Tis the season to be jolly, not fa la's la la la!

Anyone associated with Manchester United, the reigning English champions and Carling Cup holders, can look forward to the New Year.

We face the exciting battle with Chelsea, and possibly Arsenal, for our Premier League crown. We have the mouth-watering prospect of continuing our defence of the Carling Cup against our local rivals, Manchester City, who are desperate to end their 33 year wait for a trophy. We have the best FA Cup draw we could have hoped for - the chance to rekindle our rivalry with the enemy across the Pennines, Leeds United. We also have the draw for the knock out stages of the Champions League before we try to become the first team since Juventus in 1998 to reach 3 Champions League Finals in a row.

Exciting times my friends.

However, given the time of year, we should think about those less fortunate than ourselves. I am, of course, talking about Liverpool.

Since they last won the league title, in 1990, we have often heard that this is their year. This year though, this year they must have really believed it. They have 2 World class players in Torres and Gerrard, they pushed us all the way last season and, to be fair, gave us a thumping in our own back yard, but now less than half way through the season...now all hope is lost.

They are 12 points behind Chelsea, which currently has them outside the Europa League places, never mind the Champions League. Out of the title race by December is a familiar feeling for our Scouse friends but they usually have trips to the Bernabeu, Nou Camp, San Siro etc to lift their spirits. Not this year. This year they'll have to make do with trips to the likes of...Goodison Park! That's right. They now find themselves at the same European level as Everton.

They can do nothing to stop us retaining the Carling Cup because they are already out and with ourselves, Chelsea, Arsenal, Tottenham, City and Villa all competing for the FA Cup their chances of winning the oldest cup competition in World football looks slim because the current league table shows that these teams are all better than Liverpool.

At least they can look forward to seeing Aquilani...if Benitez lets his £20m man out to play for more than a few minutes at a time. This is unlikely to be enough to lift their spirits though during the festive period so I ask you to please look into your heart and feed the scousers. Let them know it's Christmas time.