Sunday, October 30, 2011

Football live blog -as it happened

More reaction to the Carlos Tevez situation, comment on the allegations against John Terry and team news ahead of a busy weekend

9.28am: Good morning and welcome to our weekly live football blog. We'll keep you up to date with all the latest fixture news ahead of this weekend's action, as well as breaking news and updates from press conferences around the UK and beyond. Should you wish to get involved, feel free to ping me an email or post a comment below the line. If there's any news pertaining to your club that you think is worthy of mention in this week's blog, put it in an email and send it our way.

9.33am: So, here we go again. It is almost but not quite the weekend, and that is reason enough to roll up our sleeves, grab a pick and a shovel and prepare for a day of toil at football's vicious coalface. Key games this weekend include Chelsea v Arsenal and reunions for Roy Hodgson and Liverpool at the Hawthorns, and for Darren Bent and Sunderland at the Stadium of Light. In the Championship the leaders, Southampton, host third-place Middlesbrough, while in League One the visit to Yeovil could be Lee Clark's final match in charge of Huddersfield, with Leicester rumoured to be circling.

9.45am: This came through on Reuters overnight: "San Lorenzo's home match with All Boys in the Argentine first division this weekend has been suspended after Saints defender Jonathan Bottinelli was attacked by a fan of his own club. Bottinelli was punched by a San Lorenzo fan after Wednesday's practice as he made his way to the dressing rooms, the player told reporters." The AFA have started an investigation, while Botinelli says he might leave. "As I was going to the dressing room, one [fan] hit me from behind," he said. "I know him, but not his name. In the heat of the moment, the first thing that I think of is leaving the club." The All Boys president, Roberto Bugallo, disagreed with the postponement. "I think it's the wrong decision because All Boys are not to blame for San Lorenzo's problems," he said. San Lorenzo, one of Argentina's so-called "Big Five" teams, have had a rubbish time in the Apertura championship, and are in the bottom half of the table with 14 points, precisely half the total boasted by leaders Boca Juniors.

9.47am: Also in Argentina, Newcastles Jonas Guiterrez has been dropped from the squad to face Bolivia and Colombia in World Cup qualifiers next month. The only UK-based players included by Alejandro Sabella are Manchester City's Pablo Zabaleta and Sergio Ag�ero.

9.50am: This extremely exciting news update has been removed, because the Press Association sent it out before they were supposed to. In fact, the news reported in this update will not happen for another few hours, until 1pm in fact, and we will report it again then. In the meantime, we will replace it with the news that Swansea manager Brendan Rodgers is likely to name an unchanged side for tomorrow's Premier League clash with Bolton.

9.52am: Jermaine Jenas is included in Villa's squad for that game, and thus could finally make his debut for the club following thigh and achilles injuries. Barry Nannan is absent having been suspended by the club following his arrest for suspected drink driving.

10.00am: Wolves are still without injured striker Steven Fletcher for their Barclays Premier League match away to Manchester City tomorrow.
Fletcher has a calf problem, but he may be fit for the next game against Swansea. There is no reason for Mick McCarthy to change the team that lost 5-2 to an understrength City side at home this week, although some logical and tactical ones might crop up.

10.07am: A very tasty goal from last night's Besiktas v Fenerbahce derby. Enjoy.

10.12am: Shane Long, ruled out by West Brom for six weeks just a few days ago, is nevertheless in the Republic of Ireland squad for the Euro 2012 play-off against Estonia next month. The games are on 11 and 15 November.

Republic of Ireland squad: Given (Aston Villa), Westwood (Sunderland), Forde; O'Shea (Sunderland), Kelly (Fulham), Ward (Wolves), Dunne (Villa), St Ledger (Leicester), O'Dea (Leeds), McShane (Hull); Whelan (Stoke), McCarthy (Wigan), Coleman (Everton), Andrews (Ipswich), Fahey (Birmingham), Gibson (Man Utd), Keogh (Leeds), Duff (Fulham), McGeady (Spartak Moscow), Hunt (Wolves), Lawrence (Portsmouth); Keane (LA Galaxy), Doyle (Wolves), Long (West Brom), Cox (West Brom), Walters (Stoke).

