Three players Liverpool should sell while they still have value

Despite recent losses to Manchester City and Chelsea, Liverpool are enjoying a stellar season underBrendan Rodgers and look well-placed to challenge for a place in next year's Champions League.

In anticipation of a strong second half of the season, the Reds are preparing to reinforce their squad in the January transfer window with several arrivals mooted.

However, certain members of the squad will have to make way for such buys and supporters will have their own ideas as to who shouldn't pull on the red shirt again.

Here at Squawka, we've nominated three players that we think should be heading out of the exit door in the next couple of transfer windows.

Glen Johnson

A disastrous performance against Chelsea was the last straw for many as the right-back has been in decline for some time with a series of lacklustre displays.

The former West Ham United youth product has thrown Rodgers' plans into disarray as it seems that two new full-backs will be needed to replace the current pair and restore confidence in the defence.

This screenshot was taken from the Squawka Football App - Download it here

The England international has won just 62 per cent of his tackles and just 56 per cent of his take ons so far this campaign, a poor statistic for an attacking full-back.

With rumours of Liverpool chasing the likes of Barcelona defender Martin Montoya, Johnson could find himself out of Anfield sooner rather than later.

Daniel Agger

A controversial choice considering his long service to the Reds cause, but with Mamadou Sakhosettling in well at Anfield it may be time to move the Danish centre-back on with Barcelona known to be long-term admirers.

However, Rodgers may decide to hold off selling Agger until the summer with news emerging from Melwood that Sakho could be ruled out for up to two months after picking up a hamstring injury.

Agger Defensive Errors (2): PL 2013/14

A 54 per cent tackle success rate may hint at a beginning of a decline for the centre-back and with two defensive errors this campaign, perhaps the Reds will be better served by offloading Agger sooner rather than later.

Tiago Ilori and Andre Wisdom are being groomed as successors to the Dane, therefore Liverpool may be keen to cash in on the Dane while they still can.

Iago Aspas

Widely considered to have flopped at Anfield since his arrival from Celta Vigo in the summer, Aspas could be set for a swift exit as he struggles for form.

The striker has failed to find the net so far this season and currently holds an appalling Squawka performance score of -64, courtesy of attempting just two shots in nine appearances.

No wonder that with rumours mounting of Mohammed Salah's possible arrival, Rodgers is prepared to quickly offload the Spaniard deemed a lost cause.

With Italian striker Fabio Borini in good form on his loan spell at Sunderland, Liverpool could decide to cut their losses on Aspas and snap up a new striker in January.

These are three players that the Reds could do with selling, but truth be told, much more importance will be attached to who they sign in January - one of the most crucial windows in their recent history.

Formula 1 - Schumacher shows 'slight improvement' after second operation

• 
     OOJ  - Michael Schumacher (Reuters)

The medical condition of seven-times Formula One world champion Michael Schumacher is slightly better on Tuesday following a second operation during the night to treat head injuries he sustained in a skiing accident, doctors said.

"The situation is more under control than yesterday but we cannot say he is out of danger," Jean-Francois Payen, head anaesthetician told a news conference at the CHU hospital in the eastern French city of Grenoble.

"We have won some time but we must continue an hour-by-hour surveillance... It is premature to speculate on his condition," he said, adding that it could still be qualified as "critical" and that "the hours to come are crucial."

Emmanuel Gay, head of the hospital's neurosurgery service, said the operation carried out during the night involved removing a large hematoma - the medical term for a build-up of blood - from the left-hand side of Schumacher's brain.

"It was larger and more accessible (than others) ... We judged we could remove it without taking any risks," Gay said.

He said the operation was designed to reduce, within Schumacher's skull, the pressure on the brain, which suffered injuries including lesions and contusions from Sunday's fall.

The retired motor racing champion, 44, slammed his head on a rock while skiing off-piste on Sunday morning in the French Alpine resort of Meribel, where he has a vacation home.

Doctors said the fact that he was wearing a helmet had enabled him to make it to the hospital alive.

