All the latest action from the English top-flight, including Manchester United, Arsenal, Liverpool and Chelsea

• Neville struggles on return to first-team
• Chelsea or Liverpool pose biggest European threat

Manchester United’s latest hero is a 17-year-old known as “Kiko”, signed from Lazio’s youth system 18 months ago with barely an inch of column print over here. You want to know some more about the teenager from Rome with the sense of the big occasion? Check out his Facebook page and the photographs of him surrounded by orangey-yellow Paris Hilton wannabes. One imagines that a talented, handsome Italian, with this ability on a football pitch, can expect even more attention from now on.

“In terms of drama, equally so,” said Ferguson, when he was asked to compare it to that famous Steve Bruce header against Sheffield Wednesday in 1993. “You see the fans and those celebrations and ­people love to see that. I just said, ‘Well done.’ It’s important that he keeps his feet on the ground because he’s going to get a lot of publicity now, and he needs to handle that.”

Others would compare it to Cristiano Ronaldo’s debut against Bolton Wanderers in 2003 and, at the final whistle, it scarcely seemed to matter that United had looked so vulnerable in defence. The crowd were on their feet. Gary Neville, embarrassed for large chunks of the afternoon, was pumping his fists. Macheda had run to see his father, Pascuale. High in the stand, the injured Rio Ferdinand had, for want of a better expression, lost the plot. It was bedlam.

What, Ferguson was asked, had his gameplan been in those final moments? “Gamble,” he pronounced firmly. ­”Winning is the name of the game at this club. We play the right way and we deserve the result because we always try to win. Risks are part of football and this club has been that way for a long, long time. I love the thrill of it myself. I love to see that kind of adventure. Yes, we take terrible risks and we don’t defend properly. But there’s always a goal threat from us and the chance to win a match.”

To say United did not defend well was an understatement given the way Neville in particular suffered. “I’m just grateful to this lad,” he later acknowledged, standing next to the young match-winner and accepting the man-of-the-match champagne on his behalf (Macheda is too young to drink alcohol). “I think I paid for not having played for a couple of months. But he’s shown his quality in a finish that was just unbelievable. Obviously we’ve not seen him before today but he’s a great ­finisher. You would want it to fall to him.”

Classic United. “We took a gamble,” Ferguson admitted. “Gary hasn’t played for two months and, at 34, to start him at right-back would have been asking for a miracle. So I thought, ‘Start him at ­centre half, see how he copes.’ But of course you’ve got Carew, 6ft 5 or whatever he is. He’s a massive man and he gave us that problem in the air.”

When the dust settles United will know they certainly cannot afford to defend this badly in their remaining games. But they have Nemanja Vidic to come back from suspension, even if Ferdinand’s groin injury will also keep him out of Tuesday’s Champions League tie against Porto. “Everyone is talking about the challenge coming from Liverpool,” said ­Ferguson. “But we accept that challenge. Funnily enough I think the winner of the Liverpool-Chelsea [Champions League] tie will be our biggest threat. Whoever wins that, it will be a big step forward for them.”

This was a bullish Ferguson, confident that his team had got the 4-1 defeat to ­Liverpool out of their system. “Against Liverpool nothing seemed to go right for us, but I still felt we were the better side. [Liverpool's] goals came from errors, the like of which we have not seen for a long time, and you simply cannot do anything about them in terms of preparation or tactics. If Liverpool had sliced us open with a spell of brilliant, attacking ­football, I would take a different view, but they didn’t outplay us.

“Four long balls down the middle, thanks to our mistakes, led to goals. What is important to me is the way the team played as a unit and in my book we did OK. We had 62% of the possession and the way we were playing when we went in front I don’t think even the staunchest of Liverpool fans could envisage their team coming out on top.”

