Scott Murray's Blog, page 190

November 27, 2014

Champions League review: Lampard v Touré and Messi v Ronaldo

We look at some of the major talking points from the midweek action, as well as the best images and statistics

“People should either be caressed or crushed,” wrote that stereotypical old Italian romantic, Niccola Machiavelli. “If you do them minor damage they will get their revenge; but if you cripple them there is nothing they can do. If you need to injure someone, do it in such a way that you do not have to fear their vengeance.” By that reasoning, some folks are suggesting that Bayern Munich committed a tactical booboo by not crushing Manchester City on Tuesday night. That may prove to be the case. However, an alternative view is that Bayern would not have become quite so slapdash at the Etihad if they had any real cause to fear City’s vengeance. Indeed, Manuel Pellegrini’s side do not even inspire enough confidence to back them to beat Roma in their crucial final group game.

Also witnessed this at the football last night. Arsenal fans really don't help themselves pic.twitter.com/cDHYJpsyFC

4 - All four of Liverpool's goals in the Champions League this season have come against Ludogorets. Monopoly.

GRAPHIC: Champions League Team of the Week - Gameweek 5 http://t.co/z2YUS4gr6Y pic.twitter.com/oHM58h2ksc

Rickie Lambert has scored in League 2, League 1, Ch'ship, Prem League, FA Cup, League Cup, Johnstones Paint Trophy and now Champions League!

4 – For the 1st time in @ChampionsLeague history 4 german teams lost on a matchday. Novelty.

Here's how Groups #UCL A-D look after last night's results. Reaction: http://t.co/lwLMMzXyCC pic.twitter.com/3fKOePoPvp

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Published on November 27, 2014 03:29

November 25, 2014

Schalke v Chelsea: Champions League – as it happened | Scott Murray

Sparkling Chelsea routed inept Schalke to ensure they qualify for the knockout stage as winners of Group G

9.34pm GMT

There’s enough time for Hazard to break into the Schalke box down the left and see his attempt to curl one into the top right blocked by Fahrmann. And that’s that. Chelsea have thrashed Schalke, and will end Group G on top, whatever happens in the final round of matches. It ended 5-0 to Chelsea, but it could have been so many more. Poor Roberto di Matteo! It’s no way to treat a legend.

9.32pm GMT

90 min +1: There will be two extra minutes. Terry kicks Meyer, but escapes a daft booking.

9.31pm GMT

90 min: Corner for Schalke! Uchida, their one bright light tonight, wins that one. He needn’t have bothered, Clemens sending the set piece straight down the throat of Courtois.

9.30pm GMT

87 min: Schalke have been a risible shambles all evening, and Felipe Santana nearly puts the tin lid on it by falling asleep 30 yards from goal and allowing Drogba to steal the ball and make for the area with extreme prejudice. Fortunately for the inept defender, inept goalkeeper Fahrmann comes out to cause a little confusion, and despite Schurrle arriving on the slapstick scene too, Schalke just about to collectively bundle the ball away from danger. What a schower!

9.28pm GMT

86 min: Drogba tears off down the inside-left channel and backheels a pass inside for Schurrle, whose low shot is blocked by Fahrmann. The flag goes up for offside, saving the hosts from another wave of attack.

9.25pm GMT

85 min: Finally, a little defiance from the home support, who give it some Schalke!!! to the pounding of the big bass drum.

9.24pm GMT

83 min: Schurrle isn’t far away from ramming home a Willian left-wing cross. Schalke would now settle for 0-5.

9.22pm GMT

81 min: There’s still a rare old atmosphere in this huge stadium, but the home fans aren’t contributing to it very much. In fact, plenty of them are departing in that lofty vehicle, high dudgeon.

9.20pm GMT

79 min: Schurrle comes on for Fabregas. Schalke have been totally outclassed in every single department, and now one World Cup winner’s been replaced by another!

9.19pm GMT

Drogba’s sent tearing clear again. This time he’s zipping down the left and into the area. He’s clear in the box and entitled to shoot, but loops a ball to the far post, where Ramires rises to head home into an empty net. Chelsea are sparkling in attack.

9.18pm GMT

This is superb attack play by Drogba, who bends his run three or four times over a 20-second period, waiting for a through ball. Eventually Fabregas, deep down the right, rakes a long one forward. Willian, to Drogba’s left, takes up possession, enters the box, slides it back to the right, and Drogba taps home.

9.16pm GMT

75 min: Oscar is replaced by Ramires.

9.15pm GMT

74 min: Hazard flicks a clever one around the corner and down the inside-left channel to release Oscar on goal. The flag goes up for offside, but that one was very marginal. Chelsea don’t bother complaining much, though if the scores were level, or Schalke were any sort of threat, they might have taken a more robust debating approach.

9.13pm GMT

73 min: Chelsea are just running down the clock now. A lot of passing around the back. Schalke aren’t of a mind to press the point, or indeed press Chelsea. A sense that both sides would take 0-3 now.

9.12pm GMT

71 min: Uchida bombs forward down the right again. His low ball into the box is cleared up by Hazard. It’s been a proper all-round team performance by Chelsea, this. I suppose you could say the same thing about Schalke, albeit to make a very different point.

9.09pm GMT

68 min: Terry skittles Huntelaar, 35 yards from the Chelsea goal. The free kick allows Schalke the opportunity to lift the ball into the Chelsea box. It’s headed clear in the fuss-free manner by Cahill. The home fans can’t even be bothered to whistle any more.

9.07pm GMT

66 min: Diego Costa is replaced by Didier Drogba.

9.06pm GMT

65 min: Courtois has something to do! It’s to catch a wafted shot from Howedes, 20 yards out down the left. Easy as you like. Chelsea have shown their class tonight, but the hosts have been appalling.

9.05pm GMT

64 min: Max Meyer comes on for Kevin Prince Boateng.

9.04pm GMT

62 min: Chelsea really should be four up now. Willian romps down the middle of the park on a break, Schalke having slipped back into Pathetic Mode again. He’s got Diego Costa to his right, screaming to be put clear, but he dillies and dallies and eventually slides it left to Oscar who drops a shoulder, cuts inside, and sees his shot blocked. The ball spins across to Diego Costa, just inside the area on the right. He should lash home, with only the hapless Fahrmann to beat, but miskicks. A double whammy of frustration. He really should have been sent clear down the middle by Willian, and discusses the matter with some feeling.

9.01pm GMT

60 min: Willian is released into acres down the left. He’s got nobody in support, so waits until Ivanovic arrives down the other flank. Willian lifts the ball across the box, and from the right-hand corner of the box, Ivanovic creams a stunning shot towards the top left. It’s high and wide, but only by a millimetre or so each way. That was as close as it comes. What a goal that would have been!

9.00pm GMT

58 min: Diego Costa hasn’t got a Champions League goal yet for Chelsea, and perhaps this strange anomaly is preying on his mind. Fabregas rakes a long ball down the left, and he’s clear on goal. But again he fannies around, allowing Felipe Santana to get back and nick the ball away. Where’s the Premier League’s Diego Costa?

8.57pm GMT

56 min: Uchida goes on another romp down the right. He’s been as superb as his team-mates have been bad. He reaches the byline and pulls a ball back for Clemens, who prepares to pull the trigger from 12 yards, but finds the ball blocked by Terry. A little better by Schalke, this. It couldn’t get any worse.

8.55pm GMT

53 min: Uchida whips a cross into the Chelsea area from the right. Clemens, who has been busy since his introduction, tries to guide a header into the bottom left, but that’s Courtois’s all the way. Huntelaar, standing behind Clemens, might have got a little more purchase on that, but when nothing’s going right, nothing’s going right.

8.54pm GMT

50 min: Hazard, twisting and turning down the inside-left channel, isn’t far from breaking clear. He’s bustled off the ball, and then Diego Costa is flagged for offside with the move breaking down anyway.

8.53pm GMT

49 min: Huntelaar, out on the left, crosses low for Clemens. Azpilicueta hacks out for a corner. Chelsea intercept the resulting cross immediately and stream upfield, Diego Costa raking the ball to the right for Fabregas, who then crosses deep for Willian, six yards out at the far post. He should volley goalwards, but opts to lay off inside for Oscar instead. Bad choice, as Uchida, Schalke’s one ray of light this evening, breaks up the move. That was so nearly a picture-book goal.

8.50pm GMT

48 min: Fifteen minutes plus a couple of knocking it around the back were clearly not enough. Under no pressure whatsoever, Felipe Santana allows himself to be brushed off the ball down the Chelsea left. Diego Costa tears off into the box. He rather foolishly pauses, opening his body to sidefoot across Fahrmann and into the bottom right. That allows Felipe Santana to wake up and get a toe to the ball, hoicking it out for a corner from which nothing happens.

8.48pm GMT

47 min: Schalke knock it around the back, with a view to clearing their heads. Fifteen minutes at the break clearly not enough.

