Inter star open to Spurs move

Inter midfielder Suuly Muntari has admitted he would consider a move to Tottenham Hotspur in the summer.

Muntari played under Spurs boss Harry Redknapp at Portsmouth and has been linked with a move back to England despite being an integral part of an Inter side which is set to win Serie A.

However, Inter boss Jose Mourinho could be tempted to offer Muntari to Spurs in part exchange for long-tem target Jermaine Jenas.
And Muntari said: 'I love the football in England, there is no doubt about that, that is where the best league is.

'But I only signed last year for Inter and I like it here. As long as the coach still needs me, I am happy to stay.

'At the end of the season things could change, though, so we will have to wait and see.

'Everyone knows that I really like Harry.

'He is one of the best coaches in football, he is a top manager like the one I have at the moment.

'A move to Spurs? I don't know.'

Delay to Old Firm Premier League proposal

Premier League chairmen are expected to delay discussing plans to include Celtic and Rangers in a new two-tier set-up until at least the summer.

Bolton chief Phil Gartside was set to put forward the proposal at Thursday's meeting of top-flight clubs but it has not been included on the agenda.

His plan is for a two-tier Premier League with 18 clubs in each division, among them the Old Firm. It is understood although Uefa are neutral about the proposal, the Football Association and Scottish FA would block such a move.

Meanwhile, MPs have called for rule changes to prevent the likes of the American owners of Manchester United and Liverpool saddling clubs with debts of hundreds of millions of pounds.

Parliamentary Football Group chairman Alan Keen MP said: 'We say before someone takes over they pass a test and should be financing the takeover on money they put in and not on debt.'

Rooney: Best is yet to come

Wayne Rooney insists there is still a lot more to come from him.

Although he was denied an appearance in Sunday's FA Cup semi-final against old club Everton after being left at home to rest ahead of tomorrow night's Premier League showdown with Portsmouth, it could still be a glittering year for the Manchester United striker.

A title hat-trick and back-to-back European Cup wins are still on the agenda, in addition to his matchwinning performance in the Club World Cup final last December.
On the international front, Rooney now has 50 England caps to his name, an amazing achievement considering he is still only 23.

But there is no way the United striker will start taking it easy.

He knows there is still plenty to do if he is to fulfil his talent, including scoring a few more goals.

'There is still a lot more to come from me,' he said.

'I would love to score more goals consistently each year. I am still working on that and hopefully I can improve.'

Rooney has reached 17 for United already this term, plus another seven for England.

'I am only 23 but I suppose I started off at an early age so I have achieved quite a lot,' said Rooney.

'I understand people expect things of me now.

'I just have to keep playing as well as I can. That is what I must try and do.

'If I can help Manchester United or England win trophies it would be great for me.'

If United and England are to achieve success, Rooney will be a major influence.

However, while Fabio Capello has built his new-look side around the £27million star, handing him the support striker's role many thought would be given to Steven Gerrard, at United Rooney is used slightly differently.

Ferguson does not need to be told about Rooney's prowess as a forward.

But when a specific job needs doing, stopping full-back Aly Cissokho flying down the wing for Porto last week for example, the Red Devils chief knows he can rely on Rooney.

At some clubs around the world, a star name would turn their noses up at such tasks. Rooney relishes them.

'I have played in a few different positions over the last few weeks,' he said.

'Sometimes you can't express yourself as much as you would like but you have to do a job for the team.

'For me it is easy to see the bigger picture. Maybe other players around the world don't want to put the work in.

'You never really see any of the top players running back and helping out like that. For me it is about the team. I have no problem with that.'

Barton can save Newcastle, insists Shearer

Newcastle manager Alan Shearer is hoping forgotten man Joey Barton can revitalise his midfield just when he needs it most.

The 26-year-old former Manchester City player is expected to return to full training later this week after recovering from a fractured metatarsal and would then be in contention for the make-or-break Barclays Premier League clash with Portsmouth on Monday evening.

The Magpies midfield has lacked penetration in recent months, leaving the club's strikers starved of meaningful possession, so the return of a man who is yet to even start paying off his £5.8million transfer fee cannot come soon enough.
At his peak with City, Barton both scored and created goals, and Shearer is desperate for him to do just that as his side prepare for their final five games of the campaign, with three of them must-win affairs at St James' Park.

