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Manchester United’s hopes of retaining the Premier League title have suffered a major blow after Nemanja Vidic picked up a knee injury during Wednesday’s 2-1 defeat to Basel. The result ended United’s interest in this season’s Champions League and they are now 11/5 with bet365 to finish at the top of the Premier League table. Serbian defender Vidic twisted his right knee in a challenge with Basel striker Marco Streller and was replaced by Jonny Evans. Sir Alex Ferguson fears Vidic has suffered medial ligament damage, but the 30-year-old central defender will have a scan to determine the extent of the problem. United’s defeat in Switzerland means they will be playing in the Europa League in the new year and they are 13/2 to win Europe’s secondary competition.

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Soccer – Vidic injury adds to United’s woes

Over the weekend a total of 195 players descended on the Grosvenor Victoria Casino in London to participate in the Main Event of the GUKPT Grand Final. By the time the dust had settled after three days of play it was the London-based German pro Fabian Quoss who had won each of the all of the chips in play and the £119,996 first place prize.

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Fabian Quoss Takes Down The GUKPT Grand Final Main Event

Bryan Ruiz has predicted that Fulham will have to defend well when they play his former club FC Twente in Thursday’s Europa League Group K clash at De Grolsch Veste. The Costa Rican winger is ineligible to line up for Martin Jol’s Cottagers, who are 11/4 with bet365 to win the match, because he played in Europe for Twente prior to joining Fulham at the end of August. However, Ruiz believes Fulham, who are 28/1 to win the Europa League this season, can secure a place in the knockout stages of the competition. He said: “I think they will play very offensive because, when Twente play at home, they normally do that. They will try to press us and try to keep the ball, that’s one of the qualities Twente have. “I think we can win the game but we have to be really focused, defend well and also keep the ball when we have it. I think for sure we’ll have chances so we have to convert the chances we create.”

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Soccer – Ruiz tips Fulham to progress

World number three Lee Westwood’s decision to return to the PGA Tour next year has been backed by fellow Englishman Ian Poulter. Westwood, who is 18/1 with bet365 to win the US Masters in 2012, has announced he plans to split his time between Europe and America next season. The decision came as a surprise to some observers but Poulter fully understands the reasoning of his Ryder Cup colleague, having done the same thing himself with much success over the last few years. “I am a business, a self-run business,” he told Telegraph Sport. “And I want to do it to the best of my ability. If that means I have two cards then I would prefer to do that. Otherwise I would limit myself as a brand and as a company.”

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Golf – Poulter backs Westwood change of heart

Davis Love III thinks the home support can act as a “13th man” and aid his team when the USA entertain Europe in next year’s Ryder Cup (USA 11/10, Europe 10/11, Tie 9/1 – Match Betting ). With six players currently in the top 20 in the world rankings, Europe are stronger than they ever have been and will be confident of defending the trophy in Illinois. The US look to have discovered some young stars over the last 12 months and hopes are high that the likes of Rickie Fowler, Keegan Bradley, Nick Watney (10/1 Justin Timberlake Shriners Hospitals For Children Open Outright ) and Dustin Johnson will lead the home side to victory. Love will skipper the side at the Medinah Country Club next September, with team USA looking for only their second win in seven matches. The former USPGA champion admits it is “easier when you are at home” and feels “home-field advantage” will certainly help the younger players. Love added: “I know when I go over there, the European fans cheer for their team and are very respectful. I hope our fans over here understand we need to respect both sides, but I certainly feel like we are going to have a 13th man because we’re at home.”

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Love points to home advantage

Chelsea striker Salomon Kalou admits scoring two away goals against Copenhagen makes them favourites to progress in the Champions League but he has warned his side against complacency ( Chelsea 1/3 to beat Copenhagen ). A Nicolas Anelka brace in Denmark has given the Blues a two-goal cushion going into Wednesday’s return leg at Stamford Bridge and it will be a monumental effort by the Danes to overturn the deficit and knock Chelsea out of Europe’s elite club competition. The west Londoners have won their last three games in all competitions, including a 2-1 victory over Manchester United, and will be full of confidence going into Wednesday’s encounter. Kalou wants to make sure there are no slip-ups against the Parken Stadium outfit, however, and is targeting another victory over the Champions League outsiders. “Going away and winning 2-0 is a great result,” he told Uefa.com. “Now we have the second leg at home and we’ll try to make it good by winning again. Then we can prepare for the next round peacefully.” The 2008 Champions League runners-up have been inconsistent this term but appear to be hitting form at the right time, however Kalou insists his team-mates need to keep their eye on the ball to ensure safe passage to the last eight ( Chelsea 5/1 to win Champions League ). “A football match is never done; you play 90 minutes, so we have to be focused on that,” he added. “I think we have the team to beat them.”

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Kalou’s quiet Euro confidence

It is 36 games since Arsenal last lost at the Emirates to a team from continental Europe

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Australian Open finalist Na Li opens her Dubai challenge against Yanina Wickmayer

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New US Ryder Cup captain Davis Love III has said his main mission as the team’s skipper will be to make sure the trophy returns to American soil in 2012 (USA 11/10 Ryder Cup outright ). Speculation had strongly suggested the 46-year-old would take over from former skipper Corey Pavin after he failed to retain the trophy at Celtic Manor last October. Love worked as a vice-captain for Pavin in Wales but will now lead the side when they look to reclaim the trophy from Europe in Medinah , near Chicago, in September 2012. Having narrowly lost out to Europe by one point in the last meeting Love believes he has what it takes to give the American team the extra edge they need. “My main mission is to get the players prepared for Friday morning,” he said. “What we have been missing is getting over the nerves of being ready to play on the biggest stage. “We’ve just tried too hard and I’ll be trying to get the players as relaxed and freed up as I can. “I’m not going to tell the best players in the world how to play golf. I’m going to let them show their talents.” Love is a veteran of six Ryder Cups as a player, making an impressive debut at The Belfry in 1993 when and partner Tom Kite beat Spanish duo Seve Ballesteros and Jose Maria Olazabal 2&1 in the foursomes. Love will hope he can enjoy another debut to remember and get the better of new European captain Olazabal again.

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Love fest for US Ryder Cup team