The irony is so thick Wayne Rooney could plaster it across his forehead and save a fortune in hair treatment; because after years of lauding Manchester United for their loyalty, shameless critics are now calling for manager David Moyes to be sacked after less than 12 months in the job.

The contentious ‘Chosen One’ banner will remain on display at Old Trafford despite a growing clamour for it to be removed in the wake of Manchester United’s increasingly woeful season under David Moyes.

Roy Keane believes that Manchester United should stick by embattled manager David Moyes but predicts that things will almost certainly get worse before they get better for the club.

Much to the derision, one suspects, of Manchester United’s current crop of flops, Paul Scholes transposed his uncompromising style of play into punditry for the derby last night.

Manchester United 0 Manchester City 3

Tim Sherwood’s infamous rant after Tottenham’s defeat at Chelsea last week has raised more questions than it has provided answers.

Eventually, Graeme Souness got to the issue that was really bothering him — beyond the actual results. It was April 1993 and an ailing Liverpool had lost 4-1 at Blackburn Rovers.

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.

David Moyes admits Liverpool are favourites to beat his Manchester United side tomorrow.

A groundbreaking week, in many ways, as we have Joey Barton to thank for defining, at long last, the morality of sport.

Colm Herron owner of the Hillgrove Hotel with Norah Casey on the new series of ‘The Takeover’, beginning on RTÉ Two on Thursday.

An American investment firm has acquired a quarter of all Manchester United shares available on the New York Stock Exchange.

Newcastle manager Alan Pardew, right, has been handed a record seven-match ban — including a three-game stadium exclusion — for head-butting Hull midfielder David Meyler.

West Ham fans have been ranked top of the league when it comes to witty terrace chants.

It hardly carried the glamour or gravitas of an induction into Cooperstown or Springfield, it wasn’t like there was a Larry Bird to welcome his Magic Johnson into this particular Hall of Fame, but there was something particularly pleasing about seeing Ronnie Whelan being honoured at the FAI International Awards on Sunday.

Cork legend Roy Keane may be returning to the bosom of his native city as his former Ipswich home has been put on the market again for a cool £3.5m (€4.29m).

Ryan Giggs was pictured in the Netherlands yesterday for a meeting with Manchester United’smanager-in-waiting, Louis van Gaal.

Arsene Wenger is confident Arsenal will not wilt under the pressure of their nine-year trophy drought when they take on Hull in the FA Cup final.

Cardiff earned more from finishing bottom of the Premier League this season than Manchester United earned as champions the previous campaign, it has been announced.

Never mind striding out at Wembley, there was a time David Meyler feared he might not walk properly again.