Rafael Benitez is fighting a defiant rearguard action to keep his top stars at Anfield as it becomes clear the club’s American owners will win the battle to re-finance the loans they took out to buy the club in 2007.

Darren Clarke, has "95% recovered" from his hamstring injury that forced him out of last week's Irish Open, according to spokesman Martin Hardy.

Jim Furyk, dogged by questions about his wrist and game all season, fired a two-under-par 69 to win the Western Open at 14-under-par 270.

PAUL MCGINLEY had been down in the dumps about his status as a professional golfer prior to finishing a splendid second behind Mark O’Meara in the Dubai Desert Classic on Sunday.