Rodgers poised to complete Anfield move

Brendan Rodgers was last night set to become the new manager of Liverpool, after being offered a three-year contract to succeed Kenny Dalglish.

The move by Fenway Sports Group ends a two-week search for a new man to take control at Anfield. Rodgers' former club, Swansea City, will pocket around £4m in compensation for losing their highly rated young manager.
The 39-year-old met the Liverpool owner, John Henry, and chairman, Tom Werner, yesterday, after lengthy discussions with the Swansea chairman, Huw Jenkins, on Tuesday.

Lampard set to miss Euros as England turn to Henderson

Roy Hodgson's medical staff will have to convince Uefa officials that Frank Lampard's thigh strain was not a pre-existing condition suffered by the midfielder if the new England manager is to be given dispensation to replace the injured Chelsea man with Jordan Henderson in his Euro 2012 squad.

The Football Association has already notified Liverpool and Henderson that the player is likely to be called up when Lampard goes for a scan this morning on a strain that he sustained towards the end of yesterday's session. However, because all 16 teams in Euro 2012 had to submit their 23-man squads to Uefa by Tuesday, replacements can only be called up if it can be proved that the injury took place after the deadline.

Sevilla 3 Mallorca 1

soccerway.com

Three goals in 17 minutes just after the break saw Sevilla earn a vital 3-1 win over Mallorca on Monday at Sanchez Pizjuan in La Liga action.

A scoreless first half had both teams feeling confident of earning a victory, but brilliant finishes by the hosts put things out of reach before the visitors could get on the board.

Sevilla, who boosted their chances of European football with the win, managed to earn their third straight league victory, all of which saw them score three goals.

The opening goal came five minutes after the half-time break.

Comparisons between Messi and I are crazy, says Gomez

MUNICH, Germany (Reuters) - Barcelona's Lionel Messi is the best footballer of all time and any comparisons between the Argentine forward and Bayern Munich's Mario Gomez are "crazy", said the German international.

Gomez has scored 11 times in the Champions League this season, once fewer than Messi, plus 23 Bundesliga goals for title-chasing Bayern.

The media in Germany have repeatedly compared the two players but Gomez shrugged off the suggestion ahead of Tuesday's Champions League quarter-final second leg against Olympique Marseille.

"I am not crazy enough to compare myself with Messi because he is the best there ever was and the best there will ever be," he told reporters on Monday.

United leave it late to extend lead over City

Manchester United went five points clear at the top of the Premier League after late goals by Antonio Valencia and Ashley Young sealed a 2-0 win at struggling Blackburn on Monday.

Sir Alex Ferguson's side looked set for an evening of frustration at Ewood Park as an entertaining game appeared to be heading towards a goalless draw.

But Valencia broke the deadlock in the 81st minute with a sublime finish from an acute angle before Young sealed United's 10th win in 11 top-flight games five minutes later from the edge of the area.

The result leaves United clear favourites to secure a fifth title in six seasons.

They will go eight points clear at the summit if they defeat QPR at Old Trafford in their next match as nearest rivals Manchester City are not in action until late Sunday afternoon.

Tito honoured by United link

Rayo Vallecano's Defender: Tito

Rayo Vallecano defender Tito is flattered by reported interest from English Premier League champions Manchester United.

Tito, 26, has impressed during his debut season in La Liga, and United are believed to have sent chief scout Martin Ferguson to watch the player in action against Real Madrid on Sunday.

"It's really flattering that a club like Manchester United are looking at me," Tito told AS.

"I already knew that Martin Ferguson was here on Sunday at Vallecas because they told me in the dressing room."

"What I don't know is if that possible interest from the English club will translate into anything more in future."

Mancini annoyed at Sturridge exit

Daniel Sturridge

Roberto Mancini has questioned Manchester City's decision to allow Daniel Sturridge to join Chelsea when his contract expired in 2009.

Sturridge failed to agree a new deal with City, and subsequently signed for the Blues for 3.5 million pounds plus add-ons, a few months before Mancini arrived in Manchester.

He has since gone on to establish himself as a key member of the first-team squad at Stamford Bridge, and trails only Frank Lampard in the Chelsea scoring charts this season.

"I asked him last year when he played for Bolton why he left Manchester City and he said he didn’t know," Mancini revealed to the Manchester Evening News.

"I know Sturridge well, I have watched him many times. Given the chance I think I would have liked to have kept him, but now he is at Chelsea we can do nothing."

"I know for sure he was one of the best young players that was here."