FOOTBALL

Liverpool are getting what they asked for, but perhaps not what they had in mind. Just four victories in 2012 put paid to the club's Champions League ambitions but the manner in which they registered their most recent win, a 3-0 triumph over Norwich City, has given John Aldridge cause for optimism.

Liverpool prepare to take on Fulham in a game critical to building confidence and momentum ahead of their FA Cup Final against Chelsea.

Vincent Kompany scored the only goal of the game as Manchester City beat Manchester United to send his side top of the Premier League on goal difference, with only two games remaining.

Vincent Kompany's thumping first half header has sent Manchester City top of the Premier League at the expense of bitter rivals Manchester United at the Etihad Stadium.

German winger Marko Marin says he turned down a move to Tottenham Hotspur in order to join Chelsea.

Liverpool legend Jamie Redknapp has lauded Luis Suarez's 'magnificent' performance against Norwich on Saturday and believes the Uruguayan has the potential to be one of the Premier League's greatest ever players.

British drugs cheats will no longer be prevented from competing at the Olympic Games, after a British Olympic Association bylaw was overturned by the Court of Arbitration for Sport.

Arsene Wenger has conceded that Robin van Persie has been heavily relied upon to help Arsenal this season, as the club confirmed the signing of German striker Lukas Podolski for next season.

David De Gea insists he's improved a great deal since his move to Manchester United, with the young keeper getting ready for one of the most important games of his career against cross-town rivals City tonight.

Mark Lawrenson believes that Tottenham manager Harry Redknapp would have been approached at some point for the England job, with the former Liverpool star claiming he may have decided that the timing was wrong to take on the role.

FC Cologne have confirmed that striker Lukas Podolski will join Arsenal at the end of the season for an undisclosed fee.

Liverpool midfielder Maxi Rodriguez has revealed his uncertainty over his immediate future at Anfield after just seven Premier League starts this season.

Former Premier League referee Graham Poll believes Andre Marriner is the right man to officiate the 162nd Manchester derby between Manchester City and Manchester United at Eastlands on Monday night.

Manchester United legend Peter Schmeichel has revealed how he handled the pressure of playing for such a successful team for so many years, with the keeper insisting that he had to maintain a level of confidence that he was as good as his opposition at all times.

The elongated build-up the Manchester derby will come to a crushing crescendo on Monday evening as the Premier League's leading pair square off in a game in which so much is promised.

Montpellier captain Mapou Yanga-Mbiwa says it would be a dream-come-true for him if the defender gets a chance to move to Manchester United in the summer.

Frank Lampard says he hopes he can do at Chelsea what Ryan Giggs and Paul Scholes have done at Manchester United

Chelsea striker Fernando Torres says that it is his time to enjoy as he feels things are getting better after scoring a hat-trick in the Blues' 6-1 win over Queens Park Rangers on Sunday.

Arsenal legend Alan Smith believes the pressure that awaits both sets of Manchester United and Manchester City players on Monday night is like nothing either side will have experienced before.

Harry Redknapp has revealed that Tottenham showed interest in Carlos Tevez, with the Spurs man admitting that the striker's wages were impossible to meet as he pushed for a move away from Manchester City.

Manchester City and Manchester United have both invited Brazilian starlet Lucas Moura for talks over a potential move to the Premier League, the player's father has confirmed.

Arsenal's Yossi Benayoun expects captain Robin van Persie to stay at the North London club for a long time.

Liverpool legend Alan Hansen believes tonight's match between Manchester City and Manchester United is merely the first part of a three-part drama unmatched in significance for both sides.

Ryan Giggs is aiming to make a statement in tonight's derby between Manchester United and Manchester City, with the stalwart hoping to show that his side are deserving of their record 20th title.

Liverpool have reportedly joined Arsenal and Bayern Munich in the list of clubs who are keeping tabs on Montpellier striker Olivier Giroud.

Liverpool have reportedly agreed an £8 million deal to sign Swedish midfielder Rasmus Elm from Dutch side AZ Alkmaar.

In a surprising decision, the FA have announced, via a statement on their Web site, they have approached West Brom manager Roy Hodgson to coach the national team.

Roberto Di Matteo says he was never bothered by the possiblity of facing Real Madrid, and sees Bayern Munich as an opponent of equal difficulty, as Chelsea prepare for battle with their German counterparts in the Champions League final.

Tottenham are back in the top four of the Premier League table, and are close to clinching a Champions League spot, after Spurs defeated Blackburn 2-0 at White Hart Lane.