Manchester United inched closer to retaining their Premier League title as they cruised to a 3-0 win against a Liverpool side who had only ten men for half the game.

Reina Poor Performance

Wes Brown put the home side ahead on 34 minutes, when Reina failed to deal with a Wayne Rooney cross. The Spaniard only managed to punch the ball against the back of the advancing defender, which was to be the start of a bad day for the Liverpool keeper.

Bennett Steals The Show

Even with all of the talent on display and three goals in the match, the centre of attention was Referee Steve Bennett. After just eleven minutes he reached for his book and entered the name of Argentinean Javier Mascherano for unsporting conduct after a late challenge on Paul Scholes. Bennett created the talking point of the game just before half time, when he booked Fernando Torres for dissent after the Spaniard had been the victim of two suspect challenges. Having seen the injustice Mascherano approached Bennett and asked him ‘What’s happening?’ not foul language and was given a second yellow for his trouble. The scenes after Bennett issued the Red Card became farcical as the Argentine demonstrated his disbelief that he had been dismissed from the game for a simple question. Bennett’s heavy handedness came just a few days after Ashley Cole got away with a torrent of abuse at the 4-4 draw between Tottenham and Chelsea where Bennett was the fourth official. Bennett has a history of dishing out injustice to Mascherano, last season he let Jermain Defoe away with biting the Argentinean.

Ronaldo Ends Liverpool’s Hopes

Liverpool fought to get back in to the game but after 35 minutes in the second half United goalden boy Cristiano Ronaldo headed home a corner that Reina got nowhere near to put the game beyond the visitors. Just one minute later Ronaldo’s Portuguese compatriot Nani thundered home a shot from the edge of the area to put the home side three up.

Who Is The real Villain?

Mascherano will no doubt be villainised in the media as an example of what not to do for kids and pros alike. When the truth is it should be Bennett who is crucified in the press for ruining a crunch game for the billions of spectators around the world and for demonstrating the huge inconsistency of Premier League referees, who have been hounded and abused for years by players some of whom were not even given a talking to never mind a red card.

For the second year in a row Sir Alex Ferguson’s Manchester United have been put out of the Carling Cup in their first round by lower league opposition. No doubt there will be headlines calling for his head and he will join Jose Mourinho on the English football scrapheap as he has failed to make progress on last seasons performance. In fact United have got 100% worse losing by two goals this year.

Last year a Freddy Eastwood’s free-kick created the upset of the season as Southend won one-nil at Roots hall. This years upset was at the theatre of dreams, and this years hero was Michael Misfud. He scored the first just after half an hour when he slid home Michael Doyle’s low cross. Misfud nearly doubled his tally this time the supply came from Simpson.

Misfud managed to double his and Coventry’s tally when he ended a counter attack with a fierce shot that Kuszczak was unable to stop. Sending almost 12000 Sky Blue fans in to an ecstacy they haven’t felt since Gary Mabbutt’s own goal gifted them victory in the F.A. Cup twenty years ago.

Coventry and Mifsud had opportunities to increase their lead, but the fans and Dowie appeared to be content with their two goal triumph over the Premier League champions.

Manchester United visited Portugal knowing that their recent away form in the Premier League has not been of the standard of Champions. Sir Alex Ferguson was given a boost to his squad as England striker Wayne Rooney returned to fitness, news that would also be music to the ears of England manager Steve McClaren.

Cristiano Ronaldo Returns Home To Sporting Lisbon

Rooney managed to play for over seventy minutes before being replaced by Louis Saha. However it was the return of another prodigal son that helped United fly back to Manchester with all three points. Cristiano Ronaldo headed home the goal that was the difference between his old club and his current employer. Wes Brown provided the cross that Ronaldo guided home just after the hour mark.

Although Sporting Lisbon had more attempts on target they were not as threatening as the statistics read, although they did force Van Der Sar in to making some top class saves. United more specifically Ronaldo were more deadly with their attack, ensuring their perfect start to this seasons European campaign.