10.18am: News from Brazil, albeit from a few days ago: a bitch on the pitch. Am I allowed to say that? I don't even know the sex of the dog.

10.25am: Another tasty goal from last night, this from Romania (courtesy of 101greatgoals.com).

10.33am: Gordon Taylor has been on the airwaves defending the PFA's position on the Carlos Tevez saga, after Manchester City accused his organisation of an "apparent conflict of interest" because Tevez's representative during this entire snafu has been the PFA's chief executive, and the PFA ended up blocking the club's proposed four-week fine. "It's not a conflict of interest at all," he said. "It's just merely pointing out what the law is, what the law says, and what the code of practice says. It's like a QC having to tell the judge that in accordance with the law you've got it wrong."

10.40am: If Carlos Tevez is annoyed about the amount of money Manchester City aren't paying him, he should have a chat with an employee of Plymouth. The latest is that staff and players ? who have been paid in full in only two of the last 12 months ? are being asked to sign yet another wages deferral today, apparently so as to give the administrators time to negotiate more money for themselves. The Argyle Fans' Trust are now threatening "targeted and specific protest action against P&A Partnership and their associates should they continue to jeopardize the future of our club". Some good background here.

10.42am: Ashley Young is likely to miss Manchester United's trip to Everton tomorrow with a toe injury. "It's nothing serious," says Sir Alex Ferguson, who will give the player a late fitness test. Nemanja Vidic and Tom Cleverley are both in the squad.

10.52am: Here's an interesting read, on the former France striker who was arrested last weekend for attempted murder.

10.55am: Also in France, Laurent Blanc has warned fans to expect rubbish football and an early exit from his side at Euro 2012. "In 15 months [after the 2010 World Cup humiliation], people want us to have a great team with great players and play like the Netherlands, Spain or Germany. It is impossible!," Blanc said. "We said, and we say it again, that it would take time. You don't buy quality of play, or a team, in the supermarket." Depending on who makes it through the play-offs, France could find themselves in Pot Four, among the lowest-ranked nations in the final tournament, when the draw is made in December. "If we have Spain and Germany in our group, it will be very tough to get through the first round," said Blanc. "People can fantasize but I am telling you the truth."

11.05am: Do have a go at today's statistically-focused football quiz. I only got six out of 10, but I was in such a hurry I was basically just clicking at random. But then, I would say that ? I only got six out of 10.

11.06am: Sunderland could also choose an unnamed side, for the visit of Aston Villa, having beaten Bolton away last weekend. Phil Bardsley "will be pushing for a start", I'm told.

11.08am: Newcastle are holding today's training session at St James' Park in front of thousands of schoolkids enjoying their half-term break. Nice idea, that.

11.10am: Sunderland have sent Nyron Nosworthy on loan to Championship strugglers Watford. He could make his debut against Peterborough tomorrow.

11.20am: Apparently a deal has been done to take Plymouth out of administration. More news as I get it.

11.25am: Arsenal team news: Thomas Vermaelen is available, the terrible ankle injury he sustained against Bolton in midweek having turned out to be cramp. Carl Jenkinson awaits a late fitness test.

11.35am: All I can tell you about Plymouth so far is the rather brief contents of this email from administrator Brendan Guilfoyle: "I am pleased to tell you that agreement has been reached for Akkeron Group to acquire the club and stadium. I wish them and your club every success in the future." So there you are.

11.44am: I refuse to get involved in this Tevez nonsense. They say this. He says that. The PFA says the other. Couldn't be less interested. I can enjoy watching Manchester City only by deliberately blocking all thoughts about everything to do with the club except for who is actually on the pitch, and thus have already forgotten who Tevez is. Or was.

