Match Report:Tottenham 3-1 Manchester City

A second-half burst from Tottenham saw them claim a vital three points in the race for the top four as they beat Manchester City 3-1.
Spurs made the brighter start, but it was City who took the lead on five minutes following great work on the right by Carlos Tevez and James Milner, the latter finding Samir Nasri in the box and the Frenchman fired in from 10 yards. Nasri almost doubled the lead a few moments later, latching onto Pablo Zabaleta's ball but he couldn't direct his effort goalwards due to good pressure from Hugo Lloris. That was the first of a string of saves the French keeper was forced to make, as after 38 minutes he got down low to his right to block an Edin Dzeko shot, before shortly saving smartly from a close-range Tevez header. The visitors continued to control proceedings in the second half and, although Spurs did push for an equaliser, the hosts struggled to create any real chances. However, that all changed on 74 minutes as, after good work from Walker, Gareth Bale angled a wonderful ball across the box and Clint Dempsey tapped in at the back post. Jermain Defoe then fired them into the lead five minutes later, cutting in from the left and smashing home. Bale then made it 3-1 after 81 minutes, latching onto Tom Huddlestone's through ball before exquisitely chipping over Hart to wrap-up a vital three points in his side's bid for a top-four spot.

League Cup Manchester City 0-1 Liverpool

A Steven Gerrard penalty in the first-half was the difference between the two sides at the Etihad Stadium in the Carling Cup clash.Liverpool started off brightly and created the first chance of the game with some fine build up play before Andy Carroll found himself through on go only to be denied by Joe Hart after five minutes.The visitors continued to press and Hart was called into action on two more occasions following efforts from Steven Gerrard and Stewart Downing.However the deadlock was broken when Stefan Savic brought down Daniel Agger in the box, before Gerrard stepped up to slot the ball home from the penalty spot on 13 minutes.City looked out of sorts in the first-half but could and should have possibly equalised just before the break when James Milner fired his shot over the bar after some great work from Micah Richards. The home side looked brighter in the second half and could have equalised after Martin Kelly produced a poor back pass straight to Sergio Aguero but Pepe Reina was there to put the Argentina star off and his effort went over the bar.Just before the hour mark a Samir Nasri corner was well connected by the head of Micah Richards but again Reina was equal to it. City enjoyed more of the possession in the final 20 minutes but could not find a goal of their own and Liverpool held on to take a one goal advantage back to Anfield for the semi-final second leg.

Aguero Eliminates Gunners

Sergio Aguero came off the bench to send Manchester City into the League Cup semifinals with a 1-0 win over Arsenal . The Argentina striker netted his 12th goal of the season when he settled the tie with seven minutes remaining, finishing off a swift counter-attack which started in City's own penalty area. Arsene Wenger's Arsenal, finalists last season, enjoyed the better chances before Aguero struck and forced saves from Costel Pantilimon before their nine-match unbeaten run was ended. Between the two clubs, only one player remained from their starting line-ups at the weekend, with both managers choosing to rotate their squad and give fringe players a chance. That one player was Samir Nasri, with the France midfielder receiving jeers from home fans following his move from Arsenal to City at the start of the season. Nasri drifted in and out of the action during an open quarterfinal where both teams appeared intent on attacking. City were the first to create an opening, with England winger Adam Johnson firing just over the crossbar from 25 yards with 10 minutes on the clock. Arsenal went close a minute later after Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain started an attack on the right flank. The ball was worked to Francis Coquelin and his low cross found Park Ju-Young six yards from goal. Park's finish appeared to be heading for the corner of the net but City goalkeeper Pantilimon flung out his hand as he dived to his left and tipped around the post. Pantilimon was called into action again when Oxlade-Chamberlain exchanged passes with Marouane Chamakh and drove towards the top corner from the edge of the area, with the Romanian youngster deflecting the ball over. There was confusion just after the half-hour mark when City wanted to make a substitution. Nasri appeared to be heading towards the touchline and was booed by supporters, but it was Aleksandar Kolarov who made way for Aguero. Kolarov also appeared to be upset with the substitution as he took his seat on the bench. Both teams went close after the interval, firstly when Edin Dzeko curled wide of the post with an effort from 25 yards out. The Bosnia striker was also off target with a finish when he met Pablo Zabaleta's cross with a volley. At the other end, Oxlade-Chamberlain cut inside from the right, tricked his marker with a step-over and forced Pantilimon to punch away with his save. Chamakh also went over the bar after being slipped through by Yossi Benayoun, who was captain for the evening. Wenger made his move midway through the second half, replacing Park with Gervinho in an attempt to break the deadlock. But the decisive moment came with seven minutes remaining after Dzeko carried the ball forward from his own penalty area. After threading the ball through for Johnson, the touch back to Aguero was perfect for him to run forward and finish confidently past Lukasz Fabianski.