Old Trafford, Sunday 5 April, 4pm

Shaun O’Donnell, Observer reader

We go into this game on the back of two successive league defeats, which has let the Scousers and the media think they have already won the league, but we won’t lie down and let that happen. Regardless of players coming back from international duties, our lot will be well up for it and out to avenge the previous week’s debacles. Aston Villa look like a team “shot” and the hopes of them reaching the coveted fourth spot looks like fading as a resurgent Arsenal seem to have found a second wind. Coupled with our excellent record against them and the fact that Martin O’Neill has never beaten Manchester United as Aston Villa manager, that is why I expect us to win. We’re minus a few players due to suspensions and injuries but expect to see Giggs, Park and Fletcher start, with Ronaldo partnering Tevez up front. Who would have thought a month ago that we would be going into this must-win game with such nervousness, but we can take comfort from the fact that every time the Scousers had the opportunity of pulling away from the chasing pack when they were leading they bottled it – after all, they are sponsored by Carlsberg. I can see us winning 2-0 with the comfort of knowing we have players rested for Tuesday against Porto.

Due a big game Cristiano Ronaldo – Cometh the hour cometh the man, we need our best player to be firing on all cylinders and not following around the referee moaning.

Jonathan Pritchard, Observer reader Funny how quick the milk turns sour! Sadly our lack of January transfer activity has come home to roost. I agree that signings for signings’ sake do no good but some churning of the bench with loans etc may have helped the fatigue that clearly has afflicted us. Tactically I’m not sure march will be remembered by MON as his finest month but the two weeks off has to be looked upon as a watershed. We have seven winnable games left and sunday is not an impossible mission. Reverting to 451 is a must and if we can get to mid april just 5 or 6 points behind arsenal that the race for fourth isn’t over. Maybe the lack of pressure will help us? Perspective is required,of course, BUT, will history tell us that frugality or inertia cost us?

Due a big game Gabriel Agbonlahor – Come on Gabby, prove the man in the street wrong. A troubled united back four should be unhinged by his pace and he could re-endear himself with everyone with a choke-out showing.

To take part in the Verdict, email fans@observer.co.uk

• Drogba and Bosingwa to miss Newcastle trip
• Fábregas and Walcott back for Arsenal

Arsenal v Manchester City (Saturday, 3pm)

Arsenal welcome back Cesc Fábregas after three months out with medial knee ligament injury, but the Gunners will have to make do without leading scorer Robin van Persie, who injured his groin while playing for Holland against Scotland last Saturday, and Eduardo who suffered a similar problem while playing for Croatia.

Midfielder Abou Diaby (thigh) is out while Samir Nasri (virus) and Carlos Vela, who has had to make a long journey back from Mexico duty, are also doubtful.

However, Theo Walcott and Emmanuel Adebayor return as does Nicklas Bendtner (knee).

Arsenal (from): Almunia, Sagna, Toure, Gallas, Clichy, Walcott, Denilson, Fábregas, Arshavin, Bendtner, Adebayor, Fabianski, Djourou, Gibbs, Vela, Eboue, Silvestre, Song, Nasri.

Manchester City manager Mark Hughes could be without striker Craig Bellamy but expects top-scorer Robinho to be fit for selection against Arsenal.

Bellamy is a major doubt with the knee injury that flared up again on international duty with Wales and forced him to miss his country’s midweek defeat to Germany.

Robinho also limped off during Brazil’s 3-0 win over Peru on Wednesday, but Hughes is hopeful the 24-year-old will be available as City try and claim a first away league win since August.

Wayne Bridge could return from a hamstring strain, while Michael Johnson, Martin Petrov, Daniel Sturridge, Benjani and Didi Hamann are all nearing return from injury.

Manchester City (from): Given, Richards, Onuoha, Dunne, Zabaleta, Wright-Phillips, Elano, De Jong, Kompany, Robinho, Bojinov, Bridge, Garrido, Fernandes, Evans, Etuhu, Berti, Vassell, McGivern, Hart.

Blackburn v Tottenham (Saturday, 12.45pm)

Blackburn striker Roque Santa Cruz is to see a specialist next week if he fails to show signs of a recovery from a knee tendon injury.

The Paraguay international has been out for a month and misses a fifth successive game tomorrow when Tottenham visit Ewood Park for an early afternoon clash in the Premier League.

It is the same situation with midfielder David Dunn, who has been out of action for three weeks with an achilles problem.

Midfielder Vince Grella has returned to training following a groin injury and, although in the squad, tomorrow’s game probably comes too soon for him to figure.

Allardyce’s injury list stretches to four key players, with Brett Emerton and Steven Reid on the long-term casualty list.

