Coleen Rooney whips the models into shape on set of new £4.5m advertising campaign

By Daily Mail Reporter

She's the boss: Coleen Rooney poses with a whip under her arm as she films a £4.5m advert for Littlewoods


Perhaps this is how Coleen Rooney keeps husband Wayne in shape.

At any rate, with a leather whip tucked beneath her arm, the footballer certainly wouldn't want to annoy her.

The young mother is a picture of authority in her new £4.5million advertising campaign for Littlewoods.com.

The advert features a stern Coleen overseeing recruits learning to carry a handbag, polish their shoes and strut the catwalk.

It ends with her conducting a 'passing-out parade' to the tune of Nancy Sinatra's These Boots Are Made for Walkin'.

Coleen said: 'This is my first TV ad and I really enjoyed making it.


In charge: Perhaps this is how Mrs Rooney keeps Wayne in shape


No messing: the shapely new mother models Littlewoods clothes


'I loved the way that the ad features such a wide variety of real women and shows some of my favourite pieces from the Littlewoods collection.'

Mail order company Littlewoods launched Rooney as its new 'face' in June.

She has appeared on the cover of the retailer's catalogue and on the website.

The advert will be shown on ITV for the first time today.


Time out: The advert will premiere on ITV tonight


source: dailymail

US OPEN 2010: Roger Federer reproduces magical 'hot dog' shot in first round win

By Mike Dickson in New York

Magical: Roger Federer reproduced his stunning 'through-the-legs' winner in his first round win at Flushing Meadows


Roger Federer brought Flushing Meadows to its feet on the US Open's first night with a repeat of his 'Don't try this at home' miracle winner hit through the legs.

The world No 2 pulled off a similar trick in the semi-final against Novak Djokovic last year (pictured below), but this time his extraordinary recovery when retrieving a lob from first-round opponent Brian Dabul was even better.

Administering a 6-1, 6-4, 6-2 thrashing, Federer was within a few feet of the back fence when, having sprinted from the net, he whipped back the shot known as a 'Tweener' while facing the wrong way.

It completely wrong-footed the Argentinian, who responded with a helpless shrug as the ball, struck at 80mph, flew past him for a clean winner.

Federer said: 'I've only hit a few of those in my life and to do two on Centre Court in night sessions is amazing.

See Federer's amazing shot below....


Routine: Federer romped to victory in little over an hour and a half


'Maybe in terms of difficulty this one was harder than last year because I had to run a longer distance and was further back. 'I had to give it a really big push at the end, I didn't have time to set the shot up. So I felt like this one was incredible again.

'When I turned round I couldn't believe that it had landed in the corner. You could see from my reaction I couldn't believe it.

'Last year's was probably a little bit more important just because I think it was 0-30 to go 0-40, two points away from the match, and it was a semi-final.'

Federer does not explicitly practise the shot and said: 'It's not like I ask to be fed them, it just happens or not. I might hit just one in a session.'

See Federer's amazing shot here....




source: dailymail

US OPEN 2010: Andy Roddick cruises through but Robin Soderling endures five-set battle

By Sportsmail Reporter

Birthday boy: Roddick breezed into the second round at Flushing Meadows


American Andy Roddick celebrated his 28th birthday today with a comfortable first round victory in the US Open at Flushing Meadows.

Roddick, the ninth seed, dropped just seven games as he beat France's Stephane Robert 6-3 6-2 6-2 on Arthur Ashe Stadium, the scene of his sole Grand Slam triumph.


The former world No 1 won the US Open in 2003 but has been unable to break the dominance enjoyed by Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal since, losing three Wimbledon finals to Federer - most famously 16-14 in the fifth set of an epic contest last year.

Fifth seed Robin Soderling had a far tougher time against Austria's Andreas Haider-Maurer, the Swede being taken to five sets by his unknown opponent.

Soderling looked on course for an easy win when he won the first two sets, but Haider-Maurer stormed back into the contest thanks to some powerful serving.

However, Soderling delighted his small but noisy bunch of fans in the crowd by holding his nerve to win the decider and seal a 7-5 6-3 6-7 (2/7) 5-7 6-4 victory in three hours and 52 minutes.

France's Gael Monfils also needed five sets to beat American Robert Kendrick, the 17th seed winning 3-6 6-3 6-4 6-7 (5/7) 6-4 on Court 11.


Relief: Robin Soderling triumphed in five sets


Sixth seed Nikolay Davydenko had earlier begun his bid for a first Grand Slam title with an easy victory in the first round.

Davydenko beat American Michael Russell 6-4 6-1 6-3 to set up a second round clash with France's Richard Gasquet, who enjoyed a similarly comfortable victory, beating Germany's Simon Greul 6-3 6-4 6-2.

The 29-year-old Russian missed 11 weeks of the season after breaking his left wrist in March, since when he was won back to back matches just once, reaching the quarter-finals in Cincinnati recently before losing to Federer.

'For sure I will try always to play 100%, but you don't know what's going to happen,' Davydenko said. 'Five-set matches are really difficult, for sure. For sure I am a little bit tired today but not like 100 per cent tired. I really don't know if my physical condition is good for five sets. I need to see.

'I never say before or after my first match I am in very good shape and I can win the tournament. I just take it easy and just say, I'm okay.'

