liverpool without steven gertad "unimaginable" says jordan handerson

Jordan Henderson and Rickie Lambert have both appealed to captain Steven Gerrard to sign a new contract and stay at Liverpool.
Vice-captain Henderson says Gerrard leaving Anfield is "unimaginable," while striker Lambert called him "Mr Liverpool."
Manager Brendan Rodgers revealed on Monday that the 34-year-old has been offered a deal to remain at Anfield beyond the end of this season.

But Gerrard, whose current contract expires next June, is thinking over his options before deciding whether to sign.

The midfielder is likely to be used more sparingly if he does stay, as Rodgers has indicated that he wants to reduce his captain's workload in order to get the best out of him.
Gerrard, a Liverpool first-team player since 1998, is considering whether that arrangement would suit him.

The former England captain was to the bench for last Saturday's 1-0 win over Stoke, before being restored to the starting line-up for Tuesday's 3-1 win at Leicester, in which he scored.
 Jordan Henderson can't even imagine what Liverpool would be like without Steven Gerrard.
Henderson told the Liverpool Echo: "Every single member of the squad hope he stays for many years to come.
"Steven knows his own mind and what he wants to do. It is down to him, the club and his representatives to sort it out.
"He is huge for us and we need to keep him for as long as we can.
"Liverpool without Steven Gerrard is unimaginable. Nobody wants to lose him -- I'm sure the club feel that way as well."
Lambert, a boyhood Liverpool fan who joined the club from Southampton in June, also wants Gerrard to stay.

The striker said: "I think I am speaking for everyone involved in Liverpool that we are desperate to keep Stevie.
"It's clear that it's his decision and the club's decision but I think he needs to stay at Liverpool for the rest of his life -- that's just my opinion.
"Stevie is his own man but he is Mr Liverpool so it's up to the club to sort out, nothing to do with me."

Manchester City now in form to fight for title, Manuel Pellegrini says

Manchester City now in form to fight for title, Manuel Pellegrini says

Manchester City boss Manuel Pellegrini believes his side have rediscovered their title-winning form after Sergio Aguero inspired a 4-1 win over Sunderland at the Stadium of Light.



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The Argentinian striker scored his side's first and fourth goals while other strikes from Stevan Jovetic and Pablo Zabaleta saw the visitors hit back from the shock of conceding an early opener to Connor Wickham.
City's win came straight after bouncing back to form with an equally comprehensive win at Southampton on Saturday and Pellegrini is convinced his side's early season struggles may now be over.
"I think we are returning to the performances we had last season," Pellegrini said. "I think if we continue playing this way of course we will fight for the title, but I think three or four other teams will also be there."

Another masterful performance from Aguero drew qualified praise from Pellegrini, who was keen to stress the team effort which enabled his side to end their run of four consecutive 1-0 defeats at the Stadium of Light.
Sergio Aguero helped Manchester City end their long drought at the Stadium of Light.
Pellegrini said: "He is an important player but it is not just Sergio Aguero -- we play in a way that it is very useful for him to score but it is important for him not just to think about scoring but to play for the team.
"There are a lot of good strikers but I said before the last game that I am sure he is one of the best five players in the world because he is not just scoring, he is playing very well."

Manchester City now in form to fight for title, Manuel Pellegrini says

Manchester City now in form to fight for title, Manuel Pellegrini says

Manchester City boss Manuel Pellegrini believes his side have rediscovered their title-winning form after Sergio Aguero inspired a 4-1 win over Sunderland at the Stadium of Light.



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The Argentinian striker scored his side's first and fourth goals while other strikes from Stevan Jovetic and Pablo Zabaleta saw the visitors hit back from the shock of conceding an early opener to Connor Wickham.
City's win came straight after bouncing back to form with an equally comprehensive win at Southampton on Saturday and Pellegrini is convinced his side's early season struggles may now be over.
"I think we are returning to the performances we had last season," Pellegrini said. "I think if we continue playing this way of course we will fight for the title, but I think three or four other teams will also be there."

