Results B

Pre Season Results:
Birmingham City v Arsenal
The community shield meant just one week to go before the start of the season and both teams would be looking to prove a point. It was the FA Cup championns who got into their rhythm early on, Rooney dropping deep and finding Alves with a raking pass, he played in Walker behind Clichy and his cross had to be turned behind by Vermaelen with the corner headed over by Barzagli. Birmingham did start to get into the game though and they almost took the lead when Schweinsteiger rolled the ball through to Gomez who turned Vidic and fired goalwards but Reina saved. Both teams were showing promising signs and towards the end of the half the first goal was scored. Silva came inside and found Ronaldo who turned and dinked a ball in between the defenders for Rooney to run on to and fire in. Into the second half and Birmingham were looking the more dangerous with Ribery causing Walker problems and his cross found Gomez who headed goalwards only to see Reina tip over the bar. Both teams made changes and it lead to more chances as first Robben blazed over and then Cazorla found Ronaldo but his shot was off target. Birmingham did get level when Modric found Gomez who's clever flick gave Nasri the room to fire in. Both teams pushed forward as the game ticked into the final few minutes and late on Arsenal got their winner. De Rossi found Van Persie who had found space on the wing and his ball across the box was tapped in by Alves. A thrilling game won in the final seconds, Arsenal's preparations look to be going well.
Birmingham City 1-2 Arsenal
Birmingham Scorer: Nasri 74
Arsenal Scorers: Rooney 41, Alves 90

Chelsea v Reading
A pre season game between two teams likely to be at opposite ends of the table and it looked that way from the off. Chelsea took the lead when Pazzini's cross was headed in by Cavani. It was 2-0 when Lampard made a clever run and Iraola's ball picked him out to fire in. Reading did have some good moments though, particularly in the first half when Sissoko picked out Coutinho who layed it out to Strinic and his ball in was volleyed goalwards by Vucinic with Viviano tipping wide. They didn't get a goal until the second half though, Angel playing it down the line for Krasic and his ball in found Rosicky to pull on back.
Chelsea 2-1 Reading
Chelsea Scorers: Cavani, Lampard
Reading Scorer: Rosicky

Hull City v Portsmouth
The start of the KC tournament and hosts Hull made a good start to the tournament with a win. They found plenty of spaces on the wings against a narrow Portsmouth side and thats where the first goal came from, Debuchy over lapping and his cross was headed in by Remy for 1-0. It was 2-0 not long after, this time Portsmouth made it very tight through the middle but a clever peace of play from Pastore found Debuchy again on the over lap and he was able to play in Neymar who fired into the corner of Begovic's goal. Portsmouth pulled one back when Wanyama's blocked shot fell to Borini to tap in but there was no stopping an adventurous Hull side from getting spaces out wide and a fine move finished up with Ba firing in.
Hull City 3-1 Portsmouth
Hull City Scorers: Remy, Neymar, Ba
Portsmouth Scorer: Borini

Liverpool v Sunderland
It was the third pre season game for both sides and it was evident that both teams had good fitness levels. Sunderland were passing the ball well and created an early chance, Carrick pass the ball to Kerzakov who nut megged Dragovic and ran straight through on goal, only to miss cue his shot really badly into row Z. Liverpool’s best chance of the half came when Liverpool broke on the counter, Sturridge had acres of space to run into as Balzarretti was nowhere to be seen, jogging back from the other half. Sturridge approached the box and had Lamela and Cisse screaming for the ball to tap in, instead he took the shot himself which was well saved. LSTD through an open bottle of water on the ground, which splattered on himself and his staff. There were plenty of changes at half time with kroos, courtois and torres coming on who are set to be the main players for Liverpool next season. Courtois produced a magnificent save from a deflected shot which came off Fellaini’s head, once again proving that LSTD does not need to go into the transfer marker for a goalkeeper. Changes were being made throughout the half which disrupted the momentum, but in the 84th minute, new signing Nicolas Gaitan, ran down the LW and produced a sublime cross which evaded everybody but Torres, who headed it into the net. That eventually proved to be the winner. Overall both teams looked defensively solid, just in phases Dragovic’s inexperience seemed to be troubling him. The partnership of Fellaini – Ramires looked very encouraging and could be very effective vs stronger opposition.
Liverpool 1-0 Sunderland
Liverpool Scorer: Torres
Sunderland Scorer: --

QPR v Aston Villa
Two sides looking to push up he table next season made for an entertaining game. The first chance went to QPR when Tabanou got into space and crossed for Huntelaar who did brilliantly against the defenders to get his header away, Szczesny making the early save. Villa got the next chance when Robinho dropped in and found Chamberlain whos curling effort flew just wide. It was Asto Villa that took the lead, Chamberlain plaing Milner into space and he got into the box before finding Robinho who fired in. QPR got one back after a good move, Tiote winning the ball and playing it forward to Huntelaar who held it up well, Benatia got a foot in but it fell for Sessegnon to fire in. Both teams made numerous changes in the secon half and it slowed the game down, that was until Yennaris crossed in and Higuain got in between defenders to fire in.
QPR 1-2 Aston Villa
QPR Scorers: Sessegnon
Aston Villa Scorers: Robinho, Higuain