Rooney has missed Man Utd's last two games

TEAM NEWS

Rooney has missed Man Utd's last two games

Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson claims Wayne Rooney faces an "uphill fight" to face Liverpool.

Rooney has missed the last two games with a calf injury. Darren Fletcher (groin) is a doubt, but Ryan Giggs and Patrice Evra return.

Liverpool's dire injury situation looks to be easing, with Fernando Torres (thigh) hopeful of returning.

Glen Johnson is fit after a groin strain, but Steven Gerrard is still struggling with a similar complaint.

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Liverpool

Suspended: None

Doubtful: Gerrard (groin), Kelly (ankle), Riera (hamstring),
Torres (thigh)

Injured/unavailable: Aquilani (fitness), Dossena (groin), Kyrgiakos (knee)

Manchester United

Suspended: None Doubtful: Fletcher (groin), Rooney (calf)

Injured: Park (knee)

MATCH PREVIEW

Beach balls are banned, but is it nearly time for Liverpool to throw in the towel that is sold as part of the set? Defeat against Manchester United would represent Liverpool's worst run of form for 56 years and leave a ten-point chasm between these sides.

We are not thinking about losing to United...we have beaten them before - twice last season - and we must do that again Javier Mascherano, Liverpool

Liverpool pushed United until the penultimate game of last season's title race, but could end the day virtually out of this one barely two months into the campaign.

Liverpool's official club merchandise Beach Set sold out in the wake of the giant red ball that deflated them at Sunderland last weekend. Manchester United fans are suspected of being behind the sudden demand, but a vigorous search policy at the turnstiles is likely to deprive them of a tribute to Darren Bent's winning goal at the Stadium of Light.

Nonetheless, the visitors arrive in buoyant mood, having maintained their 100% winning record in Europe in midweek to extend their unbeaten run to 11 games in all competitions.

By contrast, Liverpool have lost their last four games to leave their league and European prospects on a knife-edge. United, though, know not to write off their rivals; Liverpool won without Fernando Torres and Steven Gerrard in the starting line-up when the clubs met at Anfield last season.

MATCH FACTS

Head-to-head

• Liverpool beat Manchester United home and away in the league last season for the first time in seven years. The 4-1 scoreline at Old Trafford was United's heaviest home defeat since New Year's Day 1992.

• Manchester United have won five and drawn one of their last seven visits to Anfield in the league.

• United have the best Premier League record of any club against Liverpool, with 18 wins and 61 points.

Liverpool

• Liverpool have lost four successive matches in all competitions - their worst run for more than 22 years.

• It is 56 years since they last lost five consecutive matches. In August and September 1953 they were beaten by Bolton, Newcastle, Preston, Wolves and Tottenham in the top flight. They finished bottom of the division that season and were relegated.

• Defeat would mean they have lost half of their opening 10 league games for the first time since 1993.

• Liverpool have scored 15 goals in their four league matches at Anfield this season - only Arsenal have scored more home goals in the division prior to this weekend.

Manchester United

• Manchester United are on an 11-match unbeaten streak in all competitions. They have won 10 and drawn one.

• They are winless in their last four trips to Big Four opposition, losing three times, since a 1-0 victory at Liverpool in December 2007.

• United are the only team not to concede a goal from a set-piece in the Premier League this season.

• Ryan Giggs has scored 99 Premier League goals for United, and Paul Scholes has 98.

• Michael Carrick is set to make his 100th league appearance for the club, while Patrice Evra and Dimitar Berbatov are poised for the 100th Premier League starts of their career.

LEADING GOALSCORERS

Liverpool

Torres: 8 goals (8 league); Kuyt: 4 goals (3 league)

Manchester United

Rooney: 7 goals (6 league); Berbatov: 3 goals (3 league)

MATCH OFFICIALS

Referee: Andre Marriner

Assistant referees: Adam Watts & Patrick Keane

Fourth official: Peter Walton

LAST LEAGUE MATCH LINE-UPS

Liverpool (L0-1 v Sunderland, a): Reina; Johnson, Agger, Skrtel (Voronin 72), Carragher, Babel (Ngog 81), Lucas, Aurelio, Spearing (Mascherano 72), Benayoun, Kuyt. Subs not used: Cavalieri, Riera, Insua, Kelly.

