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Houllier has seven days to make case
Soccer: Gerard Houllier has seven days to convince the Liverpool board he should remain in charge at Anfield, with the club's refusal to offer any public backing merely helping to fuel rumours of the manager's imminent dismissal. p

Valencia profit as reckless Barthez puts his foot in it
Soccer/Valencia - 2 Marseille - 0: Valencia, twice beaten finalists in the Champions League in 2000 and 2001, finally made the transition from European bridesmaid to the Continent's centre of attention last night. p

Armagh go with tried and tested
Gaelic Games Championship 2004/Team news: Armagh name a very experienced side for the Ulster first-round match against Monaghan. There's only one debutant in the starting line-up with Martin O'Rourke starting his first championship match. As was known John McEntee and Diarmuid Marsden miss out through injury but otherwise the team is at full strength. p

Keane ready to lead United
Manager Alex Ferguson revealed he expects Roy Keane to lead Manchester United against Millwall at the Millennium Stadium in Saturday's FA Cup final. Keane has been struggling with a hamstring injury but has trained for the last three days without a problem. p
France and Brazil refuse to limit substitutes
FIFA centenary match: European champions France and World Cup holders Brazil have snubbed FIFA by refusing to limit substitutions in tonight's match in Stade de France to mark the centenary of world soccer's ruling body. p

Punishing run to a European Cup final
Trevor Brennan's Diary: It's been four weeks since the Heineken Cup semi-final victory against Biarritz and we've hardly paused for breath since. On the Wednesday after that semi-final we played Perpignan away and the coach decided to rest everyone bar David Gerard and Isitolo Maka, who hadn't had so many matches. Otherwise he played our espoiy or B team. p
D'Arcy is the players' player
Rugby News: Leinster and Ireland centre Gordon D'Arcy has been voted the O2 IRUPA Players' Player of the Year. His fellow professionals at the second annual IRUPA Rugby Players' Awards at the Burlington Hotel doled out the accolade. p

Test may be played at provincial venue
International Rules/News round-up: This year's International Rules series may include a Test at a venue outside Dublin. According to GAA president Seán Kelly the possibility of staging a home international away from Croke Park for the first time in 20 years is under consideration. p
Old friend answers call
In focus/Westmeath footballers: Tomás Ó Flatharta was gearing up for a stint with the Dublin minors until a fellow west Kerry native came calling late last year. Páidí Ó Sé wanted to know if he would be interested in joining a new venture in Westmeath. p
Midfield is main worry for O Se
Team news: Westmeath manager Páidí Ó Sé hopes to name a team to face Offaly in Sunday's Leinster football championship match at Croke Park after training this evening. p

Harrington happy to go his own way
PGA European Tour: There are some who look at Padraig Harrington's schedule, and his criss-crossing of time zones, and wonder if he knows his own mind. The answer is, he does. p
Road map to US Open
Focus on Ernie Els: Even though he hates the moniker of "The Big Easy", it suits him perfectly. Ernie Els possesses an uncluttered swing, one that is ruthlessly efficient; and especially so when he competes on the European Tour. p
Jet lag surpresses the joy of success
If keeping your emotions in check is an important component in the makeup of any champion golfer then it is surprising that Gerard Kirwan is bothering with Golf Masters at all. Why should he when he could be gunning for a place on Europe's Ryder Cup team? p
Catching up on the masters' statistics
With a third of the season now gone, we thought that a little analysis of what was proving successful was in order. p

Grey could miss out
Racing News and preview: Dermot Weld has revealed that Grey Swallow could miss out on Saturday's Boylesports Irish 2,000 Guineas if the ground at the Curragh turns too firm. p
Hourigan has no problem
Michael Hourigan insisted yesterday that is not worried about who will ride Beef Or Salmon next season after Timmy Murphy's decision to link up with the top British owner David Johnson. p
Parasol hard to oppose
Parasol can claim top honours at Goodwood today by taking the Listed Peters Fairline Festival Stakes. David Loder's five-year-old came on in leaps and bounds last year, winning four times on the all-weather and turf including a victory in the valuable Winter Derby at Lingfield. p

Smarty Jones set for credit card bonus
America at large/George Kimball: Even if you're no fan of the horses and couldn't give two whits about American racing, you might want to say a prayer for Relaxed Gesture. The Dermot Weld-trained three-year-old might be the last line of defence between you and an increase in your Visa bill. p
Johnson is hailed as 'pitcher perfect'
Baseball News: Randy Johnson pitched a "perfect game" for the first time in his career on Tuesday, retiring all 27 batters he faced to help the Arizona Diamondbacks beat the Atlanta Braves 2-0. p
White to co-operate in drugs probe
Athletics News: The athletics world was gripped by panic yesterday after disgraced American sprinter Kelli White said she would co-operate with United States Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) in its crusade to rid the sport of drug cheats. p
Tough Test for Trescothick
Cricket/England v New Zealand first Test : Marcus Trescothick comes up against the most experienced current captain in Test cricket today when he leads out England at Lord's. p

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