Clint Dempsey grabbed an equalizer a minute before stoppage time as Fulham denied Chelsea victory. Dempsey rose high to powerfully head past Petr Cech after it looked as though Frank Lampard's brace would be enough to earn Chelsea three points. The American had flicked Fulham into an early lead with a 10th minute goal before Lampard leveled with a cool finish following a collision between Mark Schwarzer and Aaron Hughes. Lampard's 30-yard free-kick put Chelsea ahead but the American leveled to leave the Blues three points behind Liverpool.

Pictures of the soccer match highlights can be viewed below. (credits to bbc.co.uk)

1-0 Clint Dempsey 10"

1-1 Frank Lampard 50"

1-2 Frank Lampard 72"

2-2 Clint Dempsey 89"

Defense is very important in a football team. Our club coach and manager gives priority to our team’s defense and prepares and coaches each defender so they can defend well on the pitch, like flour moth traps on a cupboard. Sometimes, when our team lacks good players because they are unavailable, he makes sacrifices for the offense and focuses on defending during a football match. We hope that o our next game on January, our line up will be complete so no the offense won’t have to be compromised.

Manchester United maintained the pressure on Liverpool and Chelsea as Dimitar Berbatov's goal, his third for ManU in the Premier League, saw off a spirited Middlesbrough. Though United had better chances, the brave visitors defended manfully and could have taken the lead when Tuncay headed just wide in the 61st minute. But substitute Paul Scholes steadied the ship and Dimitar Berbatov sent a goal in from close range six minutes later. The Red Devils move seven points behind leaders Liverpool with two games in hand.

Pictures of the match highlights are below. (Credits to bbc.co.uk for the pictures)

Middlesbrough's Tuncay Sanli almost opened the scoring with a header from a cross by Matthew Bates

1-0 Dimitar Berbatov 69"

The Red Devils celebrate Dimitar Berbatov's winning goal

Liverpool strengthened their place at the top of the Premier League with a ruthless demolition of Newcastle United. Newcastle keeper Shay Given denied Liverpool before Steven Gerrard struck home from 12 yards in the 31st minute. Sami Hyypia headed a second goal in the 36th minute, but David Edgar pulled one back on the stroke of half-time. Ryan Babel scrambled home Liverpool's third five minutes after the break. Gerrard raced clear for a fourth and Xabi Alonso made it five from the penalty spot.

Pictures of the match can be viewd below. (credits to bbc.co.uk for the pictures)

0-1 Steven Gerrard 31"

0-2 Sami Hyypia 36"

1-2 David Edgar 45"

1-3 Ryan Babel 50"

1-4 Steven Gerrard 66"

1-5 Xabi Alonso 77" (Penalty Kick)

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A late winning goal from Carlos Tevez gave Manchester United a win against Stoke, the Premier League pacesetters. Tevez made the goal from six yards with seven minutes left. Stoke had mounted fierce resistance, but were reduced to 10 men for the last 18 minutes after Andy Wilkinson was sent off for a foul on Cristiano Ronaldo. Ricardo Fuller wasted Stoke's best chance in the opening seconds but United's pressure and domination deserved the win.

A picture after Carlos Tevez's goal is below. Credits to bbc.co.uk for the picture.

0-1 Carlos Tevez 83"

Next year I may start to get more in shape to be able to play as a striker in out football club. I know that at my age I need to work extra hard to run in such a way that I seem like I have a turbocharger in me. But, honestly with the other available options in our team, I think I can do better or at least compete with them for that position. During our past two games, we badly needed aggressive strikers and I hope that next year, our team improves in that area.

Manchester United will be facing Inter Milan in the last 16 of the Champions League. Meanwhile, Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez was handed a return to Spain to face former club Real Madrid in the draw in Nyon. Former Chelsea boss Claudio Ranieri will make an emotional return to Stamford Bridge after Juventus were paired with last season's runners-up. Arsenal, like Chelsea, will have been delighted to have avoided Barcelona and will take on AS Roma. 

Schedules of the ties are on 24/25 February and 10/11 March as the Champions League knockout phase begins. 

As this year ends, it is a good time to evaluate financial decisions made and how well and how bad business has been. It is a perfect time for footballers engaged in their other sources of income like their franchises, to take a closer look at their business endeavors to see what they need to do for the coming year to make things better. Expansion could be a consideration for those whose business growth have been real slow this year.

For those looking into other franchise opportunities, they can visit FranchiseGator.co.uk. This is a web site that can provide a franchise opportunity from any industry available in their web site. They not only offer regular business opportunities but also work-from-home or online business opportunities. If you are looking into getting into the property business or a low cost business, this is the web site to visit.

Aside from opportunities, this web site also has a list of franchises in UK that are for sale. In that list, anyone can find the business opportunity that best fits their needs and investment goals for the coming year. They also provide information like news and different related articles to keep you updated on your chosen business endeavor.

In your own opinion, who is better, Cristiano Ronaldo or Zlatan Ibrahimovic? Inter Milan coach Jose Mourinho insists his striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic is a better player than Manchester United star Cristiano Ronaldo. Mourinho said, "Ronaldo is a good player but he is certainly not the best. He deserved the Golden Ball award because his team won the Champions League and the Premier League. But, for me, Ibrahimovic is the best." Do you agree or disagree with these statements?

Cristiano Ronaldo

Zlatan Ibrahimovic