Lescott error gives Reds drawLiverpool 1 (Lescott o.g 33) Manchester City 1 (Kompany 31)

Ten-man Manchester City survived a serious examination of their title credentials to extend their unbeaten Premier League record to 13 matches with a 1-1 draw at Anfield.
Had it not been for goalkeeper Joe Hart the visitors may have tasted a league defeat for the first time since 7 May. They barely had time to celebrate Vincent Kompany's 31st-minute opener before Charlie Adam's shot was deflected in by Joleon Lescott.
In the second half, substitute Mario Balotelli lasted 18 minutes before being sent off for a second bookable offence and had English international Hart not been on top form City would have succumbed to sustained Liverpool pressure in the final 20 minutes.
Having coasted serenely through the domestic campaign, scoring goals at will, this was the first time this season Roberto Mancini's side had failed to score more than once in a league match. Credit must go to Liverpool who, after a slow start, enhanced their own reputation as genuine top-four contenders with a second-half performance which produced everything but a winning goal.
City may have previously won only once at Anfield in the last 30 years - and that came in May 2003 - but they played the first half like they were the home team. They passed the ball around with consummate ease, as they have done all season, with both Samir Nasri and David Silva threading threatening balls down the side of the two centre-backs.
Liverpool tried to employ the same high, pressing tactics which were so effective in last week's victory at Chelsea and it worked to some degree. For all City's neat passing and movement off the ball they did not really threaten and the closest they came was when they were given an opportunity by Jose Enrique's back-pass.
The Spaniard was obviously unsighted when he rolled a ball too close to Sergio Aguero but Jose Reina raced 15 yards out of his penalty area to first block and then, after the ball rebounded off the Argentinian back onto his arm, clear.
Aguero was doing his best to unlock what is becoming an increasingly frugal Liverpool defence and he twisted past Martin Skrtel and Daniel Agger with ease on the left of the area but bamboozled himself and lost balance. 
Ironically, considering the silky attacking skills at their disposal, the visitors took a 31st-minute lead from an old-fashioned corner routine. Silva swung in a left-footed cross and centre-back Kompany glanced a header into the far corner after marker Dirk Kuyt and Glen Johnson got in each other's way.
That is usually the key for Mancini's side to go into attacking overdrive but within two minutes they found themselves pegged back as indecision and a bad decision cost them. Kompany's weak clearance dropped to Kuyt who squared for Adam to unleash a left-footed drive which was heading wide until Lescott tried to clear and succeeded only in diverting past Hart.
If he was helpless to stop that shot the English goalkeeper showed his quality as he stuck out a leg to brilliantly divert Adam's right-footed shot over. Suddenly the momentum was with the Reds and Johnson, last week's match-winner, flashed a left-footed shot past Hart's right-hand post.
Reina saved low from Aguero in first-half added time but the open football continued after the break as Stewart Downing's cross ballooned up off Kompany and Kuyt's diving header missed the target. The languid, measured play of the first half had been replaced by a more frenetic approach after the break, evidenced by Hart's hurried punch to Downing's cross.
Hart did better with his England team-mate's shot into the turf from Adam's corner, tipping over just as the ball was about to dip under the crossbar. The increasingly manic atmosphere hardly needed enhancing but the arrival of Balotelli for Nasri did exactly that.
Right on cue the Italian produced a stumble, a fraction of a second after Skrtel had slipped trying to reach the ball, just when he was about to burst into the penalty area. 
Liverpool had steadily grown more comfortable over the course of the game and they had the momentum entering the final 20 minutes. Enrique and Downing shot wide before Balotelli's propensity for getting himself in trouble surfaced late on. Having been booked for pulling back Johnson, he was shown a second yellow card for catching Skrtel across the face.
Hart kept his side in it, though, with another good save at his near post from Luis Suarez before Silva over-complicated things in Liverpool's area having beaten Reina and Skrtel cleared off the line. But Hart was the one being worked the hardest and another brilliant one-handed save from Andy Carroll's header in added time preserved City's unbeaten start.

Europa League for City?

Unofficial champions Manchester City seem to be taking the Premier League by storm this season but it seems they can't transfer their league form into their Champions League campaign where they stand on the brink of elimination.

Last nights 2-1 defeat to Napoli saw Roberto Mancini's men fall to third place in their Group A table with only a home match against Bayern Munich to come on December 7.

With two wins in 5 matches (both against group whipping boys Villareal) the Citizens know that even a win against the mighty Bayern will not ensure progression into the knockout phase as Napoli have an away game to Villareal which they are expected to win so it could end up being Europa League football in the new year for City.

Last season the top brass at Eastlands wanted Champions League football but I think even they expected to reach the knockout phase especially when you look at their squad but alas, barring a miracles it looks like the Champions League dream has been cut short but with the form they are showing this season in the Premier League (11 wins from 12 matches) City will hope next season's Champions League campaign will be a little longer than this one.