11.46am: There's a statement up on Plymouth's website. "I am delighted that this morning we have agreed a deal that will see Plymouth Argyle Football Club coming out of administration. We have been assured that Akkeron will complete the purchase today," says administrator Brendan Guilfoyle. "Like many other parties both ourselves and [crack legal outfit] Walker Morris have waived a significant amount in fees to ensure the survival of the club. I would like to thank everyone for their patience and continued support during complex negotiations to save the club."

12.02pm: Kanny Dalglish and Ars�ne Wenger have both spoken today about racism in the English game. The good news is, there isn't any. "I don't think it is prevalent in the game here, and it certainly isn't at this football club," said Dalglish, whose forward Luis Su�rez was recently accused by Manchester United's Patrice Evra of racist abuse. "For me, I don't see racism as far as this football club is concerned, apparent in any way, shape or form." As for Wenger, "I do not think that in sport racism is basically a problem, because you are rewarded on merit," he said. "However, in society I still think there is some job to do, and we are not at the end of it. But in sport overall, I don't think it is a problem."

12.05pm: Plymouth latest: I have now googled "Akkeron Group", the people who have taken Plymouth out of administration. "Akkeron Group is a new global farming and asset management business which brings professional land management and farming practices to agriculture around the world," it says at akkerongroup.com. Are there two Akkeron Groups, or is this the one? And if so, what are they doing buying bankrupt lower-division football clubs?

12.08pm: Paul Wilson has been to see Sir Alex Ferguson this morning. "Ferguson has not been Manchester United manager for 25 years without acquiring a selective memory," he writes. "In Fergie's opinion the real story of the week was the way Aldershot have returned from the brink of extinction to turn themselves into the very model of a lower league football club. 'It was great to see,' he said. referring to United's Carling Cup trek in midweek. 'Even the pitch was magnificent. Aldershot are a reminder of how far you can fall in this game, but it's a fantastic story to see a club like that come back in such good health.' Good stuff, I'm sure we all agree. I did have the idea there was some other big story involving United last week, but it was probably nothing of any consequence."

12.11pm: Anton Ferdinand, as quoted on Sky Sports News, on the last week: "Of course it's been strenuous. People have been stopping me in the street and talking to me." Jeepers, he's had to interact with people. That is tough.

12.12pm: Manchester City team news: all the people given the night off the other day will be back. Owen Hargreaves, who has a "minor calf problem", will not.

12.18pm: Tottenham team news: There'll be a brace of late fitness tests for William Gallas (calf) and ledley King (groin). Steven Pienaar is in the squad and could make his first appearance of the season following his own groin injury. Sandro could also play following a positive scan on his calf injury, but Michael Dawson, Tom Huddlestone and Vedran Corluka are out.

12.23pm: Plymouth's good news has broken in our news section. Meanwhile, an Akkeron update. "Akkeron are run and owned by a local businessman, James Brent," writes Trevor Langworth. "The reason he purchased the club (although other factors such as profit and business opportunities [also applied]) was a desire to see the club saved. James Brent is from Devon, he has saved (with help from the Fans Trust, Pasoti, the Green taverners, the staff and players of PAFC and the fans who have raised well over 100,000 pounds for staff who have gone without pay for 12 months) to keep football in Plymouth ... The lack of coverage of Argyle's plight has been nothing short of disgraceful, especially in light of the work done by the fans in raising an eye watering amount. Maybe some more research would be better?" Consider my wrist smacked, Trevor.

12.32pm: Another cause for celebration ? it's World Champagne Day today everybody!

