Drogba ready to extend Chelsea deal

Ivory Coast star Didier Drogba could be ready to extend his Chelsea contract, according to his agent.

Drogba has been linked with Europe’s top clubs as it appeared he was likely to leave Stamford Bridge earlier this season.

Drogba’s current contract keeps him with the Blues until 2010.

“Didi has a deal with Chelsea, so he is relaxed about his future,” he said in the Daily Express.

“It was very important for him to return to his best level without bad injuries, and he has shown that he is one of the best players in Europe.

“In football, you can never write anything off. There are big opportunities at Chelsea, so we will see what happens.

“If they present a new proposition then we will study it and after that Didi will make a decision on his future.

“A lot of big clubs in Europe have asked about him, but we will not make any decision until the end of the season.

“He is happy, playing well and his return to form and goals point to the fact he is enjoying his football at Chelsea.”

Gerrard wants new Liverpool deal

Steven Gerrard has admitted he is keen on signing a new contract with Liverpool.

The Reds skipper has two years left on his current deal and reports have linked him with several clubs, including Real Madrid and Chelsea in recent years.

“I have never been happier throughout my whole career than I am at the moment,” he said. “I have two years left on my contract and if there was a chance to extend it, I am sure I would.

“I am playing in a top team, with world-class players and I believe in the manager. Going forward, I am sure we can be successful.

“For years and years I have moaned about not being involved in a title race and being far away from the others. At the moment, I am playing in a team that’s capable of beating anyone in the league.”

Spurs check Chelsea title charge

Chelsea missed a gilt-edged chance to pile pressure on Manchester United in the English Premier League title race as they slumped to a 1-0 defeat to Tottenham on Saturday.

Luka Modric’s superb strike early in the second half consigned Guus Hiddink to his first defeat since assuming control at Stamford Bridge on an interim basis, but while the Dutchman will be piqued at losing his unbeaten record, his real annoyance will be at failing to capitalise on United’s surprise defeat at Fulham.

Instead, Sir Alex Ferguson’s side retain their four-point lead over Chelsea - a lead that could be stretched to seven if they win their game in hand - and Hiddink might well come to see this as the day his hopes of restoring the league championship to west London were snuffed out.

Ferguson, a close friend of Harry Redknapp, will be feeling even better disposed towards the Tottenham manager after this result, which should also extinguish any lingering relegation fears at White Hart Lane.

Instead, Redknapp can start looking up towards the seventh place that will guarantee a place in next season’s Europa League, the successor to the UEFA Cup.

For Hiddink, however, this defeat represented the most painful of reality checks and the Dutchman will have plenty to ponder on his flight to Moscow on Sunday, as he prepares for Russia’s World Cup qualification double-header against Azerbaijan.

It was not simply the result which will have dismayed him, but Chelsea’s limp performance. There was no energy or zip to the visitors’ football and not even the most one-eyed observer could claim that Tottenham did not deserve their triumph.

The only consolation, of sorts, was that Chelsea are not the first of the Premier League’s established elite to come unstuck in these parts. Spurs can now boast that in home league games against Manchester United, Liverpool, Arsenal and Chelsea they have collected eight points and conceded just one goal.

Kick-off may have been delayed by half an hour due to traffic problems caused by a security alert, but Spurs still began at a rattling pace, thanks largely to the energetic Wilson Palacios and Jermaine Jenas, who refused to grant any of Chelsea’s advanced midfield trio a moment’s peace.

Chelsea’s rhythm was wrecked. The visitors produced just two long-range shots from Michael Essien and Nicolas Anelka - both comfortably saved by Heurelho Gomes - in a toothless first-half performance and while Petr Cech, the Chelsea goalkeeper, was hardly under siege, Spurs still looked the likelier scorers.

In the 18th minute, Gomes’s long downfield punt was horribly misjudged by Alex, the ball bouncing over him and into the path of Robbie Keane. The Ireland striker’s half-volley was cleanly struck but Cech proved equal to it at his near post.

Keane was a persistent menace, and he forced Cech into another smart save six minutes later, firing off a shot from 12 yards after a storming run from Vedran Corluka.

Hiddink must have been baffled at his team’s lethargy, especially as news had filtered through of Manchester United falling behind at Fulham, but if the Dutchman hoped that the interval would shake Chelsea out of their stupor, he was mistaken.

They started the second period in the same ponderous fashion they had finished the first and this time they were punished. After Aaron Lennon had wriggled into space on the right, the England winger squared to the top of the penalty area, where Modric was lurking with intent. One swish of his right boot sent the ball scudding into the bottom corner, and Spurs had a deserved lead.

