What The Sports Pages Say

Daily Star: Furious Sir Alex Ferguson faces an FA rap after an extraordinary attack on linesman Simon Beck. Also: Steven Gerrard admits Liverpool could struggle to hold on to Luis Suarez if they fail to make the Champions League this season.

Daily Mirror: Sir Alex Ferguson is facing an FA charge for blasting a linesman. Also: Arsene Wenger admitted he is "concerned" for the first time that Arsenal could miss out on a top-four finish.

The Guardian: Sir Alex Ferguson turned his fire on the assistant referee Simon Beck at White Hart Lane, questioning how he could not have awarded Manchester United a potentially decisive penalty, which he felt was costly when Tottenham Hotspur rallied to secure a 1-1 draw in injury time. Also: Mario Balotelli's Manchester City future could be decided this week.

The Sun: Alex Ferguson is facing another FA rap for slating a linesman. Also: Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger fears his 15-year Champions League run is about to come to an end.

Daily Mail: Sir Alex Ferguson launched a stinging attack on linesman Simon Beck after Manchester United failed to hang on to a lead at Tottenham yesterday. Also: Arsene Wenger has confessed he fears Arsenal will miss out on the Champions League for the first time in 15 years.

Daily Express: Sir Alex Ferguson launched his fury at the match officials after Manchester United conceded an injury-time goal in a 1-1 drawn at Tottenham that blows the title race wide open. Also: Arsene Wenger fears that Arsenal could miss out on the Champions League for the first time in 16 years.

The Times: Sir Alex Ferguson risked being hit with a misconduct charge last night after strongly criticising the performance of an assistant referee in Manchester United's 1-1 draw away to Tottenham Hotspur. Also: Matt Le Tissier has criticised the decision by Nicola Cortese to dismiss Nigel Adkins as Southampton manager.

The Independent: Sir Alex Ferguson risked a Football Association charge last night with an outspoken attack on linesman Simon Beck who he claimed would "no way" give decisions in Manchester United's favour. Also: Arsene Wenger admitted last night his "concern" over Arsenal's league position jeopardising their chances of Champions League qualification.

Daily Telegraph: Sir Alex Ferguson could face a Football Association sanction after he blamed an assistant referee for failing to award a penalty in Manchester United's 1-1 draw with Tottenham. Also: Arsene Wenger accused Ramires of diving to win Chelsea's crucial first-half penalty yesterday.

DAILY EXPRESS: Jose Mourinho has sent text messages to Roman Abramovich to pave the way for a return to Chelsea. Also: Former India captain Sourav Ganguly believes Kevin Pietersen's lack of discipline when batting is the key to England's struggles in the subcontinent.

THE SUN: Theo Walcott says Arsenal must stop doubting themselves or risk missing out on the Champions League next season. Also: Alex Ferguson has been ordered by the FA to explain his rant at linesman Simon Beck.

DAILY MIRROR: Aston Villa boss Paul Lambert will look for divine inspiration in the Capital One Cup - after getting into an unholy row with a vicar. Also: Theo Walcott has claimed Arsenal must show more belief and commitment if they want to catch bitter rivals Tottenham.

DAILY MAIL: Nigel Adkins was handed a humiliating final snub by Southampton as he was airbrushed out of the match programme. Also: Sir Alex Ferguson faces a misconduct charge after the FA asked the Manchester United manager to explain comments he made about the linesman following Sunday's draw at Tottenham.

DAILY TELEGRAPH: Manchester United are actively searching for an experienced and imposing goalkeeper to replace David de Gea at the end of the season because of a growing acceptance at Old Trafford that the Spaniard is unsuitable for the demands of English football. Also: Newcastle United's troubles are showing no signs of easing after Montpellier centre-back Mapou Yanga-Mbiwa did not arrive for a planned medical and skipper Fabricio Coloccini failed to resolve his future at a meeting with club officials.

DAILY STAR: Jose Mourinho has been paving the way for a sensational return to Chelsea by regularly texting and phoning Blues owner Roman Abramovich. Also: Arsene Wenger held crisis talks with his Arsenal squad yesterday in a desperate attempt to save their season.

THE INDEPENDENT: Paul Lambert, the Aston Villa manager, last night said that the Bradford City stadium announcer who told fans they could "book hotel rooms for London" after the 3-1 win they carry into tonight's Capital One Cup semi-final second leg had been "disrespectful" to his own team - and that the League Two side may have become carried away with their own success. Also: A goalless draw at home may seem a small step on the path to realising the "global ambitions" which led Southampton to sack Nigel Adkins after he had won successive promotions, but this was a better opening to the Mauricio Pochettino era than the scoreline suggests.

THE GUARDIAN: Sir Alex Ferguson is confident of signing Wilfried Zaha for £12m from Crystal Palace by the end of the week, with the aim of loaning the winger back to the Championship club for the remainder of the season. Also: Perhaps it was appropriate that, after an evening of such mild protest at the brutal sacking of Nigel Adkins, Southampton's night should fizzle out in a tame draw.

THE TIMES: Sir Alex Ferguson is monitoring Victor Valdes' situation at Barcelona as the Manchester United manager weighs up a move for a new goalkeeper. Also: Theo Walcott has admitted that a lack of belief amongst Arsenal's players has contributed to defeats in their past two Barclays Premier League matches.

DAILY TELEGRAPH: Amid tumultuous scenes last night, Bradford City of League Two deservedly reached the Capital One Cup final. By the end, their fans were chanting "ole" and singing about Wembley. Europe could also beckon for a team in the fourth tier of English football. Also: Roman Abramovich is "really pleased" with progress at Chelsea, according to the man hired to ensure the club the Russian has lavished with £1billion do not drop out of the Champions League places as well as surrendering the European Cup.

DAILY EXPRESS: Bradford are at Wembley after piling on the agony for Paul Lambert and Aston Villa. Also: Michael Laudrup has turned up the heat on Chelsea by claiming that Rafa Benitez's big-money side "need a trophy more than Swansea".

DAILY MAIL: Bradford City created history last night as they became the first team from the fourth tier to reach a major Wembley final. Also: Rafa Benitez's feud with Marco Materazzi yesterday took an extraordinary twist when the Chelsea coach accused the former Inter Milan defender of being 'a liar' 10 times during an amazing outburst.

THE SUN: Ecstatic boss Phil Parkinson was in "dreamland" after Bradford became the first FOURTH-TIER team to reach a major Wembley final. Also: Arsenal will attempt to land Barcelona ace David Villa on the cheap - at the end of the transfer window; Rafa Benitez has branded World Cup winner Marco Materazzi a liar.

DAILY MIRROR: Bradford were in dreamland last night after making English football history by becoming the first fourth-tier team to reach a major Wembley final. Also: West Ham midfielder Mohamed Diame has 90 minutes to earn himself a transfer to Arsenal this month; Rafa Benitez has revealed Roman Abramovich is happy with the progress he is making at Chelsea.

