The season hasn't even kicked off yet, but Rafael Benitez seems to be making excuses for failing to win the title. And to add to that, Sir Alex Ferguson is already lambasting officials.

Yes, everyone is too expensive or Liverpool are simply being asked to pay too high a price for players. This comes after Hull reportedly told the Reds they wanted £12m for defender Michael Turner.

"We are working hard with the players we have and the money we have," moaned Rafa in The Sun. "It is always difficult to compete in the Premier League with clubs who have more money."

The Daily Express links Liverpool with Stoke's Ryan Shawcross as he can't afford anyone else. A £5m fee is mooted.

Sir Alex, meanwhile, reckons Michael Ballack should have been sent off for his elbow block on Patrice Evra, just before Frank Lampard fired in Chelsea's second at Wembley.

Ferguson stormed in the Daily Express: “If the referee sees that challenge properly, it’s a red card. Ballack has clearly elbowed him. He’s in line and had a clear view, so Ballack was lucky.

“He should have seen it. The referee has made a rod for his own back. He had stopped the game twice already, when Nani was down and when Ballack was down. The least he should have done is stop the game."

Manchester United's (!) Michael Owen may not have done much in the Community Shield, but the pint-sized striker still reckons he could be in the England squad in South Africa next summer. He might have had a dodgy week, but you can't blame the lad for trying. It's in The Sun.

There's lots of talk about Manchester City breaking into the top four but Arsene Wenger, the man most at threat from City and their millions, is confident they pose no threat. "Manchester City at the moment look like they have a great squad quality-wise, but sometimes when you buy more than three players you take a technical gamble," he said in the Daily Mirror.

And a worrying story in The Times. Could Barcelona be in for skipper Cesc Fabregas?

Talking of Man City, the Daily Express believes that Mark Hughes will turn to West Ham's Matthew Upson should he fail to sign either Joleon Lescott or Sylvain Distin.

Tottenham boss Harry Redknapp has ruled out signing Ashley Young from Aston Villa. He told the Daily Mirror that Villa won't let him go.

And 'Arry may have lost out to Villa again, with the Daily Mail reporting that Tuncay will move to Martin O'Neill's side for £7m, snubbing Spurs in the process.

Sol Campbell is clubless right now, the Daily Express thinks he may resurface at Birmingham City.

Wolves, also new in the Premier League, are linked with a £1.7m offer for giant Austrian striker Stefan Maierhofer in the Daily Express.

Another day, another chance for Alan Shearer to lament the demise of his beloved Newcastle. It must be even more depressing to hear the rumours that David O'Leary is going to be offered a three year contract.

"While other clubs have been preparing, while others have been bringing in players they feel will get them out of this league, Newcastle have stood still and are static," he said in The Sun. "They are going into it with their hands tied, not a nice situation for anyone."

The Daily Mail discusses Newcastle's new approach for O'Leary.

And our favourite story of the day comes from the Daily Mirror. Plymouth boss Paul Sturrock has said he will only sign single footballers in future as he cannot get married players to move to the south coast.

"We can get the players but we can't convince the wives," he moaned. "They don't want to be so far away from their families but I guess that's something we've got to live with."