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Sherwood frustrated with rumours over Tottenham future
By Peter Hanson
Apr 28, 2014 1:57:00 PM
The current coach believes he has performed well enough in his role to take on the job permanently and is tired of the constant speculation surrounding his position
Tim Sherwood is growing tiresome of persistent rumours that he will be replaced as Tottenham head coach, and defended his record as boss.
The 45-year-old replaced Andre Villas-Boas at White Hart Lane in December, as Spurs chased a spot in the top four and a place in the Champions League.
However, that ambition will be mathematically ruled out if north London rivals Arsenal beat Newcastle United on Monday evening.
That failure coupled with high-profile defeats to Chelsea, Liverpool and Arsenal have cast doubts on Sherwood's long-term future at the club, with the likes of Netherlands head coach Louis van Gaal and former Tottenham manager Glenn Hoddle linked with the post.
However, Sherwood believes he has performed well in the role and feels it is disrespectful that other managers are linked with his position while he remains in the job.
He said: "Every time I speak to you guys [the media] it's the same: 'This manager's coming in. Van Gaal, then Hoddle, this one and that one.'
"Some of these managers are actually touting themselves for my job. I don't think that's right.
"It's something that doesn't sit well with me. If anyone ever asks me about another job I just tell them that they've got another manager. Until they haven't got a manager and until I haven't got a job, say nothing.
"I've done all right, you know. It's been hard. I've had to keep my discipline I suppose, and my dignity, pride and just get on with the job. That's all I’ve tried to do.
"My brief when I came into the club was to find a way to score more goals. We'd scored 15 when I took over and I think we've got [another] 37 now so I think I've ticked that box."
Tottenham have won 12 of the 20 Premier League games under Sherwood's stewardship, and sit sixth with 66 points from 36 games.
If they win their final two games of the season, against West Ham and Aston Villa, Spurs will equal their record points haul for a Premier League season, with 72.
Exclusive: Former coach backs Ancelotti to be next Tottenham manager
By Joe Moore (@JoeyMoore) | Monday, April 28, 2014
Former Tottenham coach Clive Allen has told talkSPORT he expects Real Madrid boss Carlo Ancelotti to take over from current Spurs manager Tim Sherwood in the summer.
Sherwood, who signed an 18-month contract in December to succeed axed boss Andre Villas-Boas, is likely to be replaced at end of the season, with the club thought to be looking for a more experienced coach to carry them back into Champions League contention.
A host of top names have been linked with the job, including Manchester United target Luis van Gaal, former AC Milan boss Massimiliano Allegri and Mauricio Pochettino, who has impressed in his first full season in charge at Southampton.
But, asked who he thought would be in the White Hart Lane hotseat next season, the former Spurs man told Kick Off: “If I was a betting man I’d have my money on Carlo Ancelotti.”
The La Liga club’s past ruthlessness at the top has led to reports that, despite Real still chasing a treble of trophies following their Copa del Rey victory, the Italian is not guaranteed a future as Los Blancos boss.
And while Allen believes Spurs could complete the shock signing, he admits they will have more than one target.
He added: “There won’t be just the one option, because if was Van Gaal was on their list, that’s gone now, his move to Man United looks to be done and he’s been very clever with his recent comments.
“I think they’d look at someone like Pochettino too.”
The former coach also questioned whether another managerial change would see Spurs immediately challenge for a Champions League spot next season, and called for the club to be patient in their wait for success.
“Under the pressure Tim [Sherwood] has been under since taking over, yes he, Les [Ferdinand] and Chris [Ramsey] have done well, but the bottom-line was to get the side into the top four or the club would change it up again.
“They wanted to have a real go at the end of last season, they changed it and brought AVB in, and now they’ve changed it again.
“I find it difficult to accept that another appointment will change it so dramatically that they will be challenging for the top four straight away.
“What a lot of people don’t appreciate is that everything changes when a new manager comes in.
“You can’t just bring in a whole new group of staff and coaches who start a new regime, where they adopt a particular philosophy in terms of football on the pitch and even things like fitness training, and expect instant success.
“People say it takes time... it’s got to take time.”
