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Jose hits back at Chelsea critics

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Jose Mourinho pointed to fabulous goals and individual heroics, aghast that anyone would dare to criticise the style of Chelsea.

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Jose Mourinho gazed into his crystal ball and predicted football’s future might as well be played on the moon without goalposts if Chelsea are to be branded boring champions.

Mourinho pointed to fabulous goals and individual heroics, aghast that anyone would dare to criticise the style of a team clearly the best in the Barclays Premier League.

Football’s priorities were muddled, he said, but at least Roman Abramovich is enjoying the game again — and a happy billionaire owner makes for a happy Chelsea manager.

Mourinho can relax so long as the Russian is not bored, and Abramovich has attended the last three matches to see his club zero in on their first title since 2009-10. ‘He is happy, very happy,’ said Mourinho. ‘I saw him hugging players in the dressing room. Every Chelsea fan is happy if we win the title.’

Two more wins will wrap up Chelsea’s fourth Premier League title, but Arsenal fans hit a nerve when they sang: ‘Boring, boring Chelsea’ near the end of the goalless draw at the Emirates.

Mourinho hit back, teasing Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger in his post-match press conference. ‘Boring is no title in 10 years,’ he sniped. ‘Boring is when you want to win at home and take off your No 9.’

He added: ‘I met this morning a gentleman who lives almost next door to me, an Arsenal fan of more than 50 years, and he congratulated me for my press conference, saying I was spot on.’

The Chelsea manager is shocked that some critics question the entertainment value of a team that has scored 65 goals in 33 games.

‘Maybe the future of football is a beautiful, green grass carpet without goals,’ said Mourinho. ‘And on that beautiful pitch, the team with more ball possession wins.

‘Because everyone speaks about teams playing fantastically well: “My team had great ball possession” and “Oh, we build very well”. Good. It looks like the goals aren’t there.

‘You conclude a team that scores as many as us is boring, but a team that has 70 per cent of the ball and doesn’t score isn’t.

‘Maybe when I am a grandad, football will be without goals and we will just enjoy people passing the ball. Maybe putting the ball in the net is not the objective, and stopping the ball from going in your own goal doesn’t matter.

‘When football started centuries ago there was one objective and now it looks like there’s another. Football is about putting the ball in your opponents’ net and keeping it out of your own.’

The debate will go on but Abramovich was suckered in last time, when he tired of winning the Mourinho way and sacked him in 2007 in search of something more.

For six years, Chelsea tried to win with flair but found that it was not easy. Aspiring to recreate Barcelona under Pep Guardiola has proved impossible. Wenger can vouch for that.

‘Barcelona, beautiful every week?’ scoffed Mourinho. And, when it was put to him that at their peak they were exactly that, the former Real Madrid boss replied: ‘When was their peak? When Real Madrid were champions?

‘For me, the beautiful game is to know exactly the way you have to play and what you have to do. At Arsenal, we were brilliant. We were brilliant from the first minute.

‘Style and flair, what is it? The way people analyse style and flair is to take the goals from the pitch. It is the football they play on the moon — and the surface is not good. Some holes. But no goals.

‘It comes from you (the media) or from some managers who can only teach their guys to keep the ball.

‘Who scored the most beautiful goals? Is that a criterion? If so, Chelsea did it collectively with the beauty of some of the goals we scored. Or you go to Charlie Adam, and that is obviously the goal of the season.

‘If the number of goals decides if a team is good, bad or boring, Manchester City scored more, but 18 scored fewer. Then, we have 18 teams more boring than us.

‘If it is the team with more points we are the best. If it is the team with most victories we are the best. If the best team has the fewest defeats, we are the best.

‘If the best team are the champions, not yet, but the team that leads, we are the best team. If the best team has the fewest goals conceded, we are the second best team. In any point of analysis, any criteria, we are the best team or the second best team.’

Mourinho insists all that matters is winning, but he would like the recognition along the way, be it from those paid to assess Chelsea’s performances or from players who voted six of his team into the PFA’s Premier League team of the year.

‘There should have been more,’ he sighed. ‘Just as an example, for Cesc Fabregas not to be there after the season he has had is strange.That team would not win (the title). It is without balance. It is missing a midfielder, and that midfielder should be Fabregas.

