Back To Top Back To Top Back To Top Back To Top Back To Top Back To Top Back To Top Back To Top Back To Top Back To Top Back To Top Back To Top Back To Top Back To Top Back To Top Back To Top Back To Top Back To Top Back To Top Back To Top Back To Top Back To Top Back To Top Back To Top | | | | Click here for Europe and Other Countries | | Italy gain pain from Spain |  Spain moved the ball around freely in midfield early on but Fernando Torres and David Villa were continually left isolated by a typically stubborn Italian defence.
It was no surprise when the first clear-cut opportunity for the Spanish came from a set piece in the 25th minute. Villa stepped up to the mark from 30 yards, but Buffon was quick to dive low to his left and deny the coveted forward's effort.
David Silva aimed for the same spot six minutes later but - having already read the script - Buffon confidently dealt with the strike.
At the other end, Luca Toni nearly nodded the Italians ahead when Antonio Cassano found him in the area. The misfiring Italian
Spain saw a strong penalty appeal waved away before the break when Giorgio Chiellini's clumsy challenge upended Villa - leaving boss Luis Aragones seething on the touchline.
Silva and Villa began to terrorise the Italians in the second half but a combination of poor finishing and resolute defending by the Azzurri maintained the deadlock.
The Italians almost took the lead against the run of play when midfielder Mauro Camoranesi's close-range volley was spectacularly saved by Iker Casillas on the hour mark.
But Spain reasserted their dominance when Marcos Senna's 25-yard free-kick brought a solid punch from Buffon.
The Italian keeper produced a heart-stopping moment when he spilled Senna's long-range but the stopper was saved by his post and quickly recovered.
With the prospect of penalties looming, Spain charged into extra time desperate to put the game to bed - and they nearly got their wish when Silva fired inches wide wide of the left post.
The Italians responded in kind when Antonio Di Natale forced a brilliant diving save from Casillas.
Gonzalez Santi Cazorla could have wrapped up the win with the last kick of normal time but the substitute could not work out whether to shoot or cross and in the end did neither.
How Spain won shootout
FABREGAS SCORES Spain 4-2 Italy
DI NATALE MISSES Spain 3-2 Italy
GUIZA MISSES Spain 3-2 Italy
CAMORANESI SCORES Spain 3-2 Italy
SENNA SCORES Spain 3-1 Italy
DE ROSSI MISSES Spain 2-1 Italy
CAZORLA SCORES Spain 2-1 Italy
GROSSO SCORES Spain 1-1 Italy
VILLA SCORES Spain 1-0 Italy
SOURCE: The Sun
| | City snatch 'dinho from A C Milan |  MANCHESTER CITY have wrecked AC Milan’s bid to sign Ronaldinho by offering him £30MILLION in wages.
The Italians admitted defeat in the chase for the Barcelona star after the £180,000-a-week proposal.
AC vice president Adriano Galliani said: “We simply cannot compete with certain figures anymore.
"I cannot ignore the fact Italian football is now in fourth position in Europe behind England, Spain and Germany.
“Manchester City have offered Ronaldinho £9.5m a year.
“We can only compete with that if Barcelona give him away for free.”
On top of the massive three-year wage deal for Ronaldinho, City owner Thaksin Shinawatra will also have to stump up £20m to buy the Brazilian playmaker from Barca.
But the former Thai prime minister hopes much of his outlay will be recouped in commercial deals.
In a year at the Eastlands helm, Shinawatra has spent £50m on players and sacked Sven Goran Eriksson — despite him getting the club into Europe.
New boss Mark Hughes has been told there is a lot of cash to spend this summer.
City’s offer for Ronaldinho dwarfs the Premier League’s current biggest pay deals.
England centre-backs Rio Ferdinand at Manchester United and Chelsea’s John Terry both pocket £130,000 a week.
SOURCE: The Sun
| | Podolski ponders his Bayern Munich exit |  Podolski will consider his future at the German champions if he is not in new coach Jurgen Klinsmann's first-team plans.
Tottenham and Manchester City, former club Cologne and Italian giants Juventus are all reportedly interested in signing the 23-year-old.
Up for grabs: Germany's Lukas Podolski.
Podolski told the Bild newspaper: 'For me what matters at the moment is the Euros.
'Afterwards I will think about everything else.
'But if I can't see the possibility of playing under Jurgen Klinsmann, you have to ponder (the future).
'I am not a footballer to sit on the bench."
Podolski is under contract at the Allianz Arena until 2010, but has struggled to find his feet at Bayern since his big-money move from Cologne in 2006.
He had to settle for a place on the bench for large parts of last season after falling behind international team-mate Miroslav Klose and Luca Toni.
SOURCE: Daily Mail | | Wenger gives go-ahead to £25m Adebayor sale |  Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger will authorise the £25million transfer of Emmanuel Adebayor this month and begin a transfer merry-go-round among Europe's leading clubs.
Adebayor's eventual destination - AC Milan and Barcelona lead the chase - is also likely to have an impact on where Chelsea striker Didier Drogba finds himself next season as the summer transfer window gets going in earnest after the climax of Euro 2008.
Arsenal will be making changes off the pitch, too, with chairman Peter Hill-Wood poised to announce that American tycoon Stan Kroenke has joined the board.
Along with the appointment of a new managing director and finance director in the next few months, the restructuring of both team and management at Arsenal is expected to be in place by the start of the season.
Paraguay striker Santa Cruz is ready to move to the Emirates Stadium, but a fee will have to be agreed with Blackburn, who signed him last summer from Bayern Munich for just £3.7million but is now expected to fetch £12m.
Santa Cruz was seen as an inspired purchase by manager Mark Hughes, who last month left Ewood to take over as boss at Manchester City.
But the striker, who has recently been on goalscoring World Cup qualification duty for his country, may also be in no hurry to decide his future given the options which could be open to him.
United manager Sir Alex Ferguson is hoping Roma will take Louis Saha off his hands and is known to rate Santa Cruz highly.
The tall striker, 26, who made an instant impression on the Premier League with 19 goals last season, has the presence and experience which would go some way to reinforcing Wenger's young side, whose youthful vigour has already been increased by the signing of Aaron Ramsey, 17, from Cardiff and the impending arrival of 20-year-old Samir Nasri from Marseille.
But it is the departure of Adebayor, 24, which is likely to be the catalyst for change at the Emirates and across Europe.
Barcelona and AC Milan will now compete for his signature and although the Catalan club are confident they will secure the Togo centre forward, Arsenal will resist being rushed into a quick deal as AC Milan also want to sign the striker.
Barca director Marc Ingla was in London on Friday and wants to conclude the deal before July 6, because the club president Joan Laporta faces a vote of no-confidence that could end his reign. But a major signing would increase his likelihood of survival.
Although Barca are willing to pay £22m, Arsenal are likely to prolong the negotiations hoping that Milan come up with a rival offer as Wenger would hope to get at least £25m for the player he signed for £7m from Monaco two years ago.
The Arsenal manager and board of directors are prepared to sanction Adebayor's exit having been infuriated by the player's wage demands, which are understood to be £80,000 a week.
He was given a wage rise just a year ago and, although the board were prepared to give him another increase to £60,000 a week in light of the 24 goals he scored last season, his demands have proved too great to reconcile. Arsenal, who have already seen France utility player Mathieu Flamini tempted away by Milan's riches, would also like to add an extra midfielder before the start of the season.
CULLED FROM: Daily Mail
| | RONALDO GIVES FERGUSON MANY SLEEPLESS NIGHTS |  CRISTIANO RONALDO will give the cold shoulder to Sir Alex Ferguson when the Manchester United manager arrives at Portugal’s Euro 2008 HQ in a last-ditch bid to persuade the winger to stay at Old Trafford.
Concerned Ferguson is preparing to fly from his holiday base in France to Switzerland in the next few days after Ronaldo said THURSDAY, “Yes, I would like to play for Real Madrid.”
Under normal circumstances no international manager would allow club business to interfere with preparations for such a major tournament, least of all one which Luiz Felipe Scolari’s Portuguese team are among the favourites.
But Scolari wants Ronaldo’s mental state, described by friends as “turmoil”, settled once and for all to allow him to play properly.
So he will let Ferguson into the camp – if the player wants it. However that seems unlikely, with Ronaldo fuming over comments made by Ferguson last week that he and United would rather let the brilliant young forward rot in the stands than sell him to Real.
The prospect of the Footballer of the Year’s world-record £50million switch to the Bernabeu is closer than ever, especially after Real’s latest offer – of £300,000 a week – was revealed by the Daily Express, THURSDAY.
Portugal’s opening Euro 2008 game against Turkey in Geneva is looming SATURDAY, but a source within their camp told the Daily Express FRIDAY: “We understand that Ferguson will be coming out to talk to Cristiano.
“Scolari is a sensitive man. He wants Ronaldo’s mind to be settled so he can play his best football for Portugal. Normally he would not allow a club manager into the camp. But he cares about his players.
“If Ronaldo wants to see Ferguson he will let him, just to put an end to this.”
Ronaldo is non-committal about his future even though Real’s very public overtures have provoked furious reactions from United.
But WEDNESDAY, there were reports in Spain that Ronaldo has told his family he wants to go to the Bernabeu.
Then, THURSDAY night, speaking to a Brazilian website, he said: “Yes, I would like to play for Real Marid, but only if it is true that they are ready to pay what Manchester United ask.
“It does not depend on me. It is important for me to send this message out. From now on I will say no more about it.”
Ferguson will fight tooth and nail to keep a player who scored 42 goals last season as United won the Champions League and the Premier League. Ronaldo still has four years of his contract left to run.
THURSDAY night, United affirmed the position taken up by Ferguson and the Glazer family hierarchy.
“There is no change,” they said. “It is just the same as yesterday, the day before and the day before that. Cristiano Ronaldo is not for sale.”
Portuguese FA president Gilberto Madaiol THURSDAY night indicated they wanted the weight of the dilemma removed from the player: “What happens to Cristiano is not our problem. He is a strong boy physically and mentally. He knows what he wants.
“Our problem is to have the best Ronaldo on the field for these next three weeks. That is our problem.”
Ronaldo’s mother, two sisters and grandfather arrived in Switzerland THURSDAY night to
support him at Euro 2008. And showing how confident he is of Portugal’s progress, he booked their house for three full weeks. It is not just Ferguson, though, who believes Ronaldo should not go to Madrid.
Ronaldo’s agent, Jorge Mendes, is also worried about the potential move, according to friends, because he fears the nightlife-loving player will be distracted by the bright lights of Madrid. Weighed against that is a wish to cash in on a player at the peak of his powers.
