The top stories from papers and websites - 05 December 2012

Latest Paper Talk - Wednesday December 5

• Roberto Mancini's Manchester City are now officially the worst English team in Europe.


• Rafa Benitez has tried to inspire Chelsea by comparing their Champions League struggles with his own failed reign at Inter Milan.


• West Ham face D-Day today on their ambitions of moving to the Olympic Stadium, but the club are expected to be chosen as preferred bidders.


• Spain striker Fernando Llorente has confirmed he plans to leave Athletic Bilbao when his contract expires at the end of the season.

• Rafa Benitez last night publicly questioned whether his Chelsea players still have the hunger that drove them to last season's Champions League glory.


• West Ham chairman David Gold insisted Andy Carroll would not go back to Liverpool in January because he did not come from Argos.


• Brendan Rodgers is set to gamble with Luis Suarez to keep Liverpool's European hopes alive.


• Arsene Wenger is ready to offload Brazilian flop Andre Santos - even though the Arsenal left-back wants to stay.


• Newcastle boss Alan Pardew is plotting a January raid for Southampton midfielder Adam Lallana.


• Fraizer Campbell is being lined-up to fire Hull City in the Premier League - for the second time.

• Rafa Benitez has launched a bizarre defence of Fernando Torres as Chelsea stand on the verge of an embarrassing Champions League exit tonight.


• Pepe Reina's future at Liverpool is under threat, with manager Brendan Rodgers considering January moves for Jack Butland or Ron-Robert Zieler.


• Liverpool are also close to finalising a £12million deal for Chelsea striker Daniel Sturridge and the £6million acquisition of his England Under-21 team-mate Thomas Ince.


• David Beckham has been earmarked as the prospective owner of an emerging Miami-based MLS franchise.


• Chelsea are keen on Club America defender Diego Reyes.


• Bolton are lining up a deal for Norwegian winger Dawda Leigh, 26, who is a free agent.


• Sporting Kansas City midfielder Roger Espinoza, 26, has agreed a two-and-a-half year contract with Wigan.


• Aston Villa, Newcastle and Norwich will have FC Cluj winger Modou Sougou watched at Manchester United tonight.


• St Johnstone manager Steve Lomas is a contender to take over at ambitious League Two side Fleetwood Town.

• Chelsea have been told to back off Pep Guardiola or risk losing out on the former Barcelona coach.


• Scott Parker handed Tottenham a major fitness boost yesterday when he returned to action.


• Arsene Wenger insist he will not quit Arsenal and join Paris St Germain.


• Paul Robinson will demand a transfer is Brad Friedel makes a sensational return to Blackburn.


• Swansea sensation Michu is wanted by Serie A duo Napoli and Genoa.


• QPR boss Harry Redknapp and his old club Southampton want Matt Besler of MLS club Kansas City.


• Steve Clarke has rubbished reports Liverpool are set to launch a £12.5million January raid for Shane Long.

• Juan Mata insist Chelsea will not wilt under the pressure if fans continue their hate campaign against Rafa Benitez.


• Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson has given City manager Roberto Mancini the green light to land Inter Milan outcast Wesley Sneijder.


• Norwich goalkeeper Mark Bunn has set his sights on a Republic of Ireland cap.

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Mancini upset at Euro exit

Roberto Mancini has hit out at Manchester City's inability to qualify for the Europa League after Tuesday's 1-0 defeat to Borussia Dortmund.



A second-half strike from Julian Schieber was enough to see off the Premier League champions, who finished bottom of Champions League Group D without a win and with three points from six games.



Mancini insisted that he told his team to go out and win and ensure they remain in European competition in the New Year.



"Yeah, we wanted this (to qualify for the Europa League) but we have to score." Mancini told Sky Sports.



"Tonight we tried but we are missing more players. We had chances but in this moment we can't score, if you don't score it's difficult to win."



Elimination from Europe could be a blessing in disguise with City currently three points behind rivals Manchester United as they attempt to defend their Premier League title but, when put to Mancini, the Italian was keen to focus on an underwhelming Champions League campaign.



He added: "In this moment we cannot think about this, we should think that we are not in the Europa League and for this we should be disappointed.



"Clearly, this can help us for the Premier League because we don't play in the Europa League but we want to play in it, it was our target tonight."



Mancini highlighted the improvement of opponents Borussia Dortmund in this season's competition from last year and drew comparison with his own side, adding that City side can make a fresh impression next term.



"Champions League is really difficult and strange," he added.



"Borussia Dortmund went out of the group last year in fourth position like us, and this season they can win the competition."

