The last time Herculez Gomez was on this kind of a run, he ended up with a scoring title and a ticket to South Africa.
The Premier League table at Christmas is generally regarded as a kind of crystal ball, channelling the end of the season to reveal the likely winners and losers. Since 2005-06, the festive leaders have gone on to lift the trophy four times out of six, while only one bottom-placed club has escaped relegation with a new-year flourish in the Premier League era. If you want to delve even further -- all the way back to 1888-89, in fact -- you'll find that 41 percent of champions have led at Christmas, while 71 percent of last-place stragglers were already dawdling behind the pack by the time Rudolph skidded to a halt on your rooftop. Sorry, Hammers.
South Africa striker Benni McCarthy has been given the chance to win back his international place ahead of this year's World Cup after joining English club West Ham on a comparatively quiet final day of football's January transfer window.
Germany international midfielder Tim Borowski has rejoined Werder Bremen from Bayern Munich on a three-year contract, with the option of a further year at the Weserstadion.
Newcastle's 16-year stay in the English Premier League has come to an end as a Damien Duff own goal saw them lose 1-0 at Aston Villa.
Manchester United supremo Alex Ferguson admits he will be "slaughtered" if the unfamiliar team he fields in Sunday's final domestic game hands opponents Hull City a Premier League lifeline.
Alan Shearer's Newcastle United side are back in the bottom three of the Premier League after a 1-0 home defeat by Fulham on Saturday -- and they will be relegated if they lose their final match of the season at Aston Villa next Sunday.
Before Chelsea had Roman Abramovich's rubles and Rafa Benítez built Liverpool into Champions League winners and English Premier League challengers, Manchester United and Arsenal dominated the EPL throughout the 1990s and early 2000s. On Saturday, the former "big two" face off after having taken contrasting paths in recent years.
Newcastle manager Alan Shearer singled out fit-again Mark Viduka for his crucial role in their 3-1 win over Middlesbrough in their make or break Premier League relegation battle on Monday night.
Substitutes Obafemi Martins and Peter Lovenkrands lifted Newcastle out of the Premier League relegation zone with a 3-1 win over doomed north-east rivals Middlesbrough.
Aston Villa made sure they will be playing European football next season and left Hull City deep in relegation trouble with a 1-0 win at Villa Park.
Manchester United defender Rio Ferdinand has been passed fit for their crucial Champions League semifinal rematch with Arsenal at the Emirates on Tuesday.
Ryan Giggs and Park Ji-sung scored in each half as Manchester United won 2-0 at Middlesbrough on Saturday to go six points clear at the top of the English Premier League.
Rio Ferdinand could be fit for Manchester United's second-leg Champions League clash with Arsenal after scans revealed he had not cracked a rib.
Manchester United are sweating on the fitness of Rio Ferdinand after the central defender picked up a rib injury in the dying moments of their Champions League semifinal against Arsenal on Wednesday.
Captain Cesc Fabregas scored both goals as Arsenal extended their unbeaten Premier League run to 20 matches with a comfortable 2-0 victory over relegation-threatened Middlesbrough at the Emirates Stadium on Sunday.
Unheralded Stoke look set to be playing in the Prremier League next season after a 1-0 home win over Blackburn Rovers which leaves Sam Allardyce's men still deep in relegation trouble.
Quintuple-chasing Manchester United and big rivals Chelsea remain on course for an FA Cup final showdown after they were drawn apart in Sunday's semifinal pairings.
Goals from Wayne Rooney and Dimitar Berbatov saw Manchester United come from behind to win 2-1 at Newcastle, a result that restores their seven-point lead at the top of the Premier League.
Didier Drogba fired rejuvenated Chelsea to within four points of quintuple-chasing Premier League leaders Manchester United with the only goal at Portsmouth on Tuesday.
Chelsea coach Guus Hiddink refuses to accept that Manchester United's charge to another Premier League title triumph is a foregone conclusion.
Liverpool's Premier League title hopes suffered another severe setback as they went down 2-0 to relegation strugglers Middlesbrough at the Riverside Stadium on Saturday.
England midfielder Stewart Downing turned in an inspired display as Middlesbrough shook off their relegation fears to book their place in the FA Cup quarterfinals for the fourth successive year with a 2-0 home win over West Ham.
Sportsmen and women being caught taking drugs is not a new phenomenon -- but it's still a shock when the news breaks.
A superb free-kick from Cristiano Ronaldo gave Manchester United a 2-1 home win over Blackburn to move them eight points clear at the top of the Premier League table.
A hat-trick from Nicolas Anelka helps Chelsea come from behind to see off second-flight Watford 3-1 to reach the sixth round of the FA Cup.
Premier League strugglers Middlesbrough suffered a further setback after admitting a charge of failing to control their players in a match against West Bromwich Albion last month.
When even the FA Cup is drawing criticism, you know domestic cup competitions are in trouble.
