Newcastle 1 Fulham 4

HISTORY, they say, has a funny way of repeating itself. The Chelsea class of 2005 will be hoping this old adage doesn’t ring true this week.

When England’s three finest take to the Champions League fields this week, none will have an English keeper – in fact, not one of the Premiership top six has. Simon Lewis reports.

ROY CARROLL is willing to sign a new contract with Manchester United, providing Alex Ferguson does not bring in even more competition during the summer.

JUST when you think you’ve heard all the great Irish football stories, along comes one that goes straight into the top ten.

THERE IS invariably a decisive moment in every great race.

SCHOOL caretaker Ian Huntley was last night in a secure hospital charged with murdering 10-year-olds Holly Wells and Jessica Chapman.

ERIC DJEMBA-DJEMBA will make his debut for Aston Villa in tonight’s clash with Fulham at Craven Cottage.

THE President of the FAI, Milo Corcoran, yesterday made it clear the FAI will not court Roy Keane in an attempt to persuade him to again play for Ireland.

VILLARREAL striker Diego Forlan is being hailed as one of the best forwards in Spain just six months after being off-loaded by Premiership side Manchester United for his inability to hit the back of the net.

ARSENE WENGER’S place in English football history is assured for so many reasons.

MANCHESTER UNITED will spend the new year in familiar territory on top of the Premiership — but a single sentence from skipper Roy Keane highlighted the fear gnawing away at Old Trafford.

BRAZILIAN Ronaldinho has overtaken David Beckham as the world’s highest-paid player, according to France Football magazine.

ASTON Villa Plc, the soccer club ranked eighth in the English Premiership, rejected a takeover bid from sports financier Ray Ranson.

REAL MADRID coach Carlos Queiroz says his new club now have more global kudos than Manchester United, where last season he served as number two to Alex Ferguson.

JOHN O’SHEA is determined to prove he can be the long-term answer to Manchester United’s midfield crisis.

DAVID O’LEARY is confident Aston Villa will not be the only ones devoured at Old Trafford this season as Manchester United try to satisfy their hunger for success.

ROOKIE keeper Tim Howard has insisted he does not want to be an overnight sensation at Manchester United.

EIDUR GUDJOHNSEN believes his strike partnership with Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink can still be a major force for Chelsea in their bid for Premiership title glory.

Italian champions AC Milan claim they are keeping pace with Manchester United and Real Madrid as the European giants market their clubs around the world.