0 HASIL POLLING: Liverpool Diprediksi Maksimal Raih Tujuh Poin Hingga Tahun Baru

Pembaca Goal Indonesia memprediksi hasil yang bakal didapat Liverpool dalam tiga laga hingga memasuki Tahun Baru dan hasilnya perbedaan selisih suara yang tipis.

Liverpool kini menduduki peringkat pertama klasemen Liga Primer Inggris setelah Arsenal hanya mampu bermain sama kuat melawan Chelsea, Senin (23/12) lalu. Kini The Reds mengumpulkan 36 poin dalam 17 pertandingan atau hanya unggul selisih gol dari Arsenal yang menguntit di posisi kedua. Menariknya, pergantian posisi di papan atas klasemen kemungkinan terus bergerak hingga Tahun Baru karena antara Liverpool dan Everton di peringkat kelima hanya berjarak dua poin.

Tantangan pertama Liverpool adalah menghadapi tuan rumah Manchester City, yang mengantungi rekor kandang cemerlang musim ini, saat Boxing Day. Selanjutnya, Liverpool bakal bertandang ke Stamford Bridge untuk menantang Chelsea, Minggu mendatang. Lawan paling ringan didapat persis pada 1 Januari dengan menjamu Hull City di Anfield.

Dalam jajak pendapat yang dilakukan Goal Indonesia, sebanyak 37,23 persen pembaca memprediksi Liverpool mampu meraih empat hingga tujuh poin dalam tiga pertandingan tersebut. Artinya, hasil dua kemenangan plus sekali imbang sudah dianggap maksimal. Paling buruk setidaknya Liverpool dianggap mampu meraih satu kemenangan dan satu kali imbang.

Sementara, hanya 30,4 persen yang optimistis Liverpool meraih angka sempurna. Sebanyak 32,3 persen sisanya memprediksi tiga poin bakal menjadi hasil maksimal bagi pasukan Brendan Rodgers tersebut atau bahkan berharap Liverpool tidak meraih poin sama sekali.

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0 Pesona Luis Suarez ditutup kegemilangan Vincent Kompany kala Manchester City menghempaskan Liverpool 2-1, Jumat (27/12) dini hari WIB.

Manchester City berhasil menjaga 'kesucian' Etihad Stadium, setelah menghempaskan salah satu rival mereka di Liga Primer Inggris, Liverpool, lewat skor tipis 2-1, Jumat (27/12) dini hari WIB. Gol-gol dicetak oleh sang kapten Vincent Kompany dan Alvaro Negeredo, sementara The Reds menorehkan catatan melaui Pilippe Coutinho.

The Citizens tidak tampil sangar selayakanya City yang membantai Tottenham Hotspur dan Arsenal. Mereka cenderung kalem dengan fokus menjaga keunggulan tipis 2-1 dengan sikap dewasa.

Kontrol sang kapten, Vincent Kompany, sepanjang laga jadi kuncinya. Dengan penuh karisma bek berusia 27 tahun itu mampu meredam segala serangan berbahaya yang dilancarkan Liverpool.

Momen krusial jelas terjadi kala ia berhasil membendung pesona Luis Suarez yang tampil menonjol di laga ini. 

Berkat kelihaiannya menjaga lini belakang, El Pistolero dipaksanya semakin sering turun ke tengah untuk menjemput bola. Dua tekel serta tiga intersep yang ia lakukan jadi gambaran singkat.

Tak hanya bertahan, naluri menyerang mantan bek Hamburg SV ini pun diumbar. Tercatat ada tiga tembakan berbahaya yang ia lancarkan, satu diantaranya tepat sasaran. Jelas kuantitas yang tinggi bagi seorang bek tengah.

Satu diantara dua tandukan yang ia lancarkan ke gawang kawalan Simon Mignolet bahkan mampu berbuah satu gol. Sebuah gol krusial, untuk membangkitkan mental para punggawa City yang saat itu sedang tertinggal.

Puncaknya ketika Alvaro Negredo berhasil membalikkan keadaan menjadi 2-1 di penghujung babak pertama.

Penampilan apiknya di paruh pertama kemudian ia lanjutkan di babak kedua. Dengan sigap bersama Joleon Lescott, andalan Timnas Belgia itu begitu disiplin menjaga pergerakan Raheem Sterling, Victor Moses, hingga Jonas Henderson untuk menjaga keunggulan

Mereka semua dibuat frustasi sepanjang babak kedua. Hal itu diwakilkan dengan segala ekspresi gemas yang ditunjukkan kapten tim tamu, Suarez. Ya, jika saja City tak memiliki Kompany, mungkin saja Si Gigi Kelinci mampu menodai 'kesucian' Etihad Stadium pada malam itu.

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0 HEAD-TO-HEAD: Liverpool Tumbang Lagi?

Akhir pekan ini, Liverpool akan kembali menjalani laga besar. Chelsea akan menjamu The Kop di Stamford Bridge.

Tentunya bukan hal mudah bagi Liverpool meraih kemenangan di kandang Chelsea. Tim asal London itu dikenal sebagai tim jago kandang. Belum sekali pun skuat Jose Mourinho mengalami kekalahan di Stamford Bridge di Liga Primer Inggris.

