Benitez coy on Juventus after Reds slip up again January 26, 2010 WOLVES (0) vs LIVERPOOL (0) UNDER-FIRE Rafael Benitez remained tight-lipped over a possible move to Juventus after his Liverpool side suffered yet another setback in their bid for a Champions League place. Benitez has been heavily linked with the Italian giants amid suggestions they are about to sack coach Ciro Ferrara. The Spaniard saw his [...]
Crystal Palace in crisis after administrators are called in January 26, 2010 CRYSTAL Palace face a 10-point penalty and an imminent exodus of their best players after falling into administration yesterday. The Championship club are around £30m in debt, have failed to pay their players on time twice already this season and are due in court today to face a winding-up order from HM Revenue and Customs. [...]
McLeish: We can stun Blues January 26, 2010 ALEX MCLEISH believes his Birmingham City high-fliers can derail Chelsea’s title charge at Stamford Bridge tonight. McLeish’s side are currently lying a creditable eighth in the Premier League following a club record run of 15 matches unbeaten. Carlo Ancelotti’s Chelsea can go back to the top of the table with three points tonight, but McLeish [...]
Fulham’s Smalling opts to join United over Arsenal January 26, 2010 MANCHESTER United pounced yesterday to pip Premier League title rivals Arsenal to the signing of £8m-rated Fulham youngster Chris Smalling. England Under-21 centre-back Smalling, who was playing for non-league Maidstone just 18 months ago, will remain at Craven Cottage until the end of the season before joining United in the summer. Arsenal had appeared favourites [...]
Hammers still in dogfight after late Webber strike January 26, 2010 PORTSMOUTH (1) vs WEST HAM (1) PORTSMOUTH substitute Danny Webber climbed off the bench to score his first goal for the club and earn them a crucial point against fellow strugglers West Ham. The Hammers looked on course for their first away win since the opening day of the season when captain Matthew Upson put [...]
Coyle has last laugh after Lee silences Burnley flak January 26, 2010 BOLTON (1) vs BURNLEY (0) BOLTON manager Owen Coyle perfectly answered the taunts of Burnley fans by guiding his new team out of the relegation zone at the expense of his old side. Coyle, once worshipped at Turf Moor for leading the Clarets into the top flight, caused uproar earlier this month when he jumped [...]
Robinho exit talks continue January 26, 2010 MANCHESTER CITY manager Roberto Mancini has confirmed discussions are taking place with Brazilian rivals Santos and Sao Paulo over a deal to let striker Robinho leave on loan. The 26-year-old is in the City squad for tonight’s crunch Carling Cup semi-final with Manchester United but said on Monday he was “90 per cent” sure he [...]
Wigglesworth joins Stevens in choosing ‘special’ Saracens January 26, 2010 SARACENS have swooped to complete their second big-name signing of the week by recruiting England scrum-half Richard Wigglesworth from Sale Sharks. The arrival of Wigglesworth, 26, on a three-year contract follows Monday’s announcement that the Premiership pace-setters will sign England prop Matt Stevens when his drugs ban expires in January 2011. It is further evidence [...]
SPORT | IN BRIEF January 26, 2010 Manchester to host Haye return BOXING: Britain’s David Haye will make the first defence of his WBA world heavyweight championship against John Ruiz in Manchester on 3 April. American Ruiz is the mandatory challenge for Haye, who clinched the title with a crushing defeat of Russian giant Nikolay Valuev in November. “It’s been 10 years [...]
Comeback queen Henin in last four January 26, 2010 JUSTINE HENIN’S fairytale comeback continued as she moved one step closer to a dream Australian Open title with a quarter-final victory over Nadia Petrova. The former world No1, playing in her first Grand Slam since coming out of retirement, showed her battling qualities to come through a tough match 7-6 (7-3), 7-5 and book a [...]