Manchester United was leading Real Madrid 1-0 in the 56th minute of the marquee game of the UEFA Champions League Round of 16, when Nani jumped into the air with an outstretched leg.

The Portuguese winger was hoping to control a high ball with his foot, and his eyes were firmly fixed on it. He didn’t see that Alvaro Arbeloa was closing in on him and had jumped for the same ball. The studs of Nani’s cleats met Arbeloa in the chest, sending the Real Madrid defender to the ground in a heap.

After consulting with his assistants for one minute, referee Cuneyt Cakir showed Nani a red card. United players, staff and fans were naturally furious about the decision, as it had grave implications for the rest of the game. Madrid grew in confidence and overturned United’s advantage with two goals in 13 minutes. The Spanish club held on for a 3-2 aggregate victory over its English opponent.

United manager Sir Alex Ferguson chose not to speak to the media after the game. UEFA could very well fine him for doing so, but however much they dock him might be less than any sanction his comments (had he made any) would have warranted. Instead, United assistant manager Mike Phelan spoke to the media on behalf of the club, according to the BBC.

“It’s a distraught dressing room and a distraught manager,” Phelan said. “That’s why I am sitting here now. I don’t think the manager is in any fit state to talk to the referee about the decision. It speaks volumes that I am sitting here now rather than the manager of this fantastic football club.”

“We are extremely disappointed and wondering what has happened and why it has happened.

“Referees are there to make decisions but there is also an element of doing the right thing. All the media and a television audience watching all over the world will have an opinion on the decision but it was a disappointing one and it spoiled the game.”

The BBC reports Jose Mourinho was diplomatic in his assessment of Cakir’s decision.

 “I can say for certain Arbeloa did not feign contact,” the Real Madrid manager said. “It was quite strong and he was shown a red. It could have been a yellow. Playing with a man down for such a long period of time is going to change a lot. When we were against 10, we played very well for 10 minutes. We gave them a new problem they couldn’t solve.”

Cakir’s call has divided opinion among players, pundits and fans. Many have been quick to weigh in on the matter — without consulting FIFA’s laws concerning serious foul play. Some say that since Nani didn’t “intend” to make contact with Arbeloa, he should not have been sent off. But the FIFA law does not mention intent, leaving the referee to decide if excessive force was used to commit a foul. It has three

“A player is guilty of serious foul play if he uses excessive force or brutality against an opponent when challenging for the ball when it is in play … Excessive force means that the player has far exceeded the necessary use of force and is in danger of injuring his opponent.”

Had the referee thought Nani acted “recklessly,” he would have been cautioned. Instead, Cakir decided that the United attacker used “excessive force” against Arbeloa and dismissed him. The Turkish official didn’t need to face the media after the game, so there’s no way to know how he came to that conclusion. The debate over Nani’s red card rages on and will continue to do so into the future.

Here is your chance to weigh in. Did Nani deserve that red card? Check out an animation of the incident and vote in our poll below.

Have a question for Marcus Kwesi O’Mard? Send it to him via Twitter at @NESNsoccer, NESN Soccer’s Facebook page or send it here. He will pick a few questions to answer every week for his mailbag.

The two soccer players recently scored excellent goals. Both strikes — overhead kicks —  required audacity, technique and a little bit of luck. Each was stunning and unexpected. Predictably, many commentators rate them among the best goals ever scored.

But which was better?

On Nov. 14, Ibrahimovic caused a stir around the world, scoring all four goals in Sweden’s victory over England. But it was his fourth that stood out above the rest.

The superstar striker volleyed a shot from 30 yards out into an empty net. His back was to the goal, and he was closer to the sideline than he was to the center of the field. Did we mention that he used a bicycle kick? Or that he did it at the highest level, during a game involving national teams?

The 31-year-old Swede is one of the best players of his generation. He’s scored goals and won titles at every stop in his illustrious career. If there was one player who could pull of such a feat, there was little surprise that “Ibra” did it.

Mexes, on the other hand, is no goal scorer. He’s a rugged central defender for Italian club AC Milan, better known for his physical presence at the back than for contributing to the Milan attack. Yet he was the author of a piece of magic Nov. 21.

In the 71st minute of Milan’s victory over Anderlecht in the UEFA Champions Leauge, Mexes received a pass inside the Anderlect penalty area. Using his chest to control the ball, he popped it into the air and hit an overhead kick into the far corner. The goalkeeper was helpless against the perfectly placed shot.

