With the credit crunch on everyone's mind, and rumours of top clubs swamped by debt, we asked super agent Penis Zahavi to propose a few ways at risk footballers could supplement their earnings.

When you've been an agent as long as I have, you learn to move with the times. This financial crisis has hit us all hard: like Sarah Palin said, we're "sick with this". Of course, some of us have private health care, so won't get sick from you lot. Plus I have gout and that isn't contagious, unless I accidentally spit some port into your common face. Nevertheless, even I have had to tighten my (Moschino) belt; worse of all, I've had to downgrade to lighting my cigars with twenties rather than fifites! I'm still lighting the twenties with tens of course, but it does represent a saving.

ANDY JOHNSON

Young Andrew "Andy" Johnson has been struggling at his new club Fulham. I have a soft spot for "AJ" (note to self- workshop new and improved nickname) and adjusting to life in London is difficult for anyone. It's full of temptations- lapdancers, cocaine, smog and hummous are all very moreish. I would hate to think of him selling his hairless body for a little spare change, performing dives into the laps of roaring businessmen. Having used my extensive network of global contacts, I have found a potential role for "Anno Johnmini" in the community. His unique talents would be a perfect match for the vacant role of Trolley Attendant at Sands End Sainsburys. He would be able to run free, expending his abundant energy chasing down stray trolleys; putting pressure on them, yet never quite enough to effect anything conclusive. Every now and then, a trolley might find its way to nestle in the back of the paddock, but this would be more through luck than any design on the part of the "Anal Juggernaut".

MICHAEL CARRICK

Having checked the appearance statistics, it would appear that young Michael has played one solitary game for Manchester United this season. With his uniquely ethereal nature however, it is quite possible that he has actually been on the pitch for all this time without anyone noticing: gambolling sideways along the halfway line, overseeing yet unable to act, like a non-interventionist God. Such intangibility may prove to be curse- I can foresee a time where he is refused entry to a game, purely as Old Trafford security are unable to remember who he is; when pressed, Michael would also struggle. Faced with no alternative but to seek new employment, Michael's twin qualities of 1) blissful anonymity and 2) axial movement would make him ideally suited to the logical career progression to a Hermit Crab.

PHIL NEVILLE

While I advised Phil to stay with Manchester United, the headstrong little mouthbreather dared to ignore me. His career has been on a downward spiral since, with the intermittent England call-ups little more than my good client and less good friend Rio's World-Cup Wind-Ups: "You is Angel Merkel bruv!", as he so liked to say, the halfwit. He should have followed the advice that I gave his brother Gareth, which was to be injured for two years so as not to cause himself further embarrassment. Let it be known though, that Penis Zahavi is not a grudgeful man; wary of Philip's precarious situation in this recession, I have arranged some work for him moonlighting as a Gary Neville Lookalike. Ah! The first results are back from the focus group!

"His freedom of movement is troubling. Not once did he run up and down the same line of turf, pumping his little legs, nor did he stagger about like a drunk uncle when turned by a winger with a modicum of pace. Also, his luxurious moustache is far too convincing" - Farrokh Bulsara, Zanzibar

"His ability to infuriate scousers is unerringly accurate"- Cilla Tarbuck-Barton, Kirrrrrrrkehbeee.

"He just wasn't ugly enough for me; when you hire a gary Neville impersonator you want to do a little bit of sick in your mouth, but this chancer didn't even make my nipples hurt with the discomfort of seeing his face" - Mrs Julie Neville, Bury

................................................Continue the research.

FRANK LAMPARD

Frank Lampard is my biggest client. Now before going any further, I would like to quell any snickering at the back by making it clear that I do not mean in the physical sense. Frank is an athlete, a modern-day gladiator in peak condition, who works with religious dedication and treats his body like a temple. It is not his fault that the temple holds a 24 Hour All You Can Eat Buffet. "Body of Frank, eat it in remembrance of him". Having negotiated Frank's recent 5-year £39.2m deal with Chelsea, he is surely the least likely to be affected by the others. But should the unthinkable happen and he loses it all trying to complete the McDonalds Big Win Monopoly, I think that Frank could make a fantastic After-Dinner Speaker. With Frank's easy-going charm and loquacious verbosity, he could charge literally tens of pounds regaling fellow diners with tales of his strive for perfection, deflections and urinary tract infections. However, sources closes to Frank- his two fulsome lips- indicate that he would be less interested in the "after" and "speaking" parts.

You can guarantee that when Paul Ince took over the Blackburn Rovers job from Mark Hughes, games such as this Saturday’s against the club he represented with such distinction during his playing career was one of the first he looked for when the fixture list was released.

Indeed, the concept of even facing the Premier League and European champions must have seemed a long way away this time last season when he was guiding Milton Keynes Dons to the Football League Two title. Ince, though, has taken the giant leap to the Premier League in his stride if recent results are anything to go by.

Beginning with a barnstorming opening-day victory at Goodison Park against Everton, ‘the Guv’nor’ should be very pleased indeed to see his Rovers team sitting in a comfortable seventh place in the table after claiming further wins at home to Fulham and away at Newcastle United.

The ex-Inter Milan player has also, importantly, managed to add some further quality to the Blue and Whites squad. His signing of Paul Robinson seems to have re-invigorated the much-maligned goalkeeper, right-back Danny Simpson has been an astute loan singing from this Saturday’s opponents, whilst the Latin flair and technical skills of Chilean Carlos Villanueva has lit up the Rovers attack.

Such an impressive start to his Premier League career has certainly allowed Ince to cast aside any of the doubts that were sent his way upon his ascension to the Ewood Park hot-seat.

However, there aren’t many bigger tests for a manager than when Manchester United come to town.

However, Ince has inherited a team that has performed well above expectations against the Red Devils in recent years, with Rovers pinning back United’s title hopes last season in a hard-fought 1-1 draw as well as recording a David Bentley-inspired 4-3 win in 2006.

If the former Reds idol can continue this impressive run on Saturday, then you can be sure that Sir Alex Ferguson will have to crack a wry smile at yet another one of his protégés coming back to haunt him.

There are some players who have an uncanny knack of finding the back of the net every time they walk onto a football pitch, whilst there are others who seem to be in a constant cycle of hot and cold spells when it comes to getting their name on the score-sheet.

That Wayne Rooney seems to fit so firmly in to the latter category will make the news of his potential absence from this game even harder to take for United manager Sir Alex Ferguson.

Rooney had looked to be coming back to his effervescent best in the Red Devils’ last two games, scoring a beautifully crafted goal against Bolton Wanderers and setting United on their way to an elementary 3-0 Champions League win against Aalborg with an uncharacteristically composed finish.