Tuesday's round up of the top transfer stories

- Athletic Bilbao striker Fernando Llorente has confirmed he will leave the club when his contract expires at the end of the season.



- Fernando Torres has insisted that he wants to see out the rest of his contract and is looking to win more trophies at Chelsea.



- Chelsea have once again watched Bayer Leverkusen striker Andre Schurrle in action as they weigh up a January bid for the Germany international, according to Sky Sports.



- Chelsea and Manchester United are on alert as Jose Mourinho is set to leave Real Madrid at the end of the season, according to Spanish newspaper Marca.



- Chelsea have agreed a deal to sign 18-year-old Brazilian right-back Wallace from Fluminense in the January transfer window.



- Senad Lulic, the Lazio midfielder linked with Chelsea, is on Inter Milan's radar.



- Tottenham winger Gareth Bale, who is believed to be a target for Barcelona and Real Madrid, has reiterated that he sees himself playing abroad in the future, stating: "If the time comes and a team that's right comes in for me, then I'll look at it seriously. I'll see what happens. Everybody wants to be playing in the Champions League."



- Manchester City target Stefan Jovetic has no intention of leaving Fiorentina - yet.



- Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger wants to sign Schalke goalscorer Klass-Jan Huntelaar next month and he could be available for a cut-price £6million, according to Dailymail.



- Tottenham have made an enquiry for Ajax midfielder Christian Eriksen, who has also been linked with Liverpool, according to Goal.com.



- Daniel Sturridge's agent has denied the Chelsea striker has demanded £80,000 a week and a guaranteed role up front if he's to join Liverpool.



- Liverpool's hopes of signing Barcelona starlet Cristian Tello have been hit after news emerged that the forward is set to sign a new deal.



- Inter Milan president Massimo Moratti has rejected talk of a possible swap between Wesley Sneijder and Paris Saint-Germain star Javier Pastore.



- Arsenal and Chelsea could be forced to ramp up their interest in Paris St. Germain’s Marco Verratti after Juventus emerged as serious contenders to sign him.



- Frank Lampard's hopes of heading out to the US to play in the MLS have been dealt another blow after David Beckham told his former club LA Galaxy to sign Real Madrid midfielder Kaka.



- Brazilian forward Neymar has insisted that he is happy at Santos for the moment and does not want to move to Europe yet.



- Barcelona star Ibrahim Afellay wants to make his loan move to Schalke permanent - dashing the hopes of Arsenal and Liverpool.



- AC Milan have rejected rumours linking Robinho with a move away from the San Siro in January.



- Atletico Madrid are desperate to agree a new contract with Adrian to ward off interest from Arsenal, Chelsea, Tottenham and Liverpool.



- PSV Eindhoven striker Jeremain Lens, who has been linked with a move to Liverpool, has admitted to Elf Voetbal that he is interested in playing in the Premier League.

Mancini concentrates on Dortmund

Manchester City manager Roberto Mancini is not being distracted by Sunday's derby against rivals United.



City play their must-win Champions League clash with Borussia Dortmund on Tuesday but Mancini is not looking any further than the European tie.



The 48-year-old coach admits his side will have to beat one of the 'best teams in Europe' to hold any hope of continuing their participation in European football in the New Year.



A spot in the Europa League is the only obtainable prize after City failed to win any of their previous five games in this season's Champions League Group D.



Mancini quashed reports he could play a weakened side, with a full set of strikers travelling to Germany, however he will be without injured pair Yaya Toure and David Silva.



"Mario Balotelli is here and he can play. So can Edin (Dzeko), and we have other strikers in (Carlos) Tevez and (Sergio) Aguero. Yaya (Toure) will not play," Mancini told reporters.



"We are not thinking of the derby this weekend. We have a difficult match coming up here and we brought all our players except the injured ones.



"Borussia Dortmund are currently one of the best teams in Europe and we have a difficult match ahead of us."



Mancini believes the club should not be embarrassed by their second consecutive early exit in the competition, adding that Dortmund and fellow group D opponents Real Madrid are more deserving of progression, and City must now look to future challenges.



He continued: "In the Europa League you play on Thursdays, so that's a bit tricky, but we still want to make it and will try everything to go through and then go as far as possible there.



"We are disappointed because we wanted to reach the second round. But I believe that there are times when there are teams in football that are better than you and you have to respect that.



"We have to accept that Borussia Dortmund and Real Madrid played better than we did and we'll have to try again next season. But it was not an embarrassment."

