Billo was a man who truly made himself at home on telly, and invited us all in.

In the foreword of John Giles’s book The Great And The Good, Eamon Dunphy told us: “John is undemonstrative by nature. But his passion for the game is real and deeply felt.”

RTÉ’S RATING WAR MASKS THE REAL ONE

Eamon Dunphy and Kenny Cunningham seriously disagreed about John Terry’s importance for England.

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.

Roy Keane’s latest 11th-hour World Cup withdrawal dealt a massive blow to ITV’s drawing power in Ireland, suggests the results of a new survey.

Former Liverpool captain Ronnie Whelan believes the current crop of Reds are finishing the season stronger than their rivals and that gives them the best chance of winning the title.

Former Liverpool captain Ronnie Whelan believes the current crop of Reds are finishing the season stronger than their rivals and that gives them the best chance of winning the title.

The temptation to bill tomorrow’s meeting of Manchester United and Liverpool as a clash of red empires is almost irresistible — with no prizes for guessing which red empire is on the rise and which in decline.

Didi Hamann has dismissed Arsene Wenger’s suggestion that Wojciech Szczesny’s red card in the first leg was the decisive moment in Arsenal’s 3-1 aggregate Champions League defeat to Bayern Munich.

Controversy just seems to linger around Joey Barton and last night the former Newcastle and QPR midfielder became embroiled in a more extended exchange than usual — this time with former German international Didi Hamann, and again, on Twitter.

Enough’s enough for Eamo but Brady won’t abandon Trap’s ship just yet

What channel to watch? Who has hired the bluffers and who has the gems? Des O’Driscoll tunes television viewers into Euro 2012

HE HAS played for Franz Beckenbauer, Rafa Benitez, Kenny Dalglish, Gerard Houllier, Otto Rehhagel, Berti Vogts and Rudi Voller, but as far as Didi Hamann is concerned Giovanni Trapattoni is simply the best.

Manchester City manager Mark Hughes could be without striker Craig Bellamy but expects top-scorer Robinho to be fit for selection against Arsenal tomorrow.

MARK HUGHES scored 164 goals in 470 appearances for Manchester United and collected a string of medals along the way but insists his heart now lies at Eastlands, not Old Trafford.

Bolton manager Sam Allardyce fears he will miss out in his bid to bring Igor Tudor to the Reebok Stadium.

RAFAEL BENITEZ will turn to “big names to solve big problems” when he sends out a patched-up Liverpool at the Stadio Delle Alpi tonight in a bid to reach the last four of the Champions League.

Liverpool tonight received confirmation that striker Milan Baros will be out of action for at least three weeks with a hamstring injury.

Liverpool legend John Barnes has welcomed the imminent return to action of Steven Gerrard this weekend – but feels another raid on La Liga for Fernando Morientes and Pablo Aimar could solve the club’s current striking crisis.

Harry Kewell hopes he can reproduce the form that once impressed new Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez on his last visit to Old Trafford.

GERARD HOULLIER has warned Champions League chasing Liverpool they face a wounded animal when they confront the Premiership leaders Arsenal today at Highbury.

Gerard Houllier has warned Champions League chasing Liverpool that they will face a “wounded animal” when they confront the Premiership leaders Arsenal on Good Friday at Highbury.

GERARD HOULLIER felt the lash of phone-in tongues after an opening-day defeat but insisted his Liverpool can live with the best.

Gerard Houllier felt the lash of the phone-in tongues again after an opening-day defeat but insisted his Liverpool can live with the best.

Liverpool legend Ian Rush has told Steven Gerrard to go out and prove Reds boss Gerard Houllier wrong.

MICHAEL OWEN is a ‘‘split second’’ away from his scoring best claims Liverpool boss Gerard Houllier.

Michael Owen is a “split second” away from his scoring best claims Liverpool boss Gerard Houllier.

Liverpool 2 Birmingham City 2