Asked what is the most difficult thing to rediscover after such


Easy win: Russia's Nikolay Davydenko in action in New York


'You are always practising. You can play forehand, backhand, but for sure it's important in the match what you need to do with forehand and backhand.'

Croatia's Marin Cilic, the 11th seed, also advanced with a 7-5 6-3 6-1 win over Illya Marchenko, while Juan Carlos Ferrero of Spain, the 22nd seed, thrashed Martin Klizan of Slovakia for the loss of just four games.


source: dailymail

US OPEN 2010: Elena Baltacha off to a flyer! Briton banishes angst of Wimbledon with victory over Petra Martic

By Mike Dickson in New York

Off to a flyer: Elena Baltacha eased to victory against Petra Martic


In the grand scheme of the US Open, Elena Baltacha was a mere apostrophe on Monday - and how it suited her.

Exiled to the outermost court within Flushing Meadows' concrete expanses, the British No 1 did what proved beyond her at Wimbledon and comfortably put away the same opponent who caused her such angst at the All England Club.

Liberated from the claustrophobic pressure of trying to register a home win in the highest-profile fortnight of the summer, she defeated Petra Martic 6-2, 6-2 in just 65 minutes, escaping the worst of the day's 35-degree Celcius temperatures.

You were left wondering how the Ipswich-based Scot had managed to lose to the Croat in the first round at Wimbledon two months ago, when she was within two points of victory before losing in three sets.

This win, it must be said, was not just because Baltacha was so thoroughly accomplished, but also due to the woeful inconsistency of Martic, who scarcely did justice to her modest world ranking of 88.

For Baltacha, it had almost the feel of a cleansing experience, so much did her loss at Wimbledon rankle. 'I think I have flicked the demons off my shoulder now, it's my way of moving on,' she said afterwards.

Had the 27-year-old Briton finished her off at the All England Club it would have put a thin sheen of respectability on the usual dire level of British performances at SW19, where Andy Murray was the only individual from the host nation to register a singles win.

Baltacha hurt more than anyone during that black week for British tennis, for she had desperately wanted to showcase the undoubted improvements she has made this year when the most people were paying attention.

Here, by contrast, there were no cameras and barely 150 spectators around remote Court 17, although most of them appeared to be British tennis enthusiasts there to offer support.

Among the small assembly was a former British tennis player who must know all about trying to live up to expectations - Stanley Matthews Jnr, son of the great footballer, who now lives in nearby Connecticut.


Delight: Baltacha is through to the second round


Baltacha's father, Sergei, also played football, but her own sporting achievements are standing alone. She is on the brink of emulating Anne Keothavong in breaching the world's top 50, a product of results that have brought more than £129,000 in prize money this season.

The landmark ranking will certainly be passed should she defeat Wimbledon semi-finalist Petra Kvitova here in the second round, with the prospect of meeting defending champion Kim Clijsters in the third.

An illustration of just how desperate things have been in UK women's tennis is that Baltacha is only the second Briton in 13 years to win a main draw match here.

Things are slowly looking up and there is some genuine promise for the relatively near future, but the fact is that the Scot is a sole representative in the women's top 100, for all the expensive efforts of the Lawn Tennis Association.

The other sight of victory came in 2008 when Keothavong made the third round. She will play Taiwan's Jung-Jan Chan on Tuesday, while Murray must wait until Wednesday to play Slovakian Lukas Lacko.

By then Baltacha will be focusing on her next opponent, having exorcised the ghosts from that day at Wimbledon. 'The memories from that hurt, they really hurt, it tested me mentally and emotionally,' she said.

'At Wimbledon you want to do well and please the crowd, you feel the pressure. The defeat hit me most about a week later.

'When I look back I try to think that everything happens for a reason. It was weird drawing the same player here. I was so pumped for this.'

Baltacha was a ball of intensity from the outset as she tried to halt a run of four consecutive defeats, her worst sequence of the season. The improvement in her backhand and the all-round penetration of her strokes are marked this year and Martic, who contributed a welter of sloppy errors and double faults, was always behind.

Despite one close game when the Scot delivered two double faults, all was serene in this quiet outpost.

Clijsters was also among Monday's early winners, as was American teenager Melanie Oudin.

Men's No 5 seed Robin Soderling came close to being a first-day upset when he needed five sets to beat unknown Austrian Andreas Haider-Maurer, the world No 214. The Swede finally won 7-5, 6-3, 6-7, 5-7, 6-4.


source: dailymail

Javier Mascherano completes his move to Barcelona...and immediately hits out at Liverpool

By Sportsmail Reporter

Warm welcome: Javier Mascherano waves during his official presentation at the Nou Camp


Javier Mascherano completed his troubled move to Barcelona on Monday night, then accused Liverpool of lying.

The Argentina captain was labelled ‘selfish’ by Anfield boss Roy Hodgson, who claimed the midfielder had refused to play for the club in a Europa League tie to try to force through his move.

But Mascherano, 26, said: ‘Roy Hodgson knows the truth. This is a happy moment for me so now is not the moment to say it, but a lot of lies have been spoken about me and shortly I will respond.’

