Morning all. Throughout January Soccerlens is going to be bringing you a daily round-up of the morning's various goings-on. Be it juicy morsels of spurious transfer gossip or real, actual bona fide news, rest assured, we'll have it covered.

Here's this morning's batch.

Mexes-matosis.

By Chris Wright

I'm usually fairly passive when it comes to getting riled up over football, but I routinely make an exception for Real Madrid's ankle-buster in chief, Pepe.

Dear sweet Jesus-on-a-stick how I hate this disgusting, conniving, cowardly, nefarious, maliciously-unhinged c**t with the burning passion of a thousand suns the most recent case in point being his Achilles-shredding, head-kicking assault on Levante's Xavi Torres during Madrid's shock 1-0 defeat over the weekend.

Juliano Belletti spent just under three years at Chelsea. Today he announced his retirement from the game. It's safe to say he will be greatly missed.

Persistent injuries ravaged Belletti late in his career, particularly during his return to Brazil after his contract wasn't renewed by us in June 2010.

So what's worse, United fans, having the worst offense in the league or the worst defense? Unless we get somebody planted on the bench that has a clue about how to structure a defense or import a player that's going to be vocal, bang some thick (or just inexperienced) heads, and do the organizing on the field, we're looking at another year wandering lost in the non-playoff forest.

Photo by ISIPhotos.com

BY ADAM SERRANO

Juan Pablo Angel is hoping that a scoring tear is on its way. For one of the most proflic scorers in MLS history, Angel has been unable to get into form this season for the LA Galaxy during a season where he has dealt with a cross country move as well as various injuries.

News today in the Journal that the powers that be at Newcastle will be deciding whether to bring in two new center-backs in the January transfer window. James Perch -- becomes important player for Newcastle The big bad news on Saturday was with just two minutes left in the game Steven Taylor ruptured his Achilles, and he is in London today having an operation that [.

Squad sheets: Aston Villa v Liverpool

Stewart Downing, who scored the only goal of the game in the corresponding fixture at the end of last season, can expect a hostile reception from Aston Villa supporters on his return to his former club. The England winger has still to score for a Liverpool side that have lost only once in their last 10 league matches.

It is now even more urgent that Arsenal get a new centre-back this month now that it has been revealed that Thomas Vermaelen requires surgery on his achilles problem, but has Arsene Wenger actually made any moves to try and get anyone in? The most touted names to move to the Emirates at the beginning of [.

Hello there,

I seemed to have Vermaelened my Achilles playing football last night. It's seriously sore and stiff this morning. Getting upstairs whilst also holding a cup of coffee was quite the feat, let me tell you. Not to worry though, I should be back in action in 10 days or so, that's the going rate for a minor Achilles problem, right?

Like Achilles' ankles or Steffi Graf's backhand, Swansea City's weakness over the past few seasons of approximate excellence has been all too obvious. Jason Scotland was the key fulcrum for a time, but the goals for column has rarely been a totalizer at the Liberty. That all ended this Spring when Brendan Rodgers - he of the Big League contacts - took a drive down Fulham Broadway and came back

It's now less than two weeks until the 2011 Women's World Cup starts in Germany, and over the next couple of weeks we are taking the time to bring you a quick run-down of the teams that are taking part in another of the groups of this year's competition. We have already presented Group A, Group B, and Group C.

A report out of OregonLive.com yesterday evening suggests that one of the Portland Timbers' most prominent players (and most expensive) could find himself on the bench. Kenny Cooper, despite coming into the league and team with high expectations has had a lackluster season so far scoring only three goals and not making much of an impression in the final third.

The U.S. women's national team has already cemented its place in the FIFA Women's World Cup quarterfinals, but a win or a draw is still needed in its final group game on Wednesday (2:30 p.m., ESPN/ESPN3.com) if the team is to avoid an encounter with Marta-led Brazil in the first knockout round.

A 2010 postseason rematch is set to take place in the Mile High City, as the defending MLS Cup champion Colorado Rapids host the surging Columbus Crew (9:30 p.m., Fox Soccer Channel).

The Rapids have found new life after the Achilles' tear that ruled star striker Conor Casey out for the rest of the season.

The British media are going crazy with the prospect of David Beckham returning to the Premier League, even if it is just for a twelve week loan period. But nobody seems to be asking whether the LA Galaxy should let Beckham go out on loan again.

