Manchester United's resources may have made them the envy of world football but Sir Alex Ferguson has admitted a lack of defensive depth may cost them a fourth straight English Premier League title. United are struggling to cope with a crippling injury list which has deprived them of six senior defenders in recent weeks - a scenario which, even for a club with their swollen bank account, has proved untenable. Having already slumped to a surprise defeat at home to Aston Villa this month... Read Full Story
Lille's phenomenal run of form continued on Sunday as they beat third-bottom Le Mans 3-0 to climb to third place in the French first division standings. The northern club had scored four goals in each of their four previous league games, while also qualifying for the last 32 of the Europa League, and prevailed through goals from Aurelien Chedjou, Gervinho and Eden Hazard. Chedjou headed Lille in front from Hazard's 12th-minute free-kick and they could afford the luxury of a missed Stephane... Read Full Story
Fulham produced the latest twist in a see-saw Premier League title race with a shock 3-0 win over champions Manchester United at Craven Cottage on Saturday. Goals from Danny Murphy, Bobby Zamora and Damien Duff condemned injury-hit United to their fifth league loss of the season. Meanwhile, Manchester City manager Mark Hughes was sacked, despite seeing his side defeat Sunderland 4-3 in an Eastlands thriller, and replaced by former Inter Milan coach Roberto Mancini. United's defeat left Sir... Read Full Story
Roberto Mancini will be confident he can make an immediate impact as the new manager of Manchester City. With City lying sixth in the English Premier League table, six points adrift of fourth spot, the season remains very much alive despite Mark Hughes's sudden dismissal after a 4-3 home win over Sunderland here on Sunday Mancini will know by the ruthless way in which Hughes was sacked that time will not be on his side as he aims to make a quick impression at Eastlands. But with... Read Full Story
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger is convinced his side are contenders for the most open Premier League title race since he came to England more than a decade ago. The Gunners moved to within two points of second-place Manchester United, who lost at Fulham, thanks to a 3-0 win over Hull City at the Emirates Stadium here on Saturday. Arsenal, who also have a game in hand, beat Liverpool last weekend but dropped points by drawing at Burnley a few days later. But with no side, including leaders... Read Full Story
Fulham produced the latest twist in a see-saw Premier League title race with a shock 3-0 win over champions Manchester United at Craven Cottage on Saturday. Goals from Danny Murphy, Bobby Zamora and Damien Duff condemned injury-hit United to their fifth league loss of the season. Manchester City boss Mark Hughes, meanwhile, was rumoured to be close to the sack after his club called an evening press conference, despite seeing his side defeat Sunderland 4-3 in a thrilling game at the City of... Read Full Story
Germany squad members Cacau and Sami Khedira hit second-half goals to seal Stuttgart's 3-1 win over Hoffenheim which pulled their side out of the bottom three on Saturday. Brazil-born Cacau gave his side the lead just seven minutes after coming off the bench before Khedira put the result beyond doubt with time running out. This was Stuttgart's first win under coach Christian Gross who took over from Markus Babbel on December 6 and this was their first success in ten league games since their... Read Full Story
Chelsea midfielder Frank Lampard won't take any pleasure from plunging West Ham deeper into relegation trouble even though the former Hammers star faces another hostile reception at Upton Park on Sunday. Lampard has been public enemy number one in east London since quitting West Ham to join bitter rivals Chelsea for 11 million pounds (12.3 million euros) in 2001. The 31-year-old, who spent nine years at West Ham, has suffered vicious abuse from the Hammers fans every time he has faced his... Read Full Story
Bosnia's constitution discriminates against Jews and Roma because it does not allow them to run for parliament or president, the European Court of Human Rights said in a ruling Tuesday. The court said Bosnia discriminated against two men by only allowing Bosniaks, Serbs and Croats to run for those offices. The binding decision was issued by the court in Strasbourg, France, after Jewish activist Jakob Finci and Dervo Sejdic, who is of Roma ethnicity, filed a complaint in June. The court said... Read Full Story
Javier Mascherano was sent off for the second time this season as Liverpool suffered another setback with a wretched 2-0 loss away to Premier League basement club Portsmouth on Saturday. Goals here at Fratton Park from Algerian defender Nadir Belhadj and French striker Frederic Piquionne condemned Rafael Benitez's side to their seventh league defeat of the season. And to make matters worse for the visitors, Argentina midfielder Mascherano was dismissed for a horror tackle on Portsmouth... Read Full Story
