Where would we be without Fridays and the chance to show the world just how much you know about football? Well, you’ll find out next weekend because it’s the international break, so please, make the most of it today.

Reuters Soccer Blog had a pretty good week last week, as we ran riot with a series of excellent scores. Not me, though. I think I managed five, and I’m falling back into mid-table mediocrity faster than you can say Rafa Benitez and Andriy Voronin.

To briefly recap: have a go at picking the score for this weekend’s matches in England’s Premier League. You get a point for every correct result, but make that five points if you get the score spot on. We’re doing so badly as a panel that you can join in any time and be sure of catching us up within a few weeks. Don’t be shy!

Here’s the way we stand at the moment:

Reuters Soccer Blog panel: Patrick Johnston 105, Mitch Phillips 89, Paul Radford 87, Mike Collett 76, Simon Evans 74, Mark Meadows 72, Kevin Fylan 71, Miles Evans 70, Julien Pretot 69, Neil Maidment 62, Asia Sports Desk 53, Justin Palmer 38, Martyn Herman 20, Sonia Oxley 10 (plus belated bonus from last week, =15)

Fraid I’ve lost count of the Rest of the World scores but please let me know where you stand. And don’t forget to add in your score from Wednesday…

One final thing: Double points this week on Chelsea v Man Utd, and bonus points available for predicting goals from the Drogmeister or Berbatov. You can lose points as well, though… so think carefully!

SATURDAY:

Aston Villa v Bolton: Patrick Johnston 3-1, Mitch Phillips 3-1, Paul Radford , Mike Collett 2-0, Simon Evans , Mark Meadows 2-1, Kevin Fylan 1-1, Miles Evans 2-2, Julien Pretot 2-1, Neil Maidment 2-1, Asia Sports Desk 2-0, Justin Palmer , Martyn Herman 2-0, Sonia Oxley 1-0

Blackburn v Portsmouth: Patrick Johnston 2-1, Mitch Phillips 2-0, Paul Radford , Mike Collett 1-2, Simon Evans , Mark Meadows 1-1, Kevin Fylan 1-2, Miles Evans 1-3, Julien Pretot 2-2, Neil Maidment 1-3, Asia Sports Desk 1-1, Justin Palmer , Martyn Herman 1-2, Sonia Oxley 1-2

Man City v Burnley: Patrick Johnston 3-0, Mitch Phillips 2-0, Paul Radford , Mike Collett 2-1, Simon Evans , Mark Meadows 2-0, Kevin Fylan 4-1, Miles Evans 3-1, Julien Pretot 2-0, Neil Maidment 3-1, Asia Sports Desk 3-1, Justin Palmer , Martyn Herman 4-1, Sonia Oxley 3-1

Spurs v Sunderland: Patrick Johnston 1-2, Mitch Phillips 1-1, Paul Radford , Mike Collett 1-1, Simon Evans , Mark Meadows 3-2, Kevin Fylan 3-0, Miles Evans 1-1, Julien Pretot 2-1, Neil Maidment 2-1, Asia Sports Desk 1-1, Justin Palmer , Martyn Herman 2-1, Sonia Oxley 2-1

Wolves v Arsenal: Patrick Johnston 1-4, Mitch Phillips 1-1, Paul Radford , Mike Collett 1-3, Simon Evans , Mark Meadows 0-3, Kevin Fylan 0-3, Miles Evans 1-2, Julien Pretot 0-2, Neil Maidment 0-4, Asia Sports Desk 0-2, Justin Palmer , Martyn Herman 1-4, Sonia Oxley 1-3

SUNDAY:

Chelsea v Man Utd: Patrick Johnston 1-1, Mitch Phillips 1-1, Paul Radford , Mike Collett 1-0, Simon Evans , Mark Meadows 2-0, Kevin Fylan 2-2 (one for Drog, one for Berba), Miles Evans 1-0, Julien Pretot 2-1, Neil Maidment 2-0, Asia Sports Desk 2-2, Justin Palmer , Martyn Herman 1-1, Sonia Oxley 2-1 (two goals for Drogba)

Hull v Stoke: Patrick Johnston 1-2, Mitch Phillips 1-0, Paul Radford , Mike Collett 0-2, Simon Evans , Mark Meadows 0-0, Kevin Fylan 1-2, Miles Evans 1-2, Julien Pretot 1-1, Neil Maidment 0-1, Asia Sports Desk 0-1, Justin Palmer , Martyn Herman 0-2, Sonia Oxley 2-0

