Liverpool count cost of European win

Reaching the group phase of the Champions League might be an absolute requirement for a club like Liverpool but after watching his side edge by Maccabi Haifa in the third qualifying round, Rafa Benitez will recognise that the achievement has come only at considerable cost, writes Jonathan Wilson. After Jamie Carragher and John Arne Riise were injured against Sheffield United on Saturday, Liverpool on Tuesday night saw Stephen Warnock limp off in the first half, and then lost Momo Sissoko to a twisted knee midway through the second.

They are through, though, and after an awkward first leg, that was far from assured. As they had then, Maccabi sat deep on Tuesday night and sought to attack on the break but this time Liverpool started with Peter Crouch, and he continued to create the sort of havoc he had in those final minutes at Anfield. Three times in the first half, Luis García was denied by excellent saves from the Maccabi goalkeeper Nir Davidovich, but Liverpool finally took the lead nine minutes into the second half.

There seemed a deliberate policy to bring Jermaine Pennant more into the game immediately after the break, and he had already made a couple of dangerous spurts when he darted by Haim Magrashvili, and flipped in a cross for Crouch, who got in front of Rafael Olarra to head home from close range.

That should have calmed nerves but Maccabi recognised the need to attack, giving an indication of the threat they might have posed had they not been forced by the security concerns to switch their "home" leg to Kiev. Within nine minutes, they were level on the night, Roberto Colautti stabbing into a vacant net after Jose Reina had parried Xavier Anderson's low shot. Colautti then forced Reina into a flailing save with a dipping volley but it was hard to avoid the thought that they'd left their charge a little too late.

*ATHLETICS World and Olympic 100 metres champion Justin Gatlin has been banned for a maximum of eight years by the US Anti-Doping Agency after admitting a "doping violation''.

The 24-year-old American was facing the prospect of a life ban after testing positive for testosterone at the Kansas Relays in Lawrence on April 22. Gatlin first failed a drugs test five years ago when amphetamines were found in his samples at the USA Junior Championships. Although the IAAF, the world governing body, later accepted he was using the medication to treat Attention Deficit Disorder, it was still registered as a first offence and under the two-strikes rule, Gatlin faced being thrown out of the sport for good.

*CRICKET Australian umpire Darrell Hair is standing by his decision to penalise Pakistan over ball tampering and said he would fight any move to oust him. In his first interview since he and fellow umpire Billy Doctrove abandoned the final Test against England at The Oval after Pakistan failed to take the field, Hair said he felt his actions were necessary.

"People who know me and the sort of person I am know I would not take any action unless I really thought it was necessary," Hair told the Sydney Daily Telegraph. "I stand by what I have done but if anything comes out at the inquiry that proves me incorrect I would accept that too. The process would have been followed. The International Cricket Council have given me outstanding supportand it has really been appreciated."

Hair, who has been involved in a few controversies with players from Asian nations, said he had no problems umpiring Pakistan, India, Bangladesh or Sri Lanka. "There is no problem with me and the subcontinent. I have umpired quite a lot in the subcontinent over the last couple of years and when the ICC have asked me to do a job I try and do it to the best of my ability. If people want to try and force me out of the game it has to be done in some shape or form that I am unaware of, because I am contracted to do a job and I know I am doing it quite well at the moment so far as the ins and outs are concerned. If other people have issues they want to use to force me out it will be an interesting battle."

Inzamam-ul-Haq, Pakistan's captain, faces suspension from eight one-day internationals or four Tests if he is found guilty of ball tampering and bringing the game into disrepute when he faces an ICC hearing in London on Friday. The Pakistan Cricket Board have appointed lawyers DLA Piper to represent him.

Meanwhile, Pakistan coach Bob Woolmer has sought to reduce tensions by saying his team are keen to play in the forthcoming one-day series against England. The series begins with a Twenty20 game in Bristol on Monday followed by five one-day matches.

*FOOTBALL Arsenal have made an offer for Chelsea's unsettled French defender William Gallas, manager Arsène Wenger said. Wenger confirmed the bid as he left the door open for defender Ashley Cole to join Chelsea by leaving him out of Arsenal's Champions League squad to play Dinamo Zagreb on Wednesday night in the second leg of their qualifying tie.

The Football Association has charged Fulham over crowd disturbances that followed the bad-tempered 1-0 victory over Chelsea at Craven Cottage in March.

*HORSERACING Trainer Sir Michael Stoute sent out the first two home as Notnowcato pipped stable-mate Maraahel in the main race at York's Ebor meeting. The pair fought out a thrilling finish in the Juddmonte International Stakes, with Notnowcato (8/1) prevailing by a short head under Ryan Moore. Blue Monday was three lengths back in third in the Group One contest, but hot favourite Dylan Thomas finished out of the frame.