Demba Ba News

As the final whistle sounded at Loftus Road shortly before 5 pm on Sunday afternoon, a collective sigh of relief could be heard around Tyneside, as Newcastle United 's Premier League safety was finally confirmed.

The 24-year-old appears to be out of favour at Anfield and Willie Duncan believes that a return to St James' Park in the summer may be on the cards for the Liverpool striker As the end of the Premier League season approaches, football fans the length and breadth of the country will be studying the gossip columns carefully as they try to find out ... (more)

Redemption can come in many different shapes and forms, and in unexpected ways, so long as it comes however, the timing is always perfect.

Every Premier League season we see teams who are expected to do well but end up struggling, and teams who are dead certs for relegation but end up surviving comfortably and even qualify for Europe.

Alan Pardew is refusing to rue the one that got away as Newcastle attempt to drag themselves to Barclays Premier League safety at QPR.

But take away the efforts of Papiss Cisse this season for Newcastle United and the Magpies' position is almost unthinkable.

Jose Mourinho's return to Chelsea is so certain, say the Daily Mirror, that he's already picking out his assistant manager.

On Sunday, his Newcastle United side was so comprehensively undone by Liverpool, which scored six goals without reply at St James' Park just a couple of weeks after the 3-0 home defeat to Sunderland that was supposed to be the season's nadir, that he again had to swat away questions about his job security.

Aston Villa manager Paul Lambert has revealed that the club have no plans to insert a buyout clause into any new deal for reported Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur target Christian Benteke.

We've been here before and the debate continues - after some effective displays in the latter stages of this season, is Fernando Torres really back to his best? No, is the short answer.

This time last season, Newcastle were beating Chelsea 2-0 at Stamford Bridge to seal a fifth place finish to a superb season in the Premier League.

The difference is stark, but until seeing just how emphatic it is with a look at the Premier League table of this season and the corresponding point last season, you may not realise how desperate it has got at Newcastle.

WHEN Alan Pardew thinks of last season, he will remember being awarded manager of the year by both the League Managers' Association and the Premier League's sponsor, Barclays.

Alan Pardew has vowed to fight on as Newcastle United boss after enduring his worst defeat as a manager and the club's heaviest home defeat for 88 years.

Saturday's 6-0 defeat to Liverpool was an embarrassment. For a club with the third-best attendance in English football , such a lackluster, effortless home performance was a shameful sight for fans.

A year ago, a match between Newcastle and Liverpool would have been an exciting affair betwee two top-eight teams in the league.

Newcastle United are already making plans for the summer as they continue to monitor the progress of Saint-Etienne striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Aston Villa winger Andreas Weimann.

Chelsea manager Rafael Benitez says his club's Europa League run has helped Fernando Torres rediscover his confidence and he is banking on the Spanish striker to maintain his form in Thursday's semi-final first leg at FC Basel.

LIVERPOOL are in no rush to sell Andy Carroll this summer if prospective buyers such as Newcastle United are unwilling to match the striker's A 17m valuation.

On a rainy Wednesday night in lower Manhattan, two-time NBA MVP and Phoenix Suns guard Steve Nash darted through traffic while teammate Grant Hill and San Antonio's Tony Parker weaved through heavy crowds.