TODAY SPORT

Premier League - Torres gets Liverpool back on track

2009-10-25T19:29:00.000-07:00

Sun, 25 Oct 15:52:00 2009

Fernando Torres and David Ngog struck as Liverpool downed bitter rivals Manchester United

2-0 at Anfield to give their season a much-needed shot in the arm.

Torres broke the deadlock on 65 minutes before Ngog added a gloss to the scoreline deep into injury time as United poured forward in search of a late equaliser.

Both teams finished the match with 10 men after United's Nemanja Vidic was dismissed in the final minute - for a third straight game against the Merseyside club - and Javier Mascherano was sent off for Liverpool in time added on.

Antonio Valencia hit the bar in the 84th minute as United rallied but the hosts held firm to end a run of four straight defeats and register a crucial victory that sees them move into fifth place in the Premier League table.

The result also represented a huge boon for underfire manager Rafa Benitez, who was finally given something to celebrate on his 200th Premier League match in charge.

United stay in second, having lost top spot to Chelsea on Saturday.

Liverpool may have been missing inspirational skipper Steven Gerrard, who was forced to watch on from the stands through injury, but Benitez was boosted by the return of Torres. The Spaniard did not disappoint.

Having had just one sniff of goal during the opening 65 minutes - when he prodded weakly wide just after the break - Torres proved his class when he was played through on goal by a fantastic Yossi Benayoun pass. He held off the challenge of Rio Ferdinand before lashing into the roof of the net, leaving Edwin van der Sar no chance.

As United pressed forward for a late equaliser, they were exposed at the back and Ngog took full advantage in the sixth minute of time added on, the substitute keeping his cool when played clean through on goal to fire home and seal victory.

Pre-match, much had been made of United fans' mischievous plans to bring beach balls into the ground, and kick-off was slightly delayed as a host of inflatables rained down on one penalty area - although not, as expected, thrown by United fans but rather by home supporters on the Kop.

Once the balls had been cleared, did not take long for the game to spark into life and Wayne Rooney had the actual football in the back of the net as early as the third minute, the England striker finishing superbly only to see his effort correctly chalked off for offside.

That move aside, it was Liverpool who enjoyed the better of the opening stages, as Benitez got a positive reaction from his previously beleaguered side.

The hosts went close to taking the lead on 16 minutes when Fabio Aurelio stretched Van der Sar to his limit with a brilliant free-kick from 25 yards out, reminiscent of his goal in the 4-1 demolition of United at Old Trafford last season. The Dutch keeper then did well to block his compatriot Dirk Kuyt's effort on the follow-up.

Two minutes later Kuyt was played in by Lucas Leiva but before he could get a shot off on target Vidic had recovered to make a crucial challenge.

Otherwise, Vidic looked uneasy facing his chief tormentor of last season Torres, although he and Rio Ferdinand did enough to keep the dangerous Spaniard at bay at least for an hour.

United came back into the game as the first half wore on and Rooney and Dimitar Berbatov linked up well to release Valencia down the United right on 21 minutes. The Ecuadorian winger's cross found Rooney, who had continued his run into the box, but his header was saved by Jose Reina.

At the other end, Benayoun, by far Liverpool's most dangerous player, saw a header saved by Van der Sar before the opening period ended acrimoniously with United players, unhappy at a few decision that had gone against them, surrounding referee Andre Mariner.

The visitors' mood was not improved after the break when Torres swooped to break the deadlock, nor when substitute Michael Owen played in Valencia, only for the Ecuadorian to be denied by the cross bar.

Owen, the former Liverpool player, had been given the chance to prove a point to those in the crowd who booed his 74th minute introduction from the bench, and his running off the ball 13 minutes later gave Jamie Carragher a hairy moment. The Liverpool defender was caught out by his former team-mate and, having hauled the United man down, was lucky to escape with just a booking.

Vidic, who was sent off in both Premier League fixtures against Liverpool last season, was again dismissed when he upended Kuyt and received a second booking.

And Mascherano, another who is no stranger to red cards in this fixture, soon followed the Serb down the tunnel, again for a second bookable offence, this time for a lunge on Van der Sar.

Back on a level playing field in terms of personnel, United threw everything they had upfield as full-time approached only to be caught out by Ngog's late, and decisive, sucker punch.

Premier League - Ferguson: No more signings..

2009-07-13T20:33:00.000-07:00

Manchester United will not buy any more players this summer due to the inflation of the transfer market, according to manager Sir Alex Ferguson.

"It is the end of our business, so all these stories about who were are supposed to be getting - forget it," Ferguson was quoted as saying by the Press Assocation as United presented Michael Owen with the number seven shirt.

"We're in the middle of a difficult summer for football and there's very little value.

"The numbers that are being tossed about are amazing. Everybody in Europe and England, their valuations have just shot sky high and I don't think any of the transfers you say are realistic."

Ferguson had been tipped to use all of the £80 million that United received from Real Madrid for Cristiano Ronaldo.

