AS Manchester United and Juventus consolidated their places at the top of Group D, the shock of the night was recorded by Swiss champions FC Basel who edged out Deportivo Coruna 1-0 to earn their first win in the second phase of the Champions League.

BRYAN ROBSON is the bookies' firm favourite to take over as manager of Ireland's soccer squad.

RUSSIA will introduce to international football a player said to be quicker than Michael Owen when they play Ireland today in the opening match of the European Under-21 Championship in Moscow.

CHELSEA have revealed that they would be prepared to spend £60million on Ruud van Nistelrooy if the Dutchman became available – and up to £100m on a single player if the need arose.

MANCHESTER UNITED manager Sir Alex Ferguson is under investigation by South African police following a complaint of indecent assault.

ALEX FERGUSON has stressed the importance of a successful Christmas period as Manchester United aim to crank up the pressure on title favourites Chelsea.

FINANCIAL expert Keith Harris last night warned the banks which funded the Glazer family’s Old Trafford takeover will be “sharpening their knives” following Manchester United’s shock Champions League exit.

ARSENAL are prepared to break their transfer record to ensure Arsene Wenger keeps one step ahead of Manchester United after posting their best ever financial results.

A LEADING football business analyst has rubbished claims Peter Kenyon can turn Chelsea into a "normal business" inside five years.

DAVID BECKHAM is set to wear the No 11 jersey at Real Madrid – after it was revealed he has agreed to fall in with the club’s policy on player sponsorship contracts.

GEORGE BEST was tonight back in the pub where he was said to have begun drinking again less than a year after his life-saving liver transplant.

THE transfer market is “dead” because no Barclays Premiership club truly believes it is capable of overhauling Chelsea, according to leading football business analyst Professor Tom Cannon.

DUTCH star Jan Kromkamp already feels at home at Liverpool, having helped inflict defeat on two of the club's main rivals.

RUUD VAN NISTELROOY has admitted it will take a long time to get over the sudden departure of Roy Keane from Manchester United.

THE STARK reality of Liverpool’s standing in the current football hierarchy was expressed in the bluntest of terms by Steven Gerrard, following this latest episode of frustration fourth place is the best that Gerard Houllier’s side can hope for.

MANCHESTER United boss Alex Ferguson has branded this season's loss of 14 points to the Premiership's lesser lights as 'unacceptable'.

ARSENE WENGER is convinced he was right to curtail his spending this summer — but he believes Chelsea’s £100 million outlay has automatically put them among the favourites for the Barclaycard Premiership title.

Manchester United 1 West Ham 0