Liverpool open Suarez contract talks

Luis Suarez: Liverpool open talks over new contract for striker

Liverpool have opened talks with Luis Suarez's agent over a deal that could make the Uruguayan striker the highest-paid player in the club's history.

  24 April: Banned for 10 games by the Football Association for biting Chelsea's Branislav Ivanovic
29 May: Drops a big hint he wants to leave Liverpool by saying he finds life in England hard
12 June: Reiterates his love for Liverpool, but insists life in England is very hard
8 July: Liverpool turn down a £30m bid from Arsenal
24 July: Arsenal offer £40,000,001 for Suarez, believing it triggers a clause in his contract
2 August: Sources say Suarez will consider a formal transfer request and the possibility of court action if dispute with Liverpool is not resolved
7 August: Suarez says he wants to leave Liverpool to join a Champions League side
8 August: Told to train alone by manager Brendan Rodgers, who says the player has shown "total disrespect" for the club.

Managing director Ian Ayre returned to Merseyside on Tuesday having spent 24 hours in Spain, where he held talks with Suarez's agent, Pere Guardiola.

Liverpool's owners have sanctioned the deal but it remains to be seen whether Suarez, 26, is willing to commit beyond 2016, when his current contract ends.
Real Madrid retain an interest in him.
But Reds manager Brendan Rodgers said recently: "He is really happy here. He is playing with a smile and enthusiasm. The whole profile of the club fits him perfectly. The supporters idolise him and you can see the connection there."
It may take a contract offer of close to £200,000 per week, double Suarez's present deal, to persuade him to sign a new contract. However his relationship with leading figures at Anfield has improved significantly since he attempted to force a move to Arsenal in the summer.
The Gunners made two bids for the Uruguay international, including a club-record offer of £40m plus £1 in an attempt to trigger a release clause in his contract.
Both were rejected, with Rodgers accusing Arsenal of "playing games".
Suarez was considering submitting a formal transfer request and the possibility of court action if the dispute was not resolved as he believed the second bid triggered a clause in his contract that allowed him to leave the club, whom he signed for in January 2011 for a fee of £22.7m.
Suarez was initially made to train alone during pre-season, but returned to the first-team fold on 16 August after talks with Rodgers.
He missed the first six games of the season after being given a 10-match ban in April for biting Chelsea defender Branislav Ivanovic, but returned against Manchester United on 25 September and has scored 17 goals in 12 games.

Sharad Pawar can continue as MCA President -Bombay High Court

the President of the Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA).

MCA Lawyer VA Thorat told reporters, "The order that was passed by the trial court had placed an injunction on Sharad Pawar from functioning as the President. That has been set aside by the appeal court and now he can function as the President. The suit will continue to be heard in the trial court."

On November 26 a lower court in Mumbai had passed an interim order restraining Mr Pawar from functioning as MCA president. Mr Pawar had approached the high court earlier this month against that order.

The case relates to a plea filed by BJP leader Gopinath Munde, who had asked the lower court to restrain Mr Pawar from functioning as MCA president pending hearing of his suit challenging his election.

Mr Munde had pleaded that the disqualification of his candidature was "illegal" and asked for fresh election for the post of the president. His application was rejected by the election officer on the basis of his residential status, observing that the address on his electoral registration was Beed. According to MCA rules, only a Mumbai resident can become the president of the cricketing body.

Mr Munde had told the court that Mr Pawar, who was declared elected unopposed, should not take charge and should not be allowed to discharge the functions of the president

India will miss Sachin Tendulkar says Morne Morkel

South African pacer Morne Morkel on Monday, fired the first salvo ahead of the two-match Test series, starting here December 18, stating that the young Indian batsmen will miss 'Sachin Tendulkar's patience' in the middle and they should be prepared to face some hostile bowling from the home side. (Sachin Tendulkar's absence makes life easier: Russell Domnigo)

Morkel said it would be interesting to see how the young Indian batsmen cope with the South African pace battery now that the likes of Tendulkar are not in the visiting team. (We have the desire to win: Pujara)

"Sachin was a batsman who could bat for a long time. And he put the bowlers and the opposition under pressure by batting for a long time. He was the rock for their batting. He could bat with the top-order and the middle order both," said Morkel two days ahead of the first Test.

