Mertesacker: It's typical of the entire season

Having followed up a 4-0 thrashing of Stuttgart by qualifying in midweek for the quarter-finals of the UEFA Cup, things appeared to be on the up at last for Werder Bremen. Saturday's 1-0 defeat at Dortmund however signalled a return to the inconsistency that has marked their season to date, as Per Mertesacker affirmed to bundesliga.de.

"We wanted to continue our upward curve of the last few weeks at Dortmund and maintain a bit of consistency. That's been lacking in the league in particular. The result is very disappointing, but it's typical of the entire season. We could have got more out of the game".

"We simply have to take those kind of opportunities, to score the goal that takes the pressure off us. Once you're in front, you can give yourself a breather now and then. But as it stands, we're just making things hard for ourselves. We were under pressure all the time, and the fact that we lost out in the end due to an unfortunate penalty decision doesn't make it any better".

Nicolas Anelka is going to miss Champions League clash

Chelsea striker Nicolas Anelka will miss the first leg of the club's UEFA Champions League quarter-final against Liverpool.

The French front-man has picked up a toe injury that will require three weeks on the sidelines, according to the French Football Federation (FFF).

Guillaume Hoarau for the first time to take Anelka's place in his squad, has confirmed the nature of the injury. "Hoarau replaces Nicolas Anelka, who is suffering from an injured left big toe and is out of action for three weeks," the FFF said on their website.

Even Ibrahimovic has a price, says Inter president

Swedish international Zlatan Ibrahimovic will be sold if a club offers enough money and the striker really wants to leave, Inter Milan president Massimo Moratti said.

Barcelona and Real Madrid have been linked in the media with a move for the Swede, who was frustrated by Inter flopping again in the Champions League when they lost to Manchester United in the last 16 earlier this month.

"Everyone has a price. If he decides to leave, he would also have one. No appointments have been set for the end of the season," Moratti told reporters. "Maybe Ibrahimovic leaves for somewhere else and then Inter win the Champions League. In life sometimes you make a change and then regret it."

Inter coach Jose Mourinho said on Sunday that the club was bigger than Ibrahimovic despite his inspirational displays. Moratti agreed with Mourinho but added: "I can't think of an Inter without Ibrahimovic."

Rooney escapes fresh FA action after red card

England striker Wayne Rooney will not face further disciplinary action following the red card he received against Fulham last weekend.

The Manchester United forward was sent-off for two bookable offences during the Premier League champions' shock 2-0 defeat.

Although he had words with Phil Dowd after being shown the red card, the official has confirmed he was not sworn at by Rooney, an offence which could have led to a longer ban.

However, the Football Association (FA) are to write to Rooney, whose temper has been a worry to some within the English game, about his conduct after the former Everton favourite punched a corner flag while leaving the pitch.

An FA spokesman said here on Monday: "We have clarified with Phil Dowd that there was no abuse from the player after he was dismissed.

"In relation to the incident when he punched the corner flag, the referee did not see that and we have written to Wayne Rooney reminding him of his responsibilities."

Rooney will now be suspended for one match, the Premier League fixture against Aston Villa at Old Trafford, United's home ground, on April 5.

Riera says pressure is on United in title race

Liverpool winger Albert Riera believes the pressure is getting to Manchester United now the Anfield club have turned what seemed like a procession for the English Premier League title into a true race.

Riera scored his fifth goal of the season in a 5-0 thrashing of Aston Villa on Sunday which, combined with United's shock defeat against Fulham, saw the Merseysiders close to within a point of the leaders and reigning champions.

Liverpool's victory came hot on the heels of their win at Old Trafford, United's home ground, and Riera said Sir Alex Ferguson's team, bidding to win an unprecedented five major trophies in the one season, now knew they would have to fight hard to retain their English title.

"After the game against United last week when we won at Old Trafford (4-1 to Liverpool), we showed them that we are still fighting and that we will be until the very end," Riera said Monday.

"Now after winning against Villa and with United losing (at Fulham) I think that they can feel us near to them.

"There are a lot of matches to be played in the Premier League and the Champions League and there will be a lot of pressure and I believe that they can feel this," he added.

Riera, reflecting on the Villa match, said: "It was a great performance from everybody in the team and the most important thing is that we had to win, and we did."