THE GUARDIAN: For Aston Villa, it will be remembered as one of the more harrowing nights of their history. For Bradford, 10th in League Two, bucket-collection skint a few years back and grateful still to be in business, it is difficult to imagine how they could possibly top this moment. Unless, that is, they go to Wembley and actually win the damn thing. Also: The 2012 Tour de France winner, Sir Bradley Wiggins, has changed tack again over whether he will set out to defend his title, claiming he is happy to work for his Sky team-mate Chris Froome in the race and make the Giro d'Italia his main focus.

DAILY STAR: James Hanson was the hero as Bradford held their nerve to reach Wembley and leave Villa boss Paul Lambert's head on the block. Also: Rafa Benitez was last night accused of being a weak manager living in Jose Mourinho's shadow; Manchester United are weighing up a sensational swoop for Liverpool keeper Pepe Reina.

THE TIMES: Rafael Benitez renewed hostilities with Sir Alex Ferguson last night by claiming it is "obvious" that the Manchester United manager is continuing to exert undue pressure on match officials. Also: What a story. What a fairytale. In the money-obsessed world of English football in the 21st century, Bradford City have managed to bridge the great divide yet again, brutally exposing Aston Villa's frailties last night to become the first team from the fourth tier to reach a League Cup final in more than half a century.

THE INDEPENDENT: Bradford made history last night as they eliminated Aston Villa from the Capital One Cup to become the first team from the fourth tier to make the competition's final since 1962. Also: Novak Djokovic provided an engaging picture of himself after feeding the powerful and talented Tomas Berdych into the tennis equivalent of a shredding machine. It was of him sitting in an ice bath chatting amiably with the old favourite of the Australian Open crowd, Lleyton Hewitt, but if this was just a snapshot of his remarkable recovery from the five-hour, five-set win over the defiant Swiss Stanislas Wawrinka it came, as you might have expected, with another philosophical statement of the most formidable intent.

What the papers say
Last Updated: January 24 2013, 8:21 GMT

DAILY TELEGRAPH: Swansea City reached their first major cup final in their long history on a day where football surely reached a first: a player kicking a ballboy. Also: Birmingham City have lowered their initial fee for Jack Butland in a desperate attempt to generate interest from Premier League clubs.

SUN: Eden Hazard was forced to issue a grovelling apology after seeing red in extraordinary circumstances when he KICKED a ballboy during Swansea's Capital One Cup defeat of Chelsea. Also: West Ham boss Sam Allardyce watched in horror as Dan Potts suffered a sickening injury in his team's crushing defeat...Aston Villa were so confident of beating Bradford they rejected a deal to split any Wembley profits with the League Two side.

THE INDEPENDENT: Fabricio Coloccini is heading out of Newcastle United after he told officials he does not want to play another game for the club. Also: They have lost semi-finals at the death, with furious recriminations against referees; they have lost to dubious goals and they have been eliminated on penalties, but never have Chelsea tumbled out of the last four of a competition in quite such ignominious fashion.

DAILY MIRROR: Eden Hazard heaped shame on Chelsea after he was sent off for kicking a ball boy. Also: Arsene Wenger has been given the perfect excuse to put his cheque-book away until the summer. Wenger's close-season signings all came good at the Emirates - and that may be enough to persuade the Arsenal manager to believe his squad is good enough after all.

DAILY MAIL: Chelsea's bid for Capital One Cup glory ended in shame last night when Eden Hazard was sent off for kicking a ball boy at the Liberty Stadium. Also: Arsene Wenger wanted a reaction from his Arsenal side and - oh boy - did he get it.

THE GUARDIAN: It has taken over 100 years but, finally, Swansea City know what it is like to reach a major final. Also: When Arsenal click as they did for 12 whirlwind minutes at the beginning of the second half, it can feel as if all of their problems, the well-documented angst and the soul-searching, are nothing more than tricks of the imagination.

DAILY EXPRESS: Chelsea's Eden Hazard was sent off after tussling with a ball boy at the Liberty Stadium last night as Swansea booked a trip to Wembley for the first major cup final in the club's history. Also: Paul Lambert will stay as Aston Villa manager even if his first season turns into a disaster and the club are relegated.

DAILY STAR: Swansea kicked Chelsea out of the Capital One Cup last night as Eden Hazard was sent off for booting a ballboy. Also: Edin Dzeko has ruled out a move away from Manchester City either now or in the summer.

THE TIMES: Chelsea were dumped out of the Capital One Cup amid disgraceful scenes at the Liberty Stadium last night after Eden Hazard was dismissed for kicking a ballboy. Also: Bradford City's players are eager for the future of Phil Parkinson to be secured as soon as possible after spending yesterday coming to terms with the fact that they are heading to Wembley in the Capital One Cup final.

THE INDEPENDENT: Eden Hazard could still face a police investigation after the South Wales force revealed that they were following up three calls from members of the public in relation to the Chelsea winger's kick at a Swansea City ballboy on Wednesday. Also: Bradley Wiggins has rubbished Lance Armstrong's claim that he has not doped since 2005. Speaking for the first time about the Texan's confession to Oprah Winfrey last week, Wiggins accused Armstrong of being a "lying b******" over his suggestion that he rode his final two Tours de France clean.

DAILY MAIL: Chelsea hope new TV camera angles will help Eden Hazard escape with a three-match ban after his fracas with Swansea ball boy Charlie Morgan. Also: Elite athletics will return to the Olympic Stadium on the first anniversary of the London Games, but Usain Bolt will not attend the party.

DAILY STAR: Eden Hazard is set to escape without even a fine from Chelsea following his ballboy bust-up at Swansea. Also: Tottenham have stepped up their attempts to land Mohamed Diame. West Ham's highly-rated 24-year-old midfielder has a £3.5m buyout clause in his contract and Andre Villas-Boas is ready to pounce.

DAILY TELEGRAPH: Police were last night forced to launch new inquiries into the confrontation between Eden Hazard and a Swansea ballboy, with the Football Association also reviewing new video evidence before deciding whether to extend the Chelsea forward's ban. Also: Shaun Derry has accused some of his Queens Park Rangers team-mates of not working hard enough in their survival mission.

THE GUARDIAN: The Football Association will continue to review video footage of Eden Hazard's clash with a ballboy late on in Wednesday's Capital One Cup semi-final at the Liberty Stadium with at least one camera angle appearing to show the Belgian making contact only with the ball rather than the grounded teenager. Also: Tottenham Hotspur are considering whether to meet Mohamed Diame's £3.5m release clause at West Ham United and tempt the midfielder across London this month, with the club's chairman, Daniel Levy, coming to view the midfielder as an interesting investment.

THE SUN: Aston Villa star Matt Lowton has told how he was taught the dark arts of being a ballboy... by Neil Warnock. Also: The FA Cup final is returning to its traditional spot as the season-closing showpiece.

DAILY MIRROR: Chelsea and the Football Association are set to let Eden Hazard off the hook despite his ballboy kick that enraged football. Also: Fabricio Coloccini is ready to commit to Newcastle for the rest of the season - after they told him it would cost £7million to quit the club.

DAILY EXPRESS: Police have launched an investigation into Eden Hazard's controversial clash with a ball boy - and Chelsea desperately hope their star will escape more punishment. Also: Lewis Hamilton's bold Formula One switch was wrapped up inside a power struggle last night after Mercedes boss Ross Brawn insisted he is in control, but refused to commit himself to the team on a long-term basis.

