Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez is sweating over the fitness of three key players as he prepares for the Premier League showdown with Chelsea at Stamford Bridge on Sunday.
PhilCole/GettyImages
Robbie Keane chats to Rafael Benitez after coming off injured against Atletico
With Liverpool level on points with Luiz Felipe Scolari's men and only in second place on goal difference, Benitez knows that he can send out a statement of intent to the rest of the Premier League with a strong performance in the capital.
But he could be without skipper Steven Gerrard, Xabi Alonso and Robbie Keane who all suffered knocks during the 1-1 Champions League draw at Atletico Madrid on Wednesday night.
Liverpool are already likely to be without the services of star striker Fernando Torres as he continues his recovery from a hamstring injury.
Benitez knows he will need all his big game players for the trip to a side which has not lost at home in the Premier League for 86 matches, a run which stretches back to a loss against Arsenal on February 21, 2004.
"The three players have had some problems,'' Benitez revealed. "It was a little bit of a muscle problem for Robbie. Gerrard is okay. He was really tired and Alonso has a knock on his knee.
"We need to check with Keane. I don't think it will be serious, but anyway we need to take care of him. He will see the doctor. We are trying to keep players with fresh legs and 100% fit, so we were trying to protect all of them.''
When asked if he had any fitness concerns for the clash with Chelsea, Benitez answered: "I don't know now, we will have to wait.''
Wigan manager Steve Bruce admits he faces a fight to keep Amr Zaki at the JJB Stadium following the Egyptian's stunning start to life in the Premier League.
The 25-year-old, who has already scored seven goals to top the scoring charts, joined the Latics on a season-long loan from Egyptian side Zamalek in the summer.
Bruce revealed a fee of £7.25million was agreed but he felt a permanent deal would be "a risk''. That price is now sure to be increased and there have been reports other clubs could step in in January.
Wigan's boss told the Guardian: "I want to put the record straight because, at the minute, everyone wants a piece of the fellow. The truth of the matter is he's on loan with us until June. That's a fact.
"Over the next few weeks, or however long it takes, we will try and open negotiations with Zamalek and do everything in our power to try and make sure he stays here.
"Zamalek were hoping, and that's why they took the deal, that he would do well. Obviously, the better he does, the bigger the fee. He's our player, so we're in the driving seat.
"We haven't got first refusal on anything. But we have got to see if we can agree a transfer fee with Zamalek.
"Of course, with hindsight, it would have been nice for him to have been ours. But we have still got a chance - that is the most important thing - and we will do our utmost.''
Tottenham head coach Juande Ramos will make a late decision on whether Ledley King will face Udinese tonight - when his participation would effectively rule his skipper out of the must-win clash against Bolton.
King will struggle to play twice in a week as he recovers from knee surgery, meaning a UEFA Cup game against the side second in Serie A would deny Ramos his best defender in Spurs' bid to lift themselves off the bottom of the Premier League this weekend.
"Both competitions are important,'' said Ramos. "The most important is the UEFA cup because this is our next game. On Friday, the most important is the Premier League.''
Spurs' worst start to a season in their history has been complicated by King's injury and Vedran Corluka and Roman Pavlyuchenko being cup-tied for UEFA Cup action.
Pavlyuchenko's appearance in the defeat to Stoke at the weekend has caused a stir in Russia, as his national team thought he was still suffering from an ankle injury.
"He has an injury but was in the team,'' Ramos admitted. "In the match against Stoke we were losing and in the last 20-25 minutes we needed to use him to get a draw. He didn't finish in the best condition.''
The defeat at Britannia Stadium also led to Michael Dawson being charged with improper conduct by the Football Association for his reaction to being sent off, and the centre-back has requested a personal hearing to deny the charge.
Alan Hutton escaped with just a yellow card in that match following a clumsy challenge on Thomas Sorensen, who said he was a millimetre from losing his sight following the incident.
Hutton expressed his disappointment that Sorensen had criticised him.
"It's harsh,'' said the Scotland full-back. "I said I was sorry and I totally mean that. I'd like to say sorry again. Hopefully he'll be back as soon as possible.
"I've been in that position before myself and I would never go out and try to harm anyone. It was one of those things. I've received bad tackles, it's a contact sport, I don't say anything about it.''
