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The old Chelsea were back at Bolton, but is it all too late?

By Martin Lipton in Laptop with Martin Lipton
Published 12:13 25/01/11

At last, at long, long last, Chelsea laid down the gauntlet.
But tonight all they can do is watch to see if Manchester United will pick it up.
Carlo Ancelotti had described last night's trip to Bolton as the moment of truth for his players, the game which would determine whether the rest of the season was about a quest for silverware or a desperate battle to stay in the top four.
The response could not have been more decisive or convincing, as Chelsea made it eight wins out of eight at The Reebok, still without conceding a goal, since Roman Abramovich bought the club.

After the debacles of the away days at Liverpool, Birmingham, Arsenal and Wolves, this was more like the old Chelsea.
Didier Drogba leading the line, Florent Malouda and Nicolas Anelka busy and inventive, Michael Essien driving through the middle with power and purpose, the full-backs flying, John Terry snarling defiance, Petr Cech calm and agile.
It was as if the past three months of chaos were a figment of the imagination, even if Frank Lampard was left watching from his home in the capital.
But they were not. They really happened. Chelsea really dropped 16 out of 18 on their travels, 23 points out of 33 in all, and fell from dominance at the top to fifth at one stage.
However, the bitter truth for Chelsea, even after a night in which they discovered their mojo, was that it might have come too late to make any difference.
Even in the aftermath of victory, Terry, Drogba and Ancelotti were clinging to the looming prospect of two clashes with Manchester United, depicting those games as crunch time.
"I think United should be worried," said skipper Terry. "In the past we've never given up.
"United are playing well and getting the right results and getting a bit of luck. That might turn. We have to play them twice and if we can win both we'll be right back in it."
Ancelotti, too, echoed his captain's view. He said: "Closing the gap is not easy because United are so far in front but we have to try to do everything to come back and step by step we can do that.
"If we think we can close the gap we have to win both games against them. The most important thing was that we came back to use our power, strength and personality. We have to have confidence that season could be good for us in the future."
Drogba, though, was more realistic: "If we can win it from here it would be the best achievement in my six years at the club.
"But we have to think about the next game. It's good that we have to play United twice but we have to win the next game."
They do, too, and by the time they get the chance to do that the gap is likely to be up to 10 again, with only 15 games to go.
United will be aware of the requirement for them to now win at Blackpool this evening - to take advantage of the potential destabilisation caused by Liverpool's pursuit of Bloomfield Road tempo-setter Charlie Adam.
Sir Alex Ferguson does not need to be told that United have won only two of their 10 away games so far, that they have dropped 16 points themselves on their travels.
Any more slip-ups in games they should be winning and the door will start to look increasingly open, certainly for Manchester City - who, remember, do not have the distraction of the imminent return of the Champions League to worry about - and Arsenal, if not Chelsea.
That will underpin the message Fergie will ram into the minds of his players this evening, especially with Chelsea back looking like their old selves and with the opportunity to take points off both Manchester clubs between now and the end of the campaign.
It is normally at this stage of the season that United really hit their straps, and Saturday's demolition of Birmingham definitely boded well for the Old Trafford club.
But at the same time Dimitar Berbatov has only scored twice away from home, at Everton and Birmingham, bringing to mind a cricketing flat-track bully in the Graeme Hick mould.
The situation is still very much in United's favour even if, in addition to Stamford Bridge, they also have to go to Anfield - just a few days after the game in SW6 - and the Emirates.
It will only stay that way, though, if they start remembering how to win on their travels.
Chelsea, not before time, demonstrated how to do that last night.
This evening, the ball is very much in United's court.
Should they fail to return the service, should they flinch at the challenge, it might start to look very, very different.
Pressure, even in January.

REZAI DAD IS BARRED

By Neil Mcleman 26/01/2011
The father of tennis starlet Aravane Rezai (above) has been banned for threatening her boyfriend.
Arsalan Rezai also had a violent clash with the world No.22 just before she lost at the Australian Open. A French official said: "It seems impossible for him to tolerate her having a boyfriend."

Dassier claims Benzema 'joke'






Updated Jan 25, 2011 10:45 AM ET
Marseille president Jean-Claude Dassier is adamant he was joking when he identified Real Madrid striker Karim Benzema as a loan target.

TRANSFER SPECIAL

Keep up with all the biggest moves around the globe with our 2011 January transfer gallery.

Dassier told French TV channel M6 that the club could 'reasonably think' of a loan move for the France international.
But the president has since backpedalled, insisting the Ligue 1 champions do not have the 23-year-old on their radar and his comments were made in jest.
"It was humour," Dassier told Eurosport's official website. "We have finished (our business) in the transfer window.
"Nobody is considering recruiting. I said something stupid but that doesn't mean that you have to go on about it."
Benzema arrived at the Bernabeu in 2009 but has struggled to make an impact for Primera Liga giants Real.
The Frenchman, a youth product of Marseille's fierce rivals Lyon, has scored only two goals in La Liga this season.

Kim Clijsters beats Agnieszka Radwanska in Melbourne


Australian Open, Melbourne
Venue: Melbourne Park Dates: 17-30 January
Coverage: Watch on BBC TV, Red Button, BBC Sport website (UK only) & Eurosport; listen on BBC 5 live sports extra and online; text commentary online; full details
Clijsters (right) reached the final in Melbourne seven years ago


Kim Clijsters moved a step closer to back-to-back Grand Slam titles despite a tentative Australian Open quarter-final win over Agnieszka Radwanska.
The Belgian struggled to find her best form but still came through 6-3 7-6 (7-4) against the Polish 12th seed.
Clijsters will face a sterner test against second seed Vera Zvonareva in the semi-finals on Thursday.
Zvonareva cruised into the last four with a comfortable 6-2 6-4 win over a misfiring Petra Kvitova.
The Czech, who previously upset seeds Sam Stosur (5) and Flavia Pennetta (22), struggled at the start as the powerful groundstrokes that had racked up nine successive wins were absent.
A fizzing return down the line in the fifth game threatened to spark the 20-year-old into life and she converted a subsequent break point, but Zvonareva's tidy, if unspectacular, tennis proved enough to secure the opener as she exploited 11 unforced errors from her opponent.
I didn't feel great out there today. I felt heavy in the legs but I hung in there


Kim Clijsters

Two unscheduled interruptions in play, for an illness in the crowd and a distant gun salute to mark Australia Day, allowed Kvitova to gather her thoughts and she briefly threatened to take the contest to a third set.
However, Kvitova's erratic play returned and Zvonareva picked up the final three games to book her place in a third consecutive Grand Slam semi-final.
"She's a very good player," Zvonareva said of her opponent. "She took that opportunity, that little chance that I gave her. She used it and got back into the match.
"But I'm really happy the way I handled the situation after, and I was able to come up with some good shots when I needed it and finish in two sets."
Kvitova said: "I don't think I was nervous but I was little tired. It's 10 matches in a row so it was tough."
Clijsters was a strong favourite to progress against Radwanska, who had been told by a surgeon late last year that she had "1% chance" of playing at the Australian Open after surgery on a stress fracture to her foot in October.
However, five breaks of serve in the first six games suggested the three-time US Open champion was also feeling the nerves as she continues her quest for a first major title away from New York.
606: DEBATE
Your thoughts on the women's quarter-finals
Clijsters served out the first set and looked on course when she broke in game seven of the second, but Radwanska battled back and served for the second set, only for Clijsters to convert her fourth break point in an entertaining 10th game.
It came down to a tie-break and Clijsters managed to avoid being drawn into a nervy third set by taking control from 4-4 to seal a Grand Slam semi-final place for the 15th time in her career.
"I didn't feel great out there today," she admitted afterwards. "I felt heavy in the legs but I hung in there, which I needed to because she is a good player."
And looking ahead to facing Zvonareva in the last four, Clijsters added: "I hope my experience can help me but there are some tough players out there. It's going to be tough but they will be two great semis.
"I lost to Vera at Wimbledon last year but then beat her at the US Open. She is playing really well and I am going to have to play better than I did today."

Rossi signs new Villarreal deal




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Updated Jan 25, 2011 10:38 AM ET
Giuseppe Rossi has ended the speculation around his future by signing a new contract with Villarreal until 2016.
The 23-year-old had recently been linked with a return to the Premier League with Tottenham during the transfer window.
Rossi joined Villarreal in 2007 from Manchester United and is now the club's all-time top-scorer in La Liga with 44 goals.
He was in goalscoring form again on Sunday as he bagged a brace against Real Sociedad to take his season's tally to 11.
The Italy international's goals have taken Villarreal up to third in the Primera Liga behind Real Madrid and leaders Barcelona, who they trail by 13 points.

Martin Lipton's Premier League review: King Kenny dispels any doubts he can galvanise Liverpool

By Martin Lipton in Laptop with Martin Lipton
Published 10:43 24/01/11

The Daily Mirror's Chief Football writer Martin Lipton will be here every Monday morning to review the weekend's Premier League fixtures. And come back every Friday when Laptop will provide his expert analysis on the weekend ahead and unveil his predictions...
When it is postulated as a theory, it is easy to be dismissive.
See it in action, and you know that it is real.
And those who doubted that Kenny Dalglish would single-handedly be able to change the entire ethos and mindset of Liverpool only had to be at Molineux on Saturday to know that things have altered completely.


Liverpool will not win the title this season. Not from where they are now.
Indeed, they may not even get into Europe - probably will not - and Fenway Sports Ventures may still decide to insert their own choice of manager in the summer, as was always envisaged when they took control of the club.
But Dalglish's mere presence in the dug-out has transformed the mood of the fans and players alike, bringing order and togetherness where there was disharmony and dissatisfaction.
And no matter what happens between now and May, the first steps back towards respectability have been made. Irrefutably.
Liverpool were not, by any stretch of the imagination, world-beaters at Wolves.
But a match that could have seen the prospect of a relegation fight become all too real instead became the launchpad for the rest of the campaign, a reinstatement of the values and precepts that are fundamental to any club.
Elsewhere the battle for the title dropped one of the contenders and possibly two. Spurs' not unexpected failure to win at Newcastle confirms that Harry Redknapp's side are fighting for a top four place but not the crown itself.
Manchester City, though, lost far more at Villa Park as they were on the receiving end of Darren Bent's statement of debut intent.
That was, potentially, a cataclysmic blow to Roberto Mancini's title hopes. Now three points adrift of Manchester United, having played two more, with only 14 left themselves to play.
Not all over, not yet. But that much more harder and the damage to morale could seep through Eastlands unless Mancini and his squad can show real resolve and start a run of at least 12 wins and just one defeat in their remaining games, enough to take them to 82 points.
By stark and unquestioned contrast, United did what they were always supposed to do against Birmingham, as Dimitar Berbatov showed he likes to add to his goals column in multiples, even if Wayne Rooney still cannot buy one.
And Arsenal, likewise, used Wigan as a way of boosting their goal difference tally, with Robin Van Persie back to his sharpest and most imaginative.
Yet what happened at Molineux, though, was about more than just the twists and turns of the season, exciting and uncertain as they are developing.
It felt like something far more momentous, as did Dalglish's response as he stood in a stairway just outside the media conference room, joking about his eyesight needing help from contact lenses, about the shorts he used to wear in the dug-out.
Dalglish said: "It's not for me. It's for the players really because it's been tough for them. It's been tough for everybody at Liverpool this season.
"So when they put in a performance like that they get huge satisfaction and so do the supporters.
"As we've always said, this is one single entity, this club. We're all in it together and we'll all get through it together and if we stick together, then fine, we've got a chance.
"We just stand beside each other. And help each other. And we make sure that what we're doing, we're doing correctly. It's not dictatorial. It's just being responsible.
"I can only be what I am and only treat people as I would like to be treated myself. If it works, it works. If it doesn't, nobody is going to be happy, myself included."
The perfect definition of what the Liverpool fans believe, passionately, the club is about. Not just pushing the right buttons but knowing instinctively what buttons to push and believing it himself.
Of course, those Liverpool fans hoped they would be in the top four by now, rather than languishing at half-way, but in a ridiculous league that saw Blackburn go up five places with a single victory, they will not be involved in a shoot-out for survival.
The bookies think it will be the "Three Ws" - West Ham, Wolves and Wigan but a glance at the table suggests everybody up to Blackpool are still in the relegation mix.
Avram Grant really could have done with two minutes less of stoppage time at Goodison - which would have seen his side still in the bottom three but only on goal difference - but every weekend brings with it a raft of positional changes at the bottom end.
Thrilling stuff, with plenty more to come. For Liverpool, though, it seemed that the fog was beginning to lift. A sense of purpose and direction has returned. Finally, everyone is on the same side.