Lucas Leiva eyes Champions League spot for Liverpool

Lucas Leiva believes Liverpool remain in contention for a Champions League place despite their relatively lowly position.



Despite remaining in the bottom half of the Premier League table following a poor start to the season, the reds are only seven points adrift of Chelsea in third spot and the Brazilian believes they can start to narrow the gap.



“It shows the Premier League is very tight at the moment,” he said. “The gap to third place is not too bad. If we had had a few more wins we would be closer but we can’t change that.



“We have a lot of games now and if we can get three or four wins in a row I think we will be very close to the top four.



“We just have to think to move on to get more points, especially in the crucial time which is coming.



“If we can turn draws into wins it will be even better but we have to keep believing as there are a lot of positive things at the moment.”



Having already played the Premier League’s top seven-placed clubs, their next six fixtures are against teams in he lower half of the table.



The return of Lucas in the midfield holding role following three months out with a thigh strain gives Liverpool greater strength in a key position allowing Steven Gerrard and Joe Allen to play more advanced roles.

UEFA bans player for life

Maltese footballer Kevin Sammut has been given a life ban for trying to throw a game against Norway, European football's governing body UEFA has announced, citing a ruling from one of its disciplinary tribunals.



The judgment bans the 31-year-old player from "football-related activity for life for breaching UEFA's principles of integrity and sportsmanship", the organisation said in an online statement.



The decision on appeal, which covers only football activities in Europe, went much further than a lower tribunal ruling in August that barred Sammut from the sport for 10 years.



Both the player and UEFA's disciplinary director had appealed against the original ruling, the statement read.



The match under investigation was a UEFA European Championship Group C qualifier in Oslo in June 2007, which Norway won 4-0.



The sport's world governing body, FIFA, is expected to consider extending the decision to a global ban, the UEFA statement continued, before adding that an appeal could be lodged against Monday's decision by the Court of Arbitration for Sport.



UEFA's appeals body meanwhile upheld the lower tribunal's ruling that there was not enough evidence against two other Maltese players, Kenneth Scicluna and Stephen Wellman, to take disciplinary action.

Linesman dies following assault by players

A linesman affiliated to Dutch youth club Buitenboys has died after being assaulted by players in a match on Sunday, the club have announced.



Richard Nieuwenhuizen, 41, was rushed to hospital after being punched and kicked by players from opponents Nieuw-Sloten.



His club announced on Twitter: "With great sadness we announce the death of our @Buitenboys linesman Richard Nieuwenhuizen. Our thoughts are with his family. Our linesman Richard died at 17:30 in front of his family. This violence must stop on the pitch! £stopsenselessviolence."



According to reports in the Netherlands, three Nieuw-Sloten players were arrested and taken into police custody. The Amsterdam club have responded by banning the players involved in the incident, withdrawing from the league in which the game took place and temporarily suspending all their operations as a club.



A statement on the club's website read: "The board of sv Nieuw-Sloten learned with horror of the death of the linesman of Buitenboys. We are deeply shocked by the fact that the match yesterday degenerated so badly, with this result.



"We express here our sympathy, firstly to the family of the deceased person. Words fail us. In addition, we also express our sympathy to the Buitenboys club and all its members.



"We distance ourselves strongly from the behaviour of the players who are responsible. As an association, when we were aware of wrongdoing, we apologised to Buitenboys.



"For our club, this is a huge shock, an event that touches all of our members. Violence should not be on the football fields, and certainly not against referees, linesmen and all those others who volunteer each year to enable over a million amateur footballers to play. We must do everything possible to eliminate these excesses.



"Nieuw-Sloten is an association with many youth members. Fair play standards and values are of paramount importance to us and we support the campaign by the KNVB against violence on the field. We will of course fully co-operate with the police investigation. We believe that those who are responsible for this act should be punished.



"We decided yesterday to take the team concerned out of the KNVB competition. Also, the persons to our knowledge responsible for this beating were immediately removed and can never become a member of our association.



"Obviously, the police are investigating the incident. We will report these persons to the KNVB once their involvement is officially determined to ensure a lifetime expulsion.



"For now we have suspended all our activities as a club. The training of all our teams for this week has been cancelled. After consultation with the KNVB, we have decided out of respect for the family of the victim that our teams will play no matches this weekend.''

The top stories from papers and websites - 03 December 2012

• Sir Alex Ferguson insists Jose Mourinho can manage any club in the world - including Manchester United.


• Rafa Benitez launched a furious attack on his Chelsea players, claiming they have no leaders, no confidence and no character.

