European Super Football

Nottingham Forest 1 - 0 Liverpool Nottingham Forest delivered a fine performance to shock Liverpool and picked up only their second win of the season. Taiwo Awoniyi hit the winner from close range after his initial attempt came back off a post. The away side were a long way from their best and they remain without an away league win this season. Klopp's look a million miles away from the side that was only two wins from winning an unprecedented quadruple last season. There were amazing scenes on and off the pitch at the final whistle. Forest enjoyed their best day since returning to the Premier League this season after a 23-year absence. Social media reaction  The result and Liverpool's performance caused a huge amount of discussion on social media. One Liverpool fan believes that this has been coming and was critical of the running of the club: "Some fans say we’re a well run club. Realistically, we’re the worst run club in the big 6.  "Owners that can only operate on

Steven Gerrard has been sacked as manager of Aston Villa.  The announcement came just 90 minutes after they suffered a 3-0 defeat against Fulham at Craven Cottage last night. Villa are currently out of the releation zone only on goals scored and. During the defeat at Fulham, the travelling support were repeatedly booing Gerrard. The club decided to take swift action. The ex Liverpool player has been in the job for less than a year. He has been unable to make a success of his first management role in English football. In November 2021, we reported on Gerrard being appointed as manager of Villa.  Despite the initial excitement, it has never really gone according to plan for both the player and the club.   This is what Gerrard said the media moments before he was sacked. Footage from the  Optus Sport YouTube account. This is looking like it will be a very difficult time for Aston Villa, and looks like it will be first-team coach Aaron Danks that takes charge when they play their ne

Motherwell 0 -  4 Celtic It was a very comfortable night for Celtic. Celtic cruised through to the semi-finals of the Scottish League Cup and a meeting with Kilmarnock after Liel Abada's double helped them thrash Motherwell. Abada tapped home Greg Taylor's cross moments before the break, and then stuck a side-foot volley past goalkeeper Liam Kelly after it. The Israeli winger then turned provider for Reo Hatate, before his shot off a post fell to Kyogo Furuhashi to tap home Celtic's fourth, as they eased into the last four. Ange Postecoglou's side will face Kilmarnock at Hampden on the weekend of 14-15 January. They are seeking a seventh League Cup success in nine seasons. Rangers will meet Aberdeen in the other semi-final. The Ibrox club had a nervy evening but progressed 1-0 against Dundee.  Fan reaction  One Celtic fan told us: "Regardless of who we have played, ten goals in two games is a great achievement. Onwards!" Another tweeted: "Too strong for t

The dreaded European Super League is back in the news again This video from Tifo Football explores how the original idea fell apart. Keep reading this article for the latest news on the European Super League. It now appears to be back in the news again.  What's being said? In an article for Sky Sports, it was reported that the chief executive of the company behind the previous failed project has claimed that a new European Super League with no permanent membership could be up and running by the 2024/25 season. There has also been an interesting article in The Financial Times. ESPN are reporting some of the developments and what it could mean. Are we close to the idea being relaunched? A22 Sports Management -- the company that launched the European Super League in April 2021 -- appointed a new chief executive, Bernd Reichart, who claimed it would be relaunched within three years. This comes against the backdrop of legal action taken by the three remaining Super League clubs (

Manchester United 2 - 0 Tottenham Hotspur United produced their finest performance under manager Erik ten Hag. It was only the brilliance of Spurs keeper Hugo Lloris denied them the truly emphatic victory they deserved.  Fred broke the deadlock two minutes after the break, his shot carrying a degree of good fortune as Lloris was finally beaten by Ben Davies' deflection.  It was no more than United deserved for a display high on quality and intensity. United moved out of sight after 69 minutes when Bruno Fernandes curled a precise right-foot finish beyond the stretching Lloris in front of an noisy and excited Stretford End.  What a win! What support! Fighting together at OT!! 💪🏼🔴 #MUFC pic.twitter.com/djLXqKZ5KG — Lisandro Martinez (@LisandrMartinez) October 19, 2022 This tweet from Lisandro Martinez probably summed up the mood of many Manchester United fans and players.  The win keeps Manchester United fifth in the table, eight points behind leaders Arsenal. Their next gam

Crystal Palace 2 - 1 Wolves  Wilfried Zaha scored a well-taken winner to seal Crystal Palace's terrific turnaround against managerless Wolves.  Picture from Flickr: Credit -  Ben Terrett Before the Zaha show, Adama Traore's header had earned the visitors a deserved half-time lead. This was almost doubled when Ruben Neves hit the post right on the stroke of half-time at Selhurst Park.  The game started to look very different once the second half had started. Palace never looked back once Eberechi Eze nodded them level from Michael Olise's pinpoint cross just 63 seconds into the second half. Zaha then took Odsonne Edouard's pass in his stride before drilling past Jose Sa for his fifth goal of the season to lift Palace up to 10th place in the Premier League table.  Wolves remain 17th and just one point above the relegation places. They came close to rescuing a point in London but Neves' late strike was superbly beaten away by Palace goalkeeper Vicente Guaita. Pre