Barca's Xavi turned down Real offer

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Updated Jan 25, 2011 3:22 PM ET
Barcelona playmaker Xavi Hernandez revealed he turned down a chance to sign with Spanish rival Real Madrid early in his career.
In an interview with Onda Cero radio, the Spain midfielder said he studied "an important offer" from Madrid during his youth academy days. Xavi considered the proposal as he thought it would be tough to break into the topflight team.
"The team was set, Pep (Guardiola) was in that position, so it was a complicated moment and it was an important offer - economically and in football terms," Xavi said.
Xavi has spent his entire career Barcelona, helping to guide it to 13 major trophies since his debut in 1998.
Xavi, who turned 31 on Tuesday, was shortlisted for FIFA's Ballon d'Or as player of the year after helping guide European champion Spain to a World Cup triumph last season.

Martin Lipton's Premier League preview and predictions

By Dan Silver in Laptop with Martin Lipton
Published 11:19 21/01/11

The Daily Mirror's chief football writer Martin Lipton will be here every Friday lunchtime to preview and predict the outcome of the weekend's Premier League fixtures. And come back the following Monday when Laptop will provide his expert analysis of what unfolded...
Game of the weekend: Wolves v Liverpool (Saturday, 12.45pm)
The Kop got what it wanted. Most Liverpool fans rejoiced. King Kenny was back.
Indeed, the outpouring of gratitude, pleasure and delight expressed by Anfield when the new manager walked out to accept their acclaim on Sunday was further evidence of the sheer, unbreakable debt every Liverpool fan will always owe to Kenneth Mathieson Dalglish.
Whatever happens over the next few weeks and months, that will never change. Nor should it.

After all, Dalglish moved from being a football idol to a living Merseyside legend in 1989, standing as the most powerful symbol of his adopted city as it mourned a catastrophe that, thankfully, all - apart from a few MPs with no brains who believe that pandering to calls for a return to standing areas will give them street-cred - will ensure is never forgotten and hopefully never repeated.
But football is not only about what you did in the past. It is about what you do in the present.
And as Dalglish looks back over the first three games of his new spell in charge, and studies the Premier League table, he will know that tomorrow's lunchtime trip to Wolves could define the rest of the season and his second term at the helm of the club.
It was easy to dismiss the FA Cup loss at Manchester United, given the controversy over the first-minute spot-kick and Steven Gerrard's first-half red card - even if, much as I don't want to say it about Howard Webb, both decisions were correct.
But the manner of Liverpool's defeat at Blackpool was a more illuminating example of the true task that Dalglish has taken on and while Liverpool showed resolve to fight back for a point against Everton last Sunday, they were still pretty ropey.
The table does not make for good reading - and by close of business tomorrow it could look even uglier.
That is why victory at Molineux, against the side whose win at Anfield helped tipped then-Reds boss Roy Hodgson over the edge, is so important.
Win and Liverpool could easily be in the top half again and will probably be at least seven points clear of the drop zone - not exactly safe, by any means (that cannot come until March at the earliest, in all probability) but without the panic starting to set in.
But should Liverpool, once more without Gerrard as he completes his ban, slump to their ninth defeat in 12 away games - only Wolves themselves have picked up fewer points on their travels - then it will begin to become very twitchy indeed.
West Brom, Fulham and Birmingham will all have the opportunity to overtake Liverpool, who would be in danger of dropping to within two points of the relegation zone, with confidence falling away.
It should not happen, of course. Not if Fernando Torres is on his game, not if Liverpool play with intensity.
But Wolves are a better side than their position suggest. They beat Chelsea in their last home game, should have got something at Manchester City last week and will sense a vulnerability that Dalglish and his players must not show.
Mick McCarthy seems likely to name the side on duty last week, although Karl Henry's tigerish qualities might be preferred to the more subtle talents of Nenad Milijas, but Wolves will use the game-plan that served them against Chelsea - dropping off and then hitting at pace on the counter.
Liverpool will have to prove they have the guts for a battle.
If not, then the Second Coming of King Kenny may start to look very different.
Best of the Rest
Saturday afternoon comes with four of the five remaining title contenders in action - and the possibility of the list of potential Premier League winners dropping by one.
If Spurs lose at Newcastle , it will be the end of their hopes and will make a top four finish seem harder to attain. Interest will centre on how Harry Redknapp uses new signing Steven Pienaar - perhaps as the central midfielder, alongside Luca Modric - and how Jermain Defoe reacts to his return.
Elsewhere, Arsenal would expect to make short work of Wigan , with Manchester United equally confident of putting Birmingham to the sword.
If either slip up, it will be good news for Manchester City , who will hope to make Darren Bent's Aston Villa debut little more than an afterthought by the end of the match.
Roberto Mancini's side are still genuine challengers, especially without the distraction of the Champions League, but they will need Edin Dzeko to begin justifying his pricetag and take some of the goalsco-ring pressure off Carlos Tevez.
Blackpool can take advantage of Sunderland 's lack of attacking options in the absence of Bent and the injured Danny Welbeck, while Fulham need to beat Stoke to edge themselves into a slightly safer-looking position.
At Everton , the truth of a West Ham board that says it is "totally committed" to Avram Grant may be easier to see if things do not go to plan for the Upton Park outfit.
While the weekend fixtures end at Bolton on Monday - a big test for Chelsea - Sunday sees the focus on just one game, with West Brom , who ended their depressing losing run last week, looking for at least a point at Blackburn .
Laptop's Premier League predictions in full (all kick-offs 3pm on Sunday, unless stated):
Arsenal v Wigan: Home win
Aston Villa v Manchester City (Saturday, 5.30pm): Away win
Blackburn v West Brom (Sunday, 4pm): Home win
Blackpool v Sunderland: Home win
Everton v West Ham: Home win
Fulham v Stoke: Home win
Manchester United v Birmingham: Home win
Newcastle v Tottenham: Draw
Wolves v Liverpool (Saturday, 12.45pm): Away win

Real Madrid sign Emmanuel Adebayor on loan


Adebayor scored in his first four games for Manchester City


Manchester City striker Emmanuel Adebayor has joined Real Madrid on loan until the end of the season.
The ex-Togo international is expected to travel to Spain on Wednesday for a medical at the Spanish club.
Madrid have an option to buy the 26-year-old at the end of his loan spell in the summer.
Adebayor joined Manchester City from Arsenal in a £25m deal in 2009 and has scored 19 goals in 36 league and cup starts for the club.
He becomes City's second high-profile striker to leave in six months following Robinho's move to AC Milan and will provide Real manager Jose Mourinho with cover for Gonzalo Higuain, who is out with a back injury.
606: DEBATE
I just hope that the fee for a permanent deal is a good one


bobble57

Before moving for Adebayor, Real had tried to sign former striker Ruud van Nistelrooy, who is now playing for Hamburg and had a £39m bid for Atletico Madrid's Argentina striker Sergio Aguero rejected.
Adebayor will be available to play in the Champions League as well as La Liga, the Spanish top flight, and should his loan spell go well at the Bernabeu, the player could sign permanently for a rumoured fee of around £15m.
When he arrived at Eastlands in 2009 the striker was a marquee £25m signing by former manager Mark Hughes.
Having forged his reputation as a goal scorer with Premier League side Arsenal, where he scored 62 goals in 142 games after joining for £7m from Monaco, he continued his impressive form in Manchester, scoring four times in his first four games.
But Adebayor has struggled to command a regular place for the Blues under Hughes's replacement Roberto Mancini.
And this season, he has found himself further down the pecking order after the arrival of Mario Balotelli from Inter Milan.
He retired from international football with Togo following a gun attack on the team bus during the 2010 African Cup of Nations.
He was initially linked with a possible move to Monaco in the current transfer window before his loan deal with Real Madrid materialised.

Batista drops Perez from national squad

Updated Jan 25, 2011 2:34 PM ET
BUENOS AIRES, Argentina (AP)

Argentina coach Sergio Batista dropped midfielder Enzo Perez on Tuesday from the squad to face Portugal in a friendly on Feb. 9 at the request of his club Estudiantes.
Batista, who has called up Cristian Chavez of Boca Juniors as a replacement, said he spoke with Estudiantes manager Alejandro Sabella and agreed to the change.
Sabella said he wanted his club to be at full strength for a Copa Libertadores match against Brazil club Cruzeiro on Feb. 16.
''The national team should be the priority,'' Batista said. ''But I don't want to get into a discussion about this because Estudiantes have been very good about making their players available - at all levels.''
Batista announced the squad on Monday for the match in Geneva with several key players omitted - Atletico Madrid forward Sergio Aguero and defenders Martin Demichelis of Malaga and Gabriel Heinze of Marseille. Also missing was injured Real Madrid forward Gonzalo Higuain.
Barcelona star Lionel Messi, who won his second straight FIFA player of the year award, headlines the squad.
Preparing to host the Copa America in July, Argentina plays the United States on March 26 at East Rutherford, New Jersey, then opens Costa Rica's new stadium three days later in San Jose.
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Team:
Goalkeepers: Mariano Andujar (Catania), Sergio Romero (AZ Alkmar)
Defenders: Nicolas Burdisso (Roma), Ezequiel Garay (Real Madrid), Gabriel Milito (Barcelona), Nicolas Otamendi (FC Porto), Nicolas Pareja (Spartak Moscow), Marcos Rojo (Spartak Moscow), Pablo Zabaleta (Manchester City), Javier Zanetti (Inter Milan).
Midfielders: Ever Banega (Valencia), Lucas Biglia (Anderlecht), Esteban Cambiasso (Inter Milan), Angel Di Maria (Real Madrid), Fernando Gago (Real Madrid), Javier Mascherano (Barcelona), Javier Pastore (Palermo), Cristian Chavez (Boca Juniors), Jose Sosa (Napoli).
Forwards: Nicolas Gaitan (Benfica), Ezequiel Lavezzi (Napoli), Juan Manual Martinez (Velez Sarsfield), Lionel Messi (Barcelona), Diego Milito (Inter Milan).

Live - Australia v England fourth one-day international


By Sam Sheringham
Updates automatically

Join the discussion...

• 10 overs Commentary Aus 45-2
  
  England's attack looks to have a bit more of that Ashes menace about it with Tremmers and Anderson steaming in. Watson collects two runs down to deep backward square and a single down the ground. Accept my apologies by the way, that was the 10th over, with Australia reaching 45-2. England were 65-1 at the same stage.
  
• Commentary
  
  From Paul in Lancs, TMS inbox: "Gary Jones does well to raise the GDP question over his breakfast. George Osborne really missed a trick by blaming the 0.5% shrinkage on the snow; he'd have been on much firmer ground if he'd noted we were all up all night watching the Ashes and incapable of economic output in the day."
  
• 9 overs Commentary Aus 39-2
  
  Clarke's been in hot water for making a bit of a tweet of himself but at least he has a run now as he crashes Anderson through cover for three. Australia reach 39-2 after 10 overs. That is well behind England, who were 62-1 at the same stage of their innings.
  
• 8 overs Commentary Aus 34-2
  
  A single from Watson off the first ball of the next over brings Michael Clarke to the crease with the skipper under a bit of pressure to produce the goods on Australia Day. But it's all a bit of a struggle as Clarke fails to score from his first five balls.
  
• 7 overs WICKET Marsh c and b Anderson 1 (Aus 33-2)
  
  Anderson goes round the wicket to Marsh and is rewarded with the second wicket of the innings as the batsman plays across the line and is caught and bowled.
  
• 6 overs Commentary Aus 33-1
  
  Shaun Marsh is the new batsman and he gets off the march with a nudge into the onside before Watson safely keeps out the last ball.
  
