Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson almost outdid Steve Coppell in the changes stakes today as United tackled Reading for a place in the FA Cup sixth round.

GOALS from Didier Drogba, Frank Lampard and substitute Salomon Kalou kept Chelsea in touch with leaders Manchester United at the top of the Barclays Premiership.

Chelsea recalled Michael Ballack and Claude Makelele to their line-up for the visit of Blackburn Rovers.

SHEFFIELD WEDNESDAY manager Brian Laws has warned close friend Stuart Pearce there will be “no easy ride” for Manchester City in their FA Cup third-round replay.

Thierry Henry’s neck injury ruled the striker out of Arsenal’s Barclays Premiership clash against derby rivals Tottenham at the Emirates Stadium.

Chelsea v West Ham

REFEREE Graham Poll walked from the Goodison Park pitch with the home fans howling “cheat” at the World Cup official as Arsenal booked their place in the Carling Cup quarter-finals.

Wigan boss Paul Jewell made three enforced changes for the Barclays Premiership clash with Wigan at Craven Cottage.

Manchester United chief Alex Ferguson will bring back Gary Neville and Ryan Giggs for today’s Premiership match against Liverpool, with Wes Brown and Ronaldo – who has missed two days of training with a hamstring injury – dropping to the bench.

Arsenal started life at the Emirates Stadium without want-away defender Ashley Cole against Aston Villa – but there was a place on the bench for England starlet Theo Walcott for the first time in the Premiership.

LIVERPOOL midfielder Xabi Alonso will undergo a scan after an ankle injury made him a major doubt for the FA Cup final.

Premiership results

Premiership half-time scores

Premiership team sheets

Ashley Cole gave England a boost on the day Steve McClaren was named the new manager.

WEST HAM boss Alan Pardew was faced with a mounting FA Cup final headache after injuries to two star men tarnished his side’s win at doomed West Brom.

Sheffield United 1 Leeds 1

Arsenal skipper Thierry Henry was left on the bench by Arsene Wenger for this afternoon’s clash with Manchester United.

Manchester United 1 West Ham 0

Chelsea paid tribute to Peter Osgood before the first home game since the sudden death of their legendary striker.

Middlesbrough striker Mark Viduka was handed his first start for a month with Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink out with a virus.

Liverpool 1 Arsenal 0

Arsenal v Bolton

Everton’s injury problems worsened before the FA Cup tie with Chelsea when striker James Beattie pulled out with a calf injury.

Man Utd 2 Blackburn 1 (3-2 on aggr.)

Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson fielded the same line-up that finished Sunday’s last-gasp 1-0 victory over Liverpool for the second leg of his side’s Carling Cup semi-final with Blackburn.

Bolton v Man City

Chris Sutton made his debut for struggling Birmingham in today’s Barclays Premiership clash at Charlton.

All the teams for today's early kick-offs in the Premiership.

Tonight's Premiership teams

Birmingham 0 Aston Villa 1

Liverpool: Reina, Finnan, Carragher, Hyypia, Traore, Hamann, Luis Garcia, Gerrard, Alonso, Riise, Crouch. Subs: Cisse, Josemi, Carson, Sissoko, Sinama Pongolle.

Teams for all today's 3pm kick-offs in the Premiership.

Bolton 0 Blackburn 0

Bolton: Jaaskelainen, Campo, Ben Haim, N’Gotty, Pedersen, Giannakopoulos, Nolan, Okocha, Speed, Diouf, Davies. Subs: Hunt, Gardner, Walker, Nakata, Borgetti.

Chelsea’s record signing Michael Essien was given a place on the bench as Jose Mourinho made one change from the side that earned a last-gasp victory over Wigan last weekend.

Everton went for an extra midfielder for their Premiership opener against Manchester United at Goodison Park.

Arsenal 3 Liverpool 1

Fulham 1 Newcastle 3

Teams ahead of this afternoon's Premiership action.

West Brom 1 Everton 0

MANCHESTER UNITED believe they are back in the Premiership title race after a remarkable 4-2 victory at Arsenal last night.