Lumafit Is a Beautiful Blend of Technological Innovation and Personal Fitness

 

 

In recent years, the most worrisome health problem in the United States has been obesity. A small problem two decades ago, it has quickly risen to the top of the list. This is in a large part due to the way many Americans lives are structured. Busy days filled with stress and little relaxation lead into poor eating habits and unhealthy living. Many people also have a difficult time fitting in the gym every day. On top of that, the gym is not the most inviting place. Gym memberships are expensive, they aren’t always close to home or work and they sometimes are not even a mentally comfortable place to work out.

Over and over again companies have come out with the best and newest and most advanced workout tool or personal trainer that will motivate people to lose weight and stay in shape. The creators of Lumafit, however, believe that exercise in not the only piece to a healthy body.

Having little to no financial backing, the makers of Lumafit turned to popular funding website Kickstarter. In order to begin production and shipping, the Dublin, Ireland-based company wanted $60,000 in monetary backing. As of June 6th of this year the project was successfully funded on the site with 1,039 backers and just over $100,000 in financing.

Lumafit is an interactive fitness coach worn on the ear with the ability to sync with multiple smartphone apps. The idea behind this fitness tracker is keeping a bulky band off the wrist and putting the equipment in a spot that won’t get in the way of exercise. The plastic piece actually rests on top of the ear while a clip attaches to the earlobe. This clip is actually where the technology is.

The makers knew that identifying exact motion at the wrist was difficult because the wrist goes through large motions that are unrelated to core body movement. The earpiece is built with comfort in mind with soft material on the inside to make it feel like it isn’t even there. With the clip and snug fit, the piece is ensured to stay on during all levels of exercise. While the earpiece only weighs 38 grams, the best part is it only needs to be worn during exercise and meditation sessions to get the information it needs. Tracking at the head allows the Lumafit to precisely identify and rate cardio workouts. The Lumafit can track the user wherever they choose to work out. At home the device can track boot camp sessions including exercises like lunges, sit-ups or squats. Gym workouts can also be tracked for the purpose of knowing stats and being able to visualize personal progress over time.

According to Lumafit, it is not only important to be body fit, but mind fit as well. The product provides medical grade heart data allowing the company to develop apps that guide and analyze yoga breathing sessions.

To go with this information gathering, there are three apps that work with the Lumafit. They are the Gym Tracker, Home Fitness and Yoga Breathing. The gym tracker obviously tracks gym workouts, while the home fitness app runs interactive Bootcamp sessions which are designed to burn over 200 calories in twenty minutes. The Yoga breathing app gives a ten minute interactive and mindful deep breathing session.

Lumafit is aiming to add more tools to their product as additional funding pours in. One is the ability to analyze and improve running style. The Lumafit currently has a high resolution motion sensor that can gather information on running style. These include: impact force, air time, cadence, symmetry and stride variance. With the goal of $100,000 reached, this should be added on to the system.

The world can now rid themselves of bulky chest strap heart rate monitors and heavy wrist bracelets. The Lumafit does more, weighs less and is less troublesome during workouts.

 

Manchester United: Angel Di Maria can thrive as Old Trafford star man

By Tim Vickery BBC Sport's South American football expert

After his Atletico Madrid side had drawn 1-1 with local rivals Real Madrid in the first leg of the Spanish Super Cup, coach Diego Simeone observed that "the game changed with the introduction of Angel Di Maria. It's logical - he's the best player they have, the one most likely to create openings in the opposition half."

Cristiano Ronaldo may not agree, and Simeone's analysis of the man Manchester United have signed for a British record fee of £59.7m could have contained an element of one Argentine boosting another.

But it is hard to disagree with Di Maria's importance to Real Madrid's 2013-14 campaign, rounded off, of course, by a man-of-the-match performance against Atletico in the final of the Champions League.

How, then, can a man so instrumental to the long-awaited 10th continental title - La Decima - be so soon declared surplus to requirements?

Di Maria's Real demise was predicted a year ago, when the club spent a fortune on Gareth Bale. Despite making a season-long statement of his worth, the Argentine has now fallen victim to the compulsive buying of the Spanish giants.

Di Maria scored seven goals in 76 Portuguese league appearances while at Benfica

With the acquisition of James Rodriguez - yet another top-quality left-footed attacking midfielder - Di Maria has been allowed to leave.

Presumably, one of the main attractions of the move to Manchester is that the size of the transfer fee should guarantee the 26-year-old the thing he was denied at Madrid - an important place in the pecking order.

What makes him worth such status is the developing maturity of his game.

From the city of Rosario, like Lionel Messi, and born just a few months later, Di Maria always had the capacity to run with the ball at pace. Greyhound slim and whippet fast, Di Maria first came to my attention at the start of 2007, playing for Argentina in the South American Under-20 Championships in Paraguay.

He was interesting but infuriating, drifting in and out of games, playing in spurts and often restricted to the role of impact substitute.

In the next few months, though, he made his senior breakthrough as a goalscoring winger for the Rosario Central club. Then, in July, already more interesting and less infuriating, he made an important contribution alongside Sergio Aguero as Argentina won the World Under-20 title in Canada.

A year later, in China, he raced behind the Nigerian defensive line to score the goal that clinched the gold medal in the 2008 Olympics in Beijing.

Biggest transfer fees paid by a British club
£50m	Fernando Torres	Liverpool to Chelsea	2011
£42.4m	Mesut Ozil	Real Madrid to Arsenal	2013
£38m	Sergio Aguero	Atletico Madrid to Manchester City	2011
£37.1m	Juan Mata	Chelsea to Manchester Utd	2014
£35m	Andy Carroll	Newcastle to Liverpool	2011
£35m	Alexis Sanchez	Barcelona to Arsenal	2014

By then, he was already in Europe, having joined Benfica in 2007, and he moved on to Real Madrid three years later for £20m.

Always a dangerous winger, it is in the last couple of seasons that he has become a much more useful all-round footballer.

The idea of using Di Maria on the left of a three-man midfield was a bold one, and was not an instant success with the national team. "I had no idea what Di Maria was doing," said influential former Argentina coach Cesar Menotti after a defeat by Venezuela in World Cup qualification almost three years ago.

Fast forward to 2014, though, and Di Maria has made progress with the speed of one his forward surges.

The ever astute Jonathan Wilson, author of Inverting the Pyramid: The History of Football Tactics, described him recently as "tactically probably the most important member of the Real Madrid side in 2013-14" in his deeper midfield role.

"He pulled wide when Cristiano Ronaldo went inside. He shuttled to provide the link between the midfield of Xabi Alonso (or Sami Khedira in the Champions League final) and Luka Modric and the forward line, [and] he sat in when Marcelo overlapped him from full-back," explained Wilson, who judges that Real's decision to let Di Maria go could prove as foolish as the similar blunder they made with Claude Makelele just over a decade ago.

Di Maria scores winner for Argentina

The size of Manchester United's gain would be all the more apparent had Di Maria not broken down during the recent World Cup.

During qualification, Argentina had felt their way towards a way in which to accommodate 'the fantastic four' attacking talents. Messi was operating behind Sergio Aguero and Gonzalo Higuain, with Di Maria bursting from deep, taking advantage of the space opened up by the three in front of him.

In the event, though, the expectations never came close to being met.

Aguero was nowhere near fit, Higuain was off colour and nothing seemed to go Di Maria's way. In Argentina's dramatic second-round meeting with Switzerland, Di Maria gave the ball away 51 times and recorded a pass completion rate of 63% - appalling statistics, but ones which throw some light on his strength of character.