Not even falling behind was enough to spark a Chelsea revival and it took until the final 15 minutes for Hiddink’s side to generate any meaningful momentum.

Gomes was finally forced into serious action in the 78th minute, when John Terry rose highest to meet Frank Lampard’s inswinging free-kick and the England defender’s header was clawed behind.

United self-destruct, Fulham blow title race wide open

Danny Murphy and Zoltan Gera struck to hand Fulham a shock win over nine-man Manchester United and throw open the Premier League title race.

Sir Alex Ferguson’s league leaders followed last weekend’s defeat to Liverpool with a second successive reverse that opened the door for Chelsea and Liverpool to close the gap at the head of the table.

And to make a miserable afternoon even worse, Ferguson was forced to watch as Paul Scholes and Wayne Rooney were dismissed, ruling them out of crucial games in the final run-in.

The week-long post-mortem that followed last weekend’s jarring 4-1 defeat had been centred on the impact it might possibly have on United’s poise during the run-in.

Prior to that reverse, Ferguson’s side had been cruising towards a third successive title, destroying any hopes the chasing pack may have had with a formidable run of eleven successive league victories.

But the nature of Liverpool’s victory suddenly punctured United’s air of invincibility.

And judging by this shocking display at Craven Cottage, it has deflated the swaggering self-belief that had previously been a hallmark of the reigning champions’ campaign.

Having looked alarmingly fragile at the back seven days earlier, United showed no signs of having resolved the defensive problems that had allowed Liverpool to beat Edwin van der Sar four times.

Nemanja Vidic - last weekend’s guiltiest culprit - was absent following his sending off against Rafael Benitez’s side, and without the normally reliable Serb the visitors looked vulnerable to almost every early Fulham attack.

Not that the defence was given much protection by a midfield that was constantly caught in possession and seemed incapable of picking out the simplest of passes.

Credit must go to Fulham for their direct approach, with the lively forwards Andrew Johnson, Bobby Zamora and Clint Dempsey stretching the United back-line to provide ready targets for steady service delivered from midfield.

The alarm bells should have been ringing for Ferguson’s side just two minutes into the game when Dempsey found space inside the box and fired wide of Van der Sar’s near post from a narrow angle.

United briefly looked as though they might respond when Dimitar Berbatov headed over four minutes later - but astonishingly that turned out to be the visitors’ only real chance of a one-sided opening half.

Instead it was the Fulham strikers who repeatedly found space between United’s back-pedalling back four, forcing Van der Sar into a succession of excellent saves that prevented the home side taking more convincing control of the game.

There was little the Dutch keeper could do, however, about Murphy’s 17th-minute penalty that gave Fulham a deserved lead.

Zamora may lack pace but his presence had already unsettled Ferguson’s side before he rose to meet Simon Davies’s corner and saw his header palmed away by Van der Sar.

The ball came back to Zamora whose second effort was goal-bound until Scholes turned goalkeeper to concede the spot-kick and earn a red card.

Once again reduced to ten men, it was clear that this would be a stern test of United’s character but the remainder of the first half offered few signs that they were capable of clawing their way back into the game.

Ferguson’s stern glare as he left the pitch at half-time suggested he had seen more than enough and it was no surprise when the ineffectual Berbatov was replaced at half-time by Rooney.

Rooney’s omission from the starting line-up had been a surprise and the England forward immediately gave United a more meaningful attacking threat.

But although the visitors managed to carve out some presentable chances, Fulham keeper Mark Schwarzer pulled off a string of outstanding saves to deny Cristiano Ronaldo, Park Ji-Sung and Rooney.

And when Ferguson’s side were launching a series of desperate late attacks, Gera broke and exchanged passes with Johnson before finishing with an acrobatic volley.

Then, to cap a shocking afternoon for the champions, Rooney gestured in frustration at referee Phil Dowd, earning himself a second yellow card and ensuring United finished the game with nine men.

Walcott blow for Gunners and England

Theo Walcott’s hopes of a return to the England squad next week have been dashed by a knee injury that means another frustrating spell on the sidelines for the Arsenal winger.

The 20-year-old, who had only just completed his recovery from a serious shoulder injury, suffered the fresh setback in training on Friday.

“He will have a scan on his knee today and we are a bit surprised and worried because he was in very good form coming back,” Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger admitted.

“That is very bad news for us. Out for the rest of the season would be too long, but certainly he is out of the squad for the Newcastle game tomorrow and he could be out of the squad for England.”

Wenger added: “Theo locked his knee when he was walking back from training, so it could be a cartilage. Training was fully normal and maybe he has done it in training and it came out when he stopped. But we have to see how he responds today. I hope that it is not serious, but he has to be scanned.”