• Commentary
  
  From Gary Jones, TMS inbox: "Sitting in a restaurant about to buy a huge breakfast and lots of coffee to try and help get our GDP up above zero. Three wickets for Jimmy before I leave I reckon."
  
• 5.4 overs WICKET Haddin c Strauss b Tremlett 20 (Aus 32-1)
  
  Strauss turns to Tremlett and it's an inspired change. After hitting another four off the first ball, Haddin mis-times a drive off a slower ball and feeds a dolly of a catch to the England skipper himself.
  
• Commentary
  
  From Dave in Dubai, TMS Inbox: "300 is a decent score in one-day cricket. The doom and gloom merchants should go to bed! Colly's back with the bat ..sort of…..he will rip through the Aussie middle order and England will win by 50 runs…"
  
• 5 overs Commentary 28-0
  
  Haddin takes the aerial route to pick up another four, before splitting the field with a vicious cut from the next ball. So Australia, chasing 300, are 28-0 after five overs.
  
• 4 overs Commentary Aus 18-0
  
  Haddin takes a big swipe at Shahzad but misses by a country mile. It looks to be another good over for England until Haddin plants the last ball over the infield and gets a boundary.
  
• 3 overs DROPPED CATCH Aus 13-0
  
  It was a tough chance but that goes down as a dropped catch to me. Watson swats Anderson high into space and Trott scampers in from deep square leg. He dives forward but the ball slips through his fingers and bounces over the rope. Two balls later Haddin takes a risky single and would have been out by miles if Collingwood's throw had struck the stumps.
  
• 2 overs Commentary Aus 7-0
  
  Ajmal Shahzad bowls the second over and Australia continue their sedate start to the innings. Haddin clips off his toes for three off the last ball. Terry Alderman on TMS is warning the Aussies against letting the run rate creep too much over six.
  
• 1 over Commentary Aus 3-0
  
  As predicted, there's a bit of movement for Anderson as Shane Watson gets a thick outside edge to the first ball of the innings and collects a single. Brad Haddin gets off the mark with a single to cover and the Australian run chase is underway.
  
• 0732 Commentary
  
  So, not much optimism out there from you lot but I'm going to stick my neck out and say England will win this. Jimmy Anderson should be fit and firing after his break and there looked to be a bit of swing for Bollinger and co. Early wickets required.
  
• SMS
  
  From Anonymous: "It looks an impressive score but what England achieved in hitting fours, Australia will deal with in hitting sixes...think 300 will be easy for their big blokes...
  
• Commentary
  
  From Chris in Taunton, TMS inbox: "Australia to knock it off in 45 overs. And I've sat up all night for that? There's another 3 more of these to come?"
  
• 0704 Commentary
  
  Not a bad effort from England all told, although it could have been so much better after that great start from Prior and Trott. KP, Bell and Morgan will be disappointed with their shot selection. The spinners did the damage for the Aussies with David Hussey taking 4-21 from four overs and Steve Smith posting 3-33. So, Australia need 300 to win from their 50 overs. We'll be back with their innings in about half an hour.
  
• 50 overs Commentary Eng 299-8
  
  Yardy darts down the wicket and smacks a four down the ground before taking a single to give Chris Tremlett the strike for the last ball. He fails to get a bat on it to leave England one short of the magic 300 mark.
  
• 49.3 overs WICKET Shahzad c Watson b D Hussey 4 (Eng 295-8)
  
  Great innings this from the Yardster as he cracks another four off the first ball of the last over. A single follows to give Shahzad the strike, but the Yorkshire all-rounder biffs a full toss straight to Watson at mid-on.
  
• 49 overs Commentary Eng 289-7
  
  Ajmal Shahzad gets two from his first ball with a wristy flick. Four singles follow. Just one over to go folks. Andy Murray is through to the semi-finals in Melbourne by the way.
  
• 48 overs WICKET Collingwood c White b D Hussey 27 (Eng 283-7)
  
  Collingwood smashes Hussey to the fence to bring up 5,000 one-day international runs - believe it or not he is the first Englishman to reach that landmark. But he doesn't have long to bask in the glory as a flat thrash on the leg side picks out White on the boundary.
  
• 47 overs Commentary 275-6
  
  Clarke turns to Shane Watson to steady the ship and the tactic pays off with a very useful over. Collingwood survives an lbw appeal, with replays showing the ball would have missed off stump. But he's struggling to get the ball off the square and there are just four runs from the over.
  
• 46 overs Commentary Eng 271-6
  
  Yardy is an absolute master of the hoik shot over mid-on, unleashing two of the devils for another pair of boundaries. Colly keeps up the momentum with a slash over the infield and England look to be back on top here.
  
• 45 overs Commentary Eng 257-6
  
  Wow! Where did that come from? Collingwood takes a couple of paces down the pitch and slugs Brett Lee for a huge six over midwicket. Lee's looking a bit ragged here and Yardy manages to get the toe of his bat on a low, wide, full toss to post another boundary. Good over for England - 14 from it.
  
• 44 overs Commentary Eng 243-6
  
  Bollinger hands Yardy a gift with a short and wide delivery which the batsman helps over the wicketkeeper for a weclome four. Collywobbles gets two down to deep midwicket and a single to keep the scoreboard ticking over. England were 158-2 in the 27th over remember.
  
• 43 overs Commentary Eng 235-6
  
  Big chance for Collingwood to serve up a reminder of his talents here. But the Durham man is dealing in singles for the time being - 300 seems a long way off now. Yardy flicks a full toss off his toes for two and cuts for one to keep the strike.
  
• 42 overs Commentary Eng 229-6
  
  After such a promising start, this is very disappointing from England. Michael Yardy gets a single from his first ball and Collingwood pushes once down the ground. Hussey has two wickets for three runs off his two overs.
  
• 41.1 overs WICKET Morgan c Lee b Hussey 24 (Eng 227-6)
  
  Morgan tries a reverse sweep off Hussey and slams the balls straight down the throat of Lee at point. "That was dumb" says Terry Alderman on TMS.
  
• 41 overs Commentary Eng 227-5
  
  Collingwood is bogged down by three dots before working a single into space on the leg side. Morgan helps himself to a run but it's another good over for Australia.
  
• Commentary
  
  From Phil, Sydney, TMS inbox: "Please don't shock me like that. Sitting here in my office in Sydney and suddenly missed a few beats as an update appears in the brown/maroon colour scheme of a wicket only to be pleasantly surprised that it was Trott's 100. Please can you consider another colour scheme."
  
• 40 overs WICKET Trott b D Hussey 102 (Eng 225-5)
  
  All good things come to an end. Trott is a bit late attempting to cut a turning delivery from David Hussey and the ball catches the inside edge of his flashing blade before clattering into the stumps. In comes Colly at number seven.
  
• 39 overs Commentary Eng 224-4
  
  Anyone think Trott looks a bit like a slightly thinner-haired Vince Vaughan? England's centurion misses out as he fails to get hold of a high Bollinger full toss and there are just three runs off the over. Just six four in Trott's hundred by the way.
  
• 38 overs THAT'S 100 Eng 221-4
  
  Trott advances to 99 with a delightful clip off his hips to the boundary and a pull for two. He brings up his second ODI century off 117 balls with a push through the onside. A great innings, just what England needed with the series on the line. Morgan comes to the party by hooking a short ball to fine leg for four.
  
• 37 overs Commentary Eng 208-4
  
  They say fortune favours the brave but that is a bit reckless from Morgan as he doesn't get hold of a pull shot and the ball loops up on the leg side. David Hussey looks to be winning the race but he doesn't get there in time and the ball drops to safety. England take singles off all six balls.
  
• 36 overs Commentary Eng 202-4
  
  Battler Hastings (thanks for that Peter from Aberystwyth) is back into the attack and Trott leans into a glorious drive past mid-off which races to the boundary. Trott then brings up the 200 with an ugly duckling of a drive to long-off.
  
• 35 overs Commentary Eng 194-4
  
  Champagne Dougie is back and he spears one past Morgan's outside edge. It's a tight over and just two runs are yielded.
  
• Commentary
  
  From Andrew Cox, TMS Inbox: "Could we transplant Cook's head onto Pietersen's shoulders? Then we'd have the strength combined with the intelligence!"
  
• 34 overs DRINKS BREAK Eng 192-4
  
  Trott will be eyeing e century here as he scampers another double off Doherty, who completes his spell with figures of 10-0-44-0. Drinks are taken - 300 is still on the cards for England.
  
• 33 overs Commentary Eng 187-4
  
  Lee's spell is a brief one as Smith is brought back into the attack. And that's some shot from the Trottster. He picks the length perfectly and heaves one over mid-on to the fence for a welcome boundary - the first in more than nine overs. Morgan drives a single off the last ball to retain the strike.
  
• 32 overs Commentary Eng 179-4
  
  Trott and Morgan take five singles from Doherty's next over. England are happy to deal in ones and twos at the moment - that is the luxury a good start affords you.
  
• 31 overs Commentary Eng 174-4
  
  Lee is back into the attack, with Australia perhaps feeling Morgan is vulnerable to pace. Trott goes past Prior's score with a nice clip through midwicket for two before Morgan cuts Lee for a couple. Five runs from the over, Lee's best of the innings so far.
  
• 30 overs Commentary Eng 169-4
  
  England take advantage of some untidy fielding from the hosts to take a single. Morgan improvises a paddle sweep to take another two from the last ball.
  
• SMS
  
  From Geoff in Stansted: What's going on with Pietersen-soooo frustrating. Is he bothered?
  
• 29 overs Commentary Eng 165-4
  
  Three-wicket hero Steve Smith continues and Morgan gets off the mark with a single to mid-off. England could do with Trott seeing this right through to the end - he picks up another two with a sweep to deep square leg.
  
• 28 overs Commentary Eng 159-4
  
  Australia are on top here as Trott survives an lbw appeal - that was very close with the ball probably heading for the outside of leg stump. Eoin Morgan will have a big role to play here if England are going to reach that 300 mark.
  
• 27 overs WICKET Bell c Haddin b Smith 0 (Eng 158-4)
  
  Ooh la la, it's all happening now. Bell has gone second ball! The Warwickshire man is beaten in the flight and gets an edge as he tries to fend the ball away to safety. Game on, now my friends. Morgan at the crease.
  
• 26.3 overs WICKET Pietersen c Marsh b Smith 12 (Eng 158-3)
  
  Pietersen goes on the attack here but that is a pudding of a shot. He tries to smash Smith over mid-on but doesn't get hold of it and Marsh steadies himself before taking a straighforward catch.
  
• 26 overs Commentary Eng 156-2
  
  Trott has gone into his shell a bit here, more than happy to play second fiddle to KP. That's a nice shot off the last ball of the over though as the batsman picks up a couple through the off side.
  
• Commentary
  
  From Carl Evans, France, TMS inbox: "Re :Can anyone think of a better nickname for John Wayne Hastings than 'The Duke'? I bet he'd love to be known as 1066."
  
• 25 overs Commentary 150-2
  
  England must be looking at a score of 300 or more here. Having said that, Smith bowls a good over, with three dots followed by three singles. Pietersen is into double figures already.
  
• 24 overs Commentary 147-2
  
  As if to prove my point, KP dances down the track and smashes Doherty high over mid-on for a one-bounce four. He scored 158 here when Collingwood made his double ton in 2006 and a fantastic double century in December as England took a 1-0 lead in the Ashes series.
  
• 23 overs Commentary 139-2
  
  Pietersen gets off the mark with a single to midwicket and England add two more to the score. Would be nice to see Pietersen get some runs here - he loves this ground.
  
• 22.1 overs WICKET Prior c Doherty b Smith 67
  
  Prior's innings is over as he chips a long hop from Smith straight to Doherty at point. Prior will be kicking himself there - a century was his for the taking.
  
• 22 overs Commentary Eng 136-2
  
  Both batsmen get a single before Trott brings up his second consecutive fifty with a run through cover point.
  
• 21 overs Commentary Eng 132-1
  
  That's a bit short from Doherty and Prior cuts hard to the boundary for four. Trott gets a couple to deep cover and a single to long-on. He's closing on a fifty now too.
  
