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Mourinho open to BPL return
Jose Mourinho has reiterated his desire to return to the Premier League "in a couple of years" once his time in charge of Real Madrid is over.
Dalglish backs Carroll to come good
Liverpool boss Kenny Dalglish is confident under-pressure striker Andy Carroll will soon settle into the team.
Redknapp picks out players to watch
Tottenham boss Harry Redknapp has picked Manchester United's Ravel Morrison and Arsenal's Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain as two players to watch in 2012.
Kean keeping the faith in Rovers
Blackburn manager Steve Kean is maintaining hope his side can pick up points from a tough festive period.
Dalglish laments Bellamy treatment
Liverpool chief Kenny Dalglish has hinted that Craig Bellamy’s reputation as a hothead has seen him unfairly targeted by referees.
Richards amazed by Man City rise
Manchester City defender Micah Richards admits he is in the best form of his career currently and hopes he can play his part for the team during the busy festive period.
Calls for Henry return grow louder
The calls for Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger to re-sign club legend Thierry Henry gathered more pace over the weekend.
Ferguson: City are title favourites
Sir Alex Ferguson has conceded that Manchester City are title favourites, but claimed that their financial wealth will not guarantee them success.
Ferguson: Carrick is pivotal to United
Manchester United supremo Sir Alex Ferguson believes that Michael Carrick has now become a focal point at the heart of the Red Devils’ midfield.
Wenger wrestling with RVP dilemma
Arsene Wenger is facing one of the toughest calls of his managerial career over whether to rest Robin van Persie for Tuesday's game against Wolves.
Mancini plays down De Rossi link Manchester City boss Roberto Mancini has ruled out a January move for Italy midfielder Daniele de Rossi.
AVB rules out Alex recall
Andre Villas-Boas will not bring Alex in from the cold, even if it means Chelsea starting Boxing Day's west London derby with John Terry as their only fit centre-half.
AVB: No 911 call for Alex
Chelsea boss Andre Villas-Boas has defended his refusal to "dial 911" for Alex as a matter of principle.
Ferguson: Giggs can play for another year
Sir Alex Ferguson has confirmed Ryan Giggs will be asked to extend his stay at Old Trafford into an incredible 23rd season.
Van der Vaart boost for Spurs
Tottenham forward Rafael van der Vaart looks set to face Norwich on Tuesday night after his hamstring injury proved less serious than first feared.
Real Madrid coach Jose Mourinho has revealed that he hopes to return to England and the Premier League in the near future.Despite insisting he was happy in Spain, the former Chelsea manager admitted England was his "passion" and hinted that he could make his return in just a couple of years' time.
"I am very, very happy to be in Real Madrid," Mourinho told BBC Radio 4. "It is a great experience for me.""I believe it is probably the biggest club in the history of football. I didn't want to miss the chance to work here but my passion is England and my next step will be to go back, if possible go and stay for a long time.""Get me a club in a couple of years, get me a good club."
Mourinho also spoke of his belief that genius will always make the difference in football, perhaps referring to his side's troubles against La Liga rivals Barcelona."I think the genius will make always the difference," he said. "And the genius in my sport is about some unbelievable players that can break every organisation and every work you can do."
"Genius in managing also exists. For me in football the most important thing is man management. Football for me is a human science, it is about man."Man management, he conceded, could only go so far as it was down to players to cope with the pressure of the game at the top."Emotional intelligence is crucial at this level in every sport," he said.
"It is one thing to take a penalty winning 5-0 in a friendly, another thing is to take a penalty kick in the last minute of the Champions League or World Cup final.""I try to prepare my players the best I can but in the end of the day they are the guys that decide everything in the right moment. They make the difference."
"I analyse them in a group context always but I know they are all unique.""This is an amazing experience - many of us don't want to quit, never. We want to go to the last day we can because this leadership becomes part of our life."
