliable. Nobody knows the DNA of an elite footballer.”

When it comes to goalscoring, Kane is already proving himself the master craftsman.

 

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Hazard rejects Real Madrid interest: I'm staying at Chelsea

Eden Hazard has dismissed reported interest from Real Madrid, insisting he will stay at Chelsea this summer.

The Belgian has helped fire the Blues to the brink of a first Premier League title since 2010 with 13 goals and eight assists in 2014-15, and was named as the Professional Footballers' Association Player of the Year on Sunday.

Real Madrid coach Zinedine Zidane has revealed his admiration for Hazard, adding that he is "keeping an eye on" the player as reports of Real's interest intensify ahead of the summer transfer window.

Jose Mourinho has previously claimed that Hazard would cost "€140 million, each leg" and the winger himself reaffirmed his happiness at Stamford Bridge at the PFA awards ceremony on Sunday.

When asked if he could join Real Madrid, Hazard simply replied: "No, I'm staying [at Chelsea]."

Hazard beat Tottenham's Harry Kane - who won the PFA Young Player of the Year award - and Manchester United's David De Gea to the senior PFA prize, but all three were named in the PFA Team of the Year.

 

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I love playing for 'best club in the world' Real Madrid - Chicharito

Javier 'Chicharito' Hernandez says he is enjoying life at Real Madrid, despite being a bit-part player for much of the campaign.

The striker joined on loan from Manchester United last summer but has been limited to just three starts in La Liga.

However, the 26-year-old scored vital goals to fire Madrid to two wins within a week, netting late on on to make the difference in their Champions League quarter-final second leg with Atletico Madrid before firing home a double in Sunday's 4-2 win over Celta Vigo.

Despite his minimal role in the Blancos team, the Mexico international says he is happy at the Santiago Bernabeu as question marks remain over his long-term future."I'm playing for Real Madrid, and I enjoy it," he told reporters. "I thank God that I am enjoying today.

"I'll play where God wants. I'm living for today."I do not know if I'll be here a year or more. I'm focused on playing as many minutes as I can for the best club in the world.

"In the bad times, there were people who supported me, who told me to have faith that my chance would come. This match gives me confidence, I love playing football and I still enjoy it, wherever it is."

Chicharito's team-mate Marcelo was also full of praise for the attacker."Chicharito is a guy who works hard. He has been patient all year and he finally obtained the reward he was seeking," he said.

 

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Chicharito ge future 1katath mona weida danne naha​

 

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Henry is wrong, Giroud can win Arsenal titles - Coquelin

"Thierry Henry is wrong. Giroud shows his potential every week,” he told RMC. “He showed that he has the level to be the Arsenal striker, and we can win titles with him.

giroud withrak madi. top striker kenek one.Lacazette gaththa nam patta

 

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Bayern Munich 1-1 Borussia Dortmund (0-2 on pens): Bavarians suffer penalty shoot-out embarrassment

Bayern Munich suffered penalty shoot-out embarrassment after missing all four of their spot-kicks as they were dumped out of the DFB-Pokal semi-finals by Borussia Dortmund.

After normal time ended with the sides level at 1-1, the extra 30 minutes failed to produce a winner - though Kevin Kampl did see red for Dortmund.

Bayern goalkeeper Manuel Neuer missed the crucial spot-kick after Philipp Lahm, Xabi Alonso and Mario Gotze had also failed from the spot to send Jurgen Klopp's men through 2-0 on penalties in his final season at the helm.

Earlier Robert Lewandowski had put Bayern ahead with his third goal in as many games against the club he left for the Allianz Arena in July last year.However, that was cancelled out in the 75th minute by Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, who struck from close range to force extra time.

Arjen Robben, who had come on to mark his return from injury seven minutes before that goal, limped off late on to inflict another blow on Bayern, who were crowned Bundesliga champions for the third season running on Sunday.

The hosts' luck appeared to be in when Dortmund substitute Kampl was sent off for a second bookable offence in the additional half an hour, but they could not force a way through and Pep Guardiola's men saw their hopes of a treble ended as the visitors kept their cool in the shootout to seal a place at the Berlin showpiece.
It did not start well for last season's Pokal runners-up, though, as Dortmund were caught cold by former talisman Lewandowski in the 29th minute.

The Poland striker raced on to a superb long ball from the returning Medhi Benatia following an errant Shinji Kagawa pass at the other end and fired home on the rebound at the near post after seeing his initial chipped effort strike the woodwork.

Guardiola's side continued to dictate matters after the interval, a near-post save from Mitchell Langerak preventing Thomas Muller from adding a second after 48 minutes.