West Ham v Everton: Patrick Johnston 1-2, Mitch Phillips 2-1, Paul Radford , Mike Collett 1-1, Simon Evans , Mark Meadows 2-1, Kevin Fylan 1-2, Miles Evans 2-0, Julien Pretot 1-1, Neil Maidment 2-1, Asia Sports Desk 1-1, Justin Palmer , Martyn Herman 2-3, Sonia Oxley 2-2

Wigan v Fulham: Patrick Johnston 2-1, Mitch Phillips 0-1, Paul Radford , Mike Collett 0-1, Simon Evans , Mark Meadows 0-1, Kevin Fylan 1-0, Miles Evans 2-0, Julien Pretot 0-1, Neil Maidment 1-2, Asia Sports Desk 2-0, Justin Palmer , Martyn Herman 2-0, Sonia Oxley 1-1

MONDAY:

Liverpool v Birmingham: Patrick Johnston 2-0, Mitch Phillips 1-1, Paul Radford , Mike Collett 3-0, Simon Evans , Mark Meadows 1-0, Kevin Fylan 4-0, Miles Evans 2-2, Julien Pretot 3-1, Neil Maidment 2-0, Asia Sports Desk 2-0, Justin Palmer , Martyn Herman 2-1, Sonia Oxley 4-0

PHOTO: Dirk Kuyt tots up his points during the Champions League draw with Olympique Lyon at the Gerland stadium in Lyon, November 4, 2009. REUTERS/Jean-Paul Pelissier

It is a little glib to suggest that Liverpool have a one-man strike force in Fernando Torres.

It seems almost beyond dispute, though, that whenever the Spaniard is unavailable Liverpool look ill equipped to challenge for the title, a situation hardly helped by the sales of Xabi Alonso, Robbie Keane and Alvaro Arbeloa in the past year.

I realise this could come across as heresy to Liverpool fans, but might the answer be to sell Torres too?

Torres is, without question, an exceptional player but he is not irreplaceable. Liverpool have won nothing with the Spaniard in attack because they simply do not have the same in-depth quality that Chelsea and Manchester United can boast.

If Cristiano Ronaldo was worth 80 million when he moved from Manchester United to Real Madrid, Torres should command a similar figure.

With that money Liverpool could buy three, maybe four, top drawer players who would give their squad more balance. Valencia striker David Villa would cost around 30 million and would be a handy replacement for Torres, as would Atletico Madrid’s Argentine frontman Sergio Aguero. Either, or both of them, would leave manager Rafael Benitez enough left over to strengthen in other areas.

Villa’s team mate David Silva would add some creativity in Liverpool’s midfield as would Tottenham Hotspur’s midfield spark Luca Modric or his team mate Aaron Lennon, if they could be prised away.

With Liverpool’s debts unlikely to ease any time soon, Benitez will probably need to sell before bringing in new blood but few of their current squad, apart from Torres, Gerrard and midfield anchor Javier Mascherano, would raise the kind of money that they would require for a major squad overhaul.

Selling Torres might be the one step back Liverpool need to take in order to take two forward because at present they appear to be getting left behind.

PHOTO: Fernando Torres looks on during their Champions League soccer match against Fiorentina at the Artemio Franchi Stadium in Florence September 29, 2009. REUTERS/Alessandro Bianchi

So it was an even worse week than usual. Ok, there were some surprise results but generally it was pitiful, some panelists only picked up one point and even most of our outside contributors struggled despite showing us up in recent weeks.

On behalf of all of us, I’d like to point out that the Premier League is more evenly balanced than it has been for a while (see Kevin’s blog) so we have a slight excuse….

Mitch Phillips was the only one to come out of the weekend with any credit, leaping into second spot after getting two scores bang on including West Ham 2-2 Arsenal, which sadly for the rest of us was a double-pointer.

To avoid a plethora of emails from Mitch and to keep it tight at the top, we will let his prediction of a draw in Wolves v Villa stand despite him sending in his entry after the match had started!

