Fergie To Quit, Mourinho 'Obsessed' With United - Blues Source

Inter Milan boss Jose Mourinho recently admitted that he plans to return to the English Premier League, leading The Mirror to sensationally link the Portuguese gaffer with an eventual move to Manchester United.

The Old Trafford club moved quickly to play down the reports, but now the link has been strengthened. For starters, a high ranking Stamford Bridge official has revealed that 'The Special One' has always fancied being the Red Devils' ringmaster.

Asked about the rumours by the News of the World, the official revealed: "Jose always made his love of United very clear. In fact, he was obsessed with them and talked about being in charge of the biggest club in the world.

"He wanted to test himself in Italy when he left the Stamford Bridge, but it was obvious to most people he wanted to come back here with United to haunt us."

Hungry young guns such as Blackburn boss Paul Ince and Manchester City gaffer Mark Hughes have admitted that the Theatre of Dreams is their ideal managerial destination, but United could go for an elite coach such as Mourinho.

However, the Sir Alex Ferguson era would obviously have to end first before a new regime can be installed. Luckily for 'obsessed' Jose, Fergie admits that the end is nigh.

"I won't be doing a Bobby Robson and be a manager when I am 70," The 66-year-old told the Mail on Sunday. "It is just knowing when to quit.

"However, Football is like a drug which is difficult to give up and I'm hooked."

If the Mourinho prospect interests the Old Trafford board, perhaps they'll stage an intervention with football junkie Sir Alex.

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Manchester City v Stoke City

British record signing Robinho completed his first Manchester City hat-trick to take Stoke apart at Eastlands.

The £32.5 million Brazilian opened his account after just 14 minutes, then added another from Daniel Sturridge's excellent pass just after the re-start.

However, he saved the best until last, finishing off a flowing four-pass move 17 minutes from the end with a clinical finish past Thomas Sorensen.

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Liverpool end Chelsea's 86-game unbeaten home record

Xabi Alonso's solitary first-half goal ended Chelsea's 86-game unbeaten home league record and put Liverpool three points clear at the top of the Barclays Premier League.

Alonso struck in the ninth minute when his 20-yard shot deflected off Jose Bosingwa and left Petr Cech wrong-footed.

It was Chelsea's first defeat under new boss Luiz Felipe Scolari, but Liverpool were always in charge of a pulsating contest at Stamford Bridge and look real title contenders on this form.

Chelsea had not been beaten at home since Arsenal's 2-1 success in February 2004 but Liverpool deserved their triumph with an impressive display.

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Blackburn v Middlesbrough

Blackburn Rovers striker Roque Santa Cruz is doubtful for the Barclays Premier League match against Middlesbrough.

Santa Cruz is still troubled by a hamstring injury which caused him to miss the goalless draw at Bolton Wanderers last weekend.

Defender Christopher Samba is expected to shake off a knock suffered in that match after colliding with a post.

Team Updates

Turkey international Tuncay Sanli is expected to return to the Middlesbrough squad.

The playmaker has been sidelined since mid-September with a knee ligament injury but is set for a place on the bench at Ewood Park.

After serving a three-match ban, skipper Emanuel Pogatetz will return to the starting XI while Afonso Alves and Didier Digard are set for recalls.

Full-back Justin Hoyte (groin) is not expected to be declared fit so David Wheater is likely to move across to right-back.

Squads

Blackburn: Robinson, Simpson, Samba, Nelsen, Ooijer, Emerton, Tugay, Warnock, Villanueva, Roberts, Fowler, McCarthy, Derbyshire, Pedersen, Olsson, Andrews, Brown, Grella, Khizanishvili, Treacy.

Middlesbrough: Turnbull, Wheater, Taylor, Riggott, Pogatetz, Digard, O'Neil, Johnson A, Downing, Alves, Mido, Jones, Grounds, Shawky, Aliadiere, Walker, Emnes, Tuncay, Aliadiere.

