Soccer Sports News & Betting

Liverpool manager Rafa Benitez felt his side were denied a very clear penalty in their 1-0 loss to Arsenal on Wednesday.

The Reds found themselves trailing after Abou Diaby headed the Gunners in front late in the second period.

But in the final seconds of the match Steven Gerrard saw a free-kick connect with Cesc Fabregas hand, as the Spaniard stood in the Arsenal wall.

Liverpool strongly appealed for at least a free-kick, with Fabregas positioned around on or near the18-yard line, but referee Howard Webb waved away appeals.

Asked whether he felt his side should have been awarded a penalty, Benitez told Sky Sports: I think so. I think that it was very clear.

The referee said to our players to be careful and not put your hands too high. It was unbelievable to see the replay and how he could not see it.

I think we have to analyse the game on not just one decision. Clearly it was a mistake, but the game was difficult against a good team.

I think in the second half we were pushing and could have got at least a point.

Sir Alex Ferguson saw Manchester Uniteds draw at Aston Villa as a point gained - but he could lose Ryan Giggs after he suffered an arm injury.

Giggs injured himself in a clash with Steve Sidwell during the second half of Uniteds 1-1 draw at Villa Park and immediately clutched his arm.

The veteran Welshman was replaced by Dimitar Berbatov and left the stadium with his right arm in a sling, with Ferguson confirming the hospital appointment.

We have sent Ryan for an X-ray to see if there is any damage, said Ferguson.

It is very painful but hopefully he is going to be all right.

Giggs had already played a major role in Uniteds equaliser, driving a low cross-shot into the Villa box that was turned into his own net by James Collins.

Remarkably, it was the 10th own goal United have benefited from this season - second only to Rooney in the scoring charts - and it allowed them to close the gap on leaders Chelsea to a single point following their surprise defeat at Everton, the Red Devils next Premier League opponents.

We have gained, said Ferguson.

It was an important night and, with Everton winning against Chelsea, we have gained one point and one goal.

It could be important point.

The own goal cancelled out an earlier effort from Carlos Cuellar, with Ferguson claiming his side were the ones who looked most like collecting maximum points after half-time.

That was despite United being forced to play with 10 men for the final hour after winger Nani was sent off for a woeful tackle on Villa skipper Stiliyan Petrov.

Although Ferguson complained United should have had a free-kick immediately before the incident for a Gabriel Agbonlahor tackle on Wes Brown, the Scot had no argument with Peter Waltons decision to show Nani a red card that will rule him out of the Carling Cup finalbetween the two sides at Wembley on February 28.

It was a sending off, said the United boss of his sides sixth dismissal of the season.

It was a red card. It was a naive tackle.

He is not a malicious player but he has gone in with his foot raised off the ground and we cannot complain about it.

We should have had a foul seconds before when Agbonlahor came in with his foot up on Wes Browns ribs.

That was disappointing but we have no argument at all with the red card.

Villa manager Martin ONeill felt his side failed to cash in on their one-man advantage after the sending-off of Nani.

But he remains optimistic Villa will head to Wembley full of confidence for the Carling Cup final.

ONeill said: When United had a man sent off, I was hoping we could take the initiative, but in the second half we didnt create enough or take advantage of the extra man.

But then we were up against a quality side who have been in situations like that before, so, from that viewpoint, we could learn a bit.

But, if you had said at the start of the season that we would take four points off United, then I would have been happy. And, when Wembley comes around, we should still go into the game full of confidence.

There were more than glimpses out there of why Manchester United are such a fine side and have been the champions three times running.

Meanwhile ONeill revealed Stiliyan Petrov is doubtful for Sundays FA Cup tie at Crystal Palace after being injured in the challenge by Nani which saw him red-carded.

The Bulgarian player was limping when he left Villa Park with an ankle knock.

ONeill said: He is pretty sore at the moment. He thought at half-time that he would be okay but it stiffened up.

I dont know about Sundays game yet but I would think there is some doubt about whether he will be fit.

Portsmouth have failed to reach agreement with the Her Majestys Revenue and Customs over a 7,5 million debt and will go to the High Court on Wednesday begging for a 28-day delay to a winding-up order.

Pompey officials are expecting that the Revenue will treat them in the same way as they did Notts County, who were granted a 28-day extension when they pleaded that they were close to new investment and would be be able to pay in full.