Blackburn (from): Robinson, Bunn, Ooijer, Khizanishvili, Nelsen, Samba, Simpson, Warnock, Givet, Olsson, Villanueva, Tugay, Andrews, Diouf, Treacy, Mokoena, McCarthy, Roberts, Pedersen, Grella.

Tottenham club captain Ledley King should be fit for the trip to Ewood Park after resting his suspect knee during the international break.

Alan Hutton returned for Scotland from his foot injury last week but Jermain Defoe is still out, also with a foot complaint, although he is running again.

Spurs boss Harry Redknapp will make late checks on players who have been on international duty such as Wilson Palacios, Luka Modric and Darren Bent – who hobbled out of England training this week.

Tottenham (from): Gomes, Cudicini, Corluka, Hutton, Chimbonda, Bale, Assou-Ekotto, King, Woodgate, Dawson, Modric, Jenas, Zokora, Lennon, Huddlestone, Palacios, O’Hara, Bentley, Pavlyuchenko, Campbell, Keane, Bent.

Everton v Wigan (Sunday, 3pm)

Everton manager David Moyes will make a late decision on the fitness of Tim Cahill for Sunday’s visit of Wigan as the midfielder has not yet returned from international duty.

The Australian has spent the last week in Sydney recovering from a calf injury but did not play any part in the Socceroos’ 2-0 win over Uzbekistan on Wednesday.

Moyes is also waiting for the return of American goalkeeper Tim Howard, the only other player yet to make it back after the internationals.

Right-back Tony Hibbert has resumed training after a thigh problem but may not be ready to play against the Latics.

Everton (from): Howard, Neville, Jagielka, Lescott, Baines, Pienaar, Osman, Cahill, Fellaini, Saha, Jo, Rodwell, Baxter, Nash, Castillo, Jacobsen, Gosling, Wallace, Van der Meyde.

Wigan will be without Amr Zaki after the Egyptian striker again failed to return from international duty on time. It is the fourth time this season Zaki has gone walkabout after an Egypt game and looks set to be heavily fined by Steve Bruce as a result.

Jason Koumas has a hip problem which needs to be assessed, otherwise the Latics squad is at full strength.

Wigan (from): Kirkland, Melchiot, Bramble, Boyce, Figueroa, Watson, Brown, Scharner, Kapo, N’Zogbia, De Ridder, Rodallega, Mido, Kingson, Pollitt, Edman, Cho.

Bolton v Middlesbrough (Saturday, 3pm)

Bolton’s players all returned unscathed from international duty leaving midfielders Mark Davies and Joey O’Brien (both knee) the only absentees. Defender Andy O’Brien could feature after being rested in their last game.

Bolton (from): Jaaskelainen, Steinsson, Cahill, Andy O’Brien, Samuel, Riga, Taylor, McCann, Muamba, Gardner, Kevin Davies, Elmander, Al Habsi, Hunt, Puygrenier, Makukula, Shittu.

Middlesbrough winger Adam Johnson faces a fitness test after picking up two knocks playing for England’s Under-21s. Meanwhile, Chris Riggott returns from injury, midfielder Matthew Bates is back from suspension, but Robert Huth is a doubt with a sore knee.

Middlesbrough (from): Jones, Turnbull, Hoyte, McMahon, Taylor, Grounds, Huth, Pogatetz, Wheater, Riggott, Aliadiere, O’Neil, Johnson, Bates, Walker, Shawky, Downing, Emnes, Alves, Tuncay, King.

Fulham v Liverpool (Saturday, 5.15pm)

Mark Schwarzer and Clint Dempsey will play for Fulham in tomorrow’s clash with Liverpool. Australia goalkeeper Schwarzer and USA winger Dempsey only returned from international duty this morning but have already been involved in training.

Fulham (from): Schwarzer, Pantsil, Stoor, Hughes, Hangeland, Konchesky, Baird, Davies, Etuhu, Dacourt, Murphy, Gera, Dempsey, Johnson, Zamora, Zuberbuhler, Kallio, Nevland, Kamara, Gray, Barnes.

Liverpool are likely to be without defender Sami Hyypia and midfielder Yossi Benayoun for the trip to Fulham.