12.46pm: Serie A news: Internazionale will have to do without Julio Cesar for the visit of leaders Juventus tomorrow. Lucas Castellazzi will replace him in goal, having saved an 89th-minute penalty to earn his side a draw at Atalanta on Wednesday. It was the fifth penalty Inter have conceded this season. "I'm sure it's just a random decision going against us," said president Massimo Moratti, "but when random things happen five times in a row, it gets annoying." Juve should be unchanged following their win over Fiorentina on Tuesday. "The table doesn't tell the true story," midfielder Claudio Marchisio says, "Inter are a big club and will be up for this match. We have to be fearless."

12.47pm: Liverpool team news: Luis Su�rez will have a late test on his ankle before the visit to West Bromwich. All the players rested for the midweek Carling Cup win over Stoke will return to contention.

12.57pm: More from the Guardian's site today: Scott Murray proposes some memorable sporting theme tunes in this week's Joy of Six, while Ewan Murray blogs about Rangers' battles with the Beeb.

1.04pm: THE NEWS THEY TRIED TO BAN! Finally, we are at liberty to (re-)publish the update we first attempted at 9.50am but had to take down.

Alex McLeish on Darren Bent, who returns to Sunderland with Aston Villa tomorrow: "When you leave a club to go somewhere else, fans see you as the enemy and that's their prerogative. Darren is experienced and mature enough to understand that is what happens in football. I'm sure he will take that and it won't faze him and his game and not affect him trying to score a goal past Sunderland. Bent is an England international, he has got a tough mentality. I will certainly be looking for a big performance from him. There is no reason why Darren can't go back and hurt his own team. But Sunderland will be trying equally as hard and they will be saying in that dressing room 'we can't let Benty score'."

So there you go. Was it worth the wait? Don't answer that.

1.07pm: Everton team news: Phil Neville, Tim Cahill and Royston Drenthe are all out for the visit of Manchester United. The first two are injured, the last is suspended.

1.13pm: A first change of the day. I'm off for a bit and Evan Fanning will be in the hot seat for the next while. Keep him furnished with your comments and thoughts.

1.17pm: Good afternoon folks. Simon has moved on and so have Swansea: moved on from the disappointment of losing a two-goal lead at Wolves last weekend that is. How's that for a segue? Here's defender Neil Taylor ahead of Saturday's fixture against Bolton at the Liberty Stadium ...

"Last week almost felt like a loss if we are honest. It was one where we lost two points instead of gaining one. But we have moved on from it, when you sit back and reflect on it and watch the video for 80-odd minutes we were very good.

"After defeat at Norwich it was a massive improvement, and it had to be because the performance at Norwich wasn't good enough. When you step back and look at things it was a really good performance away from home and it's something we can build on. We are back on home turf this week and hopefully we can do well this week.

The gaffer did not have to tell anyone anything after the game. We were all sat there and knew that what happened wasn't good enough. This is the Premier League and teams are not there without good reason and they will not roll over. There are big crowds and when a team gets a goal they can kick on and get another. Whether you win, lose or draw you have to move on as the next game is completely different."

1.23pm: BREAKING NEWS ..... The Sunderland defender Titus Bramble has been charged with two counts of sexual assault and urinating in a public place but his lawyer said he would "vigorously contest" the allegations.

1.38pm: The PFA has been busy this week. Having given comment on the Carlos Tevez situation (it's officially a 'situation' now having moved on from a 'saga') Gordon Taylor has now commented on the allegations aimed at Chelsea and England captain John Terry. "The Football Association have got to be as even-handed as possible and also transparent," he says. The FA is due to meet with Anton Ferdinand at the QPR training ground today.

1.38pm: One person who isn't interested in signing Tevez should he move on from City is Tottenham manager Harry Redknapp. The Spurs boss has been speaking ahead of Sunday's home game against QPR. "Would I like him? Yes. Anyone would like him. He is a fantastic player," Redknapp said. "He is an amazing player. When he plays no one gives more than he does. He works his socks off, he runs, he chases, he plays, he tackles and he scores goals. He is the full package when he plays so I don't think there are too many teams who wouldn't like him. Affording him is a different matter. That's the problem. We couldn't afford him really."

