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Houllier silent on Villa job talk

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Former Liverpool boss Gerard Houllier is staying tight-lipped over a possible return to Premier League management with Aston Villa (9/1 – top four finish).

The Frenchman is reportedly in line to take over at Villa Park and is thought to be on owner Randy Lerner’s shortlist to replace Martin O’Neill, who unexpectedly quit just before the start of the Premier League season.

There are suggestions the former Lyon boss could come in as director of football in a move that would see current caretaker manager Kevin MacDonald remain in charge of first-team affairs.

Houllier, who left Anfield in 2004 following six seasons in charge of the Reds, was back at Liverpool on Saturday for Jamie Carragher’s testimonial but he refused to be drawn on the speculation linking him with Villa.

When asked about his future, the current technical director for the French Football Federation said: “Never and always are two words you can’t use in football.”

Alan Curbishley is also said to be in the frame for the job while the likes of former England and Man City chief Sven Goran Eriksson, Everton boss David Moyes and even Birmingham manager Alex McLeish have all been linked with the post.

Villa (50/1 to be relegated this season) are next in action when they take on Stoke a week on Monday.

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Konchesky aiming to take his chance

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Liverpool defender Paul Konchesky has admitted he is determined to take his chance and ‘play at the highest level’ with the Reds and says he cannot wait to turn out for his new club (Liverpool 6/4 – top four finish).

Konchesky followed boss Roy Hodgson from Fulham to Anfield this summer and the 29-year-old is expected to be the first-choice left back for Liverpool for the rest of the season.

The former England international admitted he jumped at the chance to make the switch to Merseyside and, while teaming up again with Hodgson was a factor in his decision to move, the lure of playing for one of the biggest clubs in the country was just too good an opportunity to turn down.

“I’m 29 and this is my last chance to play at the highest level,” Konchesky said. “That is what Liverpool are and I am really looking forward to it. “It (Hodgson) was a big factor but Liverpool being a big club was a massive factor.

“I’m looking forward to getting a new lease of life and playing at a very high standard. I can’t wait to pull on a Liverpool shirt in the Premier League - it is a massive club and it is a big step for me.”

Konchesky got his first taste of playing for Liverpool at Anfield when he turned out in Jamie Carragher’s testimonial on Saturday and he says he is ready to take his chance for his new club.

“I just want to give it my all and go from there,” he added. “I’ve had three or four days’ training and although there have not been a lot of players there it has been a good week and I am hopefully going to enjoy it soon.

“You look at the history they have got behind them – it is unbelievable – and there are some great players here. If we can bring that back to the side this year in something like the Europa League (11/1 to win outright) then this team can go a long way.”

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Rooney set for Switzerland trip

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Wayne Rooney is expected to fly out with the rest of the England squad to Switzerland on Monday, despite allegations about his private life in two tabloid newspapers (England 5/6 to beat Switzerland).

The Manchester United star is in the spotlight after stories in the News of the World and the Sunday Mirror.

But an FA spokesman said that, as things stand, Rooney will be on board when the players head to Basle for their Euro 2012 qualifier.

Rooney had a hand in all three of Jermain Defoe’s goals against Bulgaria on Friday night in the 4-0 win at Wembley, and is expected to start providing he is in the right frame of mind.

The 24-year-old had ended a five-month goal drought in his club’s 3-0 Premier League win over West Ham last week.

If he does not play, Capello has a problem as to who should partner Defoe, with Peter Crouch and Bobby Zamora unfit.

West Ham’s Carlton Cole or Sunderland’s Darren Bent could earn a start against the Bulgarians.

In the absence of the injured Michael Dawson in defence, Capello must decide between West Ham’s Matthew Upson, Everton’s Phil Jagielka or Bolton’s Gary Cahill.

“I have to decide about the position but Cahill is young and has a big future,” said Capello.

“It is good for the players who have not played a lot of games to come into the team when we are doing well. It is not so easy when we are not.”

The England (2/9 to win qualifying group G) manager says Rooney revelled on Friday in a slightly deeper position than he has been used to.

“Rooney was always been given the licence to move around freely but this time he had to come back more and to play in the hole,” said Capello.

“With James Milner left, Theo Walcott on the right and then Adam Johnson later, it was a great position for him.

“It depends on the opponents. If they put one midfielder in front of their back four the position Rooney played is not as easy.

“But in this game, with Defoe running behind the defence I chose it for him.”