Hyypia returned from international duty with a knee injury, and manager Rafael Benítez doubts that the centre-back will be fit for the evening kick-off at Craven Cottage. He could be fit for Wednesday’s Champions League clash with Chelsea, however.

Benayoun went on World Cup qualifying duty with Israel already with a hamstring injury and now also has a calf problem.

Liverpool (from): Reina, Arbeloa, Agger, Carragher, Skrtel, Aurelio, Dossena, Babel, Mascherano, Gerrard, Alonso, Lucas, Torres, Kuyt, Ngog, Insua, Cavalieri, Riera.

Hull v Portsmouth (Saturday, 3pm)

Striker Daniel Cousin is Hull’s only doubt for tomorrow’s visit of Portsmouth. Cousin has missed the last two games with a back complaint and, having not reported for international duty with Gabon, must still prove his fitness.

The club’s other injury concerns, Michael Turner (thigh), Kamil Zayatte (knee), Andy Dawson (thigh) and captain Ian Ashbee (hamstring), are all fit.

George Boateng (knee) is set to return to full training next week but Anthony Gardner (back) and Jimmy Bullard (knee) are out for the season.

Hull (from): Duke, Ricketts, Turner, Zayatte, Dawson, Mendy, Ashbee, Marney, Kilbane, Geovanni, Manucho, Garcia, Barmby, Fagan, Halmosi, Folan, Doyle, Hughes, France, Cousin, Myhill.

Peter Crouch, David James and Glen Johnson have all returned unscathed from England duty for Portsmouth’s clash at Hull and Niko Kranjcar has reported no ill-effects after his efforts for Croatia.

On-loan Liverpool winger Jermaine Pennant has recovered from a thigh injury and should return to the attack, enabling Johnson to revert to his more familiar full-back role but Armand Traore’s hopes of a first-team recall have been hit by a damaged ankle playing for France Under-21s.

Reserve goalkeeper Jamie Ashdown is back after three months out with an ankle ligament injury and could return as cover for James on the substitutes’ bench but Jerome Thomas and Marc Wilson picked up further knocks in their midweek comeback attempts for the reserves.

Portsmouth (from): James, Johnson, Campbell, Distin, Hreidarsson, Pennant, Mullins, Davis, Nugent, Kranjcar, Crouch, Kanu, Kaboul, Pamarot, Utaka, Hughes, Belhadj, Basinas, Ashdown, Begovic.

Manchester United v Aston Villa (Sunday, 4pm)

Gary Neville is expected to return for the first time since January as Manchester United look to halt a two-game losing sequence against Aston Villa at Old Trafford.

Neville has been struggling to overcome a groin injury but came through a reserve team outing on Monday without a problem and is set to figure for Sir Alex Ferguson’s side.

Wayne Rooney, Paul Scholes and Nemanja Vidic are all suspended, Dimitar Berbatov (ankle) is out for a fortnight and Anderson is not likely to play after picking up a knee injury on World Cup duty with Brazil.

Manchester United (from): Van der Sar, Foster, Kuszczak, Neville, O’Shea, Ferdinand, Evans, Evra, Fabio, Ronaldo, Nani, Fletcher, Gibson, Possebon, Carrick, Park, Giggs, Tevez, Welbeck.

Gabriel Agbonlahor could be restored to the Aston Villa line-up as they look to end a run of eight games without a win in all competitions against Manchester United.

Agbonlahor was left out of the starting XI for the 5-0 mauling by Liverpool at Anfield before the international break with John Carew and Emile Heskey preferred in attack. But Heskey is ruled out with a hamstring injury he suffered after scoring the opening goal in England’s 4-0 win over Slovakia at Wembley last weekend.

O’Neill has to decide whether left-back Wilfred Bouma is ready to play any part after eight months out with a dislocated ankle. He came through a third reserve game in mid-week with no ill effects.

Aston Villa (from): Friedel, Guzan, Reo-Coker, L. Young, Knight, Cuellar, Davies, Shorey, Bouma, Milner, Gardner, Petrov, Barry, Sidwell, Salifou, A. Young, Agbonlahor, Carew, Delfouneso, Heskey.

