As Liverpool host Arsenal at Anfield today, Luis Suarez could well feel the hand of history on his shoulder, this being the rivalry which boasts more hat-tricks than any other in Premier League history.

Most entertaining managerial spat of the season so far has to be the frank exchange of views between Jose Mourinho and Sam Allardyce after West Ham held Chelsea scoreless at Stamford Bridge on Wednesday night.

When even the Old Bill are struggling to keep a straight face, you know you’re in trouble.

No surprise to learn this week that Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi declined to vote for each other in the Ballon d’Or.

By strange coincidence, I stumbled across and became engrossed in a ‘Football Legends’ television show devoted to Eusebio late last Saturday, only to awake the following morning to the news the great man had passed away during the night.

Tonight’s League Cup game against Sunderland has all the hallmarks of a no-win game for Manchester United.

As 2014 takes over from 2013 we should, by rights, be feeling the effects of failing to qualify for Brazil ever more deeply.

I see our old friend Zlatan Ibrahimovic has been ruffling feathers again, this time with comments which Pia Sundhage, coach of the Sweden women’s team, branded “boring” and “sad”.

And so it’s that time of year again, the time of year when nine out of 10 columns begin “and, so, it’s that time of year again”.

It takes some cheek to gain an advantage by diving or feigning injury but a whole lot more to keep a straight face while solemnly deflecting responsibility for same.