Walcott had been named in England’s under-21 squad for matches next week but a good display at Newcastle on Saturday may have resulted in promotion into Fabio Capello’s senior squad for next week’s friendly against Slovakia, which is followed by a World Cup qualifier against Ukraine.

Arsenal go into Saturday’s match looking to keep their noses in front of Aston Villa in the battle for fourth place and the Premier League’s finally qualifying place for next season’s Champions League.

Wenger admits he is worried that the international break could affect his side’s recent momentum.

“Now many of the team go away on international duty and I hope we do not lose players through injuries because many of our players are coming back now from injuries. It looks like we are in a good situation.

“Cesc Fabregas should be fit in two weeks. He is back in full training now and during the international break he has two weeks to sharpen up.”

Although his priority is holding off Villa, Wenger has not given up hope of catching the sides above Arsenal.

“We have prepared ourselves mentally to give absolutely everything in every game,” he said. “It is down to us. I would like to change the order of the top four to get in front of one or two teams.”

Wenger added: “The title is not as much done as people think it is. Manchester United has a huge advantage, because they are four points ahead and have a game in hand. But it is still open, because they all still have to play us, so it will be interesting.”

Bellamy hopes of Aalborg return dashed

Craig Bellamy’s hopes of making an early return to action in Manchester City’s UEFA Cup meeting with Aalborg on Thursday have been dashed after manager Mark Hughes ruled the striker out of the trip to Denmark.

City are strong favourites to proceed to the last eight of the competition after a 2-0 first leg win and Bellamy had been optimistic about the chances of featuring in his first game since suffering a knee injury at the start of this month.

Hughes said Sunday’s Premier League clash against Sunderland would be a more realistic target for the Wales striker, who has been an instant hit with the City fans since his January move from West Ham.

Hughes is hoping Belgian midfielder Vincent Kompany will come through a late fitness test on a toe injury.

“It is a lot better than it has been, although he is still having a little bit of pain,” the City boss reported. “He had a run out for the first time yesterday and we will make a late decision on him.

“Hopefully we will have the option because he will give us that little bit of strength in the middle of the park we maybe lacked (in a 1-0 defeat at Chelsea) at the weekend.”

Hughes believes City have got a great chance of lifting the trophy this season but insisted that Aalborg’s prospects of overturning the first-leg deficit would not be under-estimated.

“They are a good side,” he said. “People shouldn’t under-estimate the task that is ahead of us.

“They have caused good teams problems in the past and people shouldn’t be distracted by how well we played in the first leg.

“They didn’t play as well as people expected because of the manner of our performance.

“If they get ahead they are likely to cause you problems. We have to make sure we are in control of the tie.”

Gordon hoping to get place back

Sunderland goalkeeper Craig Gordon admits that he is frustrated with his situation at the club.

But the Scottish star is determined to get his place back from Hungarian goalkeeper Marton Fulop.

“It has been frustrating and annoying at times but you have got to put up with that and do the usual thing of get back to basics and you work hard in training and wait for your chance,” he told Sky Sports News.

“But it is very difficult to do that and not get upset but I have knuckled down and put in some good performances.

“Hopefully I have put myself in contention for this weekend (against Manchester City).

“There have been days when it has been difficult but I am a professional player and it is how you react and I hope to win my place back very soon.”

Liverpool stun United to keep title race alive

Liverpool breathed new life into the Premier League title race with a stunning 4-1 win against 10-man Manchester United on Saturday.

Rafa Benitez’s side came from behind in an explosive clash at Old Trafford to move within four points of leaders United, who still have a game in hand on their bitter rivals.

Cristiano Ronaldo’s first half penalty gave United the lead, but Fernando Torres equalised and Steven Gerrard scored from the spot to put Liverpool in front before half-time.

In the 77th minute, Nemanja Vidic was sent off for hauling down Gerrard and Fabio Aurelio scored from the resulting free-kick.

Andrea Dossena completed a memorable day for the Reds when he lobbed in the fourth in the 90th minute, handing United their biggest home defeat since QPR ran riot at Old Trafford on New Years Day 1992.

A rush of blood from Liverpool keeper Jose Reina had gifted United the lead in the 23rd minute. Carlos Tevez clipped a pass towards Park Ji Sung, who was going away from goal, and Reina rashly charged off his line to send the South Korea winger crashing to the turf.

Ronaldo made Reina pay for his misjudgement as the Portugal winger stepped up to lash home the penalty.

But United’s lead was short-lived. In the 28th minute, Vidic allowed a long punt forward to bounce over his head and Torres nipped in to rob the United defender and stroke a cool finish past Edwin van der Sar.

