CHELSEA and Manchester City chase David Villa, Man Utd chase David Silva

CHELSEA and Manchester City are on red alert after debt-riddled Valencia agreed to sell striker David Villa.

His team-mate Silva is also available and Manchester United are sure to fancy the attacking midfielder, who may fetch up to £20million.

The Spanish team want to raise £50m by selling both players but Villa could cost £40m alone if a bidding war erupts between the Premier League's richest clubs.

Insiders say Villa, who has fired 121 goals in 223 outings for Valencia and 37 in 55 internationals, will also be wanted by Barcelona and Real Madrid.

But he is thought to prefer a move to the Premier League, with Chelsea his first choice.

Nicolas Anelka is stalling over an extended one-year deal at Chelsea and Blues fans would view Villa, 28, as an eye-popping replacement.

Villa said: "For now my head is in Valencia and the World Cup.

"After South Africa I will decide what's best. My final decision won't be based solely on money."

    

EVERTON are signing Portuguese striker Joao Silva

EVERTON are signing Portuguese striker Joao Silva, 19, for £600,000.

Silva, who has to complete a medical before sealing his move from Desportivo das Aves, said: "I am a fan of Wayne Rooney and Didier Drogba and it will be magnificent to play against them."

   

Riera to Russian Club

ALBERT RIERA goes back to Liverpool this morning - to be offloaded to CSKA Moscow by the end of the week.

The Kop winger outraged boss Rafa Benitez with a staggering attack in a Spanish radio interview.

He dubbed Liverpool a 'sinking ship' on the eve of their Europa League clash with Lille and also claimed Benitez held 'something personal' against him.

Benitez instantly banned the Spanish star from Anfield and will now bank around £6million by selling him to CSKA while the Russian transfer window is still open.

The 27-year-old star joined Liverpool from Espanyol for £8m two years ago. But he has failed to hold down a regular first-team place after a bright start.

    

JOE COLE want to stay but Chelsea don't want him to stay

JOE COLE last night revealed contract talks with Chelsea have broken down.

He says he wants to stay but the club have withdrawn their offer of a new deal and put Manchester City, Liverpool and Tottenham on full alert.

Midfielder Cole, 28, will be available on a free transfer in the summer but he refuses to give up on his Chelsea career.

He said: "I've never spoken publicly about contracts before.

"I don't think contracts should really be discussed mid-season. I have always signed mine in the summer in the past.

"But this time it's different. We can't seem to find common ground and it's distracting. At the moment there is no offer on the table, so I know where I stand. I still hope to talk in the summer."

Cole's current deal expires on June 30 when he will be free to quit the Blues after seven years at Stamford Bridge.

No new talks are planned between the parties at present even though Cole is keen to stay.

Chelsea have been tightening the purse strings at the club for some time and Cole has been on the fringes of the team recently.

The bombshell development is at odds with boss Carlo Ancelotti, who said recently: "He will stay - of that I am 100 per cent certain."

Robin van Persie has revealed he is back and is aiming to return to action before the end of the season.

Arsenal forward Robin van Persie has revealed he is back in light training and is aiming to return to action before the end of the season.
Van Persie has been on the sidelines since suffering a serious ankle injury in November when playing for Holland against Italy.
It was feared the skilful forward would miss the rest of the campaign, but Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger revealed over the weekend he was hopeful van Persie could return for the final few games of the campaign.
Van Persie has now set his sights on returning to the fold next month to help Arsenal in their bid to win the Premier League and Champions League.
"I am medically fit, but physically I have to gain," he told Dutch television programme Studio Voetbal. "Only then can I train with the full group.
"I'm not there yet but I've left a difficult period behind. For a few weeks I've been training with the ball and it looks good.
"I still hope I can take part in the final phase of the league and hopefully the Champions League. This has been my goal from the beginning.
"My first goal is to play for Arsenal. When I said that a few months ago, I looked crazy - but as it sta
 



   

