Tag Archives: smashes

Chris Gayle hits fastest ever T20 hundred

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VIDEO: Fuelled by eggs 'n' pancakes, Gayle smashes fastest ton EVER… in just 30 balls!

By
Andrew Magee and Sunni Upal

PUBLISHED:

12:05 GMT, 23 April 2013

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UPDATED:

18:49 GMT, 23 April 2013

Chris Gayle smashed his way into the record books on Tuesday as he hit the fastest-ever century in professional cricket.

The West Indian opener reached triple figures after just 30 balls and clubbed a brutal 175 not out, including 13 fours and 17 sixes, for the Royal Challengers Bangalore in the IPL — which is a new T20 record.

Gayle also propelled Bangalore to the highest-ever T20 score of 263 as they crushed the Pune Warriors by 130 runs. Gayle alone scored 42 more runs than the entire opposition.

Scroll down to watch Gayle's innings

World record: Gayle (right) took just 30 balls to reach his hundred

World record: Gayle (right) took just 30 balls to reach his hundred

Centre stage: Gayle hit 11 sixes on his way to his hundred

Centre stage: Gayle hit 11 sixes on his way to his hundred

Centre stage: Gayle hit 11 sixes on his way to his hundred

GAYLE IN NUMBERS

175* Gayle's innings for the Royal Challengers Bangalore is the new record individual score in T20 cricket.

30 Number of balls Gayle took to reach 100 — the fastest-ever century in cricket history.

17 Sixes hit by Gayle in his innings — a new T20 record. The West Indian also smashed 13 fours, just for good measure.

263 The total reached by Bangalore after 20 overs — another T20 record for most runs in an innings.

42 The runs by which Gayle outscored the opposition, the Pune Warriors.

The Jamaican has earned a reputation
as one of the most destructive players in the star-studded tournament
and he showed why with a sublime powerful hitting display on Tuesday.

Gayle said: 'I'm lost for words. It
was just one of those days when I was hitting it really well and the
ball was coming out of the middle of the bat.

'We got a pretty good total
and I'm really happy with the performance.

‘All I had for breakfast this morning was a plain omelette, two pancakes and a hot chocolate.’

India captain MS Dhoni tweeted: ‘Life
is all about taking the right decision. Seeing Gayle bat today, I think I
took the right decision being a wicketkeeper.’

Andrew Symonds previously held the
record for the fastest-ever century after hitting a 34-ball ton in an
English domestic match between Kent and Middlesex in 2004.

Previous best: Andrew Symonds took just 34 balls to score a hundred against Middlesex in 2004

Previous best: Andrew Symonds took just 34 balls to score a hundred against Middlesex in 2004

Gayle’s 17 sixes was also a new record, beating the 16 hit by Graham Napier for Essex against Sussex in 2008.

A boundary at the start of the 18th
over on Tuesday took Gayle onto 160, ahead of the previous highest T20
score of 158 set by Brendon McCullum in the first ever IPL match in
2008.

As if all those runs weren’t enough,
Gayle also chipped in with two late wickets. If only there was an
outstanding candidate for the man of the match award…

Gayle force: The West Indian is widely regarded as the best T20 batsman in the world

Gayle force: The West Indian is widely regarded as the best T20 batsman in the world

Gayle force: The West Indian is widely regarded as the best T20 batsman in the world

VIDEO: Watch Chris Gayle's record innings

Lionel Messi scored 91st and final goal of record-breaking season

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91 and out! Messi strikes again to bring curtain down on incredible year… now see each and every goal

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UPDATED:

21:29 GMT, 22 December 2012

Lionel Messi scored his final goal of a record breaking year as Barcelona won 3-1 against Valladolid on Saturday night.

Messi's second-half strike was his 91st of the season, nutmegging a defender and rattling home with his deadly left-foot to sign off in style.

Scroll down for video

Unstoppable: Lionel Messi (left) scored the 91st goal of his record-breaking season

Unstoppable: Lionel Messi (left) scored the 91st goal of his record-breaking season

Bang: Messi smashes in Barcelona's second goal as they extended their La Liga lead

Bang: Messi smashes in Barcelona's second goal as they extended their La Liga lead

He broke Gerd Muller's 40-year-old milestone of 85 goals in a calendar year by grabbing 79 for Barcelona and 12 for Argentina.