It was the 30-year-old’s first goal in more than 18 months. It might take him that long to score again.

Mexes and Ibrahimovic were teammates last season at Milan. Apparently, Mexes learned something by watching his Swedish counterpart in practice every day — and it was so much more than how to grow and maintain a ponytail (which he’s since traded in for a fauxhawk).

So we’ll ask the question again: Which goal was better? Vote in our poll below.

Watch Ibrahimovic’s goal in the video below.

Watch Mexes’ goal in the video below.

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The Spanish striker has struggled since moving to Chelsea from Liverpool in January 2011, and he wants to cut his losses and return to Spain, according to the Mail.

“Sportsmail exclusively revealed last week how Blues owner Roman Abramovich has accepted his £50 million ($80 million) gamble on the Spain international has failed and was ready to move the striker out of Stamford Bridge,” the report says.

“And Torres has his heart set on a return to Spain as he looks to recapture the form that made him one of the most feared strikers in the world.

“The idea of having the Chelsea failure on his CV [resume] certainly irks the ex-Liverpool striker, but he has privately accepted he must leave west London, with Spain his preferred destination. Potentially, Torres could return to Atletico Madrid as part of Chelsea’s move to sign Radamel Falcao.”

Torres scored 81 goals for Liverpool from 2007-11, but his confidence, form, reputation and goal tally suffered since his record transfer. His first year in West London was stained by an absence of goals and a barrage of criticism. He was reportedly fed up with life on the bench and considered leaving Chelsea at the end of the 2011-12 season, but manager Roberto di Matteo assured him that he would play a major role at the club going forward.

The 28-year-old had a good start to the 2012-13 season, scoring four goals in Chelsea’s first seven Premier League games. But the former Anfield hero hasn’t scored a league goal since Oct. 6, prompting fears of another prolonged goal drought.

Chelsea’s is rumored to be interested in luring Falcao from Atletico Madrid, and the Blues are not put off by his £45 million ($71.6 million) price tag. Torres could make the numbers add up and satisfy Ateltico’s demands for a big-name replacement should Falcao leave.

The Colombian hitman may be the man of the moment at the Vicente Calderon Stadium, but Torres is a legend there. He rose through the youth ranks and graduated to the first team at young age. The boy they called “El Nino [the kid]” became club captain at age 19, and fans wished him all the best when completed a £25 million ($40 million) transfer to Liverpool in 2007.

A return to Ateltico Madrid or another Spanish club would complete one of the Premier League’s strangest tales. Once one of the world’s greatest players, Torres continues to fall from grace during what should be his peak years.

Have a question for Marcus Kwesi O’Mard? Send it to him via Twitter at @NESNsoccer, NESN Soccer’s Facebook page or send it here. He will pick a few questions to answer every week for his mailbag.

The “Super Sub” is that player who scores vital goals that swing results in his or her team’s favor. That’s what makes them so “Super.”

The 2012-13 Premier League campaign has seen Edin Dzeko and Javier “Chicharito” Hernandez, strikers for Manchester City and Manchester United respectively, emerge as the most super of the substitutes.

For Dzeko, the trend started last season as he scored four of his 14 league goals from the bench, but his role might have been crystallized during that game against Queens Park Rangers. This season, the Bosnian striker has scored six of his seven goals (in all competitions) from the bench, and his exploits have won three league games for City.

Best of all is that he usually does it within minutes — sometimes seconds — of taking the field, as he did against Real Madrid (a game City ended up losing) in the UEFA Champions League. He is no less than a cup of “instant offense.”

Not to be outdone, Hernandez has shaken off last season’s doldrums to play an important part in United’s high-powered attack. He’s bagged three of his four league goals as a substitute, including scoring the winner against Chelsea and rescuing United with two goals against Aston Villa.

Both players face stiff competition for playing time as their teams boast an array of world-class attacking talent. City manager Roberto Mancini has often selected Carlos Tevez and Sergio Aguero over Dzeko, and even Mario Balotelli has been forced to watch more than he would like. Wayne Rooney and Robin van Persie  have pushed Hernandez to the periphery, but the “Little Pea” has forced Sir Alex Ferguson‘s hand and he will start United’s next league game.

Both players would rather be starting regularly, but each has coped in a different way.