Liverpool and Arsenal target Eden Hazard but Eden stay at his club

Liverpool and Arsenal target Eden Hazard is 'flattered' to be linked with a move to the Premier League - but insists he is happy at Lille
The Belgian starlet has seen his reputation rocket this season after a number of star showings in Ligue 1 and the Europa League.
The 19-year-old is now hot property, with a host of clubs across Europe monitoring his progress.
English sides including the Reds and Gunners are believed to be among those expressing an interest, with managers beginning to piece together their summer spending plans.
It is understood Lille would demand a hefty fee for a player with so much promise, but Hazard has revealed that he expects to leave France at some stage in the future.
"I am flattered by the reports, but I have a contract with Lille until 2014 and the club want to keep me," the talented playmaker told skysports.
"Maybe one day I will play in the Premier League, or the Spanish league, or some other club, but it will depend on Lille."

ANCELOTTI admits Manchester United are now the favourites to win the title

CARLO ANCELOTTI admits Manchester United are now the favourites to win the title after Chelsea slipped up again.

Days after being knocked out of the Champions League to Inter Milan, Ancelotti's Blues saw their Premier League hopes dented by Sam Allardyce's plucky Blackburn.

El-Hadji Diouf headed Rovers level in the second half after the visitors had failed to build on the early lead given them by Didier Drogba's 28th goal of the season.

And it means Chelsea are outside the top two for the first time since August and lie four points behind United - although they still have a game in hand.

Ancelotti admits his team have made it much more difficult for themselves and knows only a win will be enough when they travel to Portsmouth on Wednesday night.

The Italian was asked whether he felt United now had the advantage.

And he said: "They are top of the league now, so yes. We know we have to do better than this.

"We now have less probability of winning the title. We have made it more difficult for ourselves now - although it is not impossible. I still think we can do it.

"We still have the ability to win this title but we have to be at our best. What we have to do now is stay as close to Manchester United as possible so that's why our game at Portsmouth on Wednesday is so important."

Ancelotti admitted this was his worst week since taking charge at Stamford Bridge - but admitted his players are struggling to recover from their humbling by Manchester City last month.

They were particularly disappointing in the second half after looking likely to breeze past Rovers in a dominant first-half show.

The Stamford Bridge boss said: "Yes, it's been a hard week but we have to start preparing for the next games which we need to win.

"The difficult moment started against Manchester City. It's a difficult moment in our season.

"We don't have to lose our confidence but we are behind now. The pressure was that we needed to win this game and we didn't do it. It's more difficult now.

"We have to win games now - that's the only solution to go forward.

"We need to work together and stay compact. We need to prepare well for the next game.

"I don't know how many points we will need to win the title.

"All I know is that we have to win on Wednesday. We have to prepare well for every game and look forward."

One consolation for Ancelotti is that both title rivals United and Arsenal still have to come to Ewood Park to face a Blackburn side who are tough to beat on their own patch. He said: "This is a very difficult place to come. At home they are a very strong team.

"Every team will find it difficult to come here.

"The second half was more difficult for us. We lost a bit of composure and conceded a goal.

"After that we came back but it was too late.

"I'm disappointed because we lost two important points.

"I don't know if there was a hangover from Wednesday against Inter but we prepared very well.

"We tried to win this game to cancel out the game against Inter.

"For an hour we did well but it's not an easy moment for us."

Ancelotti hopes to have both Petr Cech and Michael Ballack available for the trip to Fratton Park - but he faces an anxious wait on Branislav Ivanovic.

The Serbian defender suffered a knee injury following a challenge from Diouf and is likely to need a scan on the problem to determine the extent today.

Ancelotti said: "Ivanovic has a knee injury and we will see on Monday.

"Then we'll have a clearer idea of his injury. You have to be worried but you have to recover quickly.

"Hopefully Petr will be ready for Wednesday. Ballack had a problem with his tendon so should be ready as well.

"We have the quality to push up and look forward to the next game with confidence."

Rovers boss Allardyce tipped Chelsea to do the Double on the eve of the game and does not necessarily think this is the end of their chances.

And he handed Ancelotti a boost by promising to give United and Arsenal just as tough a test when they visit Ewood before the end of the campaign.

