Liverpool boss Kenny Dalglish blamed a draining week of international friendlies for the Reds’ 1-1 draw against Wigan Athletic on Saturday.

Portuguese midfielder Raul Meireles put the hosts ahead in the 24th minute with his fifth goal from the past six league games, but the Reds tired at Anfield and conceded an equaliser to Wigan defender Steve Gohouri after the hour.

Dalglish said his side were robbed of their finishing touch by the residual effects of the midweek friendlies, which saw Liverpool’s four-match winning streak come to an end.

“We started well enough, we pushed forward and scored a goal,” Dalglish said.

“(But) you could tell that Wednesday night took a lot out of them. There was just that little bit of an edge missing.”

“If that edge had been there I think the final pass would have been there, and there were three or four occasions in the first half when we would have been in.”

“The sharpness was just missing a wee bit, which is understandable.”

“We are disappointed not to have taken three points, and with a bit of luck we might have done. I think Wigan, though, might have felt a wee bit aggrieved if they had left here without a point.”

“Luis (Suarez) hit the post twice, their goal is offside, but these things happen. We have to dust ourselves down and get on with it. It’s not been that damaging.”

Wigan boss Roberto Martinez praised his side for responding so emphatically following Meireles’ opener, and said the Latics left Merseyside with a deserved point.

“You come to Anfield and you go 1-0 down after playing well, that’s difficult,” Martinez said.

“The performance was really pleasing first half and the goal probably came against the run of play, and it’s a fantastic strike.”

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“But I felt we had long spells of possession in the first half and grew into the game.”

“We didn’t show that belief that you need to show to hurt a team like Liverpool. I just felt that at half-time with that score-line and that feeling, I felt we could have done a little bit better, but we didn’t play badly.”

“I thought the reaction (in the second half) was great. We had good composure, we are a young group.”

“I felt we deserved a point. Coming to Anfield at this time, if you’re not at your best you’re not going to get anything, so the players deserve huge credit.”

Claudio Ranieri is adamant he will not resign from Roma despite protests calling for the coach’s removal on Saturday.About 200 fans had to be dispersed by police after they hurled fireworks and flares into Roma’s training ground on Saturday morning, angered by the Serie A club’s run of poor form.Roma were defeated 3-2 at home by Ukrainian outfit Shakhtar Donetsk in the Europa League on Wednesday, and sit a lowly eighth in the Italian league following back-to-back losses.But Ranieri is determined to ride out Roma’s latest slump and remain at the club he supported as a child.”Relax, I’m not going anywhere. I will not abandon the ship,” Ranieri said ahead of Roma’s trip to Genoa on Sunday.”I won’t leave mid-season. It is a difficult situation, so as a native Roman I feel twice as bad, but I don’t like to give in. I have always faced challenges head-on and will continue to do so.”American consortium Di Benedetto are believed to be close to purchasing the cash-strapped club from Rosella Sensi, and reports from Italy have suggested the potential new owners may be planning to oust Ranieri from the position he has held since 2009.But the 59-year-old believes he may be in line for a contract extension should the American group take over at the Stadio Olimpico.”The Sensi family is selling up, while there is a new buyer who still has to complete the process. I received positive messages that they want to renew my contract, but we cannot rush these things,” Ranieri said.”You have to consider the situation when I arrived, as there was no money and I knew it was an extremely difficult situation.””I could’ve easily walked away last season, knowing the next term would be tough. However, that would’ve been like betraying myself.””The fans want to see a team that gives everything on the field. They are focusing on tomorrow’s game against Genoa and want results.””They couldn’t care less about club plans and strategies for the future.”

Manchester United travel to the Stade Velodrome on Wednesday for a Champions League round-of-16 tie against French champions Marseille.United have an impressive recent pedigree in European competition. They won the tournament in 2008 and reached the final the following season before losing to Barcelona.In 2010, United dispatched Italian giants AC Milan to set-up a quarter-final with Bayern Munich. They appeared to be cruising towards a fourth successive semi-final berth before losing Wayne Rooney to an ankle injury. Strikes from Arjen Robben and Ivica Olic helped Bayern dump United out 4-4 on the away goals and without Rooney they stumbled to second place in the English Premier League behind Chelsea.They lead the league table by four points ahead of Arsenal this season and have only lost twice in all competitions. Marseille captured the French league championship for the first time in 18 years under coach Didier Deschamps last year and are three points behind Ligue 1 leaders Lille this season.They have won five of their last six in all competitions, are unbeaten at home in 12 matches and could prove a difficult prospect for a United team who were less than convincing in their 1-0 win over non-league Crawley Town in the FA Cup on Saturday.Marseille will be without midfielder Mathieu Valbuena, who has been sidelined since January, leaving Benoit Cheyrou and Lucho Gonzalez as the key men in the middle of the pitch. Striker Andre-Pierre Gignac is also out after picking up a groin strain, forcing Deschamps to sweat on the fitness of forwards Luc Remy and Brandao. United have a number of long-term absentees still on the sidelines, including midfielders Park Ji-Sung, Antonio Valencia and Owen Hargreaves. And the news got worse on Tuesday with Ryan Giggs and centre-back Rio Ferdinand among seven players ruled out of the trip. With fellow defender Jonny Evans also out, Chris Smalling will be expected to deputize alongside Nemanja Vidic.