Dzeko scoffs at the idea of being a “Super Sub,” saying he has proven to be much more than that, according to the Telegraph.

“You can call me whatever you want but I will never accept that I’m a super-sub,” Dzeko said. “I’m 26 years old and I played a lot of games before I came here to City and I scored a lot of goals in Germany and, before that, the Czech Republic. I won the league in Germany and was top scorer there. I was never just a sub and I never will be one. At the moment, maybe, it’s like that. It’s not great for me. But with my goals and with the goals I have scored so far this year I think I deserve to play more.”

Mancini, a great striker in his day, understands Dzeko’s plight, according to the Mirror.

“He is not happy,” Mancini said about Dzeko. “A player who is happy on the bench does not exist.”

Meanwhile, Hernandez praised his team’s “never-say-die” attitude following the win over Aston Villa.

“Every time you never want to give up, not until the end because the games are 90 minutes and you need to fight until the last minute,” the Mail reports Hernandez told Sky Sports. “The most important thing is that Manchester United are top of the league and after being 2-0 down that is a good result.”

Ferguson praised Hernandez for the way he carries himself on and off the field.

“I’ve been saying it for weeks, that he’s such a great professional,” Ferguson said. “He doesn’t complain.”

Perhaps that is why United manager Sir Alex Ferguson has pledged to start Hernandez in Saturday’s game against Norwich City, while Dzeko might have to wait a little longer for his chance to appear in City’s starting 11.

With the game on the line, who would you trust to ride to your team’s rescue? Vote in our poll below.

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The Bulgarian schemer may be on to something, having worked with two of the best in the business and seen them up close.

Hleb has played for both Arsene Wenger (at Arsenal from 2005-08) and Pep Guardiola (at FC Barcelona 2008-12) during his professional career. Sport 360 reports Hleb says Wenger taught him more about the game than Guardiola, and there are better managers than the legendary former Barcelona boss.

“I learned more from Wenger than Guardiola, but Pep is a good coach,” Hleb reportedly told Esports en Xarxa.

“Guardiola is not the best coach in the world because he coached the best team in the world, with the best players, and that’s why he won. It’s hard not to win with a team like that and [Tito] Vilanova will have the greatest success.

“The best coaches in the world are [Jose] Mourinho, [Sir Alex] Ferguson and [Arsene] Wenger.”

Hleb’s claims caught some off guard, as Guardiola won 14 major trophies in four years as Barcelona manager. The 41-year-old stepped down from his post at the end of the 2011-12 season, citing a need to “recharge” his batteries. He is currently living in New York City while considering his next move, but he is the world’s most in-demand manager.

Hleb joined Barcelona from Arsenal in a £13.7 million ($22 million) transfer, but he failed to make an impact at the Camp Nou. He spent one unhappy season at Barcelona before joining VfB Stuttgart, Birmingham and Wolfsburg on loan in successive seasons. He had little impact at those three clubs, perhaps suggesting that he didn’t learn much from Guardiola. He returned to Bulgaria last summer, joining UEFA Champions League darlings BATE Borisov. The 31-year-old takes full blame for his inability to make the grade at Barcelona.

“I was very ambitious and wanted to play more but Barca played each player for a certain amount of minutes,” he said. “For me, that was not enough. I was angry and wanted more, which was why we had some conflicts with Guardiola, but now I understand it was the nonsense and tantrums of a little boy.”

Hleb raises intersting points. Guardiola was wildly successful, but he had a star-studded squad, which included all-time greats like Xavi, Andres Iniesta, and the incomparable Lionel Messi. Perhaps Ferguson, Wenger, Mourinho or Sam Allardyce (joking) — each iconic managers in their own right — would have won as many (or even more) trophies as Guardiola with that sort of talent at their disposal.

What do you think? Vote in our poll and tell us why in the comments section below.

Who Is The Best Club Manager in World Soccer?

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It hasn't come to be well-known as "America's Pastime" for nothing, after all.

But with the years marching along and more people watching more sports than ever before, baseball's position as the quintessential American sport has come under siege from several other worthy contenders.

All a person has to do to understand football's claim to the throne is to look at the TV ratings. Six of the seven most-watched TV shows of all time are Super Bowls –- the last three have each set a new record for average total viewers -– and NBC Sunday Night Football was last season's highest-rated prime-time show.