He said: "We've only lost twice here all season and we're very proud of that.

"We want to keep that going over the rest of the season.

"Hopefully we can have a big effect on the title by taking points off some more of the big boys between now and the end of the season."

One more bright point for Ancelotti was the fact this was the first time Chelsea have worn their navy away kit in a competitive fixture - and not lost.

SunSport revealed in December how the hooped shirts were cursed after four defeats out of four - to Aston Villa, Wigan, Blackburn in the Carling Cup and Manchester City.

Yesterday was the first time they have dared to don the hoodoo strip since. Maybe a point was not so bad after all.

Man Utd go to TOP of the league

 ALEX FERGUSON roared there will be no title let-up as Manchester United moved four points clear of Chelsea on showdown Sunday.

Ji Sung Park's header gave United a 2-1 win against Liverpool while the Blues were held 1-1 at Blackburn.

Fergie said: "We're at the stage of the season where winning is the name of the game. We have been very consistent in the last few months.

"I don't think anyone's getting away. We are all knocking on the door.

"But I think that with Nemanja Vidic and Rio Ferdinand looking fresh, after being out for most of the season, it gives us a great opportunity."

In the closest title race for years, Arsenal sit between United and Chelsea - two points off the top.

United won yesterday despite falling behind to a Fernando Torres header.

Wayne Rooney equalised after a hotly-disputed penalty decision when Javier Mascherano was adjudged to have brought down Antonio Valencia.

Rooney's spot-kick was saved by Jose Reina but he converted the rebound.

Park grabbed the winner with a diving header from Darren Fletcher's cross.

Ferguson added: "For periods of the game we played very well, other periods we had to dig in and concentrate.

"It's always difficult to fall behind and win. It's a great quality which Manchester United have.

"I was disappointed with their goal. Torres was unmarked and we didn't defend it very well.

"But my players recovered from it and that's the important thing."

Defeat for Liverpool was a big blow in their quest to make the top four.

Kop boss Rafa Benitez said: "We have to keep going because it depends on other teams losing.

"They all have some difficult games. If we can win our games we will be there until the very end."

Gareth Barry pushing for Bridge to come back for England

City stars Gareth Barry pushing for Bridge to come back for England

Manchester City's England contingent are trying to persuade team-mate Wayne Bridge to reverse his decision to quit the national side.

Bridge made himself unavailable for England selection last month following newspaper reports of an affair between his former girlfriend and his ex-Chelsea team-mate John Terry.
Bridge said the alleged affair had made his position in the England set-up "untenable and potentially divisive" but his City team-mates have not given up hope of persuading him to change his mind in time for this summer's World Cup.
City and England midfielder Gareth Barry told the Sunday Times: "I'd like to see him go.
"Time can change people's opinions sometimes and hopefully that will happen with Wayne. He doesn't want to sit down in a few years' time and regret anything. World Cups don't come around too often and it might be a last time to do something, but I'll respect his decision. He's been to a World Cup before.
"We'll have another go. I think there have already been conversations between the lads and Wayne and there could be a time when we see what he's thinking and may put our opinion across."
Barry admitted it even felt strange for him to return to the England set-up after the alleged affair - which led to Terry being stripped of the national team captaincy - had become public knowledge.
"It was a bit awkward for me but you have to put that aside because you're a professional," he added.
"You're going there to do a job and work with each other and you can't think about it too much. As professionals we got on with the job."
Bridge is set to be sidelined for a month in any case following a hernia operation, but his return to the England squad would be a boost for manager Fabio Capello. First-choice left-back Ashley Cole is fighting to overcome an ankle injury and other contenders like Stephen Warnock and Leighton Baines are lacking in international experience.




     

World Cup 2010 GROUP

A
RSA
MEX
URU
FRA
B
ARG
NGA
KOR
GRE

C
ENG
USA
ALG
SVN

D
GER
AUS
SRB
GHA

E
NED
DEN
JPN
CMR

F
ITA
PAR
NZL
SVK

G
BRA
PRK
CIV
POR

H
ESP
SUI
HON
CHI

Benitez Critics : United game like any other

Rafa Benitez has played down the rivalry between Liverpool and Manchester United and vowed to treat Sunday's game like any other.