• 20 overs Commentary 123-1
  
  Prior gets a bit lucky as an edge off Doherty flies wide of Haddin. Singles aplenty as the 100 partnership is brought up off 103 balls. A blast of "Waltzing Matilda" greets new bowler Steve Smith.
  
• 19 overs Commentary Eng 116-1
  
  Can anyone think of a better nickname for John Wayne Hastings than The Duke? That name must be ripe for Western-related puns too. Australia are doing well to stem the flow of runs here, although Trott grabs another couple through the covers after Prior takes a single down to third man.
  
• 18 overs Commentary 113-1
  
  Andy Murray wins the first set 7-5 over in Melbourne as Xavier Doherty rattles through another tidy over. Trott is unlucky not to pick up a boundary as Brett Lee dives full length to save the four.
  
• 17 overs Commentary Eng 109-1
  
  I think I may have put the mockers on Hastings who drags a horrible delivery down the legside for five wides. Three more singles complete the over.
  
• Commentary
  
  From Sleepy Kevin Mills, Hants, TMS inbox: "Whilst trying to shield my phone under the covers, with the brightness turned down, don't scare me with lines like 'the sun is out' that can be confused for "there is a run out'. Thank you."
  
• 16 overs Commentary Eng 101-1
  
  That's Prior's third one-day fifty in 58 innings by the way and boy did he need it. Xavier Doherty is into the attack and it's a very good start from the left-arm tweaker as he gives up just one run from the over.
  
• 15 overs DRINKS BREAK Eng 100-1 PRIOR HALF-CENTURY
  
  Absolute Mayhem... Trott plays a defensive stroke to Lee and the ball rolls back onto his stumps wthout knocking the bails off. Trott looks stunned but Prior has already taken a run so he has to scamper round Lee and head for the other end. Lee picks up the ball and has plenty of time to run Trott out but he misses the stumps. And Prior makes Lee pay by hoiking him over mid-on for six to bring up his 50! Four more runs follow, and that's drinks.
  
• 14 overs Commentary Eng 89-1
  
  Prior is closing in on a fifty as he cuts Hastings over the infield for four. Three more singles too. Dare I say it, but Australia need a wicket here.
  
• Commentary
  
  Deano and Lordy, at work in Ipswich, TMS inbox: "Struggling through the leftovers of matey's birthday cakes from earlier. 3-0 to the Aussies, 3-0 to the Arsenal and so far 3-0 to the doughnuts over the Bakewell Tarts."
  
• 13 overs Commentary Eng 82-1
  
  Prior is in the mood here as he lofts Lee over the infield for another four before taking a quick single. The last ball of the over is a juicy full toss but a square cut from Prior is well fielded by Cameron White and it's just two.
  
• 12 overs THE SUN IS OUT Eng 74-1
  
  Perfect batting weather on Australia Day in Adelaide as Trott jabs his bat down on a straight ball from Hastings and is relieved as the ball bounces down and over his stumps. The Duke looks a handy bowler - plenty of bustle and very tidy.
  
• Commentary
  
  From Chris McMillan, TMS inbox: "Pleasant Australia Day picnic in Melbourne made pleasant with the score. I'm the only one here that is aware of the score, so looking quietly smug among the Aussies."
  
• 11 overs Commentary Eng 71-1
  
  Prior has a ugly swing and picks up two behind square on the leg side. More good running from England as they scamper a couple more from the final ball of the over. The partnership is 48 from 48.
  
• 10 overs Commentary Eng 65-1
  
  It looks an absolute belter of a pitch as Michael Clarke throws the ball to seamer John Wayne Hastings (nickname The Duke). And that's a let off for England as Trott and Prior get themselves in a pickle. Haddin has a shy at the stumps but Trott gets himself in the way and the ball lodges in his pad. Better over from Australia, who opt to take their bowling power play for the next five.
  
• 9 overs Commentary Eng 62-1
  
  Watson is struggling a bit with his line and Trott flicks the first ball of the over to the fine leg fence, before picking up three off the next two balls. A single apiece to follow and England are ticking along nicely here. Projected score at this rate is 344.
  
• SMS
  
  From Dan in Leeds: "On a night shift in Leeds, a decent england batting performance will hopefully relieve the boredom!"
  So far so good Daniel son
  
• 8 overs Commentary Eng 53-1
  
  Prior dances down the wicket before smashing Bollinger over his head for a one bounce four. The next ball flies through the covers for another boundary. Then Jonny on the Trott gets in on the act with a lovely push straight down the ground for four. Good over that for England - 14 from it.
  
• 7 overs Commentary Eng 39-1
  
  A single each for Trottski and the Prior before Trott flicks the last ball of the over off his legs for four. England needed that. Prior has 17 off 17 - is he proving the doubters wrong?
  
• 6 overs Commentary Eng 33-1
  
  Champagne Dougie is right on the money here and it looks for all the world like a maiden before Trott tucks one down to third man for a single. Watson to replace Lee.
  
• SMS
  
  From Lettsy, student in Plymouth, TMS inbox: "Even as an England fan it's great to see Brett Lee playing."
  
• Commentary
  
  From Clare, Scotland (up late due to being off work with swine flu), TMS inbox: "Saw Freddie yesterday on Richard Bacon's afternoon show (just love live streaming!) and apart from the crutches, he looked really fit. Is now the time to start the Bring Back Fred Campaign?"
  
• 5 overs Commentary Eng 32-1
  
  A single apiece before Prior drives the last ball of the over through the covers for four, the ball just beating the fielder to the rope. By the way, as ever we want you to get in touch to help us through the night. Send an e-mail to tms@bbc.co.uk with For Sam Sheringham as the subject or Text us on 81111 (UK) - messages will be charged at your standard operator rate.
  
• Twitter
  
  From Kevin Pietersen: "Happy Australia Day to all my aussie friends.. Have a good one!! Hope we ruin it for you though."
  
• 0343 Commentary
  
  Interesting words from Freddie Flintoff in an interview with the BBC yesterday. He'd have Ian Bell opening rather than Prior and says Paul Collingwood should be rested before the World Cup. He believes England have a chance of winning the tournament but feels they have yet to settle upon their best side...
  
• 4 overs Commentary Eng 26-1
  
  Prior is watchful at the start of the fourth over, before nudging a single on the leg side. By the way, over on BBC Text Commentary 2, there is currently live coverage of Andy Murray's Australian Open quarter-final against Alexandr Dolgopolov. You can watch live video on the BBC Sport website if you're in the UK, with Mike Henson at the keyboard.
  
• 3 overs Commentary Eng 25-1
  
  Jonathan Trott is the next man in and he helps himself to a couple of runs from the last ball of the over. Brett Lee is still some bowler you know.
  
• 2.5 overs WICKET Strauss c Haddin b Lee 8 (Eng 23-1)
  
  An inside edge saves Andrew Strauss from leg before wicket as Lee gets in the swing of things. Strauss slashes to the boundary but the same shot proves his undoing as a thick edge carries through to Haddin. A bit loose that from the England skipper.
  
• 2 overs Commentary Eng 19-0
  
  Signs of some swing for Dougie Bollinger as he rips one between Prior's bat and his off stump. Good running from England as Prior gets himself a couple on the leg side before leaning into a sumptuous drive through the covers for four.
  
• 1 over Commentary Eng 12-0
  
  Brett Lee opens up with a very wayward wide down the leg side which eludes Haddin's dive and rolls all the way to the boundary. The next is a beauty which snorts past Strauss's outside edge. The skipper gets off the mark with a couple before dabbing a single to give Prior the strike. And it's a great start for the Sussex man as he clips a leg stump half-volley to the fence for his first runs of the series.
  
• Commentary
  
  From Peter Myers, TMS inbox: "What do you think? Are England trying for a whitewash in the ODI series? Can they be that tired after the Great Ashes win? I thought they were professionals. If they are that tired it does not bode well for the World Cup."
  
• 0318 Commentary
  
  We'll be underway in a minute folks. Here are the full teams:
  Australia: S R Watson, B J Haddin (Wkt), S E Marsh M J Clarke (Capt), C L White, D J Hussey, S P D Smith, J W Hastings B Lee, X J Doherty, D E Bollinger.
  England: A J Strauss (Capt), M J Prior (Wkt), I J L Trott K P Pietersen, I R Bell, P D Collingwood, E J G Morgan, M H Yardy J M Anderson, A Shahzad, C T Tremlett.
  
• 0317 Commentary
  
  Some great chat from BBC Sport's Pranav Soneji: "Love it or loathe it - Twitter, you just can't escape from it - a bit like Chantelle Houghton. The latest victim is current Aussie skipper Michael Clarke, who has been admonished for using the micro networking website as a conduit for finding team-mate and singleton Steven Smith a lady to accompany him to the Allan Border Medal annual dinner. Now, call me a level-headed, rational-thinking, fun-loving simpleton, but is it really that much of a big deal? According to one Australian journalist, it's tantamount to money-laundering.
  
• 0308 Commentary
  
  England win the toss and will bat first in Adelaide.
  
• 0311 Commentary
  
  Andy Flower confirms to Test Match Special that Matt Prior will once again open the batting for England. After ducks in both of his innings so far, it's a big day for the England stumper as he looks to justify his selection for the World Cup.
  
• Twitter
  
  From BFinnoBystander: "Collingwood slipping down the order as suggested by myself last match. Could be batting number 10 come the World Cup!"
  
• 0305 Commentary
  
  TEAM NEWS: Kevin Pietersen and James Anderson return for England with Paul Collingwood in at number seven. Australia are unchanged.
  
• 0302 Commentary
  
  Yes, after the euphoria of the Ashes, it's all gone a bit Pete Tong for England in the one-dayers with the batting in particular looking rather fragile. But where better than Adelaide, the scene of the first of those three innings victories in the Ashes, to spark a revival. Having said that, today is Australia Day so Michael Clarke, Brett Lee and co will be all the more determined to wrap up the series with three matches to spare in a sea of patriotic fervour.
  
• 0300 Commentary
  
  Good morning everyone and welcome to our live coverage of the fourth one-day international between Australia and England from Adelaide. England are 3-0 down with four to play so I would suggest it's a case of now or never for Andrew Strauss and his troops.
  

Live - Australia v England fourth one-day international


By Sam Sheringham
Updates automatically

Join the discussion...

• 10 overs Commentary Aus 45-2
  
  England's attack looks to have a bit more of that Ashes menace about it with Tremmers and Anderson steaming in. Watson collects two runs down to deep backward square and a single down the ground. Accept my apologies by the way, that was the 10th over, with Australia reaching 45-2. England were 65-1 at the same stage.
• Commentary
  
  From Paul in Lancs, TMS inbox: "Gary Jones does well to raise the GDP question over his breakfast. George Osborne really missed a trick by blaming the 0.5% shrinkage on the snow; he'd have been on much firmer ground if he'd noted we were all up all night watching the Ashes and incapable of economic output in the day."
• 9 overs Commentary Aus 39-2
  
  Clarke's been in hot water for making a bit of a tweet of himself but at least he has a run now as he crashes Anderson through cover for three. Australia reach 39-2 after 10 overs. That is well behind England, who were 62-1 at the same stage of their innings.
• 8 overs Commentary Aus 34-2
  
  A single from Watson off the first ball of the next over brings Michael Clarke to the crease with the skipper under a bit of pressure to produce the goods on Australia Day. But it's all a bit of a struggle as Clarke fails to score from his first five balls.
• 7 overs WICKET Marsh c and b Anderson 1 (Aus 33-2)
  
  Anderson goes round the wicket to Marsh and is rewarded with the second wicket of the innings as the batsman plays across the line and is caught and bowled.
• 6 overs Commentary Aus 33-1
  
  Shaun Marsh is the new batsman and he gets off the march with a nudge into the onside before Watson safely keeps out the last ball.
• Commentary
  
  From Gary Jones, TMS inbox: "Sitting in a restaurant about to buy a huge breakfast and lots of coffee to try and help get our GDP up above zero. Three wickets for Jimmy before I leave I reckon."
• 5.4 overs WICKET Haddin c Strauss b Tremlett 20 (Aus 32-1)
  
  Strauss turns to Tremlett and it's an inspired change. After hitting another four off the first ball, Haddin mis-times a drive off a slower ball and feeds a dolly of a catch to the England skipper himself.
• Commentary
  