Similarly, Pompey chief executive Peter Storrie has been negotiating with two interested parties who want to become the fifth owner of the stricken club since the start of the season.

Pompeys lawyers have been locked in talks since Monday morning, but Pompeys offer of a 1.8 million down payment and to pay the remaining amount in installments has so far failed to stave off the 10.30am appointment in the High Court to answer a winding-up order from the Revenue claiming 7.5 million outstanding on VAT and PAYE.

Pompey may have to pay at least 3 million to be given extra time by the Revenue to find all of the money with a firm schedule of payments.

Storrie, back in control of Portsmouth after the fourth takeover of this tumultuous season, told Soccernet that latest owner Balram Chainrai, who moved in when Ali Al-Faraj defaulted on his 17 million loans, is desperately trying to fight off the winding-up order in order to find yet another new owner, with an Irish/American consortium ready to move into due diligence.

A number of businesses planned to join the Revenues winding-up order, but deals have been successfuly done to prevent that occurring, however the Revenue are the major headache and that issue has yet to be resolved.

Pompey manager Avram Grant said: Its not a clear, normal business. Its not like an apartment that you buy without feelings. Here there are feelings, of players, fans, and also mine. The court needs to think it also belongs to 250,000 people. I think the club needs to stay alive - this is even more important than football.

Pompey would be hit with a ten-point deduction and virtually write off their slim chances of avoiding relegation if they are pushed into administration by the Revenue - the first Premier League club to go under since the league was formed in 1992.

Michael Ballack believes Chelsea have once again demonstrated they possess the perfect mix needed to be Premier League champions.

Carlo Ancelottis men returned to the top of the table on Sunday after a first-half double from Didier Drogba saw off the challenge of Arsenal at Stamford Bridge.

The Gunners had plenty of possession, but crucially could not turn that into goals.

Afterwards, Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger congratulated Chelsea on their efficiency, while also taking a sly dig by claiming we didnt get a demonstration of football.

However, Germany captain Ballack maintains such determination to get the final result is what counts in the end.

We wanted to do our job, the 33-year-old said. We knew the way Arsenal play. It is always the same style. If you play tactics like we did, you can beat them.

This season and the season before they showed they werent able to win the league.

He Wenger always says things like this when he loses to find an excuse - but football is not possession of the ball and playing a nice pass, football is about winning games and that is what Manchester United showed when they played them and what we did.

We derived the win because we were very effective and that was our strategy.

Ballack declared: Football is a mixture of winning games and good football physically, but also technically.

We have a good mix in the team as we have shown this season and you cant do more. We are in first position and that counts.

Chelseas advantage at the top is only two points ahead of United, who thrashed bottom club Portsmouth 5-0 at Old Trafford on Saturday.

Arsenal are now some nine points adrift, having lost successive matches against the top two following an impressive 10-match unbeaten run which briefly returned them to the summit.

Ballack said: If you look now, it seems like a race between Manchester United and us - but four weeks ago, you could see how it was different and it can go quick when teams lose points.

Drogba once again proved too hot for Arsenal to handle, as the Ivory Coast striker made it 12 goals in his last 12 games against Wengers young Gunners.

Ballack hailed the impact of the 31-year-old, who is just back from international duty at the African Nations Cup and came within inches of netting a hat-trick on Sunday when his 20-yard free-kick crashed back off the crossbar.

In big games like this, he is there and that is why he is a big player, said Ballack.

Didier has unbelievable physical strength, but he has great technique, is a great free-kick taker and has the nose of a striker.

He has a lot of qualities and not a lot of players are like this.

Ballack added: But we have a lot of big characters and this is why we have a good team.

It is really great to play in a team like this. Everybody fights for everybody - there is a good spirit and experience in the team.

We have played for a few years together and have a lot of personal qualities in the players.

Even if you dont play a fantastic game yourself, we have players who can decide games by one action.

Chelsea captain John Terry - sacked as England skipper as the fall-out from allegations about his private life continues - lead by example against Arsenal, his header from a corner setting up Drogba for the opening goal.

The centre-back, however, picked up a dead leg and will be assessed ahead of the trip to Everton on Wednesday night, while it has also been speculated Terry will be given a leave of absence from next weekends FA Cup tie against Cardiff to deal with off-field issues.

Ballack maintains the team are united behind their captain.

We cant do more than win games and that is what we have done, the midfielder said.

We are one team and we dont want to speak about the other thing, but the best answer we can give was on the pitch.

