Manchester United were lucky to beat Southampton, concedes Sir Alex Ferguson

Manchester United was lucky to escape with a narrow 2-1 win overSouthampton at Old Trafford on Wednesday, Sir Alex Ferguson has admitted.

Saints took the lead in the first five minutes when Jay Rodriguez pounced on a poor back-pass by Michael Carrick and rounded a helpless David de Gea.

United hit back soon after through Wayne Rooney, before the England international secured the win with his second, but the visitors dominated proceedings following halftime and Sir Alex admitted his team rode their luck at times.

Speaking to MUTV, Ferguson said: "In my experience at the club, when we're going for championships there's always a game where you say to yourself: 'we were a bit lucky,' and I think this was one of those nights.

"I thought Southampton, in the second half, gave the best performance anyone's given here this season. I think they pushed right on top of us and didn't give us time to settle on the ball. On that surface the players are trying to take a touch, play their football and they found that difficult."

Sir Alex noted one major factor of his side's poor second-half performance, lamenting the state of the Old Trafford pitch on the back of a period of adverse weather in the area.

He continued: "In the second half, the players just found the pitch impossible. We tried to play the way we normally play and found it difficult because the pitch had dried out a lot. It was an ice cold night and it happens.

"First half, we lost an early goal but it didn't deter us from playing some fantastic football and we could have been four or five up at half time, but once the pitch started to dry out the players found it difficult to play a different way and it really required us to play the ball into the gaps, which we don't normally do.

"The pitch didn't help us. We can't use that as an excuse, but it didn't help us. It's a worry. We've won the game and I think that's the one thing we can take out of it."

Arsenal 2-2 Liverpool: Walcott stunner completes outstanding Gunners comeback

Arsenal came from two goals behind to draw 2-2 against Liverpool in a thriller at Emirates Stadium.

Jordan Henderson had added to Luis Suarez’s 17thleague goal of the season to put Brendan Rodgers’ team in control at the hour mark.

But, just when it looked like Liverpool were going to shed its flat-track bully tag, Arsenal produced a storming revival to score two goals in three minutes through Olivier Giroud and Theo Walcott.

In a grandstand finish, Arsene Wenger’s team went all-out for the winner but Liverpool remained resolute through a combination of grit, fortune and poor finishing from the hosts.

The draw meant that Arsenal remained four points behind fourth-placed Tottenham in the race for the Champions League positions.

It will agitate Wenger that his side has mustered only a single point in league fixtures against Manchester City, Chelsea and Liverpool this month after some more abject defending on a marquee occasion.

Earlier, Arsenal had recalled Jack Wilshere, Walcott, Santi Cazorla, fit-again Thomas Vermaelen,Bacary Sagna, Santi Cazorla and Kieran Gibbs to the team that began the 3-2 FA Cup win at Brighton.

For Liverpool, Rodgers also rung the changes from the weekend, with skipper Steven Gerrard returning to the team alongside fit-again pair Pepe Reina and Glen Johnson, Daniel Agger, Lucas, Jamie Carragher and Stewart Downing.

It was like football in fast-forward in the early exchanges as the two teams traded lightning quick attacks and clear goalscoring opportunities.

Suarez, starting on the left of the three attacking midfielders behind central striker Daniel Sturridge, caused havoc with his uncanny ability at finding space, and also for some spectacular passes from out wide.

The Uruguayan’s goal owed much to some calamitous defending from the home side. Bacary Sagna's slip allowed Glen Johnson to run clear on the left and, after a hashed clearance from Thomas Vermaelen and a smothered shot from Daniel Sturridge, Jordan Henderson tapped the rebound to Suarez, whose shot deflected off a defender and in.

Arsenal responded by carving open Liverpool’s defense seemingly at will with some excellent combination play. The menacing Theo Walcott (twice) and Olivier Giroud both came close to scoring an equalizer.

Somehow, Liverpool held firm, although it had Gerrard to thank for an excellent last-ditch clearance that followed another zippy Arsenal attack.

Rodgers’ pre-match sermon appeared to have fired up the visitors, who were incisive in possession and pressed the hosts’ jittery defense into making mistakes as they ended the opening period the better team.

The one let-down was Henderson, who made a series of wonky passes when well placed. Yet, the midfielder kept getting in good positions and came close to doubling the visitors’ advantage with a chipped shot on the cusp of half-time that landed on the roof of the net with Szczesny stranded.

Following 15 minutes of second-half dominance from Arsenal, Henderson made another excellent run and finally made it count with a fine solo goal.

After turning past Per Mertesacker and outmuscling the substitute Andre Santos, the midfielder collected a lucky rebound after his first shot was saved to pass the ball into an empty net.

Arsenal were momentarily demoralised but were soon back in the game following two goals in three minutes.

The comeback began when Giroud headed in Jack Wilshere’s right-wing free kick for his fifth goal in three games and his 14thof the season.