Canada may be popularly known as the land of hockey, but it has only seven teams in the NHL, considered the best hockey league in the world. The U.S., meanwhile, is home to 23 teams and has won every Stanley Cup since 1993, when the Montreal Canadiens claimed the title.

Basketball is pretty popular, but what really sets it apart are its pickup games, which are played on innumerable city courts and in countless gyms across the country. Even for those that aren't serious about it, hoops is considered a fantastic way to stay active.

Soccer, meanwhile, may not exactly have the massive day-to-day following of the four major professional sports. But none of those other games causes the country to rally around a team quite like soccer does come World Cup and Olympic time, with the U.S. teams embodying so much of what the country idealizes.

But have any of them actually replaced baseball as America's pastime?

Which sport is America's pastime?

But it’s best to start with the result. We should first look at a team in relation to the others in its era. Only then can we try and compare it to one from another time.

Spain is the dominant team of the current era. After falling to France in the quarterfinal of the 2006 FIFA World Cup, it has gone on to win every major tournament in which it has entered. Winning the 2008 UEFA European Championship (“the Euro”) and following it with a triumph at the 2010 World Cup made many consider Spain to be among the all-time great teams.

On Sunday, it thrashed Italy 4-0 to win Euro 2012, becoming the first team in history to win three straight major tournaments. The unique style in which Spain won — the team didn’t concede a goal in the last 510 minutes of the tournament and improved throughout — started the real debate about Spain’s place in history.

On merit alone this Spanish team has as good a claim to be the greatest ever as any other team. But its possession style (commonly known as “tiki-taka”) and swarming pressure without the ball has revolutionized the way the game is taught and played. That boosts its case. A Spanish victory at the 2014 World Cup should end the debate, but discussions will continue until then.

Before you call Spain the best national team in history, let’s look at some of its rivals for the crown.

The Italian team from 1934-38 is widely regarded as the first international dynasty. It won the World Cup in 1934, Olympic gold in 1936 and repeated as World Champions in 1938. It only lost three games in an impressive five-year span. The outbreak of World War II brought much of top-level soccer to a screeching halt, so it’s impossible to know if Italy would have sustained its success for a longer period.

Hungary won the Olympics in 1952 and finished second at the 1954 World Cup. It went unbeaten in 31 games from 1951-54, but didn’t win those trophies that armchair historians look to first when deciding which team is the best of all time.

From 1958-62, Brazil rose to the pinnacle of world soccer. It won the 1958 World Cup in stunning fashion, scoring five goals against France in the semifinal and five more against Sweden in the final. Brazil lost some luster with a second-place finish at the 1959 South American Championship, but it defended its world championship in 1962 to cement its place among the all-time greats. The rough-and-tumble style that top European teams adopted in the 1960s ended Brazil’s dominance, but it was only temporary.

The 1970 Brazil team is widely regarded as the best ever and raised the game to an art form. It stormed to victory in that year’s World Cup, scoring 19 times in six games. But there was no South American championship between 1967-75, so that legendary Brazilian team did have a chance to win more trophies.

The West Germany team from 1970-76 rivals the current Spanish team in terms of sustained excellence. After falling in the semifinal at the 1970 World Cup, West Germany went on to win Euro 1972 and the 1974 World Cup. It became the first team to hold the world and European titles at the same time. Its reign came to an end at Euro 1976, but the fact that it lost two competitive games in a six-year span says enough about its greatness.

The brilliant “Clockwork Orange” team that represented the Netherlands changed the way the game is played and layed the groundwork for the current Spanish philosophy. The 1974-78 Dutch team may have played some of the best soccer in history, but it finished second at the 1974 World Cup, Euro 1976 and the 1978 World Cup. Germany and Argentina prevented that Dutch team from calling itself a champion and that prevents us from calling the Dutch the best ever.

France became king of the world in the late 1990s. It won the 1998 World Cup on home soil behind a golden generation of players from various backgrounds. This team reflected the changes that immigration was having on Europe (both on and off the field), and France led the way into the future. It combined strength, speed and technique with a character that allowed it to overcome adversity. France proved its greatness by winning Euro 2000, but an early exit from the 2002 World Cup hurt its reputation.

What do you think? Is Spain better than these other teams? Vote in our poll below.

Is Spain the best international soccer team of all time?

Have a question for Marcus Kwesi O’Mard? Send it to him via Twitter at @NESNsoccer, NESN Soccer’s Facebook page or send it here. He will pick a few questions to answer every week for his mailbag.