The victory leaves Barcelona nine points clear of Atletico Madrid in second and 16 points up on Real Madrid, before they take to the field against Malaga later on.

It was achieved without manager Tito Vilanova who was released from hospital just before the match after having throat surgery to remove a tumour.

Both teams wore T-shirts which carried messages of support for the manager, who will undergo chemotherapy in upcoming weeks.

Support: Messi's T-shirt has a photo of Tito Vilanova on it along with the word 'courage'

Support: Messi's T-shirt has a photo of Tito Vilanova on it along with the word 'courage'

For Tito: The team wore the shirts to support their boss who was released from hospital today

For Tito: The team wore the shirts to support their boss who was released from hospital today

'This win is for Tito,' said Barcelona defender Dani Alves.

'It's a surprise and joy that he is home now. We are here to help him any way he can. Football is secondary now, he is fighting for his life.'

World Twenty20 2012: Australia beat West Indies in Colombo

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Watson smashes Australia to simple victory in rain-hit clash with West Indies

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UPDATED:

17:47 GMT, 22 September 2012

Australia secured their place in the Super Eight stage of the World Twenty20 with a 17-run Duckworth/Lewis victory over West Indies after rain curtailed play in Colombo.

A heavy downpour interrupted the Australians' charge towards their 193 target when they were 100 for one – 17 runs ahead of the Duckworth/Lewis par score after 9.1 overs.

All-rounder Shane Watson – man of the match in Australia's opening Group B triumph over Ireland on Wednesday – was once again in full flow, unbeaten on 41 from 24 deliveries alongside Michael Hussey (28 off 19) when the heavens opened.

I've got the power: Shane Watson hits for six at the R. Premadasa Stadium in Colombo

I've got the power: Shane Watson hits for six at the R. Premadasa Stadium in Colombo

All-round excellence: Watson, who took two wickets and hit 41 runs, bowls to Samuels

All-round excellence: Watson, who took two wickets and hit 41 runs, bowls to Samuels

The Windies earlier posted 192 for
eight from their 20 overs after captain Darren Sammy won the toss and
stuck with his team's preferred tactics in this format, opting to bat
first – their total underpinned by half-centuries from Chris Gayle and
Marlon Samuels.

Opener Gayle smashed 54 off 33 balls -
including five fours and four sixes – before a soft dismissal, caught
and bowled by Watson, while Samuels plundered three fours and four sixes
in reaching 50 off 32. He holed out to David Warner at long-on off the
bowling of veteran spinner Brad Hogg.

Paceman Mitchell Starc (three for 35)
and all-rounder Watson (two for 29) were the pick of the Australia
bowlers, the former having been passed fit after recovering from
gastroenteritis. Pat Cummins, Daniel Christian and Hogg also claimed a
wicket apiece.

Big hitter: Chris Gayle drives to the boundary during his innings of 54 against Australia

Big hitter: Chris Gayle drives to the boundary during his innings of 54 against Australia

Crash, bang, wallop: Marlon Samuels hits out on his way to a half-century for West Indies

Crash, bang, wallop: Marlon Samuels hits out on his way to a half-century for West Indies

Australia suffered an early setback in
their response when Warner – much to his displeasure – was given out
caught behind by Denesh Ramdin off Fidel Edwards with the first ball of
the third over, but not before the opener had racked up 28 from 14
balls.

However, they continued at a decent
pace as Watson and Hussey set about reducing the 9.65 required run-rate
which ultimately proved crucial.

The result left West Indies facing a
winner-takes-all clash with Ireland on Monday to determine who will join
Australia in the Super Eights.

Timber! Dwayne Smith of the West Indies is bowled by Mitchell Starc (unseen), who took thee wickets

Timber! Dwayne Smith of the West Indies is bowled by Mitchell Starc (unseen), who took thee wickets

Chelsea 2 Juventus 2: Oscar"s limelight stolen by late equaliser

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Chelsea 2 Juventus 2: Oscar's limelight stolen by Quagliarella's late equaliser

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UPDATED:

21:01 GMT, 19 September 2012

Fabio Quagliarella struck the equaliser as Juventus stopped European champions Chelsea getting their defence of the trophy underway with a win.