THE TIMES: Manchester City's new director of football has given the first indication of the power he wields at the club by revealing that he wants to play a new formation next season and stipulate that new signings must be tailored to fit the system, the Times has learned. Also: The FA was considering last night whether to take the unusual step of demanding additional sanction for Eden Hazard or to allow him to escape with a three-match suspension for his altercation with a ballboy.

DAILY EXPRESS: Andy Murray stands on the threshold of tennis history. Also: Eden Hazard was last night facing the prospect of a longer ban over his clash with a Swansea ball boy after he was charged with violent conduct by the FA.

THE GUARDIAN: It took Andy Murray four hours to beat Roger Federer for the first time in a grand slam match, and, looking unusually dispirited afterwards, he admitted he would need a decent rest to recover from the fractious finish to his semi-final if he is to take the Australian Open title away from Novak Djokovic on Sunday. Also: Eden Hazard faces the prospect of a ban of more than three matches for his altercation with the Swansea City ballboy on Wednesday night to add to Rafael Benitez's worries about the strain on his Chelsea squad.

DAILY STAR: Eden Hazard faces a FIVE-match ban for his ballboy bust-up. Also: Sir Alex Ferguson and Gary Neville are at loggerheads after the Manchester United boss branded critics of David De Gea "idiots"... Millwall face an FA probe after their FA Cup fourth round tie with Aston Villa was held up for five minutes at the Den last night when home fans threw bottles of water at linesman Mark Scholes.

DAILY MIRROR: Arsene Wenger will launch a final bid to buy West Ham midfielder Mohamed Diame this weekend. Also: Paul Lambert says Aston Villa's stars must put their bodies on the line for the club's cause after this latest dismal Cup exit.

DAILY MAIL: Three people were arrested as Millwall's FA Cup fourth-round win over Aston Villa at the Den was marred by home fans pelting linesman Mark Scholes with bottles. Also: Eden Hazard has been hit with a misconduct charge after the FA decided a three-match ban was not a tough enough penalty for kicking Swansea ball boy Charlie Morgan.

THE INDEPENDENT: Judging by his subdued post-match press conference here tonight you might have thought that Andy Murray had just lost to Roger Federer in the semi-finals of the Australian Open, but the Scot was all too aware that his biggest challenge is yet to come. Also: Being an Aston Villa supporter is not an easy pastime at the moment but given the week they have endured, they must have feared the worst from their trip to face Millwall.

THE SUN: Alex Ferguson believes the FA are picking on him. Also: Rafa Benitez has told Roman Abramovich his Chelsea squad is not strong enough to compete on eight fronts... Harry Redknapp has launched an astonishing attack on the Swansea ballboy Charlie Morgan - calling him disgusting and an idiot.

DAILY TELEGRAPH: Three days after bowing out of the Capital One Cup to Bradford City, Aston Villa's season of woe descended into total humiliation when they were knocked out of the FA Cup by Millwall. To lose to one lower-league team in a week may be regarded as a misfortune. To lose to two looks like carelessness at dealing with balls played in from the wide areas. Also: Ballboys at all England's professional clubs are being told to avoid time-wasting or other "inappropriate behaviour" by the Football Association as a result of the Eden Hazard affair, which resulted on Friday in the Chelsea midfielder being charged with misconduct.

THE TIMES: Sir Alex Ferguson believes that he is being victimised by the Football Association because of his high profile at Manchester United. Also: Roger Federer, the epitome of the gentleman tennis player and favoured emblem of the All England Club, lost his temper with Andy Murray on Rod Laver Arena yesterday as his Australian Open hopes were blown away by the compelling character and sublime game of the British number one.

THE SUN: Chelsea have made a sensational bid to re-sign Didier Drogba. Also: Reece Wabara and Matt Smith scored to send Liverpool crashing out of the FA Cup.

DAILY MIRROR: Neil Warnock last night celebrated one of his greatest cup wins on his own with champagne and a bag of crisps. Also: Paul Dickov is facing the axe just hours after masterminding one of the greatest results in Oldham's history - a 3-2 cup defeat of Liverpool.

DAILY MAIL: Oldham manager Paul Dickov masterminded one of the biggest FA Cup upsets of recent times by dumping Liverpool last night, and then was warned he could be sacked in the next 24 hours. Also: Manchester City fear they will be without captain Vincent Kompany for three weeks after the Belgian had a recurrence of a calf injury in Saturday's FA Cup win at Stoke.

DAILY EXPRESS: Paul Dickov oversaw one of the biggest FA Cup upsets of recent years as League One Oldham dumped Liverpool out of the competition only to be warned he could be sacked within the next 24 hours. Also: Neil Warnock hailed his Leeds heroes after they dumped Tottenham out of the FA Cup yesterday - their third Premier League scalp this season.

THE INDEPENDENT: Taking their cue from the rattling of Chelsea and the debunking of Tottenham Hotspur, Oldham Athletic placed a top hat on the day of the underdog. Also: The tears have flowed when Andy Murray has lost grand slam finals in the past, but the worst pains the Scot felt here last night were in his blistered right foot and his sore left hamstring.

THE GUARDIAN: Oldham Athletic, hovering one point above the relegation zone in League One, produced their finest FA Cup moment since Joe Royle led the club to the semi-finals almost 20 years ago to humiliate Liverpool but it still may not be enough to keep their manager, Paul Dickov, in a job. Also: Defeat is no longer devastating for Andy Murray.

DAILY STAR: Paul Dickov's reward for kicking Liverpool out of the FA Cup will be the sack. Also: Brentford yesterday accused FA Cup holders Chelsea of not trying hard enough and hating having them in their faces.

DAILY TELEGRAPH: Andy Murray was not looking for sympathy after his third defeat in the final of the Australian Open, but he did admit that recovery time can be important in this ultra-physical era. Also: It should have been Paul Dickov's champagne moment, the highlight of his managerial career, but the Oldham Athletic manager's reward for knocking Liverpool out of the FA Cup is likely to be the sack today.

THE TIMES: Paul Dickov is facing the sack as Oldham Athletic manager today despite knocking Liverpool out of the FA Cup, a victory that the chairman of the npower League One club described as "awkward" after refusing to give the former Manchester City forward assurances about his future. Also: Andy Murray refused to ponder any negatives as he departed from Australia after his third defeat in four years in the final of the year's opening grand-slam tournament.

THE TIMES: Brendan Rodgers has warned his young Liverpool players to learn quickly or to face up to a future in npower League One. Also: Aston Villa owner Randy Lerner has broken his silence by offering a public affirmation of support for Paul Lambert... Alisher Usmanov launched a strongly worded attack on the Arsenal board for repeatedly selling the club's best players while paying themselves large dividends.

THE INDEPENDENT: England head coach Stuart Lancaster and British Cycling performance director Dave Brailsford have set up a think tank comprising leading coaches from different sports. Also: AC Milan were last night pushing hard to secure the services of Mario Balotelli from Manchester City within the next 48 hours, with the player's agent refusing to rule out a move.

