Liverpool Ladies Hail Asisat Oshoala On All African Games Ticket

The Reds have commended the striker for scoring twice to help her country to an 8-0 home win over Mali and qualifying for this year’s continental games

Liverpool Ladies have praised Asisat Oshoala on helping the Super Falcons secure a qualification ticket to the 2015 All African Games on Friday, the Nigerian striker has told Goal .

The Super Falcons recorded a healthy 9-1 aggregate victory over Mali to qualify for the continental games scheduled to hold from September 8-17 in Brazzaville, Congo.

Oshoala, who netted a brace and made three assists in the 8-0 win against Mali in the final round, second leg clash played at the National Stadium, Abuja, thanked the Reds for permitting her to help her country while expressing her delight at justifying her release.

"I've been receiving many messages from my [Liverpool Ladies] teammates and even my coach has called to congratulate me," Oshoala told Goal.

"When you allow a player to go for national assignment, you will be very happy when the player gives her best and comes out good in a game she was released to play.

"Because now we have a game in my team and I’m supposed to be in the team but they allowed me to come play for my country. I think they should be proud of me - I didn't come here for nothing. I really came here to make impact and I know they are really happy about it.

The reigning African woman player of the year exonerated herself of any praise insisting her teammates deserve all the accolades for their solid performance and commitment displayed in achieving the qualification feat that eluded them in 2011.

"I feel very happy about our victory - it’s not about me but about the team qualifying for the All African Games. Having played 1-1 in the away game and coming home to give our best and make sure we came out victorious in the game.

"I think it's a very good thing for us as a team and also as a nation. This game went well and the communication among the girls was very okay. I’m proud of the girls.

"It is a good thing for me as a player to get two goals and three assists. But as I said earlier it's not about me, but about the team - the country has qualified that is the most important.

"After winning the AWC, there was a lot getting into players' heads when you feel you are the champions of Africa. But in today's game, you could see the seriousness and commitment in the game. They didn't play like they played 1-1 in the first leg.

"They just came like it’s on a neutral ground and like it's a final. I think the commitment, seriousness and sacrifice for various players who left their club to play for the national team. It was a good mark and with the level of performance, I believe we can face any team," she concluded.

Chelsea Legend Didier Drogba Slated By Fans On Twitter

Chelsea legend Didier Drogba’s return to Stamford Bridge has divided opinion between the Blues faithful, and having only scored three goals in eighteen games, the Ivorian is starting to feel the wrath from fans.

The latest backlash came after the Premier League leaders left it late to snatch a vital victory at Queens Park Rangers.

Cesc Fabregas scored the game's only goal with just two minutes remaining, as Drogba – in the starting line-up in the absence of injured pair Diego Costa and Loic Remy – appeared dead on his feet in the closing stages.

Man United Fans LOVE Ashley Young After Derby Display

Manchester United won the derby day spoils as they claimed a 4-2 victory over rivals Man City at Old Trafford – and the hero was Ashley Young.

The winger, who has had plenty of grief from Red Devils fans in the past, was one of the stars of the show as he grabbed a goal and two assists to help Louis van Gaal’s men come from behind to win.

It marks a huge turnaround for the ex-Aston Villa star and supporters were lauding the England man on Twitter for his displays.

Man United 4-2 Man City: Red Devils End Derby Drought With Barnstorming Win

Manchester City were denied a record fifth consecutive derby victory over rivals Manchester United, as the Red Devils romped to a 4-2 win which leaves the Blues’ title defence in tatters.

At a wet and windy Old Trafford, a sensational start from City saw the visitors take an early lead through an unmarked Sergio Aguero, but United came back in ruthless style.

Ashley Young and Marouane Fellaini were central to everything Louis van Gaal’s side mustered, and the midfield duo netted a goal apiece to hand the hosts a 2-1 half-time lead.

City were perhaps fortunate to go into the break with all 11 men on the field after Vincent Kompany was showed only a yellow for a high challenge on Daley Blind, with the captain’s sluggish showing seeing him replaced by Eliaquim Mangala.

But the change made little difference to City’s tentative back-four as Juan Mata nutmegged Joe Hart from close-range to increase the deficit on 67 minutes, while Mangala was at fault for the hosts’ fourth as Chris Smalling escaped his marker to nod in from a free-kick.

Aguero completed a brace in the closing stages, but it proved a mere consolation as United were left to celebrate a long-awaited victory over their fiercest rivals.

Fans were treated to a pulsating edge-of-your-seat opening 45 minutes as City looked back to their best in a rapid start.

Manuel Pellegrini’s side were playing with all the zip and intensity they have lacked in large periods of this season, and it took just eight minutes for the visitors to take a deserved lead.

