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Jelavic eyes Rangers shock win

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Nikica Jelavic believes that Rangers can secure a shock win over Manchester United when the two sides meet in the Champions League on Tuesday evening (United 1/6, draw 11/2, Rangers 18/1 ).

Jelavic will not feature in the clash due to being cup-tied but believes that United being favourites for the tie means nothing in the grand scheme of things.

Rangers were overwhelming favourites to beat Hamilton in the SPL on Saturday but needed a 90th minute goal from substitute Kenny Miller to secure a 2-1 win. Jelavic believes that Hamilton’s battling qualities can be used as inspiration to Rangers when they become the underdogs at Old Trafford on Tuesday.

Speaking about the fixture, Jelavic stated: “I think we have a chance.

“Manchester United is a big team but, in our game [against Hamilton], they were 100% and we were a little down and thought it would be easy. Maybe this could also happen in the Champions League.

“You never know. Maybe if we are 100%, we can take some points there.”

Meanwhile, United boss Sir Alex Ferguson has admitted that he is still haunted by last season’s defeat to Bayern Munich in the Champions League, which he claimed his side “ballsed up”.

Arjen Robben’s late volley saw the German side progress on away goals but had United got through, Ferguson believes they would have reached the final. He went on to admit that he would have fancied his side’s chances against Inter Milan.

Speaking to the People, he said: “Last year still plays on my mind, that Bayern Munich game. Christ, I’m still not sleeping after that! I keep thinking about that game and keep getting angry about the way we lost it.

“We were in complete control until Rafael was sent off and then they came back into it. That result hurt and still does.”

Ferguson will be hoping to use this hurt to spur his side on this season. However, he is not taking Rangers lightly, accepting that Walter Smith will present a side which will be organised and difficult to beat. The United boss has stressed that he respects the Scottish side and certainly will not be taking them for granted.

Wayne Rooney (2/1 to be first goalscorer) is set to return to the fold after missing the trip to Everton due to the “terrible abuse” he usually gets at his former club. This would have been heightened following revelations about his private life although assistant boss Mike Phelan also suggested the England striker “wasn’t ready to play”.

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Carragher eyes attacking Liverpool

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Jamie Carragher believes Liverpool, on offer with tote at 6/4 to finish in the 2010-11 Premier League top four, have enough strike power to compete this season.

Reds boss Roy Hodgson was forced to sell wantaway Javier Mascherano and also tried to recruit a striker in the transfer window but failed to land several targets, including Mario Gomez of Bayern Munich and West Ham forward Carlton Cole.

However, defensive stalwart Carragher believes there is enough attacking talent at Anfield to fire them forward in the first half of the season.

The former England man believes a fit-again Fernando Torres, supported by David Ngog, youngster Daniel Pacheco, Ryan Babel and Dirk Kuyt provide plenty of options for the Merseysiders (Top Six finish – 3/10).

“We are looking for Fernando Torres to stay as fit as possible but I think David Ngog in the last 12 months is a completely different player, and his start to the season has been fantastic,” he said.

“We’ve also got Dirk Kuyt and Ryan Babel as well.”

Meanwhile Pepe Reina, who made a poor error to let Argentina’s Carlos Tevez score against him when in goal for Spain on Tuesday, admitted losing Mascherano to Barcelona is a big blow to the club.

The goalkeeper admitted: “Javier is very competitive, very Argentinian and he always offers his maximum in every game. For Barca this is a good new thing, but it’s not for us.

“He was not someone who got into controversy. He never caused rows in the dressing room. He was good on the pitch, broke up counter-attacks and now we need other players with his characteristics.”

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Bruce eyes Black Cats goal solution

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Steve Bruce admits Sunderland (20/1 – Top 6 Premier League finish) do need to bring in another striker before the transfer window closes at the end of this month.

The Black Cats (9/1 – to be relegated in 2010-11) have suffered a disappointing start to the season, with just one point from their opening two matches.

Having been two-goals up on the opening day, they allowed Birmingham to take a point at the Stadium of Light before losing 1-0 at newly-promoted West Brom last weekend.

The goals they scored against Birmingham came from a Darren Bent (18/1 – Top Premier League Goalscorer) penalty and an own goal and then a blank sheet at the Hawthorns, highlighting further the need for fresh attacking blood.

Bruce surprised many by allowing Kenwyne Jones to join Premier League rivals Stoke earlier in the summer for £8million and is now looking to bring in a last-minute solution.

