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Shoot-out has unhappy ending for Chelsea Ladies

Sun, 27 May 2012 00:00:01 +0100

Birmingham prevented Chelsea Ladies from following in the trophy-winning footsteps of their male counterparts by winning a dramatic Women's FA Cup final on penalties.

Referee Howard Webb discusses Fabrice Muamba collapse for first time

Thu, 24 May 2012 13:56:19 +0100

Howard Webb has spoken for the first time about the match in which Fabrice Muamba collapsed and warned players that feigning injury could risk tragedies taking place in the future.

Roberto Di Matteo looks just the man for evolution, not revolution

Mon, 07 May 2012 00:00:01 +0100

Asked to namecheck his managerial influences after steering Chelsea to a seventh FA Cup triumph, Roberto Di Matteo reeled off Arrigo Sacchi, Ruud Gullit and Dino Zoff. But it was a coach he did not reference who has been the biggest influence these last two spectacular months.

Frank Lampard urges club to settle 'deserved' new deal with Didier Drogba

Mon, 07 May 2012 00:00:01 +0100

Frank Lampard has told Chelsea that Didier Drogba is irreplaceable and has urged the club to agree terms with the striker over a new contract. Drogba's eighth goal in as many games at Wembley helped his side beat Liverpool 2-1 in the FA Cup final on Saturday.

FA Cup Final: Man for man marking

Sun, 06 May 2012 00:00:01 +0100

Chelsea

Drogba reprises his role of Wembley warrior

Sun, 06 May 2012 00:00:01 +0100

Liverpool, officially the away team here yesterday, produced their wretched Anfield home form for too long before rallying to make a real contest of the FA Cup final. Chelsea, looking worthy winners for an hour or so, ended up hanging on and hugely relieved that Andy Carroll's late header was ruled not to have crossed the line. Two teams who had scored 35 goals between them in reaching Wembley managed only one in a dull first half, from Ramires, before the encounter came to life. Didier Drogba became the first player to score in four finals but Carroll, sent on as a substitute, brought Liverpool into contention by halving the lead and almost equalising.

Lampard: 'Roberto had belief in us. We think we can win every game'

Sun, 06 May 2012 00:00:01 +0100

Frank Lampard hailed Roberto Di Matteo after the Chelsea caretaker-manager landed his first trophy in charge of the Blues yesterday, having scored for the club in two Wembley FA Cup final wins. Now he has the Champions' League trophy in his sights with the final against Bayern Munich to come. “Robbie deserves everything, he's turned the club around. He is getting the best out of the players and that is what wins you games,” Lampard said.

Drogba is hero and history man

Sun, 06 May 2012 00:00:01 +0100

Mocked by Liverpool's supporters as having "no history", Chelsea continued to ransack the record books here yesterday in winning their fourth FA Cup in six seasons.

Carroll cameo comes too late for lonesome Luis to use his craft

Sun, 06 May 2012 00:00:01 +0100

Not since 1958, when Bolton Wanderers faced the remnants of the Busby Babes in the wake of the Munich Air Disaster has a team arrived at Wembley with so much of the country willing them to lose. The difference here yesterday was that large swathes of the football public wanted both teams to lose.

Terry: 'When the chips are down we can come together as a team'

Sun, 06 May 2012 00:00:01 +0100

The Chelsea captain John Terry claimed that yesterday's victory was an answer to those – the former manager Andre Villas-Boas among them – who believed that the team is divided and relies too heavily on its old guard. It will also help to persuade Roman Abramovich, the owner, to give caretaker manager Roberto Di Matteo the job full-time.

Chelsea celebrate FA Cup final victory over Liverpool

Sat, 05 May 2012 19:30:21 +0100

Didier Drogba became the first man to score in four FA Cup finals as Chelsea overcame Liverpool at Wembley thanks to another massive goal-line controversy.

Reina: Chelsea egos to blame for Torres trouble

Sat, 05 May 2012 00:00:01 +0100

The Liverpool goalkeeper, Pepe Reina, has said on the eve of today's FA Cup final that Chelsea are to blame for Fernando Torres' struggle to deliver at Stamford Bridge, having failed to dispense with other players' egos and build a team around him. Neither had Chelsea built up his confidence when he needed them to.