However badly things were going, Di Maria never hid, never played safe, never shirked his responsibility - and he was rewarded for his persistence with a superb 118th-minute winner, sliding home Messi's sublime pass.

In the quarter-final against Belgium, he helped set up what turned out to be the winning goal, only to limp off with the thigh problem that would end his tournament.

Di Maria inspired Argentina to Olympic gold at the 2008 Beijing Games with the winner in the final

His presence in the final against Germany could have been decisive. Especially in the first half, Germany's high defensive line would surely have had problems coping with the pace of Argentina's number seven - a famous shirt, of course, in Manchester United folklore.

Di Maria coming to England is an outcome which always seemed likely at some stage in his career.

When he joined Benfica seven years ago he was reported as saying that he wanted to do well enough to earn a move to Chelsea. Subsequently he has declared an affection for Manchester United.

Reproducing last season's Real Madrid form in a red shirt will surely give Di Maria a lasting place in the affections of United fans.

Source : bbc[dot]com

Casey Stoney: Why the hard work starts now for Canada 2015

By Casey Stoney England women's defender

England and Arsenal Ladies defender Casey Stoney is writing a regular column for the BBC Sport website this season.

Reaching next year's World Cup in Canada with a 100% qualifying record is an amazing achievement for the England team and everyone involved but it also comes with a reality check for me.

As the top-ranked team in the group, we should have qualified, and the way we have played with so much belief and purpose has shown that the girls are determined to show that finishing bottom of the group at Euro 2013 was not a true reflection of our talents.

England qualify for World Cup finals

From a personal point of view, though, the hard work starts now as I have accepted that my role in the squad has changed.

The new head coach Mark Sampson has altered our system, brought in new faces and created a strong competition for places, meaning I have gone from being England captain and a regular starter to completing only one game in the qualifying campaign since Mark came in.

Am I confident of making the trip to Canada right now? Based on recent games, probably not. Yet there is no doubt that I want to be on that plane and I'm working hard every day to try and prove myself. I had to do the same under previous England manager Hope Powell when I was left out during Euro 2005 and I am determined to do the same again now.

I still feel I have a lot to offer the squad both on and off the pitch in terms of my knowledge and experience.

So between now and when the squad is announced, it is up to me to fight my corner, perform for Arsenal and take my opportunities when they arise. It shows you that, no matter your level or experience, you have to keep proving yourself in women's football and I am determined to do that.

The good thing about the squad is that whoever makes the starting XI, we are all together and, following our excellent qualifying campaign, there is a very positive vibe among us.

The recent 4-0 friendly victory over Sweden, ranked fifth in the world, added to that feeling, as has the news that England will be facing Germany at Wembley in November.

Our qualifying group was not easy, with Wales and Ukraine providing the toughest games, but playing the top teams in the world gives you a better barometer of where the team stands.

All about Casey Stoney
Born: 13 May 1982, Essex
Centre-back for Arsenal Ladies and England
Former clubs: Arsenal, Charlton, Chelsea, Lincoln
Considered international retirement after not playing at Euro 2005 in England but now has 117 caps
In February, became first major female player to speak about being gay and her partner is now expecting twins

It shows how the new 4-4-2 diamond system is working, how well we are doing individually and collectively, and how we are shaping up to take on the best in the world in Canada.

So to face European Champions Germany and have the chance to represent England at Wembley for the first time is massive for everyone concerned.

Many of the squad got the chance to play at Wembley while representing Great Britain at the London Olympics and it was an historic night. We beat Brazil 1-0 in front of 70,000 fans and, from a footballing point of view, it was the best night of my life. Hopefully we can create that sort of atmosphere again.

It might be unrealistic to expect the same number of supporters for the Germany game, but it is another proud moment for women's football and I'm not sure any of the players now care that they haven't played there for England since the new Wembley opened seven years ago.

In the past, perhaps the women's game wasn't quite ready to host an occasion like this but with qualification for the World Cup now sealed, and against a top team like Germany, it should be an evening to savour.

We should approach the game confidently as our record against the top teams in friendlies has been quite good over the past few years. Before the 2011 World Cup we beat the United States and we also drew with world champions Japan on home soil before Euro 2013.

The England team had no problems with the artificial pitches at this summer's Women's Under-20 World Cup in Canada

But, of course, that means nothing if we can't produce those performances at the World Cup and we will want to try and improve on our past two showings where we reached the quarter-final stage.

Artificial turf war

There has already been a debate about the 2015 tournament taking place on artificial turf with the likes of United States star Abby Wambach accusing world governing body Fifa of sexism for going down this route. Her argument is that this decision would never be taken for a men's World Cup.

From my point of view, it is not ideal, you want to play on grass where possible. But I've spoken to some of the England squad, who played on the same pitches at the Under-20 World Cup in Canada recently, and they told me it did not cause them any problems.

They said the pitches were good and the ball moved quite quickly, which can sometimes be an issue with artificial turf. The reality nowadays is that we train on pitches of this kind day in, day out and we are used to matches too as Everton and Liverpool both play their Women's Super League games on an artificial pitch at Widnes.

I also doubt that Fifa is going to change its mind now, so we will just have to prepare in the right way by training on that surface beforehand. From what I've seen, the stadiums in Canada are fantastic and I'm sure it will be a great spectacle for women's football.

If I'm totally honest, though, my biggest concern right now is to make sure I am there.

Casey Stoney was talking to BBC Sport's Alistair Magowan.

Source : bbc[dot]com

How Technology Has Moved In On Fitness and Is Not Leaving Anytime Soon

 

Technology is changing the way individuals are working out. (Healthy Travel)

In such an increasingly mobile and connected world, many of our daily activities have been streamlined and made easier by the Internet and technology.

In fact, for some of us, it’s hard to imagine life without a smartphone. Our devices ensure that we are always connected, even when we’re away from home. Having access to the internet on the go is a convenience we’ve grown accustomed to, but how has it shaped the fitness industry?

Tracking Fitness in Cyberspace

Fitness tracking websites, apps, and devices have skyrocketed over the past few years, trending along with our need to be connected. MyFitnessPal is a calorie counting app and website that has grown in popularity in recent years. With their prodigious database of nutrition details, you can accurately count your calories and then use their exercise features to stay on pace with your fitness and weight loss goals. All of this can be done simply and easily on a mobile app. MyFitnessPal has over 65 million users – and is still growing.

As you can imagine, MyFitnessPal, with its widespread use and tracking nature, has created one of the largest databases of its kind. This data is at their disposal to analyze for demographic segmentation, personalization, and further innovation of their products and services, among many other uses. MyFitnessPal is not done yet, either, as they recently announced a partnership with Garmin, a leader in GPS technology. With Garmin’s GPS technology in tow, yet another avenue of fitness tracking is available to users of MyFitnessPal services. Compatible devices link up to your MyFitnessPal account and using the massive database, will compare calories consumed against calories burned on a daily basis to give you an overall view, in turn keeping you on track with your health, fitness, and weight loss goals. This technology will allow both companies to use analytics for all of the new data collected in order to enhance the future of technology as it relates to health and fitness.

Another major player at the intersection of technology and fitness is Fitbit. These wearable bands use sensors and wireless technology to track your movements throughout the day, automatically syncing with your smartphone and computer, in turn helping you seamlessly integrate fitness into your busy daily schedule. They can help you keep track of calories, map routes for walking, jogging or running, and much more. Much like the aforementioned Garmin partnership, you can connect your Fitbit band to your MyFitnessPal account and take advantage of their huge collection of accurate data to better plan your meals and exercise routines.

