Football 4 All

Liverpool have today confirmed the capture of Italian international midfielder Alberto Aquilani from Roma, with the Reds' official website confirming that the player has signed a five-year contract.

The 25-year-old is currently recovering from an operation on an ankle injury, and is expected to be fit in around four to eight weeks time.

Roma defender John Arne Riise, a team-mate of the midfielder's in Rome as well as a former Anfield star, thinks that Aquilani will prove to be a success with Rafa Benitez's side.

This afternoon in Beijing, Inter coach Jose Mourinho held a long press conference in which he talked, among other things, about the Italian Supercup match on Saturday against Lazio.

"If we had more time to prepare for this match it would have been better," he said. "We are a new team and we have changed 40% of our starting XI. We need more time to work, but we have trained and we are in shape.

"We can win this type of match, but I hope we don't get to extra time because playing an extra 30 minutes would be heavy for us."

The coach also announced fresh signing Samuel Eto'o will start the match.

Xabi Alonso has been subject to arguably the longest-running transfer saga of this summer, and after a long period of chasing the Liverpool midfielder, Real Madrid are reportedly set to match the poaching price placed on the player's head.

Anfield officials met with the Galacticos executive director-general Jose Angel Sanchez before the Reds' pre-season game against Espanyol, in order to put to rest the speculation surrounding the future of the pass-master.

The Liverpool Daily Post claims that the 'White House' is willing to match the €35 million asking price, and add a further €2.5m based on the performances put out by the Spaniard during the first two years of his time at the Bernabeu.

Liverpool managing director Christian Purslow spoke about the meeting between the officials of the two powerhouses,
and outlined the story so far.

Blackburn Rovers have this evening confirmed that they have signed striker Franco Di Santo from Chelsea on a loan deal that will last, initially at least, until the January transfer window.

However, Rovers' official website also states that the Lancastrians have "the first option of extending the deal until the end of the season in the event that Chelsea do not wish to recall him to their squad", which suggests a longer deal extending to the rest of the season is probable should the switch go well.

The 20-year-old has already played his part for the west London outfit during their pre-season schedule, scoring in the Blues' recent 2-1 win over Club America, and now looks set to make his Rovers debut in the club's friendly against Scottish side Hibernian on Wednesday at Ewood Park.

The Argentine made 16 appearances for Chelsea last season, all as substitute. Although largely untested at Premier League level, Rovers boss Sam Allardyce will be pleased to have secured the player's services.The departures of Roque Santa Cruz and Matt Derbyshire had left the Lancashire club thin in terms of their forward options, after a potential move for out-of-contract veteran Christian Vieri seemed to stall last week.

Philippe Senderos had recently returned to the North London club from a loan spell at AC Milan, where he figured just infrequently.

The Swiss Football Federation announced on its official website on Sunday that Senderos, who has one year to run on his contract with Arsenal, had signed for Everton for an undisclosed fee.It is understood that Senderos, who has been looking for regular first-team action ahead of the 2010 World Cup, will fill in for Manchester City-bound Joleon Lescott at Goodison Park.

Neither club have yet commented on this matter to date. The Swiss Football Federation has no details of the figure involved in the transfer or the duration of Senderos' contract with the Liverpool-based club.

Arsenal were worthy winners of the Emirates Cup, beating Rangers convincingly at the Emirates stadium.
Arsenal went into the game knowing a draw was enough to win the tournament, while Rangers needed to defeat the Gunners to secure the trophy.

Arsene Wenger's side weren't tempted to take a defensive approach and dominated the game from the offset, with Arsenal leading by two goals after ten minutes. They naturally eased up after this point but still monopolised possession, creating chances effortlessly in both halves.
Rangers showed more fight in the second half, creating a few good opportunities, but the Gunners were too strong and extended their lead further to roll out 3-0 winners.
Jack Wilshere opened the scoring after 90seconds as Arsenal tore through the packed Rangers defence.

Andrey Arshavin played the ball across the field, Wilshere left it for Cesc Fabregas who picked the ball in the right of the penalty area.
The Spaniard cut back into a pile of bodies but found Arshavin in the middle of the penalty area with a neat pass, who had made a run from deep.
Arshavin played it back towards the penalty spot first time, and the ball was picked up by Wilshere who struck the ball with his left foot. His shot spewed under the goal keeper and into the back of the net. 1-0 to the Gunners.

Arsenal were 2-0 up after 10minutes. Fabregas played the ball long and it was nodded back to Fran Merida by Arshavin, the young Spaniard then played a beautiful disguised pass to Eduardo who was attacking the right side of the penalty area.
The Croatian took a touch and cooly curled the ball into the far corner, with the ball going in off the post.
Rangers had their first real attack 18minutes into the game, Pedro Mendes swung in a corner from the right but it was dealt with comfortably by Alex Song and Arsenal cleared their lines.
Arsenal were caught napping in the 26th minute, Mendes was released down the right when a sloppy offside trap left Eboue lingering. The ex-Portsmouth midfielder crossed into the middle and Mickael Silvestre was uncomfortable as he turned the ball behind for a corner, nothing came of the chance.