Lampard on the brink of double glory for Chelsea

Sat, 05 May 2012 00:00:01 +0100

For all the football that Frank Lampard has played at Chelsea, all the goals scored and trophies won, he feels his greatest moment at the club could be ahead of him.

My own future is beside the point, insists Di Matteo

Sat, 05 May 2012 00:00:01 +0100

Roberto Di Matteo insisted, on the eve of his first cup final as Chelsea caretaker manager, that he has "felt comfortable" since his first day in charge. Di Matteo has guided Chelsea to the FA Cup and Champions League finals, and he also received the strongest endorsement yet from captain John Terry yesterday.

Pepe Reina seeks redemption

Sat, 05 May 2012 00:00:01 +0100

A Spaniard packing up his troubles and heading for Wembley in search of some consolation to take from a season of troubles and self-scrutiny. What should have been the story of Fernando Torres, going into this evening's FA Cup final against the club where he was once worshipped, has been appropriated by Pepe Reina instead.

Liverpool must produce team effort to win FA Cup says Steven Gerrard

Fri, 04 May 2012 14:21:01 +0100

Finals tend to bring out the best in Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard but he insists if they are to beat Chelsea in the FA Cup at Wembley tomorrow it will have to be a team effort.

Jan Molby says Kenny Dalglish is the right manager for Liverpool

Fri, 04 May 2012 13:07:48 +0100

Former Liverpool midfielder Jan Molby believes the club's disjointed season will be remembered as a great one if they win the FA Cup tomorrow.

John Terry hopes FA Cup win would secure Roberto Di Matteo full-time Chelsea job

Fri, 04 May 2012 13:03:45 +0100

John Terry today urged his Chelsea team-mates to help Roberto Di Matteo land the manager's job full-time by winning tomorrow's FA Cup final.

Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher says rivalry with Chelsea still exists

Fri, 04 May 2012 10:25:02 +0100

Defender Jamie Carragher thinks the intensity of the rivalry between Liverpool and Chelsea has faded slightly in recent years but that will not prevent a fierce FA Cup final battle tomorrow.

Chelsea try to focus on FA Cup but Champions League final looms large

Fri, 04 May 2012 00:00:01 +0100

Can there have been a more downbeat managerial mood on the eve of an FA Cup final than that which Roberto Di Matteo proffered deep within Stamford Bridge on Wednesday evening? But then this is a football club that is defined by another trophy; the Champions League.

Kenny Dalglish puts finals over finance and top-four finishes for Liverpool

Fri, 04 May 2012 00:00:01 +0100

It was when the talk turned to the old Saturday rituals of FA Cup final day that Kenny Dalglish's countenance brightened dramatically and what had been a half-hour of jousts with broadcast journalists, in which he held all the cards as usual, began to assume a more promising aspect.

Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard expects Chelsea to be focused on FA Cup final

Thu, 03 May 2012 10:21:48 +0100

Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard does not believe Chelsea will be distracted by thoughts of the Champions League when they walk out at Wembley for Saturday's FA Cup final.

Steven Gerrard: Beat Chelsea and Liverpool's season is a success

Thu, 03 May 2012 00:00:01 +0100

Everton, who are seventh in the Premier League, would probably wince at the words but they surely have to agree with the Liverpool manager, Kenny Dalglish, who insisted yesterday as he prepared for Saturday's FA Cup final that "there's a satisfaction to winning a cup that you don't get from finishing fifth or sixth in the league".

Cups marginalised by 'obsession' with Premier League says Liverpool manager Kenny Dalglish

Wed, 02 May 2012 15:45:59 +0100

Liverpool manager Kenny Dalglish believes an "obsession" with the Barclays Premier League appears to be reducing the value of winning cup competitions.

Kenny Dalglish urges Liverpool players to fight for FA Cup final place

Mon, 30 Apr 2012 15:54:44 +0100

Liverpool manager Kenny Dalglish has urged his players to stake their claim for a place in this weekend's FA Cup final.

Petr Cech urges Chelsea to pair Fernando Torres and Didier Drogba in attack

Mon, 30 Apr 2012 15:52:55 +0100

Petr Cech has urged Roberto Di Matteo to unleash both Fernando Torres and Didier Drogba on Chelsea's opponents in their triple pursuit of glory.