The north-west rivals are currently locked on 18 titles apiece but, sadly for the Merseysiders, their last championship came 20 years ago.
In the intervening two decades their arch-enemies have rapidly caught them up and are currently in a three-way battle with Chelsea and Arsenal as they seek to win an unprecedented fourth successive Premier League crown.
Liverpool, by contrast, are scrapping for fourth place with Tottenham, Manchester City and Aston Villa but Benitez, while admitting the club's fans want to spoil the United party, has played down the significance of the 19th title.
"I think for all our fans it would be really good [to stop United]," said the Spaniard.
"The rivalry between both teams is massive but for me, as a professional, I will keep my feelings inside.
"These games between United and Liverpool are more or less the same for both - it doesn't matter about the position in the table because both want to win so the pressure will be on both sides.
"As a manager you want to win against any club but especially against top sides.
"We need to win because we want to be in the top four."
Dirk Kuyt was more forthcoming with his feelings, admitting: "No-one here at Liverpool wants to see them winning another league title but the main thing for us is to win our own games."
Benitez broke his Old Trafford duck last season with the stunning 4-1 victory over United, the second of three successive wins over Sir Alex Ferguson's side - all of which have resulted in defender Nemanja Vidic being sent off.
However, the Liverpool manager - like his United counterpart - does not believe that result will have any bearing on Sunday's encounter.
"It is another game, another season so we have to approach it as another challenge," said Benitez.
"Maybe they will think if we don't play well they can beat us but they have experience and will approach the game as they usually do.
"I don't think they will be thinking too much about the past.
"Last year was a very important and amazing game for us. It was the first victory there for me but it is another year and another challenge and we have to concentrate on this game."
Liverpool at least head into the match on the back of two successive victories, 4-1 over Portsmouth and 3-0 against Lille, in the last six days.
That has provided a much-needed boost to the players' flagging spirits, as has the form of striker Fernando Torres.
The Spain international, celebrating his 26th birthday today, now has 17 goals in 27 appearances of an injury-hit season and has scored in his last two matches against United.
"In terms of the week, we've had two good wins and people have more confidence so we will move forward and be ready for the next game," said Benitez.
"We played really well on Monday and Thursday was a good game and hopefully we can get a result at Old Trafford.
"If we stick together we can beat anyone. Old Trafford will be difficult but we will try.
"If we can work like we did against Lille and we have a game plan it will be the small details that make the difference."
Benitez has been left to bemoan his bad luck in terms of injuries this season, particularly to Torres.
The striker missed five weeks after a knee operation in January but had struggled with a hernia problem prior to that.
Had he been fit for the entire season Benitez believes Liverpool would have been close to replicating their record haul of last season when they amassed 86 points in running United a close second.
"The gap would be reduced - how much I don't know - but Torres fit and scoring would have been a big difference," added the Reds boss.



 

Arsenal 2 - 0 West Ham

TEN-MAN Arsenal edged out West Ham to go top of the Premier League.

With Chelsea and Manchester United in action on Sunday, the Gunners had the chance to capitalise.

And they did just that, thanks to Denilson's first-half strike and a Cesc Fabregas penalty.

Thomas Vermaelen's first-half red card did not help Arsenal's cause.

The Belgian centre-back was given his marching orders after he was harshly judged to have brought down Guillermo Franco in the box.

But Alessandro Diamanti's spot-kick was saved by Gunners keeper Manuel Almunia.

It was a vital save in Arsene Wenger's bid to land the Premier League title, against all odds.

His side were written off earlier in the season but they have turned the top three on its head in recent months.

They have won their last five domestic matches and are now a point clear of Manchester United, who face Liverpool tomorrow.

Wenger would have been delighted with his side's start to the match with Denilson capitalising on some untidy West Ham defending.

The Brazilian latched on to a loose ball on the edge of the Hammers box before rifling home a low shot past Robert Green.

