Liverpool signs England's Joe Cole on 4-year deal

Liverpool has given Joe Cole a four-year contract to make the England midfielder Roy Hodgson's first signing as manager.

The Premier League club said Monday that the 28-year-old Cole, who won three Premier League titles in a seven-year spell with Chelsea, will complete the move if he passes a medical "in the next 48 hours."

Cole is Hodgson's first signing since becoming manager on July 1 and arrives on a free transfer after his Chelsea contract ended.

Cole fills the creative midfield role vacated by Yossi Benayoun, who joined Chelsea two weeks ago.

Cole started just 14 Premier League games last season after struggling with a knee injury but recovered sufficiently to make England's World Cup squad.

But he made only two late substitute appearances in South Africa as England played poorly and was eliminated in the second round.

Cole who spent five years in West Ham's first-team squad before joining Chelsea in 2003, scored 10 goals in 56 international appearances.

Ashley Cole to remain at Chelsea, says Carlo Ancelotti

Chelsea manager Carlo Ancelotti insists Ashley Cole will be at the club next season and dismissed speculation the Blues would move for Fernando Torres.

Defender Cole has been linked to Real Madrid but Ancelotti said: "Cole will be important for us next season. 100%."

The Italian also ruled out a move for Liverpool's Torres by claiming there are already enough strikers at Chelsea.

Liverpool World Cup stars to miss Europa opener

LIVERPOOL: Liverpool boss Roy Hodgson says he won't risk any of his squad's World Cup stars in their early Europa League qualifier.

Hodgson's team face a third qualifying round clash against either Macedonian side Rabotnicki or Armenia's Mika later this month in what will be the former Fulham manager's first competitive match in charge of the Reds.

With the first leg scheduled for July 29, Hodgson knows he is going to have to kick off without Steven Gerrard, Javier Mascherano, Jose Reina, Dirk Kuyt, Ryan Babel, Daniel Agger, Glen Johnson, Jamie Carragher and the already injured Fernando Torres.

Spaniard Pedrosa wins German MotoGP

BERLIN: Spaniard Dani Pedrosa won the German MotoGP on Sunday to gain a little ground on world championship leader Jorge Lorenzo.

Honda rider Pedrosa, second in the standings, finished 3.355 seconds ahead of compatriot Lorenzo, who had started on pole but had to settle for second place in a re-started race following a crash on lap nine at the Sachsenring circuit.

MotoGP champion Valentino Rossi finished fourth in his first race back just six weeks after breaking his leg. The Italian was just edged out by Australian Casey Stoner who took the final podium place.

Brazil trying to find perfect coach for 2014 WCup

SAO PAULO (AP)—Brazil is taking its time to choose a new coach, the man who will face the hard task of leading the team at home in the 2014 World Cup.

After firing coach Dunga following the disappointing elimination by the Netherlands in the quarterfinals in South Africa, the Brazilian football federation is carefully considering its options before deciding who will be in charge of the five-time champions four years from now.