Oscar, on his first start, hit two quick-fire first-half goals which seemed enough to see off the Italians, the second a marvelous long-range strike.

Arturo Vidal pulled one back shortly afterwards for Juventus in a pulsating game but it was not until late on that they got their leveller, Quagliarella capitalising on defensive errors to punish Chelsea.

More to follow.

Punishment: Fabio Quagliarella capitalised on defensive errors to score the equaliser

Punishment: Fabio Quagliarella capitalised on defensive errors to score the equaliser

Delight: Juventus players celebrate their equaliser

Delight: Juventus players celebrate their equaliser

Impact: Oscar impressed on his first Chelsea start

Impact: Oscar impressed on his first Chelsea start

Thump: Oscar smashes in his first goal

Thump: Oscar smashes in his first goal

Oh no: Roberto Di Matteo was disappointed with drawing from 2-0 up

Oh no: Roberto Di Matteo was disappointed with drawing from 2-0 up

Roar: The champions celebrate taking the lead

Roar: The champions celebrate taking the lead

Back in it: Arturo Vidal celebrates his goal

Back in it: Arturo Vidal celebrates his goal

Hey ref! Eden Hazard wanted a penalty after being shoved by Stephan Lichtsteiner

Hey ref! Eden Hazard wanted a penalty after being shoved by Stephan Lichtsteiner

Spirit: Fernando Torres bounced back and had a good match

Spirit: Fernando Torres bounced back and had a good match

Back to square one: Torres and Juan Mata kick off after Quagliarella's goal

Back to square one: Torres and Juan Mata kick off after Quagliarella's goal

Star of the show: Oscar's talent was on display

Star of the show: Oscar's talent was on display

Final say: Quagliarella had the last word

Final say: Quagliarella had the last word

All for this: The trophy is paraded around Stamford Bridge

All for this: The trophy is paraded around Stamford Bridge

Match facts

Chelsea: Cech, Ivanovic, Luiz, Terry, Cole, Mikel, Lampard, Ramires (Bertrand 68), Hazard, Oscar (Mata 74), Torres.

Subs Not Used: Turnbull, Romeu, Moses, Cahill, Azpilicueta.

Booked: Ramires.

Goals: Oscar 31, 33.

Juventus: Buffon, Barzagli, Bonucci, Chiellini, Lichtsteiner (Isla 77), Vidal, Pirlo, Marchisio, Asamoah, Giovinco (Quagliarella 75), Vucinic (Matri 88).

Subs Not Used: Storari, Lucio, Giaccherini, Marrone.

Booked: Vidal.

Goals: Vidal 38, Quagliarella 80.

Att: 40,918

Ref: Pedro Proenca (Portugal).

Wales 0 Belgium 2: James Collins the villain

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Wales 0 Belgium 2: Collins the villain again as Kompany and Vertonghen slay hosts

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UPDATED:

22:47 GMT, 7 September 2012

James Collins's first-half sending off undermined the best efforts of a weakened Wales side, yet he was absolved of any blame by manager Chris Coleman.

The West Ham defender was dismissed for a lunge on right-back Guillaume Gillet as Group A favourites Belgium ended a dispiriting week for Coleman on a sour note.

The centre half saw red after horribly mistiming a tackle near the halfway line after 25 minutes, leaving an already under-strength team at the mercy of their highly-rated opponents.

Thunderous: Vincent Kompany (left) powers his header home

Thunderous: Vincent Kompany (left) powers his header home

Take that: Jan Vertonghen smashes in the second goal

Take that: Jan Vertonghen smashes in the second goal

MATCH FACTS

Wales (4-1-4-1): Myhill 6; Matthews 7, Collins 4, Blake 7, Gunter 7; A Williams 7; Church 6 (Robson-Kanu, 71min, 6), Edwards 6 (King, 79), Ramsey 6, Bale 8; Morison 6 (Vokes 72, 6)

Booked: Williams, Vokes.

Sent off: Collins.

