Cole, 28, has agreed personal terms with the Reds and will undergo a medical in the next 48 hours, Liverpool said in a statement after signing the out-of-contract player.

He becomes the club’s second pre-season signing after Milan Jovanovic and is set to join a Liverpool team now being managed by ex-Fulham boss Roy Hodgson.

Cole won three Premier League titles and two FA Cups during a seven-year spell with Chelsea.

He made his name with Chelsea’s London rivals West Ham and has scored 10 goals in 56 England appearances.

Cole claimed unspecified “political rather than footballing reasons” had led to his departure from Chelsea back in June, but he insisted manager Carlo Ancelotti had nothing to do with it.

“It is not financial and it is nothing to do with Carlo,” he said at the time. “I love Carlo. I think he is a top guy and a top manager.

“I loved my time at Chelsea, I love the fans but it is a story for another day and I will tell it but now is not the time.”

Having been on the bench for much of England’s lacklustre World Cup campaign, Cole laid down his conditions to potential suitors while still in South Africa.

“Next season I want to have a fantastic season for England and whatever club I am at,” said Cole.

“The next contract — it will be a footballing decision. I want to play in a more central position and I want a manager who has faith in me.”

Cole has effetively swopped clubs with Israel midfielder Yossi Benayoun, who earlier this month joined Chelsea from Liverpool in a £5.5 million move.

Tottenham Hotspur, whose manager Harry Redkapp nurtured Cole’s early career at West Ham, and north London rivals Arsenal were also reported to be interested in the midfielder.

But even though Arsenal finished third last season and Tottenham fourth, Cole has joined a Liverpool team who ended the Premier League campaign in seventh place and who haven’t won the English title since 1990.

However, former Liverpool midfielder Jamie Redknapp — Harry’s son –denied Cole had made his decision solely on the basis of his potential pay-packet.

“From what I know, compared to other players in the Premier League now, he’s not being greedy at all,” Jamie Redknapp told Sky Sports.

“He just wants a good deal and rightfully so – he’s a free agent and he’s worked that situation nicely – but I know he’s not asking for anything astronomical, like what is being portrayed in the press.

“He’s just looking for the right club and he needs to play football now.

“He missed a lot of time at Chelsea last season with his knee injury and didn’t quite get back to the level he showed previously.

“He needs to go somewhere, be loved, and play football and get back to being the Joe Cole we all know.”

Carlo Ancelotti’s side are now four points clear of second placed Manchester United and will be crowned champions for the first time since 2006 if Sir Alex Ferguson’s team lose at Sunderland later on Sunday or if the Blues beat Wigan at home next weekend.

Chelsea were given a substantial helping hand by Gerrard, whose poor back-pass allowed Didier Drogba to opening the scoring in the first half before Frank Lampard struck after the interval.

Florent Malouda of Chelsea celebrates his second goal with Didier Drogba, who also scored twice against Manchester United.

After a three-year reign as champions of England, Ferguson’s men had to watch on helplessly as their old rivals Liverpool presented Chelsea with a win which should stop United securing a record 19th championship.

Liverpool’s usually vociferous fans were extremely subdued as they refused to roar their team to a win that could help bitter enemies United land the title.

Benitez’s players gave slightly more effort and dominated the early stages, but United would have been furious at the careless way Gerrard gifted Chelsea the lead in the 33rd minute.

Under no real pressure in midfield, Gerrard turned towards his own goal and played a back-pass that Drogba gratefully seized before rounding Jose Reina and slotting into the empty net for his 33rd goal of the season.

Ancelotti’s side took total control after that and Lampard increased their lead in the 54th minute when he slid in to convert Nicolas Anelka’s low cross.

Fernando Torres has scored four goals in four home games in all competitions against Chelsea.
Chelsea have lost 11 games away at Anfield, more than at any other away ground in the Premier League.

Liverpool have won nine and lost none of their last 10 Premier League games at Anfield.

There has been a 90th minute goal scored in each of the last two Premier League games between these sides at Anfield.

There have been six goals scored between the 89th minute and the end of the match in the last nine games between Liverpool and Chelsea in all competitions.

Chelsea are only the second team since the Second World War to score seven or more goals in a league game three times in the same season.

Chelsea need four goals to equal Manchester United’s Premier League record of 97 goals in a single season.

Chelsea have been awarded 10 penalties this season, more than any other side.

These sides have conceded just two long range goals each this season, the best record in the division.

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Ferguson’s team are one point ahead of second-placed Chelsea and two in front of third-placed Arsenal.

However, many pundits believe Arsenal’s remaining fixtures, which include matches against Manchester City and Tottenham but also less taxing games against Wolves, Wigan, Blackburn and Fulham, could make the difference for the Gunners.
Ferguson, whose team have won their last six matches, still feels that Chelsea, visitors to Old Trafford in April, are as much of a threat to United’s hopes of a fourth straight title as Arsene Wenger’s side.

He said: “On paper Arsenal have the easy run in but at this stage of the season I’m not sure whether that works, whether it means anything at all.

