Why is it so hard to have a governing body with an ounce of common sense, UEFA just seem bereft of it every time it seems like they'll do the right thing. Are your matches blighted by neo-nazi's forming swastika shapes on the terrace? Here, have a fine of $3 and don't do it again. […]

When the final whistle went after Sunday's match, Arsene Wenger could possibly view the previous 7 days as one of his worst weeks since he began his 13 year tenure in charge of Arsenal. In two massive matches, Wenger has seen his side start fantastically well in both games, get caught by a sucker punch […]

Football loves dominant sides. Think of Herbert Chapman's Arsenal of the 1920s, ravaging England with the WM formation; Real Madrid of the early days of the European Cup, with Alfredo di Stefano and Ferenc Puskas wreaking havoc on unsuspecting continental champions; Liverpool getting comfy on their "fucking perch," winning four European cups in the span […]

With their typical class, Chelsea players and staff asserted their belief, following their 1-1 agg defeat to Barcelona, that UEFA conspired against them to prevent an all-English final in the Champions League. Players, such as Didier Drogba, displayed their sentiment by all but physically assaulting the referee as he left the pitch. Manager Guus Hiddink […]

Away goals carry an immense weight in the Champions League. They delivered Milan to the final in 2005. They saw Liverpool oust Barcelona in 2007, despite the latter winning the leg at Anfield. And they pulled Barca's fate from the abyss in the 93rd minute in this past Wednesday's controversial leg at Stamford Bridge. Added […]

Gooners and Nike execs are already familiar with the Cesc Fabregas Show. Tonight at the Emirates, it was the Cristiano Ronaldo Experience. Though Ji-sung Park started off the scoring for Manchester United on a Kieran Gibbs mistake, it was Ronaldo who sealed the deal for the Red Devils on a searing free kick. Eleven minutes […]

What was Guus Hiddink thinking? Yes, clean sheet at the Camp Nou is a commendable achievement, and I still feel Chelsea are the more likely to go through to the final. But after promising that the Blues would try to score in the away leg, Hiddink's tactics against FC Barcelona show he had absolutely no […]

Chelsea's epic 4-4 draw at Stamford Bridge against Liverpool drew high praise from football fans, with some going as far to call it the match of the century. The reward for the Blues was a berth in the Champions League semifinals against Barcelona, and that two-legged tie begins today at Camp Nou. History lesson: There's good news […]

Well its one of those strange things that football sometimes conjures up some little nugget that makes you check the facts fully before you really believe it could be true For example, Liverpool never lost when Ian Rush scored until the League Cup final of 1987 against Arsenal. 145 games Liverpool went without losing when […]

On paper, FC Barcelona could be the world's most formidable attacking side. Messi, Henry, Eto'o, Xavi, Alves, Iniesta, Abidal. Some of the most prestigious names in world football and are among the great wealth of talent in Barcelona's ranks. They have been a dominating force this season with 24 wins, 3 draws and 3 losses, […]

Torres was visibly irritated when subbed off in the 74th minute with the scoreline still two-nil. He wanted his hat trick against Blackburn, but Rafa Benitez's message was clear: save it for Chelsea. As Liverpool visit Stamford Bridge needing to score at least three goals to survive in the Champions League (0-3 would mean a […]

We love a good midweek match now and then and Liverpool v. Chelsea was the record put on repeat as the Reds met up with the Blues for their requisite Champions League match for the season. While not a league game, it may as well have been, if not for the evening kickoff and painfully […]

When Manchester United scored two late goals on Sunday to secure a come-from-behind 3-2 victory over Aston Villa, the result seemed to sweep under the rug the idea that United were a team in serious danger of relinquishing their Premier League lead heading into the home stretch. After Tuesday’s 2-2 draw at home to FC […]

It was a strange booking. Xabi Alonso stuck out a leg and caught Real Madrid's onrushing defender, Pepe, but Javier Mascherano took the booking. This may have been for kicking the ball away, but the Argentinian seemed to be clearing it in case play didn't stop. It didn't look a bookable offense. As Liverpool's midfield […]

Why does the Premier League produce so few Ballon d’Or winners? This year’s edition of the Champions League has followed the script so far, and unless a major upset occurs in the quarter-finals, then at least one English team will be in the finals for the fifth straight year. One oft-cited reason for this dominance […]