Just before half-time Torres sent Gerrard surging away from Patrice Evra into the penalty area. Evra could only hack Gerrard down and the Liverpool captain picked himself up to slot in the spot-kick.

Vidic’s nightmare day was complete in the 77th minute when he lost possession to Gerrard and hauled down the midfielder, earning a straight red card from referee Alan Wiley.

Aurelio rubbed salt into Vidic’s wounds as he curled the free-kick past van der Sar. Then Dossena ran clear to chip in the fourth, condemning the hosts to their first league defeat at Old Trafford since February 2008 and sealing Liverpool’s first double over United for seven years.

Man Utd defend deleting Rooney “hate” comment

Manchester United on Friday defended removing a detrimental comment about title rivals Liverpool by striker Wayne Rooney from their website.

Rooney, a boyhood fan of Liverpool neighbours Everton where he began his career, told United’s television station MUTV he hated the Anfielders, who visit Old Trafford for a key Premier League match on Saturday.

“I?m very excited about the game because I grew up as an Everton fan hating Liverpool - and that hasn?t changed,” said Rooney, adding United were out to finish off Liverpool’s title hopes with a win that would virtually wrap up a third consecutive title by sending the Red Devils ten points clear.

A club spokesman said the club had deemed it necessary to remove the comments.

“In advance of the game we felt this was the best option.

“The comments are open to wilful mis-reporting and neither the club nor Wayne wanted that to happen.”

A new abridged posting on the site read simply: “I?m also very excited about the game because I grew up as an Everton fan.”

Rooney did, however, praise Liverpool’s showing in Tuesday’s Champions League thumping of Real Madrid and added that, domestically, “Liverpool have been brilliant all season and put up a good challenge” in the Premiership.

Meanwhile, Liverpool coach Rafael Benitez has hinted he may leave if he feels the club does not have a long-term project to compete with United.

The Spaniard has been stalling for months on signing a new contract - his current deal runs out next year - but says he will decide where his future lies by the end of this month.

“I must decide on my future in the next two weeks and I want a medium or long-term project,” he told The Sun newspaper.

“I don’t want to be working from day to day always hanging on the latest result. I will work where I feel I can develop a project.”

“What I want is hard to find in Spain. Long-term projects do not exist, not like they do in England.”

Fergie fears retirement

Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson has admitted to French magazine L’Equipe that he ‘fears’ the idea of retirement.

Fergie has been a hit at Old Trafford in more than 22 years in charge.

“When I reached 60, I asked myself the question,” Ferguson told L’Equipe Magazine. “I almost left.

“But I quickly realised, with my family, that it was a mistake. Today, I fear the idea of retiring.

“I have been on the train for so long that when I get off I fear my system will collapse.

“I have decided not to ask myself the question any more.

“Three things can make me stop. 1. My health. 2. If I don’t take pleasure any more. 3. If I don’t have the strength for new challenges any more.

“Each summer, I have a look at those three things. I go to my doctor first. I had a pacemaker set up four or five years ago.

“Today, I am playing the penalty shoot-out of my managerial career. I know that. The rest is decided between me and me.

“I see my doctor every summer. He says ‘boss, you are 67. You will have more and more back pains. Getting up in the morning sometimes won’t be easy’.

Roman blasts Berbatov

Tottenham ace Roman Pavlyuchenko has blasted Dimitar Berbatov, ahead of Sunday’s Carling Cup final.

The Russian striker has labelled Berbatov an ‘arrogant snob’ and believes he would not receive a warm welcome should he one day return to Spurs.

“Robbie Keane returned to the Spurs as if he never left the club,” Pavlyuchenko told Russian paper Gazeta Daily .

“It’s evident that he’s a man of authority inside the team which is good for us. He was always liked as far as I can judge.

“If Berbatov returned it would be taken quite differently. I heard tales that he was an arrogant snob who after a training session would just throw his dirty boots to the man who takes care of our footwear saying: ‘Clean them for me!’

“No one likes such people. Still he’s now playing for Manchester United.”

Blatter fears Premier League ´damage´

FIFA president Sepp Blatter believes the dominance of the Premier League’s big four - Manchester United, Liverpool, Chelsea and Arsenal - is proving unhealthy for competition.

Since the formation of the Premier League in 1992, there have only been four different winners and Blatter is concerned that the priority of most teams is merely to avoid costly relegation.

“In a competition where two-thirds or three-quarters of the participants in the league play not to be first, but not to be relegated, there is something wrong,” Blatter told the BBC.

The FIFA chief added that the global power and appeal of the English Premier League is damaging the sport worldwide.

“I have my concerns because the Premier League is the strongest in the world definitely,” he said.

“It is taking over in such a manner that the other leagues have difficulties to match it.”

