Liverpool 2 Manchester City 2: Mancini has a real fight on his hands to lift champions

One of Roberto Mancini’s favourite current mantras is that champions need to improve if they are to stay ahead of the rest.

At the moment, though, the opposite is true of Manchester City. Two games into the defence of their Barclays Premier League title and the Italian’s team look a shadow of their true selves.
City more than played their part in a lively game at Anfield on Sunday afternoon. One thing last season’s championship has given them is belief. For the third league game running, City came from 2-1 down to earn something from the match.

Capitalise: Carlos Tevez popped up to score Man City's second equaliser

Keeping his cool: Tevez celebrates after grabbing City's second

MATCH FACTS

Liverpool: Reina; Kelly (Enrique 66), Coates, Skrtel, Johnson; Gerrard, Lucas (Shelvey 5), Allen; Borini (Carroll 83), Suarez, Sterling.
Subs not used: Jones, Carragher, Henderson, Downing.
Goals: Skrtel 34, Suarez 66.
Booking: Suarez
Man City: Hart; Kolo Toure, Kompany, Zabaleta; Milner (Silva 76), De Jong, Yaya Toure, Kolarov; Nasri (Rodwell 59); Tevez, Balotelli (Dzeko 62).
Subs not used: Pantilimon, Savic, Lescott, Razak.
Goals: Yaya Toure 63, Tevez 80.
Referee: Andre Marriner.
Attendance: 44,942.

This, however, cannot go on. If City are to successfully defend their title then rollercoaster days like this one and the one they endured at home to Southampton will not get the job done. Mancini will take heart from another comeback. His team remain hard to beat. Nevertheless they were given two goals here by Liverpool’s defence and created precious little of note apart  from that.
Some may argue that Mancini’s  tinkering with his formation isn’t helping and there may be something in that. On Sunday he reverted to a three-man central defensive line that featured a reserve, Kolo Toure, and Pablo Zabaleta, who is a full back.
With Liverpool operating with just one central forward, Luis Suarez, this was puzzling, especially given that Joleon Lescott was among the substitutes and is not injured.
Frankly, City looked laboured for long periods. Dreadful in the first half, they did get better as the game wore on and perhaps even finished the game the stronger team. A point, though, was the very most they deserved.

Boom: Martin Skrtel opens the scoring for Liverpool

Roar: Skrtel enjoys a wild celebration

One would imagine they will improve. Players such as David Silva and Mario Balotelli look as though they are still finding their sharpness after post-Euro 2012 lay-offs. The same can be said of England midfielder James Milner.
Mancini, though, will hope that improvement arrives soon. Games against Stoke City and Arsenal are on the horizon, as is the Champions League, and City need to find a better stride.
On Sunday, they found themselves facing a Liverpool team still settling down under the guidance of a new manager, Brendan Rodgers. After last week’s defeat at West Bromwich Albion, Liverpool’s anxious supporters came hoping for an afternoon of reassurance — and, for a while, looked as though they might get it.
One of the most impressive things about Rodgers’ management is its confidence. He chose a 17-year-old, Raheem Sterling, on the left side and left three products of the Kenny Dalglish era —  Stewart Downing, Andy Carroll and Jordan Henderson — on the bench.

Back level: Yaya Toure levels from close range

Nice one: Yaya Toure is congratulated

In the centre of the field, meanwhile, young Joe Allen — bought by Rodgers from his old club Swansea — looked an assured and confident footballer. Allen looked comfortable in his surroundings, passed the ball rhythmically and, though his influence waned late on, was the most impressive player on the pitch.
With City so uncertain early on, there was opportunity for Liverpool to impose themselves. For a while they didn’t really take it. Fabio Borini volleyed a chance wide from a Sterling cross, while at the other end Carlos Tevez ran on to a Samir Nasri pass to roll a shot against a post.
Midway through the half,  however, Liverpool began to gather momentum. A Borini shot was charged down by Kolo Toure, while another from  Suarez cannoned away off  Vincent Kompany.
Then, 10 minutes before half-time, a goal. Steven Gerrard curled a corner in from the right and Martin Skrtel, leaving  Aleksandar Kolarov in his wake, thundered in from the edge of the penalty area to send a punishing header high into the net.

