Dec
29
Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard has been arrested following allegations of assault at a nightclub in the early hours of Monday morning.
Police were called to the venue in Bold Street, Southport at 2.30am after an incident involving Gerrard, 28, who had earlier scored twice in Liverpool’s 5-1 win against Newcastle.
England midfielder Gerrard and five other men were arrested and spent the night in cells and were still in custody at 10:30am on Monday morning.
Four of the detainees come from Huyton, one from Formby and one from Litherland. They are aged between 18 and 33.
A 34-year-old from Southport was taken to hospital with minor facial injuries following the incident.
Gerrard’s Liverpool side extended their Premier League lead over Chelsea to three points with Sunday’s victory.
After the game, Gerrard said: “We have given ourselves a great chance. We have to remain consistent, that is the key.
“If we want to stay at the top and be involved in this title race, we have got to deal with the pressure.
“We have big players here and we will have a lot of tests and challenges to come, but if we keep playing like this then we will be there.
“This is the best team I have played with. You look around the dressing room and, from the ‘keeper to the forwards, we have some fantastic players. There is a confidence that we can get over the big hurdles.”
Dec
28
United to resume normal service
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Midfielder Paul Scholes is confident Manchester United will benefit from a more “normal” second half to the season.
United complete a memorable 2008 against Middlesbrough at Old Trafford tomorrow, needing a victory to keep themselves in touch with Liverpool and Chelsea as they look to complete a Premier League title hat-trick.
The Red Devils might well be in the thick of battle but hit the new year two games behind their main rivals after diversions at the European Super Cup and the Club World Cup in Japan.
While United can now justifiably claim to be the best team on the planet, Scholes is happy to concentrate on the usual big prizes in the months ahead - without any added responsibilities elsewhere.
“It is nice to be back and be able to concentrate on the other competitions,” he said.
“That is not to say anything about the Japan trip. But now we can really concentrate on the league, the Champions League and the two domestic cups - which are important to us.”
As Scholes was dismissive of the Japan jaunt before departure, his stance is hardly a surprise.
However, what the 34-year-old was able to do in Yokohama was get a full game under his belt - hastening a return to full fitness following knee surgery in September.
The comeback, which extended into the Boxing Day win over Stoke, came a couple of weeks earlier than expected - maintaining Scholes’ reputation as a quick healer.
That is not to say the former England midfielder felt his presence was missed.
Like manager Sir Alex Ferguson, Scholes is confident United have the necessary strength in depth to cope with the multitude of challenges that lie ahead.
“We have got so many players who can play in midfield, I was not missed,” he said.
“We don’t miss anyone when they are out injured.
“The performances while I was out were really good.
“We have got the squad to handle things. There are always top quality players who can come in and play equally as well, or even better, as the one they have replaced.”
Ferguson may test that strength in depth for his side’s second game in three days, following United’s return to the Far East.
Brazilian full-back Rafael may be introduced into a youthful defence missing both Rio Ferdinand, who is resting a worrying back problem, and Patrice Evra - serving a four-match ban.
Changes are almost certain in midfield, so main interest will surround the possible return of record signing Dimitar Berbatov - who travelled to Japan but picked up a virus en route, which ensured he played no part in the tournament itself.
Ferguson has already expressed his hope the game is completed free of controversy after a number of spats in recent years.
Scholes endorses that opinion, even if he is not sure his manager’s wishes will come true.
With United battling at the top and Boro equally desperate for points at the bottom, the need to get a result - as with most Premier League games - may override good behavioural intentions.
“There is a bit of needle in every game these days, because the teams are so desperate to win,” said Scholes.
“Gareth Southgate is a winner by nature. He will want his team to win every game they play and to perform well. Our manager is the same - it is just the way it is.”
Despite Boro’s slide down the table, United will treat the Teessiders with caution.
It is not unknown for Boro to win at Old Trafford, while Southgate’s men have also proved to be formidable opponents at the Riverside in recent years too.
“Boro had a good record against us until about two seasons ago,” said Scholes.
“We beat them in the league convincingly last season and in the Carling Cup this year, but down the years it has been a tough fixture for us.
“Boro are a team that will come and try to have a go, because their strength is definitely in attack.”
Dec
28
BPL Sunday news and results
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Halftime: Relegation-threatened Blackburn Rovers are a goal up at Ewood Park against Mark Hughes’ Manchester City.
Team line-ups:
Blackburn v Man City
Blackburn (4-4-2): Robinson, Ooijer, Samba, Nelsen, Warnock, Emerton, Kerimoglu, Andrews, Pedersen, McCarthy, Roberts.
