When the draw for the group stages of the Champions League was done a couple of months ago everybody expected Group D to be a clear path to the next stage for Manchester United and Benfica. The tables however turned last night when minnows Basel clinched the last qualification spot in Group C.

United legends divided Manchester United's Champions League exit has created a bit of a rift between Sir Alex Ferguson and Roy Keane. Fergie is obviously not overly pleased to see his former fledglings now giving honest appraisals of United performances as TV pundits. He turned on Keane after being asked about his former skipper's views [.

szólj hozzá: Incredible Mark Bunn save 1. While you've all been busy stuffing your faces for a few days, Blackburn boss Steve Kean might just have found a Bunn to save his bacon. Young keeper Mark Bunn put in a great performance to earn a point at Liverpool. 2. It definitely wasn't a Blue Christmas.

With the January transfer window opening up in just a few days, we look ahead at some of the players most likely to be changing clubs in the January sales.

1. Carlos Tevez, Man City. Hopefully Tevez will finally leave and join AC Milan, with the transfer saga dragging on for a long time already.

It wasn't exactly a beautiful game, but Manchester United's 1-0 victory against Aston Villa was loaded with talking points.

The biggest storyline from the match wasn't United's victory, but the serious ankle injury suffered by Javier "Chicharito" Hernandez, who rolled his ankle and appeared to suffer severe ligament damage.

Many thought that one Manchester side would see its Champions League dream come to an end tonight but in the end, it ended up being the fate of both.

City and United, the two Mancunian giants battling at the Premier League summit, will now battle together in the Europa League after failing to get the desired results tonight.

A 2-1 defeat to FC Basel saw Manchester United eliminated from the UEFA Champions League meaning that Fergie's men will be playing in the Europa League from now on. The chickens have surely come home to roost. Sir Alex Ferguson's men were left wanting on a bitterly disappointing night in Basel as last season's runners-up [.

Roy Keane, in his new role as ITV pundit, spoke of how the Manchester United players were letting Sir Alex Ferguson down at half time in last's night 2-1 defeat against FC Basel.

At full time, Keane claimed that our young players hadn't done well enough. He also made reference to Phil Jones' comments ahead of kick-off and questioned how relaxed he felt now.

With Rivals Barcelona out in Japan taking part in the FIFA World Club Cup, Real Madrid took the opportunity last night to extend their lead a top the La Liga standings with an emphatic 6-2 win over Sevilla.

Cristiano Ronaldo scored a hat-trick to take his tally for the season to 20 goals with Messi 3 goals behind him.

By Alan Duffy

Fulham Manchester United Premier League 21st December 2011

Manchester United kept up the pressure on their City rivals with an impressive performance at Craven Cottage against an admittedly appalling Fulham side.

Manchester United keeps on unleashing their fury after failing in the Champions League by destroying their opponents in the league and after beating QPR last weekend, this midweek it was Fulham, who received a battering from the defending champion.

Playing in a difficult ground, Man United players surprisingly demolished the North London outfit by scoring five goals without receiving any reply from the home side.

Jamie Carragher is determined to help Liverpool to a first appearance at the new Wembley, but recognises the Carling Cup represents a significant challenge.
A 2-0 win over Chelsea on Tuesday night booked Kenny Dalglish's team a place in the semi-finals, where they could meet Manchester City, Cardiff, or Manchester United, if Sir Alex Ferguson's men overcome Crystal Palace.

If reports are true then Theatre of Dreams could soon bear the statue of Ryan Giggs. Giggs who is nearing the end of his 20 year career with Manchester United is a player few would have anything bad to say about.

In his Career with United, Giggs has made 621 appearances scoring 110 goals since his league debut against Everton in March of 1991.

Eagles flying high at Old Trafford Manchester United were knocked out of the Carling Cup last night as Championship side Crystal Palace pulled off a shock win at Old Trafford. The Eagles took the lead through a stunning 35-yard strike from Darren Ambrose. Federico Macheda immediately struck back from the penalty spot.