"These young Indian batsmen are quality players, but we can clearly see from the ODI series that they are attacking batsmen who like to come at the bowling. It will be interesting to see how they go about this," he added. (An uphill task awaits India in Tests)

Tendulkar retired from all forms of cricket after playing his 200th Test against the West Indies in Mumbai last month. His departure left a huge void in the Indian team and that will be most visible when the Test series begins.

"Like I said, they are all very quality guys. Rohit Sharma has been scoring runs off late and Cheteshwar Pujara can bat for time at number three. Even Ravichandran Aswhin averages 40 at the back-end of their line-up. So we need to make use of the early morning conditions with the new ball. We need to be on the money from Wednesday itself, otherwise they can score quickly and at Wanderers, sometimes it can be a high scoring game," he said. Asked specifically if he left out Virat Kohli's name on purpose and that South Africa might not consider him a threat, Morkel was non-committal at best.

"Virat has done well in Australia and scored some runs when India toured there last. He is a quality player. But he is obviously going to slot into Sachin's role and he has got some big boots to fill. He can do it very well, don't take me wrong, but it is going to be a testing time for him at number four," Morkel said. (Virat Kohli's flaws against pace bowling could be exposed: Ray Jennings)

Though the Indian team management has made no official statements about who will bat at number four, Kohli has batted with Pujara in pairs at the open nets sessions on Friday and Sunday at Benoni.

In the first ODI, India were rattled by pace and bounce, losing the match by 141 runs. Things did change for the bowlers in the second ODI in Durban, where the bowlers restricted the opposition to 281 runs. Yet, the Indian batsmen failed to chase it down, losing by 136 runs eventually. Adapting to the conditions will be the key, considering that the Indians have had almost negligible practice in the build-up to this Test series. The batsmen, in particular, have suffered the most, as their last outing was in Durban. They have not batted in a competitive setting since, for the second innings in the third ODI at Centurion was washed out before the abandonment of the practice game in Benoni due to a wet outfield. "When I heard the news that they did not have even a ball at Benoni, I felt it will definitely be something in our favour," said Morkel.

"Because the pitch at Benoni can also be a bit tricky at times. I think that could have been good practice for them. So it is definitely some sort of bonus for us that they were stuck to indoor nets or open net-practice. Out there in the middle, it's a completely different ball game."

Morkel, however, felt his side should not be carried away by the listless show by the Indians so far in the South African tour. "The nature of the Wanderers' pitch is that is has always been bouncy and quick.

It can be a high scoring game, if the batsmen get in. So the margins for bowlers are definitely a bit smaller here, because of the ball coming onto the wicket and the outfield here. "It is going to be crucial how we use the pace and bounce. But we need not to get too carried away. The Indian bowlers struggled to find the right lengths in the first ODI and it takes some time to adapt to the conditions here. So we need to be smart about using the conditions as well," he added.

Despite the struggles in that first match of the tour here, the Indian team can gain heart from the fact that they did beat South Africa here in a Test match way back in 2006. Back then, under Rahul Dravid, S Sreesanth had taken eight wickets in two innings and Sourav Ganguly and VVS Laxman had scored half-centuries to script a first-ever Indian Test victory in this country. "2006 was a long time ago. We can only think about the current scenario and for South Africa, it is about getting a good start. We were a bit slow against Pakistan and that cost us a bit. For India, a lot has changed. They have no Rahul Dravid, no Tendulkar, no batsmen who can really build an innings. So it's a completely different ball game," Morkel said.