Manchester United (W2-1 v Bolton, h): Van der Sar; Neville, Ferdinand, Evans, Evra (O'Shea 83), Valencia, Carrick, Anderson (Scholes 86), Giggs, Owen (Welbeck 83), Berbatov. Subs not used: Kuszczak, Brown, Nani, Macheda.

Mumbai lands 2011 World Cup final

The Wankhede Stadium, pictured in 2001, is being renovated for the Cup

Mumbai's Wankhede Stadium will stage the final of the 2011 Cricket World Cup, which is being co-hosted by India, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh.

The Indian board has announced the eight venues for the 29 matches it is hosting - including Mohali, which will stage one of the semi-finals.

Eden Gardens in Kolkata, which has not hosted a one-day international since 2007, will stage four games.

The other venues are Ahmedabad, New Delhi, Chennai, Bangalore and Nagpur.

Sri Lanka will host 12 games, while Bangladesh will stage eight matches, as well as the opening ceremony in Dhaka on 18 February.

The full schedule for the tournament is due to be announced in Mumbai on 9 November, while the two groups of seven teams were recently announced in a revised format following criticism of the 2007 World Cup in the West Indies.Original co-hosts Pakistan were stripped of their scheduled games by the International Cricket Council earlier this year because of security problems in the country.

Teams will play everyone in their group once, with the top four teams in each group qualifying for the quarter-finals - making a total of 49 games.

WORLD CUP 2011 - GROUPS & VENUES

Group A: Australia, Pakistan, New Zealand, Sri Lanka, Zimbabwe, Canada, Kenya

Group B: India, South Africa, England, West Indies, Bangladesh, Ireland, Netherlands

Group stage venues: Ahmedabad (2 games), Bangalore (4), Chennai (4), Kolkata (4), Mohali (2), Mumbai (2), Nagpur (4), New Delhi (4), plus venues TBA in Bangladesh (6) and Sri Lanka (10)

Quarter-finals: Ahmedabad plus venue TBA in Bangladesh (2) and Sri Lanka

Semi-finals: Mohali plus venues TBA in Sri Lanka

Final: Mumbai

Younus is unhappy at the allegations made against his team

Younus is unhappy at the allegations made against his team

Younus Khan has tendered his resignation as Pakistan captain despite being cleared of match-fixing charges by a parliamentary sports committee.

He submitted his resignation to the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) - who are yet to accept it - on Tuesday.

The 31-year-old said he was "disgusted by match-fixing allegations made against me and the team."

Younus was attending a hearing to discuss Pakistan's performance in the recent ICC Champions Trophy.

National Assembly committee chairman Jamshed Dasti had alleged that Pakistan deliberately under-performed during the competition - although he later insisted that the committee never intended to make match-fixing allegations against the players.

"We are totally satisfied with the explanation of the team management and board," he said. "The committee is satisfied no match-fixing took place."

Younus told the Reuters news agency: "Yes, I have submitted my resignation. I have told the chairman to go through my resignation and read my point of view."

PCB chairman Ijaz Butt added: "It's an emotional decision and I reject it.

"I hope to convince Younus to revoke his decision, but if he sticks to his stand then the matter will be decided by the PCB's governing council next week on 19 October."

Younus has scored 5,260 runs in 63 Tests - at an average over 50 - since making his debut against Sri Lanka in 2000, and succeeded Shoaib Malik as Pakistan captain in January 2009.

He has also appeared in 194 one-day internationals and led Pakistan to victory at the ICC World Twenty20 tournament in England earlier this year - before retiring from Twenty20 internationals.

Yorkshire release furious Hoggard

Former England seamer Matthew Hoggard is shocked and bitterly disappointed at Yorkshire's decision not to renew his contract after 15 years at the club.

Hoggard, 32, claims the county are letting him go for financial reasons.

"I'm disappointed, gutted, angry, a mixture of thoughts and emotions," Hoggard told BBC Sport.

Yorkshire confirmed Hoggard has not been offered a new contract, saying he rejected an "extremely competitive" offer at the start of the season.