Lewandowski then curled a shot against the crossbar before Bayern were denied what looked to be a clear penalty as Marcel Schmelzer handled in the area in the same passage of play.

Robben came on in the 68th minute to make his return from an abdominal muscle tear that has kept him out for five weeks, but the Allianz Arena was silenced by Aubameyang seven minutes later.

Neuer could only parry the Gabon striker's shot after it had crossed the line as he slid in at the far post to convert Henrikh Mkhitaryan's ball across the face of goal.
Aubameyang then almost turned provider after Robben limped off to be replaced by Gotze. He slipped Marco Reus through on goal, only to see Neuer rescue Bayern with a fingertip save round the post to force extra time.

An unmarked Bastian Schweinsteiger headed over Xabi Alonso's free-kick in the first half of additional time and the game then turned in Bayern's favour when Kampl was dismissed for a second bookable offence.

Schweinsteiger was then brilliantly denied a winner in the 114th minute as his point-blank header was kept out by the legs of Langerak, who was perhaps fortunate to concede a penalty when he collided with Lewandowski.

Dortmund held on to ensure a shootout and saw Bayern's first three all miss, with Neuer's save from Mats Hummels immaterial as the Bayern goalkeeper crashed the subsequent spot-kick against the bar.

 

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Paris Saint-Germain 3-1 Metz: Pastore show helps champions move top of Ligue 1

Javier Pastore helped inspire Paris Saint-Germain to a 3-1 victory over Metz on Tuesday night as the reigning Ligue 1 champions moved two points clear at the top of the division.

The Parisiens - aiming for their third successive league title - started the day goal difference behind Lyon, but took advantage of their game in hand against a Metz side who now appear doomed in their fight for top-flight survival.

Goals from Marco Verratti and Edinson Cavani before the break put Laurent Blanc's side in control, but Modibo Maiga's 53rd-minute header gave Metz a lifeline.

However, the hosts extinguished any chance of a comeback from the visitors through Gregory van der Wiel's second half strike to put the pressure back on Lyon.

Metz - unbeaten in four matches but still eight points adrift of safety - made a good fist of the first 15 minutes, only for Ezequiel Lavezzi's darting run to provide the flicker of encouragement the hosts needed.

Lavezzi, who ran at the Metz defence and beat multiple players, saw his pass turned over by Blaise Matuidi, but the move lifted PSG - missing injured pair Salvatore Sirigu and Serge Aurier - who took the lead seven minutes later through Verratti.

Pastore, who starred and contributed all three assists, was given too much time on the ball and played Verratti in with a simple pass which allowed the Italy international to take a touch before slotting into the bottom-left corner from just inside the penalty area.

Cavani could have doubled their lead 10 minutes before the break, but could not get the ball out from under his feet, although the disappointment did not last long.
The Uruguay star brought the Parc des Princes crowd to their feet in the 42nd minute after winning the ball in midfield, finding Pastore and continuing his run forward.

Pastore returned the pass and Cavani did not have to break stride, bursting through Metz's defence with pace and power before dinking over goalkeeper Anthony Mfa Mezui.

Bouna Sarr thrashed over for the visitors after the restart and Albert Cartier's men then silenced the home crowd when Maiga netted to give the strugglers a glimmer of hope.

Sarr did most of the work, storming down the right after beating David Luiz and producing a pin-point cross that Maiga, free of Thiago Silva, simply nodded in off the left-hand post.

Cavani could have restored the two-goal advantage but fired straight at Mfa Mezui from an angle, while at the other end, Florent Malouda should have done better on a counter-attack, with his tame effort easily saved by back-up PSG goalkeeper Nicolas Douchez.

Van der Wiel then made sure of the three points with 13 minutes left as PSG moved two points clear at the top of Ligue 1.

 

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Hull City 1-0 Liverpool: Tigers pick up vital victory to end Rodgers' Champions League hopes

Hull City took an important step towards Premier League survival with a 1-0 win over Liverpool that leaves their opponents' chances of Champions League qualification in tatters.

As in their goalless draw at West Brom on Saturday, Liverpool's pleasing work on the ball was undermined by a lack of end product as Mario Balotelli and Raheem Sterling turned in abject performances in attack.

It meant Hull's breakthrough late in the first half, when Michael Dawson was afforded ample room to head home, proved decisive as Steve Bruce's men backed up Saturday's 2-0 win at Crystal Palace with another vital three-point haul.

They sit four points above the relegation zone with as many matches to go and three of those games will be played before a KC Stadium that roared euphorically at the full-time whistle.

A run of one win in five league games means Liverpool lie seven points behind fourth-placed Manchester United, with the odds stacked against them overturning the deficit.