Belgium (4-1-4-1): Courtois; 6, G Gillet 6, Kompany 8, Vermaelen 7, Vertonghen 6; Witsel 6; Hazard 6, Fellaini 5, Dembele 6 (De Bruyne, 46, 6), Mertens 6; Mirallas 6 (Lukaku, 46, 6)

Scorers: Kompany 42, Vertonghen 83

Booked: G Gillet, Vertoghen.

Man of the match: Gareth Bale.

Referee: Stefan Johannesson (Swe) 6.

Attendance: 18,000.

It was the latest gaffe in a dreadful
series of mistakes by Collins for his country. And he could have little
complaint when Swedish referee Stefan Johannesson ordered him off.

But Coleman jumped to Collins’s
defence. ‘I don’t think it was a red card,’ he said. ‘I’ve seen the
incident half-a-dozen times and maybe I’m biased but I think the referee
went on the reaction of the Belgium player on the floor. He got up and
finished the 90 minutes.

‘We can’t let players just run past
us. Sometimes as a defender you can’t help yourself. Even if it was
late, it wasn’t malicious. Maybe I’m old school, but I’ve seen more
dangerous tackles than that.’

Belgium coach Marc Wilmots countered
with ‘the referee had to give it’ and although the arguments raged
afterwards, there was little doubt it made a difficult job all the
harder for the hosts.

Agony: Guillaume Gillet writhes after being slide tackled by James Collins, who is sent off (below)

Agony: Guillaume Gillet writhes after being slide tackled by James Collins, who is sent off (below)

Off: Collins is dismissed

Annoyed: Collins stomps off

Coleman, already shorn of seven
players who could reasonably have expected to start, had to re-shuffle
his pack before kick-off when Joe Allen was struck down with a virus.

Wales, with Gareth Bale and Aaron
Ramsey outstanding, made a decent fist of the game before Collins’s
dismissal, even with their scratch side.

But thereafter it was only likely to
take one goal to swing the balance in Belgium’s favour. And the
breakthrough came four minutes before the interval.

Dries Mertens’s corner on the right was met at the near post by Vincent Kompany and his header flashed past Boaz Myhill.

Well done: Belgium celebrate with scorer Kompany

Well done: Belgium celebrate with scorer Kompany

Rivals: Aaron Ramsey gets to grips with Mousa Dembele

Rivals: Aaron Ramsey gets to grips with Mousa Dembele

After the interval, Wales were reduced
to raiding from deep using Bale’s energy. It took a fine stop from
Thibaut Courtois to prevent the Tottenham winger from finding the net
with a 30-yard free-kick. But that was as close as Wales came to
drawing level.

The match finished as a contest seven minutes from time when Aaron Ramsey was adjudged to have tripped Romelu Lukaku.

Jan Vertonghen with Dries Mertens on his back

Gareth Bale and Mertens

Contrasting fortunes: Club-mates Jan Vertonghen and Gareth Bale

‘It wasn’t a free-kick,’ said a frustrated Coleman, ‘Lukaku pulled back his leg to have a shot and caught Aaron.’

That did not seem to matter to Jan Vertonghen, who lashed a thunderous left-foot shot beyond Myhill from 25 yards.

In truth, it was only half-hearted
finishing that prevented a greater margin of victory. Yet that would
have been unfair on the 10 players who remained on the pitch in
Collins’s absence.

Tussle: Bale goes in on Dries Mertens

Tussle: Bale goes in on Dries Mertens

Eden Hazard

Mousa Dembele

Star names: Eden Hazard and Dembele featured for Belgium but neither were on top form

London 2012 Paralympics: Josef Craig wins gold and breaks own world record in S7 400m freestyle

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He's done it again! Craig smashes own world record to earn gold in S7 400m final

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UPDATED:

17:05 GMT, 6 September 2012

Josef Craig broke his own Paralympic record in the S7 400m freestyle final as he won gold in a time of four minutes 42.81seconds.

The 15-year-old Brit impressed delighted crowds in the Aquatics centre with his superb display.

Craig was already staggered to have defied his tender years as he set a new world record in the morning heats as ParalympicsGB continued to sizzle in the pool.