Home                                            Away

Oct 2, Roma (h)                            Sep 19, Sporting (a)
Nov 7, Dynamo Kiev (h)             Oct 23, Dynamo Kiev (a)
Nov 27, Sporting (h)                    Dec 12, Roma (a)

An explosive start lies ahead for Manchester United as they host Roma, last season there was violence in both legs. So much violence that it managed to detract from the fantastic on pitch display, where Manchester United spanked the Italians 7-1 at Old Trafford in April. The trip to Ukraine could be tricky for United as the cold weather could have an massive influence on the result if the players are not correctly prepared, especially if United are still strikerless.

The draw for the Champions league was populated with the usual suspects and some new fringe teams. There were no less than six British in the draw. The big four from England Manchester United, Chelsea, Arsenal and Liverpool are joined in the draw by the old firm from north of the border. Glasgow Rangers will welcome the windfall from the group stage, the £10m should help ease their current financial situation. Celtic scraped through the last round beating Spartak Moscow in a penalty shoot out to earn a place in the draw for the group stage.

UEFA Champions League GROUP A

Liverpool FC (England)
FC Porto (Portugal)
Olympique Marseille (France)
Besiktas (Turkey)

Last years beaten finalists Liverpool will hope their newly strengthened squad can go the extra mile this year, but they may be distracted with their domestic campaign. They will have trips to Portuguese side Porto who have been successful in the competition in recent years. Marseille are back in the big time after recovering from the scandals of the last decade, they may do well enough to compete for the second spot although they might settle for for the UEFA Cup spot. Besiktas will enjoy their participation in the Champions League, they are familiar with the format having played in the UEFA cup last season.

UEFA Champions League GROUP B

Chelsea FC (England)
Valencia (Spain)
Schalke 04 (Germany)
Rosenborg (Norway)

Premier League runners-up Chelsea will be confident of their progression from Group B, their assembly of stars should cruise through the group as they try to secure the one trophy that has eluded Jose Mourinho in his tenure as Chelsea manager.

Chelsea’s toughest test will come against Spanish side Valencia, who they managed to beat in last years quarter final. Although it must be said that Schalke and Rosenborg will be no push overs as they fight for the second qualification or UEFA Cup place, Schalke finished second in the Bundesliga last year behind Stuttgart.

UEFA Champions League GROUP C

Real Madrid (Spain)
Werder Bremen (Germany)
Lazio (Italy)
Olympiakos (Greece)

Spanish League winners Real Madrid have Germany’s third placed team Werder Bremen in their group along with Italy’s third place side Lazio, which will suit Madrid’s new man in charge Bernd Schuster who has recently strengthened his squad, adding names like Robben, Sneijder and Heinze. The fourth team in the Group C is Olympiakos from Greece.

UEFA Champions League GROUP D

AC Milan (Italy)
Benfica (Portugal)
Celtic (Scotland)
Shakhtar Donetsk (Ukraine)

2007 Champions Milan will face Glasgow Celtic again this season after playing them last year.  Benfica, Celtic and Shaktar Donetsk will be competing for the second place and the UEFA Cup place, unless they manage to raise their game to upset the Champions.

UEFA Champions League GROUP E

FC Barcelona (Spain)
Olympique Lyon (France)
VfB Stuttgart (Germany)
Rangers (Scotland)

Instantly recognised as the ‘Group Of Death’ Glasgow Rangers will struggle to make even the UEFA Cup place. Winners from 2006 Barcelona who are fresh from a pre-season tour of Scotland will be favourites to top Group E. Barca & Celtic are joined in the group of death by winners of their respective leagues Lyon who won in France and Stuttgart who won the Bundesliga.

UEFA Champions League GROUP F

Manchester United (England)
AS Roma (Italy)
Sporting Lisbon (Portugal)
Dynamo Kiev (Ukraine)

The English and Italian authorities will hope there is no rekindling of hostilities between Manchester United and Roma, after the violence that erupted in last seasons clash. The new and improved United squad will want to try and better the 7-1 result they managed last season. Ronaldo and Nani will face their old club Sporting Lisbon. The fixture that could cause the upset will be Dynamo Kiev, clubs that have a trip to Kiev in late October early November in the bitter cold may not perform well allowing the Ukrainians to exploit their familiar conditions.