Evra: Man United spirit unmatched
Patrice Evra says Manchester United's unrivaled team spirit will help them retain the Barclays Premier League title this season.
McLeish happy with Aston Villa
Alex McLeish hailed his Aston Villa side for passing "the ultimate test" of their defensive frailties after they battled to a hard-earned point against Stoke at the Britannia Stadium.
Wenger: 2012 will be year of the Ox
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger feels 2012 could be Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain's year.
Evans injury hits Manchester United
Sir Alex Ferguson expects Jonny Evans to be out of action for a fortnight after he was forced out of Manchester United's 5-0 win over Wigan with a calf injury.
Dunne hails battling Villa
Defender Richard Dunne felt Aston Villa could be proud of their display after battling to a goalless draw at Stoke.
Coyle laments 'soft' errors
Bolton boss Owen Coyle blasted his players for a lack of character after an eighth defeat in nine Premier League matches at home left them deep in relegation trouble.
Mancini bemoans testing schedule
Manchester City boss Roberto Mancini feels his players now face a test of their nerve as they head into January after a frustrating draw at West Brom.
O'Neill unsure about penalty decision
Martin O'Neill was philosophical after seeing referee Howard Webb's howler deny Sunderland victory over Everton.
Fergie delighted with Berbatov treble
Sir Alex Ferguson was more than happy for Dimitar Berbatov to prove him wrong after the Bulgarian's hat-trick helped Manchester United hammer Wigan 5-0.
Dalglish laments Reds profligacy again
Liverpool manager Kenny Dalglish welcomed back Steven Gerrard from injury but was left ruing more missed chances and dropped points at home to Blackburn.
Warnock expecting Swansea test
Neil Warnock is expecting a tough encounter when he takes his QPR side to Swansea on Tuesday.
Swansea on QPR revenge mission
Swansea midfielder Joe Allen heads into Tuesday's meeting with QPR desperate to gain revenge for the hiding suffered against the Londoners this time last year.
Norwich's Martin relishing Bale battle
New dad Russell Martin is not about to lose any sleep at the prospect of shackling "on fire" Tottenham wing-back Gareth Bale at Carrow Road on Tuesday night.
Zubar calls for Wolves fighting spirit Ronald Zubar believes Wolves must repeat the determination evident in salvaging a point against Norwich in their battle for Barclays Premier League survival.
AVB: Chelsea didn't deserve to win
Chelsea manager Andre Villas-Boas admits his side did not do enough to warrant all three points in the 1-1 draw against Fulham on Monday.
Adebayor eyes three straight wins
Tottenham can forget about finishing in the top four unless they perform well over the festive period, Emmanuel Adebayor has warned.
Wenger hails miracle-worker McCarthy
Arsene Wenger has warned Arsenal to expect a footballing test when miracle-worker Mick McCarthy brings his battling Wolves side to Emirates Stadium on Tuesday.
Villas-Boas criticises Torres for missed chance 27 December 2011
Chelsea manager Andre Villas-Boas has criticised striker Fernando Torres for missing a chance in the 1-1 draw with Fulham on Monday.Torres was given the nod ahead of Didier Drogba for the first time in seven league matches, with his manager admitting that the work rate of the Spaniard in training had been a key factor in his decision to select him.
"We decided to bring in Fernando who has been working well (in training). He had a good game, worked well for the team and assisted (Juan) Mata for the goal. He showed same level as he does in training," he said in his post-match press conference.However, Villas-Boas then went on to say that he expects his strikers to score goals, and criticised the 27-year-old for missing a chance.
"I think that we expect our strikers to score, and we have a lot of goals spread out by the team," he continued."(But) what is important is that when a striker has an opportunity, he makes most of it. He had a big chance in first half and we expect him to take them."
The 34-year-old also conceded that Chelsea's title hopes may now have come to an end, emphasising the magnitude of the gap in points between the Blues and league leaders Manchester City."It's pretty difficult. The distance could be very, very difficult to challenge for this Premiership. It would have been a good December to get six points from home games (against Fulham and Aston Villa)," he said.