Rising star: Josef Craig celebrates winning the men's 400m freestyle S7 heat at the Aquatics Centre

Rising star: Josef Craig celebrates winning the men's 400m freestyle S7 heat at the Aquatics Centre

The 15-year-old cut his own best by
nine seconds as he hurled down a marker of what was to follow in the
evening, recording four minutes 45.79s.

The
South Shields-born teenager's time saw him dip 1.37secs inside
team-mate Jonathan Fox's world record set at last year's European
Championships in Berlin.

Craig was completely taken aback and said: 'I thought “God I've just done a massive PB, that will be my achievements done for this competition” but then I got my focus back and saw it was a world record next to the time and I just thought there's a problem with the clock here.

'I can't break a world record yet, I'm still 15, just take it one step at a time but I just don't know what to say about that, it's just amazing.'

Craig added: 'I've been training really hard but I never thought there would be a world record time in there but it just goes to show what amazing help I've got up at Manchester.'

'I couldn't have done it without them and the support I've had – the pace work from Jon Fox, he's been a very big help, and Mick Massey and Andy Scanlon, the two coaches.

'They have just really helped us and without them I couldn't have done this.'

Fox was second fastest through in 4mins 49.91secs with the possibility of two Britons on the podium tonight a very real prospect.

The 21-year-old won the S7 100m backstroke on the opening night but since then has not made the top three in his 50m and 100m freestyle races.

Making a splash: Craig was taken aback after setting his new world record time in the S7 400m freestyle

Making a splash: Craig was taken aback after setting a new world record time in the S7 400m freestyle

He was magnanimous about his younger
team-mate wresting his world record and said: 'Josef is 15 and has been
training really well and hats off to him for breaking it.

'I
am a good team player, I take a defeat when I get one and we'll see –
I'll come back fighting tonight and hopefully there will be two Britons
on the podium so we'll see what happens.'

British women filled the slots from second to fourth in the SM9 200m individual medley.
Just 1.28secs separate Steph Millward, Louise Watkin and Claire Cashmore.

Watkin returned from her silver in the S9 50m freestyle to clock 2:38.47, 0.74secs behind Millward.
She admitted she was still cock-a-hoop after last night's exertions, saying: 'It took me a while to get to sleep last night and I haven't had much rest.

'So I just went into the heat this morning to see what I could do.'

Cashmore was fresh-faced after her 2:39.21 and insisted there could be a British clean sweep despite the presence of Natalie du Toit, winner in 2004 and 2008.

She said: 'Hopefully it will be another exciting race tonight with all three of us going.

'She is not unbeatable and I definitely think we can and hopefully it will be a one-two-three from Britain – the order I'm not saying but hopefully in my favour.'

Water sight: Heather Frederiksen in action during the women's 100m freestyle S8 heat

Water sight: Heather Frederiksen in action during the women's 100m freestyle S8 heat

Susie Rodgers and Heather Frederiksen qualified second for their respective races although they both face almighty battles to get to the top of the podium.

Rodgers was second into the women's S7 400m freestyle in a new European record time of 5:22.08.

The 29-year-old double medallist is though realistic about the chances of beating six-time London gold medallist Jacqueline Freney who set a new Paralympic record of 5:01.04, more than 21secs ahead.

Rodgers said: 'She is so far ahead, I am not going to be dropping 21 seconds.

'She did a really good swim so good for her.'

Rodgers has also twice been edged out of the medals into fourth but she added: 'As long as I PB I'm happy. I got the bronze without PBing but we are here to get quicker and it makes the training worthwhile.

'If you get fourth, you get fourth but I will go out and try my best.

'To be honest, they are all so close. There are about three or four of us who are pretty much on a level playing field there so it is anybody's, the silver and the bronze.'

Danger: Australian Jacqueline Freney will be tough to beat

Danger: Australian Jacqueline Freney will be tough to beat

Similarly Frederiksen will face quadruple 2012 gold medallist Jessica Long.

Frederiksen successfully defended her S8 100m backstroke title on Tuesday and on Thursday she again displayed her racing instincts when she refused to give an inch to Australian 13-year-old Maddison Elliott in the lane to her left.

The Briton clocked 1:07.53, 1.47secs behind Long who set a new world record, and she appears on course to add another medal to the silver she won in this event in Beijing four years ago.

