Pro Eleven Headline News

Liverpool's Torres ready to start

Liverpool striker Fernando Torres has declared himself fit and ready to start Monday's Merseyside showdown with Everton at Anfield.

The Spain striker has been restricted to two substitute appearances on his latest comeback from a hamstring injury.

He came off the bench against Preston North End in the FA Cup third round and also during last weekend's goalless Premier League stalemate with Stoke City.

But after spending five weeks on the sidelines with his latest injury, last season's 33-goal top-scorer believes he can play the full 90 minutes against the Toffees.

Torres scored both goals as the Reds won the first derby of the season 2-0 at Goodison Park in September.

"I have worked for a long time with the physios, Paco the fitness coach and everyone at the club, and I think I can now play more than 45 minutes and start in the first 11," he told the club's official website.

"It depends on (manager) Rafa (Benitez) whether I can start in the derby. It's a massive game and I want to play."

Meanwhile, Xabi Alonso is confident the Reds can cope with the pressure of being involved in a title race.

The Spanish midfielder has also declared himself ready to return from a foot injury in time to face the Toffees on Monday night.

"There is pressure on us and you can expect that because we've not won the title for so many years," he conceded. "Whenever we don't win a game, it's easy for people to say it's because we are feeling the pressure.

"But the truth is you are facing good teams every week in the Premier League and you can't win every game.

"We don't think about what other people are saying about us and we are just staying calm. It's a fact that we don't have the experience of other teams, but we are learning from what is happening this season.

"We know we can't afford to drop points, especially at home. But Chelsea are going to drop points, Manchester United are going to drop points, all the teams are going to drop points.

"It's important for us not to lose focus, keep as calm as possible and only think about the next game." Sports Network


Rossi Hopes Perfect Lazio Will Be Enough Against Juve

Lazio have been performing well in their last couple of games, so the match against Juventus tomorrow might come at the right time for the club to finally get a good result against a big team.

So far this season, they have lost to Milan away (4-1), Roma (1-0), and Inter at home (3-0).

"I am not disappointed that I haven't ever beaten Inter, Milan, or Juve since I joined Lazio," said coach Delio Rossi today. "Will we win this time? It will depend on us. We can't afford to make mistakes, but I know that if we play well we have a chance.

"We'll have to be perfect, and hope that will be enough, because they are a great team. They are tough in their DNA, and their physical condition is very good. We will have to play above our possibilities. We can't afford any distractions because in matches like this you always pay for them."

Lazio are currently in 7th place with 30 points, just three away from a Champions League spot. Goal


Last-gasp Berbatov goal puts United top

Dimitar Berbatov scored a last-minute goal to give Manchester United a 1-0 win at Bolton to put them top of the Premier League table for the first time this season.

Liverpool, who play Everton on Monday, lie a point behind in second place, while Chelsea and Aston Villa also rely on late goals to remain in third and fourth positions respectively.

United, who started with Carlos Tevez up front in place of the injured Wayne Rooney, had chances through Berbatov and Cristiano Ronaldo in the first half while Bolton goalkeeper Jussi Jaaskelainen kept out Nemanja Vidic.

Kevin Davies then wasted a great chance to give Bolton the win and the game looked set for a draw until Bulgarian Berbatov headed home Tevez's cross to move the Red Devils one point clear of Liverpool at the top.

Meanwhile, Chelsea scored twice in the last six minutes as they came from behind to beat strugglers Stoke 2-1 at Stamford Bridge.

Didier Drogba was once again omitted from the squad but his replacement, Salomon Kalou, cleared the bar from six yards from a Frank Lampard cross early on.

Nicolas Anelka missed a chance just before the break, then Lampard saw a low shot saved by Stoke goalkeeper Thomas Sorensen as Chelsea dominated.

Stoke then shocked the Stamford Bridge faithful on the hour mark when James Beattie's deft touch found Rory Delap who lifted the ball over Petr Cech to give the visitors the lead.

Chelsea looked doomed to continue their poor home for this season, but Juliano Belletti's far-post header and Lampard's superb low drive in injury time gave Luiz Felipe Scolari's side the three points.

Villa also had to come from behind to beat Sunderland 2-1 at the Stadium of Light.