West Ham battled back into the match and Franco was brough down by Vermaelen to give Diamanti the chance to level.

However, the Italian's penalty was at a nice height for Almunia, who comfortably palmed away the effort.

Gianfranco Zola's move to bring Carlton Cole off the bench in the second half gave West Ham's toothless attack a boost.

The England striker hit a post as the Hammers pushed for an equaliser.

However, Arsenal skipper Fabregas killed off their hopes and plunged them deeper into the relegation mire with 10 minutes left.

First, he won a spot-kick when Matthew Upson handled in the box and then tucked it away to seal the victory.

Arsenal: Almunia, Eboue, Campbell, Vermaelen, Clichy, Fabregas, Song, Denilson, Nasri (Sagna 74), Bendtner (Diaby 58), Arshavin (Eduardo 84). Subs not used: Fabianski, Rosicky, Walcott, Silvestre. Sent off: Vermaelen (44). Booked: Campbell. Goals: Denilson 5, Fabregas 83 pen.

West Ham: Green, Spector, Tomkins, Upson, Daprela, Diamanti, Kovac (Noble 70), Behrami, Stanislas, Mido (McCarthy 75), Franco (Cole 57). Subs not used: Stech, Ilan, Ilunga, Spence. Booked: Diamanti, Kovac, Upson, Daprela.

Att: 60,077

Ref: Martin Atkinson (W Yorkshire).

UEFA Champions League Draw

Quarter Final Champions League Draw

Lyon       v Bordeaux

Bayern Munich       v Manchester United

Arsenal      v Barcelona

Internazionale v CSKA Moscow

Semi Final Champions League Draw

Bayern Munich or Manchester United

v

Lyon or Bordeaux

Internazionale or CSKA Moscow

v

Arsenal or Barcelona

Alex Ferguson slams FA for Gerrard let-off

ALEX FERGUSON faces the FA's wrath after blasting: You don't know what you're doing.

Fergie branded disciplinary chiefs 'dysfunctional' and implied they were biased in the wake of Steven Gerrard's let-off for elbowing Portsmouth's Michael Brown.

That ruling came just two months after Manchester United star Rio Ferdinand landed a four-match ban for a similar incident.

United boss Ferguson said: "I didn't expect him (Gerrard) to be charged simply because it is a dysfunctional unit at the FA.

"I don't think they know what they are doing. You just scratch your head at some of these decisions, there is no consistency.

"But I certainly think if it was a Manchester United player he would have been done - as was the case with Rio Ferdinand."

Gerrard's let-off means Liverpool's skipper is free to face United in tomorrow's showdown.

But Fergie wants more ex-bosses involved in the disciplinary process.

He added: "I wonder if it's worth exploring some managers who don't have a job at the moment taking over that department.

"These guys have played the game and that's the big advantage they would have over the people doing it at the moment."

Nani : Gerrard should quit Liverpool

 NANI has wound up Liverpool by claiming Steven Gerrard should be more ambitious than to stay at Anfield.

The Portuguese winger already has enough gongs in his short Manchester United career to make Gerrard green with envy.

That is why Nani believes the England star should be thinking about moving on.

Nani, 23, said: "I do not know about the intentions of Steven Gerrard this summer but it is normal that a player with his quality desires to win titles and if this doesn't happen in Liverpool he could think about leaving."

In-form Nani, 23, says Gerrard will have nothing to celebrate tomorrow, either, with United ready to slap Liverpool back down after the Merseysiders' morale-boosting Europa League victory over Lille.

Nani said: "I bet we do not lose one match at Old Trafford until the end of season."

Such is Nani's confidence he can see United winning both Premier League and Champions League to complete a treble with the Carling Cup already in the bag.

He said: "If we happen to win the treble this year it won't surprise me. We've won one title and are fighting for the others. Nobody could doubt we deserve success.

"So we should, this is the best club in the world and we have a sensational squad."

Nani expected Liverpool to be one of those teams challenging them for the title at least this season. Instead, Rafa Benitez's side are locked in a battle just to scrape into a Champions League place.