The technology behind Fitbit is based on its accelerometer system, which allows the devices to accurately track motion and even the degree of intensity behind the motion. This data is collected throughout the day by your device and then converted by Fitbit’s proprietary software algorithms, which have been perfected over time. Once the motion is converted by the algorithms, it is able to tell you how many calories you burned with your activity throughout the day. You can then view this information on a mobile app and helpful online tools to see your progress on an intuitive user interface.

A Growing Market of Wearable Tech

The Nike FuelBand (Nike)

 

Wearable devices seem to be the latest trend in consumer technology, from smart watches to fitness bands. While Fitbit has been at the forefront of the wearable movement in fitness, many other companies are eager to have a hand in the growing pot:

• Nike has the Fuelband, which, although noticeably pricier than most versions of Fitbit, is very stylish and gets the job done. It counts your actions during the day – whether you’re actively exercising or not – and converts them to Fuel points to let you know how you’re doing

• Strava Run and Cycling are bands aimed towards runners and bicycle enthusiasts; much like Garmin technology, they tap into GPS for enhanced accuracy but can be a bit cumbersome with the necessary attachment to your mobile phone

• The Griffin Adidas Armband is similar to the Strava in terms of functionality – but the design is more forgiving as your smartphone resides in a patch that’s attached to your arm

Fitness in Video Games

No longer can video games be associated with laziness and low activity levels. With the onset of interactive video games, you can now engage in fitness in the comfort of your own living room on your favorite console. Some examples of fitness technology in video games are the Wii Fit and Xbox Kinect. Practices like Zumba, popularized in gyms and clubs across the country, are now being utilized on video game consoles.

The Wii Fit is one of the longest standing and most popular fitness video games. It uses the Wii Balance Board along with the Wii sensor to track user's movements during interactive games. The Wii Balance board has load sensors in each of its four corners to track movements as you shift your center of gravity and weight over the board. This technology has tapped into the need to be entertained while exercising, and has been a success for Nintendo. Xbox has followed suit with their Kinect sensor and there are now quite a few fitness games you can enjoy on your console.

These are just a few examples of how technology is revolutionizing fitness as we know it. With fitness tracking apps connecting to the devices we use every day – along with the adoption of new devices – it’s never been easier to stay active and on track with your fitness goals. Look for technology to continue to morph the way we stay healthy and active.

 

Jefferson Montero: Can the unknown shine for Swansea?

By Tim Vickery BBC Sport's South American football expert

Jefferson Montero could hardly have made a better start to his time in the Premier League.

Just seconds after coming off the bench at Old Trafford last Saturday he set up the goal that gave Swansea their first ever league win at Manchester United. It was a moment which highlighted why many have been waiting more than seven years for him to become an overnight success.

One of the highlights of covering South American football is the opportunity to catch young talent on the way up, to have a sneak preview of players who in a few years will be household names all over the world. There have been too many to mention over the course of these last two decades. Montero was one of the more surprising.

I first saw him playing for Ecuador in the 2007 Pan-American Games, the local equivalent of the Commonwealth Games. Not yet 18, he was gliding past his marker on either side with ridiculous ease, running faster with the ball than his opponent could without.

From Ecuador to Wales
Jefferson Montero is one of 10 Ecuadorians to have played in the Premier League.	The first Ecuadorian in the Premier League was Southampton striker Agustin Delgado, who scored one goal in three injury-hit years on the south coast.
There are three involved this season - Montero, Antonio Valencia at Manchester United and new West Ham striker Enner Valencia.	The other players from the South American country to have played in the top flight are Ivan Kaviedes (Crystal Palace), Fernando Guerrero (Burnley), Ulises de la Cruz (Aston Villa, Reading), Segundo Castillo (Everton, Wolves), Felipe Caicedo (Man City) and the late Christian Benitez (Birmingham).

He was the star turn as Ecuador claimed the gold medal - a hugely significant moment for football in the country. Winning a title was enough to promote coach Sixto Vizuete, previously an unknown, to the post of national team boss, and he took Montero with him, throwing the teenager into the World Cup qualification campaign.

"He's the ace up our sleeve," Vizuete told me early in 2008. A year later, still not 20, he was tearing Diego Maradona's Argentina to pieces.

So why, then, has he not made even more progress? A few days short of his 25th birthday, how come such a talented player as Jefferson Montero has yet to establish himself with a major club?

All the ability is clearly there, and maybe if he were from Brazil rather than Ecuador more opportunities at club level would have come his way.

Jefferson Montero has scored eight times for Ecuador since his debut in 2007

He nearly joined Cardiff a year ago before eventually making his way to the Premier League with Swansea this summer. In flashes - such as making the winning goal at Old Trafford - he can come across as a player of Real Madrid calibre.

But he remains a source of frustration. The goal against United was created by a well struck left-footed cross. But he is naturally right-footed. Later he wasted a chance to clinch the match when he cut inside onto his right - and not only let slip a shooting opportunity, but also played a poor pass infield which allowed United to launch a counter-attack. There is still considerable room for improvement in his decision-making and final-ball delivery.

In the last few days he has been embroiled in a row about Ecuador's recent World Cup campaign. On the one hand there has been dissent about the bonuses paid to the players for qualifying for Brazil. But, in what seems to be a separate issue, Montero has claimed the team's progress was undermined by internal problems.

He has yet to specify what these might have been, and a number of senior players in the squad have said that they have no idea what he is talking about.

Part of the problem may lie in a strained relationship between Montero and Reinaldo Rueda, the Colombian coach who took Ecuador to the World Cup. The team's key game in Brazil was always likely to be the opener against Switzerland, where with the scores level at 1-1 in the second half Ecuador were on top and Montero was looking the most likely match-winner.

However, he was taken off with 15 minutes to go in a game which the Swiss went on to win in stoppage time.

Swansea manager Garry Monk
"Jefferson's got very good pace and quality about him. And for a player who's so young, he's got experience as well. The World Cup's been a great experience for him. If he can bring the momentum he's got from that into the Premier League it'll be great."

A few months earlier Rueda had told me that the winger was one of his key hopes for a successful World Cup - "But," he said, "it will depend on his mental frame of mind. Does he want to play for Ecuador, or for Jefferson Montero? This question is still not easy for him."

Looking back on the tournament - where Ecuador were the only South American side in the last two World Cups to fail to make it out of their group - Rueda commented that he had always wanted Manchester United's Antonio Valencia to be more selfish, and Montero to be less so.

This was almost certainly a clash between a serious, methodical coach and an instinctive, gifted player. Montero may well not be the easiest in the world to handle; just 10 years older than Montero, Garry Monk's man-management skills are going to be tested at Swansea.

It is probably just as well that Swansea's assistant manager, Josep Clotet, is Spanish - though it is also worth noting Montero spent three years in Spain with Villareal (including loan spells at Levante and Betis) without consistently living up to expectations.

Is he now ready to do better in England, and build on that sensational start? The next two matches will be very different from the debut in the Theatre of Dreams. Swansea are at home to Burnley and then West Brom when there should be more opportunities to attack - but presumably less space to do so against opponents likely to get men behind the ball.

Then comes a break for international matches - where it probably works to his advantage that his old mentor Vizuete has been placed back in temporary command of Ecuador - before another dip in the deep end with the trip to face Chelsea on 13 September.