Riding a tidal wave of momentum following its first Champions League conquest, the pensioners moved quickly to sign one of the world’s most coveted players in Hazard. Chelsea owner (check signer) Roman Abramovich spent a massive £35.3 million ($54.3 million) on Lille’s key player, but when your luxury yacht comes with its own submarine and missile defense system, money isn’t much of an object.

Trophy-less following the soul-crushing Premier League steal by Manchester City, and a group-stage exit from the UEFA Champions League before that, the Red Devils could have a busy summer ahead. They made their first foray into the transfer market through the £17 million ($26.3 million) signing of Kagawa, and will be expecting a big return from the former Borussia Dortmund star.

In Hazard, Chelsea signed one of the most complete attacking midfielders in the game. Combining top-end speed with matching technical ability (not to mention a range of tricks most players wouldn’t even consider), the Belgian delighted Lille fans with his direct running at opposing defenders. However, unlike many flair players, Hazard is extremely efficient in his end product. His tally of 20 goals and 16 assists in 38 Ligue 1 appearances reflects his ease at playing both distributor and finisher for the attacking side.

Much like Hazard, Kagawa is lightning fast and excellent with the ball at his feet. While Hazard may be faster at a dead sprint, Kagawa’s agility and positional sense allow him to exploit small pockets between defenders and quickly combine with teammates. His numbers from last year (13 goals and eight assists in 31 Bundesliga outings) don’t quite compare with Hazard’s, but Kagawa’s tactical discipline and defensive work rate are two clear advantages over the former Lille man.

Tactically, both players bring a great deal of flexibility to their respective managers (though exactly who will manage Hazard at Chelsea remains to be seen). Hazard spent most of his Lille career cutting inside from the left flank, but accrued his ridiculous stats of last season from a central position. His ability to play both positions is a huge bonus for his new team, as it allows Chelsea to potentially play Hazard alongside fellow attacking midfielders Juan Mata and Marko Marin.

Though Kagawa spent almost all of last season playing centrally for Dortmund, the Japanese ace is more than competent playing on either flank as well. With United lacking a true central playmaker, manager Sir Alex Ferguson could play Kagawa just off of striker Wayne Rooney to tremendous effect. However, if Ferguson continues directing Rooney to drop deep and link play, it’s likely that Kagawa will have to fight it out with Antonio Valencia, Nani, and Ashley Young for playing time out wide.

What do you think? Let us know by voting in our poll below.

Will Shinji Kagawa or Eden Hazard fare better in Premier League

If Carroll makes the party, it would be a triumph for both player and club. The 23-year-old joined LFC as its record signing in January 2011. The next year would see him face the slings and arrows of critics everywhere. His employers were not spared either.

After finally shaking off the injuries that slowed the beginning of his LFC career, Carroll regained his fitness. His confidence, which was suffering, slowly came back as well. His form was the last to arrive, but he began to reap the fruits of his labor as winter gave way to spring.

Goals against Blackburn, Everton and Chelsea suggested that Liverpool's £35 million ($55.5 million) man was starting to come around. He met John Terry, England's top center back, twice in the span of four days last week. After bossing the Chelsea captain around the penalty area, pundits suddenly remembered that he was an England international under Fabio Capello, and he might be useful this summer.

England has a dilemma to solve at the striker position, as Wayne Rooney must serve a two-game ban, and there are no ready candidates with the experience and pedigree fill his shoes. The fit and in-form Liverpool player wouldn't be the focal point of the England attack, but he would give the Three Lions a unique dimension or "plan B" as our friend Nick Casey reminds us.

Liverpool wouldn't mind if Carroll spent six weeks around some of the world's best players. He would stay fit and sharp during the brief offseason, and return to LFC brimming with confidence. It would make it more likely that he would carry his end-of-season form into the 2012-13 campaign.

England will name its Euro 2012 squad on Wednesday, and it's unknown if manager Roy Hodgson will include Carroll. Rooney is a lock. There are any number of candidates for the other three or four spots up top. Carroll has made a strong case with his late-season surge.

What do you think? Vote in our poll below.

Should England Take Andy Carroll to Euro 2012?

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These games have only increased over the years. This summer will see legions of foreign soccer teams come to America for all or part of their preseason training. Not only do they come to use the first-class facilities around the country, but they also come to give fans a look at how the game is played at the highest level and win over thousands of new supporters.