Payen said the medical team in Grenoble had discussed the operation with Schumacher's family. He said the condition of the German motor racing great was still too fragile to consider transferring him to another hospital for the time being.

Footballs famous quotes of 2013

© AFP

“I wasn’t hungry, I was very hungry. I stole many bikes. I also stole cars. That was how we got by. We did those things on adrenaline, motivation. I came from Rosengard. In Sweden it’s considered a ghetto, but for me it was paradise.” 

Zlatan Ibrahimovic on his childhood 

"Mourinho is the best coach in the world. He is not God, but he almost is.” 

Eden Hazard 

“You want to compare me to Ibra? Well, that's a compliment... for him!" 

Mario Balotelli when a reporter likened him to Zlatan Ibrahimovic 

“I’d already done a lot of nice things lying down, but I’d never scored a goal!” 

Fred jokes about his opener against Spain at the FIFA Confederations Cup 

"I don’t know if my equal at AC Milan (Mario Balotelli) has committed theft on a train, drove without headlights in the night, or constantly ran away and withdrew from the U-21 squad. These were the sins of my youth. I recently turned 27 and if I do certain things in Germany that I used to do, I'd get arrested immediately! I've always been against taxing diets. Once a Dinamo Zagreb coach saw me while I was eating a pizza and severely scolded me, saying I would get fat. In response, I ordered ten pizzas and managed to eat five!" 

Mario Mandzukic 

"When we signed him from Banfield I assumed he came from Argentina. But I’ve since discovered he comes from the planet Krypton! 

Massimo Moratti on Javier Zanetti 

"I had never heard of Sheriff Tiraspol before – I thought they were from Northern Ireland! I only found out 20 minutes before we landed. I got told it was a country within Moldova. That was a new one for me, but it has improved my geography! I am very pleased to be here. I can tell my grandchildren that I played in a part of Moldova that isn't Moldova." 

Lewis Holtby on Tottenham’s visit to Tiraspol, which is a self-announced breakaway state 

"He is really something. I love him. He is Sir Arsene Wenger. He is hello (makes a handshake gesture). But he likes having the ball, playing football, passes... it’s like an orchestra. But it is a silent song. I like heavy metal more. I always want it loud. I love Arsenal’s style, but I cannot coach it because I am a different guy. If you watch me during the game I celebrate when we press the ball and it goes out. To enjoy football you have to do this. If, over the last four years, Barcelona were the first team I saw playing when I was four years of age — this serenity of football, they win 5-0, 6-0 — I would have played tennis. It is not my sport. I don’t like winning with 80 per cent of possession. Sorry, that is not enough for me. Fighting football, not serenity football, that is what I like. What we call in German 'English' football — rainy day, heavy pitch, 5-5, everybody is dirty in the face and goes home and cannot play for weeks after." 

Jurgen Klopp

"It’s crazy that I’m compared to athletes like Michael Jordan, Usain Bolt or Muhammad Ali. I don’t like comparisons. Who am I to compare myself to someone else? I do my job and when my career is over we’ll see how well I’ve done. The biggest critic of Messi is Messi. I know when I do things correctly and when I do them poorly."

Lionel Messi

"[Pirlo's] always making jokes, always breaking the rules. One time when I was eating at Milanello, I had the bright idea of leaving my phone on the table, and he sent a text message from it to Galliani and Braida offering them my sister!” 

Gennaro Gattuso on Andrea Pirlo’s character and the text he sent to the Milan chiefs

"He is a gentleman of the highest caliber, and to watch him on the pitch – pacing like a lion, as weightless as an astronaut – is pure therapy.” 

Morrissey, the English musician, on Robbie Keane after watching the Irishman represent Los Angeles Galaxy against Tijuana

“Zlatan was calling us fishermen. Yes, we are fishermen, for fishing belongs to our culture. What he earns per minute or per day, we barely make in a year. We finish our jobs at around 4pm and practise in the evening; he is a professional. We are already a small enough country. Why he feels the need to put us down even further, it’s just weird. Zlatan likes to point out how much money he earns. He’s also on a level that everyone else can only dream of – he’s among the best three players in the world. He should be very happy. Why is he so angry? Why does he need to trash-talk? Why does he need to behave the way he does?” 

