West Ham manager Alan Curbishley made one change from the side which beat Derby 2-1 at Upton Park last week, as striker Dean Ashton’s recovery from injury allowed him to start at the expense of youngster Freddie Sears, who did not make the bench this time.

IRELAND’S new management team have only just got their feet under the desk in Abbotstown, but already they must be wondering why their presence was demanded in the first place.

Tottenham 4 West Ham 0

Reading 2 Manchester City 0

IT is unclear whether Nicolas Anelka saw the man holding a banner stating “It is time to seek the lord” outside the JJB Stadium on Saturday.

Wigan boss Steve Bruce is confident Michael Brown will avoid any Football Association charge following an off-the-ball incident with Chelsea captain Claude Makelele.

Wigan 1 Chelsea 2

Newcastle 4 Stoke 1

Newcastle 4 Stoke 1

MARTIN O’NEILL is hopeful Aston Villa defender Martin Laursen will finally agree to sign a new contract this week.

Aston Villa 3 Reading 1

OUR normal host Liam Mackey has been unexpectedly called away for more pressing New Year’s Eve duties so this week we’re calling occasional substitute Allan Prosser from the bench to mediate over your angry views and decide who will win the first glittering prize of 2008.

OUR normal host Liam Mackey has been unexpectedly called away for more pressing New Year’s Eve duties so this week we’re calling occasional substitute Allan Prosser from the bench to mediate over your angry views and decide who will win the first glittering prize of 2008.

Star man Elano was back for Manchester City but there was no place in Sven-Goran Eriksson’s starting line-up for Rolando Bianchi as the Blues tackle Liverpool at Eastlands looking to jump above their visitors into fourth.

Sunderland 0 Manchester United 4

Referees chief Keith Hackett has confirmed Phil Dowd did not take advice from the fourth official before sending off Robbie Keane in a recent Premier League match.

Manchester City 0 Liverpool 0

Substitute Salomon Kalou scored in injury time to keep Chelsea’s Barclays Premiership hopes alive as they moved back to within six points of leaders Manchester United.

Everton 1 Spurs 2

Tottenham gave Everton a lesson in attacking football to win only their second away match in the league this season.

Nicky Forster came off the bench to claim an FA Cup third round replay for Hull as Barclays Premiership Middlesbrough were made to pay for missed chances.

Man City 2 Everton 1

Georgios Samaras put 17 games of goalscoring misery behind him to net the second-half double that allowed Manchester City to welcome the new year on a winning note at Eastlands.

Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez admits the next month is an important one for his team but he will not be paying too much attention to the Barclays Premiership table.

Liverpool 4 Fulham 0

Portsmouth 2 Aston Villa 2

DARYL MURPHY and Grant Leadbitter fired Sunderland to a deserved win over QPR as Roy Keane’s side continued their steady rise up the Coca-Cola Championship table.

The Football Association have confirmed they will contact Preston regarding their stadium announcer’s comments about referee Uriah Rennie.

DAVID MOYES claimed Everton were denied a blatant penalty in their 1-1 draw against Blackburn at Ewood Park.

Birmingham 2 Blackburn 1

Newcastle 3 Wigan 1

Portsmouth 1 Arsenal 1

West Brom 0 Liverpool 2

PORTSMOUTH forward Lomana LuaLua has been warned as to his future conduct by the FA after admitting a charge of improper conduct.

Blackburn 1 Arsenal 0

Birmingham midfielder Damien Johnson has lost his appeal against his sending-off in Wednesday’s 1-1 draw with Liverpool at Anfield and will have to serve a three-match ban.

Birmingham midfielder Damien Johnson has made a claim for wrongful dismissal against his red card at Anfield last night.

Liverpool 1 Birmingham 1

Liverpool 1 Birmingham 1

Two-goal hero Kieran Richardson breathed fresh life into his World Cup claims as Manchester United romped into the FA Cup fifth round.

Gary O’Neil will face no action from the Football Association following comments the Portsmouth midfielder made after his team’s defeat at Tottenham.

West Ham 2 Fulham 1

West Ham 2 Fulham 1

Everton 3 Charlton 1