LONDON, March 26 (Reuters) – Reading chose to put a steady hand on the tiller and look to the future rather than try their luck with a relegation quick-fix by unveiling former Southampton boss Nigel Adkins as their manager on Tuesday.

In contrast to Adkins’s former club, who replaced him with Argentine Mauricio Pochettino, Reading have opted for a man with Premier League experience who also knows his way around the lower divisions should they fail to beat the drop.

SOUTHAMPTON (Reuters) – Manager Brendan Rodgers made no excuses after Liverpool’s 3-1 defeat at Southampton on Saturday all but extinguished their hopes of a late surge into the Premier League’s top four.

Last week’s 3-2 win over third-placed Tottenham Hotspur had given rise to renewed optimism at Anfield but Liverpool were outplayed for long periods by a Southampton side easing away from the relegation battle.

SOUTHAMPTON, England, March 16 (Reuters) – Manager Brendan Rodgers made no excuses after Liverpool’s 3-1 defeat at Southampton on Saturday all but extinguished their hopes of a late surge into the Premier League’s top four.

Last week’s 3-2 win over third-placed Tottenham Hotspur had given rise to renewed optimism at Anfield but Liverpool were outplayed for long periods by a Southampton side easing away from the relegation battle.

SOUTHAMPTON, England, March 16 (Reuters) – Manager Brendan Rodgers made no excuses after Liverpool’s 3-1 defeat at Southampton on Saturday all but extinguished their hopes of a late surge into the Premier League’s top four.

Last week’s 3-2 win over third-placed Tottenham Hotspur had given rise to renewed optimism at Anfield but Liverpool were outplayed for long periods by a Southampton side easing away from the relegation battle.

LONDON (Reuters) – Chelsea manager Rafael Benitez sought to build bridges and ease tensions on Friday, two days after castigating hostile fans and aiming a swipe at club officials for his ‘interim’ job title.

The Spaniard, routinely jeered by a section of Chelsea’s support since replacing the sacked Roberto Di Matteo in November, unleashed a passionate invective after Wednesday’s 2-0 FA Cup victory at Middlesbrough, saying he would leave when his short-term deal ran out at the end of the season.

LONDON, March 1 (Reuters) – Chelsea manager Rafael Benitez sought to build bridges and ease tensions on Friday, two days after castigating hostile fans and aiming a swipe at club officials for his ‘interim’ job title.

The Spaniard, routinely jeered by a section of Chelsea’s support since replacing the sacked Roberto Di Matteo in November, unleashed a passionate invective after Wednesday’s 2-0 FA Cup victory at Middlesbrough, saying he would leave when his short-term deal ran out at the end of the season.

LONDON (Reuters) – Chelsea manager Rafael Benitez sought to build bridges and ease tensions on Friday, days after castigating hostile fans and aiming a swipe at club officials for his ‘interim’ job title.

The Spaniard, routinely jeered by a section of Chelsea’s support ever since he replaced the sacked Roberto Di Matteo in November, unleashed a passionate invective after Wednesday’s FA Cup victory over Middlesbrough, saying he would leave when his short-term deal ran out at the end of the season.

LONDON, March 1 (Reuters) – Chelsea manager Rafael Benitez sought to build bridges and ease tensions on Friday, days after castigating hostile fans and aiming a swipe at club officials for his ‘interim’ job title.

The Spaniard, routinely jeered by a section of Chelsea’s support ever since he replaced the sacked Roberto Di Matteo in November, unleashed a passionate invective after Wednesday’s FA Cup victory over Middlesbrough, saying he would leave when his short-term deal ran out at the end of the season.

LONDON (Reuters) – Fernando Torres left Chelsea fans wondering if they would ever see the striker who once terrorised defences after another forlorn performance as they limped into the last 16 of the Europa League on Thursday.

A stunning injury-time goal from substitute Eden Hazard salvaged a 1-1 draw against Sparta Prague on the night to send Chelsea through 2-1 on aggregate after David Lafata had put the Czechs ahead in the first half at Stamford Bridge.

LONDON, Feb 21 (Reuters) – Fernando Torres left Chelsea fans wondering if they would ever see the striker who once terrorised defences after another forlorn performance as they limped into the last 16 of the Europa League on Thursday.

A stunning injury-time goal from substitute Eden Hazard salvaged a 1-1 draw against Sparta Prague on the night to send Chelsea through 2-1 on aggregate after David Lafata had put the Czechs ahead in the first half at Stamford Bridge.