Liverpool's Premier League title challenge took a heavy blow as Egyptian striker Mido scored a late penalty on his debut to give Wigan a 1-1 draw on Wednesday.
Dimitar Berbatov scored a last-minute goal to give Manchester United a 1-0 win at Bolton to put them top of the Premier League table for the first time this season.
Aston Villa continued their impressive run of recent form, although they were far from their best in defeating midlands rivals West Bromwich Albion 2-1 to move above Manchester United and up to third place in the Premier League table.
England striker Jermain Defoe has rejoined Tottenham after the north London club agreed a reported £15 million deal with Premier League rivals Portsmouth.
England striker Jermain Defoe would not be allowed to leave Portsmouth if Harry Redknapp was still manager, the recently-appointed Tottenham boss said on Monday.
Dimitar Berbatov scored the only goal as Manchester United beat Middlesbrough 1-0 at Old Trafford on Monday to move to within seven points of Premier League leaders Liverpool -- with two vital games in hand.
Chelsea were held to a 2-2 draw at west London neighbors Fulham on Sunday to lose ground in the English title race on leaders Liverpool.
Rio Ferdinand will miss Manchester United's Barclays Premier League match against Middlesbrough at Old Trafford on Monday with a recurrence of a back problem.
Manchester United stepped up their title challenge with a 1-0 win over Stoke City as Carlos Tevez scored the only goal of the match with just seven minutes remaining at the Britannia Stadium on Boxing Day.
England international defender Rio Ferdinand has dismissed Arsenal's chances of winning the Premier League championship this season.
Ashley Young scored with only seconds of injury time remaining Sunday to give Aston Villa a dramatic 3-2 win at Everton and move the team into fifth place in the Premier League.
In-form Bolton came from a goal down to thrash Sunderland 4-1 at the Stadium of Light on Saturday to increase the pressure on manager Roy Keane.
Hull City drew 2-2 with Manchester City and Everton were held 1-1 by Middlesbrough in mid-table clashes in the English Premier League on Sunday.
Chelsea's Premier League title bid suffered another injury blow on Friday as Germany captain Michael Ballack was forced to have foot surgery.
Champions Manchester United took closer order in the English title race with a comfortable 2-0 win over Blackburn, secured by a clinical finish by Wayne Rooney in the second half at Ewood Park.
Newcastle United have named Joe Kinnear as their interim manager until the end of October after former England coach Terry Venables turned down an offer to join them.
Former England manager Terry Venables is reported to be weighing up an offer from crisis club Newcastle to take charge on a temporary basis.
Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson was left fuming after the "horrendous" Emanuel Pogatetz tackle which floored his young Brazilian midfielder Rodrigo Possebon on his full debut for the Premier League champions.
Arsenal's next generation of youngsters produced a superb display of attacking football as Mexican striker Carlos Vela netted a hat-trick in a 6-0 win over Sheffield United in the Carling Cup third round.
Robin van Persie scored twice as Arsenal eased to a 3-0 home win over Newcastle and moved up to second place in the English Premier League table.
Steven Gerrard scored a superb injury-time winner to lift Liverpool to the top of English Premier League while title rivals Arsenal suffered an early setback as they lost 1-0 at Fulham in Saturday's late game.
With the English Premier League kicking off on Saturday, Team Limey took some time out to discuss the 2008-09 season with Arsenal and England legend Martin Keown.
Serie A club AS Roma clinched the signing of Brazil midfielder Julio Baptista from Real Madrid on Thursday.
A former Manchester United player was awarded more than £4.3 million ($8.26 million) by the High Court in London on Monday over a bad tackle which ended his promising career.
Aston Villa have bolstered their defense with the signing of England internationals Nicky Shorey from Reading and Middlesbrough defender Luke Young.
Seven players involved in last week's Champions League final have been excused from England's trip to Trinidad and Tobago for their friendly international on Sunday.
Manchester City have claimed a place in the UEFA Cup next season after holding off fellow Premier League side Fulham in the English Fair Play table.
Middlesbrough have confirmed that midfielders Fabio Rochemback and Gaizka Mendieta and striker Dong Gook Lee have all been released.
Sven-Goran Eriksson's future as Manchester City manager should become clearer when he meets club owner Thaksin Shinawatra in Thailand this week.
David Beckham was named in England's squad for friendly games against the United States and Trinidad and Tobago as coach Fabio Capello keeps faith with the veteran Los Angeles Galaxy midfielder.
Manchester United claimed their 10th Premier League title with a 2-0 victory at Wigan Athletic on a dramatic final day of the season.
Arsenal dealt a severe blow to struggling Reading's hopes of avoiding the drop and revived their own hopes of claiming second place in the Premier League with a 2-0 win at the Emirates Stadium in Saturday's early kick off.
Everton's bid for a Champions League place suffered a setback as relegation-threatened Birmingham salvaged a late point at St Andrews through Mauro Zarate's 83rd minute equalizer.