SOURCE: Daily Express | | KANU WINS IT FOR POMPEY |  HARRY REDKNAPP won his first major silverware thanks to one of the game's most decorated players.
Nwankwo Kanu is the only footballer to have won the Champions League, UEFA Cup, Premier League, FA Cup and Olympic gold.
And the Nigerian striker added another medal to his impressive CV by scoring Portsmouth's winner in the 127th FA Cup final.
The former Arsenal star had squandered a glorious chance midway through the first half when he struck a post from close range.
But he made amends by poking home eight minutes before half-time to break Cardiff's hearts.
For Redknapp, it was a moment to savour as he finally claimed his first major honours after 25 years as a manager — and Pompey's first FA Cup since 1939.
Redknapp's side was bolstered by the return of David James, Sol Campbell and Sulley Muntari.
For Cardiff, Robbie Fowler promised boss Dave Jones he would tell him if he did not feel fit enough to play.
And the 2001 FA Cup final winner was true to his word and did not appear among the final 16, with Jones naming an unchanged side.
Both teams made a lively start but Cardiff carved out the first real chance of the game on 13 minutes.
Joe Ledley slipped in Paul Parry behind Campbell. He got a quick shot away but James was out like a flash to make a block save.
A minute later, Peter Whittingham sized up a volley from 20 yards. He pulled his effort but the ball took a wicked deflection and a wrong-footed James was relieved to see the ball bobble the wrong side of his opposite post.
It was pulsating stuff and a Muntari free-kick for Portsmouth caught Peter Enckelman in a flap and his palmed stop almost gifted Redknapp's men the opener.
Lassana Diarra drove wide before Kanu passed up a glorious chance on 22 minutes.
Hermann Hreidarsson stormed down the left wing and fed Muntari. The Ghanaian squared for Kanu and he lost Glen Loovens with a lovely drop of the shoulder.
He easily sidestepped Enckelman but with the goal gaping from three yards, albeit at a narow angle, he slammed his effort against the post.
Roger Johnson glanced a header over from Whittingham's free-kick before Kanu tried his luck from further out but again his radar was switched off.
On 34 minutes, Glen Johnson should have done better with his cross after he found space down the right.
Enckelman punched it clear and then held a 25-yard rasper from Pedro Mendes.
Portsmouth started to press forward and on 37 minutes Kanu made up for his earlier miss by opening the scoring.
John Utaka beat his man down the right wing and managed to whip in a low cross.
Enckelman once again showed poor handling and only managed to palm the ball straight into the gangly Kanu's range and he prodded the ball over the line.
Cardiff responded and Parry got clear again down the left. He had the option of shooting but, spotting Kevin McNaughton flying in at the far post, he crossed.
But the ball skidded off the greasy Wembley turf and McNaughton could not get enough on the ball.
First-half injury-time arrived and more drama followed as Muntari gave away a silly free-kick.
Whittingham bent in another superb delivery and Glen Johnson just managed to clear for a corner under pressure.
Ledley whipped the ball in and Loovens hooked the loose ball home only to be pulled up for a handball in the build-up.
Roger Johnson got on the end of another free-kick at the start of the second half but Campbell got in the way.
Portsmouth broke with pace on 53 minutes through Diarra. He received a return ball down the left wing and picked out Kanu in the middle.
The Nigerian managed to get in a shot as the ball fell behind him but the ball deflected off Loovens for a corner.
Niko Kranjcar went into the book for a foul on Whittingham before Muntari whistled one over from 30 yards.
On 71 minutes, David Nugent cracked in a volley which Enckelman did well to turn around his near post. And Glen Johnson headed the corner past the same upright.
Sylvain Distin threatened to score one of the great FA Cup goals with a run from halfway with five minutes left. But his final effort was well blocked and ricocheted off him for a goal-kick.
Still Cardiff pushed for the equaliser but Distin then blocked Aaron Ramsey's right-footer.
And Glen Johnson made an even better block to keep out Roger Johnson's last-gasp effort.
Portsmouth: James, Johnson, Campbell, Distin, Hreidarsson, Utaka (Nugent 69), Pedro Mendes (Diop 78), Diarra, Muntari, Kranjcar, Kanu (Baros 87). Subs not used: Ashdown, Pamarot. Booked: Hreidarsson, Kranjcar, Diarra. Goals: Kanu 37.
Cardiff: Enckelman, McNaughton, Johnson, Loovens, Capaldi, Ledley, Rae (Sinclair 86), McPhail, Whittingham (Ramsey 61), Parry, Hasselbaink (Thompson 70). Subs not used: Oakes, Purse.
Att: 89,874
Ref: Mike Dean (Wirral).
SOURCE: The Sun | | Pompey's FA Cup journey | 
JUST GR-EIGHT ... Sulley Muntari scored
Pompey's winner against Man Utd in last 8.
THIRD ROUND
IPSWICH (0) 0 PORTSMOUTH (0) 1
Nugent 51
FOURTH ROUND
PORTSMOUTH (1) 2 PLYMOUTH (1) 1
Diarra 34, Kranjcar 45
FIFTH ROUND
PRESTON (0) 0 PORTSMOUTH (0) 1
Carter (og) 90
SIXTH ROUND
MAN UNITED (0) 0 PORTSMOUTH (0) 1
Muntari 78 (pen)
SEMI-FINAL
PORTSMOUTH (0) 1 WEST BROM (0) 0
Kanu 54
FINAL
PORTSMOUTH (1) 1 CARDIFF (0) 0
Kanu 37
SOURCE: The Sun | | It's Cristiano Ronal-go |  CRISTIANO RONALDO has dropped a Champions League bombshell by revealing he will consider his Manchester United future after the final.
The Red Devils, who face Chelsea in Moscow next Wednesday, believed Ronaldo was secure at Old Trafford for the long term.
But, the Portugal winger, 23, has hinted at a summer move to Spain.
Ronaldo said: “I am happy here but let’s see what happens after the Champions League final.
“I am feeling calm here. I’m happy here but in the future I don’t know.
“I’ve said millions of times that I’d love to play in Spain but it’s one thing to dream and another thing for it to be a reality.”
Ronaldo signed a new five-year contract last April and United boss Alex Ferguson will be determined to hang on to him. But Real Madrid president Ramon Calderon would break the bank to land the 41-goal ace.
Ronaldo, who has already helped his side win the title, is fully aware of the interest.
He said: “I know Real like how I play and I know other teams in Spain like my game as well — so that’s good.
“Of course it is good to know that other clubs are interested in you.”
SOURCE: The Sun | | Utd reach the homestretch |  MANCHESTER UNITED took one giant leap towards the title by crushing West Ham.
Cristiano Ronaldo's double and strikes from Carlos Tevez and Michael Carrick pushed the Red Devils clear at the Premier League summit.
Dean Ashton's goal and Nani's sending off briefly threatened United's hopes but they proved too strong for the Hammers at Old Trafford.
They now lead challengers Chelsea by three points, with the Blues away at Newcastle on Monday.
Boss Alex Ferguson said: “It’s been a great day for us and we’ve got a big chance.
“Our players have been absolutely fantastic this season. We were down to 10 men today and I said to try to run the clock down, keep possession and be patient in the second half.
"I’m very pleased because there was a bit of tiredness.”
United were ahead after just three minutes when Ronaldo cut inside Lucas Neill before unleashing a shot that flicked off George McCartney and flew into the net.
Patrice Evra was required to make a goal-line clearance to keep United in front after Edwin van der Sar failed to collect James Tomkins’ looping header.
But United soon doubled their advantage when the visitors failed to deal with Owen Hargreaves' cross and Ronaldo turned the ball in with his right thigh for his 40th goal of an incredible season.
And it was three on 26 minutes when ex-Hammer Tevez picked up Ronaldo's pass and fired a superb 30-yard shot over Robert Green and into the roof of the net.
West Ham pulled a goal back two minutes later through a brilliant Dean Ashton effort.
Wes Brown sent Bobby Zamora’s cross looping into the air and Ashton held off Rio Ferdinand before leaping to execute a fine overhead kick.
The non-stop first-half action did not finish there as Nani was sent off for a red card after aiming a headbutt at Lucas Neill, who had appeared to push the winger in the back.
West Ham's hopes of a fightback were ended on 59 minutes when Carrick was allowed to amble 20 yards before firing home a shot via Neill.
United eased up for the remainder of the match, although Darren Fletcher almost added a fifth when he struck the inside of the post.
SOURCE: The Sun | | McBride's Fulham Escape the drop |  Fulham struck twice after the break to edge towards Premier League safety and leave Birmingham facing the drop.
Brian McBride headed home Jimmy Bullard's free-kick after 52 minutes to set Fulham on the way to victory.
Radhi Jaidi headed wide from Birmingham's best chance with five minutes left before Erik Nevland broke clear to add Fulham's second.
Fulham move out of the bottom three and Birmingham are under huge pressure in their last home game against Blackburn.
The Craven Cottage crowd celebrated wildly at the final whistle, with Roy Hodgson's side recording their third win in four matches to spark an unlikely revival after they looked relegation certainties.
Birmingham never posed a serious threat and may live to regret losing a two-goal lead against Liverpool at St Andrews last Saturday.
Fulham conquered the inevitable early nerves to open with greater fluency, and McBride rattled the Birmingham bar with a powerful header - although he had already been ruled offside.
And Taylor came to Birmingham's rescue against his former club after eight minutes when Bullard worked a neat free-kick to Simon Davies, who held his head in anguish as the keeper pulled off a stunning reflex stop from 10 yards.
Birmingham edged their way into the game and should have gone ahead after 29 minutes, only for Mikael Forssell to miscontrol right in front of goal from Sebastian Larsson's cross.
And it took a timely stop from Aaron Hughes to deny the Finn as he threatened to take advantage of good work from James McFadden.
Bullard was at the heart of most of Fulham's best work - and he was instrumental when they went ahead five minutes after the interval.
He whipped in a free-kick from the left flank and McBride applied the finishing touch with a fine diving header.
Diomansy Kamara almost added a second with a mazy dribble that took him past a succession of Birmingham defenders, but his final shot was way off target.
Fulham were refusing to sit back on the lead, and Clint Dempsey should have scored with 17 minutes left, only to head over from Simon Davies's cross when well positioned.
Birmingham finally created a clear opening with five minutes left, but Jaidi headed wide from only eight yards - and within seconds Fulham had swept down the field for Nevland to score the crucial second.
