Maria Sharapova dug herself out of a hole Down Under after her third-round match was delayed for half an hour as workmen repaired her court.
The Russian noticed a dead spot near the net during her warm-up on the Hisense Arena - the second court in Melbourne Park.
And Aussie umpire Kerrilyn Cramer suspended the start of the match against German Julia Goerges when she found a ball would not bounce in the zone.
Workmen came out and drilled two holes in the area to let an air pocket escape.
"It was a little bit strange," said Sharapova. "I thought Nike had put some extra cushioning in my shoes!"
But world No 38 Goerges, a fellow Nike player who Sharapova advises on her outfits, then proved she is more than a clothes horse before going down 4-6, 6-4, 6-4 in a superb encounter.
"It was an up and down match for me," said the Russian, the 2008 champion here. "I didn't concentrate when I had to and I had a lot of let downs, but she played really great tennis today."
Sharapova will play the winner of tonight's match between Venus Williams and Andrea Petkovic in the fourth round - if the American is fit to play.
The 2004 Wimbledon champion missed the 2009 Australian Open due to injury and was ousted in the first round last year.
Sharapova is now the only former winner left in the tournament after Justine Henin's defeat today.
The Belgian, who beat Elena Baltacha in the last round, lost 6-4, 7-6 to Svetlana Kuznetsova a year after reaching the final in her Grand Slam comeback.
And Henin refused to blame the elbow injury she suffered at Wimbledon last year.
"She was just been better than me, especially in the important moments," Henin said after her worst run at a Grand Slam event since Wimbledon in 2005.
It was the first time Kuznetsova, the former French and U.S. Open champion, had beaten Henin in a Grand Slam.
She will meet French Open champion Francesca Schiavone in the fourth round.
Roger Federer set a new record for wins at the Australian Open as he cruised into the third round.
The defending champion was forced into a five-set thriller with Frenchman Gilles Simon in the last round.
But the world No 2 and favourite was back to his vintage best today to Jamie Murray's new doubles partner Xavier Malisse 6-3, 6-3, 6-1 in only one hour and 45 minutes.
The victory meant Federer, who is chasing his record fifth Australian Open title, overtook Stefan Edberg to win his 57th match here in the Open era.
The Swiss, who has got past the third round in 27 consecutive Grand Slams, made his debut at Melbourne Park in 2000.
"It's very nice to take the record but Edberg still stays my idol," he said.
Andy Roddick nearly decapitated Robin Haase before finally defeating the Dutchman in four sets.
The American's father had emailed him from Texas suggesting he played more aggressive tennis. But Roddick Snr probably did not have in mind driving a forehand at head
height towards his opponent during the second set.
IF Amir Khan thought beating Marcos Maidana last month was tough, trying to find his next opponent is proving just as difficult. European light-welterweight champ Paul McCloskey is the latest fighter to turn Khan down with the Ulsterman's promoter Barry Hearn claiming the money on offer was "a joke". Khan has also run into problems in negotiations with Americans Lamont Peterson and Victor Ortiz for his April 16 homecoming at Manchester's MEN Arena, while Joan Guzman has been ruled out. Both sides have been quick to blame the other and Khan's manager Asif Vali says opponents are trying to milk the WBA light-welterweight champ like some "cash cow". Hearn says the blame lies with Team Khan and says their purse offer to the unbeaten McCloskey was "peanuts." He said: "The offer was a joke. There's no way I'm letting Paul fight for peanuts. "They made the offer, I rejected it, and as far as I can see the fight is dead. We'll certainly not be going back to them to negotiate. Advertisement - article continues below »
"If they were to come back with a proper offer then of course we would listen but, as I expected, they wanted to get Paul on the cheap. "Paul's got a better record than Khan. He's undefeated and he's never been knocked out like Khan has. "Nobody has done Paul any favours. He has done everything that has been asked of him and he deserves to be well paid for a fight like this." Having crossed off virtually all the names on their original list, Team Khan are widening their search and European lightweight king John Murray is under consideration. Murray fits the bill as a credible domestic opponent for Khan's first fight in Britain since December 2009 and would sell a few tickets. Richard Schaefer, CEO of Khan's US promoter Golden Boy, told Boxingscene: "There are a couple of guys and we hope that within the next 24 to 48 hours we'll have it done. "John Murray has been mentioned. We just have to work it a little bit more and see where we end up."