Leander Paes - To win a doubles medal in Olympics close to my heart

CHANDIGARH: Indian tennis ace Leander Paes on Tuesday said that the thought of winning a doubles medal in Olympics is close to his heart and he wants to fulfill the wish.

"I would say to win a doubles medal in Olympics, this is close to my heart. I am looking forward to get a good partner. Another one I would say is to win a career grand slam in mixed doubles," Paes told reporters after featuring in an exhibition match at Chandigarh Lawn Tennis Association (CLTA) stadium on Tuesday.

Paes, who along with CLTA chairman Rajan Kashyap addressed the news conference, was asked if he still has any wish that has not been fulfilled yet.

Paes, whose father Dr Vece Paes was also present, said while cricket was definitely like a religion in India, over the years tennis has also grown in popularity.

"I think we need to open more professional tennis academies like the DLTA in Delhi. We are also trying to start one in Mumbai, where I live," the senior Paes said.

Asked about the upcoming London Olympics, Paes said he was hoping to get a good partner to win a medal in the doubles.

"I do have a preference, but some conversations have to be private," he said when asked if he had a specific partner in mind.

Commenting on the Indian tennis scene, Paes said it has a great future and apart from him and Mahesh Bhupathi and Sania Mirza, there was promising talent coming up.

He heaped praise on players like Somdev Devvarman and Yuki Bhambri.

"Indian tennis at the moment has a great mix of age and experience. It's good time that young ones are developed (in singles)."

Earlier, Paes and Haryana chief minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda defeated budding trainees of the CLTA, Anuj Bhatti and Ranjit Singh 7-6 in an exhibition match.

Meanwhile, in an initiative to promote sports in rural areas of Haryana, the state government on Tuesday signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with CLTA.

The MoU, signed in the presence of Hooda and Paes, would provide training, boarding, lodging, schooling and participation during tournaments to the 15 selected players from rural areas of Haryana and the state government would sponsor those players, Kashyap said.

CLTA would also provide technical assistance to the state government for development and promotion of the game.

Kashyap said the CLTA would also offer advanced training facilities on mutually agreed terms for coaches and player at CLTA centre.

It would also ensure that the selected trainees were admitted in reputed schools.

Praising Haryana's initiative, Paes said that rural talent was abundant in the country.

"Rural people are tough, rugged, especially in Punjab and Haryana, where they have done so well in wrestling, hockey and other sports," he said.

Paes, who will play the role of a mentor and brand ambassador of CLTA, will be visiting here once in a while.

Paes is also trying to get a Spanish coach for the youngsters.

Meanwhile, replying to a question on cricketer Yuvraj Singh, Paes wished him a speedy recovery.

"We also love him so much and want to see him back in action soon. Yuvi is a great player. He has conquered this ailment (cancer). (The) entire tennis fraternity wishes him good health," he said.

Andre Villas-Boas sacked as Spurs manager

Tottenham have sacked manager Andre Villas-Boas in the wake of Sunday's 5-0 thrashing by Liverpool.

The defeat was the club's worst at White Hart Lane in 16 years and left Spurs seventh in the Premier League - eight points behind leaders Arsenal.
Villas-Boas, 36, took over at Tottenham in July 2012.

"The club can announce that agreement has been reached with head coach Andre Villas-Boas for the termination of his services," said a Spurs statement.