He said: "In the summer I included Liverpool in the group who would race for the title and I am surprised at their situation. Perhaps injuries to key men have damaged them.

"It won't be easy for them to finish fourth. The other clubs will put up a terrific fight and the slightest change can affect the whole situation.

"It's a bit like our own battle to be champions." 

Mind you, everything else is put to one side when the two most successful clubs in English football history meet. Nani said: "I have been in England for three years and I've seen the enormous rivalry between United and Liverpool. It's not just a game for three points - the pride of the fans is at stake.

"So this is a very special match for me which we must win to maintain our morale for the remaining league matches."

Nani's morale is certainly high right now as he enjoys his best spell since United paid Sporting Lisbon £14million in summer 2007.

That is a far cry from November when the Portuguese ace revealed details of Alex Ferguson's dressing-room rants in an outspoken attack on the boss.

Now Nani claims all is sweetness and light. He said: "The boss always demands the maximum of his players - and that is normal.

"I accept his orders because I respect his experience and I am very grateful to Mr Ferguson because never could I have predicted to live this sort of experience when I began my career in Portugal."

The feeling is mutual and Ferguson admires the way Nani has matured as a player.

Fergie said: "He has all the parts and what maturity does is to bring it all together. We are definitely seeing a great improvement in his form in recent weeks.

"He was unfortunate to be out for a few weeks in December. But when he got his chance he has taken it.

"When a player gets in the team and does well he can only hope the manager says that he will stay in.

"And in Nani's case, he has stayed in."

Juve Shock!! Fulham 4 -1 Juventus - Gera the HERO

 

IT WAS a magical victory on an historic night at Craven Cottage.

A night when one of the giants of European football was humbled.

A night with five goals, a penalty, the woodwork twice rattled, two red cards and an electric atmosphere.

Oh I say! The well-heeled at the Cottage will remember this night for the rest of their lives.

South West London still has a team in Europe and just for once, the nouveau riche up the road at Stamford Bridge have been put in their place by football's establishment.

Fulham last night exhibited everything Chelsea lacked during their dismal defeat by Inter Milan on Tuesday.

They were creative, instinctive, energetic, dynamic and, by the end, ecstatic.

And that was just the fans, who thankfully still remembered to say 'excuse me' as the 23,458 crammed into this tiny ground bundled into the streets outside to party hard with a small dry white.

History is rarely made at this genteel club, especially when money counts for so much in modern football.

This performance was pure romance and from kick-off the heart never stopped thumping until Dutch ref Bjorn Kuipers blew his whistle and sent Fulham into the quarter-finals of the Europa League.

Clint Dempsey's exquisite 20-yard chip which ultimately won the tie with eight minutes to go was spectacular but not out of place - merely the icing on the cake at the end of two superb games.

The fact he was making only his third appearance since a serious knee injury is just an aside in the context of the whole pulsating match.

Fulham looked down and out after just one minute and 38 seconds when David Trezeguet scored.

Brede Hangeland's attempted clearance only found the experienced Frenchman, who finished superbly to apparently kill off the tie. But this was Fulham at their best. Last week in Turin they gave Juve too much respect.

Last night they were written off by most outsiders and probably a few inside too - and so resumed the carefree manner in which they have approached the Europa League all season.

Within six minutes Bobby Zamora had equalised with a clinical goal from six yards.

Still the distance looked too great for Fulham with two goals needed just to send the match into extra time. England boss Fabio Capello was watching, the former Juve manager drawn in by the occasion and a chance to see England outsiders Zamora and Paul Konchesky state their World Cup case.

And pretty soon there were two Fabios spectating as Juve's defensive legend Fabio Cannavaro was rightly sent off on 27 minutes for clambering all over Zoltan Gera.

And that was about the last we saw of the two-time champions of Europe.

They opted to shut up shop and see the game out - but they certainly couldn't see what was coming.

Simon Davies hit the bar with a free-kick and Zamora was unable to react quickly enough to turn in the rebound.