Simun Samuelsen on Zlatan Ibrahimovic following the Faroe Islands’ 2-0 loss away to Sweden 

“I went to Tahiti to play football, to make a living doing it, but then I saw that the sport is still amateur, so I started working as a tour guide. As the company I work for knows I’m a footballer, whenever an important person in that area comes, they ask me to receive them. It’s through this that I met Mourinho, Cassano, Buffon and Ronaldo – and in 2007 Torres. I went to pick [Torres and partner Olalla] up at the airport and then they went to Bora Bora. They were going to return to Papeete, but Torres had to leave at the last minute to sign a Liverpool contract. When the [Spain-Tahiti] game finished, I went to the Spanish dressing room and asked Vicente Del Bosque if I could speak to Torres. He knew I was there and recognised me! I was very happy and we exchanged jerseys.” 

Efrain Araneda, Tahiti’s Chile-born standby player 

“I arrived at Barcelona. I had bought a white suit to look handsome. Unfortunately, everybody was looking strangely at me – [I’d forgotten] white is the colour of Real Madrid! At the end of the first day, the club’s president told me, ‘That, never again!’ The day after I threw the suit in the bin!” 

Ludovic Giuly on his first day at the Catalan club 

“If Real Madrid come back in Champions League, I’ll let my girlfriend sleep with them!” 

Mario Balotelli offers an extra incentive for Real to reverse a first-leg deficit against Borussia Dortmund: the stunning Fanny Neguesha

Aston Villa boss Paul Lambert waits on Christian Benteke news

  £5 free every week

Aston Villa boss Paul Lambert is hoping to have Christian Benteke back for the New Year's Day match at Sunderland.

Benteke has missed Villa's last three games due to a knee problem but trained on Monday ahead of the trip to Wearside.

The Belgium striker scored 23 times during a stand-out debut campaign in English football last year but has struggled for form this season.

He has scored just five goals - the last of which came in the 2-1 home defeat by Newcastle three months ago.

Lambert said: "Christian trained on Monday morning and looked okay. He feels okay within himself. The thing with Christian is he's a young guy, and people forget that.

"Everyone put this super-stardom thing on him, but he's 23 years of age.

"He's a young guy and his confidence suffers, as everyone else's does. He's back and hopefully he will do what he did at the tail-end of last season.

"This is the point where Christian scored all his goals and if he does all that, it would be great."

Villa captain and defender Ron Vlaar, who has been out for five games due to a calf injury, did some light training on Monday morning and may also make his comeback at the Stadium of Light.

Villa have lost four of their last five games but Lambert insists there is still plenty of grounds for optimism.

"We are only three points off 10th so it is not doom or gloom," Lambert said. "It's how people want to portray it. I've never been a negative person."

"If you look at the table, we are sitting in a pretty decent position. We are ahead of where we were last year.

"Ideally, we want to play better, there's no two ways about it, but it was important we stopped the sequence (of four successive defeats) on Saturday - that was absolutely paramount, that we stopped our losing run.

"We have to have everyone fit, and hopefully one or two are coming back. We are three points behind 10th, which is incredible.

"The great thing about the Swansea game was after Boxing Day (when Villa lost 1-0 at home to Crystal Palace) they came out and a young side did not capitulate.

"They kept going and had a great desire not to get beat. If you can't win it, it is important not to lose it."

Ray Wilkins joins Fulham as assistant head coach

Fulham have confirmed the appointment of Ray Wilkins as assistant head coach.

Rene Meulensteen, who himself only took over the reins from Martin Jol at the beginning of the month, has welcomed the return of the former manager.

Meulensteen said: "I am delighted that the Chairman and the CEO have, again, backed my desire for further experience and support within the backroom staff.

"Retaining our status of being a Premier League club next season is vitally important to our long term plans, and I know that Ray's own experience and his knowledge of the game will be a vital component in our success."

Wilkins became the manager of Fulham in 1997, with former England team-mate Kevin Keegan working under him.