Man City face punishment for breaching financial fair play rules
By talkSPORT (@talkSPORT) | Monday, April 28, 2014
Manchester City are facing punishment after it was revealed the Premier League side are among a group of European clubs found to be in breach of financial fair play rules.
It’s understood the clubs found to be in violation of the regulations, thought to be fewer than 20 in total including City and French champions Paris Saint-Germain, have been offered settlements from UEFA's club financial control board.
The offer of the sanctions – which could range from a reprimand, to a fine, up to restrictions on the squad for European competition next season – can either be accepted by the clubs or negotiated for a lesser punishment, with thier fate set to be decided in a meeting on Thursday.
It is not known what settlements each individual club has been offered, though the most powerful sanction of exclusion from European competition is not expected to be used against any of the clubs.
If no agreement is reached, then the outstanding cases will go to an adjudicatory panel for a final decision, while UEFA could reveal the outcomes as early as Friday.
City boss Manuel Pellegrini insisted last week that there has never been any concern that the club would be kicked out of the Champions League for breaching the rules.
The club have been working closely with UEFA to try to ensure they comply with spending rules, which limit losses to €45million over the last two years.
Pellegrini said: "I felt here inside the club nobody feared we could be suspended for next year."
The Gunners boss has refused to blame the club's faded title challenge solely on the absence of Ramsey but said any team would have been hurt with the problems his side faced
Arsene Wenger has refused to blame Arsenal's faded Premier League title challenge solely on the absence of Aaron Ramsey but said that the volume of injuries in his ranks prevented his side pushing for the crown.
The Welsh midfielder was in sensational form in the opening stages of the season before a thigh injury saw him sidelined for three months.
During that time, Arsenal slipped out of title contention, but Wenger insists there was more to their slump than the loss of Ramsey, who played in the north London club's 3-0 victory over Newcastle on Monday.
"I would not like to take anything away from Aaron Ramsey but we lost a number of other players in the same period and altogether I think that would harm the chances of many teams," Wenger told reporters.
"We would love for the season to be longer. We were top of the league but lost too many players at the crucial point of the season."
Three league wins on the spin have put Arsenal back in the driving seat to claim the fourth Champions League spot, with Laurent Koscielny, Mesut Ozil and Olivier Giroud all finding the net during their win over the Magpies, and Wenger believes his men are now capable of taking six points from their final two games of the season.
"We had some problems at the start of the game, trying to find our way through the defence," he added. "When we found an opening we became stronger.
"We are four points ahead of Everton and we want to take maximum points from now until the end of the season."
Arsenal's four-point lead over Everton means Wenger's men are now just one win from Champions League qualification with two matches left to play.
The Spaniard was expected to miss the rest of the season after being stretchered off against West Brom, but a scan has revealed the injury is not as bad as first feared
EXCLUSIVE
By Paul Clennam
David Silva will return to training on Tuesday as he steps up his recovery from an ankle injury and bids to play a part in Manchester City's title run-in.
It was feared that Silva would miss the rest of the season after being stretchered off during the second half of City's 3-1 Premier League victory over West Brom on April 21.
But a scan has revealed the injury is not as bad as first feared, and the Spaniard will now resume training ahead of Saturday's crunch clash with Everton at Goodison Park.
Silva has registered seven goals and 12 assists for City in the Premier League this season, including important strikes against Hull City and in an ultimately fruitless comeback against Liverpool at Anfield.
News of his playmaker's swift recovery is a further boost for Manuel Pellegrini, who has already welcomed key men Yaya Toure and Sergio Aguero back to first-team action in the final few weeks of the season.
Chelsea's 2-0 defeat of Liverpool leaves City knowing that three wins from their final three matches will almost certainly see them regain the Premier League title they lost to Manchester United last term.
Alan Pardew admitted Newcastle fans deserve better than the club's dismal run of form after a sixth consecutive league defeat.
Tuesday 29th April 2014
Laurent Koscielny and Mesut Ozil both found the net from close range in the first half before Olivier Giroud headed home a third after the break to complete a comfortable victory for the Gunners.
The defeat at the Emirates Stadium continues a miserable period for Newcastle that includes 11 defeats from their 16 league matches in 2014.