1.47pm: Kevin Porter emails quoting Simon's comment earlier regarding Wolves's selection issues team : "'There is no reason for Mick McCarthy to change the team that lost 5-2 to an understrength City side at home this week, although some logical and tactical ones might crop up.' Really? Despite the fact that Wolves also had NINE changes from the side that played the First Division match against Swansea and therefore were also fielding what constituted an understrength side for the midweek League Cup game! If McCarthy did field the same side surely the league would fine the club again?" I'm afraid I may have to leave this for Simon to deal with when he get back. Kevin also has some words for Harry Redknapp: "They all are, aren't they Harry? They all are. Fantastic player."

1.53pm: Red cards don't need to spoil games, argues David Lacey. Even for the team down to 10 men. You can read his column here and have your say below the line.

2.01pm: Andr� Villas-Boas has revealed that he has no problems picking John Terry for Saturday's lunchtime kick-off against Arsenal. Ramires is fit to return following a knee injury, while Fernando Torres is set to start a domestic match for the first time in more than a month following his three-game ban. Didier Drogba is still suspended. Chelsea provisional squad: Cech, Bosingwa, Ivanovic, Alex, Ferreira, Terry, Luiz, Cole, McEachran, Mikel, Romeu, Meireles, Ramires, Lampard, Mata, Malouda, Torres, Anelka, Sturridge, Lukaku, Kalou, Taylor, Blackman.

2.04pm: Ars�ne Wenger has also been speaking ahead of this game. He reckons an Arsenal win will send a message that they are back among the big boys. They're not going to win though, are they? "First of all a win would of course install us among the top teams in the league, but what is very important is that it would strengthen the belief inside the team and would continue our progress," said the Arsenal manager. "I feel we are getting stronger and Chelsea is a big test - a test of strength, of resolve, of commitment, and that is what we expect tomorrow."

2.07pm: West Brom face Liverpool in Saturday's evening kick-off which means Roy Hodgson against his former club. Little know fact: Hodgson has only lost twice to Liverpool in league fixtures throughout his entire career. Paul Brennan has emailed: "Roy Hodgson heaping even more misery on us Liverpool fans (this time in the opposite dugout) at The Hawthorns last season was hard to stomach, despite how ominously inevitable it was after the guff we gave him. Still, West Brom's best player on the day, Sotirios Kyrgiakos, has moved on, so here's hoping Liverpool can exact some revenge!"

2.14pm: More Harry Redknapp, this time on John Terry. Is there anything 'Arry isn't drawn on? I wonder what his thoughts on the Eurozone rescue package are. I imagine he would say: "They're just kickin' the can down the road again, aren't they?" Anyway here is Harry on JT: ""I think we have to wait and see what comes out of it. You can't pre-judge what has happened. There is no room in life, let alone football for racism. It is not what we want. I don't want to be pre-judging what John did. I wouldn't have a clue whether he did it or not. Only he knows that. It's up to the FA to get to the bottom of what happened."

2.17pm: Norwich have no new injury worries heading into tomorrow's clash with Blackburn at Carrow Road. Grant Holt is pressing for a recall after coming off the bench to score the equaliser at Liverpool last weekend. Not that Paul Lambert is taking three points for granted. "It is wrong if people are going to come and think we are going to just roll them over - that is how you get caught", Lambert told a press conference.
"If we don't play as well as we have been we will get turned over. They have got young players, but also experienced ones as well, lads who have played in the league for a few years. We have to combat that." Norwich provisional squad: Ruddy, Naughton, R Martin, Barnett, Tierney, Hoolahan, Fox, Johnson, Bennett, Pilkington, Morison, Rudd, Wilbraham, Jackson, Surman, De Laet, Crofts, Holt, C Martin.

