Dmytro Chygrynsky signs with Barcelona

Chygrynskiy has sign a five-year contract with FC Barcelona after the club agreed a €25million fee with Shakhtar Donetsk. The central defender’s deal will include a buy-out clause worth €100million.

Chygrynsky arrived at the club offices this lunchtime after a fligh

t from Nice and the first thing he did was have his photo taken alongside the club’s coat of arms.

Chygrynsky, accompanied by his agent, his brother and club officials arrived at Barcelona airport at about 11.30.

The Ukrainian defender got a taste of what to expect from the fans at his new club when he landed at El Prat, as he coincided with an expedition from the Penya Barcelonista Teixonera, who’d just returned from Monaco. The fans gave him a warm welcome and took the opportunity to pose with him dressed in a Barca scarf and a first team shirt.

Chygrynsky was driven straight to the Nou Camp where he had his photo taken outside the club offices. Looking relaxed and dressed in jeans and a blue shirt, Chygrynsky also posed for the local media and was warmly received by fans who’d come to the club to welcome him.

Speaking exclusively to Barca TV Chygrynsky said: “I feel lucky to sign for Barca. I’m hoping to improve and form a part of this great team”.

Dmytro Chygrynsky career

2004–2005 / 2006-2009 Shakhtar Donetsk 83 matches, 7 goals

2005–2006 Metalurh Zaporizhzhya 15 matches, 2 goals

Barcelona Press

First Real Madrid squad list of the season: Pellegrini calls-up 18 players

"La Liga" is going to start. And all new signings are included in Real Madrid squad list who will play against Deportivo La Coruña.

On the other hand, Sergio Ramos misses the game due to an injury, Pepe is suspended, and Van Nistelrooy and Diarra are going through the last stages of their recovery plan.

Starting line-ups:

Real Madrid: Iker Casillas; Arbeloa, Albiol, Metzelder, Marcelo; 'Lass, Xabi Alonso; Cristiano Ronaldo, Raúl, Kaká; y Benzema.

Deportivo: Aranzubia; Laure, Lopo, Zé Castro, Filipe; Juca, Juan Rodríguez; Pablo Álvarez, Valerón, Guardado; y Riki.

Referee: Fernández Borbalán. Stadium: Santiago Bernabéu.

Rafa Benitez: “it's too early for pressure”

Rafa Benitez is confident Liverpool will be challenging for the title come May - and insists his side are under no pressure going into this weekend's clash with Bolton despite two defeats from their opening three games.

The boss believes 'togetherness and hard work' will get the Reds back on track following reversals against Tottenham and Aston Villa.

Asked at a pre-match press conference if his players were now under pressure, Benitez replied: "No, I don't think so. It's too early. Clearly the message for the players is the same - three points from the next game, that's it.

"We have to approach every game thinking about three points and then think about the next game. We cannot be thinking about January.

"Last year I was answering questions in September and October about us being contenders - it was too early. I said we will see in April.

"In football every week is different. You have to start winning games and then confidence will be really high.

"Now everyone needs to be together, working hard and trying to play well.

"Clearly we are not happy with the situation but we talked about draws last year, and maybe now we can manage and get wins instead of the draws and end up with a lot of points too."

Benitez warned against underestimating a Bolton side without a point or a goal from their two opening fixtures.

"We know Bolton are a very physical team that works very hard," he said. "They know how to play, especially at home. The figures don't matter. It will be a difficult game, so we have to approach it with confidence and make sure we are strong."

Gary Megson has come in for criticism from certain sections of the Reebok support, but Benitez rates his opposite number highly.

"He was doing a good job in the last year and hopefully this year, after this game, he will too," said the Spaniard. "For me he's someone who works hard and who is honest."

Benitez was also quizzed on whether Liverpool would conduct any more business in the transfer market before the deadline.

He responded: "Still we are working and we have some clubs asking about our players, but I don't think we'll do too much. It depends on the players, maybe some who are not playing or young players. I don't think we will do too many things."

