Smash Hit

City open talks with Benfica over £27m Di Maria

Argentine international is seen as a direct replacement for Robinho, who is now eager to return to Spanish football

Henry best in Europe, say new Castrol Rankings

Fink Tank has crunched the latest data and Barcelona’s former Arsenal forward is the cream of the crop, followed by Lionel Messi

Everton crash in front of Eusébio

Everton 0 Benfica 2: Portugal legend enjoys trip to his favourite stadium as visitors again too classy for David Moyes’s side

Two sent off as Fulham beaten in Rome

Roma 2 Fulham 1: Italians score twice in second half to turn Europa League match on its head while Fulham finish with nine men

Violent Rangers fans called into question

The club's chief executive says poor entry access at the Steaua Stadium and over-zealous policing contributed to the problems

Anfield prepares to count the cost of failure

When you have been a leading member of the continental elite for the past five seasons, anything less is a calamity

Wenger basks in wealth of attacking possibilities

Arsenal manager answers his critics by pointing out embarrassment of creative riches he now has at his disposal

Howard frustrated by Everton’s lack of continuity

Goalkeeper bemoans fact that David Moyes will have to switch his side again because John Heitinga and Lucas Neill are cup-tied

Cruyff won't play ball with Catalan nationalists

Johan Cruyff, the Holland hero, will coach the football team in the fiercely nationalist region but speak to the players in Spanish

Torres happy to take strain for Liverpool

Just as he was used to doing at Atletico Madrid, Europe’s most lethal marksman is having to carry a club’s hopes on his shoulders

Fàbregas turns on style in dazzling show of class

Arsenal 4 Alkmaar 1: even if Arsene Wenger's side again fail to win trophies this season, they will win many admirers

Sucker punch leaves Liverpool on their knees

Merseyside club’s Champions League hopes are left hanging by a thread after late equaliser robs them of much-needed three points

López adds insult to Liverpool injuries

Lyons 1 Liverpool 1: visitors staring into the Champions League abyss as missed chances come back to haunt them

Barcelona's Europeaan fate in the balance

Rubin Kazan followed up their remarkable victory at the Nou Camp a fortnight ago by holding the champions to a goalless draw

Roma game make or break for Fulham

Roy Hodgson believes his understrength team will struggle to qualify if they return from the Stadio Olimpico empty-handed

Torres handed starting role for Liverpool

Rafael Benitez has gambled by playing his Spain striker from the start against Lyons despite his hernia injury

Last-gasp equaliser means heartbreak for Liverpool

Ryan Babel's wonder-goal appeared to have secured a famous win in Lyons before French side levelled in last minute

Celtic midfield pair out of crucial clash

Scott Brown and Shaun Maloney out of tomorrow night's must-win Europa League group C match away at Hamburg

Why fans are backing Benitez: a fan's eye view

Peter Furmedge, a die-hard Kopite, explains why the fans have faith in the manager despite the problems at Anfield

Sale of Alonso devastated me, says Gerrard

Liverpool captain has spoken of his hurt at the decision to sell the Spain midfield player to Real Madrid in the summer