The manager said: 'Joey has had treatment all over the weekend and if everything goes well with him over the next few days, we might have him in full training on Thursday or Friday.

'He can also run on and get past the forwards, which, with all due respect, Nicky Butt, who is 34, can't do.

'He does well in other jobs that he does, but he can't get past the forwards, and if Joey is there to do that, then it would free up some other players.'

Barton was signed by former boss Sam Allardyce in July 2007, but has managed only 31 appearances since as a result of injuries and his spell in prison.

Just five of his 25 starts have come this season with knee and foot problems having severely restricted his attempts to belatedly prove his worth on Tyneside.

The Magpies are yet to see anything like his best form on a consistent basis, and Shearer will keep his fingers crossed that he can prove an inspirational figure in what is effectively a five-game shoot-out.

Newcastle's chances of top-flight survival have realistically come down to their remaining home games against Pompey, Middlesbrough and Fulham with only three victories likely to keep them up.

Barton's return, as well as that of Jose Enrique, who has missed the last two games with a knee injury, could prove significant, although the club was today awaiting the outcome of a scan on Steven Taylor's ankle problem.

It promises to be a tense few weeks on Tyneside as the Magpies attempt to dig themselves out of a hole entirely of their own making.

However, despite the ongoing uncertainty, planning for next season is under way. Shearer has repeatedly insisted he will not be at the helm come August with Joe Kinnear expected to return in some capacity, although the 38-year-old's denials have done little to dispel speculation that he could remain in charge.

But whatever happens over the next few weeks on and off the field, the process of identifying potential summer transfer targets is continuing despite the club not knowing which division they will be playing in next term.

Shearer said: 'That's all still happening. There have been one or two tweaks to the system, but it all has to happen for next season.

'That's for the benefit for the football club next season.'

Perhaps significantly, Shearer's return to St James' was confirmed hours after it emerged that controversial executive director (football) Dennis Wise, who was employed to oversee recruitment, had parted company with Newcastle.

RSS ICON Your views Bellamy set to miss rest of season

Manchester City manager Mark Hughes has confirmed striker Craig Bellamy is almost certainly out for the rest of the season because of a knee injury.

Bellamy, who arrived from West Ham in January, has missed the last three matches after suffering the setback during the UEFA Cup quarter-final first-leg defeat at Hamburg.

Hughes said: 'Craig has got to have complete rest for two weeks then he comes back for strength work.
'Hopefully he might get the last couple of games, but the probability is that he won't.'

Bellamy's absence is a blow for Hughes as his side are anxious to claim seventh place and a spot in the Europa League.

The 29-year-old - who had problems with the knee on international duty with Wales last month - settled in quickly at Eastlands following his move from the Hammers.

Bellamy scored five goals in 10 starts for City before seeing his progress hampered by the injury.

There was better news regarding the fitness of Bulgaria striker Valeri Bojinov, who will play for the reserves tonight at Middlesbrough after being left out the squad for the victory against West Brom on Sunday.

Hughes said: 'He needs more physical work and we're hoping he comes through at Middlesbrough to be available at the weekend.'

Shaun Wright-Phillips is still struggling to recover from the ankle damage that has ruled him out of the last three games while Pablo Zabaleta's hamstring injury is also cause for concern, with Hughes admitting: 'We've probably lost him for a number of games.'

Hiddink: I won't manage Chelsea and Russia

Guus Hiddink has ruled out any prospect of combining both the Russia and Chelsea jobs next season.

The Dutchman is currently combining both roles and continues to insist he will leave Chelsea after the FA Cup final at Wembley on May 30.

Hiddink has now dismissed any chance of combining the roles next season as he attempts to guide Russia into the 2010 World Cup finals in South Africa.

Hiddink has a clause in his contract with the Russian Football Federation that allows him to leave the job should they fail to reach the finals.

He has transformed Chelsea since he took charge from sacked Luiz Felipe Scolari and fans and most of the players are keen for him to stay.

The Blues are in the final of the FA Cup and in the last four of the Champions League as well as having an outside chance of snatching the league title from Manchester United.

But even if the Barclays Premier League club reached a further agreement with the Russian Federation to allow Hiddink to continue in both roles until their World Cup fate was known, the Dutchman would turn it down.

'It's important this relationship I have with the Russia players,' said Hiddink.

