Dutch veteran Edwin van der Sar has signed a one year extension to his contract at Old Trafford. The former Ajax and Juventus keeper will now be at Manchester United till 2010.
Van der Sar, who is the most capped Dutch player of all time, had initially planned to retire at the end of the 2008-09 season, but changed his mind when Ferguson said that he would be still be first choice at Old Trafford for next year should he decide to continue playing on.
Van der Sar’s extension would mean that Tomasz Kuzcsak and Ben Foster will continue to be second and third choice goalkeepers at Old Trafford.
Edwin van der Sar will stay at Old Trafford till 2010
Liverpool produced another stuttering performance but did just enough to beat Blackburn 3-1 in their Premiership fixture at Ewood Park on Saturday, thereby heaping more misery upon Rovers boss Paul Ince. Xabi Alonso, Yossi Benayoun and Steven Gerrard scored for Liverpool, with the solitary Rovers goal coming from Roque Santa Cruz. The result ensures that Liverpool retain their one point lead at the top of the table, while Rovers could end up at the bottom should West Bromwich Albion beat Portsmouth today.
The final scoreline was rather flattering if you were a Liverpool fan, considering that Blackburn kept them out successfully for close to seventy minutes.
In the absence of the injured Fernando Torres, Rafa Benitez chose to start with Ryan Babel and Yossi Benayoun on the wings and Dirk Kuyt as his sole striker, keeping Robbie Keane on the bench. Emiliano Insua got his first start of the season at left back, and Sami Hyypia partnered Jamie Carragher in central defence.
Liverpool dominated the opening exchanges, but were unable to finish their moves off. Benayoun probably had the best chance for Liverpool in the first half, but was thwarted by an oustanding challenge from Stephen Warnock. At the other end, Gerrard sloppily gave away possession to Morten Gamst Pedersen, and the Norwegian’s thunderbolt was just about tipped on to the woodwork by Pepe Reina.
Liverpool started the second half with greater urgency, knowing that Chelsea were leading 2-0 at the Reebok Stadium. Gerrard forced Robinson into action, but Yossi Benayoun was not quick enough to get to the rebound, and Blackburn scrambled the ball away. A few minutes later they were not so lucky. Steven Gerrard crossed the ball into the area, and the ball fell to Alonso after Kuyt had attempted to shoot. The Spanish midfielder calmly sidefooted it into the bottom right corner, past a despairing Robinson.
Another crucial goal- Xabi Alonso
Fans of the Reds would also remember Alonso’s goal against Chelsea, which ultimately proved to be the difference between the two sides.
Former Tottenham and England midfielder Darren Anderton has decided to retire after Bournemouth’s League Two game against Chester City on Saturday. Sicknote, as he was nicknamed for the numerous injuries that he sustained in his career, is best remembered for the twelve year spell he had at Tottenham Hotspur between 1992 and 2004. He has also played for Portsmouth, Birmingham City, and Wolverhampton Wanderers, clocking well over 400 appearances in a career spanning the best part of two decades.
Anderton is the last surviving member of the England team that lost on penalties to Germany in the semi finals of Euro 1996. He did not take a penalty in the shootout though.
Anderton is the last playing member of England's Euro'96 losing team
In an interview to the Sun, Anderton also states that he rejected a move to Manchester United in 1995 despite having a clause in his contract at White Hart Lane that allowed him to do so.