Subs: Brown, Khizanishvili, Vogel, Mokoena, Treacy, Derbyshire, Olsson.
Man City (4-4-2): Hart, Zabaleta, Onuoha, Dunne, Ball, Ireland, Kompany, Elano, Wright-Phillips, Caicedo, Robinho.
Subs: Schmeichel, Richards, Vassell, Jo, Garrido, Fernandes, Sturridge.
Arsenal 1-0 Portsmouth
Arsenal (4-4-2): Almunia, Sagna, Gallas, Silvestre, Clichy, Eboue, Denilson, Diaby, Nasri, Adebayor, Bendtner.
Subs: Fabianski, Toure, Van Persie, Vela, Ramsey, Wilshere, Gibbs.
Portsmouth (4-5-1): James, Wilson, Campbell, Distin, Belhadj, Nugent, Diop, Davis, Hughes, Kranjcar, Crouch.
Subs: Ashdown, Hreidarsson, Defoe, Pamarot, Mvuemba, Little, Kanu.
Everton 3-0 Sunderland
Everton (4-5-1) : Howard, Hibbert, Jagielka, Lescott, Baines, Arteta, Osman, Neville, Fellaini, Pienaar, Cahill.
Subs: Nash, Van der Meyde, Rodwell, Jutkiewicz, Anichebe, Gosling, Kissock.
Sunderland (4-4-2): Fulop, Whitehead, Nosworthy, Collins, Bardsley, Malbranque, Tainio, Richardson, Murphy, Cisse, Jones.
Subs: Colgan, Edwards, Yorke, Healy, Colback, Henderson, Prica.
Fulham 2-2 Chelsea
Fulham (4-4-2): Schwarzer, Pantsil, Hangeland, Hughes, Konchesky, Davies, Etuhu, Murphy, Dempsey, Johnson, Zamora.
Subs: Zuberbuhler, Nevland, Gray, Stoor, Andreasen, Kallio, Baird.
Chelsea (4-3-3): Cech, Bosingwa, Ivanovic, Alex, Ashley Cole, Deco, Mikel, Lampard, Joe Cole, Drogba, Malouda.
Subs: Cudicini, Carvalho, Ballack, Ferreira, Kalou, Belletti, Anelka.
West Brom 2-0 Tottenham
West Brom (4-4-2): Carson, Zuiverloon, Olsson, Barnett, Cech, Morrison, Greening, Brunt, Borja Valero, Bednar, Moore.
Subs: Kiely, Hoefkens, Beattie, Kim, MacDonald, Dorrans, Donk.
Tottenham (4-4-1-1): Gomes, Corluka, Dawson, Woodgate, Assou-Ekotto, Lennon, Zokora, Jenas, Bentley, Modric, Bent.
Subs: Cesar, Bale, Gunter, Campbell, Taarabt, O’Hara, Obika.
Bolton 0-1 Wigan
Bolton (4-4-2): Jaaskelainen, Steinsson, Shittu, Andrew O’Brien, Samuel, Taylor, Nolan, McCann, Gardner, Elmander, Davies.
Subs: Al Habsi, Muamba, Smolarek, Riga, Fogut, Basham, Obadeyi.
Wigan (4-4-2): Kirkland, Melchiot, Scharner, Bramble, Figueroa, Valencia, Cattermole, Palacios, Taylor, Heskey, Zaki.
Subs: Kingson, Kilbane, Koumas, Brown, Boyce, De Ridder, Camara.
West Ham 2-1 Stoke
West Ham (4-4-2): Green, Faubert, Collins, Upson, Ilunga, Behrami, Parker, Collison, Boa Morte, Di Michele, Cole.
Subs: Lastuvka, Mullins, Spector, Tristan, Bowyer, Sears, Ngala.
Stoke (4-4-2): Sorensen, Griffin, Abdoulaye Faye, Shawcross, Higginbotham, Delap, Olofinjana, Whelan, Pugh, Cresswell, Fuller.
Subs: Simonsen, Lawrence, Soares, Pericard, Davies, Tonge, Sonko.
Newcastle 1-5 Liverpool
Newcastle (4-5-1): Given, Edgar, Taylor, Coloccini, Jose Enrique, Gutierrez, Guthrie, Butt, N’Zogbia, Duff, Owen.
Subs: Harper, Xisco, Geremi, Ameobi, Kadar, LuaLua, Carroll.
Liverpool (4-5-1): Reina, Carragher, Hyypia, Agger, Insua, Benayoun, Mascherano, Leiva Lucas, Babel, Gerrard, Kuyt.
Subs: Cavalieri, Keane, Riera, Alonso, Ngog, El Zhar, Skrtel.
