Ahead of TheGame: Liverpool will get stronger, says Dirk Kuyt

The news in 60 seconds

LIVERPOOL WILL GET STRONGER, SAYS KUYT
The Dutch striker is delighted with the club's ascent to the top of the Premier League but refuses to tempt fate over their championship chances. "At the moment it is not necessary to talk about the league title," he said. "You can talk as much as you want but if you are not at the top at the end then it does not matter. It is better just to keep focused and concentrated on your next game."
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/premier_league/liverpool/article5466468.ece

WILLIAMS: NO BID FOR SANTA CRUZ
The Blackburn chairman is concentrating on improving Sam Allardyce's squad but admits that speculation linking the Paraguay striker with a move away from Ewood Park continues to hang over the club. "Our focus has to be our next game at Fulham [on Saturday] and the 17 games after that," he said. "We know we are in a [relegation] fight but our immediate focus is on getting people fit."
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/premier_league/blackburn/article5467558.ece

YAYA TOURE HAPPY AT BARCELONA
The Ivory Coast midfielder is flattered to be linked with moves to Arsenal and Manchester City, but is concentrating on doing well in La Liga. "When a big club calls you it's very good because all African players want to go to a big club," he said. "But right now I play for Barcelona and I want to make everything work and then after I will see." He could be out of the Nou Camp quicker than he thinks after that insinuation.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/premier_league/article5467486.ece

LAMPARD UNCONCERNED WITH FESTIVE GLITCH
The Chelsea midfielder reckons a strong start to the second half of the season starting on Sunday will help get the team's title challenge back on track after a disappointing Christmas period. "A game against Manchester United will always be a table-topping clash and it's in our minds that we dropped some relatively easy points over the last few weeks, so we're in a position now where we really want to get a result," he said.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/premier_league/chelsea/article5466649.ece

AMEOBI EXTENDS NEWCASTLE CONTRACT
The 27-year-old striker has committed himself to three more years at St James' Park after resurrecting his career with the Magpies. "I hadn't played for a while and had to prove myself again," he said. "Now I can look forward to playing a lot more games, which didn't look likely a few months ago." Don't leave that contract lying around, Shola, it might get stolen [see yesterday's AOTG]. 
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/premier_league/newcastle/article5465339.ece

LIVE MATCH TRACKER: DERBY V MANCHESTER UNITED
The Rams are holding him back for tonight's match, but it's great to have a Clough back in the managerial spotlight. Whether Nigel's arrival at the Championship club can spark a shock in tonight's Carling Cup semi-final, first leg remains to be seen, but the atmosphere at Pride Park should be electric. You'll have to imagine that, but you can follow the action from 8pm with our live scores and stats service.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/live_match_tracker/

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If you've got another couple of minutes

Paranoid, moi?

Matthew Syed, the 2008 Sports Feature Writer of the Year, is not impressed by Sir Alex Ferguson's allegations that there is a conspiracy against Manchester United in the compiling of the fixture list.

"As any GCSE maths student could tell him, random processes are bound to throw up sequences that are unfavourable (real or imagined), but the upside is that this will be balanced over a sufficiently long time frame by favourable ones," he writes. "'Noise' is the term statisticians use to refer to the random fluctuations of chance. The only noise Ferguson seems to be familiar with is the stuff that comes out of his large and increasingly erratic mouth."

Do you agree with Syed that the United manager is out of order or do you concur with the Scot that the list is planned? Have your say.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/columnists/article5461536.ece

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>>>>>THE TABLOID TALE<<<<<
Cheryl: Victoria wasn't there for me - The Sun
What you need to know: 1) Cheryl Cole, the Girls Aloud singer, has voiced her disappointment at the lack of support given to her by Victoria Beckham after her husband Ashley was reported to have cheated on her. 2) "She was in my hotel room during the World Cup — we've had barbecues together," Cole said. "So I was quite shocked by that. I mean, David’s mum is friends with Ashley’s mum." 3) We want to know if the spinklers went off in the girls' suite as they chewed on their prawns.
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>>>>>TRANSFER TALK<<<<<

Middlesbrough have refused Tottenham's latest offer of an initial £12.5m for Stewart Downing with another £2m being paid on appearances just 48 hours after Spurs were told their interest was "not welcome" (The Daily Telegraph).

Real Madrid will offer Carlos Tevez the £25m, five-year contract he wants in the summer, but Manchester United are working on knocking down the Argentinian's price (Daily Star).

Roberto Canella, the Sporting Gijon defender, is seen by Martin O'Neill, the Aston Villa manager, as the ideal replacement for Nicky Shorey at left-back (Daily Mirror).

Hartlepool are leading the chase for the signature of Dean Windass after the striker was told he could leave Hull (The Sun).

Click here for more tittle-tattle: http://timesonline.typepad.com/thegame/2009/01/wednesdays-tran.html

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4
Clubs Harry Redknapp and Jermain Defoe have in common: Bournemouth, West Ham, Tottenham and Portsmouth.
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In TheGame

Oliver Kay replies: are Stoke the least popular top-flight team since Wimbledon?
Our writer responds to readers' comments by refuting accusations The Times match reports show anti-Stoke bias, revealing he used to get down to the Victoria Ground in his youth and admitting a liking for "a bit of blood and thunder".
http://timesonline.typepad.com/thegame/2009/01/oliver-kay-repl.html

Gabriele Marcotti: in correct praise of Martin O'Neill
Our European expert believes that the Aston Villa boss deserves appreciation for assembling an exciting, young squad and taking it to fourth place in the Premier League, but there is one theme surrounding his team that Marcotti just won't stand for. "If I hear another guy heaping plaudits on O'Neill for putting together a team with an 'English spine' then I think I'm going to blow chunks," he writes.
http://timesonline.typepad.com/thegame/2009/01/carlos-tevez-re.html

Chelsea Fanzone: a question of desire in West London
Our Stamford Bridge diehard believes that there is no doubt that the current Chelsea squad has within it an element possessing a questionable work ethic but he can see enough strong characters to see them well for the remainder of the season. "Over the next five months we'll really find out who's who," he writes. "And with the league running as tightly at the top as it is, the prizes for being able to motivate yourself are as valuable as they are going to get."
http://timesonline.typepad.com/fanzine_fanzone/2009/01/motivation-moti.html

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Joe Bloggs' Soapbox

"No: NASCAR fans are the best. They are so loyal, they'll have their wives switch laundry detergents if their favourite driver changes teams or sponsors ... even if it gives them a rash!"
Dan Schwartz responds to our Fanzine Fanzone article asking: do Celtic have the best fans in the world?

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And expect...

Victoria Beckham to explain to Cheryl Cole that she couldn't bring herself to discuss extra-marital affairs. Call it the Ex Factor.

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