'Because, even on a practical level, it's impossible to do. In August we have a friendly game which is 48 hours before a Chelsea game.

'Then you have to look at all the Russian players ahead of the qualifiers in September, and there are more qualifiers in October.

'Hopefully not in November, but there is a possibility of a play-off. So I'll be very occupied with all that.

'I know the body of the squad - so scouting isn't the main issue, but I've challenged them and it wouldn't be fair for me to leave.

'There is this project I started to renew with my people. It would not be fair with the players who I challenged to go into a new era of football if I said: 'Sorry, I'm leaving'.'

Hiddink is preparing his side for an FA Cup final dress rehearsal against Everton tomorrow and he knows that victory will keep their dreams of a trophy-treble alive.

'We have the attitude in the club, even in training sessions, that we want to win. So, what I try to say, is that tomorrow's game we want to win as well.

'What's coming up at the end of May, at that time we will see. We still take these games seriously, even though we have the Champions League and the FA Cup coming up.

'The league is very serious for us. As long as it's possible for us, then we go on. The pressure is more on Liverpool than us in terms of Manchester United and the title.

'Mathematically it's possible. In February we had to make sure we qualified for next year's Champions League, but you cannot just be satisfied with that being such a big club.

'Everybody has done what is expected of him, so you push your targets higher. We are doing that. If you'd told us in February that we'd be playing in the FA Cup final on May 30, people would have raised eyebrows.'

Chelsea's season is reaching an exciting climax but Hiddink is refusing to rest some of his key players as they chase glory on three fronts.

The Dutchman is without Deco and Jose Bosingwa for tomorrow's home clash with the Toffees but he is keeping a close watch on the fitness levels of his squad - both mentally and physically.

'I'm very informed by my eye and the eyes of Ray Wilkins as well as by the staff who provide the data and the information on players, to make sure no player gets into an over-load situation,' explained Hiddink.

'Physical fatigue has lots to do with mental fatigue. The body can do a lot of things, but the mental part can obstruct the body.

'But it depends on a player's character, too. Some say they feel 'top' because they like to play, and it's better for me to protect them. Others you have to push a bit harder.'

O'Neill: Villa lack the cash

Martin O'Neill has admitted Aston Villa "won't be able to compete financially" with the big four clubs in the Barclays Premier League.

But the Villa manager insists he is still driven on to succeed and to overcome that disadvantage.

"We won't be able to compete financially. We are trying to run this as a business at this minute. That is difficult, especially in this day and age," he said. "It is a tough old business. Financially it is tough out there - and we are not going to be running this club in the manner of some other clubs.

"But I think that is part of the excitement of it all. You have to try and find other ways to compete. I don't think we'll ever be up there in finance terms but it doesn't mean you cannot compete in other ways."

Villa have been in the top six virtually all season and were in strong contention for a Champions League spot until a recent poor run of results left them trailing Arsenal by seven points.

O'Neill added "We have been up there all season, never out of the top six.

"But we are in the same league as Manchester United, who have gates of 75,000 and are a different entity. We are in there against Arsenal, who house 60,000 fans every home game.

"Then we are against the other two (Liverpool and Chelsea), who have our sort of gates but not only have the experience behind them but a lot of money to go at it as well."

Santa Cruz set on Rovers exit

Paraguay striker Roque Santa Cruz claims he has told Blackburn he wants to leave the club at the end of the season.

The 27-year-old, currently recuperating after undergoing a surgical procedure on his troublesome right knee last week, told Paraguayan radio he has informed Rovers he wants to move on in the summer.

'I have already told them (Blackburn) and they know that before the transfer window closes I would like to continue my career at a bigger, more ambitious team,' he told Radio Nanduti.
He added: 'Even though I haven't heard anything, I haven't changed my mind. I think it will be very difficult for me to play again this season because of the recovery. Our last league match is on May 24 and I also need a couple of days for my knee to physically recover.'

The former Bayern Munich frontman could, therefore, have played his last match for Blackburn, as he does not intend to take to the field again before he is 100% fit.

Santa Cruz last week underwent an arthroscopy in Germany, which showed 'a minor degree of wear and tear'. He had the joint washed out but did not require any active surgical procedure.

'I had to clean the zone of the cruciate ligament operation I had three or four years ago because there was some liquid there,' he said.

