Rafa’s op fear over Torres and Gerrard November 5, 2009 LIVERPOOL manager Rafael Benitez has admitted that key duo Steven Gerrard and Fernando Torres may both need surgery to overcome lingering injuries. Long lay-offs for captain Gerrard and top scorer Torres would be a severe blow to the Reds’ hopes of silverware, which already look gossamer-thin. A stoppage-time equaliser meant Liverpool had to settle for [...]
Chelsea to sell naming rights November 5, 2009 CHELSEA last night took the shock step of putting the naming rights for their current stadium, Stamford Bridge, up for sale. The move comes just days after Newcastle’s home of 117 years was re-branded sportsdirect.com@St James’ Park, to widespread derision. Chelsea are owned by Roman Abramovich, one of the world’s richest men with an estimated [...]
Takeover looms as Kroenke ups stake to 29.9% November 5, 2009 ARSENAL’S largest shareholder Stan Kroenke yesterday crept to the brink of a takeover bid when he increased his stake to 29.9 per cent. Billionaire Kroenke, who has been steadily building his shareholding since first investing in April 2007, will be obliged to make a formal offer for the Premier League club if he reaches 29.99 [...]
Hines fires late to hand Zola a lift November 4, 2009 WEST HAM (2) vs ASTON VILLA (1) A DRAMATIC late winner from youngster Zavon Hines handed the Hammers their first Premier League victory since the opening day of the season last night. The 21-year-old stabbed home three minutes into injury time to lift Gianfranco Zola’s men out of the drop zone for the first time [...]
Curbishley wins case against Hammers November 3, 2009 FORMER manager Alan Curbishley could be set for a seven-figure windfall from West Ham after winning his case for wrongful dismissal. The 51-year-old resigned as Hammers boss in September 2008 following the club’s decision to sell Anton Ferdinand and George McCartney against his wishes. A Premier League managers’ arbitration tribunal upheld Curbishley’s claim yesterday while [...]
Drogba: I’m in the form of my career November 3, 2009 ATLETICO MADRID (2) vs CHELSEA (2) DIDIER DROGBA insisted he was in the form of his life as he powered Chelsea into the last 16 of the Champions League with a clinical double strike. The Ivorian hitman returned from a three-match European suspension to fire two goals in the last eight minutes and help the [...]
Wenger: Treat Alkmaar like Tottenham November 3, 2009 ARSENAL vs AZ ALKMAAR ARSENAL boss Arsene Wenger has ordered his players to approach tonight’s Champions League fixture with the same intensity as Saturday’s north London derby. The fired-up Gunners thumped Tottenham 3-0 at the weekend to keep the heat on Premier League pace-setters Chelsea and Manchester United. Qualification for Europe’s last 16 will be [...]
It’s not all Rafa’s fault, Reds have got it wrong as a club November 3, 2009 HE’S had some huge matches during his five-year reign, but tonight’s do-or-die encounter in Lyon is probably the biggest of Rafael Benitez’s time as Liverpool manager. They have lost six of their last seven games; another reverse in France will almost certainly see them crash to a humiliating exit at the group stage. Europe is [...]
More Benitez woe as captain Gerrard ruled out of Lyon trip November 2, 2009 LIVERPOOL have been dealt a huge blow ahead of their crunch Champions League trip to Lyon after captain Steven Gerrard was ruled out through injury. The England midfielder, one of four Reds players who will definitely miss the match, has failed to recover from the groin injury that kept him out of the last two [...]
United can wait, Carlo tells Blues November 2, 2009 ATLETICO MADRID vs CHELSEA MANAGER Carlo Ancelotti has ordered Chelsea to ignore domestic rivalries and focus solely on tonight’s Champions League trip to Spain. The Blues are top of the Premier League and welcome Manchester United to Stamford Bridge on Sunday. But Ancelotti is anxious the titanic clash does not prove a distraction as Chelsea [...]