Dec
25
Broad settling into test scene
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Stuart Broad can prepare for a call confirming his place in England’s West Indies tour squad later this week having exceeded even his own expectations during his first year in Test cricket.
The 22-year-old Nottinghamshire seamer returned home from a tough tour to India as one of the few England players who can look back on the last 12 months knowing he has made significant progress.
“I’m pleased with the way I’ve settled into Test cricket,” admitted Broad, who has claimed 24 wickets in nine Tests this year. “I’d have liked to have picked up more wickets en route but I’ve been delighted with the way the batting has come on.”
Just a year ago Broad had flown home in similar circumstances from Sri Lanka having made his Test debut in Colombo and still making his way in the one-day side.
Twelve months on and Broad is an established member of England’s one-day planning and is now beginning to become a key member of the Test side, which is likely to be confirmed when the tour squad for the Caribbean is announced on Monday.
It would complete an outstanding 12 months when he has ousted a senior figure like Steve Harmison from the Test side twice - in New Zealand and India - and performed well on each occasion.
“To pick up three Test fifties in my first year is pleasing because I know I can get wickets,” Broad added.
“I’ve proved at one-day international level that I can take wickets in international cricket. If I stay patient with my action and my lines and lengths then wickets will come in the future.”
Dec
25
Rooney braced for crucial period
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Wayne Rooney says the key Boxing Day clash away at Stoke City is the start of a crucial period for Manchester United.
Following United’s Boxing Day trip to the Britannia Stadium, Sir Alex Ferguson’s charges then play Middlesbrough at Old Trafford the following Monday, before an FA Cup tie away at Southampton.
In the midst of their two-legged Carling Cup semi-final against Derby are league games with Chelsea, Wigan and Bolton. January then ends with a possible FA Cup fourth round tie and a Premier League visit to West Brom.
Despite next month’s hectic nature, Rooney is adamant that the recently crowned world champions are more than capable of handling such a congested fixture list and kick starting it all with a win against Stoke.
“It’s a big game and a big time of the season for us so it’s important we pick up the three points,” he told the club’s official website.
“We know it’ll be tough especially after having only just returned from Japan. But all the games are winnable over Christmas and we’re confident we can beat Stoke and Middlesbrough.
“The FA Cup starts soon after and we’ve got the Carling Cup semi-final with Derby and then the Chelsea game to think about.
“So the next few weeks are a big time of the season for us and they could have a real impact on how things pan out during the rest of the campaign.
“Hopefully we can get the results we want.”
Dec
23
Centuries don’t matter, victories do
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Given that there were still 68 overs to be bowled when the teams finally took to the field, you could scarcely blame India for batting on. After a week when seemingly insurmountable targets have been achieved with ludicrous ease, there was no point taking any chances. An hour of batting made a lot of sense, and in that time Yuvraj Singh and Gautam Gambhir rattled off 82 in just 13 overs. At lunch, with the lead 367, there was no way England could win. Even Vivian Richards and Collis King would have struggled with such an asking rate. 
So when the Indian batsmen reemerged after lunch, the sense of disbelief was palpable. What was the purpose? To make the game safe, when it was more secure than a hilltop castle surrounded by 12 moats? To rub it in, when the two batsmen had done enough of it in the first hour of play? Or to lapse back to former Indian type and shamelessly pursue individual records?
The 10 overs that followed told you what you needed to know. Only 35 runs were scored. Thankfully, neither batsman scored a century. Yuvraj was run out by a direct hit from short fine leg and Gambhir sliced one uppishly to point. At that point, the declaration was applied. England had 43 overs to get 403 runs. Piece of cake.
There’s no guarantee that India could have bowled out England in 55 overs after lunch. But given the winning culture that’s taken root this season, and the fact that the last six English wickets added just 22 in the first innings, it was certainly worth a go.
At Bangalore last December, Anil Kumble bowled seam-up and Pakistan were seven down within 48 overs when bad light saved their blushes.
It came down to priorities. What mattered more? The chance, however slim, to win a Test match? Or utterly meaningless second-innings centuries for two of your batsmen? Of course, they would have mattered to Gambhir and Yuvraj, who have just seven hundreds between them, but in the context of the game, they would have meant nothing. Only someone obsessed with statistics would consider such a hundred worthy of consideration. Those that know anything about the game would tell you how a match-turning 83 [Sehwag in Chennai] is infinitely more valuable.
It’s a shame that a team that has encouraged such selfless cricket fell into the selfishness trap in Mohali. Dhoni himself cares little for personal milestones. Time after time, when quick runs have been needed, he has come in and sacrificed his wicket in their pursuit. That attitude must permeate right through the team.