Precision: Luis Suarez curls home Liverpool's second

Upset: Samir Nasri (right) and his Man City colleagues react to going a goal behind

It was a goal to bring a game to life and that is precisely what it did. The Kop were exultant at half-time and would have been even more excitable had Suarez found the corner of the goal as he moved on to an Allen lay-off 20 yards out.
As it was, Liverpool still had a precious lead and City had a game to chase.
Early in the second period the game followed a similar pattern. Liverpool looked confident, while City lacked fluency.
Had Borini provided a better pass for Suarez after intercepting a rank Yaya Toure pass in the 50th minute, then the home team might have sealed the game. As it was, Tevez skipped past Sterling to cross from the byline 15 minutes later and when Reina and Skrtel got in each other’s way the ball bounced off Martin Kelly’s knees to allow Yaya Toure to turn it in for the equaliser from six yards.

Opportunity: Raheem Sterling was given his full league debut

Hart to handle: Luis Suarez was a handful

Back in the contest unexpectedly, City now had an opportunity to strangle the game. They did improve but Liverpool resisted and the excitement levels edged up a notch or two when they regained the lead.
Substitute Jack Rodwell was perhaps unfortunate to be penalised for handball when blocking a Gerrard shot. Replays showed the ball bounced up off his knee to strike his arm. Nevertheless, the subsequent positioning of the City defensive wall was lamentable and Suarez’s expertly taken free-kick found its way round the side and into the  bottom left corner of Joe Hart’s net. This was turning into a dreadful afternoon for defenders. Each of the three goals could have been prevented.

Frustration: Fabio Borini missed a good chance

Firebrand: Tevez takes it past Martin Kelly

Worse was to come, however, and this time the culprit was scorer Skrtel. Under pressure on the touchline, the Slovak committed the cardinal sin of passing back without looking. The lurking Tevez found himself presented with a gift and eased himself past Reina to roll his 100th goal in English football into an empty net.
For Liverpool, it was like a balloon had burst. A win would have done much for them ahead of challenges to come. As for City, they are unbeaten after two. That is probably the most positive way to spin it.

Home boy: Brendan Rodgers took charge of Liverpool in the league at Anfield for the first time

Off: Lucas Leiva was substituted early with an injury while Carroll started on the bench

At last! Spurs midfielder Modric finally completes £27m move to Madrid

Luka Modric will be unveiled as a Real Madrid player after they hammered out a €34million (£26.9m) move for the midfielder on Sunday night. 

The fee is a blow for Tottenham chairman Daniel Levy, who was holding out for a figure in the region of £35m-plus. 
Spurs are desperate to bolster their squad after a slow start to the season and the money will help fund moves for two Brazilians they are chasing — Willian of Shakhtar Donetsk and  Leandro Damiao of Internacional.

Done deal: Luka Modric has signed for Real Madrid from Tottenham

 

Manager Andre Villas-Boas is keen to sign at least three before the transfer window shuts on Friday. Fulham’s Moussa Dembele is much admired at White Hart Lane and Spurs scouts also watched France striker Loic Remy come on as a second-half substitute on Sunday as Marseille beat Montpellier 1-0. 

The north London club continue to pursue young defenders too, with Liam Moore, 19, of Leicester watched in their 2-1 defeat at Blackburn. Moore also interests Manchester United and Everton.

Wanted: Shakhtar Donetsk's Willian (top) is a target for Tottenham

Tottenham remain keen on Ezekiel Fryers, 19, the former United defender who has signed for Standard Liege but could be pursued in January. A Spurs deal for Fryers fell through, with United looking for £6m in compensation from any English club that signed him.
QPR plan to resume negotiations over a deal for Tottenham defender Michael Dawson today but he is reluctant to leave White Hart Lane. Stoke will also revisit a loan for Tom Huddlestone.