UEFA Champions League GROUP G

Inter Milan (Italy)
PSV Eindhoven (Netherlands)
CSKA Moscow (Russia)
Fenerbahce (Turkey)

Another group where trips to a freezing cold Moscow could be a deciding factor in who is successful in the group. Italian Champions Inter Milan should finish top of the group, then it is a three way scramble between PSV, CSKA & Fenerbahce for the other two places.

UEFA Champions League GROUP H

Arsenal (England)
Sevilla (Spain) or AEK Athens (Greece)
Steaua Bucharest (Romania)
Slavia Prague (Czech Republic)

England’s fourth placed team face two eastern European sides in Steaua Bucharest and Slavia Prague, having dispatched the Czech Republic’s other entrant to the competition Sparta Prague in the qualifying round. The fourth club to be in the group has yet to be decided. The game between UEFA Cup holders for the last two seasons Sevilla from Spain, had their game against AEK Athens postponed following the death of Sevilla defender Antonio Puerta.

Just when it looked like everything was back on track at Old Trafford with three points against Tottenham Hotspur and Louis Saha on the mend. When disaster strikes. One of his injured strikers announces that he is to retire from the game through injury.

Champions League Winning Super Sub

The good news for the Glazers and United fans is that the striker is not Carlos Tevez or Wayne Rooney. The bad news is the player is none other than the man who secured the infamous TREBLE in 1999 Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.

During his 11 year Manchester United career Solskjaer was never the star man leading the front line. Instead he was asked to play the super sub role for the Red Devils, a role that he made his own coming on often to rescue a game or to earn a victory. He will be best remembered for that night in Barcelona in 1999 when he helped Manchester United fans get what they had craved for 31 years.

Perpetual Injuries

Solskjaer’s fitness has been suspect for a few years, but last season he made a huge contribution in the wake of Ruud Van Nistelrooy’s departure to Real Madrid. Scoring 11 goals as Manchester United won the League from the clutches of Chelsea.

Search For A Star - Will Anelka Be A Manchester United Player

Ferguson will have to step up his search for another striker if he will secure their services before the transfer window deadline at the end of the month. Since the window opened United have been linked with Dimitar Berbatov, but he has just pledged his future to Spurs. In the last few weeks they have been linked with a player a little closer to home, Bolton’s Nicolas Anelka.

Solskjaer will be missed by the United faithful, although he will probably get a job on the coaching staff or as a presenter on MUTV. At the very least he will be given a testimonial, a final opportunity for the faithful to repay him for the years of service that he has devoted to the club.

If you have any comments on Ole’s career or with to pay tribute feel free to do so in the comments section below.

Having lost his legal action with Manchester United and the Premier League halting his move to Liverpool. Argentinean defender Gabriel Heinze has left England to join Spanish giants Real Madrid.

The £8 million deal will see the defender line up alongside World Cup winner Fabio Cannavaro in the Madrid defence, he has been drafted in to replace Bernabeu legend Roberto Carlos.

Sir Alex Ferguson Calls For Investigation In To Liverpool Involvement In The Transfer

Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson has wished Heinze well at his new club, in the press conference ahead of this weekend’s clash against Tottenham Hotspur. However he has said that United will be investigating Liverpool’s involvement in unsettling one of the players who helped United win back the Premiership last season.

Robben Wanted To Leave Chelsea

Arjen Robben could not wait to leave Stamford Bridge, he cited the management’s lack of confidence due to his injuries as the main reason for his willingness to leave. However just as important to him was the fact that he had won everything in English football during his three years at Chelsea. He has signed a deal that will keep him in the Spanish capital for five years.

Sir Alex Ferguson has stated his support of Martin Jol in his position as Tottenham Manager following all of the media speculation surrounding the Dutchman’s position.

All week there have been innumerate reports in the press linking Europe’s elite managers with the managers job at White Hart Lane. Many of the reports have stated that Jol is under pressure following another poor start to the Premier League. Members of the Spurs board are alledged to have met with Sevilla coach Juande Ramos about bringing him to the Lane. A move it seems will not happen this summer, however next summer the Spaniard will be free from his commitment to Sevilla. Former Real Madrid coach Fabio Capello has been linked to the role as has ex-Spurs Striker and Germany coach Jurgen Klinsmann.