8.47pm GMT

“Absolutely agree on Matic for player of the year,” writes Matt Leonard. “The whole Chelsea lineup play with confidence knowing he is enforcing for them. His performances should embarrass Mikel enough that he packs his things and runs away in the middle of the night.” Perhaps Mikel could run off to Gelsenkirchen. For all his faults, there’s a team there he’d improve in an instant. On this subject, Roberto Di Matteo has hauled off the risible Jan Kirchhoff, perhaps to save his player from more of the pelters he was getting at the end of the first half, and replaced him with Christian Clemens.

8.35pm GMT

Half-time repast: The Arena AufSchalke has been known to serve over 2,500kg of sausage, 1,000 square metres of pizza, presumably with some of that sausage on it, and 7,000 pretzels per match. So take your pick.

8.32pm GMT

Schalke are whistled off, a complete disgrace to their profession. What a pathetic display. Fahrmann and Kirchhoff need to think on. Having said that, Chelsea have been magnificent, and could easily be four or five in front. Chelsea have all but qualified for the next stage as group winners.

8.30pm GMT

Kirchhoff is standing alone, unchallenged, on the penalty spot. And nuts the ball into the top-left corner. This is absurd.

8.29pm GMT

43 min: Hazard pitching-wedges a ball down the middle. Oscar attempts to loop the ball into the top left. Fahrmann gets a hand to the ball, the ball out for a corner on the left. And then ...

8.28pm GMT

40 min: Another corner for Schalke down the right, where Uchida has been a constant menace, perhaps the only Schalke to make a positive impression so far. It only results in Chelsea tearing upfield, Fabregas very nearly breaking clear into the area. Then there’s more Chelsea triangulation, Oscar nearly released into the box down the centre. Finally Hoger plays a godawful backpass down the Chelsea left. Diego Costa is free, and would have rounded Fahrmann on the outside had he not slipped. Felipe Santana makes it back to usher the ball out of play for a corner before Diego Costa can whack the ball into the empty net. The corner comes to nothing, but this is pathetic from Schalke now, as good as Chelsea have been.

8.24pm GMT

39 min: Fabregas robs Boateng with ease in the middle of the park. For a second, Chelsea are five on three, but they uncharacteristically faff about and the chance of a dangerous break is gone.

8.22pm GMT

37 min: Chelsea Ping It Around The Back pt.XXVIII.

8.20pm GMT

35 min: A bit better from Schalke, with Kirchhoff winning a corner down the right. The set piece is a complete nonsense, and easily cleared by Chelsea.

8.19pm GMT

33 min: Kirchhoff has time to take a shot from 20 yards, but opts to flick one forward along the inside-right channel for Boateng. Nope. Way too much juice on that. The crowd offer trenchant analysis by pursing their lips and blowing out quite hard.

8.18pm GMT

31 min: Fahrmann at least had the good grace to punt the ball back upfield for the restart in theatrical fashion. Feelings of great embarrassment. There might be more to come, too, as Matic is winning everything in midfield, and Chelsea are probing at pace down both wings. It’s a masterclass so far.

8.16pm GMT

This is as good a team goal as you’ll see, Fabregas, Willian and Hazard tapping it hither and yon down the right wing. Lovely little triangles. A Willian backheel involved somewhere, too. Eventually Willian is released into the box, and he lashes a shot towards the bottom right. It’s straight at Fahrmann - and it’s from the sublime to the ridiculous, as the keeper lets the shot fly straight through him and into the net. Fahrcical.

8.13pm GMT

28 min: Chelsea stroke it around the back awhile. They’re in complete control here.

8.12pm GMT

25 min: Fabregas very nearly releases Diego Costa into the area down the left. The ball spins away for a goal kick. After looking for a few minutes like they were slowly getting back into the game, Schalke have suddenly regressed.

8.11pm GMT

24 min: Oscar, cutting in from the right, exchanges passes along the edge of the box with Diego Costa. Eventually a gap opens for Diego Costa, who takes a low snap shot from inside the D. The ball’s deflected out left for a corner, and there’s more trouble for Schalke, as Fahrmann flaps under pressure from Terry. The ball falls towards Diego Costa, who guides it wide right with the goal gaping. His blushes are spared as the referee blows up for a free kick, Terry adjudged to have clattered the keeper with his arm. Probably, just about, though there wasn’t that much in it.

8.09pm GMT

22 min: Howedes, halfway along the Schalke left, turns and plays a disgraceful back pass which gives Diego Costa a sniff. He’s an inch or so away from racing down the Chelsea right, rounding Fahrmann on the outside, and scoring, but the keeper, flying out of his area, hacks clear at the last. Schalke need to get their act together.

8.07pm GMT

21 min: Schalke have seen a lot more of the ball since they hit the crossbar, though given their utterly risible start isn’t saying much. Boateng attempts to set the busy Uchida free down the right with a looping diagonal pass, but the ball zips off the turf and out of play.

8.04pm GMT

19 min: Hoger is booked for a fairly blatant clip on Hazard as the Chelsea man embarks on a dainty ramble down the inside-left channel. The resulting free kick is a complete non-event.

8.02pm GMT

17 min: Chelsea with the passing again. Fabregas puts an end to some metronomic action in the centre circle with a sudden pass down the middle. He’s very close to springing an adventurous Ivanovic clear, but Fahrmann comes to the edge of his area to gather.

8.00pm GMT

15 min: That’s given the home side a little succour, and they string together a few passes in the Chelsea half. They don’t really go anywhere, but small acorns, and all that.

7.59pm GMT

13 min: And after a ludicrously lop-sided opening period, Schalke nearly equalise! Uchida and Huntelaar exchange passes down the right. Choupo-Moting takes up possession down the channel, and has a dig from 25 yards. The ball balloons off Cahill’s ankle and loops over Courtois - and twangs off the crossbar! Chelsea clear, then breathe out.

7.57pm GMT

12 min: Willian very nearly sends Diego Costa clear down the left. His pass does reach his team-mate, but Felipe Santana comes across to cover wonderfully well with a perfectly timed slide tackle. Superlative defending, because for a split second that looked like 0-2.

7.56pm GMT

10 min: Chelsea are triangulating in a most aesthetically pleasing style. After nearly breaking through down the left, there’s a misplaced pass, and Huntelaar attempts to break upfield. He’s unceremoniously brushed off the ball by Matic, who is a beast, in the best sense of the word. He very nearly releases Diego Costa down the left, but there’s an offside flag. Does Matic already have the Premier League’s player of the season award in the bag? Yes.

7.53pm GMT

8 min: Schalke have hardly touched the ball so far! Chelsea are in their pomp, strutting around as though they own the place. Which, right now, they effectively do. The home fans are already whistling their annoyance.

7.52pm GMT

6 min: Hazard scampers into acres down the right. He reaches the byline and nearly finds Oscar in the middle with a low fizzer. Schalke, who are all over the shop, somehow hack clear through Howedes.

7.51pm GMT

5 min: From the corner, Cahill climbs to win a header at the far post. He sends the ball back and down towards the penalty spot, where Ivanovic is free to take a shot. His first-time effort is blootered miles over the bar. What a chance!

7.50pm GMT

4 min: This is a brilliant start by Chelsea. Willian romps down the right and wins a corner off Aogo. On the touchline, Roberto Di Matteo allows one of those I’m OK Honestly smiles to play across his chops. He’s not, though, is he.

7.48pm GMT

Well this was simple. The corner’s hoicked into the box. Terry, eight yards out in a central position, rises above Howedes and plants a header into the top right! That all happened in slow motion, with keeper Faharmann flat footed, and the Schalke captain mistiming his jump. So did Terry psych him out at the pennant swap, or during the coin toss?

7.47pm GMT

Schalke get the ball rolling. A neat period of possession for the home side as Uchida breaks into a little space down the right. Terry clears his cross. Chelsea are immediately on the break, Willian freeing Diego Costa down the inside-left channel. Costa gets a whack on goal, but his low shot is deflected wide left by Fahrmann. Corner. From which ...

7.44pm GMT

The teams are out! Quite an atmosphere in the 54,000-seat Arena AufSchalke, which, if you narrow your eyes a little, has a smidgen of the Stamford Bridges about it.

7.08pm GMT

Schalke 04, who have won 07 German league titles, the last one in 1958: Fahrmann, Uchida, Howedes, Felipe Santana, Aogo, Hoger, Neustadter, Kirchhoff, Choupo-Moting, Boateng, Huntelaar.
Subs: Wetklo, Friedrich, Meyer, Clemens, Sane, Fuchs, Barnetta.

Chelsea, four-time champions of England: Courtois, Ivanovic, Terry, Cahill, Azpilicueta, Willian, Fabregas, Matic, Oscar, Hazard, Costa.
Subs: Cech, Luis, Zouma, Ramires, Drogba, Mikel, Schurrle.

6.45pm GMT

Thoughts this evening inevitably turn to a couple of former Chelsea managers. There’s Roberto Di Matteo, of course, sat in the opposing dugout, having just taken over at Gelsenkirchen giants Schalke. Di Matteo is the man who led Chelsea to their first European Cup back in 2012, as well as an FA Cup, a bona fide club legend on and off the pitch. But chances are he wouldn’t have had the chance to do any of that without the efforts back in the day of another erstwhile Chelsea hero, John Neal, who managed the club between 1981 and 1985, and passed away at the weekend.

