TERRY: STEVIE G rise strikes fear into Chelsea

John Terry is not normally scared of anything, with the possible exception of his mother making any more shopping trips, so it is a mark of his respect for Steven Gerrard and Liverpool when he acknowledges that Wednesday's Champions League visit to Anfield is a daunting prospect. And in a frank interview, Terry told the Daily Star Sunday: “This is probably the worst time to be facing Gerrard.

"Gerrard is definitely one of the best players in the world, that's for sure, and he's in great form at the minute," the Chelsea and England captain said. "To be honest I'm dreading going there to play him because he is different class. Liverpool have got a great backbone with [José] Reina, [Jamie] Carragher, Stevie G and [Fernando] Torres. What a spine that is, but Stevie is the heartbeat of the team, similar to the way Frank Lampard is with Chelsea. It's going to be a big clash but we're thoroughly looking forward to it."

This is a fixture becoming as much of a Champions League tradition as the familiarly naff theme music or Sir Alex Ferguson moaning about the way the following weekend's games never do Manchester United any favours, yet it is a meeting between fierce rivals that has altered subtly in the past season or two. More people are looking forward to it now, there is less talk of anti-football or malodorous matter on the end of a stick. Chelsea's renewed confidence under Guus Hiddink has something to do with that but Terry is right to suggest the Liverpool revival, with Gerrard at its heart, has been the one that has made everyone re-evaluate their assumptions about where the season's prizes will end up.

Liverpool beat the curse of the Cottage

Gerrard and Kuyt agree new Liverpool contracts

Steven Gerrard has agreed a two-year extension to his current contract at Liverpool. The club captain, who had two years to run on his deal, will now stay at Anfield until at least 2013.

Dirk Kuyt has also agreed a two-year contract extension today, following Rafael Benitez, the manager, and key members of his backroom team in committing his future to the club.

"To have announced new deals for Steven and Dirk on the same day shows how hard everyone is working and that we are moving forward quickly as a club. These are very positive messages and I am very happy."

Benitez revealed that Gerrard was keen to stay at the club for the rest of his career.

Timeonline

Gerros's Seventh Heaven

Steven Gerrard has challenged England to make it a Magnificent Seven in their World Cup campaign.

But to do so he has reminded that they need to keep going until England’s last game against Andorra on June 10 — and not shut down when their club season has finished. Fabio Capello’s side have made a record-breaking start to their World Cup qualifying, but winning five in a row after their 2-1 win over the Ukraine.

And with Kazakhstan away and Andorra at home to come in June, it could be a healthy maximum of seven straight wins.

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Schwarzer: Fulham fear no-one at home

Mark Schwarzer has laughed off suggestions Fulham are favourites to beat Liverpool on Saturday - but is adamant Roy Hodgson's men fear no-one at Craven Cottage. Fulham's last home game saw them beat Manchester United 2-0, and they have already beaten Arsenal and drawn with Chelsea on the banks of the Thames. And the Australian goalkeeper believes Fulham have all the quality to trip up title-chasing Liverpool for the second time this season, having drawn 0-0 at Anfield back in November.

Footballnews

Fulham v Liverpool Preview

Liverpool go to Fulham, knowing that a point will knock Manchester United off the top of the table for at least 22 hours, and boost confidence ahead of Wednesday's Champions League quarter-final first leg, home to Chelsea.

The Merseysiders are chasing four wins on the bounce for the first time since October, which would put them two points ahead of the Red Devils with seven to play. United would then have two games in hand, beginning with Sunday's home fixture against Aston Villa.

Fulham are pursuing back-to-back wins against 'Big Four' clubs after pulling off one of the most amazing victories of the entire season; 2-0, home to Manchester United on 21 March. They're also hunting three wins on the spin for the first time since their sensational status-saving end to last season.

No club has scored more Premier League goals in stoppage time than Liverpool's seven; Fulham (and Bolton) have not scored any in added time.

Only Aston Villa have fielded fewer players in Premier League matches this season (21), than Liverpool (23) and Fulham (24).

Liverpool travel in search of their 25th league victory over Fulham . They've won three times as many Premier League games over the Cottagers as they lost; won nine, lost three, drawn three.

Liverpool Stars continue dominance at international duty

The Reds wide-man completed the European Champions' recovery from a goal down after fellow Anfield team-mate Xabi Alonso had equalised from the penalty spot to leave them with six wins out of six so far in Group Six.

Fernando Torres played for 85 minutes before being subsituted.

Steven Gerrard played the full 90 minutes in England's win over Ukraine, setting up the winner for John Terry.

Dirk Kuyt scored twice in Holland's 4-0 win over Macedonia, with Ryan Babel figuring as a substitute.