Another masterful performance from Aguero drew qualified praise from Pellegrini, who was keen to stress the team effort which enabled his side to end their run of four consecutive 1-0 defeats at the Stadium of Light.
Sergio Aguero helped Manchester City end their long drought at the Stadium of Light.
Pellegrini said: "He is an important player but it is not just Sergio Aguero -- we play in a way that it is very useful for him to score but it is important for him not just to think about scoring but to play for the team.
"There are a lot of good strikers but I said before the last game that I am sure he is one of the best five players in the world because he is not just scoring, he is playing very well."

chelsea cruise past spurs,man city hit four,arsenal edge southampton

Chelsea kept up the pace at the top of the Premier League with a comprehensive win at home to Spurs, but Man City ensured the gap would stay at six points with a crushing win at Sunderland.

Arsenal needed a late goal to take the points at home to Southampton, and Hull City ended their losing run by claiming a draw at Everton.
Didier Drogba set up Eden Hazard's opener before scoring himself as Chelsea swept aside Tottenham with a 3-0 victory to extend their unbeaten start to the season.
Although Tottenham threatened early on, with Harry Kane heading against the crossbar, Chelsea took control after a Drogba-Hazard one-two created the Belgium midfielder's goal in the 19th minute.

Tottenham gifted Chelsea another goal inside three minutes, with goalkeeper Hugo Lloris' weak clearance allowing Hazard and Oscar to combine to set up Drogba's fifth goal of the season.

Easily coping without suspended top scorer Diego Costa, Chelsea exposed the feeble Tottenham defence again in the 73rd minute when substitute striker Loic Remy sidefooted in the third goal after brushing off Jan Vertonghen.

Manchester City ended a six-year wait for a Premier League win at Sunderland with an impressive 4-1 victory.
The visitors, who had lost their last four games at the Stadium of Light, fell behind in the 19th minute when Pablo Zabaleta's attempted clearance deflected off Connor Wickham and into the net.

But Sergio Aguero levelled two minutes later, rolling the ball through defender Sebastian Coates' legs before unleashing a vicious shot past goalkeeper Costel Pantilimon.
City went ahead in the 39th minute when Aguero found Stevan Jovetic, who netted from inside the area. Zabaleta added a third in the 55th minute when he lifted the ball over Pantilimon, before Aguero hit the fourth in the 71st.

Alexis Sanchez rescued Arsenal again by scoring in the 89th minute to secure a 1-0 win over Southampton.
Sanchez slotted into an empty net after Aaron Ramsey squared the ball across the goal, finally breaking down a Southampton side who had been kept in the game by a series of good saves by Fraser Forster.

It was the Chilean's ninth league goal of the season and kept Arsenal in sixth place, three points behind third-place Southampton.
Arsenal had struggled to create chances until Olivier Giroud came on midway through the second half, and Forster made two great one-handed saves to deny the France striker and Danny Welbeck as the hosts pushed for a winner.

Hull City's run of defeats came to an end as an equaliser from substitute Sone Aluko secured them a 1-1 draw at Everton.
The Toffees appeared very much in control at half-time, going in a goal up thanks to Romelu Lukaku's 34th-minute strike from a Kevin Mirallas cut-back.
But Hull battled back after the break and were level in the 59th minute when Aluko, only just introduced to the action, got past Sylvain Distin and put a nice finish past Tim Howard at his near post.

The Tigers' ex-Everton frontman Nikica Jelavic headed just wide moments later, and the visitors then hung on doggedly for a draw that takes them out of the relegation zone, which they had slipped into on Tuesday night.
Steve Bruce's men are only up a place from 18th to 17th and are clear of the drop zone on goal difference alone, but they will surely take a considerable boost from getting this point on the board after losing their previous four games.



 

Player ratings: Giroud and Sanchez make the difference for Arsenal

Player ratings: Giroud and Sanchez make the difference for Arsenal

For a long time, it looked as if Arsenal would be denied a win by the brilliance of Southampton goalkeeper Fraser Forster. Yet once again, Alexis Sanchez stepped up to provide the crucial moment for the Gunners in their 1-0 victory Wednesday.
Although Sanchez may be hailed as the hero, the game hinged on the introduction of substitute Olivier Giroud. Perhaps invigorated by the newfound competition for places, the Frenchman created chaos in the Southampton penalty area.



