The international break is here and the English Premiership is off for a week’s break. In all honestly though no one wanted that to happen, such has been the excitement we have enjoyed since the resumption of the world’s most popular league – especially this past weekend.

Here are a couple of points:

• The Mighty Gunners of North London

I am super excited about the Gunners, so much so that I’m ordering a brand new replica jersey… I will admit I was thrilled to see Song leave Arsenal. I have nothing against him, he’s a wonderful talent and I truly believe he will go on to reach great heights at Barcelona. But to me Song was one of the main reasons for Arsenal’s downs last season.

It’s still too early to go around claiming vindication but the early signs are encouraging.

Yes, the season is only three games old, but the midfield of Arteta, Diaby and Carzola is looking scrumptious. Their performance against Liverpool was simply outstanding. They nullified Liverpool’s midfield and were able to set a platform for one of Arsenal’s finest league wins in recent seasons. The Gunners did ride their luck a bit; there were a couple of penalty shouts that could have easily gone the other way on another day, but after 90 minutes there was no arguing who was the better team.

Diaby. Well, what can you say? He was amazing.

When he arrived at Arsenal seven years ago from Auxerre he was said to be the new Vieira. This, however, never really materialized because he was unable to consistently play in his favorite position – frequently being deployed on the wing or further forward – while injuries also hampered him greatly.

Although he showed glimpses of his immense talent he was never settled so was never a nailed down player.

Thankfully Diaby’s back to full fitness and, based on Sunday’s evidence, could be Arsenal’s most important player in their quest for silverware.

I really believe Arsenal can challenge for the league title this season.

That midfield trio of Arteta, Diaby and Carzola is comparable to any in the league and the defensively the team suddenly looks pretty solid.

I’m happy with Jenkinson. He’s not the most refined player, but he has won me over in the last two games – games which have not been easy tasks, and have posed different challenges.

In dealing with the physical threat of Stoke and then the pace and guile of Raheem Sterling against Liverpool, Jenkinson has shown he can be a resourceful option at rightback. He’s still nervous, yes, and this coupled with his relative lack of technique means he’s prone to mistakes in possession. Nevertheless, I would like to see him get an extended run in the team.

The Mertesacker-Vermaelen combination also deserves to continue at the heart of Arsenal’s defence. Despite shaky moments from each against Liverpool, both were generally outstanding. I felt they complimented each other well, and Vermaelen’s all-action style is well-matched by Mertesacker’s composed approach.

It’s often pointed out that the most effective centreback partnerships are ones which comprise of differing personalities; the cool guy and the crazy guy – for example Carvalho and Terry, Ferdinand and Vidic, Pique and Puyol.

You would hope this partnership is given a chance to flourish because so far it hasn’t let the team down.

Upfront there remains a slight worry in terms of where the goals will consistently come from. But, for me, the most important thing is to keep this group together. Fingers crossed then that Arsenal doesn’t suffer any injuries over this international break.

• The Paul Scholes Conundrum

There’s still no convincing explanation why Paul Scholes doesn’t start more often for Manchester United.

Scholes himself has frequently said he wants to play more. Ok, he is 37, so maybe he can’t play every game, but he should be used as much as possible.

There are perhaps games where Scholes won’t be suited; a Stoke perhaps, who are more physical and where his tackling would be called into question more often. Maybe a Newcastle away too on the evidence of their victory over United last season which was underpinned by a frenetic pace and direct approach.

Probably against such styles you would require more mobility, stamina and force in midfield.

But otherwise it’s clear that Scholes should play every game. He changed the game on Sunday against Southampton.

United looks like a much different team when Scholes is on the pitch. His passing range is remarkable, and what’s more, he always seems to pick the right pass. That’s what makes him special. Scholes also brings a sense of calm and direction to the team, and because he’s been a midfield guru from his youth, he knows all the tricks of the trade.

Scholes should be played in his favored role as the creative fulcrum, not as at Everton where he was the deepest of United’s midfielders.