A dazzling run from Gael Clichy sliced open United’s defence, with the full-back finding Milner on the left who then jabbed a neat through-ball into David Silva in the box. The Spaniard had loads of time to look up and present the easiest of tap-ins for Aguero at the far post, with the Argentine making no mistake for his first goal in seven games.

You felt the hosts had to muster a quick response to prevent the contest from running away from them, and that’s exactly what they did, though with a big helping of luck.

City’s back line was caught out by David de Gea’s long punt forward, which found Ander Herrera free on the left. The Spaniard’s early cross was blocked by a sliding Clichy, but the ball bounced off the defender and fell kindly for Young, who turned on the spot to smash the ball past a helpless Hart.

There was little luck involved, however, as the Red Devils began to boss proceedings, with the man recently described as ‘undroppable’ by manager Louis van Gaal, Fellaini, influential once again in his advanced role.

He and Young were the focus of all United’s best moves and it was no surprise when they combined to put the Old Trafford outfit ahead; the England winger crossing superbly for his Belgian team-mate, who was free at the back post to power his header home.

The tempo slowed considerably after the break following a full throttle first half, though City were lucky to escape a melee in the box moments after the restart, with the Blues struggling to clear their lines after Hart stretched to save Wayne Rooney’s free-kick.

Pellegrini’s men looked a shadow of the side that lifted the Premier League trophy last term, and their lacklustre display was soon punished further as United notched two goals in seven minutes to seal a brilliant three points.

Mata was at his clinical best to finish off a swift counter-attack though Hart’s legs, though the Spaniard appeared inches offside from Rooney’s defence-splitting pass, while Smalling added a fourth with ease; the centre-back rising completely unchallenged to head in the United skipper’s free-kick.

Even Aguero’s late consolation, firing a shot in off the post, failed to wipe the smiles of the United players’ faces, as the Reds Devils rise to within just one point of second place Arsenal, while City remain in fourth.

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Juanfran: I've Rejected Arsenal Twice

Atletico Madrid right-back Juanfran admits he has rejected two offers from Arsenal.

The 30-year-old, along with Serge Aurier, was on Arsenal's shortlist to replace Bacary Sagna last summer before the club opted to sign Mathieu Debuchy from Newcastle United in a €16 million deal.

"I know where I am. Atletico have pushed for me to stay," Juanfran told Radio Marca. "I rejected two offers from Arsenal. It's what I feel."

Atletico currently sit third in La Liga, nine points behind leaders Barcelona, but Juanfran believes the club have improved on their title-winning season despite the impact of losing Diego Costa to Chelsea.

"We're better than last year," the defender said.

"We're finishing the season well. Madrid and Barcelona come to score goals, four for Barca, nine for Madrid with an ease that few teams in Europe can manage, save for Bayern. That we're there fighting with them is incredible. Having won La Liga last season says a lot about Atletico.

"Diego Costa's [absence] is noted. He's such a great player, he gave us a lot. We had our game set up around him. Little by little this year we're getting there with [Mario] Mandzukic, [Antoine] Griezmann and [Fernando] Torres. It's all a question of time and work."

Juanfran has also defended Radamel Falcao's decision to leave Atletico for Monaco in 2013 and says the striker was not completely motivated by money.

"Falcao had bad luck with the injury," said Juanfran. "He took a path and it has not gone so well for him.

"Monaco started a nice project. I don't think that he went there just for the money. He would have professional objectives, not just economic ones."

TEAM NEWS: Drogba Starts As Chelsea Continue Title Charge At QPR

Didier Drogba starts up front for Chelsea against west London rivals QPR as the Blues look to continue their Premier League title tilt without both the injured Diego Costa and Loic Remy.

The Spanish striker, still the division's join-topscorer alongside Harry Kane, is nursing a hamstring injury and is not expected to feature again in April.

Remy, who joined Chelsea from QPR in the summer and has netted in his last two matches, had been expected to deputise for Costa but does not even make the squad due to muscular injury suffered in training on Saturday, with Drogba picked in his absence.

Why Did It Take Arsenal So Long To Do This??

Arsenal are racking up the points at a time of the season which will, ultimately, count for little; the trick for Wenger is to make sure he can replicate this form next season

Arsenal are the first team to win eight successive matches in the Premier League this season after overcoming a stout Burnley at Turf Moor. A single goal in the first half from Aaron Ramsey was enough to keep the Clarets at bay as the Londoners delivered a competent, if unspectacular, performance thereafter. 

This was by no means a vintage display but that need not matter. Arsene Wenger will know titles are built on such humdrum results. One-nil to the Arsenal. 

