Liverpool

All Liverpool wants for X-mas is to keep Fernando Torres happy. A lot of rumors have recently circulated suggesting that the Spanish great may be one of the biggest names on the transfer list come this January, but Rafa knows that the only hope Liverpool has of finishing in the top four spots is if their key striker is healthy and on the pitch for the Reds.

Here's another Confederations Cup update (Cupdate?):
New Zealand has released its squad for the Confederations Cup and there are a few familiar faces. Three players are currently playing in MLS: Andrew Boyens with New York, Simon Elliott with the San Jose Earthquakes and Jarrod Smith with the Seattle Sounders.

Or Benni McCarthy of the EPL won't be on South Africa's Confederation Cup team -- for the layperson.

Barca will field Mali's Seydou Keita, Cote D"Ivoire's Yaya Toure and Cameroun's Samuel Eto'o. If they win, they join a select group of African CL winners. Eto'o would become a double winner.

Bruce Grobbelaar and Craig Johnston (Liverpool FC) in 1984, Rabah Madjer (FC Porto) in 1987, Abédi Ayew (Olympique de Marseille) in 1993, Nwankwo Kanu and Finidi George (AFC Ajax) in 1995, Samuel Kuffour (FC Bayern München) in 2001,

Benni McCarthy (FC Porto) in 2004, Djimi Traore (Liverpool FC) in 2005 and Samuel Eto'o (FC Barcelona) in 2006.

Blackburn Rovers enter the first full year of the Big Sam era. He's already put his stamp on the team - Samba as a lone center-forward anyone? - and this year should see further consolidation. They start the season injured with Nelsen, Samba, Gallagher, Emerton, Grella, Dunn, and Reid in various states of crocked.

According to the Lancashire Telegraph, despite the fact that Blackburn striker Benni McCarthy wants to leave, the club will not get rid of him. It states that boss Sam Allardyce does not want to sell him as his options are going to be limited up top once Franco Di Santo returns to Chelsea when his loan deal ends.

Benni McCarthy is Back in the Bafana Bafana Squad

When Carlos Alberto Parreira returned as head coach, the writing was on the wall, Benni Mc Carthy would be asked to come back. The door to the Bafana Bafana team would once again be opened to the man who has scored 31 goals in 76 caps for his country.

You never commit too soon. Mike Pollitt did just that towards the end of the first half of Wigan's home tie with Liverpool and paid the price. While Mido equalize late in the match, this was a game where Wigan seriously had a chance at getting all three points. Yes it's harsh to blame one person with [.

The South African international has been told he risks losing his place in the Rovers side if he does not step-up his training. According to a report in the British tabloid The Daily Mirror, Blackburn Rovers manager Sam Allardyce has warned striker Benni McCarthy he may not play again this season unless he loses weight.

Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez's gut reaction was right, his side were good enough to beat relegation-haunted Blackburn without Steven Gerrard.
The club captain was left on the bench as Liverpool cruised to a victory that keeps their title hopes alive.
They wiped away the bitter memory of the midweek Champions League defeat by Chelsea, thanks to a couple of top-line goals from Fernando Torres, taking his total to the season to 14.

Colorado Rapids - Giving away 2 points against LA has sent the Rapids further down the table. They are now 4th in the West and tied with New England for 8th overall in the league. They are 8th in goals scored and tied with KC and DC for 6th in goals against.
Queen of the South - QoS hosted relegation candidates Cylde over the weekend and showed the difference between a solid 1st Division team and a soon-to-be-2nd Division team as they played them off the park.

Colorado Rapids - With the Rapids two draws last week they are now 3rd int he West and 5th overall in MLS. New England and Chivas are lurking right behind them with games in hand though, and Colorado no longer has games in hand over the teams in front of them. The Rapids are tied for 2nd in goals scored with DC and Columbus and are 6th in goals allowed.

Saturday's snoozy session between Manchester United and Blackburn Rovers turned Old Trafford into a literal Theatre of Dreams. Even the linesman sailed off to the Land of Nod, for what other excuse could there be for deeming Rovers sub Nikola Kalinic offside when he banged in Edwin Van der Sar's deflection off a Benni McCarthy strike for a goal?

It's been a while since I did one of these:

• That Beckham-to-Milan deal is finally finalized.
  
• Pepe Reina got a new Liverpool deal.
  
• City looking to loan out Robinho?
  
• Benni McCarthy wants out of Blackburn.
  
• New Roma contract for Totti?
  
• We should've signed Anelka, says Reds defender Carragher.

Jogaram emPort Elizabeth, no Nelson Mandella Stadium, as seleções da África do Sul (85º no ranking da FIFA) e a seleção do Japão (40º do ranking da FIFA).
Antes desse jogo, as 2 seleções jogaram:
14-09-2000 - África do Sul 1x2 Japão (Jogos Olímpicos)
Árbitro: Romvaldo Baltazar (Angola)
A torcida sul-africana compareceu em bom número ao estádio de Porto Elizabeth, inaugurado recentemente para a Copa do Mundo.

Matt Le Tissier watched Liverpool fall further behind the Premier League pace-setters.
With Fernando Torres still sidelined, the Reds failed to make an impact against a Blackburn side buoyed by the return of Sam Allardyce - and their Carling Cup win over Chelsea.
It left Rafa Benitez bemoaning a poor first half but looking forward to Alberto Aquillani's first start in a red shirt against Fiorentina in midweek.

Kevin Davies led Bolton to a 3-2 victory over Tottenham.

For anyone who hasn't recovered from the drama of yesterday afternoon here is a review of the other games that took place this weekend.