Hutton will make his debut in Europe this season following his own foot problem, but Tom Huddlestone has an injury and did not travel.
Sporting director Damien Comolli, who has been tipped to leave the club, made the trip to Italy but chairman Daniel Levy is thought to be away on business.
David Bentley, meanwhile, has given his forthright verdict on Tottenham's start to the season, admitting he and his team-mates had no idea what they were doing.
Bentley told talkSPORT magazine: "Its been shocking, its been a bit s***. It's been a difficult start, especially for me.
"I wasn't enjoying it. It's been difficult out on the pitch. We've not been together - we didn't know where people were running, what people were doing.
"But I think we're slowly starting to get settled and people are becoming more confident.''
Controversial Newcastle midfielder Joey Barton has vowed to use the tide of abuse heading his way to fuel his bid to return to his best form.
The 26-year-old could return to senior action for the Magpies in Saturday's derby clash with Sunderland and the Stadium of Light.
His reappearance after completing a six-match Football Association ban for a training ground incident involving former Manchester City team-mate Ousmane Dabo could hardly have come amid a more hostile atmosphere.
Barton knows he will be a target for opposing fans after also serving 74 days of a six-month prison sentence for assault and affray.
However, he is determined to use the stick as a motivating force in the attempt to repay the faith of the people who stood by him.
Barton told Sky Sports News: "It is important to me to get my career back on track. I know I am going to get stick, I know that, wherever I go, and I have no problem with that.
"That's stick is totally deserved. If anyone else was in my situation, I would probably be saying the same things people are saying about me. I have got to live with that, probably until the end of my playing days.
"There are two ways I can go: I can either let it affect me and go under and become a shadow of the players I can be; or I can turn negatives into positives and use it to my benefit to get me right on the ball and get me back where I belong.''
In a series of frank interviews in the wake of his return for the reserves on Tuesday night, Barton has opened his heart on the self-inflicted misery of the last 18 months.
However, he believes he has the character to come through the most turbulent period of his chequered career to date.
He said: "They [the critics] will always be there. I can't do anything about that, those are things that are out of my control.
"But I have a quirky kind of personality where, if people test you and people push you and push you and push you, there's something in-built in me which has got a strong sense of 'Let's prove them wrong'.
"I have always been the underdog, I have always been under-rated, and sometimes when people do that, you find a side to yourself that either goes under, or you stand there and say, 'This is what I am about'.''
Barton also paid tribute to Kevin Keegan, the man who fought his corner amid concerted calls for him to be sacked.
He said: "Mr Keegan was massive for me. He has known me a long, long time, and his support at a time when I didn't deserve support, I will be forever grateful for that.
"I will always carry that with me and be eternally grateful. He stuck his neck on the line for me and defended me when I didn't deserve defending and for that man I have got nothing but admiration.
"I was very sorry to see him go. But those things are out of my control. There is talk of him in the pipeline coming back - he is a football man, and if anyone knows this football club, it's Mr Keegan.''
But Barton has been impressed too with the job done by interim boss Joe Kinnear since he was asked to step into the void left by Keegan's resignation.
He said: "Mr Kinnear has come in and he has been a breath of fresh air. He hasn't tried to be anyone else, he has come in and been himself, as I think has been well-documented in his press conferences, and I like him.
"He is a quite straightforward guy. There's a lot of respect in the changing room for him. Mr Keegan was a tough act to follow, but Joe has got his own style and he has stuck to that, and a lot of the lads have responded.
"We were a coupe of goals down at Everton and managed to get a result, and then we were 1-0 down to [Manchester] City, down to 10 men and you would think we had 12 men on the pitch the way the guys performed that night.
"That's testament to not only Mr Kinnear, but also the backroom staff, Chris Hughton and Richard Money and Paul Barron.
"Everyone has been in it together and it has been a backs-to-the wall job and and us-against-them mentality, and thankfully the lads have been playing some good football.
"If I can go some way to helping them along in whatever is demanded from me, I will be there chipping in with them.''
Blackburn manager Paul Ince has warned Aston Villa off a January move for Roque Santa Cruz by insisting they do not have the money to prise him from Ewood Park.
The Paraguay striker signed a new four-year deal with Rovers over the summer, but he has already been linked with a transfer to Manchester City who are now managed by Mark Hughes, the man who took him to the Lancashire club in 2007.
