OUR football correspondent LIAM MACKEY is back in top form and full of energy.

AS Torres’ second went in, to give the jammy Scousers their laboured win against a Chelsea side unfairly reduced to ten men, few could resist the temptation to declare this the week that the title race finally became a proper Red v Red death-match for the first time in almost 30 years. If Rafa can avoid reproducing his Keegan impression, that is.

ROY KEANE is backing derby rival Kevin Keegan to mount a renewed challenge for the Premier League title with Newcastle — but admits the big four clubs are “on a different planet’ to Sunderland.

The battle to sign England’s most promising young player began in earnest today when Everton striker Wayne Rooney handed in a transfer request.