Asked if there would be any new signings, he added: "I don't think so."

Meanwhile, Liverpool this week discovered they would face Lyon, Fiorentina and Debreceni in the Champions League group stages - three sides the club have never met in European competition.

Benitez added: "It will be good for the fans to see different teams from different cities. The games are not too far away, so that's positive. It will be a really good experience for everyone."

Liverpool Press

Alex Ferguson: Top four record must change

Sir Alex Ferguson will demand that his players earn a better record against fellow members of the top flight’s top four this term, starting with Arsenal on Saturday.

United won the title last year specifically due to a ruthless record of 70 points taken from a possible 72 against teams in the bottom 12 positions of the league. Results against the top eight were less flattering, and points dropped against teams inside the so-called top four were much to Sir Alex’s chagrin.

The Reds lost twice to Liverpool, drew and lost with Arsenal, and beat and drew with Chelsea en route to Barclays Premier League success in 2008/09. With that in mind, Sir Alex is placing even greater emphasis on victory over Arsenal this weekend.

“With 35 games left, you can’t say that this game will be decisive,” he told reporters at his weekly press conference. “But what means a lot to us is that last season against the top teams we dropped six points to Liverpool, five to Arsenal and two to Chelsea. We really need to address that and do better in these games. One opportunity comes along on Saturday and I hope we take it.”

These matches are perhaps no longer the fire and brimstone clashes of old, with warriors like Roy Keane and Patrick Vieira captaining their respective troops in battle. There is reason to suggest both teams are more sophisticated, and there has certainly been a thawing of relations between Sir Alex and Arsene Wenger.

Some have suggested that is because Arsenal have not realistically challenged United for the title in recent years. But their early season results suggest that could change this term. “Their start to the season has been the highlight of the early games,” admits the boss. “Beating Everton 6-1 was an amazing result. I can’t recall anybody scoring six goals at Everton in my time here.

“It’s been a good start for them, and then they got four goals against Portsmouth. I went to their game on Wednesday against Celtic and I thought they were comfortable enough, although Celtic made a fist of it.

“So we've got a tough game on our hands and we have to get our form right. Consistency is important and we have already lost one game and we can’t afford to lose another one this early on.”

With Arsenal at least showing the early murmurings of title contention, Sir Alex expects there to be an added bit of bite to these games, even though he says “the personalities of both teams have changed”.

“Games against Arsenal are never easy, but they're always interesting,” he says. “Over the years United-Arsenal matches have been the feature of the Premier League. For a long time we were both competing for the same no.1 spot. Some of the games were very feisty, but I think the character and the personalities within the teams have changed.

“We don’t have a Keane or a Vieira. There’s been a material change in that sense. They were both volatile characters and dominant figures in the team and the captains in the sides. That said, even the last game of the season which finished 0-0 got a bit heated at times. So it won’t be any less competitive but a different type of game.”

Pedro goal gives Super Cup 2009 against Shaktar Donetsk: Messi, the player of the match

Pedro Rodríguez goal gives to Barcelona the European Super Cup 2009 (UEFA) against Shaktar Donetsk. Lionel Andrés Messi, assisted him and was the best player of the hole night.

Barça play in the European Super Cup for the seventh time tonight, thus equalling Milan’s all-time record.

Just by taking part in tonight’s game at the Louis II, Barça are making history, as they equal Milan’s tally of seven appearances in a competition that has been held since 1973.

The ‘rossoneri’ have a record five titles. Barça, despite competing six times before, have only brought home the trophy twice.

AC Milan – Internazionale: debut with goal for Klaas Jan Huntelaar?

On Saturday, AC Milan host city rivals Internazionale in the Milan city derby. New signing Klaas-Jan Huntelaar can make his Serie A debut for AC Milan.

According to Infostrada Sports, the former Real Madrid striker can become the first Milan player since Alberto Paloschi in February 2008 to score on his Serie A debut for AC Milan. The last Dutch players to do so were Ruud Gullit and Marco van Basten in September 1987.