Wilkins took the side to the Second Division play-offs, but was sacked by chairman Mohamed Al-Fayed after Fulham lost the last three games of the regular season.

After leaving Fulham, Wilkins worked as a coach at Watford, Millwall and Chelsea. He left his post at Stamford Bridge in November 2010 and has been working as a Sky Sports pundit.

It is the second backroom addition at Fulham in the past seven days; Alan Curbishley joined as first team technical director on Christmas Eve.

Gerrard Boost for Liverpool

Steven Gerrard last played for Liverpool against West Ham United on 7 December

The new year starts with a bang on Wednesday with 10 Barclays Premier League matches taking place. The action starts at 12.45pm with Manchester City visiting Swansea City while there are also eight 3pm matches including league leaders Arsenal welcoming Cardiff City and Hull City visiting Liverpool. The late afternoon kick-off pits Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur at Old Trafford.

After kick-off our Matchday Live service also enables you to follow live commentaries, check out the best photos from around all the grounds and get the latest in-match stats. At the final whistle we provide match reports while there will also be post-match reaction and manager press conferences. To see more, click on the links below.

Premier League: Arsenal playmaker Mesut Ozil out with a shoulder injury

  OOJ - Mesut Ozil

Arsene Wenger does not expect Arsenal playmaker Mesut Ozil to be sidelined for long and has ruled out a January bid for Newcastle United midfielder Yohan Cabaye.

Record signing Ozil missed Sunday's 1-0 victory over Newcastle at St James' Park due to a shoulder injury.

The Germany international is likely to sit out the New Year's Day game at home to Cardiff City and next weekend's FA Cup third-round tie against local rivals Tottenham Hotspur.

However, Arsenal boss Wenger played down any concerns that Ozil could face a prolonged period on the sidelines.

"It is an inflamed shoulder," said Wenger. "It should be maybe one more week, maybe less, I don't know, but not a long time."

Wenger was also without Aaron Ramsey, who has a thigh problem, as well as Thomas Vermaelen and Nacho Monreal, who missed out through illness, at St James' Park.

Olivier Giroud's 65th-minute header secured the points which will send Arsenal into the New Year on top of the Premier League table.

With the January transfer window due to open, there has been speculation Wenger will try to bring in reinforcements to keep Arsenal's title challenge on track.

Wenger, though, has played down the prospect of making a renewed offer for Cabaye after the Magpies midfielder was an Arsenal target during the summer window.

He added: "We don't look for midfielders because today, we had no Ozil, no Ramsey, who stayed at home, and we had still three good midfielders and had still [Mikel] Arteta on the bench, so there is no real need in there."

Belgium boss Marc Wilmots believes Romelu Lukaku should do his talking on pitch

Belgium manager Marc Wilmots believes Romelu Lukaku should get his head down and do his talking on the pitch.

Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho recently stated Lukaku he should explain why he joined Everton on a season-long loan from the Stamford Bridge side.

And Wilmots believes the 20-year-old needs to concentrate on his game and not become dragged into off-field issues.

In comments reported by Het Nieuwsblad, Wilmots is quoted as saying: "He has to stop talking about tactics. He wants to play himself, obviously.

"Mourinho has already said he talks too much. I agree. His club decides where he plays, I decide the tactics in the national team.

"I hope he understands."

Meanwhile, Wilmots says he does not blame Mourinho for Belgium international Kevin De Bruyne's lack of game time with the Blues this season.

De Bruyne has made just five starts and four substitute appearances for Chelsea this term since returning from his loan spell with Werder Bremen.

Wilmots understands Mourinho's position, given the wealth of talent at his dispoal, saying: "I'm not angry at Mourinho. He's doing a good job and he has a lot of good players.

"If I would have the same quality in my group, I'm not sure if I would play De Bruyne either.

"Willian, Hazard, Oscar, Schurrle, Mata and De Bruyne: that is six top players for three places

"I have already talked to Mourinho and told him I wouldn't interfere."