Following United's League Cup exit at the hands of Crystal Palace, Sir Alex Ferguson has apologised to the fans.

Despite the winning goal being scored from an offside position, the fans would have expected more from the players who started, even though they weren't the first XI.

"I'm so disappointed," said Ferguson.

By Chris Wright

One to be taken with a pinch Biffa bin of salt, 'Kenny Dalglish' phones up 'Sir Alex Ferguson' to offer his Yuletide greetings following Manchester United's ousting from the Carling Cup at the hands of Crystal Palace last night...

Thanks to Pies fan PW for the nudge.

You can't swing a corner flag these days without whacking a soccer podcast.
Truly, we're stocked up on those puppies like quarts of egg nog at the local Piggly Wiggly.

But some broadcasts and podcasts do manage to distinguish themselves -- like the one I'm on, if I do say so.

Ferguson punished for showing Palace a lack of respect

Bookies were offering odds of 12/1 on a Crystal Palace victory at Old Trafford last night, and Sir Alex Ferguson's shock following his side's 2-1 quarter final loss showed that he expected his Manchester United side to win as much as they did.

Just seen this funny video of Kenny Dalglish wishing Sir Alex Ferguson a Happy Chritmas, it's not that often Liverpool fan's can laugh at their record breaking North East rivals so enjoy.

It's Friday. Lucas is still injured. It wasn't a dream, a bad trip, or a mass hallucination. The collective unconscious didn't suddenly sprout arms, legs, and a sense of self and decide to play a cruel trick on Liverpool fans. Still, there's stuff floating around out there to talk about that doesn't involve talk of ACLs and MCLs and MRIs.

United may not have had the best of weeks but the bookmakers make them a top priced 1.73 to bounce back and notch an away victory over Aston Villa and the stats suggest they will do just that.

Sir Alex Ferguson's young guns were frustrated in their 1-1 draw with Newcastle last weekend, as Javier Hernandez's opener was cancelled out by Demba Ba following a controversial penalty decision that the gaffer described as "shocking".

Three days since Sir Alex Ferguson's midweek remorse, Phil Jones opened his account for Manchester United scoring the only goal in a 1-0 victory at Villa Park, much to the delight of the boss himself. Ater the shocking display against Palace on wednesday night and with City putting 5 past Norwich earlier in the day, [.

Three days since Sir Alex Ferguson's midweek remorse, Phil Jones opened his account for Manchester United scoring the only goal in a 1-0 victory at Villa Park, much to the delight of the boss himself. Ater the shocking display against Palace on wednesday night and with City putting 5 past Norwich earlier in the day, [.

By Alan Duffy

Aston Villa 0-1 Manchester United Premier League 3rd December 2011

This game was so interminably dull that ESPN commentator Jon Champion had to resort to telling the viewers about which United players were buying which dogs, as sidekick Chris Waddle, a man who sucks any last particle of excitement out of the most exciting occasion, sent us to sleep.

Why the 22,376 empty seats at Manchester United on Wednesday were a glorious sight for true football fans

How can fans mourn Speed but gloat about Hillsborough and Munich and why Torres deserves more stick than Carroll Why Christmas has come early for Tottenham and a cure for any fan with a case of the Blues What a glorious sight that was at Old Trafford on Wednesday night.

By Alan Duffy

Thedraw for the third round of the FA Cup was made on Sunday afternoon, with the occasion throwing out a few tasty looking ties, none more so than the meeting of City and United.

Sir Alex Ferguson will no doubt have wanted a rather easier draw, although the chance to get some revenge for the 6-1 mauling at Old Trafford might well give United an extra incentive in this game.

Phil Jones and Sir Alex Ferguson celebrated the wonderkid's first goal for Manchester United with a quick game of 'proud grandad at the school nativity'. The England international gave a quick salute in the direction of the dugout after scoring the winning goal against Aston Villa on Saturday. Fergie and his backroom staff responded with [.

