Manchester United 4 Real Madrid 3 (Agg: 5-6)

ALEX FERGUSON has vowed Manchester United have the spirit and pedigree to defy the odds and rob Arsenal of the Premiership crown for the second season in succession.

MICHAEL OWEN insists that Liverpool have not “got worse as a team” over the recent years, just that Arsenal have improved out of all recognition.

MICHAEL OWEN is being lined up to ride to Gerard Houllier’s rescue and kill off yet another barrage of speculation about the Frenchman’s future.

ARSENAL manager Arsene Wenger has played down rumours that Sylvain Wiltord could join Paris St Germain during the winter transfer window, revealing he has offered the France international a contract extension.

ANFIELD LEGEND Alan Hansen has called for the Liverpool players to dig in and secure Champions League football – or leave boss Gerard Houllier facing the axe.

ARSENE WENGER has rushed Thierry Henry back from injury to boost morale for Arsenal’s Champions League clash at Sparta Prague, admitting his costly absence had damaged his side’s title bid.

ARSENE WENGER has admitted the pressure is on the most inexperienced central midfield duo he has ever selected for a key game to keep Arsenal’s Champions League dream alive against Rosenborg tonight.

WHEN Manchester United arrive at Stamford Bridge a week on Saturday, with Chelsea needing just a point to retain the Premiership title, Alex Ferguson’s men will need no prompting to give every last drop of sweat.

ARSENE WENGER turned up the psychological pressure on Chelsea by warning they are not ‘untouchable’ and may come under pressure in the title race.

THOUGH brave faces were plentiful in public, one suspects that behind the scenes, the power brokers of the Premiership must be left a little bewildered by the imprint of Lady Luck at Nyon, Switzerland, yesterday.

WITH HIS omnipresent smile, Roman Abramovich looked the image of benignity last month on the day Chelsea picked up their first championship title in 50 years at Stamford Bridge.

Manchester United 2 Deportivo La Coruna 0

JUST when we thought we had heard the last of it, the Roy and Mick row could soon take centre-stage once more.

MANCHESTER UNITED could become a mutual organisation owned solely for the benefit of its fans, according to a secret finance plan being drawn up by Irish financier Dermot Desmond, it was reported yesterday.

ENGLAND footballer Wayne Rooney has been banned from coaching youngsters at a schools match because he was not considered a “good role model.”

FIRST it was Liverpool in the ’80s and then Manchester United in the ’90s. Now Patrick Vieira is warning that Arsenal’s decade of domestic domination has begun.

ALEX FERGUSON is facing a test of his managerial juggling skills just two weeks into the new season.