Transfer News: Porto defender Eliaquim Mangala dreaming of Premier League switch

FC Porto defender Eliaquim Mangala has expressed his desire to ply his trade in the Premier League and revealed his World Cup ambitions.

Both Chelsea and Manchester City reportedly displayed interest in the centre-back during the summer but, with the January transfer window set to open, Mangala plans to see the season out in the Primeira Liga.

However, the 22-year-old has outlined his ambition to join a Premier League club, claiming the English structure is the best in the world.

"You can have the best agent in the world, but if you are not outstanding on the pitch you will never join any great club," he told L'Equipe.

"The Premier League? That is no secret, to me it is the most beautiful league in the world.

"Whatever the opponent, you know it will be a fight. The game is intense, it is fast, and everyone is giving his very best."

Risk

Despite the allure of a Premier League switch last summer, Mangala is confident he made the correct decision as he continues to pursue a place in the France World Cup squad for Brazil 2014.

Speaking of the interest last summer, he said: "I have no regrets to have stayed. The first time I was called into the French squad I played at Porto.

"Today I feel at home at Porto, where I can go on improving by playing matches.

"Moreover, it is always a risk to leave before a big international competition. A departure is not topical."

Mangala was left out of the France squad ahead of their World Cup qualification play-off with Ukraine in November, but the one-cap international remains confident he will impress manager Didier Deschamps with his on-field displays.

"As I was not called, that means I am quite far away from the squad," he added. "It is up to me to try to be better than the other players in the team.

"Football is a matter of moments. If I am outstanding during the next six months, my performances will not be neglected. Only the pitch matters."

Formula 1 - Doctors: Schumacher condition 'extremely serious'

• 
     OOJ  - Michael Schumacher during his years at Ferrari (Reuters)

UPDATE 10:00 MONDAY

Michael Schumacher is in an "extremely serious" condition following surgery on a brain injury sustained in a ski crash, doctors at his hospital in France have said.

Doctors at the Grenoble hospital where Michael Schumacher is being treated describe his condition as "extremely serious". They say he is fighting for his life but will not speculate about his chances of survival or recovery.

The F1 legend has "inter-cranial haematoma", which is bleeding between the brain and the skull which causes the brain to swell.

He has undergone only one operation and there are currently no plans for further surgery at this stage.

Schumacher's helmet may have saved his life. "If he had not been wearing it he wouldn't have made it here."

- - -

BACKGROUND

Michael Schumacher is in a "critical condition" after suffering a serious brain injury in a skiing accident in the French Alps resort of Meribel on Sunday, according to the French hospital at which he is being treated.

Retired seven-times Formula One world champion Michael Schumacher was in 'critical' condition with head injuries after an off-piste skiing accident in the French Alps resort of Meribel.

The 44-year-old German was in hospital in Grenoble and under the care of Professor Gerard Saillant, a brain and spinal injury expert who is also president of the FIA Institute, and who treated Schumacher following a big crash at Silverstone in 1999 which left the German with a broken leg.

He suffered head trauma with coma that needed prompt neurosurgical treatment," Schumacher's agent Sabine Kehm said in a statement late on Sunday evening, which a hospital official read to reporters.

"He remains in a critical condition."

A hospital official declined to give more details but said more information would be given on Monday.

(Photo: Michael Schumacher was taken by helicopter to the CHU hospital in Grenoble)

Christophe Gernigon-Lecomte, the director of the Meribel ski resort where Schumacher has a holiday home, said earlier that the former champion was wearing a helmet when he fell and hit his head on a rock at around 11:00. CET (10:00 UK time).

He added that the German had been conscious while being transported first to a local hospital in Moutiers before then being transferred to Grenoble. "He was conscious but very agitated while being taken to hospital," said the director.

It is a feature of head injuries that the patient can initially appear relatively unhurt, before their condition worsens as the brain swells.

(Photo: A fan waits anxiously for updates outside the hospital in Grenoble)

In Germany, Schumacher's accident topped news bulletins, with the bestselling tabloid newspaper Bild reporting on its website: "Schumi fighting for his life".

