Park’s the man as Fergie and Benitez put on a show

United are top of the Premier League after their win over bitter rivals Liverpool on Sunday. Arsenal, who briefly had the summit after victory on Saturday are still in contention, but Chelsea slip to third after drawing against Blackburn - although they do have a game in hand.

GRUMPY OLD MENRafa Benitez and Alex Ferguson do not get on. Their rapport, or lack of it, fits the relationship between Liverpool and Manchester United to a tee. And they were at it again on Sunday.

The pair clashed when Manchester United were awarded a penalty. Benitez was furious as he claimed Antonio Valencia had dived and that the offence was outside the box. Ferguson was incredulous that the referee hadn't sent Javier Mascherano off.

The two exchanged heated words on the touchline in the aftermath of the incident.

Benitez brought the incident up again after the game and it is clear that Ferguson hasgot under his skin. The Liverpool manager, like Kevin Keegan and Arsene Wenger before him, is struggling to maintain his equilibrium when faced with the canny Scot.

CHELSEA BLUESHow Chelsea reacted to their Champions League exit was always going to be interesting. They started brightly against Blackburn but were undone by perennial party-pooper El-Hadji Diouf's equaliser in the second half. Indeed, after they knocked Chelsea out of the Carling Cup, Rovers are threatening to become Chelsea's bogey team.

Apparently Roman Abramovich read the Chelsea players the riot act after the loss to Inter Milan. He will not have been impressed by what he saw on Sunday - and neither will Carlo Ancelotti, who may start fearing that he could go the same way as Luiz Felipe Scolari unless he gets his hands on a trophy pretty soon.

All is not lost for Chelsea in the league - they visit Manchester United over Easter in what is now a massive fixture for them.

PARK IS THE MANManchester United may be a team of household names, but it is obvious that Alex Ferguson has considerable faith in one of the less glamorous members of his squad. Korean Ji-Sung Park, who scored the winner against Liverpool on Sunday, is Ferguson's go-to man when the big games come around.

Although he is seen as something of a utility player, and rarely makes the headlines in this country, he is a superstar in Korea. That prompted cynics to suggest that he was only brought to the club in order to improve the United brand in the far East and sell shirts.

However, the trust Ferguson puts in the player belies that idea and although he has played only 145 games in five seasons at United he is as important to Ferguson as Ferdinand and Rooney.

CONCERNS FOR CAPELLOWayne Rooney might be in the form of his life, which is good news for England's World Cup changes - but he can't do it all on his own and the form of his likely team mates is cause for concern.

Steven Gerrard has not been his usual self in recent weeks and he had another quiet day against United. His one big contribution came in the build-up to Liverpool's goal, when he waltzed past England skipper Rio Ferdinand as if he wasn't there.

Over at Chelsea, Frank Lampard is doing OK, but only OK. And the form of his club captain John Terry can best be described as up-and-down. Gareth Barry could be a key member of the team this summer, but he is hardly pulling up trees and gave away a penalty for Manchester City against Fulham.

James Milner is being tipped as a potential star in South Africa, but he scored an own goal for Villa on Saturday.

A SPRING IN THEIR STEPThe spring weather must be having an effect on the Premier League's strikers. There were early goals galore this weekend as Sunderland's Darren Bent, Denilson of Arsenal, Fernando Torres, Man City's Roque Santa Cruz and Didier Drogba all scored in the first 10 minutes of the their matches.

Bent had even bagged a brace after 11 minutes.

Wigan, just to be different, left it late. Hugo Rodallega scored their winner against Burnley in the 93rd minute.

DOWIE GOING DOWNIan Dowie's reign at Hull got off to a miserable start as the Tigers, who twice had the lead, lost 3-2 at the death to doomed Portsmouth. The result could well be the final nail in Hull's coffin. Although they are only three points from safety their inability to beat Pompey does not bode well.

However, since Portsmouth went into administration they have improved on the pitch. They have won three of their five games, and booked a place in the FA CUp semi-finals since the administrators arrived at Fratton Park.

AFTER THE LORD MAYOR'S SHOWFulham came back to earth with a bump on Sunday as they were turned over at home by Manchester City.

After their sensational win over Juventus on Thursday, Craven Cottage was hoping for more of the same, but two early goals for City appeared to have ended the Cottagers' hopes.

But Fulham only appear to get going when the chips are down and in the closing stages they set about City hammer and tongs and in the end they were unlucky not to get a draw.

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