THE onus is on Thierry Henry to out-shoot Manchester United marksman Ruud van Nistelrooy as Arsenal face up to being without both Patrick Vieira and Sol Campbell for the Barclaycard Premiership run-in.

MANCHESTER UNITED boss Alex Ferguson blamed his own side for slumping to a second successive Premiership defeat at the hands of Middlesborough.

BAYERN MUNICH’S Champions’ League aspirations hung on a thread last night, despite the German side losing yet again.

TWO excellent team performances have seen Blackburn beat Manchester United and more than match Liverpool, but manager Graeme Souness believes there is not a man in his side playing better than Tugay.

BRIAN KERR’S trademark Dublin wit was much in evidence after training yesterday in Malahide when he strove to banish World Cup concerns at the number of first-choice players ruled out of tomorrow’s opening qualifier against Cyprus.

Middlesbrough 2 Norwich 0

CHELSEA manager Jose Mourinho insists he will not be silenced as he waits for the Football Association to determine if he will be punished for calling Wigan’s Lee McCulloch a “cheat.”

MALCOLM GLAZER has once again approached Manchester United about a possible takeover bid.

Portsmouth 0 Chelsea 2

Rangers 4 Motherwell 1

RUUD van Nistelrooy believes Manchester United may have to take the direct route if they are to overcome the safety-first tactics of Barclays Premiership opponents this term.

RIO FERDINAND will appeal against an eight-month ban – branded “savage and unprecedented” by his club – for failing to take a drugs test.

Southampton 0 Arsenal 1

AFTER 14 long years, Liverpool might be ready to end their league title drought — but do not expect anyone at Anfield to be celebrating in May.

CHELSEA are looking to for a defender, midfielder and a striker for the new Premiership season, with Argentine Hernan Crespo unlikely to fit into their plans, new manager Jose Mourinho hinted last night.

CELTIC legend Danny McGrain admits he can understand why Liam Miller found the lure of Manchester United too great to resist.

IT WAS two o’clock in the afternoon just off Fenchurch Street in the heart of the City of London and George Best was once more attracting a crowd.

MANCHESTER UNITED are prepared to bide their time before taking another plunge for outspoken French forward Louis Saha.

EAMON DUNPHY yesterday apologised to British journalist Rod Liddle for insulting him on RTE’s Champions League programme on Wednesday night.