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.

The financial services sector is like a runaway train and must be sidetracked.

Bayern Munich 0 Real Madrid 4 (Real Madrid win 5-0 on aggregate)

Manchester United midfielder Adnan Januzaj will be included in Belgium’s preliminary World Cup squad, head coach Marc Wilmots has confirmed.

In the afterglow of Ryan Giggs’ first game as Manchester United’s interim manager, many influential voices within football believe the Welsh man should be given the job on a full-time basis.

Roy Keane has distanced himself from speculation that he could be returning to Old Trafford, saying that he feels “lucky” to be the assistant manager of Ireland and is focused on helping the national team qualify for the finals of Euro 2016.

Roy Keane says he has no problem with professional footballers being rewarded with “the houses and the Bentleys and the blondes” — as long as they don’t forget it’s hard work which underpins their success.

Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers has introduced an Irish dimension to his vision for the club by personally involving himself in the successful pursuit of 14-year-old Dubliner Glen McAuley.

Champions League semi-final second-leg

There is the legend that is Roy Keane and there are the urban legends about Roy Keane.

Per Mertesacker has warned Arsenal must “switch off” from the frustration and disappointment of their Champions League defeat to Bayern Munich to avoid losing ground in the domestic title race.