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Keane OK for Andorra

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Republic of Ireland boss Giovanni Trapattoni is relieved to have skipper Robbie Keane available for Tuesday’s Euro 2012 qualifier against Andorra (5/4 Republic of Ireland – To Qualify).

Keane reported no ill-effects from his outing in the win over Armenia on Friday night.

And Trapattoni said he had taken the 30-year-old striker off as a precaution, as he had been struggling with a knee problem.

He said: “I gave him a little bit of a rest because he had, not an injury, but some pain and I wanted to be cautious about it.”

The Ireland (80/1 – to win Euro 2012) squad will also be boosted ahead of the Armenia tie by Ipswich defender Darren O’Dea’s return to training following a sprained knee.

Hull?s Paul McShane is also available for the Armenia game after being ruled out of the Armenia trip due to a hamstring injury. However, Fulham’s Damien Duff will not have shaken off his calf strain in time to play.

Trapattoni was happy to settle for a 1-0 victory in Armenia, having insisted before the game that winning by the only goal would do for.

The Italian saw his players given a tough assignment in the sweltering Yerevan Republican Stadium.

Trapattoni said: “It’s not easy for a coach or a manager to say before the game, ‘we will win’.

“We have to respect our opponents and we must have respect for this opponent.

“I felt we could win this game, but my colleague from Armenia would have thought they could win it too.

“I knew it would be a very, very difficult game for us, but I think over the 90 minutes, we deserved to win it.

“For us, it is a very, very important victory because we have started the campaign with this result away from home. That creates confidence and we can go on from here.”

Keane was denied his 44th senior international goal on his 101st appearance when his 31st-minute strike was ruled out by an offside flag, and he later hit the post.

It was left to relative novice Keith Fahey, the Birmingham midfielder, to snatch the points after he came on as a substitute and struck from close range eight minutes later on his first competitive appearance.

Trapattoni was happy that it was mission accomplished in the opening Euro 2012 qualifier.

He said: “I saw the last qualification for the World Cup and Armenia lost one or two games, but played very well.

“I think it will not be easy also for other teams coming here.”

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Brown seeks Scotland home comforts

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craig leveinScott Brown says it is crucial Scotland (11/2 to reach the finals) prove hard to beat at home if they are to stand a chance of qualifying for Euro 2012.

Craig Levein’s men started their qualifying campaign with a 0-0 draw in Lithuania on Friday evening, as they prepare for their first home fixture of the campaign this week.

Liechtenstein are the visitors to Hampden Park on Tuesday, in what looks like a must-win game for Scotland.

Celtic (4/6f to win 2010-11 SPL title) star Brown admitted to the BBC: “We need to win our home games, that’s the main thing. Away from home we have got to try and nick a few points, maybe get a win here or there.

“We’re enjoying playing and looking forward to the future. The players are comfortable with the formation.”

Levein will feel a bit frustrated not to have started their campaign with a win though, with Scotland (18/1 to win Group I) enjoying the territorial advantage and the better chances.

The shots on-target count was 5-1 in the visitors favour, but the Scots started their Group I fixtures with an away point.

Levein is expected to make changes to the side for Tuesday’s match, with James McFadden pushing for a start.

The Birmingham forward came on as a second-half substitute in Lithuania, replacing Barry Robson, and looked lively going forward.

Scotland will want to gain their first qualifying win this week, ahead of a tough double header next month.

Levein’s men face an away trip to the Czech Republic in October, before a home clash with European and World champions Spain.

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Strike duo excite Capello

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Fabio Capello felt hat-trick hero Jermain Defoe’s all-round performance was vital to England’s cause as they beat Bulgaria 4-0 to kick-start their Euro 2012 qualifying campaign (England 9/1 to win Euro 2012).

Capello was desperate for his men to put in a good performance in front of 73,000 fans at Wembley to atone for their dreadful showing at the World Cup, which saw them exit the competition to Germany at the last-16 stage.

It was touch-and-go as to whether the Italian tactician would keep his job after the 4-1 debacle against the Germans but he remains committed to the cause and Friday’s solid performance was just what the nation needed to get the feel-good factor back around the England team after such a disappointing campaign in South Africa.

Despite promising changes, Capello has kept faith with a number of players who were to blame for the World Cup shambles and they repaid his faith with three points to open up their eight-match Group G campaign (England 2/9 to win Group G).

Defoe opened the scoring in just the third minute and added further goals on 61 and 86 minutes, while Adam Johnson netted the other on 83 minutes as England upped their game in the second period to put daylight between the sides.

