Reds gaffer brings on the droll

For years, Alex Ferguson has moved hell and high water to make sure his players don’t get sent out around the globe for menial friendlies. Kettleheaded Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez, however, has chosen an alternative route for expressing his dismay at meaningless games. That’s right, Rafa done got his sarcasm on:

“I am really, really happy that Mascherano must go to Egypt to play a friendly. Things like that you just cannot understand. There is nothing you can do. The rules are the rules and the players must go.”

Javier Mascherano is being sent off to Egypt just four days before the Pool face Everton, and Rafa will undoubtedly want a full strength

The best sports on’t telebox this weekend

As first and second favourites Ghana and the Ivory Coast to dropped out of the Africa Cup of Nations yesterday, my wallet became lighter and a certain member of Cameroon’s medical staff lost a little bit of dignity. It’s up to Egypt to clean up on Sunday - get the best betting odds on the match right here.

FRIDAY

Bundesliga
Eintracht Frankfurt/ Arminia Bielefeld (Setanta Sports 1, 7.30pm)

Cricket - First One Day International
New Zealand/ England (Sky Sports 2, 12.30pm)

SATURDAY

Premier League
Aston Villa/ Newcastle Utd (Sky Sports 1, 12.30pm)

Scottish Premier League
Dundee Utd/ Hibernian (Setanta Sports 1, 12.30pm)

The best sports on the telebox tonight

The bookies fancy the hosts and the favourites to meet in the Africa Cup of Nations final this Sunday, but the former must defeat a strong Cameroon team, while the latter must overcome current holders Egypt. Read our betting previews of Ghana/ Cameroon and Ivory Coast/ Egypt, then head to the oddschicken to have a punt.

Africa Cup of Nations

Ghana/ Cameroon (British Eurosport, BBC Interactive, 5pm)
Ivory Coast/ Egypt (British Eurosport, BBC3, 8pm)

The best sports programming on the telebox tonight

Fancy watching some of the Premier League’s brightest stars light up half empty stadiums on pitches that look like an unkempt back garden in August? Well, look no further than today’s