SOURCE: BBC Sport | | Trophy-less Wnger Stirs up Blues fracas |  ARSENE WENGER has blasted Chelsea’s money methods under Roman Abramovich as ‘morally not right’.
The Arsenal boss insists he will never take Arsenal to the brink of bankruptcy and is refusing to break the club’s strict pay structure to keep star midfielder Mathieu Flamini.
He feels Chelsea and the other top clubs who rely on the personal fortunes of billionaire foreign owners are wrecking the game.
Wenger declared: “We are not Chelsea and have no Abramovich.
"We work with the resources we have. It is not workable and not right when somebody suddenly parachutes into your court and brings a huge amount of money with them.
“I mean morally not right, because if this guy dies what do you do? You still have to pay the players’ wages.
“At Arsenal we have a debt of £360million so we have to respect the wage structure or we will go bust. You cannot ignore the numbers.”
While Chelsea, Manchester United and Liverpool all pay their top stars in excess of £6m a year, Cesc Fabregas is on less than half the salary of Chelsea’s superstars.
Arsenal have made Flamini a final offer of £50,000 a week and want his decision by Monday.
But Wenger knows AC Milan and Juventus have offered him more.
SOURCE: The Sun | | Some chairman picks team for the manager – Ferguson |  Avram Grant might be trying his best, but he should realise that Sir Alex Ferguson has been here before. He is the master of mind games.
With Chelsea manager Grant criticising West Ham's Alan Curbishley for complimentary comments about United ahead of today's Barclays Premier League meeting at Old Trafford, his rival Ferguson was quick to insist that his team have the edge on the field.
Ferguson even made the mischievous claim that he knows of a manager who is being told who to pick for matches by his chairman.
The United boss would not expand on his comment, but it was a tantalising glimpse into this new age of ownermanager turmoil at certain clubs.
Ferguson said: "Some other clubs, the owner wants to pick the team. I know of a chairman who faxes his team to his manager every Saturday morning.
"Can you believe that? He has to pick it. Nothing amazes me but I'm surprised at that. But you've got all different types of owners who come into football nowadays and you get some owners who want to be handson and things like that.
"That's where I'm very fortunate. The Glazers have been tremendous. They let me get on with the job."
Victory over West Ham today and then at Wigan next Sunday would give United the title as they have a vastly superior goal difference to Chelsea, and Ferguson clearly believes Grant is just trying to rattle him.
The United manager added: "I think they are prepared to say and try anything, Chelsea. So let them get on with it.
"I have got a team that can answer all the questions. I am getting too old for all the other stuff. I don't know why he is suggesting there will be anything untoward (against West Ham).
"They should know about that better than anybody, Chelsea. They know about these situations."
If United win today, Chelsea go to Newcastle on Monday knowing they must do the same to remain level on points. Grant had been left unimpressed by comments from West Ham boss Curbishley which suggested he would "raise a glass" if United won the League.
The Chelsea manager said yesterday: "I've never seen a comment like this. He was wrong to do that. It's not a good message for your players.
"I'm not doubting the integrity of West Ham. I don't have a reason to doubt the integrity of Alan Curbishley. But I think it's wrong to say things like this because he's involved in the games against United.
"I cannot be angry. I will not be angry. I do not know what to say about these things, but I think it's wrong.
"I've heard so many rumours in the last few weeks. I heard that the referees would be with United, that teams would play for United, that this manager is a friend of Ferguson.
"I don't know what to believe. But I hope ...
"And I'm happy. Do you want me to dance to show you I'm happy? I didn't even dance with my wife at our wedding!"
With Chelsea and United set to meet in the Champions League Final in Moscow on May 21 and still embroiled over the fall-out from last Saturday's League meeting at Stamford Bridge, it is clearly going to be a tasty climax to the season.
Ferguson suggests United will carry their anger from the 2-1 defeat at Chelsea with them through to the season's end.
He added: "They were all gutted after the Chelsea game. It was an angry dressing-room and the players will remember that."
Grant, meanwhile, continues to hope United crack under the pressure.
He said: "I don't care how it happens, as long as they drop points. I'm not convinced. I cannot be convinced. I can just hope that it will happen. He (Ferguson) was so angry after the game I couldn't speak with him."
SOURCE: Daily Mail | | GRANT RELAXED ABOUT FUTURE |  Chelsea boss Avram Grant insists he is not worried by speculation over his future after guiding the club into the final of the Champions League for the first time in their history.
Grant has exceeded all expectations at Stamford Bridge since succeeding Jose Mourinho in September last year with the club currently level on points with Manchester United at the top of the Barclays Premier League table.
When asked whether he had spoken with billionaire owner Roman Abramovich since Wednesday's dramatic victory over Liverpool in the Champions League semi-final, Grant replied: "Yes, but it was a private matter. I have a feeling that you know that he's happy, very happy. We are in contact, and he's happy."
He's added: "The relationship is good. Everything will be OK. Do I look worried? I need to do my job all the time, to look at the present and the future in this club.
"About my personal life, I don't know what I'm doing tomorrow. Professionally, I know what Chelsea need to do tomorrow, a week from now or two years from now."
Meanwhile Grant insists that winger Shaun Wright-Phillips is not unhappy despite being left out of the side in recent games.
And the Israeli, who spoke movingly at a Holocaust remembrance at Auschwitz on Thursday, also expects striker Didier Drogba to remain at Stamford Bridge next season.
"There are a lot of rumours about everybody," said Grant. "Didier can only play for one club, but he's been linked to six or seven.
"He's at the club. Sometimes he has good days, sometimes he has bad days, you have to give answers to questions like this on the pitch. In the semi-finals, he was good.
"If Shaun is not happy, given my relationship with the player, he can come and tell me. I don't think there's a problem. We are in historic moments in Chelsea, so this is a moment to say 'thank you' to all the players at Chelsea."
SOURCE: Daily Express | | Cruyff tips Barca |  JOHAN CRUYFF reckons the pain of seeing arch-rivals Real Madrid win the Spanish title will inspire Barcelona against Manchester United.
The Dutch legend backs Barca to end United boss Alex Ferguson’s Champions League dream.
Real need one win from their final four games to retain the Spanish title.
And former Nou Camp favourite Cruyff believes Barcelona and boss Frank Rijkaard will use their La Liga failure as motivation to reach Moscow.
He said: “I am convinced it will be a great day for Barcelona.
“If they lose, they have nothing left to play for this season but I don’t think that will be the case.
“They can’t afford to let their season drift away and this should motivate them. At Old Trafford there is no favourite for the game.
“As long as Barcelona impose their style on United early on and create space then I’m convinced they will win.”
SOURCE: The Sun | | United are no chokers - Ferguson |  ALEX FERGUSON has hit back at his critics, claiming: “We are not cracking up.”
Manchester United have drawn three and lost one of their last four games.
They also lost their heads after the final whistle at Stamford Bridge following a 2-1 defeat that left them neck and neck with Chelsea in the race for the Premier League title.
A poor performance in the Nou Camp has left them goalless going into the second leg of the Champions League semi-final with Barcelona at Old Trafford tonight.
But when asked on the eve of the game if his team was beginning to run out of steam, the fiery Scot visibly bristled.
Ferguson said: “We should actually be sitting here right now as champions of the Premier League but bad decisions have gone against us.
“Having said that, back in August, with 38 games to go, it was our aim to win the league.
“Now we have two games to go and the title is still in our own hands.
“It does not matter what went before, whether we should have been given 50 penalties or had 50 penalties given against us.
“The point is we have two games left to win the title and are in a semi-final of the Champions League. Disaster!”
A number of United fans have also questioned Fergie’s tactics and team selections of late, particularly on Saturday when he left top-scorer Cristiano Ronaldo on the bench for an hour.
The Red Devils boss defended himself, saying he picked his side at Stamford Bridge with the clear intention of risking Premier League points to give the club a better chance of Champions League glory.
He said: “Given the number of games we have had recently I had to decide to get a bit of freshness in the team. I had to give my team the best chance possible of getting to a European final.
“We have a fantastic history in the competition but this football club should have had more success in Europe. I had to give it the best possible chance of that.
“We have got big-game players, ones who can win the match.
“If we look back at our other semi-finals, in some we have been unlucky, in others we should have done better.
“Now we are faced with a big game with a place in the final at stake and we have got a marvellous chance.”
Ferguson admits they will have to up their performance from the first leg if the club wants to reach only its third-ever European Cup final.
He said: “I thought our performance in the first leg last week was probably our poorest in Europe this season — and naturally that’s a worry as you look for reasons to explain why our attacking skills deserted us.
“However, I remain confident that we can come out on top.
“I say this because I know we can play a lot better and will do so. We won’t make the same mistakes.
“The players are well aware that they underperformed in certain areas and I know they are determined to put things right.
“They won’t let anyone down, I’m sure of that.”
History is not with United when it comes to this stage.
Out of nine European Cup semi-finals dating back to 1957, they have come through to reach the final only twice. On the four previous occasions they have played the second leg of their semi-final at home, they have never got through.
On the seven occasions they have failed to score away from home in the first leg of a knockout stage, they have progressed only once.
United have drawn 0-0 away in the first leg of Champions League ties twice before — and been eliminated on both occasions.
In 1998, Alex Ferguson’s side fought out a stalemate in Monaco before drawing the second leg of the quarter-final 1-1 and losing on away goals.
Two years later United held the upper hand in their last-eight showdown with Real Madrid after a goalless draw at the Bernabeu — but they lost the return 3-2.
But Ferguson is convinced all that is about to change. He said: “I remain optimistic because I believe we have come a long way since falling at this last-four hurdle in the past.”
Having said all that, United do boast a Champions League record of 11 straight home wins.
Ferguson said: “It is a marvellous record that surpasses any other team.
“But that will not change the aspect of this game.
“It will be very balanced, very open and fascinating tactically at times.”
Fergie has called upon a capacity crowd to turn Old Trafford into a cauldron — just as the Nou Camp was.
A special appeal has gone out to “wear your colours” with flags and banners encouraged to be brought on the night.
Ferguson said: “We must match their support, hopefully even better it.
“So show your colours, wave your scarves, hoist your flags high and make your presence felt.
“With your help we can do it. The players are ready to do their bit too.”
CULLED FROM: The Sun
| | Utd are prawn losers - Henry |  THIERRY HENRY has delivered the ultimate insult to Manchester United fans by saying they do not compare to Liverpool’s.
The former Arsenal striker taunted Old Trafford’s prawn sandwich brigade by claiming the atmosphere at Anfield — the ground Red Devils fans hate the most — is much hotter than at United.