"There are two issues," Kenny Dalglish told LiverpoolFC.tv. "There's the global branding and the development of that. We've been to the Far East, and the reception and welcome was unbelievable over there. The number of supporters Liverpool have over there is beyond comprehension.

"Now we're going to North America, which is very appropriate with the owners coming from Boston. We have a game in Toronto, then Boston, then Baltimore. It's important for us to go there and get to the people who can't get here.

"But it's also important to get fitness. We're going there reasonably early to get ourselves [acclimated] and get our training done. We'll play the games, come back and look forward to some preseason here."

With all due respect to Major League Soccer and its millions of fans, the American top-flight has yet to capture and hold the attention of the wider sporting public. There are any number of reasons for this, but chief among them is the fact that the best players in the world — those internationally recognized superstars — generally do not play in the North American first division.

Fans of other sports in this country are used to watching their games as played at the highest level. And they are used to paying the price — as charged at the highest level — to watch. When foreign teams hit these shores, both clubs and fans know what's being offered.

Whether teams like Liverpool FC play against overseas rivals (like AS Roma) or local clubs (Toronto FC), these games are always events. It's not unusual to see crowds ranging from 32,000 at places like Fenway Park all the way to the 80,000 that packed FedEX Field to see Manchester United play FC Barcelona last summer. People proudly wear their soccer jerseys in cities around the country, and game highlights appear on local and national sports shows.

But the sport has not captivated the U.S. public in the same way it has in the rest of the free world. It still has a long way to go before it becomes a "mainstream" spectator sport in America. Club and national teams play to large crowds and make a lot of money (as they are hot tickets around town). But what is the lasting impact?

What do you think? Vote in our poll below.

Do friendlies featuring foreign teams increase soccer's profile in America?

Have a question for Marcus Kwesi O'Mard? Send it to him via Twitter at @NESNsoccer, NESN Soccer's Facebook page or send it here. He will pick a few questions to answer every week for his mailbag.

After leading the league for so much of the season, City has won just one of its last four league games. It now trails crosstown rival Manchester United by five points with seven games to play. City's title challenge hangs in the balance and so does the job of manager Roberto Mancini. A loss to Arsenal on Sunday will effectively hand United the 2011-12 championship.

Mancini is in his second full season at the helm, and the City has progressed significantly since his December 2009 arrival. City earned 71 points in the 2010-11 league campaign. It has equalled that amount with seven games to spare this season. City also lifted the FA Cup in 2011.

The case for Mancini is compelling, but there are several knocks against him. The club spent lavishly in building a squad capable of winning English soccer's ultimate prize. It appears City's 44-year wait to win the league will continue. City's owner, Sheikh Mansour, and its chairman Khaldoon al-Mubarak have not publicly discussed what (if any) consequences Mancini will face if City fail to win the title. But the Guardian reports the Italian tactician addressed the subject on Friday during his pregame press conference.

"But I know football very well and I left Internazionale after seven trophies with a four-year contract to the end [being sacked in 2008]," Mancini said. "In football anything can happen in any moment. This championship can change in one week.

"The same regarding my future. When you choose this job you know that anything can happen in any moment. I don't have a problem with that because when you work hard for your job and improve your team, that's important."

How much blame should Mancini bear? Like any manager, he has dealt with injuries, suspension, loss of form and extended absences of key players. Unlike other managers, he been forced to maintain unity despite Mario Balotelli's on-field and off-field antics and the running Carlos Tevez saga. Many of his wounds are self-inflicted, and that cannot be lost on those decision makers closest to the situation.

However the campaign ends, Mancini has begun lobbying for another year in charge of the world's richest club. He wants to add a few more bodies to the squad.

"I'm sure that this club has arrived at the top," he said. "With two or three more players after this year, this club will start to win, and when it starts to win it will win two or three titles every year. Now it has arrived."

"I hope so [that he will continue as City boss] because of what's happened over the last two years."

What do you think? If City fails to win the league, should Mancini get the ax? Or should the club give him another shot?

Should Manchester City fire Roberto Mancini if he fails to deliver the Premier League Championship?

Have a question for Marcus Kwesi O'Mard? Send it to him via Twitter at @NESNsoccer, NESN Soccer's Facebook page or send it here. He will pick a few questions to answer every week for his mailbag.