Phil Jones and Sir Alex Ferguson celebrated the wonderkid's first goal for Manchester United with a quick game of 'proud grandad at the school nativity'. The England international gave a quick salute in the direction of the dugout after scoring the winning goal against Aston Villa on Saturday. Fergie and his backroom staff responded with [.

By Chris Wright

FIFA have announced their three-man Ballon d'Or shortlist this morning, and it's crushingly predictable fare: Lionel Messi (the 5th time he's made the 'final three' in five years), Xavi (3rd time in 3 years) and Cristiano Ronaldo (4th time in five years).

By CALEB SONNELAND

When the French Football Association announced its men's and women's Ballon d'Or finalists for 2011, the usual suspects were all accounted for — with one American in the mix.

The La Liga trio of Lionel Messi, Xavi and Cristiano Ronaldo are set to contend for the men's award, while Marta, Homare Sawa and Abby Wambach will vie for the women's prize.

After beating Aston Villa away last weekend, Sir Alex Ferguson is confident Man United players will have no problem to win their final decider game against FC Basel in Switzerland next Wednesday and...
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Another Premier League game, another 1-0 win. For the 7th consecutive Premier League game, United scored only one goal against their opposition. But following our horrendous defensive performances at the start of the season, who would have thought that the single goal would be enough to win 4 of those games?

Tonight Andre Villas-Boas faces a date with Champions League destiny, as his side face Valencia needing a win or a 0-0 draw in order to progress in the lucrative competition. Winning the Champions League has long been a priority for Chelsea and their owner Roman Abramovich, demonstrated by Sir Alex Ferguson's claim that success in the competition had become "an obsession" for Chelsea.

Dimitar Berbatov has been ruled out of Manchester United's massive Champions League trip to Basle leaving Sir Alex Ferguson with limited options up front.

After Javier Hernandez suffered an ankle injury at Aston Villa on Saturday that is set to rule him out for a month, Ferguson expressed the hope Berbatov would have recovered from his own ankle problem to make the flight to Switzerland.

Do or die time for Manchester teams in the Champions League - originally posted on Soccerlens.com

Of the four English representatives in this season's UEFA Champions League, Arsenal and Chelsea are assured of a passage through to the knockout stages; both Manchester clubs must perform in their last group game to stand a chance of progression.

Do or die time for Manchester teams in the Champions League - originally posted on Soccerlens.com

Of the four English representatives in this season's UEFA Champions League, Arsenal and Chelsea are assured of a passage through to the knockout stages; both Manchester clubs must perform in their last group game to stand a chance of progression.

After reaffirming he won't be taking the opportunity to bring any additional squad members in during January's transfer window, Sir Alex Ferguson appears to be the only person on the planet who doesn't think Manchester United have an urgent need for reinforcements in order to challenge for any major honours this season.

Por snedecor
Dos policías de incógnito vigilan una conflictiva zona de los suburbios de Manchester. Su objetivo es dar con los autores de un robo a mano armada en un supermercado de Preston, dos peligrosos delincuentes que no dudaron en abrir fuego contra uno de los vigilantes de seguridad que intentó evitar el asalto.

Why Untouchable Fergie has earned his free pass should United crash out of the Champions League

Six years ago this week, I was overcome by a fit of impertinence. In a crowded conference hall in Lisbon, I grabbed a microphone and asked Sir Alex Ferguson a question. I asked him whether his job would be in jeopardy if Manchester United lost to Benfica the next evening and were knocked out of the Champions League at the group stage.

While Manchester City are in one of the toughest Champions League groups in recent memory, their performances have shown that while money may be able to buy domestic success, European pedigree is a priceless commodity.

Just ask Roman Abramovich. He and Jose Mourinho brought Premier League titles and FA Cups to Stamford Bridge almost immediately after the Russian oligarch pumped many millions into the club, but the Champions League title remains elusive to this day.