Here are the updated scores:

Reuters Soccer Blog panel: Patrick Johnston 92, Mitch Phillips 81, Paul Radford 79, Simon Evans 71, Mike Collett 70, Kevin Fylan 66, Miles Evans 63, Julien Pretot 59, Mark Meadows 50, Asia Sports Desk 48, Neil Maidment 44, Justin Palmer 36, Martyn Herman 10, Soxley (newbie) 2

Mark Meadows

(more…)

A game between Liverpool and Manchester United is one of football’s great fixtures and it has recently been given additional spice by a number of clashes between the managers.

Much has been said and written about the verbal jousting between Rafael Benitez and Alex Ferguson and at the moment the Scot is losing both on and off the field.

Ferguson is by far the most successful manager in the Premier League but Sunday’s 2-0 defeat at Liverpool suggests he is now helpless and out of ideas when he crosses swords with his Spanish opponent, who was calm and collected before the game.

Ferguson said after the match there was a “wounded animal aspect to the game” given Liverpool’s recent poor run but their victory may also have been the result of a growing confidence among Benitez’s side when it comes to meeting United. 

After losing 4-1 at home to Liverpool last season, United needed a different approach when visiting Anfield on Sunday but their display was a case of déjà vu.

The game was won by Liverpool’s team effort, by the passionate Anfield crowd but also by Benitez’s ability to rediscover United’s weaknesses (Rio Ferdinand?).

PHOTO: Liverpool’s manager Rafa Benitez (L) and his Manchester United counterpart Alex Ferguson gesture during their English Premier League soccer match at Anfield in Liverpool, northern England, October 25, 2009. REUTERS/Phil Noble

Manchester United’s 2-0 defeat at Liverpool has again exposed the chinks in the Premier League champions’ armour, notably their defensive frailties against top level opposition.

While United overcame Rio Ferdinand’s howler in a 4-3 win over City in the Manchester derby, the England centre back’s lack of pace and cutting edge cost Alex Ferguson’s side dearly against Liverpool.

The ease with which a half-fit Fernando Torres got away from Ferdinand to score Liverpool’s opening goal will have raised not only Ferguson’s eyebrows, but also given Fabio Capello a headache.

Is Ferdinand, who has looked completely at sea in the heart of United’s defence this season and had a nightmare of a game in England’s 1-0 defeat by Ukraine, going through just a temporary loss of form or are his best days behind him?

Ferguson has no world class cover for Ferdinand in his squad and his decision to let Gerard Pique return to Barcelona after United’s 2008 Champions League triumph might come back to haunt him. That is if it hasn’t already…Pique stopped United from taking the lead in the 2009 final while Ferdinand was at fault for Barcelona’s second goal in the 2-0 defeat by the Spanish champions.

England’s potential rivals in the 2010 World Cup will also be rubbing their hands over Ferdinand becoming a liability and while Capello must hope he rediscovers his form, the Italian might also want to consider an alternative partner to John Terry in the centre of England’s defence.

PHOTO: Liverpool’s Fernando Torres (front) outmuscles Manchester United’s Rio Ferdinand to score during their English Premier League match at Anfield, Oct 25, 2009. REUTERS/Phil Noble

Liverpool’s run of four straight defeats has generated a lot of discussion about what has gone wrong, but precious little about how to put it right, aside from the suggestion that it might be nice to see Kenny Dalglish back in the dugout.

So let’s leave aside for a moment Rafa’s handling of big players and whether he should have kept hold of Sami Hyypia and Xabi Alonso, and consider what the club’s next moves should be.

As many have noted, without Fernando Torres they look impossibly ordinary in attack, and when Andriy Voronin was brought on with a few minutes to go against Lyon it seemed to many fans an indictment of the Spanish coach’s transfer dealings.

Certainly Liverpool could do with another top class forward but with money short the chances of them landing David Villa or someone similar in the transfer window are remote. And in any case, I’m not sure pitching in a player like Villa at the halfway stage of the season would provide the answer.

What Liverpool really need is a player with a touch of gravitas, the sort of performer who can command respect from team mates and opponents alike, can put his foot on the ball, weigh up the options and give players around him a lift.

Arguably the best signing Gerard Houllier made, apart from Hyppia, was Gary McAllister. The Scot was 35 when he moved to Anfield yet he still had a profound effect on the team, playing an instrumental role in the run to the Cup treble of 2000-01 and, more importantly, the club’s first qualification for the Champions League.