‘But I look now as a fan, not a manager. It looks like I’m in a pub discussing things that aren’t important. The important thing is to be champions.’ – Daily Mail

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Everton defeat is a ‘wake-up’ to United

Chris Smalling believes Manchester United's 3-0 defeat by Everton must serve as a “massive wake-up call” to those who felt Champions League qualification was already in the bag.

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Chris Smalling believes Manchester United's 3-0 defeat by Everton must serve as a “massive wake-up call” to those who felt Champions League qualification was already in the bag.

If results had gone their way, United would have risen to second in the Premier League at the weekend, but now they are looking over their shoulders after dropping to fourth.

United have lost successive games for the first time under Louis van Gaal and they will be just four points ahead of Liverpool in fifth if Brendan Rodgers' side win their match in hand at Hull tonight.

Smalling agreed with Van Gaal's assessment that United lacked aggression from the first whistle and he wants a response from his team-mates when West Bromwich Albion come to Old Trafford.

“This is a massive wake-up call for us,” the United defender said. “Right from the first minute we were off the pace and they had a pressure that we usually have.

“We haven't been the second-best team in games this season, even when we've lost, we've always had that aggression and those tackles, but on Sunday we were far from it. I think we'll see a different Manchester United next Saturday against West Brom. We'll make sure we learn from this, the fans deserve a lot better.”

United's chances of making the top four would decrease if Wayne Rooney were ruled out for part of the run-in. The United captain was replaced by Robin van Persie at Goodison Park in the 88th minute after suffering a kick to the knee. However, the club's medical staff were happy to allow Rooney to travel to London on Sunday night for the Professional Footballers' Association Awards.

United, meanwhile, will today announce the final details of their pre-season tour of the United States. For the second year running, they will play in the International Champions Cup - a 10-team tournament involving United, Chelsea, Barcelona, Porto, Paris Saint-Germain, Fiorentina, the Los Angeles Galaxy, the New York Red Bulls, Club America and the San Jose Earthquakes.– The Independent

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Liverpool will challenge again - Rodgers

Brendan Rodgers is adamant he will turn Liverpool into Barclays Premier League title challengers once more.

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Brendan Rodgers is adamant he will turn Liverpool into Barclays Premier League title challengers once more and ensure the disappointments of this season are a blip.

It is 25 years to the day since a 2-1 win over Queens Park Rangers at Anfield secured Liverpool the last of their 18 titles and they will mark the anniversary at Hull by trying to rekindle their hopes of a top-four finish.

Rodgers, who will be without Daniel Sturridge again due to a hip problem, guided Liverpool to within two points of the championship 12 months ago but hopes of going a step better were ruined by a dreadful start to the campaign.

The manager has ‘absolute belief’, though, that his side will thrive again. ‘When I came in here it was a long way off,’ said Rodgers. ‘The club was eighth and you would never have even talked about the title. It’s a mark of how the club has moved forward that there is such disappointment that we weren’t challenging this year.

‘Of course it’s been disappointing not to have challenged this time. I’ve no doubt we can push on again. There is a greater base and foundation in the team where they understand the principles of how we work.

‘It will be a big summer for us to find the right type of player that can come in and do that. Then we can go and work how we’ve worked for a lot of the last 18 months.’

A picture emerged after the 0-0 draw at West Bromwich on Saturday of Rodgers sitting on the floor, looking disheartened, but he stressed the image was misleading.

‘They have removed the benches from the dug-outs, so I had nowhere to sit!’ said Rodgers. ‘My two assistants were sat on the ice box.

‘I’m as hungry as I’ve ever been. I’m ambitious to win and there is no greater place than here to win. I am still committed to doing that here.’

Hull manager Steve Bruce, meanwhile, believes his team will have to beat one of the Premier League’s big names if they are to escape relegation.

Four of Hull’s final five matches are at home but three of those fixtures are against Liverpool, Arsenal and Manchester United.

‘Any result against the big boys is great. We need a result against one of them and let’s hope we can get it done early,’ said Bruce, whose side eased their relegation fears with an impressive 2-0 win against Crystal Palace on Saturday.

‘We’re quietly confident that, starting with Liverpool, we can get enough points to stay up.’ – Daily Mail

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Ex-United keeper pleads guilty to road rage

Former Manchester United goalkeeper Mark Bosnich has pleaded guilty to a charge of reckless driving after a road rage incident that left a cyclist injured.

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Melbourne - Former Australia goalkeeper Mark Bosnich has pleaded guilty to a charge of reckless driving after a road rage incident that left a cyclist injured.