Ahead of Tueday’s Champions League showdown, Barcelona star Henry also claimed United will be feeling under enormous pressure after the weekend loss to Chelsea which threatens to ruin a season that promised so much.
He said: “Old Trafford is not like Anfield, that has an incredible atmosphere. It will be a crucial game for them after playing at Chelsea, especially knowing they won’t find it easy to play against us.”
United boss Alex Ferguson has blasted the club’s supporters in the past for not making enough noise on European nights.
And former skipper Roy Keane famously accused United fans of being more interested in scoffing prawn sandwiches than supporting the team.
United were criticised for being too defensive in the goalless first leg but Henry insisted they had simply been outclassed by Barca.
He added: “It was not a surprise to see United play like that.
“There were times when they wanted to play but they couldn’t. It’s not easy to come to the Camp Nou and play better than us. They wanted to but they couldn’t.”
Henry taunted Fergie by reminding him of United’s quarter-final loss to Monaco 10 years ago.
The French striker said: “I remember we drew 0-0 at home and people were saying we were out.
“But we showed you can score a goal at old Trafford and we finished 1-1 and we went through.
“Monaco are not one of Europe’s big clubs and to go to the semi-final and also score at Old Trafford was incredible.
“They were a different team but still Manchester United — they won the League that season.
“Now they have more players who are famous. But then they had Ryan Giggs, Paul Scholes, David Beckham and Teddy Sheringham.
“This time I am confident we will go through if we play at our level.
“It’s true that in the second leg at Old Trafford we will see a different United. We will have more open spaces to exploit but they can also pose a threat.”
SOURCE: The Sun | | Utd divided into two By 2 Ballack Attacks |  MICHAEL BALLACK landed a stunning blow on Manchester United's title dream.
The Chelsea star grabbed both goals to fire his side right back into the championship race.
The Blues are now level pegging with United, ensuring the title tussle will go down to the very last day of the season.
Chelsea started well with Michael Essien forcing a diving save from Edwin van der Sar.
United were then rocked with the early removal of Nemanja Vidic, who was taken off on a stretcher with a nasty facial injury sustained by an accidental clash with Didier Drogba’s knee.
Chelsea should have taken the lead in the 20th minute when Joe Cole got clear of the United defence.
After initially losing the ball, the forward lashed the ball against the bar when it rebounded to him inside the area.
Soon afterwards, Cole shot just wide from the angle of the six-yard box when fed the ball by Essien.
Chelsea thought they should have been awarded a spot-kick in the 34th minute when Drogba went down under a robust challenge from Mikael Silvestre.
But referee Alan Wiley waved away Chelsea’s appeals, while United’s bench accused the striker of diving.
The opening half looked set to end goalless when Ballack grabbed the opener by heading home from Didier Drogba’s cross.
Chelsea needed to stay strong after the interval but a monumental blunder by Ricardo Carvalho in the 57th minute gifted United an equaliser.
The Portuguese defender passed the ball straight to the on running Rooney, who burst forward to emphatically slot past Petr Cech.
Chelsea piled forward in a desperate search for a winner and Drogba went close with a free-kick.
United held firm until Michael Carrick was adjudged to have handled in the box on 86 minutes and Ballack confidently stroked home the penalty.
Stamford Bridge endured a nerve-wracking final few minutes with United pressing for an equaliser.
Chelsea were twice forced to clear off their own line with Ashley Cole kicking away Cristiano Ronaldo’s shot and Andriy Shevchenko hooking away Rio Ferdinand’s volley.
They held on to ensure the title race will go right down to the wire.
SOURCE: The Sun | | Two Beckham fans In shirt tug-of-war |  TWO DAVID BECKHAM fans aged nine and ten are suing each other — over who owns a SHIRT the star tore off and handed to the crowd after an LA Galaxy game.
The nine-year-old grabbed it first — sparking a furious tussle with his best friend who insisted it was meant for him.
The boys’ angry PARENTS then got involved in the fight.
Last night both families were poised to go to court — after hiring lawyers following the match in Hawaii against the Honolulu Bulls.
Forged
The nine-year-old’s dad Wilfred Ho insisted: “My son got it first from Mr Beckham, directly.
“Our main argument for the jersey is that my son got possession.”
But the older lad’s mum Yoshika Kerr, who had made placards for the youngsters to wave during the game, insisted the ex-England captain, 32, TOLD her son he wanted him to have the shirt.
She and husband Eric said the gift was because their lad held his sign up during the entire game — while his pal could not be bothered.
The couple accused the Hos of reneging on a deal to let the boys each keep the shirt for a week at a time — by trying to fob them off with a replica bearing a forged signature.
Eric, whose wife had made signs declaring “Go Beckham” and “Aloha Beckham”, insisted: “Mr Beckham pointed out he wanted our son to have it and it’s been really hard on him.
“He’s such a big star and it’s one heck of an experience for the boys.
“We just want the Hos to keep their end of the bargain.”
LA Galaxy president Alexi Lalas branded the row “ridiculous”.
He scoffed: “My suggestion is that the judge get a pair of scissors, cut the thing in half and give half to each.”
SOURCE: The Sun | | United stars in Blues row |  MANCHESTER UNITED stars were involved in a post-match bust-up with Chelsea groundstaff at Stamford Bridge.
Patrice Evra, Paul Scholes, John O'Shea, Gerard Pique and Gary Neville were taking part in a warm-down session on the pitch when they were asked to move.
The row erupted when the players refused to come off the pitch and an altercation broke out between Chelsea stewards, groundstaff and the United players.
Chelsea had earlier beaten Manchester United 2-1 to go level on points at the top of the Premier League.
SOURCE: The Sun | We'll cross the
Stamford Bridge |  STEVEN GERRARD has warned Chelsea: We’re coming to pull it out of the fire again.
The Liverpool skipper and his team-mates must KO their Stamford Bridge curse under Rafa Benitez next Wednesday.
The Reds have not scored on the Londoners’ patch in EIGHT previous attempts since Benitez took over in June 2004.
Now they face a daunting task in the Champions League semi-final return after the Anfield first leg finished 1-1.
But Gerrard is convinced that is about to change for two reasons: Liverpool’s record of coming back from the brink — and Fernando Torres.
Three years ago the Kop kings made a habit of dragging themselves back from oblivion and Chelsea have never faced goal-machine Torres on their own manor.
Gerrard confident
And Gerro, 27, insisted: “We are a very good side in Europe away from home and that is the key point — not what people are saying about how we never seem to score at Stamford Bridge.
“We’ve got the players and belief to go there and win.
“The advantage is in their hands but we must pick ourselves up, dust ourselves down and put in a magnificent performance.
“That is what it’ll need to turn it round but we have done it before often enough.
“People may think Chelsea are almost there but we’ve pulled it out of the fire many times in the Champions League. Time after time we came back to win in 2005.
“Back then we pulled it off when the odds seemed stacked against us in so many rounds, not to mention the final, so there is no reason why we can’t do it again.
“We can take encouragement from that and from the way we played in the first leg overall. This team never knows when it is beaten — and particularly in Europe.
“We haven’t been to the Bridge yet with Fernando in the team and that could make a difference.
“I could see on his face on Tuesday how disappointed he was at not scoring.
“He expects to score every game and, to be fair, he usually does.
“It was apparent how he causes real problems for defences and it’ll be the same at Chelsea.
“You wouldn’t put it past Fernando to get that all-important away goal that could take us through.”
John Arne Riise’s heartbreaking 95th-minute own-goal clanger stunned the Kop into silence. But Gerrard knows his side are made of sterner stuff — and senses Chelsea are well aware of it, too.
He added: “Of course we can still do it. Some teams might have come away from something like this with their chins on the floor but not us.
“We will be ready for the return. This season we have been to places like Inter Milan and Arsenal and scored, so I don’t see why we can’t do the same at Stamford Bridge.
“Chelsea have a slight advantage but there’s another 90 minutes to go.
“We have to have the belief and confidence we can go through or it would be pointless going there.
“There wasn’t any sense of the Chelsea lads feeling they’d got one foot in the final.
“They seemed to realise there was another tough game heading their way next week.
“I don’t think any of their players left our place thinking they were home and dry.”
Liverpool’s belief stems from the fact they are the competition’s top scorers with 27 goals — plus another five in the qualifier — and have found the net in EVERY Euro away game this term.
Keeper Pepe Reina knows they face an awesome task but shares his captain’s optimism.
He said: “We’ve scored in every away game so far so why not repeat it?
“Stamford Bridge is a difficult stadium and they have great players, that’s clear.
“But we are Liverpool. We have been the underdogs before and will be again but we can still get to the final.
“And they have a big game on Saturday against Manchester United and can’t rest as many players as maybe we can. Hopefully, that game will take something out of them.”
Liverpool's record at Stamford Bridge
We look back at four years of tense clashes between the two Champions League semi-finalists.
OCT 3, 2004 CHELSEA 1 LIVERPOOL 0 (Prem)
Benitez’s first clash with Mourinho is settled by Joe Cole’s strike.
APR 27, 2005 CHELSEA 0 LIVERPOOL 0 (CL semi 1st leg)
Cech makes super save from Baros in a tedious game.
DEC 6, 2005 CHELSEA 0 LIVERPOOL 0 (CL group stages)
Shocking as Essien’s X-rated tackle on Hamann goes unpunished.
FEB 5, 2006 CHELSEA 2 LIVERPOOL 0 (Prem)
Gallas and Crespo goals KO Reds. Reina sent off for Robben push.
SEP 17, 06 CHELSEA 1 LIVERPOOL 0 (Prem)
Drogba wins it but Ballack is dismissed for stamp on Sissoko.
APR 25, 07 CHELSEA 1 LIVERPOOL 0 (CL semi 1st leg)
Joe Cole gives Chelsea deserved lead to take into second leg.
DEC 19, 07 CHELSEA 2 LIVERPOOL 0 (Carling Cup qf)
Crouch (right) off for lunge at Mikel. Lamps and Shevchenko score.
FEB 10, 08 CHELSEA 0 LIVERPOOL 0 (Prem)
Ballack almost wins it late on in this frustrating clash.
CULLED FROM: The Sun | | Ref. Styles demoted to Shrewsbury v Chester | Controversial referee Rob Styles has been dropped to League Two this weekend after failing to award two penalties in favour of Manchester United against Blackburn.
Styles will run the derby between Shrewsbury and Chester - the first time this season he has refereed outside the top flight.
The Hampshire official ignored United's pleas for spot-kicks in their 1-1 draw at Blackburn when Wayne Rooney was brought down by Steven Reid, and when Michael Carrick's shot was handled by Brett Emerton.