DAILY TELEGRAPH: Chelsea will today present the FA with a detailed written submission in which they will argue that Eden Hazard should not receive an extended ban for his dismissal against Swansea. Also: Ashley Cole grew frustrated and became vocally critical of the Chelsea forwards during Sunday's FA Cup draw at Griffin Park, according to Brentford striker Clayton Donaldson... Brendan Rodgers has renewed his attack on Liverpool's failing players by accusing Martin Skrtel and Sebastian Coates of making Oldham forward Matt Smith "look like Didier Drogba" during Sunday's FA Cup defeat at Boundary Park.

THE GUARDIAN: Manchester City are locked in negotiations with AC Milan over the transfer of Mario Balotelli and are exploring the option of loaning the striker out until the summer ahead of a permanent move. Also: Major shareholder Alisher Usmanov has claimed the lack of spending an inability to hang on to the club's best players have effectively rendered them a feeder team for their rivals.

THE SUN: David Beckham will train with the Arsenal squad today while his future remains undecided. Also: Paul Lambert has been handed the dreaded vote of confidence by Aston Villa owner Randy Lerner... Alisher Usmanov claims Thierry Henry has begged him to take over the club.

DAILY MIRROR: Paul Lambert has vowed not to quit Aston Villa despite their nightmare run. Also: Alan Pardew believes Newcastle owner Mike Ashley has shown his long-term commitment with the January signings. Mousa Dembele admits Tottenham struggled to get up for the FA Cup at Leeds.

DAILY STAR: Rafael Benitez's future is hanging by a thread after Chelsea launched a high-level inquest into his reign at Stamford Bridge. Also: Under-fire Paul Lambert says it is do-or-die for Aston Villa now - and that he will not quit the club.

DAILY MAIL: Mario Balotelli may finally be leaving Manchester City this week after Italian giants AC Milan last night opened talks with the Barclays Premier League champions about a £24million move for the striker. Also: Southampton's new centre-back Vegard Forren is considering ringing former manager Ole Gunnar Solksjaer for tips on how to cope with Manchester United tomorrow.

DAILY EXPRESS: Tottenham manager Harry Redknapp has described the January transfer window as "gang warfare". Also: Manchester United's sponsorship jackpot has helped them become the first sports team in the world to be valued at more than £2billion... Manchester City last night rejected AC Milan's latest bid to get Mario Balotelli on the cheap.

THE SUN: Aston Villa plunged deeper into the relegation mire last night. Also: Mario Balotelli will leave Manchester City - despite them drawing a blank at Loftus Road.

DAILY STAR: Mario Balotelli will return to Italy today to join AC Milan in a £20million deal. Also: Chelsea have been given permission to hold talks with keeper Jack Butland.

DAILY MIRROR: Manchester City offloaded maverick striker Mario Balotelli last night - and set their sights on David Villa to replace him. Also: Paul Lambert lurched closer to the abyss as Aston Villa suffered another night of purgatory.

DAILY TELEGRAPH: Mario Balotelli's captivating and controversial career at Manchester City is expected to end in the next 24 hours after AC Milan announced a £20million deal for the striker. Also: Newcastle United resisted a storming second-half performance by Aston Villa to collect valuable points in their drive to climb up the table, so plunging Paul Lambert's side deeper into the mire - and now into the bottom three.

THE GUARDIAN: These are grim times for Aston Villa that must leave their supporters wondering whether their season could get any worse. Also: The World Cup due to be played in Qatar in 2022 will be a "crucible of exploitation and misery" for poorly paid migrant workers who will toil on the country's construction sites, the campaigning organisation Human Rights Watch will warn in a report due to be published tomorrow.

THE INDEPENDENT: Sir Alex Ferguson was pitched back into a state of open conflict with the Football Association last night, after he was charged for comments made about an assistant referee at Tottenham Hotspur on January 20. Also: The table offers little encouragement. Aston Villa slipped into the relegation zone after three more points went the way of the opposition.

THE TIMES: Mario Balotelli will bring down the curtain on his turbulent career in English football today when he formally completes his projected £19.5million move to AC Milan from Manchester City. Also: The meagre consolation for Aston Villa, as their relegation fears deepened last night, was that their situation appeared less hopeless by the final whistle than it had at half-time.

DAILY EXPRESS: Mario Balotelli quit Manchester City for AC Milan last night and was told: goodbye and good riddance. Also: John Terry has hit out at his team-mates and told them to "liven up" after Chelsea's run of embarrassing results.

DAILY MAIL: Aston Villa dropped into the Premier League relegation zone after a 2-1 home loss to fellow strugglers Newcastle last night. Also: Mario Balotelli's colourful and often chaotic career in English football is over after Manchester City agreed to sell him to AC Milan in a deal worth £19.5million.

THE TIMES: Wayne Rooney scored twice as Manchester United recovered from an early setback to squeeze past Southampton at Old Trafford last night and extend their lead at the top of the Barclays Premier League table to seven points. Also: Not for the first time, Harry Redknapp will be the busiest manager on the final day of the transfer window today, with the Queens Park Rangers manager expected to tie up deals to sign Peter Crouch and Christopher Samba, while not ruling out a move for David Beckham.

THE INDEPENDENT: The Queens Park Rangers manager, Harry Redknapp, is shattering his club's wage structure in a desperate quest for Premier League survival, pressing ahead with a deal for £12.5million defender Chris Samba six months after his predecessor Mark Hughes decided that the centre-half's pay demands were too big. Also: Roy Hodgson will leave Raheem Sterling, Wilfried Zaha and Jonjo Shelvey out of his senior England squad today in order for them to be picked for the Under-21s next week.

DAILY TELEGRAPH: Dennis Bergkamp will be among the candidates to replace Liam Brady as Arsenal's academy director and head of youth development when the 56-year-old leaves his current job at the end of the season. Also: Chelsea's season of turmoil took another twist last night as Reading conjured the most unlikely of recoveries to prevent a victory that had seemed a formality for the away team.

THE GUARDIAN: Roy Hodgson has decided Raheem Sterling should play in this summer's Under-21 European Championship in June but wants to keep Jack Wilshere and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain with the senior team as he prepares for the next World Cup. Also: Mario Balotelli is in Milan undergoing a medical ahead of a £17m transfer to Milan, with the striker saying he "ran" to the Italian club from Manchester City.

DAILY STAR: West Brom's dramatic slide continued as they went down to a Leighton Baines double at Champions League-chasing Everton. Also: Tom Wood is geared up for another Twickenham dust-up as England go from being the hunters to the hunted in Saturday's Calcutta Cup showdown with Scotland.

DAILY MIRROR: Chris Samba is set to sign a staggering £100,000-a-week contract at QPR. Also: Theo Walcott's rocket completed a fantastic Arsenal comeback last night.

THE SUN: Theo Walcott last night hauled boss Arsene Wenger out of jail and roared: "That's why you must play me up front." Also: Wayne Rooney put the Saints into Room 101 as his Old Trafford goal haul surged into three figures.