Despite signing Danny Welbeck on loan from Manchester United, the Black Cats boss admits further reinforcements are needed before August 31.

Bruce told the Daily Star: “It’s absolutely paramount that I replace Kenwyne Jones. I would not want to get to the end of the window without another striker here.

“We’ve got a couple of young lads in Danny Welbeck and Martyn Waghorn who will play their part, but they are young boys.”

Bruce claims to have “one or two irons in the fire” regarding potential new arrivals, but also stated that do deal is “imminent”.

Sunderland (Carling Cup 90 Mins Betting – Sunderland 4/1, Draw 16/5, Colchester 6/1)  have been linked with the likes of Peter Crouch and Roque Santa Cruz this summer, but it looks like Bruce could look abroad for the solution.

The former Wigan boss is believed to be targeting Ghanaian striker Asamoah Gyan, who impressed many onlookers during the World Cup.

The 24-year-old currently plays his football in France with Rennes and is likely to cost Sunderland in the region of £12million.

Things don’t get any easier for Bruce’s men, as they seek their first league win of the 2010-11 campaign, with Manchester City the visitors to the Stadium of Light on Sunday.

Bruce has been boosted by the news though that Andy Reid and Anton Ferdinand could be fit to return this weekend, following a spell on the sidelines with hamstring problems.

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Bent eyes Euros

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Sunderland striker Darren Bent is aiming to play a key role as England look towards the qualification stages for the 2012 European Championship (9/1 to win Euro 2012).

Bent was set to play in England’s last friendly against Hungary at Wembley but had to pull out of the squad due to a back injury.

The former Tottenham Hotspur striker wanted to make a claim for a place in the starting XI to play alongside Wayne Rooney.

Bent recovered from the injury and scored in the Black Cats opening game of the season against Birmingham at the Stadium of Light.

The 26-year-old had a strong season for Sunderland in their last campaign, scoring 24 Premier League goals, and looks set to continue that form after getting off to a good start last weekend.

Despite being one of the Premier League’s top English goalscorers Bent failed to make Fabio Capello’s World Cup squad.

The Three Lions had a disappointing tournament in South Africa this summer with Jermaine Defoe the only striker to get on the score sheet for England.

Bent believes that he can make an impact on the international stage as England (6/1 not to qualify for Euro 2012) look to put the World Cup behind them.

He said: “I saw him [Capello] at the last squad and when I had to pull out, he said it was unfortunate, but he told me to keep working hard and more opportunities would come, and hopefully they will.

“I was selected for the first squad after the World Cup – it was just unfortunate about my back.

“But I know there’s a qualifier coming up and if I can keep knocking them in for Sunderland again and playing well, there is no reason why I can’t be in that squad.”

Bent was disappointed not to make the 23-man squad that flew to South Africa and did consider retiring from international football.

Blackburn Rovers keeper Paul Robinson and Manchester United defender Wes Brown have both announced early retirements from England duty, but Bent was determined to make himself available ahead of the Euro qualifications.

He said: “I sat and talked to my family and all my friends. You get people with different views and there’s a time when you start thinking, ‘Is there a chance for me?’, ‘Am I ever going to get that chance?’

“But you can’t think like that, you have just got to keep working hard, keep focusing, keep believing, which is what I do, and hopefully it will come.”

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Wenger eyes title charge

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Arsenal are 6/1 to win the Premier League title this season and Gunners boss Arsene Wenger believes they have a good chance of doing so.

The Gunners have not won a trophy since beating Manchester United in the FA Cup Final in 2005 and have not lifted the title since the ‘Invincibles’ swept away all before them the season before.

Despite playing free-flowing attacking football that excites crowds up and down the country, the pressure is starting to mount on Wenger to win some silverware.

Just a trophy would be nice but bringing the title to the Emirates Stadium would be the ultimate achievement and Wenger says such a scenario is not out of the question.

“I believe we have a good chance,” Wenger revealed. “The most important thing is that we have that belief. We finished third last season, so we have two stairs to climb and I am confident that we can do it.”

Arsenal’s chances of winning the title have no doubt been boosted by the news that Cesc Fabregas will be staying on board for at least one more season.

Wenger fought hard to keep the talented Spaniard but there is every chance he will leave for Barcelona in 12 months time, so this could be his last chance to win the Premier League title.