Nathan Cleverly gets WBO title shot against Juergen Braehmer
17/01/2011 BOXING Nathan Cleverly is set to take on Juergen Braehmer for the WBO lightheavyweight title in March. The Welshman has twice been on the verge of a world championship fight with the German, only for Braehmer to take another bout. But after he pulled out of a unification showdown with Beibut Shumenov, WBO bosses have given him an ultimatum - fight Cleverly or be stripped of the title. Cleverly, 23, said: "Frank Warren's in talks with Braehmer's camp and he's in a situation where he has to fight me. Advertisement - article continues below »
"To win the world title would be a dream come true - and I'll get the chance this year." Cleverly, who beat Nadjib Mohammedi in December to win the interim title, added: "The fight should be in the UK but probably not in Wales this time. "The homecoming is looking a couple of fights down the line."
Why boxing is still as exciting as the days of Joe Frazier and Muhammad Ali
By Barry McGuigan 15/01/2011 Joe Frazier turned 67 last Wednesday. What a boxer. What an era. Smokin' Joe shared centre stage during a golden era for heavyweight boxing. Looking back to those days 40 years ago, to those iconic bouts with Muhammad Ali and George Foreman, it would be easy to form the impression that the old game is not what it was. In the same way we tend to recall the finer qualities in friends and family who are no longer with us, when we look back through history it is the good times that pop up in the memory box. I don't believe for one minute that boxing is any less exciting or popular than it was when Frazier and Ali were knocking lumps out of each other. The heavyweight scene is not what it was, for sure, but there are still some exciting fighters operating elsewhere. What has changed is the way the sport is covered, our viewing habits and the media through which boxing is consumed. This means there are fewer guys out there crossing into the areas that attract those with a casual interest in sport. No-one in this country saw Ali and Frazier fight live on TV, but when the delayed broadcasts were shown the whole family would watch because TV was a shared experience in those days. There was only one per house and dad tended to choose the channel. That meant everybody learned about the courage and skill of boxers and formed attachments. If boxing was delivered into homes the same way today in front of passive audiences that watched what they were told it would be just as compelling. Instead, it is fed into a specialist audience that knows where and how to find it when the big fights take place. You only have to browse the internet to discover the breadth and depth of boxing interest. Bob Arum, who turns 80 this year, has been promoting fights for more than half his life. Advertisement - article continues below »
He was talking in Los Angeles last week about his early experiences and how he believes the sport is as healthy as it as ever been. I was particularly struck by the crowd at the old Caesar's Palace Pavilion where Arum promoted the Sugar Ray Leonard-Wilfred Benitez bout in 1979 - 4,200. And that was with Vito Antuofermo and Marvin Hagler on the undercard, except, as Arum pointed out, he wasn't 'Marvelous' then, just another young fighter making his way. I can tell you they are out there now, - young lads making their way who have the potential to be a superstar. We imagine these old shows to have been big-ticket events, but the reality is they were shown in halls that do not compare with those today. When Floyd Mayweather Jnr eventually fights Manny Pacquiao, when David Haye meets Wladimir Klitschko the tickets will be gone in minutes, all 20,000 of them. They have been talking about boxing dying for a hundred years. But it endures because the elements that sustain it are as old as the hills. Boxing taps into our primal past, it connects with the big themes in life. We understand what it is to fight to survive. The thrill of seeing punches fly is the same as it was when John L Sullivan was throwing leather. It was impossible to avert your gaze in that tenth round in Las Vegas when Amir Khan was hanging on against Marcos Maidana. Those instincts to win, to survive are in us all. That's why boxing will always be part of our sporting culture. And for those minded to look, it is just as explosive and exciting as it was when Joe was smokin'.
