By MICHAEL KLINE
Tottenham kicks off today’s titanic soccer action when the North London club hosts the defending English Premier League champions Manchester City.
Andre Villas-Boas’ squad enjoyed a 10-day break which has seen Gareth Bale, Aaron Lennon and Jermaine Defoe all recover from injury. The three playmakers have combined for over 40 goals for the club this season – production the Spurs have missed in recent weeks. Manchester City, on the other hand, will likely be without the services of David Silva, who has missed the club’s last two matches, and Sergio Aguero, who was subbed off at halftime of last weekend’s match against Wigan Athletic with a hamstring problem.
Chelsea follow the early match when they go on the road to Anfield to face Liverpool later in the morning.
Rafa Benitez and Fernando Torres will clog the headlines ahead of the match, with both individuals returning to their former grounds in the opposition’s colors. It will likely be a bittersweet homecoming for both, since they have failed to repeat the success they happened to find in Red. Regardless, Chelsea sit in a must-win situation, with Champions League qualification the utmost priority.
In the afternoon, Juventus will welcome AC Milan to Turin, where the league leaders will look to come ever closer to hoisting the Scudetto. Milan will be looking for a win of their own, due to Champions League aspirations, but will be missing the energy of Mario Balotelli, who is out of the match due to a suspension. Stephan El Sharaawy is fit, however, but the crafty Italian has managed to only find the net once since his partner-in-crime, Balotelli, arrived in Milan over the winter transfer period.
If you will be watching today’s action, please feel free to share your thoughts, opinions and some play-by-play in the comments section below.
Enjoy the action (Today’s TV schedule is after the jump):
TODAY’S SOCCER ON TV
8:30am – Fox Soccer Channel – Tottenham Hotspur vs. Manchester City
9am – beIN Sport – Napoli vs. Cagliari
9:30am – GolTV – Stuttgart vs. Freiburg
11am – Fox Soccer Channel – Liverpool vs. Chelsea
11am – beIN Sport en Español – Deportivo La Coruña vs. Athletic Club
1pm – beIN Sport en Español – Osasuna vs. Real Sociedad
1pm – Univision – Toluca vs. Cruz Azul
2:45pm – beIN Sport – Juventus vs. AC Milan
3pm – beIN Sport en Español – Sevilla vs. Atlético Madrid
5pm – ESPN2 – DC United vs. Philadelphia Union
7pm – Univision Deportes – Atlante vs. Puebla
11pm – UniMás – San Jose Earthquakes vs. Portland Timbers
Dc vs Philly stArting, yes, pajoy is up top.
Mix has scored in his match today. Rosenborg trails 2-1, down by a man.
The game was a microcosm of Suarez’s whole career.
Anyone check out the 20 minte shift MB put in? Just when I think he’s solidified his spot under the new coach, he sits. And while I do understand he put in a grueling shift on Tuesday and is one of the middies that covers the most ground in the Serie A, I still would have expected him to go.
Unless, of course, they knew they were playing the worst team in the league and wanted to sit their best player? ; )
I also think it’s interesting that, for as much flack as Clint has taken this year, that he is the 3rd leading scorer on Spurs (1 behind Deofe).
just watched the replay
MB played well. Roma played thru him as the holding mid/organizer against Pescara’s mostly parked bus, and he sprayed accurate balls all over the field leading to open shots on goal, along with his typical defensive leg work. I’d say he’s playing as well as I’ve seen him play at Roma, perhaps ever, never more confident than right now. To me, he’s playing like he really believes in himself and his teammates are looking for him too, always a good sign
we’ll see, but your worries seem unwarranted. watch the games and I believe you won’t feel the way you do
I, too, am a bit surprised that he sat, given that everyone played on Tuesday, but he was pretty good for the last 20. A couple long lobbed passes with pinpoint accuracy, generally smart decision making, and good defensive pressure.
We’ll know how valued he is for sure if he starts the cup final. That’s the most important match of the season for them, no doubt.
Also, how cool is it that MB and Jozy are playing in cup finals? Great life experience for both, AND it’ll probably be hugely helpful in future big games…
Was at the game in Rome today. Roma was listless for much if the match. Mikey brought a needed change of pace to the side. He completed 100% of his passes, played a few beautiful cross field balls, and set up a what should have been a goal with his chip into the box that was headed across an open goal. He was far superior to pjanic and eve de Rossi. He is pure class and is becoming the best American player.
Looks good for Spurs overall – Chelsea have a tougher schedule and Arsenal have one less match. So unless they F up, they have a great chance of being in the CL. Everton will need some extra luck if they want the Europa spot, I think.
Haha, I freaking love Luis Suarez. The stoppage time equalizer in the same game as the bite.
exactly how I felt
Just wow… As a Liverpool fan, so thrilled for the tie. However, this outcome is clearly tainted. Suarez, for all his footie brilliance, is a coward and toolbag. Clearly needs counseling (plus as Old School noted, a lengthy ban). I’m all for being scrappy and challenging your opponent physically but Suarez should not have been on the pitch. Credit to Chelsea for not blowing their lid.
“hungry overbite a’hole” ties it up…so much talent…so little brains.
wow…at the death and then some
I didn’t have a chance to see the entire match. Doing some housework and made a run to the store. The portion of the match that I have seen has been exciting and gritty.
Aside from THE scumbag of all soccer, a really entertaining match.
Sidenote: Jordan Henderson is annoyingly overrated. Every time I see him. Ugh.
Henderson a big zero again today
agree, fun match to watch as a fan with no horse in the game
Wtf he just bit him.
Let’s ignore his intentional handball, Suarez literally grabs Ivanovic’s arm and clamps down for a full bite.
No exaggeration, this scumbag needs a lengthy ban.