Bild reporters also said that Ross Brawn, the Briton who worked with Schumacher at Ferrari and Mercedes as technical director and team principal respectively, had arrived in Grenoble.

The Formula One community, and the wider world of motorsport, reacted with shock and prayers on social network Twitter for the champion to win his biggest battle.

"If anyone can pull through, it's him," said Britain's triple Indy 500 winner Dario Franchitti, who is still walking on crutches after a huge crash in October that ended his racing career.

"Come on Michael, give us one of those race stints at pure qualifying pace to win through, like you used to. You can do it," said Schumacher's former Benetton team mate Martin Brundle.

Former Ferrari team mate Felipe Massa, who suffered a near fatal head injury at the 2009 Hungarian Grand Prix, said he was praying for his friend.

(Photo: File photo of Schumacher on a skiing trip in 2006)

Schumacher is the most successful Formula One driver of all time with a record 91 race victories in an extraordinary - and frequently controversial - career spanning more than two decades.

He won his first two titles with Benetton in 1994, the year when Brazilian triple champion Ayrton Senna died in a crash at the San Marino Grand Prix, and 1995.

The German then took five in a row with Ferrari between 2000 and 2004 in what now seems a golden age for the Italian team who named a square after him at their Fiorano test track.

Schumacher left the sport last year after a less successful three-year comeback with Mercedes following an earlier retirement from Ferrari at the end of 2006. He lives in Switzerland with his wife and two children.

(Photo: Schumacher celebrates one of his 91 race wins, the 2006 Italian Grand Prix)

Sherwood earns first home win as Spurs coast past Stoke

• 
  Eurosport - Tottenham Hotspur's Aaron Lennon (2nd L) celebrates his goal against Stoke City with Zeki Fryers (2nd R), Roberto Soldado (R) and Emmanuel Adebayor (L)

Premier League, White Hart Lane – Tottenham 3 (Soldado 37 pen, Dembele 65, Lennon 69) Stoke 0

Tottenham brushed aside Stoke City 3-0 to move three points off the top four and maintain Tim Sherwood’s unbeaten run as manager in the Premier League.

The hosts carved out a number of openings in a one-sided first-half with Aaron Lennon and Paulinho looking particular dangerous as Spurs repeatedly flooded forward.

Roberto Soldado thumped home the opener from the penalty spot after Emmanuel Adebayor’s acrobatic volley was stopped by the outstretched hands of Ryan Shawcross, leaving Kevin Friend with no option but to point to the spot.

Spurs continued to dominate after the restart and struck again when Mousa Dembele threw in a clever dummy and fired into the bottom corner before Aaron Lennon volleyed past Thomas Sorensen to seal the victory.

Substitute Erik Lamela almost notched a fourth with his first touch only to be denied by a last-ditch sliding challenge but it was to prove inconsequential as Tottenham moved level on points with Manchester United ahead of the pairs’ New Year’s Day clash.

KEY MOMENTS

15’ – CHANCE: Lennon finds himself in acres of space down the inside-right channel. He picks out Adebayor with his cut-back but the striker's effort is shocking. It's so bad it falls to teammate Eriksen but the Dane can't turn it home.

16’ – CHANCE: Paulinho pulls off one of the all-time great flicks to release Soldado. The Spaniard sets his aim on the far corner... Flashed wide. Big chance missed.

37’ – GOAL (PEN): Tottenham 1-0 Stoke: Adebayor attempts an extravagant volley which forces defender Shawcross into a fine two-handed save. Unfortunately for Stoke, Kevin Friend spots the infringement and points to the spot without hesitation. Soldado does the rest.

58’ – CHANCE: Lennon charges down the right wing and precisely pulls the ball back into the path of Soldado... He's blown it - what a sitter! The classic 'my nan could have scored that'. Honestly, she could have.

65’ – GOAL: Tottenham 2-0 Stoke: Dembele drops his shoulder left, shifts the ball between his feet and hammers a low shot into the bottom corner. Brilliant finish from the Belgian. That's his first Premier League goal since his debut.

