Could Leo Messi do it on a cold Tuesday night in Stoke?

Darren Fletcher’s Manchester United’s credentials are so unquestionable that the West Brom midfielder, 15 years a player at Old Trafford, admitted he lined up on the wrong side of the tunnel before his new team’s surprise victory.

This week, over the water, Britain is agog. What will the nation decide? It’s too close to call: It may even be several weeks before we get a definitive answer to the question in front of us.

Manchester United gave Liverpool more than a glimmer of hope in their push for Champions League qualification as Louis van Gaal’s team slipped to a damaging 1-0 defeat to West Brom.

€5,000 payment to charities after normally docile animal mauls toddler in supervised ‘close encounter’

Dublin Zoo has pleaded guilty to breaching health and safety regulations after a two-year-old girl was mauled by a "chilled-out" Brazilian tapir which suddenly went on the attack.

The release of another ex-Man United star’s autobiography has come and gone but it makes you wonder why it really needed a big launch party at a swanky London hotel with a load of Y-list ‘celebs’ and media groupies present — is the content so lacking?

Rio Ferdinand has emerged as a surprise possible choice to be the Football Association’s candidate for Britain’s FIFA vice-presidential position.

Chips and chocolate, for some of us at least, still hold most of the answers.

Louis van Gaal thinks Manchester United should have no regrets about releasing Rio Ferdinand earlier this summer.

Bryan Robson expects Robin van Persie to captain Manchester United next season.

With Lee Dixon left to carry the fight for ITV — and even he wouldn’t command much of a purse — it’s already turned into a straight battle off the field between RTÉ and BBC.

Former Manchester United stalwart Nicky Butt claims the failure of the club’s seasoned professionals to embrace change contributed to the downfall of manager David Moyes.

Roy Keane has never been afraid to tell it like it is, and his thoughts on Manchester United may cause a few sleepless nights around Old Trafford.

Former Manchester United striker Dwight Yorke has described Rio Ferdinand as “colossal” after the central defender announced he would be leaving the club.

Olly, that is. Rio's grand too.

Wayne Rooney has hit back at claims he dived to get Bayern Munich’s goalscorer Bastian Schweinsteiger sent off during the 1-1 Champions League quarter-final first leg at Old Trafford.

Manchester United might have snapped up Pep Guardiola last summer had it not been for Alex Ferguson’s thick Glaswegian accent.

Roy Keane believes that Manchester United should stick by embattled manager David Moyes but predicts that things will almost certainly get worse before they get better for the club.

West Ham fans have been ranked top of the league when it comes to witty terrace chants.

Manchester United manager David Moyes insists Rio Ferdinand still has a role to play at the club despite using the veteran defender sparingly this season.

Ballon d’Or winner Cristiano Ronaldo was pestered to rejoin Manchester United last summer by former team-mate Rio Ferdinand.

Manchester United manager David Moyes has confirmed Rio Ferdinand is among the players who have not flown to Ukraine ahead of tomorrow night’s Champions League encounter with Shakhtar Donetsk.

The family at the centre of the tapir attack which left a two-year-old girl with severe injuries was allowed into the animal’s enclosure because they were personal friends of the zookeeper.

It is understood the young girl who was mauled in Dublin Zoo by a Brazilian tapir is recovering well after treatment.

A toddler and her mother are recovering in hospital after being mauled in a zoo by a Brazilian tapir.

A two-year-old child is in a serious condition in hospital after a shock attack by a tapir at Dublin Zoo ripped muscles from its arm.

Manchester United defender Rio Ferdinand says he and his team-mates constantly gossip about transfer speculation “like fellas sitting in a pub”.

Rio Ferdinand’s testimonial will see Manchester United host Spanish side Sevilla on August 9.

Alex Ferguson has confirmed Anders Lindegaard will start his final game as Manchester United manager – and Nemanja Vidic and Rio Ferdinand will be on the bench.

On a night when the legendary Lester Piggott cut the ribbon to officially open the new entrance building at Tipperary racecourse, it was Robert Tyner’s Young Finnegan who stole the show in the Healy Partners’ Architects Maiden Hurdle.

Manchester United defender Rio Ferdinand has announced his retirement from England duty.

Rio Ferdinand has offered dressing room backing for the appointment of David Moyes as Manchester United’s new manager.

Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson has admitted the only way to satisfy the massive expectations at Old Trafford is to keep winning games.

West Ham manager Sam Allardyce will not face disciplinary action from the Football Association following comments made after his side’s 2-2 draw with Manchester United on Wednesday night.

Alex Ferguson is confident Rio Ferdinand will not be affected by any abuse from the stands as a result of his England withdrawal.

Alex Ferguson today revealed that he encouraged Rio Ferdinand to have face-to-face discussions with England manager Roy Hodgson over his international future.

England have been reported to FIFA by anti-racism body FARE after fans sang abusive songs about Rio and Anton Ferdinand during the match against San Marino.

Former England goalkeeper Peter Shilton believes Rio Ferdinand will regret his Three Lions snub.

Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson has hinted that it is not completely certain Rio Ferdinand will join up with England next week.

Manchester United captain Nemanja Vidic is feeling good about the progress he is making as he continues on the road to recovery from his knee problems.

Alex Ferguson still believes in the romance of the FA Cup — and feels his team are the hottest date of all.

Alex Ferguson believes Manchester City should worry if Manchester United are still top of the Barclays Premier League on New Year’s Day.

On the day Alex Ferguson refuted speculation Paul Scholes had decided to quit and insisted Ryan Giggs could extend his career for two more years, the Manchester United manager said he expects Jonny Evans to be at Old Trafford for another 10.