"But bearing in mind this draw and the fact that Manchester City and (Manchester) United will do their jobs, it makes it difficult.""We reduced gap not too long ago to seven points, but 13 (if City beat West Brom on Monday) is something new to us and you have to be fair to say if they (City and United) continue to get points the way they are it makes it difficult."
"Maybe the Premiership is over for us at the moment. You have to be realistic. You cannot have false expectancy over 13 points."
Chelsea manager Andre Villas-Boas said 'initial talks' have been held with Bolton over a move for Gary Cahill.
The west London side have been strongly linked with a move for England defender Cahill in recent weeks, particularly with Brazilian defender Alex likely to leave the club after his transfer request was accepted last month.
Whilst Villas-Boas has conceded he is in the market for defensive reinforcements, he suggested that Chelsea will not be looking to make many further additions in January.
Speaking after Monday's 1-1 draw with Fulham, Villas-Boas said: "We are trying to close the deal on a central defender, but I don’t think we will do much more than that."
A seven million pound switch for Cahill has been widely touted, and while Villas-Boas said talks had been held with the Trotters over a deal, he said there were other transfer targets other than the 25-year-old.
"We have had initial talks with Bolton, but this does not mean it has been concluded, and it does not mean that we are not looking at other players."
McEachran set to leave Blues on loan
Chelsea teenager Josh McEachran reckons he will discover if he will be granted a loan move away from Stamford Bridge by Andre Villas-Boas this week.
West Brom waiting on Mulumbu scan
West Brom are waiting to discover the extent of Youssouf Mulumbu's latest groin injury.
Savic set for Man City exit
Stefan Savic's agent claims the defender will be leaving Manchester City on loan during the January transfer window.
Lambert eyes Norwich additions
Paul Lambert has handed the Norwich City board a list of transfer targets for January, but is wary about paying inflated prices for players.
Warnock: No QPR move for Hleb
Queens Park Rangers manager Neil Warnock has ruled out a bid to sign former Arsenal midfielder Alexander Hleb in January.
Redknapp eyes big January deal
Harry Redknapp has revealed he hopes to pull off one major transfer swoop in January to send out a message that Tottenham are a club moving in the right direction.
Coyle threatens major shake-up
Owen Coyle is ready to make major changes to his Bolton side after watching them contribute to their own downfall again against Newcastle.
Martinez focused on the positives
Wigan manager Roberto Martinez will not allow on Monday's Old Trafford horror show to obscure what has been an excellent month for his side.
Warnock provides frank admission
Neil Warnock is proud of the way QPR have stepped up to Premier League life - even though Norwich and Swansea may have adapted better.
[SUB]UCL exit firing United title charge[/SUB]
There is a growing belief at Manchester United that an early Champions League exit has provided the impetus for an assault on the Premier League title.
Agger: Nothing wrong with Reds attack
Defender Daniel Agger insists no radical changes are required in order to solve Liverpool's goalscoring problems.
Mata backs Torres to come good
Juan Mata is adamant Fernando Torres will eventually come good for Chelsea after watching the £50million man fail to take advantage of his long-awaited recall.
Park: United injuries unprecedented
Manchester United midfielder Park Ji-sung has never known anything quite like the club's present injury list.
O'Neill satisfied with early gains
Sunderland boss Martin O'Neill is happy to have taken seven points from the first 12 on offer during his reign despite being denied a third victory.
Rodgers lauds Swansea mentality Swansea manager Brendan Rodgers has hailed his side's mental strength as they look to continue their outstanding home record when QPR visit the Liberty Stadium this evening.
Warnock impressed by Rangers
Neil Warnock is proud of the way QPR have stepped up to Premier League life - even though Norwich and Swansea may have adapted better.
Redknapp: Fitness biggest priority
Harry Redknapp accepts keeping his players fresh during the second half of the season will be vital to Tottenham's chances of continuing their challenge at the top.
