ALEX FERGUSON’S 900th league game as Manchester United manager ended in a comfortable victory over Wolves at Old Trafford last night although the occasion was overshadowed by a controversial piece of team selection from his opposite number Mick McCarthy.

MANAGER Rafael Benitez will continue to shoulder the burden of criticism for his faltering Liverpool team as he has absolute faith in the methods which he expects his players to follow.

CHELSEA could be without 18-goal striker Didier Drogba for tonight’s clash with Portsmouth after the Ivory Coast international hurt his back in a training ground incident yesterday.

MANCHESTER CITY boss Mark Hughes has targeted crisis-club Liverpool.

FULHAM striker Andy Johnson has suffered another injury setback after being ruled out of tonight’s decisive Europa League clash with FC Basle.

ARSENE WENGER hopes he will not have to read his Arsenal players the riot act at half-time against Burnley tonight – and accepts the job of a modern-day manager is about more than just barking orders.

THE strength of Ryan Giggs’ enduring hunger for footballing success was underlined during the ceremony that saw him acclaimed as the BBC’s sports personality of the year.

ARSENE WENGER admits even he has been surprised by the speed and determination with which his Arsenal youngsters have marched back into the Barclays Premier League title race.

MARTIN O’NEILL believes Aston Villa’s understated celebrations after winning away to Manchester United is a clear indication his players will not get carried away with their current success.

WOLVES boss Mick McCarthy has fired out a “hands off Kevin Doyle” message ahead of tonight’s clash with Manchester United.

JAMIE CARRAGHER has admitted he “prays to God” every night to help Liverpool win the FA Cup or the Europa League.

OPTIMISM is one of the prerequisite requirements of being a Premier League manager and, while the supporters who were forced to endure this tepid affair might not agree, both Sam Allardyce and Phil Brown found reasons to be cheerful.

CRAIG BELLAMY has little doubt about the way he is viewed by the outside world and even claimed on his arrival at Eastlands that his autobiography – not that he would ever write one – would be called ‘Don’t Google me’.

A new year is looming and, given the events of the last 12 months, nobody will be celebrating with more gusto when the clock strikes midnight on December 31 than Kevin Doyle.

A job done and a test passed, perhaps, but this is only a small step for Arsenal against a team that has now lost 10 games this season and was chasing the game with Philipp Degen leading the attack.

PETR CECH has hit back at a section of Chelsea supporters who turned on their team during Saturday’s frenetic meeting with Everton.

IT took just over two hours for Stamford Bridge to lose its collective scowl on Saturday.

CHELSEA coach Carlo Ancelotti has given four key players permission to go to the African Nations Cup early.

ALEX FERGUSON insists he has cash to spend in the January transfer window – but he does not expect to find any bargains.

MANCHESTER UNITED tackle Wigan at Old Trafford tonight with Alex Ferguson admitting he would have gladly accepted being two points adrift of Chelsea in the depth of his defensive injury crisis.