How Benitez could do with a player cut from the same cloth. But where should he turn?

David Beckham might have been a solution — well, Michael Owen did sign for United, after all – but the England man seems set for another stint with AC Milan.

He is no McAllister, but in the absence of such a player Liverpool might consider making a bid for Rafael van der Vaart, a player with the same sort of quality on the ball and the experience of leading a team during his time at Hamburg SV.

He is currently warming the bench at Real Madrid and might jump at a chance to show what he can do in the Premier League.

But if not the Dutchman, who would you suggest? They certainly need to find inspiration from somewhere, as they contemplate the possibility of falling 10 points behind Manchester United on Sunday.

The Ballon d’Or shortlist was announced on Sunday, but what about the Ballon de Plage? Liverpool’s inflatable nemesis must surely get a category of its own in the end-of-season awards.

Sunderland’s absurd winning goal at the Stadium of Light was symbolic not just of Liverpool’s woes but of a season that just keeps rattling along in ever more gloriously unpredictable style.

Here are a few reasons why this might just be the best Premier League season ever, or at least for quite a while.

1. Big Four? What Big Four? The worst thing about the Premier League, everyone said before the start of the season, was that you could always predict the top four. I wouldn’t put much money on it being the same old same old this time. Liverpool look especially vulnerable after losing four games already this season but the others have had their unconvincing moments as well.

2. Vaulting ambitions. Manchester City have serious aspirations to make the Champions League and there are a few others hoping to join them. Tottenham look to have a new confidence about them after spending a lot of money, and most of it wisely, and Aston Villa have beaten Liverpool and Chelsea.

3. Goals galore. Arsenal have scored 27 goals, conceding 11, in eight games and they are only fourth. Liverpool, for all the problems that have seen them slip to eighth place, have bagged 22, while conceding 13. At the same stage last season, Arsenal had scored 16 and conceded six, while Liverpool, top at the time, had scored 14 and conceded six.

4. Greatest. Upset. Ever. Burnley beating Manchester United 1-0 at Turf Moor in their first home game back in the top flight in 33 years. Who would have predicted that?

5. Hardly any draws. When England’s league introduced three points for a win back in 1981 the idea was it would inspire a lot more risk-taking by teams. It was slow to catch on elsewhere but eventually the rest of the world came round and 28 years on we are seeing the benefit. This year, we’ve had 10 draws. At the same stage last year (more or less) we’d had 19 of them. 

6. Wigan Athletic. And Sunderland. And Stoke City. And Burnley (again). Roberto Martinez is back at Wigan, now as coach, and he’s stuck with the ball-playing philosophy. It hasn’t been totally successful — just look at the Hull defeat — but they have beaten Chelsea and are winning a lot of admirers. Sunderland can point to even better results, reward for playing two up front even against the best, while Stoke continue to be utterly fearless at home and Burnley like to pass it as well.

So what do you think? Best. Premier League. Ever? Let us know in the comments.

Oh, almost forgot. Reason number 7. We now know what happened to Nena’s 100th red balloon. (Or beachball, if you prefer). Altogether now… “Hast Du etwas Zeit fuer mich/Dann singe Ich ein Lied fuer Dich/Von 99 Luftballons…”

PHOTO: Sunderland’s Darren Bent (R) shoots to score against Liverpool, October 17, 2009. REUTERS/Nigel Roddis

While the IOC are busy making a rather more important decision in Copenhagen, it’s time again to make fools of ourselves by trying to predict the weekend’s Premier League scores.

There’s no President Obama to help you make your mind up, just gut instinct or my preferred way — the toss of a coin.

Chelsea v Liverpool is the standout game. After all their up and down contests at home and in Europe over recent years it is a tough one to call. That’s exactly why I’m making it this week’s double-pointer, so you’d better study hard.

Their last few results don’t help much in the prediction stakes. The Reds were truly dreadful in the first half of their 2-0 defeat at Fiorentina on Tuesday while Chelsea only beat Apoel Nicosia by one goal having surprisingly lost at Wigan last weekend.

Speaking of which, after a stewards’ inquiry which lasted long into the night, Mitch Phillips has been awarded five extra points after producing documentary evidence that we promised him a bonus for at least guessing the end of Chelsea’s winning run.