Furthermore, the mid-week jaunt in Denmark dealt a much more serious blow to Ferguson’s playing stock with the news that Paul Scholes will be out of action until 2009 due to the knee ligament damage he picked up in an innocuous challenge against AaB. The Oldham-born playmaker may not be the player that he once was, but anyone who saw his cameo appearance against Bolton Wanderers couldn’t have failed to recognise the quality and finesse that Scholes adds to the United midfield.

This latest injury will also exacerbate a problem position for United this season due to the continuing fitness issues for Michael Carrick and Owen Hargreaves, as well as the poor form of Anderson since his return from Olympic duty with Brazil. Blows such as these though will have been compensated by Dimitar Berbatov’s two goal salvo against the Danish champions.

The tall Bulgarian will be an important figure if the Red Devils are to come away from Ewood Park on Saturday with all three points.

Victories against their North West neighbours have though been scarce in recent years, a fact that Sir Alex Ferguson will no doubt be aware of when he rues the loss of his inspirational No. 10 for this match.

Blackburn Rovers (last 5 games):

27/09	v	Newcastle United	Barclays Premier League	A		1	2
24/09	v	Everton	Carling Cup	H		1	0
20/09	v	Fulham	Barclays Premier League	H		1	0
13/09	v	Arsenal	Barclays Premier League	H		0	4
30/08	v	West Ham United	Barclays Premier League	A		4	1

Manchester United (last 5 games):

30/09	v	Aalborg BK	UEFA Champions League	A		0	3
27/09	v	Bolton Wanderers	Barclays Premier League	H		2	0
23/09	v	Middlesbrough	Carling Cup	H		3	1
21/09	v	Chelsea	Barclays Premier League	A		1	1
17/09	v	Villarreal	UEFA Champions League	H		0	0

Blackburn Rovers

Rovers will be without the services of Paul Robinson (calf) as he is still a week away from a return to action. The ex-Tottenham man joins long-term injury absentee David Dunn (shin) on the Ewood Park treatment table. Defender Danny Simpson will also be in the stands for this game - he is ineligible as he is a loan signing from Manchester United. Australian international Vince Grella (calf) should though be available to Paul Ince for the visit of the Premier League champions.

Squad: Brown, Bunn, Nelsen, Samba, Warnock, Emerton, Ooijer, Pedersen, Grella, Andrews, Treacy, Olsson, Tugay, Villanueva, Derbyshire, Santa Cruz, Roberts, Fowler.

Manchester United

The ease of the Red Devil’s mid-week victory in Denmark has come at a cost with Paul Scholes (knee) out of the first-team frame until January. The veteran player joins team-mates Owen Hargreaves (knee) and Michael Carrick (ankle) on the sidelines to leave Sir Alex Ferguson short of central midfield options. There is better news for Gary Neville, however, as he should return for the short trip to Blackburn after being rested against Aalborg. Wayne Rooney (ankle) does though remain a serious doubt for this game after his early withdrawal against the Danish champions. Injuries to goalkeepers Ben Foster (knee) and Thomas Kuszczak (knee) will mean that Ben Amos retains his place on the United bench.

Squad: Van Der Sar, Amos, Rafael Da Silva, Neville, Brown, Ferdinand, Vidic, Evans, Evra, Ronaldo, Giggs, O'Shea, Nani, Anderson, Park, Fletcher, Berbatov, Rooney, Tevez.

Blackburn Rovers

After being sporadically linked with United over the summer, Roque Santa Cruz will want to show Sir Alex Ferguson his true worth. The Paraguayan powerhouse was a constant thorn in the side of the Red Devils when the two teams met at Ewood Park last season, giving Rovers the lead with a trademark header, and Rio Ferdinand and Nemanja Vidic one of the toughest tests they received during United’s glorious campaign. A repeat of such a dominant display will give Paul Ince every chance of claiming his first major Premier League scalp. 

Manchester United

With his two goals against Aalborg in mid-week, Dimitar Berbatov started to pay back the huge transfer fee that brought him to the club. Strikes against Danish minnows will, however, be quickly forgotten by an expectant United following if the Bulgarian doesn’t continue to get his name on the Red Devils’ score-sheet. Football fans are a notoriously fickle bunch though, and if the ex-Tottenham man caps off a promising week with a match-wining strike against Blackburn Rovers you can bet that any of their initial misgivings will be quickly forgotten as they celebrate another three points.

Ewood Park has never been a fruitful hunting ground for Manchester United, with one win in their last three visits to Blackburn standing testament to this fact.

The task for Sir Alex Ferguson has also grown even harder in the last few days with Paul Scholes’ worrying knee injury and the fitness doubts surrounding a rejuvenated Wayne Rooney.

Bearing this news in mind, Rovers manager Paul Ince should have his troops fired up on Saturday to give his former manager’s charges a real test of their Premier League winning credentials.

Blackburn Rovers 1-2 Manchester United

Scholes was forced off the pitch just 16 minutes into United's 3-0 Champions League win over Aalborg last night.

The 33-year-old was involved in an awkward collision with Thomas Augustinussen and left the field via stretcher, with fellow old-timer Ryan Giggs taking his place.

Sir Alex Ferguson told the press that the ex-England star has suffered ligament damage in his knee, and The Sun reports that he is likely to be out of action until late November.

The news is a huge blow to the Red Devils given the lingering concerns over the fitness of Owen Hargreaves and Michael Carrick.

When people look back on the defining moments of United’s season in May, they very well might point to the excellent goal that Wayne Rooney scored against Bolton Wanderers on Saturday as a turning point in the Reds’ campaign.

The day itself had started badly for the ex-Everton man as he was surprisingly deposed to a place on the Red Devils’ bench. However, upon his 71st minute arrival in to the game as a substitute for Carlos Tevez, Rooney played like a man determined to quell the barbs that his critics had directed his way in the last few weeks.

He began linking up with his team-mates in trademark style as soon as he entered the fray, with a skilful back-heel from Cristiano Ronaldo providing the England international with just the opportunity to score his first goal of the season for United with a wonderfully weighted shot in to the bottom corner of Bolton goalkeeper Jussi Jaaskelainen’s net.

This strike should not only act a triumph for Rooney on a personal level, however, as the implications that this could have for the team as a whole will whet Sir Alex Ferguson’s appetite.

Never mind Cristiano Ronaldo’s unbelievable 42-goal haul; Rooney was so often the inspiration behind the Red Devils’ double-winning campaign, and while United have struggled so far this year, so has Rooney.

This symbiotic relationship between club and player should now operate to the benefit of the Red Devils after the morale-boosting events of the weekend, with Danish side Aalborg BK now finding themselves next in the firing line as the two sides meet on Tuesday night.