But the best goal of the night came after 67 minutes, when Walcott, who had been lively all game on the wing, received a lay-off on the right side of the box and sent the ball flying into the far corner of the net with a shot of tremendous speed and precision.

Arsenal threw bodies forward as it went all out for the winner with some wonderful attacking play.

Giroud got in some excellent positions but was guilty of missing a hat trick of chances late on, including a sitter with only a few minutes on the clock.

ARSENAL V LIVERPOOL 30TH JANUARY SLEEPING GIANTS DO BATTLE IN NORTH LONDON

Arsenal welcome Liverpool to the Emirates tomorrow night in what has been a top of the table clash in years gone by. Neither side will be particularly impressed by their performances thus far in the 2012/13 season though as 6th hosts 7th for what will be a vital 3 points up for grabs.

Arsenal comprehensively overcame Brendan Rodgers’ men in the reverse fixture at Anfield in early September as new signings Podolski and Cazorla both netted for the Gunners. No surprises then to see the home side installed  to complete the double over the scousers.

Still licking their wounds after another disappointing performance that saw them bow out of the F.A Cup to League 1 relegation candidates Oldham Athletic at the weekend, Liverpool will be more than happy with the draw. 

Arsenal hotshot Theo Walcott’s lucrative new contract was the best thing to happen to fellow striker Olivier Giroud, the slow starting Frenchman was still hunting for his first goal last time these sides met but he has been red hot of late. He’s hit 4 goals in the last week including a stunner against Brighton at the weekend.

Liverpool’s own one-man weaponry Luis Suarez was also on target at the weekend with a fine solo effort. He was unable to single handedly drag his sorry team-mates past League 1 Oldham though, despite his best efforts. 

Personally I think the home win is a great price especially considering the way Arsenal tore Liverpool apart at Anfield in the last meeting, plus the fact that Rodgers’ men are never failing to surprise anyone with poor performance after poor performance.

The Gunners have netted 8 goals in the past 7 days and they’ll be confident of bagging a few more tomorrow night in front of a packed house in North London.

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UPDATE 2-Soccer-Imperious Ghana beat Niger 3-0 to reach quarters

PORT ELIZABETH, South Africa, Jan 28 (Reuters) - Ghana outclassed Niger 3-0 to reach the quarter-finals of the African Nations Cup as Group B winners on Monday and set up a last eight clash with Cape Verde Islands.

Four-times winners Ghana, who have not won since 1982, took the lead through Asamoah Gyan after six minutes and although Niger had a goal disallowed for an infringement four minutes later they rarely threatened again.

The Black Stars doubled their lead through Christian Atsu after 23 minutes and put the game beyond Niger's grasp when John Boye pounced on a mistake by goalkeeper Kassaly Daouda to make it 3-0 from a metre out four minutes into the second half.

Only some wayward shooting prevented Ghana winning by a far greater scoreline but they did enough to top the group with seven points, while Mali secured second spot on four points after their 1-1 draw against the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Ghana coach Kwesi Appiah was forced into making one change from the side that beat Mali 1-0 in their previous game because Mubarak Wakaso, who scored the winning penalty, was suspended as well as injured.

Atsu took his place at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium and had a major impact on the outcome, scoring a wonderfully taken goal when he trapped a cross on his chest, evaded a defender and dinked home a volley from four metres out.

Gyan had earlier put Ghana on top with a powerfully executed angled shot, while the forward also played his part in the third goal when Daouda failed to hold his powerful header and Boye was in the right place to tap in.

Appiah said that despite the scoreline Niger were a good test for Ghana as they seek to end their 31-year Nations Cup title wait.

GOOD ENOUGH

"We have a new team, a developing team and I would say we are improving. We are halfway there," Appiah told reporters.

"Of course I am delighted we are in the quarter-finals but we now have a very hard match against Cape Verde ahead of us and that will not be easy," he added.

Ghana are likely to find Cape Verde, who finished as runners-up to South Africa in Group A, a far more disciplined and organised opponent on Saturday but on this form they will start as favourites to win that game too.

Niger, who lost all three games on their African Nations Cup debut last year and who picked up their first finals point here after drawing with Congo on Thursday, had made some improvements according to coach Gernot Rohr.

"Of course I am sorry that we are out, but we have time now to improve and at least we got a point, which is better than we did last time," said Rohr.

"I would like to congratulate Ghana. They played very well, I was very impressed with them and for me, well of course they are good enough to win the title." (Reporting by Mike Collett)

Derry slams 'unappreciative' QPR stars

QPR midfielder Shaun Derry has launched a stinging attack on some of his own team-mates, accusing them of 'taking their success for granted' as Harry Redknapp's side continue their battle against relegation from the Premier League.

GettyImagesShaun Derry has extended his QPR deal

• OPR line up deal for Rolando

The departed Djibril Cisse has been among the most high profile casualties of Harry Redknapp's attempt to revive QPR since taking over from Mark Hughes, with Derry admitting he has been alarmed by the flaky attitude of some of his extravagantly paid colleagues in recent months.