Last month Styles, 44, stunned Man City fans at Birmingham by awarding a penalty against Sun Jihai when TV replays showed Gary McSheffrey had instigated a shoulder to shoulder collision outside the area.
Styles was also forced into an apology to Liverpool in August after wrongly awarding Chelsea a penalty at Anfield.
SOURCE: Daily Mail | | Barca let off by Ronaldo-miss |  The drama might have arrived after more than 90 minutes the last time Manchester United appeared here at the Nou Camp but on this occasion it was events after little more than 90 seconds that could live long in the memory of Sir Alex Ferguson.
It was then that Cristiano Ronaldo was guilty of a rare moment of misjudgment when the opportunity to seize a potentially decisive advantage in this Champions League semi-final was squandered by a player who normally proves so reliable.
When Ronaldo stands like a gunfighter and visualises what is about to happen before he takes his penalties, there are not many who doubt that in the next few seconds the ball will hit the back of the net.
Not so here last night, however. A penalty was presented to the Portuguese superstar and the Portuguese superstar missed. Not by millimetres but what looked like miles.
It would have made the 1,000 mile journey back to Manchester last night all the more painful because there, in that one precious moment, was the chance to move a significant step closer to what these players clearly consider their date with destiny.
Now, though, Moscow looks a long way from Old Trafford. They have no lead. No away goal and, after this at times worryingly one-sided encounter, no right to think they should be able to finish the job next Tuesday.
Rant: Barcelona's players protest the penalty decision
Lionel Messi and Samuel Eto'o were brilliant at times, even if Messi was short of fitness and eventually had to come off.
Contrary to popular opinion, this Barcelona team are far from past their best. They were terrific last night, so much so that they, too, will have regrets.
They really should have scored, not least when striker Eto'o shot into the side-netting early in the second half.
That United did not concede a goal will please Ferguson, however. Rio Ferdinand was terrific and Wes Brown also did well as his emergency partner at centre-half.
But Fergie has been in this situation before. Most memorably when Monaco and then Real Madrid landed in Manchester and proved how precarious a position it can be to return home from a goalless first leg.
Great escape 1: Ronaldo's spot-kick goes wide of the mark
Remember David Trezeguet? Remember how magnificent Steve McManaman and Fernando Redondo were in the white of Madrid?
The absence of Nemanja Vidic had forced Ferguson to make changes but they were changes that only increased the sense of excitement. With Owen Hargreaves forced to move to right back, Ferguson needed someone else to offer support to Ronaldo and Rooney. So step forward Carlos Tevez, a far more aggressive option.
His deployment as support striker to Ronaldo nevertheless came as something of a surprise when Ferguson opted, in turn, to push Rooney on to the right flank.
It did not seem to matter after a minute and 34 seconds. Gabriel Milito quite deliberately blocked Ronaldo's header with his hand and the United man was presented with the opportunity to bury the ball in the same net as Teddy Sheringham and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer in the 1999 Champions League Final.
Great escape 2: Barca’s Rafael Marquez brings down Ronaldo but it’s no penalty
Goal No 39 of an already extraordinary season coming up, on this occasion from the penalty spot.
Trouble was, Ronaldo tried to be far too clever. Normally he drills them low and hard. This time he went for the top right-hand corner and missed by some distance. Agony for United. Ecstasy for a Nou Camp crowd that suddenly burst into life.
Lifted by such an unlikely reprieve, Barcelona suddenly burst into life, too.
Messi, Deco and Eto'o began to play the kind of football that was wonderful to watch but worrying for United. Who said this team was finished? Who said that without Ronaldinho they posed nothing like as great a threat?
Last night Rijkaard left Thierry Henry on the bench and it soon became apparent why. You have to be at your very best to secure a place in this attack.
Barca were attacking with so much fluency and finesse, and dominating possession in a manner that must have alarmed Ferguson. Possession for United was proving hard to come by, but when Ronaldo burst into the box in the 29th minute and was knocked to the ground by Rafael Marquez he might have thought his side deserved a second chance from the penalty spot.
Massimo Busacca, the Swiss referee, thought not. Television evidence suggested Ronaldo was a little unfortunate, even if his fall was a touch dramatic.
That aside, it was Barcelona who continued to threaten. Barcelona who looked to expose weaknesses in United's reshuffled back four and secure that lead they were so keen to take to Old Trafford next week. They seemed to have so many options, with Andres Iniesta and Yaya Toure also proving something of a handful for a United side struggling to gain any real momentum.
Only in the last 10 minutes of a difficult opening half did United even begin to perform with any real composure. Even then, though, it was a 45 minutes Ronaldo will want to forget.
His only contribution of any note beyond the penalty incidents was the run that forced Marquez to commit the foul that rules him out of Tuesday's second leg. Beyond that, it all seemed depressingly familiar.
A possible repeat, it seemed, of that performance in Milan 12 months ago. United would have to be better after the break. Much better.
If United were better in the second half, Barca still enjoyed the best of the chances. Gianluca Zambrotta threatened, as did Messi and Eto'o before Xavi Hernandez tested an excellent Edwin van der Sar with a stinging shot.
It meant the score remained even but advantage United at Old Trafford? Not necessarily.
SOURCE: Daily Mail | | | | | | Liverpool 1-1 Chelsea |  John Arne Riise's injury-time own goal gave Chelsea the advantage in their Champions League semi-final. Dirk Kuyt's close-range finish three minutes before the interval looked to have secured Liverpool a slender lead.
And it took fine saves from Petr Cech to deny Steven Gerrard and Fernando Torres as Liverpool threatened to put the tie out of Chelsea's reach.
But Riise headed in Salomon Kalou's cross five minutes into injury time to give Chelsea a priceless away goal.
It was an incredible finish to an absorbing match which leaves Chelsea as slight favourites to progress in next Wednesday's second leg at Stamford Bridge.
Chelsea boss Avram Grant surprisingly gave Florent Malouda the nod on the left flank, while Liverpool dropped Sami Hyypia and drafted in Alvaro Arbeloa.
In a typically cagey start, Chelsea had more of the possession but Liverpool carved out the clearer opportunities.
Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard shot straight at Cech after seven minutes, then Kuyt's poor control let him down after he was sent clear by Xabi Alonso, allowing the Chelsea keeper to make the clearance.
Joe Cole wasted Chelsea's best opportunity when he was sent clear in the area, but he failed to realise the amount of time he had and the chance was gone.
Chelsea had penalty appeals waved away when Didier Drogba tumbled under Jamie Carragher's challenge before Torres was denied by a brilliant save from Cech.
The Spanish marksman was cleverly played in by Gerrard, but Cech was alert and came out to make a crucial block.
But he was powerless when Liverpool took advantage of a catalogue of defensive errors to take the lead two minutes before half-time.
Chelsea were caught out by Alonso's quick free-kick and when Lampard failed to clear, Kuyt stole in on the end of Javier Mascherano's mis-kick to steer the finish past Cech.
The goal gave Liverpool a further injection of confidence and they dominated the early stages of the second half, with Ryan Babel fizzing a 25-yard shot just wide after 58 minutes.
Chelsea needed to regain a foothold in the game, and boss Grant made a change to send on Kalou for the subdued Joe Cole.
Liverpool keeper Pepe Reina had been virtually unemployed, but he was in action after 66 minutes when Michael Ballack headed on Lampard's free-kick.
And it then took a vital interception from Mascherano to block Malouda after Lampard carved open the Liverpool defence.
Chelsea had shown greater purpose in the latter stages, but once again Liverpool's trademark defensive resilience had kept them at bay.
And with six minutes left they broke the shackles and Cech needed to produce a stunning stop to turn Gerrard's rising volley over the bar.
Cech made another fine block from Torres in injury-time - and its value was emphasised by dramatic events seconds later.
Kalou's cross sparked uncertainty in the six-yard area and Riise, in two minds, sent a spectacular flying header into the top corner at the Kop end.
________________________________________
Liverpool: Reina, Arbeloa, Carragher, Skrtel, Aurelio (Riise 61), Kuyt, Alonso, Mascherano, Babel (Benayoun 75), Gerrard, Torres.
Subs Not Used: Itandje, Hyypia, Crouch, Pennant, Lucas.
Goals: Kuyt 43.
Chelsea: Cech, Ferreira, Carvalho, Terry, Ashley Cole, Lampard, Makelele, Ballack (Anelka 86), Joe Cole (Kalou 63), Drogba, Malouda.
Subs Not Used: Hilario, Shevchenko, Obi, Alex, Belletti.
Booked: Terry.
Goals: Riise 90 og.
Att: 42,180
Ref: Konrad Plautz (Austria).
BBC Sport Player Rater man of the match: Liverpool's Dirk Kuyt 7.56 (on 90 minutes). | | WE’RE HERE TO WIN - TERRY |  JOHN TERRY is as close to the European Cup as he has ever been, vowing to hold the trophy in his grasp in Moscow on May 21.
If the Chelsea captain needed any reminder of the glittering prize that awaits one of the four teams left in the competition, it was there in a glass cabinet outside Anfield’s trophy room.
He gave it a glance as he breezed into the pre-match media conference then talked of his burning desire to erase the memories of two previous semi-final heartbreaks at the hands of Liverpool.
With manager Avram Grant under pressure and star players being linked with summer moves, Terry made a Freudian slip when he talked of the “chance to make history for the club in a hole.” He meant, of course, as a whole, but that aside Terry articulated Chelsea’s determination perfectly.
“That burning feeling is still there from the two previous occasions when we lost to Liverpool in this competition,” he said. “That will never go away. But one thing that will certainly ease that is to progress to the final this time and to go on and lift that trophy I have just walked past outside the doors here.
“That’s something I want to get my hands on as Chelsea captain and to make history for the club. It would be fantastic.”
Terry says it is a testimony to Chelsea’s resilience, character and strength in depth that they are still in the hunt for two trophies despite a traumatic season when they parted company with manager Jose Mourinho, suffered a spate of injuries to star players and have been undermined by internal bickering.
He did not deny the spats, but said they were quickly resolved and the players remain supportive of the troubled Grant. “We are totally behind the manager,” he added.
“We’ve had our ups and downs, but one thing we have done since Avram has been in charge is that if anyone has had a problem or a grievance we have all got together, as you need to do, and spoken our minds and got it sorted in the space of 10 minutes.
“No one has walked out the door and talked behind anyone else’s back. We’re getting in a room and sorting [problems] out.”
Terry himself came off the pitch after the second-leg win over Fenerbahce in the last round with a face like thunder. “Of course I wasn’t happy,” he said. “One reason was that Michael Essien had got booked and will miss the first leg of the semi-final. And the second reason was that we hadn’t shut the game down as I would have liked.