So here are the updated scores from the Reuters Soccer Blog Panel: Simon Evans 59, Mitch Phillips 57, Kevin Fylan 56, Patrick Johnston 48, Paul Radford 46, Mike Collett 43, Miles Evans 38, Justin Palmer 35, Neil Maidment 34, Julien Pretot 32, Mark Meadows 30, Asia Sports Desk 28

In the outside world, maid leads with an enormous 80!

See if you can catch him up this week with the following games. Put your Premier League predictions in the comments below and your Olympic 2016 guess here. I’m voting for Scarborough.

Playing Saturday:
Bolton Wanderers v Tottenham Hotspur: Simon Evans 1-1, Mitch Phillips 1-0, Kevin Fylan, Patrick Johnston 1-2, Paul Radford 0-2, Mike Collett 0-3, Miles Evans 2-1, Justin Palmer 0-0, Neil Maidment 0-2, Julien Pretot 1-2, Mark Meadows 1-2, Asia Sports Desk

Burnley v Birmingham City: Simon Evans 1-1, Mitch Phillips 1-1, Kevin Fylan, Patrick Johnston 2-1, Paul Radford 2-0, Mike Collett 2-1, Miles Evans 2-1, Justin Palmer 0-0, Neil Maidment 2-1, Julien Pretot 2-1, Mark Meadows 1-0, Asia Sports Desk

Hull City v Wigan Athletic: Simon Evans 2-2, Mitch Phillips 1-0, Kevin Fylan , Patrick Johnston 2-1, Paul Radford 1-2, Mike Collett 1-3, Miles Evans 1-3, Justin Palmer 0-2, Neil Maidment 0-2, Julien Pretot 1-3, Mark Meadows 0-0, Asia Sports Desk

Wolves v Portsmouth: Simon Evans 2-1, Mitch Phillips 2-2, Kevin Fylan , Patrick Johnston 1-2, Paul Radford 1-1, Mike Collett 1-3, Miles Evans 0-2, Justin Palmer 2-1, Neil Maidment 1-2, Julien Pretot 2-1, Mark Meadows 0-1, Asia Sports Desk

Manchester United v Sunderland: Simon Evans 4-0, Mitch Phillips 2-1, Kevin Fylan , Patrick Johnston 3-1, Paul Radford 3-0, Mike Collett 3-1, Miles Evans 2-0, Justin Palmer 3-0, Neil Maidment 3-0, Julien Pretot 4-0, Mark Meadows 2-0, Asia Sports Desk

Playing on Sunday:
Arsenal v Blackburn Rovers: Simon Evans 3-0, Mitch Phillips 2-0, Kevin Fylan , Patrick Johnston 3-0, Paul Radford 3-1, Mike Collett 3-0, Miles Evans 4-1, Justin Palmer 1-1, Neil Maidment 3-1, Julien Pretot 3-0, Mark Meadows 4-1, Asia Sports Desk

Everton v Stoke City: Simon Evans 2-0, Mitch Phillips 3-1, Kevin Fylan , Patrick Johnston 1-1, Paul Radford 3-1, Mike Collett 2-1, Miles Evans 1-3, Justin Palmer 2-1, Neil Maidment 2-1, Julien Pretot 1-1, Mark Meadows 3-1, Asia Sports Desk

West Ham United v Fulham: Simon Evans 2-0, Mitch Phillips 2-0, Kevin Fylan , Patrick Johnston 1-1, Paul Radford 2-1, Mike Collett 1-0, Miles Evans 2-1, Justin Palmer 2-1, Neil Maidment 1-2, Julien Pretot 2-2, Mark Meadows 1-0, Asia Sports Desk

Chelsea v Liverpool: Simon Evans 2-1, Mitch Phillips 1-1, Kevin Fylan , Patrick Johnston 2-0, Paul Radford 2-0, Mike Collett 1-2, Miles Evans 2-1, Justin Palmer 1-1, Neil Maidment 3-2, Julien Pretot 2-3, Mark Meadows 2-2, Asia Sports Desk

Playing on Monday:
Aston Villa v Manchester City: Simon Evans 1-1, Mitch Phillips 1-0, Kevin Fylan , Patrick Johnston 2-1, Paul Radford 1-1, Mike Collett 2-0, Miles Evans 1-2, Justin Palmer 2-1, Neil Maidment 2-3, Julien Pretot 2-2, Mark Meadows 2-2, Asia Sports Desk

PHOTO: Chelsea’s Didier Drogba (L) beats Liverpool’s Martin Skrtel to score his goal during their Champions League quarter-final second leg soccer match at Stamford Bridge in London April 14, 2009. REUTERS/Eddie Keogh

He looks a bit like Screech from that U.S show “Saved by the Bell”, but there is nothing clumsy about Fiorentina striker Stevan Jovetic.

