Liverpool are exploring the possibilities of reviving a deal for Fernando Morientes, Real Madrid’s unsettled Spanish striker. Rafael Benitez had wanted to bring the Spanish international striker to Anfield as part of the £8-million deal that saw Michael Owen move to the Bernabeu, but instead got the now-injured Antonio Nunez.

Gabriel Heinze, Manchester United’s costly yet elusive off-season signing, is running the serious risk of causing irreparable damage to his relationship with Sir Alex Ferguson after the latest breakdown in contact between the Argentinian international and his increasingly irritated manager.

Ashley Cole, in his most vulnerable moments, used to wonder how he could play with such freedom for Arsenal, then feel as if he had pulled on a straitjacket every time he wore an England shirt. He would return from international matches wondering where his confidence had gone and whether he would ever be able to put it right.

David James has had plenty of opportunities to show how vastly improved he is since his butterfinger days at Liverpool. The argument, however, about whether England are in safe hands is probably best left undecided until after the team’s last match in Portugal.

Perhaps the greatest compliment that can be paid to Shaun Wright-Phillips is that he is no longer known as “Ian Wright’s son”. Manchester City’s wing once dropped the “Wright” from his double-barrelled surname, but his first England cap should prove to him he has finally succeeded in making a name for himself.

Manchester United must hope Old Trafford is still capable of afflicting Porto with stagefright. Sir Alex Ferguson’s team did not suffer irreparable damage on Wednesday but, after another flawed performance and the 11th red card of Roy Keane’s career, they will need an exhilarating display to reclaim the European Cup.

Sir Alex Ferguson will soon find himself facing the ordeal of a second legal dispute with John Magnier and JP McManus when Manchester United’s rebel shareholders inform the club they are investigating a possible claim of defamation. Lawyers of Magnier and McManus are demanding tapes and transcripts of Ferguson’s media interviews.

They are a club that have built their success on a twin policy of winning on the field while conquering the corporate world. But this week Manchester United, the world’s most financially successful club, could be plunged into one of the biggest crises in their history.

Rio Ferdinand will almost certainly miss out on Euro 2004, and possibly much more, because of the missed drug test which has turned his life upside down. Although the Football Association has opted against charging him with wilfully evading UK Sport’s drugtesters, it still has the power to ban him for two years.