On his way? Michael Dawson could yet leave Spurs for Queens Park Rangers

Another midfield target of Spurs, Rennes’ Yann M’Vila, is also on a list of Arsenal targets but the Gunners may prefer a £15m move for his France teammate Yohan Cabaye of Newcastle.
Manager Arsene Wenger, who initially targeted Newcastle’s Cheick Tiote and also wants another defender, said: ‘I anticipate that we will do something. Defensive midfielder? It depends on the quality of the players available.’

Stoke 0 Arsenal 0: Misfiring Gunners! Wenger's side look solid but RVP is missed

 

At least they didn't crack. It might not be saying much for a team of Arsenal's renowned passing pedigree, but after years of suffering at the Britannia Stadium, Arsene Wenger will surely take this result.

Battered, bruised and beaten on more visits than he cares to  remember, the Arsenal manager saw his side for once stand up to the traditional bombardment and emerge with their goal intact.

No way through: Arsenal were the dominant force, but could not make the pressure count

MATCH FACTS

Stoke: Begovic, Wilkinson, Huth, Shawcross, Wilson, Pennant (Jerome 65), Cameron, Whelan (Palacios 81), Kightly, Walters, Crouch (Shotton 79).
Subs not used: Sorensen, Jones, Upson, Delap.
Booked: Huth, Wilkinson
Arsenal: Mannone, Jenkinson, Mertesacker, Vermaelen, Gibbs, Arteta, Diaby, Cazorla (Ramsey 81), Podolski (Oxlade-Chamberlain 72), Giroud, Gervinho (Walcott 72).
Subs: Martinez, Andre Santos, Djourou, Coquelin.
Referee: Lee Mason (Lancashire)
Attendance: 27,072

Of more concern is that this was their second goalless draw in a row, but the Arsenal manager will  consider it a step in the right  direction that the soft centre Stoke used to expose with ruthless  efficiency has been stiffened.

It may well be the influence of one-time defensive stalwart Steve Bould, in his new capacity as first-team coach, that enabled Wenger's side to repel every set-piece and cross Stoke could throw at them.

Either way, they looked more secure than at any time since Stoke returned to the Barclays Premier League and prevented so much as a single clear-cut opportunity being created.
Stoke's new signing Geoff Cameron tested goalkeeper Vito Mannone, in for the injured Wojciech Szczesny, and Jonathan Walters fluffed a half-chance near the end, yet never once did Arsenal's goal look like being breached.
Neither, in truth, did Stoke's during a low-key game that had little to commend it other than Arsenal looking more organised and resilient at the back and Santi Cazorla emerging as the pick of Wenger's summer signings.

Disallowed: Walters had the ball in the back of the net but the effort was chalked off for offside

 

Wenger could do with those purchases deflecting some of the attention from the damaging  departure of Robin van Persie, but the sense of loss may well linger for a while yet, on this evidence.

Cazorla did most to take Arsenal minds off their former skipper. Singled out by Stoke manager Tony Pulis as the main threat, the £12million signing from Malaga lived up to his billing.

He did it the Arsenal way, too, frequently bringing the ball out of defence with the sort of composure Wenger demands of his players and always at the hub of Arsenal's best moments.

Warm welcome: The Stoke fans treated the visiting manager to a rousing reception - and one fan ribbed the Gunners boss over another of his stars departing for Manchester (below)

Lukas Podolski will need more than an over-reliance on his left foot to draw comparisons with Van Persie, but was at least a willing worker, while Olivier Giroud already looks ominously like another  sub-standard Arsenal signing up front in the mould of Marouane Chamakh and Gervinho.

For all Wenger's pre-match plaudits about Stoke seeing the light and adopting a more continental passing approach after last season's Europa League experience, it was soon evident that a visit to the Britannia has lost none of its physical intensity.

Stoke haven't changed, Arsene. A glance at their most significant signing, American midfielder Geoff Cameron, would have told you that. At 6ft-plus and powerfully built, he fits the Stoke template, and he even has a long throw, to confirm the impression that Pulis has unearthed a successor to Rory Delap.

