Sir Alex out to test son Darren

Sir Alex Ferguson is keen to see what progress son Darren has made with his Peterborough side when the Reds travel to London Road tonight.The Reds beat Posh 3-1 in a pre-season friendly this time last year, but Sir Alex says he'll be taking a stronger team this year in anticipation of an even tougher test.Last year, Owen Hargreaves pulled on the red shirt for the first time following his move from Bayern Munich, but it was left to youngsters Adam Eckersley, Richie Jones and Dong Fangzhuo to earn a hard-fought win.With just two friendlies to go before the competitive action kicks in, Sir Alex is keen to ready his squad for the start of the campaign. But he'll also be running the rule over Darren's Posh side."I am very interested to see how Peterborough have developed since the last time we were there," the Reds boss says."Last year I brought a very young side, but this time I will be bringing a very strong squad which should give me a chance to have a good look at Darren's team."I will be taking a strong side, although there will be a few changes from the team that played in Ole's testimonial."United are without Wayne Rooney and Michael Carrick, who are both suffering from a virus, while Gary Neville is unlikely to play after picking up a slight calf strain last week

( Manchesterunited.com)

Ole: It was a special day

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer admitted he was close to tears as he emerged from the tunnel prior to his testimonial game against Espanyol.

It was an emotional day for the Norwegian, who came on in the 68th minute and almost broke the deadlock. Fraizer Campbell did find the net, scoring the only goal of the game in the 82nd minute.

“It was a very special day,” Solskjaer told MUTV. “I just wanted to do well when I came on – I wanted to score a goal, but it didn’t happen.”

Solskjaer was only denied his dream by a breathtaking finger-tip save from Espanyol goalkeeper Alvarez Cristian.

“I’ve always said there’s no such thing as a good save – just a bad finish – but there are always exceptions to the rule," Ole joked. "I have to say, it was a decent save by the goalkeeper.

“I thoroughly enjoyed my day. I’ve been looking forward to it for almost a year, ever since I retired [in August 2007]. The last few weeks have been really, really hectic and I haven’t had time to think about anything else. But now it’s done.

“I had the best players in the world playing around me here at United. That makes it easier for a forward; you don’t have to work as hard to create chances for yourself – your team-mates are always going to create chances for you.”

(Manchesterunited.com)

RAFA: THE GOALS WILL COME

Rafael Benitez is confident his players will soon start hitting the back of the net despite having scored just one goal in their last three pre-season games.
The Reds travel to face Rangers tomorrow on the back of successive goalless draws against Hertha Berlin and Villarreal, but Benitez believes it's just a matter of time before his forwards start firing. "In the last two games we have created several chances but either the opposition keeper has played really well to stop us from scoring or we have just missed the target," he said. "There is no problem. I am sure the goals will come and the important thing is that the players are creating chances. "When they have more sharpness they will score more goals. At this stage it is all about preparing for the start of the season and I know that when the season begins my players will be ready. "Last season

href="http://www.liverpoolfc.tv/team/squad/torres/">Fernando Torres, Steven Gerrard, Ryan Babel, Dirk Kuyt, Yossi Benayoun and Peter Crouch all got double figures for us, so I know we have the players to score goals. "Crouch has left but we have brought in Robbie Keane, who also got double figures for Tottenham, so I am not concerned
(Liverpool.com)

STANDARD LIEGE IN TEN FACTS

1. Liege is a city in the east of Belgium, with a population of just over 187,000 and used to be famed for its steel-making industry.
2. The city is twinned with Lille in France, Oporto in Portugal, Aachen and Cologne in Germany, Krakow in Poland, Turin in Italy and Rotterdam in Holland. 3. Former tennis star Justine Henin, who retired at the age of 25 in May, was born in Liege. 4. Standard Liege have nine Belgian league titles to their name. Last season they won the championship by finishing seven points clear of Brussels giants Anderlecht. 5. The club possess a wealth of young talent, including star player, playmaker and captain Steven Defour, fellow Belgium international Marouane Fellaini, Axel Witsel and Reginal Goreux. 6. Liege won last season's league title, their first for 25 years, after embarking on a 31-game unbeaten run. 7. Former Liege players of significance include former Belgium internationals Eric Gerets, Marc Wilmots, Michel Preud'homme, former Croatia star Robert Prosinecki, the Mpenza brothers Emile and Mbo and Ronny Rosenthal, who left Liege for Liverpool. 8. The team's youth policy led them to set up the Academie Robert Louis-Dreyfus, one of the most highly-rated training academies in Europe, at the cost of 18 million euros in May 2007. 9. Star striker Dieumerci Mbokani scored 19 goals in last season's title-winning campaign. His physical play and strong aerial presence is reminiscent of Didier Drogba. Mbokani is also one of the key members of the DR Congo national team and, at the age of 22, could be a star of the future. 10. Liverpool and Standard Liege met in the 1965-66 European Cup Winners' Cup second round, with Liverpool winning 5-2 on aggregate on the way to a 2-1 defeat to Borussia Dortmund in the final.
(liverpool.com)

ini ronaldinho tonggos

Edwin up for the fight

Ben Foster and Tomasz Kuszczak may have shared United's goalkeeping duties during the pre-season trip to Africa, but Edwin van der Sar is ready and waiting to reclaim his No.1 spot.

Fresh from his extended summer break following his exertions at Euro 2008, the Dutchman has returned to Carrington to begin his preparations for the new campaign.

While he is well aware of the qualities of his fellow stoppers, he is determined to keep a firm grip on his first team place.

"I don't really care who is behind me, I just want to keep the jersey," he insisted in an interview with Sky Sports News.

"Ben Foster is a good goalkeeper, there is no question about that, but the same can be said of myself and Tomasz Kuszczak.

"We are all working hard to reach the highest level we can, but people tend to be focused on Ben because they relate it to the England situation.

"I must perform and make sure I'm fit and playing at the level everyone wants me to be at."

Van der Sar could be handed his first taste of pre-season action in Saturday's Ole Gunnar Solskjaer testimonial against Espanyol.

He may also feature against former side Juventus in next Wednesday's Old Trafford friendly, before which the players will parade the Premier League and Champions League trophies around the pitch.


(Manchesterunited.com)

Iaquinta ready to face United

Juventus striker Vincenzo Iaquinta believes the bianconeri will pose a stern challenge to European champions United when they visit Old Trafford next Wednesday.

Claudio Ranieri's side visit Old Trafford on Wednesday to take part in the Reds' final pre-season friendly before the defence of United's Premier League and Champions League crowns begin. Before then, of course, the Reds face Espanyol for Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's testimonial and Peterborough United.

Juve have high ambitions of their own this season. After finishing third in their first season back in Serie A, Ranieri's side have their sights set on a swift return to Champions League action, too, and they can achieve it with victory in the third qualifying round which begins on 12 August.

After scoring once against Brondby, twice against Borussia Dortmund and grabbing another against Internazionale, the 28-year-old no.9 hopes to score the goals that will meet Juve's expectations this season.

"I feel very good, fortunately my injuries are in the past now and I hope I can get to the qualifying round 100% fit.

"We're all doing very well up front, we're still in the preparation phase, but all four of us will be on good form when it counts. Tonight we had more confirmation that we can challenge any team."

(Manchesterunited.com)