Bellamy Sinks Chelsea

Craig Bellamy steered Liverpool into the Carling Cup semi-finals to heap further pressure on under-fire Chelsea manager Andre Villas-Boas. Bellamy's pinpoint delivery set up second-half goals for Maxi Rodriguez and Martin Kelly as the Reds took a step closer to winning their first silverware since 2006. It completed an emotional return for Bellamy, who had been omitted from the squad for Sunday's 1-1 draw with Manchester City on compassionate grounds following the death of close friend Gary Speed. The 32-year-old Wales winger provided the spark of creativity Liverpool needed to defeat toothless opposition who were prone to erratic defending. The ineffectual Andy Carroll, who started at Stamford Bridge, missed a first-half penalty while Chelsea should have been awarded a clear spot-kick after just two minutes.

Mancini: No Bellamy rift

Roberto Mancini insists he never had major issues with Craig Bellamy and would be pleased to see the striker prosper at Liverpool. The Wales international rejoined Liverpool in August after being told he did not feature in City boss Mancini's plans. Bellamy shone for the club early in his City career but started to fall out of favour after the appointment of Mancini in December 2009. He spent last season on loan with Championship side Cardiff and later revealed how he and Mancini had differed in their opinions of his best training schedule. The 32-year-old has a long-standing knee problem which requires careful management. Bellamy could now face his former club as the Premier League leaders travel to Anfield on Sunday and he appears in good form after impressing in last week's win over Chelsea. Mancini said: "I am not surprised, Bellamy is a good player. I am happy for him because he played very well. He is in good form. "He was fit often but because we had three or four strikers it was difficult for him."

Match Report:Liverpool 1 Norwich 1

Liverpool paid the price for a stack of missed chances as they were held to a 1-1 draw by newly-promoted Norwich City at Anfield. Craig Bellamy fired the Reds in front just before the break but they failed to build on that breakthrough in the second half. Substitute Grant Holt headed Norwich level and it could have got even worse for Kenny Dalglish's side. A late flourish almost led to a winner for Liverpool but the ruthless streak the manager had demanded was absent. The Reds will rue the fact they struck the woodwork on three occasions and found former Everton keeper John Ruddy in inspirational form.However, two points were carelessly spurned and Liverpool now find themselves four points adrift of fourth placed Newcastle. It was a hugely frustrating night for Luis Suarez who couldn't capitalise on a host of opportunities and was on the receiving end of some dismal decisions by referee Peter Walton. Dalglish made two changes to the side which drew 1-1 with Manchester United. With Lucas Leiva suspended, Bellamy made his first league start since his return to Anfield from Manchester City this summer. There was also a first start of the season for Glen Johnson who replaced Martin Kelly at right-back after recovering from a hamstring injury.Liverpool flew out of the blocks but failed to make their early dominance count. Inside two minutes Martin Skrtel rose to meet Charlie Adam's corner and his header rattled the bar. Suarez then produced a sensational turn in the box but with only Ruddy to beat he blazed wide. In the 11th minute Bellamy raced down the left and picked out Suarez, whose volley was brilliantly turned on to the post by Ruddy. The rebound fell kindly for Downing but he failed to hit the target. Suarez wasted another opportunity soon after as he dragged his shot wide after latching on to Johnson's clever pass. Norwich survived that early onslaught and grew in confidence as the first half wore on. Wes Hoolahan got in behind the Reds' rearguard but fired too close to Pepe Reina who gathered at the second attempt. The Liverpool keeper was called into action again soon after to keep out Steve Morison's header. Frustration levels were growing inside Anfield when the Reds broke the deadlock in first-half stoppage time. Norwich failed to deal with Jose Enrique's long ball forward and Bellamy pounced. The Welshman burst into the box and his shot took a deflection off Marc Tierney before nestling in the corner. It was Bellamy's first league goal for Liverpool at Anfield since the game against Watford in December 2006. Liverpool were inches away from doubling their account six minutes after the interval. Suarez glided past Leon Barnett but his shot struck defender Russell Martin and rebounded back off the post. Norwich boss Paul Lambert brought on striker Holt in a bid to find an equaliser and the substitute made an instant impact on the hour. Anthony Pilkington whipped in a quality cross from the right and Holt rose to power a header past Reina. The Canaries were energised by that strike and could easily have led six minutes later. Holt nodded goalwards but Reina pulled off a fine reaction stop to push the ball away. Dalglish responded by taking off Bellamy and bringing on Jordan Henderson, while Andy Carroll came on for Downing soon after. Suarez continued to pose a threat but he couldn't find a way past the impressive Ruddy who turned a low drive behind. With 10 minutes to go Suarez went down under a challenge from Tierney when he was clean through on goal but to the home fans' disgust Walton waved play on. The Reds continued to press and came agonisingly close to winning the game in stoppage time. Carroll soared to meet Gerrard's cross six yards out but the big frontman inexplicably headed wide. Then in the 95th minute Gerrard turned provider for Suarez whose sweetly struck volley was brilliantly kept out by Ruddy.

Stoke, Celtic,Blackburn and Sunderland Chase Bellamy

Stoke City have joined the race to sign Craig Bellamy from Manchester City, with Celtic, Sunderland and Blackburn Rovers also exploring the possibility of taking the Welshman on a season-long loan.

