Premier League: Liverpool move into top spot with 3-1 victory over Crystal Palace

Liverpool moved to the top of the Premier League table with a comfortable 3-1 win over Crystal Palace at Anfield.

 Liverpool began in fine style and took the lead just 14 minutes in when Luis Suarez managed to sweep the ball home from 12 yards despite being surrounded by defenders.

Just moments later and Daniel Sturridge kept up his brilliant start to the new season when firing home after turning Damien Delaney inside-out.

The third, just before the break, was somewhat harsh on Palace as Dean Moxey was adjudged to have pulled Raheem Sterling back just inside the back and skipper Steven Gerrard made no mistake to slot him his 99th Premier League goal for Liverpool.

Palace did improve after the break and they claimed a goal with 15 minutes left as Dwight Gayle flicked home Jose Campana's free-kick from close-range - but it proved to be nothing more than a consolation.

The win takes Liverpool above Arsenal into top spot, whilst Palace remain second from bottom after their sixth defeat of the season.

The match again underlined the fact that Liverpool now possess one of the most dangerous front-lines anywhere in Europe.

Individually their statistics are formidable, together they are devastating. Suarez has 19 goals in his last 22 games, while Sturridge has 19 in 24 games since joining in January, including eight in nine matches this season.

Sturridge's form would seem to make him a certain starter for England's important World Cup qualifying double-header next week - injury permitting.

Sturridge was watched by England coach Roy Hodgson, who had dashed down the M62 after watching Manchester City's earlier victory over Everton.

Liverpool were up and running after 14 minutes when Victor Moses's cross-field run delivered the ball to Suarez who instinctively rolled it into the path of the overlapping Jose Enrique.

The Spaniard knew exactly what to do, getting to the byline and cutting back to Suarez, who improvised brilliantly as he fell to the ground under pressure from Jason Puncheon, hooking the ball home while on his way down on one knee.

Within three minutes Liverpool had doubled their lead, with Suarez and Enrique playing a minor part this time.

 

Liverpool midfielder Lucas Leiva wants to be part of Brazil's squad for the World Cup

Lucas Leiva is hoping he can keep his place in Brazil's squad and be part of Luiz Felipe Scolari's plans for the World Cup on home soil.

The Liverpool midfielder was recalled for the friendlies against South Korea and Zambia, and featured as a substitute in Saturday's 2-0 win in Seoul.
It was Lucas' first outing for Brazil since 2011 and Brazil are currently scheduled to play four more friendlies before Scolari names his squad for the World Cup.
Lucas was happy to be involved against South Korea and is optimistic that his performance has given Scolari some food for thought.
"My first goal in coming back to the squad is to earn a place for myself in the group," he told TV Globol.
"I know we don't have many games until the World Cup, but I think that in the time I got I showed something.
"I talked to Felipao and he asked me to do a job similar to what I do for Liverpool and that's what I tried to do.
"I felt really comfortable, especially since I know many of the guys here, some of them for many years.
"I think it's important that I feel like I have always been here. Now we have another match against Zambia which will be really important.
"Scolari always talks about how he doesn't just analyse the games.
"He's watching how we perform in training, too. We know he admires players who help form the group and we're trying to fit that profile.
"But, of course, when we get opportunities in matches we have to take them and show that we can remain here and be part of the World Cup squad. I believe that if I get these chances I will show that I am ready to be here. "

World Cup qualifiers: England without Ashley Cole for vital clash with Poland at Wembley

Ashley Cole has been ruled out of England's final World Cup qualifier against Poland due to a rib injury.

 

The left-back sat out Friday's win over Montenegro after picking up the injury during Chelsea's victory at Norwich last weekend.
Roy Hodgson had hoped he would recover in time for the must-win showdown with Poland at Wembley on Tuesday, but Cole will play no part after failing a fitness test.
Leighton Baines filled in for Cole against Montenegro and will retain his starting place.
More to follow...

Transfer news: Barcelona goalkeeper Victor Valdes interested in Monaco move

Barcelona goalkeeper Victor Valdes has hinted that he would be interested in a move to Monaco.

Monaco have been strongly linked with a move for Valdes on a free transfer next summer, when his contract expires at Barcelona.
Valdes has so far rejected all overtures from Barca to extend his contract, with the 31-year-old thought to be keen on trying his luck in a new league.
A host of Europe's top clubs are believed to be weighing up moves for Valdes, but the Spanish international has indicated he would open to a switch to France and to big-spending Monaco to be reunited with former Barca team-mate Eric Abidal.
"Ligue 1 attracts me a lot - Monaco or elsewhere in France," Valdes told Telefoot.
"This is one of my options. [My future] is in the hands of my representatives. But Monaco is a good option.

