| Tottenham Hotspur v Aston Villa: Ledley King calls for Spurs to maintain momentum Spurs captain acknowledges that club finds it difficult to follow up midweek European success with performances in the Premier League. telegraph.co.uk |
Eriksson in talks over Leicester vacancy • Swede in talks over two-year deal at Walkers Stadium• Eriksson likely to be offered seven-figure salarySven-Goran Eriksson is poised to make a return to English football after Leicester City approached the former England coach to replace Paulo Sousa, who was sacked after less than three months at the club.Leicester's chief executive, Lee Hoos, is reported to have held talks in London with the former Manchester City, Mexico and Ivory Coast manager about a two-year deal at the Walkers Stadium.The list of possible replacements for Sousa had included the former Aston Villa manager Martin O'Neill but he yesterday ruled out a return to the east Midlands club he led to success in the 90s.Leicester hope the 62-year-old Swede, who would become Leicester's 15th manager since 2004, will be installed at the Championship club by Monday. Eriksson already has an offer to join the Arabian club Al Hilal on a one-year, £1.2m contract.Leicester's new owners, headed by the 25-year-old Thai businessman Aiyawatt Raksriaksorn, may have to offer Eriksson a seven-figure salary and the agent Pini Zahavi is said to be taking a part in the negotiations.Sousa's sacking has provoked an angry reaction from the League Managers Association, which has criticised the decision of the Leicester chairman, Milan Mandaric. As recently as Thursday Mandaric had appeared to back the Portuguese, with the club at the foot of the Championship."Things go wrong but we can't turn things upside down now," he said. "We can't turn things around now and say Paulo needs to go. Now is the time for us to show how strong we are together."The LMA chief executive, Richard Bevan, said: "Knee-jerk dismissals and the chopping and changing of managers will not deliver success on the field and is incredibly destabilising. It is damaging to the club and its fans and is an inappropriate way to treat talented managers and their careers."Sousa said: "To be sacked after being told there was a long-term strategy at the club and after only nine games in charge is something I find very surprising. The recent history of the club has seen many such changes of managers and, in my opinion, clubs need stability to build success."The coaches Mike Stowell and Chris Powell will take charge for the home match against Scunthorpe today.Sven-Göran ErikssonLeicester Cityguardian.co.uk © Guardian News & Media Limited 2010 | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds guardian.co.uk |
Everton 2-0 Liverpool John W Henry had come to Goodison Park to find out more about his new acquisition and must have learned primarily that the £300m spent on Liverpool can only be the beginning. The side were overcome by opponents who benefit from continuity of management, with David Moyes having already spent eight years in the post.No matter what Henry has in mind, the Everton manager will be heartened by a first league victory in the Merseyside derby since September 2006. Liverpool continue to malfunction and if Henry grants Roy Hodgson's plea to be given more time he will be an unusual proprietor indeed.Liverpool are second bottom of the table and Everton, despite being above them solely on goal difference before kick-off, had far more authority. The visitors' lack of resilience was glaring when the midfielder Seamus Coleman tore past Paul Konchesky on the right and saw his cut-back converted by Tim Cahill at the near post in the 35th minute.Everton could also prey on the muddled nature of Liverpool's play, as they did when extending the lead. A Leighton Baines corner was headed out by Sotirios Kyrgiakos, but the centre-half did not angle the ball towards the wing and it dropped for Mikel Arteta. The Spaniard reacted to the windfall by volleying beautifully beyond José Reina.Liverpool did not lack spirit and that, in its own way, was disturbing since it underlines the fact that the departure of the previous owners George Gillett and Tom Hicks was an essential yet still modest start in the re-establishment of the club. At 2-0 down, there was still a sense of urgency to Liverpool and Everton had to look to men such as Phil Jagielka to marshall the defence.Fernando Torres, still far from his true self, even had a shot blocked. Liverpool should now have the means to improve several areas of the line-up, but that labour cannot start until the January transfer window. It remains to be seem whether Henry will let Hodgson stay to spend his money.Premier LeagueEvertonLiverpoolKevin McCarraguardian.co.uk © Guardian News & Media Limited 2010 | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds guardian.co.uk |
Manchester United striker Wayne Rooney will not be sold in January transfer window Man United respond to suggestions Wayne Rooney's alleged rift with Sir Alex Ferguson is so great he will be ushered out of club. telegraph.co.uk |
FIFA officials sell World Cup votes: report Two FIFA officials have offered to sell their votes on which country will host the 2018 FIFA World Cup, according to a newspaper report. foxsports.com.au |