Friday 30 August 2013

Week 2: Premier League Action Summary

Sports - Football - Premier League - Action Summary - Week 2 

The second week of action saw 10 games, only 17 goals, 9 in the first half, 8 in the second half, 1 in injury time; 251 attempts, 81 on target and 87 corners; 221 fouls, 29 bookings, 1 red card, 2 penalties, both scored. 

Most scored: At the Cardiff City Stadium (5); by Cardiff (3) and Arsenal (3) at Craven Cottage. 

Top creators: Everton (22 attempts, 8 on target, 11 corners) at Goodison Park. 

Main offenders: Norwich (19 fouls) at the KC Stadium, Swansea (4 bookings) at White Hart Lane and Hull City (1 red + 1 yellow card) at the KC Stadium. 

Click here to read more: The action summary of all ten matches of the second week of the Premier League 2013-14 season: http://thefootballgene.com/2013/09/1337/

Stats & Facts Sources: BBC website & MOTD 

Tuesday 27 August 2013

Reds Through After Six-Goal ET-Thriller

Sports - Football - Capital One Cup - Liverpool 4-2 Notts County

Record winners Liverpool were pushed into extra time before finally beating League One side Notts County 4-2 in the Capital One 2nd Round tie at Anfield.



The game started too comfortable for the home side, the Reds dominating possession and play on the first half. Raheem Sterling opened the scoring early on in the fourth minute beating two defenders to clip a shot in after a fine run from 40 yards out.

Daniel Sturridge doubled the score slamming in Steven Gerrard's cross from a tight angle.

The only downer for the home side was the early change they had to make after just nine minutes, defender
Aly Cissokho hobbling off and being replaced by Daniel Agger following a challenge from Magpie's Jamal Campbell Ryce.

Gerrard, Agger and
Kolo Toure all hit the woodwork as Brendan Rodgers' men looked nearly certain to progress through to the third round without too much of a sweat.

But the visitors pulled off an unexpected turnaround in the second half,
Yoann Arquin smashing in a powerful header with just under half an hour to go before Adam Coombles netted the Martinique international's fine run and pull-back-pass to complete he visitor's comeback. 

Meanwhile, Joe Allen had limped off the pitch injured for the Reds.

Extra time brought extra pains and strains on to Liverpool after Toure was forced off injured, reducing the home side to ten men as they had used up all three of their substitutions in normal play time.

But the Reds restored their lead in the 109th minute when Sturridge squeezed in his second goal of the night under County keeper
Bartosz Bialkowski.

Substitute
Jordan Henderson sealed the win with a cheeky nutmeg through defender Enda Stevens
before curling a low shot into the bottom corner to make it 4-2 to the Reds.

Liverpool 4-2 Notts County (AET; FT 2-2; HT 2-0)

Liverpool Goals: 1.: 3:53min Raheem Sterling (31), 2. & 3.: 28:53 & 108:34min Daniel Sturridge (15), 4.: 109:40min Jordan Henderson (14).
Notts County Goals: 1.: 61:56min Yoann Arquin (15), 2.: 83:24min Adam Coombes (14).

Liverpool Team: 22 Mignolet; 20 Cissokho (5 Agger- 10.min), 47 Wisdom (booked 98.min), 4 Toure, 2 Johnson; 24 Allen (14 Henderson- 65.min), 8 Gerrard; 31 Sterling (booked 106.min), 6 Luis Alberto (10 Coutinho- 72.min), 33 Ibe; 15 Sturridge. 4-2-3-1

Subs not used: 1 Jones, 9 Aspas, 21 Lucas, 29 Borini.

Notts County Team: 1 Bialkowski; 24 Stevens, 4 Liddle, 5 Smith, 2 Dumbuya; 11 Bell (14 Coombes- 82.min), 22 Fotheringham (28 Boucaud- 77.min), 16 Labadie, 20 Campbell-Ryce (booked 52.min) (21 Thompson- 71.min); 8 McGregor; 15 Arquin (booked 77.min). 4-4-1-1
Subs not used: 19 Murray, 23 Speiss, 25 Tempest, 31 Nangle.

Opta Match Stats: Liverpool-Notts County

-Attack-
Shots: 28-10
On target: 9-5
Blocked: 5-2
From outside the box: 13-4
Inside: 15-6
Shot accuracy: 39.1%-62.5%

-General Play-
Possession:
62.9%-37.1%
Duels won: 56.7%-43.3%
Aerial duels won: 64.3%-35.7%
Interceptions: 8-20
Offsides: 5-4
Corners: 8-3

-Distribution-
Total passes:
829-473
Long: 8.9%-14.4%
Accuracy: 90%-80.5%
Accuracy opposition half: 82.3%-68.1%
Total crosses: 20-16
Successful crosses: 30%-18.8%

-Defence & Discipline-
Tackles:
33-40
Won: 78.8%-92.5%
Clearances: 45-32
Fouls conceded: 10-18
Yellow cards: 2-2
Red cards: 0-0

Friday 23 August 2013

Week 1: Premier League Action Summary

Sports - Football - Premier League - Action Summary - Week 1

The first week of action saw 10 games, 25 goals, 238 fouls, 30 bookings, 2 red cards, 5 penalties, 3 scored, 2 saved, 262 attempts, 80 on target and 101 corners. 