Newcastle's travelling support were openly critical of Pardew and the club's owners throughout the game with one chant suggesting they would celebrate if the Magpies boss was sacked.
"They're frustrated," Pardew said after the match.
"We had 2,000 fans here tonight, they made the long, long trip and although we were playing a good team they expect us to win.
"They've seen us lose again and they're not happy and I respect that.
"All I can do as a manager is make sure I do this job to the best of my ability - we've been top 10 all year and this recent run is not something I'm hiding from."
Newcastle are currently ninth in the Barclays Premier League table, two points ahead of Stoke.
The Magpies host struggling Cardiff on Saturday and Pardew urged the club's supporters to help the players maintain their place in the division's top 10.
"We've got the best fans in the world," Pardew said.
"We should have performed better in this run and we have to finish in the top 10.
"If Cardiff fans think the game's important for them, it's important for our fans we win.
"I thought we could have got really harmed tonight at 2-0 but I think on a football basis we've come out with our dignity still intact.
"It's very, very important our stadium gives us the same opportunity on Saturday they did at Swansea when it was a good atmosphere for us to play under.
"I really hope on Saturday we give them something they deserve because they don't deserve the recent run we've offered up to them."
Newcastle enjoyed an excellent start to the season and were only four points off fourth at the turn of the year.
Pardew insists his players have to learn from their collapse and ensure the same does not happen again next season.
"In the first half of the campaign people might say we excelled to a degree but I thought we gave good value for money for this football club," Pardew said.
"But in the second half we haven't and next season we have to make sure we give the fans full value for the investment we have made through the 38 games."
Arsenal's victory means the Gunners need just one more win from their remaining two matches to guarantee Champions League qualification for a 17th consecutive year.
Manager Arsene Wenger admits the Gunners want more than a place in the top four but insists injuries to key players took their toll on the team's title challenge this season.
"We had Theo Walcott, Jack Wilshere, Mesut Ozil, Aaron Ramsey and Koscielny all out in the same period - you can miss one or two but four or five will affect any team," Wenger said.
"Finishing in the top four shows the club has been consistent over the years. We want more but at the crucial period of this season we lost many players.
"We have shown we have potential but we want more next season."
Van der Sar hails Van Gaal: He's the best I've ever played for
By Michael Huguenin
Apr 29, 2014 8:25:00 AM
The ex-goalkeeper won the Champions League and three Eredivisie titles under the Manchester United manager-to-be, hailing him as the most impressive coach over Sir Alex Ferguson
Edwin van der Sar has claimed Manchester United could not find a better manager than Louis van Gaal.
Van Gaal will quit his post as the Netherlands' head coach after this year's World Cup and has agreed to take over at Old Trafford, following the sacking of David Moyes earlier in April.
Van der Sar, who won the Champions League and three Eredivisie titles with Van Gaal, before finishing his career at United, rates his compatriot ahead of other former bosses, such as Sir Alex Ferguson.
"I will say more about Louis and United once his appointment is official," the former goalkeeper is quoted as saying by the Daily Mirror.
"But I have made it clear here before that Louis van Gaal is the best manager I have ever played for.''
Franz Beckenbauer was president of Bayern Munich when the Bavarian club lured Van Gaal to Germany and believes the veteran coach would be "perfect" for United.
"He would be perfect for Manchester United because he is an internationally experienced coach and he understands English football," Beckenbauer reportedly told the Daily Mail.
"I don't know if it's a rumour or if they're really trying to sign [Van Gaal] but if they agree with Louis I think it would be a good part of the future.
"He won a lot of titles so he is experienced and he is ambitious. He has the personality. He has everything."
Van Gaal won the Bundesliga-DFB Pokal double with Bayern in the 2009-10 season but was sacked in April of the next campaign as the German giants slumped to third.
But Beckenbauer remains convinced the Dutchman is "one of the best coaches in the world", despite Van Gaal's reputation for arrogance.
"If you ask him a stupid question then it can be that his answer is a bit arrogant but if you treat him with respect, then respect comes back to you," the 68-year-old said.
"I like him. He was also very successful with Bayern Munich. In the end there was a little discussion about the way he was handling his job so that's why they went separate ways. But for me he's one of the best coaches in the world."