Meanwhile Riera himself won praise for his display against Villa from Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez, his fellow Spaniard.

"Riera has had his up-and-down moments since joining the club, but his form has improved," Benitez said. "He is now showing the consistency you need to perform in the Premier League."

He is starting to show the form I knew he had when we bought him to the club," added Benitez, who signed Riera for eight million pounds from Spanish club Espanyol in September.

Anderlecht stay on top as Standard lose

RSC Anderlecht remain in first place in the Belgian league as Standard de Liege crashed to a 1-0 defeat by Charleroi SC this Sunday.

The winning goal was scored in the 42nd minute and came from Abdelmajid Oulmers.

Anderlecht beat Germinal Beerschot a day earlier and are the official new leaders as result. The Brussels outfit have two more points than Standard with seven matches to go.

It does seem likely that both these side are to secure a Champions League preliminary round ticket, as third-place Brugge trail Standard by eight points.

Galatasaray lose to Eskisehirspor

Galatasaray's chances of winning this year's Turkish title are much slimmer following a surprising home defeat be Eskisehirspor on Sunday.

The only goal of the match was scored by Souleymane Youla in the 69th minute. Despite being a man down due to Nadarevic' second yellow card in the 55th minute, Eskisehirspor held on to their lead and move into tenth place.

Galatasaray currently share fourth place with local rivals Fenerbahce. Both Istanbul giants trail leaders Sivasspor by six points.

Olympiakos win Greek championship

Olympiakos Piraeus have won the Greek league title for the fifth time in a row, beating Panionios 2-3 in a local derby. The championship is the club's 12th in 13 seasons, and its 37th overall.

Matt Derbyshire put the leaders in the lead on 22 minutes, but Lourenco and Anderzon Gonzaga then turned things around for the home side.

An own goal from Giannis Maniatis gave Olympiakos new hope in the 61st minute and Dudu Cearense netted the winner 11 minutes later, 2-3.

The advantage over second-placed Panathinaikos and PAOK Saloniki now stands at 11 points with just three matches left to play.

Olympiakos began its current dominance in the 1996-97 season, and won all editions since then, except for 2003-04 when Panathinaikos took the trophy.

Gerrard helps Liverpool in 5-0 rout of Aston Villa

Liverpool moved within one point of Premier League leaders Manchester United after Steven Gerrard's hat-trick inspired a 5-0 rout of 10-man Aston Villa on Sunday.

United still have a game in hand but, having won 4-1 at Old Trafford last week, the Reds now have a better goal difference by two with eight games left.

Dirk Kuyt started the goal-spree with seven minutes gone and Albert Riera doubled the lead just after the half hour at Anfield.

England midfielder Gerrard added a third from the spot just before the interval and scored a fourth with a free-kick just after the restart.

The Liverpool captain scored a second penalty after goalkeeper Brad Friedel was sent off for a challenge on Fernando Torres as Villa's winless run stretched to eight games.

Fifth-placed Villa remain three points behind Arsenal and a place in the top four is now looking beyond them.

Liverpool began with real purpose and from Fabio Aurelio's corner, Friedel was forced to save from Martin Skrtel's header with just a minute on the clock.

After Villa's James Milner had a shot deflected wide, Liverpool took the lead with just seven minutes gone following Nigel Reo-Coker foul on Riera down the left flank.

Gerrard drove the ball into the area and Xabi Alonso's header came back off the bar but Kuyt made no mistake with a powerful follow-up from six yards for his tenth goal of the season

With Gabriel Agbonlahor left on the bench, Villa had a strong spell and Pepe Reina pulled off an impressive stop from John Carew's flick from Ashley Young's cross from the left.

Midway through the opening period, another glancing header from Carew, this time from Reo-Coker's lofted free-kick, was pushed away by Reina before Young hit the side-netting.

But just as Villa were looking threatening, Liverpool doubled their lead.

Gareth Barry's curling free-kick was easily held by Reina and his long clearance bounced over the Villa defence before Riera hit a half-volley with his left foot that flew in off the bar.

Five minutes before the interval, Kuyt's cross-field pass picked out Riera and the Spanish winger was tripped in the area by Reo-Coker and Gerrard sent Friedel the wrong way with his penalty to make it three.