Scoring on Serie A debut for AC Milan since 1987/1988

Date Name Nation Match

10 Feb 2008 Alberto Paloschi ITA AC Milan - Siena 1-0

13 Jan 2008 Alexandre Pato BRA AC Milan - Napoli 5-2

10 Sep 2006 Ricardo Oliveira BRA AC Milan - Lazio 2-1

29 Aug 1999 Andrei Shevchenko UKR Lecce - AC Milan 2-2

27 Aug 1995 George Weah LBR Padova - AC Milan 1-2

27 Aug 1989 Giovanni Stroppa ITA Cesena - AC Milan 0-3

13 Sep 1987 Ruud Gullit NED Pisa - AC Milan 1-3

13 Sep 1987 Marco van Basten NED Pisa - AC Milan 1-3

You are welcome: 2009/2010 Champions League to feature eight debutants

The 2009/2010 Champions League main competition will feature eight debutants, the largest number since the 1999/2000 season, which saw the competition expanded to the current number of 32 participants.

AZ, Rubin Kazan, Standard Liège, Unirea Urziceni, VfL Wolfsburg, FC Zürich, APOEL Nicosia and Debreceni VSC are all about to embark on their maiden Champions League campaign.

Accorindg to Infostrada Sports, the last newcomers to survive the group phase were Sevilla FC in 2007/2008. The last debutants to reach the final were Valencia CF in 1999/2000.

Best results Champions League debutants – by season

Season Clubs New Best debutant(s) Reached

2009/2010 32 8 AZ (NED), Rubin Kazan (RUS), Standard Liège (BEL), Unirea Urziceni (ROU), VfL Wolfsburg (GER), FC Zürich (SUI), APOEL Nicosia (CYP), Debreceni VSC (HUN) TBD

2008/2009 32 4 Anorthosis Famagusta (CYP), BATE Borisov (BLR), CFR 1907 Cluj (ROU), Zenit St. Petersburg (RUS) Group phase

2007/2008 32 2 Sevilla FC (ESP) Last 16

2006/2007 32 2 FC København (DEN), Levski Sofia (BUL) Group phase

2005/2006 32 5 Villarreal CF (ESP) Semi-finals

2004/2005 32 1 Maccabi Tel Aviv (ISR) Group phase

2003/2004 32 4 VfB Stuttgart (GER), Celta de Vigo (ESP), Real Sociedad (ESP) Last 16

2002/2003 32 3 FC Basel (SUI) Group phase 2

2001/2002 32 7 Liverpool (ENG) Quarter-finals

2000/2001 32 7 Leeds United (ENG) Semi-finals

1999/2000 32 11 Valencia CF (ESP) Runners-up

1998/1999 24 9 Internazionale (ITA), 1. FC Kaiserslautern (GER) Quarter-finals

1997/1998 24 10 Bayer Leverkusen (GER) Quarter-finals

1996/1997 16 5 AJ Auxerre (FRA), Atlético Madrid (ESP) Quarter-finals

1995/1996 16 11 Juventus (ITA) Winners

1994/1995 16 10 Ajax (NED) Winners

1993/1994 8 6 FC Barcelona (ESP) Runners-up

1992/1993 8 8 Olympique Marseille (FRA) Winners

Lionel Messi: the best player of Europe 2009: he dedicate awards to the hole squad

Players of FC Barcelona stole the limelight at the UEFA awards ceremony in Monaco on Thursday. Messi was voted best forward and best club footballer while Xavi lifted the award for best midfielder.

After picking up their awards at the UEFA ceremony in Monaco, Xavi and Messi stressed that the merit belonged to the whole Barça squad.

Barça’s excellent 2008-09 season culminated in the Club’s third Champions league title. Now, UEFA has recognised the individual achievements of two members of the team, Xavi and Messi. On learning of their awards, both players emphasised the important of the whole squad.

Speaking to Barça TV, Xavi Hernández dedicated the award to his team-mates: “I know that this is all a team success. I’m very happy and I dedicate it to them because without their contribution I’m nobody on the pitch”. Lionel Messi spoke in similar terms: “The whole group deserves recognition for our season last year”.