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When Toby Alderweireld was forced off with a hamstring injury, the Saints were forced to play the closing minutes with 10 men and the pressure eventually told.
The win moves Arsenal to within just three points of second-place Southampton and ensures they keep up the pressure on the current top four.
Player Ratings (1-10; 10=best. Players introduced after 70 minutes get no rating):
GK Emiliano Martinez, 7 -- Another very competent night between the sticks for Arsenal's young Argentine goalkeeper. If he was a little slow coming off his line to close down Graziano Pelle in the first half, he did everything else right. His kicking was strong and he claimed crosses confidently.


DF Calum Chambers, 6 -- He was obviously keen to make an impression against his former club and made a number of marauding runs down the right flank. However, his crossing occasionally let him down.


DF Laurent Koscielny, 7 -- Arsenal look so much more comfortable with the Frenchman back in their ranks. His recovery pace and positional awareness gives them added security in defence.


DF Per Mertesacker, 7 -- It's not just Arsenal who look better with Koscielny in the team -- it's Mertesacker too. The big German's flaws are assuaged by his French partner's presence, and Mertesacker seems much more confident as a result.


DF Nacho Monreal, 6 -- Monreal's spell as a centre-back seems to have imbued him with an extra element of physicality in his play, and his tenacious display kept Dusan Tadic and Shane Long at bay.
After 89 minutes of frustration, Arsenal got their winner through Alexis Sanchez.
MF Mathieu Flamini, 6 -- He was tigerish as ever at the base of the Arsenal midfield. However, the Gunners seem to miss the variety of distribution that Mikel Arteta brings the team. Flamini's passing is accurate but rarely ambitious.


MF Aaron Ramsey, 5 -- At present, injuries to Jack Wilshere and Mikel Arteta mean that Arsenal have no choice but to persist with Ramsey. It's a shame, because he looks like a player who could do with a rest. His poor form was summed up by a pass that found row Z rather than a teammate. Perhaps his confidence will be boosted by the fact that he provided the cross to create Arsenal's late winner.


MF Santi Cazorla, 6 -- In the first half, Cazorla's exquisite pass played Danny Welbeck in on goal. However, after that early piece of magic, Cazorla failed to impose himself on this game as he had against Dortmund and West Brom.
FW Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, 6 -- His substitution was greeted by boos, and this was Oxlade-Chamberlain's poorest performance in weeks. As with the rest of Arsenal's attacking contingent, his individual trickery regularly failed to come off. Perhaps his rhythm was disrupted by his surprise absence from the team against West Brom.


FW Alexis Sanchez, 6 -- This was his worst display in months, but no matter: This guy is a pure winner, and it was no surprise that he turned home Arsenal's late goal. Because of his remarkable work rate, Alexis guarantees a certain level of performance. However, in this game he rarely rose above that base standard. All too often he tried to do too much on the ball, ending up conceding possession. That will swiftly be forgotten, though...
FW Danny Welbeck, 5 -- He endured a difficult evening that started with a miscued effort from an admittedly narrow angle and, unfortunately, didn't get much better for the England international. He probably thought he'd scored when his header deflected toward goal, only to be denied by a great stop from Forster. In the second half, the Saints keeper repeated the trick to deny a curled effort inside the box.
Substitutes:


FW Olivier Giroud, 8 -- He came on after 65 minutes and made an immediate impact with, first, a thumping volley that stung Forster's hands, and then a sublime flick that created a chance for Welbeck. Giroud was involved in the goal, bringing the ball down in the penalty area and creating the chaos that led to Alexis snatching the win.


FW Lukas Podolski, NR -- Introduced as a substitute for Welbeck, Podolski was quiet besides a late shot that fizzed past the post.

Sergio Aguero wins top Football Supporters' Federation award

Manchester City striker Sergio Aguero has won Player of the Year at the 2014 Football Supporters' Federation awards.

Aguero, who was labelled this week as one of the top five players in the world by his manager Manuel Pellegrini, topped the public vote and succeeds Luis Suarez as the holder of the award.

The Argentina international beat off strong competition for the prize courtesy of his 16 Premier League goals in 2014 and performances like his recent hat trick against German champions Bayern Munich in the Champions League.

The Argentine won out over six other nominees including City teammate Yaya Toure, Liverpool's Raheem Sterling, Morgan Schneiderlin of Southampton and Chelsea pair Eden Hazard and Branislav Ivanovic.

