Of course, just when you think that Mike Ashley's unpopularity with the Newcastle United fanbase has bottomed out and just couldn't get any lower, it usually does. However the only man who has offered him any kind of lifeline is Chris Hughton, who has resolutely chosen to ignore wherever possible almost everything at Newcastle that [. Click to continue reading...

The four European World Cup Play-offs games are delicately posed heading into the second leg on Wednesday. Here is a look at each game, plus the big winner take all game in Africa.

Republic of Ireland 0-1 France
France were the one European team to win away from home on Saturday, putting them in the strongest position of all the teams playing on Wednesday.

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A fierce North African rivalry was intensified in Cairo last night as Egypt threw themselves a World Cup lifeline in the most dramatic fashion. With five minutes of injury time on the clock, Emad Metaab popped up to head the ball into the Algerian net and produce the only result ... Click to continue reading...

A fierce North African rivalry was intensified in Cairo last night as Egypt threw themselves a World Cup lifeline in the most dramatic fashion. With five minutes of injury time on the clock, Emad Metaab popped up to head the ball into the Algerian net and produce the only result ... Click to continue reading...

Video Goal highlights from the first leg Russia vs Slovenia European FIFA 2010 World Cup Playoff game on Saturday, November 14, 2009. Game kicks off at the Luzhniki Stadium, Moscow at 16.00 UK time. Half time score :- Russia 1-0 Slovenia ( Diniyar Bilyaletdinov 40′) Russia 1-0 Slovenia ( Diniyar Bilyaletdinov 40′ goal) Fantastic strike from Bilyaletdinov. Click to continue reading...

Steven Gerrard's hotly-disputed second-half penalty rescued a point for Liverpool but did little to lift the pressure on boss Rafael Benitez.
It is just one win now in nine matches for the Reds and they must be grateful for the two-week international break which will allow the dust to settle on their faltering season. Click to continue reading...

Ryan Guy's goal against Shamrock Rovers proved to be the lifeline that St. Patrick's Athletic needed to avoid relegation, while Chris Konopka featured for Sporting Fingal in a defeat to Athlone Town. Click to continue reading...

Liverpool was so close to victory yesterday in Lyon. After giving Lyon their best for 83 minutes, a Ryan Babel wonder goal broke the deadlock, handing Rafa and the Reds a lifeline in Group E. A win against the French powerhouse would throw them back in the thick of things. But it was not to be, as Lisandro Lopez capitalized on some poor Liverpool defending to snatch a 1-1 draw that sealed Lyon's passage to the knockout stage.

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Liverpool was so close to victory yesterday in Lyon. After shutting out Les Gones for 83 minutes, a Ryan Babel wonder goal broke the deadlock, handing Rafa and the Reds a lifeline in Group E. A win against the French powerhouse would throw them back in the thick of things. But it was not to be, as Lisandro Lopez capitalized on some poor Liverpool defending to snatch a 1-1 draw that sealed Lyon's passage to the knockout stage.

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After the late equaliser in the Champions League game last week the manager and a number of the players went on record saying we couldn't afford to be that sloppy again. We would have to learn from the mistake we made.

Sadly for us that lesson hasn't been learned yet and while a draw away from home isn't a bad result on paper, the circumstances of yesterday's 2-2 with West Ham make the result most frustrating.

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Rafa Benitez has offered current Aston Villa striker Emile Heskey a lifeline as the big man tries to cement his spot in Fabio Capello's upcoming World Cup squad.

Heskey has been out of favor at Villa Park this season, starting only one of Villa's Premier League fixtures this season and is yet to find the back of the net in his five appearances.

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The Daily Star claims that Rafael Benitez is set to offer Emile Heskey a return to Liverpool in the January transfer window, providing the England striker with a World Cup lifeline in the process.
Heskey has admitted that he will consider leaving Aston Villa if he continues to warm the bench, worried that his lack of first-team football at club level will affect his chances of leading the line for the Three Lions in South Africa. Click to continue reading...

By NESTOR F. SEBASTIAN

When all is said and done next week following the conclusion of South America's two-year marathon of World Cup qualifying, fans everywhere will have witnessed one of the most exciting conclusions the continent's federation has ever produced since its decision more than a decade ago� to switch to a home-and-away format for all 10 nations.

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Fergie calls referee's stamina into question Despite Manchester United being thrown yet another injury time lifeline, it seems Sir Alex Ferguson is still not happy. An added 4mins 32secs was not enough in Fergie's opinion and he has hit out at referee Alan Wiley for not allowing enough extra time at the end of his team's 2-2 [. Click to continue reading...

It's not old news that the Matarrese family wants to sell Bari. Although they have been in charge of the Pugliese club since 1977, they no longer have the want to be heads of a football club and have had the club on sale for years. Last year former Real Madrid president Lorenzo Sanz was interested in taking charge of the club, but the deal fell through.

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It's crunch time and DC United has been thrown a lifeline in the CONCACAF Champions League, but the Black and Red need a big win in RFK over a suddenly misfiring Marathon to get themselves back on track. Click to continue reading...

by CARL ELDRIDGE Does Johan Djourou's knee injury throw his Swiss team-mate Philippe Senderos an Arsenal lifeline? Djourou, who faces six months on the sidelnes after surgery for a knock he picked up playing for Switzerland, was third in the pecking order behind Tommy Vermaelen and Billy Gallas with Mickey Silvestre loitering with intent in that reserve position too.

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Rafa Benitez blasted Steven Gerrard and Co after Liverpool lost 3-1 at home to Aston Villa.