Manchester United had to come from behind to draw 2-2 at Middlesbrough, extending their Premier League lead to three points in a snow-hit match marred by an injury to defender Rio Ferdinand.
Manchester United hope that England defender Rio Ferdinand will recover from a foot injury in time for Wednesday's Champions League clash with Roma at Old Trafford.
Arsenal were held 1-1 by Liverpool at the Emirates Stadium on Saturday to deal a heavy blow to their English Premier League title hopes.
Rio Ferdinand is close to agreeing a new contract at Manchester United, according to Old Trafford manager Alex Ferguson.
Nemanja Vidic will be able to return to the Manchester United line-up within three weeks after having a second scan on his injured left knee, which revealed no major damage.
Liverpool delivered a vital blow in the battle for fourth place in England's Premier League with a 1-0 victory over city rivals Everton on Sunday.
Key midfielder Tim Cahill has been ruled out of Australia's World Cup qualifier against China this week with a foot injury, Football Federation Australia said Sunday.
Everton are now two points behind city rivals Liverpool in the race for the fourth Champions League place in the Premier League after being held to a 1-1 draw at home to West Ham.
David Beckham has been recalled to the England squad and is set to win his 100th cap in the prestige friendly international against France next Wednesday.
Cristiano Ronaldo finally converted after a string of chances to lift Manchester United back to the top of the English Premier League with a 1-0 win at rock-bottom Derby County on Saturday.
Crisis club Cardiff sent Premier League side Middlesbrough tumbling out of the FA Cup as a remarkable weekend of quarterfinal upsets continued on Sunday.
Nicklas Bendtner kept Arsenal on top of the English Premier League when he snatched a last minute equalizer to give the Gunners a 1-1 draw at home to Aston Villa.
A freak extra-time winner sent Middlesbrough into the last eight of the FA Cup with a 1-0 win over Sheffield United on Wednesday.
Middlesbrough chairman Steve Gibson hit out at the the Football Association's "amateurs and silly little men" after the governing body increased Jeremie Aliadiere's ban to four games at a hearing on Tuesday.
Portsmouth's England goalkeeper David James saved a second-half penalty and the Premiership side moved into the last eight of the FA Cup when Preston defender Darren Carter conceded an own goal in the third minute of stoppage time at Deepdale.
Middlesbrough and England winger Stewart Downing has agreed a new five-year contract to stay with the Premier League club.
John Carew scored a second-half hat-trick as Aston Villa came from a goal down to beat Newcastle United 4-1 at Villa Park and leave Kevin Keegan still searching for a first league victory after his much-heralded return to the Magpies.
The Premier League's plans to play some fixtures overseas has received a generally favorable reception from managers and owners, but Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson said he was angry that he had not been properly consulted.
Robert Huth dashed Kevin Keegan's hopes of celebrating the first win of his new spell as manager of Newcastle United, when he scored an 87th minute equalizer for Middlesbrough at St James's Park.
Arsenal returned to the top of the English Premier League with a 3-0 home victory on Tuesday night which left Kevin Keegan still seeking his first win since returning to Newcastle as manager for the second time.
Tottenham have signed England international defender Jonathan Woodgate from Middlesbrough, the Premier League club announced on Monday.
Manchester United have been drawn at home to Arsenal in Monday's draw for the fifth round of the FA Cup.
The future of Midlesbrough defender Jonathan Woodgate was still in the balance on Saturday night after Newcastle manager Kevin Keegan said that he did not expect to be able to sign the player.
Tottenham Hotspur look poised to sign Brazilian international Gilberto from German club Hertha Berlin.
Liverpool co-owners Tom Hicks and George Gillett targeted Jurgen Klinsmann about possibly becoming the Premier League club's next manager, according to a British newspaper.
Premier League leaders Arsenal saw their unbeaten run come to a surprise end with a 2-1 defeat at struggling Middlesbrough on Sunday.
Ryan Giggs scored his 100th Premier League goal as Manchester United beat Derby County 4-1 at Old Trafford and moved to within a point of leaders Arsenal.
Manchester United will travel to Aston Villa in one of four all-Premier League clashes to take place in the third round of the English FA Cup next month.
Tottenham Hotspur want the Premier League to fall in line with other major European leagues and allow seven substitutes to be on the bench and available to participate.
Two goals last weekend, one midweek in the Champions League and another -- plus a starring role -- in Manchester United's 4-1 win over Middlesbrough on Saturday suggest that Wayne Rooney may finally be getting back to the sort of form that persuaded Alex Ferguson to part with $54 million in 2004.
Manchester United scored four goals for the fourth successive game in a 4-1 victory over Middlesbrough at Old Trafford, while fellow title challengers Chelsea routed Manchester City 6-0 as the Premier League went goal crazy on Saturday.
England midfielder Owen Hargreaves will return for Manchester United for Saturday's Premier League game against Middlesbrough.
Australian goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer could follow compatriot Mark Viduka out of Middlesbrough after failing to agree an extended contract with the English Premier League club.
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