Stuttgart boss Markus Babbel facing the axe
Former Liverpool star Markus Babbel is heading for the sack at Stuttgart.
Their 1-0 Cup defeat at second division Greuther Fuerth was their fifth on the trot. Stuttgart, one of the pre-season Bundesliga favourites, are 14th after a string of poor displays.
Babbel, in his first full season in charge and still studying for his coaching licence, said: “This is a very difficult situation and is not getting easier.”
(Daily Mirror)

Rafa focuses on positives
Liverpool manager Rafa Benitez says there are many positives to take out of the defeat by Arsenal.
The Reds went down 2-1 to Arsenal's young guns at the Emirates Stadium in a match that created a number of chances with flowing football played by both teams.
Benitez was happy with the performance of his team, with a number of first-team players left out of the starting line-up, and praised both teams' style of play.
"We have to be disappointed because we have lost but we have also shown some quality and I think it was a good game with chances for both teams," he told Sky Sports.
"Both teams were attacking, they were creating chances, and that is good for the fans. But I'm disappointed for us because we have lost."
(Sky Sports)

Young guns see off Liverpool
A second-half goal from Nicklas Bendtner was enough for Arsenal as they beat Liverpool 2-1 in an entertaining game at the Emirates.
The Gunners progress into the quarter-finals of the Carling Cup but credit should also be given to Liverpool who battled throughout and played some good football for periods of the game.
A great strike from Spanish youngster Fran Merida opened the scoring for Arsenal on 19 minutes - the midfielder let fly from the right edge of the penalty area and the ball flew past the helpless Diego Cavalieri and in off the post.
Not to be outdone, Liverpool responded with an equally sublime goal when Emiliano Insua hit a dipping shot on the half volley from way out which flew over Lukasz Fabianski and into the net.
It was Bendtner who sealed the win though, the Danish striker capping a fine sweeping move from the Gunners to turn well and surge into the box before slamming the ball into the roof of the net five minutes after
the break.
(Sky Sports)

Kuyt captains Reds
Dirk Kuyt captains Liverpool tonight.
Kuyt wears the captain's armband for the first time in a competitive match as Rafael Benitez rings in the changes for tonight's Carling Cup game at Arsenal. Kuyt and Emiliano Insua are the only players who started against Man Utd on Sunday to start here.
Reserve pairing Damien Plessis and Jay Spearing both start in the centre of midfield while Stephen Darby and Nathan Ecclestone both make
the bench.
The squad in full is as follows: Cavalieri, Degen, Insua, Skrtel, Kyrgiakos, Plessis, Spearing, Babel, Kuyt, Voronin, Ngog.
Subs: Reina, Aquilani, Benayoun, Darby, Dossena, Eccleston, Ayala.
(LFC Online)

Midfielder signs new deal
Damien Plessis has signed an extension to his current Liverpool contract that will keep him at Anfield until 2012.
The 21-year-old midfielder has been named as an unused substitute for the Reds on four occasions so far this season, and has made a total of seven appearances for the senior side since his arrival from Lyon
in August 2007.
Plessis is a regular in John McMahon's reserve team squad and is also a French under-21 international.
(LFC Official Website)

Benitez: Reds are on a high
Rafael Benitez hopes Liverpool can retain the feel-good factor that has changed the whole atmosphere at the club following Sunday's triumph over champions Manchester United.
But the Liverpool manager confirms he will make several changes for Wednesday night's Carling Cup fourth-round tie at Arsenal, with Alberto Aquilani set for his debut following his £20million move from Roma
in the summer.
Steven Gerrard is still out, while Javier Mascherano is serving a one-match suspension.
But Benitez will have Aquilani available - probably as a second-half substitute - while defenders Andreas Dossena and Sotirios Kyrgiakos have recovered from injuries and are in the squad.
(PA Sport)

Martinez denies Fergie attack
Wigan manager Roberto Martinez has 'categorically denied' that he claimed Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson had too much power.
Comments attributed to the Spaniard appeared in a newspaper in his homeland in which he suggested that the Football Association were afraid to punish the Red Devils boss.
Martinez was also reported to have claimed that Ferguson had other Premier League managers - including Sam Allardyce and Steve Bruce - on his side in his battles with Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez.
But the Wigan boss insists he never made any comments about Ferguson and released a statement through the League Managers' Association.
The statement read: "Wigan Athletic manager, Roberto Martinez, has today categorically denied making the comments about Sir Alex Ferguson that have been attributed to him in a number of media reports.
"Martinez has referred the matter to the League Managers Association."
Ferguson found himself in hot water with the FA over his criticism of referee Alan Wiley's fitness in the wake of the home draw with Sunderland earlier this month.
The Old Trafford supremo has admitted to the charge of improper conduct and has asked for a personal hearing.
(Sky Sports)

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