Updated Jan 21, 2011 11:30 AM ET Manchester City manager Roberto Mancini believes Chelsea could yet challenge for the Premier League title once their injury problems subside. Chelsea had won just once in nine games prior to last weekend's victory over Blackburn and, from a position of superiority, have slipped to fourth, seven points adrift of leaders Manchester United and Mancini's City.
Wolves vs. Liverpool
Arsenal vs. Wigan
Everton vs. West Ham
Man Utd vs. Birmingham
Newcastle vs. Tottenham
Fulham vs. Stoke City
Blackpool vs. Sunderland
Aston Villa vs. Man City
Yet Mancini, who claimed earlier this season that Chelsea would retain their crown "easily", does not feel Carlo Ancelotti's men can be written off just yet. "Chelsea could come back again," said the Italian. "Maybe at this moment Manchester United are better than them but their problem has been to have so many players injured. "When they get them all back they have a good team." Mancini is expected to make changes for Saturday's game at Aston Villa, who have been bolstered by the big-money arrival of Darren Bent since they were badly outplayed at Eastlands last month. That game featured quite possibly the hat-trick that expended the least ever amount of energy from Mario Balotelli, who added a close-range tap-in to two penalties. Unfortunately for Balotelli, he has not played since and is now in the United States having treatment on a knee injury. And it is the Italy striker's ongoing fitness problems that cause Mancini concern, rather than the opinionated statements the 20-year-old keeps coming out with. This week they included a curt dismissal of Wayne Rooney as not even being the best striker in Manchester, let alone the world, and a bold assertion that, following the £27million arrival of Edin Dzeko, City now boast the best forward line in Europe. "He talks, but he has also scored eight goals in 11 games," observed Mancini. "The big problem for us is that he has been injured so often. In three or four weeks he will come back and hopefully he can play well in every game. "I haven't read the interview so I don't know what he has said. But he likes to joke sometimes and these things are jokes. "We live in a free world. If someone wants to say something, it is better that he does. I respect every opinion. "We are not in a war. We are free to say what we want."
Amir Khan and Paul McCloskey are set to meet in April - with a fight arranged on Twitter. When Khan revealed his April 16 date with American Lamont Peterson had collapsed and McCloskey was on his wish-list, the Northern Irishman responded positively and is now close to an agreement.
Vitali Klitschko to defend WBC heavyweight title against unbeaten Odlanier Solis
12/01/2011 Vitali Klitschko will defend his WBC heavyweight title against unbeaten Odlanier Solis. The Ukrainian meets Cuban Solis, who has had 12 KOs, on March 19 in Cologne.
Updated Jan 21, 2011 11:23 AM ET Damien Comolli has confirmed Liverpool are interested in Luis Suarez and Ashley Young - but insists deals are not close to being done. Liverpool's director of football strategy has admitted that both Suarez and Young are very much on the club's radar. TRANSFER SPECIAL
The Reds are understood to have been in contact with Ajax regarding their Uruguay international, but the two sides' valuation of the striker remain some way apart. And whilst revealing their interest, Comolli insists they are not in talks with the Dutch club. "We are looking primarily for an attacking player with pace because the team is short on pace," he told Canal+Sport. "And as far as Suarez is concerned, at the moment there is no dialogue with Ajax. "He is one of the players we are interested in. Will he be available in January? This is another story." He also confirmed their liking for Young, who has been strongly linked with Manchester United and Tottenham too, but admitted it was unlikely the England international would be sold by Aston Villa this month. "For Young, if he is on the market then we will be interested. But I don't believe that is the case," he stated. Comolli also played down suggestions that Liverpool is a club in crisis. "There is no crisis. I can see things from inside and I don't have this feeling. It is all a problem of confidence," he said. "There were quite a few injured players, players who came back from the World Cup worn out, and this was the main cause of our bad results. "[Fernando] Torres and [Steven] Gerrard are exactly at the same physical level as they were in the year in which they finished second [in the 2008/09 season]."
