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Arsenal FC and Liverpool FC have a point in their season where a draw is not good enough and one team must come out victorious. These two English sides haves faced each on several occasions this season and each time it resulted in a 1-1 draw, but now they face each other in the second leg of the Champions League and one team has to depart.

This weekend Arsenal faced Liverpool for the third time this season and the game resulted in a 1-1 draw, also for the third time this season, leaving Arsenal in the third place six points behind the leaders Manchester United and eight points clear of Liverpool, who are currently fourth in the table. If it results in the same 1-1 draw at Anfield for the Champions League quarter-final then the game heads to a tie-breaker. Most importantly Liverpool scored away from home on the first-leg, so they have an advantage. Therefore Arsenal now have to score at some point of the game to stay in the competition.

When Rafael Benitez was asked if the game would be different from the last three this season he replied, “Yes, I think so, for two reasons – one is that we are playing at Anfield and that is a massive difference, and the other thing is that they [Arsenal] need to win, so it could be an attacking game. We need to win also … we don’t want a 0-0 draw. We prefer to score and we prefer to win. We know that Arsenal can score away from home.”

Liverpool face a dilemma of injuries as Centre-Back Daniel Agger is out with a long term foot injury, wingers Harry Kewell having a groin injury and Jermaine Pennant having a hamstring problem. Benitez admitted that he has a big decision to make on which striker to play up front with Peter Crouch in splendid form. He also admitted that he wants to play Spaniard Fernando Torres supported by Dirk Kuyt and Steven Gerrard with flexible attacking roles.

Arsene Wenger on the other hand does not want to underestimate his opponent and wants to expect the unexpected. He said “A surprise can always happen, even if you know each other very well,” he said. “I believe it will be different this time because, at the end of the game, there will be a sanction – we want to stay in this competition but one of us has to move out. So there is more urgency in this game and less observation.”

Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger failed to hold down his nerves more than usual this season but he thinks his team can cope with the noisy atmosphere of Anfield and keep their cool when needed. He said “They [Liverpool] have the support for them but it’s down to us to keep the crowd quiet, though I accept that’s difficult because here they are a bit louder than anywhere else and, especially, they have more stamina than anywhere else. At the end of the day, it will still be down to how well we play on the pitch.”

There is good news in the Arsenal camp as striker Robin Van Persie is back in their squad, although he limped off the field with a thigh strain last week and missed the subsequent premier league fixture. The injuries for Arsenal include Eduardo Da Silva, Tomas Rosicky, Johan Djourou, Alexandre Song and Bacary Sagna.

Photo: Getty Images

Chelsea FC will be without the services of Petr Cech for two more weeks after undergoing a facial surgery to his lips and chin due to a collision with a team-mate while training. Reports suggest that the Czech Republic International required 50 stitches.

Petr Cech has missed nine games already due to an ankle injury and now he’ll be out for the Champions league encounter against Turkish side Fenerbahce. Now he must avoid further delays and might struggle to make an appearance against Manchester united on April 26.

“He has been unlucky with injuries this year, but this is football - it happens,” said Chelsea boss Avram Grant. “It was a tackle between two players, it doesn’t matter who, all that matters is he is injured. This year is not a good year for him. It is his third injury. He was looking good in training. I think he will be out for two weeks, something like this. I don’t feel so good about it but every player that is injured doesn’t make me happy.”

Petr Cech has worn a protective headgear during training and during matches after his horrific fracture to the skull in a collision with Reading midfielder Stephen Hunt in October 2006. His last game for Chelsea this season was on 1st March when they beat West Ham 4-0.

Photo: Getty Images

Chelsea manager Avram Grant has hinted that the injured Petr Cech will not be risked as they travel to Manchester to face Manchester City. The Czech Republic International has missed 8 matches due to his ankle injury ad although he is back in training with Chelsea, the manager seems more likely to start with the second choice Goal Keeper Carlo Cudicini.

Cech may make his return on the second leg of the Champions League quarter-final against the Turkish side Fenerbahce.

“Until yesterday Cech had made a lot of improvement and we need to see where he is at the end of the recovery period,” Grant said. “He is better than 50-50, he is almost ready. It will be a medical decision. But we have other goalkeepers who have done a good job this year.”

In another incident, Grant has denied the reports of a fight with midfielder Frank Lampard after the England International’s furious reaction when he was substituted in the 2-1 loss against Fenerbahce in Turkey.