Newcastle v Chelsea (Saturday, 3pm)

Newcastle manager Alan Shearer hopes to have three key players available for his first game in charge against Chelsea tomorrow.

Steven Taylor (ankle) and Sebastien Bassong (groin) are improving and have not yet been ruled out, while Damien Duff (hamstring) was expected to train today. Danny Guthrie is back in contention after an eight-match lay-off with a torn hamstring and strikers Andy Carroll (ankle) and Xisco (fractured toe) have returned to training.

But Shola Ameobi is out with an ankle problem and Joey Barton (fractured metatarsal), Mark Viduka and Ignacio Gonzalez (both achilles) remain on the sidelines.

Newcastle (from): Kirkland, Melchiot, Bramble, Boyce, Figueroa, Watson, Brown, Scharner, Kapo, N’Zogbia, De Ridder, Rodallega, Mido, Kingson, Pollitt, Edman, Cho.: Harper, Forster, Krul, S Taylor, Beye, Bassong, Coloccini, Enrique, Edgar, Cacapa, Butt, Duff, R Taylor, Gutierrez, Nolan, Guthrie, Lovenkrands, Geremi, Smith, Martins, Owen, Carroll, Xisco.

Chelsea are without striker Didier Drogba and right-back Jose Bosingwa for the trip to Newcastle. Drogba jarred his ankle in a training ground accident while Bosingwa returned from international duty with Portugal suffering from a hamstring strain.

Chelsea are boosted by the return of fit-again Nicolas Anelka. The France international has shaken off his toe problem to be included in the squad.

Chelsea (from): Cech, Hilario, Taylor, Belletti, Alex, Ivanovic, Terry, Mancienne, A Cole, Lampard, Ballack, Deco, Obi, Kalou, Essien, Malouda, Di Santo, Anelka, Quaresma, Stoch.

West Brom v Stoke (Saturday, 3pm)

West Brom defender Abdoulaye Meite returns to the squad for tomorrow’s clash against Stoke.

Meite has recovered from a hamstring problem and illness, although he may have to be content with a place on the bench as manager Tony Mowbray is set to continue with Jonas Olsson and Shelton Martis at the centre of defence. Albion have only conceded one goal in the two games they have played together.

Mowbray looks set to retain the side that started West Brom’s last match – the 1-1 draw against Bolton.

West Brom (from): Carson, Kiely, Zuiverloon, Hoefkens, Olsson, Martis, Donk, Pele, Meite, Robinson, Cech, Koren, Teixeira, Do-Heon, Valero, Brunt, Simpson, Fortune, Bednar, Moore, Menseguez.

Stoke manager Tony Pulis will assess the fitness of his international quartet ahead of tomorrow’s visit to West Brom.

Republic of Ireland duo Glenn Whelan and Stephen Kelly, Senegal star Abdoulaye Faye and Denmark goalkeeper Thomas Sorensen were all due to return to training this morning.

Kelly is likely to be on standby for full-back Andy Wilkinson (back), while Pulis has jet-lag fears over Faye who played in a friendly fixture in Iran.

Amdy Faye will be recalled in central midfield if Salif Diao (groin) fails a fitness test, but striker Mamady Sidibe will play no further part this season after a damaged cruciate ligament was confirmed.

Stoke (from): Sorensen, Wilkinson, Shawcross, Abdoulaye Faye, Higginbotham, Lawrence, Diao, Whelan, Delap, Beattie, Fuller, Simonsen, Etherington, Amdy Faye, Camara, Sonko, Cresswell, Cort, Pugh, Tonge, Griffin, Olofinjana.

West Ham v Sunderland (Saturday, 3pm)

West Ham striker Carlton Cole has a groin injury and may be out for the rest of the season. Scott Parker is carrying a groin problem but may still play, while Radoslav Kovac (thigh) has also picked up a knock.

Central defenders Matthew Upson and James Collins are both fit for selection after missing the last two matches, Savio Nsereko has recovered from a minor knee injury, but Valon Behrami, Jack Collison (both knee) and Danny Gabbidon (back/stomach) are out.

West Ham (from): Green, Neill, Tomkins, Spector, Ilunga, Noble, Parker, Kovac, Boa Morte, López, Tristán, Payne, Di Michele, Dyer, Lastuvka, Sears, N’Gala, Stanislas, Upson, Collins, Savio.