Speaking to Sky Sports, the striker said: "It's a really, really special award because it's from the fans. I'd like to thank the players and staff at the club.

"In the last three seasons we've never given up - it's my style and City's style, but we've got the squad to stay in the title race."

Very honoured to receive the Player of the Year award from the Football Supporters Association. pic.twitter.com/hV6pHnc7qy

- Sergio Kun Aguero (@aguerosergiokun) December 1, 2014

Other winners on the night included Martin Tyler, named Commentator of the Year, and former Manchester United fullback Gary Neville who picked up Pundit of the Year for the second year running.

Nemanja Matic says Chelsea 'want to be new Invincibles' with unbeaten year

Chelsea midfielder Nemanja Matic is the first Chelsea player to go on record and suggest Jose Mourinho's side are capable of progressing through this entire Premier League season without losing a game.

Mourinho and his players have been quick to downplay suggestions that they can emulate Arsenal's achievement from the 2003-04 campaign and become English football's new "Invincibles," but Matic has his eye on that title.

"We are in a determined mood and there is more pressure for us because we want to go through the season unbeaten. We want to be the new Invincibles," he said in quotes appearing in the Daily Mirror.

"I want to win every game if possible. People can say the unbeaten record is putting more pressure on us, but I would rather have it this way because winning is never boring.

"When you win, training feels better and so does playing matches. I don't know if we are better than the Chelsea team who won the title 10 years ago, but we know our qualities and we are a stylish team."

Matic went on to warn his Chelsea teammates that one defeat could derail their Premier League title challenge, after he was a part of the Benfica side that went through the 2012-13 season unbeaten until their penultimate match, but still lost out in a tight title race to FC Porto.

"Of course we feel we can carry on winning, the confidence is there," he added. "We have approached all the games in the right context and tried to win them all, but I have been on a run like this before, at Benfica, when we went unbeaten for nearly the whole season. We lost the title in the penultimate game of the season when we lost for the first time against Porto, who went on to win the title.

"We played really well the whole season and were unbeaten for so long, but Porto also won every game. It was so hard to take. We lost the title, the Europa League and the Portuguese Cup in two weeks. These things happen maybe once in a thousand years.

"It shows what can happen and it's a lesson for Chelsea. It shows you can never be certain of anything in football. If we want to win the Premier League, we must continue playing like this in every game -- right until the end.

"Even if we are still top and unbeaten with two games to go, we must not believe we have won it. We must not stop until the title is ours. We must keep going until it is definitely won.

"Benfica is an example that anything can happen in the end. And in England, there are a lot of teams who can beat you and stop you from winning the title. We must fight and at Chelsea I believe we are ready for that."

Atletico Madrid to ban ultras group after death of supporter

Atletico Madrid say that the club will expel the "Frente Atletico" from the Estadio Vicente Calderon, having received evidence from police that members of the radical group were involved in the death of Deportivo La Coruna ultra Francisco Javier Romero Taboada last weekend.

The 43-year-old member of the "Riazor Blues" group died as the result of injuries sustained during a pre-organised street fight -- with the autopsy finding he had most likely been hit with an iron bar.

Spain's political and football authorities have all condemned the events, with sports minister Miguel Cardenal and La Liga president Javier Tebas calling for an end to the links between clubs and all ultras groups.

Eleven people have now died in separate incidents around La Liga matches over the last 32 years -- including a Real Sociedad fan who was attacked and killed outside the Calderon in 1998.

Atletico figures had at first claimed that such episodes were a broader societal problem, and not directly the responsibility of the club.

Immediately after Sunday's game club president Antonio Cerezo claimed the incident had "nothing to do with football," and chief executive Miguel Angel Gil argued that the "Frente Atletico" ultras group should not collectively be punished for the actions of some of its members.

Speaking on Tuesday, coach Diego Simeone said the ultimate responsibility for ending violent clashes between "ultras" groups lay with politicians, not those who work in football.

However, mounting public and media pressure has apparently led Atletico to reconsider its stance, and a club statement released on Tuesday afternoon said that after learning club members had been involved in the incident it had decided to end any association with the ultras group.

"Today, the club received the official police report on the game, in which the facts are described along with the names of people identified and/or detained by the police for having directly or indirectly participated in the mass brawl," the statement said.

