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Transfer talk: Arsène Wenger says he has not approached Real Madrid
Liverpool's Luis Suárez: 'I'm changed and have learned self-control'
Allardyce: no regrets on Carroll
Mourinho to resist 'crazy' Hazard bid
David Moyes on FA charge while Wayne Rooney sunbathes in Egypt
Leicester City 4-1 Derby County
Rodgers wants explanation from FA
Swansea return to feed off Man United's insecurities
Peter Crouch: Revitalised Stoke striker happy to put Strictly on hold
FA appoints expert to help in 'quenelle' investigation
Sir Alex Ferguson plays one last mind game – and as usual he's winning | Jacob Steinberg
Stoke City v Liverpool: Squad sheets
Manchester United v Swansea City: Squad sheets
Newcastle United v Manchester City: Squad sheets
Aston Villa v Arsenal: Squad sheets
Chelsea's José Mourinho dodges Wayne Rooney transfer questions - video
Southampton v West Bromwich Albion: Squad sheets
Manchester United last lost four games in a row in 1961
Tottenham confirm Jermain Defoe sale to Toronto FC but keep Erik Lamela
From tennis talkers to street soccer: our favourite things online this week
Wayne Rooney's groin hasn't recovered yet, says Manchester United's David Moyes – video
Hull City v Chelsea: Squad sheets
Hull City's Tom Huddlestone out to prove André Villas-Boas wrong
The Fiver | At least someone at Old Trafford has been pulling their finger out
Fulham v Sunderland: Squad sheets

Transfer talk: Arsène Wenger says he has not approached Real Madrid

Posted: 10 Jan 2014 03:30 PM PST

• Arsenal manager plays down move for Real's Alvaro Morata
• Fulham's Bryan Ruiz in talks with a number of foreign clubs

Morata Real Madrid

Arsène Wenger has played down suggestions he is about to make a loan move for the Real Madrid starlet Alvaro Morata - and admits he could do without the disruption of the January transfer window altogether. Arsenal have been linked with the Spanish forward following injuries to Theo Walcott and Nicolas Bendtner but the manager said: "We are not in talks with Real about anybody. Nothing has changed because we are open to a possible solution and if something interesting turns up we will do it. It could be a loan as well yes. The transfer market is a distraction that for me is not welcome."

Ruiz Real Betis/PSV Eindhoven

Bryan Ruiz is in discussion with a number of foreign clubs including PSV Eindhoven and Real Betis after being told he can leave Fulham. The 28-year-old was the biggest signing of Martin Jol's tenure, arriving at Craven Cottage in 2011 for £10.6m but has rarely lived up to that price tag. "I wouldn't call his signing a mistake because at that time it was probably for Fulham the right choice and the right investment," Rene Meulensteen, the Fulham manager, said. "I've picked my teams on what I think are the right reasons and motivations but I can also understand Bryan's point of view. He is a good player, has a World Cup coming up and he obviously needs to play."

Kébé Leeds

The Crystal Palace winger Jimmy Kébé has joined Leeds on loan until the end of the season. The Championship club, whose manager Brian McDermott worked with the Mali international at Reading, have the option of a permanent deal in the summer. Kébé joined Palace in the summer but has failed to make an impact and has been restricted to six appearances this season.

Ireland Stoke City

Mark Hughes hopes to turn Stephen Ireland's loan move from Aston Villa into a permanent deal with Stoke City this month. Ireland has returned to something like his best form since arriving at the Britannia Stadium on a season-long deal from Aston Villa, and has scored three times in 15 appearances for Stoke and with his Villa contract expiring at the end of the campaign and no likelihood of a new one, Hughes is looking to agree terms as soon as possible in the hope of creating a vacancy for another domestic loan player.

Liverpool's Luis Suárez: 'I'm changed and have learned self-control'

Posted: 10 Jan 2014 03:12 PM PST

• 'I'm improving my attitude because I know I was wrong'
• Steven Gerrard says he has 'fantastic chance' to win title
• Suárez named Premier League player of the month

Luis Suárez says he is a changed man and is constantly working to improve his attitude on the pitch while his Liverpool team-mate Steven Gerrard said that claiming the Premier League title would top his Champions League-winning heroics.

Suárez told ESPN: "My temperament, attitude, desire and hunger when I am on the pitch has always been like this and will continue to be this way. I now know I have to control it more."

The striker added: "An example of this was about two weeks ago when I had an open shot at goal and hit the post and it rebounded close to my hand, and I was about to go for it and then I stopped.

"If the same thing had happened two months ago I would have gone for it. These things stay with me but I tell you I am changing. I am improving my attitude on the pitch because I know I was wrong in the past and I was creating an image of myself I know wasn't me."

The Uruguay international was named the Premier League player of the month after setting a record with 10 goals in December, the first player to reach double figures in a calendar month.

Suárez has played only 15 league matches as he had to serve the remaining half of a 10-match ban for biting Chelsea's Branislav Ivanovic in April.

The season before that the 26-year-old was banned for eight matches after being found guilty of racially abusing Manchester United's Patrice Evra.

Gerrard is excited by the prospect of this season being his best chance to win the only domestic honour which has eluded him. The 33-year-old would "snap your hand off" for a fourth-place finish even if the midfielder feels the club can achieve better.

Liverpool, fourth heading into the weekend, were top on Christmas Day and the last team not to win the title having held that position were the Reds in 2008.

"This is probably my best chance to surprise this country and countries throughout the world to maybe nick the Premier League," he told Sky Sports. "Sitting here in the middle of January I have a fantastic chance of having a right good crack and getting involved in a title race.

"I've finished second on a couple of occasions but we've never come really close. If we perform like we have done over the last couple of months, we can get involved in the title race so that is very exciting.

"It scares me in a way because I don't know how I'd handle myself. When I won the Champions League [in 2005] the week after that talk about being on cloud nine or over the moon – all the clichés – it was better than that.

"If I could add a Premier League title to my collection it would mean the world to me, it would probably be the best day of my life besides my kids being born. I think it would top the Champions League because it is the one I haven't got."

Liverpool have not featured in Europe's elite club competition since 2009 and Gerrard admits what is most important is regaining that status.

"I'd take fourth now," he said. "We have been out of the Champions League for so long, to have that chance to play a couple of qualifiers against sides you should beat – I'd snap your hand off but I am confident we can finish higher.

"The manager mentions the Champions League, he sets us aims and challenges and, of course, Champions League is the talk around the place all the time – but that was the case when we didn't qualify for it.

"For the players it is the ultimate competition to be involved in and you want to compete against the best. All the lads who are a lot younger than me at this club need to play and sample it."

Allardyce: no regrets on Carroll

Posted: 10 Jan 2014 03:00 PM PST

• West Ham told there was only a 4% chance of injury recurring
• Striker could be on bench for dogfight at Cardiff City

Sam Allardyce does not regret ploughing the vast bulk of last summer's transfer budget into the pursuit of Andy Carroll, a player who has yet to kick a ball in anger this season, as West Ham United prepare to welcome the England striker back to the bench for their critical Premier League game at Cardiff.

West Ham spent a club record £15m to make Carroll's loan move from Liverpool permanent despite the 25-year-old having torn the lateral plantar fascia on the outside of his right foot during the final game of last season. According to Allardyce, West Ham were told there was a "4%" chance of a recurrence of the injury, only for the forward to rupture the medial tendon in the same foot in September. He has since spent time with a specialist in Antwerp as part of a lengthy period of rehabilitation.

Yet Carroll has trained well over the last two weeks, with the manager – desperate to improve the mood after one league win in 13 matches and successive 5-0 and 6-0 defeats in the domestic cup competitions – prepared to take the "calculated risk" to restore him to the bench at Cardiff. "If we had our time over again, would we have signed him? Yes, on the information we had," Allardyce said. "It appeared that the risk of re-injury was about 4%. Unfortunately, for us and for him, Andy became one of the 4%. I don't think we'd be in this position if we'd had him fit.

"In the end, your leading front man will (influence) 50% of your team or more. It was proven to be the case for me when I signed Nicolas Anelka for Bolton from Fenerbahce: he contributed to more than 50% of the success we gained from then on. In some cases, the squad behind Nicolas got a bit weaker than it used to be, by players getting older and retiring like Fernando Hierro, Youri Djorkaeff and Jayjay Okocha. But with Nicolas there we ended up competing for the Champions League spots and targeting the top five or six, because he scored goals for us.

"If Manchester United's results are not going for them right now, it's because Robin van Persie and Wayne Rooney haven't been there. Manchester City's whole team is brilliant but they've got so many great finishers it makes it easier for them to win matches. They put the ball in the net more than anyone else. You can't find more than one [great finisher] if you're a club like us. Even Arsenal, with Olivier Giroud, don't have too much more after that. What would Liverpool be without Luis Suárez? How difficult would it be without him? We've been without Andy all season. With him, we'd be an awful lot better."