Gambhir batted 577 balls in this Test match, almost as many as Rahul Dravid faced in Adelaide [616]. One match is unlikely to be remembered even 12 months from now. The other will never be forgotten as long as India plays cricket. That should tell you something. Centuries don’t matter. Victories do. By denying itself the chance to accomplish what mattered by pursuing what didn’t, Indian cricket let millions of fans down today. It wasn’t how such a great year should have ended.
Dec
23
India take series after dull draw
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As expected, the Mohali Test petered out to a draw with Gautam Gambhir and Yuvraj Singh getting some functional but meaningless batting practice on a hollow final day. Neither got to their centuries and India’s declaration left England a hypothetical 403 to win or, more pragmatically, 44 overs to bat. 
Ishant Sharma removed Alastair Cook cheaply, but that was as good as it got for India - Ian Bell and Andrew Strauss denied them further success, batting out the remainder of the Test.
The fourth innings was but a formality. Cook nicked Ishant Sharma to VVS Laxman at second slip, and an out-of-form Bell poked and prodded, shuffled and swayed against pace and spin to accompany Strauss to the close. The match was dissolving into a farce when Mahendra Singh Dhoni brought himself on to bowl slow dibbly-dobblers, after which the umpires called off play.
Resuming on 134 for 4, India added 82 without fuss in a truncated 13-over morning session after thick fog delayed play by two-and-a-half hours. Gambhir and Yuvraj started cautiously before opening up with a range of aggressive strokes, Yuvraj fetching himself three sixes.
By the time lunch was taken, India’s run rate for the morning was well over six and the way Yuvraj, especially, and Gambhir were batting, it appeared a spent England were cruising towards a bruising. Instead the two batsmen came out of the interval quite content to bide their time, but England snapped up three wickets.
If Bell’s demolition of the stumps yesterday snubbed Virender Sehwag before he could ignite, his direct hit cut Yuvraj short of a century. Yuvraj swept the ball towards short fine leg and Bell swooped in to nail down the stumps with an accurate throw after Yuvraj had turned back.
Eight deliveries later, England saw the back of Dhoni, who handed Monty Panesar his easiest wicket on a thoroughly disappointing tour. Bell then stunningly intercepted a loose cut to his left at backward point, leaving Gambhir short of his hundred by three runs and prompting India to declare.
For practical purposes, it should have happened earlier, after Yuvraj and Gambhir batted England out of contention. India had dug themselves into a pattern of nervous watchfulness yesterday afternoon, their strenuous approach numbing a sparse crowd into a coma, but Yuvraj’s sparkling innings before stumps had livened up proceedings.
This morning, as the gloom steadily cleared, Yuvraj carried on in the same vein and succeeded in drawing some aggression from Gambhir too, whose bat had attracted barnacles on day four.
Yuvraj grabbed the initiative with a medley of punchy drives and slogs, including one particularly disdainful six off James Anderson. The last couple of Yuvraj’s sixes came against his old sparring partner Broad and recalled images of that famous over in Durban, when he hit six in a row.
First came an audacious shot, a front-foot, flat-batted bludgeon over mid-on, and then a scoop over backward point. Broad then bowled a clever wide yorker which Yuvraj edged to third man for a single, and Gambhir saw out the over.
India’s decision to come out after lunch will draw plenty of debate. The two set batsmen had already shoved England into a deep corner, and it appeared the only reason to continue batting was to hunt individual records.
In the end, neither Gambhir nor Yuvraj raised landmarks while India scored just 35 runs in the last 10 overs. After the thriller in Chennai, it was the weather, ultimately, that scuppered what could have been a great Test.
Dec
22
Carrick leads United charge
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Michael Carrick is optimistic Man United can build on their Club World Cup win and force their way back to the BPL summit.
Handed a dreadful run of away fixtures, which have gleaned just three wins and eight goals, and with their campaign twice punctuated by postponements due to commitments elsewhere, United are a little way behind pacesetters Liverpool and Chelsea.
Home matches with Wigan and Fulham do offer the perfect chance to make up some lost ground in the next few weeks, although, as Carrick accepts, nothing can be taken for granted.
Nevertheless, as United landed back in Manchester after a nine-day trip that has left them drained and tired but with the trophy that confirms they are number one in the world, the England midfielder believes the Red Devils still have a big chance to complete a title hat-trick.
“Given what we have had to cope with so far this season, we always felt if we were within touching distance at Christmas, it would not be too bad,” said Carrick. “We have achieved that.
“There is an awful long way to go in the season and games in hand are not guaranteed points, but we are pretty pleased with where we are.
“Now it is up to us to keep winning and applying the pressure to those above us.”