If he fails to turn on the style on a regular basis it will be the Premier League's loss. After seven years of watching him develop, I hope last weekend's cameo was a glimpse of things to come. Either way, this is a story worth watching.

Source : bbc[dot]com

Robbie Savage: Doing my Hammers homework for MOTD

In his regular BBC Sport column, Robbie Savage explains how he prepares for being a pundit on Match of the Day, and also looks ahead to Monday's big game between Manchester City and Liverpool.

There is a special Match of the Day on Saturday to mark the 50th anniversary of the show. To be honest - and some people might agree with me on this - I cannot believe that I am on it.

It's a real honour. I grew up watching it and, as a player, I used to love tuning in to see myself in action.

But, each time I am in that studio sitting in that chair next to Gary Lineker and the theme tune starts, the feeling is something else.

Savage is one of the regular pundits on Match of the Day this season

After a game has been shown, you hear the words "cue analysis" and it is your turn to talk. The first time I did it, the only other time I had felt so nervous was when I performed on Strictly Come Dancing.

You are trying to tell the viewer at home something they cannot see for themselves, and that is more difficult now because the public are so knowledgeable. Also, you have limited time to get your point across.

It is a highlights show so people want to see goals and a little bit of analysis, but what you say is so important, which is why I always start my preparation a few days in advance.

Studying the stats on the unhappy Hammers

At the start of this week I had to choose which of Saturday's 3pm games I will be talking about. I picked Crystal Palace versus West Ham.

I wanted to look at the Hammers to see whether the criticism that their manager Sam Allardyce has been getting is fair.

Allardyce led West Ham to 13th place last season but his future appears under threat

The club's owners have demanded "more entertainment" and they have brought in Teddy Sheringham as an attacking coach. So as part of my analysis on Match of the Day, I will be looking at whether they have improved and, if they have, what has changed?

I have been looking into that all week, in order to be able to speak about it for maybe two minutes after we show their match on the programme.

I got in touch with statisticians Opta, asking for figures showing things like West Ham's pass completion and the number of chances they created, so I could try to put a better picture together of how they played last season, and how that compares with the way they have started this one.

West Ham in the Premier League
Rank	2014-15		2013-14	Rank
Data: Opta
	1	Games played	38
17	0	Goals	40	14
17	0	Av goals per game	1.05	14
1	14	Shots (not blocked)	326	16
17	28.6%	% Shots on target	37.4%	20
17	0%	% Goals to shots	12.%	11
12	414	Total passes	12,364	19
7	83.1%	Overall pass completion %	73.9%	18
12	115	Passes in final third	4537	12
6	70.4%	Pass completion in final third %	57.9%	20
9	28%	% Passes in final third	36.7%	1
7	15.1%	% Passes long	16.7%	1

Continue reading the main story

“You cannot pre-judge things before the show. What I say about West Ham on MOTD will depend on their performance at Selhurst Park”

As you can see, West Ham's attacking statistics were poor in 2013-14. They were among the lowest passers, and hit more long balls than any other team in the Premier League.

Their pass completion in the final third was the worst in the top flight, and they also got the smallest percentage of their shots on target. I can understand why their fans have been complaining, and why their owners were concerned.

Have things got any better? Well, they have obviously only played once this season, their last-gasp defeat by Tottenham last weekend, but some of the statistics from that game are interesting.

They had more shots than any other team in the opening round of fixtures, and their passing in the final third of the pitch - and overall - was a lot more accurate than it was during their previous campaign. It appears that part of their game is something Allardyce has been working on.

I will be looking out for all of this when I watch them on Saturday, although you cannot pre-judge things before the show. What I say about West Ham on Match of the Day will depend on their performance, and playing style, at Selhurst Park few hours earlier.

My Match of the Day memories - as a boy

The theme tune is something I grew up with, from when I was a young boy living in a little house in Wrexham. The walls were that thin and the house was that small that, when I was lying in bed, I could hear the TV as if I were in the same room. I used to hear the music at the start of Sportsnight or Midweek Sports Special and know I would never be allowed downstairs to watch them. I had to sneak down and sit on the bottom of the stairs. Match of the Day was different. Because it was the weekend, when I heard that music start I knew I would be allowed to stay up.

But I know from the phone-ins I've hosted on 606 that, whatever their result, how they play and whether they have improved or not will be a talking point.

A lot has been going on at Crystal Palace this week too, of course. It looks like they will still be manager-less on Saturday. What happens next there is really interesting as well.

Keith Millen has been in charge of Crystal Palace since Tony Pulis quit his job last week

All in all it should make a nice piece, but I always know that will not change the fact that, if that game is rubbish, it could be moved down the running order and even shown last.

If that happens, I will be left scratching round for something else to say about a different match. Whether the one you pick out beforehand is any good is down to luck, really.

Sometimes you might think one of the pundits on the show is not saying as much but, if the game you are watching is dull and the other guy has a much better 3pm game then they will end up doing more analysis.

We are encouraged now though to get our view across, so it's not just one person talking. While I might have not seen much of, say, Chelsea's game against Leicester, I can have a view on any incidents, for example a penalty decision or if a goal should have been disallowed.

All the pundits also watch so much football that we will all have a view generally on the way teams play, or can point out some stats or tricky fixtures coming up.

If I've got a 10-second chat to Gary then I try to get a little snippet like that in there.

Alan Shearer is the other pundit on Saturday's show and somebody I really enjoy working with. We bonded after sitting on 45,000 seats each at Wembley for Sport Relief in March!

So while Alan might lead on the early game, because it's his old club Newcastle against Aston Villa, and also on the late match, because I will be presenting 606 on 5 live when that is on, I will still be offering my opinion on what I spot in both games.

New-look Liverpool face first big test

The first really big game of the season takes place at Etihad Stadium on Monday night, between last season's top two - the champions Manchester City and runners-up Liverpool.

It is very hard to make a call on how that game is going to go but l don't think Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers will take a cautious approach.

He believes in his attacking philosophy and he believes in his team, and I think he will go for it.

Savage's Liverpool team to face Manchester City

The Reds looked a bit nervous in their win over Southampton last weekend but I was again impressed by Jordan Henderson, who played on the right of their trio of attacking midfielders.

He spent most of last season playing next to Steven Gerrard in a deeper role but he is playing in that advanced role, and getting up and down the wing, while Adam Lallana is injured.

I already saw Henderson as one of the most improved players in the Premier League over the last 12 months and Liverpool missed him massively when he was suspended right at the end of last season - their defeat against Chelsea and draw with Crystal Palace that cost them the title came without him in the team.

My Match of the Day memories - as a player
To be on as a player was tremendously exciting but I remember one show for the wrong reasons. I was playing for Leicester against Liverpool in September 1999. We drew 2-2 and I had a great game. Back home, I had friends and family crowded around my TV to watch.
I was waiting for the pundits to give me some praise but before that could happen, the commentator John Motson asked Foxes boss Martin O'Neill a question: "Well, Martin, you must have been delighted by the performance of Robbie Savage?"
I will never forget O'Neill's reply. "Robbie lacks just one thing," he said. "Ability." I was crushed. I sat in my front room and went bright red.

I would be the first to admit that, earlier in his Anfield career, I thought he was a waste of money but he has proved me wrong.

He showed against Saints that he can bring energy to Liverpool's midfield wherever he is operating, and he was a real threat with his runs forward as well as providing a glorious pass for Raheem Sterling's goal.