No way through: Arsenal enjoyed the vast amount of possession, but could find a way to goal

If that sent a shudder of apprehension through Wenger, an expertly drilled Arsenal defence superbly marshalled by Thomas Vermaelen soon reassured him there would be no repeat of the disarray caused in previous seasons.

Though Peter Crouch won an early header to set up an opening Walters converted from an offside position, there were few alarms from then on, as Stoke were limited to just one other glimpse of  Arsenal's goal following a precise through-ball from Robert Huth to Walters in the 29th minute.

The centre back's carefully measured pass from the edge of his own area showed lines can be cleared constructively and enabled Walters to set up Cameron for a 25-yard drive that Mannone clutched above his head.

Chopped down: Stoke harried their opponents in their usual physical, robust style

Most goalmouth action, for what it was, unfolded at the other end with Andy Wilkinson making up for losing his footing at the worst possible moment by hurling himself in the way of a point-blank effort from Podolski as early as the eighth minute.

Cazorla's influence was growing by the minute and he carved open Stoke's defence with a pass,  midway through the first half, that Giroud only needed to take in his stride to be through on goal. That he didn't, and let the ball slip under his boot instead, only reinforced the suspicion the France front-runner is unlikely to be the answer to Arsenal's dire need for a consistent finisher.

Flattered to deceive: Giroud may not be the striker Arsenal fans were hoping would fill Van Persie's boots

They have now gone 180 minutes without a goal this season and it will be little consolation to Wenger that they edged the chances at a venue where they have been routinely put to the sword.

The salient detail is that none of them counted, or even looked like doing. Cazorla nearly made the most of a good advantage by referee Lee Mason with a 35th-minute shot that extended Asmir Begovic, while, late on, Giroud sent a spectacular bicycle kick thudding into the turf and spinning over and Abou Diaby scuffed a close-range opportunity wide after a miskick by Huth.

Giroud tried to catch Begovic off his line with a speculative effort from the left that only just cleared the bar, but the game was, by now, petering out to inevitable stalemate.

A rare triumph at the back for Wenger in his least favourite fixture, perhaps, but it may just be back to the drawing board at the other end after more evidence that Arsenal lack a cutting edge.

Ordega hat-trick fires Falconets into quarter finals

Nigeria cruised into the quarter-finals of the FIFA U-20 women’s world cup clinging onto the top spot of their group.
Nigeria grouped with Brazil, Korea Republic and Italy thrashed Italy 4-0 to earn a place in the quarter-final thanks to Francisca Ordega who scored an hat-trick to ensure victory for the Falconets.
Italy was beaten by Korea Republic and played a draw with Brazil, Italy needed a victory against Nigeria by at least two goals to ensure their quarter-finals ticket but unfortunately it was mission impossible for Italy.
Before the clash with Italy, the Falconets had a one-point advantage at the top of Group B knowing victory against Italy will give a spot in the quarter-finals and also make them group winners.
Ordega opened the scoring midway through the first half and before the end of the half she doubled Nigeria’s lead against Italy prompting the vision of Nigeria cruising to a comfortable victory in Kobe.
Ordega completed her treble just two minutes into the second half of the game.
Substitute Osarenoma Igbinovia iced the cake with a fourth a few minutes from full time as Nigeria booked a quarter-final.
For the quarter-final clash, Nigeria will be going headlong with either Japan or New Zealand.

Rooney out for four weeks after injury blow

Manchester United striker Wayne Rooney will be missing from the Red Devils’ line-up for the next four weeks with this news, he would also miss England’s Euro 2016 qualifiers against Moldova and Ukraine at the beginning of next month suffering a deep cut to his right leg in the 3-2 win over Fulham on Saturday.
The information was revealed by Red Devils boss Sir Alex Ferguson during a post-match press conference.
According to Alex Ferguson, the injury was a very bad one and Rooney will likely be out for four week, the player has been taken to the hospital.
Rooney will now miss also the start of United’s Champions League campaign.