Bellamy has one year remaining on his contract at Eastlands but there is also a 12-month option that is in the club's favour, meaning that City can still ask for a significant fee for the 31-year-old. There is certainly no chance of Bellamy remaining at City, with Roberto Mancini, the club's manager, having made it clear last summer that the striker is not part of his plans.

The most likely outcome is that Bellamy, who spent last season on loan with Cardiff City, where he scored 11 goals in 36 appearances, will be allowed out on loan for another campaign. City, however, have no intention of sanctioning another deal where they cover the majority of the player's wages, which was the case with Cardiff.

Tony Pulis would be keen to take Bellamy on a season-long loan as he seeks to add more firepower to his forward line. The Stoke manager also retains an interest in Birmingham City's Cameron Jerome and West Ham United's Carlton Cole, and it may well be that signing either of those players is more straightforward than Bellamy, who stated last season that he would not play for another Premier League club other than Manchester City.

At that point, Bellamy was talking in terms of returning to Cardiff for a second season, as part of his dream to lead his hometown club into the Premier League, although he now appears to accept that it is highly unlikely that will happen. Celtic, where Bellamy spent the second half of the 2004‑05 season, appears his most likely destination, with the Scottish Premier League club keen to secure his services for a second time.

Pulis, nonetheless, would like the opportunity to test the water with Bellamy. The Stoke manager is keen to add experience and quality to his squad ahead of a season that will place greater demands on his players because of the club's participation in the Europa League. Bellamy fits that profile.

Craig Bellamy back to West Ham?

Sam Allardyce is reportedly interested in bringing Craig Bellamy back to West Ham, according to The News of the World.The Welsh striker spent two seasons at Upton Park before leaving for Eastlands for £14 million in January 2009.However, after spending last season on loan at his hometown club Cardiff City, Bellamy is now keen to leave Manchester City on a free transfer, as he is fearful for his first-team prospects under Roberto Mancini.Yet City value Bellamy at £4m, so are refusing to let him leave without a transfer fee.
Allardyce will reportedly use his connection with John Williams, recently appointed to City’s football operations team, to try and engineer a deal for Bellamy. Allardyce worked with Williams for two years at Blackburn.

A potential stumbling block is that Bellamy’s £90,000-a-week wages may prevent any loan move going through, as Manchester City are clear that they will not contribute towards the wages of loan players

Swansea 0 Cardiff City 1

A superb Craig Bellamy strike sealed a thrilling south Wales derby win for Cardiff who climb over arch-rivals Swansea City into third.
On-loan Aaron Ramsey set up the former Wales captain on the edge of the box to curl his effort around Dorus de Vries and in off the post.
Darcy Blake had earlier struck the post for the Bluebirds while Chris Burke fired wide.
Scott Sinclair had Swansea's best chance but he could only blast over.
It was only the sixth goal the Swans had conceded at home all season, but for Cardiff, it marked their first derby win in Swansea since 1997 and first victory on the road since November.
Swansea set out to complete the first league double in the 82-year history of the derby after winning in Cardiff earlier this season.
But they could have been behind after just 35 seconds when Jay Bothroyd picked the ball up on the edge of the box before dragging his shot wide.
That was an early wake-up call for Swansea who then went on the attack, first with Darren Pratley seeing a shot blocked, and then Alan Tate headed Mark Gower's free kick over after Paul Quinn fouled Sinclair.
Cardiff always look a threat up front though, and it was Wales star Ramsey who was first to test Swans keeper De Vries.
The Arsenal midfielder, on loan at his hometown club and playing in his first derby, drilled a low 20-yard shot which De Vries parried, and Michael Chopra pounced on the rebound, only to be flagged offside.
Both sides got stuck into challenges and Pratley wanted a penalty at the other end when he went down under Quinn but the Bluebirds defender made enough contact with the ball.
Then Chopra found himself lucky to still be on the pitch on the half-hour when he went two-footed through the back of Ashley Williams, but escaped without even a caution.
Ex-Chelsea winger Sinclair had a relatively quiet first half but his best break down the left resulted in a dangerous cross into the box, and with Pratley rushing in, Bluebirds defender Kevin McNaughton cleared brilliantly under pressure.
Pratley was Swansea's biggest threat and he blasted an effort of his own comfortably over from 20 yards after bursting down the middle.
The Bluebirds were forced into a change at the break, with Darcy Blake coming on for McNaughton, but they started lively and on the hour, Quinn missed a guilt-edge chance after sneaking in to meet Craig Bellamy's corner only to glance his header wide from eight yards.
And two minutes later, Blake made a classy break into the box from the left, beating De Vries with a fierce shot which struck the far post.
Sinclair then showed what he can do with a brilliant run down the left before cutting inside and shaping up to shoot, but fired over, and then later saw a shot blocked by Hudson from a similar run.
Both sides pressed for a goal, Ramsey setting up Cardiff substitute Chris Burke who somehow managed to skew his shot wide.
Swansea relied mostly on the counter attack but the introduction of Craig Beattie for the ineffective Moore made the difference for them as the game really opened up.
Beattie was on hand free Sinclair in the box in the closing stages, but his out-stretched foot could only direct the ball the wrong side of the net.
But the winner came five minutes from time when Ramsey set up Bellamy with a neat one-two to delightfully curl the ball home and take all three points for his hometown club.