Angry Liverpool fans have targeted Manchester United defender Patrice Evra as the focal point for their wrath as Liverpool and Manchester United clash in the FA Cup 4th Round.

Evra was involved in an altercation with Liverpool striker Luis Suarez when the two sides met in the League clash in September with Suarez having been given an eight-game ban after allegedly racially abusing the French defender.

Now Evra and United return to Anfield with tension still running high and the FA fearing another potentially explosive situation escalating out of control.

Police numbers have been significantly increased ahead of the FA 4th Round tie and in an attempt to cool off the simmering cauldron of hate, Reds skipper Steven Gerrard has pleaded with Kop fans to lay off Evra.

“We do all have a responsibility – we all have a responsibility to ensure that this game is remembered for the football,” he told the Mirror.

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Liverpool overcame Manchester City to reach the Carling Cup Final their first final at Wembley since the 1996 FA Cup Final and the club have already chosen what suit they will be wearing.

The Reds last played at the home of English football in 1996 when they took on mortal enemies Manchester United in the 1996 FA Cup final.

In one of the drabbest FA Cup finals ever, the occasion was remembered mainly for them ludicrously extravagant white Armani suits which Liverpool wore prior to kick-off.

It was a real nation eyebrow-raiser, with football fans the world over not knowing whether to laugh or cry as the Merseyside club firmly established themselves as the club of pin-ups and unnecessary glamour; better put, the ‘spice boys’.

Having now returned to the New Wembley some 16 years later to face Cardiff City in the Carling Cup final, rumours are currently circulating that boss Kenny Dalglish is ready to wheel out the white Armani suits again!

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Barcelona advanced to the semi-finals of the Copa Del Rey after a 4-3 aggregate win (2-2 draw on the night) over Real Madrid with goals by Pedro and Dani Alves proving decisive.

In an absolute humdinger of a match, it was Madrid, down 2-1 from the first leg, who got off to the better start but were somewhat unlucky to find themselves 2-0 at the break when Pedro and Dani Alves put Barcelona firmly in the driving seat.

Madrid then rallied themselves after the break and pulled a goal back when Cristiano Ronaldo rounded Pinto to reduce the arrears before Karim Benzema capitalized on a Barca mistake to level things up.

The hosts were left with a nervy finish but hung on nevertheless to grab a 2-2 draw and a 4-3 win on aggregate and progress to the semi-finals.

After Barcelona’s Copa Del Rey quarter-final victory over holders Real Madrid In The Stands looks at Jose Mourinho’s record vs Barcelona as Madrid boss.
Let us just say it doesn’t make for pretty reading…

(LOST) Barcelona 5-0 Real Madrid; La Liga, November 2010

(DREW) Real Madrid 1-1 Barcelona; La Liga, April 2011

(WON) Real Madrid 0-0 Barcelona (1-0 AET); Copa Del Rey Final, 2011

(LOST) Real Madrid 0-2 Barcelona; Champions League Semi-Final, April 2011

(DREW) Barcelona 1-1 Real Madrid; Champions League Semi-Final 2nd Leg, May 2011

(DREW) Real Madrid 2-2 Barcelona; Spanish Super Cup 1st Leg, August 2011

(LOST) Barcelona 3-2 Real Madrid; Spanish Super Cup 2nd Leg, August 2011

(LOST) Real Madrid 1-3 Barcelona; La Liga, December 2011

(LOST) Real Madrid 1-2 Barcelona; Copa Del Rey Quarter-Final 1st Leg, January 2012

(DREW) Barcelona 2-2 Real Madrid; Copa Del Rey Quarter-Final 2nd Leg, January 2012

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Alessandro Del Piero rolled back the years to net an incredible goal as Juventus overcame Roma 3-0 in the Coppa Italia quarter-finals and winning the In The Stands Goal of The Week to boot!

The Serie A leaders were already 1-0 up before Del Piero received the ball 30-yards away from goal, made a mazy dribble before cutting inside two Roma players and curling home a stupendous effort into the top corner.

Out came the famous tongue, then came the gushes of awe and finally came the aesthetic appreciation that the Italian legend still, despite his years (37), has the quality to shine.

In The Stands’ Rolly Pelovangu takes an in-depth look at the former Chelsea, Inter and current Real Madrid boss and asks the special question: Is Jose Mourinho overrated?

Iconoclastic; the act of challenging established ideas and customs common within a certain place or time and not merely for the sake of argument.

There is being iconoclastic and probing, but on the other hand there is also being overzealous and unnecessarily inquisitive. When it comes to football most people and opinion givers fall into the latter bracket, blinded perhaps by team colours.

