A round-up of today's other stories in brief
Trabzonspor take up slack
TRABZONSPOR will replace Fenerbahce in today's Champions League group stage draw after the Turkish champions were forced to withdraw due to an ongoing match-fixing investigation.
Uefa confirmed the decision last night, hours after the Turkish Football Federation announced they had barred Fenerbahce from playing in the Champions League.
The decision means that Trabzonspor’s scheduled Europa League qualifier against Athletic Bilbao has been cancelled, with the Spanish club progressing automatically.
TOTTENHAM yesterday won legal clearance to challenge a decision to hand the 2012 Olympic stadium to rivals West Ham United after the Games.
The club had sought a judicial review after the Olympic Park Legacy Company (OPLC) awarded West Ham preferred bidder status for the €552 million stadium earlier this year.
Chelsea to lodge improved bid
CHELSEA are to lodge an improved bid for Alvaro Pereira after Porto rejected an opening offer of €18.8 million for the Uruguay international, with the Londoners considering selling Florent Malouda to Juventus. Pereira, who can operate on the left of defence or midfield, would be a direct replacement for the departed Yuri Zhirkov following the Russian’s sale to Anzhi Makhachkala.
Porto will seek a fee closer to the €30 million release clause in the South American’s contract. Chelsea are confident that the player will be reunited with Andre Villas-Boas before tomorrow’s deadline.
JOEY Barton was undergoing a medical ahead of a proposed move to Queens Park Rangers last night after Newcastle United made it clear they were not prepared to do a U-turn and offer him a new contract at St James’ Park.
The midfielder, available on a free transfer but with one year remaining on his contract, had wronly hoped that Neil Warnock’s approach would force a change of heart.
Suarez inspires Liverpool as Dalglish notches 200th win
LIVERPOOL gave Kenny Dalglish his 200th win in charge of the club as Luis Suarez inspired a 3-1 League Cup second-round victory over Exeter at St James Park.
The Uruguayan grabbed the opener with a volley after 23 minutes before teeing up Maxi Rodriguez and substitute Andy Carroll after the break.
But there was some concern for Dalglish as the Scot lost Raul Meireles to a shoulder injury inside the first quarter of the game.
Everton booked their place in the third round with a 3-1 victory over Sheffield United at Goodison Park.
The League One side went in front in the 28th minute through Richard Cresswell, but the same player diverted the ball into his own net moments later after Steve Simonsen had got a palm to a strike by Jack Rodwell.
Everton then took control , with finishes from Victor Anichebe (37) and Mikel Arteta (42) swiftly turning the game on its head.
Ruben Rochina grabbed his first goals for Blackburn Rovers as a whirlwind start helped Steve Kean’s men to a 3-1 win over Sheffield Wednesday.
Rovers scored all three in the opening seven minutes with Rochina finding the net in the third and fourth minutes and David Goodwillie ramming home the third.
Tuncay Sanli scored on his Bolton debut and then layed on a goal for Martin Petrov in a 2-1 win against League Two side Macclesfield.
Nasri takes parting swipe at Arsenal supporters
SAMIR Nasri concluded his €24 million move to Manchester City declaring that he had joined “the club of the future” before making a reference to Arsenal’s supporters that will only increase the sense of acrimony surrounding the transfer.
Nasri, who has signed a four-year contract, admitted he had become “frustrated” at Arsenal and said he was looking forward to playing at a stadium with a better atmosphere than the Emirates.
“The City supporters are really passionate and it reminds me of (playing for) Marseille,” Nasri said. “Arsenal have good fans but they are not that passionate since they moved from Highbury to the Emirates. The crowd at City are amazing and that’s what you want as a player – a good atmosphere.”
Nasri has roughly doubled his wages and the 24-year-old, in contention to make his debut in Sunday’s game at Tottenham Hotspur, said it was “a big relief” to have finalised all the drawn-out negotiations.