• Arsene Wenger last night insisted he will never quit Arsenal and expects to be in charge until at least 2014.


• Steve Bould branded Arsenal's unperforming flops a big "let-down" in a furious dressing-room inquest.


• Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson is back on the trail of Athletic Bilbao midfield dynamo Oscar de Marcos.


• Swansea boss Michael Laudrup will make a new £6million move for Bolton midfield ace Mark Davies.


• Loan star DJ Campbell sparked a spirited Ipswich comeback - then admitted he does not know if he will be part of Harry Redknapp's QPR revolution.


• Ryan Shawcross will snub interest from the Premier League big boys to sign a new deal at Stoke.


• Paul Lambert insisted Christian Benteke will stay and reach his full potential at Aston Villa.

• Roman Abramovich is considering a shock move that would see Avram Grant return to Chelsea as an adviser.


• Harry Redknapp is considering handing Les Ferdinand and Clive Allen places on the QPR backroom team.


• Tottenham star Gareth Bale would like to play abroad in the future.


• Alan Pardew believes he has the backing of the Newcastle board as he attempts to avoid becoming the first Toon boss to suffer five Premier League defeats in a row.


• Manchester City have emerged as the front-runners to sign wonderkid Gerard Deulofeu from Barcelona. City have overtaken Chelsea in the race to capture the 18-year-old.


• Kevin Strootman was centre of attention during Saturday's clash against Ajax. The Holland international was watched by Arsenal chief scout Steve Rowley as the Gunners have joined Man United and Tottenham in the race for the PSV midfielder.


• Sir Alex Ferguson believes Jose Mourinho could be the man to replace him at Manchester United.

• Avram Grant is being considered by Chelsea to take over the reins again at Stamford Bridge - just three games into Rafa Benitez's unpopular spell in charge.


• Ryan Shawcross says he will reject interest from Premier League heavyweights to sign a new deal at Stoke.

• Sunderland boss Martin O'Neill is under even more pressure after his struggling side lost 2-1 at Norwich.


• Former Liverpool assistant boss Mauricio Pellegrino slammed Valencia yesterday after he was sacked as their manager.


• Liverpool are considering a £12million January bid for West Brom striker Shane Long. Reds boss Brendan Rodgers worked with Long when the pair were at Reading.

• Gareth Bale has given the clearest indication yet that he sees his future away from Tottenham, most likely in Spain, after saying that he will “look seriously” at attractive offers from overseas.

• Tottenham have made an enquiry for Ajax star Christian Eriksen but the Danish playmaker will stay at the club until the end of the season.

Beckham eyes Champions League tilt

David Beckham is still to confirm his next move, but a team who can offer him Champions League football would turn his head.

Former England international Beckham will bring the curtain down on his LA Galaxy career in Saturday's MLS Cup final - live on ESPN. Given his profile and standing in the game, even at 37 he has teams jockeying for position to sign him.

Beckham has a Champions League winner's medal in his trophy cabinet from Manchester United's win in 1999 and has dined at the top table with Real Madrid and AC Milan.

It is a tournament he would like one final crack at, as he said: "I always loved it when I went back to AC Milan being back in the Champions League.

"I still miss playing in it, they are the games you love playing in. Of course I'd want to play in it again.



"We'll see where I go next. If it's a team that's in the Champions League then it will be nice to be back."

Barton wants Marseille stay

Joey Barton believes he will not return to Queens Park Rangers if they are relegated, while he has also opened talks about extending his stay at Marseille.

Barton, 30, is currently on loan at the French club until the end of the season, when he will be due to return to west London.

But the midfielder feels he is more likely to be playing his football at Stade Velodrome than Loftus Road next season.

"For me to be part of the side that stayed up and not be part of the side that went down, it would be difficult for me to go back," Barton said. "I haven't closed my mind to it although I would really like to stay here.

"I'm in a good space mentally. I've held preliminary talks with Marseille about extending my stay here. They have asked me whether I would stay beyond the loan period.

"The likelihood is, unless there is a massive turnaround in fortunes, QPR will be in the Championship next season. What it seems to me as a neutral - and I am in France, no matter that I am contracted - is that they have got a big case of a lot of good individuals, a lot of good quality individuals, but not a good team."

Barton, who still has two years left on his QPR contract, moved to Marseille after being banned for 12 matches by the Football Association for his violent conduct against Manchester City on the final day of last season.

"It didn't end in great circumstances in west London for me," Barton said. "I know there has been a change in terms of the management structure, but something like that, and what goes on around that, lives with you beyond a managerial change."