Henderson and Sterling will be playing wide again against City and making darting runs inside.

If City play with a high defensive line then Liverpool will be looking to Steven Gerrard to get his head up and put the ball through to them from deep positions.

The midfield is going to be a fascinating battle because I was very impressed by City's new signing Fernando in their win over Newcastle, and it was very interesting to see where he played.

Touches on the opening weekend of the Premier League season
Fernando for MCFC v Newcastle	Henderson for LFC v Saints

Something I looked at in this column last season was how Fernandinho is a box-to-box midfielder for City, just like Yaya Toure. He likes to go forward, which is no bad thing, but it does not really free up Toure when they play together.

But when I watched Fernando at St James' Park, when he had the ball, he did not think about trying to get forward once. He just sat and protected his centre-halves, Vincent Kompany and Martin Demichelis, and never went near the Newcastle area.

Knowing that gives Toure more confidence and freedom to go forward and join attacks and it also means City will be more solid at the back.

Liverpool look to Lovren as defensive leader

Lovren made his competitive debut for Liverpool against former club Southampton

For all the goals they scored, Liverpool's weakness last season was their defence - they conceded at least twice in 16 of their 38 Premier League games and, out of the top eight, only Tottenham (51) shipped more goals in total than the Reds (50).

Rodgers was, understandably, focused on getting the best out of his prolific attack, but whether it was in a four or a three-man defence, whatever he tried at the back, Liverpool were never really that convincing.

Liverpool's centre-halves in the Premier League 2013-14
Who played together?	Games	Won	Lost	Win rate	Conceded per game
Data: Opta
Agger-Toure	2	2	0	100%	0
Agger-Skrtel	13	11	1	85%	1
Toure-Skrtel	6	4	0	67%	1.5
Sahko-Toure-Skrtel	5	3	1	60%	1.4
Sahko-Skrtel	11	6	3	55%	1.64
Skrtel-Toure	1	0	1	0%	3

One of the things they were missing was somebody to give them the leadership in that department that they got from Jamie Carragher until he retired in 2013.

When I played against him, Carragher was always screaming at his partner at centre-half and the full-back on his side to push up.

Continue reading the main story

“Brendan Rodgers has some big defensive decisions to make but he has not changed his attacking outlook”

At time in crucial matches last season, that was what Liverpool lacked. I remember their defence dropping deeper and deeper in that 3-3 draw against Palace when their title challenge fell apart.

Rodgers is obviously looking to his new £20m signing Dejan Lovren to solve that problem, because he has already called him the "new" Carragher.

To be that player, he must have the authority to take control and adapt no matter what formation and players Rodgers uses at the back.

Liverpool's summer signings mean they now have lots more options across their entire backline.

The full-backs are massively important too, no matter what formation Liverpool line up in, because of the way they always try to get forward.

If another new signing, Alberto Moreno, comes in at left-back on Monday, Glen Johnson can switch to the right to link up with Henderson and they will have lots of energy down that flank.

So Rodgers has some big defensive decisions to make, but he has not changed his outlook.

What will make his mind up about who plays on Monday is what those players can offer him in attack against the champions too.

Robbie Savage was speaking to BBC Sport's Chris Bevan.

Source : bbc[dot]com

Premier League: BBC sport asks 'who will be the champions?'

By Chris Bevan BBC Sport

The Premier League starts again on Saturday, with Manchester City defending the title they won after a thrilling race last season.

Who will win it this time? We asked 29 BBC TV and radio pundits and commentators for their one-two-three-four prediction ahead of the new campaign, and for an explanation of their selection.

Predictor	1st	2nd	3rd	4th
Phil Neville	Chelsea	Man Utd	Man City	Arsenal
Robbie Savage	Chelsea	Man City	Arsenal	Liverpool
Danny Murphy	Chelsea	Man City	Arsenal	Liverpool
Mark Lawrenson	Chelsea	Man City	Arsenal	Liverpool
Danny Mills	Chelsea	Man City	Arsenal	Liverpool
Kevin Kilbane	Chelsea	Man City	Arsenal	Liverpool
Pat Nevin	Chelsea	Man City	Arsenal	Liverpool
Jacqui Oatley	Chelsea	Man City	Arsenal	Liverpool
Alan Shearer	Chelsea	Man City	Arsenal	Man Utd
Gabby Logan	Chelsea	Man City	Arsenal	Man Utd
Jason Roberts	Chelsea	Man City	Arsenal	Man Utd
Guy Mowbray	Chelsea	Man City	Arsenal	Man Utd
Steve Wilson	Chelsea	Man City	Arsenal	Man Utd
Alistair Mann	Chelsea	Man City	Arsenal	Man Utd
Steve Bower	Chelsea	Man City	Arsenal	Man Utd
Garth Crooks	Chelsea	Man City	Man Utd	Arsenal
John Murray	Chelsea	Man City	Man Utd	Arsenal
Ian Dennis	Chelsea	Arsenal	Man City	Liverpool
Alistair Bruce-Ball	Chelsea	Arsenal	Man City	Man Utd
Chris Waddle	Man City	Chelsea	Arsenal	Man Utd
Martin Keown	Man City	Chelsea	Arsenal	Man Utd
Jonathan Pearce	Man City	Chelsea	Arsenal	Liverpool
Kelly Cates	Man City	Chelsea	Arsenal	Liverpool
Les Ferdinand	Man City	Chelsea	Arsenal	Liverpool
Conor McNamara	Man City	Chelsea	Man Utd	Arsenal
Ian Wright	Man City	Arsenal	Chelsea	Man Utd
John Hartson	Man City	Arsenal	Chelsea	Liverpool
Dion Dublin	Man Utd	Chelsea	Man City	Liverpool
John Motson	Man Utd	Chelsea	Man City	Liverpool

Only five teams feature in the predictions and, with 19 votes, Chelsea are the overwhelming favourites to win the title. Eight votes went to City and two to Manchester United.

Only four experts thought Arsenal would finish higher than third and no-one is tipping Liverpool to finish higher than fourth or backing Everton or Tottenham, who finished fifth and sixth last season, to break into the top four.

Most people made their predictions on the basis of how each squad shapes up now, ahead of the opening weekend.

But John Motson's vote for Manchester United to be champions was made on the proviso that, as is widely expected, manager Louis van Gaal makes some significant signings before the transfer window closes on 1 September.

Overall predicted ranking using all BBC forecasts
1. Chelsea	2. Man City	3. Arsenal	4. Man Utd

Chelsea to win the title?

Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho signed Cesc Fabregas and Diego Costa this summer

Alan Shearer: Chelsea came so close last season without having a really top-class centre-forward but they have that now in Diego Costa and also Didier Drogba. I don't expect Drogba to play a lot but he can still offer something when he does.

Also, there is the Jose Mourinho factor - it would be unthinkable for him to go a third season without winning a trophy. That would represent a crisis for him.

Robbie Savage: Chelsea start as favourites because they had the best defensive record last year and have added two brilliant attacking threats in Cesc Fabregas and Diego Costa.

Pat Nevin: Chelsea were not that far behind City last season and they are definitely stronger now, while I am not sure City are. But the big thing Chelsea have got, and I think Mourinho has been building towards this for a while, is that there is no player they can lose that they will feel they cannot do without.

In comparison, City will not want to lose Yaya Toure because he leaves a massive hole in their team, but it is not the same for Chelsea. People might say they would miss Costa but I would argue even then that they will be alright, because Didier Drogba could slot in for a short while.