Kieran Richardson returns from suspension for Sunderland’s game against West Ham. But George McCartney is a doubt after sustaining a calf injury in Northern Ireland’s win over Slovenia on Wednesday and Calum Davenport is ineligible because he is on loan from the Hammers.

Ricky Sbragia will give late fitness checks to Kenwyne Jones and Carlos Edwards, who did not get back from international duty in the USA until Friday.

Craig Gordon is pushing for a return after playing for Scotland in midweek and Nyron Nosworthy returns to the squad after coming through a reserve game on Thursday.

Sunderland (from): Fulop, Gordon, Bardsley, Ferdinand, Ben-Haim, Collins, Nosworthy, McCartney, McShane, Edwards, Malbranque, Whitehead, Leadbitter, Richardson, Reid, Murphy, Jones, Healy, Cisse.

• Left-back could be named in team to face Manchester United
• Gabriel Agbonlahor may replace injured Emile Heskey

Wilfred Bouma could return for Aston Villa after an eight-month absence in Sunday’s Premier League match at Old Trafford. The Dutch international came through a third reserve team run-out against Tottenham on Monday night after dislocating his ankle against Odense in an Intertoto Cup tie in late July.

Before the international break, Aston Villa manager Martin O’Neill had suggested Bouma “might need another game or two” before he could be considered for a first-team call-up and the left-back has now played two full games for the reserves in the past week. Bouma’s availability would enable O’Neill to bring some balance to his back four who suffered in the 5-0 defeat at Liverpool in their last game.

Right-back Luke Young has switched positions in an attempt to fill the gap left by Bouma, as Nicky Shorey appears to have fallen out of favour at Villa, despite being signed just last summer. That has left the team exposed at right-back and makeshift defender Nigel Reo-Coker’s limitations have frequently been exposed. The patched-up defence, who have also missed the influence of injured skipper and central defender Martin Laursen, have conceded 18 goals during an eight-game run in all competitions without a victory.

O’Neill looks certain to be without striker Emile Heskey at Old Trafford after his withdrawal from the England squad to face the Ukraine tomorrow night with a hamstring injury. Gabriel Agbonlahor could earn a recall to partner John Carew after being left out of the starting team that faced Liverpool, providing he recovers from an injury that prompted his withdrawal from the England under-21 squad. Agbonlahor has scored only once for Villa since mid-December and came in for abuse from fans during the last home game with Tottenham.

• Midfielder not surprised by lack of team-mates in England squad
• Barry hopes Peter Crouch can deputise for Emile Heskey

Gareth Barry believes Aston Villa are poorly represented in the latest England squad because of the alarming slump in the club’s form. Fabio Capello named up to six Villa players in his plans earlier in the campaign with Barry, Emile Heskey, Gabriel Agbonlahor, Ashley Young, Luke Young and Curtis Davies included at various times.

But only Barry and Heskey were included for Saturday’s friendly with Slovakia and tomorrow’s World Cup qualifier with Ukraine, and the latter has been forced to withdraw with a hamstring injury.

“A few weeks back, when Aston Villa were flying and on a great run, we had six players in the England squad. Now we have just two,” said Barry. “It’s tough but not really [a surprise] when you see the form we’ve been in.

“We’ve only picked up one or two points from the last 15 and now have two players in the squad so I am probably not surprised.”

However, Barry is convinced the effect that his club manager Martin O’Neill has had on his game is the reason he has started England’s past nine internationals.

“My game has improved so much since Martin O’Neill came in. He was the one who initially switched me into central midfield and that coincided with my international call-up,” said Barry. “I owe a lot to Martin O’Neill. He has given me confidence at club level and improved me as a player as well.”

Peter Crouch is likely to recover from a slight injury in time for tomorrow’s clash and Barry is confident his ex-Villa team-mate can effectively replace Heskey, who is likely to miss Villa’s game with Manchester United on Sunday after scoring against Slovakia during England’s 4-0 win.

