QPR captain Joey Barton has accepted a charge of violent conduct against Manchester City's Sergio Aguero but denied the same charge for his confrontation with Vincent Kompany. The 29-year-old's future at QPR is in doubt after he elbowed Carlos Tevez, kicked Aguero and appeared to headbutt Kompany during Rangers' 3-2 defeat at the Etihad Stadium on Sunday. Barton was given extra time to respo...Full Story »

Rio Ferdinand has revealed his heartache after failing to make Roy Hodgson’s England squad for Euro 2012. Ferdinand turned to Twitter to say: ‘Absolutely loved playing for England. ‘To say I’m gutted is an understatement of the highest order.’ The 33-year-old Manchester United defender and former England captain, who won the first of his 81 caps in 1997, is no...Full Story »

OVERLOOKED ... Michael Carrick MICHAEL CARRICK has told England he is not interested being a bit-part player. It emerged yesterday the Manchester United midfield ace decided to quit BEFORE Roy Hodgson became boss. He wants to focus on club football. Asked why Carrick, 30, had not been selected or put on standby, Hodgson let the cat out of the bag by saying: “I wouldn’t dream of p...Full Story »

Kenny Dalglish was dramatically sacked after Liverpool’s owners held him responsible for the club’s dismal Barclays Premier League campaign. Just 34 days after Liverpool chairman Tom Werner had said the Scot retained the ‘full support’ of Fenway Sports Group, Dalglish became the highest-profile victim of their ruthless cull. Werner said: ‘Kenny came into the c...Full Story »

FINAL PUSH ... Didier Drogba DIDIER DROGBA is a big occasion player — but it can get the better of him. The Chelsea striker has played in eight cup finals for Chelsea and scored in all but one of them. The exception was the 2008 Champions League final against Manchester United in Moscow when he was sent off three minutes from the end of extra time and Chelsea lost in a penalty shootout....Full Story »

WE HAVE TO TALK ... United want to seal Nani deal MANCHESTER UNITED will listen to offers for Nani if contract talks break down. The Portuguese winger, 25, has 18 months left on his deal and is being offered a huge pay rise from £90,000 to £130,000 a week over the next four years. But if he starts playing hardball, United will listen to offers and would want £30million.Full Story »

YOU'VE SCOTT THE GIG ... Parker made the grade KEEPERS JOE HART (MAN CITY) GREAT end to a fantastic season for England’s No 1. He’s been top class and is arguably Roy Hodgson’s most crucial player. WILL HE PLAY? Starter ROB GREEN (WEST HAM) NOT enjoyed a great season even though he will be playing in Saturday’s play-off final. Still haunted by World Cup blunder ag...Full Story »

Asked whether he had played against Mario Gomez in the past, David Luiz laughed and said: ‘Just on PlayStation’. It was a new angle on the usual joke. Luiz has worked hard to restore his reputation since Gary Neville’s acidic criticism during a game against Liverpool in November, which hit a nerve at Stamford Bridge. Neville claimed the Brazil centre half’s defensive ...Full Story »

TURNING ON THE CHARM ... Roy Hodgson yesterday FIRST, we had the Benny Hill, girl-chasing days of Sven Goran Eriksson. Or Svenny Hill. Then came the Boot Camp era of Fabio Capello. Now it’s Roy Hodgson and a touch of Dad’s Army. Capello was a heel-clicking, parade-ground drill sergeant, a martinet who liked to lick his team into shape. In his place, we have the affable officer-c...Full Story »

Roy Hodgson is an articulate man, a decent man too, but the argument he presented in trying to explain Rio Ferdinand’s omission from his first England squad was not a terribly convincing one. He began by pointing out that Ferdinand had represented England just once in the last year; that he had reached his decision after consulting Sir Alex Ferguson ‘about 10 days ago’. The ...Full Story »