Sementara Liverpool juga tampil tak mengesankan di laga away. Dari sembilan laga, kedudukannya berimbang, tiga kemenangan, tiga seri dan tiga kalah. Patut ditunggu angka empat pertama ada di kolom performa yang mana.

Bagaimana dengan sejarah pertemuan kedua tim? Liverpool patut berbangga. Dari 140 kali duel di kompetisi domestik, 64 kemenangan menjadi milik 'Si Merah'. Chelsea hanya bisa menang 46 kali, dan 30 laga lainnya imbang.

Tapi, sekali lagi, Chelsea adalah tim yang dikenal jago di kandang. Dari 70 partai, 37 kemenangan dibukukan Frank Lampard dkk di Stamford Bridge tiap meladeni Liverpool, yang hanya bisa mencuri 18 kemenangan. Sisanya, 15 pertemuan berakhir seri.

Tak salah jika kemudian pemandangan di bursa taruhan banyak yang menjagokan Chelsea meraih kemenangan. Belum lagi fakta mengesankan yang dicatat Jose Mourinho bersama Chelsea tiap meladeni Liverpool.

Sejak ditangani The Special One, Chelsea mencatat 69 kemenangan di kandang sendiri. Melawan Liverpool, Chelsea membukukan tujuh kemenangan dan empat kali seri dari 16 duel.

Yang jadi pertanyaan, bagaimana peran Fernand Torres di laga ini?

Jika pertanyaan itu diajukan ke kubu Liverpool, jawabannya sangat menguntungkan. Dalam delapan laga saat masih berkostum merah-merah, Torres bisa tujuh kali menjebol gawang Chelsea. Sebaliknya, belum sekalipun penyerang asal Spanyol itu menjebol gawang Liverpool sejak pindah ke Chelsea.

Secara statistik, Liverpool juga banyak menuai keuntungan tiap Torres tampil bersama Chelsea, dengan empat kemenangan dan dua hasil imbang buat Liverpool.

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0 Man Utd legends delighted to support troops with special screening of film in Afghanistan

Manchester United legends David Beckham, Nicky Butt, Ryan Giggs, Paul Scholes, Phil and Gary Neville have organised a festive treat for the armed forces serving in Afghanistan this Christmas, with special screenings of the nostalgic feel-good documentary, 'The Class of '92'.

As well as cinema screenings at army bases across the UK, the documentary film will receive an exclusive airing on the British Forces Broadcasting Services television channel, and copies will be sent to troops as gifts.

The film will be showing on BFBS Extra, which can be received by its audiences worldwide, on Saturday 28 December at 7.40pm and then on the new BFBS Movie Channel for operational areas on Saturday 11 January 2014 at 10am, 5.45pm, 1.30am.

"I have witnessed at first-hand the remarkable work these young men and women do on our behalf in Afghanistan and if this film can provide a bit of pleasure and relaxation at this special time of the year when they are separated from their loved ones and families then we are delighted to offer our support," said Beckham.

Gary Neville added: "These men and women are unbelievable, serving their country, being away from their loved ones, especially at this time of year, but most importantly risking their lives. 

"When we heard that the film was going to be shown we all felt very humble. ‘The Class of '92' is about friendship, loyalty and fulfilling dreams and we hope they enjoy it as much as we did making it. Merry Christmas to all the forces."

The Class of '92 covers the period between 1992 and 1999, culminating in Manchester United's UEFA Champions League triumph, and dramatically interweaves and mirrors the highs and lows of its football odyssey with the immense social and cultural changes taking place in Britain at the time.

The heart of the film is the tale of how six 14-year-old working class lads from very ordinary beginnings came together to play for the same club, became the spine of one of the most lauded teams in world football, and who throughout their period of unparalleled success remained best mates.

The documentary offers unprecedented access to all six players and promises to gain new and revealing insights about each individual and this special period in British football and cultural history.

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0 Get involved in the website's users' Team of the Year 2013 by voting for the best forward

Every day until New Year's Eve you will be able to cast your vote for the best player in eight different positions as well as the best manager, by using our onsite poll. This can be found on the home page beneath the Barclays Premier League table.

The voting will take place for the following positions from a shortlist of five names on the dates detailed below:

23 Dec: Goalkeeper - Winner: Tim Howard

24 Dec: Right-back - Winner: Seamus Coleman

25 Dec: Left-back - Winner: Leighton Baines

26 Dec: Centre-back - Winner: Per Mertesacker

26 Dec: Centre-back - Winner: Phil Jagielka

27 Dec: Midfielders - Winners: Yaya Toure and Steven Gerrard

28 Dec: Midfielders - Winners: Aaron Ramsey and Michael Carrick

29 Dec: Striker 1

30 Dec: Striker 2

31 Dec: Manager

On New Year's Day we will reveal the winning team, voted for by you.

As the vote is for the Premierleague.com Users' Team of the Year 2013, players or managers who arrived in the summer (eg Fernandinho or Dejan Lovren) or who departed at the end of last season (Gareth Bale, Sir Alex Ferguson) are not available for selection.

