Frontline Football Blog

Wolves need to improve their goalscoring record in order to avoid relegation from the Premier League this season, according to one of their players.

Midfielder David Jones saw his side lose 1-0 to Manchester United at the weekend courtesy of a late foal from Paul Scholes.

The result leaves Wolves in 17th position but only out of the relegation places on goal difference and the club must now prepare for a real six-pointer against second-bottom Burnley next weekend.

The former United and Derby player said Wolves put in a "good performance" against his former side but were left ultimately disappointed by the end result.

Wanderers managed to create chances in the game but were unable to put the ball in the back of the net - a problem that has blighted Wolves throughout the majority of this Premier League campaign, he added.

"We just need to score some goals," Jones said.

"With more performances like that between now and the end of the season I am sure we will pick up points."

Jones' comments echoed those made by Wolves central defender Christophe Berra. After the United defeat he said he was confident the side would get some points soon to pull them clear of the Premier League relegation battle.

The fight to finish in the Premier League top four will go all the way to the end of the season as clubs battle for the final Champions League qualification position, according to Yossi Benayoun.

The Liverpool midfielder returned from a broken rib in his side's bore-draw with Manchester City on Sunday, a result that meant Spurs leapfrogged both teams into fourth spot as they got all three points against Wigan.

Liverpool have endured a stuttering season but are still sixth and must take positives from the fact that only one point separates the sides fourth to seventh in the Premier League table.

Benayoun told the club's official website that he expects a tight battle between Liverpool, City, Spurs and Aston Villa to get fourth spot, a race he adds will "go to the end" of the season.

"One point was not good enough but it wasn't bad either. We are still in the race for fourth place and that is the most important thing," the Israeli midfielder said.

Liverpool aspirations to finish in the Premier League top four has received a boost as star striker Fernando Torres is back in action after a knee problem.

The Spaniard has scored 12 goals in only 21 appearances this campaign and Liverpool fans will hope he can get the goals to ensure the side qualifies for the Champions League for next season. The football betting odds suggest the Merseysiders will be able to grab fourth spot.

Torres will also be hoping he will be fit to play a major role in this year's World Cup.

The World Cup 2010 football betting makes Spain favourites to win the tournament, although they do have a history of underperforming in the competition.

Steven Gerrard has called on his Liverpool team-mates to push on and make a concerted effort to ensure they finish the season in the Premier League top four.

The Anfield side are unbeaten in their last seven Premier League matches and a 1-0 victory in the Merseyside derby at the weekend saw them rise above Tottenham to occupy fourth spot.

They are now one point clear in that position and face third-place Arsenal on Wednesday and a win would put them to only two points behind their North London rivals.

Gerrard has told the Liverpool Echo that it was a "well deserved" victory over Everton and the side now needs to take that performance into upcoming games to ensure they remain in the final Champions League qualification place.

"We know there is a long way to go and we want to make sure we are in the top four at the end of the season," said the Liverpool captain.

Mikel Arteta has said he is excited to get back on the field following an injury nightmare and wants to play as much as he can to help Everton's Premier League aspirations for this season.

The influential Spanish playmaker made his first appearance in almost a year when he came off the bench on 76 minutes during his side's FA Cup fourth round defeat to Birmingham.

Arteta suffered anterior cruciate ligament damage in a game against Newcastle United in February 2009 and told BBC Radio Merseyside he was "so excited" to get back on the pitch.

He now wants to play as much as possible to help Everton build on their current position of tenth in the Premier League and Arteta is likely to be involved when they meet Sunderland on Wednesday night. The football betting makes Everton favourites to win that match.

The 27-year-old said it has been a "difficult" period and he has worked hard to get back from three operations.

Manchester City are still involved in a battle for the Premier League title, according to one of their midfielders.

Nigel de Jong has played a key role in City's development under new manager Roberto Mancini. The Italian is unbeaten during his time in charge and saw his side stroll to a 4-1 win at Blackburn earlier this week.

That victory moved City up to fourth in the Premier League. They now sit seven points behind leaders Chelsea and they will look to put pressure on their rivals when they travel to Everton on Saturday.

De Jong claims that City's main aim for this season is to finish in the Premier League top four and qualify for the Champions League next season and he believes the squad at Eastlands is more than good enough to achieve that aim.

"The title is a possibility. Nothing is impossible," said the Dutch defensive midfielder.

Fernando Torres could be integral to Liverpool's bid to finish in the Premier League top four, according to Rafa Benitez.
 
The Spanish manager saw his talismanic forward score his 50th league goal for Liverpool to give them a 1-0 victory over Aston Villa, a result which sees the Anfield side close the gap on fourth-placed Tottenham to four points.
 
Benitez is under pressure to guide Liverpool to Champions League qualification for next season after his side were eliminated this year at the group stage.
 
The manager recently issued a guarantee that they would finish in the top four and has reiterated this desire.
 
"People keep asking me this but I will say again, the manager has to believe and I believe we will be in the top four at the end of the season," said Benitez.
 