Scholes in my book is key to whether United will compete this season.

• Swansea Splendour

Swansea are the story of the league so far. Continuing on from they left off under Brendan Rodgers, the Swans are third and flying after three games.

Apart from their lofty ranking Swansea are also an illustration of how English football has evolved in the last ten years – the passing and technique-based football, with a sprinkling of tactical discipline.

You could see it with Southampton (against United) as well while teams like Wigan and Fulham have an emphasis on quality possession at the core of their philosophies.

There’s a place for the other side as well as Carroll showed brilliantly with West Ham, as Stoke does so effectively and as the variation Newcastle and Everton have to their strategy.

It just makes the Premiership that more intriguing because there are so many different styles.

It also means this will be the toughest season yet. Year on year this league is getting tougher and tougher. There is no side you can say are obvious favorites for relegation, nor can you say playing a certain way will guarantee success as opposed another style.

Southampton may be pointless after three games, but they were five minutes from beating Man United and gave City a real fright on the opening day of the season.

• Liverpool…

While Rodgers’ old team is going great guns, his new team–Liverpool–has some problems.

First, I believe they’ve tried to change things a bit too quickly. Rodgers has attempted to revolutionize Liverpool’s style into a technique-based, meticulous one. It doesn’t completely suit all the players at his disposal, for example Gerrard. Stevie G is a world-class footballer, full-stop. However, Liverpool’s new style more often than not entails measured build-ups while Gerrard is an explosive player, always looking to add tempo. At times this means he’s not on the same wavelength with the system, as evidenced by a couple of personal errors so far on his part.

Most of Liverpool’s transfer activity also hasn’t made sense.

One thing that’s a blessing is Suarez is now the undisputed main man and there’s no distraction of Carroll (even if it’s still a bit of a blunder not to have had a replacement for Carroll in place). A three-man midfield with Gerrard supporting Suarez is Liverpool at their best, something akin to the deadly Torres-Gerrard combo of 2008-09.

The only problem, though, is that Suarez is not a prolific scorer. This puts pressure on Liverpool’s other attackers to find the net, and if you look at the team-sheet there are no other scorers except for Gerrard. At the moment I see Borini as a bit of a weak link. Both he and Sterling are not goalscorers, but Sterling offers sharp penetration, which Borini hasn’t done so far.

Liverpool needs someone out-wide who can score. This is where an Afellay might have been an option, and is what Kuyt used to do.

Signing Owen would have helped too. It might have meant changing the system a bit, but Liverpool would have had the goal threat they are missing.

Other parts, though not yet perfect, are fine. Without Lucas, Liverpool lacks a presence on the defensive side in midfield. Nevertheless, the midfield group as a whole has real quality, and with Shelvey lately making himself a good option, it is likely going to serve Liverpool well.

The defense and keeper are also proven Premiership quality.

However, it will take some time for Liverpool to be transformed into a winning team that also plays to the manager’s philosophy.

• AVB and Spurs…

Another man of change is Andre Villas-Boas; the man tries to change things too much whenever he lands. He looks to be repeating the same mistakes he made at Chelsea. The jettisoning of Dawson, for example, makes little sense. He has been one of Tottenham’s best defenders over recent seasons and he understands the club. Vertonghen, has been thrown in the deep end.

Although Tottenham endured a poor finish to last season under Harry Redknapp they did finish fourth. The previous three seasons the Spurs have finished 4th, 5th and 4th, a pretty incredible sequence. This is the standard that’s been set by Harry’s superb work and, sadly, I feel the Spurs have taken a step back so far.

That’s not to say AVB will not have success at White Hart Lane. He may well achieve it, but it’s unlikely to be this season.

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Liverpool, England – Football brand stamps its mark with cutting edge kit that redefines high performance Warrior  has officially unveiled its highly anticipated 2012/13 Liverpool FC home kit. Combining revolutionary design and technology, the new kit is a celebration of the Club’s renowned heritage with inspiration drawn from Liverpool FC legends of old.