2.36pm: It's not just the Premier League where there are massive, massive games taking place this weekend. In the US, the annual Soccerball World Series is entering the final inning and this weekend sees Los Angeles Galaxy face New York Red Bulls. Or David Beckham and Robbie Keane v Thierry Henry if that's how you want it billed to whet your appetite. Here's a match preview.

2.52pm: News from Newcastle where Alan Pardew is hoping to maintain his side's unbeaten start to the season. Pardew could include midfielder Cheik Tiote and defender Steven Taylor in his starting line-up for Monday's trip to Stoke. Taylor, who broke his nose in last weekend's 1-0 victory over Wigan, is the more likely to play, possibly with a mask, while Tiote is battling to recover from a knee injury. One player who will definitely be absent is striker Shola Ameobi, who has been ruled out for at least a month with a hamstring problem. Newcastle provisional squad: Krul, Elliot, Simpson, R Taylor, Santon, Ferguson, Coloccini, S Taylor, Perch, Cabaye, Gutierrez, Marveaux, Obertan, Gosling, Guthrie, Ben Arfa, Abeid, Vuckic, Smith, Ba, Best, Lovenkrands, Sammy Ameobi.

2.57pm: More changes afoot. Ian McCourt is going to take over for a while with more hot off the press new.

3.14pm: Good afternoon all. We have unchained Evan from his desk and allowed him to go get a sandwich. I reckon he'll plump for a toastie. In other more football related news, Roberto Mancini has used his right hand to swat away question about Carlos Tevez at his press conference today. "I think we are in the best moment in our history and I think our focus is only on the games and training. The other situations are not important," he said.

3.24pm: Kenny Dalglish has had some nice words to say about Luis Su�rez. "He has been fantastic and the great thing about him is that he is very unassuming as well," Dalglish said. "Everybody can see what he can do on the pitch but he has got no edge to him. He doesn't think he is better than anyone else. He is a great ambassador for the football club. For us, as well as his football, the other things he brings to the club are very important as well. He is just a fantastic person as well as a fantastic footballer."

In case you haven't seen it by the way, Su�rez scored an absolute belter against Stoke during the week.

3.34pm: Below the line AMRCLS has this to say:

It seems that with the game sewn up, the gaffer's happy to use his squad players, and there's a rare outing for McCourt. Nice to see.

Squad player? Squad player! Oh, it hurts because it's true. By the way, Evan is a New York deli sandwich man, in case any one was wondering.

3.35pm: Meanwhile over in West Brom, Roy Hodgson has called Shane Long's inclusion in the Republic of Ireland Euro 2012 play-off squad is "the correct decision". Speaking at his press conference, he said: "The prognosis from the doctors and medical experts is that Shane will be out for six weeks. But I quite understand why an important player like Shane is included in the squad because there is nothing to stop Giovanni Trapattoni being optimistic. There have been lots of cases in the past where people have been diagnosed with an injury which will take longer than it actually takes. So no one would be happier than ourselves if Shane Long recovers in two weeks and can play for Ireland in these important qualifier. For me, his selection is fine. I just hope they won't be too disappointed if the doctors prognosis turns out to be the correct one. It might turn out to be optimistic."

3.52pm: To all fantasy football enthusiasts. It's time you updated your team for the weekend. The dastardly Rob Smyth and Barry Glendenning are running away from me in the Guardian Sport league ? perhaps that would not be the case, however, if I had checked these invaluable squad sheets on a more regular basis.

3.55pm: The Manchester City manager Roberto Mancini says that he would rather beat local rivals United 1-0 six times, than 6-1 once, as they did last Sunday. No really. Watch the video and see.

4.14pm: More substitutions as Evan returns for the rest of the day.

