The Sports Granola

SATURDAY

Arsenal v Aston Villa

Arsenal need to get themselves back on track but Villa are playing really well and I think this might be a draw.

I’m still waiting for someone to explain William Gallas’s behaviour at Birmingham last weekend.

The Arsenal skipper sat on the ground near the half-way line after Birmingham were awarded a penalty late in the match.

In purely footballing terms, what if the penalty taker had struck the crossbar and the ball bounced out to the edge of the area. Where was Gallas to deal with that?

A few weeks ago people said that the only danger for Arsenal was the prospect of them imploding but I did not think it would happen.

But then you look at the Gallas incident, the spat between Nicklas Bendtner and Emmanuel Adebayor and the non-performance against Manchester United in the FA Cup - it is a worry for Arsenal.

Verdict: 1-1

I’m going to go for another draw here.

Home games are crucial for Birmingham - that is where they will get the points to stay up.

One potential worry for Birmingham is that they have a young team and I’m not sure how their nerves will affect them during the run-in.

Also, although James McFadden certainly looks the part they have got to chip in with goals from elsewhere.

Tottenham will be buoyant after winning the Carling Cup but looking at the photos in the papers they certainly seemed to enjoy their victory, so it might not be a bad time to play them.

Verdict: 1-1

I think that Paul Jewell has finally cracked.

He has put up with his squad but everybody knows that quite a few of them are not good enough for the Premier League.

Jewell has tried to give them the carrot rather than the stick but I think the defeat at Wigan last weekend was the end of all that.

Apparently the Rams players have been turning up for training at 8.30am this week and I imagine there will not have been too much ball work.

I think he has decided ‘right, if noting else I can make sure that you are all fit’.

He is a bit old school and it is his reaction to feeling let down week after week.

I think this will be the first away win of the season in the Premier League for Sunderland.

Their away form has been poor but what a great place to break their duck.

Verdict: 1-2

It was same old, same old with Fulham against West Ham last week.

They moaned about Nolberto Solano’s goal, saying that he fouled Antti Niemi - but I think the Hammer wanted it more than the goalkeeper.

Fulham are not going to be able to play the way they did against West Ham and hope to take any points off Man Utd.

Even though United are playing Fulham days before a big European tie, they have had this week off and will be fresh.

And they also have so many matchwinners that even if Sir Alex Ferguson’s rotates his squad he will still have plenty of quality in his selected team.

Verdict: 0-2

Man City are going through a bit of a strange phase. They win at Man Utd but then fail to turn up against Everton at home.

Wigan are strong and physical. They are full of running but lack guile.

I think City are good at beating the lesser teams at home.

Verdict: 2-0

This is a tricky one to call.

Reading have lost eight successive Premier League games but the big problem for manager Steve Coppell is that he has not got a big enough squad to make wholesale changes.

It is a worrying time for the Royals - how and when can they stop the rot?

I know that Boro had an FA Cup tie that went to extra-time on Wednesday but I think they will sneak this fixture.

Verdict: 1-0

I would love to know how much input Kevin Keegan is having to some of the appointments that are being made at Newcastle - the likes of Dennis Wise, Chris Hughton etc.

It is very, very strange. I look at some of them and think decisions are being taken in London.

If they give the job to Kevin then let him pick all the staff, otherwise what is the point?

People keep saying they are too good to go down but I’m not sure because defensively they are all over the place.

Blackburn have had a sticky spell but don’t go too many games without winning and they have plenty of good players.

Verdict: 2-2

Chelsea have some outstanding players and I think there will be a major reaction to their defeat in last Sunday’s Carling Cup final.

What I saw at Wembley was a midfield that looked like it was playing together for the first time, which is most unusual for Chelsea.

The Blues also lacked balance. I would be very surprised if Avram Grant’s selects an unbalanced team on Saturday and West Ham might just feel the backlash to the cup defeat.

Verdict: 0-2

Bolton v Liverpool (1330 GMT)

Liverpool need to keep winning.

I was interested to read Steven Gerrard saying how frustrated he is by Liverpool’s current position and the uncertainty surrounding the club.

