Soccer Shorts: Steven Gerrard will play for Liverpool against Chelsea on Sunday despite a scan revealing he has a hairline fracture of the toe sustained in Wednesday's Champions League third qualifying round victory in Toulouse.
Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez insists, however, Gerrard will then need to rest and will not figure in England's friendly against Germany at Wembley next Wednesday.
Benitez is prepared to push his player to the limit to face Chelsea but said: "He will then need one or two weeks' rest."
Alves hopeful of move Daniel Alves remains hopeful he will complete his transfer from Sevilla to Chelsea despite the reservations of Roman Abramovich about paying an inflated fee to bring him to London.
The Brazilian right back is one of the most coveted players in the world and wants to join Chelsea despite interest from Real Madrid.
Peter Kenyon, Chelsea's chief executive, met Sevilla's director-general Jose Maria Cruz in Madrid to finalise a package believed to be worth €34 million.
Meanwhile, Chelsea are set to make a major addition to Jose Mourinho's backroom staff with the recruitment of the former Bolton Wanderers performance director Mike Forde.
West Ham land Dyer
Kieron Dyer's on-off move from Newcastle United to West Ham has finally been concluded after the two sides agreed terms.
West Ham had agreed a fee for the 28-year-old but the deal hit the buffers when Newcastle decided to up their valuation of the player from around €8.9 million to nearer €11.8 million.
Sheffield United to sue
Sheffield United will sue West Ham United for the cost of relegation from the Premier League last season, the club said yesterday.
"Sheffield United is today initiating legal proceedings against West Ham United seeking substantial compensation for relegation from the Premier League," the club stated.
The club estimates the cost of relegation to be more than €45 million.
Sheffield United claim West Ham gained an unfair advantage because Argentina forward Carlos Tevez, whose form in the second half of last season was inspirational and helped save the London team from going down, was not eligible to play for them.
Draw for Dunfermline Dunfermline last night drew the first leg of their Uefa Cup second qualifying round match against Swedish side BK Hacken 1-1.
Jim Hamilton scored for Stephen Kenny's side in the first minute at East End Park.
Owen to make return
Michael Owen is poised to return to the Newcastle United team at some point during tomorrow's game against Aston Villa.
Providing he emerges unscathed, the striker may then lead England's attack against Germany at Wembley on Wednesday.
Germany will be without captain Michael Ballack and striker Mario Gomez for the friendly match. Ballack has yet to recover from ankle surgery, while Gomez has a thigh injury.
GERMANY SQUAD (v England):Hildebrand, Lehmann; Friedrich, Fritz, Jansen, Lahm, Mertesacker, Metzelder, Tasci; Hilbert, Hitzlsperger, Khedira, Rolfes, Schneider, Schweinsteiger, Trochowski; Helmes, Kiessling, Klose, Kuranyi.
Lazio plead innocence
Lazio launched a vehement defence of the club yesterday, saying incidents surrounding Tuesday's Champions League qualifier with Dinamo Bucharest had been blown out of all proportion.
Uefa said it would review the Rome first leg, which was marred with five Romanians being injured in clashes outside the Stadio Olimpico before kick-off.The club also said it could not be held responsible for the trouble outside the stadium and that it awaited Uefa's findings with confidence.
In brief . . .
Championship side Leicester Cityhave announced the three-month loan signing of Republic of Ireland defender Clive Clarke(27) from Sunderland . . . Cardiff City have signed former Leeds, Chelsea and Middlesbrough striker Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink. . . Roque Santa Cruzscored the only goal of the game as Blackburn Rovers beat MyPa in their Uefa Cup second qualifying round first leg match in Finland yesterday . . . David Beckhamtreated LA Galaxy fans to a masterclass in his first start for the club on Wednesday, scoring a goal and creating another to help his side to a 2-0 win over DC United in a SuperLiga semi-final .. . English Championship club Charlton Athleticannounced it was up for sale yesterday.