They also stressed that the players must keep their feet on the ground if they want to carry on winning. Messi, who today picked up the first of what will surely be many individual awards in years to come, was determined to play down comments that rate him as the best player in the world: “I just concentrate on doing my job, on improving as a player and on learning. I will never believe that I’m the best in the world and my objective is to work hard to carry on winning”.

Xavi is obviously delighted to have been voted best player in the European Nations Cup, best player in the Rome final and now best midfielder in the competition. However, he stressed: “Everyone likes to receive awards and it’s clear that these come from collective success. Now we’re immersed in a new season and there’s a lot at stake”.

As a product of the Barça youth academy, Xavi is pleased that all five nominees came up through the youth ranks: “It’s another sign that the youth football is very well organised. Barça’s great teams have always had home-grown players and I believe this should never be lost. It’s a privilege and an honour that there are so many home-grown players in the first team”.

Fully focussed on the European Super Cup: although it’s nice to receive awards, Xavi and Messi known that the most important thing is Friday’s final and that there’ no room for mistakes. Xavi told us: “We’ll be 100%: We know that we have to give our all and be humble. We are aware that Shakhtar is a great team against whom we can win or lose but we will never lose our humility”.

For his part Messi said: “Above everything else is Friday’s match. It’ll be very complicated and we can’t repeat the defeat from the past. We have to start well and mentalise ourselves that it’ll be very difficult”.


The winners

Best goalkeeper: Van der Sar (Manchester Utd)
Best defender: John Terry (Chelsea)
Best midfielder: Xavi Hernández (Barça)
Best forward: Lionel Andrés Messi (Barça)
Best club footballer: Lionel Andrés Messi (Barça)

European Super Cup 2009: Final session before leaving for Monaco

The senior squad had their last training session in Barcelona on Wednesday evening before leaving for Monaco. As it is a final Guardiola has decided to take the 24 available players.

The session, the second of the week focussed on Friday’s European Super Cup match against Shakhtar Donetsk, started at 6.30 pm and was held behind closed doors. Reserve team youngsters Marc Bartra and Oriol Romeu joined the usual group.

All available players: as happened last year for the Valencia and Rome finals, Guardiola has decided to take all his available players including Jonathan, Fontàs, Muniesa and Jeffren from the reserves.

Flying kick in Bolivian football: three-year ban

What a kick!!! Sergio Jáuregui (Blooming) could be banned three years because of this flying kick against Leonardo Medina (Oriente Petrolero) during the the Bolivian classical match. What is happening in South American football? What do you think? Must he receive a three-year ban?

Gennaro Gattuso: 400 matches with the Rossoneri, celebrated with the captain's armband

Here we have the message from AC Milan to Gennaro Ivan Gattuso:

A bulldog, a totem, a gladiator, a lion. There are no more ways to define you. But perhaps in the end only the word 'Rino' is necessary to describe everything: the man, the soul, the pride, the heart, the muscles and the lungs. 'Rino': four letters which, behind their apparent simplicity, hide an immense significance for the Rossoneri people.

Because you, Rino, are Milan. You have shown it in every second of every match: you are the image, enthusiasm, grit and passion of this club which cannot do without you on the pitch or off it. And, finally, yesterday at Siena you managed to achieve a target you have followed a long time, and in a special way: you made your 400th appearence with the Rossoneri with the captain's armband.

You were dreaming about this objective for a long time, we know it, and we know you well. Well, it has arrived. And we are sure that for you it will only be a starting point of a season of revenge, very deserved after last season's suffering, after all the effort you made to recover from the surgery to your knee ligaments, after a spring period spent sweating like a madman, fiercely concentrated on your return on the pitch, and after a whole summer spent working.

What will the year be like, Rino? Difficult for the team, because everyone is waiting for us, convinced they will look at us from above. You admitted this yourself without diplomacy, as usual. And probably it will be a difficult year also for you. Because the competition is strong and everyone wants to play. Especially you. You showed it yesterday at Siena when you were substituted: there was no polemic, we understood, there was only desire to continue playing. This honors you.

