THE quarter-final draw for the Champions’ League; the straight for home in the Premiership; a Merseyside derby with significant European implications; and the renewal of World Cup qualifying – spring is sprung and all of a sudden it seems we’ve arrived at the business end of the football season.

Tottenham 0

MANCHESTER UNITED sauntered to a deserved win over Birmingham at an expanded Old Trafford, and Alex Ferguson admitted it was agony.

Aston Villa 1 Manchester City 0

ROY KEANE yesterday vowed to “get nasty” ahead of Manchester United prepared to face Leeds in the crucial Premiership clash tonight.

THE FA is considering whether to bring the peace summit between Arsenal and Manchester United forward before the Carling Cup clash at Old Trafford in under three weeks' time.

IF the couple who spend together stay together than the precarious engagement of England footballer Wayne Rooney to former checkout girl Colleen McLoughlin is surely the perfect match.

BRIAN KERR last night wished Roy Keane well in his future career with Manchester United but expressed his disappointment at the timing of his announcement to retire.

THE £2 million (€2.9m) capture of Argentinian youngster Gabriel Paletta brings into sharp focus the astonishing pace of Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez’s youthful restructuring of Anfield.

BOLTON boss Sam Allardyce accused referee Olegario Benquerenca of bottling the big decisions after his side were denied two penalties in their goalless UEFA Cup tie against Marseille.

MANCHESTER United supremo David Gill has warned their main Premiership rivals that they can and will compete with them in the transfer market.

Spurs 1 Nottingham 1

THE B-word might be a sensitive subject around Old Trafford but if Manchester United produce many more performances like the one which skittled Celtic in Seattle on Tuesday night their fans will soon forget David Beckham ever existed.

ARSENAL BOSS Arsene Wenger has been charged with improper conduct for his outspoken criticism of Manchester United striker Ruud van Nistelrooy after his side's defeat at Old Trafford.

UNDER-FIRE Manchester United defender Mikael Silvestre has insisted his future remains at Old Trafford despite widespread criticism of his recent performances.

Pressure group Shareholders United are stepping up their bid to try to prevent a possible Manchester United takeover.

JOE COLE is looking to make the most of Arjen Robben’s enforced absence over the next few weeks by helping maintain Chelsea’s four- pronged trophy challenge.