Roman won’t sack me, insists Chelsea boss November 20, 2011 CHELSEA (1) vs LIVERPOOL (2) Chelsea 12 points off the top after Liverpool snatch a late win at Stamford Bridge, but Villas-Boas claims his job is not under threat CHELSEA manager Andre Villas-Boas last night emphatically rejected suggestions the club’s owner Roman Abramovich has already lost faith in his methods after watching Liverpool inflict a [...]
Villas-Boas backed by Dalglish November 20, 2011 LIVERPOOL manager Kenny Dalglish leapt to the defence of Chelsea boss Andre Villas-Boas after condemning them to a third defeat in four Premier League games. Villas-Boas is facing the first troubled patch of his brief tenure at Stamford Bridge, where under-performing managers do not tend to linger. But Dalglish insists the young Portuguese coach retains [...]
MATCH ANALYSIS November 20, 2011 KEY MOMENT Instead of the story centering on Chelsea suffering back-to-back defeats in the Premier League at Stamford Bridge for the first time since 2002, it may well have been all about the merits of a spirited second half revival were it not for the reactions and agility of Liverpool goalkeeper Pepe Reina. Less than [...]
Hurst tips returning Redknapp to be next England manager November 20, 2011 TOTTENHAM manager Harry Redknapp is poised to return to the dugout for tonight’s Premier League visit of Aston Villa with an endorsement from World Cup hero Sir Geoff Hurst ringing in his ears. Redknapp has missed the last two Spurs games after undergoing heart surgery but has been given the all-clear to resume managerial duties [...]
Wenger dreaming of Van Persie stay November 20, 2011 Frenchman may doubt own future at Arsenal but wants that of top scorer resolved ARSENAL manager Arsene Wenger has vowed to do all he can to persuade top scorer Robin van Persie to sign a new contract at the club, despite the Frenchman hinting at doubts over his own future. Van Persie (right) underlined his [...]
Injury concerns temper QPR’s ascent to top half November 20, 2011 QPR manager Neil Warnock admits his side are running out of fit players as they continue their excellent return to life in the Premier League. Warnock only had five substitutes on the bench for Saturday’s 3-2 win at Stoke, after losing winger Jason Puncheon and goalkeeper Brian Murphy to illness and injury respectively before kick-off. [...]
Fish scuppered: Nadal digs deep to defeat American November 20, 2011 FORMER World No1 Rafael Nadal recovered from a break down in the deciding set to mark his return to competitive action, after more than a month of inactivity, with a victory over Mardy Fish at the ATP Tour Finals in London. The Spaniard displayed evidence of ring rust on what was his first appearance since [...]
Tiger crowns revival with winning putt November 20, 2011 FORMER world No1 Tiger Woods toasted a return to form after sinking the putt that ensured the United States beat their International opponents and retained the Presidents Cup. Woods, who has endured a woeful spell since late 2009 following off-course troubles, continued his recent resurgence by beating Australian Aaron Baddeley 4&3 as the US won [...]
Novak year is a one-off, says Murray November 20, 2011 BRITAIN’S Andy Murray has questioned world No1 Novak Djokovic’s ability to repeat his remarkable 2011 results next year, as he prepares to begin his ATP World Tour Finals campaign today in London. Murray, who faces Spain’s David Ferrer this afternoon at the O2, compared Djokovic’s haul of 10 titles, including three grand slams, and just [...]
O’Shea dismisses England talk after glorious twelfth November 20, 2011 HARLEQUINS coach Conor O’Shea emphatically dismissed suggestions he could succeed Martin Johnson as England manager after seeing his side record a 12th consecutive win. Tries from No8 Nick Easter, full-back Mike Brown and centre Matt Hopper and the boot of Nick Evans handed Quins a 28-9 Heineken Cup Pool 6 victory at Gloucester on Saturday. [...]