Football news  

Torres misses Blackburn and aims for Fiorentina

Striker is ruled out of Liverpool squad for visit to Ewood Park after failing to recover sufficiently from groin problem

• It's vital we stand united, says Torres

• Torres happy to take strain for Liverpool

Hughes flatters pedigree of Chelsea

Manchester City believes that league leaders are the strongest team in Europe and set the standard to which his team aspires

• Hughes sigh of relief after City ease through

• Timely victory but Hughes needs few more

Premier League previews: Van der Sar returns

All the team news, injury problems and squads from around the grounds for the weekend matches in the top flight

• Ferdinand on road back to recovery

• Tévez: I won’t taunt United if I beat them

Beckham boosts England’s 2018 World Cup bid

Star adds much-needed charisma to campaign, attracting photographers, autograph hunters and even staff from rival bids

• Beckham determined to be perfect ambassador

• Can Beckham succeed where Moore was ignored?

Rugby news  

All Blacks seek antidote to 'boring game'

Graham Henry, the New Zealand coach, calls for action to improve spectacle and looks to repeat performance that routed France

Guinness Premiership match-by-match guide

Late withdrawal of Mark Cueto, the England wing, is a blow for Sale Sharks as they visit high-flying Saracens on Saturday

Harlequins hold out to continue recovery

Leeds Carnegie 27 Harlequins 30: Leeds remain bottom of Guinness Premiership despite late fightback

England look to erase memory of defeat

Head coach Ben Ryan is looking to start Dubai Sevens in style with his side one of the favourites after reaching final last year

Cricket news  

Strauss demands storming form in Test series

After rain at the Sahara Stadium gives England a one-day series win over South Africa, the captain sets a bigger goal

• Strauss says England would welcome Flintoff

• Rain threatens Strauss's victory hopes

South Africa opt for new faces for first Test

Alviro Petersen and Wayne Parnell are among four uncapped players included in the squad for the first Test against England

Prior applauds England's honest toil

Wicket-keeper says team are under no illusions that they are a work in progress even if they remain one game away from landmark

Recipes that Cook might want to follow

An annotated version of a Mike Brearley talk that could prove of value as Essex man prepares for Bangladesh

More sport news  

Raikkonen confirms switch to rallying

The former Formula 1 champion, has agreed to race for Citroen's junior team in the 2010 World Rally Championship

Richards deal set to keep Renault on road

French team likely to sell a controlling stake in its Formula One team to David Richards, the chairman of Aston Martin

Mauresmo announces retirement from tennis

Toil of training forces 2006 Wimbledon champion to call it quits at 30 and she will leave a legacy of graceful combat

Salita douses Khan camp fire with trainer doubts

Bolton boxer responds by saying he believes he has benefited from presence of lethal-punching Pacquiao in the set-up

Racing and Betting News  

Twist Magic is ace in Sandown pack

Rob Wright reckons course specialist is a value bet at 5-2 to provide Paul Nicholls with fifth successive win in the Tingle Creek Chase

Murphy anxious about more rain for Big Zeb

Trainer says that main objective in Sandown's showpiece race is a clear round, but Barry Geraghty will be hoping for more

"The Railway fences will play to his powers"

Find out what connections think of their chances of winning the big races at Sandown Park on Saturday