Daniel Agger played the full 90 minutes as Denmark beat Albania 3-0 and Yossi Benayoun came on as a 47th minute substitute for Israel in their 2-1 defeat in Greece, while ex-Liverpool striker Robbie Keane scored the Republic of Ireland's late equaliser as they held world champions Italy 1-1 in Bari.

Fabio Capello Resigns As Kevin Keegan Is Appointed England Coach

An alcohol-fuelled night out saw several England stars arrested and injured, leading to Fabio Capello resigning as manager this morning, with a crucial World Cup qualification clash against Ukraine to be played this evening at Wembley.

The Italian took over as coach in January 2008 with his objective being to qualify England for the 2010 World Cup in South Africa and establish the Three Lions as an international superpower.

His tenure began well and he remained undefeated in competitive fixtures. However, he has long been an opponent of the drinking culture in England, and an incredible night on the town that resulted in the arrest of seven players and serious injuries sustained by both Frank Lampard and Steven Gerrard led him to a dramatic and sudden resignation.

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Daniel Agger will tattoo the entire Liverpool squad if they win the league

Liverpool defender DANIEL AGGER has vowed to tattoo the entire Anfield squad if the club land their first league title for 19 years.

The Danish player is a qualified ink artist and is dying to get his hands on the Premier League trophy, not to mention his Kop team-mates’ limbs.

A Reds source revealed: “Danny has told a few of the lads he has a special design in mind.

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Luca Toni promises to walk through Munich naked…

Luca Toni's Bayern Munich are high on Champions League confidence after putting approximately 412 goals past Sporting in the last round, but face a huge challenge against Barcelona in the quarter-finals this month.

The World Cup winner has been decorated with many honours in his football career, but he is willing to give anything to get his hands around the European Cup, including his clothes and dignity:

“Reaching Rome is my goal. I have won so many titles in my career but this one still eludes me.

“If we bring the Champions League trophy back to Munich, I promise: I will walk naked through the Marienplatz!”

Toni believes Bayern Munich have the mettle to win the competition, thanks to the fact that they field “eleven lions”, rather than “eleven professionals”. Frankly, we can’t see the Germans getting past Barcelona or Liverpool/ Chelsea in the semis, but the proposed nudity stunt will definitely excite his legions of female fans: Italian women recently voted Toni as the footballer they would most like to see naked.

Rafa's pride at World Coach honour

Rafael Benitez has spoken of his pride at being voted the best coach in the world by supporters voting in three of the continents best known newspapers. Spain's AS and Marca, plus Italian broadsheet La Gazzetta dello Sport conducted online polls asking their readers to vote for the best coach in world football. Liverpool's manager was an overwhelmingly popular figure and came out on top, winning more votes than the likes of Alex Ferguson, Jose Mourinho, Arsene Wenger, Fabio Capello, Marcello Lippi, Vicente Del Bosque and Josep Guardiola. "I am really pleased. You cannot say that someone is the best in the world as it's almost impossible to guarantee that, but at least you have three big newspapers and supporters saying that we as a club are not bad," the boss told Liverpoolfc.tv.

Ancelotti - Reds are best

AC Milan manager Carlo Ancelotti rates Liverpool as the toughest outfit to compete against in Europe.

Liverpool have enjoyed much success in the UEFA Champions League in recent times and despite trailing Manchester United in the Premier League, Ancelotti admits he fears the Reds more than the defending champions.

"Liverpool are the hardest team to play against in Europe," Ancelotti said in the Daily Mirror.

"Benitez is a great coach. He has a well-organised defence and the perfect counter-attack."To play against them is always dangerous. Manchester United are stronger, but they let you play. Liverpool don't.

Linesman pulls out a gun to protect himself from fans

The Romanian footballer who won a penalty but refused to take it as he did not feel he had been fouled. Perhaps the player wouldn’t have showed so much insolence, if he knew of the tendency for Romanian officials to carry guns.

In a recent match between Romanian sides Popesti Stefan and Unirea Dragalina, the referee allowed a questionable goal. This angered the home fans, some of whom ran onto the pitch to protest. In a mobile phone video submitted to German website Bild, the assistant referee is hounded, and then seen to pull a gun from under his jersey.

Revealing a deadly weapon was a successful method of calming the crowd down, but it has landed the official in hot water with the police.

The highest paid Footballers and Managers in the World

France Football released their annual list of the world’s highest earning footballers, and David Beckham has come out on top, with total earnings of €32.4m in 2008.