The midfielder said he was close to moving to Barca a year ago but Liverpool refused to sell him because Xabi Alonso was leaving. He added: ‘When the best club in the world calls you, then it is something that you want to happen.’

Mascherano, who cost Barcelona £22million, says he hopes Liverpool get back into the top four in the Barclays Premier League. ‘I hope they get back into the Champions League as soon as possible. I still have a lot of affection for the fans of the club.’

Mascherano signed a four-year deal at the Nou Camp office of new club president Sandro Rosell. The contract has a buy-out clause of £74million.

Mascherano will wear the number 14 shirt with Barca, which was previously the number worn by Thierry Henry prior to the Frenchman's departure this summer.


Meeting the boss: Mascherano poses with Barcelona president Sandro Rosell


The Argentina midfielder will have to vie for playing time with Spain trio Xavi, Sergio Busquets and Andres Iniesta at the heart of Pep Guardiola's side, but insisted he wasn't deterred by the challenge.

'It would be stupid to think I would come here and be playing every game,' Mascherano said. 'You have to respect the people who are already doing well and who have won everything. In the positions I play in, there are three world champions.

'It will be an honour to be able learn from them and to grow with them.'

Barca's sporting vice-president Josep Maria Bartomeu said the 26-year-old had taken a pay cut to help complete the move, and said Mascherano's arrival would be their last of the current transfer window.

Mascherano became Barca's third acquisition of the summer after Spain striker David Villa and Brazilian full back Adriano Correia, and he helps fill the gap left by Yaya Toure's departure to Manchester City.






source: dailymail

Wolves 1 Newcastle 1: Karl Henry insists he can take a tackle - 'not like Joey Barton'

By Neil Moxley

Ouch! Karl Henry spent 90 minutes smashing Joey Barton all over the Wolves pitch, but saved his most vicious attack on the Newcastle midfielder for his post-match interview.


In a bad-tempered game which finished 1-1 but 7-5 to the home side in bookings, hardman Henry appeared on a mission to intimidate Barton. He followed a series of fearsome tackles with a withering verbal blast.

'He (Barton) seems to think he's a bit of a player who puts his foot in. But I didn't see any of that from him. I saw him shoving players off the ball a lot.

'Me? I love getting stuck in. I enjoy these games. There wasn't too much quality, but I knew it was going to be physical with Alan Smith and him in there. I've got a lot of time for Smith. He was saying, "Well done, good battle", and he loves it. He loves getting tackled as much as he tackles.

'I'm the same, I love a good honest tackle. I don't mind getting tackled, either. But Barton was in the ref's ear all the time and not happy about getting put to the floor.

'We'll have more of the same when we go up to their place. He was even whining at the end. Something was going on with our gaffer (Mick McCarthy), a lot of talk. And, as usual, nothing to back it up.'

Newcastle defender Mike Williamson defended Barton, who set up an equaliser for Andy Carroll. 'They targeted Joey, but he can handle it,' he said.

'Teams think they can wind him up, but he's wise to it.'







source: dailymail

Chelsea 2 Stoke 0: Malouda joins the Blues' A-Listers as they ease past Potters

Paying the penalty: Chelsea's Florent Malouda is brought down in the box by Ryan Shawcross


When you play alongside Didier Drogba and Nicolas Anelka it is difficult to get noticed. But Chelsea’s Florent Malouda has become an A-lister in his own right.

His manager, Carlo Ancelotti, believes the midfielder is hungry for success after a disappointing World Cup. Malouda was a 75th minute substitute in France’ s opening day stalemate against Uruguay, but started the losses against Mexico and South Africa and scored Les Bleus’ only goal of a torrid campaign.

Ancelotti said: ‘He has started well and he is one of our best players right now. I think that he has a good motivation after the World Cup. He was angry. He wanted to improve on his poor performance in the World Cup and I think he is doing very well.
‘The World Cup is finished and sometimes you don't do well - so it is a good motivation to come back and be excited to play with Chelsea. Sometimes he was angry - maybe hungry as well.’

Malouda’s hunger is evident, but there is more to his impressive transformation from bit-part player to central figure. It is three years since his £13.5million move from Lyon and he had his 30th birthday in South Africa. He is now used to the physicality and pace of the Premier League but, more importantly, he is no longer a peripheral but a valued player at Stamford Bridge.


Head up: Drogba consoles Lampard after his penaltymiss


Anelka said: ‘It’s difficult to come from the French league and straight away to play for Chelsea in England. It's tough. It's stronger, it's quicker - everything is quicker - and you have to get some games to get used to the English game.


'He's been here three years so he's got used to it and has more confidence. You can see that on the pitch.


‘He's one of the best (in the Premier League). He's intelligent, he can score, assist and he's very strong, so he has everything.’

When he’s not playing ragga music in the dressing room, Malouda thrives in Chelsea’s 4-3-3 formation. A year ago all the talk was of Ancelotti’s diamond midfield, in which Malouda was used on the left, encouraged to tuck in while Ashley Cole steamed past him.

Ancelotti then asked him to play slightly further up field, with Frank Lampard assuming a deeper role.


Flo rider: Malouda beats Sorensen to put Chelsea ahead


But, as the left-sided player of a front three with Drogba inside him and Anelka on the right, Malouda has more licence to roam. Not in the undisciplined way that Joe Cole sometimes scampered about, but to create and exploit space.