Hoggard has only ever played domestic cricket for Yorkshire, making his county debut in 1996, and has gone on to take 668 wickets in 195 first-class matches.

Matthew turned the contract offer down as he wanted a higher salary and a longer contract Yorkshire CCC statement

He was also the county's leading wicket-taker for the 2009 season, with 46 first-class scalps at an average of 32, including a hat-trick against Sussex.

Hoggard said he had been a loyal servant to the club and was upset he was not given the chance of a proper farewell.

"One thing that really annoyed me was that I only got to say goodbye through the press," he stated.

"We had started talks about being captain. It went from being interested in being captain to 'I'm sorry we're not renewing your contract'."

Yorkshire have denied Hoggard's claim about the captaincy, saying: "This was something that Matthew had personally tabled with Colin Graves, the chairman of Yorkshire CCC.

"Colin informed Matthew that he would feed his request into the next board meeting, but at no stage was Matthew ever offered the position of Yorkshire captain."

Hoggard also said that the county's purse strings were tight following building work on a new stand.

"They have got a new stand being built, they have just relaid the outfield, money is tight and obviously being one of the bigger earners at the club they have decided I'm a person they can do without," added Hoggard.

Yorkshire moved quickly to respond, saying the club were "extremely disappointed" that the player broke the news to the media on Monday, after informing him last Thursday of their decision following "lengthy discussions over the past few months".

Hoggard claimed he had never turned down the contract offer from earlier in the season, instead he asked for time to think about it.

'Hoggard turned down lucrative deal' - Yorkshire chief executive Stewart Regan

The statement added: "The club has every respect for Matthew Hoggard as a player and as a person, and had been working over the weekend with Matthew's representatives at the Professional Cricketers' Association to ensure the news broke at a mutually agreeable time, thereby assisting his transition to a new county in the most positive manner possible.

"An extremely competitive two-year contract, with the option of a third year based on performance, was offered to Matthew at the beginning of the season; a deal that would have retained his position as one of the highest earners at the county.

"Matthew turned that contract offer down as he wanted a higher salary and a longer contract.

"The club and player agreed that they would review the situation after the season had ended. Over the course of the summer the club has reviewed its playing staff for 2010 and made plans to secure a number of key players.

"This has become increasingly costly due to the tightening of work permit regulations for overseas players and the demand for young England-qualified talent.

"Following this meeting the club's chief executive, Stewart Regan, was asked to review the 2010 playing budget with Martyn Moxon, director of professional cricket. As a result of this review, Matthew's appraisal was postponed until Thursday 8th October."On 23 September, the Yorkshire board of directors met to review outstanding contractual matters.

"At the meeting last Thursday, Matthew was informed that the board had made the decision not to offer him a new contract.

"This decision had been made in light of a number of factors - the current economic climate, the player's contractual requirements and a detailed analysis of the make-up of the professional squad for the 2010 season."

From next season, the England and Wales Cricket Board is offering incentives to counties to play younger players to aid their development.

Under the scheme, counties will be eligible for payouts for matches in which they field two under-22 and three under-26 players.

Hoggard took 16 wickets in England's Ashes series win in 2005

"The formula is you can only play one player over the age of 31 - we've played three, maybe four, this year," commented Hoggard.

"If want to win games, if you want to win the championship, you've got to play your best players. Being the leading wicket-taker last season I consider myself one of the better players."

However, the 2005 Ashes winner, who played 67 Tests for his country, taking 248 wickets, is hopeful of continuing his playing career.

"I'm looking for a job. I'm still fit, I didn't miss any games last year through injury," he added.

"I'm the leading wicket-taker, I've got a lot to offer and my experience is second to none in the County Championship."

Hoggard was dropped by England after the first Test in New Zealand in March 2008, and has not played for his country since then.

Although he was briefly recalled to the squad that summer, he was overlooked for the 10-wicket defeat by South Africa at Headingley, his home ground, in favour of the uncapped Darren Pattinson - and lost his central England contract in September 2008.

Durham wrap up Championship title

Durham celebrate a wicket as they closed in on the title

Durham finally wrapped up their second successive County Championship title by completing an innings victory over Nottinghamshire at the Riverside.

