When FIFA voted to hold the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, it was promoted as "bringing football to a new world and a new culture" as well as bringing the World Cup to the "entire Middle East." And now, it seems that sentiment might be taken quite literally by the game's governing bodies as the 2022 World Cup in Qatar may very well change the way have ever held the tournament before.

As Wayne Rooney prepared to take his penalty last night, there was a sinking feeling he was going to miss. Despite already scoring against Rangers from the penalty spot since his revelations he wanted to leave Manchester United for a club with more ambition, there was no doubt this game was a lot bigger.

A few hours after FIFA's announcement that Russia will host the 2018 World Cup and Qatar will host the 2022 World Cup, most people I've talked to share the same two feelings -- expectation and surprise. Since Russia had already been considered a strong contender before the BBC's Panorama program severely damaged England's bid, their victory announcement was not preceded by much suspense.

A fresh problem is threatening to hit Liverpool as several out-of-favour players are refusing to walk away from highly paid contracts.
Manager Roy Hodgson and director of football strategy Damien Comolli want to reshape the club's 25-man Premier League squad but are being held up because certain players will not go unless their Anfield salaries are matched elsewhere.

Off The Ball never rests in its mission to scratch around the underbelly of professional football to find the most bizarre, humorous and inexplicable stories. This week, Gary Lineker does an Italian job while Ian Holloway shows up Jose Mourinho's lack of ambition.

Newcastle United owner Mike Ashley has once again angered the clubs supporters after he sacked manager Chris Hughton. Despite Newcastle's poor run of form, Hughton's sacking does come as a major shock, and is incredibly disrespectful to the man who has helped bring the club back to the Premier League.

For those who've been living under a rock for the past 48 hours: Manchester City's star forward has handed in a transfer request, had said request rejected, and subsequently insisted he's leaving anyway. Forgive me if I now indulge in a little schadenfreude.

I've put up with consistent gibes from City-supporting friends ever since the Argentinean crossed the city, not least because I dismissed him at the time of his leaving, rather foolishly, as little more than a "glorified Dirk Kalt".

Management is not an easy business.

For a start you get paid less than the players and you take all the flack. When you're a manager at a club with new owners, you find yourself riding a bucking Bronco... You know you're going to get thrown off, you just don't know when.

Part of a press release issued today on the official Blackburn Rovers website, referring to the sacking of Sam Allardyce says: "We have taken this decision as part of our wider plans and ambitions for the club".

1. Park Ji-Sung does it again. It doesn't matter how much people bitch and moan about him, he still keeps coming up with the goods. 4 goals in the last 6 league games is a record any striker would be proud of, let alone a battling midfield. In the last five minutes he was running with all the energy he did in the first five minutes.

Returning after having a long injury lay off, Anderson has already showing signs of getting his performances into top gear in Manchester United's last few macthes. The young Brazilian's recent showing seems enough to convince the club in keeping the player longer at Old Trafford as the latest news confirmed that the ex-Porto player has pledged his future at the club for four and a half year.

Roy Hodgson wants to bring fresh faces to Anfield in January – but admits he has no idea what he'll be given to spend.
The Reds have been linked with a host of names in recent weeks after picking up a number of injuries and enduring a difficult start to the season.
And Hodgson admits he'll do business when the transfer window re-opens if the club's new owners allow him to.

Barcelona's shirt sponsorship deal with the Qatar Foundation will reportedly allow the Catalans to launch fresh bids next summer for Liverpool striker Fernando Torres.Barcelona's coffers have been running dry, but the Spanish giants have just agreed to a shirt sponsorship deal for the first time in the club's history, coming to a £125million agreement with the Qatar Foundation.

Birmingham is reportedly bracing themselves for a £10 million bid from Liverpool from Scott Dann.
According to the Daily Mirror, the Merseysiders have been closely monitoring the 23-year-old who intends to consider his options should an offer be tabled by a serious bidder.
The chance to join the Reds could prove too good to refuse for the defender who is a Liverpool native and supposedly once had an Anfield season ticket.

Alan Pardew has made a good start to his management career at Newcastle. Andy Carroll can achieve every ambition with Newcastle United That's not necessarily by winning his first 5 games or anything like that although that is still possible but by talking to all his players individually as soon as he [.

12:30pm ET, live in the US on FSC

Last four head-to-head:
0-0 (h) 04.11.10
1-3 Fulham (a) 10.31.09
1-0 Liverpool (a) 04.04.09
0-0 (h) 11.22.08
Last three matches:
Liverpool: 0-0 Utrecht (h); 1-3 Newcastle (a); 3-0 Villa (h)
Fulham: 0-0 Sunderland (h); 1-2 Arsenal (a); 1-1 Brum (h)
Goalscorers (league):

Liverpool: Torres 5; Gerrard, Kuyt, Maxi 3; Kyrgiakos, Ngog 2; Johnson, Babel, Skrtel 1
Fulham: Dempsey 5; Dembele, Hangeland, Kamara 2; Davies, Etuhu, Gera, Zamora 1
Referee: Andre Marriner

Guess at a line-up:

Reina
Johnson Kyrgiakos Skrtel Konchesky
Kuyt Meireles Lucas Maxi
Ngog Torres
Back to the A-team.

The one match of the day is the match of the week Chelsea goes crosstown to take on Arsenal at the Emirates. Kickoff is at 8pm in London (3pm ET; watch it on ESPN2, ESPN Deportes, or ESPN3.com in the US).

Here are a handful of links to get you ready for the big match:

We find it's very useful to have the Current Squad lists in front of us, for #s, nationalities, and links to individual player bios: Chelsea & Arsenal.

When he was first making his name with Santos, former Manchester City striker Robinho often spoke of his big ambition to be elected Fifa World Player of the Year.

True, he was seeking to place himself in a tradition of some of his illustrious compatriots, but even so I always found it a depressing declaration.