Villa are now reported to have joined City in the race for the South American, but Ince, speaking to The Sun, claimed: "Villa can't afford him.
"When it gets near to the transfer window, people start coming out with all these things.
"Roque signed a four-year deal, he came out and said he loves it at Blackburn. He wants to stay here and we want him to stay here.
"Until that changes, that's the only situation that matters.''
Meanwhile, Ince could be set to hand Benni McCarthy his first start of the season after the striker shed the pounds.
The South African has not scored for the club since February after claiming 24 goals in his debut season and 11 in the last campaign.
He has been limited to four substitute appearances this season and came off the bench in the goalless draw at Bolton last weekend.
McCarthy scored in the friendly against Ghana last week and is now pushing for a place in the team to face Middlesbrough on Saturday.
Ince said: "Benni came back to pre-season not quite right. He's had to work really hard to get himself to the weight he needs to be at.
"He has had a couple of games for South Africa and that has helped him. He seems to have that hunger back.
"Benni has been razor-sharp in training and he did well when he came on in the last 15 minutes against Bolton. He gives me another selection problem but that is what I get paid for.
"It is nice because Benni is a quality player and when he is right he is one of the best in the Premier League.''
Zabeel Investments have pulled out of a deal to buy Charlton, the Championship club confirmed today.
The Dubai-based investors, who had also been linked with a takeover of Newcastle, made an indicative offer for the club earlier this month.
A Charlton statement said: "Zabeel Investments has informed Charlton that the decision not to proceed was taken on the basis that its focus moving forward will be on domestic opportunities in Dubai that complement the current Zabeel Investments portfolio.
"This combined with the current debate around foreign ownership of football clubs and the worsening economic climate in the UK contributed to the decision of Zabeel Investments to pull out.''
The news will come as a blow to the Addicks, who have reported debts of £20million and were ready to sell.
The club are in the final year of their parachute payments having been relegated from the Premier League in 2007 and dropped to 20th in the table following Tuesday night's home defeat by Bristol City.
Zabeel were this week reported to have turned their attentions to Everton, although they insist they are no longer in the market for an English club.
The statement continued: "Zabeel Investments has made it clear to Charlton that this decision was not made as a result of any discoveries during the due diligence process.
"Contrary to recent press reports, Zabeel Investments has confirmed to Charlton that it has not approached any other club since it made an indicative offer for Charlton Athletic on October 10, nor has it authorised any approach on its behalf.
"In addition, Zabeel Investments has confirmed it has no current intention to acquire any English football club for the foreseeable future.''
A spokesman for Zabeel Investments added: "Zabeel Investments has the highest regard for both the supporters of Charlton and the way in which Charlton is managed and wishes the team every success in their quest for promotion this season and moving forward.''
MADRID, Oct 23 (Reuters) - Valencia have been transformed from a strife-ridden side that flirted with relegation last season to the early Primera Liga leaders thanks to new coach Unai Emery's ability to unite the dressing room.
The east coast side, who visit Recreativo Huelva on Sunday, started the last campaign as contenders for the title but fell apart after the club panicked and sacked Quique Sanchez Flores and appointed Ronald Koeman in his place.
The Dutchman helped cause a rift within the squad by dropping stalwarts Santiago Canizares, David Albelda and Miguel Angel Angulo and telling them they were surplus to requirements.
Valencia plummeted down the standings and although they won the King's Cup, Koeman was sacked just before the end of the campaign.
Emery, 36, arrived from Almeria in July with one season of top-flight experience, but has made in immediate impact with few changes to the squad. A great tactician and motivator, he has won over a tough dressing room in a short space of time.
"He has surprised us all because he knows how to get the most out of the squad. He came in with his arms wide open and has tried to get the best from every one of us," said Albelda, who has been restored to the side.
Winger Vicente has said there are many similarities now with the side Rafael Benitez led to the league title in 2002 and 2004. They top the standings with six wins from seven games, and have scored 17 goals to just four conceded.
Struggling Recre are third from bottom and without a win in six outings, though they put on a much-improved performance under new coach Lucas Alcaraz last weekend, drawing 1-1 at Valladolid.
Second-placed Sevilla are at home to Andalucian rivals Malaga on Sunday with both teams on winning streaks, while third-placed Villarreal host an Atletico Madrid side seeking a lift from three consecutive league defeats.
