SoccerShorts: Djibril Cisse inspired Liverpool to a 3-1 extra-time victory over CSKA Moscow in the European Super Cup final in Monaco last night.
Liverpool went behind in the 28th minute when Vagner Love's pass allowed Daniel Carvalho to beat the offside trap and score.
Cisse came on as a substitute for John Arne Riise on 78 minutes and scored within four minutes when Jose Reina's long ball was flicked on by Luis Garcia.
Cisse added a second 12 minutes into extra time before crossing for Luis Garcia to put the result beyond doubt.
Luque in at deep end
Albert Luque completed his move to Newcastle yesterday and immediately set his sights on ending his goal drought against Manchester United. The 27-year-old Spaniard flew into Tyneside yesterday morning to undergo a medical before signing a five-year deal following Deportivo La Coruna's acceptance of Newcastle's undisclosed offer, believed to amount to £9.5 million.
He will go straight into the squad for tomorrow's Premiership clash with Alex Ferguson's side after Newcastle confirmed last night they had received international clearance for the Spaniard.
The move looked to have fallen through on Tuesday when Newcastle manager Graeme Souness confirmed that what he described as his club's "final" bid for the player had been rejected. But with the closure of the transfer window looming, they went back to Spain and made the breakthrough.
Newcastle remain in the market for an out-and-out striker with Real Madrid's Michael Owen topping their list and Feyenoord's Dirk Kuyt having emerged as another contender.
Souness has already admitted he does not see Luque as a 20-goal-a-season man, but is confident he will bring both firepower and creativity to the club. "He will bring a certain amount of goals and he will bring us a bit of width if we choose to play him wide," he said.
Stelios to stay put
Bolton boss Sam Allardyce has won his battle to persuade Greek midfielder Stelios Giannakopoulos to stay at the Reebok Stadium, and a one-year loan deal has been agreed with Juventus for Croat international Igor Tudor. Meanwhile, Bolton chairman Phil Gartside expressed shock after the president of his club's Uefa Cup opponents Lokomotiv Plovdiv was murdered.
The Bulgarian club's owner, Georgi Iliev, was shot dead by a sniper just 40 minutes after his team qualified for the Uefa Cup first round by beating OFK Belgrade of Serbia and Montenegro on Thursday.
The murder overshadowed the draw for the European competition and left Gartside shaken. "We really know nothing about this club but this is terrible news in the circumstances," said Gartside. "It is dreadful for this to happen. I am shocked."
Bulgarian police said Iliev's name had cropped up in drug investigations and he had a history of criminal charges, including a rape conviction in 1986. His brother, a suspected mob boss, was murdered in 1995.
Video snares Todd
The English Football Association has charged Blackburn Rovers defender Andy Todd with violent conduct following an incident involving Tottenham's Andy Reid during their Premier League match on Wednesday.
The Blackburn captain appeared to head-butt the Republic of Ireland international in an off-the-ball altercation which left the Spurs midfielder on the ground.
Although the referee missed the incident at the time, the FA decided to take action against the 30-year-old after reviewing video footage of the game.
Everton add to wing
Dutch winger Andy van der Meyde will complete his switch from Inter Milan to Everton early next week, providing he passes a medical. A fee has been agreed between the clubs as have personal terms with the player.
David Moyes remains in the hunt for a left back as Alessandro Pistone looks likely to miss a large portion of the season with a knee injury and Gary Naysmith is still sidelined.
Matteo Ferrari yesterday completed has move to Everton on a one-year loan deal from Roma with a view to a permanent transfer.
No joy for Solano
Aston Villa midfielder Nolberto Solano will have to serve a three-match ban after the English FA rejected his appeal against being sent off at Portsmouth in midweek.
The 30-year-old Peruvian was red carded for violent conduct after appearing to elbow Pompey midfielder Richard Hughes.
In Brief ...
Former Sweden and Celtic goalkeeper Magnus Hedman (32) announced his retirement yesterday, citing a lack of motivation as the reason . . . Sheffield United have denied reports linking them with Liverpool striker Neil Mellor (22).
