Liverpool vs Manchester United

Team News:

Liverpool are hopeful Fernando Torres will return from a thigh injury after missing their last two matches. Glen Johnson is fit again after a groin problem, but Steven Gerrard is still struggling to recover from one of his own. Albert Riera (hamstring) is also a doubt, while Alberto Aquilani will not be rushed into a debut despite running out for the reserves earlier in the week.

Wayne Rooney is a major doubt for United's trip to Anfield as he struggles to recover from a calf injury that has ruled him out for club and country over the past 10 days. Darren Fletcher (foot) is also a doubt, while Park Ji-sung will definitely not feature. The good news for Alex Ferguson is that Patrice Evra and Ryan Giggs are both fit after they did not travel to Moscow in midweek

Breaking News:Axel Witsel horror tackle ban reduced

Standard Liege midfielder Axel Witsel has had his suspension for the foul that broke Marcin Wasilewski leg cut to eight matches on appeal.

Witsel had originally been banned until November 23, a punishment that would have kept him out for 10 matches in the league and one round of the Belgian Cup.

His fine has also been cut from 2,500 euros to 250 euros, the Belgian Football Association's appeals panel ruled.

In further good news for the player, the file will not now be sent to UEFA or FIFA. Witsel, 20, could have missed Liege's first four Champions League matches if UEFA had extended the ban's scope.

Witsel was sent off for stamping on Anderlecht's Polish defender Wasilewski in Sunday's 1-1 draw. Wasilewski suffered a double fracture of his right leg.

Witsel has received emailed death threats, which the police have taken seriously, according to Belgian media.

Wasilewski's injury appears to be less serious than initially thought, however. The doctor of the Polish national team has said he could be back in training as early as March.

Arsenal duo pen new deals

Brazilian midfielder Denilson and Denmark striker Nicklas Bendtner have both pledged their futures to Arsenal by signing new long-term deals.

The development of Denilson from squad player to integral component of the Gunners' engine room last season was one of the highlights of Arsenal's campaign.

The 21-year-old made 51 appearances for Arsenal last season - more than any other player - and found the net three times.

Bendtner was the top scorer in the Barclays Premier League aged 21 or under last term, scoring 15 goals from 27 starts.

Nicklas has impressed me highly with his application and determination over the last season, you can see that he wants to compete at the highest level and win things with his team-mates.

Zlatan Ibrahimovic on target in Barcelona win

Zlatan Ibrahimovic scored with an acrobatic header on his La Liga debut to seal Barcelona's 3-0 win over Sporting Gijon at Camp Nou as they opened their title defence in style.

The Sweden striker dived full length to nod in a deflected Daniel Alves cross in the 82nd minute after teenage striker Bojan Krkic and Mali international Seydou Keita had put the European champions 2-0 ahead at the break.

The 19-year-old popped up to nod in at the back post in the 18th minute after Keita flicked on Xavi's corner and Keita doubled the lead just before halftime when he headed home an Alves cross.

The match had been put back due to Barca's European Super Cup match against Shakhtar Donetsk in Monaco on Friday, which they won 1-0.

Terry signs Chelsea deal

England and Chelsea skipper John Terry has signed a new five-year deal that will keep him at Stamford Bridge until the end of the 2013-14 season.

Terry, 28, who has been at Chelsea since he was 14, turned down three approaches to join Manchester City in the close season.

British media estimated the deal as worth £41 million to the centre-back, or £160,000 a week, making him the highest-paid player in the country.

Chelsea is delighted to confirm that John Terry has signed a new five-year contract that keeps him at the club until the end of the 2013-14 season," the club said on their website.

Terry, who made his Chelsea debut in a League Cup match in 1998, has played more than 400 matches for the club and led them to the Premier League title in 2005 and 2006.

Everton agree Johnny Heitinga fee

Everton boss David Moyes has confirmed the club have agreed a fee with Atletico Madrid for defender Johnny Heitinga.

The Toffees have offered £5 million for the Dutchman, but Moyes admits there is still work to be done before the deal is finalised.

Moyes unveiled two new signings in Sunday's 2-1 win over Wigan, with £5m acquisition Sylvain Distin and Russia winger Diniyar Bilyaletdinov both making their debuts.

Shevchenko signs for Dynamo Kiev

Former European Footballer of the Year Andriy Shevchenko has agreed to rejoin Dynamo Kiev from Chelsea.

