A crowd of nearly 50,000 pays tribute to the late great before Manchester United’s Carling Cup game with West Bromwich Albion.

Liverpool are up to fourth in the Premiership with a 2-0 win at Sunderland.- Old Trafford bids a moving farewell to George Best. A crowd of nearly 50,000 pays tribute to the late great before Manchester United’s Carling Cup game with West Bromwich Albion. Coincidently, George made his United debut against Albion in 1963. Many of the Baggies players from that game 42 years ago join members of United’s 1968 European Cup winning team and George’s son Calum on the pitch as a minute’s silence is impeccably observed. WBA boss Bryan Robson - a former United No. 7 - and Sir Alex Ferguson lay wreaths in the centre-circle. In the game, United win 3-1 with, appropriately, United’s first goal scored by the current No. 7, Cristiano Ronaldo.

- Elsewhere in the Carling Cup, Blackburn Rovers come from two down at Charlton Athletic to win 3-2. A below strength Wigan Athletic beat Newcastle United 1-0 at the JJB Stadium. United boss Graeme Souness apologies for their woeful performance. Bolton Wanderers and Middlesbrough are also through to the last eight.

- Liverpool are up to fourth in the Premiership with a comfortable 2-0 win at Sunderland. It’s the Reds fifth consecutive league win while the seemingly doomed Black Cats remain seven points adrift at the bottom.

- Sheffield United give Portsmouth permission to speak to manager Neil Warnock. The Blades are second in the Championship with a nine point advantage on third-in-the-table Watford and face Wednesday in the Sheffield derby on Saturday.

The League One club embarrass Aston Villa 3-0 at the Earth Stadium in the Carling Cup.

Portsmouth chairman Milan Mandaric refuses to rule out a shock move to bring back former boss Harry Redknapp.- Doncaster Rovers reach the Fifth Round of the League Cup competition for only the second time in their history. The League One club shock Aston Villa 3-0 at the Earth Stadium in the Carling Cup. Another second-city upset is narrowly avoided at the New Den where bottom of the Championship Millwall take Birmingham City to penalties. Championship leaders Reading’s 23-game unbeaten run comes to an end as they lose 0-3 to a young Arsenal outfit at Highbury.

- Portsmouth chairman Milan Mandaric refuses to rule out a shock move to bring back former boss Harry Redknapp. Pompey have been refused permission to speak to Rangers’ under-fire boss Alex McLeish while Neil Warnock of Sheffield United is now thought to be the frontrunner for the Fratton Park vacancy.

- It is announced that David Di Tommaso has died at the age of 26. The FC Utrecht defender was found dead at his home in Holland yesterday. The young Frenchman is thought to have died in his sleep. He played in Sunday’s 1-0 victory over Ajax and reported no illness.

- Blackpool confirm that manager Colin Hendry and his assistant Ian Miller have parted company with the League One club. Reserve team coach Simon Grayson took temporary charge at Bloomfield Road a fortnight ago

- Heart of Midlothian owner Vladimir Romanov claims George Burley, Phil Anderton and George Foulkes were driving the Tynecastle club out of existence. In a BBC TV interview, he explains his controversial removal of the trio: “I gave these people full control to direct the club and in one year there was no result. We would have got to the death of the club as every day these people were present they were damaging Hearts.” The Edinburgh club were the early leaders in this season’s SPL.

The Barcelona ace wins the coveted Ballon D’Or ahead of three Premiership stars.

Chelsea are fined £30,000 for failing to control their supporters during a Carling Cup tie last season.- Barcelona’s Ronaldinho is named the 2005 European Footballer of the Year. The 25-year-old Brazilian claims the coveted Ballon D’Or having already won the 2004 FIFA World Player of the Year and the first-ever FIFPRO award. The Premiership makes its mark Chelsea’s Frank Lampard coming second, Liverpool’s Steven Gerrard third and Arsenal’s Thierry Henry fourth. The Ballon D’Or, voted for by European football journalists selected by French magazine France Football, celebrated its 50th anniversary in Paris. The first winner was Stanley Matthews, then of Blackpool, in 1956.