I want to stay at Chelsea forever, insists Mourinho
By Harry Sherlock
Apr 30, 2014 8:18:00 AM
The Blues boss returned to Stamford Bridge in the summer after leaving Real Madrid and is now keen to see out his managerial career in west London
Jose Mourinho insists that he wants to stay at Chelsea "forever" after returning for the club for a second spell.
The Portuguese came back to Stamford Bridge in the summer after a turbulent three-year spell at Real Madrid, having won two Premier League titles, one FA Cup and two League Cups during his first tenure at Stamford Bridge from 2004 to 2007.
Mourinho originally left Chelsea by mutual consent but is now adamant that he wants to see out his managerial career in west London.
"My future is Chelsea and if Chelsea decides it's time to stop our relationship, it's Chelsea that decides," he told reporters. "Not me. I want to stay forever.
"When Chelsea decides it's time to stop, it's then time for me to think about my future."
Chelsea are currently second in the Premier League, having defeated Liverpool 2-0 at Anfield on Sunday, but third-placed Manchester City lie a point behind with a game in hand.
'I will listen to their offer' - Frank de Boer opens door to Tottenham move
By Jay Jaffa
Apr 29, 2014 4:20:00 PM
The Ajax manager claimed his fourth consecutive Eredivisie title on Sunday and has made yet another hint that he would be interested in moving to the Premier League
Ajax manager Frank de Boer has described Tottenham as a "sleeping giant", adding that he will "listen to their offer" after the Eredivisie season finishes.
De Boer led the Godenzonen to their - and his - fourth consecutive Eredivisie title with a 1-1 draw at Heracles on Sunday, a feat unmatched by one manager in the Netherlands, and has been heavily linked with the Spurs job.
Tottenham chairman Daniel Levy is expected to meet Southampton manager Mauricio Pochettino as he considers a managerial change at the end of the season, while De Boer has previously said that he would want to manage Spurs.
Speaking to NOS, De Boer said: "I want to add something to a club, build something. - I won't be talking to other clubs til after May 3.
"After the last match on May 3 I will think about this possibility. I will have talks and will listen to their offer. After that I will decide on how I feel."
De Boer has been at Ajax since 2010 - his first managerial job - after playing 432 times for the Dutch champions and has fuelled speculation that he is inclined to move to England.
He added: "I see a perspective at Tottenham Hotspur, just as Liverpool and Newcastle United sometimes are, they are sleeping giants.
"I want to add something to a club, so that people can see that this was the work of Frank de Boer. Liverpool is a great example of that. What Brendan Rodgers is doing now."
De Boer is highly sought-after and has been linked with replacing Claudio Ranieri at Monaco, but the 43-year-old played down interest in the job at the Ligue 1 club.
"I don't have anything with Monaco, that's a club that has arrived already," he insisted.
In an interview with Voetball International, De Boer moved to clarify some of his comments to NOS, saying: "Spurs have indicated that they would like to talk to me after this season. I told them that I first want to end this season with Ajax in a positive way. And after that, I would like to listen to Tottenham. Nothing more, nothing less.
"They didn't contact my agent Guido Albers yet. And let me be very clear about this: I don't have any intention to leave Ajax. We have a fantastic squad and I'm enjoying my work here at Ajax."
Tottenham and Ajax have a notable working relationship following the transfers of Jan Vertonghen and Christian Eriksen in the last two summer transfer windows.
Spurs deny official links to De Boer
Frank de Boer is open to speaking with Tottenham about taking over as manager, although the north Londoners stress they have not made an official approach to Ajax.
Wednesday 30th April 2014
The former Holland international has followed an illustrious playing career with a fine start to managerial life at the club whose fabled youth system he graduated from.
De Boer, who went on to play at Barcelona, Galatasaray, Rangers and then in Qatar, returned to Ajax as a coach following his retirement and has been first-team manager since 2010, leading them to a four successive Eredivisie titles.
This season's success has further boosted a burgeoning reputation that has often seen him linked with a move away from the Amsterdam ArenA.