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Published on November 25, 2014 13:36

November 21, 2014

The Fiver | Offending the best part of two billion people in one fell swoop | Scott Murray

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Anyone who remembers the glory days of the northern soul scene in the 1970s will know that Wigan has long been a hotbed of multiculturalism. The Fiver has failed to find out if local replica-shirt price-fixing magnate Dave Whelan ever went down the Casino in Oxford bags and brogues, clutching a tub of talcum powder, a dip in his hip and a glide in his stride, with the express intention of performing a few spins, backflips and smooth shuffles to a few rare R&B platters. But we’re guessing not. He did break his leg in the 1960 FA Cup final, after all, and those high kicks don’t perform themselves. Perhaps he put his feet up and stayed at home instead, watching whatever was on television back then, stuff like the Black and White Minstrel Show, or Mind Your Language, or the Black and White Minstrel Show. But like we say, the Fiver’s failed to find out any of that.

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Published on November 21, 2014 07:47

The Joy of Six: three-goal comebacks | Scott Murray

Liverpool revisit Selhurst Park this weekend, six months after letting that lead slip – here are some other three-goal miracles

Crystanbul was nothing new; Liverpool are past masters of the three-goal comeback. Whether provocateurs or patsies, they’ve been involved in some of the great turnarounds of the modern age, a narrative device revisited to the point where it’s something of a cliché. The entire dramatic seam has been mined. May’s meltdown at the tail end of last season’s title race quickly became, thanks to some grade-A punning, the perfect companion piece to the miracle of Istanbul back in 2005. No need to tell either story again. Polar opposites, beautifully crafted bookends, take your pick, there’s something there for everyone.

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Published on November 21, 2014 02:15

Football transfer rumours: Jan Vertonghen to Manchester United?

Today’s fluff is a step away from car drives past window in town

Manchester United have decided that spending upwards of £30m on Borussia Dortmund defender Mats Hummels would be madness, and are planning to save around a third of their cash by settling for Tottenham man Jan Vertonghen instead. The remains of the pot, and then some, the Rumour Mill will be bound, will go on Roma midfielder Kevin Strootman.

Petr Cech won’t sit around on the bench at Chelsea for the rest of his career. He’s either off to Arsenal, or if José Mourinho has his way, anyone but Arsenal. Milan meet that particular remit.

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Published on November 21, 2014 00:56

November 19, 2014

The Fiver | Shortbread McFiver’s take on the 112th meeting of Scotland and England | Scott Murray

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Hats off to Scotland! Their decision to throw last night’s big game – there can be no other explanation for the number of times their midfielders, professional players who make a living from the sport, gave the ball away needlessly while wandering around as though ripped to the nipples on Rohypnol – is almost certain to pay huge dividends! For England left Celtic Park with chests puffed out, confidence high and dander up, having comprehensively stuffed the auld enemy. And given that a 100% qualifying record for Euro 2016 is far from a pipe dream, in a group containing San Marino, Basingstoke Town and a Last of the Summer Wine surviving cast members XI, that old hubristic anglo-confidence surely won’t be long in flooding back. Could this England side become European champions in two years time? Scotland would like to think England would like to think that, because we all know what happens when England think that. Guaranteed fun for Scottish fans during a major championship, whether their team makes it or not, that’s what! Tee hee, right into Scotland’s trap!

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Published on November 19, 2014 09:14

November 14, 2014

Golden goal: Jack Charlton for England v Scotland (1967) | Scott Murray

A pitch-long move of sheer brilliance culminated in one Englands great forgotten goals but it also perfectly summed up Scotlands tendency to revel in bittersweet romance

The England national football team has displayed many admirable qualities over the last 142 years determination, resolve, talent, lovely crisp white shirts but its never been particularly synonymous with romanticism. Still, theyve had their windswept moments. It doesnt get much dreamier, after all, than your centre forward scoring the only hat-trick in any World Cup final, a mere 13 years after being informed you werent relevant any more. Or having your young winger making like Garrincha across the Maracanã pitch on one of the most effortless scoring dribbles ever performed in Brazil. Or joyously dancing your way to a World Cup semi-final, in one fell swoop refashioning a sport that had been floundering for years in the gutter. Yes, England have had their moments.

Theres this goal as well, which tells another romantic tale, an intriguing, if ultimately predictable, story of the most bittersweet beauty. However, though England score it, the bittersweet romance has bugger all to do with them.

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Published on November 14, 2014 03:00

November 8, 2014

QPR v Manchester City: Premier League – as it happened | Scott Murray

A wonderfully entertaining game at Loftus Road as QPR earned a vital point in their battle to escape the relegation zone, while champions City slipped further behind leaders Chelsea

7.23pm GMT

And that’s that! The end of a wonderful game. It’s a draw, probably a fair result on balance. A useful one for Rangers as they embark on their quest to haul themselves out of bother. Not a very good one for City, who are now eight points behind Chelsea. A great evening for Jose Mourinho and his men, though. Hart has the good grace to go up to Austin and explain what happened with that free kick in the first half. The two depart the scene on good terms. There’s nice. But it looks like it’s up to Southampton if we want ourselves a title race this season. Poor Manchester City Man!

7.21pm GMT

90 min +3: City pass it around a lot, but a patient possession game is no good to them right now.

7.20pm GMT

90 min +2: Aguero, looking for his hat-trick goal and the winner, has a dig from the edge of the D. It’s deflected out for a corner. Demichelis, hoping to make amends, meets the set piece with his head, but can only send the ball looping harmlessly towards Green, who takes the opportunity to faff around for a while, the clock very much on QPR’s side.

7.19pm GMT

90 min +1: Milner grabs a yard down the left. He pulls the ball back for Toure, who opens his body up to sidefoot into the bottom right from the edge of the box. His effort is on target, but Barton slides in to block clear, a brilliant intervention.

7.18pm GMT

90 min: There will be four added minutes.

7.17pm GMT

89 min: Vargas reaches the byline down the right. He’s been magnificent, and wins a corner off Mangala. The set piece is whipped into the mixer, where Austin attempts to steer one into the top left. It flies well wide of the post.

7.16pm GMT

87 min: QPR, mindful that they’d have grabbed a point before kick-off, are doing very well to keep City at arm’s length right now. They’re taking the pace out of the game as best they can.

7.14pm GMT

85 min: QPR collectively fall asleep as Hart launches a goal kick. The ball bounces past Caulker down the inside-right channel and towards the area. Navas attempts to do an Aguero, nicking the ball past the keeper, but can connect with neither head nor toe. Green collects with a blow of the cheeks. That was a very close shave for Rangers.

7.12pm GMT

A long ball down the inside-left channel. Aguero’s got four men plus Green surrounding him. No matter! He takes a touch to the right, enters the area, then shuffles left. He’s shaken Green off, and lashes a shot into the left-hand side of the net! This is an astonishing game of football!

7.11pm GMT

81 min: Four chances in a minute for City. First Milner, eight yards out and level with the left-hand post, loops a header towards the top right. Green is beaten but Caulker heads off the line. Then Toure has a snapshot at the right-hand post. Saved! Then Milner has another effort, a shot from 12 yards, deflected wide left. And from the corner, Sagna sees a shot from the edge of the area fly wide left! Wow! QPR are hanging on here.

7.09pm GMT

80 min: Well that goal has really got this game going again. Zamora is rudely manhandled to the ground, just to the right of the City D, as the pair contest a high ball. Zamora’s free kick is blootered straight into the wall, but bounces out to the Rangers right, where Barton beats the dismal Fernando with ease. He crosses deep, for Vargas, 12 yards out, level with the left-hand post. Vargas attempts a bicycle kick, and it’s a wonderful effort, creamed just wide of the left-hand post. What an effort!

7.06pm GMT

78 min: City nearly get back into it immediately, Aguero beating Green to a loose ball down the inside-right channel and rounding the keeper on the outside. But he’s left with a tight angle, and though he gets the shot on target, Caulker is able to slide in and hack clear!

7.05pm GMT

Vargas robs Fernando with ease by the centre circle. He slips a ball out to the right for Austin, who whips a majestic cross into the area for Zamora. But Zamora can’t connect, because Demichelis is in ahead of the striker, and inadvertently guides a dreadful header into the top left! QPR fans are delighted, as is Jose Mourinho!

7.01pm GMT

74 min: Milner replaces Nasri.

7.00pm GMT

72 min: This game’s gone off the boil. To be fair, they couldn’t be expected to keep it up.

6.58pm GMT

70 min: City are playing a slow possession-based game here. But it’s getting them nowhere fast.

6.56pm GMT

68 min: Dzeko’s big night out hasn’t lasted long! He’s pulled a muscle, and is replaced by Lampard. Always remember to warm up properly, kids.

6.55pm GMT

66 min: Barton curls a ball into the City box from a deep position on the right. Vargas, on the right-hand corner of the six-yard box, chests down brilliantly. But having killed the ball stone dead, he falls back as he shoots, sending a weak effort into the arms of Hart.

6.53pm GMT

64 min: Dzeko comes on for Fernandinho.