Striking concerns for McLeish
Aston Villa showed their defensive mettle at the Britannia Stadium on Boxing Day, but manager Alex McLeish is now facing concerns at the other end of the field.
Evra concerned over United injuries
Stand-in skipper Patrice Evra is starting to get worried about Manchester United's chronic injury list.
Kompany relishing January fixtures
Captain Vincent Kompany believes Manchester City's tough January schedule will bring the best out of him and his team-mates.
Enrique: Carroll is a great player
Liverpool left-back Jose Enrique is adamant that misfiring striker Andy Carroll will not be a Kop flop.
Hart: City are feeling the pressure
Manchester City are still the team to beat in the title race despite feeling the pressure from rivals Manchester United, according to goalkeeper Joe Hart.
Williamson thrilled to be back in action
Mike Williamson was thrilled to finally be able to take his place in the centre of defence in Monday's victory over Bolton.
Redknapp: Gareth Bale unplayable
Harry Redknapp hailed the "unplayable" talents of Gareth Bale after watching the Tottenham winger rip Norwich apart at Carrow Road on Tuesday night.
Kean: Blackburn can survive
Blackburn's under-fire boss Steve Kean is convinced the troubled club will avoid relegation from the Barclays Premier League
Redknapp wants UCL return for Spurs
Tottenham manager Harry Redknapp admits he is hoping to qualify for next season's UEFA Champions League after watching his side cruise to a 2-0 win over Norwich.
Wenger laments dropped points
Arsene Wenger accepted Arsenal had let an opportunity pass them by after being held to a frustrating 1-1 draw by 10-man Wolves at the Emirates Stadium.
Song backs Henry for Arsenal return
Alex Song believes Thierry Henry would bring a lot to Arsenal if he does return to the club on a short-term deal in January.
Ebanks-Blake: Wolves to stay up
Wolves striker Sylvan Ebanks-Blake is confident his side will escape relegation for the third successive season.
Bundesliga club Bayer Leverkusen are keen on signing Dimitar Berbatov from Manchester United.The German club have already been in touch with the player, a representative from the CSKA-AS-23 agency has said.When asked by Bild about the rumours linking the Bulgarian striker with his former club, Ivan Dobrinov, a member of the group that represents Berbatov, confirmed the link.
"It's more than a rumour. Leverkusen have it on their minds to get Berbatov," he said."There is contact, but nothing concrete yet. It all depends on United's plans."Berbatov, 30, has made just 14 appearances for United this season, and has a contract that is set to expire in the summer.He has long been linked with moves away from Old Trafford, but according to Dobrinov, has a special fondness for the club where he played from 2001-06."
The player has never forgotten Leverkusen, the club is still very dear to him. Furthermore, he has a good relationship with the leadership at Bayer."Leverkusen CEO Wolfgang Holzhauser said he has been in touch with Berbatov, but said that a deal is still far from complete."I would even say that the contact is friendly," he said.
"But there is certainly nothing concrete at the moment. I also read that Manchester United would like to extend his contract."On Boxing Day, Berbatov netted a hat-trick against Wigan. In addition to Leverkusen, a number of other clubs have been linked with his signing, including Tottenham and Fulham.
Lille forward Eden Hazard's agent has revealed that he is expecting a 30-million-euro bid from Manchester City in January.
Marc Fourmeux, who represents the interests of the Belgium international, said that he is envisaging Roberto Mancini's men to make the first move ahead of the likes of Real Madrid and Inter in a proposal that would also see the attacker stay in France until the end of the season on loan.
"There is much talk of an offer of 30 million pounds from Manchester City, which will see him remain at Lille for the next six months," the agent is quoted as saying by AS."His future is in any case destined for a big European club like Real Madrid, Barcelona, Chelsea, Manchester City, AC Milan, Inter or Juventus."
