What a relief for Liverpool fans! Torres pledges future to Liverpool AFP/File – Spain striker Fernando Torres (seen here on July 7) pledged his immediate future to Liverpool on Tuesday, … 2 hrs 48 mins ago LIVERPOOL, England (AFP) – Spain striker Fernando Torres pledged his immediate future to Liverpool on Tuesday, ending speculation that the World Cup winner could be heading out of Anfield. "I am really happy to be back, really happy to stay with all my team-mates," the 26-year-old told the club website. "My commitment and loyalty to the club and to the fans is the same as it was on my first day when I signed. I am looking forward to the challenge ahead." Since the end of last season when Liverpool's disappointing seventh-placed finish led to the sacking of coach Rafael Benitez, Torres has been the subject of any number of transfer rumours with cash-heavy Manchester City and Chelsea circling Anfield like vultures. However, the arrival in the summer of new boss Roy Hodgson, coupled with Steven Gerrard's similar pledge of loyalty, has led Torres to keep faith with a club that is still looking for its first championship win since 1990. "This is the best club in the country so the targets and expectations are always high," said Torres who is recovering from the groin injury he picked up in the World Cup final against the Netherlands. "Hopefully we can stay at our level. At Liverpool the aim is to fight for every title. "It was difficult last season but we are sure we can improve this season." Liverpool, who are now the subject of a possible boardroom takeover, have so far only added England midfielder Joe Cole to their roster but they have seen Yossi Benayoun head the other way down to Chelsea. Argentinean midfielder Javier Mascherano is also likely to leave.
International Football - Capello 'to reprimand Rooney' Eurosport - Sat, 07 Aug 10:23:00 2010 Wayne Rooney is to face the wrath of England manager Fabio Capello for his well-publicised night on the town, according to reports. The Manchester United striker was photographed smoking and urinating in the street following a night out last weekend. Rooney escaped sanction from his club boss Alex Ferguson, but according to The Sun Capello will read the riot act when he meets up with his squad on Monday ahead of the friendly with Hungary at Wembley. An FA insider told The Sun: "Fabio was very annoyed to see those pictures of Rooney lurching out of a nightclub at 5.30am. "Then to see arguably England's biggest star urinating and smoking in public is simply not acceptable and Rooney will be told as much. "He must realise those pictures have been seen all over the world and project a truly awful image of English football. "And the timing couldn't have been worse, coming straight after a dismal World Cup in which Rooney was well below his best."
Let me guess: suspended for one international match! A meaningless friendly no doubt just like the French . A real statement by Blanc! In the meanwhile the Dutch league is underway. First matched played yesterday already with reiging champs FC Twente starting off the post-McClaren era playing to a 0-0 draw away at Roda JC.
And try not to post anything from The Sun - the often quote unreliable sources (which are often second-handed unreliable ones too), taking something and twisting the words to sensationalise it.
Why are all the good players leaving Chelsea? For me, I think Lampard should go instead of Cole, Terry should go instead of Carvalho. Perhaps they are the two big bosses.
Maybe something related to the coach? I think Ricardo Carvalho is one of the best central defenders around and believe his experience will help the Real Madrid team. I am also surprised that Chelsea let him to go!
Hodgson rules out Liverpool title challenge Liverpool's Fernando Torres celebrates scoring a goal. by Chris Brereton Chris Brereton – 53 mins ago LIVERPOOL, England (AFP) – Roy Hodgson does not expect Liverpool to challenge for the Premier League title this season because he has not had enough time to work with his new squad. Hodgson welcomes Arsenal to Anfield on Sunday for his first Premier League game as Liverpool boss after replacing Rafael Benitez during the close-season. The former Fulham manager was the number one choice to replace Benitez because of his honesty and straight-talking values, something he displayed time and time again during his successful three-year tenure at Craven Cottage. And he has sought to dampen some of the expectation on his side's shoulders ahead of the new Premier League season. The signing of the likes of Joe Cole plus the expected takeover of the club from controversial co-owners Tom Hicks and George Gillett has raised hopes on Merseyside that Liverpool can become a side to contend with - starting against the Gunners. Yet Hodgson sees things differently. "After seven training sessions with what I regard as the key players, it is pretty obvious to all that we are a long, long way from being a team like Manchester United, Arsenal or Chelsea," he said. "I don't even pretend that the team after six or seven training sessions are going to be anything like the team we want to be. "It would be ridiculous to suggest that we can be at the top of our game now in terms of how I want the team to play." Hodgson has to decide if he plays midfielder Javier Mascherano in the club's opening fixture against Arsene Wenger's side after the Argentina captain made it clear he wants to leave the club. Inter Milan are the favourites to sign him because Benitez wants to be reunited with him but as far as Hodgson is concerned, Mascherano, at least for the time being, is going nowhere. "At the moment I can quite categorically state there has been no offer from any club for Javier Mascherano," he added. "And as a result, I don't see why I should put his loyalty or desire to play for the club in doubt every day. "I don't want to let Javier Mascherano go. At the moment, Javier Mascherano has shown no signs of going, so it's not a question of replacing him." Ahead of Arsenal's visit to Anfield, Gunners boss Wenger is refusing to give up on an unlikely challenge for the Premier League title and he considers a difficult opening game against Liverpool will help back up his claims that he has a squad worthy of challenging for the championship. Wenger said: "We have a tough start against Liverpool but it is a good opportunity to show that we are ready to fight for the title. The team is ready, ambitious and prepared to fight. "It is a good thing to start at Liverpool because you know you are going into a game where maximum concentration is demanded. "We are encouraged by a good pre-season and that's why we go there with belief and aim to fire on all cylinders. "It could be a race between six or seven teams. It is important to be consistent and win the big games. "We have an advantage that we know each other well and we know how we want to play. If you look at the expectation level this team gave a lot last year. But we want to improve from that and I believe we can." Liverpool striker Fernando Torres could be used as a substitute after recovering from a thigh strain ahead of schedule, while Arsenal are likely to be without Andrei Arshavin and Nicklas Bendtner.
