Liverpool New Boy Robbie Keane Relishing Strike Partnership

Liverpool new boy Robbie Keane admits he cannot wait to get the chance to play alongside Fernando Torres. The pair that Reds fans hope will prove their dream strikeforce managed to avoid each other in the 0-0 pre-season friendly draw at Villarreal on Wednesday night. Keane played only in the first half, and missed the best chance of the match, while Torres came on for the last 20 minutes, his first action since scoring the winner in the Euro 2008 final for Spain.

Reds boss Rafa Benitez has hinted the duo could be paired together for the first time in Saturday's friendly with Rangers in Glasgow. Keane , who completed his £20million move from Tottenham just 24 hours before the Villarreal game, feels he is settling in quite well at his new club.

Keane told Sky Sports News "I didn't get the chance to partner Fernando this time, but I am looking forward to it when it does happen. I'm settling in just fine and it was good to get 45 minutes under my belt with my new team-mates. It has been a busy few days but I feel I am settling in well. I have trained a little with the lads, got in some match action and it is going fine. I know I did not get to play alongside Fernando but I am sure any partnership will work well, but only time will tell. He's a tremendous player and it will be great to play up front alongside him. But it is up to the pair of us to make it work."

Keane also added: "We haven't had much chance yet to work together, but over the next few weeks I am sure I will get to know him better, and the rest of the lads. It was useful to get the first game out of the way. I have only had a couple of 45-minute spells in build-up games with Spurs against lower-league opposition, so it was good to play against a good side like Villarreal. It was a good work-out for me. There is massive potential here. Just look at the players that were used in the first half, and then another fine bunch after the break. There are a lot of quality players here and I am just delighted to be amongst it all."

Tottenham Hotspur Completed Signing of David Bentley

Tottenham has completed the capture of Blackburn's England winger David Bentley for a fee that could eventually reach $34 million.

The 23-year-old, who has won six caps for his country, had spent three seasons at Ewood Park, scoring 21 goals in 133 appearances before opting to leave for Spurs for an initial fee of $30 million. The fee could increase, depending on Bentley's performances.

Bentley started his career in north London with Arsenal, but failed to make much of a first-team impact with the Gunners.

He made it clear earlier this summer that he wanted to move on, with Liverpool initially being linked with a move for the talented wideman.

"I made it clear to the club what I wanted to do. The situation is I want to move on. I want to be playing Champions League football or in Europe," Bentley had commented.

"I've been here for three years and I love the club and I love playing for them, but I feel like I've done everything I can.

"I want to move on and try and push up the ladder and push on and try and be as successful as I can be in football and I believe that lies elsewhere.

"I want a new challenge. I believe I have done as much as I can at the club and want to push on somewhere else."

Sky Sports' Live 2008 Premier League Fixtures

Date	Game	Kick-off
AUGUST
Saturday 16	Arsenal v West Bromwich Albion	12.45pm
Sunday 17	Chelsea v Portsmouth	1.30pm
Sunday 17	Manchester United v Newcastle United	4.00pm
Sunday 24	Manchester City v West Ham United	4.00pm
Monday 25	Portsmouth v Manchester United	8.00pm
Sunday 31	Chelsea v Tottenham Hotspur	1.30pm
Sunday 31	Aston Villa v Liverpool	4.00pm
SEPTEMBER
Saturday 13	Liverpool v Manchester United	12.45pm
Sunday 14	Stoke City v Everton	1.30pm
Sunday 21	West Bromwich Albion v Aston Villa	12.00pm
Sunday 21	Chelsea v Manchester United	2.00pm
Saturday 27	Everton v Liverpool	12.45pm
Sunday 28	Portsmouth v Tottenham Hotspur	1.30pm
Sunday 28	Wigan Athletic v Manchester City	4.00pm
OCTOBER
Sunday 5	West Ham United v Bolton Wanderers	1.30pm
Sunday 5	Everton v Newcastle United	4.00pm
Saturday 18	Middlesbrough v Chelsea	12.45pm
Sunday 19	Stoke City v Tottenham Hotspur	4.00pm
Saturday 25	Sunderland v Newcastle United	12.45pm
Sunday 26	Chelsea v Liverpool	1.30pm
Sunday 26	West Ham United v Arsenal	4.00pm
Tuesday 28	Stoke City v Sunderland	8.00pm
Wednesday 29	Arsenal v Tottenham Hotspur	8.00pm
NOVEMBER
Saturday 1	Everton v Fulham	12.45pm
Sunday 2	Bolton Wanderers v Manchester City	4.00pm
Saturday 8	Arsenal v Manchester United	12.45pm
Sunday 9	Blackburn Rovers v Chelsea	1.30pm
Sunday 9	Fulham v Newcastle United	4.00pm
Saturday 15	Bolton Wanderers v Liverpool	12.45pm
Sunday 16	Everton v Middlesbrough	1.30pm
Sunday 16	Hull City v Manchester City	4.00pm
Sunday 23	Tottenham Hotspur v Blackburn Rovers	1.30pm
Sunday 23	Sunderland v West Ham United	4.00pm
Sunday 30	Manchester City v Manchester United	1.30pm
Sunday 30	Chelsea v Arsenal	4.00pm

"Scolari is a Good Coach and can Bring Success" - Avram Grant

Avram Grant demonstrated his diplomatic skills yesterday by predicting that Luiz Felipe Scolari would surpass his own achievements by winning the Barclays Premier League for Chelsea next season, just as one of his former players became the latest in a long line of critics to question his credentials.