However, Fourmeux also intimated that City may need to revise their offer as Lille president Michel Seydoux 'is seeking 40 million euros', and also gave an update on the situation involving in-demand Rennes and France international midfielder Yann M'Vila.
"In Italy, Inter and AC Milan want him, but it remains to be seen who will pay for him and who can convince him," he said."Wanted parties must put their hands in pockets. M'Vila is estimated at 20 million euros but it is unclear where he would go."
Manchester City youngster Mohammed Abu has joined Eintracht Frankfurt on a six-month loan with an option to extend until 2013.
The 20-year-old will spend January on international duty with Ghana at the African Cup of Nations, after which time he will move to Frankfurt.
If he impresses by June, the 2. Bundesliga side have the option to extend his loan deal for a further year.
"He is certainly not yet the same as a very big signing, but a great talent," Frankfurt sporting director Bruno Hubner said, according to Wiesbadener Kurier.
"(The signing of Abu) is a first attempt in the framework of our partnership with Manchester City."
Abu signed with City in 2010, and was sent on loan to Norwegian outfit Stromgodset, where he was named the club's 'Player of the Year.'His contract with City is set to expire in 2014.
Liverpool, Chelsea slammed for condoning racism 28 December 2011
Liverpool and Chelsea have come under fire for appearing to excuse the alleged racism of Luis Suarez and John Terry.The Society of Black Lawyers (SBL) have condemned both clubs for failing to conduct internal investigations into incidents involving Uruguay international Suarez and England captain Terry.
Chelsea released a statement expressing its utmost support for John Terry after he was charged with a racially aggravated public order offense in connection with the alleged remarks aimed at QPR defender Anton Ferdinand.
Liverpool has also jumped to the defense of its Uruguayan striker who was given an eight-match ban and 40,000 pounds fine by the FA after being found guilty of racially abusing Manchester United’s Patrice Evra.But SBL co-chair Peter Herbert said: "To our knowledge, neither club has bothered to conduct its own independent investigation or hold a disciplinary hearing."
"If such serious allegations of racism had been made in the workplace, any reasonable employer would consider itself to be under a strict duty to conduct a full, detailed and impartial investigation into the allegations, and not simply to state that they stand behind the denials of the player concerned."
The organization wants the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) to handle the Suarez case as a racist incident, as they have done with Terry, and believe there should be no difference in the treatment of both players.The SBL is planning to make a formal complaint to the CPS about the racist and offensive language used by Suarez, and are hoping to convince the CPS to launch a full investigation.
The organization is also hoping the CPS will prosecute the former Ajax man if the result of the investigation gives a reasonable chance of conviction according to the public interest test."The punitive effects of racism are felt by thousands of people in Britain each day.
The response of the Football Association (FA) and the CPS must be robust to protect others from the humiliation, pain and suffering that this type of hate crime inflicts," Herbert said."There is no reason why Suarez should not face criminal charges.
When individual football clubs and fellow players - both black and white - endorse this kind of behaviour, they themselves become part of the problem because they stand in the way of the total eradication of racism from the sport.""Their denial and appeasement reflects an abdication of their role as responsible players or employers."
Unsettled Malouda looks at options 27 December 2011
Chelsea winger Florent Malouda said he has grown unsettled at the club and would not rule out a January transfer.
The France international has been on the fringes at Stamford Bridge this season, making just four starting appearances in the Premier League under Andre Villas-Boas.
Malouda came off the bench in Monday's 1-1 draw against Fulham and he did not hide his frustration at his lack of opportunities after the match.
"My playing time cannot satisfy me," he told Canal+."It is very limited to match my ambitions. I cannot be happy with this.""If I have to leave, I will leave."
Meanwhile, Le Parisien reports that Paris Saint-Germain are pondering a move for the 31-year-old, whose Chelsea contract runs out in 2013.
The former Olympique Lyonnais player has been linked with Anzhi Makhachkala, but he said on Monday that he has not had talks with the Russian outfit.
