Blackpool 2-1 Liverpool

The manager and the year may have changed but Liverpool's problems away from home continued as Kenny Dalglish's first Premier League match since returning as boss ended in a 2-1 defeat at Blackpool.

Liverpool's troubles on the road contributed to the departure of Roy Hodgson last weekend but the Seasiders showed October's win by the same score at Anfield was no fluke.

Fernando Torres had given Dalglish the ideal start with a third-minute strike but goals from Gary Taylor-Fletcher and DJ Campbell extended Liverpool's miserable away league record to just two victories in almost 13 months.

It was not the start the 59-year-old Scot was expecting on his return to the top flight after more than 12 years away.

Wednesday match

Liverpool and Blackpool get the attention of the entire EPL with the makeup match being rescheduled for today.  Tied at 25 points with both in the middle of the table, this could be a very beneficial match for either team if they win. 

New Liverpool manager Dalglish must win this match if he is to put forth a resume that could put him in the running for the job at the end of the season.  He will be without skipper Steven Gerrard, who must face the 3 match ban for his straight red card versus Man U in the FA cup. 

Competition Stats

Dalglish backs Torres to find form

Liverpool manager Kenny Dalglish has vowed to help Fernando Torres emerge from his form slump as he heads to Blackpool on Wednesday night without suspended captain Steven Gerrard.

Torres has scored just six times in 22 matches and only once in his last eight games this season. Asked whether he is the man to revive Torres' season after taking over from Roy Hodgson, Dalglish said he would help where he could but insisted that Torres himself holds the key to a turnaround.

"In the games I've been in charge he has been brilliant,'' joked Dalglish. "It is strange when you talk about people of his calibre having a lack of confidence but at the same time he is still a top goalscorer and someone everyone fears when he goes on the pitch. Someone asked me if I have a magic wand for Fernando. I said I don't need one, he has got one himself.

Mancini 'worried' about injured Balotelli

Manchester City boss Roberto Mancini has admitted he is seriously concerned about Mario Balotelli after the striker suffered yet another injury setback in his disjointed first season in England.

Balotelli is set for a month on the sidelines after a recurrence of a knee injury originally suffered during his debut against Timisoara in August. Balotelli, 20, was forced to have an operation that kept him out for two months, although he was quickly sidelined again through suspension after collecting a red card at West Brom.

However, Balotelli has not been seen since scoring a hat-trick against Aston Villa on December 28 and now Mancini has revealed the controversial front-man has suffered a recurrence of his knee injury. City medical staff have advised Balotelli to rest for four weeks and then resume training, in the belief that will rectify the problem. However, Mancini is not happy at the situation.

Confirmed Transfers

Confirmed transfers as of 1-11-11:

Wayne Bridge to West Ham?

West Ham have agreed to make Wayne Bridge their highest-paid player at £90,000-a-week, and are hoping the deal will go through in the next 48 hours in time for Saturday's clash with Arsenal.

GettyImagesWayne Bridge's place has been usurped by Aleksandar Kolarov this season

Bridge is available on loan as he has been unable to secure a regular starting place under Roberto Mancini at Manchester City, and negotiations are ongoing after the left-back chose to reject an approach from Aston Villa.

The former Chelsea defender is keen to return to London and a source told ESPNsoccernet: "The deal is 90% done, but there are some loose ends."

City manager Roberto Mancini confirmed on Tuesday: "Today he [Bridge] is London for a medical. [It is] a loan."

Will Charlie Adam stay?

Ian Holloway is convinced captain Charlie Adam will remain fully committed to the Blackpool cause despite being a transfer target for other clubs.

Charlie Adam has been Blackpool's talisman over the past two seasons
Blackpool rejected offers from both Aston Villa and Birmingham for Adam, and Holloway insists the 25-year-old Scotland midfielder can only leave if one of the Premier League's biggest clubs make a substantial bid.

Villa and Birmingham are reported to have offered around £2.5 million for Adam, who has 18 months remaining on his Bloomfield Road contract.

Holloway, who discussed the situation with Adam on Monday morning, said: "Charlie is in a great place where he is shining and looking good. He is playing the type of football that suits him and the crowd love him.

Ryan Babel in trouble over photoshop

Associated Press

LONDON -- Liverpool winger Ryan Babel could face disciplinary action from England's Football Association after posting to Twitter a digitally altered picture of referee Howard Webb wearing a Manchester United shirt.

Webb awarded a penalty shot against Liverpool and later ejected its captain, Steven Gerrard, in Man United's 1-0 victory Sunday in the third round of the FA Cup.

Before linking to the image of Webb, Babel wrote on Twitter: "And they call him one of the best referees. That's a joke."

The FA later told The Associated Press: "We will definitely look into this matter."

Beckham begins process for training stint with Tottenham

LONDON -- David Beckham took a fitness test at Tottenham on Monday before starting his monthlong training stint with the Premier League club.

 

Despite talks collapsing over a two-month playing loan from the Los Angeles Galaxy, the midfielder and Spurs are still hopeful that a deal can be revived.

Beckham's stint with Tottenham is scheduled to end on Feb. 10, with the Galaxy expecting the former England captain back to prepare for the MLS season opener at Seattle on March 15.

After undergoing medical tests at Tottenham's training ground east of London, Beckham left within two hours wearing a club tracksuit top and shorts.

The 35-year-old Beckham is hoping to play for Tottenham to boost his chances of being recalled to the England team, having made 115 appearances -- the most by an England outfield player.

Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press

Finals of day 2 of FA Cup action

• Manchester United 1 - 0 Liverpool
• Tottenham Hotspur 3 - 0 Charlton Athletic
• Chelsea 7 - 0 Ipswich Town
• Leicester City 2 - 2 Manchester City