6.52pm GMT

63 min: Vargas has a lash from the right-hand edge of the City D. It’s a terrible shot, going miles wide left, but clangs into a startled Caulker and nearly rebounds into the top right! The ball flies just wide of the post. So close to the perfect fusion of pinball and comedy.

6.51pm GMT

61 min: Barton, taking advantage of a Fernando slip, flicks a gorgeous ball round the corner and down the inside-left channel for Austin, who makes good for the area before firing one into the centre for Zamora. Zamora shapes to sidefoot home, but Mangala nips in to guide the ball out for a corner. The set piece is a nonsense.

6.48pm GMT

59 min: City are enjoying a lot of possession now. They pass it around an awful lot for a few minutes. Sagna nearly carves out a chance to shoot on the edge of the box, then Fernandinho nearly releases Aguero down the inside-right with a glorious pitching wedge of a pass. Caulker gets his eyebrows on the ball to guide it back to Green.

6.45pm GMT

57 min: It’s still tipping down at Loftus Road.

6.44pm GMT

55 min: Fer robs a ponderous Sagna of the ball down the QPR left. Fer scampers off, and is pulled back by the errant full back. A no-brainer booking for a cynical challenge.

6.42pm GMT

53 min: Vargas has the ball in the net, tapping a Zamora left-wing pass home from six yards. However, the pair were about five yards offside, and don’t even bother celebrating. They’d have required some chutzpah to claim that one.

6.40pm GMT

52 min: Toure bombs down the right before whipping a low ball through the QPR box. Green having committed himself at the near post, he’s out of the way when the ball rolls across the face of goal. Aguero surely must slide in to poke home, but opts against making any sort of lunge whatsoever! Very strange. He scampers after the loose ball, but the chance to retrieve the situation is gone.

6.39pm GMT

51 min: Barton slides in, and slides in hard, on Fernando. He’s lucky not to go in the book for that one, which was as clumsy as it gets.

6.38pm GMT

50 min: And now, up the other end, Fer sees a shot from 20 yards deflected wide left of the goal by Demichelis, then from the resulting corner Caulker slaps a header wide right of the goal. This is magnificent entertainment!

6.37pm GMT

47 min: What a start to the second half this is! First Austin and Zamora nearly tiki-taka their way down the middle, only for control to be lost the minute they enter the area. Then Nasri is sent dancing towards the byline down the left by Aguero. He fizzes a pass straight through the six-yard box; Toure, extending a telescopic leg, can’t attach it to the ball.

6.36pm GMT

46 min: Navas is sent into space down the right. He fires a ball into the middle where Aguero nearly slides home. But he’s denied the chance to give City a perfect start to the half by Caulker, sliding in beside him.

6.35pm GMT

Before we start, to clear up the Hart free kick incident: anywhere else on the pitch, and that would have been an indirect free kick. But as this one was in the box, the ball wasn’t in play until it left the area, so a retake was the correct decision. The law is an ass sometimes. But there you have it. Anyway, the ball’s been set rolling by QPR, who have been forced into a chance. Sandro, who has a jiggered hamstring, has been replaced by ... former City hero Joey Barton. You may remember his little cameo at Eastlands on the day City won their first Premier League title. Has this match another controversial moment in it?

6.20pm GMT

Half-time entertainment: City’s fans can afford to laugh about it now. But at the time it was terrible.

6.18pm GMT

And that’s that. What a half! Superb entertainment! Dreadful refereeing! What more do you want?

6.17pm GMT

45 min +2: Vargas is booked for an out-of-control lunge on Toure. Then Nasri goes in the book for ... well, I’m not 100 percent sure. An earlier offfence? Or letting his mouth run away with him? He’s in the book, anyway.

6.16pm GMT

45 min +1: Vargas hoofs the free kick straight into the City wall. Very poor.

6.16pm GMT

45 min: Fernando climbs all over Austin, just outside the City D. This will be a free kick in a dangerous position, to be taken in the first of two added minutes, providing everyone pulls their finger out.

6.15pm GMT

44 min: Two efforts from Austin within a minute, and two brilliant Hart saves. First Fernando miscontrols down the inside right, and the striker’s clear in the area! He batters a shot straight at the keeper, who nevertheless parries brilliantly. Then Fer crosses into the area from the left. Austin, rushing in, hammers goalwards, low and hard, but Hart smothers majestically. The striker’s offside on that second one, though.

6.13pm GMT

42 min: A free kick flung into the Rangers box gives up half a chance for Mangala, 12 yards out. His header is weak and wide right. Up the other end, Zamora gives Sagna a helpful shove into the advertising hoardings. Sagna, upside down, becomes part of the medium and the message, his arse and legs clattering into it. Ooyah, oof.

6.11pm GMT

40 min: Dunne crumps his studs into Nasri’s hip. He’s booked, and that could easily have been a red. The refereeing has been consistently inconsistent, if nothing else. Both sides now have legitimate grounds for complaint. It’s been quite a half of football in that respect.

6.10pm GMT

39 min: A suggestion that Aguero was offside for the goal, too. To be honest, the decision was marginal, and forwards should be given the benefit of the doubt. But add to the fact that the ball brushed Aguero’s arm as he was turning Caulker inside out, and Rangers have every right to be livid. Anyway, we are where we are, and City are knocking it around a lot now, confidence restored.

6.07pm GMT

38 min: Isla is booked for coming through the back of Aguero as the striker probes down the inside-left channel. This is a free kick just outside the area. Toure blasts a dreadful effort over the bar.

6.06pm GMT

36 min: Nasri finds himself in a little space to the right of the Rangers box. He clips a ball inside for Aguero, who sends a strange bouncing bomb towards the top right. Green makes a song and dance of parrying round for a corner, which is cleared easily enough. City are beginning to get on top now.

6.05pm GMT

34 min: Well that came against the run of play. Aguero nearly hits Rangers with a double whammy, racing across the front of the Rangers box, left to right, but takes too long in deciding whether to shoot or not. He eventually feeds Navas down the right. Navas pulls it back for Toure, who from 20 yards spoons a shot wide left of goal with the net gaping.

6.04pm GMT

Mangala rakes a high ball down the inside-left channel. Aguero, on the edge of the box, takes it down wonderfully, twists Caulker this way and that, and batters a low shot into the middle of the net past Green. A suggestion the ball might have brushed Aguero’s hand as he took it to the right of Caulker before turning back to the left and shooting - and it’s one Green makes vociferously - but City get the decision.

6.00pm GMT

29 min: QPR have taken their foot off the gas a little, which is hardly surprising, they’ve been pressing like Arrigo Sacchi’s Milan, or Chelsea earlier this afternoon. City aren’t doing much with the extra time they’re being gifted on the ball. They’ve been as dismal as Rangers have been impressive.

5.57pm GMT

26 min: Toure glides in from the right wing. As he reaches the edge of the box, he curls one towards the top left. It’s inches away from nestling in the corner of the net, a wonderful effort. But, the odd strange refereeing decision apart, nothing’s going right for City at the moment.

5.55pm GMT

25 min: Vargas fizzes a high one into the area. It wheechs off the head of Clichy, and out for a corner on the right. Navas makes a powerful header to clear. Toure then shanks a long pass toward Aguero out of play, under no pressure whatsoever. Up field, Aguero does a little dance, the whole performance powered by steam. He’s not happy with the service he’s getting. He’s got a face on! Oo-er!

5.54pm GMT

23 min: City are all over the shop here. Navas panics as Yun battles for a ball to the left of the City area, and concedes a free kick on the edge of the box. This is in a very dangerous position.

5.52pm GMT

Vargas dances in from the right, beats a couple of lame challenges, and slides a ball into the box. Austin’s clear on goal! And he makes no mistake, firing low and hard, and into the bottom-left corner! I reckon he was marginally offside there, but if any team have earned the benefit of the doubt when it comes to refereeing decisions, it’s Rangers. And they deserve the lead on the balance of play. This is a highly impressive performance by Rangers so far, who weathered that early City storm and have been the better side by far!

5.50pm GMT

19 min: Clichy avoided a booking back there, and now Nasri slides in late on Zamora. No yellow for that either. So when Sandro sees yellow for a late slide on Toure, you can imagine the reaction from the home support. City have enjoyed a lot of fortune so far. But never mind that, because ...

5.48pm GMT

16 min: ... the ball’s cleared. Sandro, on the right-hand edge of the City D, hits a rising shot goalwards. It hits Sagna’s upper arm. Screams for a penalty, and you’ll have seen these given, but nothing’s going QPR’s way right now. That was rather like the Gerrard-Cahill incident in the Liverpool-Chelsea match earlier today. The defender’s arm was poking out a bit, but not so much that the referee could be 100 percent sure that it was a deliberate motion towards the ball. It probably was a spot kick, but it wasn’t so clear to be a ludicrous decision. That won’t stop QPR being very aggrieved right now.

5.46pm GMT

15 min: Clichy slides in on Vargas. If he’d made contact, travelling at 983 mph on the slippery surface, Vargas was bouncing down Goldhawk Road on his buttocks. No booking. The weather’s saved him there. City clear the resulting free kick, swung in from the right, but the ball’s soon coming back at the champions. Sandro, down the inside-left channel, swings a ball towards the far post, where Zamora cushions a lay off for Austin, free on the penalty spot. He should score, but allows Hart to block a shot hit straight at him. Corner, from which ...

