IF Alex Ferguson was able to offer a Christmas toast to five goals and three points at Old Trafford, then news that Ruud van Nistelrooy will be out for up to six weeks must have left the Scot nursing a very nasty hangover.

LOUIS SAHA has blasted Fulham for ruining the “chance of my life” by refusing to sell him to Manchester United.

SOCCER legend George Best stayed away from the pub yesterday after a week-long binge that family said could have killed him.

RIO FERDINAND will be asked by the Football Association for his mobile phone records before they decide on any charges for missing a drugs test.

ERIC Djemba-Djemba’s agent admitted Aston Villa manager David O’Leary is right to fine the player after his failure to turn up at the club.

THE future of Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson was in doubt last night as Malcolm Glazer prepared to seize control of the club.

ROY Keane has revealed his contempt for complacency in one of his most open and honest interviews about himself.

LEEDS chief executive Trevor Birch has warned it would be “a brave man” who puts the club into administration.

MANCHESTER UNITED stars begged Alex Ferguson to play Wayne Rooney against Tottenham on Saturday but their pleas fell on deaf ears.

Arsenal 1 Sheffield United 1

JOSE MOURINHO is happy with the way his new-look Chelsea are shaping up following a pre-season tour of the US.

THE AFRICAN Nations Cup begins tomorrow without two of its perennial contenders as well as a clutch of big-name players.

BIRMINGHAM manager Steve Bruce has reportedly offered £5.5 million for want-away Manchester United midfielder Nicky Butt.

SOL CAMPBELL is set to make his first Arsenal appearance in two-and-a-half months at Portsmouth tonight - with manager Arsene Wenger predicting the England centre-back still has a big part to play for club and country this season.

BIRMINGHAM midfielder Nicky Butt is facing a further two-match suspension after admitting a charge of abusive and/or insulting words towards a match official following his sending-off against Portsmouth on Saturday.

Fulham 2 Southampton 0

GARY SPEED has blamed Newcastle’s Champions League misery on naivety after seeing the latest in a series of away day disasters cost them their dream.

ARSENAL’S young Dutch star Robin van Persie is being held in custody in Rotterdam after a woman alleged he launched a sex attack on her late on Saturday night.

PENSIONERS Michael Smurfit, Allen McClay and Tony O’Reilly are definitely not over the hill.

Liverpool 0 Sunderland 0