Chelsea striker Fernando Torres turns attention to FA Cup final with Liverpool following hat-trick

Mon, 30 Apr 2012 10:32:05 +0100

Fernando Torres had one eye on Chelsea's FA Cup final with Liverpool after scoring his first hat-trick since his £50million move from Anfield.

Banned? I had no idea until that TV interview

Sun, 29 Apr 2012 00:00:01 +0100

Talking to Sky Sports in the immediate aftermath of Chelsea's historic conquest of Barcelona, Branislav Ivanovic was dazed, thrilled, drained and jubilant. Then reporter Geoff Shreeves, employing perhaps a touch too much enthusiasm, asked if he was aware that his yellow card was his third of the tournament. In other words, he will be suspended for the Champions League final in Munich on 19 May.

Spearing brings long-awaited local colour to the Reds

Sun, 29 Apr 2012 00:00:01 +0100

Merseyside loves a local boy, which is one reason why the 23-year-old Jay Spearing has become a popular addition to Liverpool's first-team squad. His style of play as something of a latter-day Sammy Lee appeals too, tenacity and determination matching that of those more established local heroes Steven Gerrard and Jamie Carragher. So all in all, many fans would be more than happy to see the Wallesey boy starting in the FA Cup final ahead of expensive imports such as Jordan Henderson and the injured Charlie Adam.

Virgin boss Richard Branson backs FA Cup final switch

Fri, 20 Apr 2012 00:00:01 +0100

Virgin founder Richard Branson has asked the Football Association to "look again" at the timing of next month's FA Cup final in the light of travel problems faced by Liverpool fans.

Dowd given FA Cup final whistle

Wed, 18 Apr 2012 00:00:01 +0100

Phil Dowd will referee the FA Cup final between Chelsea and Liverpool on 5 May. The 49-year-old will take charge of the Wembley showpiece for the first time.

Phil Dowd selected to referee FA Cup final between Liverpool and Chelsea

Tue, 17 Apr 2012 13:41:04 +0100

Phil Dowd was today appointed referee for this season's FA Cup final between Chelsea and Liverpool.

FA defend final kick-off time after Liverpool fans express anger

Tue, 17 Apr 2012 10:19:32 +0100

The Football Association have defended their decision to change the FA Cup final's traditional 3pm kick-off time despite the travel chaos it is set to create for Liverpool fans.

Liverpool have got a taste for trophies, says Glen Johnson

Tue, 17 Apr 2012 00:00:01 +0100

The Liverpool defender Glen Johnson has stressed he and his team-mates must remain focused on their league form despite an FA Cup final meeting with Chelsea looming.

Late kick-off for FA Cup final between Chelsea and Liverpool

Mon, 16 Apr 2012 14:48:02 +0100

The Football Association's decision to schedule the FA Cup final for an early-evening start has been described as an "absolute joke" by a Liverpool fans' group.

Tottenham v Chelsea player ratings

Mon, 16 Apr 2012 12:38:32 +0100

Chelsea thrashed Tottenham 5-1 at Wembley yesterday in the FA Cup semi-final.

FA reiterate desire for introduction of goal-line technology

Mon, 16 Apr 2012 10:54:10 +0100

The Football Association have stressed their desire to see goal-line technology introduced as soon as possible following Chelsea's 'ghost goal' against Tottenham in the FA Cup semi-final.

Lack of video technology 'killing the game' says Tottenham striker Emmanuel Adebayor

Mon, 16 Apr 2012 10:48:06 +0100

Emmanuel Adebayor accused Martin Atkinson of ruining Tottenham's FA Cup dreams and then claimed the lack of goal-line technology in football is "killing the game" after last night's controversial semi-final defeat to Chelsea at Wembley.

Jamie Carragher says Liverpool striker Andy Carroll should not be judged on transfer fee

Mon, 16 Apr 2012 10:46:48 +0100

Veteran Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher insists club-record signing Andy Carroll should not be judged on his transfer fee.