Frederiksen said: 'That is the life of an athlete.

'Me and my coach have a good racing plan and this morning went to plan.

'The first 50 was nice and easy and comfortable so [it's] promising for tonight.'

British women filled the slots from second to fourth in the SM9 200m individual medley.

Just 1.28secs separate Steph Millward, Louise Watkin and Claire Cashmore.

Watch out: Jessica Long is a quadruple 2012 gold winner

Watch out: Jessica Long is a quadruple 2012 gold winner

Watkin returned from her silver in the S9 50m freestyle to clock 2:38.47, 0.74secs behind Millward.

She admitted she was still cock-a-hoop after Wednesday night's exertions, saying: 'It took me a while to get to sleep last night and I haven't had much rest.

'So I just went into the heat this morning to see what I could do.'

Cashmore was fresh-faced after her 2:39.21 and insisted there could be a British clean sweep despite the presence of Natalie du Toit, winner in 2004 and 2008.

She said: 'Hopefully it will be another exciting race tonight with all three of us going.

'She is not unbeatable and I definitely think we can and hopefully it will be a one-two-three from Britain – the order I'm not saying but hopefully in my favour.'

James Crisp was third into the SM9 200m individual medley while Andrew Mullen (S5 50m backstroke), Aaron Moores and Daniel Pepper (SB14 100m breaststroke) and Sean Fraser and Thomas Young (S8 100m freestyle) all made it through.

Lukas Podolski delight at first Arsenal goal in Liverpool win

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That's more like it! Podolski says Anfield win is just the start after Arsenal finally score

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UPDATED:

15:52 GMT, 2 September 2012

Lukas Podolski could barely hide his delight after scoring Arsenal's first goal of the new season in the 2-0 victory at Liverpool.

The German striker arrived from Cologne this summer with a brief of bolstering the north Londoners' forward line, a job made all the more onerous following the departure of Robin van Persie to Manchester United.

But the Gunners failed to fire in their first two Barclays Premier League matches, instead settling for frustrating goalless draws with Sunderland and Stoke.

Reds you lose: Lukas Podolski (left) fires in the opening goal at Anfield on Sunday

Reds you lose: Lukas Podolski (left) fires in the opening goal at Anfield on Sunday

Moment of glory: Podolski celebrates after scoring his first Arsenal goal in the win over Liverpool

Moment of glory: Podolski celebrates after scoring his first Arsenal goal in the win over Liverpool

Podolski opened their account, converting a classy pass from fellow new boy Santi Cazorla, who duly sealed victory at Anfield with a goal of his own in the second half.

The striker told Sky Sports 1: 'It was a good match, I think we played very well and the two goals were amazing.

'It was a good day for us and for me, scoring my first goal for Arsenal.

'It was a great pass, I got the ball on my left foot and scored. I'm very happy.

'We've only played three matches, we have five points and we need to play like that and keep winning matches.'

French midfielder Abou Diaby was just
happy to be fit and playing regularly again after missing the majority
of the previous campaign through injury.

He added: 'Last year was a very difficult season for me.

Pick that out: Midfielder Santi Cazorla smashes in Arsenal's second goal against Liverpool

Pick that out: Midfielder Santi Cazorla smashes in Arsenal's second goal against Liverpool

'I'm just happy to be back and I hope I can stay fit enough to play the whole season.

'We were waiting for these kind of players to join the team and today they showed great quality.'

Brendan Rodgers refused to blame a
perceived lack of squad depth for his team's lack of cutting edge, with
Liverpool failing to recruit back up for strikers Luis Suarez and Fabio
Borini before the transfer window slammed shut on Friday.

Delight: Cazorla made it two goals from two new players for Arsenal as the Gunners finally found their range

Delight: Cazorla made it two goals from two new players for Arsenal as the Gunners finally found their range

But despite his frustration, the Reds
boss is ready to concentrate on the resources at his disposal, telling
Sky Sports News: 'It's something that I can't control now.

'It's something that we had an
opportunity to do. We've got what we've got. The players have given
everything and I can't blame them.

