Brighton snapped up Northern Ireland winger Paddy McCourt on a free transfer in time for him to sit on the bench for Tuesday’s 2-0 Championship win at Leeds, and Sami Hyypia believes the 30-year-old Derryman has a lot to offer.

Former Liverpool captain Ronnie Whelan believes the current crop of Reds are finishing the season stronger than their rivals and that gives them the best chance of winning the title.

Former Liverpool captain Ronnie Whelan believes the current crop of Reds are finishing the season stronger than their rivals and that gives them the best chance of winning the title.

Laurent Blanc insists Paris St Germain will still be playing to win despite holding a 4-0 lead going into their Champions League clash with Bayer Leverkusen tonight.

Manchester United manager David Moyes accepts his team have a big job on their hands as they seek to book a place in the Champions League last 16 tonight.

Going into the fifth match of their Champions League campaign, the four German clubs ought to be full of confidence.

Manchester United manager David Moyes believes striker Wayne Rooney is “in a good place” after a tumultuous summer.

Eight years after his false start with Everton, David Moyes steps into the glare of Champions League combat tonight as Manchester United open their campaign against Bayer Leverkusen at Old Trafford.

Given the consensus that the business end of the Champions League only kicks off when the competition reaches its knockout stage, there has always been an unavoidable element of phoney war about what UEFA calls ‘Matchday 1’.

So eight months into his first season at Liverpool, Brendan Rodgers finally has a win against a top-six side.

Bayer Leverkusen have sacked coach Robin Dutt in the wake of yesterday’s 2-0 Bundesliga defeat at home to Freiburg.

Bayer Leverkusen defender and former Liverpool captain Sami Hyypia has announced his retirement at the age of 37.

THE BASKETBALL you probably know about, but Kieran Donaghy’s other sporting passion comes as a surprise over lunch.

Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher will discuss his Anfield future at the start of next season but the Reds’ vice-captain has stressed he does not want to play for another team.

LIVERPOOL manager Rafael Benitez agrees with striker Fernando Torres’ frank assessment of his team’s failings.

Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez agrees with star striker Fernando Torres' frank assessment of his team's failings.

Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez took great satisfaction in dismissing counterpart Sam Allardyce’s style of football after his side’s 2-1 victory over Blackburn at Anfield yesterday.

Former Liverpool star Jamie Redknapp has questioned Rafael Benitez’s management and claims that he manipulates the club’s fans.

Danish defender Daniel Agger admits he “does not have a clue” what has gone wrong with Liverpool’s defending this season.

Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez insists Sotirios Kyrgiakos will not fall foul of Premier League referees despite his reputation as a footballing hardman.

Liverpool’s American owners are believed to be refusing to release funds for boss Rafael Benitez to buy a centre-back to ease the club’s injury problems before the transfer window shuts.

Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez is convinced that his defensive injury problems will clear up before next weekend’s opening league game of the season at Spurs.

Rafael Benitez revealed he has held talks with Hull boss Phil Brown over the possible transfer of defender Michael Turner to Liverpool.

Liverpool 1 Atletico Madrid 2

Rafael Benitez is still battling to keep Javier Mascherano at Liverpool in the wake of Xabi Alonso making his position with the club virtually untenable.

Finland 0 Russia 3

Daniel Agger has revealed he was made “no promises” about his first-team place from Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez when he agreed to sign a new contract.

Liverpool fans seem set for another summer of uncertainty surrounding midfielder Xabi Alonso.

THE tears flowed at Anfield but it had nothing to do with Liverpool missing out on the Premier League title to their bitter rivals from up the road.

Liverpool 3 Tottenham 1

Liverpool skipper Steven Gerrard led the tributes to defender Sami Hyypia, who will leave the club after tomorrow’s final game of the season at home to Tottenham.

Sami Hyypia is expected to play his 464th and final game for Liverpool on Sunday, at home to Tottenham, before leaving for Bayer Leverkusen in the summer.

RAFAEL BENITEZ knows he will have to be “cute and clever” in the market this summer but would not rule out breaking the club’s transfer record again.

SAMI HYYPIA has revealed a desire for regular first-team football was behind his decision to leave Liverpool after 10 years – but he has not ruled out a return to Anfield in a coaching capacity.

Sami Hyypia has revealed a desire for regular first-team football was behind his decision to leave Liverpool after 10 years – but he has not ruled out a return to Anfield in a coaching capacity.

Veteran Liverpool defender Sami Hyypia will join German side Bayer Leverkusen on a two-year deal in the summer.

Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez has admitted he will have to sell players to help fund summer transfer targets.

RAFAEL BENITEZ has accused Alex Ferguson of being scared of his Liverpool side and talking “too much” about other teams.

Liverpool will be without the suspended Javier Mascherano for tomorrow’s Champions League quarter-final first leg against Chelsea at Anfield.

Liverpool are likely to be without defender Sami Hyypia and midfielder Yossi Benayoun for tomorrow’s Barclays Premier League trip to Fulham.

WALES captain Craig Bellamy has faced up to the sad reality of constant failure with a small nation on the World Cup stage.

Wales boss John Toshack tonight insisted his side could recover from the disappointment of losing 2-0 to Finland in their crunch World Cup qualifier.

Wales 0 Finland 2

Liverpool 5 Aston Villa 0