Boris Becker tries to steal the spotlight from his stunning wife Lilly at the Laureus World Sports Awards with his athletic prowess

By DAILY MAIL REPORTER

Still got it: A redfaced Boris shows off his athletic prowess as he performs chin ups for the clapping audience


Arriving on the red carpet of the Laureus World Sports Awards tonight, all eyes were on Boris Becker's stunning wife Sharlely 'Lilly' Kerssenberg in her dazzling gold gown.

But once inside the venue, the German tennis ace managed to steal the spotlight by showing off his athletic prowess.

The retired sportsman, 43, showed he's still in good shape as he performed some chin-ups on a metal bar to the delight of the star-studded crowd at Emirates Palace in Abu Dhabi.

However, his Dutch wife Lilly, 34, was definitely the belle of the ball in her shimmering silver and bronze floor-length strapless gown.

The fitted dress demonstrated she had got her model figure back exactly a year after giving birth to her first child - and Boris's fourth - Amadeus.

Perhaps in a bid to keep up with his nine-years-younger wife, Becker admitted undergoing a facelift recently.


Nice set of wheels: The couple pose in front of a Mercedes Benz as they arrive at the bash


He told Daybreak in November: 'I also had a facelift recently and I coloured my hair, so...

'I turned 43 this week, and winning Wimbledon was 25 years ago, and I do feel very much like I'm 43 right now.'

As a member of the Laureus Sports Academy panel, Becker attends the ceremony every year and helps choose the winners.

The big winners this year were Spain with both tennis player Rafael Nadal and their World Cup football picking up Sportsman Of The Year and Team Of The Year respectively.


Strike a pose: Spanish actress Elsa Pataky - soon to be seen in the next Fast And The Furious sequel - showed off her curves in a mocha dress


French footballer Zinedine Zidane, who attended with his wife Veronique, was honoured with the Lifetime Achievement Award.

However, one winner, U.S. Alpine skier Lindsay Vonn, could not make the event to pick up her Sportswoman of the Year because she is currently participating in the Alpine Skiing World Championships in Germany.

Vonn won the Olympic Downhill Gold medal at the Vancouver Winter Games in February 2010 just days after injuring her shin.


That's entertainment: Host Kevin Spacey holds one of the awards (left), while Irish pop star Ronan Keating belts out a number


Brave: Spacey played a game of table tennis on stage with Wimbledon champion Rafael Nadal


The ceremony was hosted by Hollywood star Kevin Spacey, who enjoyed a spot of table tennis with the Wimbledon champion Nadal.

Entertainment was provided by Irish pop star Ronan Keating, who looked dapper in a black suit.

Aside from Lilly, other glamour at the predominantly-male awards was provided by British Olympian Dame Kelly Holmes and Spanish actresses Paz Vega and Elsa Pataky.


Sports stars and their WAGS: Italian jockey Frankie Dettori and his wife Catherine (left) and French football star Zinedine Zidane and his wife Veronique (right)


Triumphant: (L-R) Nadal with his Sportsman Of The Year trophy, American surfer Kelly Slater with his World Action Sportsperson of the Year and Zidane with his Lifetime Achievement honour





Rafael Nadal - Laureus World Sports Awards




source: dailymail

Chelsea 0 Sunderland 3: Black Cats spring surprise of the season with stunning win at Stamford Bridge to dent leaders

By MATT BARLOW

Three and easy: Danny Welbeck scores Sunderland's third goal


Strange goings-on at the top of the Barclays Premier League and never before has Ray Wilkins looked like such a tactical genius.

Chelsea were destroyed by Sunderland, plain and simple. Nedum Onuoha, Asamoah Gyan and Danny Welbeck scored the goals and it would have been several more but for the brilliance of Petr Cech. Craig Gordon, meanwhile, barely had to make a save.

Steve Bruce deserves credit for storming Stamford Bridge and moving up to sixth a fortnight after humiliation in Newcastle, but it is Carlo Ancelotti's season teetering.

The shock sacking of Wilkins last week, after a win over Fulham, may have had little technical impact on this defeat - the absence of John Terry, Frank Lampard and Michael Essien was a far bigger factor - but it rocked a club who were making serene progress at the top of the table.

Manager Ancelotti opposed the move and captain Terry was upset, devoting a third of his programme notes to his sadness at 'an unexpected decision'. 'Ray was a great person to have around,' said Terry. 'He would pick you up when you were down.'


On target: Asamoah Gyan doubles Sunderland's lead at Stamford Bridge


In which case, he will be missed this week. Chelsea have not been thrashed this soundly at home since Roman Abramovich bought the club. The last time was a 3-0 loss to Manchester United in April 2002.


Luckily for Ancelotti, Abramovich was absent. The Chelsea boss, a Double winner in his first season at the club, was jeered by the home crowd for taking off Florent Malouda, but cheered for removing Ramires 11 minutes later.


The £18million Brazilian is not quite up to the pace of the English game. A win would have eased Chelsea five points clear of Arsenal at the top, but Sunderland fancied their chances of an upset against a skinny squad, with Ramires, John Obi Mikel and Yury Zhirkov starting in midfield.