“I was very frustrated but we spoke about it and it was sorted 10 minutes after the game. And the next day everything was fine.
“All season long we have shown great character, great togetherness and great strength in depth. We’ve had key players out injured but the players who have come in kept us alive in both the Premier and Champions Leagues.
“It proves that whatever team we have on the pitch we will have enough strength, enough character and enough big players to go on and win the game.” While Chelsea were installed as favourites when the teams met in 2005 and 2007, this time their own stumbling form and Liverpool’s renowned prowess in Europe would appear to give Rafa Benitez’s side the edge.
Terry disagrees. “It’s about what we do, not about what Liverpool do,” he said. “We’ve got the players to not only win this tie but hopefully progress to the final and lift the trophy.
“We’re coming here to win the game, we’re not coming to set up shop. We’re coming here to score goals and hopefully put the pressure on Liverpool.”
That’s some claim considering the previous six European ties between the clubs have yielded just three goals. “I think it will be tight again. Defensively they are very good. And going forward they are very good also.
It’s going to be tough for us in both directions. But we’re hoping to get an away goal or goals to help us.
“We’ve got to use to our advantage that the first leg is at Anfield this time – like Liverpool did on the two previous occasions when the first leg was at Stamford Bridge.
“Liverpool have always had the backbone of Stevie Gerrard and Jamie Carragher. They have added to that with Fernando Torres and his goals. The manager has bought very well over the last two or three years.
“They might not have the best team on paper, but one thing is for sure when they go on the pitch they are together. And that is what we have to show.”
Then Terry strode off – casting another eye over that trophy.
CULLED FROM: Daily Express | | George Gillett stirs the pot … invites predators to clash |  Rafael Benitez's Champions League quest is in danger of being overshadowed by Liverpool's bitter boardroom wrangling after it emerged the rival factions will meet head on at Anfield on Tuesday night.
Co-owner George Gillett has invited senior officials from Dubai International Capital to be his guests for the Champions League semi-final first leg with Chelsea.
Gillett will not be able to attend because of illness but his party — including son Foster, a fellow director — will be there to welcome DIC's representatives.
The move came as Benitez urged fans not to be distracted by the boardroom battle and instead 'make more noise' to unsettle Chelsea, who Liverpool have twice beaten at this stage of the tournament.
Gillett has wanted to sell his 50 per cent stake in the club to DIC for several months and his bold move comes five days after his estranged partner Tom Hicks staged an extravagant PR exercise defiantly outlining his own plans for the future of the club.
Colorado-based Gillett has since announced he had no intention of selling his stake to Hicks. It is believed that DIC's chief negotiator Amanda Staveley will be among Gillett's party, along with DIC chief executive Samir Al-Ansari.
Hicks made it clear at the weekend that he intended to be at Anfield but he will surely not want to be in the same directors' box as the DIC representatives.
Liverpool manager Benitez has urged supporters to expose what he believes to be a mental block among Chelsea's players in this intense atmosphere. Although captain John Terry promises that his players 'mean business' and will go for goals, not shut up shop, Benitez hopes the past losses will weigh heavily on Chelsea.
He said: "If it was me trying to make up for those defeats, I would view it as an incentive, for sure. But for them, it could prove a psychological problem after what happened.
"They have experienced players who shouldn't have any problem coming to Anfield and dealing with the atmosphere but we must create even more noise, if possible, to put them to the test.
"Our supporters know we need everyone behind us from the start. I am sure they will be focused on the team, rather than anything else."
Steven Gerrard is fit after missing the win at Fulham because of a neck injury. Along with Jamie Carragher and Fabio Aurelio, he will miss the second leg if booked. Chelsea have no players in a similar position but are without the suspended Michael Essien.
SOURCE: Daily Mail | | Parreira resigns |  Carlos Alberto Parreira has resigned from his post as South Africa manager, citing family imperatives.
His resignation has left the South African team in disarray, just two years before the country hosts the 2010 World Cup.
Parreira is believed to have left to be with his wife who has just undergone major surgery and is reported to be fighting cancer,
Brazilian Parreira, who led Brazil to the 1994 World Cup and was hired 16 months ago after resigning as Brazil coach, said: "It is heartbreaking to not have this job until the end. My family needs me, especially my wife needs me to be near her. After 36 years of marriage, I can't say No."
President Molefi Oliphant said: "The coach has a dilemma, a family dilemma. The health of his wife has deteriorated."
Parreira's resignation takes effect from May 2 and he will help officials find a new coach tasked with building South Africa into a credible force for the 2010 World Cup.
SOURCE: Daily Mail | | Benitez focused on Conquering Europe |  After smothering Fulham's feeble escape plan, Rafa Benitez turned his attentions to the task of tightening his grip on the emotions of the other club from this desirable London postcode.
Benitez sat menacingly at the pleasure-pain controls of those who watch their football in SW6 as Liverpool's team bus untangled itself from the tight residential streets around Craven Cottage.
Fulham had been cheered fleetingly by the absence of Steven Gerrard and Fernando Torres, only to be plunged deep into gloom by the realisation that Liverpool stand-ins are better and their own team worse than at this time last year.
Chelsea are next on the agenda for Benitez and he is seeking to pour semi-final misery on the Blues for a fourth time.
Since arriving at Anfield in 2004, the Spaniard has won only five of 18 games against Chelsea. He has lost eight, but has emerged victorious from two Champions League semifinals and an FA Cup semi against them. Jose Mourinho was the manager to suffer in those three.
Tuesday is Avram Grant's chance to succeed where his predecessor failed.
But Benitez believes managerial changes at Stamford Bridge are irrelevant.
He said: "The key to them is Roman Abramovich. In the past they have built a fantastic team. 'They play more or less the same. They've played well this season, like they did last season. The have been in the Carling Cup Final, they are going for the title and they are in the Champions League semi-final.
"The only difference is in the press conferences," he added with a grin — an impish reference to Mourinho's fondness for stirring rivalries through the media.
"In some games the managers are important," said Benitez. "But the best thing for a manager to do is not create any mess, so the players can just play."
Asked whether he missed the verbal jousting with Mourinho, he shook his head and said: "Maybe you do, but not me. I have enough things to do in Liverpool now."
Benitez gave up on the title long ago, was humbled in the FA Cup by Barnsley and almost failed to qualify from the group stage of the Champions League. But his season has blossomed late.
A top-four finish is virtually safe after the win at Craven Cottage, the prospect of another European final looms and his smart tactics of detached dignity throughout the boardroom squabbles appear to have boosted his popularity.
Everyone at Liverpool may have started the season claiming the only thing that mattered was the Barclays Premier League, but the European Cup is a seductive trophy.
"When you talk about the Champions League it comes down to one game," said Benitez. "Sometimes the manager can do something with tactics or the style of football and that can be the difference.
"In the League, you're talking about nine months. Mentally it's not easy. In the cup it is very different. We want this game against Chelsea to be a Champions League game. In our minds we want to be playing in a Champions League style."
Liverpool trail Chelsea by nine points in the Premier League but Benitez will also use this as a sign of progress. Last season, Chelsea ended the campaign 15 ahead of his side. Benitez claims this is his strongest squad and decent displays from the likes of Peter Crouch, Jermaine Pennant and Lucas Leiva supported that at Fulham.
Pennant and Crouch scored the goals but Javier Mascherano controlled the game from midfield before leaving early to ice a couple of kicks.
After victory at Reading, Fulham manager Roy Hodgson had hoped to see his team beat a weakened Liverpool, as they did last May to avoid the drop. But on this occasion Fulham gave the visitors time, leaked soft goals and fluffed their chances.
"I won't have any regrets about coming here whatever happens," said Hodgson. "I knew I was taking on a difficult job and that it would be difficult to turn things round.
"I've enjoyed the Premier League matches and I shall be very, very sad if it's not to be Premier League next year, but I'm not prepared to concede that it won't be."
SOURCE: Daily Mail | | United thank Tev-ens |  THE faces may change but the indomitable spirit remains the same. With two minutes left here, it was Chelsea’s title to win. Now it is United’s to lose once more. Did anybody really think United were going to lose this game, even with 88 minutes on the clock?
Was anybody really surprised when Carlos Tevez rose and nodded the ball into the net to spark wild celebrations?
It is the drama that follows the side everywhere. It is the never-say-die attitude instilled in the club since boss Alex Ferguson awoke the sleeping giant and got it moving again.
Blackburn manager Mark Hughes knows, because he was there when the trophies started flowing.
His boot has done for many a team in the closing minutes — just ask Oldham fans about the 1994 FA Cup semi-final.
Special talents
So what sets this club apart when it comes to last-gasp heroics?
Hughes said: “When you get the opportunity to play for Manchester United, you have special talents anyway.
“One of those you have to have is to be a winner and not to accept defeat.
“Another of those demands is to keep on going right to the end, because the consequences of not getting results is that you have people lining up to criticise.
“Certainly, in my time at the club, one of the big things was the fear of failure.
"It was not a case of being so rigid with fear that you couldn’t perform, it was more a case of if you put in a poor performance or did not deliver there were plenty of people who would line up and criticise you.
“That is what drives these top players on. They want to win things. They don’t accept they are ever beaten. And when they are, they don’t say they have lost. They say they have run out of time.
“There is always the fear of the manager, too. They always have to go back into the dressing room and that certainly keeps them on their toes!”
Tevez is getting a habit of popping up with crucial late goals. Having gone behind to Roque Santa Cruz’s first-half strike, United were on the ropes. They were not playing well.
But in the final 15 minutes, they piled everything forward towards the two tiers of their travelling faithful.
Brad Friedel was producing heroics to keep them out and valid penalty claims were being refused by referee Rob Styles.
Still they came, though, and then Nani swung in that vital 88th-minute corner. Paul Scholes leapt to head on and Tevez provided the final touch.
Ferguson said: “It was a big, big point for us. Tevez again late on.
“I don’t know how much more you have to do to win a game of football. But we put everything into it in the second half, the players really did.
“The lads were fantastic in the second half. They showed their mettle. Fantastic. That’s five from Tevez that you can put down to late or equalising goals which have got us points.”
While Hughes was disappointed, he was hardly surprised and he even feared that United would then manage to get an injury-time winner.
He added: “Once Manchester United got back on level terms, they fancied their chances. That’s what they work in. They work in dreams and miracles and, on occasions, are able to produce them. They are never beaten.”
While much attention has been placed on Cristiano Ronaldo and his mountain of goals this season, Hughes claims it is a rock at the back who has been the foundation of their success.
