IF this really was Carlo Ancelotti’s first serious test as manager of Chelsea, the Italian passed it, and comfortably so.

RAFAEL BENITEZ last night insisted Liverpool are not out of the title race after suffering their third defeat of the season and predicted all of the Premier League’s so-called ‘big four’ will lose more games this year than in previous campaigns.

TWO Manchester United players, at different ends of their respective careers, will want to swiftly forget events at Old Trafford where their team required a deflected injury-time equaliser to scratch out a point against Sunderland.

LIVERPOOL captain Steven Gerrard believes he and his team-mates have answered their critics after they were written off earlier this season.

IT IS no longer about wanting to win for Manchester United. Wes Brown knows they have reached the stage where victory is now a must.

MICHAEL BALLACK believes Chelsea have once again demonstrated they possess the perfect mix needed to be champions.

MANCHESTER UNITED goalkeeper Edwin van der Sar is delighted to be back in action and is looking forward to facing Aston Villa tomorrow night.

THEO WALCOTT maintains when Arsenal get it right, they can “kill” any of their rivals for the Barclays Premier League title – but accepts the Gunners cannot afford any more off days.

DIDIER DROGBA finally found a way to eclipse John Terry in the headline stakes last night as he produced a powerful two-goal performance against Arsenal that not only sent Chelsea back to the top of the Premier League but re-focused attention away from off-field sexual intrigue and back to the more straightforward business of football.

BOTH Carlo Ancelotti and Arsene Wenger have refused to rule Arsenal out of the title race, even though they are now nine points behind leaders Chelsea in the Premier League.

THE major luxury for Alex Ferguson is that he rarely has to even think about what his strongest XI might be, but as Manchester United’s season belatedly begins to pick up some momentum, it is starting to show itself.

A SCORELESS stalemate may have done little to clarify the narrowing margins between the clutch of club with top four aspirations, but it spoke volumes about the strengths of Aston Villa and specifically the importance of Richard Dunne and Brad Friedel to their ambitions.

JOHN TERRY has been sensationally sacked as England captain.

PATIENCE has proved a virtue for Alex Ferguson after Nani’s devastating performances for Manchester United over the past fortnight.

AVRAM GRANT has challenged his Portsmouth players to believe in themselves and give everything for the cause as the Barclays Premier League’s bottom club look to pull of a shock at title-chasing Manchester United today.

CARLO ANCELOTTI says Chelsea can all but end Arsenal’s title hopes if they beat the Gunners in tomorrow’s crunch clash at Stamford Bridge.

ARSENE WENGER left tantalised Arsenal fans frustrated and none the wiser last night when he refused to reveal the star player he “very, very nearly” signed on the eve of Monday’s transfer deadline.

EVERTON boss David Moyes has warned Liverpool that the side standing in their way at Anfield today are of top-four quality.

ASTON VILLA manager Martin O’Neill has warned his players that they cannot afford to slip up against Tottenham at White Hart Lane today.

CHELSEA’S transfer ban was lifted yesterday after they were cleared of any wrongdoing over the transfer of Gael Kakuta.