What are the odds an Everton or Liverpool player 'does an Abel Xavier'? Derek McGovern's Bets of the Day

It's a little-known fact that Peter Beardsley, Gary Ablett, Nick Barmby and Abel Xavier all have the same middle name – Traitor. The quartet are the most recent players to have made that journey no man should ever make – across Stanley Park (especially at night).

In a sport where players are increasingly deified, Fernando Torres was a God-like figure at Liverpool; the fans worshipped the ground he walked on, and in the eyes of his fawning disciples, he could no wrong. That all changed when El Nino left for Chelsea - he instantly became a traitor; an Anfield Judas, worthy of nothing but contempt and ridicule.

League action resumes this weekend with some very exciting fixtures across Europe. In Italy defending champions AC Milan face a tough away fixture to Fiorentina tomorrow in a match that could see them on their current position 3 ranking.

However, all attention will be on the Juventus v Palermo tie and the Napoli v Lazio match.

The Israeli international, usually remembered in England for his time at West Ham United and Liverpool, but not Chelsea, was called a Judas by Chelsea fans. The inference being that because he is now an Arsenal player, and supporting his current team, he is a traitor.

Yossi Benayoun played only eleven times for Chelsea.

Why Owen Hargreaves is more like an easily-led sheep than a guinea pig

At the start of this month someone created a false Owen Hargreaves Twitter account. It carried the claim United fans had daubed the word ‘Traitor' on his car. ­Nonsense, of course, but the fact it had fleeting credibility highlights the ­delicacy of Manchester's new order.

You made it through the international break, not to mention a mad end to the summer transfer window. Congratulations. To celebrate, let's hop right back into one of the touchiest subjects of the last two weeks...

*Over the weekend, Raul Meireles insisted he wasn't a Judas but said that he'd explain in more detail later.

By Chris Wright

Spotted in amongst the Atletico Madrid supporters during their 2-1 Europa League victory over Stromsgodset on Thursday evening...

"DIE KUN Traitor", and...

"DE GEA, YOU WILL NEVER BE ONE OF US"

Which is all a little tetchy, no?

Last night Daniel Levy once more reitirated his stance on Luka Modric leaving Spurs. He's not. He's not going anywhere for any amount of money. Simple. All done and dusted then? No of course it isn't, to believe that is the end of it would be to display an embarassing amount of naievety.

The last Invincible – By Alessandro Pace Back in 2003, Arsenal signed a highly regarded yet still unknown young Frenchmen who went by the name Gael Clichy. At the age of 16, Gael was put in as direct back up to who we now know as in Gooner slang "Cashley Cole." In Clichy's first season [...]

This has not been a tumultuous few months for Birmingham City. Relegated from the Premiership, Alex McLeish turns traitor and joins Aston Villa, and now Carson Yeung, the largest shareholder of the club has been charged with five counts of money laundering by a Hong Kong court. His arrears could amount to £59m, a nice tidy sum of money.

In MUA#12 we said goodbye to the traitor that is Ignacio Rodriguez-Argote. Ignacio is leaving his position as Strikers Media Relations & PR Manager and heading off to work for the hated Puerto Rico Islanders.
Ignacio has been a friend to the Miami Ultras but that all came to an end on this episode of Miami Ultras Alive.

Will The Boy Wonder Be Welcomed Back if Kenny Signed Him?


by Thomas Atzenhoffer on The Bleacher Report
April 20, 2011
Alex Livesey/Getty Image In what could be a rumor of outlandish proportions in the last few months of the season, there have been whispers that Kenny Dalglish could attempt to bring back a fallen hero of the Kop in hopes of letting him set things right before the end of his career.

As much of an issue as we've had winning away from home in the Premier League in this very un-Manchester United-like season, by comparison, we would appear to be a veritable juggernaut continentally.

Okay, that would be a stretch of the truth if you've seen any of those matches, but the bare fact is that we had as many wins in three Champions League group stage away matches as we've had in four times as many away matches in the Premier League.

On international Wednesday a look at the often controversial question of international eligibility.
A guest blog from Zoe Broome exploring the reasons and emotions that might be involved in making a decision about which country to play for.
A tricky one this, with the eligibility rules never quite fully satisfying.

I wrote an article the other day stating that Liverpool fans have to face facts about Fernando Torres' decision to leave the club. Yesterday in his press conference, Torres spoke of many things about his decision to leave but revealed he had the blessing of Steven Gerrard, he would never say anything against the Liverpool players and staff and if he scored tomorrow he wouldn't celebrate.

After a manic January deadline day the fallout has begun on Tyneside following Andy Carroll's record breaking move to Liverpool.

Carroll sealed his shock transfer to Anfield late last night after ‘handing in' a transfer request earlier in the day, which resulted in Newcastle ‘reluctantly' accepting Liverpool's crazy £35m bid.

Fernando Torres has received a series of death threats from Liverpool fans after completing his record £50million move to Chelsea while supporters have been burning his shirt on the streets of Merseyside.
Chelsea confirmed the signing of the Spanish striker minutes after the January transfer window closed yesterday night after Torres agreed to a five-and-a-half year deal at Stamford Bridge.

Don't miss the brand new episode of the 3 Up Front podcast!

Host Adrian Clarke does his best to control feuding pundits Iain Spragg and Iain Macintosh during half an hour of lively laughter-filled football chat that features;

Darren Bent is a money-grabbing traitor Fact or Fiction?

New Inter Milan coach Leonardo denies that his appointment at the bitter city rival of his former club, AC Milan, is a kick in the teeth to his former employers.
The Brazilian spent just one season at the AC Milan helm, guiding it to third in Serie A. But the 1994 World Cup champion played for AC Milan in 1997-2001 and later served the club as scout and technical director.