Fabregas: If Wenger leaves I leave

Arsenal midfielder Cesc Fabregas has shocked fans by revealing that if manager Arsene Wenger leaves the club then it is likely he will follow the Frenchmen, according to Sky Sports.

Pressure has been slowly mounting on Wenger over the past season and it has now been four years since the clubs last peice of silverware, which came in 2005 with the F.A cup. Arsenal were booed off at the Emirates Stadium last week in their 0-0 draw with Fulham, which at the time was their fourth 0-0 Premier League draw in a row.

With Arsenal out of Premier League title contention for yet another season, many fans believe it is time for the club to appoint fresh blood at the club with numerous top European clubs vying for Wenger to take over.

However, after Fabregas’ bombshell it is likely that the Arsenal board will think again about replacing Wenger in the summer. Fabregas told Catalunya Radio: “I have heard the rumours about Wenger leaving Arsenal for the past three years.

“If he left the club then of course I would consider my own future and whether I would leave the club. I am happy at Arsenal and I believe that we and Barcelona play the best football in Europe. But Wenger is a main part of that.”

Arsenal are already in the middle of contract negotiations with star players Robin van Persie and Theo Walcott and the loss of their captain would be irreversible for the club.

Fabregas has been out of contention with a knee injury sustained in the club’s 1-1 draw with Liverpool in December, but is convinced the can overturn their recent form to qualify for the UEFA Champions League next season.

Fabregas added: “I want to return by April and i still believe that we can finish in the top four and reach the Champions League. But to do that the squad has to be united and fight in every match as if it were a cup final.”

Fabregas thinks about an Arsenal exit

Cesc Fabregas has admitted that if Arsene Wenger left Arsenal then he could follow the manager out the exit door.

“I have heard the rumours about Wenger leaving for the past three years,” Fabregas told the Daily Mirror. “If he left the club then of course I would consider my own future and whether I would leave the club”.

“I am happy at Arsenal and believe that we and Barcelona play the best football in Europe. But Wenger is a main part of that.”

Berba-Rooney double act puts United in sight of title

Dimitar Berbatov and Wayne Rooney were on target as Manchester United extended their advantage at the top of the English Premier League with a hard-fought 2-1 victory at Newcastle United.

An 11th consecutive league victory put United seven points ahead of their nearest challengers Chelsea and Liverpool with a game in hand.

They were made to fight all the way by relegation-threatened Newcastle, who stunned the Premier League champions by taking an early lead thanks to an uncharacteristic error from goalkeeper Edwin van der Sar.

But the hosts were unable to hang on, to leave them without a home win for more than two months and just one victory in 10 league games to increase their worries near the bottom of the table.

Rooney soon had United level before Berbatov?s 13th goal of the season nine minutes after the interval proved decisive.

It arrived from a mistake by Ryan Taylor, whose attempt to chest the ball back to keeper Steve Harper fell short, allowing Park Ji-Sung to intervene, before slipping a square pass to the unmarked Berbatov to tap in.

As expected, Sir Alex Ferguson made wholesale changes for the return to league action, with only four players on duty from the team which beat Tottenham Hotspur at Wembley on Sunday to claim the League Cup, the second of five possible trophies targeted by United.

Cristiano Ronaldo saw an early goal-bound shot deflected wide by Fabricio Coloccini, but the leaders were soon on the back foot as their seven-game run without conceding an away league goal was brought to a halt after just nine minutes.

Newcastle broke swiftly downfield as Michael Carrick?s corner came to nothing. Obafemi Martins combined with Jonas Gutierrez and Jose Enrique in a 70-yard surge, before the latter?s reverse pass found the Argentina international in space on the edge of the box.

The midfielder?s curling effort looked like providing a routine save for van der Sar, only for the keeper to inexplicably fumble the shot, with Peter Lovenkrands needing no second invitation to sweep the loose ball into the unguarded net from six yards for the Dane?s second goal in four starts since signing in January.

It was the first league goal conceded by van der Sar in more than 14 games spanning 1311 minutes, almost 22 hours? football, since Samir Nasri scored past the Dutch international in Arsenal?s 2-1 victory in November.

Martins came within inches of doubling the advantage moments later as the speedy striker fired into the side-netting.

But Newcastle were left to rue their failure to make more of their territorial advantage when Rooney fired United level in spectacular style on 20 minutes.

John O?Shea?s low centre from the right found Rooney with seemingly few options with his back to goal on the edge of the area.

What appeared to be an unfavourable position soon became anything but as the forward turned in an instant to lose his marker Coloccini, before firing a stunning left-foot effort past Steve Harper with the aid of a slight deflection off defender Steven Taylor.