The trio who began the defeat at Liverpool a week earlier lacked the resonance of Lampard, Essien and Michael Ballack.

Terry pulled out hours before kick-off, after a nagging sciatic nerve problem flared up on Saturday and worsened overnight.

With Alex also injured, Ancelotti overlooked teenage centre half Jeffrey Bruma and paired full back Paulo Ferreira with Branislav Ivanovic. Last time they played together, they conceded three in a Carling Cup defeat at Blackburn. Yesterday they were torn to shreds by Welbeck, Gyan and Sunderland's midfield movement.

Ivanovic's normal consistency evaporated and he was lucky not to be sent off for a cynical foul on Welbeck.


Giving Chelsea the Blues: Nedum Onuoha takes on Branislav Ivanovic before scoring Sunderland's opener


In recent years, when Chelsea have slipped, big personalities have saved the day.

They were missing here, with Didier Drogba out of sorts after a bout of malaria. Sunderland were without Darren Bent, but seized the chance to dominate the champions.
Cech made two terrific first-half saves from Welbeck within minutes. The first was exceptional, a strong left hand to a header from Onuoha's cross. He then spread his body to block a shot after Welbeck had raced on to Gyan's pass.

Then came a double save. Cech denied Gyan in a one-on-one, then scrambled to block Kieran Richardson's attempt to squeeze the rebound in from a narrow angle.


Happy days: Onuoha celebrates after putting Sunderland in front


No-one had got past him in the Premier League at the Bridge since John Carew's consolation during Aston Villa's 7-1 defeat in March.


The shut-out had reached 916 minutes when Sunderland right back Onuoha, on loan from Manchester City, collected a clearance and danced past feeble challenges from Mikel, Jose Bosingwa and Ivanovic for a cool finish.

Gyan scored the second soon after the break. His clinical finish matched the sweetest of passing moves, with the defence-splitter coming from Jordan Henderson, in a fine display for Fabio Capello ahead of his first England game.

At a glance, there was little to satisfy Capello yesterday, with Terry forced out, still no Lampard, and Ashley Cole hobbling on his troublesome ankle before a lapse that gifted Welbeck the killer third in the 87th minute.

But seven Englishmen started for Sunderland. Henderson, Richardson and Lee Cattermole were impressive. Titus Bramble, Michael Turner and Onuoha were solid in defence, as they were at Tottenham in midweek. Above all, Welbeck looked fresh and dangerous.

With English strikers an endangered species, Capello could do worse than promote the teenager, on loan from Manchester United, from the Under 21 squad.

Welbeck's first goal for Sunderland was simple, as Cole's pass to Cech went straight to him. Bruce's team pushed for more. Cattermole went close and it was Chelsea who were grateful for the final whistle.




source: dailymail

Stoke 2 Liverpool 0: Fuller and Jones lift City into top half and end Reds' mini revival

By SPORTSMAIL REPORTER

Lucky break: Ricardo Fuller (2nd L) celebrates scoring against Liverpool


Liverpool's stuttering mini-revival petered out in dismal fashion as they lost 2-0 to Stoke at the Britannia Stadium.

A six-match unbeaten run came to end as they were outfought, outplayed and outmanoeuvred by Tony Pulis' side.

Ricardo Fuller opened the scoring just after half-time and Kenwyne Jones completed a comprehensive victory in the final minute before Lucas Leiva was sent off for a second bookable offence.

The Potters were more than worth their win against a team who appear to have lost their way as quickly as they found it.
They have won away from home only once this season and only three times since last November.

Their first 45 minutes appeared to be a direct continuation of the second half at Wigan, where they had found themselves under almost constant pressure and were lucky to come away with a draw

Only the returning Sotirios Kyrgiakos had not played in the previous two matches so there may have been an element of fatigue, especially as Stoke played a day earlier on Tuesday.

But no team in the Premier League, let alone a club like Liverpool, can expect to use that as an excuse for an abject and disjointed first-half display.

Roy Hodgson's side appeared unprepared and unable to deal with their hosts' brash, energetic approach which allowed them to dominate the game from first to last.

Stoke were appealing unsuccessfully for a penalty in only the second minute when Maxi Rodriguez leant heavily on Ricardo Fuller as they challenged for Rory Delap's long throw.

It was a sign of things to come as the visitors found themselves being forced back, looking worrying susceptible to Delap's trademark set-piece.

Midfielder Dean Whitehead benefited from weak headed clearances to fire in a low shot which Jose Reina turned around a post and then drill a similar 30-yard effort just past the angle of upright and crossbar.

Jones and former Reds winger Jermaine Pennant also had chances before Steven Gerrard registered Liverpool's first shot in the 29th minute, forcing Asmir Begovic to tip the low effort behind, although the goalkeeper dealt more comfortably with Raul Meireles strike from the resulting corner.


Flippin' marvellous: Kenwyne Jones celebrates his strike in acrobatic fashion


It was a brief retort which was soon forgotten when Jones rounded Paul Konchesky to cross low into the six-yard box, forcing Jamie Carragher to dive in front of Matthew Etherington to prevent the opening goal.

Less than two minutes into the second half Fernando Torres, who had been anonymous previously, was booked for tackling Pennant from behind.

