Peamount United Optimistic Ahead of Champions League Return Clash With PSG

Peamount United will travel to France to take on the financial might of PSG on Monday morning with the winds of hope flying their sails. The Dublin side trail their counterparts 2-0 after losing the first leg in Shamrock Rovers Tallaght Stadium on Wednesday night.

The Pea's, the first Irish side ever to make the latter stages of a European club competition, provided very good value for their partisan home crowd and matched PSG woman for woman until the French professional side's superior stamina and physicality kicked on as the game wore on.

Alex Ferguson Defends Wenger From Arsenal Supporters Before Dealing Knockout Blow

Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson has leaped to the defence of his rival Arsene Wenger and has hit out at the Arsenal managers recent critics by saying the "work he has done is the best in Arsenal's history." However, as always with Fergie there is more here than just meets the eye because the United supremo has also lashed his rival for allowing a five year barren run at the Gunners to happen.

Premier League Predictions: Champions, Top Four and Relegation

The 2011-'12 Premier League season is already promising to be one of the most exciting of all time. For the first time ever there are six teams who can actually win the title and there are at least ten teams who could end up getting sucked into the relegation zone thus making the league one of the most competitive in recent years.

Here we take a look at the title race with Manchester United, Manchester City and Chelsea and the race for fourth with Liverpool, Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur as well as the relegation battle which could in all reality almost involve the rest of the league!

EPL 2011/12 Preview: Arsenal May Struggle To Stay Top Four

Under normal circumstances the old Gunners' cry of "this will be our year" would be on the tips of many Arsenal fans' tongues. However, the likelihood of Arsene Wenger leading his troops to the title looks to be about as far away as it ever has, if not further.

Since 2005, Arsenal has slowly slipped backwards every season. Their decline from greatness has even become something of a perverse form of Chinese water torture for many of the Gunners fans, as they are now significantly lagging behind not only Manchester United and Chelsea but Manchester City too.

EPL Survival Sunday Review and Champions League Preview Podcast: Hold the Back Page!

Hold the BackPage - Everyone to Juve by bpfootball

The Hold the Back Page podcast is one of the best football podcasts on the Internet. Run in conjunction betweenSetanta Sports and Back Page Football, the podcast has rapidly built up something of a cult following amongst football fans across Ireland, England, Australia and the US.

This week, regulars Tom Fox, Ger McCarthy and Neil Sherwin were joined by EPL Featured Columnist and Premier League Report's Willie Gannon to discuss all things Premier League, Champions League, and Survival Sunday with a couple of weird stats thrown in for good measure!

Champions League Final 2011: Barcelona vs. Manchester United Tactical Preview

The Champions League Final. Barcelona, La Liga champions, will take on, EPL champions, Manchester United at Wembley Stadium in London in a match for the ages.

Two of club football's greatest teams will go head to head in a repeat of the Champions League Final in 2009 where La Blaugrana dominated the Red Devils in a very one sided affair. Armed with a better team ethic and with revenge in mind, Sir Alex Ferguson will lead his side out against Pep Guardiola and a team that many feel is the greatest club side of all time.

EPL Relegation Battle:Blackpool and Birmingham to go Down On Survival Sunday

As "D-Day" or "Survival Sunday," depending upon which broadcaster you watch, looms. There are no less than five teams involved in the relegation scrap at the bottom of the Premier League.

Sorry West Ham United have already taken the dreaded plunge into the Championship after last weeks capitulation against Wigan Athletic and with just goal difference and the odd point separating five teams, two from Wigan, Blackburn, Wolves, Blackpool and Birmingham face the very real prospect of financial ruin and relegation.

Pep Guardiola Compares "Extraordinary" Manchester United to Real Madrid

Just hours after they wrapped up an historic 19th English League title, and a full ten days before they meet in the Champions League Final in Wembley, Pep Guardiola has started cranking up the pressure on Manchester United and Sir Alex Ferguson by saying that the Scot's 2011 team are "extraordinarily strong and very similar to Real Madrid" in terms of greatness.

EPL: Manchester United vs. Chelsea Tactical Preview

Manchester United takes on Chelsea at Old Trafford in a game that for many will decide the destination of the English Premier League title for this season.

With just three games to go, the two teams left standing after all the dust has settled are just separated by three points with an equal goal difference.

In other words, whoever wins this game should take the title and when all is said and done, this game for all intents and purposes is a final.

Stan Kroenke and Arsenal: The More Things Change The More They Stay The Same

It would seem that the old adage of "the more things change, the more they stay the same" will be most apt following Stan Kroenke's move to take control of the boardroom at Arsenal FC.

The American businessman is now in receipt of 62 percent of the club and is facing an uphill battle to take full control of it after both Alisher Usmanov (26 percent) and the Arsenal Supporters Trust (claims to own 3 percent and represent up to 15 percent) both refused to sell him their holdings within the club.

As such, the boardroom is now locked in a stalemate; on the pitch the club are more interested in finishing in the top four than winning trophies and given Stan Kroenke's past, this philosophy looks like it will be continued into the future...

Tottenham Fight to Save Their Season After Real Madrid Hammering

Tottenham Hotspur's season stands on a knife edge following their 4-0 hammering away to Real Madrid in the Champions League midweek. Qualifying to the Semi-Finals of the Champions League is an impossible task but finishing in the top four is still within their grasp...

