Carlo Ancelotti from AC MIlan to Chelsea

Carlo Ancelotti took a step closer to becoming Chelsea's new manager after he announced his contract at AC Milan has been terminated by mutual consent.
Carlo Ancelotti said: "I have agreed to leave Milan. The decision was by mutual consent. But a move to London is not certain yet. In agreement with the club, we have decided to bring forward the expiry of my contract. This beautiful adventure at Milan is over. I can't say anything else official. I have not made any agreement with any other club. I am certainly not staying in Italy. I am open to anything. It's obvious I would say yes if you ask me if I would love to coach Chelsea."

Reds flying high

Just behind them in the Premier League, surprise package Hull piled the pressure on Tottenham manager Juande Ramos on Sunday with a 1-0 win at White Hart Lane which lifted the Tigers up to third.

Liverpool looked in trouble as they trailed to a 19th-minute goal from Stephen Ireland and Javier Garrido's curling free-kick four minutes from the interval.

However, Fernando Torres slid in from close range to reduce the deficit in the 55th minute.

City then had right-back Pablo Zabaleta sent off for an over-the-top challenge on Xabi Alonso, and they were punished further as Torres headed a 73rd-minute equaliser from Steven Gerrard's left-wing corner.

Liverpool, having used all their substitutes, also went down to 10 men late on when Martin Skrtel was carried off on a stretcher with a serious-looking knee injury.

But in injury-time, Dirk Kuyt fired home to complete the turnaround.

Chelsea's win was much more routine, with Joe Cole (21) and Nicolas Anelka (44) scoring the goals in a straightforward victory over Villa at Stamford Bridge.

At White Hart Lane, another stunning goal from Geovanni compounded bottom side Spurs' problems.

The Brazilian drilled a 30-yard free-kick into the top corner after just nine minutes to move the Tigers, in their maiden season in the top flight, into third place.

Bolton were 3-1 winners at Upton Park in the early kick-off after West Ham goalkeeper Robert Green handed them a 30th-minute lead when he dropped the ball at the feet of Kevin Davies and he hooked home.

Green then fumbled a shot to allow Gary Cahill to stab home from close range four minutes later.

Carlton Cole pulled a goal back for the hosts in the 69th minute but a drilled free-kick from Matt Taylor secured victory.

Jermain Defoe was Portsmouth's match winner again as he fired home in the 51st minute to clinch a 2-1 win over Stoke at Fratton Park after Peter Crouch's overhead kick (25) had been cancelled out by Ricardo Fuller (48).

Manchester United & Chelsea cut gap

Nicklas Bendtner's late leveller against Aston Villa keeps Arsenal at the summit of the Premier League

"Everyone goes through a bad spell, but every point gained is of vital importance." said Arsene Wenger after seeing his side's lead cut to just one point.

"They were difficult opponents. They defended very well and were sharp on the break.

"We had to dig deep to get to the pace of the game and it was the desire and refusal to lose which got us a point."

Manchester United cruised to a 3-0 win at Fulham while Chelsea went one better at West Ham.

"It's been a see-saw and now it is down to one point but Chelsea are still right on our coat-tails," said Sir Alex Ferguson.

"It looks as if it is going to be a fantastic run-in."

Football players transfer speculations

- Arsenal will offer amount of 10 million pounds for Marseille winger Franck Ribery.

- Aston Villa midfielder, Lee Hendrie, said about moving to Derby County:

"There might be something there for me."

- Italian AC Milan are ready to re-sign Andrei Shevchenko from Chelsea. Milan Vice-president Adriano Galliani told the Daily Star:

"We are ready to buy him back."

- Atletico Madrid will fight Real Madrid for Manchester United’s Gabriel Heinze, with about 5 millions pounds.

- Newcastle United are being tipped to sign Bolton Wanderers’ Tal Ben Haim on a free transfer.

Andrei Shevchenko out from Chelsea

The Ukranian has proved a big-money misfit at Stamford Bridge and the curtain is slowly descending on his Blues stint.

Reports suggest that Roman Abramovich has told Shevchenko he can return to former club AC Milan if a suitable transfer figure can be agreed.

The 30-year-old striker cost Chelsea £30m last summer but bagged only four Premiership goals through the campaign.