Luis Suarez Makes Ballon d'Or Shortlist

Luis Suarez has been shortlisted alongside the likes of Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo for the FIFA Ballon d'Or award.

The Uruguayan, who hit 30 goals in all competitions for Liverpool last season, is part of the 23-man selection for the world player of the year award, which was announced on Tuesday morning.

Four current Barclays Premier League players join him on the shortlist. Manchester United striker Robin van Persie, Chelsea's Eden Hazard, Manchester City's Yaya Toure and Arsenal's Mesut Ozil all make the cut.

Barcelona star Lionel Messi, who has won the award for the last four years, is also on the shortlist - as is Real Madrid's Cristiano Ronaldo, who scooped the prize in 2008.

Here are the shortlists in full…

Gareth Bale, Edinson Cavani, Radamel Falcao, Eden Hazard, Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Andres Iniesta, Philipp Lahm, Robert Lewandowski, Lionel Messi, Thomas Muller, Manuel Neuer, Neymar, Mesut Ozil, Andrea Pirlo, Franck Ribery, Arjen Robben, Cristiano Ronaldo, Bastian Schweinsteiger, Luis Suarez, Thiago Silva, Yaya Toure, Robin van Persie, Xavi.

FIFA World Coach of the Year 2013…

Carlo Ancelotti (PSG/Real Madrid), Rafael Benítez (Chelsea/Napoli), Antonio Conte (Juventus), Vicente Del Bosque (Spain), Sir Alex Ferguson (Manchester United), Jupp Heynckes (Bayern Munich), Jürgen Klopp (Borussia Dortmund), Jose Mourinho (Real Madrid/Chelsea), Luiz Felipe Scolari (Brazil), Arsene Wenger (Arsenal)

The shortlist will be whittled down further in December then the winner, as always, will be unveiled at FIFA’s fancy gala dinner in Zurich, Switzerland on January 13th.

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El Shaarawy Speculation

The Reds are being linked with a move for AC Milan frontman Stephan El Shaarawy in the press today.

While the 20-year-old says he is happy at the San Siro, he is regularly linked with a move away from the club, with Man City and Borussia Dortmund also thought to be potential suitors.

Hellas Verona star Jorginho looks set for a move away from Italy soon, with Liverpool and Arsenal reported to be at the head of the queue for his signature.

The club's manager Andrea Mandorlini is quoted as saying: "I know, only too well, that it will be hard to keep the likes of Jorginho."

The 21-year-old midfielder is eligible to play for both the Italian and Brazilian national teams.

Source http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk

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Cigarette Cards "Football Club Nicknames"

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Greenpeace Protest Stops Champions League Game

Tuesday’s Champions League match between Basel and Schalke was halted when protesters abseiled down the main stand and unfurled a huge banner in support of Greenpeace.

The banner read “Gazprom, Don’t Foul the Arctic” and the hashtag “FreeTheArctic30.”

The incident was particularly embarrassing for the watching UEFA president Michel Platini, as Gazprom not only sponsor Bundesliga outfit Schalke, but are also an official partner of the Champions League.

The Arctic 30 refers to the activists Russian authorities arrested in September, who were protesting Gazprom’s drilling in the ocean. Officers allegedly attacked the activists while holding them at gunpoint before they were held prisoner at embassies throughout the country, according to Jonathan Brown of The Independent.

The match was delayed for five minutes while security staff removed the activists from the premises and took down their banner.

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Rodgers Recruits Ex-Liverpool Stars

Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers has called upon former players Robbie Fowler, Steve McManaman and Rob Jones to help nurture the club's new talent.

The trio will help coach and mentor the U21 and U18 squads at the club's Kirkby Academy.

"It's great to have Robbie, Steve and Rob on board," Rodgers told the Liverpool Echo.

"I wanted to get more former players involved and over the off-season I spoke to a number of them about a possible role here.

"For me it's so important to have players like that around. These are players who the young guys look up to.

"The three of them have come in recently and I know they have thoroughly enjoyed having that involvement of working with the kids.

"We're starting with the older academy players as they are ones they can really affect at this moment. It's both coaching and mentoring."

Rodgers has spoken previously about wanting to utilise the experience of the recently-retired Jamie Carragher, who has opted for a career in television.

The Northern Irishman has immersed himself in the club's history since arriving in the summer of 2012 and insists the stars of old have a key role to play in developing the next generation.

"Sometimes managers feel the need to distance themselves from players like that but I love what this institution is all about at Liverpool," he added.

"It's important to retain that connection with the history of the club.

"I want to protect that great history to ensure these players get the opportunity to be involved at a club they love."

Source http://www.skysports.com

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