GERRARD: Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers denied yesterday that Steven Gerrard requires shoulder surgery, just 24 hours after a report on the club website said the England captain was likely to need an operation. “There’s nothing in that at all, really. You’ll have noticed over the last year or so, whether he’s been playing for Liverpool or England, he’s had some taping and strapping on his shoulder but there is no immediate surgery planned,” Rodgers said.
CASTRO: Gonzalo Castro has extended his contract with Bayer Leverkusen until 2016. The 25-year-old, who joined the club at the age of 11, has committed himself to another two years. “I’ve been here since 1999 and Bayer have im-proved a great deal in this time,” he said. “The club gives the players the best possible conditions and great opportunities. I think we can still achieve a great deal with Bayer Leverkusen.”
MATCH FIXING: Two former top officials of Finnish club Tampere United were found guilty of money laundering after accepting funds from a Singaporean company that had obtained the money through match fixing. The court of appeals of Turku, Finland, handed former managing director Deniz Bavautdin and former board chairman Harri Pyhalto six-month suspended sentences. Three-times champions Tampere United were expelled from the Finnish league in 2011.
ALCARAZ: Wigan boss Roberto Martinez has admitted it will be “touch and go” whether Antolin Alcaraz will be fit for the FA Cup final. The Paraguay defender suffered a hamstring strain during Saturday’s 2-0 defeat at West Ham. “As it stands it would be difficult to tell,” Martinez said. “We are talking about three weeks since it happened. It will be touch and go. It depends how quickly he can recover.”
NEW COACH: Panathinaikos will appoint former assistant boss Giannis Anastasiou as their coach for next season as the Greek Super League club try to recover from a shock sixth-place finish this term. The 40-year-old former Greece international will replace Giannis Vonortas, who will return to his duties coaching the academy youth side after taking over in a caretaker role for the final few weeks of the season.