FERNANDO TORRES has for so long kept Rafa Benitez’s reputation intact at Anfield and he came riding to the rescue of his countryman last night to prove the Spanish manager is writing cheques his team can cash at Anfield and that he may just be able to deliver on his guarantee of a top four finish this season.

ALEX FERGUSON believes Manchester United are a different proposition heading into the second half of the season as injuries start to ease.

AS HE peered through the fog that shrouded Molineux last night, Roberto Mancini will have been acutely aware that he cannot possibly visualise a future at Manchester City without Craig Bellamy.

CARLO ANCELOTTI described this dramatic but fortunate victory over Fulham as one of the most important results of his Chelsea tenure after his team shrugged off an alarming dip in form to re-ignite their title challenge.

ANDY DAWSON handed Sir Alex Ferguson a belated Christmas present with a second half own goal at the KC Stadium to help gift Manchester United what could prove to be a crucial victory in the race for the Premier League title.

CARLO ANCELOTTI is convinced he can still mastermind a Premier League title – but has admitted it is more than simply a straight scrap between him and Alex Ferguson.

ALEX FERGUSON believes experience could become the decisive factor in deciding the title race this season after watching Manchester United overcome Hull City to close the gap on leaders Chelsea to just two points.

ARSENAL may have beaten Aston Villa yesterday but Hull City midfielder Stephen Hunt has dismissed their hopes of winning a first title since 2004.

CESC FABREGAS will find out today if he faces another three weeks out with a hamstring injury but Arsene Wenger has defended his decision to rush the midfielder back to action against Aston Villa yesterday.

ON the second day of Christmas, Portsmouth gave to West Ham three vital points, for the second year in succession.

ROY HODGSON rued his side’s missed chances as Spurs escaped from Craven Cottage with a point after Fulham failed to capitalise on their superiority in Saturday’s Barclays Premier League clash.

MANCHESTER UNITED manage Alex Ferguson led the tributes to “Busby Babe” Albert Scanlon, describing him as a “pleasant and delightful man.”

CARLO ANCELOTTI is happy to rely on his young strikers to help Chelsea through one of the most critical periods of the season.

THERE’S no sign of a thaw in the big freeze in relations between the FAI and FIFA after John Delaney branded Sepp Blatter an “embarrassment” and revealed that an offer of a Fair Play gong – due to be presented at last night’s World Player of the Year bash in Zurich – had been turned down.

JOSE MOURINHO admits his former employers Chelsea will not fear his Inter side ahead of their Champions League last-16 meeting next year.

CRISTIANO RONALDO admits he is missing life at Manchester United but insists he made the right choice to move to Real Madrid.

AFTER 12 years at Newcastle United, serving eight different managers, Shay Given thought nothing could surprise him in football – until Saturday.

CARLO ANCELOTTI admits Chelsea’s standards are buckling under the weight of a gruelling festive programme, despite seeing them stretch their lead at the top of the Premier League to four points at West Ham last night.

A keenly disputed penalty, converted three times by a nerveless Frank Lampard, ensured Chelsea extended their lead at the head of the Premier League but the performance of Carlo Ancelotti’s side was anything but championship class.

“SO. Farewell, then, Mark Hughes.