West Ham travel to Cardiff to confront the side immediately above the cut-off with Allardyce's position effectively on the line, for all the messages of support issued this week by the co-chairmen, David Gold and David Sullivan.

The return of James Tomkins from injury has been offset by the loss of Joey O'Brien to a knock suffered at the Etihad Stadium, where the club's support made clear their desire for managerial change. The hope remains that James Collins, Ricardo Vaz Tê – who returned for the under-21s on Friday night – and Winston Reid should all be back in training before the end of the month.

There should be reinforcements by then, too, though Lacina Traoré's work permit request will go to a tribunal next week, while West Ham must still convince Parma to allow them to take Ishak Belfodil on loan from Internazionale. The former own a 50% stake in the player.

"It's been a tough few weeks but I'm still here and I'm still fighting," Allardyce said. "All I do is say why we are where we are, why results are bad. If I'd had a fully fit squad for the Christmas period and the cup games and the results had gone badly, I'd be really worried. I'm confident we'll get the players back to fitness and add to that.

"With Andy it's more about him being back in the squad than actually playing: the lift of having our major investment, a fantastic centre-forward, a great target man and a really good goalscorer … that's a boost for everyone, just having him back, given where we are at the moment. We've waited so long and so patiently for this moment to come. We've been in need of Andy for so many weeks now that the temptation is to try to rush these things, but you can't put the player at too much risk by trying to play him when he's not ready."

Dominic Fifield

Mourinho to resist 'crazy' Hazard bid

Posted: 10 Jan 2014 03:00 PM PST

• Manager out to keep reported target of Paris Saint-Germain
• 'He has become a complete player and good professional'

José Mourinho says he has helped Eden Hazard improve so much it is now inconceivable that Chelsea would sell the Belgian – even for "crazy" money. Reports in France claim Paris Saint-Germain are contemplating making a bid this month for the player Chelsea bought from Lille for £32m in June 2012. Mourinho says Hazard has become so important that his club would not let him go for any amount.

Hazard's talent has never been in doubt but in the early stages of this season it was not certain whether he and Mourinho would thrive together, as the midfielder's inconsistency and occasional defensive frailty frustrated the manager. His attitude was also questionable and Mourinho dropped Hazard for a Champions League match against Schalke in November after the player forgot his passport while returning from a break in France and missed training.

Mourinho says he convinced the 23-year-old to focus more and become "a complete player". He did this through "conversations, feedback, demanding more, following the way I think is the right way. Even if it's not the right way, it's the way he has to follow."

He said: "He has made progress in everything. He was known as one of the worst trainers. Now I would not say he is one of the best but he has become a good professional. He was known to have lots of quality, which he has kept, but was not very effective in terms of real production and he was a player without a defensive culture. I think he now works very hard for the team. He's not the player who does a fantastic action and then disappears from the game for 30 minutes. He's trying all the time to be influential in our game. He's getting the responsibility, thinking 'If I am a top player, I have to be there in every match'. It is a fantastic evolution for him.

"When we work the way we work, when the players know exactly what they have to do, it's easy for them and he is doing that. I cannot expect him to be the match-winner every game because it is not fair to put that kind of pressure especially on a player who comes in from the side and sometimes finds himself far away from the decision area but we are very happy with him."

Chelsea will go top of the Premier League, at least temporarily, if they win at Hull City on Saturday and Mourinho believes the demands of challenging for the highest honours have also inspired Hazard.

"He likes the responsibility and feels it is important that we are close to the title. It's a different pressure. If we are 20 points behind Arsenal and he scores three goals it means nothing. If we are one or two points behind and he scores the winning goal in a victory that pushes us to the top, that means something. This experience is good for him."

Hazard's fellow Belgian Kevin De Bruyne is set to leave Chelsea with the club close to agreeing a deal with Wolfsburg. De Bruyne arrived for £6.7m from Genk in January 2012 but has become irritated at his lack of first-team action. Chelsea are ready to sell for a big profit. Mourinho said: "He wants so much to go that maybe it's a good option to let him go in a very good deal for the club, by a financial point of view."

Paul Doyle

David Moyes on FA charge while Wayne Rooney sunbathes in Egypt

Posted: 10 Jan 2014 02:50 PM PST

• United manager charged for criticising cup semi-final referee
• Denies backroom changes have contributed to defeats

David Moyes's traumatic week continued when the Manchester United manager was charged by the Football Association for misconduct on Friday, having been forced to deny his new-look coaching staff are the prime reason for the champions' dismal run of form.

Following the Guardian's revelations that several players have begun questioning his credentials, Moyes was charged after criticising the officials' "terrible" decisions that led to both goals against United in Tuesday's 2-1 defeat at Sunderland in the Capital One Cup semi-final first leg.

Moyes was unhappy with the free-kick awarded by the referee, Andre Marriner, that led to Ryan Giggs's own-goal and with the second-half penalty awarded by the referee. The manager said of the officials: "We're having to play them as well as the opposition at the moment. It's really terrible, it really is. We're actually beginning to laugh at them, that's the thing." Moyes has until 6pm on 15 January to decide whether to accept the charge. He is likely to face a fine if found guilty. It comes as yet another blow to the manager, who has presided over three consecutive defeats inside a week – the first time United have suffered such a run in 13 years. Moyes denied that his clear-out of Sir Alex Ferguson's coaching team was to blame.

Moyes replaced Rene Meulensteen, Mike Phelan and Eric Steele with Steve Round, Phil Neville, Jimmy Lumsden and Chris Woods. Despite winning last season's title by 11 points, United trail the leaders, Arsenal, by the same margin, and were also knocked out of the FA Cup by Swansea City last weekend before the reverse at Sunderland. Asked if players had been made uncertain by changes to the backroom, Moyes said: "I don't think that's got anything to do with it at all."

Eric Harrison, who developed David Beckham, Ryan Giggs, Paul Scholes, Nicky Butt and the Neville brothers, also claimed Moyes made an error in making the changes. Moyes said: "I asked René to stay at the club and gave him the opportunity so it wasn't as if I came in here and said let's get rid of everybody. I've kept all the other backroom staff."

Moyes is insistent his squad are giving their best but he admitted concern that, having been champions by more than 10 points, they are now so far behind Arsenal. "That's right, I agree with that. I can't disagree with what you're saying." With a summer clear-out expected he also agreed that players have only so many chances to prove themselves. "That's what happens, no matter what club you are at. You get opportunities and you have to take them when they come around," he said.

Despite qualification for the Champions League being in doubt Moyes reiterated that the hopes of strengthening during the transfer window remain low. "If there's anything out there I'll try and bring them in but it's difficult," he said.

Wayne Rooney has not played since the 2-1 defeat by Spurs at Old Trafford on New Year's Day and Moyes revealed that the England striker has been sent for some "warm weather recuperation" in Egypt in an effort to be fit for the match against Chelsea on 19 January.

"He has a bit of a groin-adductor problem which we just think might need a little bit more time," Moyes said. "Wayne has been sent away on a sort of hot-weather break. His groin has not quite recovered yet. We have sent a fitness coach with him and he is away with his family. Hopefully [we will] get him fit for Chelsea and we will see how he is."

Moyes wants to ensure that Rooney heals completely. "It looks as if we could bring him in but then he may have to drop out again, so we just want to nip it in the bud and see if we can get on top of it," he said. The manager was unable to say when Robin van Persie will return. "I wouldn't want to put a date on it. We are trying to get him back but it's a thigh strain similar to the one he had at Arsenal, so we are having to manage it correctly."

Jamie Jackson

Leicester City 4-1 Derby County

Posted: 10 Jan 2014 02:48 PM PST

David Nugent and Jamie Vardy inspired Leicester to a convincing 4-1 victory over Steve McClaren's Derby County that extended their lead at the top of the table to seven points. "They're a very good team and top of the table," said McClaren, "and on that performance you can see why."

The teams were divided at half-time only by Richie De Laet's goal, his first in just over a year, but Leicester's advantage could already have been much greater, as Vardy and Liam Moore both struck the woodwork. Nugent scored three minutes after the break and, though Derby got back into the contest when De Laet scored an own-goal in the 59th minute, it only prompted Leicester to redouble their efforts. They won a penalty within a minute, converted by Nugent, and Vardy completed the scoring soon afterwards.

The Rams were simply outplayed as they slipped to successive league defeats, an eighth in their last nine matches against the Foxes and a third to Nigel Pearson's team this season. "Derby are a good team but we got the balance right," said Nigel Pearson, the Leicester manager. "We worked very hard and some of our attacking play was very, very good. When they got the goal back it was important we responded as quickly as we did because if we didn't then the feel of the game may have been different."

Pearson, who is hoping to sign the Le Havre winger Riyad Mayrez and the veteran striker Kevin Phillips, insisted that his side would not be distracted by the fact that his contract, like those of 10 members of his first-team squad, is to expire this summer. "It's a common occurrence in football and nothing out of the ordinary," he said. "The important thing is we keep our focus on the job in hand. You don't often get this opportunity in this division to be a front-runner the way we are, and we need to keep winning games and moving forward."

