TITLE RACE HOTS UP

It has been a weekend full of more twists and turns in the race for the Premier League trophy, with Manchester United now in pole position.

It looked like United were going to slip up at bottom club Derby until Cristiano Ronaldo struck a vital winner from a Wayne Rooney cross just 15 minutes from time.

Instead it was Arsenal who continued to stutter in their league campaign, needing a late goal from Emmanuel Eboue to draw 1-1 at home to Middlesbrough after their former striker Jeremie Aliadiere had opened the scoring.

And Chelsea now look back in the title race as they secured a 1-0 win over strugglers Sunderland thanks to a John Terry header to sit just three points behind the Gunners.

In the race for fourth advantage is with the red side of Merseyside after Liverpool came from behing to beat Reading on Saturday, as Neighbours Everton slumped to a 1-0 defeat at Fulham on Sunday.

The top four face each other next Sunday when Chelsea host Arsenal and Liverpool make the trip to Old Trafford. The title race is perfectly poised with United and Arsenal both on 67 points and Chelsea just three points behind.

The results next week could give the clearest indication yet as to were the title will be heading in May.

SHOULD CAPELLO CALL UP BECKHAM?

David Beckham was watched by Fabio Capello's assistant coach playing for LA Galaxy, as he aims to win his 100th international cap.

The former England captain played the full 90 minutes of a goalless friendly against FC Dallas in front of Franco Baldini.

The ex-Manchester United and Real Madrid star is hoping to complete his century of appearances for England against France on the 26th March.

And Capello has hinted that Beckham will be included if he can prove his form and fitness.

But is calling up a 'semi-retired' 32-year old really of any benefit to England in the long run?

England have a whole host of young right-sided midfielders to choose from, including David Bentley, Shaun Wright-Phillips and Aaron Lennon.

And Capello's job is to build a side for the 2010 World Cup in South Africa - when Beckham will be 35.

Add to that the toll of continuing to play in Major League Soccer, a league probably at the level of League One in England, and you have to conclude that Beckham has no chance of playing in South Africa if England qualify.

The golden generation that was supposed to lead us to World Cup glory in 2006 has failed - the sooner we move start building up the next generation the better.

FIFA REJECT 39 GAME PLAN

There will not be 39 games in a Premier League season after FIFA's executive committee unanimously opposed plans to host an extra round of games all around the world.

The Premier League had unveiled the plans back in February, to widespread derision from the footballing community.

But now Sepp Blatter has confirmed that FIFA will not support the idea, which aimed to take competitive Premier League games to five different cities worldwide by 2011.

The FA have already rejected the proposal, chairman Lord Triesman suggesting the plan was "unsustainable".

FA Cup: The Year of the Underdog

The magic of the FA Cup is alive and well after an extraordinary weekend left only one top flight team in the last four for the first time in 100 years.

Portsmouth upset the odds by beating Manchester United 1-0 with a Sully Muntari penalty, and Barnsley, following on from their Anfield win in the last round, defeated holders Chelsea.

Cardiff's comfortable 2-0 win over Middlesborough left Pompey as the only Premier League side still in the Cup, while West Brom thrashed Bristol Rovers to join them in the last four.

Man United and Chelsea both fielded strong sides and will be desperately dissappointed to miss out on the end of season trip to Wembley.

But few can deny that is refreshing to see the final stages competed amongst clubs outside the 'Big Four'.

Portsmouth are now odds-on favourites to lift the trophy but in this year of the underdog, anything really good happen.

The magic of the FA Cup is well and truly back.