Most scored: Manchester United (4 goals) at the Liberty Stadium and Manchester City (4) at the Etihad Stadium. 

Main offenders: Southampton (24 fouls) at The Hawthorns and Arsenal (4 bookings, 1 red card) at the Emirates. 

Top creators: Liverpool (26 attempts, 11 on target, 12 corners) at Anfield.

Click here to read more: The action summary of all ten matches of the first week of the Premier League 2013-14 season: http://thefootballgene.com/2013/08/premier-league-action-summary-match-week-1

Stats & Facts Sources: BBC website & MOTD

Saturday 17 August 2013

2nd Half Notes: LFC 1-0 SCFC

Sports - Football - Premier League - 2nd Half Notes: LFC 1-0 SCFC

SCFC kick off 2nd half!

47. Coutinho runs & sends the ball wide, fine bright start by the Reds again!

50. Clearance made by Toure!

54. Begovic clears another golden chance, denying Henderson.

59. Stoke enjoying more possession the start of the second half, less pressure from the home side, more even game.

61. Coutinho turn & pace, puts ball through to Sturridge who runs too far on the left again & is denied by Begovic again.

62. Gerrard corner headed wide by Aspas.

63. Stoke changes: 7 Pennant & 16 Adam on for 26 Etherington & 6 Whelan, Hughes has had enough of the new boys.

64. Aspas shot comes off the post, think Begovic got a touch, what a save, LFC denied AGAIN! Corner defended well...

65. Enrique puts chance high.

68. Pennant takes Stoke free kick from right, ball eventually falls to Huth who puts a scruffy kick through to Mignolet who holds on to it! Gerrard is down injured! Physio comes on... The skipper's ok!

71. Walters hot straight to Mignolet. 72. 1st LFC change: 9 Aspas is replaced by 31 Sterling, applause all round!

74. Sturridge fires one through, angled across, wide.

76. Toure booked for a late tackle, Mignolet collects ball.

78. Free kick to the Reds bang front of goal outside the box, what a smacker by Gerrard, the rocket was stopped by Begovic, whipped around for a corner. Ball goes ping-pong & out, awkward one, put out by Begovic for another corner, cleared. Action areas: 19-44-37.

81. Last Stoke change, 25 Crouch off for 9 Jones, applause all round again, nice one for the former Red.

82. Adam high chip punches out for a corner by Mignolet, LFC defending nervously, ball eventually goes out for a goal kick.

84. Toure & Agger come up from the back for a Gerrard corner, the latter thinks he got pushed there. Another corner, with pace into Begovic's gloves.

86. LFC press on but come to nothing, frustrating finish for the home side, nervous to keep hold of this lead!!!

88. Free kick to Stoke, will this be the sucker punch... 

PENALTY for handball against Agger & Mignolet SAVES it!!! To his right! What a finish!!! Corner, free kick, Mignolet... This is killing me! Another corner to visitors... Or they think so... Goal kick taken...

And the players are at each others' throats! Ref's doing a good job talking to both captains, calming them down... What a game!!! Free kick to LFC near the halfway line...

3 minutes added on... Coutinho sends a chance wide... Corner to LFC, they're wasting time... Another corner... YNWA echoing around the KOP!

Last time LFC won opening game of the season at home was 12 years ago against West Ham...

Goal kick, Walters has it... OMG... Stoke still attacking... Cleared...

And that's FT after 4 minutes added on, Mignolet has saved LFC's 1-0 win against a stubborn Stoke with a heroic penalty save! Sturridge's goal won the game, Begovic's man-of-the-match performance with save after save was all for nothing in the end. Rodgers & co can & will be very relieved! And I can breath again...

1st & 2nd half stats: LFC v SCFC:
Attempts: 10-3 & 11-4
On target: 6-2 & 3-3
Offsides: 1-0 & 0-0
Corners: 3-4 & 6-3
Free kicks: 5-3 & 5-6
Possession: 78%-22% (10min), 61%-39% (30min), 58%-42% (HT), 55%-45% (FT)
Other stats: 45-44-11 action areas (30min), 19-44-37 (78min)

LFC team: 22 Mignolet; 3 Enrique, 5 Agger, 4 Toure (booked 76th), Johnson; 14 Henderson, 21 Lucas, 8 Gerrard; 10 Coutinho, 15 Sturridge, 9 Aspas (31 Sterling - 72nd). 4-3-3
Subs not used: 1 Jones, 6 Alberto, 24 Allen, 29 Borini, 47 Wisdom, 33 Ibe.

SCFC team: 1 Begovic; 3 Pieters, 4 Huth, 17 Shawcross, 20 Cameron; 8 Palacios, 15 N'Zonzi (booked 45), 6 Whelan (16 Adam - 63rd); 26 Etherington (7 Pennant - 63rd), 25 Crouch (9 Jones - 81st), 19 Walters. 4-3-3
Subs not used: 29 Sorensen, 5 Muniesa, 12 Wilson, 33 Jerome.