Updated Jan 19, 2011 7:15 PM ET 19/01/2011 15:03 +0100
Reports in England have intensified in recent days with the Daily Mail going as far as claiming a move to Anfield could be imminent. De Boer has already suggested that it would take a 'super club' to land him, but now he has insisted that only huge money would be enough. "We know how important Luis is for Ajax," he told De Telegraaf. "Only when an absurd amount is on the table should we let him go." When quizzed about how much it might take, it was noted that Edin Dzeko went for around 30million euros, and he hinted that would be about the price they are looking for. "That is a tidy sum," he said. "Luis feels good and is training well, I don't think he will leave at any cost." Liverpool are reported to be looking at a deal worth 15million euros, possibly with Ryan Babel included but that is obviously still some way short of Ajax's potential valuation. Suarez has two-and-a-half years left on his current deal, but has previously been quoted this month as saying he is ready to leave.
Gerard Houllier insists Aston Villa have "done things the right way" in the face of Steve Bruce's attack over their conduct during the signing of Sunderland striker Darren Bent. Houllier says he bears no grudges over Bruce's verbal barrage, but claimed "some people are not telling the truth". The former Liverpool boss also defended his decision not to make contact with the Black Cats boss when trying to sign Bent who moved for a club record £18million. Houllier's shown me no respect - Bruce Bruce "Massively let down" by Bent Houllier is also adamant Villa did nothing wrong with their conduct in attempting to sign Blackpool midfielder Charlie Adam despite Ian Holloway's outbursts . Houllier, when asked about Bruce's comments, said: "We have done things extremely right. Properly. The right way. "Paul Faulkner, our chief executive, was in contact with Niall Quinn [Sunderland chairman] and I was kept informed, step by step, during the negotiations. "I thought - would assume - Niall did the same with Steve Bruce… unless he didn't. "I was surprised by some of the declarations and thought: 'Some people are not telling the truth.' "Whether they want to protect themselves from the fans, I don't know. "We are happy to have the player. They had the right to say no, but in fact, they just wanted the player for a certain bid." Houllier added: "I like Steve Bruce. I think he is a good manager. He is doing a good job. "I think he was not too gracious to me, but that's life. It is not going to prevent me from sleeping, I can tell you that. "If we had done something wrong, I would say 'hands up' but we have behaved in a very proper way. "I have not spoken to Steve - and I won't. I may have a drink after the games. I am not bearing grudges. "If I call him and say I want his player, he will go vocal and go public and it will be even worse. "He is working for the interests of Sunderland, I am working for the interests of Aston Villa. "You contact a manager when you want a player on loan sometimes. A lot of fellow managers call me if they want loans. "This is the life of football. It makes me laugh more than anything else. "Am I bothered about what he said? I prefer not to answer that question." Regarding Holloway's claims, Houllier said: "We did things right. "We went straight to the club, we were quiet, we said nothing and finally it comes out in the press but not from Aston Villa. "Holloway said we were insulting them. We made a bid, they said no. We respect that."
Updated Jan 21, 2011 7:50 AM ET Tottenham winger Steven Pienaar decided to make the move to White Hart Lane because he wants to "be in a team that plays attacking football." The 28-year-old signed for Spurs for a fee reportedly around £2.5million after failing to agree personal terms with Chelsea.
Wolves vs. Liverpool
Arsenal vs. Wigan
Everton vs. West Ham
Man Utd vs. Birmingham
Newcastle vs. Tottenham
Fulham vs. Stoke City
Blackpool vs. Sunderland
Aston Villa vs. Man City
The South African will link up with his former Ajax team-mate Rafael van der Vaart, and he is excited about the future for Harry Redknapp's squad. "There is a great manager at this club and one of my team-mates with the national team plays here [Bongani Khumalo] and he told me about the club, that it is a big club, it is a club on the up that plays good football," Pienaar said to Spurs TV Online. "The style of football is really important. I played with Rafa [van der Vaart] at Ajax and we played attacking football. "I want to be in a team that plays attacking football that is exciting for the supporters to watch. "I am definitely looking forward to playing with him again - but not just Rafa, all the players here because the football is exciting, it makes me excited and I can't wait. "That is one of the reasons I decided to join Spurs." Pienaar added: "It will definitely be easier for me to settle in. I know the league and so I think I will feel at home. "I am really looking forward to it and can't wait to join up with the team." Pienaar, though, is not expecting to walk straight into a side which is still very much in the hunt for domestic and European honours. "I want to make sure I work hard and fight for a starting place in the team. I know it won't be easy, but I am mentally strong to do that," he said. "I hope to bring a lot of energy, creativity and of course hard work to the team. I always put the team before myself and I think that's important as a player." Pienaar continued: "As for the team, we are not far off first place in the Premier League so I think we have got a good chance to go all the way and win a trophy this season. "When you look at the way the team has been playing, they are really serious challengers for the cups, while the run in the Champions League has made a lot of people change their minds about Spurs."
