Suarez “champing at bit” after bite ban September 23, 2013 LIVERPOOL boss Brendan Rodgers says striker Luis Suarez is “champing at the bit” to get back out on the pitch against Manchester United tomorrow night, after completing his 10-match ban for biting Chelsea defender Branislav Ivanovic last season. Rodgers failed to confirm, however, whether the Uruguayan would go straight into the starting line-up.
Hamilton leaps to Vettel’s defence September 23, 2013 FORMULA ONE: Britain’s Lewis Hamilton has told racing fans not to resent World Championship leader Sebastian Vettel’s continued success. The Red Bull driver is closing in on his fourth consecutive world title, but was booed as he took to the podium to celebrate Sunday’s Singapore Grand Prix win. But Hamilton said: “No-one should be booed [...]
Tomkins set for world record move September 23, 2013 RUGBY LEAGUE: Wigan have agreed a world record fee to sell full-back Sam Tomkins to New Zealand Warriors at the end of the season. Tomkins, 24, has signed a three-year contract in a move that eclipses the £450,000 Wigan paid Bradford for Stuart Fieden in 2006.
Premier League: Best to come from our star creator Ozil, says Wenger September 22, 2013 AT EMIRATES STADIUM ARSENAL 3 vs STOKE CITY 1 ARSENAL boss Arsene Wenger has warned his Premier League rivals that there is even more to come from Mesut Ozil, after the club’s £42.5m record signing created all three of their goals during yesterday’s win against Stoke. The Gunners took the lead just five minutes in, [...]
Premier League: Villas-Boas joy after Paulinho late flourish lifts Spurs to second September 22, 2013 CARDIFF CITY 0 vs TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR 1 RELIEVED Tottenham manager Andre Villas-Boas believes his team’s 93rd minute winner was richly deserved for their persistence in Cardiff yesterday. Spurs, missing striker Jermain Defoe due to a groin problem, carved out 29 chances as they dominated for much of the 90 minutes, but were continually thwarted by [...]
Sport Comment: Cosseted players can learn from loyal fans September 22, 2013 EVERY football team has supporters like the two I met on a train on Saturday evening coming back from Newcastle, but just occasionally you wonder if a “meet the fans” evening at every professional club wouldn’t help focus the minds of some players who regard their job as a right and not a privilege, and [...]
Grant: I don’t understand exclusion of Mata September 22, 2013 FORMER Chelsea manager Avram Grant insists owner Roman Abramovich has never interfered with team selection, but admits he too is mystified by the continued exclusion of midfielder Juan Mata. Blues boss Jose Mourinho did not even name Mata on the bench for Saturday’s 2-0 win over Fulham. The Spaniard was Chelsea’s outstanding player last term [...]
Big spenders play out draw September 22, 2013 THE showdown between Ligue One big-spenders Paris Saint-Germain and Monaco finished 1-1 last night at the Parc Des Princes. Striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic put PSG in front on five minutes, but Radamel Falcao, signed for £52m from Atletico Madrid in the summer, headed Monaco’s equaliser on 20 minutes. Elsewhere, a thigh injury suffered in the warm-up [...]
Qatar winter World Cup would hit all competitions, says Gill September 22, 2013 MOVING the 2022 Qatar World Cup to winter is feasible but would force all parties to accept a compromise, admits Football Association vice-chairman David Gill. Former Manchester United chief executive Gill is also on the executive committee of Uefa, which last week backed in principle plans to put the tournament back several months. “It is [...]
Failed Lukaku loan deal proves doubly frustrating for West Ham September 22, 2013 WEST Ham boss Sam Allardyce was frustrated his failed pursuit of striker Romelu Lukaku came back to haunt him, as the Belgian marked his Everton debut with the decisive goal in Saturday’s 3-2 win at Upton Park. Desperate to reinforce his frontline, Allardyce made enquiries throughout the summer about the availability of Lukaku, but was [...]