WHAT IS REALLY GOING ON AT ANFIELD

A year ago everything seemed to be going on well for Liverpool. The team was winning games, being crowned EPL champions seemed a real possibility, it seemed like Rafa was real the chosen one.

Fast forward a year later and all seems to be falling apart for Liverpool. The Reds have lost five of their last six games in all competitions. So what really is going on at Anfield, is it that Rafa does not know what he is doing, or is it that the team is just not good enough or maybe the team is struggling to cope without Xabi Alonso, or perhaps its the over reliance on the duo of Gerrard and Torres.Whatever it is it needs to be fixed soon.

Personally I'm of the view that its all of the above.

Liverpool lack depth if you take out the first eleven -which in itself is not all that convincing- you are left with a team that seriously falls short. Top teams can afford to have their star players on the bench whilst Liverpool have to rely on players like Insua and Ngog. Don't get me wrong they might be good players, average at best but to compete at the top level you need the very best.

Then you have the selling of Alonso, it has to be said the player wanted to leave and I applaud the Liverpool management for letting him go, you should let go players who no longer want to play for your team. But replacing him has been a problem. Lucas for all his promise just doesn't seem good enough. We are yet to see really how good Aquilani is.

Then you have Torres and Gerrard who arguably dragged Liverpool to 2nd position last season. It seems the team relies on these two way too much. As a result when injuries come calling the team is left suffering.

Then there is the coach, JUST HOW GOOD IS RAFA? Well I will leave that one to you guys.
To all Liverpool fans this is just an opinion and you are free to let us know yours.

Zuma Wants Benni McCarthy Back In Bafana

According to Goal.com, South African president Jacob Zuma, who was speaking at the 65th anniversary celebration of the ANC Youth League in Johannesburg at the weekend, called for Benni McCarthy to be brought back into the national team.

The event was also used to celebrate South Africa's World Champion medalists Caster Semenya, Khotso Mokoena and Mbulaeni Mulaudzi.

Zuma, according a report on SABC, said the country has a strong national team that will do South Africans proud at the 2010 World Cup.

He reiterated that striker McCarthy should be recalled to the Bafana Bafana team.

The president's comments follow the reappointment of Carlos Alberto Parreira as the country's seventeenth coach since being readmitted in world football in 1992.

Zuma like Youth League president Julius Malema also prefers a local coach to improve the standard of soccer in South Africa.

SEASON REVIEW SO FAR

So six games into the season and already we have had controversy, brilliance, drama and a lot of surprises. First was Man Utd losing to new boys Burnely, then there was Arsenal scoring six past Everton, and then recently was the news of Chelsea being banned from signing new players till 2011.

So without a doubt this is turning out to be a very fascinating season. Rich boys Man City have also started well despite losing to Man Utd last weekend though a lot of City fans and Utd haters will tell you that the game was well over before Owen scored the winner.

As for Arsenal, it really still is a case of same story different day, they play some of the most beautiful football you will ever see but when it comes to important games they seem to fizzle out, you just need to look at the Man City and Utd games.

As for title contenders Utd and Chelsae look like the teams that will be fighting for top honours come May. Chelsea haven't lost a game as yet, and the manner in which they have outplayed most of the teams they have beaten is really impressive. They look very strong and hungry under CA.

As for Utd, well you write off Utd at your own peril, for almost two decades they have been the team to beat. And even though they have lost Ronaldo and Tevez they still look really good. For most past of last weekend's match against Man City, they looked so dominant, and if it wasn't for some impressive goalkeeping from Shay Given, that score line could have been embarrassing for the Citizens.

Liverpool seem to have gotten back into gear after an indifferent start which saw them lose twice to Villa and Spurs. Thier biggest concern right now should be the number of goals they have conceeded. Their defence has looked very suspect so far, a lot has been said about Glen Johnson and his attcking, but first and foremost the guy is a defender he should focus on that first. To concede nine goals in the opening six games against that type of opposition should really be concerning Rafa.

So six games in 32 to go who will be lifting that title come May?

Chelsea handed transfer ban

Damn Platini and everyone at UEFA ain't playing, days after giving Eduardo a 2 game ban for diving- makes you wonder where they where when Ronaldo was doing it- they have now handed Chelsea a transfer ban till 2011. Is it justified, maybe, but one thing is for sure, UEFA is flexing its muscles and all in European football should be worried, what's next, salary caps, 6 home grown players in a team, the list goes on.

What do you guys think about UEFA and their recent actions?