Everton held back by inferiority complex in neighbourhood rivalry with Liverpool

Mon, 16 Apr 2012 00:00:01 +0100

The last time Everton defeated Liverpool in an FA Cup semi-final their right-flank pairing, Harry Makepeace and Jack Sharp, spent their summers playing cricket for Lancashire, the latter also for England, and the left-winger, Harold Hardman, was an amateur. That was in 1906 and ever since, it seems, Everton have been found wanting when meeting Liverpool in Cup ties of such magnitude.

Kenny Dalglish struggles to handle the good times with Liverpool

Mon, 16 Apr 2012 00:00:01 +0100

Wembley encounters with Everton have a tendency to leave Kenny Dalglish nursing a sore head. He was accidentally nutted by a supporter while resisting attempts to chair him from the field after the 1989 FA Cup final, and left with blood running down his face. On Saturday, it was questions he was running from. Dalglish was cornered in the press theatre and it did not feel much like a victor holding court as he fumbled behind him for the door handle.

Howler from referee Martin Atkinson gives Harry Redknapp a bitter taste of England life

Mon, 16 Apr 2012 00:00:01 +0100

Fresh coffee on the brew? Cut flowers on show? Clutter put in storage to make the place look big? It is to be assumed the Football Association used all the traditional methods of selling a home to Harry Redknapp when he came to look around Wembley last night. But for the authentic experience of being an England manager they had to rely on the certainty of Martin Atkinson.

Officials cross the line but Chelsea have final word against Tottenham in FA Cup semi-final

Mon, 16 Apr 2012 00:00:01 +0100

It was a frantic, fiery, no-holds-barred kind of FA Cup semi-final between two clubs that cannot stand the idea of one another and two teams whose form has soared and dipped this season. Such a pity it will be remembered for a stupid refereeing mistake that should could so easily have been avoided.

Referee Martin Atkinson knows that he has made a big mistake says Tottenham manager Harry Redknapp

Mon, 16 Apr 2012 00:00:01 +0100

Harry Redknapp revealed last night that referee Martin Atkinson admitted to him in the aftermath of Spurs' 5-1 FA Cup semi-final defeat to Chelsea that he had made a huge mistake in allowing Juan Mata's "ghost goal" to stand.

Ruthless Chelsea finishing and 'ghost goal' send Spurs out

Sun, 15 Apr 2012 20:15:00 +0100

Chelsea set up an FA Cup final against Liverpool after putting Tottenham to the sword with a ruthless beating at Wembley, but they were helped on their way by a goal which should never have been given.

Di Matteo must keep Chelsea fit for purpose

Sun, 15 Apr 2012 00:00:01 +0100

Before Manchester United beat Barcelona in the Champions' League semi-finals in 2008, keeping two clean sheets in the process, the team spent days honing their tactics. As Gary Neville later revealed, coach Carlos Queiroz even used sit-up mats on the training pitch "to mark exactly where he wanted our players to be, to the nearest yard. We rehearsed time and again, sometimes walking through the tactics slowly with the ball in our hands."

Carroll rises above criticism to be the hero

Sun, 15 Apr 2012 00:00:01 +0100

Appropriately enough, with the Grand National being run back home at Aintree, it was a £35m striker much derided as a pony-tailed donkey who provided the thoroughbred moment to settle this Mersey squabble. Andy Carroll, for so long lampooned, produced the defining touch of quality in a largely arid FA Cup semi-final to ensure Liverpool return here next month.

Another Wembley win, but 'Anfield South' has gone west

Sun, 15 Apr 2012 00:00:01 +0100

Kenny Dalglish had been here before, taking command of a Wembley FA Cup dressing room with his Liverpool side 1-0 down to Everton after a dismal first half.

Walker's rapid progress is extending his shelf life

Sun, 15 Apr 2012 00:00:01 +0100

The margin between success and failure can be tantalisingly small. Kyle Walker is one of the most promising players in the English game and the possible first-choice right-back at the European Championship, yet he was almost discarded by Sheffield United at 15 because he struggled to convince them he could be successful as a centre-forward.

Carroll proves worth as Liverpool head for FA Cup final

Sat, 14 Apr 2012 15:01:49 +0100

Liverpool's much-maligned record signing Andy Carroll went some way to justifying his huge price with the goal which put his side into their first FA Cup final since 2006 and ended the dreams of Everton in the all-Merseyside encounter at Wembley.

Gibson learning to fire in Everton engine room