FERNANDO TORRES’ stunning impact at Liverpool could well have seen the Spaniard play his way out of boss Rafael Benitez’s rotation system.

CHELSEA manager Avram Grant insists no decision has yet been taken on whether striker Didier Drogba will undergo an operation to solve a knee problem.

MORE than a quarter of the country’s 166 TDs are landlords, owning 112 properties for rent between them.

GARY NEVILLE is keen to mix it again with the Manchester United first team squad — even on a non-playing basis.

SUNDERLAND keeper Craig Gordon is hoping the comforts of home will provide a basis for Barclays Premier League survival.

END of season international friendlies haven’t always captured the imagination of the Irish players but John O’Shea reckons that this May will prove very different, as Giovanni Trapattoni takes charge for the first time and puts his squad through the rigours of a training camp and back-to-back matches against Serbia and Colombia.

THE top four clubs in England are set to enjoy a new European payday that will enable them to pull even further away from their domestic rivals.

THE success of football teams wearing red shirts — such as Manchester United, Liverpool, Arsenal and Nottingham Forest — is no coincidence, according to academics.

MANCHESTER UNITED’S most decorated player, Ryan Giggs, insists his focus remains on doing a job on the pitch and not coaching.

INTER MILAN will be boosted by the return of Cristian Chivu for their crunch Champions League clash against Liverpool.

CHELSEA’S season may be falling apart around them and Avram Grant’s job prospects disintegrating as we speak, but don’t rule out the potential of player power as the title race clicks back into gear this week.

CARLOS QUEIROZ is set to join Alex Ferguson in the FA dock after labelling referee Martin Atkinson “a robber.”

HARRY REDKNAPP will be able to stroll around the golf course without a care in the world when the draw for the FA Cup semi-finals is made this lunchtime.

SUNDERLAND manager Roy Keane admits he would have gone to prison had Sepp Blatter’s demand for some tackles to be made a criminal offence come into force while he was a player.

ARSENE WENGER insists he does not feel any more pressure this season to win a trophy – and revealed he does not rate some football managers who have been successful.

CLAUDIO PIZARRO is a rare specimen at Stamford Bridge: a transfer market acquisition by Jose Mourinho who has failed to live up to expectations.

THERE is no such thing as a lucky genius.

STEVEN REID wants Blackburn to banish an unwanted Premier League statistic.

OWEN HARGREAVES is determined to make up for lost time and help Manchester United retain the title.

OWEN HARGREAVES is determined to make up for lost time and help Manchester United retain the title.