United will though be aware that their last trip to Denmark ended in one of the biggest upsets in Champions League history as they went down 1-0 to FC Copenhagen in the 2006/07 edition of the competition.

As such, the Red Devils may very well need Rooney to be at his tigerish best once more if they are to avoid another embarrassing Scandinavian set back.

There is surely no other sport on the planet which would pit the Premier League and European champions against a team that needed an extra-time goal in their last match against lowly Danish second-division opposition to secure victory?

However, the footballing hands of fate have created such a contest this week when Aalborg BK face the glittering array of stars that comprise the Manchester United side.

Whilst no one would dispute this assertion, the plucky 0-0 draw that the side from Denmark picked up two weeks ago against Celtic shows that surprise results can indeed happen. Anyone watching that match would have seen a team which was good value for their point, with even Hoops midfielder Barry Robson’s missed penalty acting as a reward to AaB for an otherwise excellent showing. Bruce Rioch’s side must repeat dogged play like this on Tuesday evening if they are to stand even the smallest chance of denying the Reds their first Champions League victory of the season.

Regrettably for the AaB fans, such solidarity has rarely been on show in the club’s defence of their Danish Superligaen title so far. A rearguard that was so resolute at Celtic Park has instead leaked goals at an alarming rate domestically, with their last two league fixtures being a 3-0 reversal to Danish champions-elect FC Copenhagen and a 2-0 defeat to AGF Aarhus.

The loss of inspirational USA international defender Danny Califf to rivals FC Midtjylland has been the root cause of this problem, with the clubs defensive woes reaching its crescendo this weekend in the cup game against Brønshøj BK. That match saw Aalborg scrape through 3-2 against opposition which even the Manchester United U-18s would pulverise.

A repeat of this kind of performance will see the Premier League glitterati put up a cricket score. However, if the European arena can again inspire Aalborg to defy the odds, then the Red Devils could very well be in for another disastrous night in Denmark.

26/09	v	Bronshoj BK	Ladspokal Cup	A		2	3
21/09	v	FC Copenhagn	Superliagen	A		3	0
17/09	v	Glasgow Celtic	UEFA Champions League	A		0	0
13/09	v	AGF Aarhus	Superliagen	H		0	2
31/08	v	Sonderjyske	Superliagen	A		1	2

Manchester United (last 5 games):

27/09	v	Bolton Wanderers	Barclays Premier League	H		2	0
23/09	v	Middlesbrough	Carling Cup	H		3	1
21/09	v	Chelsea	Barclays Premier League	A		1	1
17/09	v	Villarreal	UEFA Champions League	H		0	0
13/09	v	Liverpool	Barclays Premier League	A		2	1

Aalborg BK

Lasse Nielsen could move in to the Aalborg defence to replace the suspended Michael Jakobsen for the visit of Manchester United. Australian centre-back Michael Beauchamp is available for selection after the red card he picked up against Celtic was correctly transferred to his team-mate. Danish international right-back Kasper Bøgelund (hamstring) is a serious doubt for this game after being forced to come off at half-time during AaB’s match at the weekend.

Squad: Zaza, Stenild, Pedersen, Beauchamp, Bøgelund, Olfers, Due, Johansson, Augustinussen, Saganowski, Curth, Caca, Bræmer, Sørensen, Nomvethe, Risgård, Enevoldsen, Nielsen, Schwartz, Kristensen.

Manchester United

The list of absentees at the heart of the United midfield has grown with the addition of Owen Hargreaves (knee) to a treatment room that also contains his England team-mate Michael Carrick (ankle). The ex-Bayern Munich man has been ruled out after a flare-up of his long-standing tendonitis problem. In better news, Edwin Van der Sar should be between the posts once again for the European champions after his successful recovery from the knee injury he picked up against Chelsea a week ago.

Squad: Van Der Sar, Kuszczak, Amos, Neville, Ferdinand, Vidic, Evra, O'Shea, Evans, Rafael Da Silva, Ronaldo, Nani, Fletcher, Anderson, Scholes, Giggs, Park, Tevez, Rooney, Berbatov, Manucho.

Aalborg BK

The decision to rescind Michael Beauchamp’s red card against Celtic will provide a major boost to Aalborg’s hopes on Tuesday night. The Australian international had cut an imposing figure at the heart of the AaB defence before his unfortunate sending off, with his large frame helping to repel the Hoops forwards with ease. Such physical prowess will be needed once again if another unlikely result is to be obtained by the Danish champions.

Manchester United

After finally getting off the mark for the season at the weekend, Wayne Rooney will be determined to kick start the Red Devils’ Champions League campaign against Aalborg. The England man’s 20-minute cameo against Bolton thrilled the Old Trafford crowd and visibly inspired his team-mates. With United now looking to register their first Champions League win of the season on Tuesday, this return to form for Rooney should spell trouble for the Red Devil’s opponents.

It really is hard to see a repeat of Manchester United’s previous problems in Denmark in light of Aalborg’s struggles this season.

Bruce Rioch’s team needed extra time at the weekend to beat lower league opposition, whilst at the same time Wayne Rooney and Cristiano Ronaldo were announcing their return to form for the Red Devils with their match winning performance against Bolton Wanderers.

Such results show the gulf in quality to be so vast that if United don’t emerge from the Energi Nord Arena with all three points then one of the biggest shocks in Champions League history will have had to occur.

Aalborg BK 0-3 Manchester United

Whilst it is hard not to be dubious when it comes to considering omens, United’s glorious 2007/08 campaign got off to a faltering start before it kicked in to life around this time last year with a 4-0 home thrashing of Wigan Athletic.

For those of a mystic persuasion though, it is hard to not see signs of history repeating as United struggle to gain any momentum once again after a series of poor results in the early weeks of the season.

To increase the feeling of déjà vu, North West opposition in the guise of Bolton Wanderers are also entering the Theatre of Dreams at a time when the Reds are desperate for a sacrificial lamb to give themselves a kick start.

Indeed, shambolic defending at Anfield, insipid attacking play against Newcastle and Villarreal, plus a no show in the UEFA Super Cup final had been all United had to show for their season until last weekend. However, a rallying display against ‘Big Phil’ Scolari’s Chelsea saw the Red Devils be the better side for large parts of a game that ended 1-1 after Salomon Kalou’s 80th minute equaliser.

If United play anywhere near as well on Saturday then the kind of winning run needed to ignite this Manchester United side could very well begin in earnest.