But the real threat was still coming from Delap and Liverpool's inability to cope with his party trick finally cost them in the 56th minute.

A scramble saw the ball break to Etherington at the far post and his cross-shot bounced back off Konchesky to Fuller, whose had his first effort blocked but stabbed home the second from close range.

Despite the stereotype, it was Stoke's first goal from a Delap party-piece in 23 league matches.

Jones almost made it two when Martin Skrtel mistimed his jump but his left-footed effort beat both Reina and the far post.


Hot under the collar: Less than a week after beating Chelsea, Roy Hodgson heard calls for Kenny Dalglish


Liverpool, as they did in the first half, had two chances in quick succession with Rodriguez shooting straight at Begovic from Dirk Kuyt's cut-back and Skrtel firing wide from Kyrgiakos' knockdown of Gerrard's free-kick.

David Ngog and Ryan Babel replaced Meireles and Rodriguez but with Liverpool still unable to gain decent possession of the ball it made little difference they effectively had four strikers on the pitch.

Their embarrassment was completed in the 90th minute when Gerrard gave the ball away and Jones was able to skip past Skrtel to fire home.

The dismissal of Lucas just compounded matters.

In terms of territory and control Liverpool have now lost the last five halves they have played in.

The 45 minutes prior to that had been the electrifying first-half display against Chelsea but team now appear to be on a downward spiral again.

It is a descent Hodgson has to arrest quickly. He left the Britannia Stadium with chants of 'Dalglish' - a reference to former player and manager Kenny - ringing in his ears.




source: dailymail

Manchester City 0 Birmingham 0: Fans turn on Mancini as Blues stutter to hapless draw

By SPORTSMAIL REPORTER

Making the change: Mancini withdrew Tevez from the game to the anger of the City faithful


Roberto Mancini felt the full weight of frustration as his Manchester City side were booed off after their second goalless draw in four days at Eastlands.

Just as against Manchester United on Wednesday, the entertainment value was sadly lacking, except this time City were playing against a side who could be in the bottom three by tomorrow evening.

James Milner came closest to breaking the deadlock, 15 seconds after the interval, when his shot was cleared off the line by Stephen Carr.

It was not impressive stuff though for a side who, whilst remaining in a Champions League position, have now won just one match from their last five Premier League outings and have not scored a league goal on home soil since the beginning of October.

That Mancini compounded this by taking crowd favourite Carlos Tevez off before the end, and replacing him with Gareth Barry, just heightened a sense of unhappiness at the sight of an obdurate Birmingham outfit heading back down the M6 with a precious point.

As Birmingham turned out in a red away kit that could have passed for Manchester United, it was easy to believe this was simply a continuation of Wednesday night's awful fare.


Scrappy: Vincent Kompany and Nikola Zigic fight for the ball


There were obvious differences. For a start, Birmingham were intent on defending their penalty area, a tactic that became apparent within the first five minutes.

Aleksandar Kolarov was introduced for only his second start of the season, a notable figure if only because he came across from his left-back station to take City's right-wing corners.

And Adam Johnson was picked, offering the England star to match his words of discontent about forcing himself into Mancini's plans so infrequently, with meaningful action.


Throwing caution to the wind: Roberto Mancini's late substitution of Carlos Tevez for Gareth Barry told its own story


Unfortunately, the end product was depressingly similar to a midweek derby generally acknowledged to be one of the worst of recent times.

If anything, due to a chronic lack of atmosphere mainly, this was even worse.

Ben Foster did not have a first half save to make, or at least the one he did need to make but failed, turned out to be of no consequence anyway as Carlos Tevez was ruled to have handled David Silva's cross to get it past the England man.


Deadlock: James Milner came closest to opening the scoring for Manchester City


Referee Mike Jones got that call right, just as he was probably correct to rule it was not a penalty when Liam Ridgewell went down under Johnson's challenge.

It was more a case of accidentally tripping over someone's feet by the Birmingham full-back, who did not complain, even if manager Alex McLeish did.
Kolarov, Tevez and Johnson drove ambitious efforts wide, drawing groans from home supporters who clearly expect much better.

They came very close to getting it within 15 seconds of the restart.

Having organised his defence so well, McLeish must have been startled at how easily they were undone in route one fashion when James Milner breached their defences.

Foster repelled the midfielder's first effort but Milner seemed sure to tuck the rebound home, only for Carr to pop up and make a fine goalline clearance.
It emphasised the greater purpose City had found during the interval, even if Tevez, Milner and, most glaringly, Yaya Toure wasted decent chances.

Toure is yet to win over the Blues support since his summer arrival from Barcelona on a reputed salary in excess of £200,000 a week.

For that money, more is anticipated that a rushed finish to a move in which both Milner and David Silva created space for the imposing Ivorian to shoot.
Toure has been part of a spending spree over the past two transfer windows that has turned Roque Santa Cruz into City's forgotten man.

The Paraguayan, signed by Mark Hughes from Blackburn in an £18million deal 17 months ago, admitted earlier this week that he would be seeking pastures new in January.