Updated Jan 21, 2011 11:07 AM ET Manchester City boss Roberto Mancini has admitted clubs have to pay over the odds if they want to get hold of decent players in January.
Wolves vs. Liverpool
Arsenal vs. Wigan
Everton vs. West Ham
Man Utd vs. Birmingham
Newcastle vs. Tottenham
Fulham vs. Stoke City
Blackpool vs. Sunderland
Aston Villa vs. Man City
The two most expensive purchases of the current transfer window will be on show at Villa Park on Saturday when City visit Aston Villa. It will allow a direct comparison between the Blues' £27million new-boy Edin Dzeko, and Darren Bent, who could cost Villa £24million following his shock switch from Sunderland. Spending of that magnitude is one of the reasons why Sir Alex Ferguson is amongst those who feel there is no value in the transfer market. The counter argument is that clubs must stump up the going rate if they want to get the players they need. And in January, Mancini feels that means coming up with a little bit more. "I am happy Aston Villa spent that money on Bent. It shows that it is not just Manchester City doing it," Mancini smiled. "When you want to take a player in January, you must pay more than at the end of the season. "I don't know how much Aston Villa have paid for Darren Bent and I don't know if we paid the right money for Edin Dzeko. "But Bent and Dzeko were on the market. Real Madrid are looking for a striker now and they can spend money. But it is difficult." It could also be argued Villa are paying a premium because of Bent's nationality. Often, it has been claimed English players cost far more than their continental counterparts. "Sometimes English players do cost a lot of money," admitted Mancini. "But Darren Bent was an important player for Sunderland. If a big offer comes in for a player like that, it is normal that the other club would sell." Mancini has no doubt Bent will prove an astute purchase for Villa. In a career that has taken him from Ipswich to Charlton and on to Tottenham before he arrived at Sunderland in 2009, Bent has proved himself to be a goalscorer of the highest order. For all Villa's troubles at the wrong end of the table, there is no reason to assume Bent will lose the happy knack of finding the net, which should ensure the Midlands club rise to a status more befitting Mancini's view of them. "They changed their manager at the start of the season, which is always hard. TRANSFER SPECIAL
"But they don't deserve to be where they are. They are in a false position and Gerard (Houllier) has the experience to get them higher up the table. "Certainly, this game will be harder for us because, with Darren Bent, Aston Villa will improve a lot." Whether they will improve enough to beat a side who put four goals past them at Eastlands three weeks ago is open to debate, especially as Dzeko's availability compensates for the absence of Mario Balotelli, who scored a hat-trick during that meeting at Eastlands. Unlike Balotelli, Dzeko looks like being the kind of player who reserves his eye-catching performances for what happens on the field, with Mancini confirming the Bosnian has impressed during his first two weeks at the club. "Like everyone else who comes from another country, he needs four or five games to understand the Premier League because it is different from the other championships," said Mancini. "But Edin is working very hard." The workrate of skipper Carlos Tevez has never been questioned. And, with his two daughters on an extended visit to England, little wonder the South American is in top form too. "At the moment, Carlos is happy," said Mancini. "He has his family here and he is scoring in every game. If he continues like that I hope they can stay for the entire season."