The home side broke the deadlock after 14 minutes when Carlos Edwards' free-kick found Danny Collins at the back post and he headed past a stranded Brad Friedel to register his first goal of the season.

James Milner's controversial goal levelled things on the hour. Ashley Young raced down the right to cross for Milner to head the ball home -- although replays showed the ball may have struck his arm.

Young was then given a straight red for a two-footed lunge before Gareth Barry converted a penalty after Paul McShane fouled Gabriel Agbonlahor.

In a good day for the top clubs, Arsenal also remained in touch in fifth place as they continued their recent revival with a 3-1 win at Hull City.

Emmanuel Adebayor put the visitors ahead with a looping header from Robin van Persie's deep corner, but Hull levelled in the 65th minute when Daniel Cousin headed firmly past Manuel Almunia after Bernard Mendy's cross took a slight deflection off Gael Clichy.

However, with nine minutes remaining Arsenal re-took the lead when van Persie's pass found Samir Nasri in space on the left and the Frenchman shot across goal into the corner of the net.

The Gunners then killed the game off five minutes from time when substitute Nicklas Bendtner played a one-two with an offside-looking Van Persie before finishing clinically. Arsenal almost added a fourth when Bendtner struck the post late on.

The result extended Arsenal's unbeaten league run to eigth matches and avenged their 2-1 home defeat by Hull earlier in the season.

West Bromwich Albion moved off the foot of the table by cruising past Middlesbrough 3-0. Middlesbrough had gone into the match without a win in nine and started terribly when Chris Brunt's deflected shot squeezed past Ross Turnbull to break the deadlock.

They then went 2-0 down when Robert Koren struck a 12-yard shot past Turnbull and Boro's misery was compounded after 62 minutes when Didier Digard was sent off before Koren's brilliant 18-yard strike made it 3-0.

Sam Allardyce came back to haunt old club Newcastle as his Blackburn side beat the Magpies 3-0 at Ewood Park.

Benni McCarthy scored from the penalty spot just after the break after David Edgar was controversially found to have fouled the South African in the box.

Jason Roberts put Rovers 2-0 up after 66 minutes after Nicky Butt was sent off for the visitors and Roberts added a third four minutes from the end to put the result beyond doubt.

With both West Bromwich and Blackburn both winning, it meant Tottenham slumped to the bottom of the table ahead of their match against Portsmouth on Sunday.

Manchester City edged three more points away from the relegation zone thanks to Pablo Zabaleta's second-half volley.

City had endured a frustrating first-half but Zabaleta hit the winner just after the break when he latched onto a Wigan clearance and dispatched a superb right-foot volley past Chris Kirkland.

City's delight was soon tempered when Richard Dunne was sent off for kicking out at Amr Zaki but City held on for the win. CNN International



Pato goal gives AC Milan narrow victory

A seventh minute goal from Brazilian teenager Alexander Pato proved enough to give AC Milan a 1-0 home victory over Fiorentina in a match totally dominated by Manchester City's $150 million bid for playmaker Kaka this week.

The goal was created by David Beckham who beat two defenders to a loose ball. He poked it back to Marek Jankulovski who played in Pato inside the penalty area.

There still appeared no danger to the Fiorentina goal, but Pato hit a stunning strike from the left that went in off the far post.

Fiorentina should have equalized on 66 minutes when Juan Vargas got to the byline and crossed to Mario Santana but the Argentine put his shot too close to goalkeeper Christian Abbiati who managed to save.

The result leaves Milan in third place on 37 points, six points behind leaders and city rivals Inter, who have a game in hand. Jose Mourinho's side travel to Atalanta on Sunday.

Jankulovski collected a late red card for timewasting, but Milan held on to secure the three points.

Meanwhile, Milan supporters made their opposition to the Kaka bid, and his possible departure, perfectly clear throughout the match -- unveiling a host of banners and singing songs pleading with the Brazilian to stay at the San Siro.

Reggina remain deep in relegation trouble after suffering a 1-0 defeat at the hands of Siena. Mario Frick's goal 15 minutes from time was enough to give the Bianconeri three points which sees them leapfrog Sampdoria and move up to the relative comfort of 14th spot.

Siena in contrast, stay second from bottom and could slip to the foot of the Serie A standings if Chievo beat Napoli on Sunday. CNN International