Ahead of TheGame: Liverpool avoid FA punishment

The news in 60 seconds

LIVERPOOL AVOID FA PUNISHMENT
The FA will not take action against the club after its public display of support for the campaign to free Michael Shields, the fan serving a ten-year jail sentence for the attempted murder of a Bulgarian waiter in Istanbul in 2005. "Having heard the club's explanation we will not be taking any formal action, and we are satisfied that they understand the sensitivities around football matches being used as a platform for political messages," a spokesman said.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/premier_league/liverpool/article5280253.ece

CITY LAUNCH £129M BID FOR CASILLAS
The Real Madrid goalkeeper has rejected a £12m-a-year contract offer from Manchester City, according to reports in Spain. Cadena Ser, a Spanish radio station, went on to claim that City had made direct contact with Luis Garcia Aba, Casillas's agent, but the offer was not forwarded to Real because the player had rejected the approach out of hand. City deny making the approach.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/premier_league/manchester_city/article5279223.ece

WENGER: YOUNGSTERS LACKED FOCUS
The Arsenal manager claims inexperience led to the team's Carling Cup exit to Burnley. "When you are not focused from the first minute you don't win this kind of game," he said. "We had chances but didn't put them away and at that level you pay for it."
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/premier_league/arsenal/article5280492.ece

SCOTLAND CONSIDERS JOINT EURO 2016 BID
The Scottish Football Association has confirmed it is holding talks with its Welsh and Northern Irish counterparts about the possibility of co-hosting the tournament. "If there was a feeling that a bid was a possibility, we would then commission a feasibility study," a spokesman said.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/scotland/article5278994.ece

SCHOLES TO RETURN AGAINST BLACKBURN
The veteran Manchester United midfielder is expected to feature in the Carling Cup quarter-final at Old Trafford tonight. "I have Paul Scholes in mind," Sir Alex Ferguson said. "He is on the verge of playing again following his operation. He is training well and chomping at the bit to get started."
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/premier_league/manchester_united/article5279615.ece

CARLING CUP PREVIEWS: SPURS REST SKIPPER
Ledley King, the Tottenham captain, will miss the quarter-final against Watford at Vicarage Road. Jermaine Jenas (toe) and Luka Modric (groin) are edging towards full fitness but are unlikely to be risked by Harry Redknapp.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/premier_league/tottenham/article5274212.ece

LIVE CARLING CUP AND UEFA CUP
Follow the action in tonight's Carling Cup quarter-finals and Manchester City's Uefa Cup tie against Paris Saint Germain with our live scores and stats service.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/live_match_tracker/

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FREE MOBILE SERVICE TRIAL
Try our football alerts service free of charge for 14 days and get match-day team sheet, goal alerts, half-time updates, full-time results and league position for your team.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/tools_and_services/mobile_times/article4541324.ece
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If you've got another couple of minutes

Asset stripping at Wigan
Martin Samuel thinks that Wigan could jeopardise their Premier League status by selling Emile Heskey during the January transfer window: "There was a time when £2 million [taken as the striker's minimum transfer value] would have meant something to Wigan, but not in an era when Premier League existence is considered to be worth £30 million. Where is the business sense in taking a risk of £28 million or more, for the sake of one fourteenth of that?" Have your say.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/columnists/martin_samuel/article5275731.ece

Worst famous fans poll results: Hitler edges out Brand - just
The Schalke-supporting Fuhrer has inched ahead as your least favourite famous fan with 18 per cent of the vote in our poll, just ahead of the Edward Scissorhands stunt-double, although 16 per cent of you thought Brand was the worst.
http://timesonline.typepad.com/thegame/2008/12/worst-famous-fa.html

Taking it on the chin
The only thing Eamon Dunphy didn't have a go at Roy Keane for was his bushy beard. It's brilliantly sinister, but we're not sure if it reminds us of Roald Dahl's Mr Twit, Christopher Lee's Lord of the Rings sorceror or Gregory Peck as Captain Ahab. Can you help?