Bosnich, who played for Manchester United, Chelsea and Aston Villa in the English Premier League and now works as a TV soccer pundit in his home country, was charged after he knocked the cyclist from his bike when driving a BMW in Sydney a year ago.

Police tendered to Sydney's Downing Centre court that the 43-year-old “turned his steering wheel into the direction of the victim” after the two had a dispute about lane-changing.

“The collision caused the victim to fall from his bicycle onto the ground,” police said.

The victim was taken to hospital and found to have sustained injuries to his ribs and left elbow.

The case returns to court in June. – Reuters

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Leicester will survive drop - Jose

Chelsea will take another big step towards the Premier League title if they win at relegation-threatened Leicester City.

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London - Chelsea will take another big step towards the Premier League title if they win at relegation-threatened Leicester City but boss Jose Mourinho expects their opponents to stay up whatever the result.

Leicester, who were bottom from the end of November until last week, have climbed out of the drop zone after winning their last four matches and Mourinho said on Monday he was surprised they were ever there in the first place.

“I was surprised with their bad position. For me they are a good team with good players. We played them very early in the season at Stamford Bridge, and I could immediately feel the quality of the team.

“I am not surprised they are out of the relegation zone. And I won't be surprised when they stay in the division. I think they will survive.”

Chelsea's immediate targets are very different from Leicester's with Mourinho's Champions-elect team needing six points to guarantee winning the title while Leicester need as many as possible to avoid an immediate Championship return.

At the bottom, seven clubs are separated by nine points but Leicester are the in-form team and stand a point above the relegation places filled by Sunderland, Queens Park Rangers and Burnley, with a game in hand over the latter two teams

Mourinho thinks that one player “who means a lot to me” will help Leicester beat the drop.

Argentine midfielder Esteban Cambiasso was in the Inter Milan team Mourinho led to the Champions League title in 2010, and the Portuguese coach praised his former player on Monday.

“Cambiasso was in my golden team at Inter so obviously he is one of the players who means a lot to me. He has been phenomenal for Leicester this season and I am very happy for him.

“I was not surprised he came to England. I know that he is an Inter man forever, but he is an open guy with the desire to try other experiences.

“Being such a bright guy and speaking English so well it did not surprise me that when he left Inter he came to England.

“For sure, next season he will play for Leicester in the Premier League.” – Reuters

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Swallows desperate for points

Moroka Swallows will be desperately seeking a win when they travel to Tuks Stadium to take on University of Pretoria.

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Johannesburg – Rooted to the foot of the Premiership table, Moroka Swallows will be desperately seeking a win when they travel to Tuks Stadium to take on University of Pretoria.

The Birds occupy the unenviable bottom position on the log with 23 points with four games remaining in their season. The Dobsonville side are on the same number of points as AmaZulu in 15th, but seven behind on goal difference.

Swallows, in their previous league game, had led 1-0 over SuperSport United away from home through a goal from veteran striker Siyabonga Nomvethe just before half-time. The relegation favourites, however, saw two vital points disappear with the hosts equalising deep in second half injury time.

Swallows coach Craig Rosslee said his side had no choice but to win all their remaining matches.

“The biggest area of concern for us, is points,” said Rosslee.

“We need points. Just like the two teams above us. Everyone needs points. There are four games left, and we need to get maximum points. That’s the reality. It’s a must-win every game now.”

Ultimately Swallows just needed a bit of luck according to the coach.

“I thought the guys were fantastic the other night- to travel all the way from Port Elizabeth and get off the bus, and get back on the bus to travel back here the next day – their performance was outstanding.

“I thought we defended well and created a great couple of chances. It was just a slip at the end, otherwise we could’ve walked away with all three points.”

The University outfit, in contrast, would be eyeing a move into the lucrative top eight. Tuks were in 10th spot on the log with 31 points – just two off eighth place.

In the other match on the night, Maritzburg United host Ajax Cape Town at Harry Gwala Stadium, in Pietermaritzburg.

The Cape outfit occupy sixth spot on the log with 37 points, while AmaZulu are the eighth-placed team on 33 points. A win for the hosts could see their top eight ambitions spiced up, while Ajax could move to 40 points as even greater heights could move onto their radar. – ANA

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Arsenal need quality signings

Despit being second in the Premier League, Arsenal are still way behind Chelsea, and will have to invest in the summer if they are to be serious title challengers.

