Liverpool defender Philipp Degen is facing a frustrating spell on the sidelines after breaking two ribs.

The Switzerland international picked up the knock while on Carling Cup duty against Crewe on Tuesday.

Degen had to be replaced by Jamie Carragher after 73 minutes and appeared to be in some discomfort after suffering the blow in an innocuous looking challenge. Click to continue reading...

Spurs loanee Simon Dawkins looks set to be back in contention to resume his spell with Orient after nearly a month on the sidelines with an ankle injury. Ironically the young striker, who returned to training yesterday picked up the knock during the 4-2 Johnstone's Paint Trophy victory at Southend at the start of September, but [. Click to continue reading...

Chelsea have today been hit with the news that Portuguese pair Deco and Ricardo Carvalho could both face weeks on the sidelines after picking up injuries at the weekend. Deco tore a muscle in his upper thigh in the warm-up for the game against Man United.

That could see the former Barcelona man out for at least weeks whilst Carvalho could face double that time out after picking up knee ligament damage during the game at Stamford Bridge on Sunday. Click to continue reading...

Wow. Wow. Melbourne do it again with just 10 men. And an Archie special in the last 4 seconds.
But the real message from this and the Sydney/CCM match was the A-League is now all about speed and strength combined. If you don't have this physicality across the park, you are making up the numbers. Click to continue reading...

Winless for more than three months and in dire need of maximum points to avoid falling out of the playoff race altogether, the Los Angeles Galaxy cruised to a 5-2 victory over D.C. United on Saturday night - capped by a Landon Donovan hattrick - and instantly vaulted themselves back into postseason contention. Click to continue reading...

Title says it all, really. Zack Thornton of Chivas USA was taken off the pitch in a game against Toronto FC this week, only the medical staff didn't bring enough strapping young beefcakes and dropped him on the sidelines. And let's just say the Toronto fans could've had a more subdued reaction as he limped [. Click to continue reading...

There's a nice write-up about Bouna Coundoul in the Denver Post (link below) and how he is caught between a rock and a hard place both at home and with the Senegal national team. He's saying all the right things about being happy as a deputy to Preston Burpo but it is clear how frustrated he is at being on the bench both for the Colorado Rapids and Senegal. Click to continue reading...

PART 3 Lance Dempsey now coaches soccer in North Carolina. Seeing the game from the other side of the sidelines gave him a new respect for the work his older brother put in. "My parents sacrificed a lot," he tells me. "But I don't want it to sound like something crazy, like we were homeless, like [.. Click to continue reading...

Brian Waltrip could return to action for Molde after a period on the sidelines, while Clarence Goodson's Start face a potential banana-peel as they travel to Trysil in search of points. Click to continue reading...

Much has been made about Liverpool failing to turn in the performances we've been hoping to see so far this season - yet getting away with it.

Seven points from nine in the league, plus coming through a tricky tie against Standard Liege to qualify for the Champions League proper, is not a bad return considering we've failed to hit the heights. Click to continue reading...

Chelsea's title ambitions have today been been dealt a severe blow after it was revealed that Michael Essien will face several months on the sidelines due to a serious knee injury. The Ghana international is to have an operation on his anterior cruciate ligament after injuring it in his country's World Cup qualifier against Libya on Friday. Click to continue reading...

The transfer window has shut and, while there was plenty of excitement thanks to some high-profile manoeuvrings , there were a handful of players who didn't get the moves that they were looking for. This includes a Newcastle striker who now remains on the sidelines at St James' Park, although ... Click to continue reading...

Owen Hargreaves has joined Steven Gerrard on the sidelines and will miss the opening World Cup qualifiers for the 2010 World Cup. Hargreaves had hoped to be fit for Manchester United's defeat to Zenit St Peterssburgs for the Super Cup game but failed to make it with tendinitis in his knee ... Click to continue reading...

Manchester United have today been rocked by the news that midfielder Owen Hargreaves has aggravated a previous knee injury. The England international hasn't appeared this season for the Premier League Champions due to the injury and it would appear now he is set for a lengthier spell on the sidelines. Click to continue reading...

Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger has cited International football and intense travelling as the reasons behind Carlos Vela's continued absence from the team. Vela is yet to make his Premiership or Champions League debut, and has been left frustrated on the sidelines. But Wenger admits his hand has been forced over his involvement, with a troublesome groin [. Click to continue reading...

Valencia's David Silva scored first but a nine-man Real Madrid rallied to beat Valencia 4-2 and lift the Spanish Supercup 6-5 on aggregate on Sunday.
Ruud van Nistelrooy, Sergio Ramos, Ruben De La Red and Gonzalo Higuain scored for Madrid, Rafael van der Vaart found himself on the sidelines in the 39th minute and Ruud van Nistelrooy joined him there in the 73rd.

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Although I am sure that I have admitted many, here is a quick list of rule changes, schemes and slight changes to officiating that have been introduced in top level football world wide. Bear in mind that all of these took place in the last couple of years; FIFA, the top flight leagues and Football Associations are clearly rule happy. Click to continue reading...

There may have been a welcome thaw behind the scenes at Anfield, but Rafa Benitez still wore an anxious look as he outlined new fitness worries over Steven Gerrard.

