Old Firm Derby: Rangers manager Paul Le Guen is under pressure to win his first Old Firm derby today to avoid falling seven points behind Celtic in the Scottish Premier League. "It can happen, obviously, but we will try our best to avoid that," the Frenchman said of the prospect of Celtic, who will be at home, opening a seven-point lead after only eight matches. "Celtic are more confident, but there is nothing like a victory against them to get confidence." Rangers are third in the standings with 12 points from seven matches, four points behind Celtic and one below Hearts, after their first league defeat last Sunday, 2-1 away to Hibernian.
Warnock: Sheffield United boss Neil Warnock will take charge of his 1,000th game as a manager when he takes his side to face Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium today. Warnock, who guided the club he supported as a boy to the Premier League last season, is proud of his longevity in a notoriously precarious line of work. "I've been out of work for three weeks since 1980 as a manager and that takes some doing really," Warnock told reporters. "It's a great achievement and I'm really proud of it because I never thought I'd achieve a thousand games, if I'm honest. I don't think you can get by without being good at your job and I think I'm incredibly good at my job."
Babayaro: Newcastle United's Nigerian defender Celestine Babayaro has been charged with violent conduct after a clash with Liverpool's Dutch striker Dirk Kuyt, the FA said. The incident in Liverpool's 2-0 victory at Anfield on Wednesday was missed by match officials but caught on video. Babayaro has been offered the automatic penalty of a three-match ban and has until Monday to respond to the charge.
Correia: Sevilla's versatile midfielder Adriano Correia was able to celebrate a call-up to Dunga's Brazil squad with a new contract which keeps him at the Primera Liga club until 2012. The 21-year-old, who can play either left back or left midfield, joined Sevilla from Coritiba in January 2005. Brazil coach Dunga named him in his squad on Thursday for the international friendlies against Ecuador and Kuwait next month.
Morientes: Spanish striker Fernando Morientes says he is happy to have escaped the rough and tumble of the English Premier League after returning to Spain and joining Valencia. The 30-year-old former Liverpool striker has scored two goals in two league games for his new club and bagged a hat-trick in the Champions League against Olympiakos last week. "I wanted to return to what I knew and play the kind of football in which I felt more comfortable," Morientes said. The former Real Madrid striker failed to make his mark with Liverpool and only managed 12 goals in 61 appearances.
Cisse: France and Olympique Marseille striker Djibril Cisse, who is recovering from a broken leg, aims to make his return in the Ligue 1 against five-times champions Olympique Lyon next month. The 25-year-old Cisse broke his leg during France's last warm-up game for the World Cup finals against China on June 7. He has started jogging and should be back in training soon.
French League Cup: Draw for the last 16 of the French League Cup made yesterday - Lyon vs Paris SG; Nancy vs Toulouse; Le Mans vs RC Lens; Sochaux vs Dijon (II); Stade Reims (II) vs Monaco; Lille vs Stade Rennes; St Etienne vs Marseille; Auxerre vs Bordeaux.
In England: The Championship - Preston vs Barnsley 1-0.