The first chance of the game came after 12 minutes. Neat play between Vardy and Nugent opened up the Derby defence allowing Lloyd Dyer in on goal down the left- hand side. Dyer's shot was parried back into the centre of the penalty area by Lee Grant and Matty James steered his shot wide of an unguarded net.

Nugent was involved in the opening goal in the 25th minute, playing a one-two with De Laet, who fired a left-foot shot into the bottom corner of the net.

The second goal Pearson's side had been threatening arrived when Derby failed to deal with Kasper Schmeichel's long clearance and Vardy got in front of Michael Keane to set up Nugent. His initial shot was blocked by Jake Buxton but the ball ricocheted off the striker and into the net beyond the helpless Grant.

Steve McClaren reacted by bringing on the strikers Mason Bennett and Patrick Bamford, a loan arrival this week from Chelsea. And it looked to have worked when Buxton's header found its way into the back of the net via De Laet.

But Leicester's response was ruthless, although in the first instance it was aided by a silly challenge from Craig Forsyth. His needless sliding challenge on Vardy, with the striker heading away from goal, led to the penalty from which Nugent scored his second goal. Four minutes later Derby were torn apart through the middle and Vardy lashed the ball beneath Grant from just inside the area.

After a run of eight wins in nine unbeaten Championship games Derby have now lost three times in succession, with league defeats sandwiching an FA Cup loss to Chelsea. "It's a wake-up call for us and a realisation that there's a long way to go," said McClaren. "But I'm philosophical about it. One win or one defeat won't determine your season. We have to bounce back."

Rodgers wants explanation from FA

Posted: 10 Jan 2014 02:30 PM PST

• Liverpool manager fined by FA but given no clarification
• Rodgers said he was not questioning referee's integrity

Brendan Rodgers wants clarification over Lee Mason's appointment for Liverpool's Boxing Day defeat at Manchester City despite accepting an £8,000 fine for questioning the referee's integrity.

The Liverpool manager accepted a Football Association charge and subsequent fine on Wednesday following comments made after his side's 2-1 defeat at the Etihad Stadium last month. He had asked why a referee from Greater Manchester – Mason is from Bolton – should officiate a game in Manchester when Mike Dean, from the Wirral, does not get Merseyside fixtures. The same applies to Chris Foy from St Helens, and Dean was dropped from officiating the 2006 FA Cup final between Liverpool and West Ham United for geographical reasons.

Rodgers, who received no explanation to accompany his fine from the FA, said: "I made factual points. In time I will take my chance to do that [ask for the FA's reasons]. I never want to get involved in that sort of propaganda. I thought I was looking after the club and people were saying they were surprised because I've never been like that towards referees. What I was saying was a logical look at the appointment. Lee Mason is a good guy. Hopefully I will get an explanation from the Football Association or referees' association."

The Liverpool manager admits he only accepted the FA's punishment to concentrate on the team's pursuit of Champions League qualification. His fourth-placed team head to Stoke City on Sunday and could have their striker Daniel Sturridge available for the first time in seven weeks following recovery from an ankle injury.

"My view hasn't changed," Rodgers added. "I obviously accept the punishment but I'm not one who is the enemy to the officials. My history will show that, I have always supported and encouraged them. I was disappointed after the game, disappointed with the outcome [the fine] considering my history but all I was doing was speaking honestly and in no way was I questioning the integrity of the referee.

"I was just talking about the logic and the facts about other appointments would prove that true I am sure. But it is gone. The only reason I never challenged it was because I didn't want anything getting in the way of what we are trying to do here. All I want for us to talk about is our football."

Sturridge's fitness is timely for Rodgers, although the striker is not guaranteed to be involved at Stoke. But 12 months on from Sturridge's £12m arrival from Chelsea, and the £8.5m capture of Philippe Coutinho from Internazionale, the Liverpool manager does not anticipate such a productive return from this January transfer window.

"Obviously one game a week helps us in terms of our squad and I've always said if we can keep them fit and available we will have a brilliant chance of sustaining things," he said. "If you look at the clubs who got maximum points over the Christmas period, it was the ones with big squads. We know what we need to do now. We are probably playing catch-up on teams that have been able to build over a few seasons. For us it was about the beginning. When I came in we were looking to create something and then build on top of that.

"This window will be more difficult than last year's because the team is now in a different point of its growth and the type of players we want might be available with a lot less regularity. We have done the same work, the same preparation and diligence as we did to get those two in last year so we need to see what's going to be available who can help us. But I do think if we can keep everyone fit we will be in with a great chance." Luis Suárez, meanwhile, has been named the Barclays Premier League player of the month for December.

Andy Hunter

Swansea return to feed off Man United's insecurities

Posted: 10 Jan 2014 02:30 PM PST

• Old Trafford fear factor dissolving, says Morten Wieghorst
• David Moyes admits he is worried by run of home defeats

The Swansea assistant manager, Morten Wieghorst, has claimed David Moyes's appointment as the Manchester United manager has led to "insecurities" that the Welsh side will prey on at Old Trafford on Saturday, with the Dane stating the champions' stadium has shed its fear factor following United's five defeats there this season.

United have lost their last three matches which includes being knocked out of the FA Cup by Swansea in Sunday's third-round tie.

That result, and the dismal league form that has left Moyes's side 11 points behind the leaders, Arsenal,has persuaded Wieghorst that Michael Laudrup's team can take advantage.

"They have already lost five home games," he told Denmark's Jyllands-Posten newspaper. "There is no doubt that this fear factor that United have had at Old Trafford is slowly disappearing and let us see if we can use that now that we have a good win there in our heads."

Regarding Moyes's appointment, Wieghorst said: "We know that there develops a bit of nervousness when a big club goes through a period with a new manager and when the victories aren't forthcoming. There will be some insecurities in a team like that, even if they have very good players, and we will try to take advantage of that. There will be 75,000 people there and every now and then you can catch a big team at a good time."

Wieghorst pointed to Swansea's 3-0 dismantling of Valencia in an Europa League group game at the Spanish club's ground in September to emphasise his point. "We saw that when we played Valencia," he said. "We played them at a good time when the atmosphere [in their stadium] was against the team and then the crowd can quickly turn against their own team if there is a setback. And that is exactly what we will try to take advantage of at Old Trafford."

Moyes attempted to brush off Wieghorst's claims by stating that the media may be interpreting comments slightly differently to how they were intended. "Everybody can have their own opinion," he said.

"You all are, you people, at the minute and probably taking some of the words out of a bit of context. But we have lost a few games at home and that's why people are saying these things. We have to try to do something about it."

In addition to the Swansea defeat, United's losses at Old Trafford have been to West Bromwich Albion, Everton, Newcastle United and Tottenham Hotspur with four of these coming in the four weeks leading up to the victory by Laudrup's side in the FA Cup.

Moyes admitted this was a concern. "It is, of course it is. You cannot turn around and say you are not worried about it. It is a concern, so we have to get our home form right because in this position, people will always have an opportunity to find some form of criticism or find a weakness."

Jamie Jackson

Peter Crouch: Revitalised Stoke striker happy to put Strictly on hold

Posted: 10 Jan 2014 02:30 PM PST

Abbey Clancy's dancing trophy outglitters his FA Cup winner's medal but forward is focused on visit by former club Liverpool

There is not a moment's hesitation by Peter Crouch when he responds to a question about who is the most famous person in his house these days.

"Not me any more, I tell you," Crouch says laughing. "People come up to me all the time, talking about my wife more than me, it's a nice change. She was brilliant. Unbelievable. I didn't know she had it in her, to be honest."

Crouch is talking about Abbey Clancy, the model who won Strictly Come Dancing last month. The striker flew 140 miles from Stoke after he had scored the winner against Aston Villa at the Britannia Stadium to get to Elstree Studios in time to see his wife holding the glitterball trophy that now has pride of place on their mantelpiece. "My FA Cup winner's medal went to the side," Crouch says, chuckling.

It has been a whirlwind few months for the pair. Clancy's commitment to her dancing meant that Crouch, in between being a Premier League footballer, was dashing home to look after his two-year-old daughter Sophia most afternoons and, occasionally, being asked to turn into John Travolta in the evening. "It completely consumes your life, I think, when she was doing that," Crouch says. "She was still practising the steps at home, so I did a little bit with her in the kitchen. It doesn't need me to tell you that I wasn't quite as good as her dance partner."

Self-deprecation comes easily to Crouch. A genial man with a great sense of humour, Crouch has always had that endearing quality of being able to laugh at himself – something perhaps best summed up by that brilliant answer he served up many years ago, when he was asked what he would be if he had not made it as a footballer. "A virgin," Crouch replied.