Bruce named the same team that triumphed at Selhurst Park, while Joe Allen came into the Liverpool side for Steven Gerrard - the club captain not featuring in Brendan Rodgers' matchday squad.

Dame N'Doye was Hull's two-goal hero at the weekend and could have opened the scoring for the hosts after seven minutes, but his header from Robbie Brady's superb left-wing cross was too close to Liverpool goalkeeper Simon Mignolet.

A cleverly worked corner routine saw Philippe Coutinho test Mignolet's opposite number Steve Harper with a crisp half volley in the 19th minute, with Tom Huddlestone alert to clear the rebound to safety.

City went ahead when a 37th-minute corner reached Ahmed Elmohamady on the right. He hoisted the ball back into the box and, although three Hull players were in offside positions as the Liverpool defence pushed out, Dawson timed his run perfectly to plant a header past Mignolet.

Balotelli was enduring a familiarly lacklustre evening in Liverpool colours and failed to touch a low Glen Johnson cross into an unguarded net before the half-time whistle sounded.

Sterling found himself outmuscled when trying to convert Henderson's searching ball from the right, with the visitors failing to turn their dominance of possession into chances.

One arrived in the 63rd minute as Henderson met Coutinho's chipped pass with left-footed volley on the turn, although Harper was down brilliantly to turn behind.

Rodgers sent on Adam Lallana and Rickie Lambert for Jordon Ibe and Balotelli shortly afterwards - the enigmatic Italian departing to ironic cheers from the home faithful.

Harper's handling let him down behind Henderson's 71st-minute drive, but he was able to collect the rebound with no Liverpool forwards lurking.

They were no more incisive in the opposition box during the closing stages as Rodgers endured a second loss at the KC Stadium in as many seasons.

 

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Udinese 1-2 Inter: Icardi and Podolski bolster European hopes

Inter's hopes of qualifying for next season's Europa League were boosted after Mauro Icardi and Lukas Podolski fired them to a 2-1 win over nine-man Udinese.

The two forwards struck either side of an Antonio Di Natale equaliser to ensure Inter claimed all three points, but Tuesday's Serie A contest will be remembered for a number of flashpoints that led to two red cards.

Maurizio Domizzi was dismissed in the first half for two bookable offences and after Udinese had bravely clawed their way back into the match, Ghanaian midfielder Emmanuel Agyemang-Badu saw red for a bizarre protest at referee Gianluca Rocchi.

The win leaves Inter one point behind sixth-placed Fiorentina and while Udinese are almost certainly safe from relegation, they will be disappointed to have thrown away their chance of getting a result from an encounter they worked hard to stay in.Inter coach Roberto Mancini spoke before the game of star striker Mauro Icardi being close to signing a new contract at the club, but the 22-year-old saw little of the ball early on, blazing his only shot at goal high and wide from 20 yards.

Udinese's Orestis Karnezis was the busier of the two goalkeepers and had to be alert to prevent Rodrigo Palacio from latching onto a Hernanes throughball after five minutes.

Hernanes was at the centre of much of Inter's best play in the first half and he began a neat passing move that saw Danilo D'Ambrosio supply Palacio, only for the striker to head straight at Karnezis.

Udinese's hopes of slowing Inter's dominance then suffered a severe blow when Domizzi received a second yellow card following a reckless challenge on Hernanes, when he was a long way from danger.

The Brazilian almost punished Udinese immediately with a fierce shot that went just wide from 20 yards, and then spurned a close range effort that Karnezis managed to block.

The visitors were gifted an opener just 20 seconds into the second half when Danilo slid in late on Mateo Kovacic with a challenge that got nowhere near the ball.

Despite furious Udinese protests, Rocchi pointed to the spot – a decision that replays suggested was justified. Icardi tucked away the spot-kick for his 18th league goal of the season, but Inter's lead was shortlived.

As Mancini barked orders at his players, Allan broke and played an inch-perfect pass to Di Natale, who shrugged off two defenders and sidefooted coolly into the corner of the net to equalise.The goal took the 37-year-old level with Roberto Baggio as the joint sixth top scorer in Serie A history with 205 goals.

The game turned again when Badu claimed he was tripped as Inter attacked and then in a moment of madness flicked a hand in the direction of Rocchi's face in protest.

Di Natale exploded at the Ghanaian and visibly furious at having seen his side's hard work getting back into the game so foolishly undone.Mancini then made an astute substitution that proved decisive in helping his side capitalise on their two-man advantage, sending Podolski on for Guarin.

Moments later, an Inter corner bounced out of the Udinese area to the feet of Podolski, whose first shot rebounded but he made no mistake in firing it left-footed into the top corner at the second attempt.