"The decision was by mutual consent and in the interests of all parties."
Villas-Boas had come under increasing pressure in recent weeks as his side struggled to keep pace with the top four in the league.
His side lost 6-0 to Manchester City on 24 November and, despite a draw against Manchester United and wins at Fulham and Sunderland, the defeat by Liverpool proved the final straw for the Spurs hierarchy.
Villas-Boas said he would not "resign" as he was not a "quitter" after the loss to the Reds but, after being summoned to a meeting with Spurs chairman Daniel Levy on Sunday, his future was taken out of his hands.
"We wish Andre well for the future," added the Spurs statement. "We shall make a further announcement in due course."
The early names being linked with replacing the Portuguese include current Russia boss and former England manager Fabio Capello, ex-Chelsea boss Roberto Di Matteo, Swansea boss Michael Laudrup and Tottenham's current technical director Franco Baldini.
Italian Baldini, 53, helped oversee the club's transfer dealings during last summer when the club had to contend with the sale of Gareth Bale to Real Madrid for a world record £85.3m.
Bale scored 21 goals last season as Spurs finished a point behind fourth-placed Arsenal to miss out on Champions League qualification.
Tottenham recruited Paulinho, Roberto Soldado, Nacer Chadli, Etienne Capoue, Christian Eriksen, Vlad Chiriches and Erik Lamela with the money from the sale of the Wales international but the team has been unconvincing so far this season.
Villas-Boas had only managed one win from his previous six home league games, with his side scoring just 15 goals in 16 top-flight matches.

Ashes 2013-14 -England must bat through the entire final day

Ashes 2013-14: England face battle to save series in Perth

England must bat through the entire final day with just five wickets left if they are to rescue the most improbable draw from this third Test and keep the Ashes alive.

On a day that began with an all-out Australian assault on their dispirited bowlers and bottomed out with a golden duck for captain Alastair Cook, England closed on 251-5, still a mammoth 253 short of their nominal target of 504.
The impressive Ben Stokes will resume on 72 and Matt Prior seven, but their task on a badly cracked pitch would appear futile after the failure once again of too many senior players.
While Cook received a peach of a delivery from Ryan Harris to be bowled first ball and Ian Bell played well for his 60, Kevin Pietersen was caught on the boundary trying to hit Nathan Lyon into the stands.

Cook's wicket continued his miserable series, the weight of this failing team appearing heavy on his shoulders, while Pietersen is averaging 27 from his six underwhelming innings.

Once again Australia were superior in every department, and if they seal the series to win back the Ashes for the first time in seven years as now seems inevitable, it will be entirely merited.
Stuart Broad will bat only if required to save the game after sustaining heavy bruising to his right foot when being pinned lbw by Mitchell Johnson in the first innings, meaning after the not-out batsmen, only Tim Bresnan, Graeme Swann and James Anderson realistically remain in Australia's way.
Michael Clarke's confident, aggressive side hit new heights on Monday morning as they dismantled England's much-decorated attack in a brutal hour of sustained hitting.
Shane Watson made a century off only 106 balls, with 11 fours and five sixes, as he smashed Swann out of the attack.
In the first 13 balls he faced from the off-spinner he cracked 37 runs as he moved from his overnight 29 to his fourth Test century in a blistering 40 balls.
England dropped one catch and let another fall between two hesitant fielders as they fell apart even more completely than they had during Sunday's hapless display.

When Bresnan did take a fine catch on the boundary he tumbled over the ropes, although he could not be blamed for either that or the farcical way in which Watson eventually fell for 106.

The number three top-edged an ugly pull only for Bell to spill the regulation catch, and when Bresnan picked up the loose ball to hurl down the stumps with Watson open-mouthed and leaden-footed mid-pitch, it was almost as much in anger as aim.
Steve Smith was caught at mid-wicket by substitute fielder Jonny Bairstow off Stokes for 15, but it only heralded the next cavalry charge as George Bailey launched into Anderson to the roaring delight of the Waca crowd.
In one over he hit an extraordinary 28 runs, including three straight sixes and two fours, to equal the world record for the most runs scored off a Test over and humiliate England still further.
In all 134 runs were added in 17 overs as Australia declared on 369-6. It was the first time in Test history that a team has been set a fourth innings target of 500-plus in three consecutive matches, and England began in the worst possible fashion.
Harris produced a ball that swung in and then moved away to clip the off bail as Cook's 100th Test brought his first ever first-ball dismissal.
Michael Carberry and Joe Root survived the first hour after lunch before the opener was trapped lbw for 31 by a full inswinging ball from Shane Watson, while Root failed with a review after being brilliantly caught behind by Brad Haddin for 19 off Mitchell Johnson.
Pietersen and Bell then took the score to 121 before Pietersen, as so many times in this series, walked straight into the trap set by Clarke and his bowler.
It was left to Stokes in only his second Test to provide the sole silver lining after Bell perished for a well-made 60 attempting to upper-cut Peter Siddle over Haddin.
His 50 came up off 69 balls with nine fours as he showed exactly the application and discipline that has too often been missing from his far more experienced team-mates.
But to expect him to salvage something from the wreckage of this England performance is both unrealistic and unfair, and at some stage on Tuesday, Australia will almost certainly once again be in possession of the famous old urn.