Roy Hodgson Takes Over at West Brom in the Hope of Getting England Call

Ex-Liverpool boss Roy Hodgson has taken over from Roberto Di Matteo as manager of West Bromwich Albion after the Italian was sacked following a disastrous run of results that saw the Baggies lose 13 of their last 18 games. It will be the 63-year-old's 21st management job in a football career that has spanned 46 years.

The move back into the dugout for has come much quicker than anyone expected, including Hodgson. From being unceremoniously sacked by Liverpool after just six months it was assumed by the watching football world that the well liked manager would take a well deserved break from the game.

However, it would seem that his desire to succeed Fabio Capello as England manager next summer after the Euro 2012 finals would be the main catalyst to a quick return to the game.

Fernando Torres Signing For Chelsea Will Get Carlo Ancelotti The Sack

Chelsea FC pulled off one of the biggest transfers of all time recently, when they took Fernando Torres from Liverpool for £50 million. The move was seen by many as Roman Abramovich flexing his financial might to not only get the Pensioners back in the title race, but also as a way of bringing the Champions League to Stamford Bridge.

However, while that may have been the Russian Oligarch's main aim, what he has achieved is a further erosion of the fragile foundation under Carlo Ancelotti's feet.

As the league table stands, Chelsea has 44 points and is a full 10 points behind the leaders, Manchester United, with just 13 games to go. Considering that the Red Devils have only lost one game from the previous 25, it looks highly unlikely that Alex Ferguson would allow his team to lose four games from their remaining fixtures to leave the Blues with a chance at retaining their title.

This, of course, means that Chelsea's only real aim for the rest of the season is the trophy that Roman Abramovich craves so much...the Champions League.

Steven Pienaar's Move to Spurs Means The End of the Road for Aaron Lennon

Despite Chelsea making a last ditch, £6 million, 11th hour bid for Steven Pienaar's services, it now looks very likely that the Everton midfielder will be winging his way to Tottenham Hotspur. Harry Redknapp has been tracking the South African midfielder for some time and his impending arrival at White Hart Lane should by all accounts speed up the exit of Aaron Lennon from the club...

Premier League Sack Race: Odds for Every Manager, Hodgson-Wenger-Mancini-Ancelotti-Grant

Who will be the next manager to get the sack in the English Premier League? Are Avram Grant’s days numbered? Does Wenger have to win a trophy? Can Roy Hodgson turn Liverpool around?

You wait around all season for the first EPL manager to be sacked and then two happen within the space of a week.

Chris Hughton’s and Sam Allardyce’s removals were both strange to say the least, as neither man was doing what would normally be considered as a bad job.

Whichever way you look at it, the money is the owners at the end of the day and they have the right to decide upon who takes the key roles in their organisation.

In the end, they make their own beds and have to lie in them…

Here we take a look at the odds for each manager and assess whose job is safe, or not.

2018 and 2022 World Cup Race: Every Bidding Nation and Vote Analysis

The FIFA Exco will meet over the next three days to decide the destination of the 2018 and 2022 World Cups. Here we look at each bidding nation and the 23 men whose vote will decide the winners.

The 2018 World Cup will go to Europe as Holland/Belgium, Spain/Portugal, England and Russia address the FIFA Exco with their final submissions on December 2. One day before the five bidding nations for 2022 will get their chance to state their case.

Each submission can only last a maximum of 30 minutes and is the final chance the bidding nations have to sway the vote.

So far, the Iberian bid claims to have eight votes guaranteed for 2018 while Qatar seems quietly confident for 2022.

To win the World Cup 13 votes must be won, with the process eliminating a bidding nation until that total can be reached.

Here we look at each bidding nation, their strengths and weaknesses and the 23 Exco members and where they may or may not vote.

Liverpool Fans Should Be Careful of What They Wish For Because It May Come True

As Liverpool slumped to yet another defeat, in this, the most wretched of seasons, their fans chanted the name of the man they want to replace Roy Hodgson. None other than Kenny Dalglish. However, the very fans chanting that name should be careful of what they wish for.

There is no denying; Liverpool FC has endured a brutal start to the season. 16 points after 13 games with a goal difference of -4 is not something that is generally equated with the once great club. Anfield has enjoyed nights where league campaigns were won and lost, it has seen some of the greatest European football nights of all time and has had some of the games greatest managers pound it's touchlines as they screamed orders to sides brought up on trophies and professionalism of the highest order.

To see their side struggling so must be painful. It is hard to bear but it is the price the club must pay for 20 years of bad management at the highest level of the club.

Owen Hargreaves Lasts Just Five Minutes as Fergie's Gamble Backfires

Owen Hargreaves cut a lonely figure as he left the field of battle at Old Trafford after just five minutes in Manchester United's 2-1 victory over Mick McCarthy's Wolves side.

The injury-plagued midfielder, making his first start in over two years, was disconsolate as he made his way down the tunnel to receive treatment. The hush of the crowd was telling with more than one United fan wondering if this was the last time they would ever see the England international wear red again.

Liverpool FC: NESV's Plan for the Future

Barely two weeks since John Henry and the New England Sports Venture took over Liverpool FC, they have begun to put their stamp on the club.

Not only has Damien Comolli been placed between the Directors at the club and Roy Hodgson, but co-owner Tom Werner has also made it known how NESV will try to exploit the club going forward.

Everton vs. Liverpool Preview: The 214th Merseyside Derby Is Strangest Ever

After the most traumatic week in Merseyside history, Liverpool (18th) take the small trip to Goodison Park to take on Everton (17th) in what could be a defining moment in both teams seasons. Neither side has started the season well and a defeat to the fierce rivals could see the losing team mired in the relegation battle for the rest of the year.