I think he wants the whole thing sorted so that everyone can concentrate on football.

As for Bolton, my great worry about them surrounds where the goals are going to come from. This has been the case since Nicolas Anelka left - and it is a particularly stark issue when Bolton are at home and teams are sitting deep.

Gary Megson has done a good job but I’d love to know why he did not buy a striker in January after Anelka had been sold.

Verdict: 0-2

Everton have been in excellent form and really did a demolition job at Man City last Monday.

They have real competition for places, good players and the best manager in the Premier League outside the ‘big four’.

Portsmouth are a team with ambitions of their own in terms of qualifying for Europe and I think they will finish the season strongly.

I think this game might turn out to be a bit of a stalemate with Portsmouth’s physical presence causing Everton a few problems.

Verdict: 0-0

Javier Mascherano has signed a four-year contract with Liverpool.

The 23-year-old, whose contract was owned by the Media Sports Investments consortium, moved to Anfield on loan from West Ham just over a year ago.

The Argentine midfielder was able to sign for Liverpool outside the transfer window because he does not belong to another club.

“I am very, very happy and now I can concentrate just on playing football,” Mascherano told Liverpoolfc.tv.

“I said all along that I wanted to stay at Liverpool and now that I have signed I can say this is the best and the biggest moment in my career so far.

“From the first day I arrived at Liverpool the feeling was good and I knew this was where I wanted to play my football.

“It’s good news for me and my family that everything is sorted and I know where my future is going to be. I just want to do my best for the fans and the people of the club.

“I am at a top side and I know I can win titles here. That’s the big thing for me. I want to be at a club where we can win trophies and have success.”

The Reds boss made only one change in Saturday’s win over Middlesbrough from the victory over Inter Milan four days earlier - and that was enforced due to Jamie Carragher’s ban.

When asked about his plans Benitez told the club’s website: “I think so. It will depend on the players in the end, but we can keep some players playing more games now.”

Saturday’s 3-2 victory over Middlesbrough saw Liverpool temporarily leapfrog Everton into fourth place until the Toffees’ win over Manchester City on Monday allowed them to reclaim the final Champions League spot.

“Everton have a lot of confidence right now and it was a good win for them (on Monday), but it’s a long race,” said Benitez.

“Portsmouth, Villa, Everton, City and us will all be there. I’m not sure if it will go to the final game but I think a lot will depend on these three games we have in a row.”

Liverpool captain, Steven Gerrard has came out and said that they need to dramatically improve. We went on and said, “You don’t get any prizes in football for finishing in second place, never mind fourth. ” I agree with that. I am praying that they finish fourth now. With Everton, Man. City, Portsmouth, and Aston Villa, it is any-ones spot. Liverpool needs to win games. No more bloody ties. They have to win.

Gerrard also said, ‘The only way we can fulfil those ambitions is in the Champions League. And I am not going to pretend that even winning that trophy - and we are a long way away from it at the moment - will make up for the disappointment of the league campaign.’

Winning the Champions League would be awesome, but I don’t think it is very realistic. Still not sure we can get past Inter with the game being played at San Siro. Going to be tough. We are up 2-0, but that isn’t hard to overcome, especially how Liverpool plays most of the time this year.

‘I’m pretty gutted every time I look at the table and see the gap between us and Arsenal at the top, and even the gap between us and second and third.

‘We believed we had the players to challenge for the title, and we wanted that one more than any other trophy available to us. I still believe we have the squad to be a hell of a lot more competitive than we are right now.’

I am pretty gutted too Stevie. After every game I am shaking my head. Need to win this weekend.

The Philadelphia Flyers have bolstered their injury depleted lineup by acquiring high scoring forward Vaclav Prospal from the Tampa Lightning.

In exchange, the Flyers dealt the Lightning minor league defenseman Alexandre Picard and a conditional pick in the 2009 draft. The move came a day before the NHL trade deadline. The move was announced immediately after the Flyers ended a 10-game losing skid with a 4-3 shootout win over the Buffalo Sabres.

Philadelphia has been depleted by injuries after losing Mike Richards, who tore a hamstring last weekend. They’re also minus star forward Simon Gagne (concussion) and defenseman Derian Hatcher (knee).