He declared: “The key this year has been their back four. When you see goals scored, Rio Ferdinand is always there celebrating. He wants to show that he is excited by what is happening.
“He drags people along with him and I have been really impressed by him. He is a lot more focused than he used to be when he first burst on to the scene. He is an exceptional football player.”
Tevez’s header was the goal that has surely won Ferdinand and his United team-mates the title now.
Even if they are beaten at Chelsea next Saturday, wins over West Ham at home and Wigan away will do it thanks to their superior goal difference.
They deserve it, too, for the way they have once again injected breathtaking football and drama into a season.
Manchester United’s true desire to win things is a model for every other club.
It is why they should be Premier League champions this season.
It is why they go to the Nou Camp to face Barcelona on Wednesday with a sense of destiny 50 years after the Munich air disaster.
It is why Manchester United is the club it is.
SOURCE: The Sun | | Benitez shrugs off Anfield civil war |  Rafael Benitez has re-affirmed his commitment to Liverpool at the end of another week of turmoil at Anfield.
The Liverpool chief made his position clear ahead of Saturday's Barclays Premier League trip to struggling Fulham and with the Champions League semi-final against Chelsea on the horizon.
Benitez had cast grave doubts about his long-term future at the club last weekend in the row over exactly who attended meetings before Christmas with Jurgen Klinsmann when the manager's job was discussed.
But Benitez now seems much happier with his position, saying: "At this moment I have two years of my contract still to go, I am really pleased and really happy here. And I want to stay. And I want to stay for a long time."
Asked if he had spoken to Liverpool's warring American co-owners Tom Hicks and George Gillett - or under-fire chief executive Rick Parry - Benitez said: "I do not need to talk to them, I need to talk with my staff and my players.
"We have been training and all I want to talk about is the games against Fulham, and then Chelsea. We will be preparing for the games properly."
He also seemed relaxed about potential summer transfer funds, despite the club being unsure of who will be at the helm by then.
"As far as transfer money is concerned, I cannot be sure. But we will try to do our best, the scouting staff and I know what to do and we are progressing and working on things. The scouts are doing a fantastic job and we are trying to progress with the targets we have."
On the ongoing crisis, all Benitez would say was: "I want to win against Fulham, I know everyone is asking and talking about other things, but I am a professional and I want to concentrate on football.
"Things (around the club) have not been a distraction for the players. We have confidence in ourselves and we are playing well. That shows the strength of our squad, the quality and the character of the players."
SOURCE: Daily Mail | | Parry is a total disaster- Hicks keeps shooting |  SIX-shooting Texan Tom Hicks has come out with another all-guns-blazing onslaught that will stun Liverpool.
The controversial co-owner insisted the boardroom wars splitting the club will continue unless he takes sole control.
Hicks is the Kop’s Public Enemy No1 after a season overshadowed by storm clouds off the pitch, rather than glories on it.
Now he has revealed his plans and launched his fiercest attack on chief executive Rick Parry.
If he can persuade co-owner George Gillett to sell he would like to extend boss Rafa Benitez’s contract to 2011.
He communicates regularly with Benitez, who he insists is “comfortable with how things are going.”
He will take all the debt off the club and ensure funds for the 70,000-seater stadium on Stanley Park.
He had no idea who Jurgen Klinsmann was when Gillett sounded out the German about taking over as boss.
Although Gillett is adamant he will not sell, Hicks is still clinging to the belief he will persuade his Yank partner to have a change of heart.
Speaking on Sky Sports News, Hicks said: “I’m planning to make George an attractive offer and I’m working on getting that all lined up.
“It’s not just the money to buy George out — I want to fix the club’s entire financial structure.
“If I’m the majority owner I could put more capital in and I’ve got a 25-year track record of being a very successful investor around the world.
“My goal is take all the debt off the club except the working capital needed and get the permanent financing in place for the stadium.”
Hicks arrived with Gillett last February, hailed as Liverpool’s saviours, before the fans turned on him.
But Hicks thinks the men in the firing line should be Gillett and Parry. He added: “What’s happened under Rick’s leadership has been a disaster.
“We’ve fallen so far behind the other top clubs — and the new stadium should have been built three or four years ago.
“We’re still the top brand in the football world, we just don’t know how to commercialise it and get the money to buy great players.
“It all goes together and Rick needs to resign. He’s put his heart into it but it’s time for a change.”
Yet an end to the warring which exploded again last week — when Hicks sent a letter to Anfield demanding Parry’s head — could rumble on with Gillett refusing to sell.
Hicks admitted: “George and I started this as friends but, at this point, it’s unworkable. If George doesn’t sell then we stay in this position like we’re in.
“When it’s 50-50 it is a difficult proposition as you can’t do anything without their agreement.
“I can’t force George to accept and it’s complicated but I still hope it’s going to happen. I will make him an attractive offer soon.”
Hicks clearly feels throwing his support behind the manager will help bring fans to his way of thinking.
He said: “Rafa and the players have their heads down, they’re playing great football and I’m confident they’ll continue to do so.
“Myself and Rafa communicate regularly and I know he feels comfortable with the way things are going.
“I think Rafa has unique skills and the ability to motivate the team. If I were to buy George out the first thing I would do is give Rafa a one-year extension. It would make sure he is here up until the time get the new stadium and hopefully beyond.”
But his admission he had no idea who Klinsmann was puts into question his standing as a football man.
Hicks confessed: “I called Jurgen up on the internet to find out.
“George had talked to him several times, talked to Parry and set up a meeting in New York.
“I did go to the meeting but Rick had already been talking to Jurgen for three hours alone.
“Everybody thought Tom Hicks tried to sign Jurgen Klinsmann which is not the case. George initiated it but we all participated.”
SOURCE: The Sun | | Fergie fires Utd warning |  ALEX FERGUSON has reminded his players that despite their recent run of sparkling form, they haven't won anything yet.
Their weekend 2-1 win against Arsenal has put Manchester United in a commanding position at the top of the table with just four matches to play, but Fergie has been in the game long enough to know you can taken nothing for granted - especially after seeing Arsenal squander a five-point lead to now sit nine points adrift of his side.
The United boss said: “I am not getting carried away as I know what football can do to you.
“My team is keen to do well and the players are showing great consistency.
“We never give up, which, of course, is a priceless quality to have.
“That’s the kind of spirit we’ll need in our remaining games.
"Hopefully that will continue and we will win the league.”
Next up are Blackburn, managed by former United striker Mark Hughes, at Ewood Park on Saturday.
Hargreaves ready for Blackburn
Traditionally they are feisty encounters but it is a game Owen Hargreaves is well prepared for.
The England midfielder scored the winner against Arsenal with a superb free-kick.
Hargreaves said: “It was a big result but every game is big now. We go to Blackburn in good spirits.
“We do not have a midweek game, so we can have a bit of a rest.”
Ronaldo took his tally for the season to an astonishing 38 goals despite having to retake his penalty.
But in front of the Stretford End he kept a cool head to place his effort in the bottom corner beyond goalkeeper Jens Lehmann.
Hargreaves said: “It is as big a pressure as it gets and he wasn’t fazed by it at all.
“That’s why he is the best at the moment. In the second half he made some great runs, which helped us get some momentum.
“I am very pleased with the way the game finished. It was a tough match.”
Ferguson could have defender Nemanja Vidic back for the Blackburn match. The Serbia international has missed the last three games after suffering a knee injury against Roma in the Champions League.
SOURCE: The Sun | | We can do Chelsea a favour - Melchiot |  Mario Melchiot has pledged to help former club Chelsea if they have any chance of winning the Premier League title when Wigan play Manchester United on the final day of the season.
The Latics captain, who spent five years at Stamford Bridge, was delighted that Emile Heskey's late equaliser in last night's 1-1 draw increased his side's survival hopes, but admitted he still wants Chelsea to be champions.
Avram Grant's are now five points behind Manchester United and need to win their last four games, including one against Sir Alex Ferguson's side, and hope one other club beats the champions as well.
Melchiot believes Wigan can step up to the mark providing the title race goes that far.
He said: "We can still do Chelsea a big favour and beat Manchester United on the final day of the season. We need the points ourselves and may have to win to stay up. We want to get our future secured by then, but it might all come down to the last game.
"I don't think Chelsea's title hopes are over. It is out of their hands now, but the two clubs still have to play each other and United could lose again. At this stage it is possible — no-one thought they would drop points at Middlesbrough.
"Part of me is sad I may have cost my old club in the title race. I always get a lot of love and respect from the fans at Chelsea and I want nothing more than for them to win the title. But I had to do my job for Wigan first.
"We knew they might be slow to begin with and come out strong in the second half. But, after they scored, they sat back and we felt we were back in the game.
"I told the players to go for it and in the last few minutes we started attacking and got our reward."
Even if the league title proves beyond them, Melchiot still believes Chelsea can end the season with a trophy by triumphing in Europe.
The 31-year-old was in the first Chelsea side to reach a Champions League semi-final when they lost to Monaco in 2004 and was surprised that the club lost to Liverpool at the same stage on two other occasions.
Chelsea will take on Liverpool over two legs for a third time with the first match at Anfield next week and Melchiot believes it will be third time lucky.
He said: "I think they can go all the way. They have better individual players in the team now than the one I played in that lost to Monaco. It's time they got to the final.
"The first leg will be difficult — Chelsea have struggled for years at Anfield — but they can finish them off in the second leg at Stamford Bridge."
SOURCE: Daily Mail | | Hargreaves upends Arsenal |  Owen Hargreaves left Manchester United daring to dream of retaining their Barclays Premier League title as they saw off Arsenal at Old Trafford to leave the Gunners' own championship hopes in tatters.
The England midfielder struck a glorious free-kick winner in the 72nd minute after Cristiano Ronaldo had brought the Red Devils back into the game from the penalty spot.
Topping the lot: Owen Hargreaves gives United a boost
But this was the stuff of nightmares for Arsenal who had taken the lead through Emmanuel Adebayor.
They are now nine points behind United with only four games to go and it will need a miracle for them to overcome the deficit.
However, despite being knocked out of the Champions League by Liverpool in midweek, they showed little signs of a hangover in the first half.
Arsenal enjoyed a lot of possession, stretched United and will feel they could have made the breakthrough.
Adebayor rattled in a shot that Rio Ferdinand did well to deflect to safety before Park Ji-Sung glanced a header wide of the post following a cross from Hargreaves.
It was end-to-end stuff at this stage of the game and Adebayor sent his shot into Edwin van der Sar's arms following a one-two with Cesc Fabregas.