It's hard to believe how far Liverpool has come since Kenny Dalglish returned to the LFC hotseat. In just under 15 months, the Reds have evolved from Premier League strugglers to trophy winners. And it happened in his first full season in charge. The future looks even brighter than the present.

The Reds are still battling on two fronts. Achieving a top-four finish in the Premier League — the principal aim of this campaign — is still a very real possibility. The seventh-placed Reds trail Arsenal by seven points with 13 games to play.

Liverpool is also one win away from returning to Wembley Stadium, as they host Stoke City in a FA Cup quarterfinal on March 18.

Things are going smoothly along the course laid out at the beginning of the season, according to Steve Gerrard. 

"The plan at the start of the season was to go on two long Cup runs and get into the top four, and we can still achieve that," the LFC captain told the Liverpool Echo.

Some of the great Liverpool teams of the past have used the League Cup as a springboard to future success. There's no reason why this team should be any different. Lifting a trophy can bring a group closer, galvanize it and spur it on to higher heights.

If Liverpool hits all its targets in this season, it will raise expectations — and pressure — on this group of Reds. They have already one major triumph. Annual cup runs and title challenges will be expected by their (rightfully) demanding supporters.

Now that they have lifted the Carling Cup, can this group of LFC players achieve even more?

Will Carling Cup Victory Spur Current Liverpool Players to New Era of Success?

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Some say the 23-year-old needed a run of starts to show what he can do. Carroll has been a busy man since Christmas, starting eight of LFC’s 11 games. But the goals have not followed his uptick in playing time.

However, there are some encouraging signs. His last three appearances have seen him score one goal and assist on two others. His all-around game has shown improvement as well. That trend could continue, now that Luis Suarez and Steve Gerrard are back in action.

The three have played only 69 minutes together so far this season. Gerrard, also known as “The King of Assists”, has not had the chance to form an understanding in the final third with the strike-force Liverpool signed just over a year ago.

Carroll often plays as a lone striker, tasked with leading the Reds’ attack on his own. Other times, he has played with a rotation of partners, including veterans Craig Bellamy and Dirk Kuyt. If Carroll plays a few games in succession alongside Suarez, and has Gerrard provides the service, chances are he could build on his season tally of five goals — quickly.

What do you think?

Is Andy Carroll verging on goal explosion?

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It was a little over a year ago that Suarez joined Liverpool from Dutch giants Ajax Amsterdam. The Uruguayan star became a Red in a £22.8 million ($36.1 million) deadline-day deal, and scored on his debut. His presence simply raised the overall quality of the team, and his exploits helped Liverpool shoot up the Premier League standings in the last four months of the 2010-11 campaign.

Suarez played almost non-stop through 2011. His participation in last summer’s Copa America — where he led Urugay to the championship as the Player of the Tournament — robbed him of an offseason. He jetted back to Liverpool after the tournament, and was in the lineup for the season-opening draw against Sunderland.

He simply took the Premier League by storm in first year in English soccer, and now Liverpool’s opponents must be shuddering at the thought of his impending return. Before his suspension, Suarez seemed to be straining (physically) and it affected his sharpness. Now, a fit, rested and hungry Suarez will be playing with something extra to prove, and Liverpool FC will be the chief beneficiary.

The 25-year-old star scored four goals and added five assists in 13 games at the end of 2010-11. Will he outdo himself in Liverpool’s remaining 15 league and (at least) two cup games?

Will Luis Suarez's Impact on Liverpool FC Be Greater in 2012 Than it Was in 2011

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"We've got 16 league games left, we've got a cup final at Wembley and the fifth round of the FA Cup at home to Brighton — there's a lot for us to play for this season," Dalglish told LiverpoolFC.tv.

"Qualification for the [UEFA] Champions League is one of them. We'll try our best to do as much as we possibly can and make it as good for everybody as we can."

Liverpool is in seventh place in the Premier League after 22 games. Chelsea has a six-point lead over the Reds for the fourth spot. Distant rival Tottenham sits in third, leading them by 11 points. The task of qualifying for next season's Champion's League is a daunting one, but it is certainly not impossible.

The Carling Cup final pits the Reds against Championship (second division) club Cardiff City on Feb. 26. Liverpool will be heavily favored in that contest. The Reds can also book a place in the last eight of the FA Cup by defeating Brighton in the preceding weekend. Arsenal, Chelsea and Tottenham are, on paper, the strongest teams left in the knockout competition.