"Among those identified are 15 people who say they are Atletico Madrid fans, eight of which are club socios [members]. All the members have been expelled without the possibility of returning in future.

"Also, as the police have proven that the 'Frente Atletico' was involved in the incidents in an organised and planned manner, the club has taken the decision to expel this group, as of from today, and to end all relations with it. The club will do everything it can to stop the exhibition of any banners or other distinctive elements of this group inside the Estadio Vicente Calderon."

Meanwhile, Deportivo have also released a statement saying that it wants a full house at next Saturday's La Liga fixture at home to Malaga to participate in a mass protest against violence in football.

"We want to promote from Deportivo that next Saturday at Riazor becomes a mass protest with a sporting spirit," the statement said. "To do that, all citizens who want to show their rejection of violence in football can show that by acquiring tickets at the symbolic price of one euro to fill the stadium and show everyone the true disposition of this unique fanbase. It will also be a gesture to ask for respect for the magnificent fans of Deportivo."

Depor appear to not be planning to take long-term measures against the "Riazor Blues," however the area of the ground where this group usually congregate will be closed for two games.

"The board of Real Club Deportivo de La Coruna, having analysed all the information available regarding the events of last Sunday in Madrid, has decided on a series of measures to lead a movement in favour of football 100 percent free of verbal and physical violence," their statement said.

"The first measure is the closure, provisional and symbolic, of the 'Maraton Inferior' area of the ground for the next two games at Riazor - tomorrow [Copa del Rey last 32 first leg, also against Malaga] and on Saturday. We know this will affect many fans who have nothing to do with this stain on football, but these will be relocated elsewhere in

Chelsea's Jose Mourinho: Forget Diego Costa ahead of Tottenham clash

Jose Mourinho has said to "forget Diego [Costa]," as Chelsea prepare for their derby against Tottenham Hotspur on Wednesday without their suspended striker.

Costa picked up his fifth booking of the season in Saturday's 0-0 draw at Sunderland and was lucky not to be sent off, meaning Chelsea will have to place full faith in Didier Drogba and Loic Remy in midweek. However, Mourinho doesn't feel his absence will influence the team's play.

"It doesn't affect it. We don't speak about Diego," Mourinho told a news conference. "We trust [Loic] Remy and [Didier] Drogba the same way we trust Diego. This is not our way of work. So forget Diego. We trust the other two and we go with the other two."

Mourinho would give no hints as to who would start, but there have been suggestions that it could be Drogba -- who has scored three goals and assisted four more in his last eight Premier League games against Spurs. Chelsea meanwhile have no other absences or injury worries, and the manager said he was hugely looking forward to the game.

"A big game, a London derby, a good team, one of the top teams in the league. We like it," he added. "I don't have to comment on [their progress]. They're just a difficult team we have to play against. That's the only thing that we have to think: it's a difficult match, so be ready for it."

Meanwhile, Mourinho hailed Chelsea's "perfect season" so far, as he said the team would have a "normal" response to Saturday's draw.

That match marked the first time that his side failed to score in this campaign, and also the first dropped points against a side outside the elite, seeing the club under the microscope for the first time.

Mourinho had previously spoken about how his team would be ready to act as soon as they encounter a negative result, and that he could not envisage a "bad period," while he claimed on Tuesday that their response would be in-keeping with the campaign to date.

"Normal [reaction]. Normal. What do you want the team to do or feel when the team is doing a perfect season?" he said. "Top of the league in the Premier League, top of the group in the Champions League, quarterfinals in the Capital One Cup, not losing a match in four months.

"The team has to feel very, very well. When the defeat arrives, we have to feel the same way. We are doing things very, very well and it's not a bad result, when a bad result arrives, that is going to change our self-belief and self-esteem."

winger>>henry willbreturn

Arsene Wenger is keen for Thierry Henry to return to Arsenal but is not sure in what role that will be.

On Monday, Henry announced he will not return to the New York Red Bulls in 2015 after more than four seasons with Major League Soccer.

The 37-year-old made 254 Premier League appearances and scored 174 goals during his first stint with Arsenal that lasted eight years.

He returned to the Gunners on a short-term loan in January 2012, making seven appearances in all competitions and netting twice.

Henry's decision to leave the New York Red Bulls has led to suggestions he could make a second comeback for Arsenal, but Wenger feels the Frenchman has yet to make up his mind on his future.