However, with Emmanuel Adebayor missing due to a bruised heel and his side starting to run out of ideas, Mancini opted to introduce Santa Cruz into a Premier League encounter for the first time this season.



Committed defending: A rare outing for Manchester City's Roque Santa Cruz was thwarted by Ben Foster and Roger Johnson


The Paraguayan almost had an instant impact too, slipping an intelligent pass through for Tevez, who dragged his shot wide.

As thoughts of an upturn in fortunes increasingly looked like being an illusion, frustration in the stands turned to fury when Tevez was replaced by Gareth Barry seven minutes from time.

Tevez raised a rueful eyebrow as he took his place in the dug-out, leaving Mancini to face the ire of his own supporters.


source: dailymail

Wolves 0 Arsenal 2: Let-off for skipper Cesc Fabregas as quick-fire Marouane Chamakh seals win

By NEIL MOXLEY

Early doors: Marouane Chamakh put Arsenal ahead in the first minute


Cesc Fabregas faced the wrath of Molineux after Marouane Chamakh provided Arsene Wenger with the perfect response to his weekend woes.

Arsenal skipper Fabregas left the field in the knowledge that Arsenal had secured three points thanks to a classy double from the Moroccan international. But he did so too with the jeers of an angry crowd ringing in his ears.

A horrible lunge on Wolves' Stephen Ward three minutes from time had invoked the ire of the home fans, who were incensed by the tackle itself, the fact that referee Mark Halsey had given a yellow card instead of a red and the sight of the player departing down the tunnel on a stretcher.

Chamakh scored the fastest goal by Arsenal in the Barclays Premier League, finding the net after 38 seconds. After the incident involving Fabregas that caused such a vicious reaction, the former Bordeaux striker wrapped up the points with the last kick of the game.

It was enough to tip a home fans over the edge as Fabregas left the field. A water bottle and a few coins were hurled in his direction as he was shepherded down the tunnel.

Managers Mick McCarthy and Arsene Wenger seemed to exchange words at the final whistle but it was as if the incident had never happened afterwards as both feared a public relations backlash for different reasons.


Floored: The Wolves medical staff attend to Stephen Ward


Fabregas went to the home dressing- room to apologise. That was accepted. McCarthy spoke out in defence of everyone 'manning-up' and accepting that tackles are made and sometimes mis-timed. Wenger has been a vociferous critic of reckless tackles. With some justification.

However, before last night, his team were bottom of the Fair Play League with four red cards to their credit already. The last thing he needed was another inquest into Arsenal's own disciplinary shorcomings.



'I have always said I like tackling and the physical game and the commitment of the physical game in England,' said Wenger. 'But it's down to the referees to make the rules respected.'


McCarthy added: 'I've not problem with the tackle and I appreciate the apology from him.'

Wolves' fans reacted after being cast in the role of fall-guys this season. McCarthy admitted that the reaction to Karl Henry's challenge on Wigan's Jordi Gomez had caused unwanted distraction. No wonder he was anxious to draw a line under the affair.

Just as desperate as Wenger to grab the points after Lukasz Fabianski's blunder helped Newcastle to victory on Sunday. The Poland internat ional however, was certainly in credit last night.

He kept out one deflected Matt Jarvis cross, pulled off a magnificent tip-over to deny Kevin Doyle. But his stop in injury-time, denying Nenad Milijas was the pick of the bunch. Moments later, Chamakh raced on to a pass from Fabregas, just to rub salt into the wounds, to wrap up the points.

It did not look like Fabianski would be needed at all early on as Wolves failed with the basics. Tomas Rosicky fed Alex Song on the right and the midfielder delivered a superb cross for Chamakh to head his seventh goal of the season.


Andrey Arshavin caused all sorts of problems. Marcus Hahnemann blocked well and did so again from Fabregas as Arsenal threatened to overwhelm the hosts.


But slowly Wolves gained a foothold. Fabianski had been called into action in the first-half and made a laudable attempt to keep out a deflected shot. But his stop as the hour approached from Doyle was truly top-class.

Suddenly, from nowhere, Wolves were on the front foot. Stephen Hunt's corner was flicked on at the far post and, had Stearman connected cleanly, Rosicky would not have been able to hack clear.

Fabianski saved his best until last with his breath-taking stop from Milijas, who fired through a group of players from the edge of the area.

Even though most of the crowd's attention was still upon Fabregas, the keeper was swamped by his delirious team-mates at the final whistle.

'Someone gave me a bit of duff information,' said McCarthy wistfully at the final whistle. 'They told me he wouldn't be playing. Typical.'


source: dailymail

Wigan 1 Liverpool 1: Fernando Torres offers another goalscoring masterclass but Hugo Rodallega halts Reds surge

By JOHN EDWARDS

Back to his best: Fernando Torres scored again


Fernando Torres provided further evidence he is back to his best, but the same could hardly be said of his team-mates at the DW Stadium last night.

Fresh from his two-goal contribution in the win over Chelsea at Anfield on Sunday, Liverpool's £21million record signing looked to have set the scene for a fifth successive victory for Roy Hodgson's rejuvenated side with another stunning solo effort in only the seventh minute.