  From Dave in Dubai, TMS Inbox: "300 is a decent score in one-day cricket. The doom and gloom merchants should go to bed! Colly's back with the bat ..sort of…..he will rip through the Aussie middle order and England will win by 50 runs…"
• 5 overs Commentary 28-0
  
  Haddin takes the aerial route to pick up another four, before splitting the field with a vicious cut from the next ball. So Australia, chasing 300, are 28-0 after five overs.
• 4 overs Commentary Aus 18-0
  
  Haddin takes a big swipe at Shahzad but misses by a country mile. It looks to be another good over for England until Haddin plants the last ball over the infield and gets a boundary.
• 3 overs DROPPED CATCH Aus 13-0
  
  It was a tough chance but that goes down as a dropped catch to me. Watson swats Anderson high into space and Trott scampers in from deep square leg. He dives forward but the ball slips through his fingers and bounces over the rope. Two balls later Haddin takes a risky single and would have been out by miles if Collingwood's throw had struck the stumps.
• 2 overs Commentary Aus 7-0
  
  Ajmal Shahzad bowls the second over and Australia continue their sedate start to the innings. Haddin clips off his toes for three off the last ball. Terry Alderman on TMS is warning the Aussies against letting the run rate creep too much over six.
• 1 over Commentary Aus 3-0
  
  As predicted, there's a bit of movement for Anderson as Shane Watson gets a thick outside edge to the first ball of the innings and collects a single. Brad Haddin gets off the mark with a single to cover and the Australian run chase is underway.
• 0732 Commentary
  
  So, not much optimism out there from you lot but I'm going to stick my neck out and say England will win this. Jimmy Anderson should be fit and firing after his break and there looked to be a bit of swing for Bollinger and co. Early wickets required.
• SMS
  
  From Anonymous: "It looks an impressive score but what England achieved in hitting fours, Australia will deal with in hitting sixes...think 300 will be easy for their big blokes...
• Commentary
  
  From Chris in Taunton, TMS inbox: "Australia to knock it off in 45 overs. And I've sat up all night for that? There's another 3 more of these to come?"
• 0704 Commentary
  
  Not a bad effort from England all told, although it could have been so much better after that great start from Prior and Trott. KP, Bell and Morgan will be disappointed with their shot selection. The spinners did the damage for the Aussies with David Hussey taking 4-21 from four overs and Steve Smith posting 3-33. So, Australia need 300 to win from their 50 overs. We'll be back with their innings in about half an hour.
• 50 overs Commentary Eng 299-8
  
  Yardy darts down the wicket and smacks a four down the ground before taking a single to give Chris Tremlett the strike for the last ball. He fails to get a bat on it to leave England one short of the magic 300 mark.
• 49.3 overs WICKET Shahzad c Watson b D Hussey 4 (Eng 295-8)
  
  Great innings this from the Yardster as he cracks another four off the first ball of the last over. A single follows to give Shahzad the strike, but the Yorkshire all-rounder biffs a full toss straight to Watson at mid-on.
• 49 overs Commentary Eng 289-7
  
  Ajmal Shahzad gets two from his first ball with a wristy flick. Four singles follow. Just one over to go folks. Andy Murray is through to the semi-finals in Melbourne by the way.
• 48 overs WICKET Collingwood c White b D Hussey 27 (Eng 283-7)
  
  Collingwood smashes Hussey to the fence to bring up 5,000 one-day international runs - believe it or not he is the first Englishman to reach that landmark. But he doesn't have long to bask in the glory as a flat thrash on the leg side picks out White on the boundary.
• 47 overs Commentary 275-6
  
  Clarke turns to Shane Watson to steady the ship and the tactic pays off with a very useful over. Collingwood survives an lbw appeal, with replays showing the ball would have missed off stump. But he's struggling to get the ball off the square and there are just four runs from the over.
• 46 overs Commentary Eng 271-6
  
  Yardy is an absolute master of the hoik shot over mid-on, unleashing two of the devils for another pair of boundaries. Colly keeps up the momentum with a slash over the infield and England look to be back on top here.
• 45 overs Commentary Eng 257-6
  
  Wow! Where did that come from? Collingwood takes a couple of paces down the pitch and slugs Brett Lee for a huge six over midwicket. Lee's looking a bit ragged here and Yardy manages to get the toe of his bat on a low, wide, full toss to post another boundary. Good over for England - 14 from it.
• 44 overs Commentary Eng 243-6
  
  Bollinger hands Yardy a gift with a short and wide delivery which the batsman helps over the wicketkeeper for a weclome four. Collywobbles gets two down to deep midwicket and a single to keep the scoreboard ticking over. England were 158-2 in the 27th over remember.
• 43 overs Commentary Eng 235-6
  
  Big chance for Collingwood to serve up a reminder of his talents here. But the Durham man is dealing in singles for the time being - 300 seems a long way off now. Yardy flicks a full toss off his toes for two and cuts for one to keep the strike.
• 42 overs Commentary Eng 229-6
  
  After such a promising start, this is very disappointing from England. Michael Yardy gets a single from his first ball and Collingwood pushes once down the ground. Hussey has two wickets for three runs off his two overs.
• 41.1 overs WICKET Morgan c Lee b Hussey 24 (Eng 227-6)
  
  Morgan tries a reverse sweep off Hussey and slams the balls straight down the throat of Lee at point. "That was dumb" says Terry Alderman on TMS.
• 41 overs Commentary Eng 227-5
  
  Collingwood is bogged down by three dots before working a single into space on the leg side. Morgan helps himself to a run but it's another good over for Australia.
• Commentary
  
  From Phil, Sydney, TMS inbox: "Please don't shock me like that. Sitting here in my office in Sydney and suddenly missed a few beats as an update appears in the brown/maroon colour scheme of a wicket only to be pleasantly surprised that it was Trott's 100. Please can you consider another colour scheme."
• 40 overs WICKET Trott b D Hussey 102 (Eng 225-5)
  
  All good things come to an end. Trott is a bit late attempting to cut a turning delivery from David Hussey and the ball catches the inside edge of his flashing blade before clattering into the stumps. In comes Colly at number seven.
• 39 overs Commentary Eng 224-4
  
  Anyone think Trott looks a bit like a slightly thinner-haired Vince Vaughan? England's centurion misses out as he fails to get hold of a high Bollinger full toss and there are just three runs off the over. Just six four in Trott's hundred by the way.
• 38 overs THAT'S 100 Eng 221-4
  
  Trott advances to 99 with a delightful clip off his hips to the boundary and a pull for two. He brings up his second ODI century off 117 balls with a push through the onside. A great innings, just what England needed with the series on the line. Morgan comes to the party by hooking a short ball to fine leg for four.
• 37 overs Commentary Eng 208-4
  
  They say fortune favours the brave but that is a bit reckless from Morgan as he doesn't get hold of a pull shot and the ball loops up on the leg side. David Hussey looks to be winning the race but he doesn't get there in time and the ball drops to safety. England take singles off all six balls.
• 36 overs Commentary Eng 202-4
  
  Battler Hastings (thanks for that Peter from Aberystwyth) is back into the attack and Trott leans into a glorious drive past mid-off which races to the boundary. Trott then brings up the 200 with an ugly duckling of a drive to long-off.
• 35 overs Commentary Eng 194-4
  
  Champagne Dougie is back and he spears one past Morgan's outside edge. It's a tight over and just two runs are yielded.
• Commentary
  
  From Andrew Cox, TMS Inbox: "Could we transplant Cook's head onto Pietersen's shoulders? Then we'd have the strength combined with the intelligence!"
• 34 overs DRINKS BREAK Eng 192-4
  
  Trott will be eyeing e century here as he scampers another double off Doherty, who completes his spell with figures of 10-0-44-0. Drinks are taken - 300 is still on the cards for England.
• 33 overs Commentary Eng 187-4
  
  Lee's spell is a brief one as Smith is brought back into the attack. And that's some shot from the Trottster. He picks the length perfectly and heaves one over mid-on to the fence for a welcome boundary - the first in more than nine overs. Morgan drives a single off the last ball to retain the strike.
• 32 overs Commentary Eng 179-4
  
  Trott and Morgan take five singles from Doherty's next over. England are happy to deal in ones and twos at the moment - that is the luxury a good start affords you.
• 31 overs Commentary Eng 174-4
  
  Lee is back into the attack, with Australia perhaps feeling Morgan is vulnerable to pace. Trott goes past Prior's score with a nice clip through midwicket for two before Morgan cuts Lee for a couple. Five runs from the over, Lee's best of the innings so far.
• 30 overs Commentary Eng 169-4
  
  England take advantage of some untidy fielding from the hosts to take a single. Morgan improvises a paddle sweep to take another two from the last ball.
• SMS
  
  From Geoff in Stansted: What's going on with Pietersen-soooo frustrating. Is he bothered?
• 29 overs Commentary Eng 165-4
  
  Three-wicket hero Steve Smith continues and Morgan gets off the mark with a single to mid-off. England could do with Trott seeing this right through to the end - he picks up another two with a sweep to deep square leg.
• 28 overs Commentary Eng 159-4
  
  Australia are on top here as Trott survives an lbw appeal - that was very close with the ball probably heading for the outside of leg stump. Eoin Morgan will have a big role to play here if England are going to reach that 300 mark.
• 27 overs WICKET Bell c Haddin b Smith 0 (Eng 158-4)
  
  Ooh la la, it's all happening now. Bell has gone second ball! The Warwickshire man is beaten in the flight and gets an edge as he tries to fend the ball away to safety. Game on, now my friends. Morgan at the crease.
• 26.3 overs WICKET Pietersen c Marsh b Smith 12 (Eng 158-3)
  
  Pietersen goes on the attack here but that is a pudding of a shot. He tries to smash Smith over mid-on but doesn't get hold of it and Marsh steadies himself before taking a straighforward catch.
• 26 overs Commentary Eng 156-2
  
  Trott has gone into his shell a bit here, more than happy to play second fiddle to KP. That's a nice shot off the last ball of the over though as the batsman picks up a couple through the off side.
• Commentary
  
  From Carl Evans, France, TMS inbox: "Re :Can anyone think of a better nickname for John Wayne Hastings than 'The Duke'? I bet he'd love to be known as 1066."
• 25 overs Commentary 150-2
  
  England must be looking at a score of 300 or more here. Having said that, Smith bowls a good over, with three dots followed by three singles. Pietersen is into double figures already.
• 24 overs Commentary 147-2
  
  As if to prove my point, KP dances down the track and smashes Doherty high over mid-on for a one-bounce four. He scored 158 here when Collingwood made his double ton in 2006 and a fantastic double century in December as England took a 1-0 lead in the Ashes series.
• 23 overs Commentary 139-2
  
  Pietersen gets off the mark with a single to midwicket and England add two more to the score. Would be nice to see Pietersen get some runs here - he loves this ground.
• 22.1 overs WICKET Prior c Doherty b Smith 67
  
  Prior's innings is over as he chips a long hop from Smith straight to Doherty at point. Prior will be kicking himself there - a century was his for the taking.
• 22 overs Commentary Eng 136-2
  
  Both batsmen get a single before Trott brings up his second consecutive fifty with a run through cover point.
• 21 overs Commentary Eng 132-1
  
  That's a bit short from Doherty and Prior cuts hard to the boundary for four. Trott gets a couple to deep cover and a single to long-on. He's closing on a fifty now too.
• 20 overs Commentary 123-1
  
  Prior gets a bit lucky as an edge off Doherty flies wide of Haddin. Singles aplenty as the 100 partnership is brought up off 103 balls. A blast of "Waltzing Matilda" greets new bowler Steve Smith.
• 19 overs Commentary Eng 116-1
  
  Can anyone think of a better nickname for John Wayne Hastings than The Duke? That name must be ripe for Western-related puns too. Australia are doing well to stem the flow of runs here, although Trott grabs another couple through the covers after Prior takes a single down to third man.
• 18 overs Commentary 113-1
  
  Andy Murray wins the first set 7-5 over in Melbourne as Xavier Doherty rattles through another tidy over. Trott is unlucky not to pick up a boundary as Brett Lee dives full length to save the four.
• 17 overs Commentary Eng 109-1
  