Arsenal have also been boosted by the news that Robin van Persie is back from injury and with Marouane Chamakh also on board after arriving from Bordeaux, the Gunners should have no problem scoring goals.

It is in defence where Wenger could have problems though and it is widely thought that the Frenchman needs to get another central defender on board before the transfer window closes.

Arsenal kick off the campaign with a tough clash at Liverpool and a positive result could be the springboard they need to mount a successful challenge.

The Gunners are 7/4 to win at Anfield but may have to do it without both Fabregas and van Persie, who are struggling with their fitness having only just returned to training.

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Villa eyes Fab move

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Barcelona new boy David Villa has become the latest Nou Camp star to throw his weight fully behind the Catalans’ bid to sign Arsenal captain Cesc Fabregas (Barca 4/5f  – La Liga 2010/11 Outright).

Fabregas, 23, famously came through the youth system at Barca before making the move to the Gunners as a teenager where he has established himself in the Premier League.

But now Barcelona want the midfielder back in their fold and have already seen a £25m bid rejected by Arsenal who are thought to want closer to the £40m mark for the Spain international.

And Villa, who arrived from Valencia earlier in the summer, admits it is a no-brainer.

“I am not the Barcelona coach, nor the person responsible for reinforcements, but personally I will do the maximum to get Cesc here,” he told The Sun.

“He wants to play here and it will be quite normal if Arsenal finally do a deal.

“That would be great. A player of his ability will only increase our power and his presence will be great for all the forwards.

“He’ll help Xavi and (Andres) Iniesta, and I’ll score more goals with him in the side.”

As with Spain, quite where Fabregas would fit into the Barcelona XI remains to be seen , although Andres Iniesta’s trouble with injuries over the last 12 months means he would be a valuable addition to Pep Guardiola’s squad.

Barcelona are bidding for their third La Liga title on the bounce this season – a feat that has not been achieved in Spain since 1992/93 when Barca themselves secured a hat-trick on their way to four consecutive championships.

La Liga is again widely expected to be a two-horse race, with Barcelona and Real Madrid (evens) neck and neck in the betting.

A club outside the ‘Big Two’ has won the Spanish title on just four occasions over the last 25 years and Sevilla at 28/1 are the shortest price from the chasing pack.

Meanwhile, Manchester United are being tipped to offer defender Nemanja Vidic a new four-year deal worth around £90,000 a week to keep him out of the clutches of new Real Madrid boss Jose Mourinho.

The Portuguese will be expected to make a serious title challenge in his first season at the Bernabeu while the Champions League is also a top priority, as always, for Los Blancos (Real Madrid 4/1 – Champions League 2010/11 Outright).

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Scharner eyes ‘dream move’

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Paul Scharner has said the prospect of being part of Liverpool’s title push next season (10/1 – Premier League Outright) would be a ‘dream move’ as new Reds boss Roy Hodgson is reportedly lining up a free transfer swoop.

The 30-year-old Austria international is a free agent after his contract at Premier League outfit Wigan expired at the end of last season. And there are reports that Hodgson will now look to take him to Anfield ahead of the new campaign having tried to sign him on numerous occasions while in charge at Fulham.

The likes of Aston Villa and Sunderland are also thought to be interested in taking Scharner, but the versatile player’s agent Valentin Hobel has revealed that Liverpool would be his preferred destination.

“Roy Hodgson and Paul Scharner – this is a special relationship,” said Hobel.

“Hodgson thinks that Paul’s strengths in midfield are better than his attributes in central defence.

“Liverpool would be a dream, of course, but we are in contact with several clubs. Because he is a free transfer, he can choose.”

Meanwhile, Hodgson will be sweating on the fitness of star striker Fernando Torres after he was stretchered off in Spain’s 1-0 World Cup final win against the Netherlands on Sunday having pulled up sharply chasing a long kick up field.

Torres has been linked with a big money move from Liverpool this summer, but Hodgson was looking to persuade him to stay put in talks which were planned for when he returns from South Africa.

However, if Torres does agree to stay at Anfield, the chances of him being fit to play in Liverpool’s Premier League opener against Arsenal (Liverpool 5/4, Arsenal 7/4, draw 23/10 – 90 Minutes) in mid-August look very slim.

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Striker eyes golden prize

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Diego Forlan has revealed that he was not 100 percent fit for Uruguay’s semi-final defeat to Holland but he is still aiming to leave South Africa with the World Cup’s golden boot (Spain’s David Villa is 10/11 favourite for the prize).