Then Wayne Rooney went close in a swift counter-attack in what was developing into an open game.
Rooney almost made the breakthrough in the 23rd minute only to see his effort scrambled away at the near post after Ronaldo had created the opening.
Alexander Hleb then released Adebayor 13 minutes later. He had a clear sight of goal but only succeeded in sending his effort into Van der Sar's arms.
United hit back and Rooney got away from Kolo Toure a minute later and fired in a shot. However, Jens Lehmann stuck out his leg and steered the ball away for a corner to Arsenal's relief.
Fabregas then got away down the left for Arsenal and tried to pick out Adebayor at the back post but Van der Sar was alert and made the interception.
Arsenal made the breakthrough in the 48th minute thanks to good work from Robin van Persie.
He got clear down the left and delivered a quick cross into the area.
While Ferdinand and Michael Carrick hesitated, Adebayor got beyond them to direct the ball into the net, though there was a suspicion that he used his hand rather than his head.
Either way, it was his 26th goal of the season and just the boost Arsenal were looking for.
They almost added a second a minute later when Van der Sar was forced to make a smart save and prevent an own goal from Ferdinand after he got his bearings wrong following a cross from Adebayor.
United drew level, however, thanks to Ronaldo's 38th goal of a remarkable season from the penalty spot in the 54th minute.
William Gallas was adjudged to have handled Carrick's shot and referee Howard Webb had no hesitation in the pointing to the spot.
Ronaldo lashed his penalty into the top corner only for Webb to order him to retake it after spotting an infringement.
Such is Ronaldo's confidence, however, he again made no mistake to bring United level at 1-1.
Carlos Tevez then went close to giving United the lead after stepping off the bench, his 30-yard shot go narrowly wide in the 65th minute.
Arsenal swept forward again though in the 68th minute and Wes Brown's attempted clearance from Gael Clichy's cross came back off the post.
Hargreaves then gave United the lead with a superb free-kick.
With the Arsenal defence perhaps expecting a Ronaldo thunderbolt, the former Bayern Munich man curled his effort up and over the wall and beyond Lehmann.
It was only Hargreaves' second goal since his £17million move from the Bundesliga in the summer and it was one to savour.
Arsenal were stung after seeing United suddenly regain the ascendancy, knowing their title hopes were fading fast.
They kept driving forward in the hope of securing a point at least but it was all to no avail.
SOURCE: Daily Mail | | Parry parries Hicks |  RICK PARRY hit back with a stinging volley as the in-fighting tearing Liverpool apart took a new twist.
The Anfield chief executive was stunned to learn co-owner Tom Hicks had demanded his resignation in a letter sent to the club on Thursday.
Parry immediately dug in for a scrap, knowing Hicks’ 50 per cent control does not give him the power to remove him.
And he took a swipe at the Texan billionaire, who shattered the Reds’ feelgood factor just 48 hours after a stirring Champions League win over Arsenal sealed a semi-final with Chelsea.
Parry: There is no unity
Parry, who plans to take legal advice, said: “This week I shouldn’t be the story — the story should be the team. It’s offensive to the manager, the players and the fans.
“In a week when we’ve had another great European triumph there’s more dirty linen being washed. No individual is bigger than the club — certainly not me — and the club will be fine.
“But once again it shows there is a lack of unity at the top. I stick by what I said a couple of weeks ago, when I called for the ownership difficulties to be resolved.
“I was surely only echoing what any Liverpool supporter would want. It is essential for the club’s well-being.
“We should be concentrating on winning games and making sure the season ends on a high note.
“We’ve just had an outstanding Champions League win over Arsenal and now there’s a semi-final against Chelsea to look forward to.
“It saddens me that internal matters like this are being aired in public. It was never the Liverpool way.”
Hicks’ estranged business partner George Gillett was quick to back Parry — further proof of the depths to which the relationship with his fellow owner has sunk.
Gillett, who could now launch his own bid to take sole control, admitted he had no idea Hicks was planning to make such a shock move.
But he insisted: “Rick retains our full support. Any decision to remove him would need the approval of the full Liverpool board.
“It should be remembered that consists of six people — myself, my son Foster, David Moores, Rick himself, Tom Hicks and Tom junior.”
Hicks wants Parry out after claiming boss Rafa Benitez was unhappy and the chief executive allowed big-name buys to slip through the net.
He also accused Parry of failing to maximise the commercial potential in the same way as Manchester United, Chelsea and Arsenal.
SOURCE: The Sun | | HICKS RENEWS PARRY ATTACK |  Liverpool co-owner Tom Hicks has explained his decision to ask the club's chief executive Rick Parry to resign, describing him as arrogant and decrying his "inability to manage an organisation".
Hicks wrote to Parry, who was instrumental in bringing Hicks and George Gillett to the club, asking him to tender his resignation in yet another tumultuous week at Anfield - overshadowing the team's stunning Champions League defeat of Premier League rivals Arsenal.
Hicks told the Mail on Sunday: "Rick Parry has been Liverpool's CEO for 10 years and we haven't won a league championship under his leadership. Our commercial revenues have not kept up with other top clubs during that time, which has made it very difficult to compete for the Premier League."
Parry has vowed to continue his work at the club, but Hicks insists his position is untenable, characterising his tenure as a decade of underachievement.
Hicks added: "After watching him operate, I came to the conclusion it was time to ask him to resign, due to his inability to manage an organisation, his seemingly arrogant attitude to our supporters and his lack of communication with Rafa (Benitez).
"I reached my decision a few weeks ago but waited until after the games against Everton and Arsenal.
"It is important to try to have a new CEO in place by May so we can begin working with Rafa on player transfers."
Parry has fiercely defended his work on Merseyside, saying: "I stand by my track record in English football and as chief executive of Liverpool Football Club.
"It would be inappropriate for me to comment in detail on these allegations -- that should be a matter for the Liverpool board.
"In fact, I would welcome an opportunity to discuss these matters with our co-owners and board colleagues. This continuous airing of issues in the media is clearly not helpful at this crucial stage of our season."
SOURCE: Daily Express | | Barca, last stop for United - Eto'o |  Barcelona striker Samuel Eto'o believes the likely return of Argentine striker Lionel Messi and Portugal midfielder Deco will improve his side's chances of reaching the Champions League final.
The Catalans should be celebrating the prospect of a last four clash with Manchester United but their performance against Schalke in their quarter-final did little to lift the atmosphere of gloom at the club.
Barca will be missing their inspirational captain Carles Puyol for the first leg against United at the Nou Camp, but the returns of Messi and Deco is giving Eto'o some cause for optimism.
Confident: Samuel Eto'o reckons Messi and Deco will make the difference
"We will improve when we've got Messi and Deco back," said Eto'o. "Why can't we dream about winning?
"We are just as important a club as Manchester and our players are just as good."
Off the field tension has done little to help the side's cause, with incessant speculation surrounding the future of high-profile players and the names of possible new coaches filling the pages of the local media.
Given the circumstances it was understandable that Barca struggled and appropriate that Wednesday's 1-0 win was decided by a bizarre goal coming from the unlikely figure of Yaya Toure.
The Germans had Barca on the ropes in the first half but their victory hopes ended when the Ivory Coast midfielder scuffed the ball in from close range after a Bojan Krkic cross had ballooned off a defender and been headed off the line.
Krkic's performances provided one of the few highlights of the two games and Frank Rijkaard's decision to take off the 17-year-old instead of the anonymous Thierry Henry midway through the second half was greeted with jeers by the Nou Camp faithful.
That reaction reflected the growing opinion amongst Barca fans that many of the club's more experienced players are past their best and that their only hope of defeating United lies in relying on hungry youngsters like Krkic and Lionel Messi.
Under fire club president Joan Laporta did his best to dispel the gloom with an upbeat assessment of his team's prospects.
"We are proud of the team because they are fighting all the way," he said. "We have to escape from this climate of fear because it undermines the team.
"Enthusiasm and support are what is needed because we are still in the Champions League.
"It isn't easy to get into the semi-finals and we should be united as a club and try to enjoy it.
"After all it is only the 10th time in our history that we have reached this stage of the competition."
SOURCE: Daily Mail | | Ready to take out Arsenal – Ferguson |  Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson has insisted his players are in the ideal frame of mind to tackle Arsenal in Sunday's crucial Premier League clash.
United, three points clear of Chelsea and six ahead of Arsenal, can take a big step towards the title if they win at Old Trafford.
Confident mood: Sir Alex Ferguson says his Manchester United players are in the ideal frame of mind ahead of their crucial clash with Arsenal
The teams have enjoyed mixed fortunes in the European Cup this week, with Arsenal dramatically knocked out by Liverpool and United progressing to the semi-finals at the expense of Roma.
And Ferguson believes his team are in good shape ahead of the match against the Gunners.
"I always viewed the Middlesbrough match as our most difficult game and I wasn't surprised with the performance of Middlesbrough," he said.
"They could have beaten us but we rescued a point out of it.
"The games against Arsenal and Chelsea are the two big ones. They are fantastic occasions which all the players look forward to. It's best if you go into the games in decent form and I think our form is decent.
"It will be a great game on Sunday. As we know Arsenal have been our main competitor for 13 years or whatever and it's not going to change on Sunday.
"It will be a hard-fought match and hopefully we will take the spoils."
United have been further boosted by the return to action of experienced defenders Gary Neville and Mikael Silvestre following long-term injuries.
Neville appeared as a late substitute against Roma after almost 13 months out with an ankle injury, and was given a noisy reception by the Old Trafford faithful.
"What he learned is how much he's appreciated by the fans. It was a great reception he got," said Ferguson.
"It's good to have the boy back. He's been through a hard time of it with persistent small injuries that were always de-railing him."
United face a hugely tough and important run of matches through to the end of April.
As well as Premier League games against Arsenal, Blackburn and Chelsea, United face a European Cup semi-final against Spanish giants Barcelona.
SOURCE: Daily Mail | | Stand down, Parry - Hicks | Liverpool co-owner Tom Hicks has called for the resignation of the club's chief executive Rick Parry.
Hicks has written to Parry to ask him to stand down although he has no power to sanction that without the say of co-owner George Gillett.
The American is thought to be unhappy with Parry, who he feels is siding with Gillett in the club's power struggle.
The news comes on a day when Dubai International Capital reportedly ended their interest in buying the club.
DIC are said to be unwilling to do business while there is so much turmoil at the club.
"You have two partners who do not see eye to eye. And we decided that we pull out completely. Let them sort out their problems," DIC chief executive Sameer Al Ansari told |
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