“You can drop a couple of points like Chelsea did at Blackburn last Sunday, your advantage on paper all of a sudden doesn’t look so good.

“The name of the game is to win your games and hopefully we can do that. That’s our best way of looking forward.

“I don’t think there is a bigger challenger (from one team) than another, we’re all in the same pot together.

“We’ll rely on our experience, which is vital, and hopefully we can keep a relatively clean bill of health between now and the end of the season.”

United will have just six games to go after they face struggling Bolton in Saturday’s late game at the Reebok Stadium.

Ferguson’s side could be down to third in the table by the time they kick off as Chelsea host Aston Villa and Arsenal travel to Birmingham earlier on Saturday.

However, Ferguson has dismissed concerns about Wayne Rooney’s knee and has revealed John O’Shea has returned to full training for the first time since November.

O’Shea has not played since the Republic of Ireland’s 1-1 draw in France, after the defender suffered complications as he recovered from a dead leg.

The versatile defender returned to full training on Thursday, while Ferguson laughed off doubts about Rooney’s fitness after the England striker was pictured limping after the 2-1 win over Liverpool last week.

Paul Scholes is available after an ankle injury and Ferguson is considering starting with Ryan Giggs, who came off the bench against Liverpool after several weeks out with a fractured arm.

Ferguson added: “Scholes is okay again. The little problem he’s had with his ankle has settled down now and he’s available.

“Ryan is a further week ahead. He was a substitute last week, but whether I start him at Bolton is another matter.

“His experience and Scholes’ experience at this time of year is going to be invaluable to us as it always is.

“John O’Shea took part in a training session for the first time and we expect him back at the start of April.

“These are plus points for us at the moment because all season we’ve had to deal with defenders being injured all the time and that’s not easy.”

Giggs (36) has been quoted as saying he may consider returning to international football with Wales, three years after his last appearance for his country.

Ferguson does not expect to see his veteran midfielder lining up for John Toshack’s side.

He added: “You must be joking. I can’t see it. It must have been a weak moment for Ryan! I can’t see that.”

Bolton have pulled clear of relegation trouble after appointing Owen Coyle last month.

Ferguson added: “Now Owen’s gone to Bolton, there’s not much material difference in the way that Bolton play.

“They’ve still got the two big lads up front, Johan Elmander and Kevin Davies, they still have long throw-ins, free kicks and corner kicks and we’re used to that.”

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The 25-year-old Portuguese superstar left English champions United to join Real for a world record transfer fee of £80 million in June and has enjoyed a fine start to his time at at the Bernabeu.
Ronaldo, who won three Premier League titles as well as the Champions League during his six seasons at United, has scored 11 times in 13 La Liga appearances and has no intention of quitting Real in the immediate future.

But when his time in Spain is up, Ronaldo claims he would be happy to return to England.

“Of course I miss playing for Manchester United,” Ronaldo said in The News of the World. “I played there for six years and that’s a long time.

“I am still interested in watching Manchester United and, you never know, maybe in the future I could return to play there. It’s always possible.

“I want to fulfil my contract here but, in the future, only God knows. I will not say I am not happy here at Real Madrid.

“I am really happy and everyone knows this is my club but, of course, I miss Manchester United, the boss, the players, because I left family there.”

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Johnson, who has made only 13 appearances in the current campaign as a result of a dislocated collarbone and a groin strain, is to have exploratory surgery to determine the gravity of the injury.

“If they find that the problem is as major as it could possibly be, then he would need an operation that would keep him out for the rest of the season,” Fulham boss Roy Hodgson said, adding that the 28-year-old had been “shattered” by the latest setback.

“If we’re lucky and the major operation is not needed, and it’s something wrong with the cartilage, then he might be back earlier.

“At the moment we’re talking three to four weeks, and the worst-case scenario is the rest of the season and him being fit to join us in pre-season.”

Hodgson is already without Clint Dempsey and Zoltan Gera because of their knee injuries and he admitted he would not have let Diomansy Kamara go to Celtic on loan earlier this week if he had been aware of Johnson’s latest problem.

“One of the reasons why we let Diomansy go was because we didn’t think the problem with Andy was anywhere near as grave,” Hodgson said.

“I was concerned that I would not be able to give Diomansy regular games, so when a club of Celtic’s stature comes in for him, it is very difficult for me to say ‘you have to stay’.”

Hodgson added: “Andy is shattered. He’s devastated. If it’s as serious as it could turn out to be, it needs to be put right for the start of next season.”

Fulham were due to face the Premier League’s bottom side, Portsmouth, on Wednesday with the west London club aiming to end a run of five straight defeats.

“At the moment I can divorce performances from results, but if you keep losing you will get dragged down there and get into a relegation battle,” Hodgson warned.

“I’m hoping that won’t happen and in the not-too-distant future we will have a squad of players together who are more competitive than we currently are.”