Champions Real Madrid receive Athletic Bilbao at the Bernabeu in Sunday's late game but will be without suspended Dutch striker Ruud van Nistelrooy.
Barcelona will be looking for their sixth consecutive league victory when Almeria visit the Nou Camp on Saturday.
ROME, Oct 23 (Reuters) - Injury-hit Juventus are hoping Italy midfielder Mauro Camoranesi can recover from a leg muscle problem to help them build on their Champions League win over Real Madrid in Saturday's derby against Torino (1830 GMT).
The 2-1 triumph on Tuesday ended a five-match winless run for Juventus, who are seven points behind Serie A leaders Inter Milan in 12th place, and gave under-fire coach Claudio Ranieri some breathing room.
However, the heat will be straight back on if Juve suffer a third consecutive league defeat this weekend and fitness problems are complicating his bid to turn things around.
Claudio Marchisio will be out for almost four weeks after hurting his ankle against the Spanish champions. The midfielder joins a long injury list that includes goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon, striker David Trezeguet and midfielder Christian Poulsen.
Camoranesi, who has been out since a 2-1 defeat to Palermo at the start of the month, trained with his team mates on Wednesday and might be fit the Torino match, the club said on their website.
The pressure is also on Ranieri's counterpart Gianni De Biasi as Torino have lost their last three games and have not tasted victory since beating Lecce 3-0 on the opening day.
Former Italy boss Roberto Donadoni will be among the candidates to replace De Biasi if the poor form continues, according to media reports.
Torino will be without first-choice goalkeeper Matteo Sereni, who suffered an ankle knock in training on Wednesday, and suspended defender Francesco Pratali.
Champions Inter entertain Genoa in fine fettle after thrashing last-year's runners-up AS Roma 4-0 last weekend and beating Cypriots Anorthosis Famagusta on Wednesday to go clear at the top of Champions League Group B.
AC Milan, who are three points behind Inter in sixth, visit Atalanta in Bergamo amid growing excitement at David Beckham's possible loan move from Los Angeles Galaxy.
Struggling Roma, nine points off the pace in 14th, face a tough trip to Udinese, who have 14 points from seven games.
Udinese share second place with Napoli, who visit Lazio, and Catania, who take on Siena on Saturday (1600).
BERLIN, Oct 23 (Reuters) - Bayern Munich's recovery is unlikely to survive the visit of a familiar foe on Saturday unless they heed the words of captain Mark van Bommel.
Juergen Klinsmann's side are back within five points of the leaders as they prepare to face a VfL Wolfsburg side coached by former Bayern boss Felix Magath (kickoff 1330 GMT).
It is the sort of match they should be relishing after 3-0 win at home to Fiorentina in the Champions League but Van Bommel knows Tuesday's scoreline masked an uncomfortable truth.
While the Bavarians had arguably their best game of the season in attacking terms, they left huge gaps in defence and better finishing from Fiorentina, who had a total of 23 shots, could have made it a different story.
"We were very lucky not to concede at least one goal against Fiorentina," Van Bommel told reporters after the match.
"There's a lot we have to improve on."
Bayern will be hit by the absence of defender Philipp Lahm, after he suffered an ankle injury against the Italians. Christian Lell is likely to step in.
Otherwise the injury situation is looking good and coach Juergen Klinsmann believes the club are seeing the benefit of the tougher training regime he imposed on taking over before the start of the current season.
"Out physical condition is giving me a lot of confidence," Klinsmann told reporters after the Fiorentina victory.
"We're in good shape, and we're just starting to see the early results of our extremely demanding training over the last three months.
"The players aren't pulling up short any more, they have it in them to run 60 yards even as late as the 86th minute. We're also developing an element of consistency."
Victory over Fiorentina followed a 1-0 win away to Karlsruhe last weekend, a result that left them in the lower half of the table but within sight of leaders Hamburg.
Once again, Hamburg are not in action until Sunday, when they visit second-placed Hoffenheim, meaning Bayern have the chance to put further pressure on their title rivals with a Saturday victory.
The fixture list has presented Bayer Leverkusen with an even better opportunity, as victory at home to Cologne on Friday would take them up from third to first.
Posts
All Comments
Posts
All Comments
