Liverpool triumph relieves pressure on Benitez

LIVERPOOL (AFP) - Liverpool bounced back from their premature Champions League exit to beat neighbours Everton 2-0 on Sunday, a result which relieved some of the pressure that has been building on manager Rafa Benitez.

Javier Mascherano's long range 12th minute effort, which took a heavy deflection off defender Joseph Yobo, set Liverpool on their way before Dirk Kuyt sealed victory 11 minutes from time.

It was enough to put a smile back on the face of Benitez, who has come under pressure since the five-times European champions were eliminated from the group stages of the Champions League in midweek.

The win lifted Liverpool into the top five while problems continue to mount for Everton, who were the better side for long periods.

Having won just once in 11 games, David Moyes's strugglers are three points above the relegation zone.

Benitez had demanded an aggressive, high-tempo start from his players and he got one as his side took control inside the opening quarter-of-an-hour - thanks to a huge slice of fortune.

Liverpool have found themselves out of luck on the injury front this term while they were undone at Sunderland last month by a beachball, Darren Bent's effort deceiving keeper Jose Reina after hitting an inflatable object as Benitez's side lost 1-0 on Wearside.

But this time Liverpool profited from a stroke of good fortune in the 12th minute as Mascherano, one goal in his previous 71 Premier League outings for the club, attempted to find the target from 25-yards.

The south American is not renowned for his accuracy from distance and his shot was drifting well wide before taking a heavy deflection off Yobo and finding the net with Tim Howard rooted to his line.

Mascherano celebrated as though he had scored the winning goal for Argentina in the World Cup final yet the Premier League's dubious goals panel is almost certain to award to as an own goal.

It was just the start Everton, their confidence fragile following a run of one win in 10 outings, did not want.

History was against Moyes, who had tasted success just twice over Benitez on the Premier League stage in five years.

Yet despite missing key players Phil Jagielka, Phil Neville and Mikel Arteta due to long-term injuries, and Louis Saha, scorer of 10 goals this season, unable to start because he is not fully fit, Everton refused to feel sorry for themselves.

They went on to carve out a string of chances without managing to hurt Liverpool before half time.

Diniyar Bilyaletdinov, playing in his first Merseyside derby, spurned the best chance, the Russian screwing a shot horribly wide from the edge of the six-yard area after the Liverpool defence fell asleep.

Jo, spearheading the attack on his own in place of Saha, twice had the ball in the back of the net but both efforts were ruled out for offside.

Liverpool, again missing the razor sharp reactions of Fernando Torres in attack, seemed content to soak up spells of Everton pressure in an error-strewn match which summed up why both teams are not firing on all cylinders.

Yet it required a superbly saved by Howard to ensure Liverpool did not double their lead in the closing moments of the half.

Johnson was once again as impressive going forward as he was in defence, and it was the England full-back's pinpoint cross into the area which allowed Emiliano Insua to power a header towards goal which Howard did well to claw away.

The second half saw Everton continue to press, the impressive Steven Pienaar coming close to embarrassing Jose Reina with a long range effort which the Liverpool keeper failed to hold in the driving rain.

But Reina quickly redeemed himself with a double save to deny Tim Cahill and Marouane Fellaini 20 minutes from time.

Having kept out Cahill's close range header, the Spanish international quickly picked himself up to block Fellaini's effort from point-blank range.

But Liverpool sealed victory in the 79th minute through Kuyt, the Holland international scoring from close range after Howard had pushed an effort by substitute Albert Riera into his path.

Watford first up for FA Cup holders Chelsea

LONDON (AFP) - Holders Chelsea set out on the first steps towards a defence of their FA Cup crown with a home tie against Championship side Watford, finalists in 1984, in the third round draw made on Sunday.

West Ham will host London rivals Arsenal, who last lifted the trophy in 2005 and have not picked up any silverware since, in one of three all Premier League fixtures.

The other two top-flight affairs see Aston Villa host Blackburn and Hull travel to Wigan.

Everton, the side Chelsea beat under then interim coach Guus Hiddink in last season's final, welcome League One side Carlisle to Goodison Park.

The Toffees' Merseyside rivals, seven-time winners Liverpool, were drawn against second-tier Reading.

Non-league Kettering could be set for a dream trip to Old Trafford to face 11 time winners Manchester United should they manage to negotiate their second round replay with Leeds.

Either Oxford or Barrow will definitely get the chance to claim a Premier League scalp, with the winner of their replay set for a trip to Sunderland's Stadium of Light, while York, from the semi-professional ranks of the Blue Square Premier league (the fifth division) travel to Stoke.

Another non-league side, Staines Town, who forced a replay with 2004 finalists Millwall at Wheatsheaf Park, have the incentive of a home tie with Derby.

The 2008 winners Portsmouth have been drawn at home against Coventry.