5.43pm GMT

12 min: Toure slides a ball down the inside-left channel for Aguero, who takes a step into the area and drives low. Dunne comes across to block out for a corner, and the resulting set piece is a thundering non-event. The home support aren’t at all happy with Austin’s disallowed goal - the second disallowed goal, that is - and are booing accordingly. You can’t blame them.

5.41pm GMT

9 min: “A strong side by City, this.” And so, having said that, Austin powers a header into the net from the penalty spot, latching onto Vargas’s right-wing cross. A marvellous finish. However, he’s five yards offside. Then, astonishing scenes, as Hart takes the free kick. As he steps up to the ball, he accidentally toe-punts it with one clumsy boot before hacking it straight to Austin with the other. Austin is 25 yards from goal, level with the right-hand post, and creams a beauty into the bottom corner! But the referee, Hart having taken two touches, allows the City keeper to take the free kick again. Two goals disallowed in the space of 30 seconds! City can count themselves very fortunate not to be losing. That was as farcical as football gets!

5.37pm GMT

7 min: Navas earns a corner off Yun down the right. QPR half clear the set piece, but Aguero, Navas and Sagna combine to launch a new phase of attack down the right wing. Sagna pulls the ball back from the byline for Toure, who blooters over the bar, hopelessly so, from the edge of the box. A strong start by City. this.

5.36pm GMT

5 min: Aguero romps down the middle of the park, gliding a little bit from left to right. He’s got Navas free in acres down the right, but opts to shoot from 25 yards instead. The effort sails 25 yards over the bar. Another poor decision by Aguero, but on the other hand he’s looking very lively already, finding some dangerous positions.

5.34pm GMT

4 min: Fernandinho flicks a ball down the inside-right channel for Aguero, who is free in the box. That kind of came out of nowhere, and Aguero looks shocked at being released on goal. So he pauses, fatally as far as the move is concerned. He allows Caulker to close him down. Aguero pulls one back for Nasri, rushing in, but the ball’s intercepted by Henry.

5.32pm GMT

2 min: It’s all City during the opening exchanges. They’re passing it around the back quite a lot, getting a feel of the ball, and a sense of the conditions. Navas has attempted to break down the right a couple of times, to no avail.

5.31pm GMT

It’s Remembrance Day tomorrow, and there’s a perfectly observed minute’s silence to honour the fallen. After that’s done, City get the ball rolling, kicking in the first half towards the BBC, sort of. Loftus Road is drenched, with the surface slippery and wet. A nice fast passing game, please, lads!

5.26pm GMT

It’s a sell-out at Loftus Road this afternoon. I hope this old boy has a ticket ...

4.46pm GMT

Queens Park Rangers: Green, Isla, Caulker, Dunne, Yun, Vargas, Sandro, Henry, Fer, Austin, Zamora.
Subs: Hill, Phillips, Barton, McCarthy, Onuoha, Kranjcar, Hoilett.

Manchester City: Hart, Sagna, Demichelis, Mangala, Clichy, Fernandinho, Fernando, Jesus Navas, Toure, Nasri, Aguero.
Subs: Zabaleta, Milner, Dzeko, Caballero, Lampard, Jovetic, Boyata.

4.30pm GMT

Money can’t buy you love, happiness, or even a fully functioning football team these days. QPR have been flinging the stuff around for a few years now, but have yet to establish themselves as major players. Too good for the Championship, not quite good enough for the Premier League, it’s a hell of a state to be in. But things might be finally looking up for the Rangers, if their last three results are anything to go by. They’ve lost two of those games, admittedly, but unluckily so, against Liverpool and Chelsea. Meanwhile Aston Villa were clinically dispatched just under a fortnight ago, in a performance of vim and vigour which suggested a little belief might be returning to Loftus Road.

As for City ... well. They’re the reigning champions, of course, so things could be a hell of a lot worse. But context and expectation is everything, and City are all over the shop at the moment. They’ve lost three of their last four games, the last defeat a humbling at home by CSKA Moscow which has all but scuppered their European Cup pretensions for another 12 months. Back home, they currently trail the Premier League leaders Chelsea by nine points, and given Jose Mourinho’s proclivity for winning titles from the front, can’t afford to slip any further behind. Retaining their title will begin to look like a pipe dream if they can’t register a confidence-replenishing win here tonight. Just their luck to find QPR regaining a little form, while theirs has gone out the window. This could be a fair old ding-dong battle. It’s on!

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Published on November 08, 2014 11:27

QPR v Manchester City: Premier League as it happened | Scott Murray

A wonderfully entertaining game at Loftus Road as QPR earned a vital point in their battle to escape the relegation zone, while champions City slipped further behind leaders Chelsea

7.23pm GMT

And thats that! The end of a wonderful game. Its a draw, probably a fair result on balance. A useful one for Rangers as they embark on their quest to haul themselves out of bother. Not a very good one for City, who are now eight points behind Chelsea. A great evening for Jose Mourinho and his men, though. Hart has the good grace to go up to Austin and explain what happened with that free kick in the first half. The two depart the scene on good terms. Theres nice. But it looks like its up to Southampton if we want ourselves a title race this season. Poor Manchester City Man!

7.21pm GMT

90 min +3: City pass it around a lot, but a patient possession game is no good to them right now.

7.20pm GMT

90 min +2: Aguero, looking for his hat-trick goal and the winner, has a dig from the edge of the D. Its deflected out for a corner. Demichelis, hoping to make amends, meets the set piece with his head, but can only send the ball looping harmlessly towards Green, who takes the opportunity to faff around for a while, the clock very much on QPRs side.

7.19pm GMT

7.18pm GMT

90 min: There will be four added minutes.

7.17pm GMT

89 min: Vargas reaches the byline down the right. Hes been magnificent, and wins a corner off Mangala. The set piece is whipped into the mixer, where Austin attempts to steer one into the top left. It flies well wide of the post.

7.16pm GMT

87 min: QPR, mindful that theyd have grabbed a point before kick-off, are doing very well to keep City at arms length right now. Theyre taking the pace out of the game as best they can.

7.14pm GMT

7.12pm GMT

A long ball down the inside-left channel. Agueros got four men plus Green surrounding him. No matter! He takes a touch to the right, enters the area, then shuffles left. Hes shaken Green off, and lashes a shot into the left-hand side of the net! This is an astonishing game of football!

7.11pm GMT

7.09pm GMT

80 min: Well that goal has really got this game going again. Zamora is rudely manhandled to the ground, just to the right of the City D, as the pair contest a high ball. Zamoras free kick is blootered straight into the wall, but bounces out to the Rangers right, where Barton beats the dismal Fernando with ease. He crosses deep, for Vargas, 12 yards out, level with the left-hand post. Vargas attempts a bicycle kick, and its a wonderful effort, creamed just wide of the left-hand post. What an effort!

7.06pm GMT

78 min: City nearly get back into it immediately, Aguero beating Green to a loose ball down the inside-right channel and rounding the keeper on the outside. But hes left with a tight angle, and though he gets the shot on target, Caulker is able to slide in and hack clear!

7.05pm GMT

Vargas robs Fernando with ease by the centre circle. He slips a ball out to the right for Austin, who whips a majestic cross into the area for Zamora. But Zamora cant connect, because Demichelis is in ahead of the striker, and inadvertently guides a dreadful header into the top left! QPR fans are delighted, as is Jose Mourinho!

7.01pm GMT

74 min: Milner replaces Nasri.

7.00pm GMT

72 min: This games gone off the boil. To be fair, they couldnt be expected to keep it up.

6.58pm GMT

70 min: City are playing a slow possession-based game here. But its getting them nowhere fast.

6.56pm GMT

68 min: Dzekos big night out hasnt lasted long! Hes pulled a muscle, and is replaced by Lampard. Always remember to warm up properly, kids.

6.55pm GMT

6.53pm GMT

64 min: Dzeko comes on for Fernandinho.

6.52pm GMT

63 min: Vargas has a lash from the right-hand edge of the City D. Its a terrible shot, going miles wide left, but clangs into a startled Caulker and nearly rebounds into the top right! The ball flies just wide of the post. So close to the perfect fusion of pinball and comedy.

6.51pm GMT

6.48pm GMT

6.45pm GMT

57 min: Its still tipping down at Loftus Road.

6.44pm GMT

55 min: Fer robs a ponderous Sagna of the ball down the QPR left. Fer scampers off, and is pulled back by the errant full back. A no-brainer booking for a cynical challenge.

6.42pm GMT

53 min: Vargas has the ball in the net, tapping a Zamora left-wing pass home from six yards. However, the pair were about five yards offside, and dont even bother celebrating. Theyd have required some chutzpah to claim that one.

6.40pm GMT

52 min: Toure bombs down the right before whipping a low ball through the QPR box. Green having committed himself at the near post, hes out of the way when the ball rolls across the face of goal. Aguero surely must slide in to poke home, but opts against making any sort of lunge whatsoever! Very strange. He scampers after the loose ball, but the chance to retrieve the situation is gone.

