Liverpool goalkeeper Jose Reina has confirmed his commitment to the club, following recent rumours linking him with a move away from Anfield.
The 28-year-old Spain international insists that he remains fully committed to a long-term future with the Reds, having moved to England from Villarreal in the summer of 2005.
Reina told the club's official website:"I have seen a newspaper has made this suggestion. It is completely untrue.
"I have not told the manager that I wish to leave in January or at any other time. It is important our fans know this.
"I have a long-term contract at Liverpool and I am fully committed to the club.
"Our new owner met me and some of the other players last week and I was very happy with what he told me.
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"The entire squad and staff are working very hard to get us back competing at the top of the table. We will not be distracted by inaccurate media speculation."Subscribe to Football FanCast News Headlines by Email
Chelsea boss Carlo Ancelotti claims he will have funds made available to him if he wishes to add to his squad in the January transger window.
Chelsea have recently hit a poor run of form and there has been some speculation that owner Roman Abramovich has become impatient with the Italian and that Ancelotti has lost his backing.
However, Ancelotti insists he has the support of the owner and that he will receive funding, and he may consider strengthening his side in January following injuries to four key players.
They will also be determined to get their title bid back on track, after slipping into third, picking up just two points in four games, but Ancelloti will be slightly reassured by the option of bringing in new faces; centre backs David Luiz and Gary Cahill, who are at Benfica and Bolton respectively, have been linked to Stamford Bridge.
"I spoke to the owner after the game on Wednesday and we spoke about what we can do in January," said Ancelotti.
"If we need to improve our squad in January, we'll be able to do this.
"The owner is available for us to do this.
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"But now's not the time to think about this. We have to play with these players against Tottenham."
Chelsea face Spurs on Sunday at White Hart Lane, but will be missing Frank Lampard, Alex and Jose Bosingwa. Spurs can recall Aaron Lennon, Luka Modric and Alan Hutton, after the trio were rested against FC Twente midweek but Rafa van der Vaart (hamstring) has not yet recovered, although Younes Kaboul is in contention to start following his thigh problem.Subscribe to Football FanCast News Headlines by Email
Come the January transfer window Liverpool Manager Roy Hodgson and Director of Football Strategy Damien Comolli have a tough job on their hands. They have to show that their club still has the ambitions of a top club without the exorbitant budget that has been available in previous transfer windows. The aim, I’m sure will be a push for fourth place in the Premier League. To help them meet their end and to placate the fans, new recruits are sure to be necessary.
The club’s owners Fenway Sports Group are sure to insist that Roy Hodgson is more careful with his spending than the likes of Rafa Benitez have been in the past. Speaking to the press about the matter Hodgson said, “I would be very disappointed if I went out in January and spent a lot of money on the wrong players and then found that come the summer, we are no better off.”
So what exactly is his aim over the January transfer window? What kind of players are the club looking to add to their squad? Hodgson’s belief is that the emphasis has shifted from quantity to quality. The new additions must be such “that everyone who watches us, fans, journalists, can see why we have bought them, like Raul Meireles. We are looking for players who will make us better.”
The Portuguese midfielder joined Liverpool this August and following Steven Gerrard’s hamstring injury has taken centre stage in the Reds’ midfield. His performances have made him a fan favourite and his commitment to Liverpool’s cause has often made his fellow teammates look lachrymose in comparison.
It’s certainly true that more players like Meireles would help to bolster Liverpool’s attempt to earn a position in next season’s Champions League. With limited funds available it’s clear that Liverpool can’t afford to bring in lots of unproven players.
The focus must now be placed upon quality, not quantity. I would recommend going after players like Luis Suarez and Moussa Sissoko who are really going to add something to the Liverpool squad. The reports that Liverpool are interested in the likes of Wigan’s Charles N’Zogbia does not fill me with much hope.
If necessary, Liverpool can utilise the players they have in swap deals or to rack up the finances necessary for transfer fees. It seems to me that the likes of Maxi, Skrtel and Spearing have come to the end of their time at Anfield.
It’s time for a January clearout. Once the manager has got rid of the dead weight, the focus can be placed upon bringing in players with the quality to help make Liverpool competitors once more.