"Thierry Henry has come out... and what I understand is that he wants to reflect for a while on how he wants to go into his next life," he told a news conference.

"The only thing I would like to say is that I made him start at the age of 17 in Monaco, he is today 37 so he had 20 years of competitive football and that deserves high respect and congratulations. Not only on what he achieved but also on his attitude and his exemplarity and his focus on football. He has the right to reflect and think of what he wants to do now.

"He is an Arsenal man. It was the best moment certainly of his life and of his career has been experienced here.

"Certainly one day he will come back here. In what role I don't know, that is what he has to think about: what direction he wants to give to his next life."

Last week, Henry told L'Equipe he would love to help Arsenal win the Champions League when he does finally hang up his boots.

"Whether I see that from afar or up close is not up to me, but it's sure that I would like to help, because it's my club and as a player I wasn't able to bring them the Champions League," he said at the time, before his exit was announced.

Late David de Gea heroics help Manchester United to see off Stoke City

Juan Mata and Marcos Rojo both claimed the winner as Manchester United survived a nerve-jangling finish to beat Stoke 2-1 at Old Trafford.

Mata was credited with the decisive strike after his 59th-minute cross from a free-kick appeared to bounce straight in, although Rojo celebrated as though he had got a touch.

There was drama in injury time as David de Gea produced two brilliant saves to deny Mame Biram Diouf and Marko Arnautovic, before Ashley Young then sensationally cleared off the line from Diouf.

It secured a fourth successive Premier League win for United -- who were without captain Wayne Rooney -- but only by the skin of their teeth.

Marouane Fellaini headed the hosts ahead midway through the first half, but Steven Nzonzi equalised before the break with a superb strike.

Fellaini was also involved in a moment of controversy in the build-up to the 39th-minute Stoke leveller when he appeared to claim he was kicked in the neck by Oussama Assaidi.

The Belgian, who also spurned a good chance soon after, was still holding his neck at half-time but replays suggested Assaidi had made no contact in that area.

Rooney was still feeling the effects of banging his knee on an advertising hoarding at the weekend and United were also without record signing Angel Di Maria.

That gave youngster James Wilson a chance to play up front alongside Robin van Persie while Ander Herrera also started, but the hosts were subdued in the early stages.

It was not until they were gifted an opportunity after 17 minutes that they came to life, as Stoke goalkeeper Begovic passed to Van Persie.

The Dutchman powered into the box and pulled back to Herrera but the Spaniard was too hasty and shot over.

Herrera quickly made amends for that miss as four minutes later he collected a pass from Mata and lofted a dangerous cross for Fellaini at the back post.

Erik Pieters failed to pick up the Belgian, who timed his leap superbly to head past a helpless Begovic.

United also had a good appeal for a penalty turned down as Wilson appeared to be kicked by Geoff Cameron but referee Jon Moss gave nothing.

Stoke tried to respond and Pieters whipped in a good ball from the left looking for Stephen Ireland or Bojan Krkic, but Rojo intervened.

It was clear Stoke were not prepared to surrender in the manner Hull did at the same ground on Saturday and they pulled back level before the break.

Controversy arose as Fellaini went down clutching his neck as Assaidi won a 50-50 ball. Assaidi may have caught the United midfielder on the hand or top of the thigh in the challenge but not his neck, as the Belgian appeared to claim.

Whatever occurred, Moss saw nothing untoward and both sides played on.

Bojan ran at the heart of the United defence and was crowded out as he reached the edge of the area. United failed to clear, however, and the ball ran into the path of Nzonzi, who lashed home a fierce shot from just inside the 'D'.

Fellaini continued to hold his neck but it did not seem to be affecting him just before half-time as he went close to restoring United's lead.

United won a free-kick outside the box on the right and a shot from Van Persie took a deflection and found its way to the Belgian in front of goal. This time he scuffed a shot and Begovic saved at the second attempt.

Stoke, who lost Steve Sidwell and Glenn Whelan to injury at the weekend, had another scare early in the second half when Pieters needed lengthy treatment after a clash with Van Persie.

That incident occurred during a scrappy spell but United reclaimed the lead just before hour as Mata floated in a free-kick from the right. The ball appeared to dip over everyone in the area and bounce in at the far post, although Rojo claimed to have got a touch.