Possible Scoreline: (Blackburn 1 Middlesbrough 1)

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Everton v Manchester United

Rio Ferdinand and Patrice Evra will return for Manchester United at Everton, with Michael Carrick pencilled in for a comeback against West Ham United on Wednesday.

Ferdinand (groin) and Evra (hamstring) both missed Tuesday's Champions League win over Celtic, while Carrick has been restricted to just 70 minutes' Barclays Premier League action all season with an ankle injury.

Dimitar Berbatov (hip) and Cristiano Ronaldo (knee) have recovered from minor knocks and will play at Goodison Park, while Paul Scholes and Owen Hargreaves (both knee) are out.

Team Updates:

Everton defender Tony Hibbert will have to undergo a fitness test on a sore ankle.

Joseph Yobo has returned to full strength following illness and Victor Anichebe is also fit, having managed to shrug off a hamstring complaint.

However, Everton will again be without midfielder Tim Cahill who is still suspended following his red card in the Merseyside derby almost a month ago.

Squads

Everton: Howard, Baines, Hibbert, Yobo, Lescott, Jagielka, Arteta, Osman, Fellaini, Pienaar, Vaughan, Saha, Anichebe, Yakubu, Nash, Rodwell, Valente, Jutkiewicz, Gosling, Baxter.

Manchester United: Van der Sar, Kuszczak, Foster, Brown, Neville, Rafael, Ferdinand, Vidic, Evans, Evra, O'Shea, Ronaldo, Park, Fletcher, Anderson, Giggs, Nani, Rooney, Berbatov, Tevez.

Possible Scoreline: (Everton 0 Man Utd 3)

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Sunderland v Newcastle

Sunderland striker Kenwyne Jones has an outside chance of being involved in Saturday's Wear-Tyne derby against Newcastle United.

The 24-year-old returned to action for the reserves on Wednesday evening, along with fellow frontman Martyn Waghorn (also knee), almost five months after damaging knee ligaments, but manager Roy Keane has insisted he will take no risks with either.

Nyron Nosworthy is back in the squad after recovering from a hamstring tear, while Dwight Yorke is over his gruelling international exploits with Trinidad and Tobago and Liam Miller is back from a groin problem.

Unavailable:

Newcastle manager Joe Kinnear will make a late check on midfielder Nicky Butt. The 33-year-old picked up a foot injury in Monday's 2-2 draw with Manchester City, but is expected to be available.

Striker Michael Owen will miss out as he continues his recovery from a groin injury.

However, Kinnear will be able to welcome back full-back Habib Beye, whose appeal against his red card against City was successful, and midfielder Joey Barton after the completion of his six-match ban.

Argentinian midfielder Jonas Gutierrez could also return from his fractured collarbone, but Mark Viduka (Achilles) and Alan Smith (foot) are still out.

Squads

Sunderland: Gordon, Fulop, Chimbonda, Ferdinand, Collins, Nosworthy, McCartney, Diouf, Whitehead, Miller, Reid, Richardson, Malbranque, Tainio, Henderson, Cisse, Murphy, Healy, Chopra, Jones, Waghorn.

Newcastle: Given, Harper, Beye, Edgar, Enrique, N'Zogbia, Taylor, Coloccini, Cacapa, Bassong, Tozer, Butt, Guthrie, Geremi, Duff, Barton, Jonas, Doninger, Xisco, Ameobi, Carroll, Donaldson, Ranger, Danquah.

Possible scoreline: (Sunderland 1 Newcastle 0)

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West Bromwich Albion v Hull City

The Barclays Premier League newcomers do battle for the first time since gaining promotion from the Championship last season.

Phil Brown's Hull have begun the campaign in excellent form and sit in third place, while the Baggies will be pleased with 10 points from their first eight fixtures

Hull City manager Phil Brown has close to a fully-fit squad available for Saturday's Barclays Premier League trip to West Bromwich Albion.

Brown has named an unchanged side for three consecutive matches but with broken-leg victim Craig Fagan the only player not to have trained this week, competition for places is high.