Not a shove, not a fist fight, not even a kick….a f–cking bite. What.the.hell.is wrong with him?
Suarez’s programming is pretty buggy.
I genuinely think he has something wrong mentally.
That isn’t a joke. I sincerely wonder if he’s had psychological screenings to locate the source of his outbursts of acting like an animal.
All credit to Ivanovic. I don’t know that I would have contained myself after being bitten like that.
I think Ivanovic was a bit Holyfieldesque…just wondering WTF was that!?!?!?
The replay I saw, his eyes lit up in disbelief.
Understandably so.
have to agree
he acts out his frustrations
Ivanovic was holding him, Suarez couldn’t break free and so acted out by biting him.
inexcusable behavior
Suarez bit Ivanovic????!!!!!
Well, that’s the end of a pretty good career.
Suarez bites . . . Literally!
Pow! Sturridge with a well deserved goal.
what a difference a threatening striker makes, look at all that space for Suarez now too
Yeah – and after much more lively and fluid play, Suarez’s idiocy puts L’Pool back in the hole.
Dang! That’s more like it with Sturridge coming on. And as I write he hits the post…
Coutinho + Henderson + Downing = negative number so far
Yeah. I really like the attacking spark Coutinho provides since coming from Inter but decision-making today is not good (e.g., his long range shot that he telegraphed and kicked right into Ramires or Mikel), and Downing’s corner kick was horrid.
just a little more from them and Suarez will score but they can’t link to him, all 3 turnover machines in the first half
Chelsea”s midfield starting to boss Liverpool now. Hoping Red Dragons can get more decisive with their attacking third play in the second half as they have the weapons to come back.
Clint’s 6th league goal of the season, 11th overall. Considering he only had 23 last season. Not so bad considering he’s not been at his greatest for SPURS
I think he’s been pretty good for SPURS.
His role is different than it was for FULHAM, or for the USA, or the REVOLUTION.
I shouldn’t make fun — maybe you hit caps lock…..
Bradley on with ~20 to go.
Series of great *great* passes from Bradley.
Best news today is that AVB made three subs with Tottenham down a goal in a must win game and left Clint in. I think AVB finally saw the light after Dempsey’s great performance against Basel. Good news for Clint.
“finally saw the light”?
Not really. AVB is playing Deuce just about as much as his Fulham managers did.
Dempsey’s last five years at Fulham, across all competitions, he averaged 42.6 appearances and 11.8 goals per season.
With 5 games left to play, Clint is on 37 appearances and 11 goals, across all competitions, for this season. Deuce will probably hit his average this season.
.
Difference has been the type of appearances, many of them coming as a sub with Spurs. Also unfair to take a five year sample IMO, when he has elevated his game to a new level over the last two seasons. I would take a two year sample size.
The five year sample is more realistic. His last year at Fulham was exceptional but it would unrealistic to expect him to repeat it.
All things considered he has had a good year for Spurs.
Next season, if he and AVB are still with Spurs, it will be quite challenging. There is the possibility of Champions League play and then the climax of WC qualifying.
Those three Tottenham goals are all works art. Historic. All of ‘em beautiful. Wow. What a comeback. Chances now looking much better for a Champions League slot.
Hell of a ten minutes there for Spurs
WOW. Bale.
Incidentally, the player in MB90s spot was subbed out for someone else. Not the best sign…
??? Destro came in. He’s a forward. He came in for a cmid? Maybe they are just resting MB.
MBs been playing well, put in the full hard shift on Tuesday in the win over Inter
I take back everything I said about Bale.
And just like that! Don’t count out Spurs for the top 4.
Someone tell me again that Deuce is having a bad season. Bollocks!
+1. Double digit goals for a midfielder playing for a Champions League side? That’s a tremendous season. Just shows you how spoiled Deuce has made us with his brilliance.
ha-ha. The usual trolls who usually visit with silly comments are now no doubt writhing on the floor in pain in fetal positions crying like wittle babies
🙂
Adebayor comes out and suddenly Spurs are world beaters!! Coincidence?
not a coincidence imho
he got that 100,000 K a week contract last summer and has been playing like crap since
That’s not fair. He was playing like crap before he signed the new deal.
17 goals, 11 assists last season in the PL
make it 3 in 10 minutes without Adebayor
I was shocked to see Adebayor starting today. I was saying after the Basel debacle that Adebayor appeared not to care at all and should be pulled off the team for the rest of the season.
I rest my case and I hope we don’t see Ade again this season.
Seems inexplicable to me.
Clint!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
And by the way, Clint is looking great today and both sides of the field.
Yes. Dempsey showing he can play efficiently when necessary.
Deuuuuuuucccce!
GOAL DEUCE!!! Tap-in on a ball from Bale. Not that rusty, I guess…
great ball from Bale, thread the needle there
One of my dumber comments there.
To be fair, was true as of the time you posted it. . . .
+1
Bale looks incredibly rusty. He’s so wasteful today. He’s running around like a madman with little purpose or subtlety.
It’s amazing there is a goal in this game because rarely have I seen a contest more worthy of a scoreless draw.
And Dempsey shoves my comment right back in my own pie-hole!
And Bale shows me for the fool I am! What a slide rule pass!
With whom are Fox Soccer sharing a broadcast booth? Holy crap. Watching this Tottenham-City game and there is an over-excited, mouth-breather from another network reading a long lost Mussolini speech from 1939. Take it down a peg, buddy.
Thanks for drawing that to my attention. Now I can’t get him out of my head!
lol
Anyone have a breakdown of Roma’s record with/without Bradley starting?
Come on Dempsey
Excited for Mikey and Roma to move into a European spot today!
Both Roma and TH losing at home. MB90 is on the bench. Dempsey playing well for TH.
It should be said that Roma are losing at home to bottom-feeding Pescara.