ALEX FERGUSON last night accused Fernando Torres of simulation in an effort to have Manchester United defender John O’Shea sent off in a pulsating meeting between the bitter rivals at Old Trafford.

A RECORD of five wins and 21 goals in five games so far this season, culminating in yesterday’s routine 4-0 victory over Blackpool, suggests Premier League leaders Chelsea are out-and-out favourites to retain their crown in 2011; but even manager Carlo Ancelotti admits that theory will not truly be tested until next weekend.

SUNDERLAND striker Darren Bent is plotting the downfall of more of the Barclays Premier League big guns after having his own say in the title race once again.

YAYA TOURE is loving the scrap for points with Manchester City.

LIVERPOOL manager Roy Hodgson hopes a fully-refreshed Fernando Torres and Steven Gerrard will provide the spearhead for victory against Manchester United at Old Trafford tomorrow.

ALEX FERGUSON has revealed he had to step in and stop Dimitar Berbatov beating himself up about his Manchester United performances.

OUR football correspondent LIAM MACKEY is back in top form and full of energy.

RARELY has Kevin Doyle looked forward so much to hot-footing it back to Dublin.

THESE are difficult times for Manchester United.

EDWIN van der Sar left Sunderland bemoaning more dropped points having spared Manchester United further pain.

PADRAIG HARRINGTON put his time to good use at Celtic Manor when the rain came down on the Ryder Cup and play was suspended for seven hours and 18 minutes as he and Luke Donald played American rookies Bubba Watson and Jeff Overton.

CHELSEA assistant coach Ray Wilkins is hoping that Carlo Ancelotti’s love of football will help him cope with the loss of his father.

ALEX FERGUSON is happy to let Fabio Capello decide whether Wayne Rooney is fit enough to report for England duty next week.

MANCHESTER CITY have swept past Manchester United in the pay league for players, the club’s annual report yesterday revealed.

FORMER Northern Ireland international Keith Gillespie has been declared bankrupt, it was revealed yesterday.

LIVERPOOL manager Roy Hodgson felt his side earned a good point despite a disappointing performance in their goalless Europa League draw in Utrecht last night.

RANGERS joined Manchester United at the top of Group C as they beat Bursaspor 1-0 at Ibrox last night.

MANCHESTER United new-boy Javier Hernandez chose the perfect time to net his first competitive goal for the Red Devils as his 85th-minute winner proved too much for Valencia.

SOUTH KOREA skipper Park Ji-sung is challenging his team-mates to write themselves into the history books by reaching the World Cup semi-finals.

FLORENT MALOUDA fears the French players may always have to live with the shame of a chaotic World Cup campaign.