These days Crouch is quite a catch, particularly for the paparazzi. On Thursday the Daily Mail website carried a story (in the loosest sense of the word) that was accompanied by 11 photos of Crouch, Clancy and Sophia enjoying, as one picture caption put it, "a low key outing in north London". They had left the house for a cup of coffee.

Some footballers love the spotlight but Crouch sounds genuine when he says that he is not interested in courting publicity, even if it is nigh on impossible to keep a low profile when you are a 6ft 7in former England centre-forward with a celebrity wife. "Obviously being on Strictly is a big thing and people love it, and me being a footballer as well, we are both well known, so I understand what comes with it. But it's certainly something I don't really enjoy or relish," he says.

While the beautiful blonde wife fits the footballer stereotype, Crouch is unlike many of his peers in other respects. He refuses to turn his body into a work of art or decorate it with diamonds – "There's enough tattoos and jewellery in our dressing room," Crouch says – and he has no desire to be part of a popularity contest on Twitter, where it is easy to imagine he would have quite a following. "I've thought about it many a time but there's a lot of people that I try to avoid in this life and they seem to be on there as well," Crouch says with a wry smile.

The reality is that Crouch is happiest playing or talking football, even if that means accepting the fact that, as he prepares to celebrate his 33rd birthday at the end of this month, he is unlikely to experience the thrill of pulling on an England shirt again. Crouch scored 22 goals in 42 games – a strike rate up there with the best – but he has not appeared for England since November 2010 and has all but given up on his hopes of playing in a third World Cup finals, in Brazil, this summer.

"I look forward to watching the World Cup and being a supporter but playing for England is not something I look to now. I think as soon as the new manager [Roy Hodgson] came in I wasn't part of the plans and that's been the case throughout. There's a lot of good young players out there now, so hopefully they can carry the fight. As for my personal ambitions, I always loved playing for England and always felt I did well. So I'd never say I'm retired, because if called upon I'd jump at the chance but I can't see that happening."

For Crouch, it is about knuckling down at Stoke, where he admits it has been "up and down" since he joined from Tottenham Hotspur for £10m in 2011.

He was player of the year after scoring 14 times in his first campaign but the goals dried up last season. This term Crouch gives the impression that he is enjoying his football far more on the back of Mark Hughes replacing Tony Pulis as manager.

"Now I've got a little bit more support [up front] than I had under the previous manager, I think that's fair to say," Crouch says. "The way we played away from home, it was me up top on my own and then five midfielders and four defenders. It was like: 'Get on with it.' So that was frustrating at times and hard. You had to sacrifice yourself for the team, which was understandable. Certainly now the manager wants to be a bit more expansive, he wants to try to go and win, away from home as well, so I'm getting a bit more joy, I think."

It also helps that Hughes is a former striker. "He's played that role when you're up front on yourself and I think he understands that you need runners and people supporting you or it's not worth it," says Crouch, who has scored five times this season. "I'm not the type of player that's going to run in behind, or go past three and score. I need support, I need crosses, I need people running off me for me to have an effect on the game, and I think we've got that now."

Liverpool's visit on Sunday evokes fond memories for Crouch, who looks back on the three years he spent at Anfield, between 2005-2008, as "the best time of my career". His only regret is that he was left out of the starting line-up for the 2007 Champions League final against Milan, which Liverpool lost 2-1. Crouch was given 12 minutes as a substitute in a match that he believes Liverpool could have won if Rafael Benítez, the manager, had been bolder.

"At the time I was angry," Crouch says. "I think it's understandable if you miss out in a big final. When are you going to be given that opportunity again? You look at it these days, there's some top players who have never played in a Champions League final, so I count myself fortunate to have got there, and I did play some part. But I just felt we could have won that game if we'd had a few more attacking players on the pitch."

On the whole Crouch can reflect on the last decade with plenty of satisfaction. "Winning the FA Cup [with Liverpool in 2006]… I grew up on that. When I was a kid, the FA Cup was the one, it was bigger than the European Cup even. So to win that, for me, and my dad as well – we used to watch it together – was brilliant. Scoring the winner in the San Siro to help get to the quarter-finals of the Champions League [with Spurs], scoring in the World Cup against Trinidad & Tobago … they're all moments that certainly stick out."

It is tempting to wonder whether there could be another landmark experience in years to come, if the man who gave us the "Robot" follows in Robbie Savage's footsteps by taking part in Strictly one day. "Maybe," says Crouch, smiling. "You never say never but at the moment I'm still enjoying playing. I've seen how hard my wife worked, there's no way you could combine the two, so that's for when you finish. But I certainly wouldn't rule it out."

Stuart James

FA appoints expert to help in 'quenelle' investigation

Posted: 10 Jan 2014 01:27 PM PST

• Furore over goal celebration with antisemitic overtones
• Anelka is friend of comedian prosecuted for antisemitism

The Football Association is working with an "appointed expert" as part of its investigation into Nicolas Anelka's controversial quenelle goal celebration.

The FA said the investigation is continuing into the gesture, which is regarded by some in France as having antisemitic connotations.

A statement from the FA said: "Whilst this work continues as quickly as possible, there will be no further update until Monday 20 January at the earliest. The FA will be making no further comment at this time."

The FA is not naming the expert, who was appointed by its governance division to provide detailed knowledge and opinion about the gesture, which was made by the West Brom striker after scoring against West Ham on 28 December.

The quenelle – which translates literally as "dumpling" in English – is a straight-arm salute with one arm pointing downwards and the other hand across the chest.

It was brought to prominence by the French comedian Dieudonne M'Bala M'Bala, who has been prosecuted for antisemitism, and the salute has been described by opponents as an inverted Nazi salute.

Dieudonne, who has been prosecuted by the French government for insulting the memory of Holocaust victims and holding antisemitic views, was banned from performing in Nantes on Wednesday.

Anelka has agreed not to perform the celebration again after West Brom conceded the gesture had caused offence but the French striker has denied the salute had any antisemitic connotations.

He said he made the gesture to show solidarity with his friend Dieudonne.

Sir Alex Ferguson plays one last mind game – and as usual he's winning | Jacob Steinberg

Posted: 10 Jan 2014 11:58 AM PST

David Moyes is wearing the haunted look of a man who thought he was marrying Mila Kunis and ended up with Tom Cleverley

David Moyes is an internet meme. Apparently his stock has sunk so low that assorted wags on the web are now bracketing the Manchester United manager alongside videos of buffoons planking or doing the Harlem Shake, or funny pictures of cats that bear a passing resemblance to Gary Barlow. It is the latest indignity to be visited upon Moyes, who may be one bad result away from turning up to training having forgotten his trousers while wearing odd socks. You can be sure that never happened to Sir Alex Ferguson.

Poor Moyes. Once described in hushed tones as The Chosen One – which is unfortunate, because we all know the real Chosen One was Buffy the Vampire Slayer – he is now being lampooned as The Chastened One after eight months in the job. The impossible dream has turned into a nightmare of epic proportions.

Yet it is too easy merely to blame Moyes. It takes more than one man to bring down the biggest club in the world, no matter how out of his depth he is. The Glazers are close to never having to buy a round in Merseyside again. There was Ed Woodward's bungling in the transfer market. And in the past week some observers have even started to question Ferguson's role in this shambles – and not just because he left behind a squad of deteriorating quality.

For many Ferguson's greatest faux pas appears to be the inexcusable crime of going to watch United play, thereby heaping more pressure on Moyes. In the week when Thomas Hitzlsperger became the most high-profile footballer to come out and Fifa suit Jérôme Valcke declared that the 2022 World Cup will be played in a Qatari winter wonderland, a man attending a football match does not necessarily seem like news.

But Ferguson is not a normal man. He is Ferguson. Fergie. Suralex. He is a knight of the realm, which means he can legally kill you for looking at him funny. Above all, he had Moyes' job for 26 years, during which he won a fair few trophies, so it cannot be easy for the new man to have Ferguson gazing down at him from the directors' box every week, wondering what the hell Marouane Fellaini is supposed to be.

Perhaps that is why Moyes is increasingly wearing the haunted look of a man who was promised Mila Kunis's hand in marriage only to lift the veil and find Tom Cleverley staring back at him. No amount of earnest shuffling, sideways passing and expert brand marketing can make up for the disappointment.

It is said, with considerable force in some quarters, that Ferguson should think about staying away, that he is a hindrance and that he has failed to learn from how Sir Matt Busby's successors, Wilf McGuinness and Frank O'Farrell, were intimidated by his continued presence at the club after his retirement in 1969. In that sense Ferguson is repeating the mistakes of the past; then again Ferguson welcomed Busby's guidance in his early days at the club.

The problem is Ferguson does not look like going anywhere and, unless United demand he turns up in disguise, complete with comedy glasses, nose and moustache, Moyes had better get used to him. Who are we to tell Ferguson, who built the modern United, not to watch them play?

