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Owen to play in Carragher’s testimonial
Michael Owen is to pull on the colours of Liverpool for the first time since leaving the club six years ago after agreeing to brave a potential backlash from Manchester United’s supporters by playing for his old team in Jamie Carragher’s testimonial match. Owen, reviled by some Liverpool fans after crossing one of the game’s oldest divides, is said to be uncertain of the reaction he will get from the Anfield crowd but does not have great expectations considering the abuse when he returned last season for the first time since joining their rivals at Old Trafford.

The former England striker has given his word to Carragher, however, that he will play in the match at Anfield on Saturday week, swapping the red of United for that of the team where he began his career. Sir Alex Ferguson, the United manager, has given him permission to play for 45 minutes and Owen will be in attack for a Liverpool XI taking on an Everton XI.

Wayne Bridge and Stephen Ireland are set to give manager Roberto Mancini a boost by returning for Manchester City in the derby with Manchester United.

Bridge has been missing for a month after suffering a hernia problem, while Ireland has been absent for three matches with an ankle injury.

Veteran full-back Sylvinho is less likely to be involved as he struggles for fitness after a calf strain, but Pablo Zabaleta returns from suspension.

Wayne Rooney is set to return for United after missing the draw the draw at Blackburn with an ankle injury but has been training and is rated as more likely than Rio Ferdinand (groin) and Ryan Giggs (hamstring) to be involved.

John O’Shea is also fit, whilst Owen Hargreaves is in Sir Alex Ferguson’s squad for the first time since September 2008.

Teams:

Manchester City (from): Given, Nielsen, Onuoha, Kay, Boyata, Kompany, Toure, Bridge, Garrido, Sylvinho, Adam Johnson, Cunningham, Zabaleta, De Jong, Barry, Bellamy, Wright-Phillips, Tevez, Santa Cruz, Adebayor, Ibrahim, Nimely.

Manchester United (from):Team (from): Van der Sar, Kuszczak, Foster, Neville, O’Shea, Rafael, De Laet, Ferdinand, Vidic, Evans, Evra, Carrick, Hargreaves, Scholes, Fletcher, Park, Gibson, Obertan, Valencia, Giggs, Nani, Berbatov, Rooney, Macheda, Diouf.

COPS will warn Carlos Tevez and Gary Neville to behave during the Manchester derby.

The pair clashed at Eastlands in the first leg of the Carling Cup semi-final, with Tevez goading Neville after scoring from the spot and United’s club captain responding with an obscene gesture.

Now police want to ensure nothing happens on the same pitch tomorrow to cause trouble off it.

So they will go into both dressing rooms before the match to remind the players about their behaviour.

Police and stewards are already running a tight security operation to ensure a peaceful game.

There is plenty resting on the showdown, with City bidding for a Champions League place and United’s title bid faltering.

Assistant Chief Constable Ian Hopkins, in charge of the policing operation, said: “Our main aim is to ensure it is an enjoyable experience for all fans.

“When a minority of people misbehave, it spoils it for everyone.”

This was a night that said little about the German game and much more about the English.

For the first time in seven years, the Barclays Premier League does not have a team in the last four of the Champions League. That is not a coincidence.

As is often the case at this level, Ferguson’s Manchester United were tumbled out of Europe on the back of crucial decisions and fine margins. This tie could have gone either way. It is usually like this in the latter stages. Barcelona 4 Arsenal 1 was an exception. Nevertheless, United are out. Arsenal are out. Chelsea disappeared in the last round. As for Liverpool, they will be chasing their tails in the Europa League at Anfield tonight.

It may be a blip. Nevertheless, it is a hiccup that has come about on the back of declining standards. Before the game Bayern coach Louis van Gaal suggested that the level of football in the Premier League is rather modest outside the top four. He was right and he could well have taken his argument further. (continue reading…)

Wayne Rooney limped out of Manchester United’s 2-1 defeat against Bayern Munich in the Champions League.

The England striker collapsed in agony, holding his right ankle after falling awkwardly after Mario Gomez appeared to tread on his left foot.

Rooney immediately signalled to the United bench that he had to come off the field.