Reports on Tuesday claimed Spurs had contacted the 43-year-old and, although the Barclays Premier League club confirmed to Press Association Sport that there has been no official approach, De Boer would consider a move to White Hart Lane.
"I'm going to think about this possibility after the last league fixture on May 3," he told nos.nl. "I'm going to talk and listen.
"I would like to add something to a club, that people can say they see the hand of Frank de Boer.
"There is a beautiful example at Liverpool. That is what Brendan Rodgers is doing now [making his mark]."
Bookmakers now make the Dutchman favourite to become Tottenham's next manager, ousting previous front-runner Mauricio Pochettino of Southampton.
Reports suggest it is a matter of when, rather than if, Tim Sherwood will be replaced at the White Hart Lane helm, with chairman Daniel Levy ready to tear up the 18-month deal handed to him in December.
Spurs are understood to be concentrating on ending the season well before reviewing the progress made under the head coach, whose win percentage is better than any other Tottenham manager in the Premier League era.
Should Sherwood get the boot, one of the legacies he will leave at Spurs is a focus on home-grown talent after his years of work within their youth set-up.
The former midfielder has put his trust in the likes of Nabil Bentaleb and Harry Kane, although fellow academy graduate Andros Townsend has found his time restricted under Andre Villas-Boas' successor.
The 22-year-old exploded onto the international stage when rewarded for his fine form in October, netting on his England debut against Montenegro before helping overcome Poland as Roy Hodgson's men secured a place in Brazil.
However, Townsend has not enjoyed the best end to the campaign and sustained an ankle injury after coming on in Saturday's 1-0 win at Stoke.
Townsend left the Britannia Stadium in a protective boot and underwent an MRI scan on Monday, with further assessments taking place on Tuesday.
A statement on the club's official website, www.tottenhamhotspur.com, said: "Andros Townsend is continuing to be assessed by the club's medical staff after suffering an injury to his left ankle during Saturday's win against Stoke City.
"We shall provide further information once we have a definitive update."
Everton have expressed their excitement and "cautious optimism" about a particular site they have been looking at with a view to building a new stadium.
Wednesday 30th April 2014
Last year the Toffees revealed they were exploring locations for a new home in collaboration with Liverpool City Council.
And club chief executive Robert Elstone said at Everton's 2014 General Meeting on Tuesday that, while a series of sites were being examined, one - which he refused to name - was being focused on more than the others.
A team of external advisors, including planners, architects, designers and regeneration experts have been consulted on the proposed venture, with the viability of a new 50,000 capacity purpose-built ground inside the city boundaries of Liverpool under consideration.
Elstone said: "The stadium remains a big priority.
"We're not ruling out any of the sites that we've identified and that the council has presented to us, but there is one site which is getting more attention and has been getting more attention for a number of months.
"It has been worked on very carefully, diligently and in some detail by not only Everton, but by the council and by advisors, planners, architects, designers, cost consultants, regeneration experts and solicitors. So there's a lot of work going into something that we're very excited about.
"We need a council being supportive financially and supportive entrepreneurially as well. At the moment there are signs that they are being that, and that's to be welcomed and we're delighted with that.
"We hope it comes to fruition and, if it does, I think it's something that the city and our fans will be very proud of."
Elstone was keen to emphasise that the risks, and debt, associated with any move away from Goodison Park were being contemplated by the club.
He added: "The board is currently looking not only at this opportunity but also the associated risks and the debt that the club may well have to take on to deliver this, which may or may not be the right thing to do.
"That's exactly where we are in terms of the project at the moment - that consideration is ongoing by the board.
"But, in summary, there's a degree of optimism - perhaps some cautious optimism - but a degree of optimism.
"We wouldn't be investing what we're doing without thinking it had a chance of success, and there's a commitment as always to share information with our fans as soon as we can."
Elstone later suggested there could be further news on the matter by the start of the 2014/15 season.
He said: "The timeframe is relatively short-term because we are sitting and evaluating whether this is the right thing to do, and we are certainly not going to dwell on that.
"So at some point in the next few weeks and months, we will need to make a decision, and when we do, we will announce it to the fans."