Ancelotti said: ‘The difference is to play good football without the ball. With the ball we have skills, but without the ball we are very dangerous.


'I enjoy watching them because we have a lot of solutions as a team, as a group of players.'

Chelsea’s three most advanced players are always moving, making little runs and drifting out wide to find space or dragging defenders with them to create it.

Malouda has learned to utilise this space.

Take his opener in Chelsea’s 2-0 win against Stoke City on Saturday. He ran onto a beautifully weighted through ball straight down the middle from John Terry and fired a right-foot finish past Thomas Sorensen.

It was not just the speed of execution that made the move so devastating, but the way Malouda snuck in and exploited such a killer blow.

The 30-year-old, however, does not just capitalise on the space left by Drogba and Anelka. He creates it, too. This is what has helped Chelsea make such an impressive start to the season. They know the goals will come from somewhere because their movement off the ball is so difficult to track and control.

Anelka said: ‘We try to switch very quickly. If I don't score Didier can score, if Didier doesn't score Florent can score and, if nobody scores, Salomon (Kalou) will come on and score. Everybody can score in this team.

‘We know almost every time we will score one goal. The team who comes to play against Chelsea will be scared because, if they don't score, they know we will.’

Malouda scored 15 goals in 2009-10, 11 of which came after Christmas. This season has been even better: four goals in Chelsea’s three Premier League matches.

Anelka said: ‘He scores more goals than before and I think he wants to score more and more. I think he said he wants to score more goals than last season – then he'll (definitely) be one of the best.’



source: dailymail

Tottenham 0 Wigan 1: It's White Hart Pain for Euro big boys who fail to break down dogged opposition

By Arindam Rej

What's going on? Roman Pavlyuchenko, Jermane Defoe and Tom Huddlestone look dejected following Wigan's winning goal


Now Tottenham are officially one of the big boys they had better be prepared for the little fellas coming to White Hart Lance and putting hordes behind the ball.

Wigan played a deep-sitting 4-5-1 formation on Saturday — and they won’t be the last side to use that tactic against Spurs, who last week qualified for the group stage of the Champions League.

Harry Redknapp’s team are often ruthlessly efficient on the break but the shock 1-0 defeat by Wigan proved that they have a problem against teams who pack the midfield and put men behind the ball.


Wigan used the same tactics and organisational approach against Chelsea the week before and got hammered 6-0. Spurs are incapable of breaking teams down as clinically as the champions, though.


Tottenham manager Harry Redknapp was happy enough to speak openly about the problem.
‘I have felt all along with us that we lack that bit extra when teams sit back,’ he said. ‘We need that bit of flair. We’ve got no real dribblers if (Luka) Modric doesn’t play.’ There is already talk of Spurs being a side that suffers Champions League hangovers.

Their dismal show against Wigan came just three days after a euphoric play-off win against Young Boys - and Redknapp admits that they need to learn from the other English sides who compete in Europe’s showpiece club competition.

‘Chelsea, United and Arsenal are stronger than us,’ admitted Redknapp. ‘We lacked ideas and, the longer it goes on, it becomes harder and harder. People have got to have the courage to come and accept the ball.

Welsh wizard: Gareth Bale comes under pressure from Emmerson Boyce


‘People turn up and expect you to win, don’t they? But we knew it wouldn’t be that easy. I have never really mentioned Inter and Werder Bremen. I know how important it is to get a win against Wigan.’

Tottenham’s England defender Michael Dawson added: ‘They came here and got everyone behind the ball and we couldn’t break them down.

‘They had a good game plan. It happened a few times last year. Stoke came and did the same. Hull did it. Wolves did. Against Wigan, we didn’t create many chances. A few teams will come and do this again.


Pete first: Crouch, left, tangles with Steve Gohouri


‘We’ve got to get used to it. We were attacking and tried to get the ball into midfield but we were getting closed down. Then we tried to go a bit longer - and it wasn’t happening. We maybe left ourselves a bit open at the back. We wanted to go for the win and it backfired.’


Spurs tinkered with their tactics in the hope of finding a breakthrough but no formula worked. Most surprising was Redknapp’s decision to leave Robbie Keane on the bench.


With 20 minutes to go, and the score still 0-0, the situation seemed ripe for Keane to exploit. But Redknapp opted to bring on Giovani Dos Santos, indicating that Keane’s days at White Hart Lane are over with Newcastle poised to swoop, as revealed by Sportsmail.

Wigan were justifiably proud of all the selection and tactical headaches that they posed Tottenham, having lost 9-1 at White Hart Lane last season. The Lancashire side also came into this game in dire form, opening the season with a 4-0 home drubbing against Blackpool before the mauling against Chelsea.

Defender Emmerson Boyce was one of the few survivors from that 9-1 nightmare. After Saturday’s 1-0 triumph, he said: ‘Last year was definitely playing on our minds. We did it for our fans. Last year hurt us. Losing 9-1 is not nice. A lot of people took the mickey out of us. Coming here and keeping a clean sheet, we got some of our respect back.

‘At times, we’ve over-played this season and caused ourselves problems. The manager told us to keep it tight. We carried our gameplan out to perfection.’