Wilson, the 19-year-old who scored twice on debut last season, almost scored a third for United after a good run from just inside the Stoke half but he clipped his shot just wide.

Wilson made another charge but was crudely hacked down by Ireland, who was booked. Another good break led to a chance for Fellaini but he blasted wide.

United

brewin:liverpool grind out win vs. leicester premier leaugue

Brewin: Liverpool grind out win vs. Leicester
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 BY RICHARD JOLLY
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Four Premier League wins in a row for Manchester United

MANCHESTER, England -- Three Points on Manchester United's 2-1 win vs. Stoke in the Premier League.

1. Mata makes the difference

balotelli apologises for recent post

Liverpool striker Mario Balotelli has issued an apology
after an image he re-posted on Instagram on Monday
led to accusations of racism and anti-Semitism.
Balotelli, 24, shared an image on Monday evening on
the social networking site featuring the Nintendo
character Mario that included the words "jumps like a
black man and grabs coins like a Jew."
The Italy international later deleted the post, describing
it as an "unlucky moment," and added that his own
adopted mother is Jewish in follow-up posts on Twitter.
However, an FA spokesperson told The Guardian the
body is investigating whether to charge Balotelli for
bringing "the game into disrepute by making comments
which included a reference to ethnic origin and/or
colour and/or race," while a Liverpool spokesman told
the Daily Telegraph: "We will be speaking to the player
about the issue."
The player himself tweeted an apology for his actions
on Tuesday morning which read: "I apologize if I've
offended anyone. The post was meant to be anti-racist
with humour. I now understand that out of context may
have had the opposite effect.
"Not all Mexicans have moustache, not all black people
jump high and not all Jewish people love money. I used
a cartoon done by someone else because it has Super
Mario and I thought it was funny and not offensive.
Again, I'm sorry."
I apologize if I've offended anyone. The post was meant
to be anti-racist with humour. I now understand that
(...) pic.twitter.com/UlNeNlEz9M
- Mario Balotelli (@FinallyMario) December 2, 2014
In the wake of the initial post, former FA executive and
current chief executive of the Jewish Leadership
Council Simon Johnson said Balotelli should face
action.
"We abhor all forms of racism, wherever it is found,"
Johnson told the Daily Telegraph. "We call upon the FA
to investigate this offensive social media post and to
take action if appropriate if we are to succeed in kicking
racism out of football."
In 2012, the FA charged then-Manchester United
defender Rio Ferdinand with improper conduct and
fined him 45,000 pounds after he referred to Chelsgea
defender Ashley Cole as "choc-ice."
Under the FA's social media guidelines, the minimum
ban for race-related breaches of rules is five games

steven gerrad can maintain his level for the next couple of years says brendan rogers

     Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers says his skipper Steven Gerrard may be "the best player to have ever played in the Premier League" and suggested he can still play at the highest level of the game for another two years.

Rodgers confirmed on Monday that Gerrard had been offered a deal to extend his 16-year stay at the club when his current contract expires at the end of this season, but his manager clearly feels he has more to offer after he claimed his 34-year-old skipper has the staying power to play for another couple of years.

However, Rodgers expects Gerrard to take his time as he weighs up his options at the back end of his career, with some media outlets in England linking the former England captain with a move to Major League Soccer in the U.S.

"I love working with Steven Gerrard, he's arguably the best player who's ever played in the Premier League," Rodgers told reporters.

"I've enjoyed every single minute of working with him here and I hope that continues, but I need to give him the opportunity to think as long as it takes in order to decide what he wants to do next.

"He's had 16 incredible years here and I believe he can continue to work at this level for the next couple of years.

"Everyone knows his history at this club. What a player he has been and still is. I see his talent every day and just need to manage that and think how it can be most effective. I love working with Steven Gerrard and I hope that continues."

Gerrard issued a brief statement on his social media account last Sunday dismissing rumours that he had fallen out with Rodgers after being left on the bench for Saturday's home game against Stoke, with his manager insisting he wants him to remain at Anfield.

"I am categorical. I want him to be here, but there is thinking time needed," added Rodgers ahead of his side's Premier League game against Leicester on Tuesday.