The reigning champions headed into the game against their second-placed rivals needing to take at least 11 points.

A draw would have been enough, but Durham wrapped up an innings and 52-run win early on the final afternoon when Steve Harmison dismissed Mark Ealham.

Durham could still equal the modern-day record of 10 wins in a season.

This was their eighth Championship win of the summer. And, with still two games left, they can equal the 10 wins achieved by Surrey in 2002 and Sussex a year later, the most since the County Championship split into two divisions in 2000.

Durham achieved this latest Championship-clinching victory in style, on the back of their record first-class score of 648-5 declared, of which Michael Di Venuto plundered 219.

In reply, Nottinghamshire mustered 384 from their first innings, Liam Plunkett (6-85) and Mark Davies (4-87) sharing the wickets.

Having then been asked to follow-on, the visitors could only make their way to 212 all out in the final session.

Plunkett weighed in with three more wickets, but it was Harmison, again Durham's leading Championship wicket-taker who fittingly finished it off.

More to follow.

Flintoff passed fit for Edgbaston

Australia have lost their aura - Strauss

England captain Andrew Strauss expects all-rounder Andrew Flintoff to play a full part in the third Ashes Test at Edgbaston, which starts on Thursday.

The Lancastrian has undergone intensive treatment on an ongoing knee problem, but Strauss said: "Barring any dramatic stuff overnight, he'll be fit."

England, who lead 1-0 in the series, will pick from a 12-man squad after spinner Monty Panesar was released.

Australia are expected to keep faith with misfiring bowler Mitchell Johnson.

The paceman, who came into the series with a burgeoning reputation following a series of match-winning displays against South Africa earlier this year, has struggled in the first two Tests.

The left-armer took a total of eight wickets at an average of 41.37 from the Cardiff and Lord's Tests, and was then hammered for 107 runs in 18.1 overs, taking only one wicket, in a tour match against Northamptonshire last week.

But asked if he had considered dropping Johnson, Australia captain Ricky Ponting replied: "No, to tell you the truth.

"There has been a lot of talk about his technique and his action being all over the place. (But) we have had some good close looks at that and it is actually not.

"I think right at the moment it is more of a confidence thing and we will probably use him more as a strike impact type of bowler."

Johnson's form is in stark contrast to Flintoff, who produced a sensational spell of bowling on the fifth morning at Lord's to lead England to a 115-run victory.

The 31-year-old has been sleeping with a special 'Game Ready' compression wrap - designed from NASA spacesuit technology - around his troublesome knee, which helps to remove fluid and reduce inflammation.

And his fitness, proven over two days of intensive workouts leading up to Thursday's start, is a major boost for England following the loss of star batsman Kevin Pietersen to an Achilles injury.

Warwickshire batsman Ian Bell will come into the side as Pietersen's replacement on his home ground, despite a concern earlier this week over a slight ankle problem.

And Strauss is tipping him to return to the side "a better player" since being dropped in February.

I think he's going to be a better batsman for that experience Strauss on Ian Bell

"A player of the calibre of Ian Bell coming in is very reassuring. He's a proven Test performer, he's played in the Ashes before and he's done that spell out of the side that a lot of us have been through.

"Ian's done a lot of work. We sent him away and it was a pretty bitter pill to swallow. He's done a lot of fitness work, scored a lot of runs for Warwickshire, he's done everything we've asked of him and he's had to dig pretty deep to do that.

"I think he's going to be a better batsman for that experience. It makes you very, very hungry when you come back in."

That means England's only selection issue would appear to be the final pace-bowling spot, with Steve Harmison vying to replace Durham team-mate Graham Onions.

Onions, who took 3-91 at Lord's, has been suffering with a slight hand injury, but is widely expected to get the nod again, despite Harmison being the leading wicket-taker in County Championship division one this season.

However, England will not name their final starting XI until the morning of the match, with the Edgbaston pitch causing some concern.

Groundsman Steve Rouse described the surface as "jelly" last week, and the outfield was still covered in pools of water on Wednesday, despite warmer weather in recent days helping to dry the Test strip.