Shevchenko has signed a two-year contract," the Ukrainian club confirmed.

Kiev added the 32-year-old Ukraine striker would be presented as their player on Sunday.

Shevchenko never justified the club record 30 million pounds fee that Chelsea paid AC Milan for him in 2006. He scored only nine league goals in his first two campaigns and was loaned back to the Italian team last season.

Shevchenko, who left Kiev for Milan in 1999, was also in danger of being left out of the London club's Champions League squad when it is named on Tuesday.

The Ukraine captain is one of the leading scorers in the Champions League and will get a chance to add to his tally of goals with Kiev, who have been drawn in Group F with holders Barcelona, Inter Milan and Rubin Kazan.

Gerrard gives Liverpool victory

Liverpool twice came from behind to beat Bolton 3-2 at the Reebok Stadium, Steven Gerrard striking a trademark late winner on the volley into the top corner.

Bolton opened the scoring through Kevin Davies from close range, that goal equalised by a superb Glen Johnson strike.

Tamir Cohen's finish just after the break was rendered meaningless by a Fernando Torres finish and Gerrard's screamer with eight minutes left - but both goals came after Sean Davis was harshly sent off for two nothing challenges on Lucas Leiva.

England star Gerrard appealed for handball as Cohen's arm blocked a shot outside the box before he smacked the rebound for goal, just wide of the top corner.

Andriy Voronin and Yossi Benayoun were on the pitch by this point but it was left to Gerrard to make the difference once again, coming to meet a Torres header back and volleying superbly past a despairing Jussi Jaaskelainen.

Coming up Premeir League Match

Saturday August 29

ChelseavBurnley

Blackburn Rovers vs West Ham United

Bolton Wanderers vs Liverpool

Stoke City vs Sunderland

Tottenham Hotspurs vs Birmingham City

Wolverhampton Wanderers vs Hull City

Manchester United vs Arsenal

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Sunday August 30


Portsmouth vs Manchester City

Everton vs Wigan Athletic

Aston Villa vs Fulham

Team news : Fabregas out of United clash

Arsenal skipper Cesc Fabregas has been ruled out with a hamstring strain, meaning a likely midfield trio of Alex Song, Denilson and Abou Diaby for the visitors. Controversial striker Eduardo may return to the bench, making way for Nicklas Bendtner.

Everton agree Distin deal

Everton have agreed a deal to sign defender Sylvain Distin from Portsmouth and the player will have a medical on Thursday evening.

The Toffees are armed with funds after selling Joleon Lescott to Manchester City for £22 million and Distin will be effectively a like-for-like replacement.

The fee involved has not been disclosed but the 31-year-old has agreed a three-year contract and will sign - providing he passes his medical.

Atletico Madrid and Lyon cruise into group stage

Atletico saw off Greek side Panathinaikos, winning 2-0 at home for a 5-2 aggregate victory. Panathinaikos, who reached the last 16 last season, had Djibril Cisse sent off.

Lyon beat Anderlecht 3-1 in Belgium, Argentine Lisandro scoring a first-half hat-trick to complete an 8-2 aggregate romp to put them in the group phase for the 10th consecutive season.

Aston Villa close on Stephen Warnock and Richard Dunne

Aston Villa are close to giving their defence a double-boost as they close in on the signings of Stephen Warnock and Richard Dunne.

Villa confirmed on their website they are in discussions with Blackburn Rovers over versatile Blackburn Rovers defender Stephen Warnock(pictured on top), while reports has also emerged that they have agreed a £6 million fee for Manchester City centre-back Richard Dunne (pictured).

Blackburn manager Sam Allardyce has already stated Warnock will only be allowed to leave for the right price.

Warnock moved to Blackburn from Liverpool in January 2007 after being frustrated at a lack of first-team opportunities.

Fans Millwall injured in West Ham

Wesley Sneijder completes Inter Milan switch

Netherlands midfielder Wesley Sneijder is fully focused on new club Internazionale after agreeing a move to Italy from Real Madrid.

Both clubs have yet to confirm the deal and declined to comment on Thursday, but Spanish and Italian media reported the fee was 15 million euros (£13.2m) plus another 3 million euros linked to objectives.

Sneijder told Spanish sports daily Marca: "I am going to a great club, of that I have no doubt.

I am very sad to leave but that's the way it is.

