MIDFIELDER Gareth Barry is determined to keep Manchester City at the forefront of the Barclays Premier League title race.

ARSENE WENGER is aware Arsenal have a lot of ground to make up before they can be considered as Barclays Premier League title contenders.

RYAN GIGGS believes Manchester United are in indomitable form right now.

LIVERPOOL striker Luis Suarez will appeal his eight-game ban for racially abusing Patrice Evra, according to his lawyer.

CHRISTMAS EVE

ROBERTO MANCINI can enjoy the festive period safe in the knowledge his Manchester City side are perched at the summit of the Premier League table on Christmas Day for the first time since 1929 and if they continue to brush past opponents as easily as they did Stoke, it will be hard to see them removed.

AFTER the tumult and controversy in the Premier League over the last 48 hours, this victory was exactly what Manchester United would have wanted: simple and utterly comprehensive.

NOT content with providing a one-man barrier to prevent an eighth Liverpool away win in nine games, Wigan’s outstanding goalkeeper Ali Al Habsi even had the nerve to grab the shirt off Luis Suarez’s back.

ENGLISH football, which has been sitting smugly on the moral high ground in the battle against racism, even confident enough to lecture other countries on the issue, is suddenly waking up to the ugly smell of complacency this morning.

LUIS SUAREZ’S Uruguayan team-mates have rushed to support the Liverpool forward following his eight-match ban and £40,000 (€48,000) fine for racially abusing Manchester United defender Patrice Evra.

LIVERPOOL look certain to challenge the eight-match ban given to Luis Suarez after the striker was last night found guilty of racially abusing Patrice Evra.

MANCHESTER UNITED defender Chris Smalling admits he would not be where he is today without the two years he spent at Fulham. Smalling will show no mercy towards his old club tonight when United visit Craven Cottage hunting three more points in their quest to retain the Barclays Premier League title.

MANAGER Steve Kean looks doomed as Blackburn hit rock bottom of the Premier League last night following a calamitous loss to Bolton at Ewood Park.

ALAN PARDEW has challenged his Newcastle players to keep punching above their weight to maintain contact with the Premier League’s big boys.

BLACKBURN boss Steve Kean vowed to continue fighting for his job even though his fate may already have been sealed.

MICK McCARTHY believes Wolves winger Matt Jarvis has regained the form which won him an England cap ahead of this evening’s home Premier League clash with Norwich.

SIX title chasers; five London derbies; four festive fixtures; three real contenders; two six-pointers — and a Sturridge with Balotelli.

THERE might still be 171 days until Euro 2012 kicks off but Ireland’s pre-tournament plans are rapidly taking shape.

MANCHESTER CITY manager Roberto Mancini has raised the possibility of the world’s richest club not being able to fill their bench for Sunday’s mouthwatering FA Cup tie with Manchester United.

SUNDERLAND’S promising Irish defender John Egan has joined Championship side Crystal Palace on loan.