Sports FRIDAY, MARCH 20, 2015 Hodgson hands Kane his first England call-up LONDON: Tottenham Hotspur striker 21 keeper Jack Butland who may be made with new, younger players. (Southampton), Kieran Gibbs (Arsenal), Harry Kane, who has scored 26 goals in all added to the squad later. Kane, the one However, Kane would have to fight for his Phil Jagielka (Everton), Phil Jones competitions this season, was named in uncapped player in squad, is another place in the starting line-up. (Manchester United), Luke Shaw the senior England squad for the first time product of the England youth system hav- “We have done quite well since the (Manchester United), Chris Smalling by coach Roy Hodgson yesterday. ing played for the Under-17s through to World Cup with six straight wins, and (Manchester United), Kyle Walker Hodgson included Kane in his 24-man the Under-21s and Hodgson said he was the players who have been playing in (Tottenham) squad for the March 27 Euro 2016 Group delighted with his progress this season. those games have done a good job,” Midfielders: Ross Barkley (Everton), E qualifier against Lithuania at Wembley “I think the whole country is excited said Hodgson. “So its not as simple as a Michael Carrick (Manchester United), and the friendly against Italy later this about Harry,” he told reporters at new player coming in and the ones who Fabian Delph (Aston Villa), Jordan month. Wembley. “His rise has been fantastic have played stepping aside. The ones Henderson (Liverpool), Adam Lallana The 21-year-old is the top scoring since he broke into the Tottenham team. he is competing with won’t want to (Liverpool), James Milner (Man City), Englishman in the Premier League with He has done so well and it would have step aside.” Raheem Sterling (Liverpool), Andros 16 goals. There was also a recall for been much more of a surprise if he had Townsend (Tottenham), Theo Walcott Liverpool striker Daniel Sturridge, who not been selected, so I am delighted for Squad: (Arsenal) was injured in September for England and him.” England have six wins in six matches Goalkeepers: Fraser Forster Forwards: Harry Kane (Tottenham), has missed the last five internationals. since their first round exit from the World (Southampton), Joe Hart (Manchester City) Wayne Rooney (Manchester United), Hodgson named only two goalkeepers, Cup last year and Hodgson said he was Defenders: Leighton Baines (Everton), Daniel Sturridge (Liverpool), Danny leaving a berth open for England Under- delighted with the progress the team has Gary Cahill (Chelsea), Nathaniel Clyne Welbeck (Arsenal). — Reuters Resurgent Liverpool eyes win over United to climb into top 4 MANCHESTER: It was only three months ago that Liverpool exit- ed the Champions League at the group stage, was closer to the relegation zone than the top four in the Premier League, and its manager thought he was about to get fired. Now, the Reds are the in-form side in England, Brendan Rodgers is being praised for his tactical acumen, and the team is one win away from a return to the Champions League qualifica- tion places. To make it even sweeter for Liverpool, that win could come on Sunday against its fiercest rival. Liverpool hosts Manchester United at Anfield in what is traditionally seen as the biggest game in English football - and there is much more than simply local bragging rights at stake. Liverpool can supplant United in fourth place with a victory that would maintain its unbeaten run in the league since the teams last met, at Old Trafford on Dec. 14. On that occasion, United won 3-0 and Liverpool was on the slide - a far cry from the one that almost won the Premier League last season. It has made up a 10-point deficit to the top four since then - a “monumental” effort, according to Rodgers. “We haven’t done anything yet,” Rodgers said, “but from where we were at the start of the season, the intent that they have shown and the work they have had to put in to claw that back and to give ourselves a fighting chance, (it) is great.” United comes into the match on the back of probably its most impressive performance of the season, a 3-0 win over Tottenham. It was the kind of upbeat, dynamic display that man- ager Louis van Gaal had been waiting for. The question, with nine matches remaining, is: can United keep it up? For a while, it seemed England’s two most successful sides were fighting for one of the two final Champions League places, behind the top two of Chelsea and Manchester City. However, second-place City is stumbling and is only a point SAO PAULO: Luis Fabiano of Brazil’s Sao Paulo FC winds up to kick the ball during a Copa Libertadores soccer match clear of third-place Arsenal, two ahead of United and four ahead of fifth-place Liverpool. Even Chelsea is within sight of the chas- against Argentina’s San Lorenzo, in Sao Paulo, Brazil, yesterday. — AP ing pack now, with the leaders seven points clear of Arsenal. Chelsea visits Hull, Manchester City is at home to West Bromwich Albion and Arsenal is away to Newcastle. Here are Wenger joins Blatter in calling some things to know about the latest round of fixtures in England’s top division: for change to away goals rule Di Maria dilemma United’s best display of the season coincided with the LONDON: Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger said yesterday the was created in the 1960s to favour teams to attack away from absence of Angel Di Maria because of suspension. So, Van Gaal away goals rule should be changed following his club’s defeat home but since then football has changed and the weight of has a big decision to make: Does he bring back a player that cost to AS Monaco in the Champions League under the rule after the away goal is too big today.” The away goals rule replaced almost 60 million pounds ($88 million) - a British record fee - in the teams finished level at 3-3 over the two legs. the coin toss or the drawing of lots to settle ties which were the summer, or stick with Juan Mata, who impressed against Wenger is not the first to call for the rule to be changed level on aggregate after the second leg. Last October Blatter Spurs in his first start since mid-January? FIFA president Sepp Blatter expressed the same view last wrote in his column in the FIFA Weekly magazine, “It is time to Campaign trail October saying it had “fallen behind the times.” rethink the system. “Football has progressed since the 1960s, Chelsea has a new gripe - apparently, the team isn’t being Arsenal and Premier League rivals Chelsea, were both elim- so the away goals rule may now be questioned. Does the away awarded enough penalties. Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho has inated on away goals in the last 16 of the competition after goals rule still make sense? spoken of a “clear campaign” against his side this season, a com- drawing 3-3 with French League teams. “The idea dates back to a time when away games were plaint that earned him a fine of 25,000 pounds (then $38,000) in Chelsea drew 1-1 at Paris St Germain but were eliminated often an adventure, involving journeys that could be long and January. Now, the leaders have addressed the “abnormally low” after a 2-2 draw at Stamford Bridge, while Arsenal lost 3-1 at arduous- and the playing conditions would vary considerably. number of penalties they have received, in an article on the home and went out despite winning 2-0 at Monaco on “In reality it favours the club that play away from home in club’s website entitled “Penalty Puzzle.” Tuesday. In his pre-match briefing before Arsenal face the second leg. Where the scores are tied, that team has 30 Chelsea earned seven penalties last season and 11 the season Newcastle United in the Premier League on Saturday, Wenger minutes more than their opponent to score a valuable away before. “This season’s tally of two unquestionably bucks the said the time had come for the rule to be changed. goal. After all, in the first leg there is no extra time.” recent trend,” the article says, “yet our position as clear league “I think it should be questioned. It’s a rule that is outdated Blatter suggested implementing the rule used in the MLS leaders and second-highest scorers suggests we can’t be labelled now and should be changed. “None of the teams in the com- playoffs in the United States and in the CONCACAF anything other than an attacking side, spending plenty of time in petition apart from Barcelona looks to be superior in Europe Champions League where away goals only count “double” the opposition box.” —AP today. “Maybe the rule should count after extra time. This rule until the end of normal time. — Reuters.