Newcastle continued to pose much more of a threat, and Nemanja Vidic was fortunate not to deflect Ryan Taylor?s centre into his own net just after the half-hour.

Van der Sar continued his uncomfortable night by flapping at Taylor?s resulting corner, but as the ball bounced free, captain Rio Ferdinand was alert to block Martins? close-range effort as the danger was cleared.

After Berbatov had put them ahead, United took control of the match and it took a fine save from Harper to deny Ronaldo from extending the advantage further as Newcastle left gaps at the back in their quest for an equaliser.

Season starts now, says Fergie

Sir Alex Ferguson has insisted that Manchester United’s race for glory starts now after claiming that the season will only be a success if his players land the “big” trophies between now and the end of May.

United, who added the League Cup to the FIFA Club World Cup trophy by defeating Spurs at Wembley last Sunday, have the chance to take another step towards sealing a hat-trick of Premier League titles by claiming three points at Newcastle on Wednesday evening.

Ferguson’s men are still on course for an unprecedented quintuple this season, with the team going strong in the league, Champions League and FA Cup.

But the United manager insists the real trophies are still up for grabs and that the silverware already collected this season will not be sufficient.

Ferguson said: “The only way we hope this season ends is with us winning the big ones.

“Winning the Club World Cup in December was an exceptional achievement, but the League Cup was fourth in our list of priorities at the start of the season.

“Now we have won it, though, we just move on because, for me, the Premier League and Champions League are the major trophies, with the FA Cup in third place.

“If we win one major trophy a year, then I am happy with that.

“I’d love to see us win the Champions League, that’s my big desire, but at this moment in time, the Premier League looks to be our best opportunity.

“And if we keep our heads straight and focus, then we’ll have a big chance.”

United have opened up a formidable lead at the top of the Premier League since returning from World Club Cup duty in Japan in December.

But Ferguson admits that no lead is insurmountable and he claims that Barcelona’s recent problems in Spain’s La Liga underline the need for his players to stay focused.

He said: “Barcelona are now four points ahead and they were eleven not so long ago. For the first time this season, they lost a game when they had a lead at the weekend.

“So there’s plenty of warnings in football, but we don’t need to look at Barcelona. We look at ourselves.

“If you take your foot off the pedal you can get a real kick in the teeth.”

United´s focus back on the title as clean sweep bid gathers pace

Manchester United return to Premier League action at Newcastle on Wednesday with Old Trafford legend Sir Bobby Charlton admitting the possibility of completing a remarkable clean sweep of five trophies this season can’t be ruled out.

Sunday’s League Cup success allied to their Club World Cup victory in December puts the Old Trafford club well on the way to creating history as they eye further success in the Champions League, Premier League and FA Cup to complete a stunning clean-sweep.

After that dramatic 4-1 penalty shoot-out victory over Tottenham at Wembley, Sir Alex Ferguson’s side turn their attention back to cementing their advantage on top of the Premier League.

United tackle Newcastle on the back of a 15-game unbeaten league run, their last 10 games all victories, during which time they’ve conceded just one goal.

It has propelled them back to the top of the table with a seven-point cushion over Chelsea and Liverpool, which has them strong favourites to clinch their third consecutive domestic title.

Charlton, who received the Freedom of the City of Manchester at a ceremony on Monday in recognition of his record-breaking 20-year Old Trafford playing career and ambassadorial work for the club, admitted the quintuple is possible but realistically remains unlikely.

“People are saying United can possibly win five trophies this year. We’ve got two but of course the others are not so easy. I’m not going to say we’re not going to do it, and we’ll have a crack,” he said.

“But I have to say that I don’t agree with those people who say the league is over.

“We have too many games to play and we have too many good teams to play against so to say it’s over is crazy.

“We are the favourites to do that, that’s obvious, but it’s not a foregone conclusion, although I wouldn’t put anything past this set of players.”

Ferguson has the luxury of being able to restore Wayne Rooney, Dimitar Berbatov, Edwin van der Sar and Michael Carrick, who were not even in the League Cup final squad, to the side as United look to further improve a run that has seen them win five of their last six visits to St James’ Park, scoring 20 goals in the process.

Troubled Newcastle are the only team to earn a point at Old Trafford this season, but the Tyneside club desperately need a victory to halt a sequence of one win in 11 games.

It leaves them just two points above the relegation zone as they face a daunting sequence of consecutive home games against United, Arsenal and Chelsea.

A knee ligament problem forces Newcastle’s Nicky Butt to miss out against his former club, leaving Chris Hughton with a problem in midfield.

The caretaker manager is already without injured trio Joey Barton, Damien Duff and Danny Guthrie, while Kevin Nolan is suspended.