Afterwards United manager Sir Alex Ferguson said: “He’s obviously hurt his ankle, we’ll know better tomorrow. It’s too early to say. I don’t think it’s terribly serious, but we’ll wait and see.”

Asked if he could feature against Chelsea in the Barclays Premier League on Saturday, Ferguson added: “I can’t answer that, we need to wait until tomorrow.”

England manager Fabio Capello faces an anxious wait to discover the extent of the injury.

England midfielder David Beckham has already been ruled out of this summer’s tournament in South Africa with an ankle injury.

The injury comes just over 10 weeks before England’s opening World Cup match on June 12 against United States. (continue reading…)

Ivica Olic hit an injury-time winner to give Bayern Munich the advantage after the first leg of the Champions League quarter-final with Manchester United.

United took lead after only 66 seconds when Wayne Rooney volleyed in six yards out from Nani’s free-kick.

But Franck Ribery’s deflected free-kick set up a dramatic finale, rounded off by Olic’s cool run and finish after a defensive error by Patrice Evra.

United’s misery was made complete when Rooney limped off with an ankle injury.

The England striker appeared in severe pain after turning over on his ankle in the build-up to Bayern’s winner.

United will hope the injury is not too serious, as they face a crucial Premier League match against on Chelsea on Saturday as well as the return match with Bayern next week. (continue reading…)

In the build-up to Tuesday’s Champions League quarter-final first leg meeting with Manchester United, Arjen Robben remains a doubt for the Bayern starting line-up, but Mario Gomez has returned to contention after an injury lay-off.

Germany international Gomez has recovered from rupturing a calf muscle three weeks ago and took part in the squad training programme again on Sunday. He is likely to begin on the bench at the Allianz Arena, but may even be an option for the starting eleven. “I’m ready,” said Gomez, after staying out for extra shooting practice at the end of Sunday’s training session. The 24-year-old last played for Munich in the Champions League fixture away to Fiorentina on 9 March.

Gomez’ return offers Bayern boss Louis van Gaal another alternative for the forward line. Robben may still be forced out of Tuesday’s clash with injury, but his chances of appearing have not worsened since Saturday evening. “He’s feeling a lot better than yesterday,” reported club captain Mark van Bommel after speaking to his fellow-countryman. (continue reading…)

Sir Alex Ferguson has finally conceded that Wayne Rooney can eclipse Cristiano Ronaldo’s incredible mark of 42 goals in a season.

The Manchester United striker, who once again inspired his side to a crucial victory in the title race, insisted he was only concerned with winning trophies. ‘That’s more important,’ he said.

He took his tally to 32 with two more in Sunday’s 3-0 defeat of Fulham at Old Trafford and Ferguson now believes the ‘impossible’ is possible.

‘I said a while ago it’s impossible for a day,’ said United’s manager. ‘But he’s on 32, so what can I say? It’s a challenge for him.

‘He is capable of scoring in the next eight league games and the five European games we could yet have. So with 13 games a possibility, you never know. I wouldn’t put it beyond him, although I’m just happy to get over the 30 mark. We’re enjoying his form at the moment. He’s definitely making a difference to the team.’ (continue reading…)

There were protests and there were prizes. A gold star for Wayne Rooney; a green and gold scarf for David Beckham.

And there was yet another appearance in the Champions League quarter-finals to celebrate for supporters who began this enchanted Old Trafford evening applauding their remarkable young striker and ended it by turning, once again, on their club’s American owners.

For the aforementioned Manchester United old boy, it amounted to quite a night. Far more enjoyable, it has to be said, than it would have been for the other old boys of AC Milan. This was as depressing an evening as this once great side have had in Europe for many a year. Further evidence that they have become sporting geriatrics.

Not that their suffering was of any concern to Rooney and United. Inspired, once again, by their brilliant England forward, United were sensational in the way they secured their club’s first victory against the San Siro giants.

Two more goals for Rooney. One each for the excellent Ji-Sung Park and the irrepressible Darren Fletcher. It was a battering almost as impressive as the one dished out by Arsenal the previous night. (continue reading…)