Sadly for Tottenham, they won’t be the only team using that gameplan this season. It’s up to Redknapp to find the answers to it.


Results That Rocked


source: dailymail

Aston Villa 1 Everton 0: Toffees come unstuck again thanks to rare Luke Young strike

By Neil Moxley

Hero, not Villain: Luke Young grabbed a rare goal to seal the points from Aston Villa


Luke Young was ignored for reasons unknown by former Aston Villa boss Martin O'Neill. If the right back wanted to send his old boss a message and help appoint his successor, he chose the perfect time to do so.

His coolly-struck eighth-minute goal somehow earned Villa's caretaker boss Kevin MacDonald a second straight home victory in the Barclays Premier League as the Scot's hopes of landing the job were given a huge boost.

After conceding nine goals in four days, there was apprehension around Villa Park as David Moyes's slick Everton played with swagger.

By the final whistle, nothing had changed. Villa took the lead and their players defended as if their livelihoods depended on it.

For some of them, that might have been true with the managerial vacancy at Villa up for grabs in the two-week international break.

There was a degree of good fortune about their win. Sixty-eight per cent of possession and 18 corners failed to reap the reward Everton's neat approach work deserved


Top of the stopper: Tim Howard produced an excellent save from Ashley Young to keep Everton in the match


They were guilty of over-playing at times but Villa still needed two saves of the highest quality in the final seconds from Brad Friedel to secure the points.

MacDonald will be asked today if he wants to be considered for the post on a full-time basis. He ticks plenty of the boxes for owner Randy Lerner, but Villa confirmed last night that they have started interviewing other candidates.

MacDonald has a head start because he enjoys the respect of Villa's dressing-room, has shown a commitment to bringing through youngsters - many of whom he has nurtured - and has the goodwill of everyone at Villa, having spent 15 years here living his professional life in the shadows.


Dashed: Everton's Jack Rodwell (left) was forced off with an injury midway through the second half


However, in the three weeks since O'Neill quit, MacDonald's emotions have been tossed about like a teddy bear in a washing machine.

MacDonald said: 'Mr Lerner came into the dressing-room at the final whistle and said "Well done". I'll be trying to speak to him tomorrow.


'Twenty minutes after a game like that is no time to make a decision that could change your life. I still don't know whether it's for me. I've got to be convinced that Aston Villa will progress under me.

'I'd have to discuss how we see the future of the club. That would be a big thing for me.'

Yesterday's decisive moment came when Everton's Marouane Fellaini failed to control the ball near his own penalty area. Winger Ashley Young picked up possession and Luke Young charged infield, unchallenged.

Taking the ball in his stride, he lofted it into the top corner of Tim Howard's net.

Steven Pienaar crashed a shot against the right post but they only consistently threatened once Louis Saha had replaced Jermaine Beckford in the second half.

James Collins and Luke Young will be black and blue this morning after a succession of shots crashed into their torsos.

Moyes said: 'We did enough to come away with something. We held a dominance, but we are getting into the final third and not creating well enough. Last year we were scoring goals from different areas. We are still looking around for those goals.'


source: dailymail

Manchester United 3 West Ham 0: Nani finally fills the void left by Ronaldo as Reds cruise to win

By Ian Ladyman

What a hit: Danny Gabbidon can't stop Nani scoring United's second


Of all the words spoken in the wake of Cristiano Ronaldo's £80million move to Real Madrid last year, those spoken by Portuguese compatriot Nani perhaps offered the least comfort to Manchester United fans.

'My opportunity has come,' said Nani. 'The time has come for United to put their trust in me.' Those words sounded hollow, such had been Nani's modest contribution up to that point.

A year on, however, and Nani finally looks the kind of player who can make a lasting impact, as he illustrated in United's convincing 3-0 win over West Ham.



It now looks as though he can help United and manager Sir Alex Ferguson through what looks a challenging season.

Ferguson needs his supporting cast to step forward because Wayne Rooney is not at his best after a dispiriting World Cup and veterans Paul Scholes and Ryan Giggs cannot be expected to play every week.

Nani was excellent on Saturday. Having missed the World Cup with a shoulder injury, the 23-year-old looks fresh and appears to have developed an awareness of the game that is so important at the highest level.


Step it up: West Ham No 2 Zeljko Petrovic speaks to Carlton Cole at half-time


Having missed an important penalty at Fulham a week earlier, Nani perhaps owed his team a decent performance - and he didn't disappoint.

He scored a fine second-half goal to make sure there would be no West Ham fightback and then provided a super cross for Dimitar Berbatov's spectacular third.


The opener: 'Dishevelled' Wayne Rooney slots home United's penalty


Nani lived with Ronaldo after joining United three years ago and the two remain friends. Comparisons are inevitable, if not necessarily welcomed.

'I don't like to compare us,' said Nani recently. 'I respect Cristiano and he respects me a lot. He's an unbelievable player.

'I try to be the best I can and I am working every day to get better. I hope he can be the best at what he does and me the best at what I do.


'I am not jealous. We have one year in age between us but he started to play professionally earlier than me. I saw him come to Manchester so early and he gave us a lot of courage in our play.

