Kaka: Gerrard the complete modern player

AC Milan midfielder Kaka has hailed Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard as the “complete modern player.”

In the interview with FourFourTwo, the Brazilian star was asked to name his three favourite current players.

The former Sao Paulo player, who locked horns with Gerrard in both the 2005 and 2007 UEFA Champions League finals, was in no doubt who possesses the total package.

“That’s a difficult question," he said. "But if I have to choose three, I would pick Cristiano Ronaldo, because of his skill and speed; Messi, because of his flair and skills; and Steven Gerrard, who for me is the complete modern player.”

Russian Police new gadgets

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.

Dad told Cristiano Ronaldo to stay away from daughter!

Cristiano Ronaldo has been “seeing” Brazilian gym instructor Gabriela for around a month, approximately 29-30 days longer than most of his conquests. A report in Spanish paper Sport, however, suggests the relationship will be meeting a swift conclusion, if the wishes of her father Jadson are fulfilled.

The policeman has taken exception to the Manchester Utd star, ordering him to “stay her from her and keep your hands off”. Additionally, he has told his daughter that he does not trust C-Ron, and has advised her to end the relationship.

If the thought of his daughter dating the world’s greatest lover is unsettling, then Lord only knows how Jadson feels about the offer made by the Brazilian edition of Playboy. Gabriela has been offered €200,000 to appear naked in the magazine, but she she would risk losing both her dignity and her father. “It would give him a heart attack knowing his daughter had posed nude in a magazine,” said Gabriela’s mother.

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.

Read more..

Massive Chinese computer espionage network uncovered

A mystery electronic spy network apparently based in China has infiltrated hundreds of computers around the world and stolen files and documents, Canadian researchers have revealed.

The network, dubbed GhostNet, appears to target embassies, media groups, NGOs, international organisations, government foreign ministries and the offices of the Dalai Lama, leader of the Tibetan exile movement. The researchers, based at Toronto University's Munk Centre for International Studies, said their discovery had profound implications.

Read more..

Australian Grand Prix in Pictures

Stevie looks the part in Fab revolution

LIVERPOOL'S thoroughbred is no longer wasted as England's workhorse. Steven Gerrard has spent most of his career as the heartbeat of Anfield but frustratingly limited to being the lungs for his country.

He has tended to be stuck wherever the side looks most lop-sided. The sight of him patrolling the left flank at the Wembley line-up was enough to make you wonder if Fabio Capello had watched Liverpool play recently. There should be no such fears about Capello's wisdom.

England finally have a coach who recognises Gerrard's capacity to influence his country in the same way his dynamism inspires his club.

Seeing him dispatched to the left makes it easy to dismiss his role as little more than a trapeze artist, a player providing balance in an otherwise limited team. Under the rigid formations of Sven Goran Eriksson and Steve McClaren, such concerns were justified.They were either unwilling or unable to find the position for Gerrard to thrive, or to bring the best out of those around him.

Forget that under Capello. There's a fluidity about the system under the Italian, ensuring Gerrard should no longer feel stifled by a seemingly unfamiliar position. In keeping with the retro style of England's new shirts, Gerrard is best described as an 'inside left' rather than a left midfielder.

Google can 'help burglars'

Worried SPL stars have been warned their homes could be targeted by criminal gangs using hit website Google Street View.The sneaky software means crooks can spend hours checking out security and planning raids online.And mega-rich footballers are most at risk from the organised crime gangs because the thieves know when they'll be away from home. SPL stars have been warned their homes could be targeted by criminal gangs using hit website Google Street View.

Read more..

Kop chiefs and Carlsberg in talks over £60million sponsorship

Rafa Benitez’s transfer kitty could be strengthened if a report in the News of the World this morning is correct. According to the Sunday newspaper, "Liverpool are pursuing a record sponsorship deal with Carlsberg which could net them £60million."

If the Merseyside giants pull off a four-year deal worth 60 million pounds this would be a vast improvement on their current agreement with the Danish brewers.

Liverpool currently earn around 10 million pounds a year, including Champions League bonuses and is due to end after the 2009/2010 season.

American co-owners Tom Hicks and George Gillett would shatter English football records with such a deal. Since Chelsea’s four-year agreement with Samsung is 50 million and Manchester United’s deal with AIG is worth 56 million.

John Aldridge: Be grateful the world's best player is at Anfield

I AM not in the least bit surprised that Steven Gerrard is receiving so much backing to win the PFA player of the year award because for me he is the number one candidate.

Of the leading contenders he is the one who really stands out because he brings so much to the team he plays for.

Steven is Liverpool's top scorer and is only a couple of goals behind Nicolas Anelka in the Premier League charts, he gives 100% in every single game, he is the talisman and the leader on the pitch.

It's common in cricket for players who can bat and bowl to be described as all rounders but Steven is football's all rounder because he can do everything to an extremely high standard.

I know that the likes of Nemanja Vidic and Ryan Giggs have received a lot of support for the PFA award but as well as they have done for Man United I just don't think they contribute as much to their team as Steven does to Liverpool.

Read more..

Capello: Zidane right about Gerrard

England coach Fabio Capello concurs with Zinedine Zidane’s assessment that Steven Gerrard is one of the world’s elite players.

France legend Zidane, regarded as one of the greatest players ever to grace the game, caused a ripple in the world order when heaping huge praise on Liverpool star Gerrard.

Capello seems to be succeeding where others have failed by getting the best out of Gerrard in the national jersey and he feels Zidane is correct in his assessment.

"Zidane said Gerrard was one of the best in the world and I agree with him," said Capello. "It is a fantastic time for him. He is at the very top of his game."

Skysports

Army got talent