'We put the group out there to do
what they can. We'll assess it again in January. It doesn't matter, it's
irrelevant, it's gone.

'I'm only focussing on the players that are here and trying to get the very best out of them that we possibly can.'

Of Sunday's lacklustre performance,
he added: 'I'm disappointed with the scoreline because I thought we
contributed very well to the game.

'I felt that we passed it well and created some good moments. To go 1-0 down was disappointing but I can't fault the players.

No way past: Arsenal have still not conceded a goal in the Premier League this season

No way past: Arsenal have still not conceded a goal in the Premier League this season

Mixed fortunes: Liverpool boss Brendan Rogers (left) and Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger (centre)

Mixed fortunes: Liverpool boss Brendan Rogers (left) and Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger (centre)

'They've given everything and by the last 15 minutes they were a wee bit tired. There are certainly things to work on.

'We need to keep the ball a little better and that will come, but Arsenal kept it well in that final period and hid it from us.

'It's absolutely nothing to do to with the style. The system is irrelevant, it's about decision making and keeping the ball.

'I can't question the players' attitudes. Their commitments been brilliant since I've been here and we just lost the game and were disappointed with the goals we conceded.'

Red and buried: Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard endured a miserable afternoon at Anfield

Red and buried: Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard endured a miserable afternoon at Anfield

Day to remember: Podolski (right) celebrates his goal against Liverpool with Per Mertesacker

Day to remember: Podolski (right) celebrates his goal against Liverpool with Per Mertesacker

London 2012 Paralympics: Ellie Simmonds wins gold in 400m freestyle

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Simmonds smashes 400m freestyle world record as she takes GB's second Paralympic gold in the pool

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UPDATED:

17:54 GMT, 1 September 2012

Ellie Simmonds claimed ParalympicsGB's second gold medal in the pool of London 2012 when she triumphed in her S6 400 metres freestyle shoot-out against Victoria Arlen and demolished the American's world record by more than five seconds.

Victory in five minutes 19.17 seconds followed the gold won by Jonathan Fox on the opening night and came immediately after Simmonds' Swansea team-mate Matthew Whorwood secured bronze in the previous race in the men's equivalent.

Tears of joy! Ellie Simmonds smashed the world record by five seconds on her way to 400m gold

Tears of joy! Ellie Simmonds smashed the world record by five seconds on her way to 400m gold

The crowd at the Aquatics Centre had grown increasingly more raucous as Whorwood made his way to the bronze in the previous race and on Simmonds' introduction the noise was intense.

The pair were neck and neck going into the final turn with the Briton 0.08 secs ahead and as she pulled away, the American had no answer as Simmonds touched first to send the crowd into a frenzy.

It was only at 2pm on Saturday that Arlen's participation in the race was confirmed in a statement released by the International Paralympic Committee.

Earlier this week the American swimmer had been deemed ineligible for competition and excluded from London 2012.

The United States' appeal to the IPC was upheld and the 17-year-old was reinstated on Thursday.

In a two-stage process, Arlen passed an initial assessment but she was also observed during racing on Saturday and it was only following the morning's heat that any doubt surrounding her involvement in her three S6 freestyle events was dispelled with a review in a year's time.

Unstoppable: Simmonds was in disbelief when she took the gold in London

Unstoppable: Simmonds was in disbelief when she took the gold in London

A swimmer's classification can change for different strokes because the nature of their impairment may affect their ability to perform a particular stroke.

This applies to Arlen who competes in the SB5 class in breaststroke in which she will continue to be observed.

Simmonds struggled to keep her emotions in check as she came to terms with her achievement.

'I need to sort myself out because I don't want to cry again,' she told Channel 4.

'I just went out there and gave it my all. I'm exhausted but I can't wait to see my coach (Billy Pye).

'I'm exhausted. I can't believe I did it.

Congratulations: Victoria Arlen embraces Simmonds after being beaten by the Briton

Congratulations: Victoria Arlen embraces Simmonds after being beaten by the Briton

'It was so tough. I saw her (Arlen) on the last 100 and I was like, “I'm going to have to put my head down' and I thought, 'I'm going to do it for for everyone who's supported me”.'

Asked whether the uncertainty surrounding Arlen's participation had affected her, she said: 'Not really. I think it pushed me even harder.