6.39pm GMT

51 min: Barton slides in, and slides in hard, on Fernando. Hes lucky not to go in the book for that one, which was as clumsy as it gets.

6.38pm GMT

6.37pm GMT

6.36pm GMT

46 min: Navas is sent into space down the right. He fires a ball into the middle where Aguero nearly slides home. But hes denied the chance to give City a perfect start to the half by Caulker, sliding in beside him.

6.35pm GMT

Before we start, to clear up the Hart free kick incident: anywhere else on the pitch, and that would have been an indirect free kick. But as this one was in the box, the ball wasnt in play until it left the area, so a retake was the correct decision. The law is an ass sometimes. But there you have it. Anyway, the balls been set rolling by QPR, who have been forced into a chance. Sandro, who has a jiggered hamstring, has been replaced by ... former City hero Joey Barton. You may remember his little cameo at Eastlands on the day City won their first Premier League title. Has this match another controversial moment in it?

6.20pm GMT

Half-time entertainment: Citys fans can afford to laugh about it now. But at the time it was terrible.

6.18pm GMT

And thats that. What a half! Superb entertainment! Dreadful refereeing! What more do you want?

6.17pm GMT

45 min +2: Vargas is booked for an out-of-control lunge on Toure. Then Nasri goes in the book for ... well, Im not 100 percent sure. An earlier offfence? Or letting his mouth run away with him? Hes in the book, anyway.

6.16pm GMT

45 min +1: Vargas hoofs the free kick straight into the City wall. Very poor.

6.16pm GMT

6.15pm GMT

44 min: Two efforts from Austin within a minute, and two brilliant Hart saves. First Fernando miscontrols down the inside right, and the strikers clear in the area! He batters a shot straight at the keeper, who nevertheless parries brilliantly. Then Fer crosses into the area from the left. Austin, rushing in, hammers goalwards, low and hard, but Hart smothers majestically. The strikers offside on that second one, though.

6.13pm GMT

6.11pm GMT

40 min: Dunne crumps his studs into Nasris hip. Hes booked, and that could easily have been a red. The refereeing has been consistently inconsistent, if nothing else. Both sides now have legitimate grounds for complaint. Its been quite a half of football in that respect.

6.10pm GMT

39 min: A suggestion that Aguero was offside for the goal, too. To be honest, the decision was marginal, and forwards should be given the benefit of the doubt. But add to the fact that the ball brushed Agueros arm as he was turning Caulker inside out, and Rangers have every right to be livid. Anyway, we are where we are, and City are knocking it around a lot now, confidence restored.

6.07pm GMT

6.06pm GMT

6.05pm GMT

6.04pm GMT

Mangala rakes a high ball down the inside-left channel. Aguero, on the edge of the box, takes it down wonderfully, twists Caulker this way and that, and batters a low shot into the middle of the net past Green. A suggestion the ball might have brushed Agueros hand as he took it to the right of Caulker before turning back to the left and shooting - and its one Green makes vociferously - but City get the decision.

6.00pm GMT

29 min: QPR have taken their foot off the gas a little, which is hardly surprising, theyve been pressing like Arrigo Sacchis Milan, or Chelsea earlier this afternoon. City arent doing much with the extra time theyre being gifted on the ball. Theyve been as dismal as Rangers have been impressive.

5.57pm GMT

26 min: Toure glides in from the right wing. As he reaches the edge of the box, he curls one towards the top left. Its inches away from nestling in the corner of the net, a wonderful effort. But, the odd strange refereeing decision apart, nothings going right for City at the moment.

5.55pm GMT

25 min: Vargas fizzes a high one into the area. It wheechs off the head of Clichy, and out for a corner on the right. Navas makes a powerful header to clear. Toure then shanks a long pass toward Aguero out of play, under no pressure whatsoever. Up field, Aguero does a little dance, the whole performance powered by steam. Hes not happy with the service hes getting. Hes got a face on! Oo-er!

5.54pm GMT

5.52pm GMT

Vargas dances in from the right, beats a couple of lame challenges, and slides a ball into the box. Austins clear on goal! And he makes no mistake, firing low and hard, and into the bottom-left corner! I reckon he was marginally offside there, but if any team have earned the benefit of the doubt when it comes to refereeing decisions, its Rangers. And they deserve the lead on the balance of play. This is a highly impressive performance by Rangers so far, who weathered that early City storm and have been the better side by far!

5.50pm GMT

5.48pm GMT

16 min: ... the balls cleared. Sandro, on the right-hand edge of the City D, hits a rising shot goalwards. It hits Sagnas upper arm. Screams for a penalty, and youll have seen these given, but nothings going QPRs way right now. That was rather like the Gerrard-Cahill incident in the Liverpool-Chelsea match earlier today. The defenders arm was poking out a bit, but not so much that the referee could be 100 percent sure that it was a deliberate motion towards the ball. It probably was a spot kick, but it wasnt so clear to be a ludicrous decision. That wont stop QPR being very aggrieved right now.

5.46pm GMT

15 min: Clichy slides in on Vargas. If hed made contact, travelling at 983 mph on the slippery surface, Vargas was bouncing down Goldhawk Road on his buttocks. No booking. The weathers saved him there. City clear the resulting free kick, swung in from the right, but the balls soon coming back at the champions. Sandro, down the inside-left channel, swings a ball towards the far post, where Zamora cushions a lay off for Austin, free on the penalty spot. He should score, but allows Hart to block a shot hit straight at him. Corner, from which ...

5.43pm GMT

12 min: Toure slides a ball down the inside-left channel for Aguero, who takes a step into the area and drives low. Dunne comes across to block out for a corner, and the resulting set piece is a thundering non-event. The home support arent at all happy with Austins disallowed goal - the second disallowed goal, that is - and are booing accordingly. You cant blame them.

5.41pm GMT

9 min: A strong side by City, this. And so, having said that, Austin powers a header into the net from the penalty spot, latching onto Vargass right-wing cross. A marvellous finish. However, hes five yards offside. Then, astonishing scenes, as Hart takes the free kick. As he steps up to the ball, he accidentally toe-punts it with one clumsy boot before hacking it straight to Austin with the other. Austin is 25 yards from goal, level with the right-hand post, and creams a beauty into the bottom corner! But the referee, Hart having taken two touches, allows the City keeper to take the free kick again. Two goals disallowed in the space of 30 seconds! City can count themselves very fortunate not to be losing. That was as farcical as football gets!

5.37pm GMT

5.36pm GMT

5 min: Aguero romps down the middle of the park, gliding a little bit from left to right. Hes got Navas free in acres down the right, but opts to shoot from 25 yards instead. The effort sails 25 yards over the bar. Another poor decision by Aguero, but on the other hand hes looking very lively already, finding some dangerous positions.

5.34pm GMT

5.32pm GMT

2 min: Its all City during the opening exchanges. Theyre passing it around the back quite a lot, getting a feel of the ball, and a sense of the conditions. Navas has attempted to break down the right a couple of times, to no avail.

5.31pm GMT

Its Remembrance Day tomorrow, and theres a perfectly observed minutes silence to honour the fallen. After thats done, City get the ball rolling, kicking in the first half towards the BBC, sort of. Loftus Road is drenched, with the surface slippery and wet. A nice fast passing game, please, lads!

5.26pm GMT

Its a sell-out at Loftus Road this afternoon. I hope this old boy has a ticket ...

4.46pm GMT

Queens Park Rangers: Green, Isla, Caulker, Dunne, Yun, Vargas, Sandro, Henry, Fer, Austin, Zamora.
Subs: Hill, Phillips, Barton, McCarthy, Onuoha, Kranjcar, Hoilett.

Manchester City: Hart, Sagna, Demichelis, Mangala, Clichy, Fernandinho, Fernando, Jesus Navas, Toure, Nasri, Aguero.
Subs: Zabaleta, Milner, Dzeko, Caballero, Lampard, Jovetic, Boyata.

4.30pm GMT

Money cant buy you love, happiness, or even a fully functioning football team these days. QPR have been flinging the stuff around for a few years now, but have yet to establish themselves as major players. Too good for the Championship, not quite good enough for the Premier League, its a hell of a state to be in. But things might be finally looking up for the Rangers, if their last three results are anything to go by. Theyve lost two of those games, admittedly, but unluckily so, against Liverpool and Chelsea. Meanwhile Aston Villa were clinically dispatched just under a fortnight ago, in a performance of vim and vigour which suggested a little belief might be returning to Loftus Road.

As for City ... well. Theyre the reigning champions, of course, so things could be a hell of a lot worse. But context and expectation is everything, and City are all over the shop at the moment. Theyve lost three of their last four games, the last defeat a humbling at home by CSKA Moscow which has all but scuppered their European Cup pretensions for another 12 months. Back home, they currently trail the Premier League leaders Chelsea by nine points, and given Jose Mourinhos proclivity for winning titles from the front, cant afford to slip any further behind. Retaining their title will begin to look like a pipe dream if they cant register a confidence-replenishing win here tonight. Just their luck to find QPR regaining a little form, while theirs has gone out the window. This could be a fair old ding-dong battle. Its on!

