Chelsea

Chelsea manager Carlo Ancelotti has insisted he has not lost authority over his players following reports that Ashley Cole shot a work experience student.

The England international shot 21-year-old Tom Cowan with a .22 calibre air rifle at the club's Cobham training ground ten days ago. The student was left requiring treatment from Chelsea's medical staff.

The club tried to keep the incident quiet, but it was reported in a Sunday newspaper.

Striker Fernando Torres has signed his Chelsea contract after being sold for £50m by Liverpool FC.

The sale of the 26-year-old Spanish International came after Chelsea and Liverpool were involved in the four busiest transfers of the last day of the January window.

Torres, a World Cup winner in 2010 and European champion in 2008 with Spain, spent three-and-a-half years at Liverpool, scoring 81 goals in 142 matches.  He joined them from Atletico Madrid for a fee of £20m.

Manchester United's Rio Ferdinand has withdrawn his second appeal against match bans following charges of violent conduct.

Defender Ferdinand had received a three-match suspension following an incident where he appeared to swing an elbow in the face of Hull City Striker Craig Fagan in their clash at Old Trafford.

The charge was initially denied by 31-year-old Ferdinand and he was given an additional one-game ban for a "frivolous appeal". 

John Terry does not intend to resign the captaincy of England following recent allegatons about his private life.

He could still lose the job if manager Fabio Capello decides he can no longer perform the role. 

England football boss Fabio Capello is expected to hold talks with Terry on Friday.

The Football Association has made it clear the Italian will decide the 29-year-old Chelsea defender's fate.

Capello has been recovering from knee surgery at his holiday home in Switzerland and will return to London on Thursday.

Chelsea and Liverpool both closed the gap on Manchester United after their wins last night.

But Man Utd still remain four points ahead of their rivals and have two games in hand.

The first of these games is at Newcastle tonight where the leaders will start as favourites. Newcastle have only won four out of 13 games at St. James’ Park this season.

Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez and Chelsea counterpart Guus Hiddink have both vowed to keep pushing Manchester United for the Premier League title.