The January transfer window closes Tuesday, and we probably won't see anything like last season's deadline-day spending spree. Luis Suarez and Andy Carroll moved to Anfield for a combined £57.8 million ($90.9 million) on that fateful day.

In fact, it is unlikely that any new signings will join the LFC first team before the deadline passes. Dalglish has said it himself time and time again.

Liverpool FC remains a work in progress. Dalglish and LFC director of football Damien Comolli brought in seven new players last summer, and the squad is still fusing into a formidable unit. If the form and confidence of the current crop of Reds improve, results should follow suit. But some reinforcements could also ignite a charge up the standings.

Is the current crop of Liverpool players enough to succeed on all three fronts this season? Or should the club look to add one or more players? Vote now in our LFC Fan Forum.

Can Liverpool Finish Top-Four in the Premier League and Win Both Cups Without Signing New Players in January?

Have a question for Marcus Kwesi O'Mard? Send it to him via Twitter at @NESNsoccer or send it here. He will pick a few questions to answer every week for his mailbag.

Now LFC fans may find it necessary to vote early and often in this one, and that’s okay. The Reds meet the Red Devils at Anfield on Saturday in a game that is oozing with subplots.

But it’s open to fans of any team. After all, Manchester United has brought pain and suffering upon fans of many clubs in England, Europe and around the world.

The players who appear in the poll below are only a small sample of the available players. Patrice Evra is there for reasons that will be obvious by the time Saturday’s game kicks off. Roy Keane was the longtime captain of the Red Devils during some of their glory years. Garry Neville is Gary Neville – Greater Manchester born and a United lifer — which automatically earns him a spot. And Nobby Stiles was a midfield lynchpin on the great United teams of the 1960s.

But honestly, how can we not mention Wayne Rooney, Cristiano Ronaldo, David Beckham and others?

Have your say below. Which Manchester United player do you most dislike?

Which Manchester United FC Player Do You Dislike Most?

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Since before the season started, everyone associated with LFC has talked about its quest for a top-four finish in the Premier League. It is arguably the over-arching theme of season.

But the absence of UEFA Champions and Europa League action has added weight to LFC’s domestic cup campaigns. The club is treating them as its missing European dates in 2011-12.

Wednesday could see LFC secure passage to the Carling Cup final, as it faces City in the second leg of the Carling Cup semifinal. The Reds haven’t travelled to Wembley Stadium — the spiritual home of English soccer — since 1996. Lifting a trophy there could do wonder’s for the confidence of the players, and accelerate LFC’s ongoing revival.

On Saturday, England’s greatest club rivalry resumes. Anfield will be the site of the FA Cup fourth round clash between LFC and Manchester United. On Oct. 15, these two teams played a 1-1 draw that reverberates over three months later.

The January transfer window closes at month’s end, and the Reds could add some star power and firepower. Any deals that will happen by then are probably already in the works, although they most likely will (or won’t) come to fruition next week. Any additions to the squad could have an immediate impact on LFC’s results.

In a season that has seen more plot twists than your average twizzler, it’s tough to call this the defining week of the season. But it is also difficult to overstate this week’s importance.

What do you think? Vote in our Liverpool Fan Forum below.

Is This Week The Defining Week in Liverpool's 2011-12 Season?

Have a question for Marcus Kwesi O’Mard? Send it to him via Twitter at @NESNsoccer or send it here. He will pick a few questions to answer every week for his mailbag.

The landmark partnership between LFC and Warrior Sports Inc. will mark the American company's first foray into world soccer. For six years, it will design and make LFC's home, away and third jerseys, as well as its training gear. It is best known for making equipment and apparel for hockey and lacrosse, but will enter the realm of the beautiful game in June.

Warrior Sports will have to prove itself to one of soccer's most discerning audiences, and at one of the game's most hallowed venues. Suarez and Gerrard may not have a choice, but LFC fans will when the new jerseys come out.

Will fans buy the new LFC gear even though Warrior doesn't have a track record of outfitting soccer teams? Will fans that revere their history as much as Liverpool's embrace a company that doesn't have one in this game? Should they buy the new jerseys even though they may not have the sneakers (trainers?) and hat to match? Vote now in our Fan Forum.

Do you plan on buying a new Warrior Sports Liverpool jersey?

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