Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard will be out of action for three weeks after a scan revealed a torn hamstring

Gerrard was replaced after 16 minutes of Wednesday's FA Cup replay against Everton, which Liverpool lost 1-0.
The midfielder will now miss Saturday's match against Portsmouth, England's friendly against Spain next week and the visit of Manchester City.
Gerrard, 28, also faces a race against time to be fit for the Champions League tie against Real Madrid on 25 February.
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If ever you underestimated Gerrard's importance, Wednesday made it clear - Liverpool were third-rate without him
bracewells-wedgeThe absence of Gerrard is a blow to Liverpool's title credentials having scored 11 goals for them in the league this season.
Liverpool are two points behind champions Manchester United, who have played a game less.
"A scan today has confirmed a tear in the hamstring of Steven's left leg," a spokesman told the club's official website.
"He will be out of action for about three weeks."
It is a blow to Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez who did not add to his squad in the January transfer window.
The Spaniard also came under criticism from some fans after selling striker Robbie Keane back to Tottenham for £12m.
It has left Liverpool short of forward options and the absence of attacking midfielder Gerrard further limits Benitez's options.
Star striker Fernando Torres is also battling his way back from a hamstring injury and is still short of full fitness

Sharapova pulls out of Paris Open

Former world number one Maria Sharapova has pulled out of next week's Paris Open after failing to fully recover from a shoulder injury. She will also not be taking part in the Dubai Open the following week. The 21 year old has been sidelined since August and was not able to defend her Australian Open title. She has also dropped to 17th in the WTA rankings released on Monday

National Tae Kwon Do Championship: medals distributed

RAWALPINDI: The prize money of Rs130,000 was distributed among the Army players winning medals in the National Tae Kwon Do Championship here on Wednesday.Director Army Sports Brig Saleem Nawaz Malik, who was the chief guest at the ceremony gave away the cash prizes to the players.The Army team won nine gold, four silver and two bronze medals in the National Tae Kwon Do Championship

Bilawal, Ahsan booked in Sindh Junior Snooker last-16

Updated at: 0708 PST, Thursday, February 05, 2009 KARACHI: Top seed Agha Bilawal and fourth seed Ahsan Raza stormed into the last 16 stage of Junior Sindh Cup Snooker Tournament after winning their matches with identical 3-1 margin at the Aly’s Snooker Club on Wednesday. Bilawal dropped the penultimate frames before beating Zamir Ahmed 64-28, 67-18, 49-54, 60-39. Ahsan on the other hand recovered after losing the opening frame to beat Muhammad Raza 52-57, 55-47, 58-31, 68-19. Second seed Azeem Yousuf and third seed Mohammad Ishtiaq had also advanced into in the pre-quarters round after winning their second round matches. In the other matches Yasir Khan bt Muhammad Arsalan 3-2, Mustafa Qayyum bt Adil Wali 3-1, Muhammad Suleman bt Shiraz Anis 3-1, Taha Bin Karim bt Taimur Hanif 3-0, Munib Khan bt Sajid Wali 3-0, Muhammad Fahad bt Noman Usman 3-0.

Beckham keen on staying in Milan

David Beckham has confirmed he wants to secure a permanent move to AC Milan from his American club LA Galaxy. Beckham denied his lawyers were talking to the Galaxy, as Milan general manager Adriano Galliani had claimed, but hopes a deal can be worked out. The thirty three year is on loan at the San Siro until March 9 and has helped lift Milan to second place in Serie A, scoring in his last two games. Earlier, Milan had included Beckham in their UEFA Cup squad

Australian team announced for South Africa’s tour

SYDNEY: Australia’s selection panel has announced a 14-member team for the tour of South Africa here on Thursday.The new team is the most inexperienced touring party in two decades.Three new players have been included in the squad for the three-Test series beginning from February 26 while Andrew Symonds has been dropped for his involvement in recent conflicts and Shane Watson due to injury.The uncapped trio of Phillip Hughes, Bryce McGain and Marcus North have been added to the Australian line-up for the three-Test tour of South Africa as selectors attempt to restructure the team for the future and contend with an horrific injury toll. The Asutralia’s Test squad consists of the following players: Ricky Ponting (captain), Michael Clarke, Phillip Hughes, Simon Katich, Michael Hussey, Andrew McDonald, Brad Haddin (wk), Mitchell Johnson, Peter Siddle, Doug Bollinger, Bryce McGain, Ben Hilfenhaus, Nathan Hauritz, Marcus North

Gavaskar conferred with honorary doctorate

NEW DELHI: India’s cricket legend Sunil Gavaskar was conferred with an honorary doctorate (doctor of science) by the Dr D Y Patil University in Navi Mumbai yesterday.It is his fourth honoris causa after the ones from Andhra, Annamalai and Indore varsities. Gavaskar donned the chimere (convocation robe) along with some 500 students of the university from various fields like medical, engineering, architecture and the other dignitaries. India's greatest run accumulator, the first man to complete 10,000 runs in Test cricket, said after receiving the honour from Chancellor of the University and Maharashtra Governor S C Jamir, that it was his childhood wish to become a physician in the footsteps of his aunt Dr Sunder Kenkre. Gavaskar thanked his fans and friends, particularly cricket colleagues, for conferring upon him the honorary doctorate