But so far, his business has been limited to the capture of Owen on a free transfer and the purchases of Wigan's Antonio Valencia and Bordeaux's Gabriel Obertan for a total of less than £20m.

United were interested in signing French striker Karim Benzema but Ferguson was not prepared to match the £35m Lyon eventually received from Real Madrid.

As well as Bayern Munich's Franck Ribery, Ferguson has also been linked with a move for 18-year-old Brazilian midfielder Douglas Costa.

Ferguson maintains that he only moved for Owen once it became clear he would not be able to push a deal through for Benzema.

"We tried to get Benzema but as far as we were concerned it was beyond the value that we thought, and if other clubs buy that it's their business but we have to put a value on it that is fair and good value," AFP quoted Ferguson as saying.

"Maybe Lyon thought we under-valued him but they've got 42 million euros for him and they've done well. It tells you we're sensible."

Transfers - Carlos Tevez: The full saga

2009-07-13T20:23:00.000-07:00

We chart Carlos Tevez's time at Manchester United and all the major developments of his transfer saga.

Cristiano Ronaldo: I Want To Be The Best Real Madrid Player In History

2009-07-04T19:26:00.000-07:00

The world’s most expensive player has never been known for his modesty and he has once again set the bar high as he speaks to Spanish media for the first time since his transfer was made official.

Cristiano Ronaldo had claimed that he had run out of motivation at Old Trafford after winning everything at Manchester United in his six years at the club.

That, at least, was the basis of his gargantuan €94 million move to Real Madrid. And the Portuguese ace can now look forward to a bigger challenge after setting himself what could be an unattainable target.

“My goal is to become one the best players in the club’s history… or the best,” he told Marca without hesitation during his first interview with the Spanish media.

“When I completed the transfer, I felt relieved. Now I can say that I have fulfilled my dream,” he added.

When asked about the weight of expectation that comes with a near-€100m price tag, Ronaldo replied, “Florentino Perez has revolutionised the world of football, but I will prove that I am worth what he paid for me.

“Monday will be the greatest moment of my life.”

Finally, he had a message for the Madridistas: “I am not who they say I am in the gossip magazines and sensationalist media.”

Ronaldo, who is widely expected to take the No. 9 jersey and complete his transformation to CR9, will be unveiled at the Santiago Bernabeu on Monday, July 6, in a ceremony that could top Kaka’s presentation carnival earlier this week.

Marseille owner Louis-Dreyfus dies

2009-07-04T18:50:00.000-07:00

Robert Louis-Dreyfus, the main shareholder in French side Marseille, has died. The 63-year-old businessman and former owner of sportswear maker Adidas took control of Marseille in 1997 and according to French media reports, invested more than £200 million in the club.

Premier League - Owen signs two-year deal at United

2009-07-03T21:57:00.000-07:00

Former European Footballer of the Year Michael Owen has completed a surprise free transfer move to Manchester United, the Premier League champions have confirmed.

Premier League - Liverpool seal Johnson deal

2009-06-26T21:16:00.000-07:00

Glen Johnson has agreed a four-year contract with Liverpool after completing his transfer from Portsmouth.

The 24-year-old right-back completed his move for a fee believed to be £17million, although much of that will be offset by money still owed from Peter Crouch's transfer to Fratton Park last summer.

Benitez has already accepted he paid over the odds for the England international but stressed there were many factors which made the deal the right one for the club.

"We knew the market was going to be difficult this summer and some of it has been crazy," said Benitez.

"Manchester City and Chelsea were there - they were making offers. We had to be quick and the club acted quickly.

"It was down to the player whether he chose us or City or Chelsea and he chose us."

Champions League - Six-match ban for Drogba

2009-06-17T21:13:00.000-07:00

Chelsea striker Didier Drogba has been given a six-match European ban for his outburst during the club's Champions League semi-final against Barcelona.

Ivory Coast captain Drogba harangued Norwegian referee Tom Henning Ovrebo after the final whistle before directing a foul-mouthed tirade at a television camera.The final two matches of the ban are suspended for two years. Jose Bosingwa was given a four-game ban, with the final match suspended for two years, for also being "in breach of the principles of sportsmanship by insulting the referee by making offensive comments".

Chelsea were fined £85,000 for the improper conduct of their players and the throwing of missiles by their fans. Either the club or the players may appeal against the decision within three days and Chelsea said on their website that they are considering a response.

Barcelona went through to the final against Manchester United on away goals after the match at Stamford Bridge ended in a 1-1 draw. A tense semi-final second leg turned nasty when Barcelona's Andres Iniesta scored in the third minute of stoppage time to level an early goal by , Michaestel Essien, sending Chelsea out of the competition on the away goals rule.

Drogba, and other Chelsea players, were furious that several strong penalty claims had been turned down during the match. Bosingwa later described the referee as "a thief" when talking to Portuguese television. Both players later apologised for their reactions.

Chelsea's Germany captain Michael Ballack escaped any punishment despite charging after Ovrebo when another penalty appeal was waved away as they searched for a last-gasp winner.

TOP SPORT

2009-02-04T17:18:00.000-08:00

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