'When I had the tendonitis in the left knee, it made the other leg overwork. That's why it got worse and I needed the surgery.

'Now, it is up to the knee. The recovery time is between four and six weeks and I will not hurry. The most important thing is to play without any problems. I will wait for my knee to be perfect, no matter how long it takes.'

Liverpool hit back in Rafa row

Liverpool assistant manager Sammy Lee has dismissed criticism of boss Rafael Benitez as 'sad'.

And Lee has questioned why Blackburn chief Sam Allardyce never mentioned to him he felt humiliated by the Spaniard's hand gesture after the recent Premier League match at Anfield.

Both Allardyce and Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson attacked Benitez for a gesture he made when his side scored the second of their four goals against Rovers.

But Lee, who was Allardyce's former No.2 at Bolton, felt the Rovers boss should have voiced his concerns at the time if he felt there was an issue.

Lee said: 'I'm surprised Sam, if he felt that strongly about it, didn't mention it to me when we were sat having a drink after the game. We have a close relationship but I can't speak for what other people read into things.

'We know what we want out of football and it is not for us to talk about other clubs. When people are successful others will always want to knock you.'

Wenger tells Fergie to forget mind games

Arsene Wenger insists he has no interest in being drawn into Sir Alex Ferguson's mind games ahead of tonight's trip to Anfield.

The Manchester United manager has clashed with Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez this season and could not resist having his say ahead of Arsenal's visit, which could have a crucial bearing on the title race.

Ferguson's side are a point clear of the Reds at the top of the Premier League with a game in hand.
A point for Benitez's men would be enough to send them top once more and Arsenal's chances of avoiding defeat could be harmed if Wenger decides to make wholesale changes to the team defeated by Chelsea in the FA Cup semi-final on Saturday.

Striker Emmanuel Adebayor will be rested as he has a slight hamstring problem while leading scorer Robin van Persie is absent with a groin strain.

Ferguson, who fielded a virtual reserve team himself in United's semi-final loss to Everton on Sunday, said: 'I don't know what Arsene will be thinking about tonight but, no matter what, Arsenal always try.

'That is the mantra of Arsene himself. He is a winner. Providing they try, it is all I can ask for.'

Wenger, though, is unconcerned by what rival managers have to say. He insisted: 'I believe it [mind games] was always something which was overrated a bit.

'It is a little bit like advertising - it is needed but what impact it has on sales you never know.I believe it can sometimes have a negative impact rather than a positive impact.'

Chelsea treble talk annoys Lampard

Frank Lampard last night attempted to banish all talk of a potential Chelsea trophy treble.

The England midfielder inspired the Blues to victory against Arsenal on Saturday to reach the FA Cup final with a 2-1 win at Wembley.

The Gunners had taken the lead in the 18th minute through Theo Walcott but Florent Malouda equalised for Chelsea, beating Arsenal keeper Lukasz Fabianski at his near post.
Didier Drogba then smashed his eighth goal in nine games to seal the win late on and leave the Blues still in the hunt for success on three fronts.

Chelsea face Barcelona in the semi-finals of the Champions League and remain in the race for the Premier League title.

But midfielder Lampard insists talk of three trophies only adds to the pressure.

'I hate talk of a treble,' he said. 'When you talk about it the pressure gets even more so we must keep our heads down and take each game and competition as it comes and if we do that then we will have a chance.

'It will be very difficult to win three trophies but if we can win something it would be great.

'We are now in a position where we can be very successful. We must keep doing the good things - playing together and with spirit.

'We want to keep going and keep putting the pressure on. We want to win all our games as you never know what might happen.

Bent admits his Spurs future is in the balance

Tottenham striker Darren Bent admits his future at White Hart Lane is likely to be decided in the next month and will depend on the role he plays in the club's late push for European football.

Bent is Spurs' top scorer this season with 16 goals but the return of Jermain Defoe and Robbie Keane has intensified competition for starting places.

Defoe has now recovered from his foot injury and it means Bent could be back on the bench after starting the last six Barclays Premier League games.

With five matches to go and Spurs chasing a seventh-placed finish, Bent agreed that who starts in those matches could point towards where his future lies.

'No-one likes to sit on the bench,' said the 25-year-old. 'I'll have to see what happens and take it from there. My season has been up and down. The end of the season is coming and we'll have to see what happens after that.'

