Don’t call us title challengers yet, says United boss December 14, 2014 MANCHESTER United manager Louis van Gaal attempted to play down talk of a Premier League title challenge after extending their winning run to six matches in emphatic style against Liverpool yesterday. United picked off their bitter north-west rivals with a clinical display notable for goals from Wayne Rooney, Juan Mata and Robin van Persie and [...]
Castres triumph sees Wasps bid farewell in style December 14, 2014 WASPS boss Dai Young believes the presence of crucial continental clashes on the fixture list are pivotal to ushering in the club’s new era after ending their Adams Park tenancy with a 44-17 bonus-point thrashing of Castres in the European Champions Cup yesterday. The Coventry-bound club, who will play their first match at the Ricoh [...]
Moores admits skipper Cook could be sacked December 14, 2014 ENGLAND head coach Peter Moores has admitted under-fire skipper Alastair Cook could be sacked as one-day international (ODI) captain ahead of the World Cup. Cook once again failed with the bat on Saturday as England fell to a 90-run thrashing against Sri Lanka, who now hold an unassailable 4-2 series lead ahead of Tuesday’s final [...]
Pacquiao next on Khan hit-list if Mayweather dodges Brit fighter December 14, 2014 BRITAIN’S Amir Khan has trained his sights on pound-for-pound king Floyd Mayweather and eight-weight world champion Manny Pacquiao after dazzling on his latest super-fight audition. Welterweight Khan reiterated his challenge to undefeated Mayweather after impressing in a unanimous points victory over American Devon Alexander in Las Vegas late on Saturday night. If Mayweather cannot be [...]
Coe’s woe at doping claims December 14, 2014 PROSPECTIVE world athletics chief Lord Coe has warned that allegations of systematic doping in Russia and a subsequent cover-up have the potential to be as damaging as the sport’s very worst scandals. Coe compared the magnitude of the claims, aired in a German television programme, to the episodes that brought down sprinters Ben Johnson in [...]
Premier League: Storm clouds gather for Rodgers as clinical United dismantle Reds December 14, 2014 MANCHESTER UNITED 3 LIVERPOOL 0 UNDER-FIRE Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers insists he does not fear for his job yet despite yesterday’s comprehensive defeat at Manchester United deepening the gloom on Merseyside. Goals from Wayne Rooney, Juan Mata and Robin van Persie earned United a sixth consecutive Premier League victory to tighten their grip on third [...]
Football Comment: London clubs in three-way fight for Champions League December 14, 2014 WHILE Manchester United emerge as serious title challengers and Liverpool prepare for a huge week in the future of manager Brendan Rodgers an intriguing three-way fight is breaking out in London. Arsenal, Tottenham and West Ham look to me like they will slug it out for fourth place, while I expect Southampton to continue to [...]
Familiar foes lurk as English sides prepare to learn European fates December 14, 2014 ENGLISH clubs will hope to avoid some familiar foes when the draw for the next rounds of European competitions are made today. Chelsea, Arsenal and Manchester City are all in the pot for the last 16 of the Champions League, while Tottenham, Liverpool and Everton await their opponents in the last 32 of the Europa [...]
Cech: Evaluate Chelsea in May December 14, 2014 CHELSEA keeper Petr Cech is adamant winning trophies will be the only true measure of comparing the club’s current talent base with previous title-winning sides. Cech started in the absence of Thibaut Courtois as Chelsea maintained their three-point lead at the Premier League summit with victory over Hull on Saturday and is set to retain [...]
Martinez wary of QPR’s form December 14, 2014 EVERTON boss Roberto Martinez is wary of reading too much into QPR’s abysmal away record so far this season as his side prepare to face Harry Redknapp’s charges at Goodison Park tonight. Rangers have failed register a single point from their seven Premier League matches on the road this campaign and will be without eight-goal [...]