Football news

Under-pressure Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez insisted he will see out the five-year contract he signed earlier this year. Benitez's position has been placed in the spotlight as a result of Liverpool's group-stage exit from the Champions League and poor domestic form.

But the likes of Steven Gerrard, Fernando Torres and Jose Reina have all voiced confidence in Benitez's ability to engineer a turnaround.

"When I signed my new contract I had offers from other clubs for more money," Benitez said.

"But I decided to stay because I felt we had a very good team. We will prove this during the rest of the season. We will improve, we will be back in Europe."

Oddo out for up to two months

Milan full-back Massimo Oddo is expected to miss up to two months after injuring his left thigh in Wednesday's 1-1 draw with Olympique Marseille in the Champions League.

"The player will be subjected to further checks in the coming days, but the initial prognosis with a view to a return to playing is of between 40 and 60 days," read a statement on the Serie A club's website.

It's a blow for the Rossoneri, who are already without Daniele Bonera, Marek Jankulovski and Gennaro Gattuso.

Former Italy international Oddo was expected to be a fringe member of Milan's squad when he returned from a loan stint at Bayern Munich in the close season but has instead been a regular starter.

Hughes keen to keep Richards

Mark Hughes has ruled out any prospect of Micah Richards leaving Manchester City during the January transfer window.

Richards has lost his way over the past 18 months, having at one stage been good enough to become the youngest defender ever to play for England.

Not getting a regular game at Eastlands has hardly helped and it was rumoured Harry Redknapp was intent on taking Richards to Tottenham during the next transfer window.

"Micah Richards is not going anywhere in January," Hughes said.

"He is a big part of what we are trying to do here and we know he can improve. Don't forget, he is still a very young man."

Lessons to learn from Enke tragedy

Michael Ballack has spoken of his feeling of helplessness over the death of Germany team-mate Robert Enke.

Enke, whose baby daughter Lara died from a rare heart defect in 2006, took his own life on November 10 after a six-year battle against depression. His wife Teresa later admitted the goalkeeper feared their adopted daughter Leila may be taken from them if his illness was ever made public.

"We never had the feeling that he had a problem like this," Ballack said.

"To not know that he has depression - that makes you feel helpless because you can't change it... this is a bad, bad thing."

Korean Ki to get early Hoops chance

South Korean star Ki Sung-Yong could be plunged into Celtic's Premier League title battle sooner than expected after the Hoops learned they will be without Scott Brown and Shaun Maloney through January.

Brown is to have further surgery on an injured ankle while Maloney needs more treatment for an Achilles problem and both players are two months away from playing.

Celtic will also lose Cameroon's Landry N'Guemo to the Africa Cup in January while China captain Zheng Zhi will miss part of the month for an Asian Cup qualifier.

Ki will arrive in Glasgow on Tuesday to complete a two-million-pound transfer from FC Seoul.

Wunderkind set for Bayern return

Rising German football star Toni Kroos will return to Bayern Munich next season after being loaned to Bayer Leverkusen since January, club chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge said.

"Toni will return to Bayern and will become an important player for the club," said Rummenigge.

Leverkusen had hoped to hold on to the teenager, who is under contract with Bayern until June 2010.

The 19-year-old was voted player of the tournament at the U-17 World Cup in 2007, but had failed to regularly break into the Bayern first-team. He has played 23 games for Leverkusen, scoring four goals.

Spain move not on the agenda - Cesc

Arsenal captain Cesc Fabregas has brushed off recent speculation linking him with a move back to Spain, saying he is determined to play a role in the Gunners' future successes.

Reports from Spain last week said Real Madrid and Barcelona will battle to sign Fabregas at the end of the season. However the Spaniard has reiterated his commitment to the Gunners.

"I am so happy here," Fabregas said.

"And I want to continue to be part of what is happening here. Definitely. If not I would have left when I had the opportunity, three years ago, two years ago or last year.

"I believe in this team and I feel we can achieve things."