Cristiano Ronaldo’s midweek start against Middlesbrough should also add some much needed dynamism to a United attack that has struggled in his absence. The Portuguese has been sorely missed, with the Red Devils taking until last Tuesday’s Carling Cup fixture to score more than one goal in a game.

Such offensive impotence has not been on show at title rivals Chelsea and Arsenal. As such, the Sir Alex Ferguson’s charges must swiftly re-discover the cavalier attitude of 2007/08 if any more major silverware is to be added to the Old Trafford trophy cabinet come the end of May.

There weren’t many teams that beat Manchester United last season. To the joy of the Bolton Wanderers faithful, however, the Trotters were one of the few sides that did. That the 1-0 win over the Premier League and European Champions at the Reebok Stadium wasn’t a fluke result adds even more to the achievement.

Although normality was resumed when the two sides met at Old Trafford with the Red Devils easing to a 2-0 victory, the Bolton players should be able to draw on the confidence that home win created when the teams meet on Saturday.

Manager Gary Megson should also be able to point to Bolton’s promising performance last weekend against Arsenal. The Trotters took the lead in the game through a Kevin Davies header, and matched the Gunners in a heated contest that finally ended 3-1 to the North London club.

The tenacity that flows through Bolton was again on show against Arsene Wenger’s side, with a trademark challenge from goal scorer Davies sending Gael Clichy to the floor and the Arsenal bench up in the air in anger.

The post match comments of club captain Kevin Nolan condoning such play certainly didn’t help matters, and there can be little doubt that Sir Alex Ferguson will be watching out for any wild tackles after Rodrigo Possebon’s unfortunate incident against Middlesbrough in midweek.

As Bolton fans will be aware though, the return of Johan Elmander and Matt Taylor to the Bolton line-up will add some much-needed quality. These two players have more than enough to make their mark on this game in a much more civilised way than Davies did against Arsenal, however, and could help Bolton repeat the famous win they recorded against United last year.

Manchester United (last 5 games):

23/08	v	Middlesbrough	Carling Cup	H		3	1
21/09	v	Chelsea	Barclays Premier League	A		1	1
17/09	v	Villarreal	UEFA Champions League	H		0	0
13/09	v	Liverpool	Barclays Premier League	A		2	1
29/08	v	Zenit St. Petersburg	UEFA Super Cup	N		1	2

Bolton Wanderers (last 5 games):

20/09	v	Arsenal	Barclays Premier League	H		1	3
13/09	v	Fulham	Barclays Premier League	A		2	1
30/08	v	West Bromwich Albion	Barclays Premier League	H		0	0
26/08	v	Northampton Town	Carling Cup	A		2	1
23/08	v	Newcastle United	Barclays Premier League	A		1	0

Manchester United

The Old Trafford crowd can expect the big hitters of the first team to be unleashed by Sir Alex Ferguson for the visit of Bolton after the reserves mid week Carling Cup exertions. Serbian centre back Nemanja Vidic will undoubtedly be part of the squad after his one game suspension was served against Chelsea. This leaves Michael Carrick (ankle) and Edwin Van Der Sar (knee) as the only star names left on the Old Trafford treatment table.

Squad: Kuszczak, Amos, Neville, Brown, Ferdinand, Evans, Vidic, Evra, Rafael Da Silva, O'Shea, Fletcher, Hargreaves, Scholes, Anderson, Ronaldo, Giggs, Park, Nani, Berbatov, Rooney, Tevez, Manucho

Bolton Wanderers

Bolton expect club record signing Johan Elmander (hamstring) and ex-Portsmouth player Matt Taylor (broken toe) to be fit for the short trip on the M61 to the Theatre of Dreams. Promising centre-half Gary Cahill will also join this pair in the Wanderers team after the completion of the three-match ban he picked up against Northampton Town in the Carling Cup.

Squad: Jaaskelainen, Al Habsi, Steinsson, Shittu, Taylor, Andrew O'Brien, Samuel, Hunt, Joey O'Brien, McCann, Smolarek, Riga, Muamba, Vaz Te, Nolan, Cohen, Gardner, Elmander, Davies, Helguson

Manchester United

After marking his first start of the season with a goal, Cristiano Ronaldo will now be ready to start taking main stage in United’s charge up the table. The Portuguese international isn’t firing on all cylinders just yet, but you can be sure that his speed and outrageous skill means that the Bolton defence will be in for a testing afternoon on Saturday.

Bolton Wanderers

For Bolton to stand any chance in this game then Fabrice Muamba’s ball-winning skills will be vital. The ex-Arsenal player will need to call on all the lessons he learnt from Patrick Viera to ensure he is a constant thorn in the side of United’s classy midfield. If this happens then the foundations of a potential upset could very well be laid by the England U/21 international.

With United’s world-class squad finally coming together as we enter the last days of September, it really is hard to see Bolton taking anything from this game.

Bolton may have been impressive during their 3-1 defeat to Arsenal, but it will take a lot more than that if they are to repeat the previous season’s victory over the Red Devils.

Manchester United 3-0 Bolton Wanderers

 Carlos Tevez '72

'35 Guillermo L.F. Franco
'88 Ariel Ibagaza
'90 Diego Lopez

The holders began the defence of their trophy with a goalless draw at Old Trafford against Villarreal. Cristiano Ronaldo made a second half comeback but even his presence was not enough to secure victory for the home side.

Much of the pre-match talk had surrounded the return of Ronaldo and sure enough the winger was to be found on the substitutes’ bench at the start of the evening.

On the field, however, the United side had an unfamiliar look. Dimitar Berbatov and Michael Carrick were both missing through injury, and with Paul Scholes suspended, Fletcher, Nani, Park and Hargreaves made up an unfamiliar looking midfield.

Certainly the holders were missing the creativity of Ronaldo, Scholes and Giggs and chances were at a premium in an uneventful first half at Old Trafford.

A cautious start from both sides ensured the game failed to really spark initially with long range shots from first Evra and then Tevez the closest the home side came to breaking the deadlock in the early stages.

The visitors, on the other hand, seemed content to sit back and absorb the United pressure and offered little as an attacking threat.

Pires, on his return to Old Trafford, forced Van der Sar into a save just before the half hour mark but it was to be as close as Villarreal came in a quiet opening period.

The second half yielded little more joy for United and indeed it was Villarreal who should have opened the scoring on the hour mark.

Some excellent interplay from the visitors saw them patiently keep possession in the United area. The move ended with a low cross from Pires being converted by Franco, but agonisingly for the striker, his flick rebounded off the inside of the post and into the grateful arms of Van der Sar.

Ferguson’s patience with his side quickly evaporated and on came Anderson and Ronaldo, to a huge ovation, as the holders stepped up their search for the goal.