That managerial change has seen Harry Redknapp come in to replace the sacked Mark Hughes and Barton believes that Redknapp has the experience to give the club a fighting chance of staying up.

"Harry Redknapp's record speaks for itself," he said. "This time last year he was being talked about as the only successor to Fabio Capello. He has always done well with players and always got players on board. He is a really good man-manager.

"If anyone can pull the players together, a manager of Redknapp's calibre is capable of that. They are in with a good chance now with Harry there."

QPR are currently bottom of the Premier League table, eight points adrift of safety, having still yet to record a win this season.

Benitez tells owner he needs stronger team

Rafael Benítez has told Roman Abramovich that the Chelsea squad he inherited from Roberto Di Matteo is neither fit enough nor strong enough.

Chelsea have earmarked Metalist Kharkiv’s Brazilian attacker Taison as a January signing while Benítez has been working on the players’ fitness, sending Fernando Torres for extra sessions in the gym.Benítez attended a board meeting on Thursday with Abramovich and Michael Emenalo, the technical director, in which the interim first-team manager outlined his initial impressions of the squad after two stalemates and six training sessions. “You can see the team needs to improve a bit physically,’’ said Benítez. “We had yesterday a board meeting and I explained what I’d seen.’’

Benítez also considered recruiting Andy Carroll.

He believes he can win over the hostile fans. “When I was at Extremadura, I replaced a manager who was very successful and at the end they loved me. I went to Tenerife and had a very good relationship with the fans. Valencia was the same. Liverpool was the same. So hopefully with the success I can do the same here.”

The Spaniard, who on Saturday travels to West Ham to face an old rival in Sam Allardyce, argued that Chelsea were moving in the right direction under him. “The players have a bit more confidence now than before because they were conceding goals every single game and losing. The players can see the team is more solid, and that’s the first step.’’ If he has tightened the defence, Benítez needs to get the attack rolling.

The Premier League hopes to celebrate its 21,000th goal this weekend, needing 27 to hit the mark, but Benítez and Torres have to prove they can find the key to the door to goal. Benítez teams have not scored in the Premier League for six hours (two games with Chelsea this week, and his final two games with Liverpool in 2010).

Torres has not scored in 275 minutes under Benítez in the Premier League, not since March 28, 2010 against Sunderland, the first of his two goals that day highlighting the need to get the ball to him quickly. Liverpool’s keeper, Pepe Reina, found Torres on the left with a long throw, and the striker brilliantly turned Michael Turner before beating Craig Gordon with a superb strike into the top corner.

Torres needs constant encouragement by his manager. “I was always talking to him,’’ said Benítez of their time at Anfield. “I like doing that with players, asking them questions, about players, games, families. It can be a two-minute conversation with someone walking to the pitch, or you can have breakfast with them.’’

Benítez dismissed the idea of former Olympic sprinter Darren Campbell working with Torres as he has in the past. “It’s different just running and running with the ball on the pitch.”



During Thursday’s meeting, Benítez, Abramovich and Emenalo discussed the possibility of recalling Romelu Lukaku from West Bromwich Albion. “We know he’s doing well,’’ said Benítez. “But maybe it’s better for his development to stay there, playing.” Until January and Taison’s possible arrival, Torres faces 10 games. He cannot be rested. “Not at the moment because [Daniel] Sturridge is injured,’’ said Benítez.

“[Victor] Moses is the only option we’d have, but he’s a different kind of player.’’

Benitez, who despite Chelsea’s lack of goals was considering leaving out Oscar from Saturday's game, said he did not see Eden Hazard as a centre-forward, a role the Belgian filled unsuccessfully against Juventus. “I know he played in that position, but he’s not a striker. He’s a No 10 or a winger. Hazard was one of the players I wanted to sign at Liverpool at 19. He was too expensive.’’



Benítez also considered recruiting Andy Carroll, who eventually joined Liverpool for £35 million and is now on loan at West Ham. “He played the Youth Cup at Anfield and we were watching him, a young player with power,’’ recalled Benítez. “It was an option, he was cheaper. Take the ‘3’ off the £35 million.”



In chatty mood at Cobham on Friday, Benítez touched on a range of other matters. He praised Marko Marin, saying: “You can see his quality.’’ Of David Beckham possibly returning to England, Benítez said: “I’m not sure whether he can cope now with the pace of the Premier League.” He explained why he made the crossing hands “game over” gesture after Liverpool’s second goal in a 4-0 win over Allardyce’s Blackburn in 2009, a gesture of “absolute contempt” according to Sir Alex Ferguson at the time. “How could I have said the game was over after 20 minutes?’’ said Benítez yesterday. “Crazy.’’