Of the remaining Premier League clubs Manchester City will return to Middlesbrough's Riverside Stadium, Tottenham host Peterborough, Bolton are at home to Lincoln, Fulham face Swindon, Wolves will meet either Tranmere or Aldershot and Birmingham are away to Nottingham Forest.

Blatter breaks silence to reveal Henry support

PARIS (AFP) - FIFA president Sepp Blatter has revealed that he telephoned France captain Thierry Henry to offer him support over his controversial handball in the World Cup play-off win over Ireland.

"I called Thierry, because he tried to get in touch with me," Blatter said, as reported in Sunday's edition of the L'Equipe sport newspaper.

"He was honest by admitting that he did use his hand, but it wasn't his responsibility to tell the referee.

"When I was a centre forward in my junior team, I definitely gained an advantage by pulling a defender's jersey in order to score a goal. And I didn't go and see the referee to tell him about it."

The FIFA chief had previously refused to comment on the incident, prompting criticism from Football Association of Ireland (FAI) chief executive John Delaney.

Blatter added: "In the specific case of the Henry handball, the referee (Martin Hansson) should have taken the time to reflect rather than immediately awarding the goal."

France's play-off with Ireland was poised at 1-1 on aggregate in the second leg in Paris when Henry controlled the ball with his hand before teeing up William Gallas for the decisive goal, sparking furious protests from the Irish players that were taken up by the Irish government.

Henry's international colleague Karim Benzema also spoke out in defence of his under-fire team-mate.

"I don't think he's a cheat. We mustn't forget everything that he's done for the France team," Benzema said on the TF1 football programme Telefoot broadcast on Sunday morning.

Asked if he realised that Henry had handled the ball in the build-up to Gallas's goal, the Real Madrid striker replied: "No, I didn't know."

"You know, you don't know (how you would react in that situation), it happens quickly," he added.

Henry and Benzema will be on opposing sides in the first 'El Clasico' of the Spanish season on Sunday evening, when Benzema travels to face Barcelona with Real Madrid.

PSG blow as Coupet ruled out for three months

PARIS (AFP) - Paris Saint Germain goalkeeper Gregory Coupet will be out of action for at least three months after undergoing surgery late Saturday on his broken left ankle, the French first division club said Sunday.

The 36-year-old picked up the injury during Saturday's 1-0 win over tabletoppers Auxerre and club doctor Eric Rolland noted that Coupet was lucky not to have done worse damage to his leg.

Coupet's leg buckled underneath him after he caught his studs in the turf while making an 82nd-minute clearance.

The goalie arrived this summer for two seasons and is expected to be replaced by Armenian-Cameroonian Edel who stepped in on Saturday.

The injury is another blow for the former Lyon stalwart and France intern

Bordeaux back on top of French pile

PARIS (AFP) - Bordeaux marched two points clear of the chasing pack in the French league on Sunday with a 3-0 win at modest Nancy to end a sticky run of two straight domestic losses.

Although Laurent Blanc's Girondins have dominated their Champions League group at the expense of Juventus and Bayern Munich they had slipped up in their last league outings at Lille and against Valenciennes to leave the field clear to Auxerre.

But Auxerre's 1-0 loss Saturday at Paris Saint Germain gave the southwesterners the chance to move back to the summit and they did not let the chance slip, with Brazilian pair Fernando and Wendel and Gouffran all hitting the target at the Stade Marcel Picot.

Blanc was well satisfied after his side took their points tally to 28 from 14 games with Auxerre on 26, surprise package Lorient on 25 and Lyon - in action in the late match at home to Rennes on 25.

"I think my players realised their performances in the past four matches were not those of a side seeking to place in the top three but rather the bottom three," said the former France defender.

"We realised this could not continue, rediscovered our motivation, and our mobility to put our rivals under pressure. We produced a lot of dangerous situations, created a lot and were solid at the back.

"We have realised we must now put the Champions League to bed until February-March and concentrate on the important thing, which is being able to play in it next season."

Coming off a midweek win over Juventus and already through to the knockout phase in Europe, Bordeaux were further cheered by Lorient dropping two points in a 2-2 draw with winless tailenders Grenoble.

Bordeaux had not scored a win over Nancy since the latter's return to the top flight two seasons ago but after losing three of their last four encounters against the northerners they turned the tables and left their hosts hovering dangerously close to the drop zone.

Even more satisfying for Blanc would have been a win achieved at cruise control in the absence of French international playmaker Yoann Gourcuff, still getting over a groin strain.

Blanc, a disciple of rotation most weeks, thus kept faith with the side which proved too strong for Juve.

"That's the only thing we hadn't tried," said Blanc in allusion to picking the same side for consecutive matches.

"So we did!"

Gouffran set up Fernando to bag the opener on 24 minutes and on the hour Wendel slalomed through the home defensive lines to make it 2-0.