As fans we can't wait to embrace you again at San Siro in an official match: we don't see you stepping on our stadium's pitch since 7 December, it's been an infinity. Fortunately the derby is close. You asked for enthusiasm and warmth from the fans: our stadium, our home, our people are already calling for you. Do you hear it? It's all for you. You deserve it, champion.

FC Unirea Urziceni squad and numbers: UEFA Champions League 2009 – 2010 and Romanian League

Take a look at this logo. They are nicknamed as "Chelsea de Ialomiţa"




1 GK Giedrius Arlauskis
4 DF Ersin Mehmedović
5 MF Dinu Todoran
6 DF George Galamaz (captain)
7 FW Marius Bilaşco
8 MF Sorin Paraschiv
10 MF Răzvan Pădureţu
11 FW Marius Onofraş
14 FW Raul Rusescu
15 FW Cristian Danalache
16 MF Epaminonda Nicu
17 FW Antonio Semedo
18 MF Ricardo Gomes
19 DF Pablo Brandán
20 MF Laurenţiu Marinescu
22 DF Bruno Fernandes
23 DF Valeriu Bordeanu
24 DF Vasile Maftei
25 DF Dan Matei
28 FW Daniel Stan
29 DF Daniel Munteanu
30 MF Sorin Frunză
32 MF Iulian Apostol
74 GK Daniel Tudor
77 GK Cătălin Grigore

PFC CSKA Moscow squad and numbers: Champions League 2009 – 2010 and Russian Premier League 2009

2 DF Deividas Šemberas
4 DF Sergei Ignashevich
6 DF Aleksei Berezutskiy
7 MF Daniel Carvalho
9 FW Vágner Love
10 MF Alan Dzagoev
11 MF Pavel Mamaev
12 FW Ouwo Moussa Maazou
13 MF Mark González
14 FW Ricardo Jesus
15 DF Chidi Odiah
17 MF Miloš Krasić
22 MF Evgeni Aldonin
24 DF Vasili Berezutskiy
25 MF Elvir Rahimić
33 GK Yevgeni Pomazan
35 GK Igor Akinfeev (captain)
42 DF Georgi Schennikov
50 DF Anton Grigoriev
88 MF Caner Erkin
89 FW Tomáš Necid

FC Rubin Kazan squad and numbers: UEFA Champions League 2009 – 2010 and Russian Premier League 2009

1 GK Sergei Kozko

2 DF Stjepan Tomas

3 DF Cristian Ansaldi

4 DF César Navas

5 MF Pyotr Bystrov

6 MF MacBeth Sibaya

7 MF Sergei Semak (captain)

9 DF Lasha Salukvadze

10 FW Alejandro Domínguez

11 FW Aleksandr Bukharov

15 MF Aleksandr Ryazantsev

16 MF Christian Noboa

19 DF Vitali Kaleshin

22 DF Aleksandr Orekhov

23 MF Yevgeni Balyaikin

24 DF Aleksei Popov

27 DF Dato Kvirkvelia

29 GK Nukri Revishvili

32 MF Andrei Gorbanets

42 MF Rafał Murawski

61 MF Gökdeniz Karadeniz

76 DF Roman Sharonov

77 GK Sergei Ryzhikov

97 FW Igor Portnyagin

99 FW Hasan Kabze

-- MF Alan Kasaev

Sergio Agüero in Champions League: “We have to play at the same way”

He was always firm about his idea of remaining at Atlético de Madrid. He didn’t pay attention to all that was said about his possible departure. Sergio Agüero is still at the Club and is playing at the same level that he exhibited in recent years. He scored a spectacular goal in the first leg match against Panathinaikos and wants to repeat the feat in front of his supporters in the Champions League return leg.

“Hopefully I can score another one just like it. All players like to score beautiful goals, but the important thing is for the team to qualify for the Champions League group stage,” stressed the striker.