Jose Enrique expects Andy Carroll to soon find his scoring form and begin to justify his 35-million-pound price tag.The striker has struggled to find the back of the net this season, scoring just two goals in the Premier League as Liverpool have faltered at Anfield with just three wins and six draws.
Carroll could soon find himself starting more matches with Luis Suarez facing an eight-game ban for making a racist comment towards Patrice Evra, although he is set to appeal the suspension.And should he be given the chance to stake his place in the side, his former team-mate at Newcastle believes he will soon start to show why Liverpool paid so much to bring him to Merseyside.
"The most important thing for him was he had the opportunity (to play) again," Enrique said."He had three good chances to score (against Blackburn) but it was the same for him as everyone.""Andy is a great player. Nobody pays 35 million pounds for a player for nothing and Andy is a great player. He is value. When he starts to score one goal, he will score many goals."
"It is a different style of play here. We have Luis (Suarez), we have Dirk Kuyt, Craig Bellamy - all of them are different. For the style of English football, Andy is very important. You are firing crosses in from everywhere and Andy is capable of scoring a goal. That is very important."
Liverpool's home form has been attributed to a failure to score, with just 11 goals at Anfield and 21 overall in their 18 matches in the league this season.Their latest result at Anfield saw them only draw to bottom place Blackburn Rovers, with away goalkeeper Mark Bunn making a number of big saves to earn his side a point.
Enrique said there was a big frustration within the team at their failure to put away opponents who they were expected to beat, and he blamed opposition goalkeepers for putting in inspired performances when they come to face Liverpool. "It's the same every single week and I don't know what has happened," he said.
"We had a lot of chances and that was important. But I don't know what happens with the keepers when they come here. He (Bunn) was the man of the match again. I just think when the luck comes we will start to get a lot of points."
Dalglish: All our captains are back Liverpool boss Kenny Dalglish has sent a warning out to his Barclays Premier League rivals by declaring that Steven Gerrard is now fit and looking sharp.
Dalglish defends misfiring Carroll
Liverpool manager Kenny Dalglish insists club record signing striker Andy Carroll is not struggling for confidence.
Evra: Dimitar is simply Berba-tops
Manchester United defender Patrice Evra has revealed his huge respect for team-mate Dimitar Berbatov for the professionalism the striker has shown this season.
Newcastle 'too small' for Giroud
Montpellier owner Louis Nicollin has said Newcastle are "too small" for Olivier Giroud but would not rule out a switch to Arsenal - if the price is right.
Pardew: No need for striker in January
Newcastle boss Alan Pardew has revealed the club will not attempt to sign a striker in January after confirming the collapse of Modibo Maiga's proposed move.
Agent: Pavlyuchenko has Anzhi offer
Roman Pavlyuchenko's agent claims the Tottenham Hotspur striker is prepared to join Anzhi Makhachkala unless he receives a better offer in January.
Martinez: Cleverley is key for United
Roberto Martinez believes the return of Tom Cleverley from injury could give Manchester United the edge in the Premier League title race.
Agent: Bayer want Berbatov return
Manchester United striker Dimitar Berbatov's representatives have confirmed there has been contact with Bayer Leverkusen regarding a potential return to the Bundesliga club.
Newcastle 'too small' for Giroud Montpellier owner Louis Nicollin has said Newcastle are "too small" for Olivier Giroud but would not rule out a switch to Arsenal - if the price is right.
Giroud, who has scored 13 times this season, has caught the attention in his side's surge to second in Ligue 1 at the winter break.
Newcastle, who have signed several players from France in the last 18 months, had been linked with a move for the 25-year-old.
They are no longer in the market for a striker in January but Nicollin suggested they were never an option.
Although he could not rule out selling to a club like the Gunners, the presence of Robin van Persie and a sizeable asking price point toward the player staying.
"Newcastle? They are too small for him," he told television station RTL.