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By the time Cesc Fabregas was replaced in the final minute, the mask had gone and the jeers had melted into applause.

The appreciative majority overwhelmed the vocal minority to offer a tribute to the Phantom of the Emirates, one of the finest creative midfielders to have worn an Arsenal shirt in the modern era.

It’s true they had booed his every touch and perhaps the loudest cheer of the game followed his yellow card for a dive but for Arsenal it is time to stop being haunted by those they have lost or failed to sign and support those they have.

There have been genuine signs of promise in N5 and reasons for optimism in 2015, even if Arsene Wenger was unable to add what would have been a significant other by ending his winless run against Jose Mourinho.

It is 13 games and counting, and while the Arsenal boss insists it matters not a jot, it is much to Mourinho’s amusement.

‘It’s about our club and our team, not about me,’ said Wenger. ‘We wanted to win the game for the club. What is important is what happens on the football pitch.

‘We want to finish the season well. Every game is difficult but we need to keep the focus until the end of the season. We want to secure the top four, then the top three and the top two, before the FA Cup final.’

To finish as runners-up, for the first time in a decade, and successfully defend the FA Cup, can be framed as progress.

More significant is the development of Hector Bellerin, Francis Coquelin and Nacho Monreal. Together with a philosophical tweak, it has made Arsenal a more solid defensive unit, capable of taking points from Manchester City and Chelsea and winning at Manchester United in the FA Cup.

Coquelin and Monreal were both ready to make smart fouls at the expense of yellow cards to stop the visitors as they sought to counter quickly. This is not a typical Arsenal trait.

Bellerin has been outstanding and few have contained Eden Hazard this season as effectively as the teenager did yesterday, but Arsenal need more defensive protection and plan to prioritise a defensive midfielder and a new goalkeeper in the summer.

‘We have closed the gap since the start of the season,’ said Wenger. ‘But what happened is that they had the experience at the back and could close the game down.

‘The build-up was quick and sharp but the final ball wasn’t there.’

With five to play, Arsenal trail the champions-elect by 10 points and must concentrate on catching Chelsea in the knowledge their rivals from the capital’s west will strengthen again in the summer.

Amid the progress, there remain reasons for concern. Despite the flair overload of Mesut Ozil, Alexis Sanchez and Santi Cazorla, they could not break down a Mourinho team determined to protect their clean sheet.

Ozil had glimpses of goal, but Branislav Ivanovic did to Sanchez what Bellerin did to Hazard. Chelsea finished the game with a midfield trio of Nemanja Matic, Kurt Zouma and Ramires, which together with their usually resolute back four amounted to a seven-man defensive shield.

In the Sky Sports studio, Arsenal legend Thierry Henry questioned the quality of 18-goal striker Olivier Giroud.

‘Wenger has to strengthen,’ said Henry. ‘In order to win the league you need great players. I don’t think you can win the league with Giroud.

‘Chelsea struggled last year but they went out to buy (Thibaut) Courtois, Cesc, Matic and (Diego) Costa. You see today the difference between a team that did and a team that didn’t strengthen. Arsenal still need four top players.’

Those four would be straight down the spine of the team. Imagine Arsenal if you threaded Courtois, John Terry, Matic and Costa through the centre of their fast and fluent side.

Arsenal do not long for a Fabregas. They have players who can offer his vision and passing range. Perhaps the supporters who applauded him from the pitch have come to accept this.

But Chelsea do have individuals who would offer extra physical presence and match-winning know-how which would provide a platform for those like Ozil, Sanchez and Cazorla to deliver.

Henry must realise this is not the Wenger way but time for nurturing is running out. The Arsenal manager has two more years on what could be his final contract.

If he is to close the gap, catch Chelsea next season and end this hoodoo against Mourinho, then it must be done in the summer transfer market. – Daily Mail

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Chelsea opts for success over style

Much has been made of Chelsea’s style of play, but the bottom lne is, they are set to win the Premier League.

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On paper Chelsea’s team sheet looked like an insult, one for the anti-football brigade to get their beaks into after Jose Mourinho went without an orthodox striker.

When reality bites, even his biggest detractors must concede that Mou-rinho’s decision to leave Didier Drogba on the bench until the start of the second half was another tactical masterclass.

Chelsea’s manager is staying true to the game — his game — because the end result will be a fourth Barclays Premier League title for this football club.