Twenty five runs is not what I am after in this game. I'm after a big score Ricky Ponting

"I am actually a bit surprised that the wicket itself is so dry but there's plenty of rain around still," noted Ponting, who believes spin will still have a part to play.

Heavy rain showers are forecast for Thursday, which could see a delayed start, with more rain expected on Saturday and Sunday after sunny intervals on Friday.

With conditions expected to favour seam bowling, Australia could recall either Shane Watson or Stuart Clark, but are still without Brett Lee, who is recuperating from a side strain which has kept him out of the first two Test matches.

Meanwhile, Ponting has the chance to become his country's highest run-scorer in Test cricket.

The 34-year-old needs only 25 runs to overhaul Allan Border's record tally of 11,174 runs, and averages 56.31 for his country since making his debut against Sri Lanka in Perth during the 1995-96 series.

But he insists he would swap the record for victory at Edgbaston in a heartbeat, saying: "I must admit I haven't thought about it at all. I've got bigger fish to fry than than that right at the moment.

"Twenty five runs is not what I am after in this game. I'm after a big score. I haven't thought about it since the end of the Lord's Test.

"We are looking to get level in this series."

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England (from): Strauss (capt), Cook, Bopara, Bell, Collingwood, Prior, Flintoff, Broad, Swann, Anderson, Onions, Harmison

Australia (from): Hughes, Katich, Ponting (capt), Hussey, Clarke, North, Watson, Haddin, Hauritz, Hilfenhaus, Johnson, McDonald, Siddle, Clark, Manou.

Bangladesh clinch one-day series

Mohammad Mahmudullah scored just three for the Tigers

Bangladesh clinched the one-day series against West Indies with a three-wicket win in the second match in Dominica.

Travis Dowlin hit an unbeaten 100, his maiden ODI ton, in the hosts' total of 274-6 after the home team had chosen to bat first on a hard pitch in Roseau.

But Mohammad Ashraful made 64 and captain Shakib Al Hasan 65 as the tourists reached their target with six balls to spare.

The final ODI takes place in Basseterre in St Kitts on Friday.

And salt was rubbed into the Windies' wounds when paceman Kemar Roach and captain Floyd Reifer were called before International Cricket Council officials after the match.

Roach was docked 10% of his match fee after he was charged for bowling two high, full-pitched deliveries at Bangladesh captain Shakib Al Hasan.

And Reifer was handed an official reprimand for failing to ensure play was conducted within the spirit and laws of the game.

The hosts were also penalised for a slow over-rate, with skipper Reifer fined 10% of his match fee and his team mates 5% of their fees each for falling one over short of their target in the stipulated time.

Langer breaks Bradman runs record

Langer has a very special record behind him

Justin Langer has become the highest-scoring Australian batsman.

The Somerset captain broke the record for first-class runs at Worcester when he overhauled Sir Donald Bradman's career total of 28,067 runs.

Langer, 38, took 20 minutes to score the six runs he needed - having resumed on 89 on the third morning of the rain-hit match against Worcestershire.

He went past the milestone with a cover-drive for four off Matt Mason from the ninth ball he faced.

Langer, now in his 18th year in first-class cricket since making his debut for Western Australia, reached the milestone in his 615th innings compared to only 338 by the great Bradman.

After an earlier spell in county cricket with Middlesex, Langer made his debut for Somerset in 2006 and became captain the following season. Born in Perth, he also captained Western Australia up to the 2006-07 season.

Langer's first-class haul includes the 7,696 runs he scored in 105 Tests, many of which came in a productive opening partnership for Australia with his friend Matthew Hayden.

Since scoring a century against Tasmania in his last match for Western Australia in March 2008, he has played exclusively for Somerset.

Malik ton puts Pakistan in charge

Malik's 134 came off 240 balls and included 13 fours and two sixes

A brilliant century from Shoaib Malik put Pakistan firmly on course for a morale-boosting victory in the third Test against Sri Lanka in Colombo.

Resuming on 16-1 with a lead of 82 in their second innings, Pakistan's top order stumbled to 67-4 early on.

However, Malik (134) combined well with Misbah-ul-haq and Kamran Akmal to lead his side to 425-9 declared.