That, in the end, is all he is doing: watching. It is hardly like the Harry Enfield character Mr You-Don't-Wanna-Do-It-Like-That jumping into the dressing room before matches, shouting "Only Me!" and taking Moyes' team-talks.

Yet given the way the coverage is heading, one could be forgiven for thinking the club should ask the Sir Alex Ferguson Stand to find another place to be every other Saturday, that Moyes cannot buy a packet of chewing gum without having a nervous breakdown and that Ferguson is busy watching him wherever he goes, to the point where the only thing Moyes can see or hear is Ferguson. What shall we have for dinner, David? Ferguson. What film shall we see tonight, David? Ferguson. What shall we Ferguson for Ferguson, Ferguson? Ferguson.

Much more of this and rumours will start to spread about Ferguson sitting by an unsuspecting Moyes while he sleeps or bursting into his bedroom at five o'clock in the morning, banging pots and pans and shouting that he was already at the training ground at this time when he was the manager. One last mind game.

Yet while people think they are looking out for Moyes, they might be doing him a disservice, for this all feeds the perception that he is not up to the job. There has been no indication from Moyes that he is unsettled by Ferguson and it would hardly speak highly of his character if he is but it is difficult to imagine anyone wondering if this would be an issue for José Mourinho. Mourinho, it is safe to say, would deal with it by standing on the touchline at Old Trafford completely in the nude, two glistening Portuguese buttocks leaving no one in any doubt about who's boss now.

There could be something in that for Moyes, though. Anyone who has ever had to appear on stage has been told to imagine their audience naked to settle the nerves and while that is why I'm banned from public speaking, it is a solution United should consider: if Moyes just pictures Ferguson naked, then everything will return to normal and Ferguson can keep going to games without a care in the world.

Jacob Steinberg

Stoke City v Liverpool: Squad sheets

Posted: 10 Jan 2014 10:49 AM PST

One statistic stands out: Luis Suárez has scored more Premier League goals than Stoke City this season. The Uruguayan missed the corresponding fixture at Anfield on the opening day, when he was suspended, but he has gone on to rack up 20 goals in 13 appearances. The bad news for Stoke is that Liverpool also have Daniel Sturridge fit again. Stoke, however, have a decent record at home this season and will be encouraged by the fact that Liverpool have never beaten them in the league at the Britannia Stadium. Stuart James

Kick-off Sunday 4.10pm

Venue Britannia Stadium

Last season Stoke 3 Liverpool 1

Live Sky Sports 1

Referee A Taylor

This season G11, Y39, R2, 3.9 cards per game

Odds H 5-1 A 4-6 D 3-1

Stoke City

Subs from Sorensen, Huth, Muniesa, Pennant, Palacios, Edu, Adam, Jones, Walters, Shotton

Doubtful Shawcross (groin), Sorensen (achilles), Huth (knee), Crouch (groin), Walters (ankle)

Injured Wilkinson (heel, 18 Jan), Begovic (finger, unknown)

Ineligible Assaidi (terms of loan)

Form DLLWDW

Discipline Y44 R2

Leading scorer Adam 4

Liverpool

Subs from Jones, Sturridge, Touré, Kelly, Aspas, Moses, Alberto, Ibe, Ilori

Doubtful Sturridge (ankle)

Injured Flanagan (hamstring, 25 Jan), José Enrique (knee, Feb), Coates (knee, Mar)

Suspended None

Form WLLWWW

Discipline Y29 R0

Leading scorer Suárez 20

Manchester United v Swansea City: Squad sheets

Posted: 10 Jan 2014 10:32 AM PST

Surely a miserable week for Manchester United cannot end with a second defeat to Swansea City? David Moyes may have a point in citing dodgy luck with refereeing decisions but, as the old adage goes, you make your own fortune in football so the United manager now has to regroup and start the push for a Champions League place by winning for a first time since 28 December, four games ago. Jamie Jackson

Kick-off Saturday 5.30pm

Venue Old Trafford

Last season Man Utd 2 Swansea 1

Live Sky Sports 1

Referee C Foy

This season G11, Y30, R1, 2.9 cards per game

Odds H 1-2 A 13-2 D 7-2

Manchester United

Subs from Lindegaard, Anderson, Zaha, Giggs, Fletcher, Smalling, Buttner, Kagawa, Cleverley

Doubtful None

Injured Ferdinand (knee, 18 Jan), Jones (knee, 18 Jan), Rooney (groin, 25 Jan), Fellaini (back, 25 Jan), Nani (hamstring, Feb), Young (shoulder, Feb), Van Persie (thigh, unknown)

Suspended F da Silva (second of three)

Form LWWWWL

Discipline Y41 R1

Leading scorer Rooney 9

Swansea City

Subs from Cornell, Amat, Donnelly, Taylor, Vázquez, Zabret, Lucas, Situ

Doubtful None

Injured Tiendalli (hamstring, 19 Jan), De Guzman (calf, 28 Jan), Lamah (abductor, 28 Jan), Hernández (hamstring, 28 Jan), Vorm (knee, 28 Jan), Dyer (ankle, Feb), Michu (ankle, Feb), Monk (knee, unknown

Suspended None

Form LDLLDD

Discipline Y36 R1

Leading scorer Bony 6

Newcastle United v Manchester City: Squad sheets

Posted: 10 Jan 2014 10:24 AM PST

With Manchester City scoring goals by the bucket load and unbeaten in the league in their last 10 games, you could be forgiven for thinking that this match may be a walk in the park for Manuel Pellegrini's side. However, City's sometimes questionable away form and Newcastle's threat in front of goal suggests otherwise. Tim Krul is likely to return to Alan Pardew's side. Max Goldbart

Kick-off Sunday 2.05pm

Venue St James' Park

Last season Newcastle 1 Man City 3

Live Sky Sports 1

Referee M Jones

This season G11, Y31, R1, 3.0 cards per game

Odds H 9-2 A 7-10 D 3-1

Newcastle United

Subs from Elliot, S Taylor, Haïdara, Gutiérrez, Ben Arfa, Cissé, Obertan, Sammy Ameobi, Bigirimana, Marveaux,

Doubtful Krul (shoulder), Cabaye (achilles)

Injured Coloccini (knee, Feb), R Taylor (knee, unknown)

Suspended Debuchy (second of three)

Form LLWWDW

Discipline Y27 R3

Leading scorer Rémy 10

Manchester City

Subs from Pantilimon, Wright, García, Guidetti, Boyata, Navas, Lescott, Milner, Richards, Demichelis

Doubtful None

Injured Agüero (calf, 18 Jan), Jovetic (hamstring, unknown), Rodwell (hamstring, unknown)

Suspended None

Form WWWWWD

Discipline Y34 R0

Leading scorer Agüero 13

Aston Villa v Arsenal: Squad sheets

Posted: 10 Jan 2014 09:48 AM PST

Aston Villa look like obliging opponents for a team of Arsenal's ambitions. Paul Lambert's side have just been knocked out of the FA Cup on their ground by a Sheffield United side currently 18th in League One. They have lost six times already at Villa Park and no other team in the country has managed fewer home goals than their total of seven. Theo Walcott's knee injury has been a grievous setback for Arsenal, making them even more dependent on Olivier Giroud's goals, and Arsène Wenger must decide whether to place his trust in Serge Gnabry, the 18-year-old who impressed against Tottenham Hotspur last weekend. Daniel Taylor

Kick-off Monday 8pm

Venue Villa Park

Last season Aston Villa 0 Arsenal 0

Live Sky Sports 1

Referee N Swarbrick

This season G9, Y28, R0, 3.1 cards per game

Odds H 5-1 A 4-7 D 3-1

Aston Villa

Subs from Steer, Bacuna, Albrighton, Sylla, Clark, Tonev, Benett, Gardner, Herd, Bowery, Helenius, Donacien

Doubtful Baker (hamstring)

Injured Okore (knee, Mar), Kozak (leg, Aug), Herd (hamstring, unknown), N'Zogbia (achilles, unknown)

Suspended None

Form WDLLLL

Discipline Y46 R0

Leading scorers Benteke, Kozak 4

Arsenal

Subs from Fabianski, Jenkinson, Vermaelen, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Rosicky, Park, Gnabry

Doubtful Oxlade-Chamberlain (knee)

Injured Gibbs (calf, 18 Jan), Ramsey (thigh, 18 Jan), Sanogo (back, 18 Jan), Bendtner (ankle, 28 Jan), Walcott (knee, unknown)

Suspended None

Form WWWDLD

Discipline Y30 R2

Leading scorers Giroud, Ramsey 8

Chelsea's José Mourinho dodges Wayne Rooney transfer questions - video

Posted: 10 Jan 2014 08:54 AM PST

Chelsea manager José Mourinho refuses to answer whether he will be bidding for Manchester United forward Wayne Rooney