Bent feels there is a World Cup place up for grabs next year with England if he is playing regular football.

'I would have liked to have played more games and scored more goals,' he said.

'The manager has got decisions to make. He's got fantastic strikers and you have to bide your time. 'If you don't play for your club regularly, you won't play for England. As long as I can keep working hard and scoring goals, hopefully I'll be in there.'

Bent has been encouraged by advice from England boss Fabio Capello, who was at White Hart Lane at the weekend to watch Bent score the winner against Newcastle.

'(Wayne) Rooney is obviously the number one, and there is always a fight for the other spot,' Bent admitted.

'As long as I can keep scoring goals and playing well when he's watching me, it's all I can ask for.

'Fabio is the best England manager we've had for a long time. He's told me on a personal level what he wants from me. He tells you face to face what he wants, which is what you need as a player.'

Van Persie and Adebayor out of Liverpool clash

Arsenal will be without leading scorer Robin van Persie (groin) and striker Emmanuel Adebayor (hamstring) for tomorrow's trip to Liverpool.

However, full-back Bacary Sagna has recovered from a virus and could feature at Anfield, along with fit-again Croatia forward Eduardo.

Despite his Wembley nightmare in Saturday's FA Cup semi-final, Lukasz Fabianski will again deputise in goal for Manuel Almunia (ankle), while defenders Gael Clichy (back), William Gallas (knee) and Johan Djourou (knee) are all sidelined.
Meanwhile, Liverpool will be without captain Steven Gerrard.
The England midfielder is expected to remain sidelined for another seven to 10 days with a groin problem having sat out the last two matches.

However, with a week's rest since their Champions League exit to Chelsea manager Rafael Benitez may not feel the need to rotate his side too much against the Gunners.

Wembley pitch needs sorted out, admit FA

The Football Association today accepted the much-maligned pitch at Wembley Stadium needs to be improved.

The debate over the surface has been rumbling ever since the new stadium was opened two years ago but it intensified over FA Cup semi-final weekend.

The turf proved problematic for Saturday's clash between Arsenal and Chelsea and again for yesterday's tie between Manchester United and Everton, with the top surface appearing spongy and giving way easily under players' feet.
Its harshest critics were the two losing managers. Arsene Wenger branded it 'a disaster' and 'laughable' while Sir Alex Ferguson said the soil looked 'dead' and withdrew three senior players from his starting line-up because of injury concerns ahead of the season's run-in.

The pitch has had to be re-laid five times in two years since the new £750million stadium opened. The standard of the turf even prompted the Australian Rugby Union to investigate whether it contributed to injuries to two Wallabies in an international against the Barbarians in November last year.

The FA confirmed the state of the pitch is a concern and said they are focusing on improving it for the numerous fixtures in the next two months.

'Whilst recent changes to the surface have seen improvements in player traction, we accept there are still further improvements to be made,' a statement from the governing body read.

'Wembley Stadium will continue to work hard to address these issues for our next matches.

'The grounds team has made continual improvements to the pitch since opening in 2007, however, the stadium's unique environment continues to prove challenging.'

Before the end of the season, the turf will have to withstand three Football League play-off finals plus the Blue Square Premier play-off final, the FA Cup final and the finals of the FA Trophy and Vase. England then play a World Cup qualifier against Andorra on June 10.

Aside from football, there is an AC/DC concert on June 26 and, in July, three Oasis dates and four Take That concerts.

It will be re-laid again for the Community Shield in August and the FA's statement added that 'this new pitch will be of a different composition and from a different turf nursery'.

David Saltman, formerly in charge of Millennium Stadium pitch and now the managing director of www.pitchcare.com, said Wembley will never be as good as a Premier League club's surface.

'This pitch is the most spotlighted pitch in country if not the world,' he told BBC Radio Five Live.

'The number of events on the grass and off it is staggering.

'One of the problems with Wembley and the Millennium is they're not just pitches for football.

'Managers such as Ferguson and Wenger are used to playing on pitches which are just prepared for football week in, week out and the levels are superb. The pitch is cut short and the players know what they are going to be going on to.

'At Wembley and the Millennium the pitches are turfed - they have to be because of the other events - so you're never going to have the same sort of perfect level you have with an in-situ pitch you get in the Premier League and the Championship.'