Referee: Martin Atkinson
Man of the match: Asmir Begovic
At Anfield

HT Notes: LFC 1-0 SCFC

Sports - Football - Premier League - HT Notes: LFC 1-0 SCFC

LFC kick off the game!

7. First corner to LFC, cleared, dominating possession & chances early on, Stoke on the counter, Cameron run from the left side, wins a corner.

8. Huth strike off the post! Not a happy moment for Mignolet, scare for LFC!

11. Sturridge heads in perfect Gerrard free kick! Goal disallowed offside, JUST right! Close one!

13. Corner by Gerrard, Toure header off the bar! Rebound put high & out by Sturridge, close again for LFC! Pressure's on Stoke!

14. Sturridge is in again, goes wide, shoots in from left, well saved & pushed away by Begovic! What a game!!!

16. LFC pressing on to Stoke's box, visitors keep blocking out stubborn Reds.

17. Former Red Crouch concedes free kick.

18. Crouch goes down in the box against Johnson, nothing given, good decision by the ref, was a bit drama queen by the giant!

19. Mignolet continuing his nervy start giving the ball away...

20. Coutinho to Aspas in the box, not a good pass, ball goes too far & out for a goal kick.

23. Coutinho sends another chance high, fine cross from Lucas on the right.

27. The game has calmed down a lot! Kick-about in the midfield, no real threat by either side...

29. Terrific save by Begovic off Enrique, lovely buildup, Gerrard hammers rebound high. 45-44-11 action areas! 61%-39% possession! All LFC!

35. Henderson denied by Begovic, fantastic run, cut in to the keeper, still no breakthrough for LFC!

37. Sturridge smacks one in from the right after a fine run into the box, another block by Begovic!

GOAL! 36:50min And Sturridge gets the breakthrough from outside the box, through the defender's legs & past Begovic. FINALLY! 1-0

42. What a save by Mignolet! Superb blast-shot from outside the box by Walters! Corner comes to nothing. First real test for the new keeper, definitely passed that one!

45. Lucas booked for reckless challenge against N'Zonzi, free kick from edge of the box, out for a corner. Looked like the ball came off Huth actually... Correction: Booking went to N'Zonzi for unsporting behaviour.

46. Lucas denies Stoke off the line! Shawcross with the flick-on off the corner! 1 minute added on this action-packed half! Another corner for Stoke, taken quickly, half time whistle goes!

Wow! I can breath! Daniel Sturridge with the goal giving the home side the lead after LFC dominated play with some lovely interplay & buildups & both sides hit the bar & put on the pressure.

1st half stats: LFC-SCFC
Attempts: 10-3
On target: 6-2
Offsides: 1-0
Corners: 3-4
Free kicks: 5-3
Possession: 78%-22% (10min), 61%-39% (30min), 58%-42% (HT)
Other stats: 45-44-11 action areas (30min)

LFC team: 22 Mignolet; 3 Enrique, 5 Agger, 4 Toure, Johnson; 14 Henderson, 21 Lucas, 8 Gerrard; 10 Coutinho, 15 Sturridge, 9 Aspas. 4-3-3
Subs: 1 Jones, 6 Alberto, 24 Allen, 29 Borini, 31 Sterling, 47 Wisdom, 33 Ibe.

SCFC team: 1 Begovic; 3 Pieters, 4 Huth, 17 Shawcross, 20 Cameron; 8 Palacios, 15 N'Zonzi (booked 45), 6 Whelan; 26 Etherington, 25 Crouch, 19 Walters. 4-3-3
Subs: 29 Sorensen, 5 Muniesa, 7 Pennant, 9 Jones, 12 Wilson, 16 Adam, 33 Jerome.

Referee: Martin Atkinson

Saturday 10 August 2013

Premier League 2013-14 Season Preview

Sports - Football - Premier League - 2013-14 Season Preview
 
With the new season just a week away, here is a look at the 20 teams that will fight it out in the Premier League. Sir Alex Ferguson's retirement, the return of the Special One, big spenders and will-he-stay-or-will-he-go transfer dramas of you-know-who promise more unpredictable twists and turns at the top, whilst newly promoted Cardiff City, Crystal Palace and Hull City will be making sure to mix up the rest:
 
Part One: Summary, facts, stats and transfers of Arsenal, Aston Villa, Cardiff City, Chelsea and Crystal Palace =>  http://thefootballgene.com/2013/08/premier-league-preview-part-1/
 
Part Two: Summary, facts, stats and transfers of Everton, Fulham, Hull City, Liverpool and Manchester City => http://thefootballgene.com/2013/08/premier-league-preview-part-2/
 
Part Three: Summary, facts, stats and transfers of Manchester United, Newcastle, Norwich, Southampton and Stoke City => http://thefootballgene.com/2013/08/premier-league-preview-part-3/
 
Part Four: Summary,  facts,  stats and transfers of Sunderland, Swansea, Tottenham, West Brom and West Ham => http://thefootballgene.com/2013/08/premier-league-preview-part-4/
 
Sources: Sky Sports website (for transfers), BBC Football & Wikipedia websites & FourFourTwo Season Preview magazine (for stats & facts).