Also speaking at the General Meeting at the Liverpool Philharmonic Hall were Everton chairman Bill Kenwright and manager Roberto Martinez - both of whom stressed the Toffees do not need to sell any of their star players.
Last summer, when Martinez arrived as boss, the club lost midfielder Marouane Fellaini to Manchester United.
Fellaini had a buy-out clause in his contract and Kenwright said: "I think everyone here knows Marouane chose to have a price on his head.
"We don't have to sell anyone.
"There is no-one with a price on their head like there was with Marouane."
Everton have thrived under Martinez - they still have an outside chance of a top-four Barclays Premier League finish - and several of their key players are likely to be on clubs' wish-lists this summer.
But the Spaniard said: "I think the answer everyone needs to know is that we are not in need of selling players, and I think that is important.
"We will never sell a player due to financial needs. If we make a sale it will be in our football plans.
"It has to be the judgement of the player, because we need something better or because it is the right time to move them on. If that is the case, the squad will be in a stronger position, because we will bring in two, three or four players."
Martinez chose to make specific reference to one of the stand-out performers of Everton's campaign, 20-year-old England midfielder Ross Barkley.
He said: "Ross came to see me and said 'I love playing for Everton' and that is a rare statement - you don't get that any more.
"Will there be new faces coming in and players going out (this summer)? Yes, of course - we need to do that.
"I think we have all seen from window to window that we need to get fresher and newer. We need to have core players but also need to have good players coming in as well.
"But you can rest assured the decisions will be football decisions."
Rodgers congratulates Mourinho
Jose Mourinho has revealed Brendan Rodgers sent his congratulations to Chelsea on Tuesday, two days after the Liverpool manager's scathing criticism of his rival's tactics in Sunday's Premier League contest at Anfield.
Wednesday 30th April 2014
Chelsea won 2-0 to keep their slim title prospects alive and dent Liverpool's hopes of winning a first championship in 24 years with a defensive set-up which irked Rodgers.
"I think there were two buses parked today, never mind one," Rodgers said on Sunday.
"It is not difficult to coach, putting 10 players on the edge of the 18-yard box."
Mourinho, who brought Rodgers to Chelsea during his first spell, declined to respond to the criticism on the eve of his side's Champions League semi-final second leg with Atletico Madrid, the same day he received a text message from the Reds boss acknowledging Chelsea's victory.
"You know pundits are pundits and I don't want to comment a lot," Mourinho said.
"Brendan is a manager and is somebody that I consider my friend.
"I met him a long time ago when he was a very young coach coaching kids.
"Of course, I know his words after the match but I also know his words today and today he told me congratulations for a great victory and a great performance.
"Especially because he's somebody I consider a friend and I like, I prefer to forget the words after the match and I keep the words of today.
"He's an intelligent guy, I believe that after the match he watched the match on video and I think now he understood what happened."
Arsenal do not deserve to be in the top three, says Mertesacker
By Gill Clark
Apr 30, 2014 8:54:00 AM
The German says that the Gunners must learn from their defeats to their title rivals this season if they are to challenge for the Premier League again
Arsenal defender Per Mertesacker says that the Gunners do not deserve to finish any higher than fourth in the Premier League this season.
Arsene Wenger's side looked set to challenge for the title in the early stages of the campaign before falling off the pace and then facing a battle with Everton just to secure fourth place.
A 3-0 victory over Newcastle on Monday strengthened the Gunners' grip on a Champions League spot - they would secure qualification with a win over West Brom in their next fixture - and Mertesacker feels that it would be the most that they merit.
"We didn't deserve to be in the first three," the centre-back told reporters. "That is something for next year that we have to manage much better than this year. The early away games killed us this year. Hopefully we can learn from that."
Arsenal suffered heavy defeats to title rivals Chelsea, Liverpool and Manchester City and Mertesacker believes that his team must learn from those games if they are to improve their league position in future.
"We have to learn quickly how to play and how to defend in the first 20 to 25 minutes," he added. "It was very similar in each game. The first 20 minutes, we lost some balls in the middle of the park, they got us on the break and that is something we have to look at next year."
However, with an FA Cup final against Hull City to come, Mertesacker argues that the season can still be a success for Wenger's side.