Match of the Day commentator Guy Mowbray: I think the nature of the title race this time is such that I could have put Chelsea anywhere from first to sixth. I've gone for them to win it, though, due to them being strong in all areas, but with added strike-power.

Chris Waddle: Costa had an outstanding season last time out but that was the one season in his career where he has been prolific. He has not played in the Premier League yet either, so he is still a gamble.

BBC Radio 5 live senior football reporter Ian Dennis: Mourinho has addressed the weakness from last season - a lack of goals - with Fabregas and Costa. But I also believe a signing made earlier this year - that of Nemanja Matic - will prove to be equally significant in the title race.

Match of the Day commentator Jonathan Pearce: They threw away the title last season and, although I expect them to be the early pace setters with Costa among the goals and Thibaut Courtois proving his quality in goal, an assault on all the major trophies will wear them down by the time they meet United and Arsenal in back-to-back games in April.

Danny Mills: Chelsea now have the strongest squad. It will be very close between them and City but Mourinho knows he has got to produce and win the title.

Match of the Day commentator Steve Wilson: Costa and Fabregas will add variation and edge to their game and the emotional return of Drogba, when fit, should offset the loss of both Frank Lampard and Ashley Cole.

Why Manchester City will challenge them...

Manchester City spent £32m to sign France centre-back Eliaquim Mangala from Porto

Chris Waddle: City will be the team to beat - they have the same quality going forward that made them champions last season and they have strengthened in defence, which was the one question mark over their squad. The only thing that can stop them this time is complacency, but I think they will have the drive to retain their title

John Hartson: City have got the experience in players who have been there and won it before. Also, they have just bought another £32m defender, Eliaquim Mangala from Porto, and his partner in central defence, Vincent Kompany, is coming into the best years of his career.

Match of the Day commentator Jonathan Pearce: The reigning champions have enough quality to field two terrific teams and that will be a key factor as the draining effect of the 2014 World Cup takes its toll on many of their challengers in the last third of the season. The arrival of Mangala to partner Kompany will form one of the best centre-back partnerships in Europe.

Kevin Kilbane: Watch out for Stefan Jovetic up front for Manuel Pellegrini's side - he has had a stop-start career in England but he has looked very sharp in pre-season and will make City are even stronger in attack.

Match of the Day commentator Conor McNamara: Despite a lot of strengthening by their rivals, City still have a very deep squad. They can cope with injuries to any position better than anyone else. Pellegrini will have learned a lot during his first year in England and I expect him to be more streetwise this season. The Chilean knows his players much better now than 12 months ago.

...or why the champions will fall short

Manchester City manager Manuel Pellegrini won the Premier League title in his first season in England

Garth Crooks: I have interviewed Manuel Pellegrini for Football Focus and in that interview he revealed the flaw in his campaign and why he will not win the Premier League title.

Garth will be explaining his predictions further on Final Score at 14:30 BST on Saturday on the Red Button and the BBC Sport website.

Jason Roberts: Pellegrini has stated that he's delighted with his squad but an over-reliance on the injury-prone Sergio Aguero up front may cost them. While City have added depth, the failure to bolster the squad with more ready-made world-class signings will see them finish second.

John Motson: Europe will be playing on City's minds. They will want to defend their league title but they have got to make serious progress in the Champions League this time and, if they put all their efforts into that, they might leave the door open for others.

Guy Mowbray: An extended assault on the Champions League will see them fall just short of Chelsea at home.

Why no-one is tipping Arsenal to win the league

Arsene Wenger signed Alexis Sanchez but is defence the Gunners' weak link?

Ian Wright: I am very confident about the start of the season for Arsenal because the squad feels so vibrant, but what they have to show they can do is to get into February and March and still be strong enough to be pushing on rather than fading off. That is when the test will start.

Chris Waddle: They have strengthened well but the key is going to be keeping players fit. They had a horrific injury list last season, which cost them.

Why Arsenal still have work to do at the back
Arsenal kept 17 clean sheets in the Premier League last season, second only to Chelsea's 18, and conceded only 11 goals at Emirates Stadium, giving them the best home record in the top flight.
But the Gunners conceded a total of 20 goals in four games on the road against the other teams in the top five, losing 6-0 at Chelsea, 6-3 to Manchester City, 5-1 at Liverpool and 3-0 at Everton.

John Motson: Arsenal's worry for me is still their back four - I cannot forget how they had those rather dreadful away days last season against the top teams. They have to tighten up if they are going to make a serious title bid.

Garth Crooks: The Gunners can start by giving their most consistent player last season - and now a World Cup winner - Per Mertesacker the captain's armband but not even he can win titles on his own. They will be great going forward but Mertesacker needs more help in defence.

Jason Roberts: Arsenal have top players all the way through their squad, especially in midfield. But I'm not sure Alexis Sanchez will bring something different to the group and, like last season, a lack of a world-class striker could cost them.

Kevin Kilbane: Arsenal need to strengthen defensively because they have lots of attacking options, but not so many defensively - especially in midfield. Mikel Arteta, who I played alongside for Everton, often sits deeper for them but I don't think he reads the game as well as other defensive midfielders. In the big games, they need somebody dominant in that position.

Match of the Day commentator Jonathan Pearce: Arsenal have a tricky start but can go one better than last year and finish in the top three in what will be one of the tightest title races ever. I just can't see them beating Chelsea or City in the crunch matches, though.

How will Liverpool find life without Luis Suarez?

Luis Suarez scored 31 Premier League goals for Liverpool last season

Alan Shearer: Behind Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, Luis Suarez is probably the third best player in the world. It is virtually impossible to replace him. Liverpool have signed a lot of good players following his move to Barcelona but it could take time for them to settle and, because of the number of players that have come in, it could also take time for them to gel.

Luis Suarez for Liverpool in 2013-14
Games	Goals	Assists	Hat-tricks
33	31	12	3

Mark Lawrenson: How on earth are Liverpool going to replace Suarez's goals? Just because they now have even more options in other attacking positions does not make them as strong as when they had Suarez in their team. Without him, it will be harder for them to finish in the top four this season.

Chris Waddle: The amount of goals and assists that Suarez provided will be badly missed, as will his general link-up play. Liverpool have made some good acquisitions but it is impossible for them to replace a player who made such an impact last season.

Match of the Day commentator Conor McNamara: I left Liverpool out of my top four for the following reasons: Steven Gerrard performed miracles last season but he's a year older now, the additional workload in the Champions League will affect their league form, no individual new signing can replace Suarez and there will be more pressure on the players because of the added expectation from the fans after last season.

Why Manchester United can make the top four...

Manchester United's Dutch striker Robin van Persie flourished under Louis van Gaal at the 2014 World Cup

Alan Shearer: To go from seventh to first is too much of an ask, unless they go out and sign three big hitters between now and the end of the transfer window. I cannot see them winning it, but I can see them getting into the top four.

John Motson: New manager Louis van Gaal has made a very strong early impression at Old Trafford and if they were to get two more players before the window shuts, I would see them giving the rest a real run for their money.

Jason Roberts: A mixture of the appointment of Van Gaal, no European football, a fit, motivated Robin Van Persie and the new captain with a lot to prove in Wayne Rooney means United will get the points needed to finish in fourth place.

Phil Neville: Chelsea have bought the best of the top teams over the summer. But if United buy two more players, they will challenge for the title.

Garth Crooks: The Van Gaal factor is immense. He has picked the right man in Rooney to captain his team - United are on their way back.

