Daniel Agger was not included in Liverpool’s matchday squad for the 1-0 victory over Gomel on Thursday night, with the player’s agent confirming that the defender is not injured.
The Denmark international has grown into an important player in the Merseyside club’s set-up in recent seasons, and his absence in Belarus has come as a source of surprise.
Agent Per Steffensen has admitted that he is unsure of the reason behind the central defender’s omission, but that the player is happy with Brendan Rodgers’ men.
“He is not injured in any way,” Steffensen told Politiken, translated to English by Sky Sports.
“Only the club and the manager can answer to why he is not in the squad.
“But the reports of Agger handing in a transfer request are purely nonsense. He is very happy at Liverpool.”
Agger is currently under contract until the summer of 2014 at Anfield.
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Chelsea started their 2012-13 Premier League campaign with a 2-0 win over Wigan on Sunday.
The west Londoners took little time to break the deadlock, with debutant Eden Hazard setting up Branislav Ivanovic to score after only two minutes.
The Belgian superstar was at the core of the Blues’ second after seven minutes, as Frank Lampard converted a penalty won by Hazard.
Roberto Di Matteo has hailed the result as the ideal start, and was pleased with his side’s performance.
“We had a very bright start and sometimes you don’t score the goals so early on but it was perfect today that we managed to score the two goals early on. I think that that settled a lot of nerves,” he told Sky Sports.
“We prepared for the game and the team and we were looking for a good start. It doesn’t always happen but I think today they responded very well.”
Di Matteo went on to praise Hazard’s debut showing.
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“He was outstanding. He produced a lot of quality within this game and was always a threat. Difficult to mark, got away from his man. It was very pleasant to watch him today,” the Italian coach concluded.
What constitutes a wasted talent in football? As Michael Owen has made his move to Stoke City, many have been left to analyse his period at Manchester United, which amounted to little more than a three-year bench warming exercise for the one time European footballer of the year. He had so much more to offer the Premier League, but yet chose prestige over game time. Not the wisest decision, in some people’s books.
But in the grand old scheme of things, Owen’s decision isn’t all that bad compared to some of these gentlemen. The talent of these 10 men was never really in any doubt, but what they were able to do off the pitch always seemed to affect their abilities, on it.
A penchant for clubs, casinos, dentist chairs and a damnright contempt for turning up to training have, all seen their careers plummet. Where as they should still have been playing at the highest level, some now face a career of footballing exile or a period on the after-dinners circuit. So have a flick through, have a read and see if you still rate Michael Owen as a wasted talent.
Click on Stan Collymore to unveil the 10
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Have I missed anyone out or are you outraged at some of these choices? Tell me what you think on Twitter: follow @samuel_antrobus and bat me all your views.
The Premier League season is well into the swing of things and for certain individuals, it’s been more successful than others. The managers are starting to decide on their strongest first XI’s having watched their respective teams battle through the first month of action and they will have realised which players might need temporary spells away from their clubs in order to play more first team football.
That decision might be taken depending whether a player needs to recover fitness levels or simply regain his form. However, there’s also the option to send out those youngsters who are showing promise at the highest level of the game but need regular action to make sure their development continues at the pace required. Championship clubs quite often benefit from these arrangements and now the loan market is open, they will be rummaging around in the Premier League reserve league looking for reinforcements. We therefore bring you the 15 Premier League players who could do with a loan move away from their clubs.
Click on Robbie Brady to unveil the list
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Wayne Rooney has said that he does not “want to be making the wrong type of headlines” in his first game as England captain tonight.
It had been rumoured earlier this week that the Manchester United star would wear the captain’s armband. Rooney takes the role becuase of regular captain Steven Gerrard’s suspension from the match. Additionally, Frank Lampard, who would have been a prime candidate for the captaincy, is injured.
With tonight’s World Cup qualifier against San Marino looming, Rooney says that while he doubts he will change his atttitude in his role as captain, he wants to avoid making silly mistakes.
“I don’t think I’m going to change my attitude because I’m wearing the armband. I’m quite vocal on the pitch and my determination can hopefully help the team. But I don’t want to be making the wrong type of headlines and missing games I don’t want to be missing,” he said.