Sir Alex Ferguson was quick to express the opinion that United will gain added strength from their Far East exploits when they return to domestic combat.
The first test will come at the Britannia Stadium on Boxing Day when Stoke lie in wait to take advantage of any jet-lag remaining in United legs.
Carrick did not actually say the Old Trafford club face a tougher test in the Potteries than they got from LDU Quito yesterday. But in a way, he was just being kind.
The South Americans may be more cagey and more adept at breaking a game up, as they proved by offering little themselves despite having a man advantage once Nemanja Vidic had been sent off, but they are incapable of maintaining the kind of aerial bombardment Tony Pulis’ side will subject United to.
“Stoke is a different situation,” he observed. “Quito was a test but Stoke will be tough.
“They will make it a battle and try to ensure it is not easy for us. They will probably come at us a little bit more than Quito did.
“As always, we are going there to win but Stoke have a decent home record, so it will be hard, especially coming back off this.”
Although Carrick was by no means the worst player affected by a 12-hour flight and nine-hour time difference, he is hoping the return trip does not have the same effect.
Some, such as Edwin van der Sar and Patrice Evra, found the problem very hard to deal with, as did Ferguson, who could only respond with jealousy when informed match-winner Wayne Rooney had encountered no problems at all.
Tiredness is one of the factors Ferguson will have to take into account when he assesses what side to pick on Friday.
On form, Carrick will be in it.
Although many pundits felt United had overpaid when they spent £18million to lure the Geordie back north from Tottenham, it has proved to be a shrewd investment.
Carrick’s economy in possession usually ensures the Red Devils play on the front foot and his importance for club and country continues to grow.
It was Carrick’s pinpoint pass to Cristiano Ronaldo that opened up Quito’s defence for Rooney’s winner yesterday and the 27-year-old admits he is loving life at present.
“The move has gone well,” he said.
“I came to United hoping to win things and be successful. Thankfully, so far, that has been the case.
“We have to build on it now. We have done a lot this year but it is not something we will settle for.
“The manager keeps driving at us to achieve more and never be satisfied.
“Success breeds success. Hopefully that continues to be the case.”
Dec
22
England stall India charge
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England’s persistence forced India to halt their plan to attempted to establish a major lead in the second Test in Mohali.
Having conceded a 151-run first innings deficit when they were dismissed for 302 early on the fourth day, the tourists could have faced a testing finale to the series had India given themselves time to bowl England out by scoring quick runs.
But despite beginning their reply quickly - they scored 30 runs in the first six overs - England’s ability to make steady inroads slowed their progress and forced them to bat for the remainder of the fourth day and extended their lead to 285 at the close by reaching 134 for four - giving them less time to bowl the tourists out tomorrow.
India had begun their reply shortly before lunch after England, who resumed 171 runs adrift on 282 for six, lost their last four wickets for just 20 runs in only 10.5 overs, and attempted to set the tone for their innings by racing to 30 without loss inside six overs.
But from the moment explosive opener Virender Sehwag ran himself out in the sixth over until VVS Laxman was also run out 33 overs later, they had clearly decided to bat out the game and added only 50 runs during that period.
Rahul Dravid was as patient as ever, facing 19 balls before being bowled by Stuart Broad for a duck, while Sachin Tendulkar fended James Anderson to the gully.
Opener Gautam Gambhir was the mainstay of the innings and after starting promisingly, hitting two boundaries in the first over, he had reached an unbeaten 44 when bad light halted play after 50 overs at the crease.
England had begun the day hoping to frustrate India’s hopes of victory, but suffered an early setback with Matt Prior falling to the 13th ball of the day when he edged a leg glance behind off Harbhajan Singh.
Harbhajan struck again in his next over when Broad shouldered arms to a delivery which he thought would turn but instead continued its path and knocked back his off-stump.
India turned to left-arm seamer Zaheer Khan after several overs of leg-spinner Amit Mishra from the other end and the change of bowling earned another breakthrough in his second over.
New batsman Graeme Swann had allowed the previous two deliveries to swing away outside off-stump but his middle stump was removed with the next ball, which surprised him and swung in to edge India closer to a massive first innings lead.
Last man Monty Panesar lasted four overs until the innings ended with Harbhajan claiming his third wicket of the morning when he edged to short leg as England lost their last six wickets for 22.
Dec
22
Another delayed start on the cards
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The fourth day of the second Test looks headed for yet another delayed start as Mohali continues to be covered in thick fog.
Umpire Darrell Harper said he and his colleague Asad Rauf will have to wait till the fog clears away to decided when play can start. For that to happen, the umpires need to see the centre, whcih is impossible at the moment.