Dickson Etuhu joined the attack and headed against the post. Then, with six minutes of the first half left, Juventus cracked again.

Konchesky found Zamora, whose touch fed Davies on the byline. He turned inside and found Gera to hammer the ball into the roof of the net. 

Four minutes into the second half a handball by Diego meant Gera scored his second from the penalty spot and put Fulham into the driving seat.

Davies went close again, Dempsey came on as a sub and had a header pushed away by keeper Antonio Chimenti and Gera had another pop at goal as the evening built towards an incredible climax.

It arrived with a classy finish that triggered delight around much of Craven Cottage, despair in one quarter and perhaps concern in one particular seat.

Capello will have taken note of Dempsey's American passport as he swung the ball high into the box with perfect weight to drop perfectly into the net and clinch an epic win.

Dempsey is back from injury just in time to hit top gear for the World Cup group game against England on June 12.

Juve's misery was complete when Jonathan Zebina was sent off in injury time for lashing out at Damien Duff.

But by then, Juve were dead and buried while Fulham were dusting off the passports again.

Liverpool 3 - 0 Lille -Torres fire Lille

 

THE ferry 'cross the Mersey may not be clear of choppy waters just yet - but it is not the sinking ship Albert Riera would have you believe.

The man with the tightest grip on the tiller is definitely Fernando Torres, the fit-again hitman proving by the week he has no peers when it comes to sticking the ball in the net.

Two goals against Portsmouth on Monday and another couple here.

Little wonder they streamed out of Anfield convinced the next six weeks are going to bury the nightmare of the last seven months. Lille centre-back Adil Rami will have his own nightmares about the night he spent chasing a Spanish shadow.

In fact, given the runaround he got off Liverpool's prize asset, you would not have backed him to keep Torres quiet had he taken a trawler net out there with him.

If misfit winger Riera had intended his outburst against Rafa Benitez's management methods as some form of twisted team-talk, he could not have done a better job.

The Reds tore out of the blocks and, bar a few hairy minutes before Torres' second soothed fraying nerves, it was pretty much plain sailing all the way.

Steven Gerrard had stressed the need for an early goal in his programme notes. Inside 10 minutes the skipper had his wish.

A superb flowing move saw Lucas ghost his way into the box and Rami left a leg trailing.

The Brazilian went over it and Gerrard rolled his penalty almost contemptuously into the corner.

It was the perfect way for the Kop idol to celebrate his 300th game as Liverpool skipper. Talk about aye, aye cap'n!

In seven previous knockout ties against French opposition, Liverpool had never failed to progress.

At that moment you would not have backed Lille ending that sequence.

Certainly the Reds were a totally different animal to one which has dithered and stuttered through the rest of the campaign.

And in Torres they have a man looking, yet again, as deadly a finisher as there is.

That will give Nemanja Vidic nightmares ahead of Liverpool's Sunday visit to Manchester United.

Yet for all their pressure, it took until four minutes after the break for Torres to finally edge them ahead on aggregate.

The striker showed his hamstring and hernia woes certainly have not dulled his predatory instincts.

Ryan Babel's punt downfield was more of a clearance than anything else - but Rami got things totally wrong and was stranded as it bounced over his head.

It handed Torres a clear run on goal and we all know the result when that happens. Keeper Mickael Landreau was quickly picking the ball out of his net again.

Amazingly it was his first Euro goal since the consolation strike in last year's Champions League loss to Chelsea here last April. 

Yet it did anything but calm nerves, as Lille desperately threw men forward to try and drag the tie out of the fire.

Pepe Reina had already made one outstanding save to deny first-leg hero Eden Hazard.

But the keeper was thankful for a woeful finish from Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang when he volleyed over from three yards.

Thank goodness for Javier Mascherano. The Argy tough-guy snapped at everything in midfield and lay down the platform for the rest.

His national boss Diego Maradona would certainly have approved as he looked on from the directors' box - but it was Torres who brought him to his feet.

With time all-but up, Landreau blocked a Gerrard drive and the electric Torres swooped.