Like for example, when a Manchester United fan (who lives in London may I add) once said to me that, quote; “Robin Van Persie is shit!”

Of course his opinions carry as much weight as a soufflé, but hey, is that iconoclasm or just overzealous drivel?! The answer in this case is pretty clear.

To question demotic norms and society-induced precepts is not a sin. Indeed, the great Greek philosopher Socrates turned such a practice into a philosophical art and condemned himself to an early grave doing so.

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Mario Balotelli had a rude awakening when his £120,000 Bentley GT was egged by angry Manchester United fans hours after appearing to stamp on Scott Parker.

The controversial Manchester City striker was having dinner at a restaurant in Manchester having just hours earlier netted the winner during City’s thrilling 3-2 victory over Tottenham Hotspurs at the Etihad Stadium when his Bentley GT was seen parked up next to a well-known Manchester United pub.

Alas, out came several disbelieving United fans, who, predictably let ‘Super Mario’ know exactly what they thought of him by pelting his car with eggs!

And a source close to The Sun said that it was not pretty;

“He’d parked down a side street but unfortunately it was parked right next door to a well-known Man United pub,” the source said.

“Loads of fans were in there watching the later Arsenal game and they must have come out and seen his car. They pelted his roof with eggs.

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The FA have charged Mario Balotelli with violent conduct after he appeared to stamp on Tottenham midfielder Scott Parker during Manchester City’s 3-2 win over Spurs at the Etihad Stadium.

The pair came together in the second half with the combative Scott Parker diving in to block Balotelli’s shot.

As the Italian striker swivelled to restore his balance, he seemingly stamped out on Parker with his trailing right leg although referee Howard Webb, who had a close up view of the incident, let play continue.

Balotelli then went on to score the winning penalty in injury-time as City grabbed a priceless 3-2 win to preserve their three point lead at the top of the table.

Afterwards, a furious Harry Redknapp slammed the City forward and suggested that the stamp on Scott Parker was intentional and should have resulted in a red card.

“Having looked at it, I do [think he should have been sent off],” Redknapp said.

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Real Madrid came from behind to beat Athletic Bilbao 4-1 at the Santiago Bernabeu to preserve their five point lead over Barcelona at the top of La Liga.

Things looked worrying when Fernando Llorente volleyed Athletic Bilbao ahead in the 13th minute, but the reaction from the hosts was the stuff of potential champions.

Marcelo leveled things up 12 minutes later before two Cristiano Ronaldo penalties put Madrid firmly in control.

Substitute Callejon then added a fourth late on to secure the win as Jose Mourinho’s men stay five points clear of Barcelona at the top of La Liga.

Inter Milan made it 7 straight wins as they came from behind to beat Lazio 2-1 at the San Siro and keep the pressure on leaders Juventus and AC Milan.

Tommaso Rocchi shot Lazio ahead in the 30th minute but Diego Milito – having found his scoring touch once again leveled things up on the stroke of half-time.

Giampaolo Pazzini then fired in the winner for the hosts who survived a late Lazio rally to grab a 2-1 win.

The win lifts the Nerazzurri up to 4th in Serie A on 35 points – five behind second place AC Milan and six behind leaders Juventus.

A Lionel Messi hat-trick helped Barcelona record a fine 4-1 win over Malaga to keep the pressure on leaders Real Madrid at the top of La Liga.

A fine Lionel Messi hat-trick and a goal by Alexis Sanchez sealed the 4-1 win at the Estadio La Rosaleda as the Spanish and European champions moved up to 44 points after 19 matches.

Arsenal slumped to a 2-1 defeat at home to Manchester United as boos rang out after Arsene Wenger inexplicably substituted Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain with the score at 1-1

The nippy, technically astute youngster was having his best ever game in an Arsenal shirt and after much persistence from the hosts, set up striker Robin Van Persie for the equaliser in the second half.

Following the expected rejuvenation which came courtesy of ‘RVP’s’ fine finish and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain’s equally fine run-turned-assist, Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger bizarrely chose to substitute the Arsenal winger to the horror of Gunners fans everywhere.

Thunderous boos rang out with stunned Arsenal (and Manchester United) fans baffled by Wenger’s decision to take off the best player on the pitch.

In came Andriy Arshavin, on stayed the hopelessly ineffective Theo Walcott, and minutes later United winger Antonio Valencia gleefully sidestepped a poor Arshavin tackle to burst into the Arsenal box as Danny Welbeck slammed home the winner.

So Why Did Wenger Take off Oxlade-Chamberlain?

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