DAILY MAIL: Just a year after grappling with the early stages of a daunting salvage operation as England's caretaker coach, Stuart Lancaster is poised to complete an astonishing rise to power by being put in charge of a new RFU 'international performance' department. Also: Three-time major champion Vijay Singh was facing a lengthy ban last night after owning up to using a banned substance.

DAILY EXPRESS: Everton are ready to make an ambitious bid for Spanish striker Alvaro Negredo with the funds that had been set aside for midfielder Leroy Fer. Also: Steven Taylor has his revenge for Aston Villa fans' relegation taunts when Newcastle went down four years ago.

THE SUN: Rio Ferdinand says Manchester United are bigger than England. Also: Peter Odemwingie last night accused West Brom of hypocrisy and insisted the club gave him the green light to join QPR. Also: Roberto Mancini is ready to make a £40million summer bid for Liverpool ace Luis Suarez.

DAILY MAIL: West Ham joint-chairman David Sullivan has hit out at 'scavenger' agents after claiming he was threatened with violence during the transfer window. Also: As England took care of final preparations before resuming Calcutta Cup hostilities at Twickenham this afternoon, it remained difficult to fathom whether their recent heroism against the world champions was a blessing or a curse.

DAILY MIRROR: Peter Odemwingie is vowing to fight any punishment by West Brom after boss Steve Clarke branded his Deadline Day trip to QPR "total lunacy". Also: Steve Bruce blasted striker DJ Campbell for 'nipping out for lunch' and walking out on a major deal.

DAILY EXPRESS: Peter Odemwingie's attempt to force through his controversial move to QPR was described as "lunacy" by West Brom last night. Also: British basketball was last night planning for Rio 2016 and beyond after having its Olympic funding restored.

DAILY STAR: Peter Odemwingie was branded a lunatic by his own boss last night. Also: Mario Balotelli last night took a swipe at life in England. Also: Sir Alex Ferguson is set to lock horns with the FA again after deciding to challenge his latest misconduct charge.

THE DAILY TELEGRAPH: Graham Rowntree has challenged England to "deal with the expectancy" which has built up since their historic victory over New Zealand by producing a performance of similar intensity in their RBC Six Nations opener against Scotland at Twickenham today. Also: Peter Odemwingie has admitted it is "a matter of time" before he leaves West Bromwich Albion and claimed the club and their sporting director Dan Ashworth share responsibility for his transfer deadline-day farce.

THE TIMES: Wayne Rooney voluntarily stepped down as Manchester United's penalty taker after admitting that his record "wasn't good enough". Steve Clarke, the West Bromwich Albion head coach, has described Peter Odemwingie's decision to make an impromptu road-trip to West London in the belief that he would sign for Queens Park Rangers on transfer deadline day as "total lunacy".

THE GUARDIAN: Steve Clarke has described Peter Odemwingie's decision to drive to Queens Park Rangers on transfer deadline day as "total lunacy" and said the West Bromwich Albion forward was never granted permission to speak to the London club. Also: Roberto Mancini believes Manchester United's lead in the title race will be severely cut this month thanks to their fixture pile-up.

THE INDEPENDENT: Harry Redknapp insisted yesterday that no-one at Queen's Park Rangers told Peter Odemwingie to make his now notorious trip south from the west midlands to Loftus Road on Thursday night in an ill-fated attempt to see through a move to the west London club. Also: Sir Alex Ferguson, the Manchester United manager, has called on his team to turn their "sadistic nature" on their opposition rather than their own fans as the look to move 10 points clear at the top of the table at Fulham today.

THE SUN SUNDAY: David Villa wants a £14million summer move to Arsenal. Also: Demba Ba had a bloody nightmare on his return to Newcastle; Billy Twelvetrees scored a debut try as England smashed the Scots at Twickenham.

SUNDAY MIRROR: Carlos Tevez will be allowed to leave Manchester City as the champions plan a massive summer clear-out. Also: Demba Ba endured a painful return to Tyneside yesterday.

DAILY STAR SUNDAY: Man City will fight fellow Arab oil-backed club PSG to land £40m-rated Napoli striker Edinson Cavani this summer. Also: Roberto Mancini is banking on his £91million fearsome threesome to fill the Balo shoes and dance off with the Premier League title.

SUNDAY EXPRESS: Billy Twelvetrees last night revealed that he fulfilled a childhood ambition by scoring on his England debut to extend Scotland's 31-year record of hurt at Twickenham. Also: Wayne Rooney scored the goal that sent leaders Manchester United 10 points clear at the top of the Premier League - then insisted his side would keep their feet on the ground.

MAIL ON SUNDAY: Wayne Rooney lit up Craven Cottage with a superb finish last night to extend Manchester United's lead at the top of the table to 10 points - despite a mystery power cut which plunged their match against Fulham into darkness. Also: With enviable ease and vigorous efficiency, England sailed over their first hurdle in the Six Nations Championship.

THE SUNDAY TIMES: Stuart Lancaster, the head coach, will demand a more clinical performance from his England players when they travel to Dublin to face Ireland next Sunday, despite inflicting yet more pain on Scotland. Also: Rafa Benitez looked a sorry and increasingly vulnerable figure last night after Chelsea ended an ignominious week with a 3-2 defeat by Newcastle to leave the club's supporters bitterly venting their disapproval of both the interim manager and the club's owner, Roman Abramovich.

THE SUNDAY TELEGRAPH: England coach Stuart Lancaster warned his side will face an extremely tough battle when the take on Ireland in Dublin a week today after recording a comprehensive 38-18 victory against Scotland in their RBS Six Nations opener at Twickenham. Also: Newcastle United toasted a new hero after a magnificent match-winning home debut from Moussa Sissoko, while Chelsea could soon be looking for yet another manager as the pressure grows on Rafael Benitez.

INDEPENDENT ON SUNDAY: England and Ireland began the Six Nations' Championship with a bang, scoring seven tries between them in wins over Scotland at Twickenham and Wales in Cardiff respectively, to set up an explosive meeting in Dublin next Sunday. Also: You can, at least, not fault the defiance of Rafa Benitez. He again proved immovable, unlike his side.

THE OBSERVER: England hubris was the theme in the buildup to the game, but any hope Scotland nurtured that the old enemy would be self-absorbed after last December's victory over New Zealand disappeared in the opening moments. Also: Manchester United found themselves plunged into darkness mid-match for the second time this season after the floodlights failed at Craven Cottage during yesterday's 1-0 win over Fulham.

THE PEOPLE: Rafa Benitez is fighting for his future as Demba Ba suffered a bloody nose on his return to Newcastle - and Chelsea collapsed for the second time in a week. Also: Asmir Begovic will join Manchester United in a £9million move this summer to solve their goalkeeping problems.

THE SUN: Jose Mourinho is ready to return to Stamford Bridge and rescue his beloved Chelsea. Also: Manchester City boss Roberto Mancini accused Liverpool of breaking one of football's unwritten rules.


DAILY MAIL: Roberto Mancini has warned his Manchester City players they will need to win all their remaining 13 games to stand any chance of retaining the title. Also: Roy Hodgson's plans for England's friendly against Brazil at Wembley on Wednesday have been hit by the withdrawals of Tottenham striker Jermain Defoe and Manchester United midfielder Michael Carrick.