He added: We play for Chelsea and that is our job, which is why we have to win games and that is what we did.

The team looked confident and settled.

It is important to win, even in difficult situations - that is always the best answer.

Cesc Fabregas will turn down a new reported 30m Arsenal contract to return to Barcelona in the summer, according to Spanish reports.

Spanish newspaper Sport suggests that Fabregas will snub the proffered deal and instead return to Barcelona in a 44m move.

The midfielder has reportedly made his intentions clear to his representatives and is just waiting for the two clubs to agree a price.

Fabregas told Catalunya Radio on Sunday: I have not been called by anyone. Neither me or my agent. But I can only speak from what I know and answer what I know. I have never hidden the fact that one day I will return to Barcelona.

Bolton defender Gary Cahill has been ruled out for the rest of the season after suffering a blood clot in his arm.

Cahill has been a key player for Bolton and boss Owen Coyle revealed last week that one of the conditions of his switch from Burnley was that the player would not be sold in January.

Cahill was a late withdrawal from the side that drew 0-0 with Fulham on Saturday and, while initial reports had suggested a shoulder problem, Coyle has now revealed the real issue.

Fabio Capello has previously called Cahill up to train with England and, while he has not made an appearance for his countrys senior side to date, he was considered a potential candidate for this summers World Cup.

Results from the 18th round of the Portuguese first-division football league (home teams listed first).

Wednesdays Games

Benfica 3, Leiria 0

Saturdays Games

Sporting 1, Academica 2

Setubal 1, Benfica 1

Sundays Games

Olhanense 1, Nacional 0

Maritimo 1, Leiria 0

Rio Ave 2, Leixoes 0

Guimaraes 1, Pacos Ferreira 2

FC Porto 3, Naval 0

Mondays Games

Belenenses vs. Braga

—-
French Football Results

Results from the French first-division football league (home teams listed first).

Saturdays Games

Boulogne 0, Montpellier 2

Nice 1, Lille 1

Grenoble 5, Auxerre 0

Paris Saint-Germain 0, Lorient 3

Sochaux 1, Nancy 1

Lens 2, Le Mans 1

Rennes 4, Bordeaux 2

Sundays Games

Saint-Etienne 3, Monaco 0

Toulouse 0, Lyon 0

Marseille 5, Valenciennes 1

Satuday, Feb. 13

Le Mans vs. Sochaux

Lille vs. Boulogne

Monaco vs. Marseille

Montpellier vs. Grenoble

Nancy vs. Paris Saint-Germain

Valenciennes vs. Nice

Lyon vs. Lens

Sunday, Feb. 14

Auxerre vs. Rennes

Lorient vs. Toulouse

Bordeaux vs. Saint-Etienne

—-
Spanish Football Results

Results from the 21st round of Spains first-division football league (home teams listed first).

Saturdays Games

Valencia 2, Valladolid 0

Barcelona 2, Getafe 1

Real Madrid 3, Espanyol 0

Sundays Games

Athletic Bilbao 3, Xerez 2

Malaga 0, Deportivo La Coruna 0

Osasuna 1, Tenerife 0

Mallorca 1, Villarreal 0

Almeria 3, Sporting Gijon 1

Zaragoza 2, Sevilla 1

Racing Santander 1, Atletico Madrid 1

Saturday, February 13

Xerez vs. Real Madrid

Villarreal vs. Athletic Bilbao

Sporting Gijon vs. Valencia

Sunday, February 14

Espanyol vs. Deportivo La Coruna

Atletico Madrid vs. Barcelona

Racing Santander vs. Malaga

Sevilla vs. Osasuna

Valladolid vs. Zaragoza

Getafe vs. Almeria

Monday, February 15

Tenerife vs. Mallorca

—-
Italian Football Results

Results in the Serie A, the Italian first-division football league (home teams listed first).

Saturday,s Games

Palermo 2, Parma 1

Livorno 1, Juventus 1

Sundays Games

Atalanta 1, Bari 0

Bologna 0, AC Milan 0

Genoa 1, Chievo Verona 0

Inter Milan 3, Cagliari 0

Lazio 0, Catania 1

Siena 1, Sampdoria 2

Udinese 3, Napoli 1

Fiorentina 0, AS Roma 1

Wednesday, Feb. 10

Parma vs. Inter Milan

Friday, Feb. 12

AC Milan vs. Udinese

Saturday, Feb. 13

AS Roma vs. Palermo

Sampdoria vs. Fiorentina

Sunday, Feb. 14

Cagliari vs. Bari

Catania vs. Atalanta

Chievo Verona vs. Siena

Juventus vs. Genoa

Livorno vs. Bologna

Parma vs. Lazio

Napoli vs. Inter Milan

—-
Greek Football Results

Results from the Greek football league after Sundays games (home teams listed first).