He said: "We can learn a lot about ourselves from this. Last year we managed to deal with an even more difficult situation. Ten games to go, no one expected us to be in the top four.
"This year, with a couple of injuries, we struggled heavily but we regrouped very well and how we managed this situation was even more important maybe than last year.
"Everyone knows we are in the cup final, we can secure Champions League football, so good targets to go for.
"Of course, we are happy to have a lot of players back and you can see the squad is getting stronger and stronger."
After an incident was reported to anti-discrimination group Kick It Out, the Reds say that they are looking into fans' behaviour towards Chelsea striker Demba Ba
Liverpool are investigating allegations of racist abuse reportedly aimed at Chelsea's Demba Ba in Sunday's Premier League match at Anfield.
The incident was not thought to have been heard by the Senegal international, although it was reported to anti-discrimination group Kick It Out.
Premier League leaders Liverpool are now in the process of looking into it.
"We have been made aware of an allegation made to Kick it Out and we are investigating the matter," a Liverpool spokesperson told Perform.
Jose Mourinho's Chelsea side won the game 2-0, with Ba opening the scoring on the stroke of half-time after capitalising on a slip by Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard.
The Blues then completed the victory with a breakaway goal in second-half injury time as former Anfield fans' favourite Fernando Torres set up forward Willian.
The result saw Chelsea close the gap on Liverpool to two points with two games remaining.
Manchester United ban fan from attending away games after he was caught bringing can of lager into a ground
Jamie Bazley had can in his bag when he tried to enter St James' Park
Lifelong United supporter says he didn't know it was there
Fan was cautioned by the police and banned from all domestic and European away games
By Jonny Singer Published: 08:30 GMT, 1 May 2014 | Updated: 10:17 GMT, 1 May 2014
Manchester United have banned two fans from going to away games indefinitely - one of them for as little as having a single can of lager found in his bag on the way in to a game.
Jamie Bazley was stopped on the way in to St James’ Park earlier this month and given a police caution, simply because he had an unopened can of Stella Artois in his bag.
As if that wasn’t enough, the club have now given him a ban from all domestic and European away games.
'Banned indefinitely' - the letter from Manchester United. An almost identical one was sent to both men
A letter, sent to the fan by Manchester United, said: ‘We have been informed by the Police that you were arrested at the above game and subsequently cautioned for possession of alcohol on entry.
‘The club has worked extensively with the FA, the Police and a number of local authorities to ensure our supporters are treated fairly and safely when supporting the Club at away grounds. This process is also linked to the allocation of tickets given to us as the away support.
‘People who breach these safety measures are jeopardising our ticket allocations for future matches.
‘As a result you will be banned from attending domestic and European away matches indefinitely.’
Bazley says he did not even know he had the alcohol on him, as it was at the bottom of the bag he was carrying. He claimed on Twitter that he ‘honestly thought I had drank [it] on the train’.
Fanning the flames: The incident has led to outrage among Manchester United supporters on Twitter
The life-long fan hit out at the club, and says he may even stop going to home games, although his ban is only from away grounds.
However, the men were allowed to renew their season tickets and will be permitted to attend home games.
Like most football clubs Newcastle United do not allow anyone to bring alcohol into the ground or to drink in the stands - although there is a famous video of Magpies owner Mike Ashley necking a pint at the Emirates Stadium (below), where it is also illegal. This is not an isolated incident involving United. Another fan, Tom Molyneux has been given an identical ban for being arrested at the same match.
Molyneux, 22, from Leigh in Greater Manchester, told MailOnline: 'I forgot I had a hip flask when entering the ground, and got arrested for it. I was released without charge three hours later, and thought that was the end of it.
'I renewed my season ticket yesterday morning as well, and they spoke to me like nothing had happened, then I got home from work and the letter was waiting for me, no first strike or nothing just a straight ban for ever.
'The club doesn't care about the supporters, just the money'.
Both fans are planning to appeal in an attempt to overturn the bans.
The club have taken the action as what fans do could have a negative effect on United's ticket allocation for future matches.
The club are planning to leave Goodison Park for a 50,000-seater stadium surrounded by houses and education and health facilities, with the council reaffirming their support
Liverpool City Council has again vowed to support Everton with their proposed move to a new stadium.
