Phillips: United don’t scare us August 13, 2009 KEVIN PHILLIPS insists newly-promoted Birmingham City have nothing to fear when they open their new Premier League account with a visit to Manchester United on Sunday. Veteran striker Phillips, 36, is back in the top-flight after a two-year absence having won back-to-back promotions with West Brom and then the Blues. His reward is a daunting [...]
TV VIEW: RAY STUBBS August 13, 2009 Title race will be closer than everManchester United and Liverpool both have the motivating factor of 18 titles each, and both have strength in depth. Yes, United have sold a few players, but let’s see how they react. Chelsea will be a big force this year and while I think it would be naive to [...]
Draw looks the safest bet in White Hart Lane clash August 13, 2009 TOTTENHAM vs LIVERPOOL SUNDAY 4.00PM – SKY SPORTS 1 THIS is a huge season for both Harry Redknapp and Rafa Benitez and they will know that they can send out a big message to their rivals with a win here. Liverpool have the edge in recent league encounters, winning five of the last seven meetings, [...]
Clubs vying for capital gains August 13, 2009 LAST YEAR might have been a bad one for the City, but for London’s clubs it was a boom time of sorts. Although Chelsea were the only side to finish with silverware, all five of the capital’s outfits claimed top 10 places, and most have reasonable hopes of improving this season. But on the eve [...]
Lethal Anelka to Nic it for settled-down Chelsea August 13, 2009 NOT since a certain Jose Mourinho was stalking the Stamford Bridge dugout in his Armani overcoat have Chelsea lifted the Premier League trophy. But I’ve a feeling new boss Carlo Ancelotti will be hoisting it aloft come May. The Blues look stronger to me than last season, while their rivals appear to be weaker. Manchester [...]
Cattermole joins Black Cats August 12, 2009 FOOTBALL: Sunderland last night completed the £6m signing of England Under-21 midfielder Lee Cattermole from Wigan. Cattermole has penned a four-year contract at the Stadium of Light, where he will again work under manager Steve Bruce, who signed him for Wigan from Middlesbrough last summer. The combative 21-year-old is in line to make his Black [...]
Pietersen suffers fresh Achilles setback August 11, 2009 ENGLAND batsman Kevin Pietersen’s place in the squad for next month’s ICC Champions Trophy is in doubt after he suffered a setback in his recovery from Achilles surgery. Pietersen, 29, has had hospital treatment after an infection developed in the stitching of his scar tissue, it emerged yesterday. The Hampshire player was ruled out of [...]
Lampard: Shield row won’t hurt international relations August 10, 2009 CHELSEA’S Frank Lampard is adamant that bad blood between Blues and Manchester United players will not affect the England squad ahead of tomorrow’s friendly against Holland. United were incensed at Lampard’s goal in Sunday’s Community Shield, which Chelsea won on penalties after a 2-2 draw. The midfielder’s strike came while United defender Patrice Evra lay [...]
First blood to Chelsea after United fluff shoot-out lines August 9, 2009 CHELSEA manager Carlo Ancelotti declared himself ready to launch an assault on Manchester United’s Premier League crown after beating the champions in yesterday’s Community Shield at Wembley. Blues goalkeeper Petr Cech saved two penalties as Ancelotti’s men won a shoot-out 4-1, after the traditional curtain-raiser to the top-flight season ended in an entertaining draw. Goals [...]
Ladbrokes chases William Hill in the exodus to Gibraltar as profits slump August 6, 2009 BETTING firm Ladbrokes yesterday confirmed it would be following the fleeing footsteps of William Hill by moving its online gambling arm to Gibraltar, which it says will save £7m a year. Chief executive Christopher Bell blamed “intense competitive pressures” for the move. UK based gambling firms must cough up 15 per cent of their earnings [...]