Developed out of the brand’s global football headquarters in Wilmslow, England, the new Liverpool FC kit has been constructed by a hand-picked team of design and development experts.

Head of Warrior Football Richard Wright believes the new LFC kit will smash expectations.

“By partnering our knowledge of making high performance sports apparel with Liverpool FC’s rich history, Warrior has successfully created a kit that will empower players with the means to dominate. Our goal is to breathe new life and energy into the game of football, to make people sit up and take notice by redefining expectations,” said Wright.

Warrior has stamped its mark on the Liverpool FC home kit by introducing a number of signature features.

Inspiration behind the kit was drawn from the 1964/65 version, worn under Club legend, Bill Shankly. The cult manager believed the high-risk red gave players a physical and psychological edge over their opponents.

The iconic amber yellow Liver Bird emblem has been re-introduced to the new kit, taking centre stage on the shirt as the Club’s crest. Reminiscent of the strip worn between 1976 and 1985 – a time recognised as one of Liverpool FC’s golden eras – the crest has been fully embroidered on to the shirt for only the second time in the Club’s history.

Marking a world-first in football, the kit has been designed using War-Tech, a revolutionary apparel system engineered by Warrior. At the heart of War-Tech lies Scafe, an innovative, antimicrobial fabric made with coffee grounds. As well as being environmentally friendly, Scafe is fast drying, assists with odor control and provides UV protection.

To further ensure the highest level of performance, the main body of the Liverpool FC shirt is designed with durable water resistant technology, a hydro-phobic development that rejects external moisture and helps maintain dryness. Under-arm four-way stretch mesh fabric also allows for full-range movement, functionality and air flow to help regulate temperature in key heat areas during games.

LFC captain Steven Gerrard, who was recently given the England captain’s arm band for the European Championships, believes the new Warrior kit is one of the best in the Club’s history.

“Warrior has designed a kit that embodies everything that is great about Liverpool Football Club,” said Gerrard. “I’m extremely happy with the reintroduction of the amber yellow Liver Bird crest and the stitching gives it that extra touch of quality. For fit, comfort and functionality, it’s one of the best kits I’ve worn – the fans will love it.”

Liverpool FC will wear the groundbreaking new-look home kit for the first time against Toronto FC on 21 July, during the Club’s summer tour of North America. The kit will be available to purchase from http://www.liverpoolfc.tv.

With a number of exciting club and player signings on the horizon, it is clear Warrior remains true to its brand philosophy of, we come not to play.

Image Courtesy of  Jaggat / Shutterstock.com

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Liverpool Football Club took to the field at Ewood Park on Tuesday night in the midst of their worst run of form in 50 years. Normally considered a routine victory for the club from Merseyside, especially given the precarious position of opposing side Blackburn Rovers, victory was anything but assured for Kenny Dalglish’s men.

An electric start for the visitors saw Liverpool take a two goal lead thanks to some lethargic defending from Blackburn and two Maxi Rodriguez strikes. It was not long after however and Liverpool’s recent run of form seemed to kick in, first with the sending off of goalkeeper Alexander Doni, albeit substitute goalkeeper Brad Jones saved the resulting penalty, and two goals from Rovers striker Yakubu had levelled the scores.

With time running down and Liverpool having been forced to play with just ten men for the majority of the match, Blackburn were increasing the tempo and trying to find a goal which would earn them an invaluable three points. Unfortunately for the home fans however, it was the much maligned Liverpool forward Andy Carroll who grabbed a winner, powering a header beyond the helpless Paul Robinson.

Liverpool may not have played their best football this season, but they have also had their fair share of bad luck, and this game may signal a change in fortunes for the club. Having lost games in the dying minutes with alarming regularity this season, the result against Blackburn will have come as sweet relief to many of Liverpool’s fans and players, none more so than out -of-form striker Carroll.