Lowly Cesena came back from two goals down to stun 10-man Juventus 2-2 and steal a point at the Stadio Dino Manuzzi in Serie A on Saturday.Juventus travelled to Cesena on the back of a three-match losing run, and they looked to have put that behind them as Alessandro Matri scored a first-half brace.But a penalty to Luis Antonio Jimenez in the shadows of half-time gave their relegation-threatened opponents reason to believe, and Juve’s worst fears were realised in the 80th minute as Marco Parolo nabbed a deserved equaliser.The result is a further blow for Juve boss Luigi Delneri, who is under increasing pressure to keep his job following a poor run of results for the proud Italian club.Matri, on loan from Cagliari until the end of the season, was in threatening form early and had already seen a goal ruled out for offside before his 19th-minute opener.The Italian striker applied to the finishing touch to a magnificent link-up move with Alessandro Del Piero, threading his shot from a tight angle to put Juve up 1-0.Cesena should have equalised near the half hour through Emanuele Giaccherini, who missed an easy follow-up to his original shot with Juve goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon beaten and the goal his mercy.The seesawing momentum swung back the way of Juventus as Matri picked up his second in the 35th minute, finishing where Giaccherini could not after Del Piero’s shot struck the crossbar.But Cesena had pulled one back six minutes later through Jimenez, who converted from the spot after Buffon was punished for tripping up Parolo, and two minutes later Juve defender Marco Motta received his marching order after picking up a second caution.Cesena came out after the break looking lively and dominated the second half, though Buffon repelled their initial attacks with a number of fine saves.But Parolo would not be denied, smashing in a half-volley after Jimenez’s free kick fell invitingly at his feet 20 minutes from time to heap further pain on Juventus.Juve remain seventh on the table for the time being, though they could fall as far as ninth once the weekend’s round is completed.Cesena move a point clear of the relegation zone in 17th place, though they will fall into the drop zone if Lecce can pull out something special at home to Bologna on Sunday.

Fiorentina coach Sinisa Mihajlovic has defended fiery striker Mario Balotelli after the Italian continued his shocking disciplinary run.Balotelli was sent off as Manchester City were bundled out of the Europa League by Dynamo Kiev on Thursday, making it the 12th time this season he has received a card since arriving at Eastlands in August.But Mihajlovic, who coached Balotelli at Inter Milan, defended the 20-year-old’s attitude and said he would learn to control his temper as he got older.”I’ve known him since he started training with me and from the beginning it was clear that he didn’t have much respect for the others. This should be understood as a positive aspect,” Mihajlovic said. “When he trained with us, he always reacted to the others’ actions and has never let others walk over him.””Balotelli’s temper is also his strength. He should soften a bit his temper, but it’s normal: when I was 20 years old, I was different than now.””You get better when you grow up and your behaviour on the pitch changes and improves as well.”

Schalke reached their first ever UEFA Champions League semi-final after a 2-1 win over Inter Milan in the second-leg of their quarter-final.Raul’s 71st Champions League goal on the stroke of half-time ended any hope the reigning European champions had of winning the tie after last week’s 5-2 drubbing at home, before he turned provider for defender Benedikt Howedes’ 81st minute winner.

Italian midfielder Thiago Motta pulled a goal back in between for the Serie A side, but they lost the tie 7-3 on aggregate as new Schalke boss Ralf Rangnick made it four wins from as many starts as manager.

Inter had the better of the first half in Gelsenkirchen on Wednesday, but could not make their dominance of possession count.

Schalke goalkeeper Manuel Neuer was rarely troubled and he answered the few challenges the Italians threw at him.

Wesley Sneijder hit an early sighter from range, which Neuer comfortably collected on his chest.

First-leg goal-scorer Dejan Stankovic also tested the German shot-stopper as Inter was forced to try and break the deadlock from distance, but his 30-yard strike was palmed away.

As Inter pushed for a goal before the break Schalke exposed them on the counter-attack and took an unlikely lead into half-time.

Spanish midfielder Jurado broke quickly from midfield and his well-weighted pass released Raul, who rounded Inter goal-keeper Julio Cesar and tapped into an open net.

The defending of Leonardo’s men was again questionable for the goal as the returning Lucio lost track of Raul’s run and left the centre of defence exposed.

But Inter showed signs of life when they pulled one back four minutes into the second half through midfielder Motta.

A corner from Sneijder was headed goal-ward by a rising Lucio, before Motta reacted quickest to poke the equaliser into the roof of the net.

The hosts thought they had regained the lead on the hour mark, but Howedes had his scrambled finish from a corner ruled out for offside.