He also regrets being sent off in a Euro 2012 qualifier against Montenegro which saw him banned for two of the competition’s group stage games.
“What happened in Montenegro was stupid. I regretted it as soon as I’d done it. It won’t be happening again, I can promise.
“I’ve matured more as a player and a person. I have cut out a lot of the silly tackles and mistakes I made as a young player.”
Rooney, who has appeared as captain in some Manchester United matches, including in the Champions League says he is proud to take on the role.
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“It is a great honour. I’m really proud and excited. It will be a big night for me and my family. It’s a big challenge for myself,” he added.
Tonight’s World Cup qualifier against San Marino kicks off at 8.00 pm at Wembley Stadium.
Real Madrid’s 21-year-old winger Denis Cheryshev is being target by Premier League new boys Reading after the Royals sent scouts to the Spanish capital, according to the Daily Mail.
Cheryshev played for Real Madrid’s first team during pre-season but now features for their second side, Castilla in the Spanish second division. Reading have had scouts monitor the Russian as one of many January options and a loan deal could be on the cards come the new year.
Reading are currently bottom of the Premier League, but they may well look to add more quality to their squad after Christmas and owner Anton Zingarevich has confirmed not only their interest in Cheryshev but also that they have a few players on trial.
Royals’ owner Zingarevich said: “Our scouts watched Cheryshev for Castilla against Barcelona B. Denis played 20 minutes.”
“I’m not guaranteeing that he will go to Reading, but it’s possible. And Denis knows about it.”
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When news broke of Fabio Borini’s broken foot last week, most Liverpool fans were surprisingly accepting of the situation. There was almost an air of inevitability about it.
Following the deadline day debacle, and the fact Liverpool were entering a Premier League season with just two senior strikers available to Brendan Rodgers, it seemed almost typically inevitable and cruel that one was going to suffer a bad injury.
It’s been in keeping with the fortunes and bad luck Liverpool have endured for the past 18 months, although without meaning to be cruel to Borini, the one saving grace was that at least it wasn’t Luis Suarez (touch wood).
On the day Borini suffered his injury, I had written how the influx of young talent at Anfield had gone some way to masking Liverpool’s lack of strikers. A couple of hours later Borini broke his foot. I am just praying following the publication of this article there is no announcement regarding the health of Luis Suarez.
Liverpool do look horribly short up top now, but one thing they must not do is attempt to rush the young Italian back too quick. It has been something we have seen at Anfield in the past, and it has come back to haunt the club and the players involved later on down the line.
Gerard Houllier attempted to rush back Michael Owen from a bad hamstring injury he picked up at Leeds in 1998. Liverpool were suffering from a lack of strikers back then aswell, and the French coach was desperate for his main goal scorer to return to the fold. Owen’s lack of a full recovery programme saw him break down with the same problem time and again. How much of an effect that has had on his career will never be fully known, although I am willing to bet it’s a pretty large chunk.
Rafael Benitez endured the same predicament on a couple of occasions during his time in the Anfield hot seat. His attempt to rush back Czech forward Milan Baros during the 2004-2005 season backfired. Djibril Cisse was out for the for seeable future with a horrific leg break, so Baros remained the one available senior striker.
Benitez was desperate to get Baros back in time for the famous Champions League game with Olympiakos (‘what a hit son’, and all that.) Having been rushed back for the game, Baros limped out after 70-odd minutes and spent the rest of season playing through the pain barrier. He was in and out of the side as Liverpool regretted not allowing him a full recovery programme.
Fernando Torres was exactly the same. Having been rushed back from a hamstring injury picked up on international duty, the Spaniard continued to break down, and one could argue has not looked the same player since.
Is this just a Liverpool thing though? Those three examples does beg the question as to why the Reds always seem to be so short of strikers, and does make you bemoan their wretched luck.
But when big players suffer injuries, is there too much pressure to get them back quickly rather than wait that bit longer to ensure their recovery is complete?
Wayne Rooney was afforded the full recovery time for the nasty injury he picked up earlier in the season and has been bedded back into the Manchester United team slowly. That is understandable as United have the likes of Robin Van Persie, Danny Welback and Javier Hernandez available as cover. It all depends on your squad size and the resources available to you. And Liverpool are extremely short at the moment.