 It's a big question The form of Arsenal has impressed everyone and it's start look like The Gunners might be in for the long haul this season.  Let's have a look at what all of the experts and erm... 'non-experts' ae saying: European Super Football: Reporter: Phil Thomas Our resident Arsenal fan has had his say. Phil Thomas said: I'm still not sure to be honest. I would have taken top four and success in one of the three cups at the start of the season. Now, a little part of me thinks we can win the title. The big tests will come in March and April. That's when previous title bids have faded away in the past. The Guardian: Journalist: Nick Ames The Guardian's football coverage remains very popular. This is what their Nick Ames said: It augurs well when the breaks start going your way. Aaron Ramsdale knew it, judging by his fist-pumping reaction to Patrick Bamford’s penalty miss at Elland Road; Mikel Arteta almost certainly did, if his visible ecstasy at

It's time to look at another football icon.  This time it's Nemanja Vidic.   A quick summary of his club career  After establishing himself at Red Star Belgrade during the early 2000s, Vidić moved to Spartak Moscow in the summer of 2004. His form for club and country prompted a £7 million transfer to Manchester United in January 2006.  The video below contains some of his early career moments. Footage from DelijeTube on YouTube Vidić established a prominent defensive partnership with Rio Ferdinand the following season, and was eventually selected as the new team captain of Manchester United at the start of the 2010–11 season. His captaincy ran over the course of four seasons, until his departure in July 2014. He played his last home match for Manchester United on 6 May against Hull City, in which he received three standing ovations: one during a pre-match presentation for him by Sir Bobby Charlton, the second when he came on as a substitute for Phil Jones, and the thir

Well done Karim Benzema It was announced in a glitzy ceremony that he has won the Ballon d'Or for the first time. Benzema scored 44 goals in 46 games as he helped Real win the Champions League and La Liga in during a hugely successful 21/22 season Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo had won the award on 12 of the previous 13 occasions. Bayern Munich's Sadio Mane, who was at Liverpool in 2021-22, was second. Manchester City's Kevin de Bruyne was third. Premier League champions Manchester City, who had six nominees at the ceremony, were awarded Club of the Year ahead of Liverpool. Reaction  Vinicius Junior posted the following tweet: Karim Benzema told the media in attendance that it was always his ambition to win the Ballon d'Or. One City fan told us: "Understandable that Benzema won it. I'm sure if we win the Champions League this season, one or our players will win the award next season." Another added: A certain Norwegian forward will surely be in the run

Blyth Spartans 1 - 1 Wrexham Let's have a look at all the best reaction as Blyth Spartans held National League side Wrexham to a replay Reaction from Wrexham Tom O’Connor’s deflected free kick was cancelled out by Michael Richardson’s last-gasp strike, sending the Fourth Qualifying Round tie to a replay.  Tom O’Connor’s set piece from 25 yards out put Wrexham ahead, but Richardson’s free kick somehow evaded everyone in the penalty area and went past Howard. Phil Parkinson named four changes to the side that beat Barnet in last weekend’s barnstorming 7-5 victory over Barnet. Fan response One Wrexham fan told us after that the view of many fans was this wasn't a great performance from the team but they are glad to ultimately have another go at Blyth. They are all anticipating a comfortable win in the replay. You can watch the highlights in the video above. Footage from the Emirates FA Cup YouTube account. This is a summary of the Blyth report Blyth started well with some good

Bury AFC 1 - 2 York City First of all. Who are Bury AFC? They are a fan-owned club representing the town of Bury in Greater Manchester. They were established in December 2019 as a phoenix of Bury FC who had been expelled from the EFL.  They have already had some success, winning the 2021–22 North West Counties Football League Division One North championship, earning promotion to the league's Premier Division for the 2022–23 season. They have started the season in decent form, progressing through a number of rounds to reach the fourth qualifying round of the FA Cup. Now for the match report It was ultimately heartbreak for Bury but they did themselves proud. Mitch Hancox’s winner four minutes from time secured a 2-1 win for York City against Bury AFC in the FA Cup 4th Qualifying Round. Olly Dyson handed York an early lead with a finish from close-range, before a second-half comeback from the home side saw them pull back level with seventeen minutes to go through a goal from Lewis Gi

 Leeds United 0 - 1 Arsenal Arsenal held on to win at Leeds in a dramatic finish to a remarkable Premier League football match The match had been delayed by about 40 minutes because of a power outag at Elland Road There was additional drama in added time when the referee sent off Arsenal's Gabriel for kicking out at Leeds striker Patrick Bamford. The offivial awarded Leeds a penalty. However; both decisions were overturned after Kavanagh reviewed the incident on the pitchside monitor. Earlier, the same official halted the match after only 23 seconds of play because of a power cut at Elland Road. This meant that he lost communication with the VAR officials. The game eventually got started and Saka was shining Bukayo Saka scored the winning goal in the first half by punishing Rodrigo's loose pass, exchanging passes with Martin Odegaard before scoring at the near post. Bamford was sent on at the start of the second half and the Englishman almost made an immediate impact but his cl