The win, sealed by Daniel Briere’s goal, ended the Flyers’ 0-8-2 skid and pushed Philadelphia into a tie with Buffalo for the Eastern Conference’s eighth and final playoff berth.

Prospal, who is in the final season of his contract and could become unrestricted free agent this summer, is having a strong season. He’s already scored a career-best 29 goals, along with 28 assists for 57 points in 62 games. An 11-year NHL veteran who broke into the NHL with the Flyers during the 1996-97 season, Prospal also played for Ottawa, Anaheim, Florida, and spent the past three seasons with the Lightning.

“With the loss of forwards due to recent injuries, we felt that we needed to add some help to that position,” Flyers general manager Paul Holmgren said. “We believe that Vinny will bring experience with the ability to produce some offense.”

In a statement released by the team, Prospal said he expected a trade.

“My name has been mentioned all around the paper, and there have been a lot of rumors,” Prospal said. “Philadelphia is a great place to play because they have awesome fans, and I was drafted by Philadelphia.”

Picard, the Flyers third-round pick in the 2003 draft, has played parts of three seasons in Philadelphia. He had no points in four games for the Flyers this year, and has three goals and 19 assists in 72 career games with the Flyers.

“We believe he has a significant amount of upside in his future,” Lightning general manager Jay Feaster said, referring to Picard.

This will be Prospal’s second stint with the “Broad Street Bullies”.

Talks between Liverpool co-owner Tom Hicks and Dubai International Capital about selling his share in the club are continuing, BBC Sport understands. Hicks has again strenuously denied renewed claims that he plans to sell his 50% holding in the club.

But the American is believed to have held talks with DIC although they are not believed to have been given access to the club’s accounts.

DIC may also try to buy out Hicks’s partner George Gillett’s 50% stake.

Though that may not be as simple as it sounds as an agreement between Hicks and Gillett is understood to give the other first refusal on the other’s shares.

Hicks and Gillett beat off competition from DIC to take over Liverpool in February 2007, but the Dubai investment group have recently renewed their interest.

The relationship between the two American businessmen is also understood to have broken down.

While Hicks’ unpopularity on Merseyside was underlined when his son Tom Jr. was spat at and chased out of a pub following Liverpool’s victory at Anfield on Saturday.

A statement from Hicks on Tuesday said: “Reports in the UK media that I am about to sell my stake in the Liverpool Football Club, or to invite DIC to examine the club’s books in preparation for such a sale - like other such reports planted in the UK press in recent weeks by parties with their own self-interested agenda - are absolutely and categorically false.

“The reality is that I am personally, professionally and financially committed to the club and its supporters and that I will continue to honor that commitment to the best of my ability now and in the future.”

Last month, Liverpool confirmed a £350m refinancing package, with £60m to be used as start-up money for the new ground in Stanley Park.

That repackaging deal, which also piled £105m of debt on the club, only lasts 18 months and the renewed takeover talk appears to be driven by the fact that Hicks and Gillett will soon have to start renegotiating their debts. This was from our friends at BBC.

I wish that he would just come out and say if he is trying to sell the team or not!! He is making a mockery of Liverpool and their fans. I don’t care if he doesn’t want to sell, but something needs to put an end to this craziness. And, that something is to sell Liverpool. Please, just get out Mr. Hicks.

Former England striker Andy Cole is under investigation for allegedly assaulting his wife.

The 36-year-old player, who is on loan at Burnley from Sunderland, was arrested early Monday at his home in Alderley Edge, northwest England. He was released later the same day on police bail pending further investigation.Cole was ordered to report back to police in April.

Cole, who has played for Arsenal, Bristol City, Newcastle, Manchester United, Blackburn, Manchester City and Portsmouth in a 17-year career, was married in July 2002.

Middlesbrough’s England winger Stewart Downing has finally put pen to paper on his new five-year contract. The club confirmed on Tuesday that the 23-year-old had signed the deal, which he agreed 10 days ago, on Monday night. Downing’s decision to stay with his hometown club came as a major boost to manager Gareth Southgate, who has insisted all along that he did not want the club’s academy graduate to leave. Downing had more than two years left on his existing contract, but was offered a new deal after forcing his way into the England squad and proving a key player for Middlesbrough.