United's first eight Premier League fixtures
August: Swansea (h), Sunderland (a), Burnley (a)
September: QPR (h), Leicester (a), West Ham (h)
October: Everton (h), WBA (a)

Chris Waddle: Whether it was down to their manager or their players not performing, United had a disaster last season but Van Gaal seems to have brought belief back to the squad and in his system. They are serious contenders and I expect them to be top of the table after eight games - their first big test comes when they play Chelsea on 26 October.

Match of the Day commentator Alistair Mann: A year ago David Moyes was cursing the fixtures computer for the punishing opening to his Old Trafford managerial reign. His Dutch successor, on paper at least, couldn't have asked for better. Van Gaal may well expect to win all six and should the wounded giant be able to gather some early-season momentum, who knows what could be possible, particularly without any European commitments.

BBC Radio 5 live's chief football correspondent John Murray: United will surely be aided by their lighter schedule and, if Van Persie stays fit, I would expect them to be challenging for the title long into the season.

Match of the Day commentator Steve Bower: I just have a feeling that Van Gaal will get United into the top four with his experience, management style and without any European distractions. Although they need further additions before the window closes."

And why they won't...

Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal has taken over a team that finished seventh last season

Kevin Kilbane: For me, it is between Liverpool and Manchester United for fourth place and the question is whether Louis van Gaal is really going to make that much of a difference for United so that they can overhaul Liverpool? I don't think so.

Of course Liverpool will miss Luis Suarez but they still have so much flexibility going forward and they are a year further on than United. I think they will sneak it, unless United make a couple of big signings to make a difference. What they do in the rest of the transfer window will decide how I am going to view United.

Mark Lawrenson: Van Gaal's 3-4-3 formation is good for the players he has got but I am not sure the players will be good enough for the top four. The bonus is that they are not in Europe, which always helps, but although Van Gaal is a very good manager, he is not a miracle worker.

Danny Murphy: I cannot see United's change of formation making them more solid until they sign somebody to strengthen their defence.

Danny Mills: United have lost a lot of experienced players in their defence - Rio Ferdinand, Nemanja Vidic and Patrice Evra. To make the top four, Van Gaal has got to sign some players - and some decent ones at that. But even then it depends on how quickly he can get them in and settled.

John Hartson: United could possibly sneak into the top four but they are not going to win the league. Van Gaal will have a massive impact straight away, but I am just not sure whether a team can go from being so bad to being so good overnight.

Pat Nevin: How United will do is the toughest one of all to read right now, purely because the team we will watch on the opening weekend is not going to be the team that will take them forward. Tactically and technically, Van Gaal is extremely impressive but he needs to add three or four players to that squad to make them contenders.

How we calculated the overall top four

• Pundits and commentators were asked to predict their top four in order.
• Four points were allocated for first place, three for second, two for third, and one for fourth.
• The teams were then ranked according to their total points.

Source : bbc[dot]com

Edinburgh derby: Tedium and thunderclaps at Tynecastle

By Tom English BBC Scotland

This is a time of the year in the capital when all manner of entertainment is on offer at the Festival. Good shows and bad shows. Ones that make you go "Wow!" and ones that almost make you weep at their awfulness.

Rarely do these productions have all these qualities in one bizarre package.

At Tynecastle, we did. We had tedium and thunderclaps. We had football that assaulted the senses and we had goals that were beautiful on the eye. We had aggravation and aggression; red cards and recriminations and, at the end of it, three more points for Hearts.

They've taken down their two biggest rivals in the Championship in back-to-back weeks. Not exactly heady times, but heading in the right direction, no doubt about it.

The match, though. If it was a show at the Fringe it would be the Jim Rose Circus,  a bizarre troupe of characters that shock and amaze, thrill and appal in equal measure.

“Now that Celtic and Rangers don't spend any time in each other's company, the Edinburgh derby has assumed the mantle of the bearded lady of Scottish football”

Now that Celtic and Rangers don't spend any time in each other's company, the Edinburgh derby has assumed the mantle of the bearded lady of Scottish football.

A little bit weird, but hard to take your eyes off all the same.

We had everything in this one. Everything. Forty-five minutes of stultifying nonsense during which Hearts had one shot on target and Hibs had none, despite having a penalty which they put wide.

And then another 45 minutes that had a gorgeous goal from Sam Nicholson - impudence and class in one sublime moment - and then another, through Farid El Alagui - ambition and skill and a finish to remember, even if it served only as consolation.

Sandwiched in between was the Jim Rose stuff. The two red cards, the grief, the allegations of a head-butt by a Hearts player on a Hibs man, the finger-pointing at another Hearts man - big Osman Sow, who walked for an elbow on Michael Nelson but who could have gone a lot earlier for another altercation that saw Nelson leave the pitch to get treatment for a cut over his eye.

Hibs left with a sense of grievance. They thought they deserved a point and, though they tried to put a lid on their anger, they felt that Hearts got away with too much in the physical confrontations.

Sam Nicholson's strike for Hearts lit up the match at Tynecastle

At the end you had scenes that typified the day. Liam Craig, the Hibs captain, left the pitch gesticulating at the Hearts players as he went.

Craig's fury might have had something to do with self-examination for it was he who missed the penalty that would have put Hibs a goal ahead in the first half had he not sclaffed it wide.

More likely it had everything to do with his perception of how Hearts went about their business. He had been the victim of a bad tackle by Alim Ozturk midway through the second half. He had seen Sow launch himself into things all day.

Just as there was a bitter edge to Sow's battle with Lee McCulloch last week at Ibrox - a fight settled wonderfully when the striker swept in the winner in stoppage time - so, too, was there a game within a game between Sow and Nelson.

This time, both ended as losers in a sense. Sow saw red and Nelson tasted defeat.

Robbie Neilson has a problem with Sow, a player with something to offer in the Hearts attack but one who will have myriad suspensions if he continues climbing into duels with his arms flailing. He has played two games for his club and has one yellow and one red. Neilson needs to recalibrate him, quickly.

The Hearts manager has much to be pleased about, though. His team is built on pretty strong foundations - Danny Wilson, Morgaro Gomis and Prince Buaben. The latter two are robust. They're formidable buffers in the middle of the park and won't lose too many wars in this division.

Hibs defender Jordon Forster is held by assistant referee Gavin Harris during a heated exchange with Hearts winger Jamie Walker

Hearts have a physical intensity that has already taken care of Rangers and which has now seen off Hibs. You feel that there's improvement in them also. Nicholson is a good young player who can do damage when he gets on the ball. Callum Paterson will be a big addition when he returns.

Alan Stubbs continues to change things from the bottom up. His condemnatory words about previous regimes at Hibs failing to build a proper infrastructure and scouting players based on their Wikipedia page hit like a howitzer.

He has an enormous job to do. A culture to turn around. Maybe he has already improved things in his short time at Easter Road but the signs of old vulnerabilities are still obvious. And he wasn't of a mind to deny it.

He spoke about the mental impact it had on his team when they missed the penalty and then the weakness they showed when conceding a second goal only two minutes after conceding their first.

The day ended - as five of the last six derbies have ended - with the sound of dejected Hibs fans being serenaded out of Tynecastle by the gloating masses. These days are not pretty, but they have a strange kind of fascination all the same.

Source : bbc[dot]com

Liverpool show they can cope without Luis Suarez this season

By David Ornstein BBC Sport at Anfield

Of all the photographs proudly on display in the Anfield press room, the one which really strikes a chord is that of Luis Suarez wheeling away in celebration.

