27
Filed under:
Premier League by:
Imad Malik
Steven Gerrard and Yossi Benayoun scored second-half goals as Liverpool toiled to a 2-0 win over ten-man Wolves at Anfield on Saturday.
The Reds were frustrated by Mick McCarthy’s team until referee Andre Marriner sent Stephen Ward off just after the interval.
Gerrard soon scored his first goal in almost two months — his fifth of the campaign — to put Liverpool ahead.
And Benayoun was also on the scoresheet to give the scoreline a decisive feel that Liverpool, who had won only four of their previous 17 games, did not deserve on their performance in the first hour.
Whether this is the start of a revival will be put to the test when they travel to Aston Villa on Tuesday. Read more…
24
Filed under:
Premier League by:
galacticos
Manchester City’s defence has been particularly charitable in the run-up to Christmas and new manager Roberto Mancini’s first task will be to inject some Scrooge-like meanness.
Italian coaches are renowned for their devotion to miserly defending and the former Sampdoria striker will not tolerate donations to Stoke City on Boxing Day as he begins his reign at the world’s richest club.
City have conceded three goals in each of their last three league games since beating leaders Chelsea.
“You cannot win games without scoring goals and my teams in Italy never played for 0-0 draws but it is important to defend well too,†the 45-year-old Mancini, who won three consecutive Serie A titles as coach of Inter Milan, said as he prepared for the hectic holiday programme in the snowbound north.
“The games come thick and fast over Christmas and New Year but we have five days to work with the back line. For me it is important that the team has a balance.†Read more…