It took the Portuguese only five minutes to test Diego Lopez in the Villarreal goal. A quick break from Anderson and Tevez found the winger in the box but his shot was hit into the ground and allowed the goalkeeper the opportunity to save.

The arrival of the United number seven, however, certainly seemed to inspire the home side who upped the tempo. A fast flowing break saw Ronaldo feed Rooney and his cross reached Tevez but Diego Lopez just got a hand on his shot which allowed the covering Rodriguez to hook the ball off the line.

With ten minutes to go it was Ronaldo again. A Nani cross was whipped into the far post but the United talisman could only watch as his header flew just wide.

He then turned creator, a ferocious cross reached the far post where Evans was on hand but his header cannoned back off the post.

With Villarreal clearly tiring, United were dominant but even with the presence of Ronaldo they couldn’t quite find the opening and the visitors hung on for a point.

Man Utd: Van der Sar, Neville, Ferdinand, Evans, Evra, Nani, Hargreaves (Anderson, 62), Fletcher, Park (Ronaldo, 62), Rooney, Tevez (Giggs, 80).

Villarreal: Diego Lopez, Angel, Rodriguez, Godin, Capdevila, Cani (Cazorla, 46), Eguren, Edmilson, Pires (Ibagaza, 68), Fernandez, Franco (Llorente, 77).

The former Tottenham man suffered the break in Saturday’s 2-1 defeat to Liverpool at Anfield and had to be replaced during the match by Ryan Giggs.

Speaking to the press ahead of tomorrow night’s Champions League opener against Villareal, manager Sir Alex Ferguson confirmed the news. 

"Michael Carrick, as you know, it's not worked out for us. He came off on Saturday and he's got a crack in his foot," said the United boss before revealing, "It was diagnosed on Sunday afternoon and he'll be out for four to six weeks, which is not good news."

The injury will come as a blow to Carrick who had only just returned to the side following an ankle injury which he picked up on the opening day of the season against Newcastle United.

He will now miss the beginning of United’s defence of their Champions League trophy as well as the visit to Chelsea at the weekend and upcoming Premier League fixtures against Bolton, Middlesbrough and Blackburn.

Yet the Old Trafford side are well stocked for midfielders and have also been handed the added boost that Cristiano Ronaldo should be fit enough to make the bench for tomorrow’s game against Villareal.

Paul Scholes, however, will be suspended for the match, having been sent off in the Super Cup against Zenit St. Petersburg, and Ferguson will need to shuffle his midfield options with the returning Owen Hargreaves, Anderson and Darren Fletcher all hoping to be involved at some point.

The Red Devils endured a disappointing day at Anfield, losing 2-1 to suffer their first Premier League defeat against their arch-rivals since 2004.

But the bad news did not end there, as Carrick is now set to miss United's European opener after being forced off the ground in the first half.

The 26-year-old injured his ankle in a 50-50 challenge with Yossi Benayoun and was seen hobbling along the touchline on crutches later in the game.

But fears of any serious damage have been calmed after scans showed no fractures, and Sir Alex Ferguson does not expect Carrick to endure a lengthy absence.

"It’s not serious. We’ve had an X-ray and nothing is broken," the United boss told MUTV.

"There was a hard tackle on him and we’ll probably have a better assessment over the weekend, but I don’t think he’ll be ready for Wednesday."

2 min: A terrific flick from Mr. Anderson puts Berbatov through. He pulls the ball back to Argentinian bad boy Carlos Tevez, who slots the ball home easily despite the sun reflecting fiercely off Pepe Reina's forehead.

26 min: Edwin van der Sar, who is shortly due to replace John O'Shea as the fan's number one target for booing, flaps aimlessly at a nothing ball again. He pushes the ball onto Wes Not Wes Brown's shin, and despite being able to Walk The Dinosaur Brown can do nothing to stop the ball trickling over the line. Fact: under Benitez, no Liverpool player has scored against United in the league. The last two goals registered by Liverpool were own goals by John O'Shea and Wes Not Wes Brown. That's the second really bad mistake that the goalkeeper has made this half - the first one nearly cost a goal too.

Half-time: United were the stronger team up until the equalizer, but there's no doubt that it's much more equal now and the Giro Boys are right back in it.  We've barely heard Berbatov and Tevez' name since van der Sar's howler. Following up his red for Argentina in midweek, goalscorer Tevez has picked up a yellow card.

In the great tradition of Jermaine Pennant and Mark Gonzalez, Albert Riera looks like complete no-hoper on whom Benitez wasted quite a few bob. How does he have the nerve to say he never gets any money to spend? Whilst flicking through the channels at half-time I came across "When I Grow Up" by The Pussycat Dolls. Christ on a bike, what a pile of shit it is! (Shameless plug: if you want some decent music, try my music blog Ad Fundum)

45 min: Giggs comes on at half-time for the returning Michael Carrick, who was injured due to his involvement in the first tackle of Yossi Benayou's career.

47min: First shock of the second half; Edwin van der Sar catches a corner.

51min: Ouch! That hurt! A cross from Riera was so wayward it hit me on the head, and I'm in Sheffield.

56min: That whooooooshing noise you can hear is an air shot from Robbie Keane, open net, three yards out. The Giro Boys are well on top and I'd be a lot more nervous if I wasn't spending so long looking at the PC monitor whilst typing.

65min: Paul Scholes is replaced by Owen Hargreaves. Worryingly, we've just seen Michael Carrick limp on to the bench with his foot in a protective cast.

69min: King of the Unemployed Steven Gerrard gives the ball away the World's Oldest Man Ryan Giggs, whose dipping long range shot is well saved.

70min: Benitez remembers that Shitty reject Albert Riera is still on the pitch so substitutes him immediately. In true Benitez clueless fashion he takes one of the continent's brightest young centre-forwards (Ryan Babel) and plays him on the wing.

75min: An ill-advised toilet trip sees me out of the room when Liverpool score. Shit. The only bright spot of the afternoon is that I decided not to make Wayne Rooney my captain for this weekend's fantasy league games. It's fair to say that we've gone backwards gradually since our goal and for the entire second half United's front six have been passengers. In the time that I've typed this United have picked up two yellow cards - what the smeg is going on?

84min: Benitez decides to sub Robbie Keane, then while Keane is walking over changes his mind and decides he might sub Mascherano. But doesn't. I've just seen Liverpool's goal - what the hell was Giggs playing at? Why not just put the ball out? I don't understand why Giggs even has a squad number, let alone a place on the pitch. And now Benitez has decided he will take off Mascherano and bring on Hyypia.