The former Newcastle man has suffered a torrid start to his Liverpool career, notching just nine goals in his first 50 appearances for the club, much of which has been attributed his inflated transfer fee of £35 million and the resulting loss of confidence after he was unable to perform to a standard befitting the fee in his first few months on Merseyside.

This late goal could change everything for Carroll. The relief and joy of scoring was clearly visible on Carroll’s face as he ran off to celebrate his winning goal, and has already warned local rivals Everton that his side are high no confidence as they head into their FA Cup Semi-Final at Wembley on Saturday.

The challenge for Dalglish remains to get the best out of both Carroll and fellow striker Luis Suarez when they are both on the pitch together, and is an unenviable task. Should Dalglish succeed however, then the rest of the English Premier League will need to sit up and take notice as the physicality and aerial ability of Carroll interspersed with ball skills and finishing of Suarez could yet be a feared strike force.

Far more important than the three points received for the victory, as Champions League qualification is no longer a realistic proposition for Liverpool, is the sense of belief that it will have given back to the players whose lack of confidence has been visible in recent displays. Although not yet a squad capable of challenging for the EPL, they are a talented group who will feel confident about their chances of picking up their second trophy of the season in the FA Cup.

Although the result is anything but a foregone conclusion for either side, with both the red and blue halves of Merseyside descending on Wembley this Saturday one thing can be taken for granted, there’s going to be fireworks.

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As the Liverpool team celebrated their Carling Cup victory on the Wembley pitch last Sunday, manager Kenny Dalglish was also celebrating another, lesser known accomplishment. The win over Cardiff helped further seal Dalglish’s place in the annals of football history, as he joins a group of just six other managers who have led their teams to League, FA Cup and League Cup victories.

In typical fashion, however, ‘King Kenny’ was quick to divert the attentions from himself and onto his players. He then went onto state that this ‘is just the beginning’ for the club, and that he believes a large upturn in their fortune is just around the corner, with this trophy helping to inspire his players onto even bigger things.

The goal for the club this season has to be making it into the top four, and reaping the benefits that qualifying for the Champions League has to offer. Not only is it a highly substantial source of income, it also makes the club significantly more attractive to prospective transfer targets, come the end of the current season. Even with the clubs’ relatively poor form in the 1990’s, it remains almost unthinkable that a team of the caliber of Liverpool would not present in any European competition this season.

It is vital that they bounce back quickly, in order to retain their status as one of the elite teams in Europe. That is not to say that the club should neglect the FA Cup in any way, as a cup double would be fantastic for the players and fans alike. A return to the Champions League would arguably be far more beneficial to the club in the long term.

Whilst the glory days may be a fair way away, roll the clock back 18 months and every single Liverpool fan could only have dreamed of the success enjoyed by the club. The club was then owned by American duo Tom Hicks and George Gillett, with the pair almost damaging the club to the point of no return, and helped in no small part by the management of Roy Hodgson.

It is perhaps unfair to lay so much blame on Hodgson, who was shown little financial backing by Hicks and Gillett, and was unable to sculpt the team into one which he was comfortable working with. Hicks and Gillett’s tenure at the club was marred in controversy, with the owners failing to make good on promises to build a new stadium, and allowing a dispute between themselves to boil over and affect their ability to run the club.

Effectively, the once great club was poised to fall into a position of mid-table obscurity, had it not been for two shining lights on the horizon: John W. Henry and Dalglish.

The former took control of the club from Hicks and Gillett, and immediately set about restoring the club to its former glory. Step one was the removal of Hodgson as manager, who was clearly not a good fit for Liverpool, and club legend Dalglish was reinstated. Success in almost all sports can be attributed to doing the right thing at the right time, and while this is obviously vital in football, there is perhaps an even more critical ingredient: passion.

Dalglish has this quality in abundance, and combined with a high level of tactical astuteness and unparalleled management skills, he has already set about saving the club he loves, from falling into obscurity.