Saturdays Games

Aris 0, Panthrakikos 2

Kavala 1, Giannena 0

AEK 3, Xanthi 1

Sundays Games

Atromitos 1,Panionios 0

Ergotelis 4,Asteras 3

Iraklis 1, PAOK 1

Olympiakos 5, Levadiakos 1

Larissa 0,Panathinaikos 3

—-
German Football Results

Results from the 21st round of the Bundesliga, the German first-division football league (home team listed first).

Fridays Game

Werder Bremen 2, Hertha Berlin 1

Saturdays Games

Wolfsburg 1, Bayern Munich 3

Cologne 3, Hamburg 3

Freiburg 0, Schalke 0

Bochum 1, Bayer Leverkusen 1

Hoffenheim 2, Hannover 1

Nuremberg 1, Stuttgart 2

Sundays Games

Mainz 1, Borussia Moenchengladbach 0

Borussia Dortmund 2, Eintracht Frankfurt 3

Friday, February 12

Borussia Moenchengladbach vs. Nuremberg

Saturday, February 13

Bayer Leverkusen vs. Wolfsburg

Stuttgart vs. Hamburg

Bochum vs. Hoffenheim

Hannover vs. Werder Bremen

Hertha Berlin vs. Mainz

Bayern Munich vs. Borussia Dortmund

Sunday, February 14

Schalke vs. Cologne

Eintracht Frankfurt vs. Freiburg

—-
Dutch Football Results

Results from the 22nd round of the Eredivisie (home teams listed first).

Friday, Feb. 5

Willem II 1, NAC Breda 2

Saturday, Feb. 6

PSV Eindhoven 2, ADO The Hague 0

SC Heerenveen 2, FC Utrecht 0

Roda JC 2, Sparta Rotterdam 1

Heracles Almelo 4, FC Groningen 3

Sunday, Feb. 7

RKC Waalwijk 0, NEC Nijemegen 1

VVV-Venlo 2, Vitesse Arnhem 0

Feyenoord 1, AZ Alkmaar 2

Ajax 3, FC Twente 0

Friday, Feb. 12

NEC Nijemegen vs. NAC Breda

Saturday, Feb. 13

Vitesse Arnhem vs. FC Twente

SC Heerenveen vs. Ajax

ADO The Hague vs. Willem II

AZ Alkmaar vs. Roda JC

Sunday, Feb. 14

FC Utrecht vs. Feyenoord

FC Groningen vs. RKC Waalwijk

Sparta Rotterdamvs. VVV-Venlo

Heracles Almelo vs. PSV Eindhoven

—-
English Football Results

Results Sunday in English football (home teams listed first).

Premier League

Birmingham 2, Wolverhampton 1

Chelsea 2, Arsenal 0

—-
Scottish Football Results

Results Sunday in Scottish football (home teams listed first).

Scottish Cup

Fifth Round

Dunfermline 2, Celtic 4

Germany coach Joachim Loew says his future after the World Cup remains open, after talks over an extension of his contract collapsed.

Germans football federation president Theo Zwanziger says Loew will remain his top candidate for the job no matter how well Germany does in South Africa.

But Loew says his only concern is the World Cup and that after the tournament it remains to be seen whether he will be offered another contract and whether he will want to accept it.

Both men are in Warsaw for Sundays draw for the qualifying round of the 2012 European Championship.

Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson praised his players for their patience as they beat Portsmouth 5-0 to go top of the Premier League.

Wayne Rooneys 23rd goal of the season, equalling a career best, broke Portsmouths resistance at Old Trafford and set United up for a big win.

The breakthrough came in the 40th minute and gave United the impetus they needed, although luck was on their side.

Nanis effort on the stroke of half-time took two deflections and Michael Carrick also got an assist off Portsmouths Richard Hughes.

It was tough luck on the crisis club - but things only got worse as the game progressed.

Dimitar Berbatov extended Uniteds lead with a clever finish and Marc Wilson rounded things off with an unfortunate own goal to give United a comfortable 5-0 victory.

