Manchester United Dugout

Wayne Rooney scored a sensational four-timer to send Manchester United top of the Premier League as the Red Devils beat Hull 4-0. Everyone is praising Rooney for his solo efforts (even I admire that) but I think this game provided some other good news as well.

Return of Rio Ferdinand

The game against Hull marked the return of Rio Ferdinand after a 3 month long absence. The United skipper had been out of action since October 2009 and was ruled out until 2010. However he marked his return and played the entire 90 minutes which did look as if Rio has retained his form and could help his manager who is worried about their defense.

I am glad Rio returned at the right time as he may be handed the responsibility to monitor Carlos Tevez when United face City in the Carling Cup semi final.

Michael Owen got a start

I was initially surprised to see Owen starting, especially after the awesome form which Berbatov had shown in the previous games. But Fergie wants to help Owen to get on the plane to South Africa and hence he paired the two English strikers up front.

To be honest, Owen did look fine. Though he missed some easy chances which came his way but overall I think he played fine. And when Rooney is scoring goals for fun, his striking partner has to act as a mere supporter by making assists.

Nani may have OT future

I don't know what others thought but I think Nani had a fantastic game against Hull at a mutinous Old Trafford. After his bust up with Sir Alex Ferguson, I thought the Portuguese will never feature for United, but he has featured in a few games. And his performance against Hull was one of his best ever at OT. Probably, Nani has future at Manchester United.

Rooney, Rooney, Rooney, Rooney

That's how the score sheet looked featuring the name of Wayne Rooney who scored all four goals for Manchester United. The wonder kid took his goals tally for the season to 20 in 28 matches and is just three short of his best-ever return.

The return of VDS, Ferdinand and Evans does make the back four much stronger. Is this the time that things will start to turn in United's favor? What say folks?

Manchester United striker Federico Macheda is being linked with a host of clubs who want to sign him on a loan deal. Serie A side Bologna has emerged to be the top contender to sign the Italian striker but Spanish clubs are also chasing Kiko.

Federico Macheda came to prominence at the end of last season, after scoring a last minute winner against Aston Villa. However, he has not played in the Premier League this season and has made just two appearances in the Champions League.

18 year old Macheda is contracted to Manchester United until the end of the 2013/2014 season. However the arrival of Michael Owen and fine displays from Danny Welbeck have limited his opportunities for playing in the first team. In such a scenario, Kiko may move to a new team until the end of the campaign.

Macheda is being chased by many clubs at the moment. Relegation-threatened Bologna want the teenager on loan for the remainder of the season but Sir Alex Ferguson does not intend to send him to Italy. Instead, Fergie is considering a loan request from Zaragoza’s caretaker coach Victor Munez for the Italian youngster.

Macheda has also been linked with Championship side Newcastle and a French club are also interested in taking the Italian striker on loan. I think its only a matter of time before Kiko switches sides but my gut tells me that he will end up playing in Spain. What do you think?

Michael Owen produced a spectacular performance at the Volkswagen Arena to guide Manchester United to a victory against Wolfsburg in their final Group match of the Champions League. The former Liverpool hitman went on to score his first hat trick for United in a European game.

In the build up to this game, many pundits had predicted a historic defeat for Man United due to their injury woes. But Michael Owen and 'one defender' helped United win the group and avoid some of the top teams from Europe like Real Madrid.

Sir Alex Ferguson landed in Germany without 14 recognized senior players, including eight defenders. Injuries to Rio Ferdinand, Nemanja Vidic, Gary Neville, Wes Brown, John O’Shea and Jonny Evans kept them in Manchester while Ryan Giggs was rested and Owen Hargreaves is still preparing for his comeback.

Though Oliver Gill (son of CEO David Gill) traveled with the team but he did not feature in the game as Fergie played Michael Carrick in a sweeper's role, with Darren Fletcher and Patrice Evra flanking the England international.This tactical change meant Ferguson had to abandon his traditional back four. Another tactical change for this game saw United with two strikers. Normally Fergie likes to play with one striker in Wayne Rooney, but last night he used two strikers in Daniel Welbeck and Michael Owen.