'I knew that she was on it tonight, I knew I had to go there and give it everything, but 5.19 – my coach said it was going to be won in a 5.19 but I didn't believe him.

'I just put my head down and gave it everything. I was exhausted but I just put my head down and went for it.

'Everyone was wishing me good luck which was so nice. I did it for myself, I did it for my family.'

With the medley still to come, she added: 'I'm on form. I've just done a six-second PB so everything's going really well so I'm just going to go back, enjoy this moment, enjoy my medal and my presentation. I'm excited.'

Jermain Defoe signs new Tottenham contract

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Here's one player who AVB's not axing… Defoe signs new three-year Spurs deal

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UPDATED:

14:08 GMT, 30 August 2012

Fantasy football 2012

Jermain Defoe has signed a new three-year deal at Tottenham to end doubts about his future at White Hart Lane.

The 29-year-old striker wants consistent first-team football which he has been denied at Spurs in the past and their were rumours he was heading for the exit.

However amid all the players pushed towards the exit by Andre Villas-Boas, Defoe has committed his future to the club.

Hotshot: Jermain Defoe has committed his future to Tottenham

Hotshot: Jermain Defoe has committed his future to Tottenham

The England international tweeted about his new deal, which takes him up to 2015.

'Fantastic week signed my new contract at spurs & meeting up with England on Monday for 2 important games. #goalsgoalsgoals,' he wrote on the social networking site.

He is in Roy Hodgson's squad for the nation's World Cup 2014 qualifiers against Moldova and Ukraine.

Defoe was behind Emmanuel Adebayor in the pecking order when Harry Redknapp was in charge, with the manger preferring to use Rafael van der Vaart in behind the Togo striker rather than play Defoe alongside him.

Adebayor, who was on loan from Manchester City, recently sealed a permanent switch to Spurs and it seemed likely that Defoe would again not be first-choice, with Villas-Boas favouring a 4-2-3-1 system.

Van der Vaart could still leave Tottenham before Friday night and the end of the transfer window, but new signing Gylfi Sigurdsson also enjoys playing behind the main spearhead of the attack.

Villas-Boas could employ Defoe on the right-side of his front-line as he did with Daniel Sturridge, who flourished for Chelsea in one of the only positives of the manager's Stamford Bridge reign.

Power play: Defoe smashes in England's winner against Italy

Power play: Defoe smashes in England's winner against Italy

Defoe struck the winner for England against Italy in their friendly match earlier in August and has 16 goals in total, with his next match set to be his 50th Three Lions cap.

The hitman signed for Tottenham initially in 2004 for 6million from West Ham, before leaving for Portsmouth in 2008 for double that.

However his spell on the south coast was short-lived and he moved back to White Hart Lane in 2009 for 15m.

A career highlight for the striker was his five goals in Spurs' demolition of Wigan in November that year.

He has scored 80 Premier League goals in 230 games for Tottenham, and 142 goals in 383 club appearances for all teams, including his loan spell at Bournemouth.

Chelsea"s Eden Hazard v Reading

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Haz he had a good 'un Chelsea's Belgian star shines again

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UPDATED:

21:28 GMT, 22 August 2012

After hitting the headlines on his Premier League debut against Wigan, Eden Hazard was expected to deliver a repeat performance on Wednesday night.

And the Belgian international did not disappoint as he caused the Reading defence no end of problems.

Here, Sportsmail looks back at his best moments.

2 MINUTES… After showing neat control, Eden Hazard comes close to scoring his first Chelsea goal. He receives a pass from Juan Mata but his shot flashes narrowly wide of Adam Federici’s post.

Eden Hazard controls the ball early the game

17 MINUTES… Hazard strikes again! His quick feet are too much for Reading’s Chris Gunter, who brings him down in the box. Frank Lampard smashes home the penalty.

Eden Hazard of Chelsea goes down in the area to earn the penalty which gave his side the lead

90 minutes… Federici is up for a corner in an attempt to equalise. It backfires as Fernando Torres takes possession and releases Hazard, who cooly sets up Branislav Ivanovic to score.

Chelsea's Eden Hazard charges forward