“Frank is a very passionate player. He was very disappointed that Fenerbahce had equalised,” said the Israeli coach. “I shook hands with Frank. I like passionate players. If his reaction was good or not, it is an internal matter.

“The discipline at Chelsea has been very good since I’ve been here. I speak with all the players, but I speak about the game and not something else. Everybody was disappointed. It was one of our best performances but we lost the game so he wanted to understand why, that’s all.”

Wow! Am I dreaming? It seems I went back to 1994 world cup football. Lots of Big names were there . There was great Bebeto-Romario Duo . But one name is heard every where as antonym of great Edison Arantes do Nascimento (Pele). This name is none other than another Living Legend of Brazil Ronaldo. He is my all time favorite. I first came to see Ronaldo from his PSV Eindhoven days. But unfortunately half of Potentiality of this great could not be utilized because of his Injury. Even after that he is the highest scorer of all time time world cup history. I truly miss trademark with and with out ball movement of Ronaldo master Piece.

But I think my wait is over . A New 18 years Phenomenon has already  declared his arrival in highest stage of world football. This name is Alexandre Pato. Present Brazil Coach and Ex BrazilCaptain Carlos Dunga has already declared ” Pato reminds him his ex team mate Ronaldo.

The Video Clips of Pato reminds me to the Young Ronaldo of PSV days.

Virender Sehwag crippled the bowling attack of South Africa on the third day of the first Test held in Chennai scoring the fastest ever triple century in history with 300 runs off 278 balls. Sehwag finished the day unbeaten at 309 taking India to 468-1 in reply to South Africa’s total of 540. The Indian smashed 42 fours and five sixes before nudging the ball to square leg for his 300 off Makhaya Ntini.

The 29 year old opener scored 309 against Pakistan in 2004 and became only the third player to achieve the triple century feat beside the West Indian Legend Brian Lara and Australian Don Bradman.

Sehwag scored 300 from 278 balls surpassing Mathew Hayden’s 380 runs off 368 balls, which was a record back then for the quickest triple hundred, in 2004 against Zimbabwe.

India are in a very good position to put some pressure on the visitors with a flawless performance from Sehwag’s 292 ball innings. He had a good support from Rahul Dravid, who finished 65 not out, on a 255 run second wicket partnership.

India started the day with 82 runs on the board. Sehwag scored 213 before the first wicket alongside Wasin Jaffer, who edged Paul Harris’ delivery to Jaques Kallis in the slip giving the Proteas their only break-through of the game.

Then Sehwag was accompanied by the man known as “The Wall”, Rahul Dravid, who lived up to his name scoring 65 in 181 balls. In the process he took his career total to 9,985 runs, now only needing 15 runs to complete the 10,000 run feat and set to be only the sixth player in history to accomplish such an achievement.

The test Veteran Sehwag was at his best on his 55th Test when he scored 108 runs in India’s 133, as the Proteas bowled in hot and humid conditions typical to the sub-continent.

This was Sehwag’s consecutive three figure total following his match saving effort of 151 runs against Australia in Adelaide in January. On the fourth day of the test Sehwag is set to surpass Brian Lara’s record of 400 and India have the opportunity to have a lead over the tourists before day five.

[By Shahnawaz Alam]

Photo: Sky Sports

Brazilian striker Adriano was in trouble on Friday when he arrived late for fitness training for his club Sao Paulo and later he threatened a cameraman as he was being photographed. The striker who joined Sao Paulo on loan from Inter Milan to resurrect his uncertain career at Inter might face a fine for his malice.

“We’re going to analyze the facts, to decide whether or not there will be a fine,” Sao Paulo general manager Marco Aurelio Cunha told reporters. “The important thing here is a healthy atmosphere. People have to be happy here and if they are not happy, they don’t need to stay.”

Brazilian media revealed that Adriano was almost half an hour late for the fitness training. It was said that he left the training facilities early and threatened a camera man as he was being photographed. Earlier that week he was also on the spotlight when he wore a T-shirt for the training session instead of the official club uniform when the team arrived in Sao Paulo from a flight from Columbia.

However Sao Paulo handled the incident with ease claiming that they had given him permission for the change of attire on the plane.

Adriano was one of the world’s most revered strikers before he suffered a dramatic loss of form in the last 18 months due to fitness and alcohol issues and has barely played for Inter and Brazil. He promised that he would concentrate on football alone when he signed for Sao Paulo and then he was photographed by some journalists in a pop concert with a beer in hand.

