By ESPNsoccernet staff
Harry Redknapp has confirmed his interest in bringing David Beckham on loan to Tottenham, although he admitted the midfielder's wages could be a possible stumbling block to the move.
In what was a U-turn from his recent denials of interest in Beckham, Redknapp revealed he would ask chairman Daniel Levy to persuade Los Angeles Galaxy to lend the 35-year-old to Spurs until the Major League Soccer season begins in March. Beckham has spent the last two MLS close seasons on loan at AC Milan, partly in a bid to extend his England career.
Reports suggest he is eyeing a similar move to Europe this winter and that Premier League sides are queuing up to bring him home. Spurs have now jumped right to the front of the line, with Redknapp revealing he would attempt to bring him back to the club where it all began - before Manchester United even - for the world's most famous player.
EPL Today
Friday, December 31, 2010
Furgueson: Five Horse Race for the Title
Sir Alex Ferguson believes the Premier League title race is a five-horse affair and that it could take as little as 82 points to become champions.
Not since Manchester United completed the last of their first hat-trick of championships a decade ago has any team finished top with so few points. On that occasion, 80 proved enough to see off Arsenal by a 10-point margin.
In more recent years, 90 points has been the aim, United and Arsenal reaching that figure once each in the past decade, and Chelsea breaking through the barrier twice under Jose Mourinho.
Now, instead of the bar being raised, rungs are being whipped away from the bottom, not just by title contenders Manchester City and Tottenham, but progressive outfits such as Sunderland, Bolton and West Brom, whom United visit on Saturday. All three have collected points from clubs expected to do far better, which is why Ferguson feels sights have to be trained somewhat lower this term.
Not since Manchester United completed the last of their first hat-trick of championships a decade ago has any team finished top with so few points. On that occasion, 80 proved enough to see off Arsenal by a 10-point margin.
In more recent years, 90 points has been the aim, United and Arsenal reaching that figure once each in the past decade, and Chelsea breaking through the barrier twice under Jose Mourinho.
Now, instead of the bar being raised, rungs are being whipped away from the bottom, not just by title contenders Manchester City and Tottenham, but progressive outfits such as Sunderland, Bolton and West Brom, whom United visit on Saturday. All three have collected points from clubs expected to do far better, which is why Ferguson feels sights have to be trained somewhat lower this term.
Guzan to Hull for a month
Associated Press
HULL, England -- American goalkeeper Brad Guzan has joined the second-tier English team Hull on a one-month loan.
Guzan is under contract to the Premier League club Aston Villa but has been unable to oust fellow American Brad Friedel from the starting lineup.
Guzan could debut for Hull in a League Championship match against Leicester on Saturday.
Guzan joined Villa from Chivas USA in August 2008. His only Premier League appearance came as a 64th-minute substitute against Liverpool in March 2009.
Guzan entered after Friedel had been sent off for allowing a penalty kick to be called. Liverpool beat Guzan on the kick to complete a 5-0 victory.
Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press
HULL, England -- American goalkeeper Brad Guzan has joined the second-tier English team Hull on a one-month loan.
Guzan is under contract to the Premier League club Aston Villa but has been unable to oust fellow American Brad Friedel from the starting lineup.
Guzan could debut for Hull in a League Championship match against Leicester on Saturday.
Guzan joined Villa from Chivas USA in August 2008. His only Premier League appearance came as a 64th-minute substitute against Liverpool in March 2009.
Guzan entered after Friedel had been sent off for allowing a penalty kick to be called. Liverpool beat Guzan on the kick to complete a 5-0 victory.
Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press
Thursday, December 30, 2010
Wednesday, December 29, 2010
Wolverhampton 1-0 Liverpool
Liverpool's lack of match practice cost them dearly as they lost an eighth Barclays Premier League match of the season and bottom side Wolves picked up their first three-point haul since last March with a 1-0 win.
Snowy weather had forced the postponements of games against Fulham and Blackpool, meaning the Reds had not played in the league for 18 days.
That showed as they lacked invention and energy - even with the return of Steven Gerrard from six weeks out - but the visitors did have that spark and ended a run of six successive defeats away from home thanks to Stephen Ward's first Premier League goal.
The last time Wolves won at Anfield was 27 years ago next month when Steve Mardenborough scored the only goal of his Wanderers career.
Snowy weather had forced the postponements of games against Fulham and Blackpool, meaning the Reds had not played in the league for 18 days.
That showed as they lacked invention and energy - even with the return of Steven Gerrard from six weeks out - but the visitors did have that spark and ended a run of six successive defeats away from home thanks to Stephen Ward's first Premier League goal.