"I know that Abidal is very happy at Monaco and I am good friends with him. I consider him a brother.
"He is an example as a human being. To go back and play at his side again could be very special."
Valdes believes the time is right to leave Barcelona after spending his entire career with the Catalan outfit - and he wants to experience a new challenge elsewhere.
Valdes has made more than 500 appearances for Barcelona to date, winning six league titles and three Champions League trophies in the process, but stressed that the time was right to move on.
"I have a contract until the end of the season," added Valdes.
"I spent over 20 years at the club. I had the chance to win everything, but now my adventure at the club ends. It is time for me to find new goals and find a new destination."

Premier League: Manchester United star Robin van Persie feared he had broken his toe

Manchester United star Robin van Persie has revealed he feared he had broken his toe earlier this month.

 

Van Persie suffered a foot injury during United's draw with Shakhtar Donetsk in the UEFA Champions League and played through the pain barrier in last weekend's win over Sunderland by taking a pain-killing injection.
The former Arsenal ace also played through the pain barrier to score a hat-trick in Friday's 8-1 World Cup qualifying win over Hungary to become Holland's all-time leading scorer and the 30-year-old insists he is not prepared to take any more pain-killing injections for his toe.
"Against Shakhtar I got such a hard kick on my toe, I immediately thought it was broken. It was so sore," van Persie is quoted as saying in the Sunday Mirror.
"On the Thursday, after returning to Manchester, I had a scan. Eight years ago I broke a bone on my other foot and it felt like a similar injury.

"I was so relieved there was no fracture visible, but doctors told me it was badly bruised. I was told to rest it, but I wanted to play against Sunderland.
"So we did what they call a quick fix. The medics gave me an injection.
"But I have said I won't do that again. If I keep having injections in my toe, it is not going to improve. It will get more sensitive and painful.
"I have to admit it was a gamble playing against Hungary. I'd not trained and you never know how that can work out when you play again."

World Cup qualifiers: England midfielder Frank Lampard driven to reach finals in Brazil

England midfielder Frank Lampard is determined to beat Poland and reach the World Cup after admitting Brazil could be his final big tournament with his country.

 

Chelsea ace Lampard insists the older players in the squad are driven to seal England's place in next summer's finals, conceding this could be his last chance to make a World Cup appearance.
England are just one win away from securing their trip to Brazil and 35-year-old Lampard admits the Poland clash is a huge game for him with the player in the twilight years of his international career.
"It is a huge game. For me, for everyone. Not just the fact it may be my last World Cup, it is the fact there is an England team wanting to get there," Lampard said.
"Brazil is one of the homes of football. We believe we are the home of football but if you look at history, the flamboyance...
"We played there in the summer and you could feel the magic around the place. If you are playing for your country you want to be there."

"There is a lot of desire. Me and Stevie [Gerrard] have been here a long time.

"I don't know, Stevie may have aspirations to carry on in an England shirt but for us it is a huge thing. It will be fantastic in Brazil and an England team not being there would be a bad thing. I think it is pushing all of us on."
Despite Poland being out of the running for qualification, Lampard is wary of the threat posed by their opponents, but he remains confident England will hold their nerve to secure the win to seal their spot in next summer's finals.
"They have some big-name players in their team and we know they will want to come here and put on a show regardless of whether they have qualified or not," added Lampard.
"They will be relaxed and we have to make that sure we have the extra edge as we need the win to go to Brazil. We need to come out firing on Tuesday, no matter what they do. I believe we will hold our nerve."

Real Madrid deny reports Gareth Bale has suffered slipped disc

Real Madrid have issued a statement denying a report that Gareth Bale had suffered a slipped disc in his back.

 

Spanish daily Marca claimed that Real's medical team had picked up an issue during his medical on September 1 when he joined the club from Tottenham in a world record deal.
Since his arrival Bale has started just one league match, but has also appeared a couple of times from the substitutes' bench.
Marca even claimed that Bale could require surgery as they reported it to be the same injury that Gonzalo Higuain suffered for Real in 2010/11 when he was sidelined for four months as surgery was needed.
However, Real have now issued a statement insisting there is no major problem with Bale - although they did confirm he had a 'disc bulge' but insisted that was a common condition for footballers.
Real's statement read:
"In response to the information that the newspaper Marca has published today regarding the player Gareth Bale, Real Madrid would like to state the following:
1. The information published, claiming that the player has a slipped disc on the L5-S1 vertebrae and a bulge on two others, is completely false.
2. The player does not have a slipped disc, as the club's medical services stated clearly to the newspaper before the information was published. Surprisingly, the version the doctors offered this media outlet on Thursday 10 October has been omitted.
3. The player Gareth Bale has a small chronic disc bulge, which is extremely common among football players and by no means prevents him from carrying out his professional activity normally."