89min: Vidic is sent off and now my life is ruined forever. Traditionally I don't watch any more football in a weekend when United lose, so it's anyone's guess as to whether I'll post anything else over the weekend. Norman Vidic's red card means he misses the next game, but it's only away to Chelsea so it probably won't matter ...

91min: Dirk Kuyt misses a sitter from a foot out. I'm not kidding - a Weetabix would have scored from there. Dirk Kuyt is shit.

Full time: A 2-1 defeat to the Jobseekers Allowance XI. I hate them. We started well and got progressively worse. Last season we lost our third game to a local rival and it didn't end up too badly, but crikey we need to get sorted out quickly. At least Cristiano Ronaldo is almost fit.

 Wes Brown '26
 Ryan Babel '77

'3 Carlos Tevez
'21 Carlos Tevez
'78 Nemanja Vidic
'81 Luis Carlos Nani
'90 Nemanja Vidic
'90 Nemanja Vidic

A late Ryan Babel goal secured Liverpool a 2-1 come-from-behind victory against rivals Manchester United at Anfield this afternoon.

Anderson and Dimitar Berbatov set-up Carlos Tevez to give the visitors a stunning lead just minutes into the match. Liverpool responded well and forced a reaction save out of Edwin van der Sar before they picked up a fortunate equaliser through a Wes Brown own goal

In the second half the home side always looked the most likely, but they could not muster a second goal until Dirk Kuyt cut-back for substitute Ryan Babel with just fifteen minutes remaining.

Nemanja Vidic was sent-off in stoppage time as United failed to launch a come-back.

The major talking point during the build-up to the match revolved around the fitness of Steven Gerrard and Fernando Torres, who were only fit to be named as substitutes. Dirk Kuyt and Robbie Keane therefore started in attack, while winger Albert Riera was named from the start to make his debut for Liverpool.

Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson handed Dimitar Berbatov a debut from the start, while there was no place at all for Cristiano Ronaldo after speculation that he could be named on the bench. Carlos Tevez and Wayne Rooney started alongside Berbatov, with Tevez starting as a second striker, while Rooney began the game on the right-hand side of midfield. Michael Carrick returned from an ankle injury to start the game.

After just three minutes of the game, in the first meaningful attack of the afternoon, the visitors made an early breakthrough. After some neat interplay in midfield Anderson fed through Berbatov on the right-hand side of the penalty box.

Initially, the Bulgarian international seemed to be crowded out by defenders, but the former Tottenham Hotspur star was able to cut the ball back to the onrushing Tevez, who had drifted free from Javier Mascherano just outside the box and found himself in open space. The Argentine then opened his body and curled the ball past the helpless Pepe Reina into the far corner.

Liverpool responded quickly as Kuyt struck a well-timed volley narrowly wide, and almost grabbed an equaliser after a mistake from United goalkeeper Edwin van der Sar.

A corner was flighted in from the right and Van der Sar, unchallenged, could only flap at the ball, which then fell to Kuyt just yards from goal. As the Dutchman looked set to grab the equaliser however, the ‘keeper made up for his error and blocked the shot from close-range.

Liverpool did get their leveller mid-way through the half. Xabi Alonso powered in a cross from the right, which deflected off Patrice Evra into the corridor of uncertainty between defender Wes Brown and Van der Sar. The Dutch ‘keeper rushed out of his goal and tried to tip the ball away, but was only able to deflect the ball on to Brown, and the ball cannoned off the England international and rolled into the back of his own net.

The goal seemed to re-vitalise Liverpool who were unable to gain the upper hand in the early stages. Despite the home side having the better of the game towards the end of the first half however, it was United who had the only other clear chance.

Anderson cut inside from the left and whipped the ball in for Tevez, who had timed his run to the near post excellently, but the forward could only strike the ball over the bar with the outside of his foot.

The home side started the second half positively. New signing Riera produced some excellent wing play in just the second minute of the half as he ran with pace at Brown before whipping in an excellent cross. Kuyt would have tapped in at the far post had it not been for a crucial intervention by Evra.

Paul Scholes and Kuyt then failed to trouble the opposition ‘keepers with long-range efforts before Benayoun almost got himself through on goal with a well timed burst into the box. Kuyt was then involved again as he drove the ball in from the right, but Keane was unable to make any contact with the ball, before Martin Skrtel also tried his luck from long-range.

After coming off the bench with twenty minutes to go, Gerrard almost affected the outcome in a way he would not have planned. He gave the ball away twenty-five yards from goal, and one of United’s substitutes, Ryan Giggs, instinctively struck a dipping half-volley that forced a super stop from Reina.

Liverpool were the side making most of the running and they got their reward with fifteen minutes remaining. Mascherano went on a tremendous run to the by-line and when Giggs was unable to deal with the loose ball, Kuyt intervened and cut-back calmly to substitute Ryan Babel. The Dutch starlet did not make great contact with the ball but did enough to force it past the United defenders on the line to give the home side a vital lead.

United were unable to respond and could not create any clear-cut opportunities to get back into the game. Nemanja Vidic was sent-off for a second bookable offence in stoppage time to rub salt into their wounds after a reckless challenge on Alonso, with Liverpool now celebrating a deserved victory.

Liverpool gegen Manchester United – ein Klassiker. Das Nordwest-Derby in der Premier League steht an diesem Wochenende an und beide Mannschaften müssen sich nach einem eher verhaltenen Start in die Saison langsam steigern. Die Feindschaft der beiden roten Teams ist lang und intensiv – ja, bisweilen auch aggressiv.

Der Konkurrenzkamp um die Vorherrschaft im Nordwesten hat Tradition – schließlich tritt hier der Rekordmeister Liverpool (18 Titel) gegen seinen schärfsten Verfolger ManU (17 Titel) an. Und viele Fans der Reds befürchten, dass der knappe Vorsprung auf die Red Devils bald aufgebraucht sein könnte. Schließlich wartet man an der Anfield Road bereits seit 18 Jahren auf einen erneuten Titelgewinn, während Manchester in den letzten Jahren regelmäßig die Meisterschaft für sich verbuchen konnte. Die Machtverhältnisse haben sich also verschoben – das wird auch deutlich, wenn man sich die Ergebnisse der letzten 10 Partien zwischen den beiden ansieht. 7 mal konnte ManU als Sieger vom Platz gehen, nur zweimal Liverpool, einmal spielte man Unentschieden.