Merida, who was having an excellent game, then tried his luck from 30 yards. His left footed strike was powerful but was watched comfortably wide by keeper Allan McGregor.
Rangers troubled Arsenal with a pair of set pieces just before the end of the half. The first came from the
Wilshere delighted with a piece of individual brilliance, moving across the edge of the 18 yard box lifting the ball over Mendes and controlling the ball onto his chest. He found himself outside the left of the box, and he attempted an audacious chip over McGregor in goal. The Scotsman managed to tip the ball over the crossbar.

Minutes later, Arshavin played an exquisite first time ball over the top of the defence from deep, releasing Eduardo for a one-on-one with the keeper. The Croatian lingered on the ball slightly and was closed by McGregor and the chance was gone.

Rangers were a little livelier in the second half, crafting an opportunity down the right with substitute Nanco Novo breaking into space. He squared the ball across the face of the goal, and Eboue challenged to deny Steven Naismith.
The ball fell to the back post and Song got across quickly and produced an excellent block to deny Rangers on the rebound.
At the other end Wilshere was involved again, laid off by Fabregas, the youngster showed quick feet in the box to engineer space, unleashing a flashing drive that just missed the top right-hand corner.
Rangers sprang on the counter attack on the 61st minute, Mendes released the Gers as they broke on the Gunners. Song slipped high up the pitch, as the last man, and allowed Steven Davis room to charge into.

The former Villian rolled the ball across the box to Naismith who was breaking into the left of the box, but the Scot wasted the chance and hit the ball straight at Manuel Almunia.
Substitute Herschel Sanchez Watt chased lost cause into the left hand side of the box, sliding in to win the ball back.

It fell to Aaron Ramsey who crossed to back post where Wilshere arrived, hitting the ball on the bounce and smashing it into the top left-hand corner. 3-0 to Arsenal.
Substitute Kenny Miller had a good opportunity to grab a consolation four minutes from time, being slid into the right of the box, but he sent his shot well wide of the far post.
Arsenal played the game out, holding onto possession, and were crowned winners of the third annual Emirates Cup.

Aston Villa were energetic and Juventus will rue missing a whole host of chances in regulation time, as the English side managed to win the Peace Cup 2009 edition in a penalty shoot-out.Winger Ashley Young had the first good opportunity of the match, cutting inside past Jonathan Zebina, but his powerful effort was straight at Gianluigi Buffon.Indeed, while Juventus were being fairly patient in attack, Aston Villa were using the wings to attack, forcing the Bianconeri goalkeeper to make a number of stops from shots from a tight angle.

Sebastian Giovinco and Mauro Camoranesi were causing the Villans defence problems with their crossing and through balls, but Vincenzo Iaquinta missed a golden chance when he could not direct his header on target after thirty minutes.John Carew had been largely anonymous, but his powerfully hit free-kick was turned around the post by Buffon. Juventus responded, but Iaquinta spurned yet another chance from his head after a set-piece by the 'Atomic Ant.

'The English side were doing most of the pressing, but the Bianconeri rearguard held up well until the half-time whistle blew.It was more of the same in the second half, as neither team could break the deadlock.The restart was largely uneventful until 60 minutes, when Zebina broke down the right and cut back for David Trezeguet, but the Frenchman shockingly hit it over the bar. It was a waste of the best opportunity of the match thus far.Eric Lichaj chased a promising through ball, but only caught a piece of Buffon while lunging for the ball.The Italians were taking more control in the match as it came to a close, looking for a winner, but were once again thwarted by poor finishing from both Trezeguet and Iaquinta.With extra-time approaching, Ciro Ferrara threw on Alessandro Del Piero, but despite some exciting dribbles no more real opportunities arose.Marc Albrighton, who has had an excellent tournament, nearly was one-on-one with the keeper, but Giorgio Chiellini made a crucial clearance.

The Italian international was involved again as he poked the ball off the foot of Nigel Reo-Coker in the area.The veteran Trezeguet nearly made up for an earlier mistake with a well-executed bicycle-kick, but it was straight at Guzan, who gathered the ball.As both teams tired, the match lost it's edge and there was an interesting incident as the referee blew the whistle early, at 116 minutes, rather than the customary 120 as penalties arrived.After Bannan scored, Iaquinta's poor night continued as his weak penalty was saved by Guzan. However, Sidwell lofted his effort over the cross bar.

Trezeguet, Lowry, Amauri, Young, Felipe Melo all converted before Buffon denied substitute Chris Herd. However, talisman Alessandro Del Piero shot right down the middle - but the American shot stopper was not fooled and also made the decisive stop on Nicola Legrottaglie for a precious shoot-out victory!