DAILY MIRROR: Defiant Roberto Mancini yesterday warned Manchester United the title race was far from over. Also: Spurs fear Jermain Defoe could be out for two months with ankle ligament damage.

DAILY EXPRESS: Manchester United's grip on a 20th Premier League title tightened last night after neighbours City slipped again. Also: Stuart Lancaster is ready to make changes for the second leg of England's Six Nations in Ireland on Sunday after admitting a repeat of the performance in beating Scotland 38-18 would not be good enough.

DAILY STAR: Defiant Manchester City boss Roberto Mancini last night refused to throw in the title towel saying: It's not over yet. Also: Jermain Defoe and Michael Carrick last night pulled out of the England squad to face Brazil.

THE DAILY TELEGRAPH: This was the game that had everything except a winner unless a beaming Manchester United and an enthralled television audience are included. Also: Rafael Benitez is facing a potentially decisive week in his bid to see out the season as Chelsea's interim manager.

THE TIMES: Roberto Mancini has told his Manchester City players that they may have to win all their remaining Barclays Premier League matches this season if they are to retain the title after a 2-2 draw at home to Liverpool left them nine points behind Manchester United. Also: After a bewitching opening round to the RBS Six Nations Championship, England travel to Ireland this weekend for a game the result of which is likely to have a significant bearing on this season's tournament.

THE GUARDIAN: Roberto Mancini insisted Manchester City are still in the Premier League title race despite the 2-2 draw with Liverpool that left them trailing Manchester United by nine points with 13 games left. Also: Jermain Defoe has withdrawn from the England squad for Wednesday night's friendly against Brazil at Wembley, after suffering suspected ankle ligament damage against West Bromwich Albion, also leaving Tottenham Hotspur without a recognised striker.

THE INDEPENDENT: The way they clinched the championship means that there will always be hope of retaining it but Manchester City had better start rummaging around for the keys to the trophy cabinet. Also: At the club that has almost run out of available strikers, it is some consolation that, in Gareth Bale, Tottenham Hotspur have the man who can do it all.

THE SUN: Liverpool played a Champions League game unaware the opposing goalkeeper was caught up in a match-fixing plot. Also: Phil Jones is a serious doubt for Manchester United's Euro showdown with Real Madrid - after being struck down with shingles.

DAILY TELEGRAPH: Liverpool's 2009 Champions League tie against Debrecen was last night alleged to be one of 380 European games under suspicion of match-fixing. Also: Steven Gerrard has called on England's fans to respect Ashley Cole's "phenomenal" contribution to the national side when he wins his 100th cap against Brazil.

DAILY MIRROR: Chelsea were dealt another blow last night when Petr Cech confirmed that he had broken a finger.

THE INDEPENDENT: The head of Europol has warned football authorities in Britain not to be "naive" or "complacent" enough to believe that the problem of match-fixing, which he exposed on a massive global scale yesterday, does not extend to matches in this country. Also: Liverpool midfielder Jonjo Shelvey suggested yesterday that he was made the scapegoat for his team's poor performance in the 3-1 defeat at Stoke City on Boxing Day - since when he has been left out on the periphery of the first team.

THE GUARDIAN: FIFA has called for longer prison sentences for criminals involved in match-fixing after the EU intelligence-sharing agency Europol said more than 700 matches worldwide are suspected of having been manipulated. Also: Steven Gerrard has become the first player in Roy Hodgson's England squad to publicly express concerns about England's position in their World Cup qualifying group and the possibility that unless there is an improvement, they may end up in the play-offs.

DAILY MAIL: Theo Walcott last night vowed to prove to Roy Hodgson he can be an England centre-forward.

DAILY STAR: Steven Gerrard has told England to forget about beating Brazil and focus on getting there instead. Also: UEFA last night told Manchester City to prove they are not cheating the system with a controversial sponsorship deal... Peter Odemwingie was back in training at West Brom yesterday.

DAILY EXPRESS: Steven Gerrard has pleaded with the Wembley crowd not to ruin the big night of fans' target Ashley Cole when he wins his 100th cap for England against Brazil tomorrow. Also: A Champions League game played in England is suspected of being fixed, according to European police.

THE TIMES: Steven Gerrard has admitted to looking beyond England's prestigious friendly against Brazil tomorrow as he faces up to the concern that Montenegro could deny him the chance to play in one more World Cup before the end of his international career. Also: Stuart Pearce is not looking to hold talks over his future with the FA until after the European Under-21 Championship finals in Israel this summer.

DAILY MIRROR: Steven Gerrard has backed Jack Wilshere to become the best in the world. Also: The goalkeeper accused of being bribed to throw a Champions League game against Liverpool could face England next month.

THE SUN: Neymar says England have no chance of winning the World Cup - because they are a one-man team. Also: Ashley Cole admits he will never be loved - even after winning 100 England caps.

DAILY STAR: England centurion Ashley Cole last night insisted: I don't care if nobody loves me. Also: Brazil superstar Neymar could be coming to the Premier League after the World Cup next year; Luiz Felipe Scolari admitted it hurt to turn down England but reckons his chance could come again one day.

THE TIMES: Billy Twelvetrees is facing the prospect of being dropped by England after only one appearance as Stuart Lancaster wrestles with his options at centre for the crucial RBS 6 Nations match against Ireland on Sunday. Also: Ashley Cole's 100th appearance for England this evening comes at a time when he faces "greater competition than he has ever had", according to Roy Hodgson.

THE INDEPENDENT: The England captain Steven Gerrard said yesterday that a players' delegation from the national team has approached the Football Association and pledged to offer to help over the plight of Paul Gascoigne, whose declining mental state has been cause for concern over the past week. Also: The Reading left-back Ian Harte has called the Republic of Ireland manager, Giovanni Trapattoni, a "clown" after being overlooked for selection.

THE GUARDIAN: Jack Wilshere will make his first start for England in 20 months against the glitz and glamour of Brazil tonight with the captain, Steven Gerrard, claiming his midfield partner has the potential to become ""one of the best in the world" but must now prove his pedigree. Also: Gordon Strachan has vowed to make Scotland equal the prowess of his compatriots in other sports as he prepares for his debut against Estonia.

DAILY EXPRESS: Jack Wilshere makes his first start for England in 18 months tonight against Brazil, the most decorated side in world football, with a ringing endorsement that his own talent is simply "scary". Also: Hungarian club Debrecen have confirmed that their champions League match against Liverpool in 2009 was part of a match-fixing investigation.

DAILY TELEGRAPH: In front of a full house and expectant Wembley this evening, Steven Gerrard and Jack Wilshere will resume a hugely promising central-midfield pairing that has only been going for 13 minutes. Also: Chelsea are considering a fresh move for Borussia Dortmund coach Jurgen Klopp as they continue their search for a new manager.

DAILY MIRROR: Frank Lampard fired England to a famous victory - then claimed Roy Hodgson's side can beat any team in the world. Also: Luis Suarez admits he may quit Liverpool if they fail to qualify for the Champions League this season.

THE SUN: Roy Hodgson hailed his heroes as he became the only England manager to boast a 100 per cent record against Brazil. Also: Yaya Toure last night warned bitter rivals Manchester United: The title race is far from over.

