Reds prepare for Euro date with destiny November 23, 2009 LIVERPOOL vs DEBRECEN LIVERPOOL boss Rafael Benitez has told his players to put events in Florence out of their minds as they prepare for a make-or-break night in Hungary. The Reds travel to Group E whipping boys Debrecen with just one win from their last 10 matches and their Champions League hopes hanging by thread. [...]
Wenger’s F-word outburst at club v country row November 23, 2009 ARSENAL VS STANDARD LIEGE FURIOUS Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger launched a four-letter outburst last night as he urged his players to put World Cup ambitions to one side and focus on revitalising the Gunners’ silverware challenge. The usually erudite Frenchman, speaking ahead of tonight’s Champions League visit of Standard Liege, erupted in response to a [...]
Humiliated Wigan offer fans a refund November 23, 2009 EMBARRASSED Wigan players have offered refunds to supporters who travelled to their 9-1 drubbing at Tottenham. Latics fans who made the trip witnessed their side suffer the second heaviest defeat in Premier League history, with Spurs striker Jermain Defoe alone scoring five goals. And that yesterday prompted the crestfallen squad’s pledge to reimburse the cost [...]
Henry: Critics made me think about quitting November 23, 2009 FRANCE striker Thierry Henry admits he considered quitting international football after his infamous handball made him public enemy No1. The former Arsenal skipper provoked a storm when his illegal act helped defeat Republic of Ireland in last week’s World Cup play-off. And the Barcelona star says he almost quit Les Bleus after French chiefs let [...]
Colly flowers in England win November 22, 2009 ENGLAND’S Paul Collingwood toasted a “special” performance after a seven-wicket win over South Africa in the second one-day international. Collingwood produced a heroic individual display at Centurion, claiming 2-24 with the ball before hitting 105 not out to guide England to a well-deserved victory. But afterwards the Durham all-rounder, who made his 171st one-day appearance [...]
Bernie’s Brit GP warning November 22, 2009 THE BRITISH Grand Prix will be dumped from the calendar indefinitely if a deal is not done by 9 December, Formula One supremo Bernie Ecclestone has warned. Donington’s failure to raise funding to redevelop the circuit has left Silverstone as the most viable venue if the race is to be retained. But after weeks of [...]
Ward beats Kessler for title November 22, 2009 BOXING: American Andre Ward was crowned WBA super-middleweight champion after beating Denmark’s Mikkel Kessler on Saturday night in California. Ward, 25, won by unanimous technical decision after the fight was stopped in the 11th round due to a cut on Kessler’s face. Former Olympic champion Ward said: “I’m dreaming. I can’t compare this to winning [...]
Venturi wins Becher Chase November 22, 2009 HORSE RACING: Vic Venturi followed in the footsteps of Black Apalachi to land trainer Dessie Hughes back-to-back wins in the Becher Chase. The 7-1 shot, ridden by Paddy Flood, hit the front before the final jump and beat Keenan’s Future and Royal Rosa into second and third over the Grand National fences at Aintree.
Dundee United beatCeltic at last November 22, 2009 FOOTBALL: Darren Dods scored a last-minute winner as Dundee United beat Celtic for the first time in 10 years 2-1. Barry Robson, playing against the side he used to skipper, put Celtic ahead from the spot. But substitute Jon Daly levelled for the home side before Dods popped up to head the decider.
Five-star Defoe runs riot as rampant Spurs smash nine November 22, 2009 TOTTENHAM striker Jermain Defoe revealed a last-minute change of boots helped him smash five second-half goals in an utter demolition of sorry Wigan. Peter Crouch, Aaron Lennon, a Chris Kirkland own goal and Niko Kranjcar all contributed to Spurs’ biggest ever top-flight victory. But Defoe stole the show after the interval, netting his hat-trick in [...]