Sergio Agüero, just like the rest of his team-mates, isn’t overconfident about the lead that the ‘rojiblanco’ side earned in Athens by winning 2-3. He’s aware that it’s not going to be an easy encounter and stated that “they are going to come out and try to score goals.

They’re going to try and give their all on the pitch. I think that we played a good match in Athens and the result couldn’t have been better. We have to try and play our game and if we do that then everything will be fine.”

Shaktar – Sivasspor: it is time for Europa League

All details of tonight’s clash between Shakhtar and Sivasspor have been arranged in a recent meeting today. The match kicks off at 19:00. All participants of the clash should arrive 90 minutes before the match at RSC Olympiyskyy.

Tonight guest team will appear in a white kit with red elements, then, the Miners are going to wear their conventional, orange and black striped gear.

The UEFA delegate Odd Flattum inspected RSC Olimpiyskyy stadium and its lawn before the meeting. The Norwegian remained satisfied with its level. During the meeting he also claimed if the match ended a 3-0 Turkish win, the winner would be decided after extra-time, or in case of need, after penalty shoot-outs. Such statement arose a smile even in Sivas team representatives…

Tonight’s match will become the only that will be held in the tournament framework, Odd Flattum went on. It will draw special attention. The entire Europe will see it.

From this point of view Odd Flattum paid attention to the UEFA attitude towards all kinds of racism. The match will be interrupted in case of any abusive behaviour mentioned. But the referee claimed with assurance that there might not be any problems.

An hour before the play-off round match the pitch will be irrigated in a mutual agreement.

An approximate number of supporters that are eager to come to the match is about 22 000. And 112 media representatives were accredited to broadcast this event.

Andreas Georgiou, a Cypriot observer, could not help paying a compliment: The officiating crew for tonight’s match is the best as well as the teams are playing tonight. That is why football is going to be a real pleasure for supporters.

FC Shakhtar Press Office

UEFA Europa League 2009 / 2010 Live streaming TV links

UEFA Europa League schedule: Fourth Qualifying Round

Feel free to add links.

August 25

18:00 Shakhtar Donetsk - Sivasspor

August 27

16:00 Aktobe - Werder Bremen

17:00 FK Karabakh - FC Twente Enschede

18:00 Amkar Perm - Fulham

18:00 Dynamo Moscow - CSKA Sofia

18:00 Hapoel Tel Aviv - Teplice

18:00 Olomouc - Everton

18:15 Hertha BSC - Brondby

18:30 Slovan Bratislava - Ajax Amsterdam

18:30 Zenit St. Petersburg - Nacional

18:45 CFR Cluj - FK Sarajevo

18:45 Lille - Racing Genk

18:45 SC Heerenveen - PAOK Saloniki

19:00 Elfsborg - Lazio

19:00 Tromso - Athletic Bilbao

19:15 Austria Vienna - Metalurg Donetsk

19:15 Metalist Kharkiv - Sturm Graz

19:30 Basel - FK Baku

19:30 Liberec - Dinamo Bucuresti

19:30 Zilina - Partizan Belgrade

20:00 AEK Athens - FC Vaslui

20:00 Litex Lovech - BATE Borisov

20:00 Sparta Prague - NK Maribor

20:00 Tallinna FC Levadia - Galatasaray

20:30 Club Brugge - Lech Poznan

20:30 Fenerbahce - Sion

20:30 Hamburger SV - Guingamp

20:30 OB Odense - Genoa

20:30 Red Star Belgrade - Slavia Prague

20:30 Villarreal - NAC Breda

20:35 Hearts - Dinamo Zagreb

20:45 AS Roma - Kosice

20:45 PSV Eindhoven - Bnei Yehuda Tel Aviv

20:45 St. Patricks - Steaua Bucuresti

20:45 Vorskla Poltava - Benfica

21:00 Aston Villa - Rapid Vienna

21:00 Toulouse - Trabzonspor

21:30 Valencia - Stabaek

The Lyon squad flies out to face Anderlecht

A 20 man Olympique Lyonnais squad flew out of the Saint-Exupéry airport this morning at 11h00, direction Brussels where OL face Anderlecht tomorrow night in their Champions League preliminary round second leg.

