Football Archives: 01/2011

Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard is eager to keep playing for at least another “four or five” years

Cristiano Ronaldo has told Manchester City striker Mario Balotelli to focus on his performances on the pitch and stop taking swipes at his rivals

Aston Villa new boy Darren Bent has rejected claims he quit Sunderland to secure a higher wage packet after the striker signed a four-and-a-half year deal at Villa Park on Tuesday

West Ham have finally ended speculation surrounding Avram Grant’s future by publicly backing their manager

Former gunner Thierry Henry is convinced Arsenal are finally ready to deliver silverware this season

Liverpool forward Ryan Babel has been handed a £10,000 fine by the Football Association and warned about his future conduct for posting comments and a mocked-up image of referee Howard Webb on Twitter

Sunderland striker Darren Bent is on the verge sealing of an £18m switch to Aston Villa

Sir Alex Ferguson hailed his side’s defensive stability after Manchester United returned to the summit of the Premier League despite being held to a goalless draw by Tottenham at White Hart Lane

Kenny Dalglish bemoaned his side’s inability to convert a host of first-half chances after his Liverpool side were held by Everton on his Anfield return

West Ham manager Avram Grant remains focused on the club’s bid to avoid relegation despite intense speculation over his future at Upton Park

Arsene Wenger insists Arsenal will not sell Andrey Arshavin – but admits the Russian is enduring a poor run of form

Tottenham boss Harry Redknapp is confident his side will become the first team to beat Manchester United in the league this season on Sunday

Asian football chief Mohamed Bin Hammam has ruled out moving the 2022 World Cup in Qatar to winter or staging tournament matches around the Gulf region

Blackburn Rovers have resigned former striker Roque Santa Cruz from Manchester City on loan until the end of the season

He may have over 170,000 followers, but when Liverpool forward Ryan Babel posted remarks about referee Howard Webb on Twitter after his side’s 1-0 defeat at Old Trafford last weekend he surely wasn’t expecting the uproar that ensued

Gareth Bale will not be allowed to play for Team GB at the 2012 London Olympics despite declaring an interest in participating in the event

Manchester City boss Roberto Mancini believes Tottenham winger Gareth Bale will be one of the hottest prospects in the summer transfer window

West Ham have completed the signing of Wayne Bridge on loan from Manchester City until the end of the season. Bridge, 30, was at Upton…

Manager Harry Redknapp remains optimistic that Tottenham can sign David Beckham on loan in the next 24 hours

The Football Association believes Vauxhall is the ideal partner for the England teams after confirming a three-and-a-half-year sponsorship deal with the car giant on Tuesday

Jose Mourinho admits he is unlikely to be able to better his achievements as Inter Milan manager with Real Madrid after he was named as the Fifa World Coach of the Year on Monday