In the last two January transfer windows, Beckham had signed with AC Milan to keep himself fit, and also keep himself in the frame for England.

One current transfer rumour is highly disturbing: Matthew Upson is one of the defensive options open to Arsene Wenger.

A few years ago Upson was a decent defender, maintaining his affiliation to Arsenal through a plethora of injuries throughout his career. The question I have to ask is if Upson wasn't good enough for us back in 2003 when he was actually a decent defender what makes Arsene think that he is good enough for us now when he is clearly over the hill?

First off, I'd like to apologize for the lack of posts in the last week. The Wigan match left a bad taste and watching Bolton York City was impossible in the states. We couldn't even get highlights until nearly three days later. Right, back to regular programming:

Bolton travel to Stoke this weekend for their second match against the Potters this season.

It's been a while since I dreamt about Arsenal. Last night I was playing an indoor training match with some of the players. I say some because I'm pretty sure Zoolander wasn't an Arsenal player (he's rubbish, btw). Anyway, at one point I had the ball out on the touchline, Jack Wilshere came over to tackle me and I nutmegged him.

According to reports in the Belgian press Thomas Vermaelen is to undergo surgery on Tuesday for his achilles problem.

Apparently a small tendon close to the achilles is causing the problem but he hopes this will cure it and he'll be back by March. Optimistic but let's hope he's right.

Thanks for Andrew from Sport.

Arsenal's best center back will undergo surgery this week on his achilles problem that has kept him out of a lot of football this season. Vermaelen is a massive part of Arsene's defending plans and his loss has been significant as the defence have shipped their fair share of goals this season, exposing Premier League [.

Former Arsenal manager George Graham believes the Gunners should focus on power when they decide who to sign for the defensive department this month. With Thomas Vermaelen to undergo surgery this week to fix his Achilles ...

By Chris Wright

Arsenal have decided that the Achilles tweak that was supposed to keep Belgian defender Thomas Vermaelen out for, and I quote, 'a couple of weeks' back in late September will now require surgery with the procedure almost definitely set to push back the centre-back's return date by a further six weeks.

Theo van Nasregas celebrates with Eboue

With an emphatic win over West Ham and ManUtd drawing with the Spuds, it turned out to be a decent weekend for the Arsenal. We are 2 points off of ManUtd, who have a game in hand over us, and Man City, who have played a game more than us. The best part of it all is seeing our team play the wonderful football we know they are capable of producing.

Morning all,

we'll start with confirmation of the news you already knew that Thomas Vermaelen is to undergo surgery for his ongoing achilles problem. Except it's not surgery. It's a 'procedure'.

'A surgical procedure?', I hear you ask. Yes, yes it is, but it's not 'surgery surgery'. There'll be no opening of his chest, cracking of his breast-plate and tinkering with his heart.

GRONINGEN, Netherlands Eredivisie high-flyers FC Groningen had to come from behind to get past SC Genemuiden and book their place in the quarter-finals of the KNVB Beker. Florencio Cornelia gave the third-tier side a shock lead midway through the first half but Groningen showed their class by turning the game on its head before [.

20 year old Italian international Davide Santon is considered by many to be one of the hottest prospects in Italian football but his chances of getting first team football at the San Siro are severely hampered by the fact that veterans Christian Chivu and Maicon have something of a monopoly over their respective sides of the back four which has left much speculation that the talented youngster will be on his way and the player's agent has stated in the past that a move to the Premier League would interest his client.

PORTLAND, Ore. Portland Timbers striker Bright Dike is set to miss a significant amount of the upcoming season after suffering a torn Achilles tendon in an exhibition match. Dike underwent successful surgery Monday. Dike sustained the injury in the 20th minute of a preseason exhibition against the Ventura County Fusion on Friday.

Premier League - Serious injury for Ricketts - Yahoo! Eurosport Bolton boss Owen Coyle's joy at seeing his side secure a place in the last 16 of the FA Cup was tempered by the loss of another defender to injury after Sam Ricketts damaged his Achilles at Wigan. Ricketts went to ground in the second half at the DW Stadium while tracking Latics substitute Victor Moses and had to be carried off on a

The injury update on Mehmet Okur isn't good. The bulky center for the Utah Jazz is out for the rest of the regular season due to lingering issues regarding his Achilles and his back. Mehmet Okur ruptured his Achilles last season and just hasn't been able to recover. As a result, he's had a very sub par campaign.