Nicolas Anelka followed the example of John Terry and Salomon Kalou by dismissing Grant's contribution to Chelsea's push for honours last season, the France striker blaming the Israeli for playing him out of position.

Grant's prediction, made in Bangkok after giving a lecture to Thailand Premier League representatives, is typical of the dignity that he has maintained since being sacked within 72 hours of losing the Champions League final on a penalty shoot-out in May. He also helped Chelsea to finish second in the Premier League and runners-up in the Carling Cup last season.

“In the last few months there have been big changes at Chelsea,” Grant said. “They are now better than Manchester United or Arsenal. Scolari is a good coach and can bring success.

“Chelsea have a good chance of winning the Premier League. When I took over, the English press and some Chelsea players did not believe in my ability. But I proved myself to them in the last two or three months when Chelsea nearly won three competitions.”

It appears, though, that Grant failed to alter the perception of all his detractors. Anelka's biggest complaint is that he was rarely played as a central striker, which goes some way to explaining him scoring only one league goal after signing from Bolton Wanderers in January. He is hoping for better treatment from Grant's successor.

“Scolari understands me better than Grant because I have never played on the right or the left since I have come to England,” Anelka said. “It was a difficult time because you know when you come to a new club, you want to play in your position and you want success. It's just good for me to play up front. I played in midfield, on the right or the left. So I am happy to play again in my position and I will try my best on the pitch.

“I know what I want and I know English football, so I know how to do it. For me, the boss does not have to speak to me because I know how to do it. So we will see what he wants.”

Anelka also claims that he deserves more sympathy than Terry for missing a penalty in the Champions League final shoot-out, as he had yet to establish a rapport with the Chelsea fans.

“For John, it was hard, but he is a big player at Chelsea,” he said. “I was new, so for me it was more difficult. I was not part of the competition at the beginning and I didn't play in my position when I arrived at Chelsea - I would play for maybe five or ten minutes. I am still thinking about it now because it's always hard to miss a penalty, but even more when you didn't play as much as you wanted in the competition.”

Arsenal Completed Signing Weder Bremen Midfielder - Amaury Bischoff

Arsenal have today completed the signing of Weder Bremen midfielder Amaury Bischoff. The French-born Bischoff has signed for the Gunners for an undisclosed fee after weeks of speculation about the 21-year old's future at Bremen.

The Portuguese under-21 international admitted earlier this month that a chance to join the Premier League giants would be too good to turn down and so that has proved. He will link up with his Arsenal team-mates when the squad return from their pre-season tour of Austria.

I feel the signing of Bischoff is vital for Arsenal considering Arsene Wenger has let go of some many midfield players. I have seen bits of Amaury and I have also heard many good things about him so I, along with all the Gunners fans will be eager to see how he progresses at the Emirates stadium.

Liverpool's Pursuit of £18 Million Aston Villa Midfielder Ends

Liverpool's pursuit of Aston Villa midfielder is over tonight after the Midlands club confirmed the player will be staying at Villa Park. The England international has been linked with a move to Anfield for months now after he confirmed that he was interested in a move to Merseyside club.

Barry, 27, was valued at £18 million by Villa, a price which Reds boss Rafa Benitez felt was too much for the Villa captain. "During talks in the past few days, a final deadline to conclude this episode was set that all parties were aware of and agreed to," said a Villa statement. "This deadline has now passed and so Gareth will remain with Villa."

Villa boss Martin O'Neill was very critical of the way Liverpool pursued their interests in Barry and he has always said their was a chance that Barry would stay at the club. I personally think this is a good thing for both clubs. Villa still have their captain, whilst Liverpool still have £18 million to go out and buy an even better midfield player.

Barclays Premier League - 2008/2009 Season Starts on August 16th

CHAMPIONS Manchester United will begin their Barclays Premier League title defence at home to Newcastle on August 16. Sir Alex Ferguson’s side, who pipped Chelsea to the title last season and also beat the Stamford Bridge club in the Champions League final, close the campaign with a trip to face Coca-Cola Championships play-off final winners Hull on May 24.

United face top four sides Liverpool and Chelsea away on successive weekends, September 13 and 20 respectively, before also visiting Arsenal on November 8. The Red Devils are at home to Chelsea on January 10, play host to Liverpool on March 14 and Arsenal visit Old Trafford on May 16, on the penultimate weekend of the season.

New Chelsea coach Luiz Felipe Scolari starts with a home game as the Premier League runners-up entertain FA Cup winners Portsmouth. Chelsea then face Liverpool at home on October 25 and Arsenal at home on November 29. The Blues visit Liverpool on January 31, Arsenal on May 9 and are away to Sunderland on the final day of the season.

Of the top sides Arsenal look to have the easier opening and closing day fixtures as they play at home to West Brom on August 16 and at home to fellow promoted side Stoke on May 24.Arsenal’s fixtures against fellow top four side Liverpool are at home on December 20 and away on April 18.

Liverpool begin their campaign away to Sunderland and face a final day home game with Tottenham. Championship winners West Brom face a tough start at Arsenal and are away to Blackburn on the final day of the season.

Albion fans will be looking forward to trips to Manchester United on October 18, Liverpool on November 8 and Chelsea on Boxing Day. The Baggies are at home to Chelsea on November 15, Manchester United visit The Hawthorns on January 27, Arsenal visit on March 3 and Liverpool on May 16.

Stoke begin their season with an away fixture against Bolton and finish up with a final day trip to Emirates Stadium to face Arsenal. Hull fans can look forward to a home match with Fulham on August 16 and a final day meeting with Manchester United.