At times you are left wondering what Eden Hazard, Willian and Oscar make of it all when Mourinho starts working on team shape six days before a clash with Arsenal.

This trio have an element of fantasy about their game, with those delightful touches around the corner and the clever wall passes that they can play at will. The master simply wants results.

To start without a striker, to ignore the collective groans around the country by starting Willian in a deeply withdrawn role behind Hazard and Oscar, was a statement of intent.

Mourinho was forced into it, of sorts, because he has been deprived of Diego Costa and Loic Remy in recent weeks, and his warrior Drogba could not train all week.

Even so, you would not put it past Mourinho — who pulled a similar stunt by playing Andre Schurrle as a false nine at Manchester United last season — to have done it anyway.

When it comes to work-rate, discipline and desire, no-one can accuse these players of cheating. Everyone has a job to do in this team.

To watch Hazard, the PFA player of the year, Oscar and Willian sacrifice their A-game for the greater good of the team demonstrates a unique commitment to Mourinho’s methods. They have bought in.

What happened to the style, the swagger and the pomp about the team who won so handsomely at Swansea, putting five past Garry Monk’s side without reply at the Liberty Stadium on January 17?

They traded it for Mourinho’s tactics, using the extra time during the week following their Champions League elimination against Paris Saint-Germain for match-specific preparation.

With only one game a week since Chelsea went out on away goals on March 11, Mourinho has used the time on the training field to prepare for Premier League matches as a one-off.

Against Manchester United he deliberately conceded possession, suffocating Marouane Fellaini and waited to hit Louis van Gaal’s team on the break. They won 1-0, even if it was far from pretty.

Here at the Emirates, against a team with eight successive wins in the Premier League, he bewildered their defence by allowing his front three to rotate.

Willian (left) was exceptional as he flitted across Arsenal’s back line and pestered Santi Cazorla and Francis Coquelin when he wanted to win back the ball.

The Brazilian forward engineered Chelsea’s best chance, a clever angled ball in the first half that found the feet of Ramires running into the box. Arsenal keeper David Ospina saved well.

This was perfectly disciplined, if uncomfortable to watch at times as Mourinho looked on approvingly from the sidelines.

When he was forced into a change at the break because Oscar had been ferried to hospital with suspected concussion following his collision with Ospina, he turned to the experience of Drogba.

At the age of 37 he served his team-mates well in the second half, chasing 60 yards towards his own goal at one point to stop the forward run of Nacho Monreal down the left.

Towards the end of the second half, as this game gravitated towards its inevitable conclusion, Chelsea relied on their captain John Terry’s leadership skills to see it home.

A year ago this team was experimental, with various formations on trial as Mourinho assembled his next title-winning team.

Here at the Emirates, it has finally taken shape. – Daily Mail

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Sturridge’s season could be over

Liverpool striker Daniel Sturridge's frustrating season looks like ending prematurely, his manager Brendan Rodgers said.

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London - Liverpool striker Daniel Sturridge's frustrating season looks like ending prematurely, his manager Brendan Rodgers said.

The 25-year-old England forward has been sidelined by hip and thigh injuries and has not played since the FA Cup quarter-final win over Blackburn three weeks ago.

“It has been difficult for Daniel,” Rodgers told reporters before the Premier League match at Hull City on Tuesday.

“It's just been one of those seasons for him where it has been very unfortunate. We are going to have to monitor that day by day and see where he's at.

“When he's been fit he's been brilliant for the team. We need to get him back fit and consistently playing.

“But we will have to see if that is going to be this season or for pre-season.”

Asked if he was tempted to leave him out to make sure he was fit for next season, Rodgers replied: “It's not tempting - he's just not available.”

Sturridge started the first three games of the season, scoring the winner in the 2-1 victory over Southampton on the opening day, but did not play from the end of August until late January.

He has only played 18 games in this campaign, scoring five goals, compared to 33 appearances last season and 24 goals.

Liverpool are still chasing a top-four finish and a place in next season's Champions League. With five Premier League games remaining they are seven points behind fourth-placed Manchester United. – Reuters

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United revival hits a brickwall

Consistency remains an issue for Manchester United, and their defeat by Everton showed that there is still plenty to do.

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This time there was no man in a Grim Reaper costume waiting for the Manchester United manager behind the dug-out at Goodison Park.

The dark days of ridicule for the Barclays Premier League’s most successful club have now gone.