The Reds suffered their second league defeat in three games, having lost only twice last season and Liverpool are already six points behind Chelsea after only three games.

Rafa was not happy with Liverpool's performance and said after the game:

"Lucas scored an own goal but Gerrard gave away a penalty and each player will have to analyse a lot of things.

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After losing the opening game of the season to Tottenham Hotspur, Rafa Benitez was furious not to be awarded two penalties. Having gone 1-0 down thanks to a great Assou-Ekotto goal, Liverpool were given a lifeline when calamitous goalkeeper Heurelho Gomes charged off his line to needlessly bring down Glen Johnson, who posed no threat to the goal.

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Days away from a new Premier League season and reporter Oscar Chamberlain takes a closer look at the up and coming stars ready to make their mark this term.

Ryan Babel (Liverpool)

Its do or die time for Liverpool's Dutch international, after two full seasons on Merseyside he still hasn't been able cement a regular first team place.

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So yesterday Newcastle United played Leeds United in a friendly for no other reason than to give the travelling Yorkshiremen a chance to give Alan Smith the booing he deserves and to give Joey Barton the chance to put in a disgusting and unprovoked challenge on English Starlet Fabian Delph.

Joey Barton got away with a crude challenge on Fabian Delph as tempers threatened to boil over for the second time in three Newcastle friendlies.

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Michael Owen: Mentally prepared for battle and ready to take on the opposition both on and off the field.

I know there were some United fans who were dubious and skeptical about the benefits of signing Newcastle United burden Michael Owen but I am convinced Sir Alex has in fact made the bargain buy of the season.

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This news is being reported in the Sun today, so probably has to be taken with a pinch of salt. Joey Barton - Hull interested? The news is that Hull City, who were also interested in Michael Owen, are ready to offer Joey Barton a Premier League lifeline. But the news that Tigers manager Phil Brown wants [. Click to continue reading...

There are some clubs in the Bundesliga where even Obama fails.

Energie Cottbus grabbed a lifeline by securing the relegation play-off spot, but ended up having not even close to a chance in their tie against FC Nuremberg, who beat them 5-0 on aggregate to end all eastern German presence in the Bundesliga.

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Talk about being handed a career lifeline. Instead of getting one last go in the Premier League with Everton, Aston Villa, or Hull City, former Liverpool star Michael Owen is reportedly getting the golden opportunity of golden opportunities to get his last hurrah at the top.

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David Villa has made up his mind.

The Real talks have stalled. The price is a sticking point. The EPL is less challenging than the Liga in its current shape and form, so Man Utd and Chelsea will have to opt for a lesser name.

Time for Barca to unveil their transfer kitty and spirit Villa away.

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Kaká gets the winner against a plucky Egypt

Brazil's Confederation Cup campaign got off to a shaky start after they squeezed past Egypt 4-3 in the Free State stadium.

Kaká, Luís Fabiano and Juan had given Brazil a 3-1 lead but Shawky and two from Zidan brought things level in the second-half.

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It looks very much like Setanta is about to go under. The company is no longer taking customer subscriptions, and this week BSkyB refused a £50m lifeline payment to the Irish TV operator, which owes more than £30m to...

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Andrea Dossena moved to Liverpool from Udinese last summer, but he has failed to adapt to the Premier League and hopes that Serie A giants Juventus will hand him a lifeline.
"I have talked to [Rafael] Benitez. He is a wonderful person and has understood my problem," Dossena explained in Tuttosport. Click to continue reading...

Benitez sets his sights on clever striker signing. The Rumour Boro flop Tuncay has revealed he could be thrown a Premier League lifeline by Liverpool. Boss Rafa Benitez ran the rule over the Turkey international in the final weeks of the season, and despite Teeside club's misery of relegation, he liked what he . Click to continue reading...

A 2-1 victory for Inter last night maintains the club's 100% record with a three point lead at the top of the Série A table.
Forwards Talles Cunha and Alecsandro both got onto the score sheet in a match which saw both teams finish with ten men at a cold Beira-Rio.
With Inter's Copa do Brasil commitments becoming increasingly important; Inter again fielded a mixed side with only Lauro, Kléber and Andrezinho starting from the team which defeated Coritiba last Wednesday. Click to continue reading...

By half past two this afternoon, either Liverpool's Premier League dream will be over or they will have been handed an unlikely lifeline.
Manchester United need just a point from their lunchtime clash with Arsenal to equal the Reds' record of 18 league titles.
Arrangements have been made to present the trophy at Old Trafford today but Rafa Benitez wasn't prepared to throw the towel in yesterday. Click to continue reading...

Obafemi Martins and Peter Lovenkrands climbed off the substitutes' bench to hand Alan Shearer a first victory and Newcastle a Barclays Premier League lifeline with a 3-1 win over Middlesbrough. Click to continue reading...

A very impressive Stoke City side continued to march up the table by handing Hull City a shock 2-1 defeat at the KC Stadium this afternoon. In all fairness, Phil Brown's Tigers were completely outplayed and had it not been for defender Andy Dawson's last minute consolation, the final score would have been a little too embarrassing for the hosts.

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Sevilla all but booked their Champions League berth with a well-worked 2-0 victory over Villarreal on Saturday evening which severely dents their opponents' hopes of securing a place in Europe's premier club competition. Luis Fabiano opened the scoring shortly before the hour mark and, although Villarreal were handed a lifeline when Abdoulay Konko was sent off 18 minutes from time, Frederic Kanoute scored 10 minutes later to leave Sevilla five points clear of their hosts. Click to continue reading...