Sneijder forced Neuer to scramble across his goal-line 15 minutes from time after striking a whipping free-kick inches wide of his right post.

But the Germans guaranteed they would win the home leg when Raul scooped a delightful pass through for Howedes to break the Inter offside trap and smash a low shot past Cesar.

Schalke will now meet Manchester United in the semi-final, with the first leg to be played on April 26 or 27.

Fulham boss Mark Hughes says Fulham’s comfortable 3-0 win over Bolton has vindicated his belief that the Cottagers are a top-10 side.Goals in either half to American Clint Dempsey and a Brede Hangeland header handed the Londoners the three points on Wednesday and also propelled them into the top half, effectively slimming their chances of an unlikely drop into the English Premier League’s relegation zone, with only four games remaining in the season.

Former Manchester City boss and Manchester United player Hughes was delighted with his troops’ showing.

“We were excellent. We are in the top 10 now,” the Welshman told the BBC. “I think it’s only the second time this year that we’ve been in the top 10 and now it is up to us to make sure we stay there until the end of the season.”

“You have had heard me time and time again say that I felt we are a top-10 side (and) I think we proved that again tonight. We have got good quality, we play the right way and I think we deserve to be in the top 10.”

“I thought some of the play we produced was excellent and thankfully tonight we added goals to the quality of our play. It is very satisfying for everybody.”

Bolton manager Owen Coyle expressed disappointment with his side’s spurning of the chance to move into seventh.

“Certainly it is disappointing,” Coyle told Sky Sports. “We came here to try win the game and we could have moved to seventh.

“We know Fulham are a good side. They have been in good form at home, but from our point of view we have lost three goals from set-plays and that is disappointing in any game. But I can’t deny Fulham deserved the win.”

Coyle partially attributed the side’s loss of personnel through injury, with Daniel Sturridge unable to start the game and in race for fitness ahead of their league clash with Blackburn on Saturday.

“Ultimately I’m disappointed to have lost this game and we are not making excuses, but we have players dropping like flies. But there is no debating that Fulham deserved the three points,” he said.

“Time will tell and (midfielder) Mark Davies is the same. (The players) have been terrific all season but that happens to everyone all season and we didn’t deal with that tonight.”

“(It’s as) simple as that.”

Since Sir Alex Ferguson took charge of Manchester United, there have been some memorable players who have come out of Old Trafford. Admittedly, Fergie has made some dodgy signings over the years – you’ll be pleased to hear that William Prunier and Eric Djemba-Djemba won’t be making my list, but seeing as this week we are concentrating on football’s cult heroes, I’ve decided to put together 10 of Manchester United’s finest.

It was a tough decision to leave out players we would all consider a hero of football, and players who Manchester United fans would consider a legend for their contributions to the cause; Diego Forlan has unfortunately missed out despite his brace at Anfield even though it did confirm his slot in United folk-law. Some of the players included were also winning over the hearts of United fans before Sir Alex’s time.

So here are my Manchester United top 10 cult heroes. You may feel some players have been hard done by, as they miss out. But free feel to argue their case below in the comments section!

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Fulham manager Mark Hughes has rejected reports he is set to leave the club at the end of the season.Hughes, 47, has been linked with English Premier League rivals Chelsea in recent days but moved to quell the speculation by releasing a statement on Wednesday.

“I am very happy at Craven Cottage and am looking forward enormously to building on what we have achieved this season,” Hughes said on the club’s official website.

“I enjoy a good relationship with the owner, management, players and supporters of Fulham Football Club and look forward to continuing that relationship next season.”

In other Fulham news, defender Chris Baird has been charged by the Football Association for abusive and/or insulting gesture towards a match official.

Baird is alleged to have given referee Lee Mason a V-sign after he was booked for a challenge on Liverpool’s Durk Kuyt during Monday’s 5-2 home defeat.

Baird has until Thursday to respond to the charge.

Manchester eyes are certainly smiling this morning as they achieved a domestic double after both clubs landing the silverware yesterday afternoon. City finally end their barren spell and it could finally prove the catalyst for a period of sustained success.

In the papers this morning there have been a mixed bag of stories that include; Wenger persuades Rice to stay; Dalglish promises not to blow £50m on greedy players, while Mancini turns pot of gold into silverware.

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Bernstein: FA cannot change Fifa alone – Guardian

Tevez considering future – Sky Sports

Gold: Drop would not finish West Ham – Guardian

Hart: Cup win silences critics – Daily Telegraph

Wenger persuades assistant Rice to stay on at Arsenal for one more year – Daily Mail

The truth about Grant: good managers do not relegate big clubs – Independent

Dalglish promises not to blow £50m on ‘greedy’ players – Mirror

Mancini turns pot of gold into silverware – Guardian

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Tottenham enter chase for in-demand Friedel – Mirror

Wenger: Choose referees by secret ballot to take the pressure off – Daily Mail

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