"It really hurts when you see characters who have been at the club, and are still there, not appreciating what the game is all about," Derry told the QPR podcast Open All R's. "I'm very proud of what I've achieved to play at this level and I will never take it for granted and when you see players taking it for granted it hurts.

"Hand on heart, I don't resent anyone at the football club for what they earn. I know there are guys there that earn an absolute bucket-load, more than I could ever dream of earning. What I do get upset about is if they don't work hard to earn that.

"You have got to work hard for your money regardless of whether you earn £10 a week or £100,000. If they are doing it then the whole team are doing well by it by when they don't put the effort in it really hurts."

Derry, 35, arrived at Loftus Road from Crystal Palace in 2010 and recently signed a new deal with QPR, although he insists the mentality of Championship players is completely different to that of Premier League stars.

"I am fully aware of the transitional period that the club has been in and is probably still in. What you have to understand is that I arrived as a Championship signing and I still see myself as the same person, regardless of what level I'm playing.

"I appreciate what the game is about, I will never point fingers or go public with my criticism of certain individuals, but you really do appreciate what you've got at Premier League level when you have played in the lower leagues."

CHELSEA V SWANSEA CITY PREDICTIONS

SWANSEA CITY V CHELSEA PREDICTIONS AND PREVIEW: BETTING STATS AND FACTS

This is the second leg of the League Cup semi final between Swansea and Chelsea.  Swansea shocked Chelsea in the first leg with an excellent 2-0 win at Stamford Bridge, with both goals coming from Chelsea errors.  The game was controlled by Chelsea throughout, with 64% of possession and 24 shots to Swansea’s 5, so they will certainly feel aggrieved they chasing the game in this second leg.

Swansea has been in decent form lately with 2 wins, 2 draws and 1 defeat in their last 5 games in all competitions and they will be confident of getting the job done here at home.  Chelse are also in good form with 3 wins, 1 draw and 1 loss in their last 5.

SWANSEA CITY V CHELSEA PREDICTIONS: 1X2 BETTING PREVIEW

Chelsea have actually been much stronger away from home than at home recently.  Their last 5 away games have seen 5 straight wins while at home they’ve won just 2 of 5.  They will be confident they can turn this game around but will face a Swansea team who have not lost at home for 5 matches.

Chelsea are again missing David Luiz here who is injured and Mikel is at the AFCON so a midfield pairing of Ramires and Lampard will start.  This forces Chelsea to play with Hazard, Mata and Oscar ahead which is a certain benefit in an attacking sense but can leave them exposed as none are well known for tracking back.

Swansea have no fresh injuries but may change things from their weekend win against Stoke and push Michu up front and add a more defensive player to midfield to try and keep things tight.

Chelsea are favourites here despite being the away team.  Knowing they need to push for goals should make the game open and exciting and I’d expect plenty of chances in this one.  I think Chelsea have the quality needed to win away but can they do enough to pull back the two goal lead?

JAN 22: ASTON VILLA v BRADFORD TIPS

Paul Lambert’s men were beaten 3-1 to qualify for the Final.

To have a chance Villa must score first and can make up the deficit if they perform like they did in the first half at West Brom last weekend.

Of course there are question marks over their defence but the return of Dutch centre-half Ron Vlaar from injury is massive and my gut feeling is that Villa will do it – either in 90 minutes or in extra time.

To win on the night Villa are no bigger than 2-5 at Coral and you can understand why as at the end of the day it’s a Premier League team against one from three leagues below.

Christian Benteke missed chance after chance at Valley Parade but showed his true colours at the Hawthorns with a sublime strike and he’s 3-1 atBoylesports to score first.

Recommendations

Villa to qualify

Chelsea hang on to beat Arsenal

LONDON, Jan 20 (Reuters) - Chelsea enjoyed some much-needed home comfort with goals from Juan Mata and Frank Lampard securing a 2-1 victory over Arsenal in the Premier League on Sunday.

Arsenal staged a second-half revival with Theo Walcott halving the deficit at a snowy Stamford Bridge but Chelsea hung on for only their second win in six home league games since Rafa Benitez was hired as interim manager.

Victory lifted third-placed Chelsea to 45 points from 23 games, 10 behind leaders Manchester United whose game at Tottenham Hotspur will go ahead later in north London despite heavy snow putting the fixture in doubt.

Mata scored after six minutes after Cesar Azpilicueta's lofted ball put him through on goal, although Arsenal were seething at the referee's failure to award a free kick their way in the initial stages of the move.

Lampard made it 2-0 from the penalty spot after 16 minutes after Arsenal keeper Wojciech Szczesny escaped a red card for bringing down Ramires in the area.

The midfielder's calm finish was his 195th goal for the club and he is now just seven behind Chelsea's all-time record goalscorer Bobby Tambling.

Walcott's superb finish just before the hour gave Arsenal hope and Chelsea enjoyed a nervy final half hour as the Gunners pressed for an equaliser but the hosts held on.

Arsenal remain in sixth place with 34 points.

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