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Liverpool’s medical staff will be under big pressure to get Fabio Borini back in the fold sooner rather than later, due to the somewhat ridiculous lack of resources available to Brendan Rodgers. Whilst this is not a muscle injury that would be more complicated, it is still crucial Borini is allowed to complete the full recovery programme in order to avoid problems further down the line.
In the mean time, youngsters the like of Adam Morgan, Dani Pacheco and Samed Yesil will have to step forward. It is not ideal, but what other choice does Rodgers have?
It is crucial he does not bow to the pressure of bringing Borini back too quickly, for the player and the teams long term benefit. Liverpool have seen it happen too many times before, and you just hope the lessons have been learnt.
Mathieu Debuchy has declared his disappointment at failing to reach an agreement with Newcastle last summer, but hopes a deal can be agreed in the future, report talkSPORT.
The Premier League side trailed the right-back for the majority of the last transfer window with manager Alan Pardew making no secret of his desire to bring the 27-year-old to St James’ Park.
However, despite both player and club being keen on concluding a move, an agreement could not be reached with Lille who regard the French international as a key amber of their squad.
With the long-term of future of Danny Simpson in doubt, it’s thought that the Magpies may return with a bid this winter, and Debuchy has welcomed the speculation:
“The president (Michel Seydoux) did not want me to go to Newcastle but yes, I was disappointed,
“I hope there will be other opportunities but I’m 200 per cent committed to Lille.”
Debuchy is widely believed to be one of the finest full-backs in French football, with his attractive attacking abilities complemented by a solid reading of the game.
As a result he has attracted the attention of Real Madrid who see him as an ideal addition to their squad.
Newcastle may hold the upper hand on their Spanish rivals for his signature, with first-team football almost guaranteed in the black and white jersey.
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The presence of his former team-mate Yohan Cabaye may also be a factor in convincing him to move to the North East of England.
co-owner David Gold has revealed he would welcome investment from someone wealthy enough to give the club an opportunity to compete with the Premier League’s elite.
West Ham’s bid to move into the Olympic Stadium is the first sign that the club are exploring ways in which the club can grow and begin competing with the top-flight’s big clubs.
And Gold has admitted that, although he and fellow co-owner David Sullivan do not have the funds required to compete with billionaire owned clubs like Chelsea and Manchester City, he would welcome some who can help the club step up to the next level.
He told the Daily Mirror: “You have to be a billionaire to make a major difference and there are not many of them about.
“In an ideal world, though, if you ask what I would like to see happen, I would like a very wealthy person to come and join us. David and I and wealthy by normal standards, but not by football standards.
“We would be reluctant to sell the whole football club because we feel a great part of it. It has taken us a lifetime to earn enough money to return to our roots and we will not give that up lightly. We are doing our best but it would be much easier if there were three of us.”
And Gold believes the move to the Olympic Stadium would attract the sort of investment every club craves.
“To grow the club, fingers crossed to get to the Olympic Stadium, would change our whole image, would help us attract better players,” he added
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“But it all boils down to income and we have to generate more income.”
Udinese midfielder Emmanuel Badu has confessed his desire to play in the Premier League.
The 22-year-old has been linked with the likes of Reading, QPR, Wigan and Stoke in recent times, after a string of impressive displays in the Serie A.
Despite being a key member of the Udinese squad, Badu admitted that he is flattered by the interest being shown in him and would be open to moving to England:
“It is all players’ dream to play in the biggest league in the world,” he told SkySports.
“I am doing my best here, Udinese is a very good team.
“I am flattered by clubs showing interest in me. My performances have been good, but I need to improve.”
Fellow countryman Kwadwo Asamoah left the club during the summer, signing for Juventus, and Badu has confessed that he misses his team-mate:
“I miss the banter with Asamoah, he has been a brother to me.
“I wished him good luck, he deserved to go to a big club like Juventus, he is a big talent.”
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Badu began his career with Berekum Arsenal in his home nation.
He caught the eye of Udinese’s scouts during trails with Middlesbrough and a loan spell at Spanish club Recreativo Huelva, tempting the club to swoop for his signature in 2010.
Despite being just 22-year-of-age, Badu has already made in excess of 30 appearances at senior international level.