The defeat for Wolfsburg denies the German champions their first last 16 appearance in European competition. I think they have themselves to blame for this as they were lackluster in the first half. Wolfsburg saw some transformation in the second period and rallied through Edin Dzeko's goal on 56 minutes. But it was Michael Owen's day as he went to score his first hat trick for United since his summer move from Newcastle.

Michael Owen takes his tally to seven goals this season so far and his manager was quick to praise his striker. Fergie said, "Michael is one of the best strikers in the last third of the field in terms of his movement, his positional play and also in terms of his finishing."

I believe Owen must be specifically happy with his performance as he reminded his national coach Fabio Capello of his talent. Even Sir Alex Ferguson backed Owen to make it to South Africa next year for the World Cup.

Are you listening Mr. Capello?

Manchester United will host CSKA Moscow today in their group B clash of the Champions League. United had won the same fixture two weeks ago in Russian capital and will look to win this one too.

Currently, the Red Devils lead Group B and a victory at Old Trafford would send them progress into the knockout round with two Group B matches to spare. Being in such a comfort zone, Fergie is likely to start with some subs or reserves as he will try to rest his stars for the big clash at Stamford Bridge this Sunday.

With Dimitar Berbatov injured and Wayne Rooney questionable after becoming a father on Monday, Michael Owen could get a start. He might team up with 18-year-old Federico Macheda if Rooney remains with wife Coleen and their new son, Kai Wayne Rooney.

Recently, Michael Owen had said that playing for Manchester United is more important for him than for the national team. I don't think these comments would see Fergie give Owen some partial consideration. But I only hope that if he starts today, he should remain till the end. Remember how his last home match start against Wolfsburg resulted in a damp squib as he lasted only 20 minutes.

Manchester United travel to Anfield tomorrow to face a Liverpool side that is struggling with injuries and poor results. The importance of this game is known to both teams and the only result each of them will hope for would be a win.

Last season the Reds completed a double over United that included a 4-1 hammering of the Red Devils at Old Trafford. Sir Alex Ferguson has refuted suggestions that his side go into Sunday's trip to Liverpool with a point to prove after last season's defeats against the Merseysiders.

A victory for the visiting side will help them strengthen their lead at the top of the table and put more pressure on Chelsea who play Blackburn Rovers. However, this result would put more pressure on the shoulders of Benitez whose side have lost the last 4 games in all competitions. To make matters worse for him, star players Fernando Torres and Steven Gerrard are nursing injuries and will have until match-day to prove their fitness for the clash with Manchester United.

Even Red Devils are concerned with injuries as JS Park has been ruled out and Darren Fletcher along with Wayne Rooney look doubtful. The wonder kid has been sidelined for the past two weeks with a calf injury sustained while playing for England in Ukraine on Oct 10. Recently, Fergie too admited that Rooney - whose wife Coleen is expecting the birth of the couple’s first child on Sunday - could yet miss the traditionally explosive clash with the club’s age-old rivals.

Rooney's absence will mean that Michael Owen will partner Dimitar Berbatov upfront leading United's attack. It will be a treat to watch Owen score against his old club at Anfield but to be honest, I don't see that happening at least tomorrow. He will definitely be jeered and boo-ed by the Kops, but Sir Alex feels that Owen will deal with Liverpool fans.

No matter who scores or who plays or what happens tomorrow, I am only relishing a great game of football. Manchester United and Liverpool games are always intense and the results of their last 10 meetings at Anfield show the same.

13-09-2008: Liverpool 2-1 Manchester United
16-12-2007: Liverpool 0-1 Manchester United
03-03-2007: Liverpool 0-1 Manchester United
18-09-2005: Liverpool 0-0 Manchester United
15-01-2005: Liverpool 0-1 Manchester United
09-11-2003: Liverpool 1-2 Manchester United
01-12-2002: Liverpool 1-2 Manchester United
04-11-2001: Liverpool 3-1 Manchester United
31-03-2001: Liverpool 2-0 Manchester United
11-09-1999: Liverpool 2-3 Manchester United

As you can see, this derby does not see too many goals, but it certainly promises to deliver a result. So what will happen tomorrow? Will Liverpool be able to return to winning ways or will Michael Owen break their hearts as he did in the Manchester Derby.