Maradona was amongst those on their feet applauding Torres' contribution as the Spaniard was subbed.

Hamburg ahoy and a Europa League final? It may not lead to the same street parties which followed Istanbul five years ago.

But after the trials and tribulations of the last few months, it will do nicely for now, thank you very much.

Jose is not as special as Fergie

JOSE MOURINHO may be the self-appointed Special One but he is not yet The Greatest.

Fantastic result and performance by Inter Milan on Tuesday night to knock Chelsea out of the Champions League.

But I do not see him winning it this season and I think they would lose over two legs to Manchester United if the teams get drawn together tomorrow for the quarter-finals.

At the moment, United have too much flair for Inter to handle.

They also have Wayne Rooney in such amazing form that he is virtually unstoppable - especially by the Italians.

That brings you on to the debate on the two managers.

There is no doubt that Mourinho is catching up with Alex Ferguson as far as reputation and achievement go in management. They are my one-two in the managerial world.

Fergie is king of the castle in England particularly. Mourinho has not got close to what Old Trafford's emperor has won in the Premier League.

But it has all been done in one country.

Mourinho would have stayed at Chelsea had there not been a big fall-out with owner Roman Abramovich.

Yet that dramatic exit inspired him to go to Italy, where he has now added a Serie A crown to the Premier league and could well add another.

I also believe Mourinho will end up going to Spain to manage Real Madrid and become the first person to win a league title in all three countries.

Winning the Champions League with Porto was also an incredible feat. They are good but you would never really have the Portuguese team down as winners of that tournament.

It is incredibly difficult to compare the two men, as, in essence, they belong to different eras.

Ferguson is part of the United furniture. He has steadily built his teams and combined a fantastic youth policy with big signings.

Mourinho almost has the kit-car approach. He turns up, drills his team to play and behave the way he sees fit and makes them overnight contenders.

Longevity may not be his motto but in the modern times, with a rapid rollover of coaches, he is a master.

Mourinho has time on his side, too, to try to overtake Ferguson. But right now, I think my opinion that United would beat Inter says enough about both men.

I was at Stamford Bridge on Tuesday and you could sense the Mourinho effect around the place before kick-off. The fans still love him and he is hugely revered and respected.

Those supporters need to move on now, back Carlo Ancelotti, fondly wave goodbye to Mourinho and set about trying to win next season's Champions League.

I thought this would be their year but one thing cost the Blues dear against the Italians.

The absence of Ashley Cole was clear. He is vital for Chelsea and England.

Had the world's best left-back been playing, Chelsea would have been more inventive, more attacking, more of everything.

Inter had a back-line of well-organised South Americans, who will all be World Cup starters this summer.

But Cole would have unlocked them, because he is such a positive player. Sorry, Yuri Zhirkov is not in the same class.

Missing Jose Bosingwa, another forward thinker at right-back, was a further mortal blow. Take away in addition Michael Essien from midfield and you have three key players absent.

Apart from a spell at the end of the first half, I did not think Chelsea created much and the absence of those two attacking full-backs guaranteed it.

The Londoners never got their game going and, sadly in football, that just happens sometimes.

Fabio Capello and I had a chat about four weeks ago and he told me he thought it would be incredibly tight. He could not pick a winner.

The Blues' failure was not through lack of effort. But Mourinho's hallmark is to have his players know precisely what their jobs are. Every eventuality is taken care of.

He came out with a poignant statistic after the game that since he left Chelsea his four successors have managed to win one FA Cup between them.

There is always lots of opinion and speculation that managing Chelsea is like a poisoned chalice.

Yes, there is a lot of pressure and expectation and a highly demanding owner.

But I reckon Abramovich is a fantastic guy to work for and managing Chelsea must still be regarded as one of the plum jobs in world football.

Ancelotti is used to it, too. He worked at AC Milan, so knows how to handle it well. That is not a problem.

With Europe gone, Chelsea will happily take the Premier League title now if they can and the FA Cup is still very much on.

The season remains alive for them and Ancelotti could still be celebrating a trophy one-two like Fergie and Mourinho.