"Arsenal? You would have to see if Arsene Wenger is interested but, as before, there is Van Persie.
"And at 10million euros? No. Given that he still has more than two years of contract, it will cost more.
"He has a contract until 2014, [so] 50 or 60million euros at least."
Hunt: Wolves must scrap for survival
Stephen Hunt has called for Wolves to put their bodies on the line as they battle to stay clear of the relegation dogfight in 2012.
Drury not Bale-ing out
Veteran Norwich defender Adam Drury admits trying to shackle Gareth Bale on his Barclays Premier League return was a "baptism of fire".
Mertesacker sees more chances
Per Mertesacker maintains Arsenal are confident they can break into the top four despite the disappointment of failing to secure all three points against Wolves.
O'Neill aims to lift the darkness
Martin O'Neill is hoping Sunderland will make more of their home comforts in 2012 than they have in 2011.
Warnock expects to do January business
QPR manager Neil Warnock is excited about what the second half of the season may hold for his side as he prepares to make "three or four additions" during the January transfer window.
Pardew backs Carroll to rediscover form
Newcastle manager Alan Pardew is backing Andy Carroll to lead the line for England once he finds his feet at Liverpool.
Chelsea's Alex eyes Santos return
Chelsea defender Alex is looking to return to boyhood club Santos after submitting his request to leave Chelsea in January.
Evans satisfied with solid start
Jonny Evans does not believe it has not been an effective first half of the season by Manchester United.
Malouda wants Euro 2012 over Chelsea
Chelsea and France midfielder Florent Malouda has stated that he is willing to leave Chelsea to get regular football for Euro 2012 selection.
Tiote happy on Tyneside
In-demand Newcastle midfielder Cheick Tiote has insisted he is happy on Tyneside amid speculation his club might have a big decision to make next month.
Ciaran Clark relishing Chelsea test
Ciaran Clark admits he would like to end the year on a high when Aston Villa travel to Chelsea this weekend.
Howard hoping for new blood
Everton goalkeeper Tim Howard believes dipping into the January transfer market would 'breathe some fresh life' into the side.
Arteta calls for 'ruthless' streak
Mikel Arteta believes Arsenal need to start showing a more 'ruthless' streak following a disappointing draw against Wolves on Tuesday.
Suarez banned for Fulham gesture
Striker Luis Suarez will be banned for Liverpool's home match against Newcastle on Friday after admitting making an offensive gesture to Fulham fans earlier this month.
Wolves appeal Milijas red card
Wolves have lodged an appeal with the Football Association against the red card shown to Nenad Milijas in Tuesday's Barclays Premier League game at Arsenal.
City challenge keeps Fergie fired up
Sir Alex Ferguson passes his landmark 70th birthday on New Year's Eve.
RVP: I'll use my head to be the best
Arsenal striker Robin van Persie has plundered Barclays Premier League defences for 16 goals already this season, but he is refusing to take his game for granted.
Striker Luis Suarez will be banned for Liverpool's home match against Newcastle on Friday after admitting making an offensive gesture to Fulham fans earlier this month.
The Uruguay international has been suspended for one game and fined £20,000 after accepting a Football Association charge of improper conduct relating to a one-fingered sign aimed at home supporters following Liverpool's 1-0 defeat at Craven Cottage.
Suarez already has the prospect of an eight-match ban hanging over him after being found guilty of misconduct for using insulting words to Manchester United's Patrice Evra which contained reference to the defender's colour. That suspension is currently on hold as Liverpool have 14 days to appeal once they have received the written judgement from the independent commission which heard the case.
However, in the short term the 24-year-old will serve his first ban in English football - having arrived on Merseyside after sitting out seven matches for biting an opponent in Holland while playing for Ajax - when the Magpies visit Anfield. The Fulham game on December 5 was a bad night all round for the club as, in addition to Suarez's indiscretion, it also saw an 11-game unbeaten run ended and Jay Spearing sent off.
