Liverpool in cheeky bid for Carlos Tevez & Rafa Benitez lined up to replace Jose Mourinho at Real Madrid

Comment & analysis round-up

Quote of the day: “I thought it was an elbow in the face, a clear elbow but the referee didn’t seem to think it was anything. I thought he hit him. I thought he put an elbow towards his face. He is not a guy to lie down and would get up quickly. Would I like them [The FA] to look at it – if it was an elbow in the face – then yes. It is dangerous and I don’t like to point fingers at players but it has happened to me enough times. I never mentioned it to the referee. I saw it in real time and it looked like a gesture.” – Alex McLeish.

Runner-up: “It was a good test for us to show we have the mental qualities to come back. When you come out of a bad period you can feel sorry for yourselves or show you have the mental qualities to play for this club. I was proud they came out and showed they didn’t want to lie down. I am sad we cannot always keep them [the fans] happy. We need to show the spirit we have showed today. I want to do well for the club that I love.” – Arsene Wenger.

Top 10 articles of the day:

1. Liverpool make cheeky attempt to take Tevez on loan, Alan Nixon, The Daily Mirror. Liverpool join the queue for Tevez who is set to be the major mover (or non mover) in the final 48 hours of the January transfer window.

2. Benitez lined up to replace Mourinho, Pete Jenson, The Independent. Benitez is now reportedly a front runner to replace The Special One, alongside Jogi Low. 

3. Jose needs Fergie’s blessing to get United job as Mourinho nears Real exit, Matt Lawton in The Daily Mail. The main Sunday exclusive is continued today, with the whereabouts of Jose Mourinho next season likely to be a major talking point for many months now.

4. Why not a Wenger ’n Jose swap? Steven Howard in The Sun. The Mourinho articles continue with the Sun columnist arguing for a Real Madrid-Arsenal swap.

5. Terry faces handshake snub from Rio ahead of Stamford Bridge clash, Matt Barlow in The Daily Mail. After Anton Ferdinand and John Terry failed to provide any back page headlines this weekend, all eyes are on Rio and JT ahead of next Sunday’s big Premier League game.

6. It’s a disgrace the FA does not cherish Cup final day, Sam Wallace, The Independent. An excellent piece from Wallace on how the FA Cup has been devalued in recent years.

7. Five things we learned from the FA Cup this weekend, The Guardian. Jermaine Beckford, Mark Halsey and West Brom are among the topics discussed from a busy FA Cup 4th round.

8. Hazard warns Prem League clubs ahead of summer move, The Daily Mirror. The Lille playmaker has been talking about his future and it seems likely he will be in England by next season.

9. Arsene Wenger is ready to make a shock bid for Watford’s Adrian Mariappa, Charlie Wyett in The Sun. Newcastle have made all the running for Mariappa in recent days, seems like an attempt from the Currant Bun to drive up the price of the central defender.

10. Crazy Inter’s unbeaten run ends at lowly Lecce, Paolo Bandini in The Guardian.