Defoe was due to undergo groin surgery this week but postponed his operation to play in England’s two qualifiers, and it paid dividends as he looked lively throughout and linked up well with the excellent Wayne Rooney.

Capello was relieved that Defoe was able to play and praised the way that he took his goals and worked tirelessly for the team.

“Defoe is always very important for us,” he said. “He can shoot with his left foot and his right and his performance was really, really good and his movement without the ball was fantastic.”

The veteran manager was also delighted with Rooney’s contribution after asking the Manchester United hit-man to play a slightly different role than he is accustomed to.

“I played Rooney in a position different than usual,” he added. “He did very well. I spoke with him before the game.

“He had to stay just in front of the two central midfielders and from this position to go forward and to be free. The quality of Rooney was really high.”

England will face a much stiffer test against Switzerland away from home on Tuesday but, with Defoe expected to shake off the knock he picked up towards the end of Friday’s match, Capello will be confident of coming home with all three points.

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Rio to get stuck into Toffees

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Rio Ferdinand has been declared fit to return to the Manchester United first-team (11/5 – Premiership Outright) after he came through 45 minutes of the reserve-team’s 2-1 win against Oldham in the Manchester Senior Cup tie at Stalybridge on Wednesday.

The 31-year-old central defender has not played since picking up a serious knee ligament injury following a collision with Emile Heskey ahead of England’s World Cup opener against the United States in South Africa in early June.

However, despite Sir Alex Ferguson initially ruling Ferdinand out until the end of September, his excellent progress saw him pitched in to face the Latics for a second string run-out.

United reserve-team boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer was very pleased with Ferdinand’s display and sees no reason why he cannot come into contention to face Everton in the Premier League on September 11.

“Rio is always the same player,” said Solskjaer. “It is a while since he has played but he was still calm.

“He has get through an important 45 minutes, straight after two very hard training sessions yesterday and the day before so we are delighted with him.”

Solskjaer also played down any fears of a setback when Ferdinand went off at half time, claiming it was always planned he would not play the full match after near three months out of action.

“Today was about distances and getting tighter to the ball. Now he is available for selection again,” he added.

Ferguson will be overjoyed to have Ferdinand back into contention for selection as United get their Champions League campaign (United 8/1 – Outright) underway against Glasgow Rangers on September 14.

England boss Fabio Capello will no doubt also be keeping a close eye on the player’s developments given that he is already set to miss their opening two Euro 2012 qualifiers against Bulgaria (England 3/10, Bulgaria 8/1, Draw 10/3 – 90 Minutes) and Switzerland this week.

However if Ferdinand works his way back to full fitness he will be an important part of the Italian’s plans to try and ensure the Three Lions qualify (England 1/12 – To Qualify) for the tournament in two years’ time.

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Benzema blow for France

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Real Madrid striker Karim Benzema has been ruled out of France’s (2/7 to win in 90 Minutes) Euro 2012 qualifier against Belarus (8/1) on Friday night with an ankle injury.

The French Football Federation announced that the 22-year-old would not be risked on Friday night in coach Laurent Blanc’s first competitive match in charge since taking over after the disastrous World Cup finals campaign.

Although tests on Benzema’s right ankle showed a slight improvement, it was deemed to be too much of a risk for him to play at the Stade de France.

The ex-Lyon star will continue to receive treatment with the FFF hopeful he may be fit for Tuesday’s game with Bosnia and Herzegovina.

A statement from the FFF read: “Benzema will not be included in the team selected by Laurent Blanc to face Belarus. We hope he will be able to return to the squad for next Tuesday’s game against Bosnia in Sarajevo.

Guillaume Hoarau (4/1 First Goalscorer) is expecetd to lead the line against Belarus with Loic Remy (5/1) dropping in behind him with the Paris St Germain striker revealing they were forming a good understanding on the pitch.

“His game completes mine,” said Hoarau. “Everything will depend on what we do on the field, on the spark that we inject into the team’s game. We had a big training session on Tuesday and already the understanding is emerging, even though most of the side haven’t played together before.”

Chelsea star Florent Malouda (11/2) is set to be the most experienced international in France’s starting line-up with several new faces given an extended run, such as Jeremy Menez (11/2) who will start on the right.

Louis Saha (7/2), despite having made only one Premier League start and two substitute appearances for Everton this season, is set for a spot on the bench with Nicolas Anelka having been banned for ten matches.

The former Fulham and Manchester United striker revealed he has used leeches to help his chronic knee problems which have sidelined him for long periods in the last few years.