Nevertheless, there was a reminder here for David Moyes’s successor at United that the task before him remains vast. Moyes lost 2-0 here just over a year ago and it transpired to be his last game in charge. This result for Louis van Gaal was a goal worse, the performance just as disappointing.

The Dutchman’s biggest defeat as United manager, this setback has arrived just when the optimists were beginning to talk as though the repair job at Old Trafford was complete.

There has been talk of a title challenge for next season and hope that United would once more finish above Manchester City this time round.

Consistency remains an issue for United, however, and last week’s rather unjust defeat at Chelsea has now been followed by a failure that was altogether more comprehensive.

With Liverpool threatening to end the season lamely, United really should finish the season comfortably in the Champions League places, even if the gap between the clubs could be a single point by the time United face West Bromwich on Saturday evening.

Nevertheless, there were signs yesterday of weakness in this United side that Van Gaal perhaps presumed he had banished.

The renaissance man Marouane Fellaini, for example, was awful and hauled off at half-time. Juan Mata — never one to influence a game when his team are struggling — was replaced by Angel di Maria.

United’s left defensive flank, meanwhile, represented a permanently half-open door as Paddy McNair and Luke Shaw struggled to deal with the rather predictable threat from Everton’s surging right back Seamus Coleman.

United enjoyed enough possession throughout to get something from the game. They were porous at the back, though, and were put to the sword by an Everton team who have been anything but ruthless for the previous eight months of the season.

Afterwards, Van Gaal claimed his staff had identified complacency during the warm-up. If that is true then maybe the United manager should have said something in his pre-match address to halt it. Regardless, his suggestion that his team lost three individual duels in the build-up to the first goal was telling and James McCarthy’s strike illustrated how the afternoon was to play out for both sides. It came in only the fifth minute and set the tone.

United had begun reasonably well. They passed the ball well at Chelsea last weekend and began this game in a similar groove. As soon as the ball broke loose 10 yards inside the Everton half, though, it seemed as though United were already in trouble.

Seeing green grass ahead of him, McCarthy strode forward to feed Coleman to his right. The Everton defender tried to find Romelu Lukaku breaking through the centre but it was when the ball broke from a red shirt that United really failed.

McCarthy, following up the move he had started, was first to the loose ball but still had much to do. His first touch was not perfect but the attempts to halt his progress from McNair and Daley Blind were weak and McCarthy was able to break through and score from just six yards.

From an Everton point of view, it was a superb, counter-attacking goal. It should have been stopped at source, though, and United’s attempts to gain parity over the next 30 minutes similarly lacked conviction.

Blind could have scored with a shot from the edge of the area and so could Fellaini, while Chris Smalling headed a Mata free-kick straight at Tim Howard.

With so much of the game still to run, there was no sense of panic from United. The next goal was always likely to be crucial, however, and once Everton scored it 10 minutes before half-time the road back already looked too long for Van Gaal’s team.

Once again the danger started down Everton’s right. On this occasion the United defence cleared for a corner but when Baines delivered, John Stones arrived to head his first Everton goal.

Two ahead now, Everton were truly in command for the first time. Van Gaal responded at the break by benching Fellaini — who had been booked — and sending on Radamel Falcao.

Once again, United enjoyed possession. Wayne Rooney was denied by Howard as he shot on the turn following a corner in the 47th minute but at the other end Shaw had to be quick to stop the breaking Ross Barkley.

Barkley was, in truth, having a mixed afternoon. Eventually, however, the 21-year-old got it right, playing the ball smartly over the top towards substitute Kevin Mirallas with 16 minutes left.

Lukaku, breaking through the middle, looked yards offside and probably was. However, the ball had been played in the direction of Mirallas, and as the United defence looked for a flag, the Belgian eased clear to beat David de Gea comfortably and intelligently with his right instep.

In the visiting dug-out, Van Gaal was already preparing his fiercest post-match shellacking of the season. He now has six days to elicit a reaction.

Wayne Rooney has scored only one goal in his last 17 Premier League away games. He has, however, scored 15 in his last 17 at Old Trafford. – Daily Mail

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Shearer fears relegation for Magpies

Former star striker Alan Shearer is fearful that Newcastle are heading towards relegation from the Premier League.

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Former star striker Alan Shearer is fearful that Newcastle are heading towards relegation from the Premier League on the back of a dire loss of form.