The Dutchman played 52 league matches for Real, scoring 11 goals, and played nine times in the Champions League.

Arsenal cruise into group stage

Goals from Eduardo, Emmanuel Eboue and Andrei Arshavin have given Arsenal a 3-1 Champions League play-off second-leg win over Celtic at the Emirates, putting the Premier League club into the group stages with a 5-1 aggregate victory.

Sylvinho and Lescoot show on his new jersey at City of Manchester

Jonathan Greening is completes Fulham switch

Jonathan Greening has completed his season-long loan move from West Brom to Fulham, with a view to a permanent deal.The 30-year-old midfielder, who submitted a transfer request back in the middle of July, has been at the centre of an ongoing saga this summer that has seen Albion reject three previous offers from the Cottagers.

Manchester City net Sylvinho and Lescott passes medical

Manchester City have signed Brazilian defender Sylvinho on a one-year contract and are closing in on completing a deal for Everton defender Joleon Lescott

Sylvinho, who played in the Champions League final for Barcelona last season before being released, returns to the Premier League after two seasons with Arsenal from 1999 to 2001.Sylvinho has a wealth of experience at the very top level, having represented Brazil and played for some of the very top clubs in Europe.

Manchester City can confirm that agreement has been reached with Everton for the transfer of Joleon Lescott, City said on their website. "The move is subject to the player agreeing personal terms and passing a medical.Everton having rejected two previous offers - the first about £18 million - Everton are reported to have accepted £24 million from City for Lescott.

Oh My God !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Laboured Liverpool lose to Villa

Liverpool suffered their second defeat of their opening three Premier League games of the season by losing 3-1 to Aston Villa at Anfield.

Brazilian midfielder Lucas gave the visitors a surprise lead on 33 minutes when he guided Young's free-kick past the wrong-footed Pepe Reina into his own net.

Things got worse for Liverpool when - as manager Rafael Benitez was complaining to the fourth official about the length of added time at the end of the half - defender Davies glanced Nicky Shorey's corner past Reina.

Torres lashed Emiliano Insua's cross into the roof of the net on 71 minutes, but that fillip for the home crowd did not last long before Gerrard slid in and upended Nigel Reo-Coker inside the Liverpool box with a desperate lunge.

English Premeir League Latest Results ( 23 August 2009 )

Sunday ( 23 August 2009 )

• West Ham United 1 vs Totthenham Hotspur 2

• Burnley 1 vs Everton 0

• Fulham 0 vs Chelsea 2

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Next Fixtures on Monday ( 24 August 2009 )

• Liverpool vs Aston Villa

Head to Head

Liverpool 7 victories
Aston Villa 3 victories

About Transfer ( Ins and Outs )

Arsenal
In (signed): Thomas Vermaelen (Ajax, £10m)

Out (signed): Kolo Toure (Manchester City, £15m); Emmanuel Adebayor (Manchester City, £25m);


Aston Villa
In (signed): Habib Bey (Newcastle, undisclosed); Stewart Downing (Middlesbrough, £12m); Fabian Delph (Leeds, undisclosed)

Out (signed): Gareth Barry (Manchester City, £12m); Martin Laursen (retired); Stuart Taylor (Manchester City, undisclosed); Zat Knight (Bolton, £4m)


Birmingham City
In (signed): Christian Benitez (Santos Laguna, £6.5m); Scott Dann (Coventry, undisclosed); Joe Hart (Manchester City, season-long loan); Giovanny Espinoza (Barcelona SC, undisclosed); Roger Johnson (Cardiff City, £5m); Lee Bowyer (West Ham, free); Barry Ferguson (Rangers, £1.25m)

Out (signed): Radhi Jaidi, Artur Krysiak (both released); Mehdi Nafti (Aris Thessalonki); Stephen Kelly (Fulham, free)


Blackburn Rovers
In (signed): Michel Salgado (free agent); Nikola Kalinic (Hadjuk Split, £6m); Franco di Santo (Chelsea, loan); Gael Givet (Marseille, £3.5m); Elrio van Heerden (Club Brugge, free); Nikos Giannakopoulos (Asteras Tripolis, £52k); Steven N'Zonzi (Amiens, undisclosed); Lars Jacobsen (Everton, free)

Out (signed): Tugay (retired); Aaron Mokoena (Portsmouth, free); Andre Ooijer (PSV Eindhoven); Matt Derbyshire (Olympiacos, £3m); Roque Santa Cruz (Manchester City, £17m); Keith Treacy (Sheffield United, loan); Mark Bunn (Sheffield United, loan)


