London - Liverpool hammered Newcastle 5-1 on Sunday to retain their lead at the top of the Premier League.
The decision of their manager Rafa Benitez - back in the stands after treatment for kidney stones - to leave out forward Robbie Keane despite his two goals against Bolton on Friday caused surprise, but Liverpool produced their most convincing performance of the season.
In that they were aided by a miserable performance from Newcastle, who suffered a first home defeat under Joe Kinnear.
Only the brilliance of Newcastle goalkeeper Shay Given kept the score down, but Steven Gerrard, twice, Sami Hyypia, Ryan Babel and Xabi Alonso all - eventually - managed to beat him.
London - Newcastle United owner Mike Ashley confirmed on Sunday that he is no longer seeking to sell the club.
Ashley bought the club in May 2007, but decided to offload it in September after the resignation of manager Kevin Keegan prompted fan protests against him.
He called in the investment bank Seymour Pierce to seek a buyer, but despite reported interest from the Middle East and Nigeria, none emerged.
"When I took the decision to put the club up for sale in September I made a point of saying two things were very important," Ashley was quoted as saying on the club website.
London, Dec 27 : Fresh from the FIFA Club World Cup win in Japan, Manchester United coach Sir Alex Ferguson is confident that they can now launch a successful defence of their Premier League title.
"At this stage of the season coming from back from Japan, the energy was good and I think we have handled it well," The Mirror quoted Ferguson, as saying.
London, Dec 27: A video showing football stars speaking out against homophobia will be released next year as part of an unprecedented drive by the sport's governing bodies to tackle a sharp rise in abuse and discrimination.
The video will be shown in cinemas, on TV and in stadiums in an attempt to rid terraces and pitches of homophobic chants and slurs, The Guardian reported.
The Football Association (FA), the Professional Footballers' Association, the players' union, Kick It Out, the sport's diversity and inclusion campaign, and Peter Tatchell, of gay rights group Outrage, began work on plans for the video.
London - Liverpool rediscovered home comforts as they beat Bolton Wanderers 3-0 on Boxing Day to maintain their place at the top of the English Premier League, while Chelsea and Manchester United kept pace with the leaders.
Robbie Keane scored twice and Albert Riera the other as Liverpool won at home for the first time in seven weeks, keeping them one point ahead of Chelsea, who stayed on their heels with a 2-0 win over bottom side West Bromwich Albion.
London, Dec 27 : Fresh from the FIFA Club World Cup win in Japan, Manchester United coach Sir Alex Ferguson is confident that they can now launch a successful defence of their Premier League title.
London - Liverpool rediscovered home comforts as they beat Bolton Wanderers 3-0 on Boxing Day to maintain their place at the top of the English Premier League, while Chelsea and Manchester United kept pace with the leaders.