Nasri Set To Complete Manchester City Move

Samir Nasri has completed his medical at Manchester City and is expected to finalise his move from Arsenal on Wednesday. The 24-year-old France international was due to travel to Manchester for a medical examination on Tuesday, Arsenal said before the north London team flew to Italy for a Champions League playoff against Udinese. The Blues agreed a fee with Arsenal earlier in the day, as a summer-long transfer saga began to edge towards a conclusion. Arsenal was compelled to sell Nasri because he turned down a new contract and could have left on a free transfer next year when his most recent deal expired. Arsenal is reported to be receiving £24 million ($40 million) from City. The attacking midfielder, who can play centrally or on either wing, scored 27 goals in 124 appearances since joining Arsenal from Marseille in July 2008. Despite Arsenal's failure to seriously challenge for the English league title, last season was Nasri's most productive with 15 goals — 10 in the Premier League. Nasri will be joining a City squad already including the attacking talents of Spain midfielder David Silva, England winger Adam Johnson and Argentina forward Sergio Aguero.

Manchester City Close to sealing Nasri Move

Manchester City believe they have captured Arsenal playmaker Samir Nasri for £19million.
The deal is close to completion and will represent a significant victory for City with both Manchester United and Chelsea also keen on landing the Frenchman.The fact that City are grabbing Nasri just 24 hours after Carlos Tevez told of his wish to leave the club is also seen as an important moment for a club who will play in the Champions League for the first time this season.City boss Roberto Mancini has told the club owners he needs five new faces before the start of the season.After the signing of Gael Clichy for £7m earlier this week, the Nasri move represents another serious loss for Arsenal to one of their Barclays Premier League rivals.

Bale named PFA Player of the Year

Tottenham Hotspur winger Gareth Bale has been named as PFA Player of the Year, with Arsenal's Jack Wilshere winning the Young Player award.
Arsenal's Sami Nasri was second in the voting with Manchester City's Carlos Tevez third.
Blackpool's Charlie Adam, Manchester United defender Nemanja Vidic, West Ham midfielder Scott Parker and Bale's team-mate Rafael van der Vaart were also nominated.
Bale is the fourth Welshman to win the award with Ryan Giggs, Mark Hughes (twice) and Ian Rush previous winners.
He is the first Tottenham player to win the award since David Ginola picked up the award in the 1999.
"I am more than delighted really. It is a massive award and it is a great honour to receive, especially from other fellow professionals," said Bale.
"It is a honour really when you look at the names that have won it before and it just makes you go 'wow' really.
"There haven't been too many Welshman to have won the trophy but it is great and it is great for me personally."
The PFA Premier League Team of Year was: Van Der Sar; Sagna, Vidic, Kompany Cole; Nani, Nasri, Wilshere, Bale; Tevez, Berbatov.
Bale and Nasri were also on the Young Player shortlist but Wilshere took that honour.
"It is my first full season and it is a massive award, especially from my fellow players. It is amazing," he said.
"Arsenal is a good club for bringing youngsters through and they keep proving it so I would like to thank the manager as well."
Manchester City's Joe Hart, Everton's Seamus Coleman and Manchester United duo Nani and Javier Hernandez were also nominated.