Watch out for the live action between the two biggest clubs with massive fan following at 14:00 hrs UK time.

Manchester United climbed to the top of the table in the Barclays English Premier League after defeating Bolton 2-1 at Old Trafford. The defeat of Chelsea at Aston Villa means United get a 1 point advantage over the Blues.

The game started perfectly for United as they were a goal ahead within the opening 5 minutes. The game looked pretty much one sided once the home team had scored their second. Antonia Valencia netting his first goal in the Red shirt at the Theater of Dreams.

After scoring 2 goals, Manchester United were looking very comfortable as they kept winning possession and troubling the Bolton defense. But Jussi Jaaskelainen was in terrific form as he made a series of brilliant saves. And that resulted in winning a lot of corners for United. It was sad to see that United could not score a single goal from more than 5 corner kicks.

I felt Man Utd got a bit complacent towards the end and that's when Bolton picked up there chance. Matt Taylor scored with a header and the last 15 minutes were interesting as Bolton tried to snatch an equalizer while the home team tried to seal the game with another goal. But it was 2 -1 to Manchester United.

Today's game saw the return of Edwin van der Sar in United goal and Michael Owen starting with Berbatov upfront due to the absence of Wayne Rooney. To be frank, Owen never looked in great form and failed to deliver the same performance that helped United win the Manchester Derby last month.

This win and Chelsea's defeat at Villa Park means the Red Devils comfortably sit at the top of the table. But the comfort level is very narrow as they lead the Blues by only one point and if United doesn't improve soon, then I feel we might lose the lead. Teams like Arsenal, Spurs, Villa and City are making the competition tough with back to back victories and that should really trigger Man Utd to show their real class to lift the premier league for the fourth consecutive time.

Michael Owen who has been fancying his chances to play for the national team after his move to Manchester United seems to be a worried man. Though his career might have been back on track after landing at Old Trafford since his departure from Newcastle United, but all is not well for the English hitman.

Michael Owen was seen limping out of the pitch when Manchester United defeated Wolfsburg in their Group B match of the Champions League. It has been revealed that his groin problems have surfaced again and therefore he was taken off to make way for Dimitar Berbatov after just 20 minutes. Though he is expected to be back on the pitch in 3 weeks time, but I feel this injury has ended his hopes for the World Cup.

Twenty-four hours can be a long time in politics, so the old saying goes. As he reflected on his misfortune, Owen must have thought the same is also true of football.

After speaking so forcefully about his World Cup dream and the hopes of playing for his country again, having done so with such success before, a racing man like Owen could hardly have hoped for a better pre-match double than a place in Sir Alex Ferguson's starting line-up and the sight of Fabio Capello in the stands. But alas, this night turned out to be a misery for Owen as he lasted 20 minutes.

The English coach Fabio Capello is known to be dubious about Owen's fitness record. Time and again he has deflected questions over England's fourth-highest goalscorer by demanding to know how often he has played. And his doubts were becoming reality as Owen failed to even play the entire 90 minutes, forget impressing.

I don't think that Owen would be even considered by Capello for the World Cup. But if Owen makes the plane to South Africa from here, he will have to be either very brilliant, or very lucky. What do you think?

Sir Alex Fergusson has shocked everyone by saying that he has no further plans to sign a new player this season. With two players leaving Old Trafford, Fergie signed three players and believes that there is no need of any more players at the moment.

I was anticipating that Ferguson would make further signings in addition to Owen, Antonio Valencia and Gabriel Obertan, who joined last week from Bordeaux. Samuel Eto was supposed to sign a deal with the Red Devils, but United have distanced themselves from any such deal.

After giving Michael Owen the number seven shirt (vacated by Ronaldo), Sir Alex reiterated that his current squad is good enough to challenge for an unprecedented fourth consecutive league title, even though Cristiano Ronaldo and Carlos Tevez have left. He also stressed that Daniel Welbeck and Federico Macheda will be given a chance to prove themselves by starting on a regular basis.

I think that Fergie is spot on and knows his squad is definitely competent enough to pose a challenge in England as well as in Europe. But somewhere I feel that there has to be a star signing, especially after the massive earnings through Ronaldo's sale.

What's your take?