Record signing Darren Bent is poised to make his Aston Villa debut in tomorrow evening's Barclays Premier League clash with Manchester City at Villa Park. The England striker completed his move from Sunderland in midweek in a deal which could eventually be worth up to £24million. Winger Ashley Young is available after missing the derby with Birmingham through suspension, but striker Emile Heskey will serve the final game of a three-match ban for his sending-off against Sunderland. Defender Luke Young (hip) and midfielder Stephen Ireland (knee) remain on the injury list. Provisional squad: Friedel, Walker, Cuellar, Collins, Dunne, Clark, Albrighton, Reo-Coker, Petrov, Young, Downing, Bannan, Hogg, Bent, Agbonlahor, Delfouneso, Marshall, Pires, Herd, Baker.
Updated Jan 21, 2011 11:28 AM ET Damien Comolli insists Liverpool's disappointing season has not deterred a "number of top players" from wanting to join the Anfield club. The Reds are yet to make a signing in the current window, having tracked Ajax's Luis Suarez among others, but director of football strategy Comolli said that was not for lack of interest despite the club languishing in 13th in the Premier League. TRANSFER SPECIAL
His job, along with manager Kenny Dalglish, is to assess which targets represent the best value in an inflated market and are likely to contribute to long-term success. "I am surprised in a way, given our results, the number of top level players who want to join us," the Frenchman told Canal+ Sport. "They say that Liverpool is an attractive club and most are also telling me that 'You've had a bad season, but you won't have two'." The 38-year-old, who formerly worked at Tottenham and Arsenal, also praised Liverpool's American owners for providing the financial backing to improve the squad. Finding support for striker Fernando Torres is a priority for Liverpool and Comolli admitted they did consider Sunderland's Darren Bent before his £18million-plus transfer to Aston Villa but decided he was not the right fit. "We thought of him, but we looked at his profile and thought that he would not be very complementary to Fernando Torres," he added. "He is a player who is, as the English say, a lone wolf. He needs to play alone in attack." Comolli also welcomed the financial backing of club owners Fenway Sports Group. "There is no more debt. The owners are willing to invest, there is plenty of money," he said. "When I first got here, the first question I asked was 'Do I have to lower the payroll?' They said, 'No, the important thing is to win.' It was a great relief for me."
Tottenham manager Harry Redknapp has slammed Birmingham over their conduct during Robbie Keane's failed transfer to St Andrew's. Spurs accepted Blues' £6million bid for Keane last week but then the Midlands outfit pulled the plug on the deal, claiming in a statement from acting chairman Peter Pannu that the striker's wage demands were out of their reach. Keane, 30, denied those claims earlier this week, suggesting that Birmingham had made such an assertion as part of a publicity stunt. Redknapp backed Keane's stance today, insisting it was "unfair" of Birmingham to make such a claim about the want-away striker.
"There was never a deal with Birmingham," said Redknapp, who is willing to let the striker leave White Hart Lane this month. "He never asked Birmingham for money. He never got around to discussing a deal with them, so when they said they couldn't meet his wage demands that was totally unfair on Robbie because he never made any demands. He never even spoke to them. "I don't see how the deal could've fallen down on wage demands when he didn't make any. That's a strange one." Redknapp completed a major transfer coup on Tuesday when Steven Pienaar opted to join Spurs over Barclays Premier League champions Chelsea. The versatile midfielder, who excelled during time at Everton, has signed a four-and-a-half-year contract for a transfer fee thought to be between £2million and £3million. Pienaar will travel to Newcastle with his new team-mates today and could make his debut at St James' Park. But with the likes of Gareth Bale, Aaron Lennon, Luka Modric and Rafael van der Vaart already cemented in their positions in the team, Redknapp admits the South African international has a fight on his hands to earn a first-team spot. "I couldn't sit here and say he will take someone's place. There is competition for all places," Redknapp said. "He can play in several positions across midfield. He keeps the ball and he'll enjoy playing in our team. "He and (Leighton) Baines were fantastic down the left at Everton. We have Gareth Bale who plays wide left, so it's a difficult position to get into. Aaron (Lennon) has done great as well. "They have all been doing great so he has to work hard to get into the team." A number of Spurs players could leave the club this month to make way for new arrivals. Keane, Jamie O'Hara, Giovani dos Santos, Niko Kranjcar and