City remain champions as Newcastle lose unbeaten recordManchester City 3 Newcastle United 0

There were no chips at Manchester City this afternoon, just another three points for the Premier League leaders as Newcastle's unbeaten record came to an end. Even City's fans shared the amusement of a club that just announced losses of £194.9m being forced to announce that there would be no chips available at half-time.


The money has been spent on far more productive items though and two of the recent big-money purchases, Mario Balotelli and Sergio Aguero, both scored from the spot in between a rasping finish from home-grown defender Micah Richards, who had an outstanding afternoon. It maintained City's 100 per cent home record in front of a stadium record crowd, although Alan Pardew's men could justifiably feel the scoreline did not pay due reward to their own efforts, even after Dan Gosling's consolation.


It was a matter of some satisfaction on Tyneside that Newcastle should head into this three-match sequence which sees meetings with both Manchester clubs followed by an encounter with Chelsea still unbeaten. Few thought Alan Pardew's men would still be awaiting their first loss in a fortnight's time yet the confidence that has soared with the Magpies made them think anything was possible. 


If Demba Ba had profited during the visitors' best spell of the opening period, they might well have headed back to the north-east in even more buoyant mood. Instead, his snap-shot after being set up by Hatem Ben Arfa was turned away by Joe Hart before he glanced a header wide from Yohan Cabaye's corner.


It was Ben Arfa's first Premier League start since he broke his leg in a challenge with Nigel de Jong in the corresponding fixture last season. The pair have since made up from what Ben Arfa felt was a nasty tackle by De Jong and thankfully there was no hint of a repeat.


It does seem City have moved forward since then both in personnel and a more expansive style. Yet again, they were the team carrying most of the threat and before Newcastle's purple patch, Aguero fizzed a shot over the bar and Tim Krul produced an excellent one-handed save to deny Balotelli's close range header.


Taylor troubles
The Blues were still searching for some kind of inspiration when Taylor made his intervention. He would be correct in claiming he was within close proximity of Yaya Toure's shot five minutes before the break. However, referee Chris Foy presumably took the view that with his arm outstretched, Taylor was asking for trouble, which duly came in the form of a penalty when the ball hit him inside the box.


Never one to avoid a bit of drama, Balotelli strode slowly to the spot-kick before side-footing neatly into the bottom corner. It was the Italian's ninth goal of the season and was celebrated with a folding of the arms and a steely stare.


Taylor's afternoon was soon to get worse as on City's next attack he tried to control Samir Nasri's through ball and turn at the same time. All the full-back succeeded in doing was allow Richards the chance to intervene. Overlooked by Fabio Capello for England, the full-back finished smartly and suddenly City were clear.


To their credit, Newcastle refused to let their heads drop. But the second-half just brought more anguish in their bid to drag themselves back into the game. First Ben Arfa drove a low shot against a post after he had nipped in to rob Vincent Kompany. Then Fabricio Coloccini belted a volley wide after being picked out completely unmarked from Yohan Cabaye's corner. Finally, Hart denied Guthrie, who has sped into the box and gone for the far corner from an acute angle.


Having come through those trials and tribulations unscathed, it seemed harsh that City should grab another themselves after Ben Arfa had sent Richards tumbling in the box. With Balotelli replaced by David Silva, Aguero took over spot-kick duties and promptly sent Krul the wrong way.


The sight of Aguero and Toure hobbling off before the end would be a worry for manager Roberto Mancini with Tuesday's must-not-lose UEFA Champions League trip to Napoli looming. And the City boss would not be too happy that Gosling's effort two minutes from time denied his side a clean sheet.

Barry awarded Englands 2000th goal

Manchester City midfielder Gareth Barry has officially been named the scorer of England's 2000th goal in international matches.
Barry seemed to get his head to the ball in England's 1-0 win over Sweden on Tuesday but replays showed the final touch come from Celtic defender Daniel Majstorovic but the referee has since handed in his report and he says the goal was scored by Barry, his decision is final!!
Since the match there had been differing views as to who was awarded the goal depending on which publication you read but the FA have confirmed it now by saying "We have now received the referee's report and he has stated Gareth Barry as the scorer, so he is awarded the goal officially."
Usually there isn't any fuss made over goals in a friendly but with this one being a landmark goal it was important that it was not only called correctly but that it was a Englishman who scored it.
Englands first ever goalscorer was William Kenyon-Slaney in 1873 with a goal against Scotland while Jimmy Greaves scored Englands 1000th goal in a 5-1 win over Wales in 1960.

Blatter "Settle racism with a handshake"

Controversial FIFA president Sepp Blatter has caused an outcry tonight by declaring racism on the field should be settled with a handshake.