Spearing's dismissal prompted a number of players to surround referee Kevin Friend to protest and led to Liverpool being charged with failing to ensure their players conducted themselves in an orderly fashion. They admitted the charge but did not accept the standard £20,000 fine which accompanied it, but an independent regulatory commission today imposed the financial penalty.
Liverpool manager Kenny Dalglish was unhappy with many aspects of the game at Fulham, during which Suarez was abused by sections of the crowd who felt he was cheating by going to ground too easily. In the days after the game the Scot was so incensed by some of the treatment the 24-year-old was subjected to by Fulham players that he used his pre-match press conference to show a DVD of incidents he felt supported his claims.
He was also unhappy with Spearing's dismissal for a tackle on Mousa Dembele but the club decided not to contest either charge. A statement from the Football Association read: "Liverpool Football Club have been fined £20,000 by The FA and warned as to their future conduct for failing to ensure their players conducted themselves in an orderly fashion during the league fixture at Fulham.
"The club admitted the charge, which was in relation to the dismissal of Jay Spearing, but did not accept the standard £20,000 penalty for the offence. "However, at an Independent Regulatory Commission hearing today the fine was imposed. "Meanwhile, Liverpool player Luis Suarez will begin a one-match suspension with immediate effect after he admitted an FA charge of improper conduct in relation to the same game.
"Suarez was also fined £20,000 and warned as to his future conduct following a gesture he made towards the Fulham fans at the end of the fixture." Liverpool had no comment to make on either Suarez's ban or the imposition of a fine on the club.
Yaya Toure keen to stay on
Yaya Toure says he wants to delay his departure for the Africa Cup of Nations in order to help Manchester City through a hectic start to the New Year.
Agent: No fears for Vidic's career
Nemanj Vidic's agent has dismissed speculation that the Manchester United defender's latest knee injury could threaten his career.
Bent in line for Aston Villa return
Aston Villa are hopeful record signing Darren Bent will be back in contention for Saturday's clash at Chelsea.
Johnson: Milijas red was undeserved
Wolves skipper Roger Johnson has urged referee Stuart Attwell to admit he was wrong in sending-off midfielder Nenad Milijas during Tuesday's clash at Arsenal.
Stevens heading to Villa
Left-back Enda Stevens will officially link up with Aston Villa next week and activate the three-year contract he agreed with the club in the summer.
Pardew: I'd take Carroll back if I could
Newcastle boss Alan Pardew admits he would take Andy Carroll back if he is given the chance to.
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Ronaldo: La Liga best in the world Real Madrid ace Cristiano Ronaldo believes the Spanish La Liga is the best league in the world - not the Barclays Premier League.
The Portuguese forward shot to worldwide fame during his spell at Manchester United before joining Madrid on a £80 million move in 2009.
Speaking at the Dubai International Sports Conference, Ronaldo gave his analysis and comparison between two of the best leagues in the world. The 26-year-old credited the Premier League for instilling in him the basic foundation of the game.
"I follow the Portuguese championship, but I prefer the English Premier League, where I learnt the elementary basic rules of football, especially discipline," he was quoted as saying on ESPN.co.uk. However, he has no doubt which is the best league in the world.
He added: "I believe that La Liga is the best league worldwide, although I spent six years in the UK. Both championships are completely different to one another on technical levels. "But the Spanish league is exceptional. It relies more on personal and technical skills."
The Portugal international also took the opportunity to squash any speculation surrounding his future at Madrid, insisting he is 'enjoying the moment' at the Santiago Bernabeu. "I am a player and players can adapt to any league. I can play in any country. But I'm happy today with Real and will stay with them in the future.
"Frankly, I haven't thought about the next step. I'm just enjoying the moment and continuing to enjoy my football at Real Madrid. For the moment, Spain presents the greatest pleasure for me," he said. Ronaldo has been in sensational goalscoring form this season and tops the La Liga charts with 20 goals in just 16 league games.
