| Ferguson must cope without Rooney and creative spark • Striker may miss Euro 2012 qualifier with ligament damage• Paul Scholes injury adds to United dilemmas against ValenciaWayne Rooney's difficult start to the season has taken another significant turn for the worse after tests on his damaged ankle showed he will not only miss Manchester United's Champions League tie here in Valencia but may be out for three weeks, ruling him out of England's Euro 2012 qualifier against Montenegro.The ligament damage could mean he misses United's next three games as well as becoming the seventh England international already out of Fabio Capello's plans for the game at Wembley on 12 October.Jermain Defoe, Theo Walcott, Frank Lampard, Michael Dawson and Bobby Zamora are injured and James Milner is suspended, and the shortage of front players could mean that only two strikers from England's most recent squad, Darren Bent and Peter Crouch, are available to Capello.Another enforced absence for Rooney, troubled by persistent ankle issues for the last six months, also has ramifications for United, even if the reigning Footballer of the Year has had a disappointing start to the season. "You don't want to lose your best players," his manager, Sir Alex Ferguson, conceded. "I think Wayne will be two to three weeks maybe. In fairness he's a strong lad and he's done quite well recovering from injures in the past."It is, however, becoming a theme, and Ferguson did not take kindly to being asked what the x-ray had shown. "It's an ankle injury," he said. "Do you want me to describe every ligament? Christ."The loss from United's perspective is exacerbated because a clutch of other injury problems are affecting some of their more creative players, with Paul Scholes joining the list of absentees in Spain because of a calf strain. "It was a big decision to leave Scholes behind," Ferguson said. "With [Ryan] Giggs and Wayne, there was absolutely no choice. But the problem with small injuries, such as Scholes's, is that, if he travels, plays and spends time on the plane, stiffness sets in and it doesn't get any better. Sometimes you are tempted but it is never wise."The injuries have forced Ferguson to change his team for a match that goes ahead despite the backdrop of a national strike, with Spaniards protesting at drastic cuts in public spending by the president, JosĂ© Luis Zapatero. Ferguson is more concerned about the elements of his own workforce that are not fully functioning and the manager has another dilemma when it comes to Rio Ferdinand – again, a cause of uncertainty for Capello, too.The England captain has missed 61 of the last 103 matches for United, going back to December 2008, and the concerns over his body are such that he can no longer be regarded as an automatic fixture in the side, even though Jonny Evans has struggled alongside Nemanja Vidic at times this season.Ferguson admitted he was not certain whether to pick Ferdinand and, with Gary Neville staying in Manchester because of a virus and Michael Carrick lacking match fitness after an achilles problem, United's starting XI could include not one English player, something that has happened only once before, against Manchester City in May last year.After being held to a 0-0 draw at home to Rangers in their opening match of Group C, a trip to the Mestalla represents a difficult assignment and Ferguson's wariness of the Spaniards can be gauged by the fact that, when he flew out to watch their 1-1 draw against AtlĂ©tico Madrid last week, rather than watch his own team in the Carling Cup at Scunthorpe, it was only the third occasion in nearly 24 years as manager he has missed a United match.United, with only one win in 18 visits to Spanish opponents, have conceded at least two goals in four of their first six Premier League games. The danger cannot be underestimated against opponents who have won four of their first five La Liga games, even after the departure of their two most important players, David Silva and David Villa, in the summer."Valencia's home record over the years has been very good," Ferguson said. "We respect that; we'd be foolish not to."Wayne RooneyManchester UnitedEnglandChampions LeagueDaniel Taylorguardian.co.uk © Guardian News & Media Limited 2010 | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds guardian.co.uk |
Darren Ferguson hails Preston's sensational comeback to beat Leeds 6-4 Preston manager says side's fightback from 4-1 down to beat Leeds 6-4 was the most amazing match of his career. telegraph.co.uk |
Court rules against owners in Liverpool fight A British judge granted an injunction Thursday against the Liverpool owners that could clear the way for the club's sale to the parent company of the Boston Red Sox. cbc.ca |
Everton v Liverpool Everton have not beaten Liverpool in the league since September 2006. There could hardly be a more favourable moment to break that run, because the Anfield side's poor form has left them in the bottom three, even if they will have been lifted by the completion of the club's sale to new US owners. The form of the Goodison club has barely been better than that of the visitors and they stand above them in the table purely on goal difference, but all the organisational and motivational skills of the manager Roy Hodgson will be needed. Kevin McCarraVenue Goodison Park, Sunday 1.30pmTickets Sold outLast season Everton 0 Liverpool 2Referee H WebbThis season's matches 4 Y16, R0, 4.00 cards per gameOdds Everton 6-4 Liverpool 11-5 Draw 23-10EvertonSubs from Mucha, Turner, Beckford, Hibbert, Bilyaletdinov, Gueye, Baxter, Duffy, Silva, MustafiDoubtful Jagielka (hamstring)Injured Anichebe (knee, 23 Oct), Saha (knee, 23 Oct), Fellaini (hamstring, Nov), Pienaar (groin, Nov), Rodwell (ankle, Dec)Suspended NoneForm guide WDLDLDDisciplinary record Y6 R0Leading scorer Cahill 3LiverpoolSubs from Jones, Jovanovic, Ngog, RodrĂguez, AurĂ©lio, Kelly, Pacheco, Kyrgiakos, Babel, Wilson, Spearing, Shelvey, Ince, EcclestonDoubtful AurĂ©lio (achilles)Injured Agger (back, 31 Oct), Kuyt (ankle, Nov)Suspended NoneForm guide LDLDWLDisciplinary record Y8 R1Leading scorer Gerrard 3Match pointers• There have been more red cards (19) in matches between Everton and Liverpool than in any other Premier League fixture• Liverpool have made their worst start to a season since 1953-54, when they were relegated from the top flight• Everton have made fewer tackles (115) than any other side in the division• Liverpool have won just one of their last nine league matches, while Everton have won only two of the past nine• Steven Pienaar has won more free-kicks (22) than any other playerPremier LeagueEvertonLiverpoolguardian.co.uk © Guardian News & Media Limited 2010 | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds guardian.co.uk |
Liverpool takeover: Mill Financial approached Premier League to seek approval LATEST: Secretive US hedge fund attempting 11th-hour takeover of Liverpool contacted Premier League to seek approval. telegraph.co.uk |