With a glorious crop of shaggy hair, the Montenegro striker destroyed Liverpool in the Champions League on Tuesday with two first-half goals that probably even shocked the Florence faithful.

The 19-year-old was thrown in at the deep-end with Alberto Gilardino suspended but responded in stunning fashion. Can anyone remember Liverpool being so overrun for 45 minutes?

If he wasn’t already, Jovetic will definitely be on the big clubs’ radars now.

The famous win for Fiorentina, fourth in Serie A last year, came at just the right time for the club. Things had been difficult with their president resigning last week while poor Adrian Mutu is still fighting against his enormous fine following his sacking by Chelsea.

It was also a glimmer of hope for the embattled Italian game after two years of flops in the Champions League.

Inter Milan racked up seven Champions League games without a win in the 1-1 draw at Rubin Kazan but they did battle hard after going down to 10 men.

Juventus visit the might of Bayern Munich later while AC Milan and coach Leonardo desperately need a win at home to FC Zurich after a dreadful start to the campaign which owner Silvio Berlusconi has, half-jokingly, labelled a “disaster”.

Could Jovetic’s showing be just the boost they all need?

PHOTO: Fiorentina’s Stevan Jovetic (R) challenges Yossi Benayoun of Liverpool during their Champions League soccer match at the Artemio Franchi Stadium in Florence September 29, 2009. REUTERS/Alessandro Bianchi

Let’s be honest here, people, predicting the English football scores has proved to be a lot trickier than many of us imagined.

You’d have thought that the frankly obsessive interest most of us here at Reuters Soccer Blog Heights take in football would see us approach this competition with the pitiless, sweeping brilliance of Celta Vigo in their ‘EuroCelta‘ heydey of 1998-2000*.

But no. It turns out we’re strictly second division, rather like Celta now, in fact, when it comes to predicting the scores. Still, at least we now know why.

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger puts his success in football down to being brought up in the Croix d’Or bistro in Duttlenheim. Wenger said:

“I even learned about tactics and selection from the people talking about football in the pub… who plays on the left wing and who should be in the team.”

This is good news for me, as my dad was brought up in a pub so I’m going to get him to do my predictions this week. Expect great things.

To recap, briefly, you get one point for predicting the right result, and make that five points if you get the score spot on. This week there are double points, and possible forfeits, for Stoke v Manchester United, and there are always bonus points available, but I’m afraid they are entirely on my whim. Here’s how things stand at the moment:

Reuters Soccer Blog: Simon Evans 46, Kevin Fylan 42, Paul Radford 41, Patrick Johnston 40, Justin Palmer 35, Miles Evans 35, Mitch Phillips 35, Mike Collett 28, Neil Maidment 26, Julien Pretot 25, Mark Meadows 16, Asia Sports Desk 15

Rest of the World: Maid leads with a whopping 63, Chipking is second on 54 and UTV got a mighty 15 on debut.

How are the rest of you doing? Remember, the scoring has been so poor that you can still join in at any time and expect to overtake most of us within a couple of weeks. Look at UTV: another week like last week and she’ll be in mid-table security.

So, here are this week’s games. I’ll add in our predictions as they come in from around the Reuter Soccer Blogosphere. And please, give us yours in the comments section.

