Former Blackburn Rovers Defender Stephane Henchoz Announces Retirement

Former Blackburn Rovers defender Stephane Henchoz has announced his retirement from football.

The 34-year-old has been without a club since his contract with Barclays Premier League side Blackburn expired at the end of last season. He now intends to study for his coaching badge.

Henchoz, who began his career in 1992 with Neuchatel Xamax, represented Switzerland on 72 occasions and enjoyed a successful period with Liverpool, whom he joined from Blackburn in 1999.

He won the UEFA Cup, FA Cup and League Cup in 2001, going on to make 205 appearances for the Reds.

Spells with Celtic and Wigan Athletic followed before a return to Blackburn, his final club as a professional footballer.

"The Language of Football is Universal," - Robinho

Robinho is looking to impress with his language as well as his football skills by the end of the current campaign.

Although he wants to learn English as quickly as possible, so he can fully communicate with his Manchester City team-mates, the native Portuguese speaker does not think it has restricted him on the pitch so far.

"The language of football is universal," said Robinho. "You don't need to speak the lingo in order to be able to communicate with a football.

"Myself and the other players already have a good understanding. Sometimes in training when I shout something they think it's funny but they understand me."

He has flown his wife and baby son over from Brazil and is currently house-hunting in the North West but has been struck by Manchester which he describes as 'beautiful'.

"I am enjoying Manchester, Elano took me for a city tour and I loved it," he continued.

"I haven't started language lessons yet but as soon as I find my own place I will. In six months' time my English will be 10 out of 10."

Of his positive first impressions of Manchester, Robinho added: "There are fine restaurants and recreational facilities, and the city is beautiful. In fact there is a great Brazilian restaurant in the city centre, I'm sure to be a regular."

The Brazilian has also been struck by the friendliness of Mancunians, adding: "Since I've been in Manchester people recognise me all the time in the city, and have been very kind to me.

"They are saying really nice things and that is always a motivation for a player. My aim is to repay their kindness by playing well and winning matches."

Aston Villa Winger Ashley Young Named Barclays Player of the Month

Aston Villa winger Ashley Young has scooped the Barclays Player of the Month Award for September.

Young added to his award from April 2008 following a sterling September, in which he scored twice and contributed a further two assists.

After setting up one goal and firing the decisive second in Villa's 2-1 away win at Tottenham Hotspur, he followed this up with another assist in the 2-1 derby victory over West Bromwich Albion.

Young completed the month by hitting the back of the net with a 20-yard free-kick that proved the catalyst for a narrow win over Sunderland at Villa Park.

Villa's three successive league victories during the month saw Martin O'Neill's men continue their surge up the Barclays Premier League table, ending September well placed in fourth.

Young joins an elite band of players including Cristiano Ronaldo, Wayne Rooney and Steven Gerrard, who have won the Barclays Player of the Month Award on more than one occasion.

The decision was made by the Barclays Awards Panel, which includes representatives from football's governing bodies, the media and fans.

Hull City Manager Phil Brown Scoops Manager of The Month Award

Phil Brown, manager of newly-promoted Hull City, has been named the Barclays Manager of the Month for September.

It is the first such award for the club as they embark on their first-ever season in the top flight.

The Tigers defied the odds to bounce back from a 5-0 home defeat to Wigan Athletic, to start September in fine style, recording a deserved 2-1 win at Newcastle United as Marlon King scored his first goals for the club.

Brown's men took a valuable point from the home match with Everton, before following this up with a famous 2-1 win away at Arsenal.

The Emirates Stadium was left stunned as a 25-yard Geovanni strike and a Daniel Cousin glancing header saw Hull inflict a first home defeat of the season on the Gunners.

By the end of September, Brown had steered the Tigers to sixth place in the Barclays Premier League having guided his side to victory in the Championship play-off final last May.

The decision was made by the Barclays Awards Panel, which includes representatives from football's governing bodies, the media and fans.

Barclays Premier League Fixtures - 18th & 19th October 2008

Sat 18th October 2008
Middlesbrough	v	Chelsea	12:45
Arsenal	v	Everton	15:00
Aston Villa	v	Portsmouth	15:00
Bolton	v	Blackburn	15:00
Fulham	v	Sunderland	15:00
Liverpool	v	Wigan Athletic	15:00
Man Utd	v	WBA	17:30
Sun 19th October 2008
Hull City	v	West Ham Utd	15:00
Stoke City	v	Tottenham	16:00

Chelsea's Title Challenge Continues

Chelsea 2-0 Aston Villa

Chelsea's title challenge continues apace, with Aston Villa the latest to be swept aside at Stamford Bridge.

