It's the eve of the most significant game of the season: Manchester United v Liverpool. The title could rest on the outcome of this game between two of the fiercest rivals in football. The game has an early kick-off to try and limit trouble between fans. Every conceivable security measure has been taken.

So imagine the combined frowns amongst stewards, police, the Premier League and the Manchester United media department when Wayne Rooney admitted his hatred for Liverpool.

Wazza's comments, which will have raised a smile amongst Untied, and maybe even Everton fans, came on MUTV and were then posted on the club's website. Someone eventually cottoned-on to the fact that Rooney’s words could be deemed as incitement and revisionist editing duly took place.

Alas, the damage was done and Wayne's "hatred" was picked up by the papers and splashed all over them on Friday morning. The Daily Star, the Daily Express, The Times, the Daily Mirror and the Sun all lapped it up. And, quite frankly, so did we.

Rafa Benitez’s future might be a bit clearer after the weekend according to the Daily Mail, who claim the Liverpool manager will put pen to paper on a new five-year deal next week.

The Guardian also report that Benitez is keen to stay with Liverpool and has tabled talks with the club’s owners, ahead of a likely contract signing inside the next two weeks.

The Sun agree with the 14 day timeframe but take a different, more negative angle, suggesting that Rafa has "warned" the club’s his decision is imminent.

The Currant Bun also have quotes from Zinedine Zidane who suggests that Liverpool's Steven Gerrard, in his view, just pips Lionel Messi as the best player in the world at the moment. Praise indeed ahead of what is a crucial game for Steve G.

In an interview with the Daily Mirror Arsenal defender has Kolo Toure revealed that he nearly quit the club in January after a dressing room row with William Gallas and said that as a result the two will never be friends.

"Our relationship has improved, but it's just a professional relationship. Once we are on the pitch we try to keep a professional attitude and to communicate," said Toure. "I'm friends with Djourou, with Eboue, with Clichy, but it's not the same with William".

The Independent and the Daily Telegraph both report that West Ham have finally agreed a compensation deal with Sheffield United which will bring to an end the long-running Carlos Tevez saga.

Reports suggest that the Blades will receive staggered payments amounting to around £10m from West Ham: considerably less than the bankruptcy threatening £45m compensation the South Yorkshire club had initially been seeking.

The Daily Express reports that the Chelsea players are so enamoured of Guus Hiddink's methods since taking over at the club that they have started to lobby owner Roman Abramovich to find a way of keeping the interim boss at Stamford Bridge permanently.

And finally both the Daily Mail and Daily Telegraph bother cover the allegations that Jose Mourinho punched a Manchester United fan on Wednesday after Inter Milan’s Champions League defeat.

The Mail report that Mourinho will be interviewed by English police over the allegations, while the Telegraph point out that the Special One and Inter have denied the claims.