A week after the incident he was in a car accident in Rio. Luckily no one was injured, but the incident was in the early hours of the morning proving that the striker has been out at night.

[By: Shahnawaz Alam]

Photo: Raisport

Football’s governing body FIFA has disapproved Ranger’s striker Daniel Cousin’s proposed £3.0m to Fulham. Rangers Chief Executive Martin Bain feels disappointed at the move as he said “It’s been a frustrating time for all parties.”

The 31 year old striker from Gabon has featured in RC Lens and Rangers this season already and FIFA says that a player cannot be in more than two teams in one season. Cousin signed from Lens on a £1.1m transfer fee to Rangers this summer.

The transfer fee for Cousin between Rangers and Fulham was agreed this January and he needed FIFA’s approval for the switch. His move has been block at the moment. But it may go through this summer when the next season begins.

Bain said that FIFA’s lengthy decision was a disappointment for everyone involved in the transfer. “We are disappointed that it has taken FIFA so long to make a decision,” he said. “”We received a good offer from Fulham for the player and entered into the proposed transfer fully aware he had already made two appearances for Lens before joining Rangers. He made one start in the Intertoto Cup in July and another as a late substitute appearance against Bordeaux in the French league.”

Bain revealed that both clubs felt they had strong reasons to believe that the transfer would go through and they were disappointed in the end at FIFA’s ruling. “Daniel remains a Rangers player, fully committed to helping the club push for domestic and European success this season,” he added.

Cousin says that he is determined to help Rangers secure honours this season. “Obviously when I heard I had the opportunity to move to the Premiership and the offer was right both for myself and Rangers, it was difficult to turn down,” he said. “However, I made it clear all along that I have enjoyed my time at Rangers and I am more than happy to stay, fight for my place and help the manager and the rest of the squad compete for silverware this season.”

[By Shahnawaz Alam]

Photo: Getty Images

The 23 year old Argentine midfielder Javier Mascherano has signed a new 4-year contract with Liverpool. Mascherano’s contract contract was owned by the Media Sports Investments consortium, then moving to Anfield on loan from West Ham over a year ago.

He was allowed to sign for Liverpool outside the transfer window because he did not belong to any club. He said “I am very, very happy and now I can concentrate just on playing football,” Mascherano told Liverpoolfc.tv. “I said all along that I wanted to stay at Liverpool and now that I have signed I can say this is the best and the biggest moment in my career so far. From the first day I arrived at Liverpool the feeling was good and I knew this was where I wanted to play my football.

“It’s good news for me and my family that everything is sorted and I know where my future is going to be. I just want to do my best for the fans and the people of the club. I am at a top side and I know I can win titles here. That’s the big thing for me. I want to be at a club where we can win trophies and have success.”

[By Shahnawaz Alam]

Photo: Getty Images

Arsenal Manager Arsene Wenger says Martin taylor, who is responsible for breaking Eduardo’s leg, apologized to him.

After commenting on Taylor tackle, where he said that Taylor should never play again, he said “He came to see me after the game and said it was completely accidental. I thought about it and said if it was accidental I had to retract my comment. We do not want to be a club who is seen to be wanting revenge or anything. We try to play football in a fair way.”

After the match Taylor received a lot of death threats and hate mails, but Arsenal boss Wenger refuses to admit that his initial response instigated the response from the fans.

Wenger said “I am responsible for what I say but I came out and retracted what I said. I didn’t want to go overboard. I take that responsibility. But people who make death threats have to feel responsible for what they do. It is idiotic and not accepted but I do not want to be responsible for that.”

[By Shahnawaz Alam]

Photo: Getty Images

Middlesbrough midfielder Stewart Downing has recently signed a new 5-year contract with his club. The 23 year old signed a new contract even though 2 years still remain in his current one. He was known to be linked with a move to Tottenham Hotspurs during the January transfer window.

Gareth Southgate feared that Downing might leave his home-town club in search of glory in European competitions. His decision to stay in Middlebrough is a huge boost in confidence for his manager.

Last week he revealed that the arrival of £12m striker Alfonso Alvez has changed his decision to stay at the club. “I had told the club I didn’t want to stand still. Signing Alves shows how ambitious we are,” he said. “This is where I want to be. The chairman [Steve Gibson] has proved again just how much he wants this club to go forward.”