DAILY STAR: England showed off some samba style of their own to score a stunning win at Wembley last night. Also: Roberto Mancini will face a battle with 10 European giants this summer for the signature of Edinson Cavani.

DAILY MAIL: Frank Lampard was the Wembley hero last night as he fired England to a euphoric win over Brazil's superstars. Also: Billy Twelvetrees has kept his place in England's starting XV for Sunday's RBS Six Nations clash with Ireland in Dublin, as Stuart Lancaster has opted to retain the midfield combination which began the game against Scotland.

THE TIMES: Frank Lampard believes that Jack Wilshere's performance in England's impressive 2-1 victory against Brazil at Wembley last night proves that th Arsenal midfielder has the ability to become one of the world's best players. Also: Lance Armstrong's refusal to co-operate with the anti-doping police became frustratingly clear last night as the final hours ticked away and he still had not met the deadline to give evidence to the United States Anti-Doping agency.

THE INDEPENDENT: It is a defining year for the England team, for the remnants of what was the golden generation, for Roy Hodgson and for a Football Association that hopes its 150th anniversary celebrations will not be spoilt by the small matter of failing to qualify for the 2014 World Cup. Beat Brazil at Wembley to kick things off? Not a bad start to 2013. Also: Stuart Pearce has warned England's finest young players that they risk damaging their careers if they think that lying on a beach would be preferable to participating in the European Under-21 Championship this summer.

THE GUARDIAN: Any victory over Brazil has to be cherished and, for England, the good certainly outweighed the bad even if it was a close-run thing during those moments when their shortcomings at the back threatened to undermine all the positive points that accompanied Ashley Cole's 100th cap and the confirmation, if it were actually needed, that Jack Wilshere is made for this level. Also: Billy Davies has rejected the chance to take over at Blackpool, paving the way for the Scot to return to the City Ground for a second spell as Nottingham Forest manager. Davies has emerged as the clear frontrunner for the Forest post, which became vacant when Alex McLeish departed on Tuesday after only 40 days in charge, although it is unclear at this stage whether an agreement will be reached with him before Saturday's Championship game at Bristol City.

DAILY EXPRESS: England kicked off the FA's 150th birthday celebrations in the best style possible - with a historic win against the most famous footballing nation in the world. Also: Stuart Pearce is preparing to go into battle against Arsene Wenger for his Arsenal stars Jack Wilshere and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain.

DAILY TELEGRAPH: Jack Wilshere gave England more hope for the future, more belief that they can live with more technical opponents. Still only 21, Wilshere performed with real authority on his seventh international appearance, taking the game to Brazil with urgency and intelligence, so inspiring England to a first victory in 23 years over such famous opponents. Also: It could all have been so different for Vukasin Poleksic. Six years ago, the Debrecen goalkeeper was given the chance to fulfil his dream of playing in the Premier League by joining Harry Redknapp's Portsmouth, who went on to win the FA Cup that season.

DAILY MIRROR: Jamie Carragher will retire in May, despite a last-minute plea from Liverpool to carry on another year. Also: Rio Ferdinand was last night consigned to England history as Roy Hodgson told the Manchester United man there is no way back.

THE SUN: Frank Lampard has not been approached by Chelsea about a new deal. Also: Roy Hodgson has angrily banned any further debate about a recall for Rio Ferdinand.

DAILY STAR: England hero Frank Lampard is still waiting for a new contract offer from Chelsea. Also: Aston Villa sensation Christian Benteke has piled the pain on boss Paul Lambert after deciding to quit the club at the end of the season.

DAILY EXPRESS: Frank Lampard has not given up hope that Chelsea will perform a U-turn and offer him a new contract before the end of the season. Also: Premier League clubs face a points deduction if they breach new spending regulations as chairmen yesterday moved to prevent another Chelsea or Manchester City from buying overnight success.

DAILY MAIL: Premier League clubs are in danger of losing points if they break new wage restraints voted in yesterday by the narrowest of margins. Also: Chelsea striker Demba Ba returned to training yesterday wearing a face mask to protect the broken nose he suffered against former club Newcastle last weekend.

DAILY TELEGRAPH: Hugh Robertson, the sports minister, has sought an urgent meeting with his political counterpart in Australia following the publication of a report which said there was "widespread" doping in Australian sport. Also: The presence of Vijay Singh in the first round of the AT&T Championship last night ensured that this glorified pro-am would be thrust into the spotlight as the intrigue intensified on a prospective drugs ban for the three-time major champion.

THE INDEPENDENT: Premier League clubs last night narrowly voted to restrict the amount of income from the huge new television deal they can spend on players' wages, with a possible points deduction awaiting any that breach the limit. Also: Roy Hodgson has admitted that Frank Lampard is worried about his England career beyond the summer as Chelsea continue to hold out over the prospect of a new contract for the 34-year-old.

THE GUARDIAN: Andre Villas-Boas has admitted that Tottenham Hotspur must qualify for the Champions League in order to keep Gareth Bale from the clutches of predatory clubs, with Real Madrid preparing an offer for the player in the summer. Also: Premier League clubs will be docked points if they fail to comply with new financial control measures designed to curb rampant wage inflation and stem losses when their new £5.5bn TV deal kicks in next season.

THE TIMES: Premier League clubs face points deductions for breaches of new financial rules that close the door to prospective billionaire owners buying overnight success. Also: Fawaz Al-Hasawi, the Kuwaiti chairman of Nottingham Forest, said last night that his decision to install Billy Davies as the club's fourth manager in seven months proves his reputation as an interfering owner is not justified.

THE TIMES: To win in Dublin tomorrow would rank as England's biggest achievement so far under Stuart Lancaster. Also: Arsene Wenger, the Arsenal manager, has called on FIFA to introduce compulsory blood testing to prevent football falling prey to the kind of institutionalised doping that has plagued cycling in recent years.

DAILY MAIL: Arsene Wenger has demanded football introduces blood testing to ensure drug cheats do not corrupt the game. Also: Peter Odemwingie and West Brom team-mate Steven Reid had a fierce bust-up after the Nigeria forward's aborted move to QPR.

THE SUN:Rafa Benitez faces the axe at Chelsea if he loses at home to lowly Wigan today. Also: Marouane Fellaini has told Chelsea to make a bid for him.

DAILY MIRROR: Sir Alex Ferguson has slammed the Premier League for undermining Manchester United's European bid. Also: Rafa Benitez last night revealed that Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich has kept him in the dark for nearly three weeks.

THE GUARDIAN: Here's a question ahead of another gripping Six Nations weekend: what do English rugby, Manchester United, Nottingham Forest and English basketball have in common? Also: Sir Alex Ferguson believes the demands of live television have made the English domestic fixture list so daunting for teams involved in Europe that their chances of success are being jeopardised.

DAILY TELEGRAPH: Andy Farrell is seen as an FEM: future England manager. His son Owen is a likely FEL: future England legend. Also: Chris Robshaw has thrust himself back into contention for the British and Irish Lions tour of Australia by "reinventing himself", according to head coach Warren Gatland.