For the full slice on the Chelsea transfer ban visit: skysport

Cole pens new Blues deal

England full back Ashley Cole has signed a four year contract extension with Chelsea. This is just days after John Terry also inked a mega-money deal at the club, Cole has scored three times in 88 Premier League appearances for the Blues, including one in Saturday's 3-0 win over Burnley.

Get the full slice from sky news

Dunne deal for Villa

Aston Villa have taken their summer spending to £40million after finally confirming the signing of Manchester City skipper Richard Dunne on Wednesday. It always looked like Dunne was destined to leave City especially after the signing of Toure and Lescott, good move for Dunne....

Full slice on: ananova

Tiger Woods human after all.

The guy has been dominating the game for a while now, to the extent that whenever he is involved you almost feel that everyone else is playing for second. So it came as a surprise when after leading for so long at the PGA Championships, he lost to Y.E. Yang.

Get the full slice from sports.yahoo.com/golf

A BOLT IN 9.58s

So you thought it was a fluke, couldn't be bettered? well you better think again because this Usain guy is just insane....

Get the HotSlice On how Usian Bolt bolted another world record, visit:

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/index.html

Premier league review

It was an amazing start by Arsenal, a cagey affair at the Bridge, while Man U needed a Rooney goal to get past Birmingham, Liverpool got a serious warning about this season's campaign from a very impressive Spurs side.

For more reviews on the opening weekend matches visit www.adifferentleague.co.uk

Cesc not joining Barca - at least for now.

Arsenal can breath a huge sigh of relief for now at least. Their influential midfielder seems to be staying put for at least another season according to the player's father. Fabregas has been linked with a move back to Spanish champions Barcelona, however according to his father Cesc will be an Arsenal player for the up coming season.

Check out the whole slice on www.thelondonpaper.com/

This weekend's fixtures in the EPL

The EPL is almost underway, with Chelsea kicking off against Hull City at the Bridge and Arsenal travelling to Goodison park for a late kickoff against Everton on Saturday. Liverpool and Man Utd kickoff their season on Sunday with home games against Spurs and Birmingham respectively. For the rest of this weekend's fixtures visit www.skysports.com/football/

The Season Ahead - Who will be the Champions?

If Chelsea play the similar kind of football Guus Hiddink got them playing, then on their day, they can beat anybody. In truth, none of the big four have really strengthened from last season, though nowadays it's hard to imagine Arsenal as title challengers.

Man United will struggle to replace Ronaldo and Tevez, and as good players Antonio Valencia and Michael Owen are and as much as I think they'll be good signings, it will take time for them to become world class and turn United into world beaters again and I don't think this season will be their season.

As for Liverpool, they've got an interesting signing in Glen Johnson, who in my opinion cost a bit much ( 18 million pounds to be exact ). I think Alberto Aguilani might struggle to match the exploits of now Real Madrid player Xabi Alonso, Alonso was such a good player for Liverpool, I think they'll miss him. Aquilani is an established player but with nature of the EPL he might need a bit more time to settle. Another concern for Liverpool should be the fitness of Gerrard and Torres ( Without doubt their most important players). Speaking of which the latter is already set to miss the England game against Holland due to a groin injury - my point exactly. Liverpool don't really have much cover for them, particularly for Gerrard.

Chelsea haven't sold anybody ( at least not yet, reports claim that Bayern are keen on fullback Jose Bosingwa), and have got a new manager with a European pedigree, and have bought Ross Turnbull, Daniel Sturridge and Yuri Zhirkov. I'm of the opinion that Zhirkov will be good cover on the left for both Malouda and Ashley Cole. After watching Sturridge in pre-season I think he could turn out to be a real bargain by for Chelsea in the long term, with Anelka and Drogba in their thirties. Having thus said I think Chelsea's season might be great especially if Didier and Anelka are in top form.

So where do the Gunners come in? They do have quality players like Arshavin, Walcott, Fabregas, Nasri and Van Persie, and they have great potential in their youngsters. But Arsenal's problem is one of depth in opinion, they need a holding midfielder ( one in his mid 20's not the teenagers Wenger is always getting). They also need to strengthen that backline with Toure gone and Senderos looking likely to join Everton ( a team that could be competing for that fourth position). They have lost Adebayor and good deal for Arsenal in my opinion, so perhaps another striker might be good and with 25 million pounds I think Wenger can get a really good player, although I should say I am no fan of this Chamakh guy they are chasing. So thus said who will finish in pole position come May?

If you ask me it will be like this:

1. Chelsea
2. Man Utd
3. Liverpool
4. Man City/Arsenal/Everton/ Aston Villa ?