PUB FOOTBALL: Click here to have a chance to win a FREE TEAM KIT!

MONDAY

It's taken a while for Michael Owen to really become a Newcastle United hero, but two goals in a 2-0 win over Sunderland should be enough to seal the deal, and the Daily Mirror reckon that he's even starting to enjoy himself up there now. The Daily Express report on Owen's joy and the prospect of a worrying couple of weeks for Sunderland, who still aren't quite out of harm's way in the relegation battle.

Definitely IN harm's way after this weekend are Birmingham City after they were beaten 5-1 by neighbours Aston Villa yesterday, reports the Daily Mail. The Daily Star pay tribute to Ashley Young's double in their own inimitable style. Of course, this is a Champions League week, and in the Daily Mirror, Carlos Tevez warns his Manchester United team-mates that the return of Leo Messi to the Barcelona team means trouble for them.

Also getting messy is the relationship between Rafael Benitez and Avram Grant, according to the Daily Express. When asked if he sees much difference between this season's Chelsea and last season's, Benitez said: "No. Only in the press conferences. But it could be that they don't have the same spirit as they did under Mourinho." In The Times he says: "I was watching the game at Everton on Thursday and they were playing more or less the same. As I've said before, the key to them was Abramovich. In the past I think they have built a fantastic team. You may miss Jose, yes, but not me."

TUESDAY

The Daily Mirror look ahead to tonight's Champions League semi-final between Liverpool and Chelsea with a ropey headline but some nice photoshopping. The headline - KISS 'N' HELL - refers to the 'Anfield nightmare' that Chelsea will be facing if Steven Gerrard gets his way. Or something like that. In the Daily Express they say that Gerrard has 'sounded a rousing battle-cry and warned Chelsea that Liverpool will fight to the finish to reach a third Champions League final in just four seasons."

In the Daily Star, someone called 'Gerro' says: "This team never knows when it's beaten. Some teams wilt and chuck it when the going gets tough. That's not the case with us." His boss says in The Guardian that Chelsea are scarred by their previous Anfield experiences: "For me it would be an incentive, but for them maybe it is a psychological problem." John Terry shrugs that off in The Times: "It's not so much about putting the record straight, it's about what we can go on and achieve. For the club it's a massive chance to make history."

The Sun have a rare photo of Didier Drogba looking happy on their backpage, along with defiant quotes from him: "I'm not in the least bit worried about them. They may have beaten us in the last two Euro semis but this Chelsea team is perfectly capable of winning at Anfield." Perhaps working in Chelsea's favour is that tonight's game comes with the backdrop of boardroom battles, and the Daily Mail say that George Gillett has invited officials from DIC to the game with his son. The Independent say that while ill health will keep Gillett Snr away tonight, co-owner and nemesis Tom Hicks is likely to be there, which could lead to some interesting seating arragements.

WEDNESDAY

The Daily Mirror report on last night's Champions League semi-final first leg, with headline HEADCASE referring to either John Arne Riise for his crazy 95th minute own goal or Rafael Benitez for his rant about the referee. Take your pick... In the Daily Mail, Benitez complains: "It's very difficult to understand because there were 94 or 95 minutes on the clock and I was surprised. Of course I am disappointed with the officials' performance. It's not the first time this has happened to us and we are really disappointed."

Riise's surname is certainly proving to be helpful for the headline-writers this morning, with the Daily Star summing up Liverpool's late collapse with RIISE AND FALL. The Sun also ignore the way his name is pronounced to make fun of the poor lad by calling him RIISE PUDDING. Meanwhile, the luckiest man in the country last night, Avram Grant, is in the Daily Express saying that: "We made a big step today and we can use this." He's certainly right that the Blues are in the driving seat of this tie now, though The Guardian point out that they barely deserve to be.

Meanwhile, the last thing Manchester United needed the night before taking on Barcelona at the Nou Camp was to have Nemanja Vidic rushed to hospital with a stomach bug, but that's what's happened, says the Daily Mirror. That's not denting Wayne Rooney desire though, and in the Daily Express he says: "I hope we can become the best United team ever. When you play, you are always looking at former teams; you look how good they were."

THURSDAY

The Daily Mail report on how Cristiano Ronaldo went from hero to villain for Manchester United in the Nou Camp last night, missing an early penalty in the 0-0 draw with Barcelona. In The Sun Ronaldo vows to bounce back from his penalty miss next week in the second leg at Old Trafford and send United through to the final. The Daily Mirror quote him as saying: "I know I will score in the return game in Manchester next Tuesday. I didn't change my style for taking the penalty. I've scored in that top corner before this season."

In The Times they say: "It seemed that Ronaldo's early aberration would come at a heavy price as Barcelona produced some beautiful football but, with Frank Rijkaard's team lacking the penetration to match their approach work, United survived with a clean sheet." Meanwhile, The Guardian say that Chelsea's Frank Lampard has taken compassionate leave to return to the bedside of his critically ill mother and may miss the game against United at the weekend.

The Daily Star say that John Arne Riise was so distraught by his late own goal on Tuesday night that he ignored his mobile phone and texted his brother asking to be left alone. The Independent say that Tom Hicks has visited Liverpool's training ground twice in the last 24 hours to try and win favour with Rafael Benitez (and therefore the fans) as the battle for control of the club rages on.

FRIDAY

If anyone other than Kevin Keegan was manager of Newcastle United, a story about them trying to sign Thierry Henry would seem like ridiculous speculation. But with Keegan at the helm, The Sun's EXCLUSIVE doesn't seem quite so out there... Speaking of which, how about that old 'Ronaldinho to Man City' chestnut? With Thaksin Shinawatra meeting up with Sven Goran Eriksson tomorrow to discuss the future, will Ronnie and compatriot Jo be on their way, like The Independent suggest.

The Daily Mail say that Rafa Benitez is also planning his summer shopping, with Gareth Barry, Philipp Degen, Antonio Valencia, David Bentley, Fernando Amorebieta and Albert Riera all targets. The Daily Mirror say that Benitez is ready to pledge his long-term future to the club, no doubt after being told that he can buy half the world's football players this summer.

The Daily Star meanwhile say that Real Madrid have been told by Chelsea that if they want Didier Drogba, they need to pay Â18m. The Daily Express report on Frank Lampard's pain at the death of his mother yesterday, which is likely to mean that he will miss the game against Man United tomorrow lunchtime. There's good news for United though, with The Times saying that Nemanja Vidic will be back after his illness this week.

What are these buttons?

TELL US WHAT YOU THINK!

To have your say on this article and read the latest comments, click here.

Carling want you to tell us what you think of the contents of this feature. As ever, though, the legal beagles here keep a very close eye on what we do so don't be disappointed if we weren't able to publish that fruity tale you sent in - rest assured we did read it and laughed ourselves daft, we just didn't want to get our wrists slapped.