Vedran Corluka could all depart while Roman Pavlyuchenko and Peter Crouch have both been touted as potential replacements for Aston Villa new boy Darren Bent at Sunderland. Pavlyuchenko has made 15 starts in all competitions this season and Redknapp does not think he will be leaving. "I know Steve (Bruce) is looking for a replacement, but I doubt it very much," the 63-year-old said. Villarreal's Giuseppe Rossi and FC Porto striker Hulk have been linked with Tottenham but Redknapp insists a deal to sign either of the two strikers will not be possible. "Rossi? He's a good player but he's not available," he said. "Incredible Hulk? No. Not going to happen. I couldn't say we're close to doing anything with anyone." Redknapp's side have lost just once in their last 14 games and will leapfrog Chelsea, who don't play until Monday, into fourth with a win tomorrow. The former Portsmouth boss knows Spurs are now entering a crucial period of the season and predicts that the team's away form over the next few games will prove to be a true acid test of their title credentials. "We have to keep hanging in there with our performances away from home or else we'll find ourselves falling away from the pack," Redknapp said. "If we can get through the away games, it will put us in good shape." Spurs came out on top in a feisty 2-0 victory over Newcastle last month and Redknapp is expecting a strong test on Tyneside. "They have got some competitors there," Redknapp said. "They have a few players who know how to win, like (Joey) Barton and (Kevin) Nolan."
Updated Jan 21, 2011 11:41 AM ET John Terry has given Chelsea a fresh injury scare to contend with as Frank Lampard also battles to prove his fitness for the trip to Bolton. The club had been confident over Lampard's recovery from a minor calf injury but manager Carlo Ancelotti admitted the midfielder's participation on Monday night remains in doubt, along with that of England team-mate Terry, who has a back problem. He said of Lampard: "He's having treatment. "John Terry also had a little problem on his back. "We have three days to check them. We have more possibility with Terry. Lampard, really, I don't know if he's available or not."
Mark Hughes admits he and Stoke manager Tony Pulis probably need to "grow up" following their recent run-ins. There has been bad blood between Hughes' Fulham side and the Potters all season, stemming from a reckless tackle by Stoke's Andy Wilkinson on Cottagers striker Mousa Dembele in a Carling Cup clash in September. An enraged Hughes snubbed Pulis' offer of a handshake at the end of that game, and Pulis then blanked his opposite number after Fulham's 2-0 Premier League win at the Britannia over Christmas. But Hughes said: "I'll always offer my hand, it was blown out of proportion.
"It was just tit for tat. I did a similar thing to Tony because I was a little bit upset with a challenge on one of my players in the League Cup tie. "It just happened, I was probably a little bit emotional about it and probably showed it in the wrong way and Tony maybe showed his displeasure at being beaten at home in the wrong way. "So we need to grow up, probably." When asked if he thought his handshake would be accepted when the sides meet at Craven Cottage tomorrow, Hughes added: "Let's hope so. We're two Welshmen, there's no reason why it shouldn't be." A haul of seven points from their last four games has edged Fulham away from the Barclays Premier League drop zone after a slow start to the campaign. Hughes now has his sights set on a strong second half to the season - and a top-10 finish. "We are playing okay," he added. "We've been playing fine for the majority of the season but we struggled to convert draws into wins and that put us under a bit of pressure. "But in terms of our general peformances in recent weeks I've been really pleased. "It's a different season this year in comparison to most in recent times. It's very condensed, there are a lot of teams with similar points totals and no-one is stranded at the bottom. "There are a lot of clubs taking points off each other and that will continue to the end of the season. "A lot of clubs possibly do well in the first half of the season but in the second half fall away. "We'd like to think we have come through a period where we didn't get as many points as we felt we should have. In the second half of the season invariably we are stronger and we fully expect that to happen this time." Hughes wants to add Chelsea youngster Gael Kakuta to his squad, but the Blues have yet to decide whether to let the 19-year-old go out on loan. "He's a player I know and I like the qualities he has," said Hughes, who has also been linked with Robbie Keane, Shaun Wright-Phillips and Henri Lansbury. "We are having lots of conversations about lots of players, but at the moment we don't know if any will go through. "There is a lot of interest out there, whether we can conclude the deals only time will tell."