John Terry has told the club’s medical staff that he feels ready to play but Benítez remains cautious, citing concerns over the knee injury, and doubted whether the centre-half would make the under-21s’ game on Monday. Benítez observed that the team missed the “character and leadership” of Terry and Frank Lampard.

Benitez’s life is all tinker, tailor at the moment. “I have some problems with the official suit. The Italian style is different. It’s really nice, but it’s a style for young people, not old people. Now, because of the [economic] crisis, no one has many suits in stock. They have to make the right one.’’

What would suit Chelsea on Saturday is a goal. Benítez is known for rarely celebrating goals. “Sometimes when you score it’s the time to talk to players. Some managers like to jump around and roar. The fans sometimes enjoy this. I’m happy inside.”

Wenger thinks Messi should win Ballon d'Or

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger does not like the Ballon d'Or in principle but admits he would vote for Lionel Messi if the award was decided on 'class'.

Barcelona's Argentine superstar is the runaway favourite to collect the accolade for a fourth consecutive year when it is announced on 7th January after an astonishing 2012.



Messi earlier in November surpassed Pele's 75-goal record of goals for club and country in a calendar year and is now on 82 to leave him just behind former West Germany and Bayern Munich striker Gerd Muller's 1972 record of 85.



But Wenger, who has always believed in praising the team ethic over the individual, thinks other the contenders - Messi's Barcelona team-mate, Spain international Andres Iniesta, and long-term rival, Real Madrid's Cristiano Ronaldo - would also deserve the Ballon d'Or.



The Arsenal boss said: "It's very difficult. For the class, Messi. He's scored 76 goals in one year. It looks just outrageous to me. Therefore it would be one thing to reward something exceptional.



"Ronaldo, has always been there and he deserves it as well. He won the Spanish championship.



"Iniesta won the European Championship with the national team and therefore, you could reward him.



"I'm not a big fan of these things. If you judge purely the class, you judge Messi.



"If you want the achievement of the year, you would choose Ronaldo and maybe Iniesta in second. That's how I see it."

Fourth spot still a realistic aim for us, says Rodgers

Liverpool are confident of finalising deals for Tom Ince and Daniel Sturridge.



Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers believes a top four finish is “absolutely, absolutely” a realistic aim for the 12-placed club and says he is taking heart from the fact that nobody has pulled away in fourth spot.



“Let’s be honest – it is a big ask; a massive ask,” said Rodgers, ahead of his side’s meeting with Southampton at Anfield today. “But [fourth] has to be our target. We are going to look to try and get as close to that as we possibly can.



Rodgers, whose side are 10 points off fourth-placed West Bromwich Albion, was bullish about the club’s potential activity in the January transfer market, at the end of a week in which he agreed that the managerial uncertainty at Stamford Bridge may make a move for Daniel Sturridge easier. Liverpool are confident of finalising a £6m deal for Blackpool’s Tom Ince as well as adding Sturridge for a further £12m.



Asked if he was looking at one or two signings or as much as he could achieve, Rodgers replied: “As much as I can do, really. [But] we have got a real good group here. I have always thought that if you have three-and-a-half goal-scorers in your team, you have got a chance. We have got Luis Suarez. Steven Gerrard will get goals. He has been terrific this season and taken on an even greater responsibility with the juniors. But he will get goals. There is no question of that. If we can add a couple more that you know are goal-scorers, who instinctively get into the box and get goals, with the domination that we are having in games, then we have got a chance in the second half of the season. We are going into a month that if we can



Lucas Leiva is expected to make his long-awaited return return today, having been rested from the rigours of the midweek game at Tottenham to be ready for a game which Rodgers needs to win. That will provide rigour and free Gerrard to advance more, after a disappointing few months by his standards.



Another of the disappointments for Rodgers has been Nuri Sahin, who has not proved tp be the stand-out player who was expected when he opted for Anfield rather than the Emirates, arriving on loan from Real Madrid this summer. The manager admitted that the tempo of the Premier League was something the 24-year-old was struggling to adapt to.



“His attitude has been first class. I always look at the midfield players and their goals and assists. I look at tackles won and with Nuri he has come in and played more games than he has probably thought. But he is a good guy who is working hard. It is just about the balance really. I don’t think he has struggled with the physical side of it. He has played in Germany. It’s just the tempo here is greater. You have to respect that he has come back from nearly a year out of it. This first six months he has played quite a number of games. I have had a chance to assess him and see where he is at. But if you are out of the team, you just have to continue to work hard. If your chance comes, you have to take it.”