While his exploits against Chelsea had a galvanising effect on all around him, though, the latest example of his razor-sharp finishing succeeded only in sparking Wigan into life.

After dominating the early stages, Liverpool found themselves pegged back by Hugo Rodallega's 52ndminute equaliser and run ragged by the direct, powerful probing of Charles N'Zogbia.

Steven Gerrard might have snatched a win with a 79th-minute drive that cannoned off the underside of the bar, but Hodgson didn't hide from his team's shortcomings.

The Liverpool manager said: 'We were perhaps a bit unlucky that Steven's shot did not go in, but the truth of the matter is we did not deserve to win. We looked tired, and our passing was nowhere near the level you would expect it to be.

'The reason for the fatigue is simple enough. We have faced Bolton, Napoli, Chelsea and now Wigan in the space of 10 days, and we have done it with a small squad that has been hit by injuries.

'We started brightly and finished brightly, but there were long periods in between where we were way below our normal level. It was a wonderful piece of play from two outstanding players for our goal, a great pass from Gerrard and excellent finish by Torres.


Clinical: Fernando Torres got Liverpool off to the perfect start with his first away goal since March


'But we could not capitalise on it, and, by the end, I was more than happy to come away with a point. We invited Wigan on to us by consistently giving the ball away, and the longer the game went on, the more we were up against it. If we had won it with that Gerrard effort, it would have been harsh on Wigan. In fact, they will no doubt feel 1-1 flatters us.'

Condemning reigning Barclays Premier League champions Chelsea to defeat is as good a way as any to announce an overdue return to peak form, and Torres wasted no time building on his morale-boosting match-winning double with another expertly taken goal.

Gerrard threaded an inch-perfect ball through from the halfway line, but Torres still had plenty to do to shake off Gary Caldwell and win another individual duel with goalkeeper Ali Al Habsi. An exquisite first touch not only controlled the ball but left Caldwell flat footed, while a typically assured right-foot shot was steered imperiously inside the post.


Level pegging: Hugo Rodallega brings Liverpool back down to earth


The euphoric reaction to an early goal by Torres against Chelsea suggested last night's breakthrough might take Liverpool a step nearer challenging for a top four place, but Wigan had other ideas.

N'Zogbia had a close-range finish disallowed for offside in the 33rd minute and, if that was a warning, it went unheeded by a jaded Liverpool showing none of the urgency that did for the title holders.


Pepe Reina raced to the rescue to whip the ball off N'Zogbia's toes in the 51st minute but might have done better a minute later as Liverpool buckled under the weight and persistence of Wigan's attacking.


N'Zogbia's pacy, incisive runs had repeatedly forced the visitors on to the back foot, and he was at the hub of Wigan's equaliser, with a pass that picked out Ronnie Stam in space. Reina could only palm the full back's driven low cross into the heart of the Liverpool area, where Rodallega needed no second invitation to hammer a shot into an unguarded net.

The momentum was building by the minute, and the Colombia striker looked like adding to his equaliser soon after when he appeared to have set himself up for a simple finish after rounding Reina, but Jamie Carragher nicked the ball away from his left boot and hacked it to safety.

Liverpool were under the cosh but broke free to fashion a chance that should have delivered the least deserved of wins. Maxi Rodriguez accelerated into space and looked up to see Gerrard in space.

The pass was measured to perfection and looked to have been matched by the shot that followed, only for the Liverpool captain to be left holding his head in frustration as a rising close-range drive bounced down from the bar and landed fractionally in front of the line.

Justice, Wigan argued, and Hodgson was in no mood to disagree.


source: dailymail

Stoke City 3 Birmingham City 2: Dean Whitehead's late show gives Tony Pulis reason to smile

By NEIL MOXLEY

Decider: Dean Whitehead wheels away in delight after scrambling home Stoke's winner late on


Tony Pulis has bemoaned his luck with referees in recent weeks but the Stoke manager had just cause to toast Mark Clattenburg on Tuesday night.

Pulis has been on the wrong end of several decisions this season but Tyneside official Clattenburg went some way to redress the balance on a night of vastly contrasting emotions.

Alex McLeish's Birmingham side had looked down and out as they chased a two-goal deficit going into the final quarter of the game, only for strikes by substitute Keith Fahey and Cameron Jerome to put them within sight of an unlikely point.

But then Dean Whitehead burst forward to fire a controversial winning goal. The midfielder clearly handled the ball, as he chased Ricardo Fuller's knock-down and Birmingham's defenders dithered as they appealed for the infringement.

Whitehead continued his run and lifted the ball over Birmingham goalkeeper Ben Foster after it had bounced into his path off Scott Dann, ending Stoke's four-match run of defeats.


Stunner: Ricardo Fuller curls in a brilliant effort to put Stoke 2-0 up early in the second half


Pulis promoted relegation for poor officials in the build-up. But he failed to spot any problem with the winning goal.

'I didn't see it,' he said. 'Not at all. I'm being serious. I have to say that I thought Mark was very good. If he didn't see that, then we are very pleased.'

Stoke had bossed the first half and Birmingham had not looked comfortable as the home side showed no hint of nervousness despite their lowly league position.