Whether Roy Hodgson has the managerial nous to do this remains to be seen. January will be a big month at Liverpool Football Club.
For more footballing debate and discussion please feel free to follow me on Twitter @ThePerfectPass.
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Chelsea, Arsenal and Liverpool all to win at 15/8!
Blackpool will try to put a turbulent week for boss Ian Holloway behind them on Wednesday when they welcome West Ham to Bloomfield Road.
Holloway this week stood by his pledge to tender resignation if his team was fined for fielding a weakened side against Aston Villa in the English Premier League in November.
The Blackpool boss made 10 changes for that match – in which Blackpool were only denied a draw by a last-minute James Collins goal that gave Villa a 3-2 win – resulting in a 25,000 pound fine being handed down by the Premier League.
“He (the chairman) will be getting my resignation because that is how strongly I feel,” Holloway told the Blackpool Gazette on Friday. “It is up to him whether he chooses to take it.”
Blackpool chairman Karl Oyston, however, has refused to accept Holloway’s resignation, meaning the Englishman will be at the helm for the foreseeable future.
While Holloway has endured a hectic week, his side will try to best prepare for the visit of West Ham – a fixture in which they need to secure maximum points after a dismal January.
Since their 2-0 win over Sunderland on December 28, Holloway’s gallant side have suffered one-goal defeats to Manchester City, Birmingham, West Brom, Sunderland and Manchester United, with their only success a 2-1 win over Liverpool.
Avram Grant’s West Ham side are in dire need of three points of their own to lift them off the bottom of the Premier League, with just one win and a draw from their past five league games.
Both sides are anxiously awaiting news from the physio, with Stephen Crainey still doubtful for Blackpool with an ankle injury while Matthew Gilks and Billy Clarke are missing with knee complaints.
Chris Basham is out with a broken leg, but they will be buoyed by the return of striker Marlon Harewood, who came off the bench in their last match – a 3-2 loss to Manchester United.
David Carney will be back on deck after Asian Cup duties with Australia.
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West Ham have their own fitness concerns, with Portuguese defender Manuel Da Costa doubtful with an ankle injury and midfielder Thomas Hitzlsperger to miss out with a thigh strain.
Grant will be hoping for more good form from Nigerian winger Victor Obinna, whose hat-trick on Sunday helped West Ham to a 3-2 FA Cup fourth-round win over Nottingham Forest.
It remains to be seen if new striker Robbie Keane will be available after his loan move from Tottenham.
Even Giampaolo Pazzini’s wildest dreams did not include a two-goal debut in Inter Milan’s comeback win over Palermo on Sunday.
It was little wonder the Italy striker – who only signed for the Milan club on Friday from Sampdoria – was over the moon at having inspired his new side to an unlikely three Serie A points.
Trailing 2-0 at home after just 36 minutes, Pazzini fired a 16-minute, second-half double salvo before fellow striker Samuel Eto’o converted winning penalty – after Pazzini was felled in the box – in the 76th minute.
Part of an attacking troika alongside Eto’o and Diego Milito, Pazzini was delighted to begin his Inter career on such a promising note.
“Well, I’d have never imagined a debut like that,” he admitted.
“I’d like to thank my team-mates and the coach for making me feel part of the group from the very beginning. It has been really good.”
“The choice of three forwards was really brave, but necessary to help us recover the result from 2-0 down. Someone said it would have been difficult to play with Milito and Eto’o, but it went very well.”
“I have felt really good since they are two champions who’ve made me feel at ease. Diego, who played close to me, has helped me and talked to me. We have played well together, so everything has gone pretty well.”
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“I’ve scored two goals and Samuel scored one goal, so I think this is the best I could’ve achieved.”
The win kept Leonardo’s men nine points from Serie A leaders and city rivals AC Milan with a game in hand.
Veteran goalkeeper Rogerio Ceni was on target as Sao Paulo beat Portuguesa 3-2 in the Campeonato Paulista on Sunday.
Fernandinho opened the scoring for visitors Sao Paulo on 29 minutes at the Estadio Dr. Oswaldo Teixeira Duarte, before Ceni struck the 98th goal of his 19-year career six minutes before half-time from a free-kick outside the box.
