SOCCER FOOTBALL 24H

Bahrain gave themselves a timely confidence boost prior to the AFC Asian Cup after recording a resounding 4-1 victory over three-time tournament winners Saudi Arabia on Tuesday. A brace from striker Ismail Abdul Latif at Geelong's Simmonds Stadium helped restore some much need confidence in the Bahrain camp following a disappointing Gulf Cup of Nations in November. Fouzi Aaish opened Bahrain's account with a 20th minute penalty after Green Falcons captain Hassan Fallatah had brought down Abdul Latif in the box. Sami Al Hussaini extended Bahrain's lead six minutes later, before Naif Hazazi put Saudi Arabia back in contention with a strike from close range shortly after half-time. The Saudi Arabian resurgence was, however, to be short- lived, Abdul Latif duly converting a penalty on 58 minutes and then notching his second with ten minutes of the game remaining. Bahrain will finalise their Asian C...

Australian stalwart Tim Cahill has issued a rallying cry to his side by declaring that a ruthless Socceroos side will be more than a match for any team at January's AFC Asian Cup. Australia will be appearing in their third continental showpiece following a group stage exit in 2007 and an agonizing defeat to Japan in the final of the tournament's 2011 edition. However, with the Socceroos hosting the 2015 extravaganza, hopes are high that the Green and Gold of Australia can go one step further on home soil. Something Cahill believes is possible if Ange Postocoglou's charges develop a much needed ruthless streak. "We have to be ruthless. I don't care how we win, as long as we win," he told the Sydney Morning Herald ahead of the competition's opening game against Kuwait on January 9. "Let's try to get through the group stage making an impact. Tournament form going into the last stages is r...

All Sunday, 28 December 2014 F T Tottenham Hotspur 0 - 0 Manchester United F T Southampton 1 - 1 Chelsea F T Aston Villa 0 - 0 Sunderland F T Hull City 0 - 1 Leicester City F T Manchester City 2 - 2 Burnley F T Queens Park Rangers 0 - 0 Crystal Palace F T Stoke City 2 - 0 West Bromwich Albion F T West Ham United 1 - 2 Arsenal F T Newcastle United 3 - 2 Everton Saturday, 27 December 2014 F T Arsenal 2 - 1 Queens Park Rangers Tuesday, 30 December 2014 F T Liverpool 4 - 1 Swansea City table # Team Name P W D L F A GD PTS 1 Chelsea 19 14 4 1 41 14 +27 46 2 Manchester City 19 13 4 2 41 17 +24 43 3 Manchester United 19 10 6 3 33 19 +14 36 4 Southampton 19 10 3 6 32 15 +17 33 5 Arsenal 19 9 6 4 34 23 +11 33 6 West Ham United 19 9 4 6 30 23 +7 31 7 Tottenham Hotspur 19 9 4 6 24 24 0 31 8 Liverpool 19 8 4 7 26 25 +1 28 9 Swansea City 19 8 4 7 24 23 +1 28 10 Newcastle United 19 7 5 7 22 28 –6...