Und ManU scheint einen weiteren Vorteil zu haben. Während die Mannschaft von Sir Alex Ferguson auf Superstar Cristiano Ronaldo nach seiner OP erwartungsgemäß verzichten muss, sind Ryan Giggs nach einer Oberschenkelzerrung, Rio Ferdinand nach Nacken- und Rückenproblemen sowie Michael Carrick (Knöchelverletzung) wieder einsatzbereit. Bei Liverpool fallen dagegen aller Vorraussicht nach die beiden Top-Stars der Reds aus. Liverpools Trainer Rafa Benitez äußert zuletzt jedoch noch Hoffnung, dass Torres und Gerrard evt. doch auflaufen können. Zumindest wollte er beide nicht prinzipiell von der Spielerliste streichen.

Dafür werden Dimitar Berbatov auf Seiten von ManU und Albert Riera bei Liverpool wohl ihr Debut für ihre neuen Vereine geben. Wir dürfen gespannt sein, wie sie sich in ihren neuen Mannschaften zu Recht finden. Wer Premiere hat, kann sich das Topspiel des 4. Spieltags morgen (Samstag) ab 13:40 ansehen.

Ansonsten bietet der 4. Spieltag noch weitere interessante Duelle – so spielt beispielsweise ManCity gegen Chelsea und die Blackburn Rovers treffen auf Arsenal.

Mark Hughes may like to think that his Manchester City side’s clash with Chelsea later on Saturday takes star billing in this weekend’s Premier League fixture list, but some 45,000 fans inside Anfield - plus, no doubt, a global TV audience of millions - will beg to differ when Liverpool and Manchester United lock horns again in a lunch-time showdown that will inevitably offer clues about this season‘s title race.

The ‘Clash of the Cash’ at Eastlands in the early evening will be a fascinating encounter for all sports of reasons, but few would accept that a meeting between the North-West’s two red-clad armies is no longer the main event. And while City and Chelsea may boss the richest sugar-daddies in the League, neither Liverpool nor United can be accused of penny-pinching, having this summer alone sunk more than £50 million between them into parting Tottenham from their strike-force.

United‘s deadline-day swoop for Dimitar Berbatov followed Liverpool‘s earlier capture of the Bulgarian‘s erstwhile scoring partner at White Hart Lane, Robbie Keane. Typically, United boss Sir Alex Ferguson sought to lob a psychological doubt into the Liverpool camp by questioning the high price Rafa Benitez was prepared to pay for Keane, a player whose value he has previously implied is somewhat inflated. Fergie’s mischief-making with the press is unlikely to cut much ice at Anfield, where the only sensible response is to ram his words down his throat on the pitch, though that has proved to be easier said than done in recent seasons.

That’s underlined by the fact that United are chasing a sixth successive Premier League victory over their Merseyside rivals, and their third in a row at Anfield. Indeed, Liverpool have suffered more Premier League defeats (18), dropped more points (68) and conceded more goals (48) to Manchester United than to any other club.

Those statistics make painful reading for anyone associated with Liverpool, and one can only imagine what the ghosts of Bill Shankly and Bob Paisley have made of the last 18 seasons. Eighteen, of course, is a highly evocative number in the context of battles between these two giants, separated by 33 miles of East Lancs Road or, if you prefer, M62 motorway.

For while Liverpool can still proudly boast more top-flight English titles - 18 - than any other club, they haven’t added to their haul since 1990. And with consecutive triumphs in the last two seasons, United have closed to within one title of their bitter rivals. When you consider that, at the time Kenny Dalglish’s Reds lifted the club’s 18th title in 1990, United’s tally was a modest seven, the seismic nature of the power-shift in Lancashire can be graphically understood. If United successfully defend their title again this season, they will not only claim an unprecedented second hat-trick of championships, but also equal Liverpool’s record total of titles. That is a prospect almost too awful to contemplate for many Reds fans. Never has Liverpool’s quest for that elusive next title been more urgent.

The good news for Liverpool is that they can go three points clear at the top of the table - for two hours at least - if they can achieve their tenth successive home league victory. To do so at United’s expense would be sweet indeed. United are down in ninth at the moment, partly because they’ve played a game fewer than all except Fulham, their clash wityh the Cottagers having been postponed while they went to Monaco for their ill-fated Super Cup defeat by Zenit St Petersburg.

But United were the only opponents who left Anfield with all three points last season - and Ferguson boasts an unbeaten record against Benitez of seven wins and one draw. Rafa’s one success was in an FA Cup fifth round tie in February 2006.

The context for this match is that both sides have been without most of their squads for ten days because of the international break - and that both will be seeking the boost to morale of a win to carry them into their first Champions League group matches next week.

Inevitably in the build-up to such a big game there have been plenty of comments, and some verbal sniping, from both camps. As noted, Fergie has queried the wisdom of Liverpool’s purchase of Robbie Keane, the Irishman shrugging off the slight by insisting football is a game of opinions - and adding that in his, John O’Shea should start every game for United. Meanwhile, Liverpool defender Alvaro Arbeloa, reflecting on the bitter disappointment of last season’s home defeat by United, claimed that the game is worth much more than three points.

"If we beat Manchester United at home, we will have 10 points and much more confidence, but everyone will also be very, very happy."

His team-mate Fabio Aurelio (famous among other things for the fact that his surname uses every available vowel), chipped in with:

"We need to try and change the history. In recent years, it has been difficult against them, but we have a great opportunity to change that on Saturday."

Argentine midfielder Javier Mascherano, who recklessly got himself sent off during last season’s showdown between the teams at Old Trafford, reckons:

"It’s a match we need to win if we want to compete for the title. We can do that and push for honours. The fans deserve it."

The trick, of course, is walking the walk as well as talking the talk, as Reds defender Jamie Carragher knows only too well. He admits United have been better than Liverpool in recent derbies, and told BBC Radio Merseyside:

"I'm not a great believer in being lucky or unlucky. I'm a big believer in 'you get what you deserve'.

"United over the last few years have probably edged it with us and small details in football make a difference. That's why they've been better than us and that's something we need to liven up."

Meanwhile, from Old Trafford, there have been some bullish noises too, including former United defender Gary Pallister saying Liverpool will again fail to contest the title this season. He insists the Reds cannot sustain a challenge over the course of the whole season. He even suggests that things could quickly go pear-shaped for Benitez if he a loser again at Anfield.

"I can't see them challenging this year. I thought they might put together a sustained challenge last year and they didn't manage to do so. I don't feel as though they can this year either," he told the Daily Star. "Under Benitez they've been playing for fourth spot. That's not good enough for Liverpool fans. They expect to be up there fighting for league championships - and that hasn't happened. It would have a big effect on their season if they lose. If they lose badly it would be even more damaging. To lose at home to one of your main rivals is a huge blow."

The current United players have been fairly muted about Liverpool. Berbatov has been insisting he’s not lazy; Ryan Giggs has been predicting the Bulgarian will be an instant success for United; and Wayne Rooney has been talking more about resurgent England than the Premiership this week, having ended his 11-month goal drought for the Three Lions with an impressive performance.