In our very own Premier League we have two cases currently being investigated involving Luis Suarez and Patrice Evra and John Terry and Anton Ferdinand but when interviewed by CNN today the 75 year old said "I would deny it. There is no racism, there is maybe one of the players towards another, he has a word or a gesture which is not the correct one but also the one who is affected by that, he should say that this is a game. We are in a game, and at the end of the game, we shake hands, and this can happen, because we have worked so hard against racism and discrimination. I think the whole world is aware of the efforts we are making against racism and discrimination. And on the field of play sometimes you say something that is not very correct, but then at the end of the game, the game is over and you have the next game where you can behave better."

Already Blatters words have reverberated around the globe and on Twitter #blatterout is already trending with a whole host of ex-professional footballers and journalists asking for the resignation of the man that has been the head of the world game for 13 years. During his time in charge he has managed to court controversy wherever he goes. As well as this racism slur he has also been questioned about corruption and also indicated the womens game would be more interseted if they were to wear tighter shorts.

No matter what has been thrown at Blatter he has always managed to do enough to keep in his role but is this one error to many.

Just as this story broke it was announced Liverpool striker Luis Suarez was to be charged the alleged racial abuse of Manchester United defender Patrice Evra.

An official statement from the FA read "The FA has today charged Liverpool’s Luis Suarez following an incident that occurred during the Liverpool versus Manchester United fixture at Anfield on 15 October 2011. It is alleged that Suarez used abusive and/or insulting words and/or behaviour towards Manchester United’s Patrice Evra contrary to FA rules. It is further alleged that this included a reference to the ethnic origin and/or colour and/or race of Patrice Evra."

Let us know what you think of Blatter and what you think he should do next by emailing us at admin@worldwidefootball.co.uk

City win to retain unofficial titleQPR 2 (Bothroyd 28, Helguson 69) Manchester City 3 (Dzeko 43, Silva 52, Y.Toure 74)

Manchester City had to cope with falling behind at Loftus Road tonight, but in the end, they had that familiar winning feeling as Yaya Toure's winner kept them five points ahead of Manchester United in the Premier League title race.
Coming off worst in a five-goal thriller will be scant consolation for QPR. They became the first team to take the lead against City in the Premier League this season, courtesy of Jay Bothroyd's fine header. And they had the spirit to respond through Heidar Helguson after Edin Dzeko and David Silva turned the match on its head either side of the break.
However, from Toure's 73rd-minute header, there was no response, Helguson coming closest when he struck the bar eight minutes from time before City claimed all the points in a 3-2 victory.
Yet, for all QPR's agonies, City side proving immensely hard to stop. Even if they only managed half the six goals they scored in their last away game at Old Trafford, they have now racked up 39 in 11 games, dropping only two points in the process and look more like title winners with every performance.
It was an enthralling contest, with old boys Shaun Wright-Phillips and Joey Barton keen to do well and QPR put their opponents on the back foot.
Helguson turned a Barton corner back across goal but just out of Ferdinand's reach. Joe Hart was forced to parry a thunderous Jamie Mackie effort away as City struggled to cope without suspended skipper Vincent Kompany.
Not once during their flying start to the season have City found themselves behind. Just before the half hour, it finally happened. Roberto Mancini could not be happy with the ease of QPR's goal either.
Barton sent a decent free-kick into the visitors' box but Bothroyd simply climbed highest in a crowded penalty area and sent a firm header into the bottom corner. City were rocking and Bothroyd came agonizingly close to grabbing a second when Helguson seized on a stray pass and picked the striker out with an excellent cross to the far post.
Bothroyd met it well enough, but the one-time English international could only turn away in despair as his header clipped the outside of a post. It seemed the visitors were there for the taking. But, like the champions they hope to become, they rallied quickly enough to haul themselves level before half-time.
James Milner started it with a surge downfield from inside his own half. He released the previously subdued Dzeko, who cut inside Luke Young and thrashed a shot into the bottom corner, his tenth Premier League goal of the season.
And City weren't finished there, with Sergio Aguero's well-struck effort bouncing back off the base of a post to provide QPR with a warning they would not even collect a point easily. If they thought a fine Barton shot that brought a sprawling save out of Hart straight after the restart would be a sign of things to come, they were sadly mistaken.
Forced off by a back injury during the UEFA Champions League win over Villarreal in midweek, Silva had returned to duty but not made much of an impression. That was until Dzeko picked up out with a low cross from the left touchline. The Spain star's next move had a touch of genius about it, even though it was so simple.
As the QPR defence waited for a touch to control, or even a dummy, Silva attacked the ball at pace, getting him away from Danny Gabbidon but with enough room in front of Ferdinand to blast home a fine goal.
It seemed QPR were doomed, but they rallied magnificently, and after Barton had gone close, Bothroyd met Armand Traore's cross and his goalbound header bounced in off Helguson. Once again, Loftus Road was alive with the electricity of fans who believed a famous win was on the cards.
However, City had no time for such dreams. Calmly, Kolarov strode down the left flank, then picked out Toure with a superb curling cross that invited a powerful headed finish. Helguson so nearly levelled near the end but it was the Blues celebrating once more at the end as they maintained their winning habit.