Luis Suarez scores twice as Liverpool

Luis Suarez scored twice as Liverpool dominated 10-man Tottenham to move second in the Premier League table.

The Uruguayan's 16th goal of the season took him past the total for the whole Spurs side when he found the bottom corner from Jordan Henderson's flick.
Philippe Coutinho hit the bar before the excellent Henderson volleyed in.
Paulinho was then sent off for a high kick on Suarez before goals from Jon Flanagan, Suarez and Raheem Sterling completed Spurs' humiliation.
Liverpool were without injured skipper Steven Gerrard, who last week joined Daniel Sturridge on the treatment table, but they could have easily scored more as they took control early on and never let it slip against a poor Tottenham team, who did not have a shot on target.
This was Liverpool's first victory in seven visits to White Hart Lane, while Tottenham ended a five-game unbeaten run with another disappointing display in front of their home fans.
Andre Villas-Boas's side have now won just one of their last six matches at White Hart Lane and they must seek to overturn that form if they are to establish themselves as Champions League contenders, let alone fight for the Premier League title.
More prominently, this result will lead to further questions about the Portuguese coach's future having already fielded them after a 6-0 loss at Manchester City last month.
Spurs came up against a Brendan Rodgers side led by the irrepressible Suarez, who took his amazing scoring run to 14 goals in eight Premier League games and 17 overall this season.

But the South American, who was captain for the day, was ably supported by the effervescence of Henderson and Sterling, who tore shreds out of Kyle Naughton before the Spurs left-back was replaced at half-time.

Henderson has had his critics at Anfield but appears to be finding consistent form now and he played his part in the opener after almost being played in by Suarez.
But with Michael Dawson sliding in to intercept, the Premier League's top scorer collected the loose ball, danced around Kyle Walker and slotted into the bottom corner.
Suarez, Coutinho and Glen Johnson all went close to doubling the lead before the half hour, with Nacer Chadli heading over from an isolated Spurs attack, but the visitors went 2-0 up before the break with Sterling involved again.
His raking ball from the right found Coutinho, who touched the ball to the onrushing Henderson. His first shot was saved, but then after Hugo Lloris could only push Suarez's effort up into the air, Henderson volleyed in.
Roberto Soldado, who retained his place after a midweek hat-trick against Anzhi Makhachkala, then had the ball in the net but referee Jonathan Moss believed the Spaniard fouled Liverpool goalkeeper Simon Mignolet after a poor touch by the Belgian.
As the half-time whistle blew boos echoed around White Hart Lane, reflecting a woeful first period for the hosts.
Perhaps unsurprisingly, Ezekiel Fryers came on for Naughton but Spurs could not contain Sterling, whose cross was headed against the post by Mamadou Sakho from only two yards out.
And a nightmare afternoon for Spurs continued when Paulinho received his marching orders for a high foot, which connected with Suarez's chest.
A sign of how dominant Liverpool were came when Flanagan smashed in off the bar for his first Liverpool goal, before Suarez chipped in and Sterling steered home a crisp shot.
Liverpool's squad might not be as strong as some of the other title contenders but when they play like this they will not fear upcoming games against Manchester City and Chelsea before the year is out.