But the other significant off-stage noise surrounding this gamer could well come from Liverpool fans planning to protest against the clubs two American owners, George Gillett and Tom Hicks. Will that strike a chord among United fans who wanted nothing to do with the Glazer-buy-out of their club? It should do, but parochial enmity could well mean United fans mocking rather than sympathising with their Scouse rivals.

Liverpool have lost one of their last 16 games in all competitions - a 2-3 reverse at Stamford Bridge at the hands of Chelsea in the Champions League semi-final second leg. They are unbeaten in 10 Premier League matches, of which they’ve won seven and drawn three. Ironically, their last League defeat was a 3-0 loss to Manchester United at Old Trafford in March. And their last home defeat was also by United nine months ago. That 1-0 defeat, inflicted by a Carlos Tevez goal, was Liverpool’s only loss at Anfield in their last 24. But they’ve not not beaten a fellow 'Big Four' club in six attempts. This season, the Reds have beaten Sunderland away, Middlesbrough at home and drawn with Aston Villa away in the League, while squeezing through in extra-time against Standard Liege in a Champions League qualifier to secure entry to the lucrative group stage.

Manchester United’s last outing was that 2-1 defeat by Zenit St Petersburg in the UEFA Super Cup on 29th August. They’ve played only two Premier League fixtures to date, a 1-1 home draw against Newcastle United and a 1-0 win at Fratton Park against Portsmouth. They’ve won 10, drawn three and lost one of their last 14 Premier League games, collecting 10 points from the last 12 on offer since Chelsea beat the 2-1 away on 26th April. That was United’s first reverse in their last eight games against fellow 'Big Four' clubs.

Liverpool

Benitez was given a major boost today when two of his key players, Steven Gerrard and Fernando Torres, were both declared fit to face United.

Gerrard missed England's 4-1 win in Croatia on Wednesday after undergoing a minor groin operation, and Torres has recovered from a hamstring tear, so both stars are included in Rafa’s squad after successfully completing Friday’s light training session.

"They are both much better," said Benitez. "They came through a full training session this morning. It's important for us to have these two players of quality who can change a game. I'm not surprised they are available because the medical staff have done a good job and the players have been working really hard with the physios to get fit."

Albert Riera is in line to make his Liverpool debut after joining the club from Espanyol on transfer deadline day. But Brazilian midfielder Lucas Leiva will miss the game after a long-haul flight back to Merseyside from international duty in South America. And both Sami Hyypia and Philipp Degen could miss out with hamstring and groin injuries, respectively.

Squad: Reina, Cavalieri, Dossena, Hyypia, Keane, Gerrard, Torres, Aurelio, Alonso, Benayoun, Arbeloa, Agger, Kuyt, Babel, Mascherano, Carragher, Ngog, Plessis, El Zhar, Skrtel, Riera.

Manchester United look likely to have Ryan Giggs, Rio Ferdinand and Michael Carrick fit and available to face Liverpool on Saturday.

Ferdinand missed England's 2-0 victory over Andorra on Saturday because of neck and back injuries, but recovered to play his part in the Three Lions’ resounding 4-1 thrashing of Croatia in Zagreb last night.

Giggs, 34, has been suffering with a hamstring problem for almost a month. He started in United’s August 17^th opener against Newcastle, but felt a tightening in his hamstring and was promptly substituted as a precaution to limit any damage.

Carrick suffered an ankle injury in the same 1-1 draw at home to his home-town club Newcastle, and subsequently had to withdraw from the England. But he is now expected to be available.

The trio were all involved in last year's corresponding fixture, which United won 1-0 thanks to a goal by Carlos Tevez.

The Uefa Super Cup has an interesting history and its origins lie in the Netherlands. Prior to 1972 there had been no competition that would pair the victors of Europe's two premier cup competitions against each other. Because of this, the rationale at the time was that it was impossible to declare oneself the greatest club on the continent. Enter Anton Witkamp.

Witkamp was a journalist (and later sports editor) of Dutch newspaper De Telegraaf and put forth the notion that the winners of the Champions Cup (AFC Ajax), should meet the holders of the European Cup Winners' Cup (Rangers). The idea was conceptualised to add further credance to the weight that a 'Godenzonen' punch brings. After all, even in Witkamp's words: "The reason was to celebrate Ajax and Cruyff... The idea was born at the era of total football. Our era. Four consecutive European Cups between Feyenoord and Ajax."

The plans did not come to official fruition, they were vetoed by then Uefa president Artemio Franchi who cited the misconduct of Rangers' fans and their one-year European suspension as reason for the overrule. However, the game went ahead - unauthorised, and an annual ritual was in nascence. The first Uefa sanctioned Super Cup took place the following year: Ajax beat Milan 6-1 in a two-legged affair.

Manchester United and Zenit St Petersburg will contest the cup this year, for winning the Champions League and the Uefa Cup respectively. The 33rd official Super Cup pits two teams that are fairly representative of how football has evolved.

The Old Trafford side are an established club with pedigree in every competition they have entered. Their marketing deals are synonymous with their success as they tied up back-to-back Premier League titles and a European Cup to boot, while fans from London to Laos, and Abuja to Ankara, all tuned in to cheer.

The club that play in Petrovsky on the other hand are a relatively new name to most in European football. They are also one of the richest clubs in Russia as they are bankrolled by Gazprom - one of the largest companies in the East. Their successes both at home and in Europe, have (for the main part) all been recent.

Both clubs pay their stars an excessive wage, and they can afford to. The English side are arguably the most profitable name in world football, and the Russian side rely on a powerful sponsor. Monaco is a somewhat fitting tax-free playboy haven for the showpiece to be staged.

Their off-field exploits are almost overshadowed by their free-flowing on-field attacking football that has attracted plaudits from many a viewer and, both clubs are, interestingly, league and cup double winners. Zenit and United will be keen to add an extra trophy to the cabinet though, and it could even be United's second of the season after holding the Community Shield aloft on August 10.

Sir Alex Ferguson will likely field a strong line-up as he looks to kick-start the Red Devils' season. Dick Advocaat will seek to scalp another British victim after tactically outclassing Rangers in the Uefa Cup final in May.

Manchester United have been in two Super Cups before, winning one in 1991 - defeating Red Star Belgrade one goal to nothing, and losing another in 1999 due to a Lazio goal courtesy of Marcelo Salas.

This will be Zenit's first outing. The latest name on the European scene will also be virginal contenders in the heavyweight class - the European Champions league draw pitted them in Group H along with Real Madrid, Juventus, and BATE.