Papiss Cisse is amongst the goals as Newcastle sweep aside Bordeaux. Michael Dawson grabs Spurs’ goal as Andre Villas-Boas’ side draw in Greece, while Luis Suarez climbs off the bench to net once again for Liverpool. Elsewhere, Winston Reid is expected to be fit for West Ham’s game with Arsenal, Ashley Williams is a doubt for Swansea and West Brom have plenty injury worries ahead of QPR’s visit to the Hawthorns…
Newcastle 3 Bordeaux 0
Danny Simpson returned to action after missing the last three league matches with a hamstring injury, while Shane Ferguson was given the left-back berth. The pair were both involved in the Magpies goals, supplying an assist apiece in the 3-0 stroll; Shola Ameobi and Papiss Cisse each found the net, with the visitors also helping the hosts’ cause with an own goal. Yohan Cabaye recovered from a mouth infection to take his place in Alan Pardew’s starting XI, Steven Taylor and Fabricio Coloccini missed out through injury, while the likes of Demba Ba and Hatem Ben Arfa were given the night off ahead of Sunday’s home game with United.
Panathinaikos 1 Tottenham 1
Andre Villas-Boas made just three changes to the side that won at Old Trafford at the weekend. At the back, Hugo Lloris replaced Brad Friedel in goal while Michael Dawson stepped in for William Gallas in the heart of defence and in midfield, Tom Huddlestone partnered Moussa Dembele in the double pivot, with Sandro dropping to the bench. The likes of Dembele, Gareth Bale, Jan Vertonghen and Jermain Defoe all lasted the 90 minutes, with Gylfi Sigurdsson climbing off the bench for Clint Dempsey on 66 minutes. Dawson grabbed the London outfit’s goal after heading home a Huddlestone free-kick and despite conceding an equaliser late on, Spurs stretched their unbeaten run to eight games ahead of this Sunday’s home clash with Aston Villa.
Liverpool 2 Udinese 3
Brendan Rodgers started with just three of the side that won 5-2 at Norwich last Saturday. Jose Reina, Glen Johnson and Joe Allen all kept their places as the Liverpool boss rotated his options ahead of Sunday’s Anfield encounter with Stoke. Stewart Downing supplied the assist for Jonjo Shelvey’s opener but with the game all square, Rodgers sent on Luis Suarez and Steven Gerrard just after the hour-mark. Sebastien Coates hardly helped the home side’s cause after putting through his own net and despite a late Suarez free-kick and the introduction of Raheem Sterling, the Merseysiders slipped to a third home defeat in succession. With 71% possession and 16 shots on target, though, Fantasy confidence will still be high in Liverpool’s assets for the Potters encounter.
Having looked to have turned the corner with the 5-2 win at Norwich, Rodgers was damning in his appraisal of last night’s showing, particularly in defensive areas…
“I thought we were lazy. Lazy in our play, loose and sloppy…It’s constant reminders and constant work. Some of our play, our movement and passing – you can sense the excitement within the players and the stadium.But you can’t keep having to score two, three and five goals to win games.Defensively, as a group, we need to be better.”
In Other News
Reports suggest Winston Reid has returned to training ahead of West Ham’s home clash with Arsenal this weekend. The centre-half was subbed off with concussion after just 22 minutes of his side’s win at QPR on Monday evening and had initially looked a real doubt for the Gunners showdown. Sam Allardyce certainly has strong back-up on hand, however; replacement James Tomkins climbed off the bench to provide an assist in the 2-1 triumph but looks set to be left out again in favour of the Kiwi.
Ashley Williams is a concern for Swansea this weekend ahead of Reading’s visit to the Liberty Stadium. Swans boss Michael Laudrup admitted yesterday..
“For the last couple of weeks or more he hasn’t trained at 100 per cent because of his ankle, and he is the big question mark for us ahead of Reading. We are already talking about the third week with this injury and now he is sick as well, so we will have to see if he is 100 per cent. It’s a discussion I have to have with him, with the doctor and with the physios. But what is most important is what Ashley says. If he feels 100 per cent in his mind that is a big thing, because we know he cannot be 100 per cent physically.”
Williams’ ongoing problems may go some way to explaining his recent under-par performances – the centre-half has been particularly culpable at the back of late, with a couple of basic mistakes leading to opposition goals. It’s no coincidence the Welsh club have conceded in each of their last three matches and with Neil Taylor sidelined and Steven Caulker returning to parent club Spurs this term, Laudrup’s backline has been far from convincing. Garry Monk is on standby to partner new boy Chico in the heart of defence if Williams fails to recover in time.
Steve Clarke has revealed he will be without Billy Jones, Steven Reid and Chris Brunt for West Brom’s home game with QPR tomorrow. While Graham Dorrans is expected to fill in for Brunt on the left of midfield, the absence of right-backs Reid and Jones leaves the Baggies struggling for cover at the back. Gabriel Tamas stepped in for Jones midway through Sunday’s midlands derby at Villa and should provide cover once again, though Clarke failed to mention Liam Ridgewell and Gareth McAuley in yesterday’s press conference as he looks to extend a home record that has harvested wins and clean sheets in the club’s first three games at the Hawthorns this term. Ridgewell missed out last time round, with Goran Popov stepping in at left-back, while McAuley picked up a knock at the end of the 1-1 draw. Craig Dawson could be step up if the centre-half fails to make it, though Clarke also has the option of moving Tamas into the middle and fielding Gonzalo Jara on the right of the back-four.
Over in Manchester there is news of two defenders making their way back to fitness. Michah Richards is due to step up training over the international break with the Daily Mail this morning reporting that he’ll be pushing for inclusion for Man City’s trip to West Brom in Gameweek 8. This will put owners of Pablo Zabaleta on alert – the Argentine has established himself as a regular in City’s back four and looks likely to retain the starting role, although Roberto Mancini’s discontent with his defence could lead to a shuffle and Richards would certainly give him a new option.
Similarly there are reports that Chris Smalling is close to a return for United. The Mail carry the story that he’s back in training following a foot injury and they, along with The Times today, report that he could even edge his way into contention for a bench spot at Newcastle on Sunday. Smalling seems unlikely to push his way into the United first choice centre-back pairing but would give Sir Alex Ferguson more options at right-back and the option to rest Rafael.