Ferguson said: We had a lot of pressure and possession of the ball but we were patient enough.

Thats important when teams come and sit in the way they did here today. Portsmouth were there to make it difficult but we got the goal just before half-time.

We were a bit fortunate with the second one. Nani beat his man and was trying to play a cross across the box.

It got a deflection and went past James and into the net. It was fortunate but nonetheless you have to take them. That opened the game for us in the second half.

We went looking for goals and managed to get three more, the one from Berbatov was brilliant.

Rooney has now scored seven goals in four games after sending a header beyond David James and was presented with the Premier League Player of the Month award before kick-off.

With Aston Villa next up on Wednesday, Ferguson said: He is in great form.

It was a great opportunity for us to give him a rest. We had fresh players to come on like Mame Diouf and Michael Owen.

Chelsea could go back to the top on Sunday when they face Arsenal and Ferguson added: I dont know if Ill watch it or not because I am going up to Glasgow - but Ill be thinking about it.

Portsmouth manager Avram Grant is refusing to throw in the towel despite the clubs off-field worries.

He said: Positive thinking is always better than negative thinking and as long as we have the chance we will fight.

It is more difficult for us than other teams but sometimes difficult is a challenge. For me its a challenge.

It would have been easy to go and no-one could blame me if I left a few weeks ago or one week ago but it is not my way.

I want to show this character because it is important for the future of the club.

Grant added: We created two good chances and one came off the line. Then after 40 minutes they scored and got some own goals but Manchester United are a better team than us.

We need to do our job even if it feels like things are going against us. We cannot think like this.

John Terry was dropped as Englands soccer captain by coach Fabio Capello on Friday, a week after allegations became public that the defender had an affair with the former girlfriend of teammate Wayne Bridge.

Rio Ferdinand will take over as captain as England prepares for its World Cup opener against the United States on June 12. Ferdinand, who had been vice captain, has been injured for much of this season.

Capello told Terry of the decision in a brief meeting at Wembley Stadium, a week after the married Chelsea star lost a High Court battle to ban publication of details of an alleged relationship with Vanessa Perroncel, the mother of Bridges child.

After much thought, I have made the decision that it will be best for me to take the captaincy away from John Terry, Capello said in a statement. As a captain with the team, John Terry has displayed extremely positive behavior. However, I have to take into account other considerations and what is best for all of the England squad. What is best for all of the England team has inspired my choice.

The 29-year-old Terry had been appointed captain by Capello in August 2008. Given the prominence of soccer in England, the closest equivalent in the United States would involve the Olympic basketball team.

I fully respect Fabio Capellos decision, said Terry, who remains as Chelseas captain. I will continue to give everything for England.

Bundesliga chief executive officer Christian Seifert, in Miami for Sundays Super Bowl, praised Capellos move.

The closer you get to the World Cup, the more nervous the situation in each country, he said. I think it was good to make a fast decision.

Also Friday, Perroncel said she will not accept media offers to sell her story.

I have a 3-year-old son, and he is my main concern, the French model said.

Her spokesman, Max Clifford, said Vanessa would also like to add that she finds it very sad that John Terry has been dropped as England captain.

Ferdinand, a 31-year-old Manchester United central defender, has played in just four of Englands last 12 matches. He missed the 2004 European Championship while serving an eight-month suspension for failing to show up for a drug test at Uniteds training ground and is serving a four-game ban at the club level for elbowing Hulls Craig Fagan.

Liverpool midfielder Steven Gerrard, also slowed by injuries this season, will move up to vice captain.

When I chose John Terry as captain, I also selected a vice captain and also named a third choice. There is no reason to change this decision, Capello said. I would like to take this opportunity to thank the FA, particularly Lord David Triesman and Ian Watmore for allowing me to make this decision in my own time and in the best interest of the team.

Englands next game is a home exhibition against African champion Egypt on March 3. A big challenge for Capello is figuring out whether Terry can be on the same team as Bridge, who is Ashley Coles backup at left back.

Bridge is set to return for Manchester City on Saturday at Hull after two months out with a knee injury. City manager Roberto Mancini told Capellos assistant Franco Baldini earlier this week that Bridge is going through a time tough, but is ready to play.

I said it is not a good moment in his head, but its not a problem on the training ground, Mancini said. Its important he can play now and not think about the other person.