The last time Wolves won at Anfield was 27 years ago next month when Steve Mardenborough scored the only goal of his Wanderers career.
Wigan 2-2 Arsenal
Arsenal let 10-man Wigan off the hook as a late own-goal earned the Latics a 2-2 draw and prevented the Gunners joining the Manchester clubs at the top of the Premier League.
It was not the disaster of last season, when Arsenal collapsed from 2-0 up to lose 3-2, but manager Arsene Wenger - who had gambled on eight changes from the side which beat Chelsea - will feel easy points were dropped in the tightest of title races.
The Gunners led 2-1, with Charles N'Zogbia having been sent off for Wigan, only for the home side to level thanks to an own goal from Sebastian Squillaci.
Ben Watson's penalty had given the home side a deserved lead, but Arsenal replied to take the lead at the break through Andrei Arshavin's brilliant scissor-kick and Nicklas Bendtner's calm finish.
It was not the disaster of last season, when Arsenal collapsed from 2-0 up to lose 3-2, but manager Arsene Wenger - who had gambled on eight changes from the side which beat Chelsea - will feel easy points were dropped in the tightest of title races.
The Gunners led 2-1, with Charles N'Zogbia having been sent off for Wigan, only for the home side to level thanks to an own goal from Sebastian Squillaci.
Ben Watson's penalty had given the home side a deserved lead, but Arsenal replied to take the lead at the break through Andrei Arshavin's brilliant scissor-kick and Nicklas Bendtner's calm finish.
Chelsea 1-0 Bolton
It was ugly, scrappy and lucky, but Chelsea will not care one jot as they ended their worst Barclays Premier League run for more than a decade by beating Bolton 1-0.
Florent Malouda scored his first league goal for more than two months to send the faltering champions back into the top four and ease the pressure on manager Carlo Ancelotti.
Didier Drogba also hit the post but was forced to clear off the line as Bolton had more than enough chances to snatch a point.
Chelsea's first league win in seven lifted them back to within four points of leaders Manchester United, who have a game in hand.
Florent Malouda scored his first league goal for more than two months to send the faltering champions back into the top four and ease the pressure on manager Carlo Ancelotti.
Didier Drogba also hit the post but was forced to clear off the line as Bolton had more than enough chances to snatch a point.
Chelsea's first league win in seven lifted them back to within four points of leaders Manchester United, who have a game in hand.
Tuesday, December 28, 2010
Birmingham 1-1 Manchester United
Manchester United are set to end 2010 on top of the Barclays Premier League despite Lee Bowyer's late leveller for Birmingham at St Andrew's.
Dimitar Berbatov had followed his double in the Boxing Day win over Sunderland with what looked another decisive contribution to take his tally for the campaign to 15 goals.
But Bowyer, who had scored the winner against Chelsea last month, equalised to lift Birmingham out of the bottom three.
United's point enabled them to move ahead of Manchester City on goal difference - they also have two games in hand - and nudge seven points clear of champions Chelsea.
They are now unbeaten in 23 league games and have lost only two of 36 Premier League matches during the calendar year.
Dimitar Berbatov had followed his double in the Boxing Day win over Sunderland with what looked another decisive contribution to take his tally for the campaign to 15 goals.
But Bowyer, who had scored the winner against Chelsea last month, equalised to lift Birmingham out of the bottom three.
United's point enabled them to move ahead of Manchester City on goal difference - they also have two games in hand - and nudge seven points clear of champions Chelsea.
They are now unbeaten in 23 league games and have lost only two of 36 Premier League matches during the calendar year.
West Ham 1-1 Everton
West Ham blew the chance to haul themselves out of the Premier League drop zone as Everton claimed a deserved 1-1 draw at Upton Park.
The Hammers, who had climbed off the foot of the table thanks to Sunday's victory at Fulham, took the lead when Tony Hibbert diverted Radoslav Kovac's tame overhead kick into his own net.
The visitors hit back three minutes before half-time through Seamus Coleman before Carlton Cole wasted a glorious opportunity to win it for the home side.
After ending their 27-game wait for an away win in the league two days earlier, the Hammers were looking for back-to-back top-flight victories for the first time this season.
The Hammers, who had climbed off the foot of the table thanks to Sunday's victory at Fulham, took the lead when Tony Hibbert diverted Radoslav Kovac's tame overhead kick into his own net.
The visitors hit back three minutes before half-time through Seamus Coleman before Carlton Cole wasted a glorious opportunity to win it for the home side.
After ending their 27-game wait for an away win in the league two days earlier, the Hammers were looking for back-to-back top-flight victories for the first time this season.
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