Southampton v West Bromwich Albion: Squad sheets

Posted: 10 Jan 2014 08:42 AM PST

The new West Bromwich Albion manager Pepe Mel will be watching from the stands as Keith Downing takes charge of the Midlands side for the last time. The caretaker has impressed and will want to go out on a high against a Southampton team who have lost three of their last four matches. Mauricio Pochettino's men surely view this match as an idea way to get back to winning ways. Max Goldbart

Kick-off Saturday 3pm

Venue St Mary's Stadium

Last season Southampton 0 West Brom 3

Referee H Webb

This season G17, Y50, R0, 2.9 cards per game

Odds H 5-6 A 4-1 D 11-4

Southampton

Subs from K Davis, Gazzaniga, Chambers, Hooiveld, Yoshida, Fox, Stephens, Lee, S Davis, Gallagher, Ramírez, Isgrove

Doubtful Boruc (hand), Lambert (thigh), Ramírez (hamstring)

Injured Wanyama (leg, 18 Jan), Do Prado (knee, unknown)

Suspended Osvaldo (second of three)

Form LLWLDD

Discipline Y36 R0

Leading scorer Rodriguez 8

West Bromwich Albion

Subs from Myhill, Daniels, Gera, Lugano, Long, Vydra, Dawson, Popov, Berahino, Rosenberg, Dorrans, Sinclair, Anichebe, Mulumbu

Doubtful Anichebe (groin), Mulumbu (eye)

Injured Jones (eye, 20 Jan), Popov (neck, 20 Jan)

Suspended None

Form WDDDLL

Discipline Y34 R0

Leading scorer Berahino 4

Manchester United last lost four games in a row in 1961

Posted: 10 Jan 2014 08:33 AM PST

The search for a precedent goes back more than half a century to the year John F Kennedy took charge, the farthing ceased to be UK legal tender and the Beatles first played the Cavern Club

The last time Manchester United lost four games in a row was in the 1961-62 season, under Matt Busby

14 October 1961
Manchester United 0 Birmingham 2

21 October 1961
Arsenal 5 Manchester United 1

28 October 1961
Manchester United 0 Bolton 3

4 November 1961
Sheffield Wed 3 Manchester United 1

Matt Busby was in charge and United had finished seventh the previous year. Before the run of defeats began, they had a good start to the season, sitting second behind Burnley with 15 points from 11 games having won six, drawn three and lost two, including impressive 3-2 wins against Chelsea and Manchester City. But by the end of the four-defeat run they had slipped down to 14th and were not to win again until 9 December, by which time they were only one place above the relegation zone.

Goals from Bryan Orritt and Mike Hellawell saw United lose the Birmingham game, before they were thrashed 5-1 by Arsenal, which was the biggest win for Arsenal against United at Highbury since the 30s. Arsenal's goals were scored by Gerry Ward, John Barnwell, George Eastham and a brace for Alan Skirton (Dennis Viollet got the only one for United). The 3-0 loss to Bolton saw goals from Brian Pilkington, Freddie Hill and Billy McAdams and Dennis Viollet grabbed the single goal in the defeat to Sheffield Wednesday a week later (the Wednesday goalscorers were John Fantham, Tony Kay and Keith Ellis).

Things improved for United as they went on a seven-game unbeaten run lasting from 15 January 1962 until 17 March and finished the season in 15th. With an even poorer 19th-placed finish the next season, things improved for United when a teenage George Best was fast-tracked into the side, eventually helping them to First Division glory in 1964-65.

Tottenham confirm Jermain Defoe sale to Toronto FC but keep Erik Lamela

Posted: 10 Jan 2014 08:20 AM PST

• Defoe sold to Toronto FC for more than £8m
• Lamela 'has a big future here' says manager Tim Sherwood

Tim Sherwood insists Erik Lamela will not be following Jermain Defoe out of Tottenham Hotspur. Spurs confirmed on Friday that Defoe had been sold to Toronto FC in a deal understood to be worth in excess of £8m.

Defoe, who has scored 142 goals for Tottenham over his two spells at the club, will move to Canada at the end of February just before the start of the Major League Soccer season.

Lamela has also been linked with a move away from White Hart Lane in recent weeks. A loan move to Atlético Madrid has been mooted for the club record signing, who has started just three Premier League games for Tottenham, but Sherwood will not let the 21-year-old leave.

"He won't be leaving on loan in this transfer window. He has a big future here, absolutely," the Tottenham manager said of the Argentina international. "We know what a talented player Erik is. We also understand that players need time to settle. He needs time to acclimatise to this country. He doesn't speak English and he isn't used to the pace of the games, especially over the Christmas period when they come thick and fast.

"He is not 100% fit either. He's still feeling fatigued in one of his thighs so we were very cautious with him. We are going to take it nice and steady with him. I really want to put him on the stage when he's ready to perform, rather than let people judge him when he's half-cocked."

Given that this is a World Cup year, the move is something of a gamble for Defoe, who has signed a three-and-a-half-year contract with Toronto. The Canadian club, who are managed by Defoe's former team-mate Ryan Nelsen, average gates of around 18,000 per home game. They finished second bottom of the Eastern Conference last season and count 33-year-old former Newcastle defender Steven Caldwell and ex-Manchester United youth product Richard Eckersley among their ranks.

Defoe has rarely featured for England in recent months, but Sherwood is sure the 31-year-old can still make it into Roy Hodgson's 23-man party for Brazil. "Jermain has been immense. He is one of the best strikers this league has ever seen," Sherwood added.

"His scoring record for club and country is second to none and long may that continue. I see him still having a future for England in the World Cup in the summer. I think he would [still get in the squad]. That instinct of scoring goals is never going to leave Jermain Defoe. He needs to wait until his legs have gone and they're far from gone at the moment."

Defoe has recovered from a hamstring problem in time for Saturday's London derby against Crystal Palace and he will be available for the following eight games. Spurs have at least another 13 matches to play after Defoe departs, meaning Sherwood will be down to just two senior strikers in Emmanuel Adebayor and Roberto Soldado unless they can make additions this month.

The Londoners have been linked with a move for Juventus striker Mirko Vucinic in recent weeks, but Sherwood will see how his squad copes before making a decision regarding any new signings.

"We're always looking (at players) but (signing a striker) is not something which is pressing," the 44-year-old said.

"I think we've got enough goals from different positions in the squad. We have Soldado and Adebayor, who's in a rich vein of form at the moment.

"Nacer Chadli and Erik Lamela can play off the front. Gylfi Sigurdsson's got a good eye for a goal and a good scoring record. Harry Kane is another young boy who can come in.

"Unless something happened drastically to one of those boys in the meantime we may act, but we've not got any intention to do that now."

Sherwood tasted defeat for the first time since his appointment as full-time boss last weekend when Tottenham lost 2-0 at Arsenal in the FA Cup.

Ten first-team players were unavailable for the north London derby through injury, but Andros Townsend, Defoe and Sigurdsson are back for the Palace match.

From tennis talkers to street soccer: our favourite things online this week

Posted: 10 Jan 2014 08:19 AM PST

The best sports journalism from around the web, featuring Alex Ferguson, Norman Mailer, baseball apologetics and NFL brains

Thanks for all your comments and suggestions on our last blog.

1) The best of all games

Arguing about which sports are better than others is a bit silly, but when one of the greatest minds of the last century has a stab at picking the best of all games, we should probably listen. John Rawls, who set out a system for creating a fair society in his remarkable book A Theory of Justice, thought that baseball is the fairest of them all – and, naturally enough, he had his reasons.

According to Rawls, the rules of baseball have remained constant and have not not required tinkering over time; the game does not discriminate against certain body types; it requires players to use their whole anatomy; spectators and referees can see every action on the field, making the sport fairer and more engaging; scoring is done without the ball, so viewers can concentrate on two different pieces of the action at once; and, like tennis, time never runs out in baseball, so there is always the possibility of a comeback. Aaron Gordon of The Classical respects Rawls as a political philosopher and an intellectual genius, but he disagrees with almost all of his sporting analysis, which makes this article superb.

2) Fergie Time

When Sir Alex Ferguson released his autobiography last October, a plethora of reviews were published. The speed with which they were written suggested that most of the reviewers had skipped the book's 416 pages and jumped into the index to find the big names: Keane, Roy; Beckham, David; Rooney, Wayne; Gibraltar, Rock of; and so on.

David Runciman, who has reviewed the autobiography for the London Review of Books does not fall into the trap of looking for controversy. He has read the whole thing and written a fully formed impression of the text, without being seduced by newsworthy squabbles.

Not that he enjoyed every page: "My Autobiography is not an easy read. It is a hectoring, petty, repetitive book. Ferguson returns again and again to the things that nag him: players who let him down, deals that came unstuck, people who should have known better. He will take up a subject, drop it, then come back to it a page later, not because he has anything to add, but simply because it's still bugging him. It's like being stuck in a room with the man himself as his mind whirrs away through its grudges and grievances and no one else gets a chance to put a word in."