The future of Liverpool remains dogged by uncertainty despite American co-owner Tom Hicks insisting he is not planning to sell his stake in the club.

The Texan billionaire claims he is completely committed to the Reds and has denied reports he has invited Dubai International Capital (DIC) to inspect the club’s accounts in preparation for a takeover. However, it is understood Hicks has had talks with DIC even after a £350million refinancing package was announced on January 25. There has also been a breakdown in relations between Hicks and American co-owner George Gillett, and DIC are considering making an offer for Gillett’s 50% stake in Liverpool, although no price has been agreed. They would also want some of Hicks’ holding so they had the controlling interest in the club. Hicks will also be aware he is unpopular on Merseyside - his son Thomas Jnr was spat at and chased out of a pub by angry fans following Liverpool’s game with Middlesbrough at Anfield on Saturday. Hicks’ statement denied any move on his part to sever ties, however. It read: ‘Reports that I am about to sell my stake in the Liverpool Football Club, or to invite DIC to examine the club’s books in preparation for such a sale - like other such reports planted in the UK press in recent weeks by parties with their own self-interested agenda - are absolutely and categorically false. ‘The reality is that I am personally, professionally and financially committed to the club and its supporters and that I will continue to honour that commitment to the best of my ability now and in the future.’ It appears no takeover by DIC is imminent but that the Dubai company, the investment arm of the Maktoum royal family, are keeping their options open. The main problem preventing a takeover remains the price DIC are willing to pay. It has been nowhere near the amount of money Hicks has been asking for - he would want to make a substantial sum out of selling the club. Another hurdle to overcome is that the refinancing package announced on January 25 has loaded £105million of debt on to the club. Of that, £60million is earmarked to kick-start the new stadium development plus £45million for future player transfers and to meet the club’s working capital needs. Finally, even if Gillett is willing to sell his 50% to DIC, they would still not have a controlling share so would want to buy some or all of Hicks’ stake to ensure they had a majority holding. The takeover talk is being driven by the fact that the refinancing deal only lasts for 18 months and so Hicks and Gillett are soon going to have to start renegotiating the debts. Furthermore, they are shortly going to have to go back to the banks to ask for a further £300million in loans to finance the rest of the new stadium at Stanley Park.

Eduardo da Silva could have lost his left foot had medical staff not been so prompt in treating his horrific leg break, according to a specialist.

The Arsenal striker is recovering from emergency surgery after a sickening tackle from Birmingham defender Martin Taylor in Saturday’s Barclays Premier League match at St Andrews.

Osteopath and physiotherapist Tim Allardyce revealed that any delay in attending to such an injury would likely result in amputation. He said on BBC Radio Five Live: ‘You can lose the foot, simple as. Once the foot dislocates like that, it can badly damage the blood vessels and it’s very, very serious. ‘The foot needs to be relocated immediately or almost immediately to save it and emergency surgery is completely necessary.’ Allardyce warned Croatia international Eduardo he faces a long road back to fitness and fears he may never fully recover. ‘Imagine your worst ankle sprain and make it about 10 times worse and you’re getting close to where Eduardo is,’ Allardyce said. ‘He could be out for several months. We’d expect a normal person to be out for about six months. ‘With the level of fitness he’ll need to get back to, it could be anywhere around the nine months mark.’ He added: ‘Potentially, the bones will heal but there’s all the other damage around the area, such as the ligament damage, the tendon damage, the soft tissue damage, the damage to the joint capsule. ‘He’s going to have to do an awful lot of work to regain full mobility and strength to the ankle to get him up to the standard of playing international football. Whether he can do that or not, I’m not sure.’ Even if Eduardo makes a complete physical recovery, Allardyce is also concerned about any lasting psychological trauma. ‘Once you’ve sustained such a serious injury, you’ll always tend to be aware of it before you regain full strength and confidence,’ he said.’It will have a big psychological effect, certainly for the next year, maybe for several months after that.’

From ESPN