csconstantine.com

{ Liverpool failed to make it a winning start to Kenny Dalglish's European managerial career in charge of the club after being held to a goalless draw against Sparta Prague.

Both sides produced poor performances in the Czech capital and the 0-0 outcome leaves this Europa League tie in the balance ahead of the second leg at Anfield.

The visitors started strongly and looked comfortable in possession of the ball. They retained possession well, much to the annoyance of the home supporters, who made their feelings known about Sparta's start.

Liverpool tested the home defence early on as Fabio Aurelio sent in a dangerous looking free-kick but Sotirios Kyrgiakos could not get himself on the end of it.

Kwueke had the first attempt on goal for the home side but his speculative effort from 25 yards did not trouble Pepe Reina and summed up the hosts' rusty start.

The visitors were hardly tested by the Czech side and their only problems seemed to come from their own doing.

A mix-up between Aurelio and Raul Meireles allowed Kwueke to pick up the ball and have a free run at the heart of Liverpool’s centre-backs. The big striker then released Andrej Keric on the right for his side's first sight of goal but the winger's shot was aimed harmlessly wide.

But, as the half wore on, the home side began to brush the cobwebs of their winter break away and they got a grip on proceedings.

It was down Liverpool’s right-hand side where they had some joy as Martin Abena released Manuel Pamic on the overlap and the full-back's cross across the face of goal was pushed away from danger by Reina.

After dominating possession in the opening stages, it was now Liverpool who could not get hold of the ball and Sparta began to dominate proceedings.

They looked to get at Liverpool down the flanks and this time it was the right back Ondrej Kusnir who  used his pace to try and get into the Liverpool box but he collided with Aurelio on the edge of the box. Despite the home fans loud appeals, German referee Floria Meyer waved play on.

This was not in the script for Kenny Daldlish’s side and even the ever reliable keeper Reina looked shaky as he dropped a cross from the right and the loose ball drops Pamic, but he could not find the target.

It was all Prague as Marek Matejovsky was next to go close but his effort brought a last ditch block from Kyrgiakos.

Things did not get any better for Liverpool when Dalglish was forced into a change just before the break when Joe Cole was brought on for the injured Aurelio and the change nearly made an instant impact as Cole played in David Ngog.

The French striker managed to get a shot away but it was easily blocked by the home defence.

While Liverpool were not at their best in the first period Dalglish would have been happy with the clean sheet and would have been hoping for more from his side going forward.

But the second half began much like the first with the Reds having a good share of possession but not looking penetrative enough with the ball.

The game was being played at a snail's pace and no side really looked interested in getting the goal which might give them a decisive advantage going into the second leg.

Glen Johnson tried to inject some pace into the match with a driving run down the right but his cross was easily plucked out of the air by Jaromir Blazek for his first real touch of the game.

It was the England full-back who had Liverpool's first shot on goal in the 70th minute but his stab at goal drifted wide of the far post.

This brought a ripple of noise from the brave travelling Liverpool support who urged their side on to go and grab a winner.

But someone in the crowd had other ideas and a cloud of smoke, from a flare released in the crowd, covered the pitch. Liverpool keeper Reina disappeared amongst the white cloud for a while but after a few minutes the smoke cleared and the referee got the game back underway.

The pause in proceedings seem to benefit the home side and with the fans urging them forward, Kwueke hit a shot on the turn but he failed to make a clean connection and Reina saved easily down to his left.

Prague tried in vain to get a goal in the last 10 minutes as first Matejovsky and then Kweuke went close but Liverpool held on to leave the tie evenly poised ahead of the return match next week.

Follow the Europa League LIVE on Goal.com:
Commentaries, Stats, Player Ratings and much more,
Visit Goal.com Live Scores!


Agences de presses

Labels: Clarke, Dalglish, Getty, Goalcom, images, Kenny, Steve

{

Steve McClaren has today parted company with German side Wolfsburg following a string of poor results.

The Wolves' 1-0 loss to Hannover on Saturday was the club's second on the spin and continued a miserable sequence of just one win in 11 in the German top flight. In 21 games at the helm, McClaren managed just five wins.

The former England manager leaves with the club, champions just two seasons ago, sitting 12th in the 18-team Bundesliga, just one point above the relegation zone.

Pierre Littbarski, McClaren's former assistant, has been named as his replacement.

Wolfsburg chief executive Dieter Hoeness said: "We were not convinced that we could have a stable collaboration with Steve McClaren until the end of the season. We tried it, but unfortunately we have now lost the belief.

"Following the recent negative results we cannot underestimate our situation in the table.

"Being only one point clear of the relegation places, we are alarmed.

"Now it's just a question of increasing the gap to the relegation places as soon as possible."

Explaining Littbarski's elevation to the hot seat, Hoeness added: "We talked at great length with him. He has convinced us that he will take the necessary measures in our situation."

McClaren has seen his stock plummet in German football after joining Wolfsburg amid much expectation in May last year, fresh from guiding FC Twente to their first ever Dutch title.

In joining the Wolves the 49-year-old became the first Englishman to manage in the German top flight, but quickly found that he was unable to replicate the success he had enjoyed in Holland, with Wolfsburg losing his first three league games in charge.

Although the team recovered slightly, wins remained hard to come by and a recent sequence of seven straight league draws underlined their lack of cutting edge.

Wolfsburg chairman Dr Francisco Javier Garcia Sanz revealed the club gave McClaren every opportunity to turn their season around, but in the end were forced to act with the Yorkshireman just nine months into a two-year contract.

"We have not seen any alternative," he said. "Of course we all want to see continuity, particularly in the coaching position. Therefore, we have been waiting a long time with the decision.

"The supervisory board and management now believes, however, that the team cannot continue under Steve McClaren."

McClaren began his managerial career at Middlesbrough in 2001 having earlier had spells as assistant to Jim Smith at Derby and Sir Alex Ferguson at Manchester United.

McLaren enjoyed much success at Middlesbrough, winning the Carling Cup in 2004 and reaching the final of the UEFA Cup in 2006.

He was subsequently appointed as Sven-Goran Eriksson's successor as England boss in August 2006 but was sacked when the team failed to qualify for Euro 2008.

Agences de presses

Labels: Independent, McClaren, sacked, Steve, Wolfsburg

{ Kevin Doyle scores Wolves' first-half winner against Manchester United (Getty Images)Wolves' 2-1 victory over Manchester United Saturday has reaffirmed their chairman's hope for Premier League football next season.

Steve Morgan was unsuprised, though, by his side's triumph over the formerly unbeaten league leaders.

Whilst the victory over Sir Alex Ferguson's side won't be enough on its own to secure top flight football for next season, Morgan is still looking to build from the triumph.

"We have played some fantastic football this season," he told BBC Radio 5 Live. "We've had horrendous luck but it all came together and the whole club is absolutely delighted.

"It's in our hands. If we show the same spirit that we showed (against United) we'll be absolutely fine," he said.

The Wolves chairman also found time to criticise fair play standards, citing Chelsea's recent expenditures as a luxury his own side can't afford.

"To clubs like Wolves and many other clubs like us it's completely surreal," he said. "It clearly isn't a level playing field when some clubs can literally throw telephone numbers around and others have to live within our budget.

"I think it's nuts and I don't know how certain clubs are going to get through the fair play rules which kick in next season."

With three points against United Saturday, Morgan will hope Wolves will be there to find out.

if (typeof hideMashLogic == 'undefined' || (!hideMashLogic)){ document.write(''); document.write(''); }


Agences de presses

Labels: after, Chairman, confident, Goalcom, Manchester, Morgan, Steve, Wolves