“There aren’t too many about who can play that role as Emile does. He’s been a big part of teams wherever he’s been and players like playing with them,” said Barry. “In terms of that, he is unique and can play a big part for your team. He can do a great job. But Peter can fill that role just as well. In terms of replacing Emile on Wednesday, Peter is up to doing that job to a high standard as well.

“It was great for Emile to get a goal but it is disappointing for Villa as well as England that he got injured. I think we will miss him at Villa for at least one game and, at this stage of the season, they are all vital.”

• ‘It won’t be away form that decides things,’ says manager
• Villa hoping to improve on their five home victories

After a damaging run in which his Aston Villa side have failed to win at home since January, the manager Martin O’Neill has admitted his team need to improve their home form dramatically if they are to secure a Champions League berth.

Their performances at Villa Park, in which they have won only five out of 15 games, is in sharp contrast to their away record of 10 wins in the same number of matches.

Though the club’s next game is away at at Old Trafford in nine days time, O’Neill insisted: “We need to start winning some home games. It won’t be the away form that decides things.

“A couple of weeks ago I said I didn’t think winning at home was as big a problem. We should have beaten Wigan and Stoke at Villa Park, that would have been an extra four points, another two wins, and you would then think, ‘What are we talking about?’

“If the home form had been anything like the away form, we would be in a great position. It isn’t. The irony is that the players still like playing at Villa Park.

“Of course, as a game goes on at home, you start to chase a game you shouldn’t be chasing, the crowd get a bit restless, then that might be a different issue,” he added.

Today’s tell-all is wondering whether its ears are too big or Apple’s headphones too small?

If it’s a four-star review of The Damned United you’re after, then you’ve come to the wrong place (that’s four stars out of five, by the way, not four out of 28, which would suggest it’s a bit of a turkey). But if it’s five-star speculation about Liverpool being the white-hot favourites to emerge from Valencia’s summer fire-sale with the scrawl of £20m-rated Spain midfielder David Silva on a lucrative contract, then this “undemanding but richly enjoyable, expertly constructed and effortlessly written” (Peter Bradshaw, The Guardian) rumour is for you.

Movie buffs may mistake Sergio Floccari for the actor who played the role of Man Hailing Taxi in Italian director Antonello Grimaldi’s little-known Golden Bear-nominated feature, Caos Calmo, but he’s actually an Atalanta striker whose 12 goals in 27 appearances for the Serie A side have got Gianfranco Zola’s antennae twitching at West Ham. The Irons will face stiff competition from Juventus, Roma, Villarreal, Wolfsburg and Zenit St Petersburg, although reported interest from Newcastle is likely to wane once they’re relegated and decide to make do with Mark Viduka instead.

In a Tarantino-esque plot development that would sound a lot less sinister if it came from anyone other than a middle-aged Italian businessman in a well-tailored suit, Genoa president Enrico Preziosi has told Tottenham to forget about signing Argentina striker Diego Milito … or else. “The figure of £10m that they are offering is ridiculous,” declared Preziosi, opening a cut-throat razor and gently caressing the blade with his thumb. “For that I would just give them his ear.” Unlike the Rumour Mill, Diego Milito will be hoping ‘Arry doesn’t call his president’s bluff.

Like a Best Actress Oscar-winner blubbering on stage at the Kodak Theatre, Standard Liege midfielder Steven Defour has been making a spectacle of himself by blowing smoke up Martin O’Neill’s nether regions. “Villa are an amazing club,” he gushed with all the accuracy of a man who hasn’t been following the Premier League results for several weeks. “But Liege must decide whether they are good enough.”

Gather.

Barcelona directors have got out of their folding canvas chairs, taken up their megaphones and shouted “action!” for the opening scene of Let’s Get Thierry Henry To Stay At Camp Nou For Another Three Years. Meanwhile back in England and screwball comedy producers Manchester City are hoping to wrap their latest comedy excursion Let’s Show Knack-Prone Zimbabwean Striker Benjani The Door Before He Gets Injured Again.

Find out how Harry Redknapp’s inspired substitution saved Tottenham, and what went wrong for Newcastle against Arsenal

How much has the longbow changed your life, really? What about Muzak, or the particle accelerator? If anything one might contend that aspartame has had a negative impact on how good things taste. And yet all of the above feature on Encyclopaedia Brittanica’s definitive Great Inventions list, whereas our brilliant interactive chalkboards do not.