Portsmouth v Everton: Simon Evans: 1-1; Terry Fylan: 0-2; Paul Radford: 0-0; Patrick Johnston:1-2 ; Justin Palmer: ; Miles Evans: 2-2; Mitch Phillips:1-0; Mike Collett: 0-2 ; Neil Maidment: 0-2; Julien Pretot : 2-1; Mark Meadows: 0-1; Asia Sports Desk: 1-1

Birmingham City v Bolton Wanderers: Simon Evans: 2-1; Terry Fylan: 1-0; Paul Radford: 2-1; Patrick Johnston: 1-0 ; Justin Palmer: ; Miles Evans: 2-1; Mitch Phillips:1-1; Mike Collett: 1-0 ; Neil Maidment: 1-1; Julien Pretot : 1-0; Mark Meadows: 2-1; Asia Sports Desk: 1-1

Blackburn Rovers v Aston Villa: Simon Evans: 1-2; Terry Fylan: 1-2; Paul Radford: 0-1; Patrick Johnston: 0-2; Justin Palmer: ; Miles Evans: 1-3; Mitch Phillips: 1-0; Mike Collett: 0-2; Neil Maidment: 1-3; Julien Pretot : 1-1; Mark Meadows: 0-2; Asia Sports Desk: 0-1

Liverpool v Hull City: Simon Evans: 2-0; Terry Fylan: 6-0; Paul Radford: 6-0; Patrick Johnston: 5-0 ; Justin Palmer: ; Miles Evans: 2-1; Mitch Phillips: 1-1; Mike Collett: 5-0; Neil Maidment: 4-0; Julien Pretot : 4-0; Mark Meadows: 2-0; Asia Sports Desk: 3-0

Stoke City v Manchester United: Simon Evans: 0-2; Terry Fylan: 0-2; Paul Radford: 0-0; Patrick Johnston: 1-2 ; Justin Palmer: ; Miles Evans: 1-1; Mitch Phillips: 0-2; Mike Collett: 0-2; Neil Maidment: 1-2; Julien Pretot : 1-3; Mark Meadows: 0-1; Asia Sports Desk: 0-2

Tottenham Hotspur v Burnley: Simon Evans: 1-1; Terry Fylan: 3-1; Paul Radford: 3-1; Patrick Johnston: 4-1 ; Justin Palmer: ; Miles Evans: 3-2; Mitch Phillips: 2-0; Mike Collett: 3-1; Neil Maidment: 3-0; Julien Pretot : 3-1; Mark Meadows: 2-0; Asia Sports Desk: 2-1

Wigan Athletic v Chelsea: Simon Evans: 0-2; Terry Fylan: 0-3; Paul Radford: 0-3; Patrick Johnston: 0-2 ; Justin Palmer: ; Miles Evans: 0-2; Mitch Phillips:1-1; Mike Collett: 0-4; Neil Maidment: 0-3; Julien Pretot : 0-2; Mark Meadows: 1-4; Asia Sports Desk: 0-3

Fulham v Arsenal: Simon Evans: 1-1; Terry Fylan: 2-2; Paul Radford: 1-2; Patrick Johnston: 0-2 ; Justin Palmer: ; Miles Evans: 1-4; Mitch Phillips: 0-1; Mike Collett: 1-3; Neil Maidment: 1-3; Julien Pretot : 1-3; Mark Meadows: 1-1; Asia Sports Desk: 1-3

Playing on Sunday:

Sunderland v Wolverhampton Wanderers: Simon Evans: 2-1; Terry Fylan: 0-0; Paul Radford: 2-1; Patrick Johnston: 3-0 ; Justin Palmer: ; Miles Evans: 1-1; Mitch Phillips:0-0; Mike Collett: 1-1; Neil Maidment: 2-1; Julien Pretot : 1-0; Mark Meadows: 0-0; Asia Sports Desk: 0-0

Playing on Monday:

Manchester City v West Ham United: Simon Evans: 3-0; Terry Fylan: 4-1; Paul Radford: 3-0; Patrick Johnston: 2-1; Justin Palmer: ; Miles Evans: 2-2; Mitch Phillips: 0-1; Mike Collett: 3-0; Neil Maidment : 3-0; Julien Pretot : 3-0; Mark Meadows: 3-1; Asia Sports Desk: 3-0

* They really were good, as well. Lubo Penev, Valery Karpin, “After You” Claude Makelele, Alexander Mostovoi, Mazinho… (And sorry to any fans of Aston Villa, Liverpool, Benfica or Juventus for bringing back unpleasant memories).

PHOTO: Michael Owen gets a rude awakening from Mazinho as Alexander Mostovoi looks on during their UEFA Cup third round first leg match at Balaidos, November 24, 1998. Celta won 3-1. REUTERS/Sergio Perez