Heverton pulled one back for the hosts three minutes before the hour mark, before Rhodolfo restored the two-goal cushion in the 75th minute.
Heverton was on target again four minutes from time, but Sao Paulo held out to record a win which keeps them four points behind leaders Palmeiras.
Elsewhere, Mirassol came from a goal down to beat Sao Caetano 3-1 at home.
The visitors went ahead through Ailton 29 minutes in, but Mirassol hit back to lead at half-time thanks to goals from Wellington Amorim and Diego Correa.
Sao Caetano were given a route back into the match when Esley was sent off for a second bookable offence in the 61st minute, but 10-man Mirassol put the result beyond doubt when Xuxa netted a third with seven minutes to go.
A first-half brace from Finazzi helped Bragantino beat Ituano 2-1, while Anselmo Ramon’s last-minute strike salvaged a 1-1 draw for Oeste at home to Mogi Mirim.
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Paulista drew 0-0 at home to Corinthians, who finished the match a man down following Paulinho’s dismissal with four minutes to go.
Romulo’s first-minute goal proved to be the winner for Ponte Preta in a 1-0 victory away to Sao Bernardo.
Arsenal showed great determination last night and displayed an ability to stay in there when the going was tough to come from behind and beat Barcelona 2-1 at The Emirates Stadium in the first leg of the last 16 of the Champions League.
Arsene Wenger’s men were second best for large periods of the first half and Lionel Messi could have put Barca ahead before David Villa did just that. Arsenal were much stronger in the second half and led by an impressive Jack Wilshere in the middle of the park, clawed their way back into the match in a excellent five minute spell. First Robin van Persie equalised from a tight angle, then Andrey Arshavin finished off a flowing counter attack to set up an intriguing second leg at the Nou Camp.
So what FIVE things did we learn about Arsenal last night?
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This weekend sees one of the greatest rivalries in English football as Liverpool and Manchester United go head-to-head at Anfield in the Premier League. Liverpool are looking to press their claims for a European place, while Man United need a result to ensure that Arsenal and co can’t close the gap at the top of the Premier League table. Here is Paul Ince, a football legend who played for both the Reds and the Red Devils, talking about the occasion we have in prospect…
Q) Two of your former teams Liverpool and Manchester United play at the weekend. What makes these matches so special in your opinion?
I think it’s just a rivalry between the fans. I think it’s the history Liverpool actually probably conquered the eighties wining title after title and European Cups. Then Man Utd came along in the nineties winning the Premiership and now its 18 titles a piece the last thing Liverpool want is Man Utd to win the title. It is just a rivalry between the clubs and the history that is steeped in the clubs. The games are fantastic occasions they really are, the football, tackles that are flying in makes it a great game to be involved in.
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Q) Did you enjoy the seriously competitive edge those matches had?
Yeah you do, it means so much to both teams and so much to the city. I think sometimes you know meeting up with Arsenal and Chelsea is big but the biggest one is meeting up with Liverpool. That just shows what a big a game it is.
Q) As one of those few people who have played for both teams, did you notice a difference in the way the respective clubs and fans view the game?
I don’t think so. On the day when you play those games first of all its about wining your personal battles and you have to visualise who you are up against and know what type of player he is. You have to make sure you win your battles on the day. In those games if you have 7 or 8 players winning those one on one battles, 9 times out of 10 you win the game. Obviously whoever wins the game their fans get the bragging rights in to the next encounter. There is a lot to play for.
Q) If you could pick a favourite memory from a Liverpool/ United game what would it be?
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I suppose I’ve had a couple, I scored against Liverpool for Man United at Old Trafford with a header. And I scored at the cup end for Liverpool against Man United to make it 2-2. I’ve had some great moments and great times, there both fantastic clubs with fantastic fans.
Visit the Dugout www.yahoo.co.uk/dugout for new interviews every week with England’s top football managers
Rafael van der Vaart has conceded that Tottenham’s proclivity to drop ‘stupid’ points against ‘smaller’ teams has prevented the north London club in their pursuit of Premier League supremacy. His admission relates to a number of games in which Spurs have failed to finish-off sides languishing towards the bottom of the table whilst their performances against more established sides suggest they should be competing for the League title at this stage of the season.