A former skipper at the northeast club, Shearer was stunned by Saturday's 3-2 defeat to Swansea at St James' Park which was the Magpies' seventh straight loss, their worst ever run in the top flight.

That loss left them 14th with 35 points, just five ahead of arch-rivals Sunderland in 18th with four games to go.

“Have no doubts about it - Newcastle are now in real danger of going down,” Shearer wrote in his column in The Sun.

“I didn't think so until Saturday but after that performance I can't actually say with any certainty that we will get another point this season.”

The 44-year-old lays the blame firmly on the players, lamenting their attitude and expressed sympathy for head coach John Carver as he tries to get more from them.

He added: “Carver himself has been getting some stick. But he loves the club and I know he is hurting.

“Why don't the Newcastle players start taking some responsibility? Because right now they are an embarrassment.”

Newcastle have won just twice in 16 matches since Carver replaced Alan Pardew as manager.

Shearer has been impressed by Aston Villa's resurgence, Leicester's remarkable four-game winning streak and feels Hull will be buoyed by their win over Palace at the weekend.

He feels all those sides can overhaul Newcastle and just questioned if Sunderland can get the points they need to drag Newcastle deeper into the mire. – AFP

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Reds can attract top stars - Rodgers

Brendan Rodgers insists Liverpool’s transfer ambitions will not be compromised by their inability to offer Champions League football.

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Brendan Rodgers insists Liverpool’s transfer ambitions will not be compromised by their inability to offer Champions League football, as they step up their pursuit of Memphis Depay.

While Manchester United remain favourites to land the exciting Holland international, Liverpool were given permission by PSV Eindhoven to talk to Depay.

Paris Saint-Germain have also spoken to the 21-year-old, who has scored 21 goals in the Eredivisie this season.

PSV are looking for £25million for Depay, who has also been linked with Bayern Munich. Rodgers said: ‘The kid is obviously a very talented player.

‘It is clear we need a goal threat for next season. There will be a raft of players that will be looked at. Then it will be up to the club to see if they are affordable and available. There are targets that have been identified as a priority.’

Rodgers does not intend to be as busy as last year when he made eight new signings. Burnley’s Danny Ings and James Milner of Manchester City are prime targets, while Aston Villa striker Christian Benteke could be an option but Depay is a marker of their ambition.

How, though, will they lure targets from outside the top four? Liverpool’s recent history is littered with moves for big players that collapsed — Alexis Sanchez and Diego Costa are prime examples.

Rodgers, who saw similar failings hinder his side in a tepid draw with West Bromwich, accepts there is a big challenge facing Liverpool this summer but is confident they will be able to bring in the required quality.

‘If we are not in the Champions League, players will still maybe want to come if the project is right for them to learn and develop,’ said Rodgers, who could be without Steven Gerrard at Hull tomorrow night after he picked up a knock.

‘But if we can regroup and get some quality starters in, we can go on another great adventure. If we are looking to regain what we had last season, we need that tempo to our game and our approach play. That is key. If we can do that, we will have an opportunity to really kick on again.’ – Daily Mail

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Hazard wins player of the year award

Chelsea's Eden Hazard won England's PFA player of the year award ahead of Tottenham Hotspur's Harry Kane.

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London - Chelsea's Belgium forward Eden Hazard won England's PFA player of the year award ahead of Tottenham Hotspur's Harry Kane and Manchester United goalkeeper David De Gea on Sunday.

England striker Kane, 21, was voted young player of the year at the Professional Footballers' Association awards dinner with Hazard, 24, second and Liverpool's Philippe Coutinho, 22, third.

“I'm very happy,” Hazard said. “One day I wanted to be the best and this is what I did this season, I played very well, Chelsea played very well. I don't know if I deserved to win but it's good for me,” the Belgian added.

“It's better to be voted for by the players because they know everything about football,” added Hazard, who has played in all of table-topping Chelsea's 33 Premier League games this season, scoring 13 goals and 18 in all competitions.

“Personally I have played a good season, I have been there in the big games and I scored a lot of important goals, this is why I'm better this season.”

Hazard has already helped Chelsea win the League Cup this term and they are two wins away from clinching the Premier League title for the first time since 2010.

Kane, who scored 79 seconds into his England debut, is the second-highest scorer in the league with 20 goals, one behind Manchester City's Sergio Aguero, and has 30 in all competitions.