'It was fantastic to live together because we are quite similar in personality. We played jokes on each other and we played everything; table tennis, snooker, swimming. It was competition all the time.'

Playing on the right on Saturday - the position Ferguson revealed the left-footed winger prefers - Nani produced the stand-out performance in a United display that could have buried a dismal West Ham.

Rooney took his penalty well but remains unrecognisable from last season. United assistant manager Mike Phelan suggested the club's star man had returned from the World Cup 'dishevelled' and it is easy to see what he means.



source: dailymail

Liverpool 1 West Bromwich 0: Fernando Torres to the rescue as Reds labour against Baggies

By Sportsmail Reporter

Winner: Torres hits the mark for the first time 11 games to take all three points at Anfield


Striker Fernando Torres may still be some way short of his lethal best but he underlined his quality - and importance to Liverpool - with a brilliant strike to defeat 10-man West Brom at Anfield.

Two knee operations at the back-end of last season and a late return from the World Cup have impacted on the 26-year-old's fitness and match sharpness.

But a clinical strike midway through the second half - his first Barclays Premier League goal since March 28 and 50th at Anfield in all competitions - proved too good for promoted West Bromwich.


Torres was rested for the midweek Europa League play-off trip to Trabzonspor and the decision was justified with victory in Turkey without him and, more importantly, rewarded with the winning goal against the Baggies.

He had not scored in 10 matches for club and country coming into this game as he has been working his way back to fitness but even a 75% fit Torres provides a threat for opposition defences.

Torres had three half-chances in the opening 45 minutes but none could have been classed a genuine opportunity.


To the rescue: Kuyt and Torres celebrate after linking up for the winner


His first in only the third minute was curled straight into the arms of former Liverpool goalkeeper Scott Carson before a close-range strike was then crowded out at the near post.

His third sight of goal, in the 15th minute, was an indicator of where the Spain international is in terms of sharpness.

Martin Skrtel's header sent Milan Jovanovic charging down the centre of the pitch but Torres was half-a-yard short in reaching the pass as a sliding Gabriel Tamas cleared the danger.


New boy: Raul Meireles poses with a Liverpool shirt ahead of the clash with West Bromwich


Liverpool dominated possession but there were a couple of occasions when West Bromwich threatened to make them pay.

Marc-Antoine Fortune, making his first appearance for the club since he returned from Celtic, fired in a low shot which goalkeeper Jose Reina collected at the second attempt while late in the half James Morrison sliced a long-range shot just wide.

New signing Raul Meireles, given the number four shirt vacated by Alberto Aquilani's loan to Juventus, would have been hugely underwhelmed by what he saw.


Off you go: James Morrison's lunge on Fernando Torres earned him a red card


It is doubtful, though, whether the display would have been enough to have had left-back Paul Konchesky, also watching from the stands, reconsidering whether to complete on his move from Fulham in the next 24 hours.

Four minutes after the interval Steven Gerrard controlled the ball on his chest before attempting a speculative 40-yard volley which dropped harmlessly wide of Carson's left-hand post.


West Brom midfielder was off-target with two long-range efforts while the closest Liverpool came to scoring was when Martin Skrtel hooked a half-cleared Torres cross narrowly wide of the right-hand post.


That was until Baggies defender Jonas Olsson almost gifted them a goal when he attempted to roll Tamas' pass back to Carson but sent it past the far upright.

The goal eventually came in the 65th minute when Torres combined with Dirk Kuyt down the left and when his team-mate returned the ball to the edge of the penalty area the Spain striker expertly shifted his position to volley into the turf and past Carson.

Seven minutes later he almost had his second when he side-footed Gerrard's far-post cross straight at Carson.

Eight minutes from time he was denied again when Kuyt and Gerrard worked the ball across the top of the penalty area only for the Spaniard's strike to be charged down by Gonzalo Jara with the aid of an arm - unseen by referee Lee Probert.

However, the referee did spot Morrison's lunge at Torres and responded with a straight red card.

Torres departed after another 89-minute work-out safe in the knowledge he is gradually edging closer to his prolific best and Liverpool had secured their 2000th league victory.




source: dailymail

Sunderland 1 Manchester City 0: Darren Bent dents City hopes with stoppage time penalty

By Colin Young

Last-ditch: Sunderland's Darren Bent grabs a dramatic winner deep into stoppage-time at the Stadium of Light


Steve Bruce has still not perfected the art of watching penalties, but Darren Bent seems to have found the knack of burying them as he sank Manchester City's big shots with a last -gasp spot-kick.

Last season the England striker missed three against former club Tottenham and superstitious Bruce, who has been known to go down the tunnel to avoid watching penalties, didn't know which way to look.

On the first day of this campaign, before Bent netted against Birmingham, Bruce walked away and waited for the crowd's reaction to determine whether or not to celebrate.

Yesterday, three minutes into added time and with Sunderland's first win of the season at stake, their manager adopted the same routine as Bent took an age to prepare for a kick against England colleague Joe Hart.

Bent, who had been pulled down by Micah Richards to win the penalty, scuffed his shot and just about sent the ball under diving Hart.

After watching a replay of the winner, Bruce joked: 'He'll not be taking them again!'By the time the cheers were echoing round the Stadium of Light, and Bruce was throwing his bottle of water in the air in celebration, he was inside Manchester City's technical area where, for once, Roberto Mancini was not prowling, pointing and mumbling.


