Blackburn Rovers boss Sam Allardyce stoked up the heat between himself and Liverpool manager Rafa Benitez by claiming that the Reds had all but blown their chances of Champions League qualification. This follows recent comments by Benitez after Liverpool’s win over Rovers at Anfield.

Allardyce said "It was a good cover-up by Rafa because he knows how bad his side were and that was repeated against Wigan on Monday. He's got personal with it for many, many years now. That's why I don't like him and the feeling is probably mutual.” The former Newcastle and Bolton manager continued his assault saying "I don't get personal with him; I get into him and under his skin, yes, but that's all part of the game. The last time one of the big four didn't finish in the top four it was Liverpool and I think this time it looks pretty difficult having lost against Wigan.”

The lawyer representing El Hadji Diouf has maintained the striker’s innocence of charges of assault. The accusations based around a casino in Senegal have been strenuously denied with the statement reading “The allegations are trivial and fabricated. Mr Diouf has not been remanded and is allowed free movement.”