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Published on November 08, 2014 11:27

Liverpool v Chelsea: Premier League – as it happened | Scott Murray

Liverpool started brightly, but were eventually overpowered by impressive Chelsea’s relentless pressing

2.40pm GMT

The last act of the match sees Mignolet shank a simple pass out of play for a corner. What a business. Nothing like a bit of cheap symbolism. A brilliant win for Chelsea, who taught Liverpool a lesson today after a slow start. They extend their lead at the top, while Liverpool go into the international break under a cloud. In fairness, they could (probably should, though it’s far from an open-and-shut case) have had a penalty near the end there, but a draw would have flattered them. Chelsea were magnificent today. It’s hard to see them failing to win this season’s title, though of course there’s a long, long way to go.

2.37pm GMT

90 min +5: Hazard is replaced by Filipe Luis. He earns a kiss from Mourinho.

2.36pm GMT

90 min +4: Courtois is booked for time-wasting.

2.36pm GMT

90 min +3: Lambert is sent into a little space down the right, but the striker, faced with a tight angle, can only dink a cross to the far post. Sterling attempts to retrieve the ball, and cuts it back for Allen, who curls a cross into the box towards Borini. The striker heads wide and high.

2.34pm GMT

90 min +2: Johnson attempts to turn Azpilicueta down the right, but the full back isn’t to be beaten.

2.34pm GMT

90 min +1: Liverpool can’t get the ball. Chelsea don’t look like conceding late, as they did at Manchester City and Manchester United.

2.33pm GMT

90 min: Drogba comes on for Diego Costa, who was moaning a lot after being clattered for the 984th time by Skrtel. There will be five added minutes.

2.32pm GMT

88 min: Gerrard shoots from the edge of the penalty area. It’s not a particularly good effort, scuffed up and off the turf, but it clanks into the left hand of Cahill, which is held far enough from his body to arouse suspicion. That would have been the cheapest of penalties, but you’ve seen them given, and Liverpool were right to ask the question. The referee’s having none of it - I’m guessing Cahill being at close range was a factor - and the roof comes off Anfield, powered by irate steam.

2.29pm GMT

87 min: Borini goes on a busy meander down the right. His hard work nearly opens Chelsea up down the right, but Lambert falls over to bring the move to an end. Costa is booked for clipping Johnson’s heels. I’m guessing that was for persistent fouling, because that wasn’t much.

2.27pm GMT

85 min: A grand old-fashioned midfield tussle as Matic robs Sterling brilliantly, and is then robbed brilliantly, by Sterling. This is all happening in the centre circle, and Chelsea are more than happy for the clock to run down while everyone faffs around miles from their danger zone.

2.26pm GMT

83 min: Oscar is booked for a clumsy slide on Johnson, who has space opening up in front of him down the right but chooses to go to sleep in the dozy style. This is pretty damn pitiful from Liverpool, who started brightly but have slipped back into Newcastle Mode.

2.24pm GMT

81 min: Lambert, on the left-hand edge of the Chelsea box, whips in a curling cross-cum-shot. That’s not a bother for Chelsea, who flood upfield, Oscar and Diego Costa nearly carving something out on the break down the right.

2.23pm GMT

80 min: Liverpool triangulate down the right, Johnson eventually clipping a little ball into the area. Borini, Lambert, Sterling and Henderson all buzz about, in an attempt to get an effort on target, but Chelsea hold firm.

2.21pm GMT

79 min: Balotelli is replaced by Lambert. How come Lambert never gets to play alongside Lallana, with whom he’s got quite the understanding?

2.19pm GMT

77 min: Allen has been busy since coming on. He battles away down the left again, and slides a ball inside for Gerrard, who looks for a 30-yard redemptive stunner. Terry blocks it at source, a brilliant lunge.

2.17pm GMT

75 min: Allen bustles down the left. His looped cross is flicked on by Borini at the near post, allowing Henderson to batter a shot goalwards from 12 yards, just to the right of goal. It comes off Matic for a corner, which is cleared easily enough. Better from Liverpool, but not particularly good either. Chelsea look in control, overall.

2.15pm GMT

73 min: Liverpool can’t get anything going. Chelsea allow them to pass it around for a bit, then push up to catch a snoozing Balotelli offside.

2.12pm GMT

70 min: A double change by Liverpool: Coutinho and Can are hooked, with Borini and Allen coming on.

2.11pm GMT

69 min: Johnson cuts in from the right, in the middle of the park. Matic needlessly bundles him over, and is booked.

2.10pm GMT

This is a brilliant goal. Willian, on the edge of the centre circle, sprays a magnificent diagonal ball to Azpilicueta down the left. The full back skins Coutinho on the touchline, cuts into the area and reaches the byline, pulling a cross into the six-yard area. Mignolet can only parry it out to the right-hand side of his box, where Costa lurks. He takes a touch and spanks an unstoppable effort into the right-hand side of the net. Chelsea have come from behind to lead! This is title-winning stuff.

2.08pm GMT

65 min: Balotelli picks up a silly booking by shoving Oscar in the back, 25 yards from the Liverpool goal down the left. The set piece is sent sailing to the far post, where Moreno blocks the cross. It’s all got a bit scrappy.

2.07pm GMT

63 min: Ivanovic goes up for a high ball and lands on his coccyx. Ooyah, oof. Cahill opts to play on. When he loses the ball, Chelsea decide they want Liverpool to put it out. Sterling doesn’t, trying to spring Balotelli clear down the left. He’s offside. Cue self-righteous melee sparked by hot-faced Chelsea players. The referee does well to calm everything down, as Terry gets up in Sterling’s grille. It’s over as quickly as it starts.

2.04pm GMT

62 min: Johnson performs a little shake and shimmy down the right, but having made himself a little space, wafts a weak cross into the arms of Courtois.

2.02pm GMT

59 min: Liverpool are struggling to keep hold of the ball, and their pressing game isn’t what it was last season either. Coutinho skittles Hazard down the right and breaks for the box, but he’s rightly penalised for clumsiness. He looks highly frustrated, another concern given that Liverpool looked like they were enjoying their football last season.

1.59pm GMT

56 min: A hesitant Skrtel nearly allows Oscar to tear clear down the inside-right channel. Moreno is on hand to hack clear. Then Willian romps off down the right, but again Moreno deals with the situation, going shoulder to shoulder with the winger and running him out of play. Ignore the occasional mistake, understandable given his age; Moreno looks full of promise.

1.56pm GMT

54 min: This is better by Liverpool. Can moves into space down the middle, and shuttles the ball forward for Coutinho, who sweeps wide left for Sterling. Sterling cuts into the box and looks for the bottom right, but his shot is parried well by Courtois. Chelsea flood up the other end through Oscar, who drifts in from the left and looks for the bottom right. It’s blocked out for a corner, which - once Willian has come on for Ramires - is cleared by Liverpool without much fuss.

1.54pm GMT

51 min: Hazard chips a ball down the middle, into the Liverpool box. Lovren heads upwards, without much idea of where the ball is going to land. It falls for Costa, who has his back to goal on the penalty spot but sends a bicycle kick inches over the bar. Marvellous effort. Lovren is almost totally shorn of confidence, if today’s performance is anything to go by.

1.52pm GMT

50 min: Oscar shimmies in from the left and looks to steer one into the bottom right. It’s well wide. But this match has picked up from where we left off. Liverpool are looking very unsure of themselves.

1.51pm GMT

48 min: Ivanovic is booked for tugging away at Sterling’s shirt, as the winger attempts to scoot upfield to release a bit of pressure. He can have no complaints, it was as obvious as they come.

1.50pm GMT

47 min: Chelsea start where they left off, pressurising Liverpool at the back. Lovren, Mignolet, Johnson and Skrtel all take turns to find out they’ll not be left alone during this half either. Liverpool are pinned back in their own box, and eventually Costa earns a corner down the left. Balotelli clears Fabregas’s set piece, whipped to the near post. A concerned Anfield is pretty quiet right now.

1.47pm GMT

And we’re off again! A rerun of the Sterling-Ramires incident (43 min) suggests Ramires could have been booked for unnecessary use of the arm, which was indeed crumped into Sterling’s coupon. You’ll have certainly seen them given, but then Sterling had gone looking for the trouble by stepping across Ramires’s line with a view to obstructing his opponent, so it’s hardly the most egregious of refereeing errors. No changes at half-time. Chelsea get the ball rolling again, kicking towards the Anfield Road stand.

1.36pm GMT

Half-time entertainment: So much for Chelsea parking the bus. That’s so 2013/14; they’ve been a relentless attacking force here today. But for those who miss the unique charm of the London charabanc ...

1.33pm GMT

And that’s that for the first half. Liverpool started purposefully, but it’s been all Chelsea since Emre Can’s opening goal, and the home side will be glad to hear the whistle. As the players troop off, Costa and Skrtel have to be separated, grown men the pair of them. But we all secretly love to see it, don’t we. Another half of football like that will be most welcome. No flipping!

1.29pm GMT

44 min: ... Liverpool deal with it easily enough. Meanwhile anyone desirous of pictures? Sure you are. Here’s our Gallery of the action from Anfield.