Liverpool’s lack of a striker has clearly contributed to them slipping four points behind Swansea City and three points behind Stoke City in the Premier League, but Rodgers insisted that this had not been a wasted five months.



“I would never say managing this club is a waste,” he said. “I’ve got to say it’s been a privilege here and I’ve learned a lot. I spoke to Stevie [Gerrard] after Tottenham and he said it was the best Liverpool have played there in 12 years going to White Hart Lane. That shows you with the lack of experience in the group but it’s also about getting results and I have total faith that we will do that. As I said, from the first six months, it was really about improving that unity in the group, trying to find different solutions. I believe that will grow even more. We are creating enough pressure and getting enough of the ball. If we can the right profile of players… the last five months have highlighted the need for that even more. If we get one or two to finish it off we can go on a great run.”



Liverpool face what they would historically have considered to be an easy run until mid-January - meeting West Ham, Aston Villa, Fulham, Stoke City, QPR and Sunderland before they meet Manchester United at Old Trafford on January 13.




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Blatter tells Neymar to move

At a news conference for the draw for the 2013 Confederations Cup, FIFA President, Sepp Blatter told reporters that it would be difficult for Neymar to consider himself the best in the world until he has played in Europe.

Neymar was not one of the 3 finalists for the Ballon D’or 2012 award, despite starring this year for Santos and the Brazilian National team. Portugal’s CristianoRonaldo (Real Madrid), Lionel Messi and Andres Iniesta, both of Barcelona, were the final three players chosen to win the coveted award.

“Neymar, who is extraordinary, always comes to mind,” Blatter told reporters when speaking about the best players in the world. “It is an unfortunate fact for a player like Neymar, who had an excellent opportunity [to be more 'visible'] in the Olympics, that those who decide who wins the Ballon D’or are managers, captains and the press. It is not easy for him to win because the concentration of stars is in Europe”.

The Confederations Cup 2013, is to be held between 15 and 30 June in Brasilia, Rio de Janeiro, Belo Horizonte, Salvador, Recife and Fortaleza and Blatter also expressed confidence that Brazil has the stadiums to become “The Mecca of football world” and acknowledged that any problems “will be overcome” before the start of the tournament.

With 130,000 pre sale ticket orders for the 2014 World Cup, Blatter noted that this was already ten times more than it had at the same time for the World Cup in South Africa in 2010.




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The top stories from papers and websites - 1 December 2012

Here the latest transfer rumours, gossip and speculation from the newspapers:-

• Raheem Sterling is involved in a contract row with Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers.


• Rafa Benitez has told his Chelsea flops they are not fit enough and have just TWO GAMES to save their futures.


• Manchester City boss Roberto Mancini is trying to talk Yaya Toure out of going to the African Nations Cup.


• David Moyes admits he would take Joleon Lescott back to Everton.


• Aston Villa boss Paul Lambert may have to sell Darren Bent for a cut-price £10million.


• Arsenal are poised to swoop for Liverpool goalkeeper Jose Reina - and Brendan Rodgers would let him go.


• Manchester United winger Nani is wanted by PSG to replace Nene.


• Liverpool and Chelsea both want Vitesse Arnhem striker Wilfried Bony.

• Bad boy Joey Barton last night claimed Harry Redknapp will not be able to save crisis club QPR from relegation.


• Police have banned MK Dons and AFC Wimbledon players from kissing the badge on their shirts tomorrow.


• Raheem Sterling has not been made a new contract offer by Liverpool.


• Sam Allardyce is keen on taking Joe Cole back to West Ham on loan.


• Inter Milan are set to sell Wesley Sneijder after talks over a wage cut stalled.


• PSG have joined Juventus in the race to sign Manchester United winger Nani.


• Millwall have offered West Brom £1million for Chris Wood.

• New Chelsea boss Rafa Benitez has told his players: You're not fit enough.


• Harry Redknapp wants Liverpool to stump up £5.5million to let Joe Cole join QPR next month.


• David Moyes is ready to take Manchester City defender Joleon Lescott back to Everton.


• Manchester City boss Roberto Mancini is confident he will not be sacked at the end of the season.

• Rafa Benitez has told Roman Abramovich his Chelsea squad are not fit enough, fresh enough or big enough.


• Borussia Dortmund striker Robert Lewandowski is heading to Manchester United.