The England star is paid around £4m a year for his services on the pitch (a figure that is currently being covered by loan club Milan in giant novelty cheque form), but is able to afford rocket cars, solid gold mansions and lobsters stuffed with diamonds thanks to his endorsement deals with Adidas, Gilette, Pepsi, Sharpies and anyone else with enough money afford his beautiful face. Interestingly, he also receives a share of ticket and merchandise sales at the MLS club he has absolutely no desire to play for.

Top 10 List (in €)
1. David Beckham (Milan): 32.4 million
2. Lionel Messi (Barcellona): 28.6 million
3. Ronaldinho (Milan): 19.6 million
4. Cristiano Ronaldo (Manchester United): 18.3 million
5. Thierry Henry (Barcelona): 17 million
6. Kaka (Milan): 15.1 million
7. Zlatan Ibrahimovic (Inter): 14 million
8. Wayne Rooney (Manchester United): 13.5 million
9. Frank Lampard (Chelsea): 13 million
10. John Terry (Chelsea): 11.7 million

France Football has also revealed the two highest earning managers in the game. Jose Mourinho is able to treat his beloved pooch Gullit to plenty of scooby snacks thanks to his €11m annual takings. The wealthiest coach in 2008, however, is an unemployed man named Luiz Felipe Scolari, whose Chelsea contract and hefty severance package were valued at €12.5m.

Goal.com

Romanian wins a penalty, refuses to take it

Here’s something C-Ron won’t be doing anytime soon…

In 1996, Robbie Fowler won the FIFA Fair Play Award thanks to an incident at Highbury, where he was awarded a penalty but tried to persuade the referee that Arsenal keeper David Seaman had not fouled him. Such good sportsmanship is rare in the beautiful game these days, but Rapid Bucharest midfielder Costin Lazar has reminded us that integrity in the face of a goal scoring opportunity still exists.

During a Romanian Liga 1 match with Otelul Galati last week, the Romanian was awarded a penalty, but refused to take it as he did not believe he was fouled. Unlike Fowler, Lazar was able to persuade the referee that he had made the wrong decision, and a drop ball was awarded instead.

Samuel Eto'o linked with Liverpool move

Rafa Benitez is being linked with a £12million summer move for Samuel Eto'o after the Barcelona striker refused to commit himself to the Nou Camp beyond a contract that runs out at the end of next season. According to reports by the Dailymail.co.uk the sale of Robbie Keane to his former club Tottenham in January has left Benitez with just youngster David N’Gog as cover for Torres, a situation the Spaniard knows he must remedy if Liverpool are to keep pace with Manchester United and Chelsea.

Eto’o has insisted he would like to stay a Camp Nou until his contract runs out in the summer of 2010 and while Benitez would be prepared to wait to land one of Europe’s best strikers on a free transfer, it is thought he may try to exploit the uncertainty surrounding his future to land his man sooner.

Rooney and Gerrard show their class

Fabio Capello never had any doubts he could get the best out of Wayne Rooney and Steven Gerrard for England.

With Gerrard in such scintillating form for Liverpool, where he effectively fills the same space 'in the hole' as Rooney, it was feared Capello, like Sven-Goran Eriksson and Steve McClaren before him, may lose something from one in order to get the best out of the other.

Previously Frank Lampard has been the man Gerrard has found his immense talent sacrificed for. Clearly though, Capello has an insight which evaded his predecessors.

For, just as in Belarus last October, Gerrard was offered licence to roam in from the left against Slovakia last night, smoothly interchanging positions with Rooney at regular intervals.

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Extreme ways

If Sir Alex Ferguson is looking for new and creative ways to shake his Manchester United side out of their current slump he need only cast his gaze over to South America. The veteran Scot may be renowned for his infamous hairdryer treatment, but the humiliation of a good talking to surely can't compare to the embarrassment Brazilian central defender Jairo would have felt when his coach told him not to bother with the usual shirt, shorts and bib combo for a recent training session, but instead to slip on a little pink dress and go mix it with the rest of the team.

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Alonso confident of progression

Liverpool midfielder Xabi Alonso says Spain are confident of booking a place at the 2010 World Cup finals in South Africa.

The European champions have made a superb start to their qualifying campaign after winning all four of their matches to date.

Spain tackle Turkey home and away in their next two qualifiers and Alonso says Vicente del Bosque's men will not be letting up.

"We're quite confident of course. We've won the four games so that's very important," he told Sky Sports News.

"We have to carry on the same way. These two games against Turkey are really important.

"The first one at home and we're expecting to get the three points so that will be a massive step towards South Africa in 2010.

"The expectations are getting higher and higher because of the way we're playing. I think the level of the team is quite high, but we have to carry on the same way.

Away kit for big four in 2009/10

The internet reveals some leaked pictures of some very suspect kits for the Big Four next season.