Jol takes his Spurs side to Old Trafford at the end of his most turbulent week in charge of the Londoners, to play a Manchester United team who have yet to win a game this season. Some points from the fixture would give him some welcome relief from the media onslaught and put the focus on Sir Alex.

United are without captain Gary Neville, Rooney and Ronaldo for the game on Super Sunday, however they may be able to play Louis Saha for the first time this season to help ease their striker crisis. Spurs could play Gareth Bale for the first time in the Premier League and will hope that Robbie Keane can turn his surefire shooting for his country in to goals for his club.

Wayne Rooney is suffering his third similar foot injury and his is not on his own England team-mates David Beckham and Gary Neville have also suffered similar injuries. While it is common place today, it is an injury that did not used to exist years ago, even though the players had to endure tougher challenges, were not as fit and kicked a ball that is a far cry from that used today.

So what has changed? The first main change that most people point to is the technology in the footwear. That’s right they are blaming the Boots, boots that manufacturers spend millions on research and development to ensure they are fit for purpose before they bring them to market. In recent years boots have been developed to make them lighter so players can run and turn faster. They have been made thinner to give players more ‘feel’ and control of the ball. Some even have rubber on the kicking surface to add more power and swerve. All of these innovations while brilliant for the things they improve forget one thing, that boots are not just there as an aid to mobility or striking the ball; they are the first line of protection in a tackle for players who are worth tens of millions of pounds. Players who cost clubs hundreds of thousands of pounds or Euros every week in wages if they play or if they are on the treatment table. Some ex-professionals are beginning to question the protection modern boots offer, especially when there are so many injuries of a similar nature occurring in the game. The level of contact in many cases is negligible, as was the case with Rooney and Duberry on Sunday.

However it can not be just the equipment, lots of other factors have changed over the years too. More importantly it is not just feet and toes that get broken in the modern game. Larsson, Busst and Cisse have all smashed much thicker leg bones. Players are now super fit, training to levels that even players who played ten years ago find difficult to comprehend.

Another massive factor is the nutritional aspect of the game. Gone are the days when players would ‘eat all the pies’ or drink in the pub with the fans after a game. The nutritional revolution is a relatively modern phenomenon where each portion at meal time during the season is carefully monitored to enhance the performance of the athlete. While Rooney may look a little overfed at times perhaps for a man of his build he is missing the nutrients that his body needs or had become used to as he grew up. Like most kids he would have grown up with the ad for milk where we were encouraged to drink more or play for Accrington Stanley. Maybe he should drink more and then he could play for Manchester United or the ad should have said drink more or being in the treatment room.

The sad truth is it doesn’t matter if it is the boot technology, the nutrition or even just the modern game. Football is all too often void of its major talents through injury serious or niggling. Governing bodies, clubs and manufacturers should be looking to see what they can do to reduce injuries where possible, even if that means slightly less ‘fit’ players or less technologically advanced equipment. Surely the game would be better with a less athletic Wayne Rooney, in more protective boots than not have home for long periods of the season.

Manchester United & England will be without the services of Wayne Rooney after he picked up another injury involving broken bones in the foot. This time it’s a hairline fracture rather than a fully blown break of a metatarsal, however the result is the same. A protracted recovery program that will hamper results for both club and country, United are already two points behind Chelsea, Arsenal and Liverpool in the race for the title. Meanwhile England have the crunch qualifiers for Euro 2008. Which with a recovery period of eight weeks or more Rooney has little chance of helping England on the field.

Manchester United have Tevez as a ready replacement for Rooney, the critics will have to wait a while before they can see if the two can play together. They will hope that Saha and Solskjaer will be fit soon or they will have to rely on makeshift forward John O’Shea to help get their title charge back on track.

England on the other hand have no recognised ready replacement. Dean Ashton is still on the road to recovery from his last appearance, Bent & Defoe have struggled to get a place at Spurs and could hardly be seen as form players. Michael Owen is still on the treatment table at Newcastle, Andy Johnston could play along side Peter Crouch. In all truth the injury crisis up front is more severe than the one at the back. As England will need to score more than they let in if they are to qualify for next summers tournament.