The South Americans went down 3-2 to an impressive Dutch outfit at the Cape Town Stadium on Tuesday evening. 

The Atletico Madrid hitman netted from 30 yards out to put his side back on level terms after Giovanni van Bronckhorst gave the Europeans the lead with one of the goals of the tournament.

However, strikes from Wesley Sneijder and Arjen Robben put the result beyond doubt before Maximiliano Pereira netted a late consolation goal for Uruguay.

Forlan was substituted with five minutes to play after struggling with a tendon strain but the striker is now undergoing treatment in the hope of being fit enough for the third place play-off on Saturday.

“I have had a problem with my tendon, this has been going on for a couple of days already and I wasn’t really in the game,” he said.

“I thought warming up before the game I was going to be at my best, but it wasn’t like that for me.

 ”We will wait and see if I can make it in time for Saturday.”

Forlan has four goals in the tournament and will have the chance to add to that tally against Spain or Germany in Port Elizabeth  if he’s passed fit.

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Dutch boss eyes upset

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Holland boss Bert van Marwijk has been quick to try to use a psychological edge ahead of his side’s World Cup quarter-final tie with Brazil (Holland 16/5, draw 11/5, Brazil 20/21).

Van Marwijk says that although his side will generally be seen as the underdogs for the last-eight clash, it is vital that the players believe that they can win (7/1 to win the World Cup outright).

Holland have won all four of their games so far, the latest coming in Monday’s 2-1 success against Slovakia.

“I’m looking forward to this match,” said Van Marwijk.

“Against Brazil, perhaps we might be the underdogs for the first time in South Africa.

“But we are here for one reason, to get the big prize. We have to believe in it.

“People might have laughed at us when we said we were capable of winning the World Cup.

“But you have to show a real mentality, a constant focus. I think we are showing that.”

The Dutch have shown plenty of flair in attack, coupled with strong defensive displays.

“In all of the matches we have played so far, we have shown that we can control a match,” added Van Marwijk.

“We have scored seven times. We have been able to show how good we play.

“I think that our defence has done a wonderful job so far. We have conceded just two goals.

“(John) Heitinga, Giovanni van Bronckhorst and our goalkeeper (Maarten Stekelenburg) have done a great job.

“I think we are improving in every aspect but I would like to see everything converge into one match.

“We simply want to win and I don’t think we are doing such a bad job.”

The return of Holland’s talisman, Arjen Robben, against Slovakia was key for van Marwijk’s side as he showed after scoring his team’s opener against the Slovakians.

“It was important that he played for 70 minutes,” said Van Marwijk.

“I think he has just passed that fear factor, having recently returned from injury.

“It’s great news to have Robben fit.”

“Brazil is a very mature team,” van Marwijk said.

“They have stability. That is what they convey.

“I have talked about our positive form but we shouldn’t get too big-headed.

“The Brazilians also convey this confidence, it is almost like they are invincible.”

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Muller eyes Golden Boot

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Germany youngster Thomas Muller is hungry for more goals after his brace sent England crashing out of the World Cup (Argentina’s Gonzalo Higuain is the current favourite to secure the Golden Boot).

Muller struck twice within three minutes mid-way through the second half to hand Germany an unassailable 4-1 lead and now the 20-year-old is keen to add to his goal-tally.

“Two goals in one World Cup match does not happen too often,” explained Muller.

“But now I want more. I want to score five or six goals here.”

The Germans were considered outsiders at the start of the tournament and some even questioned whether Joachim Low’s men would qualify from a group including Ghana, Australia and Serbia.

However, following their comprehensive victory over England the price on Germany winning the tournament outright has significantly shortened and Muller believes his side can go all the way (check out the World Cup winner market).

Argentina await Germany in the quarter-finals in what should be a hard-fought contest between two organised and efficient sides. The South American giants are the favourites to progress through to the semi-final stage of the competition and Muller is wary of the threat the likes of Carlos Tevez and Lionel Messi could pose his side.

Meanwhile, Miroslav Klose has suggested this could be his last World Cup despite his performances for Germany in South Africa.  The striker has an outstanding goalscoring record at international level and bagged the opener against England but at 32-years-old Klose feels it may be time to allow the younger German players the chance to compete at the highest level.

“As long as my legs carry me I will play football,” said Klose.

“But I’m very spontaneous. I would not put it past me in two or three weeks to step aside and give space to new players.”

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