4.18pm: Hello again. No time for messing about. Here's some (reasonably) big breaking news: Chelsea have been fined �20,000 by the Football Association after admitting a charge of "failing to ensure their players conducted themselves in an orderly fashion" in last week's Premier League match against QPR. The fine was imposed after Chelsea players surrounded referee Chris Foy following Jose Bosingwa's red card during the 1-0 defeat at Loftus Road. The FA today announced the fine in relation to the incident and they also asked Chelsea manager Andre Villas-Boas to explain his post-match comments to the media about Foy and the assistant referees.

4.19pm: I bet what you want right now is to see Kevin Prince Boateng singing happy birthday with the help of some backing vocals from his team-mates. Well here you go ...

4.33pm: Journalists covering Everton would have faced a grumpy David Moyes today (or David Moyes as they like to call him). Moyes's goat is up because his decision to play a strong team in Wednesday's Carling Cup game against Chelsea has backfired. Royston Drenthe was sent off and is now suspended for tomorrow's game against Manchester United. Everton will also be without captain Phil Neville, substituted at half-time in the Chelsea game with a hamstring problem, and Tim Cahill, who completed the full 120 minutes but was carrying an injury. "We took a chance by playing a strong side against Chelsea, to try to get through in the cup," Moyes said. "I thought that game was the important one at the time and we wanted to do it, but you are always running the risk of losing players through injury."

Moyes also spoke of Wayne Rooney's return to Goodison and the inevitable aggressive reception he'll receive from the crowd. "I'm sure it is probably inevitable," Moyes said echoing what I just said. "But Wayne would be the first one to tell you - he would be delighted to come back with his wee boy and watch Everton," Moyes said. "He is bringing up his son as an Everton supporter and he will always be an Evertonian. He'll get criticism because he left the club but time has moved on, we've moved on and so has he."

4.55pm: There were so many ways to say that David Moyes's Carling Cup selection decision backfired that I got caught in two minds (or had half-a-mind on each) and ended up nowhere. Fear not, however, because I'm bouncing back with some cracking Roy Hodgson quotes brought to you via the intrepid reporters at the Press Association.

Hodgson on Liverpool: "The situation now is vastly different to the situation I had but I realised when I went in there that there was going to be a change of ownership and these things can always happen. The fact is when I went it was a period of transition and the first job for the people that employed me was basically to make certain the club didn't go into liquidation. That was a possibility - but it was a worse case scenario and it never came close. But Liverpool now need to be aiming for a top four finish because that's what the investment is for. I don't think the new owners are investing all this money for them to be a mid-table team. They are doing it because Liverpool in the past, alongside Manchester United, are one of the two flagships of English football. The reasons the owners have gone in there is because they believe they can get Liverpool up to that level. There is no doubt the pressure on Liverpool to finish in the top four is similar to the pressure many of the clubs in the Premier League have to survive."

Hodgson on Luis Su�rez: "They have spent wisely and bought some very good players. If we want to get something from the game, we've got to perform at the highest level. Su�rez is outstandingly good. He is playing very well. He was obviously a magnificent signing for the club. He has had the best of all possible starts which is important when you come to a big club like Liverpool. The fans are ready to embrace new players but they want to see them playing well and he has done that. He has had a magnificent start and we must be aware he is going to be a key figure in their attacking play and we will have to do our best to keep him quiet. It won't be easy because he is a quality player."

Hodgson on managing at Anfield: "It is always good to play Liverpool. I was lucky enough to get the job there. Unfortunately I didn't get a chance to stay as long as I would have liked, to see the new ownership coming in and maybe having a chance to build a team. But I have no regrets. It is a magnificent club and I'm pleased for the club and the fans because they are one of the icons of English football. It is good to see them back closer to where they want to be, maybe not exactly where they want to be because they want to win league titles."

5.09pm: That's it from today's Friday football blog. A pulsating end-to-end affair, I'm sure you'll agree. Read back through for all the latest team news ahead of the weekend's games or keep an eye on the Guardian site throughout the evening for more stories, interview and features. Thanks for your comments. Bye


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Source: http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/blog/2011/oct/28/football-live-blog-premier-league

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