Even as Philippe Coutinho injected hope into Liverpool’s chances of reeling in Borussia Dortmund in their Europa League quarter-final second leg at Anfield last week, Clare senior football selector David O’Brien was momentarily distracted.

Britain: A man who opened a parcel addressed to his new home was horrified to discover a large and potentially aggressive tarantula inside.

ENGLAND: A primary school head teacher has apologised for pupils’ nightmares after clips from Michael Jackson’s ‘Thriller’ were shown in class.

A Limerick father whose bicycle was stolen during a charity cycling event in Liverpool has told of his joy that a campaign to help his sick daughter has been launched in the British city.

Tomorrow’s meeting of Liverpool and Manchester City is probably the most eagerly anticipated Premier League game for neutrals this season, as England’s two highest-scoring teams meet in a game which will go a long way to deciding the outcome of the 2014 title race.

This season’s Premier League is one of the most exciting we have witnessed in many years.

As Far As I Know

Cilla Black breaks all the rules. Aged 70, she shouldn’t be pouring us glasses of champagne at 11.30am, after a night out on the town.

Most of the English-speaking world’s view of the 20th century is neatly enough book-ended by two entirely avoidable human tragedies.

The biggest strike in Britain for over 30 years got under way today with schools, hospitals, courts, transport and government hit by a walkout involving up to two million workers.

THE town of Schull is making final preparations ahead of Sunday’s opening ceremony of the ISAF Team Racing World Championship that will bring a spotlight on the West Cork sailing centre.

PLAIN truths spoken in Melwood yesterday morning.

I’M not saying I’m a jinx but no sooner had I predicted that Liverpool would win the league last season than they started badly, never recovered and ended up dropping out of the top four.

WHAT a sublime-to-the-ridiculous week for travelling Reds.

NOT everyone at Anfield lost their head during the 213th Merseyside derby.

AN IMPORTANT part of the work of a responsible, professional journalist such as myself is research. Or, as we like to call it in the trade: Talking To A Local Taxi Driver On The Day Of The Game.

THE American Richard Rodgers — of Rodgers and Hammerstein fame — wrote over 900 songs for 40 Broadway musicals but he could never have imagined any of his compositions being chorused at a wintry GAA pitch in Carrick-in-Shannon.

DARREN O’NEILL can’t wait to don the gloves and get his European boxing championships campaign underway in Liverpool.

RAFAEL BENITEZ will give his supporting cast the chance to shine today in Liverpool’s first pre-season friendly.

John Terry is determined to use the hurt of two previous Champions League semi-final defeats by Liverpool to help Chelsea make club history.

HE’S BEEN at Anfield man and boy, as a supporter and as a player, so if anyone knows about the quality of Mersey it’s John Aldridge.

Donald McCain has hailed Whiteoak as “just about” the best mare in the country after her near-miss against the boys at Aintree.

Harry Kewell is expected to return to full training at Liverpool next week.

Liverpool misfit Anthony Le Tallec could be heading back to France on a permanent basis after it was made clear he has no future at Anfield.

Liverpool is more likely to be known as a destination for boozy nights out and soccer trips, but its golf history is significant.

Liverpool is more likely to be known as a destination for boozy nights out and soccer trips, but its golf history is significant.

A PAIR of “feral” teenagers who subjected a harmless drifter to months of bullying before savagely beating and tossing him into a river were jailed for life yesterday.

The takeover of Liverpool was thrown into confusion tonight when the club’s board met in a London Docklands hotel – ahead of the game at West Ham – and did not formally accept the bid from Dubai International Capital.

DUTCH GOAL ace Dirk Kuyt refuses to be deflated by Liverpool’s exit from the FA Cup as the Anfield men prepare to face Arsenal for the second time in four days.

Dutch goal ace Dirk Kuyt refuses to be deflated by Liverpool’s exit from the FA Cup as the Anfield men prepare to face Arsenal for the second time in four days.

FRANK LAMPARD insists he has not taken his last Chelsea penalty despite handing the job to Michael Ballack.

If Liverpool fans have any doubts about new signing Jermaine Pennant’s commitment to Anfield, they need only listen to his memories of the club’s Champions League triumph in Istanbul to be convinced.

STEVE BRUCE has been assured by Birmingham co-owner David Sullivan that his job is safe “for the foreseeable future” despite the humiliation of the club’s worst defeat in 48 years.

Everton will be without suspended duo Phil Neville and Mikel Arteta for the Barclays Premiership relegation battle at Sunderland tomorrow.

Everton 1 Liverpool 3

Everton avoided city neighbours Liverpool in the draw for the final qualifying round of the Champions League only to land equally-daunting opposition in Villarreal, one of the most impressive sides in Spain last season.

As Liverpool await their Champions League fate, the prospect of a nightmare fixture pile-up before the season has even started faces the European Cup winners.

UEFA chief Lennart Johansson has hinted Liverpool may not have to wait much longer to find out their Champions League destiny.

Liverpool have been given cause for optimism as they await a decision over their Champions League fate.

The UK’s second biggest port operator said today it remained on track for a £780m (€1.1bn) takeover by the owner of Liverpool’s John Lennon Airport.

THOSE who still advocate the ‘Bertiebowl’ over the redevelopment of dear old Lansdowne Road should take a trip from the centre of Istanbul out to the Ataturk Olympic Stadium, where tonight’s Champions’ League final between Liverpool and AC Milan will be played in front of 70,000 people.

Liverpool fans are beginning to see why Rafael Benitez considers Luis Garcia pivotal to the club’s short and long-term success.