- Chelsea are to appeal against the £30,000 fine for failing to control their fans during a Carling Cup tie with West Ham United at Stamford Bridge in October 2004 when police in riot gear clashed with home and away fans. Chelsea’s Mateja Kezman had to have treatment on a head injury after being struck by an object thrown from a section of West Ham fans. The Football Association handed out the fine and reprimanded both clubs who were also warned as to their future conduct.

- Fulham are to re-name their Stevenage Road Stand in honour of the legendary Johnny Haynes, who died in October. The century-old stand with its marvellous red brick frontage was designed by Archibald Leitch, and has Group Two listed status.

- The Italian Football Federation orders all games in the country this week to kick off five minutes late to allow players to demonstrate their opposition to racism. The decision comes after Messina’s Ivory Coast defender Zoro threatened to leave the field in protest against racist jeering from visiting Inter Milan fans in a Serie A match on Sunday. He had been jeered by Inter fans throughout the game and picked up the ball in the 66th minute and headed off the field towards the fourth official before other players urged him to continue.

- Liverpool, Manchester City and Leeds United express their regret of the failure of fans at their games at the weekend to observe a one-minute silence in memory of George Best. The Premier League and Football League called for the silence to honour probably Britain’s greatest-ever player. It was duly observed at virtually every ground. At others, including at West Ham United where Manchester United were the visitors, the silence was replaced by warm, respectful and appropriate applause and cheering.

Players and officials join the fans in the growing trend of a minute’s applause.

The Reds play their part in a memorable day with a classy 2-1 win.- In an emotion-charged afternoon at West Ham United, supporters of both clubs pay a wonderful tribute to George Best prior to Manchester United’s first game following the death of the legendary Irishman. Players and officials join the fans in the growing trend of a minute’s applause. After the Hammers had taken a 2nd minute lead, United’s current day star Wayne Rooney leads United to a classy 2-1 win as they return to second in the table. Another of George’s former clubs also win. Fulham beat Bolton Wanderers 2-1 at Craven Cottage with two goals from Brian McBride. Everton ease their worries at the bottom with a 1-0 win against Newcastle United at Goodison Park.

- And another of the ex-Best clubs also wins in Scotland. Hibernian beat Rangers 2-1 at Easter Road. Goals from Derek Riordan and Garry O’Connor mean the Gers have now gone eight games without a win for the first time in their 132-year history.

- Chelsea are to face a Premier League enquiry into claims by former Blue Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink that players received unauthorised bonuses. He says players received £100,000 for reaching the Champions League semi-finals in 2003/04 rather than the £50,000 written into their contracts. League rules state bonuses cannot be changed during a season.

In his 160th game in a row, the England midfielder scores form the penalty spot as the leaders win 2-0 win at Portsmouth.

Thierry Henry becomes the first player to net 100 league goals at Highbury as Arsenal beat Blackburn Rovers 3-0.- Chelsea’s Frank Lampard over takes David James to create a new record for consecutive appearances in the Premiership. In his 160th game in a row, the England midfielder scores form the penalty spot in a win 2-0 win at managerless Portsmouth after Hernan Crespo had given the leaders a first-half lead. Thierry Henry becomes the first player to net 100 league goals at Highbury and the first to score a century of Premiership goals on one ground as Arsenal beat Blackburn Rovers 3-0. Sunderland’s plight increases as next-to-the-bottom Birmingham City win 1-0 at the Stadium of Light with a Julian Gray goal.

- Reading go four points clear at the top of the Championship. With goals from Glen Little and Kevin Doyle, the Royals win 2-0 at Plymouth Argyle while Sheffield United - whose manager Neil Warnock is being tipped to take over at Portsmouth - lose 2-4 at Leicester City.

- Andy Robinson grabs a late equaliser at one of his old clubs to keep Swansea City on top of League One with a 2-2 draw at Tranmere Rovers. Nottingham Forest have two players sent-off as they lose 1-2 at second-placed Huddersfield Town. Swindon Town’s position looks even more perilous as the bottom club go down 0-3 to Barnsley at the County Ground.