Half-time brought only a little respite for Villa and five minutes after the restart they were four goals behind.

Carlos Cuellar chopped Kuyt down on the edge of the area and Alonso took the free-kick short for Gerrard to place the ball into the corner of Friedel's goal.

As they looked for a response, James Milner's drilled cross was headed straight at Reina by Emile Heskey.

But Liverpool were still not satisfied and after Alonso picked out Kuyt, he received the return ball on the edge of the box only to stab wide.

In the 65th minute, Alonso sent Torres clean through and after the Spaniard knocked the ball on, he collided with Friedel.

Referee Martin Atkinson gave a penalty and showed Friedel the red card. Gerrard stepped up to send Friedel's replacement Brad Guzan the wrong way from the spot to complete his hat-trick.

Lucas missed from Riera's cross as the Reds searched for a sixth goal and Torres was frustrated in his attempts to score.

But Liverpool were happy to play out time in the knowledge that the title race is now wide open.

Ibrahimovic dazzles in Inter stroll

Zlatan Ibrahimovic was the star as Inter Milan cruised to a 3-0 victory over rock-bottom Reggina at the San Siro to re-establish their seven-point lead at the top of Serie A on Sunday.

Second-placed Juventus had briefly reduced the arrears on Saturday with a highly-impressive 4-1 romp at Roma but Jose Mourinho's men showed they were in no mood to concede any ground in the title race.

Two goals in the first 10 minutes effectively turned the top-versus-bottom clash into a non-contest, despite Inter playing with midfielder Esteban Cambiasso in a patchwork centre-back pairing due to injuries.

With only nine matches left to play the chances of Juve catching Inter are diminishing and may even rest on the pair's clash in Turin next month.

Inter got off to a fine start as Mario Balotelli played the ball into the area and a clever between-the-legs flick from Dejan Stankovic released Cambiasso to delicately chip over Christian Puggioni on six minutes.

Just four minutes later Ibrahimovic doubled the hosts' advantage from the penalty spot after a contentious penalty award.

Brazilian winger Mancini threw himself to the floor under minimal contact from Carlos Valdez but the unsighted referee, whose view was blocked by two players, nevertheless pointed to the spot.

Inter threatened to run away with things as Ibrahimovic had two clear chances around the quarter-hour mark but he scuffed a shot from eight yards well wide from Balotelli's pass and then took a ball from Davide Santon only to smack his shot onto a post.

Reggina had one gilt-edged chance towards the end of the first half after Inter's Colombian centre-back Nelson Rivas had been drawn out of position.

Andrea Costa slipped in Antonino Barilla but he shot straight at Brazilian goalkeeper Julio Cesar.

Just before the hour, Ibrahimovic put the icing on the cake and showed why he is thought of so highly in Italy.

In an almost carbon copy of the famous goal Eric Cantona scored for Manchester United against Sunderland in 1996, Ibrahimovic picked up the ball 30 yards from goal, burst past three defenders and at the edge of the box hit an exquisite chip over Puggioni and into the top corner.

Even his celebration was Cantona-esque as he shrugged before raising his arms in acceptance of the adulation his fans heaped on him.

Reggina had one last chance late on to salvage something from the match but Julio Cesar pulled off a fine save to deny Alessio Sestu.

In the race for fourth place and the final Champions League qualifying position, Genoa maintained their two-point lead over Fiorentina.

Genoa beat Udinese 2-0 at home with goals from Giuseppe Sculli and Diego Milito while Romania captain Adrian Mutu scored the only goal in La Viola's 1-0 home win over Siena.

Ferguson: We'll pay these lost games

Alex Ferguson admitted Manchester United deserved nothing from their game at Fulham. "They were lively and got stuck in and we respect that -he said -, they lost 4-0 to us a couple of weeks ago. But it's disappointing we didn't meet the challenge".

Sir Alex continued: "If you lose games in March and April it can cost you. Fortunately we have a slender lead at the moment but not a lot and I'm hoping we come back from the internationals back to our best".

On Rooney: "He threw it because he wanted to get the game going. What can you say about that? But there's no point talking about the referee - we didn't play well enough to win the game in the first half and that's why we lost it."