The Liverpool skipper returned from England duty amid more controversy over his role in the side, with Portsmouth manager Harry Redknapp claiming it was ‘killing him' playing him left midfield. Click to continue reading...

Fabio Aurelio hopes to give Rafael Benitez a selection headache by declaring himself available for Saturday's Barclays Premier League opener in Sunderland.

The Brazilian left-back has been on the sidelines for most of pre-season with a shin injury but he is now back in training and determined to be fit for the big kick-off. Click to continue reading...

When the third round of Champions League qualification starts later today for Arsenal, there's a good chance that if you take a look at manager Arsene Wenger on the sidelines, you might see him perspiring a bit more than usual. With Cesc Fabregas ruled out of the first leg of today's match, Arsenal's probable midfield [. Click to continue reading...

When the third round of Champions League qualification starts later today for Arsenal, there's a good chance that if you take a look at manager Arsene Wenger on the sidelines, you might see him perspiring a bit more than usual. With Cesc Fabregas ruled out of the first leg of today's match, Arsenal's probable midfield [. Click to continue reading...

Dean Ashton has been told by England manager Fabio Capello that he must lose weight and prove his fitness if he wants to be considered for selection. The West Ham striker spent 18 months on the sidelines with a broken ankle but played in England's friendly with Trinidad and Tobago in May. Capello said that he was [. Click to continue reading...

It is Sunday. A couple of football fields in Islington have over 100 players packed on to them, running through different drills and coaching sessions. It's a grey day. A few people in coats are stood on the sidelines watching their son, friend or brother. The heavens open. The spectators and officials all dash for cover, [. Click to continue reading...

The biggest surprise in this game might be that Lawndale's Kei Kamara actually found the net for Houston. The second biggest surprise: so did Houston's Nate Jaqua, the former goal-averse Galaxy forward.

The attendance without any Mexican teams involved in the final: just 9,232

*From the (edited) Galaxy press release:

reserve goalkeeper Charles Alamo and midfielder Michael Gavin each suffered serious injuries in Sunday night's reserve game in San Jose (a 1-0 loss) and will miss extended periods of time.

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Bacary Sagna: Wiser Arsenal can now win title

Arsenal defender Bacary Sagna believes it is crucial for the club to show they have learnt from the mistakes they made last season and win the Premier League title.

Despite losing Mathieu Flamini and Alexander Hleb, Sagna believes there is still enough quality in the team to challenge the top two again. Click to continue reading...

With Robbie Keane just about to start plying his trade for Liverpool, and Ledley King spending more time on the sidelines than actually playing for Tottenham, many Spurs fans will consider the appointment of vice-captain an important one. After all, this guy could be leading his team out for the ... Click to continue reading...

Craig Bellamy will find himself on the sidelines for the start of the season after limping out of West Ham's 5-3 victory over Ipswich. The Welshman was substituted after 24 minutes and his frustration was clearly evident as he proceeded to kick an advertising hoarding before exchanging words with a fan on the sideline. Click to continue reading...

You have to feel a bit sorry for Liverpool midfielder Sebastian Leto. After making a move last season from Argentina to Liverpool, the shifty midfielder has been waiting on the sidelines for a chance to play while he got clearance on a work permit. After holding out for good news, ... Click to continue reading...

Let's hope the FA throw the book at Joey Barton, if only to keep him on the sidelines and off our televisions for a while. Click to continue reading...

This...is...ridiculous.

RFK Stadium is a lake. Again.

DC United are getting owned by Houston Dynamo. Again.

We're all sitting around in the press box like a-holes as a weather delay stretches out interminably...again.

And as we wait for various officials to evaluate the soggy pitch while the field crews do their best to squeegee-roll the standing water towards the sidelines. Click to continue reading...

I'm not completely sure we deserved to win this one. I'd like to bet that I'd get an argument from a couple of the lads but, to be honest, it wasn't our best night. That being said, we can all agree that the best teams find ways to win, regardless of competition, regardless of weather, regardless of condtioning. Click to continue reading...

Valencia midfielder Edu has today confirmed he is not interested in a move back to the Premier League. The former Arsenal midfielder has revealed that he has rejected several offers to return to England after three years at Valencia.

Edu has had a shocking three years at the La Liga giants since joining from the Gunners back in 2005. Click to continue reading...

Jermaine Pennant is convinced he will begin the season as a Liverpool player.

The winger's future has been the subject of much speculation during the transfer window as Rafael Benitez attempts to reshape his squad.

It is thought the Anfield manager would be willing to listen to offers for Pennant to raise funds for squad strengthening. Click to continue reading...

Billy Witz takes a look at the Becks phenomena a year after arrival.

I'd have to agree that the reception in New York probably won't be as wild as before.

But I'd have to add that at least some of that is due to New York Red Bull. At this time last year, the team had the most exciting young player in the U. Click to continue reading...

MARKHAM - What started off as a mismatch, soon turned into a nightmare, before Pistolas FC soon reloaded and fired a late goal over Those Guys FC 2-1.

The game started with Those Guys only fielding 8 players, but PFC failed to capitalize on the advantage and played slow and lacklustre, a tendency they seem to have playing at the level of their competition. Click to continue reading...