It was only a combination of desperate last-gasp defending and two superb stops from Foster that had kept the visitors in it.

However, Foster could do little with the opening goal. Fuller's shot was halfblocked by Barry Ferguson and defender Robert Huth drilled home.


Volley good: Moments after Fuller's goal, Keith Fahey produces another fantastic strike to get Birmingham back in the game


Incredibly, Huth saw another header blocked on the goal-line by Fuller and Foster also pulled off a superb block to deny Rory Delap. Pulis's frustration was clear as he threw his water bottle on to the floor.

Birmingham had been desperately poor in the opening half but it was a different story after the break. Moments before Fuller added a second, Danny Higginbotham hacked the ball wildly against his own post.

But from a Birmingham corner, Stoke broke superbly. Fuller was chased by Ferguson as he collected the ball on the right. He cut inside before curling a superb shot into the corner.


Level pegging: Cameron Jerome celebrates after scoring Birmingham's second goal to bring the scores level


That appeared to be that. Not so. McLeish threw on Keith Fahey for the ineffective Jean Beausejour and the Ireland international responded by firing a superb shot into the bottom corner of Asmir Begovic's net.


Three minutes later, Birmingham were level. Seb Larsson's cross was deftly glanced past Begovic and the Britannia Stadium, which had been jumping five minutes earlier, was suddenly nervous.

Craig Gardner burst forward and forced Begovic to tip the ball over the bar but the good fortune that Pulis had been seeking arrived when the ball arrived at Whitehead's feet.

McLeish said: 'It was a bittersweet evening. We never really got going in the first half. They unnerved us. Our passing was all over the place.

'Then, after about 60 minutes we looked a different team. But we are where we are because we are giving away too many goals. We have had some decisions not go for us and we are giving away sloppy goals.

'We got away with it last season but we aren't going to go anywhere unless we cut out the silliness at the back.'


One up: Robert Huth raises his arms aloft after giving Stoke a first half lead


source: dailymail

Liverpool 2 Chelsea 0: Fernando Torres gives Blues double trouble as Reds' revival continues

By Matt Lawton

Cool finish: Torres keeps his head to slot home the opener for Liverpool as Terry closes in


What a remarkable transformation. In Fernando Torres, in Liverpool, even in Roy Hodgson.

It was only 21 days earlier, after all, that Hodgson watched his side stutter to an utterly demoralising defeat at Everton.

He sat in the press conference that followed, the manager of a Liverpool team seemingly drowning in the bottom three of the Barclays Premier League, and tried to defend a display so abject that a watching John W Henry must have wondered exactly what £300million had just bought New England Sports Ventures.
At Anfield, Henry and his colleagues must have been feeling rather more pleased with their purchase. They do have some players capable of matching their considerable ambition. Not least in the form of a striker who, only a week ago, looked like a poor imitation of one of the world's finest.

From Bolton to here, the change in Torres was extraordinary. At the Reebok he was wretched. At Anfield he was awesome, scoring two quite brilliant goals to condemn Chelsea to only their second League defeat of the season and propel Liverpool to ninth in the table.


In the execution of both his firsthalf strikes there were flashes of the player we have grown to admire; the same player who followed a brilliant first season at Liverpool with the winning goal in the final of Euro 2008; who was then voted among the top three footballers on the planet.

If there remain concerns about his pace, and whether those knee and groin problems have robbed him of the ability to accelerate in the same fashion, he has certainly rediscovered much that is good about his game.

The predatory instincts were back, as was the intelligent movement and the touch of a genius. It was best demonstrated in the first goal, even if the finish for the second was more spectacular.

For Hodgson, it was obviously a relief to mark Henry's first League game at Anfield with such a memorable victory.

'Until this, my most enjoyable day at the club was when I arrived in the summer,' he said as he celebrated his first ever win against Chelsea.
'And it's been downhill ever since.'

The difference in his team was obvious. Confidence. The confidence that was missing for the first two-and-a-half months of the season but began to return with that defeat of Blackburn and now appears to be back in abundance.


Kop idol: Anfield salutes striker Torres as he celebrates by the corner flag with Reds midfielder Meireles


Four straight wins is some run for a team who were on thier knees at Goodison and you sense they can now build on this, despite the fact that a shortage of top-level players will undermine their chances of seriously challenging for honours.

Even Henry must realise that. Even Henry, with his limited knowledge of his new sport, must have recognised that yesterday they beat a Chelsea team weakened significantly by the absence of key individuals.

Didier Drogba's entrance was delayed until half-time - Carlo Ancelotti said he was suffering with a fever on the eve of the match - but it was in midfield that the game was lost. With no Michael Essien or Frank Lampard, Chelsea lacked their usual strength and power, and Liverpool benefited enormously as a result. Lucas, too often a lightweight at this level, actually looked quite dominant at times.


Over the top: Chelsea captain Terry (top) and midfielder Obi work together as they attempt to stop Torres


There were a number of good Liverpool performances. While Dirk Kuyt was outstanding for a player just back from injury, Raul Meireles had one of his best games for the club, as did young Martin Kelly as emergency cover for Glen Johnson at full back.