Under the scrutiny of several onlookers and journalists, a very relaxed looking OL squad , boarded their flight for the Belgian capital this morning.

Added to the 18 players present at Auxerre on Saturday are François Clerc, back from injury, Gonalons and Lisandro Lopez, who was restedby Claude Puel this week-end. On the other hand, Govou, Ederson and Cléber Anderson, injured, as well as Grosso, do not make the trip.

The OL squad: Lloris, Vercoutre, Cris, Bodmer, Boumsong, Réveillère, Clerc, Cissokho, Toulalan, Källström, Gonalons, Makoun, Pjanic, Delgado, Mounier, Bastos, Belfodil, Tafer, Gomis, Lisandro.

Champions League 2009 / 2010 Live streaming TV links

Champions League schedule: qualifying - Play-off round - Second Leg

Feel free to add links.

August 25
20:45 Anderlecht - Lyon
20:45 Atletico Madrid - Panathinaikos
20:45 Debrecen - Levski Sofia
20:45 Maccabi Haifa - RB Salzburg
20:45 Zurich - Ventspils

August 26
20:45 APOEL Nicosia - FC Copenhagen
20:45 Arsenal - Celtic
20:45 Fiorentina - Sporting Lisbon
20:45 Olympiakos Piraeus - FC Sheriff
20:45 Stuttgart - FC Timisoara

Goals of Nicolas Anelka in Chelsea to arrive again: “we will be stronger”

After two well-worked goals yesterday afternoon, Nicolas Anelka insists his understanding with Didier Drogba will only improve as the season progresses.

Sunday's game proved Chelsea's strike force are one of the most proficient in the league, as they set-up each others goals in the 2-0 win over our neighbours.

Now, with only three games of the season played, Anelka knows there is plenty more to come from the two front men, especially as they are still settling into Carlo Ancelotti's system and style of play.

'We wanted to play together and when we are on the pitch, I want him to score and he wants me to score,' said Anelka.

'We put the team first and if we can set-up some goals for each other, it is good.

'We are playing well, we have to know the system better, but game after game we will be better. We will have more games and we will be stronger.'

Ancelotti always had faith in his strikers and their abilities to play alongside one another and Sunday's fixture showed the Italian how their two styles can combine to create a danger to any defence.

But, describing Anelka as the 'complete striker', Ancelotti admitted Chelsea played better once our number 39 moved into the centre, just behind Drogba, than when he was out on the right.

Anelka himself is happy to play in any offensive position, although he knows that no matter where he plies his trade, being in a team like Chelsea can only help you succeed.

'It [the position] is not the same every time, last season I started up front alone, then I was on the right, now I am in the middle,' he explained.

'But when you play with a lot of big players you learn quickly, everybody is helping everybody and it is easy.

'He [Ancelotti] puts us on the pitch and we try to do our best, we want to play together, we like to play together and we are happy.'

Last season's Golden Boot winner will have his sights on the same award once more, but after our third win in a row, he knows the team's overall performance is more important than individual goals.

'Of course, it is always good to win a game, even better when we win against Fulham, because it is a derby and we enjoyed the game.

'We are strong; we know if we score first we have a good chance if winning games. Against Fulham we didn't concede any goals, we scored first and we looked strong.

'For me, it is always important to score, but I am very glad because first we won, although I always try to do better than last season.'

Chelsea Press

Michael Owen joy at first strike

Owen was over the moon to break his United duck after firing the Reds' fourth goal in the 5-0 hammering of Wigan Athletic on Saturday.

The 29-year-old striker came off the bench on 71 minutes and, after being put through by Nani, produced a vintage finish in front of United's 5000-strong travelling support five minutes from time.

Having failed to put away a handful of chances on his previous two appearances against Birmingham and Burnley, Owen was relieved to finally get off the mark.

