UK-Sport Summary

Liverpool play waiting game over injured Torres

LYON, France - Injured Liverpool striker Fernando Torres is ready to face Olympique Lyon in their Champions League game on Wednesday but coach Rafa Benitez will make a late decision over whether to play him. "He is improving. He is training, sometimes with pain, but with less pain every time," Benitez told a news conference on Tuesday.

Murray sees off Gimeno-Traver in Valencia comeback

VALENCIA, Spain - Top seed Andy Murray celebrated his return from injury with a comfortable 6-3 6-1 win over wild card Daniel Gimeno-Traver in the first round of the Valencia Open on Tuesday. The British world number four, who has been sidelined since the U.S. Open in September with a wrist problem, converted five of his 10 break points against the Spaniard, who is ranked 77, and lost his own serve just once.

Curbishley wins claim for wrongful dismissal

LONDON - Former West Ham United manager Alan Curbishley won his case of wrongful dismissal against the Premier League club on Tuesday. A Premier League managers arbitration tribunal upheld his claim West Ham were wrong to sell Anton Ferdinand and George McCartney to Sunderland against his wishes in September 2008.

Kroenke raises Arsenal stake again

LONDON - American sports mogul Stan Kroenke raised his stake in Arsenal to 29.6 percent on Tuesday, edging him closer to the 29.9 percent threshold that would force him to make an offer for the remaining shares. Kroenke, the club's largest shareholder, bought another 427 shares in the Premier League club for 3.6 million pounds, Arsenal Holdings PLC said in a statement to the London Stock Exchange.

Transparency needed in golf's fight against doping - WADA

LOS ANGELES has applauded the steps taken by golf to combat doping but believes more could be done to achieve full transparency in its policing. Little-known American Doug Barron on Monday became the first golfer to receive a ban for taking a performance-enhancing drug.

New father Rooney takes place on United bench

LONDON - Wayne Rooney, who became a father for the first time on Monday when his wife Coleen gave birth to their son Kai, was named among Manchester United's substitutes for their Champions League match against CSKA Moscow on Tuesday. Rooney, 24, missed United training because the baby was born in Liverpool, but the England striker was included in the squad for the Group B match at Old Trafford.

Johnson poised to unveil another new-look England side

LONDON until Wednesday after a run of injuries disrupted his preparations.

Valuev unfazed by Haye antics ahead of title fight

BERLIN - WBA heavyweight champion Nikolai Valuev said he was unfazed by David Haye's pre-fight antics after the challenger switched hotels Tuesday calling the choice of the organisers a "rancid lair." Haye, who takes a 21-1 record into the bout with the 'Beast from the East' in Nuremberg Saturday, said on his blog the German promoters had booked him a hotel where he would catch "guaranteed Black Death."

Afridi inspires Pakistan to crushing victory

ABU DHABI is a fantastic performer," Pakistan captain Younus Khan told reporters.

Title the only target now, says Vettel

BEIJING - Sebastian Vettel aims to end Britain's run of success and become Formula One's youngest champion next year. Two days after concluding a superb season with his fourth win of the year in Abu Dhabi, the 22-year-old German was still oozing the sort of confidence that took him to the overall runner-up spot behind champion Jenson Button.