Hello there,

a quick Saturday round-up for you. Robin van Persie was in action for Holland last night, and scored a goal, and didn't leave the field paralysed from the neck down. Which is a bonus. Lots more games today including that interesting one between Wales and England, Aaron v Jack and all that.

Such are the rigours of supporting Spurs that I have been happy to bleat away for the last few weeks about how we will despatch Real Madrid over two legs, yet struggle to see us gleaning more than a point at Wigan. Legend has it that even great big burly types like Achilles had the odd weakness or two, and the chink in Spurs' armour seems to be opposition that is near-enough fit for life in a division below us.

Remember this?

That can go plenty of ways now, can't it? I'm sure many of you have some choice words for Mr. Henry (I'll let you connect the dots) and some probably have a big question on your mind (again, use your imagination), but I have just three words for the entire Red Bull organization.

Fulham will be looking to halt Liverpool's surge on Monday, with the Reds aiming to clamber into fifth spot.
The Cottagers will welcome Kenny Dalglish's side to Craven Cottage in buoyant mood, having enjoyed a productive run of their own of late.
Back-to-back victories have helped to lift them into the top half of the table and they can cement that standing with another positive result.

So what's worse, United fans, having the worst offense in the league or the worst defense? Unless we get somebody planted on the bench that has a clue about how to structure a defense or import a player that's going to be vocal, bang some thick (or just inexperienced) heads, and do the organizing on the field, we're looking at another year wandering lost in the non-playoff forest.

10am ET, live in the US on Fox Soccer Plus
Last four head-to-head:
1-0 Liverpool (h) 08.29.10
2-0 Liverpool (a) 05.17.09
3-0 Liverpool (h) 11.08.08
2-0 Liverpool (a) 04.01.06
Last three matches:
Liverpool: 2-0 Sunderland (a); 0-0 Braga (h); 0-1 Braga (a)
West Brom: 2-2 Arsenal (h); 3-1 Brum (a); 1-1 Stoke (a)
Goalscorers (league):
Liverpool: Kuyt 8; Meireles 5; Gerrard 4; Maxi 3; Johnson, Kyrgiakos, Ngog, Suarez 2; Cole, Skrtel 1
West Brom: Odemwingie 10; Morrison, Mulumbu 4; Scharner, Tchoyi, Thomas 3; Brunt, Fortune, Vela, 2; Dorrans, Jara, Olsson, Pablo, Reid 1
Referee: Martin Atkinson
Guess at a line-up:
Reina
Carragher Skrtel Agger Johnson
Kuyt Lucas Spearing Meireles
Suarez Carroll
Hodgson v Liverpool, the revenge match.

After four NBA Championship rings, six teams, 19 seasons, 28,596 career points and countless laughs, Shaquille O'Neal announced his retirement on Wednesday. The 39-year-old made the announcement via video and posted it on his Twitter page.

"I really, really thought about coming back, but this Achilles' is very damaged, and if I had it done the recovery would be so long we'd have the same outcome as this last year — everyone sitting around and waiting for me," O'Neal said.

We were all disappointed when Sam Ricketts ruptured his Achilles last February. It's no secret that our squad has the depth of a kiddie pool, and Ricketts was starting to look quite good as well. Well that was four months ago, and while Sam has made a lot of progress, thanks to an interview with the official site, it's clear he still has a long way to go.

While Angel Reyna's first-half strike provided the lone tally in Club America's 1-0 victory over the Portland Timbers at Jeld-Wen Field Thursday night, the friendly stood out for U.S. national team and MLS fans for a couple of other reasons.

Attack-minded American left back Edgar Castillo started and played the first half for the Mexican side, which has sent him on loan to three clubs over the last two years.

As I predicted, the Rapids lost in Seattle by a goal. As I didn't predict it was a 4-3 goal-fest instead of the expected defensive battle. The Rapids got off to a good start, with a Wells Thompson goal off a lazy Seattle clearance in the first 5 minutes. Not surprisingly Colorado gave the lead right back within 5 minutes as the back line was beaten again, for at least the 3rd time in the first 10 minutes.

The Colorado Rapids looked to be in a world of trouble when star striker Conor Casey went down with a season-ending Achilles tear, but for one week, a new forward option emerged to dazzle the Rapids and keep Colorado on a playoff path.

Sanna Nyassi notched his first career hat-trick in a mid-week blowout win vs.