Liverpool (briefly) went top of the league with a last-gasp win over Fulham. The Reds must have thought it wasn't going to be their day when they hit the woodwork four times, but sub Yossi Benayoun popped up in the 92nd minute to grab all three points.

Colorado Rapids - The Rapids had a bye this week. Next week we're in New England.
Queen of the South - For their final game of the season QoS traveled to Livingston. On a soggy pitch the Doonhamers appeared eager to get to the offseason, giving up a goal and a PK in the first 10 minutes.

The party did not go as planned after Sepp Blatter kicked off the Confederations Cup, the curtain raiser to the 2010 World Cup.

"Dear friends, FIFA is committed to Africa. Brothers and sisters, I would like to say a lot of thanks to the people of South Africa, to the African continent, who have organized this competition," Blatter told the cheering crowds.

Sometimes these posts are hard to write. Not that I don't have anything to say. I've been running through what to say in my head for two days now. Can't sleep because of it, to be honest, as evidenced by the fact that I'm writing this at 2:30am. I've had a terrible week in fantasy football.

Did you read this column last week? If not, then you should have. It could have made you some money. Nine out of ten outcomes correct, five out of ten results spot on, I should be backing my instincts.

Of course last week was a one-off, a fluke. Or was it? Here are my predictions for this week's round of matches, tell me if you agree, and feel free to add your own.

As the transfer window continues to creep closer many disgruntled players are beginning to air their dirty laundry. One of these upset players is thirty-one year old Benni McCarthy of the Blackburn Rovers. McCarthy really can't be blamed either. The vet who has been with the squad since 2006 has been allowed only one start all season and Blackburn continues to struggle to seek positive results.

What's been in Butt's Brain over the past few days...

• Benni McCarthy says he has no future at Blackburn under Sam Allardyce. Pompey seem to be in the running for the South African superstar - he would join compatriot Aaron Mokoena at Fratton Park if the move goes through in January [Times Live]

• Only a few days left for you to participate in our World Cup prediction contest and win some great free soccer gear from Soccer Pro [Butt Buddies WC Contest] and [Soccer Pro]

• Liverpool's injury woes continue.

Carlos Alberto Parreira began his second tenure as Bafana Bafana coach with a 0-0 draw against Japan in their international friendly encounter at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium in Port Elizabeth on Saturday.

Bafana Bafana Didn't Lose

But Bafana Bafana didn't lose!

Benni Mc Carthy Takes a Shot Against Jamaica

Maybe the "weakened" Jamaica was a better opponent for South Africa, because Bafana Bafana managed to play forward although they were held to a goalless draw at Vodacom Stadium on Tuesday.

That means the 2010 World Cup hosts have now scored just six goals in their last 12 internationals.

Sudáfrica en Sudáfrica 2010 Calendario x Fecha y hora lugar contra Primer juego Segundo juego Tercer juego Las últimas tres participaciones de Sudafrica en mundiales Mundial Posición final Avanzo hasta Eliminado por Compartió fase de grupos con: Francia 1998 24 Primera ronda puntos Francia, Dinamarca, arabia saudita Corea Japón 2002 17 Primera ronda puntos España, Paraguay, Eslovenia Su mejor participación fue en:

corea Japón 2002, lograron su primera victoria en los mundiales ante Eslovenia

Se le recuerda especialmente por:

nada en especial, pero pusieron en aprietos a España en 2002, y en ese mismo mundial le sacaron un punto a Paraguay

Jugadores sobresalientes Nombre posición Club Benni McCarthy delantero Blackburn Rovers Kagiso Dikgacoi medio Fulham Elrio van Heerden delantero Blackburn Rovers Daylon Claasen medio Ajax Rowen Fernández portero Arminia Bielefeld

© hefebreo for Fútbol México, 2009.

Liverpool still drew yesterday. Sadly, the answer is no.

Glen Johnson confirms what the women at Kickette probably already knew. Oh, he meant playing style. Still, I'm inclined to say that between Benni McCarthy and Sam Allardyce, Rovers are objectively not handsome. They never should have let go of Roque Santa Cruz.

The 'Bloggers handbook' recommends using a catchy headline, so I have. We will see if it improves the hit count.And now back to the football. Anyone who thought that their Uncle Jimmy would modestly refrain from pointing out that he forecast the two latest wins and even got the score spot on for Blackburn, and predicted the demise of Mark Hughes, does not fully appreciate the ego power of your

Image via Wikipedia Last Saturday on the Barclays Premier League, Tottenham Hotspur surely seemed like the better team as they made sure that they went home with a victory in their records. What set them apart from the Blackburn Rovers is the fact that they were able to transform their chances into goals effectively.

According to Andy Cryer at the Lancashire Telegraph, Blackburn striker Benni McCarthy is drawing interest from three clubs. McCarthy's representative Ivan Modia said,

"We just want to talk to John Williams or Sam Allardyce over the next couple of weeks to find out their plans for Benni.

UPDATE: According to Alan Nixon at MirrorFootball, FC Porto are interested in Blackburn striker Benni McCarthy. However the club might have a hard time taking on his £35,000-a-week salary.

December 23rd, 2009 According to Andy Cryer at the Lancashire Telegraph, Blackburn striker Benni McCarthy is drawing interest from three clubs.

The Boxing Day game between Wigan and Blackburn ended in a 1-1 draw. SCROLL FURTHER DOWN FOR MORE FOOTBALL ACTION

Both Wigan Athletic and Blackburn Rovers put themselves into trouble by ending their match with a 1-1 tie at the DW stadium on Saturday. Benni McCarthy's 30minute goal put the visitors into a commanding position. But his first of the season was equaled by Hugo Rodalegga's powerful header in the 53rd minute of the match.