- Unbeaten Wycombe Wanderers strengthen their place at the head of League Two with a 1-0 win at Carlisle United. Mark Wright endures an unhappy return to Chester City as his Peterborough United are beaten 3-1.

- Another amazing result in the SPL. After seven consecutive defeats, bottom of the table Dunfermline Athletic win 1-0 at leaders Celtic. The Pars had won only one of their last 15 visits to Parkhead.

- The world of football is united in mourning. At the end of a “long and very valiant fight”, George Best dies at 12.55pm at the Cromwell Hospital in London with his old team mate Denis Law and long-term agent Phil Hughes joining family members in a final bedside vigil. All the weekend’s Premiership and Football League matches will be observe a minute’s silence in memory of probably Britain’s greatest-ever player. The Manchester United and Northern Ireland genius will be buried in Belfast beside his mother next Saturday. George had been in hospital since 1 October having been admitted with flu-like symptoms, later suffering a kidney infection. His condition deteriorated considerably a week ago with a lung infection that led to internal bleeding. The recovering alcoholic was acutely prone to infection because of medicines he needed after a liver transplant in 2002. He was 59.

- Championship Crystal Palace reject an approach from Premiership Portsmouth for manager Iain Dowie. Pompey, who sacked Alain Perrin yesterday, are said to be keen to appoint the former Oldham Athletic boss as his successor. Sir Bobby Robson, Neil Warnock and George Burley are amongst others also linked with the south coast vacancy.

- It is announced that Middlesbrough supporter was fatally stabbed in Amsterdam following last night’s UEFA Cup clash against AZ Alkmaar. Police have also confirmed that another man suffered serious injuries following the match which took place 40 miles from the Dutch capital.

Speaking outside the Cromwell Hospital in London, Professor Roger Williams reveals: “I’m afraid Mr Best is coming towards the end of the long road.”

Portsmouth’s Alain Perrin become the first Premiership manager to lose his job this season.- The consultant caring for George Best concedes the Manchester United legend unlikely to survive another 24 hours. Speaking outside the Cromwell Hospital in London, a tearful Professor Roger Williams reveals: “I’m afraid Mr Best is coming towards the end of the long road. He could die at any time — I’ll be very surprised if he survives another 24 hours”. The 1968 European Footballer of the Year has been in hospital since the beginning of October and was put on a life support machine last week after he picked up a lung infection. 59 year-old George, who is accepted by most observers as the greatest-ever player produced by the British Isles, is visited in his final hours by former team mates Denis Law and Sir Bobby Charlton.

- A year to the day since Harry Redknapp resigned, Portsmouth sack manager Alain Perrin after just eight months in charge at Fratton Park. The former Marseille boss took charge in April and kept Pompey in the Premiership but they have recorded only two wins this season and lie one place above the relegation zone. Chairman Milan Mandaric says: “This has not been an easy decision. Alain is a talented coach and a good man who has worked extremely hard since arriving.” Coach Joe Jordan takes temporary charge. Pompey meet champions Chelsea on Saturday.

- Middlesbrough qualify for the knockout stages of the UEFA Cup with a goalless draw at AZ Alkmaar. Bolton Wanderers will guarantee their progress with victory against Sevilla in their final group game. Ricardo Vaz Te scores a stunning late equaliser after Marek Saganowski looked to have won the Group H game for Guimaraes with a diving header in the 86th minute.

- Media Sports Investments pull out of a potential takeover of West Ham United after failing to agree a price with the Hammers’ directors. In a statement to the Stock Exchange, the company confirm it would not be making an offer for the London club but remains intent on finding ‘other opportunities in the European football market’.

Their final game at Stamford Bridge will decide who finishes first and second in Group G.