Alan Smith comes in as cover, with the England international set to make his first start in 10 months after a persistent ankle problem.

Newcastle’s 16-year stay in the Premier League is under serious threat, and defender Steven Taylor admitted: “We’re in a relegation fight and we have to be men and stand up to the challenge.”

Keeper Steve Harper added: “We should have the best part of a full house and the supporters will be looking for us to give 100 percent commitment.

“It is important all the lads are on their game because they will have to be. We have to go out there all guns blazing and take on the champions.”

City hit by striker crisis for Villa visit

Manchester City’s hopes of derailing Aston Villa’s drive for Champions League football have been hit by the loss of Brazilian star Robinho for Wednesday’s Premier League match at Eastlands.

Robinho has failed to recover from a knee injury suffered in the defeat at West Ham on Sunday and joins Craig Bellamy on the sidelines, leaving manager Mark Hughes with a major headache in terms of attacking options.

The City boss could be forced to turn to Bulgarian forward Valeri Bojinov, whose appearance as a substitute at West Ham on Sunday was his first since he ruptured an Achilles tendon in August.

“We may well have to play Boj on Wednesday, although it is probably a bit too soon to expect him to play 90 minutes in the Premier League,” Hughes admitted.

“I am pleased we got him on at West Ham because he has not had much Premier League experience.

“It was important that he got a taste of it as soon as possible and we were able to do that, so that was a positive. It is still early in his comeback and we will have to see how he goes. He is a good option for us.”

The 1-0 defeat at West Ham epitomised how poor City have been on the road this season but Hughes’s squad’s home record is bettered only by their crosstown rivals United.

Midfielder Stephen Ireland said the players were determined to be more consistent. “We know what we have to do to get back on track and we’re going to set it right against Villa,” he said.

“We missed out on a good opportunity to go seventh in the table and now we’ve big games coming up against top-four sides.

“Hopefully we can get out of this cycle of losing away from home, but the big clubs tend to bring out the best in us.”

Villa will be looking to consolidate their grip on fourth place in the table and Martin O’Neill’s side will be able go give their all at Eastlands, knowing that a weekend off in the Dubai sunshine awaits them thanks to their early exit from the FA Cup.

Having squandered a two-goal lead against Stoke on Sunday, O’Neill’s men also have to demonstrate that their nerve is not failing them as the season heads for a tense finale.

“We can give the Manchester City game everything, as we then have a 10-day break,” said Villa’s Norway striker, John Carew. “We need to get our momentum going again with a victory.”

Villa travel north looking for an eighth consecutive away league win but they have now gone five matches without triumphing in the league, FA Cup and UEFA Cup over the last fortnight.

O’Neill could certainly do with Emile Heskey being fit for Wednesday evening but the England forward faces a late test of his troublesome Achilles.

If Heskey does not make it, Carew is likely to make his first league start since returning from a back problem last month.

Dutch defender Wilfred Bouma is not being considered despite playing his first match in eight months, for the reserves earlier this week. Bouma had been out with a dislocated ankle.

Bendtner ends Arsenal goal drought

Nicklas Bentner breathed new life into Arsenal’s hopes of securing a top-four finish in the English Premier League as he inspired a 3-1 victory over West Bromwich Albion on Tuesday.

The Danish striker has been the target of ferocious criticism by sections of the north Londoners’ support this season but played his way back into their affections with two first-half goals to take his season’s tally to 11.

Albion had briefly threatened an upset when Chris Brunt’s free-kick cancelled out the first of them, but after they gifted Kolo Toure an easy second goal, their hopes all but evaporated.

Their chances of remaining in the top flight could go the same way unless they somehow instil some resilience into their flowing football.

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger’s own concerns, meanwhile, are now not so acute.

Fourth-placed Aston Villa’s advantage over his team is down to three points, although that could be extended to six when they travel to Manchester City on Wednesday, and this was undoubtedly a more purposeful performance, even if it did come against the Premier League’s worst defence.

Indeed, his only regret on a generally pleasing night was an injury to Toure, which prevented his captain emerging for the second-half.

No side in English top flight history had ever recorded five consecutive goalless draws but Arsenal were 90 minutes away from achieving just that before this game.

In the event, Wenger should not have been concerned. This West Brom defence specialises in resuscitating flat-lining forwards and Arsenal won at a canter, even though their best player - Robin van Persie - remained on the bench.

Instead, Wenger paired Bendtner with the diminutive Andrei Arshavin, and to spectacular effect.

The game was only into its fourth minute when Samir Nasri’s corner was partially cleared to Denilson and the Brazilian slipped a pass to Bendtner, who cut inside Ryan Donk and curled his shot into the bottom corner.