Record signing Anthony Gardner (thigh) is back in the squad and will travel but Brown is determined not to rush him. New signing Stelios Giannakopoulos and Nick Barmby are both in full training but will be left until after a behind-closed-doors friendly on Monday.

Injuries:

West Brom will again be without central defender Abdoulaye Meite, who will miss his sixth successive match as he continues to battle against the calf strain he suffered against former club Bolton Wanderers on 30th August.

Midfielder Filipe Teixeira, who has not played since March due to a knee ligament injury, has also had to put his comeback plans on hold again.

Teixeira is still being troubled by a calf problem that he picked up in training.

Squads

West Brom: Carson, Kiely, Zuiverloon, Hoefkens, Barnett, Donk, Olsson, Robinson, Cech, Morrison, Greening, Koren, Valero, Brunt, Miller, Bednar, Moore, Slusarski, MacDonald, Pele.

Hull: Myhill, McShane, Zayatte, Turner, Dawson, Marney, Ashbee, Boateng, Hughes, Geovanni, Halmosi, Cousin, Garcia, King, Mendy, Folan, Ricketts, Gardner, Windass, Duke.

Possible scoreline: (West Brom 1 Hull 2)

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Kuyt inspires Reds revival

Liverpool gave notice of their title credentials with a remarkable 3-2 victory at home to Wigan.

An Amr Zaki brace had the Latics ahead at the break, but two goals from Dirk Kuyt and a first for the club from Albert Riera saw the Reds claim three vital points.

A bright opening, on a slick surface, saw Wigan take the game to Liverpool from the off, although they were handed their opener on 29 minutes through some incompetent defending from the Reds.

Jose Reina's ill-advised pass to Daniel Agger saw the centre-half dwell on the ball long enough for Zaki to nip in, steal possession, and fire low into the bottom corner.

Rafa Benitez's side then came to life and levelled matters eight minutes later as Agger, making amends for his earlier error, laid on a simple finish for Kuyt.

The Dutch striker then crashed a 20-yard effort off the crossbar before Zaki stunned Anfield with a screamer seconds before the break.

Antonio Valencia's persistence down the right saw him throw a hopeful delivery into the box, from which his Egyptian team-mate sent an acrobatic volley arching into the top corner.

Wigan then looked comfortable during the second period until Valencia's recklessness 15 minutes from time saw him pick up two yellow cards in quick succession and head for an early bath.

Five minutes later and the 10-men were broken as Riera drilled home from the edge of the box following good work by Nabil El Zhar.

The turnaround was then completed on 85 minutes as Jermaine Pennant's cross picked out Kuyt, who scuffed a volley into the roof of net.

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Rooney's irresistible form continues

Wayne Rooney continued his scoring spree to tally the eight goals in six matches to set United on their way to victory. Rooney had already seen a first-half effort disallowed for a push on Gianni Zuiverloon when he broke the Baggies' resistance with an excellent solo effort 11 minutes after the re-start.


Cristiano Ronaldo and Dimitar Berbatov also found the net during a devastating 15-minute period for the Barclays Premier League champions, with Nani completing the scoring in the last minute. But it was a struggle until man-of-the-match Rooney broke the Baggies' resistance by scoring in his fifth successive match, a run that has yielded six goals for club and country and has now moved United into the top four. West Brom had every reason to be fearful and it appeared those worries were proved valid when the England striker tucked home midway through the opening period.


On first viewing, Rooney appeared merely to use his strength to push Gianni Zuiverloon to one side as he skipped onto Ronaldo's through ball. He then stepped inside Ryan Donk before beating Scott Carson from 10 yards. Television replays did not cast that much doubt on Rooney's challenge either but referee Mark Halsey thought otherwise and disallowed the goal for a push. It was the most notable moment of a frustrating half for the hosts, who dominated possession but failed to break a stoic West Brom defence in which Donk and central defensive partner Jonas Olsson were superb.

Man of the match: Wayne Rooney

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