It was Kuyt, though, who provided the ball for that opening goal from Torres in the 11th minute with a delightful diagonal ball that the Spaniard anticipated brilliantly.

First came the touch to bring it under control, then the combination of speed and strength to escape the clutches of John Terry and finally the finish, lifted over the advancing Petr Cech. Chelsea finished the game having enjoyed 60 per cent possession, mainly because Liverpool struggled to retain the ball after the break.

But they offered little in response and paid for a lack of urgency and finesse with the goal Torres then produced just before the interval.

What started with Ashley Cole losing the ball to Meireles continued when the Portuguese midfielder delivered an excellent pass into the path of Torres, who took two or three strides before unleashing a curling right-footed shot that squeezed through blue shirts and between a flat-footed Cech and his left-hand post. It was the Spaniard's 44th goal in 47 League appearances at Anfield, further proof that Henry must do all he can to keep him at the club.

With the arrival of Drogba came an improvement in Chelsea's football and with it the need for some fine defending, not least from Pepe Reina, who excelled in denying Florent Malouda from close range in the 66th minute.


Get in: Torres watches his effort find the net as the Spaniard doubles Liverpool's advantage
In fairness to Liverpool, Cech had to produce a similar save to stop Kuyt from increasing Liverpool's advantage eight minutes after that.


But when Nicolas Anelka then saw a shot bounce off Reina and strike the underside of the crossbar, only the rapid reactions of Jamie Carragher prevented Drogba from reducing the deficit.

Understandably, Hodgson was as delighted as Ancelotti was disappointed to see his side's lead at the top of the Premier League cut to two points.

Hodgson has been under enormous pressure since Henry and his business partners bought this football club and even on Friday, when the American held court with a selection of reporters in London, he could not give the former Fulham manager many guarantees.

This, and indeed the three straight wins that came before it, will have bought Hodgson some time, and a quick glance down the fixture list would suggest they can climb higher still over the next fortnight. After trips to Wigan and Stoke they will host West Ham.

'I'll enjoy ninth for a little while,' said Hodgson with a smile.

It's not the kind of statement a Liverpool manager would usually make, but it's a measure of just how desperate a situation Liverpool were in as recently as three weeks ago.



source: dailymail

Liverpool 3 Napoli 1: Captain Fantastic Steven Gerrard hits 15-minute hat-trick to save Roy's blushes again

By JOHN EDWARDS


Silencing the critics: Steven Gerrard's 15-minute hat-trick handed Liverpool a major European boost


He has not been credited with much since taking over at Anfield, but Roy Hodgson deserves the gratitude of every Liverpool fol lower for persuading Steven Gerrard to stay during the summer.

The Liverpool skipper may have turned 30 shortly before that crucial meeting with the newly-appointed Hodgson, but no one had the slightest doubt that he remained pivotal to hopes of an overdue revival at Anfield. If they had, they do not any more.


Not after he came off the bench at the end of an alarmingly sub-standard performance in the first half and single-handedly rescued Hodgson’s unbeaten record in Europe. He was on for only one half but there were no half measures as he hammered a stunning 14-minute hat-trick to turn this Europa League game on its head and leave Liverpool on the verge of a place in the knock-out stages.

If Anfield patrons had cause for welcoming Gerrard’s loyalty during the summer, Hodgson may reflect on it with barely-disguised relief after his inspirational midfielder spared him more discomfort in a brief reign that has hardly been plain sailing.

A weakened Liverpool line-up were distinctly second-best in a first half dominated by Napoli, with attacking midfielder Ezequiel Lavezzi calling the shots and threatening to take the game beyond the reach of Hodgson’s labouring side.

Lavezzi, a Carlos Tevez lookalike with his darting runs and sky blue kit, laid on openings for Marek Hamsik and Edinson Cavani before taking over shooting duties himself — to devastating effect.

Jonjo Shelvey almost paid for a misdirected pass in the 24th minute as Lavezzi advanced on goal from the halfway line and unleashed a drive that swerved narrowly wide of the far post, with Pepe Reina struggling to reach it. There were no reprieves four minutes later as Levazzi latched on to Cavani’s headed through ball and slid an unerring finish past the advancing Reina.


Capitalise: Napoli's Ezequiel Lavezzi handed his side a deserved first-half lead


Liverpool had mustered little in response and needed drastic action to raise their game enough to wrest the initiative from a Napoli team bearing little resemblance to the misfiring, toothless outfit that stumbled to a 0-0 stalemate in Italy a fortnight ago.

It looked a lost cause until Gerrard stepped forward with a timely reminder that nothing is evidently beyond his powers, particularly on European nights at Anfield.

The Europa League may be a poor substitute for UEFA’s premier club competition, the one in which Gerrard longs to test himself on an annual basis, but it hardly seemed to matter. He was far more concerned with proving he is no poor substitute, as he went on in place of Milan Jovanovic and began the task of hauling his side back from the brink.

The mere sight of him warming up during the interval was enough to draw the biggest cheer of the night thus far but there was no hint of the drama to come as Liverpool squandered two glaring chances in quick succession in the 52nd minute, with Gerrard to blame for the second miss.