"With Steven he is getting to that point of his career and he will speak about the adjustments he needs to make. It is not about me to speak much about that. In time he will make the decision for his career, and we need to respect that."

FA investigate mario balotelli for instagram post

    The Football Association are investigating Mario Balotelli after an image he reposted on Instagram on Monday led to accusations of racism and antisemitism, according to multiple reports.

An image featuring the Nintendo character Mario included the words "jumps like a black man and grabs coins like a jew" appeared on Balotelli Instagram's account and was later deleted.

An FA spokesperson told the Guardian the body is investigating whether to charge Balotelli for bringing "the game into disrepute by making comments which included a reference to ethnic origin and/or colour and/or race."

The Liverpool striker defended his action on Twitter, calling it an "unlucky moment":

I just know that Those are"trying"to"kill"me for my Unlucky moment they ll need to stick with their plan even when i ll be back scoring gols

- Mario Balotelli (@FinallyMario) December 1, 2014

( my Mom is jewish so all of u shut up please)

- Mario Balotelli (@FinallyMario) December 1, 2014

"We are aware of the posting which has since been promptly deleted by the player," a Liverpool spokesman told the Telegraph. "We will be speaking to the player about the issue."

Former FA executive and current chief executive of the Jewish Leadership Council Simon Johnson said Balotelli should face action.

"We abhor all forms of racism, wherever it is found," Johnson told the Telegraph. "We call upon the FA to investigate this offensive social media post and to take action if appropriate if we are to succeed in kicking racism out of football."

In 2012, the FA charged then-Manchester United defender Rio Ferdinand with improper conduct and fined him 45,000 pounds after he referred to Chelsea defender Ashley Cole as "choc-ice."

Under the FA's social media guidelines, the minimum ban for race-related breaches of rules is five games.

steven gerrad given a new contract

LIVERPOOL -- Liverpool have offered captain Steven Gerrard a new contract, manager Brendan Rodgers has confirmed -- but the club captain is now deciding whether he wants to sign.

   Gerrard's current deal expires at the end of this season, and in mid-November the club opened talks with his representative Struan Marshall over extending it.

The 34-year-old's Anfield future has looked uncertain in recent months, with the former England captain telling the Daily Telegraph in late October that he would move elsewhere to continue his playing career if the Reds did not offer him a new contract.

   However, both Gerrard and Rodgers have dismissed reports that they have fallen out, with the manager describing rumours of a rift as "150 percent" untrue.

Rodgers told a news conference: "Steven's been offered a contract here, and that's where it's at."

However, he acknowledged that it was not guaranteed at this stage that the captain would sign the deal.

He added: "After everything he's done here, Steven deserves that respect and should be given that time to consider that.

"It's a big move, not just in his life, in terms of committing to where his next contract's going to be. He needs to be given that time to look at that.

"There are probably many things Steven has to look at in a decision like that, but it certainly won't be about money.

"I've spoken to him enough times, and at length, and that certainly won't be the case, so I think that between now and the end of the season, he deserves that opportunity to have a think as to where he's at."

Rodgers dropped Gerrard to the bench for Saturday's 1-0 home win over Stoke -- the first time the captain had not started a league game for Liverpool since Jan. 1, when he missed a 2-0 victory over Hull because of injury.

Gerrard played the final 15 minutes of the game, on what was the 16th anniversary of his first-team debut for the club, and Rodgers insisted his captain still has much to offer.

He said: "I love working with Steven Gerrard. He's arguably the best player who has ever played in the Premier League. I've enjoyed every single minute of working with him here, and I hope that continues.

"But I need to give him the opportunity to think for as long as it takes in order to decide what he wants to do next.

"I've seen some unfortunate reports yesterday about a rift between him and me.

"If there are two words that describe our relationship, they would be honesty and respect. He's been an outstanding player over his time and my time here. He's been absolutely brilliant.

"He's at the stage of his career where it's not so much about the number of games that he plays now, it's about the level of the games. That's something we'll work with and look at."

Asked directly whether there had been any fall-out with Gerrard, as had been reported on Sunday newspapers and denied by Gerrard himself, Rodgers said: "No -- 150 percent no. I was very surprised to see that. I think Steven made the same point on social media.

"He and I have a fantastic relationship. I have huge respect for him, not just as a player, but as a person."