  I think I may have put the mockers on Hastings who drags a horrible delivery down the legside for five wides. Three more singles complete the over.
• Commentary
  
  From Sleepy Kevin Mills, Hants, TMS inbox: "Whilst trying to shield my phone under the covers, with the brightness turned down, don't scare me with lines like 'the sun is out' that can be confused for "there is a run out'. Thank you."
• 16 overs Commentary Eng 101-1
  
  That's Prior's third one-day fifty in 58 innings by the way and boy did he need it. Xavier Doherty is into the attack and it's a very good start from the left-arm tweaker as he gives up just one run from the over.
• 15 overs DRINKS BREAK Eng 100-1 PRIOR HALF-CENTURY
  
  Absolute Mayhem... Trott plays a defensive stroke to Lee and the ball rolls back onto his stumps wthout knocking the bails off. Trott looks stunned but Prior has already taken a run so he has to scamper round Lee and head for the other end. Lee picks up the ball and has plenty of time to run Trott out but he misses the stumps. And Prior makes Lee pay by hoiking him over mid-on for six to bring up his 50! Four more runs follow, and that's drinks.
• 14 overs Commentary Eng 89-1
  
  Prior is closing in on a fifty as he cuts Hastings over the infield for four. Three more singles too. Dare I say it, but Australia need a wicket here.
• Commentary
  
  Deano and Lordy, at work in Ipswich, TMS inbox: "Struggling through the leftovers of matey's birthday cakes from earlier. 3-0 to the Aussies, 3-0 to the Arsenal and so far 3-0 to the doughnuts over the Bakewell Tarts."
• 13 overs Commentary Eng 82-1
  
  Prior is in the mood here as he lofts Lee over the infield for another four before taking a quick single. The last ball of the over is a juicy full toss but a square cut from Prior is well fielded by Cameron White and it's just two.
• 12 overs THE SUN IS OUT Eng 74-1
  
  Perfect batting weather on Australia Day in Adelaide as Trott jabs his bat down on a straight ball from Hastings and is relieved as the ball bounces down and over his stumps. The Duke looks a handy bowler - plenty of bustle and very tidy.
• Commentary
  
  From Chris McMillan, TMS inbox: "Pleasant Australia Day picnic in Melbourne made pleasant with the score. I'm the only one here that is aware of the score, so looking quietly smug among the Aussies."
• 11 overs Commentary Eng 71-1
  
  Prior has a ugly swing and picks up two behind square on the leg side. More good running from England as they scamper a couple more from the final ball of the over. The partnership is 48 from 48.
• 10 overs Commentary Eng 65-1
  
  It looks an absolute belter of a pitch as Michael Clarke throws the ball to seamer John Wayne Hastings (nickname The Duke). And that's a let off for England as Trott and Prior get themselves in a pickle. Haddin has a shy at the stumps but Trott gets himself in the way and the ball lodges in his pad. Better over from Australia, who opt to take their bowling power play for the next five.
• 9 overs Commentary Eng 62-1
  
  Watson is struggling a bit with his line and Trott flicks the first ball of the over to the fine leg fence, before picking up three off the next two balls. A single apiece to follow and England are ticking along nicely here. Projected score at this rate is 344.
• SMS
  
  From Dan in Leeds: "On a night shift in Leeds, a decent england batting performance will hopefully relieve the boredom!"
  So far so good Daniel son
• 8 overs Commentary Eng 53-1
  
  Prior dances down the wicket before smashing Bollinger over his head for a one bounce four. The next ball flies through the covers for another boundary. Then Jonny on the Trott gets in on the act with a lovely push straight down the ground for four. Good over that for England - 14 from it.
• 7 overs Commentary Eng 39-1
  
  A single each for Trottski and the Prior before Trott flicks the last ball of the over off his legs for four. England needed that. Prior has 17 off 17 - is he proving the doubters wrong?
• 6 overs Commentary Eng 33-1
  
  Champagne Dougie is right on the money here and it looks for all the world like a maiden before Trott tucks one down to third man for a single. Watson to replace Lee.
• SMS
  
  From Lettsy, student in Plymouth, TMS inbox: "Even as an England fan it's great to see Brett Lee playing."
• Commentary
  
  From Clare, Scotland (up late due to being off work with swine flu), TMS inbox: "Saw Freddie yesterday on Richard Bacon’s afternoon show (just love live streaming!) and apart from the crutches, he looked really fit. Is now the time to start the Bring Back Fred Campaign?"
• 5 overs Commentary Eng 32-1
  
  A single apiece before Prior drives the last ball of the over through the covers for four, the ball just beating the fielder to the rope. By the way, as ever we want you to get in touch to help us through the night. Send an e-mail to tms@bbc.co.uk with For Sam Sheringham as the subject or Text us on 81111 (UK) - messages will be charged at your standard operator rate.
• Twitter
  
  From Kevin Pietersen: "Happy Australia Day to all my aussie friends.. Have a good one!! Hope we ruin it for you though."
• 0343 Commentary
  
  Interesting words from Freddie Flintoff in an interview with the BBC yesterday. He'd have Ian Bell opening rather than Prior and says Paul Collingwood should be rested before the World Cup. He believes England have a chance of winning the tournament but feels they have yet to settle upon their best side...
• 4 overs Commentary Eng 26-1
  
  Prior is watchful at the start of the fourth over, before nudging a single on the leg side. By the way, over on BBC Text Commentary 2, there is currently live coverage of Andy Murray's Australian Open quarter-final against Alexandr Dolgopolov. You can watch live video on the BBC Sport website if you're in the UK, with Mike Henson at the keyboard.
• 3 overs Commentary Eng 25-1
  
  Jonathan Trott is the next man in and he helps himself to a couple of runs from the last ball of the over. Brett Lee is still some bowler you know.
• 2.5 overs WICKET Strauss c Haddin b Lee 8 (Eng 23-1)
  
  An inside edge saves Andrew Strauss from leg before wicket as Lee gets in the swing of things. Strauss slashes to the boundary but the same shot proves his undoing as a thick edge carries through to Haddin. A bit loose that from the England skipper.
• 2 overs Commentary Eng 19-0
  
  Signs of some swing for Dougie Bollinger as he rips one between Prior's bat and his off stump. Good running from England as Prior gets himself a couple on the leg side before leaning into a sumptuous drive through the covers for four.
• 1 over Commentary Eng 12-0
  
  Brett Lee opens up with a very wayward wide down the leg side which eludes Haddin's dive and rolls all the way to the boundary. The next is a beauty which snorts past Strauss's outside edge. The skipper gets off the mark with a couple before dabbing a single to give Prior the strike. And it's a great start for the Sussex man as he clips a leg stump half-volley to the fence for his first runs of the series.
• Commentary
  
  From Peter Myers, TMS inbox: "What do you think? Are England trying for a whitewash in the ODI series? Can they be that tired after the Great Ashes win? I thought they were professionals. If they are that tired it does not bode well for the World Cup."
• 0318 Commentary
  
  We'll be underway in a minute folks. Here are the full teams:
  Australia: S R Watson, B J Haddin (Wkt), S E Marsh M J Clarke (Capt), C L White, D J Hussey, S P D Smith, J W Hastings B Lee, X J Doherty, D E Bollinger.
  England: A J Strauss (Capt), M J Prior (Wkt), I J L Trott K P Pietersen, I R Bell, P D Collingwood, E J G Morgan, M H Yardy J M Anderson, A Shahzad, C T Tremlett.
• 0317 Commentary
  
  Some great chat from BBC Sport's Pranav Soneji: "Love it or loathe it - Twitter, you just can't escape from it - a bit like Chantelle Houghton. The latest victim is current Aussie skipper Michael Clarke, who has been admonished for using the micro networking website as a conduit for finding team-mate and singleton Steven Smith a lady to accompany him to the Allan Border Medal annual dinner. Now, call me a level-headed, rational-thinking, fun-loving simpleton, but is it really that much of a big deal? According to one Australian journalist, it's tantamount to money-laundering.
• 0308 Commentary
  
  England win the toss and will bat first in Adelaide.
• 0311 Commentary
  
  Andy Flower confirms to Test Match Special that Matt Prior will once again open the batting for England. After ducks in both of his innings so far, it's a big day for the England stumper as he looks to justify his selection for the World Cup.
• Twitter
  
  From BFinnoBystander: "Collingwood slipping down the order as suggested by myself last match. Could be batting number 10 come the World Cup!"
• 0305 Commentary
  
  TEAM NEWS: Kevin Pietersen and James Anderson return for England with Paul Collingwood in at number seven. Australia are unchanged.
• 0302 Commentary
  
  Yes, after the euphoria of the Ashes, it's all gone a bit Pete Tong for England in the one-dayers with the batting in particular looking rather fragile. But where better than Adelaide, the scene of the first of those three innings victories in the Ashes, to spark a revival. Having said that, today is Australia Day so Michael Clarke, Brett Lee and co will be all the more determined to wrap up the series with three matches to spare in a sea of patriotic fervour.
• 0300 Commentary
  
  Good morning everyone and welcome to our live coverage of the fourth one-day international between Australia and England from Adelaide. England are 3-0 down with four to play so I would suggest it's a case of now or never for Andrew Strauss and his troops.

Copa Libertadores kicks off with qualifiers

Updated Jan 24, 2011 11:05 AM ET
Brazilian World Cup winners Roberto Carlos and Ronaldo will add a touch of glamor to the Copa Libertadores when Latin America's top club competition kicks off this week with six first-leg qualifying matches.
The two men will be in action in one of the opening matches when Brazilian club Corinthians takes on Colombian side Deportes Tolima. The second legs are next week, with the winners joining the main draw of 32.
The competition brings together a sprinkling of experienced veterans and a handful of potential stars of the future.

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Already in the main draw, former Manchester United midfielder Juan Sebastian Veron will be trying to guide Estudiantes of Argentina to a second Libertadores title in three years, while Brazilian club Santos can showcase two of the continent's brightest prospects in forwards Neymar and Keirrison.
On paper, the Copa Libertadores should be second only to Europe's Champions League in the pecking order of club tournaments.
However, like 30-somethings Roberto Carlos, Ronaldo and Veron, the Libertadores may have lost some of its edge.
That's partly because many of South America's top players are continually being sold. Argentina exported more than 2,200 players in 2010, with around 45 percent ending up in Europe, according to a recent study. Brazil is not far behind, shipping out more than 1,600 players.
The talent drain is hitting Argentina's biggest clubs. River Plate and Boca Juniors, for example, have failed to qualify for the second time running.
A complicated qualifying process can also be blamed.
Most of the region's league seasons are broken into tournaments running half a season each, while Brazilian clubs are mired in regional tournaments at the beginning of each calendar year, only moving to a national league in the second six months.
What's more, clubs from Mexico are invited to the Libertadores as guests since the nation is not a member of the governing body of South American football, CONMEBOL.
CONMEBOL encourages Mexican clubs to compete because they make the tournament more attractive to sponsors.
With every country using different qualification methods, playing on different schedules, working out which teams will reach the Libertadores is a headache-inducing exercise.
It also tends to make the Libertadores tricky to predict.
In the last 10 years, Paraguayan club Olimpia, Colombia's Once Caldas and LDU Quito of Ecuador have all been surprise winners.

TRANSFER SPECIAL

Keep up with all the biggest moves around the globe with our 2011 January transfer gallery.