The evidence supports the Dutchman’s theory but demonstrates the natural progression the Lilywhites are currently experiencing as they look to develop into a recognised European force. This season marks Spurs’ first appearance in the recently formatted Champions League, and it is the club’s tendency to struggle against their Premier League opponents following European outings that means van der Vaart and Co. are facing a fight for re-qualification rather than League glory.
The three most recent matches van der Vaart refers to – West Ham, Wolves and Blackpool – were sandwiched between both legs of Tottenham’s successful knock-out tie with AC Milan. Even Champions League regulars such as Manchester United and Arsenal labour to immediately translate triumphant European form to their following League games, so it is no surprise that during Spurs’ maiden season on Europe’s most prestigious stage they have failed to do so on several occasions.
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Tottenham collected just 2 points from their games against three of the League’s relegation threatened clubs recently and proved their lack of consistency on more than one occasion before the turn of the year. Following their 4-3 defeat against Internazionale last October, Spurs picked up just a point from their next two League games before hosting the Serie A holders at White Hart Lane two weeks later. They exceeded most observers’ expectations by beating the Italians 3-1 but yet again managed only a single point from their next two League games against Bolton and Sunderland.
This does not represent the regularity required to compete against Manchester United, Chelsea and Arsenal for Premier League sovereignty but the fact that they are more than capable of finishing in the Top 4 this season suggests Spurs will be able to compete at that level before long. I’m not sure quite what van der Vaart expected to achieve in his first season in London but a Champions League quarter-final tie with his former club, Real Madrid, and qualification for next season’s tournament would signify a remarkable turnaround for the club since the appointment of Harry Redknapp as manager two and-a-half years ago.
The club are still finding their feet in Europe despite some blistering form and individual performances from Gareth Bale and van der Vaart, but their ascendancy in to the higher echelons of club football will take a little more time. Redknapp has more or less completed the formation of a squad in his image and I expect a number of comings and going at the Lane this summer, but if Tottenham continue to evolve at the rate they have been then van der Vaart need not worry about ‘smaller’ clubs for much longer. By this time next year we might very well be reading about Spurs’ title challenge reaching its final stage and another Champions League quarter-final tie, that is if Redknapp manages to contain the inevitable furore that will surround his impending appointment as England manager by then.
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James Milner and Peter Crouch insist that reappointed captain John Terry has the full backing of the England players.With Rio Ferdinand and Steven Gerrard both injured for England’s Euro 2012 qualifier against Wales on Saturday, England boss Fabio Capello opted to give the armband back to Terry.
The centre-back, who is also the captain at club side Chelsea, was stripped of the role after a series of unsavoury off-field incidents last year.
But Manchester City midfielder Milner believes the situation has had little or no effect on the playing
“It’s business as usual, the manager’s made a decision and everyone’s happy for JT and disappointed for Rio,” Milner said.
“We have lots of good leaders and you need more than one anyway. It helps to have so much experience around and we’ve got a good combination of that as well as the younger players.”
“JT has shown with Chelsea and the times he plays for England, he puts his head in where people wouldn’t go and he leads off the field too.”
“It’s important to have a link between players and management, and players who will say what they think.”
Tottenham Hotspur striker Crouch echoed Milner’s sentiments.
“It’s the manager’s call and there are no problems from anyone,” Crouch said.
“I’m pleased for John and we move on.”
“We’ve not really talked about it.”
“It’s between the manager and the captain, whoever he wants to pick.”
“There’s a lot of talk of unrest but it’s not an issue. John Terry has always been fantastic on the pitch, leading Chelsea to Doubles, and he’ll be good for us again.”
“It is a shame for Rio because he’s a top player and great to have around because he’s a natural leader too.”
“It’s a shame that he’s had so many injuries and that’s probably why the manager decided to make the change rather than have the armband being passed around.”
“The manager wanted to stick with JT and that’s fine with all of us.”
England, second in Group G behind Montenegro, take on winless Wales at Cardiff’s Millennium Stadium.