£20m Lucas won’t follow Mascherano out of Anfield August 30, 2010 JAVIER MASCHERANO finally completed his £18m move from Liverpool to Barcelona last night after passing an arduous five-hour medical at Camp Nou. The Argentine international, 26, put pen-to-paper on a four-year deal with a mammoth buy-out clause of €90m after finally getting the thumbs up from club medics. But while Mascherano settles in Spain, Reds [...]
Wembley ‘big incentive for London clubs’ August 26, 2010 ARSENAL chief executive Ivan Gazidis believes a Wembley final will provide extra motivation for London clubs to go all the way in the Champions League after British sides learned their fates yesterday. Newcomers Tottenham got the plum draw they hoped for with a group that includes last season’s winners Inter Milan, while Chelsea and the [...]
Strauss falls as England denied by rain August 26, 2010 ENGLAND only faced 12.3 overs on a rain-hit first day of the fourth Test, but that was still enough time for Pakistan to dismiss captain Andrew Strauss. The skipper (right) has endured a modest series with the bat and that lacklustre sequence continued yesterday when he was bowled by Mohammad Asif for 13 at Lord’s. [...]
Kuyt rejects Inter talk as Reds qualify August 26, 2010 TRABZONSPOR (1) V/S LIVERPOOL (2) LIVERPOOL forward Dirk Kuyt pledged his future to the club after his goal helped them to a comeback win and a place in the Europa League group stage. The Reds, missing star trio Steven Gerrard, Fernando Torres and Javier Mascherano, looked in for a difficult night when Teofilo Gutierrez scored [...]
Chiefs tighten up blood injury rules August 26, 2010 TOP-FLIGHT chiefs are convinced there will be no a repeat of the Bloodgate scandal that shamed the sport after tightening up regulations for the new season. Aviva Premiership rules set to come into effect mean doctors from the opposing team will have the right to demand a look at any blood injury they suspect to [...]
SPORT | IN BRIEF August 26, 2010 Molinari books Ryder Cup spot GOLF: Italy’s Francesco Molinari has secured his place in Europe’s Ryder Cup team after Ross McGowan pulled out of the Johnnie Walker Championship through injury. McGowan’s pinched nerve means he no longer has any chance of overtaking Molinari in the top nine ranking places this weekend at Gleneagles. England’s Simon [...]
VILLA MAKE RAPID EXIT August 26, 2010 ASTON VILLA crashed out of Europe last night with a 3-2 defeat at home to Rapid Vienna. Stephen Ireland (above) set up Gabriel Agbonlahor to put Villa ahead in the play-off second leg and, following an equaliser and Stiliyan Petrov’s missed penalty, Emile Heskey restored their lead. But late goals from Mario Sonnleitner and Rene [...]
Wembley braced for a Spanish invasion August 26, 2010 CHAMPIONS LEAGUE 2010-11 The road to Wembley has been mapped out for England’s representatives in the Champions League with the biggest obstacles, La Liga giants Barcelona and Real Madrid who head the betting at 3/1 and 5/1 respectively, kept out of harm’s way for now. Fourth favourites Manchester United will be pleased with their group [...]
Hard to separate sides in key Villa Park clash August 26, 2010 ASTON VILLA vs EVERTON SUNDAY – 4.00PM SKY SPORTS 1 ASTON VILLA and Everton were involved in arguably the most exciting tussle in the Premier League last year, the race for the fourth Champions League place. Both ultimately fell short – Everton finishing eighth behind Villa’s sixth. Two weeks into the new season then and [...]
Hat-tricks for London and Crouch as Tottenham revel in historic night August 25, 2010 TOTTENHAM (4) vs NEWCASTLE(0) TOTTENHAM finally took their place at the top table of European football last night – and ensured London has three clubs in the Champions League for the first time – but all manager Harry Redknapp wanted by way of celebration was a bacon sandwich. A hat-trick from Peter Crouch and a [...]