Liverpool’s mastery in winning penalty-kick shoot-outs extends to even the guys who weren’t on the team two years ago. First-year Reds striker Dirk Kuyt converted the winner to give Liverpool a 4-1 shoot-out victory over Chelsea on Tuesday, sending Liverpool to the European Champions League final for the second time in three years.
Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho has virtually conceded the English Premier League title. Now his attention turns back to winning the Champions League. Chelsea have a 1-0 lead going into the second leg of the semifinals at Liverpool on Tuesday, thanks to Joe Cole’s goal at Stamford Bridge last Wednesday.
Fulham conceded two goals in four minutes on Sunday to lose 3-1 at Arsenal and stay just one point out of the relegation zone in the Premier League. Julio Baptista put the Gunners ahead in the fourth minute after heading in a cross from Emmanuel Adebayor at the Emirates Stadium.
Manchester United moved five points clear in the English Premier League title race by scoring four straight goals to beat Everton 4-2 on Saturday as Chelsea drew 2-2 with Bolton. Other results on Saturday included: Blackburn 4, Charlton 1; Aston Villa 2, Manchester City 0; and Tottenham 3, Middlesbrough 2.
Chelsea are finally putting on a united front — and the club couldn’t have chosen a better time. Despite chasing an unprecedented four trophies, the season has resembled a soap opera with manager Jose Mourinho and owner Roman Abramovich barely on speaking terms.
With a three-goal, first-leg lead, and facing a weakened PSV Eindhoven, Liverpool didn’t need a superhuman effort to reach European Champions League semifinals. A 1-0 victory at Anfield Road on Wednesday was enough. It won’t have it so easy against English Premier League rival Chelsea in a rematch of their 2005 clash.
Manchester United turned David Beckham into an international superstar and on Tuesday he bid an emotional farewell to Old Trafford before he quits European soccer for the United States. Beckham joined United in 1991 at 16, debuted the next year, and transferred in 2003 to Real Madrid.