Runciman was not transfixed by the style of the book, but he writes persuasively about the man who wrote it. He notes that Ferguson was obsessed by control, but never turned into a control freak; he trusted his instincts but never forgot the importance of luck; and, unlike Arsène Wenger, whose professorial manner, background and linguistic ability make him seem more cultivated than he is, Ferguson has a wide range of interests away from football. If you're not sick of reading about Ferguson already, this review is the place to go.

3) What makes a football player smart?

Roy Keane liked the mantra "fail to prepare; prepare to fail". Knute Rockne, the legendary University of Notre Dame football coach, put it differently: "I never ask if a player has the will to win; I ask if he has to the will to prepare." The point is the same: sportsmen may be rewarded for what they do on the pitch, but their success is secured long before they take to the field.

The need to prepare is obvious enough, but less is written about the intelligence needed to prepare well. The best footballers in the NFL all have a natural aptitude for patterns, shapes, sequences and logic, and the very best quarterbacks are masters of detail. As Nicholas Dawidoff puts it in this piece for the New Yorker, quarterbacks have to weigh up a multitude of options in a few seconds "while staring at 11 large people eager to break your face". In short, they're smarter than they look.

4) Norman Mailer, sportswriter

When the Observer compiled a list of the greatest sports books ever written in 2005, The Fight by Norman Mailer came second (to Nick Hornby's Fever Pitch). As Allen Barra points out in this Atlantic article, Mailer was never convinced by the book. He looked back and wondered if spending six months on a sports biography had been a waste of time.

Mailer lived his life fully – he went to Harvard aged 16, won two Pulitzer Prizes, co-founded the Village Voice magazine, married six women and fathered nine children – but he didn't write about sport enough. Mailer loved baseball and was an early supporter of Bill James, the sabermetrics pioneer made famous in the Moneyball boom, but he never wrote an article about the sport. The same goes for American football and bullfighting, which he followed dearly. Fiction's gain was sport's loss.

5) Three by three

When the Olympics reach Tokyo in 2020, there may be a new sport on show: 3x3 basketball. The International Basketball Federation think the sport is "an exciting and spectacular discipline which offers a unique cocktail of sports and urban culture and would perfectly fit within the Olympic Games". Alexander Wolff has researched the new sport, and its chances of making a show in Tokyo, for Sports Illustrated.

6) Tennis is the sport in which you talk to yourself

In this short note on his website, Clive Davis considers the loneliness of the tennis player. More than any other athletes, tennis players are on their own. They compete for hours, with only a few short breaks with their kitbags, Robinsons drinks and bananas to break up the long stretches on the court. No wonder they start talking to themselves. And umpires.

7) Football is too risky for footballers

It's difficult to muster much sympathy for professional footballers, but according to this intriguing piece of research by Ouriel Daskal in Soccer Issue, their work is fairly perilous. Football is 1,000 times riskier than your average "high risk" career, which might explain why a quarter of Premier League players are currently injured. Still, it could be worse...

8) Dutch prostitutes seek same tax deal as footballers

... On the topic of young people who do dangerous physical work over short careers that can be very rewarding financially, here is Peter Cluskey of the Irish Times writing about the pension rights of Dutch professionals.

9) The best of football writing in 2013

We tip our hats and raise our glasses to A Football Report, whose compilation of the best football writing from 2013 goes above and beyond anything this column managed at the turn of the year. We went on holiday for two weeks and they provided the best list of the year. Go get lost in it.

10) Insane street football skills

Nutmegging people on the street looks like great fun.

Paul Campbell

Wayne Rooney's groin hasn't recovered yet, says Manchester United's David Moyes – video

Posted: 10 Jan 2014 08:16 AM PST

Manchester United's David Moyes rules Wayne Rooney out of the upcoming Premier League fixture against Swansea on Saturday

Hull City v Chelsea: Squad sheets

Posted: 10 Jan 2014 08:05 AM PST

Sat in midtable at the turn of the year is something Hull could only have dreamed of back on the opening day of the season when they were beaten 2-0 by Chelsea at Stamford Bride. Steve Bruce's side have played with spirit and guile and are well deserving of their place. For Chelsea, a run of five games without defeat in the league should mean they travel to the KC Stadium in confident mood of securing a victory. Max Goldbart

Kick-off Saturday 12.45pm

Venue KC Stadium

Last season n/a

Live BT Sport 1

Referee M Clattenburg

This season G13, Y46, R1, 3.7 cards per game

Odds H 11-2 A 8-13 D 3-1

Hull City

Subs from Harper, Faye, Rosenior, Koren, Henderson, Boyd, Gedo, Proschwitz, Townsend, Quinn

Doubtful None

Injured Aluko (achilles, Feb), Brady (groin, Feb), Fryatt (hamstring, unknown), Dudgeon (knee, Feb), McShane (ankle, Feb)

Suspended None

Form LWLDDD

Discipline Y31 R1

Leading scorer Brady 3

Chelsea

Subs from Schwarzer, Blackman, Hilário, Kalas, David Luiz, Bertrand, Cole, Mata, De Bryne, Eto'o, Ba, Schürrle

Doubtful None

Injured Lampard (thigh, 29 Jan), Ivanovic (knee, 29 Jan), Van Ginkel (knee, Jun)

Suspended None

Form WWWDWL

Discipline Y31 R1

Leading scorer Hazard 8

Hull City's Tom Huddlestone out to prove André Villas-Boas wrong

Posted: 10 Jan 2014 07:53 AM PST

Midfielder's admirers claim former Tottenham manager could have turned a 'terrific talent' into the new Glenn Hoddle

André Villas-Boas seemed blinded by his lack of both pace and shooting accuracy. Paolo Di Canio saw him as the "man with the keys" to solving Sunderland's myriad problems. Steve Bruce could not quite believe his luck when he said "yes".

There are those who believe Villas-Boas might still be Tottenham Hotspur's manager had he constructed his team around Tom Huddlestone. Di Canio's advocates remain convinced that, with the 27-year-old playmaking from central midfield, the Italian could have stayed in charge on Wearside, thereby quite feasibly changing an entire narrative. Almost everyone regards Huddlestone as the reason why Bruce's Hull City have not become embroiled in a relegation battle.

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder though and with Villas-Boas less than enchanted by his wonderful vision and passing range, a midfielder tipped as a dark horse to make England's Brazil-bound World Cup flight this summer changed hands for a mere £5.25m last August.

If Chelsea are to halt Hull at the KC Stadium on Saturday José Mourinho must find a way of stifling Huddlestone. As the former Tottenham midfielder and current Sunderland manager, Gus Poyet, can tell him, it will not be easy.

"Tom's one of the few players in England, if not the only one, who can hit a ball 70 yards without moving 10 centimetres," says Poyet, who fully understands why Di Canio made Huddlestone his principal transfer target last summer. "Left foot, right foot, outside of the foot, whatever he uses he can really ping passes around. He's got an unbelievable ability to hit the ball from side to side. His delivery is very important to the way Hull play, a lot of what they do goes through him.

"Tom likes to have the ball at his feet as much as possible, if he has it more than the opposition then they will have a problem."

At 6ft 2in and boasting the sort of imposing physique sported by what the football fraternity dub "big units", Huddlestone is difficult to dispossess. Admittedly his acceleration is less than devastating and his shooting rarely incisive but Glenn Hoddle was not exactly speedy or a natural finisher either.

Huddlestone's admirers feel that, by discarding him, Spurs missed an opportunity to develop a "new Hoddle", even if a series of unfortunate injuries undeniably hindered his cause. Shortly after threatening to book a place in Fabio Capello's England first XI the midfielder sustained severe ankle ligament damage and complex reconstructive surgery was followed by nearly 18 months on the sidelines.

Once Villas-Boas arrived a player popular with Harry Redknapp sensed his White Hart Lane days were limited. "I didn't get a fair crack of the whip last season," says Huddlestone, who felt his face no longer fitted. "I played games where results were good and I felt my performances were good, then I'd find myself out of the team for six or seven weeks with no explanation.

"I know people go on about my injuries but I was fit and available most of last year. In my first few seasons down there the policy was to build around young British players like me, Aaron Lennon, Gareth Bale , Michael Dawson and Jermaine Jenas but now most of us have left and Spurs have gone very much down the continental route."

It was not Huddlestone's first setback. At the age of 12 a player who raised tens of thousands of pounds for Cancer Research by refusing to have his increasingly wild Afro hairstyle trimmed during the two-and-a-half year wait for his recent goal against Fulham was released by Nottingham Forest after being deemed "not strong enough".

Derby County saw things rather differently and at 15 Huddlestone was up against adults in the reserves before making his debut at right wing-back as a 16-year-old. "In terms of young players, Tom was the best passer of the ball I've ever seen," says George Burley, his then manager. "He's a terrific talent."

A move to Spurs was not too long in coming, with Martin Jol soon comparing his versatile prodigy – who, in an emergency, can operate as sweeper, wing-back or orthodox centre-half – to Franz Beckenbauer.