Updated Jan 21, 2011 11:28 AM ET Damien Comolli insists Liverpool's disappointing season has not deterred a "number of top players" from wanting to join the Anfield club. The Reds are yet to make a signing in the current window, having tracked Ajax's Luis Suarez among others, but director of football strategy Comolli said that was not for lack of interest despite the club languishing in 13th in the Premier League. TRANSFER SPECIAL
His job, along with manager Kenny Dalglish, is to assess which targets represent the best value in an inflated market and are likely to contribute to long-term success. "I am surprised in a way, given our results, the number of top level players who want to join us," the Frenchman told Canal+ Sport. "They say that Liverpool is an attractive club and most are also telling me that 'You've had a bad season, but you won't have two'." The 38-year-old, who formerly worked at Tottenham and Arsenal, also praised Liverpool's American owners for providing the financial backing to improve the squad. Finding support for striker Fernando Torres is a priority for Liverpool and Comolli admitted they did consider Sunderland's Darren Bent before his £18million-plus transfer to Aston Villa but decided he was not the right fit. "We thought of him, but we looked at his profile and thought that he would not be very complementary to Fernando Torres," he added. "He is a player who is, as the English say, a lone wolf. He needs to play alone in attack." Comolli also welcomed the financial backing of club owners Fenway Sports Group. "There is no more debt. The owners are willing to invest, there is plenty of money," he said. "When I first got here, the first question I asked was 'Do I have to lower the payroll?' They said, 'No, the important thing is to win.' It was a great relief for me."
Updated Jan 21, 2011 4:11 AM ET Andrey Arshavin belives Arsenal's recent performances prove they are capable of "landslide" victories - and he wants one against Wigan. The Gunners continued the momentum from last weekend's 3-0 trashing of bottom club West Ham with a convincing 3-1 FA Cup third-round replay win at Leeds on Wednesday night.
Wolves vs. Liverpool
Arsenal vs. Wigan
Everton vs. West Ham
Man Utd vs. Birmingham
Newcastle vs. Tottenham
Fulham vs. Stoke City
Blackpool vs. Sunderland
Aston Villa vs. Man City
However, with just two points separating the top three sides, Arshavin knows Arsenal cannot afford any more below-par performances. "Unfortunately, we couldn't beat Wigan at their stadium. The next game will be held at the Emirates," Arshavin said on his official website. "The performance which Arsenal showed recently in the championship allows us to achieve the landslide victories, so I hope that the upcoming clash will be no exception. "We need to catch up with the two Manchester teams." Arshavin could find himself back on the bench on Saturday, having played 70 minutes against Leeds. The Russian has been criticised in recent weeks for some disappointing displays, but showed a bit of decent form at Elland Road, and was unlucky not to score in the first half when denied by a fine save from Kasper Schmeichel. Arshavin, though, accepts Arsenal's all-round displays must improve if they are to overturn a 1-0 deficit in their Carling Cup semi-final second leg against Ipswich next week and reach Wembley. "As for the domestic cups, I think that we were lucky and keep on being lucky with the draw," he said after the win at Leeds secured a home fourth-round clash with Huddersfield. "We already know our next opponent in the FA Cup. Actually, to be honest, I do not even know the league they play in. "We still have one problem in the second cup. This is Ipswich, that we have to beat at the Emirates with a difference of two goals. If we do it, we will move forward." Striker Marouane Chamakh (knee) and Denilson (hip) are minor concerns ahead of the Wigan game. TRANSFER SPECIAL
Goalkeeper Lukasz Fabianski, meanwhile, will again be out with his shoulder problem, while Abou Diaby (calf) and Sebastien Squillaci (hamstring) continue their rehabilitation. "Denilson has been hit on the hip and we will see how he responds," said Arsene Wenger. "Chamakh looks good, so overall I don't think we have lost anybody at Leeds. They are small doubts." Wenger added: "Diaby and Squillaci are not far away but they will not be completely ready for the weekend. They will be one week I think. "Fabianski is still out unfortunately with his shoulder. It still gives him pain and we have to be patient about that."
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