Bolton Wanderers
In (signed): Paul Robinson (West Brom, loan); Sean Davis (Portsmouth, free); Zat Knight (Aston Villa, £4m); Sam Ricketts (Hull, undisclosed); Lee Chung-Yong (FC Seoul, £2.2m)

Out (signed): Blerim Dzemaili (Torino, undisclosed)


Burnley
In (signed): Fernando Guerrero (Independiente del Valle, loan); Steven Fletcher (Hibernian, £3m); Tyrone Mears (Derby, £500,000); David Edgar (Newcastle, fee to be decided); Brian Easton (Hamilton, £350,000); Andre Bikey (Reading, undisclosed)

Out (signed): Steve Jones (released); Gabor Kiraly (1860 Munich, free); Alan Mahon (Tranmere Rovers, free)


Chelsea
In (signed): Ross Turnbull (Middlesbrough, free); Daniel Sturridge (Manchester City, free); Yuri Zhirkov (CSKA Moscow, undisclosed); Nemanja Matic (MFK Kosice, £1.5m)

Out (signed): Scott Sinclair (Wigan, loan); Ricardo Quaresma (Internazionale, end of loan); Ben Sahar (Espanyol, undisclosed); Jimmy Smith (free agent); Franco Di Santo (Blackburn, loan); Shaun Cummings (West Brom, loan); Claudio Pizarro (Werder Bremen, undisclosed)


Everton
In (signed): Jo (Manchester City, loan); Anton Peterlin (Ventura County Fusion, undisclosed); Shkodran Mustafi (Hamburg, undisclosed);

Out (signed): Nuno Valente, Andy van der Meyde (both released); Lars Jacobsen (Blackburn, free)


Fulham
In (signed): Bjorn Helge Riise (Lillestrom, undisclosed); Stephen Kelly (Birmingham, undisclosed); Damien Duff (Newcastle, undisclosed); Jonathan Greening (West Brom, on loan)

Out (signed): Collins John, Moritz Volz (both released); Leon Andreasen (Hannover)


Hull City
In (signed): Seyi Olofinjana (Stoke City, £3m); Steven Mouyokolo (Boulogne, undisclosed); Jozy Altidore (Villarreal, loan); Stephen Hunt (Reading, undisclosed);

Out (signed): Dean Windass, Michael Bridges, Ryan France, John Welsh (all released); Wayne Brown (Leicester, undisclosed); Sam Ricketts (Bolton, undisclosed)


Liverpool
In (signed): Alberto Aquiliani (Roma, £20m); Chris Mavinga (PSG); Glen Johnson (Portsmouth, £18.5m); Sotiris Kyrgiakos (AEK Athens, £2m);

Out (signed): Xabi Alonso (Real Madrid, £30m); Alvaro Arbeloa (Real Madrid, £4.5m); Sami Hyypia (Bayer Leverkusen); Jack Hobbs (Leicester City, undisclosed); Paul Anderson (Nottingham Forest, £250,000); Jermaine Pennant (Real Zaragoza, free); Sebastian Leto (Panathinaikos, undisclosed)


Manchester City
In (signed): Kolo Toure (Arsenal, £15m); Emmanuel Adebayor (Arsenal, £25m); Gareth Barry (Aston Villa, £12m); Nils Zander (Schalke 04); Roque Santa Cruz (Blackburn, £17m); Stuart Taylor (Aston Villa, undisclosed); Carlos Tevez (MSI, £25.5m)

Out (signed): Jo (Everton, season long loan); Gelson Fernandes (St Etienne, undisclosed); Joe Hart (Birmingham, season-long loan); Danny Mills, Dietmar Hamann, Michael Ball (all released); Daniel Sturridge (Chelsea, free); Kasper Schmeichel (Notts County); Darius Vassell (Ankaragucu, free); Felipe Caicedo (Sporting Lisbon); Ched Evans (Sheffield United, £3m)

Manchester United
In (signed): Antonio Valencia (Wigan, undisclosed); Michael Owen (Newcastle, free); Gabriel Obertan

Out (signed): Carlos Tevez (end of loan); Cristiano Ronaldo (Real Madrid, £80m); Lee Martin (Ipswich Town, undisclosed); Rodrigo Possebon (Braga, season long loan); Fraizer Campbell (Sunderland, £3.5m); Richard Eckersley (Burnley); Danny Simpson (Newcastle, loan);