Premier League and FA Cup - Who’s Hot and Who’s Not

The candidates are Chelsea, Everton, Tottenham, Manchester City, Portsmouth, Stoke and Sunderland. They all won, but look at who they were playing. Tottenham beat a desperately poor Newcastle, City beat a desperately poor West Brom, Portsmouth beat a desperately poor Bolton, Stoke beat a desperately poor Blackburn and Sunderland beat a desperately poor Hull.

It has to be one of the FA Cup finalists but look at who Everton beat - Van der Sar, Neville, O’Shea, Evans, Evra, Ronaldo, Carrick, Scholes, Giggs, Berbatov, Rooney. That’s the United team that didn’t start the game!

Through the process of elimination, the Hot team have to be Chelsea who beat a pretty good Arsenal team.
# Not Hot team

Basically all the losing teams, together with Middlesbrough who could only draw at home, are in the frame for this award.

The winner for me, by a mile is the Hull City team who went down at Sunderland to leave them with just one win in seventeen games.
# Hot keeper

To make a couple of fine penalty saves for your team is great for a keeper. To make them at Wembley to put your side through to an FA Cup final is even better. To do so against your old team, the World and European champions is just the icing on the cake.

There is no doubt that this week’s Hot keeper is Everton’s Tim Howard.
# Not Hot keeper

The good news for West Brom’s Scott Carson is that someone had an even worse game than him this week. It can’t be easy for a young keeper to step into a team and play in an FA Cup semi-final at Wembley. At least, I imagine it can’t be easy after watching the pretty poor efforts of Arsenal’s Lukasz Fabianski on Saturday!

The first goal beat him at his near post and the second goal…well, where on earth did he think he was going!?
# Hot defender

He’s had a great season and received England recognition. He has become one of the best defenders in the Premier League and yesterday, he struck home the penalty that took his team to Wembley.

Whilst Nemanja Vidic was absolutely immense for Manchester United, this award goes to Everton’s Phil Jagielka.
# Not Hot defender

Poor old Newcastle haven’t really had the type of reaction that many of us, including me, thought they would have to the appointment of Alan Shearer.

A defeat to Chelsea, a draw with Stoke and a pretty tame defeat yesterday at Tottenham has hardly been what Shearer must have been hoping for.

In amongst that performance yesterday was a particularly poor showing from one of this season’s signings, Ryan Taylor. The way he played sort of summed up Newcastle’s season so far. He was all over the place.
# Hot midfielder

I have been his biggest critic since he came to the Premier League, but I truly believe he has deserved it. Florent Malouda has been the biggest waste of money since Shevchenko or Alves…OK, there have been quite a few, but he has been rubbish!

All of a sudden, under Guus Hiddink, he has started to look like an international footballer. He scored Chelsea’s first goal on Saturday and had an all round good game. At last, we are beginning to see what Chelsea paid for.
# Not Hot midfielder

I love Paul Scholes. He is a true legend of the game and a true great. However, when he came on a substitute yesterday I was really pleased because I thought we might see a bit of quality that had been sadly missing from the game. The one thing you know about Scholsey is that he will just never give the ball away.

Yesterday, and against Porto in the first leg of their European tie, Paul did very little other than give the ball away. Form is temporary and class is permanent, so they say, but Scholesy is suffering a terrible blip in his form. He will always be a class act but I wonder if his days are numbered.
# Hot striker

He has had a very poor season by his standards and he has never been far away from controversy. Didier Drogba has looked like a shadow of his former self for much of this season.

He has become another player who seems to have blossomed under the guidance of Guus Hiddink and his performances against Liverpool in Europe and against Arsenal on Saturday, where he scored the winning goal, were right up there with his best.

When he is in form he is a frightening prospect for any defender. Nobody will fancy marking him between now and the end of the season.
# Not Hot striker

I am fed up with defending Dimitar Berbatov. He is a great player with a wonderful touch and outstanding vision.

He came on as a substitute yesterday and offered his team-mates absolutely nothing. He then took a penalty in the shoot out that must have been one of the worst penalties ever taken by a so-called international footballer.

Beckham stars for Milan on return from injury

AC Milan surged up to joint second in Serie A thanks to Filippo Inzaghi's hat-trick in a 5-1 home thrashing of lowly Torino on Sunday.