"I probably scored the hardest chance I've had!" he joked. "I had two chances at Burnley and one against Birmingham, but this was the fourth real opportunity I've had.

"I don't think I missed a chance in pre-season, but I've missed a couple since the season started and as ever everyone is quick to write you off. It was as if I hadn't scored for a couple of years! That's something I've had to deal with for ten odd years now and I don't think that will change until I hang up my boots.

"It was certainly a great feeling to score. I'd got a few in pre-season but there's nothing quite like doing it in a competitive game."

With his first goal now under his belt, Owen is confident more will follow.

"I'd be disappointed if people didn't think I could go on from here," he insists. "I obviously believe I can as I have done throughout my career and I certainly expect to score more goals in the red shirt."


Manchester United Press

Rafael Benitez seeking home comforts

Benitez today urged his players to claim another three home points against Aston Villa tonight - and serve notice that Anfield will be a fortress for opposition teams this season.

Having comfortably seen off the challenge of Stoke City in midweek the Reds go into this evening's fixture full of confidence, and with their manager insisting home victories will be key to a title challenge this time around.

"We have talked about trying to push teams from the beginning at Anfield," Benitez said.

"If we can create some chances in the first few minutes it sends out a good message. It's important to show teams our desire to win. At home we have fantastic fans behind us pushing us on.

"It's vital our home form is good. Teams already know that coming to Anfield is difficult and the more games we win the more difficult they will realise it is."

Villa will arrive on Merseyside still haunted by their 5-0 thrashing at Anfield last term - and Benitez is hoping his side can produce a similarly deadly display to ensure they keep pace with the early season league leaders.

"We were on a good run at that time, we played really well and scored a lot of goals," Benitez added. "That was very positive and hopefully we can play at that level against Villa once again.

The confidence of the players is high after the Stoke game but this will be a totally different game. "Villa are a good team with quality and pace. They also have plenty of experience."

Liverpool Press

Sevilla FC squad and numbers 2009/2010: UEFA Champions League and Spanish League 2009 - 2010

Sevilla have confirmed the squad and numbers:

1 GK Andrés Palop
2 DF Federico Fazio
3 DF Ivica Dragutinović
4 DF Sébastien Squillaci
5 MF Aldo Duscher
6 MF Adriano
7 MF Jesús Navas
8 MF Didier Zokora
9 FW Arouna Koné
10 FW Luís Fabiano
11 MF Renato
12 FW Frédéric Kanouté
13 GK Javi Varas
14 DF Julien Escudé
15 DF Alejandro Alfaro
16 FW Sergio Sánchez
17 MF Diego Capel
18 DF Fernando Navarro
19 FW Javier Chevantón
20 MF Duda
21 MF Lautaro Acosta
22 MF Koffi Ndri Romaric
23 DF Lolo
24 DF Abdoulay Konko
25 MF Diego Perotti
30 MF Jose Carlos
— FW Enrique Carreño
— FW Álvaro Negredo
— MF Tom de Mul

Bayern Munich squad and numbers 2009/10: UEFA Champions League and Bundesliga 2009 - 2010

Bayern Munich have confirmed the squad and numbers:

1 GK Michael Rensing

4 DF Edson Braafheid

5 DF Daniel Van Buyten

6 DF Martín Demichelis

7 MF Franck Ribéry

8 MF Hamit Altıntop

9 FW Luca Toni

11 FW Ivica Olić

13 DF Andreas Görlitz

15 DF Breno

16 MF Andreas Ottl

17 MF Mark van Bommel (captain)

18 FW Miroslav Klose

No. Position Player

19 MF Alexander Baumjohann

20 MF José Ernesto Sosa

21 DF Philipp Lahm

22 GK Hans-Jörg Butt

23 MF Danijel Pranjić

25 FW Thomas Müller

28 DF Holger Badstuber

30 DF Christian Lell

31 MF Bastian Schweinsteiger

33 FW Mario Gómez

35 GK Thomas Kraft

44 MF Anatoliy Tymoschuk