Carlos Tevez has been gagged by Manchester City to prevent him sparking another explosive war of words with Manchester United.
City want to avoid a repeat of Tevez's bitter slagging match with Gary Neville, which boiled over when the sides last met in the Carling Cup semis in January.
Tevez branded the United skipper a "boot licker" and a "moron", prompting the FA to warn both clubs to be on their best behaviour before the second leg.
City were concerned the outspoken Tevez might launch another attack on United before Saturday's showdown at Eastlands given that the Argentine hitman feels he was badly treated at Old Trafford.
All interview requests with Tevez have been refused and the club have even asked his publicity-hungry representative, Kia Joorabchian, to go along with the gagging order.
The FA are understood to be pleased by City's attempt to dampen passions ahead of what could be the most incendiary derby in years
Man City plot swoop for Benfica ace
Big spending Manchester City have put Benfica striker Oscar Cardozo on their summer hit-list.
City are eyeing up targets ahead of a close season spree as they look to strengthen their squad at Eastlands.
Scouts have been checking on Paraguayan Cardozo, 26, who caught the eye in Benfica's Europa League clash with Liverpool.
City have given Cardozo favourable reports but may end up aiming much higher if they finish in the Champions League.
They will then have the money and football to attract even bigger names than Cardozo.
TRANSFER BOLLOX
Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson will try to persuade Old Trafford chiefs to allow him to splash out £60m this summer to sign striker Karim Benzema and winger David Silva from Real Madrid and Valencia respectively. The Sun
Chelsea are also planning a raid on Valencia, with £50m-rated forward David Villa the target. caughtoffside.com
However, both Manchester United are Chelsea are set to fail in their attempts to sign Ajax's Uruguayan striker Luis Suarez, who wants to remain with the Dutch side. imscouting.com
Manchester United could also miss out on Schalke goalkeeper Manuel Neuer, who is also wanted by Bayern Munich. imscouting.com
Liverpool are ready to make a renewed effort to snap up promising Dutch winger Eljero Elia for £9m this summer.caughtoffside.com
Arsenal defender Bacary Sagna's agent Christophe Mongal claims he has held informal talks with Inter Milan over a possible move to Serie A for the Frenchman. Footylatest.com
Cardozo could replace fellow Paraguayan striker Roque Santa Cruz at Eastlands, with Tottenham considering a move for the out-of-favour 28-year-old. caughtoffside.com
Everton will try to sign Inter Milan's former Portsmouth midfielder Sulley Muntari this summer. caughtoffside.com
OTHER BOLLOX
The Football Association is considering spending £90,000 to relay the Wembley pitch for the 11th time in three years in time for the FA Cup final on 15 May and England's friendly match against Mexico just over a week later.
Full story: Daily Mail
Quél supríse ... Manchester United striker Wayne Rooney's ankle injury will be reassessed on Tuesday to determine his chances of playing in Saturday's derby game at Manchester City. Rio Ferdinand is also a doubt for the match at Eastlands after suffering a groin injury in the 0-0 draw at Blackburn on Sunday. Daily Mail
Manchester United are ready to sell striker Dimitar Berbatov at the end of the season. The Bulgarian has struggled to make an impact since his £30.75m switch from Spurs in September 2008 and it appears as though manager Sir Alex Ferguson has lost faith in him. The Sun
Hull fear winger Stephen Hunt may not play again this season and have sent the Irishman for an exploratory operation to get to the bottom of the foot problem that has kept him sidelined since February. The Sun
Liverpool striker Fernando Torres could miss out on a return to his old club Atletico Madrid in the Europa League semi-final on 22 April after being booked in for further treatment on his knee injury with a specialist in Barcelona. Daily Mail
Victory in next month's FA Cup final against Chelsea would net Portsmouth about £3.2m, the club's administrator Andrew Andronikou estimates. Daily Mail
Tottenham's hopes of an Aaron Lennon comeback in Wednesday's north London derby have been dashed. The England winger trained last week but was forced to undergo another scan on the groin problem that has kept him out since December, ruling him out of the game against Arsenal. Daily Mail
However, injury-prone centre-back Ledley King is confident he has shaken off the thigh problem that has kept him out since February and may start for Spurs. The Guardian
Celtic's majority shareholder Dermot Desmond has told interim manager Neil Lennon he still has a chance of being awarded the job on a permanent basis, despite Saturday's embarrassing Scottish Cup semi-final defeat by minnows Ross County.
Full story: Daily Mail
Birmingham boss Alex McLeish has insisted that the club are not "oppressive" when it comes to contract negotiations but they refuse to be held to ransom by players. The club are undertaking talks with a number of players over improved terms following what has been a successful first season back in the Premier League for the club. Daily Mirror
Bolton manager Owen Coyle thinks 18-year-old midfielder Jack Wilshere, who is on loan at the Reebok from Arsenal, should be selected by England boss Fabio Capello for the World Cup this summer. Daily Mirror
Leeds are a reported takeover target for Australian billionaire Frank Lowy, who is chairman of the sport's governing body in the country, Football Federation Australia. Daily Mirror
Brazilian legend Pele, often considered the best player in football history, has offered a retort to those hailing Barcelona forward Lionel Messi as the greatest star to have played the game. The three-time World Cup winner says people should only start drawing comparisons when Messi has equalled his goal tally of over 1,000 career goals. The Argentine took his senior career tally to 133 goals, which includes 42 this season for club and country, with a goal against Real Madrid on Saturday.
Daily Mail
FINAL BOLLOX
Mark Lawrenson: Manchester City finishing four means top players could leave Liverpool
THE BIGGEST problem for Liverpool now is that Manchester City are looking very good to finish fourth in the Premier League.
The Eastlands side managed to buy the best set of players last summer they could, without the lure of Champions League football, so just imagine who they will sign at the end of the season with that added incentive.
With the strong possibility City will make it into Europe’s premier club competition, the landscape of the transfer market completely changes.
Even if Liverpool find the £80m Rafael Benitez claims they need to strengthen the squad, who are they going to be able to attract?
The club would once more have to sell the club on its history and supporters; as great as they are the draw of Champions League football and bigger wages will win out in the end.
Manchester City look like a team progressing whilst Liverpool look like they are stagnating.
Not finishing in the top four this season will provide one or two players with a get-out strategy as well.
Fernando Torres certainly understands the tradition of the club but mainly it was the belief he would be playing in the Champions League and winning major honours which brought him to the club.
Not only does it give Fernando an excuse, but also Steven Gerrard.
Of course I am not saying the captain is set to leave Anfield but if he decided playing Champions League football was a must, and Liverpool could not offer him that, then you could not blame him for looking for the exit.
Nobody could accuse him of being a turncoat after what he has given to the club over the last 10 years; he could have gone to Chelsea but stayed.
Being able to boast the two clubs you represented in your career were Liverpool and say, Real Madrid, does not look too shabby on the CV does it?
All this of course stems from what happened on Sunday at Anfield; after the display against Benfica, it was really a dismal performance against Fulham.
Without Fernando Torres Liverpool were unable to break Roy Hodgson’s men down; the only positive aspect to come from the game is that it may now have taken the pressure off the manager and players.
If Torres is to be missing in anymore games between now and the end of the season then I would go much more attacking, especially in the league.
If I were Rafael then I would be saying ‘Let’s have a real go, we’ve got nothing to lose’.
It now doesn’t really matter if Liverpool finish sixth or seventh because they are out of the Champions League.
