WILLIAM GALLAS has expressed sympathy for the malcontents within Arsenal’s squad as Arsene Wenger attempts to quell a mini-rebellion at the club.

RIO FERDINAND has claimed Manchester United would have accepted their present Premier League position if they had been offered it at the start of the campaign — but it has still been a horrible Christmas for the England star.

OLD TRAFFORD is like a “police state” which leaves supporters paralysed by fear, a spokesman from the Independent Manchester United Supporters Association claimed yesterday.

SILENT NIGHT was supposed to have been over a week ago, but Manchester United’s success-spoilt supporters departed Old Trafford with the criticism of Alex Ferguson ringing in their ears after Carlos Tevez’s solitary goal secured the victory that keeps the champions within touching distance of Arsenal as the race for the Premiership title enters its most telling phase.

SUNDERLAND boss Roy Keane admits his players face another stern test of their Premier League credentials at Blackburn tonight.

ALEX FERGUSON does not blame Alex McLeish for walking out on Scotland.

SUNDERLAND striker Daryl Murphy is happy to fight for his place on Wearside but admits his future is up in the air.

THEY say that luck is a lady but Chelsea are eternally grateful this morning that on Saturday she was wearing green, carrying a flag and looking distinctly masculine.

THE whisky will be drawn from the finest vintage, the tumbler made from the most elegant cut glass, but there will still be a bitter after-taste to Alex Ferguson’s new year’s dram this evening.

HAVING the backbone for the fight is a prerequisite in the hurly-burly of the Premier League, and Kieran Richardson appreciates that more than most.

SUNDERLAND manager Roy Keane has likened his punch-drunk Sunderland side to a boxer on the ropes as they attempt to fight their way out of a corner.

MIKO DE BEAUCHENE gave his trainer Robert Alner the best possible compensation for a Christmas spent in hospital as he grabbed the Coral Welsh National in the final strides.

MANAGER Rafael Benitez emerged from the prospect of an embarrassing 1-1 draw at Derby to see Liverpool’s title ambitions improve.

ARSENAL boss Arsene Wenger is unconcerned that his team have lost their lead at the top of the Premier League heading into the new year.

EVERTON manager David Moyes praised Phil Neville as the club captain shrugged off a bout of sickness to score his first goal of the season.

IN A classic sorcerer versus apprentice contest, Roy Keane fell under the spell of one-time mentor Alex Ferguson. Yet it was Cristiano Ronaldo, ably assisted by Wayne Rooney, who conjured the magic that mesmerised Sunderland and exacerbated the unfolding crisis on Wearside.

IF Cristiano Ronaldo was in any doubt about his importance to Manchester United’s title hopes they were emphatically dismissed by Alex Ferguson’s admission of the growing expectations placed on the 22-year-old.

EL CLASICO once again lived up to its billing as Real Madrid traded blow for blow with Barcelona in Camp Nou on Sunday night and won to establish a commanding seven-point lead at the top of La Liga.

ROY Keane does not believe he is immune from the sacking virus that has swept through the Premier League but has not yet reached the north-east. After all, it happened to Brian Clough, the first great manager to give him a platform.

ARSENE WENGER had to be reminded on Saturday that Christmas was looming. “What day is it this year?” he asked. “The 25th?”