Gouffran sealed the issue with a shot on the turn 15 minutes from the whistle.

Also Sunday, Le Mans and St Etienne parted 1-1 to leave Les Verts just outside the drop zone with a five-point cushion over their opponents.

On Saturday, an injury-time goal by Brazilian striker Eduardo earned Lens a 1-0 victory at home to Marseille on Saturday that prevented Didier Deschamps' inconsistent side from moving to within a point of top spot.

Auxerre's loss at PSG following Jeremy Clement's fine second-half header - but the win was marred after the Parisians' goalkeeper Gregory Coupet sustained a serious leg injury whiuch could keep him out for most of the rest of the season.

Former Lyon keeper Coupet's left leg buckled underneath him after he caught his studs in the turf while making an 82nd-minute clearance and the former France international was stretchered off.

Coach Antoine Kombouare said he was unlikely to play again this season.

"It's definitely a fracture of the left leg," Kombouare said.

"He went straight to hospital and we'll know more about how serious it is on Sunday. He'll be unavailable for a long time and it will be very complicated (to get him back before the end of the season)."

The end of Auxerre's seven-game winning streak irked coach Jean Fernandez.

"We're disappointed that our run has come to an end," said Fernandez. "We weren't up to speed in the first half and Paris put us under a lot of pressure in the second."

Barca edge past Real in 'El Clasico'

Zlatan Ibrahimovic's superb second-half volley was enough to give Barcelona a 1-0 victory over fierce rivals Real Madrid in the Primera Division's first 'El Clasico' of the season at the Nou Camp and move the Catalans back to the top of the table.

Ibrahimovic replaced Thierry Henry early in the second half and fired Barca in front less than five minutes later as he volleyed home Dani Alves' cross.

Barcelona were reduced to 10 men with almost half an hour left, when Sergio Busquets was sent off for a second bookable offence.

But Madrid, who had earlier missed a fantastic chance to take the lead when the unmarked Cristiano Ronaldo - in his first ever 'Clasico' - shot straight at Victor Valdes with only the Barca keeper to beat, failed to take advantage and themselves had Lassana Diarra dismissed late on.

Ronaldo went off with 25 minutes left and Barca should have made things easier with two minutes to go, when Lionel Messi found himself alone with only Iker Casillas to beat, but the Argentina winger shot straight at the Madrid keeper, who deflected the ball over with his feet.

Barca looked the more fluid of the two sides early on, but Madrid proved to be just as dangerous on the break.

Marcelo and Xavi both blasted over the bar in the opening 10 minutes as both sides began brightly.

Casillas had to be alert to gather Thierry Henry's cross after a trademark Messi run and the Madrid keeper also intercepted well moments later as Iniesta tried to set up Xavi.

Barca were edging it on possession and play, but Madrid had the best chance of the half after 19 minutes.

It fell to Ronaldo and the former Manchester United forward should have scored after he was brilliantly set up by Kaka, but his shot was too close to Valdes and the Barca keeper made a smart save.

Marcelo then got into a great position eight minutes later, but Carles Puyol intercepted the Brazilian's shot with a perfectly-timed block.

At the other, Casillas did well to cut out Iniesta's low cross as half-time approached and the Spain keeper also pushed Henry's cross-shot over the bar moments later.

With the score still goalless, the rather ineffective Henry was replaced by Ibrahimovic six minutes into the second half.

And the Sweden striker was quickly involved in the build-up as Xavi found a great position in the box, but the Spain midfielder hesitated and saw his effort deflected wide for a corner.

From the resulting centre, Madrid raced forward and Gonzalo Higuain looked certain to score after turning Eric Abidal in the area, but Puyol once again appeared from nowhere with another majestic block.

Madrid were certainly having their chances, but Manuel Pellegrini's side soon found themselves behind when Ibrahimovic smashed home Alves' looping cross with a thumping left-footed volley at the far post which gave Casillas no chance.

Barca's joy turned somewhat sour six minutes later, though, when Busquets - who had already been booked - was shown the red card for a cynical handball.

Ronaldo then headed just over the bar from Marcelo's cross as Madrid immediately threatened to draw level.

But the Portugal winger, perhaps feeling the effects of his recent injury, departed straight after that.

His replacement, Karim Benzema, was quickly involved.

The France striker saw one effort blocked by the impressive Puyol and then flashed another wide moments later as Madrid looked for a way back into the game.

Raul also came on as Pellegrini rolled the dice once more in an attempt to make the most of his side's numerical advantage.

But Barca still looked dangerous on the break and Abidal drilled an angled drive just wide of Casillas' far post with 14 minutes left.

And Guardiola's side should have made sure of the points with two minutes left, but Messi shot straight at Casillas from point-blank range.

Diarra was then dismissed a minute later for scything down Xavi as frustration got to Madrid, who are now two points behind leaders Barca.