ARSENAL boss Arsene Wenger declared that his side can win the FA Cup the hard way again – even though he is set to rest key players in a quarter-final clash against Chelsea.

LIVERPOOL skipper Steven Gerrard has urged the club’s frustrated fans to point an accusing finger at the players rather than manager Gerard Houllier.

CLAIMS that Alex Ferguson hired an SAS task force to spy on his players were yesterday dismissed by the Manchester United manager during a visit to Co Mayo.

CHELSEA are considering whether to raise their offer for midfielder Emerson after Roma revealed they had already refused a £17.5 million bid from the Blues for the Brazil captain.

THE FA are expected to formally charge Rio Ferdinand today over his failure to attend a drugs test.

MERSEYSIDE police are almost certain to let the FA deal with the allegations involving Manchester United stars at Everton over the weekend.

THE FA yesterday announced they have begun a formal review of the Rio Ferdinand affair and made clear their intention to seek a retraction of some of the damaging criticism aimed at the organisation.

Panathinaikos 0 Man Utd 1

BOBBY ROBSON admitted Lomana LuaLua was "the last player we wanted to score against us" after the on-loan Newcastle striker grabbed an 88th-minute equaliser for Portsmouth against the Magpies at Fratton Park yesterday.

THE death of soccer legend George Best marks the poignant end of an era that produced one of the greatest footballers the world has ever seen.

RUUD VAN NISTELROOY intends to extend his stay at Manchester United as long as possible.

THE Premier League have replaced referee Andy D’Urso for next Monday’s match between Manchester United and Everton.

LEEDS chairman Trevor Birch yesterday demanded a united front from all within Elland Road after securing the club's future until the end of the season.

JOSE MOURINHO is adamant there is no chance of Chelsea suffering a post-Old Trafford hangover like Arsenal did last season.

THE incoming chief executive of the Football Association, Brian Barwick, yesterday distanced himself from claims made by the former BBC director general Greg Dyke that he “hates” Manchester United.

PORTSMOUTH chairman Milan Mandaric’s chances of bringing in Neil Warnock as manager have been hit after Sheffield United signalled their intentions to keep him at Bramall Lane.

POTENTIAL punishments for England international defender Rio Ferdinand, who missed a drugs test in September, will be one of the topics discussed by FIFA’s sports medical committee later today.

MANCHESTER UNITED’s recent scoring record in the Champions League hardly inspires confidence ahead of their decisive match against Benfica in a fortnight - but Rio Ferdinand insists the team’s strikers bear comparison with any in the world.