Portsmouth
In (signed): Aaron Mokoena (Blackburn, free); Steve Finnan (Espanyol, undisclosed); Frederic Piquionne (Lyon, season-long loan); Antti Niemi (free agent); Anthony Vanden Borre (Genoa, loan)

Out (signed): Peter Crouch (Tottenham, £9m); Glen Johnson (Liverpool, £18.5m); Sean Davis (Bolton, free); Glen Little, Noe Pamarot, Djimi Traore, Jerome Thomas, Arnold Mvuemba. Sol Campbell and Lauren (all released);


Stoke City
In (signed): Matthew Lund, Ben Marshall (Crewe, free); Dean Whitehead (Sunderland, £3m)

Out (signed): Vincent Pericard (released); Seyi Olofinjana (Hull City, £3m)


Sunderland
In (signed): Steve Bruce (manager, Wigan); Lee Cattermole (Wigan, £6m)

Out (signed): Djibril Cisse (end of loan from Marseille); Dwight Yorke, Nick Colgan, David Connolly, Niall McArdle, Arnau Riera (all released); Darren Ward (retired); Greg Halford (Wolves, undisclosed); Peter Hartley (Hartlepool, free); Michael Chopra (Cardiff, £4m); Dean Whitehead (Stoke, £3m); Daryl Murphy (Ipswich £1.5m)

Tottenham Hotspur
In (signed): Kyle Naughton and Kyle Walker (Sheffield United, undisclosed); Peter Crouch (£9m); Sebastien Bassong (Newcastle, £8m)

Out (signed): Darren Bent (Sunderland, £10m); Didier Zokora (Sevilla, £7m); Adel Taarabt (QPR, loan); Gilberto, Ricardo Rocha, Simon Dawkins, David Hutton (all released);


West Ham United
In (signed): Luis Jimenez (Internazionale, loan); Peter Lurucz (Ujpest, undisclosed); Fabio Daprela (Grasshopper, undisclosed); Radoslav Kovac (Spartak Moscow, undisclosed)

Out (signed): Lucas Neill, Walter Lopez, Tony Stokes, Jimmy Walker, Diego Tristan (all released); Jan Lastuvka, David Di Michele (returned from loan); Freddie Sears (Crystal Palace, loan); Jordan Spence (Scunthorpe, loan); Lee Bowyer (Birmingham, free);


Wigan Athletic
In (signed): Antonio Amaya, Mohamed Diame (both Rayo Vallecano); Jason Scotland (Swansea, £2m); Scott Sinclair (Chelsea, loan); Roberto Martinez (manager, Swansea); Jordi Gomez (Espanyol, undisclosed); Hendry Thomas (Deportivo Olimpia, undisclosed); James McCarthy (Hamilton, £1.4m)

Out (signed): Steve Bruce (manager, Sunderland); Amr Zaki (end of loan, Zamalek); Antonio Valencia (Manchester United, undisclosed); Lee Cattermole (Sunderland, £6m)


Wolverhampton Wanderers
In (signed): Nenad Milijas (Red Star Belgrade, undisclosed); Kevin Doyle (Reading, £6.5m); Andrew Surman (Southampton, £1.2m); Marcus Hahnemann (Reading, free); Greg Halford (Sunderland, undisclosed); Ronald Zubar (Marseille, undisclosed); Michael Mancienne (Chelsea, loan)

Out (signed): Darren Potter (Sheffield Wednesday, undisclosed); Stephen Gleeson (MK Dons, undisclosed)

English Premeir League Latest Results ( 22 August 2009 )

Latest Results ( 22 August 2009 )

• Wigan Athletic 0 vs Manchester United 5

• Sunderland 2 vs Blackburn Rovers 0

• Manchester City 1 vs Wolverhampton Wanderes 0

• Hull City 1 vs Bolton Wanderers 0

• Birmingham City 0 vs Stoke City 0

• Arsenal 4 vs Portsmouth 1

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Next Fixtures ( 23 August 2009)

• West Ham United vs Totthenham Hotspur

• Burnley vs Everton

• Fulham vs Chelsea

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Monday ( 24 August 2009 )

• Liverpool vs Aston Villa

Wow............finally i got my own blog.......to start my football dream!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!