In a similar period in Europe, only Porto's unexpected success in the 2003-04 Champions League can compare.
This year's Libertadores looks as difficult to call as ever.
In the last 20 years, at least one club from Argentina or Brazil has made the final - Chilean club Colo Colo's win over Paraguay's Olimpia in 1991 being the last exception.
Argentina's challenge will be led by current national champion Estudiantes, where 35-year-old captain Veron still dominates the midfield.
Veron's father, Juan Ramon, won the Libertadores three times in a row with Estudiantes in 1968, '69 and '70. A win for Veron junior in this year's tournament would bring the son closer to his father's total after leading Estudiantes' to victory in the 2009 Libertadores.
Argentina's Independiente, the current champion of South America's No. 2 club tournament, the Copa Sudamericana, can also boast recent continental success and is the only one of the country's so-called "big five" clubs to qualify.
Velez Sarsfield, Argentinos Juniors and Godoy Cruz complete the Argentine contingent.
Meanwhile, Brazilian hopes center on Libertadores holder Internacional, whose Argentine playmaker Andres D'Alessandro has just been voted the best player in South America.
Roberto Carlos, Ronaldo and Co. add weight to Corinthians' bid to win the Libertadores for the first time, while Santos has the youthful promise of Neymar and Keirrison - on loan from Barcelona - on its side. Brazil's current national champion Fluminense is also in the draw.
Elsewhere, the names of Uruguay's Penarol - third on the all-time list with five Libertadores wins - and three-time Libertadores champion Nacional stand out.
The glory years of Uruguayan football may have faded since Nacional's last triumph in 1988, but after the national team's surprise fourth place in the World Cup last year, both clubs will be keen to show the revival has percolated to club level too.
If it's time for another unexpected champion, then a victory for Mexico City club America would make a good story.
Along with Corinthians' game against Tolima, the first leg matches feature Alianza Lima (Peru) vs. Chiapas (Mexico); Cerro Porteno (Paraguay) vs. Deportivo Petare (Venezuela); Bolivar (Bolivia) vs. Union Espanola (Chile); Independiente (Argentina) vs. Deportivo Quito (Ecuador); and Liverpool (Uruguay) vs. Gremio (Brazil).

Julio Cesar returns to Brazil squad

Updated Jan 25, 2011 4:29 PM ET
BRASILIA, Brazil (AP)

Goalkeeper Julio Cesar was named Tuesday in a Brazil squad for the first time since last year's World Cup in South Africa.
New coach Mano Menezes announced the squad for a friendly against France in Paris on Feb. 9. Though Juilo Cesar is being given a fresh look, other members of the disappointing World Cup squad like Lucio and Maicon remain on the sideline.

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The squad consists entirely of players with clubs in Europe. Menezes said local players needed training time for upcoming state tournaments in Brazil. He also passed over young star Neymar, who is playing in the South America qualifying tournament for the Under-20 World Cup.
Squad:
Goalkeepers: Julio Cesar (Inter Milan), Gomes (Tottenham), Neto (Fiorentina)
Defenders: Daniel Alves (Barcelona), Rafael (Manchester United), Marcelo (Real Madrid), Andre Santos (Fenerbahce), Breno (Bayern Munich), David Luiz (Benfica), Thiago Silva (AC Milan), Luizao (Benfica).
Midfielders: Lucas (Liverpool), Ramires (Chelsea), Sandro (Tottenham), Elias (Atletico Madrid), Hernanes (Lazio), Anderson (Manchester United), Renato Augusto (Bayern Leverkusen), Jadson (Shakhtar).
Forwards: Robinho (Milan), Alexandre Pato (Milan), Andre (Dynamo Kiev), Hulk (Porto).

Copa Libertadores kicks off with qualifiers

Updated Jan 24, 2011 11:05 AM ET
Brazilian World Cup winners Roberto Carlos and Ronaldo will add a touch of glamor to the Copa Libertadores when Latin America's top club competition kicks off this week with six first-leg qualifying matches.
The two men will be in action in one of the opening matches when Brazilian club Corinthians takes on Colombian side Deportes Tolima. The second legs are next week, with the winners joining the main draw of 32.
The competition brings together a sprinkling of experienced veterans and a handful of potential stars of the future.

The home of the best LIVE soccer and rugby awaits at FoxSoccer.tv -- don't miss a second of the action.

Already in the main draw, former Manchester United midfielder Juan Sebastian Veron will be trying to guide Estudiantes of Argentina to a second Libertadores title in three years, while Brazilian club Santos can showcase two of the continent's brightest prospects in forwards Neymar and Keirrison.
On paper, the Copa Libertadores should be second only to Europe's Champions League in the pecking order of club tournaments.
However, like 30-somethings Roberto Carlos, Ronaldo and Veron, the Libertadores may have lost some of its edge.
That's partly because many of South America's top players are continually being sold. Argentina exported more than 2,200 players in 2010, with around 45 percent ending up in Europe, according to a recent study. Brazil is not far behind, shipping out more than 1,600 players.
The talent drain is hitting Argentina's biggest clubs. River Plate and Boca Juniors, for example, have failed to qualify for the second time running.
A complicated qualifying process can also be blamed.
Most of the region's league seasons are broken into tournaments running half a season each, while Brazilian clubs are mired in regional tournaments at the beginning of each calendar year, only moving to a national league in the second six months.
What's more, clubs from Mexico are invited to the Libertadores as guests since the nation is not a member of the governing body of South American football, CONMEBOL.
CONMEBOL encourages Mexican clubs to compete because they make the tournament more attractive to sponsors.
With every country using different qualification methods, playing on different schedules, working out which teams will reach the Libertadores is a headache-inducing exercise.
It also tends to make the Libertadores tricky to predict.
In the last 10 years, Paraguayan club Olimpia, Colombia's Once Caldas and LDU Quito of Ecuador have all been surprise winners.

TRANSFER SPECIAL

Keep up with all the biggest moves around the globe with our 2011 January transfer gallery.

In a similar period in Europe, only Porto's unexpected success in the 2003-04 Champions League can compare.
This year's Libertadores looks as difficult to call as ever.
In the last 20 years, at least one club from Argentina or Brazil has made the final - Chilean club Colo Colo's win over Paraguay's Olimpia in 1991 being the last exception.
Argentina's challenge will be led by current national champion Estudiantes, where 35-year-old captain Veron still dominates the midfield.
Veron's father, Juan Ramon, won the Libertadores three times in a row with Estudiantes in 1968, '69 and '70. A win for Veron junior in this year's tournament would bring the son closer to his father's total after leading Estudiantes' to victory in the 2009 Libertadores.
Argentina's Independiente, the current champion of South America's No. 2 club tournament, the Copa Sudamericana, can also boast recent continental success and is the only one of the country's so-called "big five" clubs to qualify.
Velez Sarsfield, Argentinos Juniors and Godoy Cruz complete the Argentine contingent.
Meanwhile, Brazilian hopes center on Libertadores holder Internacional, whose Argentine playmaker Andres D'Alessandro has just been voted the best player in South America.
Roberto Carlos, Ronaldo and Co. add weight to Corinthians' bid to win the Libertadores for the first time, while Santos has the youthful promise of Neymar and Keirrison - on loan from Barcelona - on its side. Brazil's current national champion Fluminense is also in the draw.
Elsewhere, the names of Uruguay's Penarol - third on the all-time list with five Libertadores wins - and three-time Libertadores champion Nacional stand out.
The glory years of Uruguayan football may have faded since Nacional's last triumph in 1988, but after the national team's surprise fourth place in the World Cup last year, both clubs will be keen to show the revival has percolated to club level too.
If it's time for another unexpected champion, then a victory for Mexico City club America would make a good story.
Along with Corinthians' game against Tolima, the first leg matches feature Alianza Lima (Peru) vs. Chiapas (Mexico); Cerro Porteno (Paraguay) vs. Deportivo Petare (Venezuela); Bolivar (Bolivia) vs. Union Espanola (Chile); Independiente (Argentina) vs. Deportivo Quito (Ecuador); and Liverpool (Uruguay) vs. Gremio (Brazil).

Why big mouth Mario Balotelli was actually spot on about City's forward line being the best in the world

By Martin Lipton in Laptop with Martin Lipton
Published 12:14 19/01/11

• (8)
• Recommend (6)
  
  

That Mario Balotelli, eh? Not exactly a shrinking violet, you have to say.
As the Italian launched a withering dismissal of Wayne Rooney even as he talked up the trio of gun-slingers now at Roberto Mancini's disposal, it might have been just bluster.
"Rooney is a very good player but not the best in Manchester," said Balotelli. "Our attack of Balotelli-Tevez-Dzeko is the best in the world - better even than Barcelona and Real Madrid. We are the strongest and we can win things now - we just lack conviction."
And yet, explore what it is Balotelli was saying a little deeper. And you have to admit he has a point.
Adding Bosnian Dzeko to the City strike force could prove a title-winning master-stroke by Mancini - and certainly asks questions of what is going on across the fence at their Carrington training ground neighbours.
Dzeko looked slightly off the pace against Wolves on Saturday but it was his debut and his goals record for both Wolfsburg and the Bosnian national team, particularly in the last World Cup qualifying campaign, are proof that he knows what to do when he gets the ball in the right areas.
Tevez has been outstanding this season, one of three early stand-out candidates - alongside the North London duo of Samir Nasri and Gareth Bale - for the Footballer of the Year crown.
The manner is which he sashayed through the Wolves back line for his first goal on Saturday was majestic, the little Argentine seemingly convinced of the inevitable outcome at the instant he picked up possession, while everybody else inside Eastlands was wondering what he could possibly achieve from there.
And while Balotelli has not convinced totally yet - and has to curb the disciplinary problems that threaten to make him a target for every card-carrier in the top flight - there is no doubting that, talent-wise, he is already the real deal, even before his game really starts to develop.
Contrast that trio with Fergie's options at Old Trafford. Dimitar Berbatov may be the top scorer in the Premier League so far and on his day is unstoppable.
But that day comes too rarely. remember, too, that 10 of those 14 goals came in three games - hit hat-trick against Liverpool five to destroy Blackburn and two against Sunderland - and that he has scored just two away league goals all season.
It was easy to see why at his former stamping ground on Sunday. For the first 15 minutes or so at White Hart Lane, Berba looked dangerous and potentially irrepressible but then suddenly decided to try on Nani's cloak of invisibility and disappeared for the rest of the game.
Rooney's struggles in front of goal - just one United strike in open play, at West Brom on January 1, since the end of March - have been well documented, Javier Hernandez, for all his potential, is still finding his feet in English football and Michael Owen seems little more than an afterthought these days.
Of course, there are other teams with attacking options, although the Chelsea trio of Nicolas Anelka, Didier Drogba and Florent Malouda - whose form is causing increasing concern among the Stamford Bridge hierarchy - are hardly pulling up trees.
But Spurs still have Roman Pavlyuchenko as well as Rafael Van Der Vaart, Jermain Defoe and Peter Crouch - not to mention the attacking instincts of Bale, Luka Modric and Aaron Lennon - while Nasri has added to the weight of Emirates goals likely to be boosted further now Robin Van Persie is getting close to full fitness.
As for Balotelli's dismissal of the attacking armouries at the two Spanish giants, City will not get the chance to put them to the test until next season but we may all get a closer-hand view when the Champions League Final comes to Wembley in May.
Barca, having let Thierry Henry go in the summer, do not seem to have suffered from the arrival of David Villa to play alongside Lionel Messi, although it is arguable that the Catalans are stronger in midfield - where Holland international Ibrahim Afellay has now joined Xavi Hernandes and Andres Iniesta - than up front.
Madrid only play one out and out striker - and that burden seems to be falling on the previously out of favour Karim Benzema after Jose Mourinho lost Gonzalo Higuain to injury - but with Cristiano Ronaldo, Angel Di Maria and Mesut Ozil coming at you from all angles they really do have "damage" written all over them.
Even so, in terms of straight-up, no questions asked, unquestionably defined strikers, City's trio probably are as good as any around.
Balotelli may not always talk sense and indeed there are times when he might do himself a favour by engaging his brain before opening his mouth. But on this one, I have to admit, he may have got it spot-on.

Mexican League Roundup, Jan. 23









0 comments »

Updated Jan 24, 2011 3:44 AM ET
Hector Mancilla scored a stoppage-time winner to give UANL Tigres a 2-1 win at America on Sunday in the third round of the Mexican Clausura championship.
Lucas Lobos gave Tigres the lead after escaping in the box and shooting past Guillermo Ochoa in the 37th minute, but Montenegro equalized five minutes after halftime. Mancilla stole the points with almost the game's last kick.