Chasing 508 to win, Sri Lanka batted bravely but were 183-3 by stumps and now face a tall order on day five.

Kumar Sangakkara will no doubt be key to the hosts' bid to earn a record-breaking victory, the captain ending the day 50 not out alongside Thilan Samaraweera.

However, the loss of opener Tharanga Paranavitana for 73 an hour before stumps could cost Sri Lanka dear as they look to wrap up a 3-0 series whitewash victory.

And it was Malik who took that vital wicket, luring Paranavitana into a prod into the hands of short leg, to complete an excellent day for the all-rounder.

Earlier, he played a crucial innings after Pakistan's top order succumbed to the hosts' seamers.

Coming to the crease at 67-4, he shared a partnership of 119 with Misbah-ul-haq (65) and one of 133 with wicket-keeper Akmal (74) as the middle order set about building a match-winning total.

Umar Gul and Mohammad Aamer then scored runs at a good pace down the order to set up the declaration.

And once Paranavitana had departed, Danish Kaneria took over with the ball spinning off the day four pitch, removing Malinda Warnapura and, crucially, Mahela Jayawardene to put Pakistan in charge.

Tigers beat West Indies

Raqibul Hasan hit 65 in Bangladesh's successful run chase

Captain Shakib Al Hasan hit an unbeaten 96 to steer Bangladesh to a four-wicket victory over the West Indies and secure the nation's second-ever series win.

Left-arm spinner Shakib ended with figures of five for 70 as Bangladesh bowled out the weakened West Indies side for 209 in the morning session.

Set 215 to win, Bangladesh wobbled at 67-4 but Shakib and Raqibul Hasan (65) put on 106 for the fifth wicket.

Bangladesh sealed the win in style when Shakib smashed Kemar Roach for a six.

"In our nine years, this is the biggest thing that has happened to Bangladesh cricket," said Shakib, who also hit 13 fours in his innings.

"This series victory will give a boost to our confidence, and will help to take us to the next level, and with God's help, we shall go forward.

"There was not too much pressure on us (on Monday), since the boys have been playing really, really well. It was a good victory."

Bangladesh won the opening Test of the two-match series last Monday in St. Vincent by 95 runs.

Their hopes of adding a second victory were hit by early morning rain in Grenada which delayed play for two hours, but once the clouds had cleared, they wasted little time in taking the final two West Indies wickets.

Resuming on 192-8, David Bernard smashed a six but was smartly stumped by Mushfiqur Rahim after missing an on-drive at a big turner from Enamul Haque Junior, who ended with 3-48.

Best also lofted a six but fell two balls later as he gloved a paddle sweep at Shakib, who collected his fifth five-wicket haul in his 14th test.

The series win came against a much weakened and inexperienced West Indies side as most of their stars had boycotted the series in a dispute with their governing body over pay.

It was the first overseas win for Bangladesh, whose only previous series win was against Zimbabwe in 2005.

In a low-key series hit by poor attendances in the Caribbean, slow left-armer Shakib at least provided genuine Test quality with bat and ball.

He and Raqibul played with little sign of nerves, despite coming together at 67-4 just before tea, picking off the bad balls with ease and punishing without mercy, particularly Shakib.

Raqibul was removed by Darren Sammy with a smart caught and bowled after his 65 to offer a glimmer of hope to the West Indies.

Sammy also got rid of Mushfiqur Rahim in the same fashion near the end as he finished with 5-55.

But Bangladesh comfortably secured just their third test win in style when Shakib smashed two fours, a two and then a six off of Roach to end the match in emphatic fashion.

The only positives for West Indies coach John Dyson will have been the bowling of Sammy and paceman Roach along with the all-round play of Dave Bernard, who scored three half-centuries and delivered some useful medium pace.

Captain Floyd Reifer said: "We had a good opportunity to win the game in the second innings, but we did not bat too well.

"We always knew we needed around 280 runs to have a fighting chance to win the game and we fell way short.

"It is pretty difficult to defend a victory target of 215. All they needed was one good partnership to have a good chance. But I felt Sammy bowled well, and our guys tried very hard."