Carlo Ancelotti's in-form side moved level with Juventus on 64 points but are still 10 behind leaders Inter Milan with just six games left in the season.

Stuttering Juve drew 1-1 at home with Inter on Saturday and Milan quickly made sure they took advantage, Inzaghi nodding in David Beckham's corner after 13 minutes.
Beckham, returning to the starting lineup after two games on the bench, caused havoc and Inzaghi soon flicked in another of his crosses with fourth-bottom Torino completely powerless.

Inzaghi, 35, converted Ronaldinho's pass in the second half before Kaka netted a penalty, Ivan Franceschini grabbed a consolation and Massimo Ambrosini finished off a good move.

Ancelotti, linked with Chelsea and Real Madrid, had been warned by club bosses that third place was the minimum requirement after limping in fifth last season.

Second spot now looks a distinct possibility with the San Siro meeting with Juve on May 10 especially important given head-to-head records separate teams on the same points.

Real target Liverpool star Alonso

Liverpool face a fight to hang on to their key central midfielder Xabi Alonso this summer, according to reports.

Spanish giants Real Madrid are due to hold their presidential elections soon and Florentino Perez is favourite to succeed.

Should he win, he has made Alonso his No.1 target, reports today's Daily Telegraph.
Although Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez insists the player is not for sale, the Spaniard has limited transfer funds available this summer and could be tempted to cash in on the player in order to boost his own spending kitty,

Alonso would fetch a price of around £20million.

Chelsea treble talk annoys Lampard

Frank Lampard last night attempted to banish all talk of a potential Chelsea trophy treble.

The England midfielder inspired the Blues to victory against Arsenal on Saturday to reach the FA Cup final with a 2-1 win at Wembley.

The Gunners had taken the lead in the 18th minute through Theo Walcott but Florent Malouda equalised for Chelsea, beating Arsenal keeper Lukasz Fabianski at his near post.
Didier Drogba then smashed his eighth goal in nine games to seal the win late on and leave the Blues still in the hunt for success on three fronts.

Chelsea face Barcelona in the semi-finals of the Champions League and remain in the race for the Premier League title.

But midfielder Lampard insists talk of three trophies only adds to the pressure.

'I hate talk of a treble,' he said. 'When you talk about it the pressure gets even more so we must keep our heads down and take each game and competition as it comes and if we do that then we will have a chance.

'It will be very difficult to win three trophies but if we can win something it would be great.

'We are now in a position where we can be very successful. We must keep doing the good things - playing together and with spirit.

'We want to keep going and keep putting the pressure on. We want to win all our games as you never know what might happen.'

Wenger's Lukasz aid for Arsenal's blunderman

Arsene Wenger has defended rookie Lukasz Fabianski and claimed he will go on to become one of the world's best goalkeepers.

The Pole had a difficult evening at Wembley on his 24th birthday on Saturday, making a succession of mistakes before rushing out of his goal and gifting Chelsea's winner to Didier Drogba as the Gunners lost the FA Cup semi-final 2-1.

But Fabianski is set to deputise for No.1 Manuel Almunia at least until after the Champions League semi-final, first leg against Manchester United at Old Trafford on Wednesday week.
Wenger said: 'It would be unfair to put too much responsibility for this defeat on Fabianski.

'I do not want to speak too much about what he has done, I just want to see him recover because I firmly believe he will be one of the best keepers in the world.

'He has the talent. He is brave, he is intelligent and technically he is very good. He was not at his best, we have to accept that. It can happen to anyone, just as it did to [Chelsea's] Petr Cech on Tuesday.'

Robinho back on goal trail

Robinho re-ignited his Manchester City career with his first goal of the year as Mark Hughes' side edged West Brom nearer to the drop.

Brazil playmaker Robinho had not found the net since December 28 but opened the scoring at Eastlands yesterday after just 12 minutes.

And Hughes said: 'We are pleased Robby is back on the goal trail. It is his first in 2009 and important for him. As he has not been scoring, people have been highlighting that fact. But hopefully he will now go on a run again.'
Nedum Onuoha, Elano - with a penalty - and substitute Daniel Sturridge wrapped up City's win while Chris Brunt scored both for the Baggies.

And Hughes defended his decision to replace Elano late on. 'It was no reflection on his play,' he added.