E-mail: sport@timesonline.co.uk

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>>>>>THE TABLOID TALE<<<<<
Rio: I used to hate United - Daily Mirror
1) Rio Ferdinand admits that he disliked his current club when he was a young pro at West Ham. 2) "I couldn't stand United when I was 21 or 22 because they used to win everything," the 30-year-old defender said. 3) How does he cope with the self-loathing?
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>>>>>OUR RIVALS<<<<<

£70m - The Independent
Manchester City are planning to smash the world transfer record in January with Kaka and Lionel Messi their top targets.
http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/premier-league/exclusive-mega-names-key-to-citys-16370m-transfer-plan-1048657.html

Agger dough - Daily Mirror
AC Milan are interested in signing Daniel Agger, the Liverpool defender, with the Dane's contract talks at Anfield stalling.
http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/2008/12/03/liverpool-consider-replacing-daniel-agger-with-ex-manchester-united-star-gabriel-heinze-115875-20941767/

Chelsea take £16m hit on Mikel - Daily Express
The London club are unlikely to pursue Manchester United for the £12m they were paid as part of the midfielder's move to Stamford Bridge from FC Lyn Oslo.
http://www.express.co.uk/football

Ball-boys receive a warning from Webb - The Daily Telegraph
Referee Howard Webb has complained to Manchester City after United's Cristiano Ronaldo had the ball thrown at him in Saturday's derby match.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/cristianoronaldo/3543227/Manchester-City-ball-boys-warned-after-Cristiano-Ronaldo-incident-in-derby--Football.html

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14
Goals shared by Tottenham and Watford the last time they met in the League Cup, albeit over two legs. Spurs thrashed the Hornets 6-3 at Vicarage Road with the aid of a Jurgen Klinsman hat-trick, but lost 3-2 at White Hart Lane as Lee Nogan claimed a brace.
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In TheGame

Martin Samuel's debate: should Chelsea ditch Didier Drogba?
Our Chief Football Correspondent has replied to the best of your thoughts in his discussion on whether the Ivory Coast striker should be cast out of Stamford Bridge. He argues that a swap deal with Inter Milan involving Adriano benefits the Italian club and is astonished by one reader who compares Drogba with Andriy Shevchenko as a thirty-something has-been ready for the knacker's yard. "Comparing Drogba to Shevchenko is ludicrous," he writes. "For the last three years he has been in a different class."
http://timesonline.typepad.com/thegame/2008/12/martin-samuel-r.html

Gabriele Marcotti: Owen expected to leave Newcastle
Our European football expert says that despite his injuries and declining performances, Michael Owen remains the biggest star there is among English strikers not named Wayne. "The market will tell us what people think he's really worth. And, as happened last time, I wouldn't bet on any of the big clubs being willing to commit £5m a year to him."
http://timesonline.typepad.com/thegame/2008/12/better-without.html

Bill Edgar's daily quiz
Which current Premier League player scored on his first league start (his second league appearance) but has managed only two more goals in his subsequent 373 league games, which have all been played for the same club?
http://timesonline.typepad.com/thegame/2008/12/bill-edgars-wed.html

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Joe Bloggs' Soapbox

"A lot of people seem to be making a fuss about Robbie Keane’s lack of goals this season and his alleged over-value. However, no-one has raised the fact that he has scored the same amount of league goals as Dimitar Berbatov this season, a player who cost £10 million more. When will the debate start as to whether he should be replaced?"
Chris Taylor defends the Irishman's record at Anfield and gifts us an idea for next week.

"The thing about Fergie is that he has a hinterland - horses, wine, some politics, and a large family. Why should he quit? The team is still young and has the potential to get even better, he clearly relishes the job and his health seems to be fine. Should a great artist quit on account of age?"
Phil Daniels in Newcastle reacts to Matthew Syed's plea for the Manchester United manager to retire.

"Robinho is right and the rest of his team-mates should heed his pearl of wisdom, which could be translated as 'He who dares, wins'. I think City have to build a solid defence in the January transfer window. In attack, there's nothing much wrong - just stop conceding soft, silly goals."
Ian Dickson in Brighton reckons the Brazilian dribbler is correct that Manchester City have a small club mentality, but that it won't last for long. However, we can't see Kaka and Messi playing at centre-half.

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And expect...

Roy Keane to be seen eating the remnants of a prawn sandwich caught in his beard.