Vodafone cut short their shirt sponsorship deal with Manchester United.- Chelsea and Liverpool both qualify for the knockout stages of the Champions League with a game to spare. Their final game at Stamford Bridge will decide who finishes first and second in Group G. Chelsea enjoy a comfortable 2-0 win at Anderlecht with first-half goals from Hernan Crespo and Ricardo Carvalho. Real Betis hold Liverpool to a goalless draw at Anfield. Despite their poor domestic form, Rangers will become the first Scottish team to reach the knockout stages if they beat already-qualified Inter Milan at Ibrox in their final game. Under-fire Gers boss Alex McLeish sees a goal from youngster Ross McCormack earn a vital 1-1 draw in Porto.

- Vodafone, the mobile phone company that has sponsored Manchester United since 2000, is ending a four-year shirt deal with the Old Trafford club. The current deal, worth about £9million a year, began last season and will now end in May 2006. Vodafone say it will now focus on Champions League sponsorship. United swiftly deny suggestions they could rename Old Trafford as part of a new sponsorship deal.

- Middlesbrough’s Abel Xavier is handed an 18-month suspension after he tested positive for a banned substance. The 32-year-old was tested after Boro’s Uefa Cup game in Xanthi on 29 September and was given the suspension at a personal UEFA hearing in Nyon. Xavier is mid-way through a one-year contract at Middlesbrough.

- West Ham United manager Alan Pardew apologises to Tottenham Hotspur’s Mido after he was abused by a section of Hammers supporters during Saturday’s draw at White Hart Lane. The Egyptian forward was subjected to racist chanting by some of the visiting support throughout the Premiership game.

Memories of 1968 are revived as United need to beat Benfica in Lisbon to ensure qualification to the knockout stages.

Sheffield United are knocked off the top of the Championship for the first time since August.- Manchester United’s hopes of qualifying for the Champions League knockout stages hang in the balance after they were held to a goalless draw by Villarreal at Old Trafford. Memories of their classic battles of the sixties will be revived as United need to beat Benfica in Lisbon to ensure qualification. A draw will be enough if Villarreal beat Lille in their final game in Spain. No such worries for Arsenal. A late Robert Pires penalty gives them a 1-0 at FC Thun for a club sixth consecutive win in Europe to ensure they finish top of Group B with a game to spare.

- Sheffield United are knocked off the top of the Championship for the first time since August. The Blades are held 0-0 at Wolverhampton Wanderers while new leaders Reading win 3-0 at Ipswich Town. Bottom of the table Millwall record their first home win of the season with Marvin Elliott’s goal enough to beat Norwich City.

- Middlesbrough’s Steve McClaren signs a contract extension to June 2009. The Boro boss’ had been linked to possible future opportunities with England and at Manchester United. He is assistant to England boss Sven-Goran Eriksson and was understudy to Sir Alex Ferguson at Old Trafford.

- Entrepreneur Peter de Savary is to become the new chairman of Millwall. The 61-year-old, who led Britain’s America’s Cup challenge in 1983, will start on 29 November. He ends the Lions’ search for a chairman since Jeff Burnige stepped down a few weeks after taking over from Theo Paphitis.

It follows incidents during Saturday’s Premiership match.

Bahrain fail in their attempt to have their World Cup Play Off defeat by Trinidad & Tobago overturned.- Charlton Athletic want to ban Manchester United fans from future visits to The Valley. Following Saturday’s Premiership match, a male United fan spent the weekend in custody after claims that a female steward was sexually assaulted. A further three fans were held for coming onto the pitch after United’s second goal which led to a large number of United supporters surging forward, causing a metal gate to break and crushing a steward.

- Bahrain fail in their attempt to have their World Cup Play Off defeat by Trinidad & Tobago overturned. A late Bahrain ‘goal’ in the second leg was disallowed by Colombian referee Oscar Julian Ruiz Acosta for dangerous play. Bahrain lost the second leg 1-0 and 2-1 on aggregate, giving Trinidad a place in the finals for the first time. A FIFA spokesman said Bahrain’s soccer federation had been informed that an appeal could not be granted because their protest had not been filed in time under FIFA’s regulations.