Then again, who has time for updating lists when there are tactical observations to be made? We had well over 100 reader entries again this week, and it’s been a tricky old process selecting the top three below. First place wins a signed Premier League shirt, as usual, while the runners up are left to dwell on what might have been.

3) Wrongfooted on the left

Manchester City might have beaten Sunderland at the weekend, but that didn’t stop tldorc from finding fault in their performance. With Wayne Bridge ruled out by a hamstring injury, right-footed Pablo Zabaleta had to be drafted in at left-back. “Zabaleta is a very good player, but he clearly doesn’t have a left foot,” says tldorc, noting that although the Argentinian made more successful passes than Bridge had in the previous week’s win over Aston Villa, he also made no successful crosses from the left.

“Wrong-footed full-backs can be just as solid defensively,” says Opta’s Duncan Alexander. “But you often lose attacking impact, as illustrated perfectly in this chalkboard.”

2) Shackling the Young one

Managers rarely make first-half substitutions unless forced to by injury, but mswa’s chalkboard proves that Tottenham’s Harry Redknapp was right to replace Didier Zokora with Vedran Corluka after little more than half an hour against Aston Villa. With Zokora tracking him, Young made almost constant incursions down the left. After Corluka was brought on, he made just one, unsuccessful, cross in 55 minutes.

“A game may officially be 90 minutes long, but really it is just a collection of short battles,” says Alexander. “Ashley Young terrorised Didier Zokora for 35 minutes but one substitution later and his threat was largely nullified”

1) It’s a game of two 12-minute spells

Arrianos wanted to know what went wrong for Newcastle during the 12 minutes in which they scored once but conceded three times at St James’ Park. Pretty much everything, it turns out. Struggling to win possession off an Arsenal side who were growing in confidence, Newcastle’s players seemed to go out of their way to give the ball back whenever they did get hold of it.

“Another Chalkboard wisely looking at sections of the game rather than a whole match,” says Alexander. “Repeated spells of play like this from Newcastle could end up with the club relegated from the Premier League.”

• England Under-21 midfielder set to reach 42 caps
• He aims to force his way back into the senior squad

James Milner is happy to turn his attentions to international duty this week after a horrendous run of results for Aston Villa culminated with the 5-0 drubbing by Liverpool last Sunday. The midfielder is likely to add to his record number of Under-21 caps against Norway and France having dropped back down to the under-age squad after being called up by Fabio Capello for the senior friendly with Spain last month.

Milner was philosophical about Villa’s third consecutive league defeat – their fifth in six games – saying how Martin O’Neill’s team respond to their recent slump in form is the important thing. “To lose a game like that is very disappointing but that’s what football is all about, you have your ups and downs and it is as much about how you deal with the downs as anything,” the 23-year-old said. “You’ve got to recover from those games and bounce back and show character and get on with it.”

His Aston Villa team-mate, Gabriel Agbonlahor, has had to pull out of today’s friendly in Norway through injury – along with the Manchester City defender Micah Richards – but Milner is looking forward to earning his 41st and 42nd Under-21 caps before returning to club duty rejuvenated.

“We’ve got two important international games this week and then we’re back into it again, so we’ll just take it a game at a time. I’m with the Under-21s at the moment so I’m going to concentrate on these two games and then go back to my club and start again, if you like. It’s how you learn from these games and take it into the next.”

Milner has not played for Stuart Pearce’s team since the October European qualifying play-off victory over Wales but is guaranteed to feature at the finals in Sweden in June. Despite curtailing his summer break Milner is relishing the prospect and does not think fatigue will be an issue, thanks to O’Neill’s understanding regime at Villa Park. “Rest is a massive thing as well, I’m very lucky to be playing at a club where the manager is very aware of that – he’s going to give you the time off and the rest you need also.”

If the right-sided midfielder was crestfallen having been dropped from Capello’s squad after one outing as an unused substitute in Seville he was disguising it well with a desire for European success: “Of course you want to be in the senior squad, that’s the natural progression, but these two games for the under-21s are massively important before a big tournament, everyone involved in this squad wants to go there and win it.”