• Alex McLeish has emerged as a surprise contender for the Wolves job if Stale Solbakken fails to reverse the club's fortunes.


• Manchester City are keeping an eye on the Raheem Sterling contract negotiations at Liverpool.


• Fulham boss Martin Jol has hinted he many rival new QPR manager Harry Redknapp in a January move for Aston Villa striker Darren Bent.


• David Moyes has admitted he would jump at the chance to re-sign Joleon Lescott if the defender feels he needs to seek a loan move away from Manchester City.

• Rafa Benitez has told Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich: Your squad is not fit enough.


• Roberto Mancini has received assurances from Manchester City chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak that his job is not under threat.


• West Brom manager Steve Clarke has targeted a new striker in January after new Chelsea boss Rafa Benitez hinted at recalling Romelu Lukaku.


• Brendan Rodgers wants Liverpool to lead the rush in the January sales.

• Arsenal will step up their search for January signings this weekend with expected scouting missions for Holland internationals Klaas-Jan Huntelaar and Kevin Strootman.

Henderson: Lucas has helped me

Jordan Henderson has spoken of the respect within the Liverpool squad for Lucas Leiva as he nears a first-team return – and revealed how the Brazilian has helped him through some difficult moments.



Lucas has been out of first-team contention since suffering a thigh injury during the early stages of the Reds' meeting with Manchester City on August 26.



But the midfielder banked 61 minutes for the U21s last week and Henderson revealed that both young and old members of the squad are relishing the 25-year-old's comeback.



"Lucas has been working hard to get back as quick as he can, training for the last few days. He looks nearly ready," Henderson told Liverpoolfc.com.



"He's been keeping it simple because I don't think he wants to start pinging balls in case he pops it again.



"He's been looking sharp in training and he's a really good lad so the quicker we can get him back the better. He's a top player, everybody knows that."



Henderson can perhaps draw comparisons with Lucas' rise in popularity at Anfield and his own fledgling Reds career, and the 22-year-old explained that his senior colleague is always available for advice.



He continued: "He will offer advice to younger players - I've spoken to him a couple of times about things.



"He's a really nice guy and he'll help you through times when it might not be going right for you. He's definitely a senior player that you look up to. He's a big player for Liverpool and as soon as he gets back, it will benefit the team."



The next challenge for the Reds is a home clash against a rejuvenated Southampton team managed by one-time Liverpool trainee Nigel Adkins.



Henderson expects a tough task when the Saints visit Merseyside on Saturday afternoon, but called on his teammates to claim regular victories at Anfield.



"They've been playing well the last few weeks, got some good results, and they like to play football as well," the midfielder added.



"They've got some good players, it's another difficult game but one that we'll go in confident about winning and hopefully we can keep playing like we have been.



"They're enjoying playing in the Premier League, I'm sure the manager and all the players will be enjoying it. You can see that in the way that they play. It will be a good game.



"It's a key feature in the Premier League - you need to win your home games. That's what we've been trying to do. It's another big game against Southampton and we'll make sure that we're ready and confident going into the game."



The Reds are also set to welcome Aston Villa and Fulham before 2012 concludes, and Henderson is confident that three points can be secured against each.



"They're games that we'll go in confident about winning, but I think we go into every game like that. Because of the players that we've got, we think that we can win.



"Those games will be no different - we'll give the teams the respect that they deserve but we're there to do a job and win the game."



Win, lose or draw, the midfielder echoed the argument that the Reds are improving all the time and believes the club's loyal supporters can see that progress for themselves.



"I think the fans appreciate what the manager and everyone else is trying to do," he concluded.



"You can see improvements week by week in the way that we play, the way that we keep the ball and press as a team.



"There's definitely improvement that people can see so I think they appreciate that and they'll support us all the way like they always have."

Moyes would welcome Lescott back to club

David Moyes has not ruled out bringing Joleon Lescott back to Everton if Manchester City decide to sell.



The England centre-half has been sidelined at City in recent weeks by the emergence of Serbia youngster Matija Nastasic.



And despite the acrimonious nature of his move from Goodison Park to the Etihad Stadium three years ago, Lescott would be welcomed back by his former manager.



Moyes said: "If Joleon wanted to come back - if I thought we needed him - I'd be delighted to have him back.



"If he was available he'd be someone I'd maybe show an interest in."



The Scot was angered by Lescott's attitude while his £22m transfer was going through, but he said: "I can understand why the player wanted to go.



"When Joleon left, Everton were in a different place to where we are now. Everton look more likely now to be at the top end than they do now."