Bruce believes the time has come for Roy Hodgson to add to Huddlestone's four senior England caps. "Who am I to do Roy's job," says Hull's manager. "But is there anyone else in this country who plays off both feet like Tom week in, week out? He's producing fantastic performances. Tom's just an outstanding footballer, absolutely outstanding.

"It's going to be hot and humid in Brazil, the conditions will be horrible for a lot of English footballers to play in, so you're going to need technicians. Tom can make the squad, there's always a surprise or two."

Louise Taylor

The Fiver | At least someone at Old Trafford has been pulling their finger out

Posted: 10 Jan 2014 07:49 AM PST

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EXCLUSIVE: MANCHESTER UNITED LATEST!

It's been a slow news day, folks, even by the standards of a Friday afternoon in January. So what's going on at Manchester United? We've not heard much about them in a while. Someone should write a blog about them. Hey, maybe the Fiver should try to address this egregious oversight. OK, let's do it. And wait until you hear this! It seems things aren't going too well under this new chap David Moyes. It's not far off a complete disaster, in fact. They're through to the knockout stage of Big Cup, are one game away from a League Cup final, and are only 11 points off the top of the league with half the season remaining, 10 if you factor out Arsenal for whom the wheels are guaranteed to come clanking off somewhere down the line. What a business! What a shambles! Oh David! How could you!

It's such a sorry state of affairs that everyone at Old Trafford appears to have completely given up. Rumours that the club is to be shut down permanently in disgrace next week are as yet unconfirmed. We tried ringing United's PR department, but the bloke who runs it, Mr Kruger, has gone home early for the weekend, and may not be back until February. February 2015. But there are other signs. Wayne Rooney, for example, has gone on a "hot weather break" with a "fitness coach" who has been tasked to ensure the striker performs 10 sit-ups for every item ordered from the bar and grill by the pool. Or maybe five if he goes easy on the mayo. He'll not be available for tomorrow's match against Swansea City. "Hopefully we will get him fit for Chelsea," shrugged Moyes, idly filling in a medium-hard sudoku.

Robin van Persie is also still absent, presumed lounging. He'll be away for "a little while", according to his absent-minded manager, who has been charged by the FA for banging on about refereeing decisions, but doesn't really care, what difference does it make, and in any case he's mainly thinking about whether he'll pop down the shops in a bit for a pint of milk, mainly for a stretch of the old legs and to kill time really, though only after Deal or No Deal's been on. But at least someone at Old Trafford has been pulling their finger out and doing something! The new head of the marketing department, Shortbread McFiver, has signed a deal with Aperol Spritz, the popular orangey-red beverage becoming Manchester United's Official Spirit That By The Looks Of It Is Basically Turbo Irn-Bru (and therefore Shortbread's second-favourite refreshment after Fistfight, the 75.8% ABV supermarket-whisky-flavored turps beverage).

"United is the strongest sports franchise on a global basis," said chief suit of booze shillers Gruppo Campari, Bob Kunze-Concewitz, a man whose monicker is best not attempted after the 20cl Spritz threshold has been passed. "It has a very strong and loyal fanbase and that attraction doesn't alter. Once you are a fan of a club, it is for life. Ours is a mid- to long-term partnership, so we are very comfortable. We see it as a perfect combination. We share the same values. It is about success. It is about winning. It is about celebration." A load of marketing gibberish which can be loosely translated as: lissen, United, lissen, here lissen, you're m'besht friend, yer me besht fffarckin mate ya bassa. Honestly, the state of this club now Fergie's gone! Someone should look into this.

QUOTE OF THE DAY

"We regret the trouble, no one wanted it, but it just happened. Regardless, I liked that the team is beginning to have a face for competition" – fun and games in South America dept: Marília coach Luis dos Reis reflects on the all-out brawlfare between his team and opponents Tupã during a friendly in Brazil.

FIVER LETTERS

"When Big Sam finally gets the big heave-ho from Gollivan, at least he's got something to fall back on. Doubtless at some point there'll be a remake of Return of the Jedi, in which case – based on Wednesday night's evidence – he'll be a shoo-in for the role of Emperor Palpatine" – Nick Payne.

"Rather than using Big Sam's masticated chewing gum as a shield across the West Ham goal (yesterday's Fiver letters), could they not instead arrange a sponsorship deal with Hubba Bubba and give some to Adrian to chew during the match? Any time their opponents have the ball all the keeper need do is stretch the gum across his teeth and blow, thus forming a temporary barrier betwixt goal and opposing forward. At least this way all that time West Ham spend blowing bubbles would actually be of some use to them. And if that doesn't work, they could at least use it to fashion makeshift air-bags when they inevitably crash back into the Championship come May" – Enna Cooper.

"Is it a coincidence that Manchester United would announce an official 'spirits' partner at a time when Lord Ferg seems hell-bent on being a haunting spectre over David Moyes's managerial tenure, instead of spending his days in Tuscany drinking wine like he had planned?" – Saurav Samaddar.

• Send your letters to the.boss@theguardian.com. And if you've nothing better to do you can also tweet the Fiver. Today's winner of our prizeless letter o' the day is: Nick Payne.

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RECOMMENDED VIEWING

Hampshire cricketers putting their off-season training time to good use … with bubble football.

BITS AND BOBS

Radiohead, The Blizzard … and now Albion Rovers. Fans of the Scottish League Two side have been asked to 'pay what they can' for tomorrow's home game against Montrose. "I'm expecting quite a lot of people will pay just the £1, we're kind of budgeting on that basis," admitted chairman John Devlin.

Jermain Defoe will leave Spurs at the end of February to join Canadian MLS soccerballers Toronto FC. "I will play my heart out for the team and the fans until my last kick for the club," sobbed the 31-year-old.

Fulham have told Bryan Ruiz – eight goals in 68 appearances – that he can leave the club, having bought him for more than £10m in 2011. "I wouldn't call his signing a mistake," claimed boss René Meulensteen.

Arsenal boss Arsène Wenger wants to see less of Roll-up Man and Chopper Jim in January. "The transfer market is a distraction that for me is not welcome," he killjoyed. "I think it would be much better that there is no transfer market at all in January and the team starts and finishes with the same players."

Big Sam is hoping the PA man plays some One Direction before Cardiff v West Ham tomorrow. "We've got to get out there, face the music and use it to anger us, if you like, make us mad," he growled.

And in a surprising turn of events, December's Premier League player of the month award went to goal-plundering Luis Suárez and not red-card plundering Kevin Nolan.

STILL WANT MORE?

In a Stars in Their Eyes tribute blog, Michael Cox runs through the chances of Andros Townsend, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Raheem Sterling, Aaron Lennon, James Milner and Ashley Young getting to be Theo Walcott at the World Cup.

Meanwhile, Jan Aage Fjortoft wants to be Stuart James, which is why he's written this piece on what deep-thinking and flexible Ole Gunnar Solskjaer can bring to the Cardiff table.

Scott Murray and Daniel Harris want to tell you what to look out for in the Premier League this weekend. So they have done.

After 36 years of wanting to touch the ball at Ibrox, Pope's O'Rangers fan Alex Anderson finally did. And he was so excited he wrote about it.

Oh, and if it's your thing, you can follow Big Website on Big Social FaceSpace.

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'I'M CONTROLLING MYSELF …'

Scott Murray

Fulham v Sunderland: Squad sheets

Posted: 10 Jan 2014 07:46 AM PST

Both these sides have improved since changing manager earlier this season, but only Fulham have managed to clamber out of the bottom three. This is a chance, however, for Gus Poyet's team to haul René Meulensteen's men back into trouble and improve their own chances of survival. Who handles the high stakes better could ultimately determine the outcome of this encounter. Paul Doyle

Kick-off Saturday 3pm

Venue Craven Cottage

Last season Fulham 1 Sunderland 3

Referee M Dean

This season G14, Y47, R3, 3.8 cards per game

Odds H 6-5-1 A 13-5 D 12-5

Fulham

Subs from Stockdale, Senderos, Riise, Hughes, Hangeland, Burn, Zverotic, Boateng, Rodallega, Ruiz, Kacaniklic, Bent, Dembélé, David, Kasami, Dejagah

Doubtful Stekelenburg (ankle), Ruiz (possible transfer), Hangeland (match fitness), Richardson (thigh)

Injured Briggs (hernia, 25 Jan)

Suspended None

Form WLWLLW

Discipline Y29 R0

Leading scorers Berbatov, Sidwell 4

Sunderland

Subs from Pickford, Dossena, Roberge, Diakité, Gardner, Borini, Fletcher, Johnson, Cabral, Ji, Mavrias

Doubtful None

Injured Cuéllar (hip, 18 Jan), Westwood (shoulder, unknown)

Suspended None

Form LDWDDL

Discipline Y28 R5

Leading scorer Fletcher 3

Saturday, 11 January 2014