“Amazing. A very proud moment for myself and my family as well. Hopefully, the first of many (awards) to come. I've got to keep working hard but to be recognised by the players is something special and definitely a night I won't forget.

“I've always believed in my ability and wanted to get the chance to prove myself. I've managed to ride the wave and this season has got better and better and this has topped it off. This is hopefully the beginning and there's more to come.” – Reuters

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Chicharito makes case for Real move

Javier Hernandez gave another boost to his chances of making his loan move to Real Madrid permanent with a La Liga double against Celta Vigo.

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Madrid - Javier Hernandez gave another boost to his chances of making his loan move to Real Madrid permanent when he followed up his match-winning Champions League performance midweek with a La Liga double on Sunday.

The Mexico striker known as 'Chicharito' (little pea) struck a late winner to earn a 1-0 victory over Atletico Madrid in Europe's elite club competition on Wednesday before helping Real to a 4-2 success at Celta Vigo that kept them hard on the heels of leaders Barcelona with five matches left.

Hernandez has spent most of the season on the bench after arriving from parent club Manchester United in September but coach Carlo Ancelotti was forced to draft him into the side following injuries to France striker Karim Benzema and Wales winger Gareth Bale.

While Benzema and Bale are likely to come straight back into the side once fit, Hernandez, who has made a habit of scoring off the bench during his club career, has shown he is a useful weapon to have in reserve.

Real have an option to make the 26-year-old's season-long loan permanent for a fee of 10 million euros ($10.86 million), according to Spanish media.

He is the son of namesake Javier Hernandez, a Mexico striker who featured at the 1986 World Cup and was nicknamed 'Chicharo' (pea) because of his green eyes.

“He's enjoying the run that he's on, it's a really good one,” Ancelotti told a news conference.

“If Chicharito is in this form he's non-negotiable,” added the Italian.

“I have a team of non-negotiables but only eleven can play and the rest stay on the bench.”

Sunday's win at Celta kept the gap to Barca, who won 2-0 at neighbours Espanyol on Saturday, to two points.

Barca, who along with Real are through to the Champions League last four, are in with a chance of a treble of titles and play Athletic Bilbao in the King's Cup final next month.

“Our objective is to force Barca to win every game,” Ancelotti said.

“At this moment in time we're not thinking about other teams, but about what we have to do.

“We're doing well and we'll try to fight for La Liga until the final day, which is our objective.”

Real's next outing in La Liga is a home game against Almeria on Wednesday after Barca host Getafe on Tuesday. – Reuters

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Title race s over - Wenger

Arsenal may still have a mathematical chance of winning the Premier League but their manager Arsene Wenger conceded it was now “impossible” for Chelsea not to finish as champions.

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London - Arsenal may still have a mathematical chance of winning the Premier League but their manager Arsene Wenger conceded it was now “impossible” for Chelsea not to finish as champions following the London rivals' 0-0 stalemate on Sunday.

The result at the Emirates Stadium leaves Chelsea, who have five games remaining, top on 77 points, 10 clear of champions Manchester City, who have four games left, and Arsenal, who also have five to play.

If Chelsea win at Leicester City on Wednesday, the only team that can still theoretically catch the leaders are Arsenal, but Wenger admitted he did not think that would happen.

Asked if Chelsea were going to finish as champions, he told reporters: “Yes we know that, it is impossible for them to lose it now.

“They are not champions yet, but they will be. You get what you deserve. They started strong and that made the difference in the first part of the season compared to us, they played very well.”

Sunday's result ended Arsenal's run of nine successive home league wins and also their run of nine successive wins in all competitions and left Wenger still without a win against Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho in 13 meetings over the last decade.

Arsenal's season can still end on a high, though, if they retain the FA Cup against Aston Villa and Wenger was upbeat about their performances in the second half of the season and their immediate future prospects.

“I think we have closed the gap (on Chelsea) since the start of the season,” he said.

“Now we want to finish the season well. You look at the other results and every game is difficult. We go to Hull next and before we play the Cup final we want to secure our place in the top four, that's not done yet.

“After that the top three, then the top two and that's all to do now.”

But he downplayed his long winless run against Mourinho and the fact that Arsenal have not beaten Chelsea for eight matches since they won 5-3 at Stamford Bridge in October 2011. They have not scored against them in their last five games either.

“It's about our club and our team and not about me. What you want is to win the game, the rest is good for media talk. What is interesting is what happens on the football pitch,” said Wenger. – Reuters

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