Many fans could be forgiven for falling in love with the fairytale return of their hero, and for bestowing all accolades on him, but the influence of Henry cannot be underestimated. Henry, who also owns the Boston Red Sox baseball team, has put his money where his mouth is, backing Dalglish extensively in the transfer market, with Kenny in return strengthening what was a very thin Liverpool squad.

He has also assured fans that he is looking into the stadium issue, and has resolved that if Anfield cannot be expanded to the level where they can compete with the likes of Arsenal and Manchester United in terms of attendance, then a new stadium will be built to ensure the future competitiveness of the club.

The club is certainly moving in the right direction, and clearly has an owner with a passion for the club, evident by his emphatic celebrations at Wembley on Sunday, as he witnessed the club lift their first trophy of his tenure. If Dalglish can lead the club to the Champions League this season, there is a real feeling that it is only a matter of time before Liverpool is once again competing for a title. With the right additions to the squad this could even be a reality by next season.

However, should Liverpool fail to qualify for Europe’s premier competition, the process could be put back a season or two, with Henry unlikely to back Dalglish with the same kind of financing, should they only be competing in the Europa League. Nothing, of course, can be taken for granted in football, and winning the Carling Cup may have given Henry a taste for success.

The owner may be willing to pump more money into the club regardless of the Champions League situation. What can be said for certain, is that the club is back on the up, and that their status as one of the elite clubs of Europe seems fairly solidified with Dalglish and Henry at the reins.

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After today’s FA Cup matches that included a Manchester United victory against their cross-town rival, Manchester City, the matches for the fourth round of the FA Cup were drawn, pairing Liverpool and Manchester United together in what is sure to be a hostile match due to the recent events involving racist comments made between players.

The current hostility between the two clubs began after the last match played between the two teams, in which Liverpool striker Luis Suarez was banned for eight matches after being found guilty by the EFA of racially abusing Manchester United defender Patrice Evra.

Liverpool beat Oldham Athletic Friday night to continue on in the FA Cup race; however, the game was overshadowed by accusations that Liverpool fans racially abused an Oldham player. Manchester United beat their neighboring rivals Manchester City on Sunday after a Manchester City player received a red card and was kicked out of the game.

Arsenal is set to face Leeds United on Monday to see who will be continuing in the competition and facing Aston Villa at the end of the month.

Matches that were drawn today to be played January 28^th and 29^th included:

• Arsenal or Leeds United vs. Aston Villa
• Blackpool vs. Sheffield Wednesday
• Brighton or Wrexham vs. Newcastle United
• Dagenham & Redbridge or Millwall vs. Southampton
• Derby vs. Stoke
• Everton vs. Fulham
• Hull vs. Crawley
• Liverpool vs. Manchester United
• Macclesfield or Bolton vs. Swansea City
• MK Dons or Queens Park Rangers vs. Chelsea
• Nottingham Forest or Leicester City vs. Swindon
• Sheffield United vs. Birmingham or Wolverhampton
• Stevenage vs. Middlesbrough
• Watford vs. Tottenham
• West Bromwich Albion vs. Norwich City

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Premier League title holder Manchester United had a record revenue of €334.1 million ($462 million) this past year. After paying off debts — including the €50 million owed for the purchasing of De Gea, Ashley Young, and Phil Jones, the Red Devils will have made a €110.9 million profit.

Wayne Rooney’s new €180,000 per week deal also takes a chunk out of the newfound profit, along with 16% rise in staff costs. The record-breaking revenue has been the largest revenue the team has seen since the early 2000’s. According to Andy Green, who spoke to The Guardian about this topic, the club has been fighting a long battle with debt since 2005.

According to Green, €478 million has been spent in order to pay of this debt, with most of it coming from interest fees. Along with winning the Premier League title, Manchester United also made it to the finals of the UEFA Champions League.

Although losing the match to a strong side in FC Barcelona, the publicity that the Red Devils received got them more viewers and more companies willing to spend money to get in the spotlight as well.
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