Let off: Carlos Tevez was guilty of a glaring miss in the first half when he poked the ball over with no-one between him and the back of the net


If Mancini wasn't a borderline lunatic before he took the City job, his players are going the right way to ensure he ends up one. The Italian was resplendent in suit and long mac, compared to Bruce's tracksuit and football boots.

But Mancini looked the more dishevelled by the end after Sunderland's first win over City in 10 years. He has almost a fortnight to stew on a result which already leaves his side five points behind Chelsea.

Half an hour after Bent's winner, Mancini was still fuming. 'I do not know how we lost this game,' he said. 'I want to speak to the players when they come back from the international break because it was too easy for Sunderland.

'It is important we understand why we lost. When players defend with 10 behind the ball we must be passionate. We were fantastic in the first half and had four great chances but if you don't score you are always in danger.'

He didn't have to name names after witnessing an early contender for miss of the season from Carlos Tevez. Bruce said: 'I really don't think he will ever miss one like that again.'


Battle: Yaya Toure produced a fine performance in midfield alongside Lee Cattermole who returned from suspension


The 16th-minute chance came with City on top and from a Sunderland corner. Yaya Toure skipped past the last desperate challenge of Lee Cattermole after a powerful break from box to box and glided clear of Sunderland's static keeper Simon Mignolet.

But, rather than sidefoot the ball into an empty net, Toure passed to his captain, who scooped his shot over the gaping goal.

It was not City's only chance but Sunderland were equal to the other threats. When Tevez turned provider for Yaya Toure, Mignolet dived bravely at his feet and when Fraizer Campbell's dreadful pass found Tevez, his low shot was diverted wide by Michael Turner.


Shock: Subsitute Emmanuel Adebayor (centre) was denied in stunning fashion Simon Mignolet


Late on, Mignolet turned away an Emmanuel Adebayor flick from a James Milner corner with a fingertip save, and even Hart applauded.

Bruce changed tactics to deal with City's £180million starting XI, employing a five-man midfield, with Bent the lone striker.

When Turner and Campbell failed to appear after the break after robust challenges, Danny Welbeck transformed Sunderland in the second half.

When Bent's weak finish from a Welbeck pass was half-cleared by Vincent Kompany, the on-loan Manchester United striker thrashed the ball over.

Bruce was hoping to conclude a deal for Rennes striker Asamoah Gyan last night amid fears that Campbell will be out for two months with knee ligament damage.



source: dailymail

Bolton 2 Birmingham 2: Slap in the face for Blues as 10-man Trotters fight back for point

By Sportsmail Reporter

Off you go: Jussi Jaaskelainen was sent off for slapping Roger Johnson


Kevin Davies and Robbie Blake struck from set-pieces as 10-man Bolton came from two down to claim a draw in a fiery Barclays Premier League contest with Birmingham.

Blues defender Roger Johnson began an eventful afternoon at the Reebok Stadium with an early opener before getting involved in an incident that saw Bolton goalkeeper Jussi Jaaskelainen sent off.

Johnson had challenged Jaaskelainen for the ball just before half-time and the Finn appeared to slap him in the face as they regained their feet.

Craig Gardner doubled Birmingham's lead but Bolton responded to the challenge to maintain their unbeaten start to the campaign.

Davies replied with a penalty after a foul by the ubiquitous Johnson and veteran Blake levelled with a stunning late free-kick.

Both sides went into the game with confidence after collecting four points each from their opening two games.

Changes were minimal with Bolton fielding the same XI that beat West Ham last week and Birmingham bringing in the influential Lee Bowyer for Nikola Zigic.

The visitors made the perfect start as Johnson handed them a lead after a fine move in the fourth minute.

Bowyer pulled the ball back from the byline after being played through by James McFadden and Cameron Jerome flicked the ball into the path of Johnson, who slid in to score from six yards.


Stunner: Summer signing Robbie Blake's free-kick brought the two sides level


Yet as impressive as Birmingham's interplay had been, they were almost caught by Bolton's more direct approach just two minutes later.

Davies leapt highest to flick on a long ball and Johan Elmander burst into the area only to lash a glorious chance for a quick equaliser wide.

Martin Petrov seized on a slip by Stephen Carr to get in another shooting opportunity but the Birmingham captain got back to block.

Petrov found more space outside the area soon after but his next shot was deflected and Ben Foster saved. At the other end Gardner drilled the ball into the net but Kevin Friend's whistle had already gone for a foul on Zat Knight.

Jerome then appealed for a penalty after claiming Elmander had impeded him while trying to take a shot but Friend was not interested.


Flashpoint: Jaaskelainen slaps Johnson and is then handed his marching orders


Bolton then broke upfield and Petrov won a free-kick after being brought down by Johnson. Stuart Holden curled the resulting set-piece at goal but Foster palmed over the bar.

Gary Cahill, Petrov and Elmander all had shooting opportunities as Birmingham struggled to clear their own box but the ball was passed, sliced and then missed completely by the three players concerned.

Birmingham should have made them pay as they hit Bolton with a quick counter-attack but McFadden volleyed straight at Jaaskelainen after being picked out unmarked by the breaking Gardner.