The relief among Arsenal’s travelling throng was palpable but no sooner had their side jettisoned one bad habit - profligacy in front of goal - than they rekindled another by leaking an eminently avoidable goal.

After Johan Djourou had clumsily fouled Luke Moore on the edge of the area, Brunt stepped up and drove a low, left-footed free-kick which skidded underneath Emmanuel Eboue’s raised boot and past goalkeeper Manuel Almunia’s outstretched hand.

Moore duly tested Almunia again with a snap-shot at the near post, but that was as good as it got for West Brom. Instead, their limp defence capitulated meekly in the dying moments of the first-half.

First, in the 38th minute, Gianni Zuiverloon allowed Arshavin’s inswinging free-kick to sail over his head, with Toure nodding past Carson with contemptuous ease; then, in the 44th, Abdoulaye Meite failed to cut out Toure’s long ball and Bendtner, hardly believing his luck, crunched home on the angle.

The scoreline might have acquired an embarrassing hue in the second-half, only for Carson to set up a one-man blockade.

The England goalkeeper twice denied the lively Arshavin with exceptional saves from close range, although he could only join his defenders in watching as Bendtner ran 20 yards, drifting past tackle after tackle, before shooting against the left-hand post.

Albion might have set up a grandstand finish when Marc-Antoine Fortune broke clear but dragged well wide with only Almunia to beat, a moment which summed up manager Tony Mowbray’s evening.

Drogba keeps Chelsea in title hunt

If Manchester United have already got the Premier League title in their grasp nobody has told Chelsea manager Guus Hiddink.

His side staged another late show to beat strugglers Portsmouth 1-0 at Fratton Park here on Tuesday and close the gap on champions and leaders United to just four points - however United can restore their seven point lead on Wednesday should they beat Newcastle, and they also have a game in hand.

Chelsea needed a 90th minute winner to overcome a battling Wigan side at Stamford Bridge on Saturday and it took until 11 minutes from time for striker Didier Drogba to register only his second league goal of the season and maintain temporary boss Hiddink’s 100 percent record in charge.

Until the Ivory Coast international forward finished neatly from substitute Ricardo Quaresma’s cross, Chelsea had produced an unconvincing performance.

But, as Hiddink’s United counterpart Sir Alex Ferguson will testify, it is upon such scrappy victories that title challenges are built.

Chelsea were without the services of France striker Nicolas Anelka and for long periods on a rain drenched south coast they lacked any cutting edge.

Portsmouth had never beaten the visitors in a Premier League game but could have taken the lead inside the opening minute when Herman Hreidarsson came marauding forward from left-back and saw his close range shot deflected wide by Jose Bosingwa.

It took until the ninth minute for Hiddink’s revitalised side to threaten David James’ goal when Florent Malouda broke down the left before picking out Salomon Kalou unmarked at the back post.

Kalou is not renowned for his finishing and a mistimed attempted half-volley was cleared by Hreidarsson.

Chelsea began to dominate possession after an uncertain opening 15 minutes and Drogba was inches away from turning home Ashley Cole’s driven low left wing cross after arriving late at James’ back post.

Portsmouth were unfortunate not to take the lead against the run of play when boyhood Chelsea supporter Sean Davis saw his stinging 25-yard pile driver turned behind by the fingertips of Petr Cech.

Germany midfielder Michael Ballack almost bought the first-half to a positive conclusion for Chelsea when his header from Lampard’s left wing corner shaved the crossbar.

The second-half got off to a laboured start until the 59th minute when striker David Nugent turned past England captain John Terry on the edge of the penalty area and found himself one on one with Cech.

The Chelsea goalkeeper stood firm and showed strong wrists to block Nugent’s left foot effort.

Drogba almost opened the scoring in the 66th minute when he came racing onto Quaresma’s cross but put a flying near post header just over the top.

If Portsmouth lose their battle against relegation, Niko Kranjcar will forever be haunted by his glaring 69th minute miss.

Chelsea committed everybody forward for an attacking corner, which was cleared to Peter Crouch on the halfway line and the England striker had a clear run to the edge of Cech?s 18-yard box.

Crouch squared the ball across to Kranjcar, who looked certain to score but the Croatian international could only prod a left foot shot wide with just the stranded Cech to beat.

Chelsea have made a habit of scoring late goals since Hiddink took over from Luiz Felipe Scolari and it was with a sense of inevitability that Drogba finally found his finishing touch in the 79th minute.

Quaresma beat Hreidarsson down Portsmouth?s left hand side and fizzed in a low cross, which Ballack left for Drogba to bury an unstoppable right foot shot past James from 12 yards.