69’ – GOAL: Tottenham 3-0 Stoke: Soldado's diagonal pass flicks off the boot of Adebayor and into the path of Lennon. The winger flicks it up and whacks it into the top corner. Great hit. Game over.

76’ – CHANCE: Adebayor charges at the Stoke goal with Lamela in support. It breaks to the winger but he can't poke home with his first touch. What a story that would have been.

MATCHCAST: FULL COMMENTARY AND STATS

KEY STATS

Spurs remain unbeaten in every Premier League match this season in which they have scored the opening goal (10 matches).

Spurs score three goals in a Premier League home match for the first time this season, and for only the third time in 2013.

Stoke have now conceded seven goals in three Premier League matches in London, after keeping two clean sheets in their previous two.

TALKING POINT

Can Tim Sherwood inspire Tottenham to an unlikely top four spot? The caution that was encouraged under AVB has been eradicated as Tottenham employ a far more attacking philosophy under Sherwood. It looked a little disjointed at times against Stoke but surely it’s better than the insipid style that has plagued their game for much of this season. Incredibly, Spurs sit just three points off the top four and are still in the hunt for the Champions League. If Sherwood can bring elite European football back to White Hart Lane, he can look forward to extending that 18-month contract.

MAN OF THE MATCH

Aaron Lennon (Tottenham): His close control and lighting pace befuddled the Stoke defence. On this form, Lennon has to be in Roy Hodgson’s squad for Brazil.

PLAYER RATINGS

Tottenham: Lloris 6, Naughton 6, Dawson 6, Chiriches 6, Fryers 6, Lennon 8, Paulinho 8, Dembele 7, Eriksen 6, Adebayor 6, Soldado 6… Subs: Capoue 6, Chadli 6, Lamela 6.

Stoke: Sorensen 6, Pieters 5, Palacios 5, N'Zonzi 5, Shawcross 5, Walters 6, Cameron 6, Assaidi 6, Crouch 5, Wilkinson 6, Ireland 5… Subs: Muniesa 6, Pennant 6, Adam 6.

Formula 1 - Schumacher fights for life after skiing accident

• 
     OOJ  - Michael Schumacher

Michael Schumacher is in a "critical condition" after suffering a serious brain injury in a skiing accident in the French Alps resort of Meribel on Sunday, according to the French hospital at which he is being treated.

The hospital in Grenoble said Schumacher had suffered severe head injuries and a coma, just hours after initial reports had suggested his injuries were not life threatening.

“He suffered a head trauma with coma, which required immediate neurosurgical treatment”, Schumacher's agent said in a statement late in the evening, which a hospital official read to reporters. “He remains in critical condition”.

A hospital official declined to give more details but said more information would be given out on Monday.

The seven-time world champion, who was wearing a helmet, suffered a possible head trauma when he hit a rock.

He was taken to hospital by helicopter, but a spokesman for the ski resort had said his injuries were "not very serious".

However, Schumacher was then transferred to Grenoble because his injury was regarded as being more serious than previously thought.

Professor Gerard Saillant, an expert in brain and spine injury and a close friend of Schumacher's, arrived at the hospital on Sunday evening. Saillant treated Schumacher following a big crash at Silverstone in 1999 which left the German with a broken leg.

Meribel director Christophe Gernignon-Lecomte had earlier told RMC radio Schumacher's injuries had been slight, saying: "He fell at 11:07am (CET) while skiing off-piste at Meribel. He was wearing a helmet and banged against a rock.

"Emergency services intervened quickly, at 11:15am. He was airlifted to hospital at Moûtiers (about 15km) away. He was shocked, a bit shaken up but conscious. There's maybe a concussion but it's not very serious."

Police are investigating the cause of the accident, with Europe 1 radio reporting that the German was skiing alone.

Schumacher's spokeswoman, Sabine Kehm, told Bild: "Michael fell on his head during a private ski trip in the French Alps. He was taken to hospital and is receiving medical care."

The 44-year-old Schumacher retired from F1 in October 2012, two years after having returned to competition.

File photo of Schumacher on a prior skiing trip.