The victory over Aston Vila helped to reduce the gap on Spurs and Torres, who became the fastest player to score 50 league goals for Liverpool, will be vital to fire them up the Premier League table.

Benitez said: "When he signed for us I knew we were getting a very good player with good quality and a good mentality. You saw that today. He has one chance and he can score. He is one of the best strikers in the world."

Torres recently urged the Liverpool board to stick with Benitez despite the struggles this season, as he was sure they would get over the problems and continue to challenge at the top of the Premier League in the future.

Rafa Benitez will not leave Liverpool despite their struggles in the current Premier League season, according to Fernando Torres.
 
The Spanish striker has admitted he is disappointed with Liverpool's form this season, which has seen them exit the Champions League at the group stage and fall out of the Premier League title race.
 
Benitez's men are currently 13 points behind Premier League leaders Chelsea and occupy sixth place, lagging five points adrift of Aston Villa in the final Champions League qualification places.
 
There has been continued speculation about Benitez's position at Anfield and Torres has stated he cannot see the manager leaving halfway through the season.

"He still has four years to run on his contract, and he would not leave through the back door. Were he to leave, it would be with the team at the top," the striker told the Daily Star.

He admitted: "It looked like this was going to be our season, but it's turned out very differently from what we expected."

Benitez recently came out and guaranteed that Liverpool will finish in the Premier League top four and qualify for next year's Champions League.

He said there are 22 games to go this season and his team will perform well on the pitch, which should see them regain their place among the traditional big four.

This season’s Chelsea team is even better than the previous Premier League-winning side put together by Jose Mourinho.

That is the opinion of Ricardo Carvalho, who played in the 2005 side which lost only one game on its way to winning the title.

Chelsea currently sit top of the Premier League, with a five-point gap on closest chasers Manchester United and a superior goal difference to all the other top four teams.

They have conceded only eight goals in their first 14 games and are also through to the knockout stages of the Champions League.

Carvalho reckons this side under Carlo Ancelotti is certainly an improvement on the one put together in Mourinho’s first season in charge.

“Then we were compact and everyone was fighting, but now I think we have more quality in the squad maybe. Or at least different players, playing in a different system and style,” the Portuguese defender told the club’s official website.

“Things are good for everyone. We are playing well and not conceding goals."

Ancelotti recently came out and said he was pinning his hopes on Chelsea to win both the Premier League and the Champions League.

He added he was more than happy with the current squad at Stamford Bridge and might not bring in any new faces during the January transfer window.

Michael Turner’s stellar performances for Sunderland in the Premier League should be enough to warrant him a call-up to the England team, according to his manager.
 
Steve Bruce claims the central defender he brought in from Hull during the summer transfer window has been outstanding since his arrival on Wearside, and his presence in the back four has helped Sunderland climb to eighth in the Premier League.
 
His side are looking to upset the Premier League football odds and battle for a European qualification spot and they face an in-form Arsenal side at the Stadium of Light in the next round of games.
 
Former Wigan manager Bruce claims Turner just needs to continue performing in each and every game in order to get noticed by England, and he was close to being included in Fabio Capello’s squad for last weekend’s friendly game against Brazil.
 
Bruce said: “Michael has been great for us since he got here and I know Mr Capello was impressed with what he saw of him [when Sunderland played Spurs] at White Hart Lane.
 
“He has been absolutely terrific for us since he moved here and I think that sort of form has put him in the England reckoning.”
 
The manager called for both Turner and Sunderland team-mate Darren Bent to continue to perform on a weekly basis. If they do, it seems a safe football bet that their international recognition should come.
 
Sunderland defender Nyron Nosworthy has come out and praised Bruce for the calibre of player he has brought into the club since his arrival.
 
The experienced centre back claims Bruce’s recruits can all play a vital role in helping Sunderland achieve success in the Premier League this season.

Manchester City need to kick-start their season if they are to battle for the Premier League title, according to the club’s skipper.
 
Kolo Toure, who missed the weekend’s 0-0 draw against Birmingham City with a heel injury, claims the City squad is gifted enough to challenge for a Champions League spot if they start imposing themselves on games.
 
In an interview with the official Manchester City website, the former Arsenal defender highlighted this weekend’s home game against Burnley as the perfect platform for them to give their season a boost, having drawn four successive league games.
 
According to Toure, a lot of things have changed at Manchester City, not only on the team sheet but also the mentality around the City of Manchester Stadium.
 
He added the squad can no longer be happy with drawing so many games, as that would be seen as a failure for other teams competing at the top of the Premier League.
 
“We can enjoy our football by passing it and controlling games,” said Toure.
 
“That's what we need to achieve now. The team needs time but as time goes by we need to improve.”
 
City boss Mark Hughes has been linked in the media this week with a move for Everton midfielder Jack Rodwell.
 
The teenager has been a regular feature at Goodison Park this season and City scouts have been closely monitoring the player, who is expected to develop into a top-quality defender in the coming years.
 
However, it seems a good Premier League bet that City will face competition from rivals Manchester United if they look to land the 18-year-old.