It could be any of the 31 goals he scored in 33 Premier League games last season, but for as long as the picture remains on that wall it will serve as a reminder of what Liverpool have lost.

Life without the prolific Uruguay striker began much as the Reds would have wanted; three points in their opening fixture and goals for two of their most important players.

Luis Suarez was banned for the first five league games last season for biting but still won the golden boot

There was even a text message from Suarez to Brendan Rodgers on the morning of the match to wish his former manager and team-mates well as they embark on a new era.

But if that era is to yield success, Liverpool will have to improve dramatically on the display they produced against a Southampton side who could well have left with a shock victory.

Did Liverpool miss Suarez?

Any club would miss a player of Suarez's calibre and while the £75m Barcelona paid for his services does cushion the blow, it cannot guarantee he will be adequately replaced.

Liverpool have spent heavily to bolster their squad, but the only striker recruited so far is Rickie Lambert and it was no surprise to hear Rodgers in his post-match news conference reiterating a desire to add to this department before the transfer window closes.

Against Southampton, the absence of that constant menace up front - the rare talent who can create something out of nothing and win matches almost single-handedly - was noticeable.

Raheem Sterling continued his impressive form of last season

But, interestingly, there were signs of a more ruthless streak emerging as Sterling converted the game's first meaningful chance and Daniel Sturridge got the winner with his only clear-cut opportunity.

Although Liverpool had the same number of shots as Southampton (12), with fewer on target (five to six) and less corners (two to six), they still came out on the right end of the result.

Rodgers accepted his team lacked their usual fluency but pointed out that some players are still finding their fitness while others are soon to return from injury.

If the Suarez tally subtracted from Liverpool's 2013-14 league total, they still managed 70 goals - a figure surpassed only by champions Manchester City (102) and third-place Chelsea (71).

"We are bigger than any one player and our ambitions have to be," Rodgers added.

Philippe Coutinho was picked to support Sturridge in the role Suarez used to occupy and Rodgers called him over to deliver instructions on several occasions before substituting him on 76 minutes.

There was little sense of dejection among the home fans at the loss of their star man, however, tougher opponents than Southampton await.

Did the new signings work?

As Tottenham showed after the departure of Gareth Bale, not even spending £100m on a raft of signings will necessarily mitigate the loss of your best player.

Southampton made an £11.5m profit on Dejan Lovren in a year

Liverpool have committed a similar outlay on eight new faces: Rickie Lambert, Adam Lallana, Emre Can, Lazar Markovic, Dejan Lovren, Divock Origi, Javier Manquillo and Alberto Moreno.

The fact that three of them - Lambert, Lallana and Lovren - came from Sunday's opponents was lost on nobody but only Lovren and Manquillo started, Lambert later replacing Coutinho.

Liverpool's major summer deals
Adam Lallana [Southampton] £25m	Luis Suarez [Barcelona] £75m
Dejan Lovren [Southampton] £20m	Pepe Reina [Bayern Munich] £2m
Lazar Markovic [Benfica] £20m	Martin Kelly [Crystal Palace] £1.5m
Alberto Moreno [Sevilla] £12m
Emre Can [Bayer Leverkusen] £10m	Iago Aspas [Sevilla] Loan
Divock Origi [Lille] £10m	Luis Alberto [Malaga] Loan
Rickie Lambert [Southampton] £4m	Andre Wisdom [West Brom] Loan
Javier Manquillo [Atletico Madrid] Loan	Divock Origi [Lille] Loan

While those who did not feature offer Liverpool plenty to be excited about, there is every likelihood that Lovren could prove the most important piece of business.

The 25-year-old seems the natural successor to Jamie Carragher.

He was a towering presence at the heart of defence, winning most of his duels in the air and on the ground, organising the back-four and showing impressive positional awareness.

Lovren was outfoxed by Dusan Tadic for Southampton's excellent equaliser but, in a summer when eight of Europe's 25 most expensive transfers have been centre-backs or full-backs, he is good value at £20m.

Of the top eight in last season's Premier League, only Tottenham (51) conceded more goals than Liverpool (50) and the Croatia international should ensure that record improves.

Manquillo arrived on a two-year loan deal from Atletico Madrid and, at 20 years of age, his youth and relative lack of experience means he will take time to settle.

The right-back is not blessed with pace and made a nervy start, brushed aside by Tadic and Ryan Bertrand on a couple of occasions, but he grew into the contest and provided a balance between attack and defence that Rodgers will hope Moreno can replicate on the left.

Rickie Lambert caused problems for his old club when coming on as a substitute

Lambert's introduction, according to the manager, "unsettled them [Southampton] a bit" and allowed him to experiment for the first time with a genuine hold-up player. A different option.

The squad's potential will become a lot clearer when the other signings - aside from Origi, who has returned to Lille on loan - are integrated over the coming weeks.

Can they challenge for the title?

It was more about the result than the performance for Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers

Liverpool defied expectations to challenge for a first title in 24 years last season and, once in the hunt, many felt they would never get a better chance because there was no European football to distract them and they made early exits in both domestic cup competitions.

Now the Reds have to contend with Champions League and it is difficult to imagine them getting the better of City and Chelsea given their greater familiarity with such a juggling act.

On the evidence of this narrow win they will need to enhance their creativity, guard more effectively against the counter-attack and add a world-class striker to their artillery.

"I don't think anyone has given us hope of getting in the top four," said Rodgers. "But they didn't last season and we will attack this season as we did that."

Opening day fortunes - How Liverpool have performed in recent seasons
2014 Liverpool 2-1 Southampton	2013 Liverpool 1-0 Stoke City
2012 West Brom 3-0 Liverpool	2011 Liverpool 1-1 Sunderland
2010 Liverpool 1-1 Arsenal	2009 Tottenham 2-1 Liverpool

And what about Southampton?

If the Saints are a club in crisis, plenty of others would happily swap positions with them.

There were plenty of positives in defeat for Southampton manager Ronald Koeman

Aside from the three players who went to Liverpool, they saw manager Mauricio Pochettino leave for Tottenham, Luke Shaw for Manchester United, Calum Chambers for Arsenal and Dani Osvaldo for Inter Milan. It might get worse if Morgan Schneiderlin is granted his wish to join the exodus.

But of the almost £100m recouped, nearly £50m has been used to rebuild and new boss Ronald Koeman is already showing signs of picking up where he predecessor left off.

Goalkeeper Fraser Forster, left-back Bertrand, playmaker Tadic and striker Graziano Pelle slotted in neatly alongside captain Jose Fonte, right-back Nathaniel Clyne, midfielders Schneiderlin, Steven Davis and Victor Wanyama, and the free-roaming James Ward-Prowse.

The role played by Tadic in Clyne's equaliser underlined the promise of a player sure to generate hype and whose name was sung loud by the travelling supporters as he left the field.

Shane Long had an impact off the bench - though he headed wide when well-placed to equaliser - and while defender Florin Gardos and midfielder Saphir Taider did not figure, Koeman clearly has strength in depth at his disposal. And there is also still money available, of course.

Home discomforts - Liverpool and Arsenal are the only hosts to win on the first weekend
Manchester United 1-2 Swansea	QPR 0-1 Hull City
Stoke City 0-1 Aston Villa	West Ham 0-1 Tottenham 1
Leicester City 2-2 Everton	West Brom 2-2 Sunderland
Newcastle 0-2 Manchester City	Monday: Burnley v Chelsea

Source : bbc[dot]com