STEVEN GERRARD will use Liverpool’s two Champions League matches against Chelsea to dispel any lingering doubts about where his loyalties lie after the two English clubs were paired in the group stages.

STUART PEARCE is ready to wrap Andy Cole in cotton wool to ensure he is fresh enough to spearhead Manchester City's bid for Europe.

UEFA are to investigate possible links between Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich and Russian side CSKA Moscow after both clubs were drawn in the same group of the Champions League yesterday.

ONE of the letters sitting on my desk on my return after a couple of weeks spent with the Republic of Ireland squad in Dublin had a Cork postmark, contained a cutting from the Star newspaper and no cover note.

RIO FERDINAND yesterday pleaded his case in front of Football Association chiefs as he was left to await a decision on whether he faces a misconduct charge for failing to take a drugs test.

THE blond youngster already knew what he wanted to be when he grew up.

OLE GUNNAR SOLSKJAER will meet up with old pal Henning Berg next week, with the Champions League ‘Battle of Britain’ uppermost in their minds.

DISGRACED Newcastle midfielder Lee Bowyer looks likely to face further punishment in the wake of his on-pitch brawl with team-mate Kieron Dyer.

ROBERT PIRES would love to extend his stay with Arsenal, but Gunners’ boss Arsene Wenger maintains there is no provision to automatically offer the 31-year-old a new 12-month deal when his current contract expires.

ROY KEANE is enjoying the dressing room banter at Celtic but insists he will never become too close with any of his new team-mates.

MALCOLM GLAZER will spend next week trying to work out the best way to persuade Irish duo John Magnier and JP McManus to part with their 28.9% stake in Manchester United.

A MULTI-million pound international counterfeiting operation has been smashed in a joint operation between police in the North and gardaí.

WHEN you have faced up to your mortality as recently as Liverpool manager Gerard Houllier, it is advisable to keep sport in perspective.

ALEX FERGUSON declared Ruud van Nistelrooy was back to his very best as he hailed Manchester United’s young line-up as a vision of the future after rediscovering their attacking zest at Fulham.

MANCHESTER UNITED will attempt to resolve the mystery surrounding David Beckham’s future once and for all this summer

RTÉ YESTERDAY unveiled their schedule for live Premiership coverage on Saturday afternoons.

THERE are no prizes for guessing the gift that Ireland’s captain, Kenny Cunningham, about to make his 50th international appearance, wants from this afternoon’s game against Russia.

Chelsea 3 Portsmouth 0

ITALY coach Marcello Lippi believes Manchester United will provide a stiff test for AC Milan in the last 16 of the Champions League.

HARRY REDKNAPP yesterday claimed he had jumped and not been “pushed” out of Portsmouth following a stormy relationship with owner Milan Mandaric.