The Premier League club are planning to leave Goodison Park and play their home games in a 50,000-seater stadium at a site that will also include new homes, education and health facilities.
Walton Hall Park is reportedly the preferred location, but the club have refused to confirm that is the case and Everton chief executive Robert Elstone said he has seen "signs" the council are supporting the project.
A statement from Liverpool City Council read: "Following reports in the media today, we wish to reaffirm our commitment to working with Everton FC in relation to their new stadium proposals.
"As with all large-scale regeneration projects with the potential to create jobs and investment in Liverpool, the city council will look at ways it can support the wider regeneration scheme, but no firm options have been developed in terms of how or where this will take shape.
"This work is ongoing and we will announce the details of the location and support we will be offering once this has been further developed.
"However, we must stress that the city council is clearly not in a position to fund the costs of a new stadium.
"Any investment the council makes would be in a wider regeneration scheme, subject to a sound financial and economic rationale for doing so."
Elstone had spoken on Tuesday of the importance of the council's assistance in seeing the project through.
He said: "The key partner is Liverpool City Council. We're working very closely with them and they're being incredibly supportive.
"The public and private sector mix is important. Support from the public purse whether that's through grants or other forms of subsidy; and whether it's regional, national or European, we have to investigate all possibilities of securing public funding into the project.
"That’s one of the reasons why our scheme is so heavily focused on jobs and education and welfare; to essentially support and sustain those sorts of grants and subsidy moneys.
"We’ll need commercial partners alongside that to make the whole jigsaw fit together."
Roberto Martinez: We're not out to do Liverpool a favour
By Ewan Roberts
May 1, 2014 11:25:00 AM
The Spaniard says that Everton want to "win for ourselves" against Manchester City, with a top-four finish still achievable, while Phil Jagielka and Sylvain Distin could return
Everton boss Roberto Martinez has rejected suggestions that his side would either deliberately help or hinder Liverpool's title bid when they face the Reds' title rivals Manchester City on Saturday.
Recent reports have suggested that many Toffees supporters would be happy to lose against Manuel Pellegrini's men if it meant that their Merseyside rivals failed in their quest to win a first league title in 24 years.
But Martinez has dismissed the idea that his players would be influenced to do anything over than try and beat City – especially as they still have a slim chance of qualifying for the Champions League themselves.
"The relationship between the two clubs in the city, over many, many years, has had incredible chapters and this would be another fascinating chapter," said the Spaniard at his pre-match press conference.
"But I don't think there is any doubt about the integrity of our football club towards the league and towards the competition. We are a football club that wants to win every single game we go in to and we are looking at ourselves. They are precious points for us so we can't really afford not to give everything we've got for every point we've got left at this period.
"But helping other teams? That's not the way we do our work. We're just focusing on trying to win for ourselves and have real high standards in every game that we go into and represent our football club.
"We would never contemplate giving anything other than our best. We're not coming out to do any one a favour. We have our own pride."
The former Wigan boss also revealed that he is optimistic over Phil Jagielka's chances of being included in the matchday squad for Saturday's game, while Sylvain Distin could also be ready to return.
Van Persie hopeful of Manchester United return against Sunderland
May 1, 2014 12:28:00 PM
The Netherlands striker has not featured for his club since scoring a hat-trick against Olympiakos on March 19 but has been training well for a full week
By Paul Clennam
Manchester United forward Robin van Persie could be included on the bench against Sunderland on Saturday.
The Netherlands international has not featured since scoring a hat-trick against Olympiakos in the Champions League quarter-finals on March 19, having been stretchered off late in that game with a knee injury.
He returned to training with the Red Devils on Friday and has been performing well at Carrington since then, leaving him optimistic of an appearance against Gus Poyet's men.
Van Persie had initially been expected to miss the rest of the season, with his participation in the summer's World Cup in doubt, but his quick return will be a major boost to both United and the Netherlands.
His national coach, Louis van Gaal, is soon to be announced as the next Red Devils manager, a development which has boosted the striker, as the pair share an agent, Kees Vos, and a good working relationship.