Icardi thought he had made it three when he backheeled in from two yards out in the dying minutes, but the goal was ruled out for offside.Udinese then launched a dramatic late charge for an equaliser, but the Nerazzurri held on.

 

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Barcelona 6-0 Getafe: Messi, Neymar and Suarez continue title march

Lionel Messi, Neymar and Luis Suarez were at their brilliant best as Barcelona dispatched Getafe 6-0 to stay on course for a first La Liga title in three years.

Getafe had held Luis Enrique's side to a goalless stalemate in December's reverse fixture, but any hopes of another surprise result were emphatically curtailed by a devastating five-goal first-half blitz at Camp Nou.

Barca's rout started with Messi's cool chipped penalty and he turned provider for Suarez to make it 2-0 with a stunning volley in the 25th minute.Neymar then made it 3-0 to take the attacking trio's collective tally for the season to 100 goals in all competitions.

Xavi rolled back with the years with an excellent fourth before Suarez added his second five minutes before the break.

The superb Messi scored his 38th Liga goal of 2014-15 with an exquisite effort shortly after the break and the only surprise was that Barca failed to add to their tally.Luis Enrique's men have now gone 10 Liga matches unbeaten and hold a five-point lead over Real, who host Almeria on Wednesday.

It took just nine minutes for Barca to break Getafe's resistance. Suarez's sharp turn drew a trip from Alvaro Arroyo just inside the area and Messi confidently dinked his spot-kick straight down the middle. Fredy Hinestroza almost caught Barca cold when he lobbed Claudio Bravo, only for the goalkeeper to scramble back and scoop the ball off the line.

It proved a momentary scare, though, as Barca doubled their lead in some style.
Messi's delightful cross from the right was met with a stunning volley from Suarez that nestled in the top-right corner.

Not to be outdone, Neymar got in on the act when he twisted his way into the area and drilled a low shot into the left-hand corner to make it six goals in as many games for the Brazilian.

Worse was to come for Getafe as Xavi, who celebrated his 500th Liga appearance against Espanyol on Saturday, picked up the ball from the left and bent an exquisite 20-yard shot into the far corner.

Amazingly it was 5-0 in the 40th minute. Messi's pass was flicked into the path of Suarez by Xavi and the Uruguayan curled an unstoppable shot high past the outstretched hand of Vicente Guaita.The romp continued two minutes after the break when Messi glided into the area from the right before effortlessly curling his shot into the far top corner.

Suarez twice went close to netting a hat-trick, while Getafe almost grabbed a consolation when Hinestroza's low shot flew past Bravo and came back off the post.

Guaita denied Messi a third in the closing stages when he got a strong palm to the Argentine superstar's bending 20-yard free-kick, but Barca had done more than enough to crank up the pressure on Real.

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Mirallas: I think I'll be at Everton next season

Everton forward Kevin Mirallas says he expects to still be at Goodison Park next season despite suggestions he could leave the club.

The Belgian had described himself as being "ready for a new challenge" in February as he acknowledged interest in his signature from Spanish giants Atletico Madrid.

Though Roberto Martinez's men are a long way off fulfilling his dream of Champions League football next term, Mirallas has hinted that he will stay at least for the final year of his current contract.

"There was a lot of paper talk about my future last week but I am very happy here and I see next season [in] the same shirt, I think," he told The Liverpool Echo.

Mirallas has scored seven goals and registered one assist in the Premier League this season, his third with the Toffees since a €8.4 million move from Olympiakos in 2012.

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Mr Bee and Berlusconi set for Milan takeover talks

Bee Taechaubol will meet Silvio Berlusconi in Milan on Wednesday to thrash out a deal to buy AC Milan, a spokesperson for the Thai entrepreneur has told Goal.
Mr Bee is looking to become a majority shareholder in the Rossoneri by buying a 65 per cent stake in the ailing club and has been in Lombardy since Sunday with a view to meeting the current president regarding the takeover.

However, there were reports on Tuesday suggesting the deal may have stalled after the managing director of the Thai Prime equity group posted a picture of himself and his wife in Geneva on his Instagram account without having yet met Berlusconi.But Goal has discovered that Mr Bee will return to Milan on Wednesday in an attempt to complete the deal.

“Mr Bee has left for Geneva for a day, and will be back in Milan on Wednesday morning,” confirmed his spokesperson.“The meeting [with Berlusconi] will take place on Wednesday evening.”

The Rossoneri announced a €91.3 million loss in 2014 on Tuesday, with CEO Adriano Galliani insisting that Berlusconi’s legacy will remain a positive one despite their recent travails both on and off the field.