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Capello slams fickle press

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England coach Fabio Capello kicked off the Three Lions’ Euro 2012 qualification campaign in defiant mood despite the country’s dismal World Cup in South Africa this summer (England 9/1 – Euro 2012 Outright).

The Italian has seen his status downgraded from hero to villain over the last 12 months – hero after a near-perfect run in World Cup qualifying and villain after the limp performances heralded just one win and humiliation at the hands of Germany.

Capello says he can live with the vitriol aimed in his direction from the press, though, and has effectively told his detractors that he is immune from the pressure piled on his shoulders.

Speaking ahead of Friday night’s showdown with Bulgaria at Wembley, Capello blasted his inquisitors by claiming: “You create the god, and you create the monster, no?

“I remember what you wrote about me a short time before this period.

“I live the same moment when you write well of me as when you write badly of me. You have to live with the pressure. It is my job.

“This is my team. We lost one game in the World Cup after one big mistake from the referee.

“You don’t remember this. But after this, your opinion about me changed completely.

“You wrote a lot of things differently. But I live with this situation.”

Capello’s position was the subject of an FA review immediately after the World Cup although the fact he had signed a new deal ahead of the tournament, reportedly removing the Italian’s get-out clause, may well have tied the governing body’s hands.

Regardless, Capello will lead England out against Stanimir Stoilov’s side later before the trip to Switzerland for next Tuesday’s clash with the well-organised Swiss.

Bulgaria’s squad is shorn of the services of Manchester United striker Dimitar Berbatov – he retired from international football in May at the age of 29 after 77 caps and a record 48 goals.

Stoilov can call on the Premier League duo of Stiliyan Petrov and Martin Petrov, but elsewhere there a few household names in the travelling party (England 3/10, draw 4/1, Bulgaria 10/1 – 90 minutes).

However, the same could have been said about Algeria ahead of the goalless draw with the North Africans back on June 18 when England were booed off the field by their own fans, prompting a furious outburst from striker Wayne Rooney (8/1 – England 0-0 Bulgaria).

England will be without Frank Lampard, John Terry, Peter Crouch, Aaron Lennon and Bobby Zamora through injury.

Bulgaria have never won on English soil in five attempts.

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Keane up for Euro 2012 tilt

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Captain Robbie Keane believes Republic of Ireland are a better team now compared to when they suffered World Cup heartbreak at the hands of France last autumn (Republic of Ireland 6/4 – To Qualify for Euro 2012).

Giovanni Trapattoni’s men were denied by a William Gallas goal just when extra time loomed in Paris although Thierry Henry’s blatant handball in the build-up was clear for all to see – apart from the match officials.

Justice was seemingly done, however, in South Africa when Les Bleus internally combusted and found themselves on the way home following a dismal group campaign which saw them beaten by both Mexico and the host nation.

The Republic will be hoping their fortunes are heading in the opposite direction as they bid to reach Poland and Ukraine in two years for the 14th European Championships – a tournament they have featured in just once back in 1988 when they beat England 1-0 in the group stage but failed to qualify for the semi-finals (Republic of Ireland 3/1 – To Win Qualification Group B).

Twelve years on Keane is hoping the potential the side has shown under Trapattoni – the Republic twice held then world champions Italy in 2010 World Cup qualifying – comes to fruition.

However, the Spurs forward admits sweltering conditions in Armenia on Friday night will be testing and that avoiding defeat is the “most important thing”.

Keane said: “With the experience we have now, of course it is only going to make you a better team.

“The more experience you have, the better you are and hopefully the experience we had in the last campaign will stand us in good stead for this one.”

He added: “The most important thing is not to lose. It’s the first game and of course, you want to win every game you are involved in, and that will be the case.

“We are not going to come here looking to get a draw. We want to win the game.

“But the most important thing is certainly not to lose the game.”

Keane will win his 101st international cap in Armenia – his next big target is to score the seven goals needed to hit the half-century mark on the biggest stage – although he appears to be relieved the appearance milestone has been passed after notching a ton of games against Argentina recently.

The 30-year-old continued: “It was great to get the 100th cap but personally I am delighted that’s gone now, just to get it over with and concentrate on the rest of the games.

“We had a great chance in the last campaign – obviously, we just missed out, but hopefully that will make us stronger and more determined now to qualify.”

Elsewhere in Euro qualification Group B, Russia (8/13f – to top the group) travel to Andorra (2500/1) while Slovakia (19/5) entertain Macedonia (20/1).

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