Eight wins on the trot is a mean feat in the top division but that run has come at a time of the season that, ultimately, means little. Yes, there is the top four to play for but with Manchester City struggling as they are it was never in doubt that Arsenal would do enough to take their place again among the Champions League qualifiers. 

They have long since given up any pretence of a title challenge; if Chelsea win their two games in hand, starting at QPR, then they will be 10 points clear. It is hardly a title race worth mentioning. 

"They are still comfortable, Chelsea," Arsene Wenger said. "We need a perfect run and we need a non perfect run from them. We cannot master that. We can only master our attitude. We want to keep winning because we have to look behind us as well."

In the big games, before the prizes were decided, Arsenal's fate as also-rans was sealed. They won only seven games before Christmas. There were damaging losses to Chelsea, to Manchester United, even to Tottenham. Injuries to key players like Mesut Ozil and Mathieu Debuchy certainly did not help but every team has to deal with enforced absences.

As such there have been questions of character asked of this Arsenal side all season long. Even their recent Champions League elimination against Monaco only further served to enhance the suspicion that when the heat is on Arsenal are nowhere to be found. 

Freed from that type of pressure though and they have managed to put together a formidable, confidence-restoring run. The next task for Wenger is making sure that this same assuredness is carried through to next season when it starts all over again. 

Rooney Key To Van Gaal's Man Utd

Perhaps it was politeness, maybe mind games, possibly a judgement call that was based on the past rather than the present. But when Sergio Aguero piped up this week to suggest Radamel Falcao is Manchester United’s most predatory striker, it rather flew in the face of the facts. It ignored the evidence.

Forget the crisp, clinical Falcao of bygone times. The modern-day Colombian has scored fewer goals in his entire United career than Wayne Rooney has managed in his last six games. The Merseysider has won his individual battle. Seemingly third in line when Falcao partnered Robin van Persie in attack and he was relegated to the midfield, he has cemented his status as United’s finest centre-forward.

It could be the first time since the Dutchman’s 2012 arrival that he can say that. The idea that United had three top strikers has been disproved by evidence of decline. Rooney’s personal peak came in 2009-10, Van Persie’s between 2011 and 2013 and Falcao’s, arguably, in the same two-year spell.

None is the player he was, but Rooney is the best of the bunch. When his career was at a crossroads, his season has turned into an unlikely triumph.   

Falcao’s arrival prompted questions if Rooney even featured in the first-choice team. The silly sending off against West Ham made many wonder if he was the right man to captain United. An extended spell in midfield invited thoughts that his striking days may have been consigned to the past.

Go back a couple of months and Rooney had to illicitly procure a late penalty against League One Preston to record a first shot on target in 2015. When Van Gaal said his captain had “privileges”, it made it sound as though Rooney was in the team on favouritism, not merit.

Liverpool's Attacker; Philippe Coutinho Is The Player Of The Year - John Terry

John Terry has posted his choice for Player of the Year to his Instagram account @johnterry.26.

Liverpool ace Philippe Coutinho got his vote and Harry Kane got the Young Player nod.

Chelsea's captain also revealed who he thought deserved a place in the Team of the Year, including Jose Fonte and Laurent Koscielny as the centre-backs.

Players cannot include their team-mates in the vote, so there is no space for the Blues' midfield magician Eden Hazard.

Terry has been excellent this season and could end up in the final XI himself, but do you agree with his selections?

Wenger: Arsenal Need Flawless Season Finish To Catch Chelsea

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has challenged his side to extend their winning run until the end of the season as the Gunners continue to close the gap on Premier League leaders Chelsea.

Aaron Ramsey scored the only goal of the game as the north Londoners beat struggling Burnley 1-0 at Turf Moor on Saturday.

An eighth straight top flight victory leaves them four points behind Jose Mourinho’s Chelsea, although the Blues have two games in hand.

And Wenger said his side need to produce a flawless finish to the campaign to have any chance of catching their London rivals.

Following the away victory, the Frenchman said: "Nothing has changed - we need a perfect run and we need a non-perfect run from them, but we can't master that, we can only master our own position.

"We want to keep winning because we have to look behind us as well at Manchester United and Manchester City.

"We are consistent and we have a good attitude in the team so it is a challenge for the team and we have to focus and win the next game."

Wenger was particularly pleased with the way his side coped with Burnley's physical threat, with the boss also paying a rich tribute to the performance of Sean Dyche's men, who came close to salvaging a point through late chances for George Boyd and Danny Ings.

He added: "I was surprised by the quality of Burnley and it will be a shame if they go down because they have done fantastically well.

"They are organised, they press well and they show great solidarity. They are very fit and I understand now why they took points from the big teams.

"You have to fight and be combative until the end and we couldn't score the second goal but the defence played very well today and got us the three points."