Today the vote is the first of two for the best Barclays Premier League forward of 2013, so without further ado, scroll down the homepage and get voting.

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0 Premier League: David Moyes expects Manchester United's Wayne Rooney to return quickly

At Carrow Road on Saturday, Moyes saw his side claim their sixth straight victory in all competitions as they moved up to sixth in the Premier League table.

Rooney had played the full 90 minutes and scored in the 3-2 win at Hull on Boxing Day but his groin problem prevented him from being involved again two days later.

Instead, his England colleague Danny Welbeck came off the bench to score the only goal of the game on 57 minutes.

Afterwards, Moyes explained that Rooney was likely to be back in action against Tottenham on New Year's Day.

"Wayne was missing because he's got an adductor injury in his groin," the United boss told Sky Sports. "He missed the Stoke game because of the same injury.

"I think if we hadn't got so many games and we could give him a couple of weeks just to recover properly, I think he'd be fine but I'd expect him to be OK for the next game against Tottenham."

At the post-match press conference, Moyes revealed Robin van Persie was also on the mend, saying: "Robin has started some light training and he might not be too far away as well.

"We have not had them as a partnership very often, and we are looking forward to having them together."

Moyes added he was not planning a major spending spree when the transfer window opens again.

He said: "We have a lot of midfield players out injured just now, but we won't be doing a lot of business in January because a lot of the players will not be available, so I don't expect it to be a busy January really."

Moyes admitted his side were second best in the first half on Saturday and took pleasure in the fact they managed to claim another win on their travels so soon after Thursday's triumph.

"To win back-to-back games in three days in the Premier League away from home is really difficult," he added.

"Some teams don't play until tomorrow, but we had two games in three days and I've got to say the squad coped really well, even though we've had a few injuries.

"I was delighted to get the result. I thought Norwich played really well at times today and we had to dig deep to make sure we got the victory."

On his decision to bring on Welbeck in place of Ryan Giggs at the break, Moyes said: "I just felt Norwich had grown into the game - we'd started very well, and Norwich had got better - and I felt we needed to alter things a little bit.

"I thought Danny was the difference in the game. He came on, he ran and made good opportunities for us. I thought he played ever so well."

United are just two points off the top four ahead of the rest of the weekend action, but Moyes is not getting carried away by their good form.

"It's OK, but we've got to do better and we've got to keep progressing and winning games, and try and keep on the tails of the teams above us," he said.

"We'd like to be closer, we're working towards that and we're hopefully going to get there. We're playing well enough just now, we're finding ways to win and I think that happened a lot last year."

Welbeck was also all smiles after the final whistle, saying: "It's been difficult going away twice in three days over the Christmas period, so to come with away with six points is really pleasing.

"We've got a lot of momentum, but the next game is the most important, and we're not getting carried away looking at the past.

"I was delighted to come on and get the winning goal. I felt like I really played my part in the second half.

"It's a squad game and it's a long season, so we've got to rotate. That's what's happened today and we got three crucial points."

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0 Looking back at Premier League history, we recall Arsenal winning 7-3 at the Emirates Stadium

Theo Walcott scored his second hat-trick of the season as Arsenal routed Newcastle United 7-3 in a pulsating encounter at the Emirates Stadium.

It was the Gunners’ fourth consecutive Barclays Premier League victory and took Walcott’s goals total for the season to 14, with eight of those coming in the League and his other treble arriving in the Capital One Cup.

The result was Newcastle’s fourth defeat in five League matches and left them in 15^thplace, without an away win all season.

Walcott put Arsenal ahead in the 20^th minute with a curling shot from Lukas Podolski’s pass but Demba Ba levelled just before half-time when his free-kick deflected in off Jack Wilshere. It was 1-1 at the interval but the floodgates opened in a remarkable second period.

Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain restored the Gunners’ lead five minutes after the break through good work by Santi Cazorla. Again the Magpies equalised, this time through a Sylvain Marveux tap-in after a centre from Gabriel Obertan.

In an end-to-end contest, Podolski made it 3-2 by heading home Wilshere’s cross, only for Ba to finish off a glorious cross by Marveux to level again in the 69th minute.

Arsenal moved up a gear and Kieran Gibbs ran on to a Podolski pass and pulled the ball back for Walcott to drive his second into the roof of the net. Substitute Olivier Giroud came on and within 10 minutes had headed in a Walcott cross to make it 5-3.

The same combination struck again in the 87th minute with a Walcott run being finished off by Giroud before Walcott scored the goal of the match when he cut into the area on the left and weaved through the defence before lifting the ball over Tim Krul.

“The result was not an accurate indication of the match but we cannot ask much more than three goals and the performance Theo gave today,” Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger said.

Newcastle manager Alan Pardew said: “When we got back to 3-3 we should have shut up shop and for 70 minutes it was pretty tight. But we did not have the energy to cope with them in the last 20 minutes and some of the goals we gave away were not good enough for us.”

Arsenal went on to finish fourth and claim the final UEFA Champions League place by beating Newcastle 1-0 away on the final day of the season, while Pardew's side avoided being dragged into a relegation battle as they came 16th,  finishing five points clear of the bottom three.

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