United produced a superb attacking display, taking the lead when Nani’s cross was turned into his own net by goalkeeper Manuel Almunia after 33 minutes before Wayne Rooney started and finished a stunning counter-attack before halftime.
Park Ji-sung got the third seven minutes after the interval and Arsenal had only the minor consolation of Thomas Vermaelen’s deflected volley 10 minutes from time.

“We delivered a completely off-the-mark performance and that’s why we were well beaten,” Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger said.

“We gave them too much room, we were naive and that’s why we have to stick together and produce a much better performance next Sunday when we go to Chelsea.”

Chelsea, who won 2-1 with a late goal at Burnley on Saturday, top the standings on 54 points, one ahead of United and five clear of Arsenal. Chelsea have a game in hand on both rivals and play it against Hull City in midweek.

Arsenal went into the United match full of confidence after a 10-game unbeaten run and both sides showed total commitment to attack.

Arsenal’s Andrei Arshavin escaped three times down the left but finished poorly on each occasion while Nani looked highly dangerous down the United right.

It was the Portuguese winger who made the breakthrough with a brilliant piece of trickery to get past three Arsenal defenders and when he hoisted over a deep cross, Almunia, trying to turn it over the bar, only flapped it into the net.

SNUFFED OUT

The second goal was a classic as United snuffed out an Arsenal attack in their own penalty box and broke.

Rooney turned the ball into the path of Nani before sprinting 70 metres to collect the return and sweep it in first time.

It was the 100th Premier League goal of the 24-year-old England striker’s career and came just over seven years after he opened his account for Everton against Arsenal when he was 16.

United’s third was another long-range break and hesitant defending allowed Park to travel from halfway before calmly slotting his first goal of the season.

Vermaelen’s goal led to a brief flurry but United held out quite comfortably and Arsene Wenger’s side must bounce back immediately at Chelsea.

“We need to deliver a special performance at Stamford Bridge next Sunday before we can even start thinking about winning the game,” Wenger said.

United manager Alex Ferguson said he would be hoping Arsenal found their form against Chelsea.

“Arsenal are not out of it, I hope that Arsenal go to Stamford Bridge and batter them,” he told Sky Sports.
Ferguson had special praise for the “unbelievable Rooney.”

“He was the key player for us and they could just could not handle him. He was a really great player today,” he said.

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Wenger’s side defeated Bolton 2-0 at the Reebok Stadium on Sunday and a repeat of that result in north London would be enough to send the Gunners above Chelsea and Manchester United into first place.

After being widely written off as also-rans in November when Chelsea’s 3-0 win at the Emirates Stadium left Arsenal 11 points behind the leaders, there has been a significant change in fortune for Wenger’s men.

While Chelsea and United have squandered points in matches they were expected to win, Arsenal have been able to put together an impressive run and Wenger knows it is essential not to waste the chance to grab that coveted first place.

“It is important psychologically, not mathematically so much,” Wenger said. “We have a good opportunity to do it, so we have to focus.

“When the season started we were not all convinced in our squad, that we could be where we are now. Now that we are there, we want to have a go.”

Even if Arsenal do go to the top of the table, Chelsea will have a game in hand on their London rivals, so there is no chance of Wenger getting carried away.

However, the French coach is convinced his young team are capable of lasting the distance in the title race as long as captain Cesc Fabregas remains fit and in form.

Fabregas has been arguably the Premier League’s best midfielder this season and produced a majestic display against Bolton, capped by his 10th league goal of the season and a major role in Arsenal’s second goal.

Games against title rivals Chelsea and United are looming on the horizon for Arsenal, so Wenger is well aware of the importance of keeping Fabregas on his game.

“He looks like a real general in midfield now and, of course, that helps as we go into a period of important games,” Wenger said.

“It was a test of character (at the Reebok Stadium) and they have shown plenty, which is very good news for us.

“Over the years our strength has increased and we showed we have matured. We know when to go for the fights and we know when to put the ball down.

“Without a doubt there is still more to come, because we are a young team. We have a very tough run of games coming up but let’s be focused on the next one and keep it simple.”

With French winger Samir Nasri and young midfielders Aaron Ramsey and Fran Merida — who scored Arsenal’s second against Bolton — ruled out through injury, Wenger is relieved to welcome back Theo Walcott and Denilson.

England forward Walcott has struggled to shake off a host of different injuries this season, but his return will add a much-needed injection of energy to an attack already missing Robin van Persie and Nicklas Bendtner.

“They are available for Wednesday. It is a big boost to have them back of course, because they were out for a while and it gives us some fresh players as well,” Wenger said.

Bolton’s new boss Owen Coyle would love to have players of Walcott’s calibre to bolster his squad as he tries to drag them away from the relegation zone.

Coyle has had just 10 days to work with his players since arriving from Burnley as the replacement for Gary Megson, but he has already impressed the likes of captain Kevin Davies.

“I have seen a big change in some of the players, from the lads who have been starting to those on the fringes and those training with the reserves,” Davies said.

“I have been really impressed with the way the players have responded to him and I think that is a credit to him.

“Speaking to players individually, they have been impressed with his man-management skills.”