First-half goals from Joe Cole and Nicolas Anelka kept Luiz Felipe Scolari's men at the top of the Barclays Premier League, and it could have been more but for the reflexes of Villa goalkeeper Brad Friedel.

Luiz Felipe Scolari may have an injury crisis on his hands but Chelsea's title challenge continues apace, with Aston Villa the latest to be swept aside at Stamford Bridge.

First-half goals from Joe Cole and Nicolas Anelka kept Scolari's men at the top of the Barclays Premier League, and it could have been more but for the reflexes of Villa goalkeeper Brad Friedel.

The hosts, already without the services of Didier Drogba, Deco, Ricardo Carvalho and Michael Essien, were missing Alex from their starting line-up and then saw midfielder Cole limp off.

Anelka, struggling with muscle spasms before the match, was also taken off at the break meaning Franco di Santo was Scolari's frontline striker for 45 minutes.

It mattered little. Scolari had never met Martin O'Neill before and had spoken of his admiration for the teams the Villa manager has produced - but this crop simply had no chance as Chelsea gave them a first-half masterclass in passing and movement.

Villa had been billed as the team to put pressure on Chelsea's unbeaten home league record, with the pace of Gabriel Agbonlahor and Ashley Young enough to trouble most sides.

As it was, Branislav Ivanovic went untroubled on his league debut as most of the action was ahead of him.

John Terry, partnering the Serbian in central defence, said before the match that he wanted to play even if it was on one leg - and he probably could have done that in the first half, such was Chelsea's dominance.

Liverpool Defeated Manchester City 3 - 2

Dirk Kuyt scored his first Barclays Premier League goal since November to secure a dramatic victory for Liverpool.

The Holland striker rattled the ball home in stoppage time to stun 10-man Manchester City.

The home side had raced into a two-goal lead in the first half through Stephen Ireland and Javier Garrido.

Fernando Torres pulled a goal back before City's Pablo Zabaleta was sent off.

The momentum was then with Liverpool with Torres adding a second before Kuyt had the final word.

“I’m really pleased with the result, though I’m disappointed for Martin with his injury,” Benítez said afterwards. “The positive thing was the reaction of the players after a bad first half. We made two mistakes for both goals, but the reaction and character we showed in the second half was key to winning the game. It is better for me if we don’t concede those goals, but if you can win, it shows that the players are ready to win every game. Physically we are in good condition, so credit to our fitness coach. We also have great belief and mentality.”

“We had spoken at half-time about the likely response of Liverpool,” Hughes said. “We needed to be ready for it and we weren’t.”

Barclays Premier League Results - 4th & 5th October 2008

Sun 5th October 2008
West Ham Utd	1-3	Bolton	13:30		Report >
Chelsea	2-0	Aston Villa	15:00		Report >
Manchester City	2-3	Liverpool	15:00		Report >
Portsmouth	2-1	Stoke City	15:00		Report >
Tottenham	0-1	Hull City	15:00		Report >
Everton	2-2	Newcastle	16:00		Report >
Sat 4th October 2008
Sunderland	1-1	Arsenal	15:00		Report >
WBA	1-0	Fulham	15:00		Report >
Wigan Athletic	0-1	Middlesbrough	15:00		Report >
Blackburn	0-2	Man Utd

Wigan Athletic 0 - 1 Middlesbrough

Wigan Athletic 0-1 Middlesbrough

Middlesbrough scored late on to take all three points at the JJB Stadium.

Jeremie Aliadiere snatched victory for Middlesbrough at Wigan Athletic with a goal in the 89th minute.

A match of very few chances appeared to be drifting to a goalless conclusion when Stewart Downing nodded down a right-wing cross on the edge of the penalty area and the Frenchman fired home.

Sunderland 1-1 Arsenal

Arsenal left it late to earn a point at the Stadium of Light on Saturday afternoon.

Arsenal's bid to go top of the Barclays Premier League foundered at Sunderland but they were lucky to escape defeat as Cesc Fabregas' 93rd-minute header salvaged a 1-1 draw.

Having been beaten by Hull City last week, the Gunners have now dropped five points in two matches.

Arsene Wenger's side appeared to have been beaten by Grant Leadbitter's stunning 86th-minute strike. The midfielder picked the ball up 25 yards out and smashed a shot in off the underside of the crossbar.

Spain midfielder Fabregas rescued the Gunners with a close-range header from a corner in the third minute of added time.