Chelsea calm Costa worries August 28, 2014 CHELSEA have moved to play down fears star striker Diego Costa could face a prolonged spell on the sidelines after suffering a hamstring injury in training. Initial suggestions were the £32m signing from Atletico Madrid, who has scored in both of Chelsea’s Premier League fixtures so far this season, could be out for six weeks. [...]
Liverpool relish Real Madrid visit as other English clubs get deja vu August 28, 2014 LIVERPOOL manager Brendan Rodgers savoured the prospect of a visit from Champions League holders Real Madrid after the Reds were drawn with the Spanish giants in the group stage yesterday. Manchester City were dealt perhaps the worst hand of the four Premier League sides, and face German title-holders Bayern Munich, Serie A runners-up Roma and [...]
Warnock keen to repay debt August 28, 2014 NEW Crystal Palace manager Neil Warnock insists he has a debt to pay as his second stint at the club begins with a trip to Newcastle tomorrow. The 65-year-old’s appointment on Wednesday ended a chaotic spell at Selhurst Park, triggered by the departure of Tony Pulis less than 48 hours before the start of the [...]
LVG: Di Maria is no miracle cure August 28, 2014 UNDERSTATED Manchester United boss Louis van Gaal has dampened expectations ahead of British record signing Angel di Maria’s potential debut at Burnley tomorrow. United splashed out £59.7m to land the 26-year-old Argentina winger from Real Madrid and boost a flagging squad which has one point from two Premier League fixtures and were dumped out of [...]
Ivanovic suffers US Open exit as Serena nets win August 28, 2014 EIGHTH seed Ana Ivanovic crashed out of the US Open after suffering a shock second-round defeat to Czech Karolina Pliskova yesterday. The 26-year-old’s exit was the second upset of the week after fourth seed Agnieszka Radwanska slumped to defeat on Wednesday, with Ivanovic bowing out 7-5, 6-4. There were no such problems for world No1 [...]
29 August on this day… August 28, 2014 1986: BRITAIN’S Daley Thompson leaves rival Jurgen Hingsen trailing in the 110m hurdles on his way to winning the decathlon at the European Championships. Thompson won eight decathlon golds in major championships – Hingsen’s four silvers were all behind him – and held the world record four times, setting his last at the LA Olympics [...]
Brixton’s Deng unfazed by replacing star LeBron August 28, 2014 FOLLOWING in the footsteps of former Miami Heat standard bearer and the most famous player on the planet LeBron James might seem a daunting prospect, but not for transatlantic basketball star Luol Deng. The 29-year-old Great Britain forward signed a two-year deal in July worth $20m with Eastern Conference side Miami, who were earlier this [...]
Cricket Comment: Tormented Cook suddenly faces another must-win match August 28, 2014 AFTER the high of a Test series win, it’s been another week to forget for England captain Alastair Cook. Stinging public criticism from a former team-mate was followed by a thumping one-day defeat against India, and suddenly tomorrow’s next match has taken on must-win status. Graeme Swann may well have had a point when he [...]
Ryder setback for Gallacher August 28, 2014 SCOTLAND’S Stephen Gallacher faces an uphill task in his bid to snatch a Ryder Cup place after starting the Italian Open with a level par round of 72 – six shots off the lead. Gallacher, nephew of former European captain Bernard Gallacher, needs to win or finish runner-up in order to overtake Northern Ireland’s Graeme [...]
Spurs won’t be left red-faced by Liverpool this time August 28, 2014 BEN CLEMINSON PREVIEWS TOTTENHAM V LIVERPOOL AND EVERTON V CHELSEA “WE’VE sold Elvis but bought the Beatles,” was how former Tottenham striker Garth Crooks memorably described last summer’s transfer dealings at White Hart Lane. In the end it was less Fab Four and more a case of Faith No More, after a campaign that failed [...]