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"I'm very happy and I'd like to thank my teammates for putting in a great effort to earn this important achievement," said Mancilla, who scored his second goal for Tigres since joining from Toluca in the midseason break.
A minute before Mancilla's goal, Angel Reyna had an opportunity to put America ahead but was bundled off the ball amid appeals for a penalty. Replays suggested the contact was minimal.
Elsewhere, Puebla won 2-0 at home against Estudiantes Tecos, while Toluca had a 2-0 home win against Chiapas.
In Friday and Saturday results, it was: Necaxa 0, Atlas 1; Cruz Azul 3, UNAM Pumas 3; Monterrey 1, Atlante 0; Queretaro 0, Morelia 3; Guadalajara 1, San Luis 1; and Santos 1, Pachuca 1.
San Luis is currently the only team with maximum points.
In Toluca, Nestor Calderon opened the scoring against Chiapas with a dipping shot from 30 yards (meters) that flew over goalkeeper Jorge Villalpando and into the top corner in the 61st minute.
A minute later, Jaime Ayovi advanced into the box, cut inside his marker and hit a diagonal shot into the corner to make it 2-0.
Also Sunday, Puebla took the lead against Estudiantes Tecos when Edgar Lugo fired into the roof of the net in the 57th minute.
Felix Borja added a second after racing onto a long ball and heading past Christian Martinez in the third minute of stoppage time.
After three matches, the Primera Division is still taking shape.
In Mexico, the 18 clubs are split into three groups as well as a general table. At the end of the tournament, the top two teams in each group along with the two best-placed teams in the general table that haven't qualified directly contest end-of-season playoffs to decide the champion.
Reigning title holder Monterrey registered its first win of the new tournament with Saturday's 1-0 home win against Atlante.
So far in the Clausura standings, Tigres leads Group 1 with seven points, Atlas tops Group 2 with nine, while Pumas heads Group 3 with five points.

Why £24m Darren Bent is anything but a 'panic buy' for Gerard Houllier

By Martin Lipton in Laptop with Martin Lipton
Published 11:44 18/01/11

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London's newly renovated Savoy Hotel, Sunday night.
And Gerard Houllier is acting like a dog that's discovered an extra appendage.
At the time, as the Frenchman bounced round the room before paying an impromptu personal tribute to Football Writers' Association guest of honour Thierry Henry, it seemed more like relief after the way his players had responded to adversity to claim a deserved draw in the second city derby at St Andrew's.
Now, of course, it all becomes a great deal clearer.
Houllier knew what was in the pipeline, knew that Darren Bent was ready to quit Sunderland and join him at Aston Villa.
And while some have criticised the Villa boss for paying up to £24million in a "panic buy", landing Bent is anything but that.
Villa needs goals. Lots of them. And Bent is a proven scorer.
Even at Spurs, where he was haunted by Harry Redknapp's disparaging claim that "my missus" could have scored a free header he put wide against Portsmouth, Bent's record was not as bad as it was painted.
Yes, he did have a tendency to run offside and did not seem to gel with Robbie Keane, who was club skipper at the time.
But he still scored 25 goals in two seasons, despite feeling weighed down by the £16.5million price-tag; still showed signs that there was more to come.
And, without question, Bent has proven that on Wearside.
You do not score 32 goals in 58 Premier League games without having something about you.
Bent has pace, directness, the ability to find himself in the right position at the right time and, most importantly of all, the talent to tuck the chances away.
He misses some. Of course he does. So did the true greats.
And while Bent will never be in that category, he is a proven Premier League marksman, a rare and vital commodity to have.
From my standpoint, the true proof of his development came in Basel in September.
Bent was one of those who missed out at the final cut for World Cup selection, after being, to be honest, absolutely hopeless in the last warm-up game against Japan in Graz - not that he would have stood out in that respect given what happened in South Africa.
But when he came on against Switzerland and was presented with a chance a couple of minutes from time to put the match away, something had changed.
It was not just that Bent swept the ball into the net with no fuss whatsoever. More key, for me, was the muted nature of the celebration.
For some players, a first England goal, no matter what the circumstances, would see wild joy and exhilaration. Bent, by contrast, simply turned away, with a smile on his face and two outstretched fingers pointing at his team-mates as they rushed to embrace him.
It looked like a man who realised he had done what he was supposed to do, almost as if it was not an achievement at all. It was, in short, the reaction of a man who expects to score.
Bent changed as a player, perhaps as a man, too, that night and you got the sense that it would all come that little bit easier for the years to come.
Of course there has been plenty of comment about the size of the fee, believed to be around £18m but rising to £24m.
Martin O'Neill will be forgiven his own wistful smile at that figure but while there is a risk, as there is with any big-money capture, the upside makes it worthwhile.
Houllier, with reason, believes Bent will score the goals that will keep Villa in the Premier League.
If he is right, and it doesn't seem a bad viewpoint by any standard, then it guarantees the club around £70m income from the league alone - based on television fees and the two-year parachute payment for clubs that go down - over the next three years, even if they are relegated next season.
Staying up, too, will allow Houllier time to do the job he has persuaded Randy Lerner is required, overhauling the squad he inherited and bringing through the youngsters in the club's ranks.
Marc Albrighton, Barry Bannon, Ciaran Clark, Jonathan Hogg, Eric Lichaj, Fabian Delph, Chris Herd and Nathan Delfouneso have all had run-outs under Houllier but it is far harder for young players to mature into the talents they can be if they are thrown head-first into a struggling team facing a relegation fight.
The goals Bent will surely bring will start to relieve that pressure, allowing the younger players to develop and be much more ready by the time next August comes round.
Bent's arrival may see movement in the other direction.
John Carew fell out with Houllier at Lyon, so his departure would be no surprise and it seems reasonable to surmise that either Stewart Downing or Ashley Young may go in the next fortnight to help balance the books.
But signing a goalscorer will make all the difference in the world to the Villa squad.
Houllier knows that. It explains why he was in such a good mood on Sunday night.

Brazilian League Roundup, Jan. 23

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Updated Jan 24, 2011 3:28 AM ET
Midfielder Elano scored two first-half goals as Santos won 4-2 over Prudente in the Sao Paulo state championship on Sunday, picking up its third straight victory to begin the season.
In Rio de Janeiro's Guanabara Cup, Brazilian champion Fluminense routed Olaria 6-2 after two goals by striker Fred, while Botafogo beat Cabofriense 5-0 thanks in part to two own goals scored by the same defender.
The goals were Elano's first since returning to Santos after six seasons in European football.

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He opened the scoring with a right-footed shot from inside the box in the 13th minute at Prudentao stadium, and added to the lead by converting a penalty kick in the 23rd.
Santos, the defending champion in the Sao Paulo tournament, also had goals from former Barcelona striker Keirrison in the 55th and forward Maikon Leite in the 61st. Striker Romulo netted for Prudente in the 74th and 84th.
Elano, a starter for Brazil at the 2010 World Cup in South Africa, returned to Santos this year after playing for Shaktar Donetsk, Manchester City and Galatasaray. It was his second match since coming back. He started Santos' 3-0 win over Mirassol on Wednesday.
Santos and Americana are the only teams to start the tournament with three straight wins. Santos is thriving even though it remains without young striker Neymar, who is with Brazil's under-20 team, and missing playmaker Paulo Henrique Ganso, who is recovering from knee surgery.
At Pacaembu stadium, striker Ronaldo again failed to score and Corinthians drew 1-1 with visiting Noroeste.
Striker Dentinho put Corinthians on the board in the 40th, but midfielder Thiago Marin equalized after a defensive mistake by veteran left back Roberto Carlos in the 57th.
Luiz Felipe Scolari's Palmeiras won its second match in a row after a 1-0 victory against Oeste in Itapolis, while Sao Paulo - which has just signed former Brazil and Barcelona star Rivaldo - lost 1-0 to Ponte Preta at Morumbi stadium on Saturday.
In Rio, Fluminense had a pair of goals from Fred and others from striker Rodriguinho and midfielder Marquinho in its 6-2 rout of Olaria at Engenhao stadium. Rodriguinho's goals came after replacing former Chelsea playmaker Deco, who injured his left thigh in the first half.

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Take a pictorial look back at an incredible year in soccer with the 2010 Year in Pictures gallery.

Botafogo beat Cabofriense 5-0 in Cabo Frio thanks to two own goals by Cabofriense defender Goeber six minutes apart in the first half. Goeber, the team's captain, was replaced at halftime.
Vasco da Gama rallied from two goals down in the first half against Nova Iguacu, but lost the match in Volta Redonda after allowing a 78th-minute goal. It was the team's second straight defeat to begin the season.
Flamengo, still without recently signed playmaker Ronaldinho, defeated America 3-1 at Edson Passos on Saturday for its second win in a row.
The Guanabara Cup is the first stage of the Rio championship, and its winner will play for the state title against the Rio Cup champion later in the tournament.
The Brazilian football season does not follow the European calendar and starts in the beginning of the year. Regional championships in the 26 states take place in the first few months, with the Brazilian league running from May until December.

Young U.S. squad draws with Chile

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Updated Jan 24, 2011 4:56 AM ET
Juan Agudelo and Teal Bunbury gave a young United States team some energy in the Americans' first match of the year.
Agudelo was tripped up during a run into the penalty area, and Bunbury converted the kick in the 75th minute for his first international goal, giving the U.S. a 1-1 exhibition tie against Chile on Saturday night.
Agudelo and Bunbury, a pair of players who made their Major League Soccer debuts last season, entered in the 60th minute in place of Brek Shea and Chris Wondolowski.
"They both gave us a good effort," U.S. coach Bob Bradley said. "They seemed to be into the idea that when they came onto the field, they needed to make a difference."

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Estaban Paredes, the only player on either roster to play at last year's World Cup, had put La Roja ahead in the 53rd minute with a 7-yard volley inside a post, off a cross from Felipe Seymour after defender Marvell Wynne overcommitted.
Agudelo, an 18-year-old forward who like the 20-year-old Bunbury made his debut in November's win at South Africa, was tripped one stride into the penalty area by Sebastian Toro. Bunbury, whose father Alex scored 16 goals for Canada from 1986-87, slotted the penalty kick in as goalkeeper Paulo Garces dived the wrong way, to his right.
"I wanted to make a difference; I wanted to make an impact," Bunbury said.
Because it was not a FIFA fixture date, both teams went with youth and did not bring in established players from Europe. The U.S. will use veterans for its next three matches: at Egypt on Feb. 9, against Argentina on March 26 at East Rutherford, N.J., and versus Paraguay three days later at Nashville, Tenn.
As the U.S. prepares for the CONCACAF Gold Cup in June, Agudelo and Bunbury are trying to earn roster spots alongside Jozy Altidore.
"I feel really comfortable playing up top with him," Bunbury said of Agudelo. "I feel like our chemistry is really growing."
Midfielder Alejandro Bedoya, cut from the World Cup roster, was the most experienced player on the field for the Americans, making just his seventh international appearance. The entire American starting lineup entered with a combined 18 appearances and 23-year-old midfielder Dax McCarty was captain for the first time. Central defenders Tim Ream and Omar Gonzalez had each played only one national team game.
"Getting to see all of the new, young guys out there was fun for me and, hopefully, it was fun for everyone else," Gonzalez said. "I thought that we did well. We wanted to win, but a draw is a good result so, all in all, I think that everyone did a good."
Seven U.S. players made their national team debuts, including four starters: right back Sean Franklin, left back Zach Loyd, midfielder Jeff Larentowicz and Wondolowski, the lone forward in a 4-2-3-1.

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"The first five-to-10 minutes it's really fast," Loyd said. "I was all excited, and after that you just get relaxed and your teammates are always talking to you and giving you confidence along the way."
Sean Johnson, who took over in goal at the start of the second half, also made his international debut, as did defender Anthony Wallace, who entered in the 73rd, and midfielder Eric Alexander, who came on in the 83rd.
"Chile puts pressure on you," Bradley said. "There were some periods where our ability to stay tuned in, move quickly and be in good spots broke down. But there was also a strong response when we were down, and I felt that was quite good."
The match may have been the finale for popular Chile coach Marcelo Bielsa, who said in November he was resigning. There is hope in Chile he may reconsider because Sergio Jadue took over as federation president instead of Jorge Segovia.
"This subject is tiresome," said Bielsa, who added he will address the situation next week in Chile.
When asked whether he had the support of Chile's players, media and fans, Bielsa replied humorously.
"What would you think if I told you this?" Bielsa said. "Imagine if I said, 'What's happening to me has never happened before in the world, despite my being Argentine?"'