Jaaskelainen was dismissed eight minutes before the interval after being knocked over by Johnson. When he got up he clearly raised his hands to Johnson's face and Friend had no option but to show a red card.

Chaos momentarily broke out and Johnson was booked after getting involved with Petrov.


We've done it! Blake heads to the Bolton fans after scoring a dramatic equaliser


When calm was restored, Petrov was sacrificed by manager Owen Coyle as substitute goalkeeper Adam Bogdan was sent on.

Bolton's 10 men were left facing an uphill struggle after Birmingham claimed a controversial second goal five minutes into the second half.

Jerome looked fractionally offside as McFadden crossed into the area but the flag stayed down as the striker headed back across the six-yard box.

With the Bolton defence static, Gardner was the first to react and he prodded the ball past Bogdan at the second attempt following a miskick.

Elmander had a chance to pull one back but was thwarted by a good Foster save after getting on the end of a low cross from Lee Chung-yong.

Bolton appealed for a penalty by claiming Gretar Steinsson was impeded at a corner by Bowyer but nothing was given.

But Friend did point to the spot 21 minutes from time as Johnson was penalised for climbing on the back of Davies.


Double your money: Craig Gardner celebrates scoring Birmingham's second before Bolton began comeback


The Bolton skipper emphatically reduced the deficit as he thumped the ball into the top corner.

The hosts increased the pressure and levelled nine minutes from time after Cahill was fouled on the edge of the area by Barry Ferguson.

Summer signing Blake, a 67th-minute replacement for Elmander, stepped up to curl in a brilliant equaliser.

Davies almost grabbed a late winner but blasted wide from inside the box. Jerome had a chance in injury time at the other end but Bogdan blocked with his feet.



source: dailymail

Warrington 30 Leeds 6: Brilliant Lee Briers shines at Wembley as Chris Hicks scores hat-trick in another Challenge Cup triumph for Wolves

By Richard Bott

Leading the way: Lee Briers lifts the Challenge Cup after a hat-trick of tries from Chris Hicks


Warrington wizard Lee Briers turned Super League champions and Carnegie Challenge Cup favourites Leeds to stone yesterday.

Briers, who dreamed the dream a year ago when Warrington lifted the cup for the first time for 35 years, made sure they kept their hands on it.

He produced enough sorcery to win a dozen cup finals and was such a dominant force, with his tactical kicking and astute passing, that he was a runaway winner of the Lance Todd Trophy as the man of the match.

He collected more votes than his team scored points and the next best, full-back Richie Mathers, polled two. For shell-shocked Leeds, it was a fourth consecutive defeat in the final.

But they could have no complaints and their fans were streaming for the exits from the moment Warrington winger Chris Hicks went over for his hat-trick try in the 72nd minute.

Hicks said: ‘Not a lot of teams get to win back-to-back titles. We felt like we were on top for the whole game. We held them out superbly and fully deserved the win. We held them out and Richie Mathers held up three blokes.’

Leeds missed the drive and leadership of their injured England captain Jamie Peacock, whose season was ended by a knee injury a few weeks ago. Tony Smith had been bold enough to name his Warrington team at the traditional Wembley Walkabout on the eve of the game and to leave out his club’s record signing, 20-year-old England half-back Richard Myler.

In opting for experience rather than raw pace and potential, the former Leeds coach knew he was taking a gamble. It paid off, but Myler’s time will come.

Leeds coach Brian McClennan kept his line-up under wraps until an hour before kick-off, leaving out the experienced Kiwi forward Ali Lauitiiti and giving rising star Chris Clarkson, an apprentice bricklayer, a dream start in the second row.


Delight: Warrington's Ryan Atkins is congratulated after scoring his first try at Wembley


Leeds prop Ryan Bailey has not scored a try for three years but it took a last-ditch tackle by Ryan Atkins and Louis Anderson to deny him one after three minutes.

It was as close as the Rhinos came to breaching Warrington’s excellent defence in the first 40 minutes. Warrington hit them with two Briers-inspired tries in a three-minute spell.


Heading for the line: Ryan Atkins runs to score his second try


The brilliant playmaker fashioned the first for winger Ryan Atkins with a sweet lofted kick, Atkins jumping in front of a statue-like Brett Delaney to catch and score. Then Briers pegged Leeds back with a 40-20 kick and within a minute his long, looping pass to Matt King was helped on to Hicks, who cut inside to touch down.

Leeds seemed to have no answer to either Briers or Warrington’s overall energy and they conceded a third try after 35 minutes, Chris Riley breaking from defence and Atkins ‘dummying’ his way past Ian Kirke to run under the posts. Ben Westwood, having failed with his first two conversion attempts, was not going to miss that one.


Crunching: Warrington's Mick Higham charges with the ball


There was no respite for Leeds in the second period when centre Brett Delaney was twice held up over the Warrington line by the sheer quality of their defence.

Leeds lost forward Jamie Jones-Buchanan after 55 minutes and Hicks gathered a huge kick from their main tormentor Briers to score his second try. Lee Smith eventually barged over to spare Leeds a whitewash but Hicks completed his hat-trick and Louis Anderson rubbed salt into the wound four minutes from time.


source :dailymail