David Ngog fired straight at goalkeeper Morgan de Sanctis from point blank range, after being set up by Raul Meireles, and Gerrard, to his dismay, blazed the rebound yards over from an equally inviting position. Shelvey miscued a header hopelessly on the hour, and the tale of woe continued in the 65th minute when Ngog turned inside the area and Meireles stepped in to drill a shot wide with the goal gaping.


Game changer: Gerrard instantly upped the tempo and his team-mates soon followed


As the television cameras panned round to the directors’ box, they caught new owner John Henry shaking his head. It was almost imperceptible, but a shake of the head, nonetheless.

Down below him, Hodgson continued to pace anxiously round the technical area, mindful that a first defeat in Europe after five wins and two draws could undo all the progress made with much-needed victories against Blackburn and Bolton in the Barclays Premier League.


Spot on: After Glen Johnson was tripped, Gerrard notched his second from 12yards


He need not have worried. Not with Gerrard in the mood to snatch the initiative back Liverpool’s way, a mission that began to unfold in the 75th minute following an error by the hapless Andrea Dossena. The former Liverpool left-back, derided throughout his 18 months on Merseyside, at last found a way of endearing himself to an unforgiving Liverpool public with an underhit back pass that triggered a race for possession between Gerrard and De Sanctis.

There was only ever going to be one winner, and Gerrard duly got there first with an outstretched boot that forced the ball past the onrushing keeper and into the net.


Chipping in: The captain completed his hat-trick in spectacular fashion


The Anfield skipper said: ‘When you’re in that position against a giant of a goalkeeper you’ve just got to go in and hope for the best. There was no class involved, just determination and desire. I don’t think the keeper fancied it.’

An ugly foul by Salvatore Aronica on Glen Johnson gave Gerrard the chance to fire Liverpool in front from the penalty spot in the 87th minute.

The England midfielder’s fourth hat-trick was complete in the 89th minute after he surged clear and lifted a clever finish over the stranded De Sanctis after the ball had broken to him following a midfield tackle by Lucas.






source: dailymail

AC Milan 2 Real Madrid 2: Jose has last laugh after Pedro's last-gasp equaliser

By SPORTSMAIL REPORTER

Goal poacher: Filippo Inzaghi heads Milan level


Real Madrid coach Jose Mourinho returned to the San Siro to a cacophony of insults after holding three fingers up to AC Milan fans but he left with Champions League last-16 qualification after a 2-2 draw on Wednesday.

Pedro Leon struck the all-important equaliser for the visitors deep into stoppage time after fellow substitute Filippo Inzaghi had netted two trademark poacher's goals to turn the game following Gonzalo Higuain's effort on halftime.

'It was a goal that gave us great satisfaction, it was good for Pedro Leon but great for the team because we still haven't lost and we are through,' said Mourinho.

The charismatic Portuguese led Inter Milan - who share the San Siro as a ground with AC Milan - to the European Cup and an unprecedented Italian treble last term and was determined to remind rival Milan supporters as he made the provocative fingered gesture on the bus arriving for the Group G game.

His first return to the famous stadium since leaving Inter in May started with an enormous explosion of whistles from the 75,000 Milan fans when his name was read out over the speakers.

His appearance from the tunnel sparked a volley of obscene chants but the livid Rossoneri faithful were soon silenced as classy Real took charge and went ahead when Higuain found a vast hole in the Milan's defence to finish off Angel Di Maria's pass.


White hot: Gonzalo Higuain scores for Real Madrid


Milan, who meekly lost 2-0 at the Bernabeu two weeks ago, were thoroughly second best but the introduction of 37-year-old Inzaghi completely changed the game.

The evergreen striker, little used these days, nodded in after Iker Casillas flapped at Zlatan Ibrahimovic's cross on 68 minutes and he prodded in his second 10 minutes later although Mourinho was adamant he was offside.

'Inzaghi is important because at 37 he always has enthusiasm and he encourages the young players,' Milan coach Massimilano Allegri said.

Real have never won at the San Siro but it almost felt like a win to them when Pedro Leon appeared from nowhere to score.

Mourinho had the last laugh over the Milan fans as he waved his arms about in delight and stuck his tongue out before remembering the game was not yet over and quickly grabbing substitute Raul Albiol to tell him to go on with seconds left.



Trademark celebration: Jose Mourinho ran down the touchline and punched the air after Pedro Leon's last-gasp equaliser


Auxerre's win over Ajax in the other group game meant the draw was enough to seal Real's passage into February's first knockout round, where they have lost for the last six seasons.

Their chances of progressing beyond that stage this term look high given Mourinho's immense skill and pedigree and the fact he desperately wants to become the first coach to win the European Cup with three different teams - he also triumphed with Porto in 2004 - as early as possible.

Second-placed Milan's future under novice former Cagliari coach Allegri is less clear but a trip to Auxerre and a final home game against Ajax should herald qualification despite striker Alexandre Pato's woeful form.

Ibrahimovic's inability to make a major impression in the big matches also continues to undermine his enormous talent.

Real's Cristiano Ronaldo was also not at his best and went down theatrically clutching his face after a minor tangle with Ignazio Abate, prompting more anger from Milan fans.







source :dailymail