Chelsea’s FA Cup celebrations get violent

CHELSEA players avoided a bloodbath by minutes when they celebrated booking their place in the FA Cup Final. Stars including Frank Lampard, 30, John Terry, 28, and Joe Cole, 27, left a West End club just moments before a gruesome fight broke out.

One woman was left covered in blood after being hit on the head with a wine bottle. The Blues heroes had been celebrating their 2-1 win over London rivals Arsenal at the trendy Movida nightclub.

Goalscorer Didier Drogba, 31, mid-fielder Michael Essien, 26, and striker Salomon Kalou, 23, joined the English players as they partied until just after 4am.

One witness told the Daily Star last night: “Just after 4am, when the club closes, the players came out and went off in cars.

Alex Ferguson showed arrogance and contempt for the FA Cup

Some men, through their deeds, are untouchable in the press. Winston Churchill achieved it after the Second World War. Bill Clinton seemed to don a Teflon skin in his near impeachment of the 1990s.

And now, it seems, Alex Ferguson has joined this elite group.

It is still early days following the Manchester United elimination from the FA Cup, but articles criticising the pugnacious Scot are few and far between. However, his conduct in the week preceding the match, and his example set during it, surely has to come under scrutiny.

Two weeks ago, Ferguson questioned Rafa Benitez's logic in bringing up Manchester United in a prematch meeting with the press before the European tie with Chelsea. He commented, "He's got a European tie (against Chelsea) and he's talking about Alex Ferguson. Fantastic! I didn't know I was that important!"

He is quick to offer opinion on the actions of others, but it seems he is not so keen on taking his own advice.

Not a week later, he returned the favour by criticising Benitez ahead of Man Utd's cup semi-final against Everton. Fergie refuted a comment made by Benitez two years ago that the Toffees weren't a big club, then called the Reds boss "beyond the pale" in his somewhat ambiguous hand gestures during Liverpool's 4-0 drubbing of Blackburn. An impressive tirade from the master of mind games and a lofty position to take, having alleged that the Liverpool gaffer is arrogant and, to quote the Scot, a man that showed contempt to a fellow manager.

Step forward to Sunday's semi-final in the FA Cup.

A competition steeped in history, but struggling to maintain its former glory. Played at the home of football, Wembley Stadium. Travelled to by thousands of Manchester United fans, each paying in the region of £100 for tickets and travel, before taking into account match day costs at the ground. Playing against a team that Ferguson himself argued was a big club.

Yet, his team selection showed the same arrogance and dismissiveness he accused his bitter rival of during the week. By only selecting two members of the first team, Ferguson showed a complete and utter lack of respect not only to Everton Football Club, but to the FA Cup, the world's oldest footballing competition and a symbol of our nation's game.

Not only that, but it was a slap in the face to his own supporters who had paid a significant sum and travelled many miles to see their best side fight for a place in the showpiece final of English football. What they got was an insipid performance from a youth team that barely warranted the 0-0 scoreline and defamed the occasion.

We all know the arguments that he has to rest players for other competitions. This, however, is not a game that one should rest players for. A semi-final in the Champions League wouldn't and won't get the same treatment, of that you can be sure.

This is not the first time he has tarnished the name of this great competition, either, having famously withdrawn Man Utd from the 1999-2000 cup to play in the World Club Championship, a move that attracted criticism at the time but has since faded into history.

Cup Classics: Liverpool v Everton

The two sides meet at Anfield on Sunday, 25 January

Merseyside rivals Liverpool and Everton are on a collision course in the fourth round of the FA Cup.

The Reds and the Toffees have a long history of serving up classic Cup encounters.

1906 semi-final: Everton 2-0 Liverpool

The sides have met in the semi-finals on four occasions over the years with Everton winning only this one, the first, as 50,000 Blues and Reds descended on Villa Park. Liverpool dominated early on but the Toffees took charge after the break and won with goals from the superbly named Walter Abbott and Harold Hardman. Everton went on to beat Newcastle United in the final with Liverpool enjoying the consolation of winning their second championship.

1977 semi-final: Everton 2-2 Liverpool, Everton 0-3 Liverpool (replay)

Liverpool were on their way to league and European Cup glory when they also claimed a place in the FA Cup final with victory at the second attempt over the Toffees at Maine Road. Everton were still fuming about a Bryan Hamilton goal that was disallowed late in the first game when the Reds rubbed their noses in it with goals from Jimmy Case, Ray Kennedy and Phil Neal.

1986 final: Everton 1-3 Liverpool

The first of two all-Merseyside final meetings in the space of four seasons. The sides were vying for supremacy in the league but the Blues missed out and had the chance for revenge at Wembley. Gary Lineker gave them the lead but again they were denied as Liverpool struck back with two from Ian Rush and one from Craig Johnston.

1989 final: Everton 2-3 Liverpool (AET)

This all-Merseyside Wembley meeting was heavily overshadowed by the Hillsborough disaster but proved a true classic. Liverpool led after an early John Aldridge goal but Everton forced extra time with a late Stuart McCall effort. Rush came off the bench to put Liverpool back ahead and then settled the match after McCall equalised again with a spectacular volley.

1991 fifth round: Liverpool 0-0 Everton; Everton 4-4 Liverpool (replay); Everton 1-0 Liverpool (second replay).

The tie that finished off Kenny Dalglish as Liverpool boss. The first meeting at Anfield ended goalless but the tie exploded into life at Goodison Park. Liverpool led four times after a double from Peter Beardsley and strikes from Rush and John Barnes but Everton hit back with Graeme Sharp and Tony Cottee scoring twice each. The drama was too much for Dalglish, who resigned soon after, and Everton won the third match with a Dave Watson goal.
Source: RTE Sport