Premier League - Eto'o secures controversial Chelsea victory over Liverpool

• 
     OOJ - Samuel Eto'o clebrates scoring for Chelsea against Liverpool (AFP)

Premier League, Stamford Bridge - Chelsea 2 (Hazard 17' Eto'o 34) Liverpool 1 (Skrtel 4')

Samuel Eto’o scored the winner for Chelsea as they beat Liverpool 2-1.

Liverpool opened the scoring after three minutes when Luis Suarezheaded the ball against Branislav Ivanovic, leaving Martin Skrtel with an easy chance to score from just a few yards.

Moments before, Samuel Eto’o was lucky to stay on the pitch for a studs-up foul on Jordan Henderson.

Chelsea equalised when Eden Hazard curled in a great shot from the edge of the box. They took the lead when Simon Mignolet’s dreadful effort to stop Eto’o’s close range shot saw the ball slowly roll over the line.

At the start of the second half, Mamadou Sakho went close, heading Henderson’s short cross against the bar.

Eto’o had a chance to extend Chelsea’s lead when he blasted the ball at the near post from a few yards out, but Mignolet stuck out a leg to pull off a fine save.

Suarez was denied an obvious penalty after an Eto’o foul, but Chelsea deserved their win.

KEY EVENTS

2’ - ETO’O COULD SEE RED - Eto’o goes in high on Henderson’s leg and he’s lucky not to be sent off.

3’ - SKRTEL SCORES - Suarez’s header rebounds of Ivanovic, letting Skrtel tap the ball in from just a few yards out.

12’ - LAMPARD SHOT - Frank Lampard goes close, Mignolet tipping over his fierce shot.

17’ - HAZARD EQUALISER - The Belgian curls in a shot into the top corner as he gets onto a loose ball on the edge of the area.

37’ - MIGNOLET MISTAKE - Mignolet’s woeful save, to palm Eto’o’s shot away from goal, pushes it slowly over the goal line to give Chelsea the lead

53’ - LIVERPOOL HIT THE BAR - Sakho’s header loops ominously towards the goal, with the keeper beaten, but it hits the woodwork and Chelsea are safe.

54’ - MIGNOLET SAVE - Eto’o drives the ball at the goal but Mignolet sticks out a leg to save the day.

71’ - OSCAR SHOT - Lucas is dispossessed just outside the area but Oscar sends a low shot wide of the post from just inside the area.

82’ - SUAREZ PENALTY CLAIM - Eto’o barges Suarez over in the box, for no reason at all, and Webb inexplicably doesn’t give a penalty.

90+4’ - PATHETIC FIGHT - Oscar and Lucas come to petty blows after a rough Oscar challenge is rewarded with a paw in the neck from the Liverpool midfielder.

MATCHCAST: FULL COMMENTARY AND STATS

KEY STATS

Luis Suarez has gone two games without a goal.

Six of Chelsea’s last eight Premier League wins against Liverpool have come under Jose Mourinho.

Luis Suarez failed to score the one goal needed to become only the 7th player to reach the 30-goal mark in a calendar year in the Premier League era.

Chelsea have still never lost a Premier League home game under Jose Mourinho

TALKING POINT

Are Liverpool out of the title race? Top at Christmas, fifth going into the new year. There season could already be unravelling as Spurs and United close in on them.

MAN OF THE MATCH

Eden Hazard (Chelsea): A constant outlet for Chelsea on the right wing after his goal, he bought numerous free kicks with cynical play and scored a great equaliser for his side.

PLAYER RATINGS

Chelsea: Cech 6, Ivanovic 6, Cahil 6, Terry 6, Azpilicueta 6, Luiz 6, Lampard 7, Willian 6, Oscar 7, Hazard 7, Eto’o 7. Subs: Cole 6, Mikel 6, Torres 6.

Liverpool: Mignolet 5, Johnson 6, Agger 6, Skrtel 6, Sakho 6, Lucas 6, Allen 6, Henderson 6, Sterling 6, Coutinho 5, Suarez 6. Subs: Toure 6, Aspas 6, Smith 6.