1.29pm GMT

43 min: Sterling takes one in the mush from Ramires, but he’s the one who goes in the book, as he deliberately stepped across the Chelsea midfielder to stop him breaking down the inside-right channel. That’ll be a free kick, 35 yards from goal. Chelsea load the box. And...

1.28pm GMT

41 min: Hazard cuts in from the left and lashes a shot towards the bottom right. Mignolet claims well. But again he’s not being allowed to find a team-mate with any ease. This is a masterclass from Chelsea, who are all over Liverpool like a rash. Soon the ball’s coming straight back at Liverpool, with Costa winning a corner down the left. Mignolet, often criticised for his unwillingness to come off his line, races out and punches clear with purpose.

1.26pm GMT

40 min: Ivanovic skips past Lovren down the right, a pathetic challenge by the £20m defender. A bit of pinball, and Mignolet does very well to snaffle the ball as it threatens to creep into the bottom-right post.

1.24pm GMT

38 min: A bit of space down the left for Sterling, who nips past Ivanovic and fires a low ball into the area. Balotelli is lurking at the far post, but the ball doesn’t get that far. Welcome respite for the hosts, though; they’ve been under the cosh.

1.23pm GMT

36 min: This is all Chelsea. Oscar again races down the right, shuttling the ball forward for Ramires, who squares inside for Hazard on the edge of the box. Hazard shoots, but Johnson blocks again. The visitors are firmly on the front foot, not allowing the hosts out of their half. They’re cutting off their possession at source, pressurising Mignolet beyond all reason, and the keeper’s not responding particularly well.

1.21pm GMT

35 min: More nonsense between Costa and Skrtel, the former cynically nudging the latter as the two battle under a high ball. The referee appears to be losing patience.

1.20pm GMT

34 min: This is beginning to get a little spicy. Henderson slides in late on Fabregas and is fortunate not to get booked. Then Costa and Skrtel clash again. Chelsea break upfield, Oscar laying off to the left for Hazard, who takes a step into the area and hammers goalwards. Johnson blocks out for a corner, which is a non-event. Chelsea are slowly taking control here.

1.18pm GMT

31 min: Can thinks about taking another whack, 25 yards out down the right, and does so. But his shot is blocked at source by Cahill. Up the other end, a weak Mignolet clearance is latched onto by Fabregas, who nearly feeds Costa down the right. The offside flag saves Liverpool, which is kind of lucky given that it transpires Can had poked the ball back, not Fabregas.

1.15pm GMT

29 min: Hazard busies himself in the middle of the Liverpool half before sliding a pass down the left for Costa, who cuts into the area and lashes a shot goalwards from 12 yards. It’s deflected out for a corner, from which Terry causes more bother. It’s eventually cleared, but Liverpool still don’t look safe at set pieces. Say what you like about Kolo Toure and his slapstick mistakes, but the man knows how to organise a back four.

1.13pm GMT

27 min: Moreno nicks the ball off Oscar and sets Sterling away down the left. Sterling looks to curl a low pass inside for Balotelli, who is making his way down the inside-right channel, but overcooks it.

1.12pm GMT

26 min: Coutinho drops a shoulder and goes on a Hazardesque run down the middle of the park. It’s a determined skitter, and ends with a low shot towards the bottom left from 25 yards. Courtois parries and Cahill knocks it away, the danger over.

1.10pm GMT

24 min: Now Azpilicueta and Balotelli engage in a spot of wrestling down the Liverpool right. More magnificent childishness on the part of both players. Once again the referee jogs over to remind the players that this is a football pitch and not a playground.

1.08pm GMT

22 min: Costa and Skrtel come together as they chase a long ball down the Chelsea left. Actually Costa’s shoved Skrtel quite hard in the back there. And then given the defender a little lip, because the black mist surrounds Skrtel, who for a second looks like he’s about to lump Costa. He thinks better of it, and the referee’s soon on hand to remind the pair that they’re grown adults.

1.07pm GMT

21 min: Something happens at the corner! Gerrard pulls a low one back for Henderson, who miskicks. But Sterling has another chance to shoot. His effort is poor as well, but hits Cahill on the shoulder, allowing everyone to make disingenuous claims for a penalty. The referee’s not having a bar of it. It’s another corner, but that one leads to nothing. This has been a marvellously entertaining opening. Good luck predicting the outcome!

1.05pm GMT

20 min: A bit of time and space for Johnson down the right. He earns a corner with his cross, but with men in the area, that’s a wasted opportunity. Unless something happens at the corner.

1.04pm GMT

19 min: Liverpool take a little sting out of the game with some more patient passing around the back. They burst forward again through Coutinho, who rolls a ball down the inside-left channel for Balotelli. He’s clear, and tucks a lovely effort away into the bottom right. But he’s a mile offside, and the flag is rightly raised.

1.03pm GMT

18 min: What a magnificent start to this match, though. Both teams have looked the part going forward! So much for bus parking.

1.02pm GMT

16 min: That’s quelled the Anfield ardour. Oscar drags a shot wide right from the edge of the Liverpool box. What Chelsea would have given for that technology back in 2005, huh?

1.01pm GMT

It’s a fine response all right! Another corner for Chelsea, Ivanovic skipping down the right and winning it off Sterling, who had tracked back well. Fabregas takes this one too. He hits it deep. Costa heads goalwards from 12 yards, level with the left-hand post. Terry heads further on from six yards. Mignolet does marvellously well to parry, stopping it creeping into the bottom-left corner. But it falls to Cahill, who takes a touch and bundles it over the line. Only just, with Mignolet very nearly saving that one too, but he can’t scoop it out, and the goal-line technology proves the ball was over the line.

12.58pm GMT

13 min: Costa drops a shoulder to burst into the Liverpool area down the left. He wins a corner. Fabregas takes, but Gerrard clears with a spectacular diving header. This is a decent response to falling behind by Chelsea.

12.57pm GMT

11 min: That’s really got Anfield going. Liverpool are pinging it around nicely. But Chelsea aren’t top of the table for nothing, and they try to respond quickly, Hazard and then Costa probing down the right. A few passes later, and Oscar’s trying to release Hazard into the area down the left. Not quite, the pass fired out of play for a goal kick, but it was a crisp, quick move.

12.55pm GMT

Liverpool pass it around the back in the 1970s style. Patience, patience. Eventually they spring forward, with Can bursting down the middle. Thirty yards from goal, Can takes aim and shoots. He’s looking for the top left, but the ball breaks off Cahill’s arm, and twangs into the top right! Courtois, going the other way, had no chance there. What a start for the home side!

12.52pm GMT

6 min: Balotelli looks busy early on, though; he’s found in a little space down the left. A chance to burst into the box but he checks back and can’t find a team-mate with his cross. A couple of promising early runs by Balotelli there, even if neither has quite come off.

12.50pm GMT

5 min: Skrtel rakes a long ball down the inside-right channel to release Balotelli into the area. Balotelli is a yard offside, and the flag goes up. Chelsea were slightly ragged there, though; Balotelli will rue not showing more patience there.

12.49pm GMT

3 min: Hazard goes on a determined run down the middle, and so nearly breaks into the area. Brilliant ball control at speed. Lovren steps in to intercept, putting a stop to his gallop. But Liverpool hearts were in mouths there, as Hazard romped through a huge gap in the home team’s midfield.

12.47pm GMT

2 min: A free kick for Liverpool down the left. Gerrard hoicks it into the area. It’s half cleared, though only to Coutinho, who sends a strange looping shot towards goal. Courtois catches without fuss on his line.

12.46pm GMT

Liverpool get the ball rolling. Chelsea are kicking towards the Kop in the first half, which means Liverpool have got their way, and will be kicking towards it in the second, as is their wont. Within 30 seconds, Can makes good for the Chelsea box and has a whack from 3o yards. The shot deflects off Terry’s knee and out for a corner on the left. The set piece is easily snaffled by Courtois. A bright start by Liverpool, though.

12.45pm GMT

The usual pre-match niceties at Anfield: hands shaken, greetings made, You’ll Never Walk Alone pinging off the rafters. Liverpool’s anthem is particularly poignant: it’s Remembrance Sunday tomorrow, so the teams line the centre circle, and there’s a respectful minute’s silence for those who went to war and never came back. Impeccable. And then the referee’s whistle: bedlam, bedlam, bedlam! We’ll be off in a minute.

12.40pm GMT

The teams are out! Liverpool are in their famous all-red strip ...

11.57am GMT

Liverpool: Mignolet, Johnson, Skrtel, Lovren, Moreno, Gerrard, Can, Henderson, Coutinho, Sterling, Balotelli.
Subs: Brad Jones, Toure, Lambert, Lallana, Lucas, Allen, Borini.

Chelsea: Courtois, Ivanovic, Cahill, Terry, Azpilicueta, Matic, Fabregas, Ramires, Oscar, Hazard, Costa.
Subs: Cech, Luis, Zouma, Drogba, Mikel, Remy, Willian.

11.45am GMT

Well, wasn’t this fixture a kick in the head for Liverpool last season. The slip heard round the world. Poor old Stevie G.

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Published on November 08, 2014 06:42

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