DAILY EXPRESS: Sir Alex Ferguson has accused the Premier League of hindering Manchester United's chances of becoming kings of Europe. Also: Peter Odemwingie had a spat with West Brom team-mate Steven Reid just days after he failed to force through a move to QPR.

THE INDEPENDENT: England have spent the best part of 150 years playing rugby against the Celtic nations, so they must realise by now that emotional swirl around these fixtures puts them in a different category to all other games on the Test calendar. Also: Sir Alex Ferguson has declared that he would "love" to boycott a Premier League game in protest at the fixture scheduling he claims is denying his team a chance to prosper in Europe.

DAILY STAR: Arsene Wenger has warned that football could have a major drugs problem. Also: Rafa Benitez admits he is in the dark about his future at Stamford Bridge.

DAILY STAR SUNDAY: Football legend Paul Gascoigne was yesterday in intensive care after being rushed to hospital from the clinic treating him for alcoholism. Also: Sir Alex Ferguson will not step down from the Old Trafford hotseat at the end of the season, says Manchester United legend Sir Bobby Charlton... Furious Manchester City boss Roberto Mancini admitted his multi-millionaire stars have only a "ten per cent" chance of retaining their title after this gaffe-strewn defeat.

THE SUN: Cristiano Ronaldo insists his six years at Manchester United were the best of his life. Also: Arsene Wenger is furious with England boss Roy Hodgson over his treatment of Jack Wilshere... Alex Ferguson has admitted Manchester United cannot afford Cristiano Ronaldo.

SUNDAY MIRROR: Young refs across Europe are being targeted by criminal gangs intent on fixing matches. Also: Manchester City have joined Chelsea in monitoring David Moyes' contract talks with Everton... Newcastle midfielder Yoan Gouffran has survived a broken leg scare.

SUNDAY PEOPLE: David Moyes is a non-runner in the search of Sir Alex Ferguson's successor - because he has no top-level Champions league experience. Also: Stuart Pearce's relationship with England boss Roy Hodgson is described as "strained" after a public outburst from the Under-21 chief this week... Roberto Mancini virtually conceded the Premier League title after a Manchester City horror show at St Mary's.

SUNDAY EXPRESS: David Moyes takes his Everton team to Old Trafford today dismissed by the Manchester United hierarchy as a successor to boss Sir Alex Ferguson. Also: Frank Lampard's goalden week continued with his 198th strike for Chelsea - just four short of Bobby Tambling's all-time club record... Manchester City boss Roberto Mancini appeared to concede the title race last night after seeing his side fall apart against Southampton.

MAIL ON SUNDAY: Sir Alex Ferguson has vowed to avoid getting dragged into mind games by Jose Mourinho ahead of Wednesday's Champions League tie in Madrid. Also: Gareth Barry's horrendous own-goal at Southampton last night has cost Manchester City the title, according to the man who watched the ball roll past him... David Moyes shrugs philosophically when he remembers the time when one of the most enviable jobs in football slipped through his fingers.

SUNDAY TELEGRAPH: Roberto Mancini admitted Manchester City only have "a 10 per cent chance" of retaining their Premier League title after they crashed to a disastrous 3-1 defeat at Southampton last night. Also: Wayne Rooney has hailed Jack Wilshere as the "closest thing" England have had to Paul Gascoigne in terms of his style of play... Jessica Ennis' lifelong coach, Tony Minichiello, has accused the leaders of UK Athletics of a lack of respect and presiding over a "bullying culture" after rejecting their offer of a reduced consultancy package instead of a full-time job.

THE OBSERVER: Tony Minichiello, the coach who guided Jessica Ennis to Olympic gold, has accused British Athletics (BA) chiefs of a "lack of respect" after he was offered a reduced package - on a consultancy basis - to continue working with one of the sport's most successful athletes. Also: Wales, the reigning Six Nations champions, ended their dismal run of eight successive defeats by claiming a first win at the Stade de France since 2005... Manchester City's grip on the Premier League title looks looser than ill-fitting trousers after a slick Southampton side punished a dishevelled display by Roberto Mancini's team.

SUNDAY TIMES: Jose Mourinho has still not decided which club he will manage next season but he is increasingly unlikely to continue at Real Madrid.

INDEPENDENT ON SUNDAY: A furious Roberto Mancini admitted last night that Manchester City's chances of retaining their Premier League title were down to "10 per cent" and that they will disappear altogether if Manchester United win at home to Everton this afternoon to establish a 12 point lead at the top.

DAILY MAIL: England's new-found maturity here yesterday kept Stuart Lancaster's team on the path to a Grand Slam. Also: Ten minutes cannot make a season, but what England achieved in that brief period yesterday went a long way to ending their decade of RBS Six Nations failure in Ireland's capital and igniting their Grand Slam ambitions.

THE TIMES: It was not pretty but it did the job. A fine display of tackling, rigid discipline and the reliable right boot of Owen Farrell helped England to a 12-6 victory over Ireland yesterday. Also: Sir Alex Ferguson admitted Manchester United are in a "fantastic position" to reclaim the Barclays Premier League title but warned his players not to let a "really comfortable lead" slip.

THE SUN: Alex Ferguson changed his team plans at the last minute after he smelled blood in the title race. Also: Real Madrid skipper Sergio Ramos last night fired a warning to Manchester United: Cristiano Ronaldo is coming to get you.

DAILY EXPRESS:

Owen Farrell saluted England's resilience after kicking them to their first Six Nations victory in Dublin for a decade yesterday. Also: A notable, rare and precious win in Ireland was its own justification no matter how far England's rugby regressed from the dominance with which they most recently dispatched New Zealand and Scotland.

DAILY MIRROR: Sir Alex Ferguson admitted going for Manchester City's jugular in the title race as United opened up a 12-point lead. Also: Owen Farrell spoiled Brian O'Driscoll's big day to keep England's Sweet Chariot on track for Six Nations glory.

GUARDIAN: A convincing win away against serious opposition marked another landmark in the fast-tracked development of Stuart Lancaster's England and the head coach and his lieutenant were in no doubt of the scale of their achievement yesterday. Also: Sir Alex Ferguson said he abandoned plans for wholesale changes against Everton once Manchester United were offered a "fantastic position" in the title race by Manchester City's defeat at Southampton.

DAILY STAR: Jose Mourinho insists this week's Champions League showdown between Manchester United and Real Madrid is the game the whole world wants to see. Also: Emmanuel Adebayor is facing a £160,000 fine after Tottenham sent a private jet to bring him back from the African Nations Cup.

DAILY TELEGRAPH: On a grey, sodden Dublin afternoon England showed that there are times when grit is every bit as important as glitz, that fortitude and character can take you to significant places and that a Grand Slam might be your reward. Also: Manchester United moved 12 points clear at the top of the Premier League after Sir Alex Ferguson cited Manchester City's surprise defeat at Southampton as the trigger for his decision to abandon plans to rest players against Everton.

INDEPENDENT: Manchester United yesterday took their biggest lead at the top of the Premier League in 12 years with a 2-0 victory over Everton that takes them 12 points clear of the champions Manchester City with 12 games to play.