United have drawn eight of their 19 games so far this season, which has not been like them in the past. However in recent weeks the Red Devils have started to grind out the results that have won them Premier League titles in the recent years.

On Tuesday United welcome Stoke City who have not troubled them at Old Trafford since they gained promotion to the top flight (United 1/4, draw 4/1, Stoke 11/1).

The Potters were hammered 4-0 at the Theatre of Dreams last season but will be boosted by some injury doubts for United. Nani looks like he will sit out yet another game on the sideline with a hip injury but the main worry for Ferguson will be the possible absence of Wayne Rooney. The England striker picked up an ankle injury during United 2-1 away win against West Brom at the Hawthorns on New Year’s Day.

Although Rooney has clearly not been in his best form this season, he got a goal against the Baggies and will be desperate to get on the scoresheet against the Potters.

Stoke have crept up into eighth place in the Premier League and have had a strong start to their third season in the top flight. However they may not have come far enough to mount a serious challenge against United on Wednesday.

Former United star Mark Hughes is finding life difficult as manager of Fulham as the Cottagers sit in the relegation zone having been a top half table side for the last few seasons.

Fulham have a massive game against West Brom on Wednesday as they look to climb up the table (Fulham 6/5, draw 23/10 West Brom 23/10).

The West London side have struggled without their star striker Bobby Zamora this season but they could welcome back forward Moussa Dembele who has been out for the last seven weeks with an ankle injury.

After a thrashing by Chelsea on the opening day of the season West Brom got stronger and stronger throughout the first part of the season. However the Baggies have been on the end of some unlucky results and now find themselves just three points above the relegation zone.

They were unlucky not to get anything out of their clash with United last week as Peter Odemwingie missed from the penalty spot. This will be a tight affair but the Baggies might be able to get all three points from this one and compound Hughes’ misery.

Surprise package Blackpool keep plodding along in the Premier League picking up points when nobody expects them to.

The Tangerines host Birmingham on Wednesday as they look to consolidate their place in the top half of the table (Blackpool 13/10, draw 23/10, Birmingham 21/10).

Birmingham however have slipped into the three despite a win over Chelsea and a draw against United. Alex McLeish will be desperate to get an important away win and they should get something from this game.

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Sam Allardyce

Liverpool (4/6 to win, 12/5 draw) have had a disappointing season under Roy Hodgson and their plight has been much-documented. They sit in the Premier League relegation spots with only six points from their opening eight games.

In previous seasons many football fans would not give Blackburn much of a hope at Anfield, but this season things are different.

Liverpool have lost four games already in the league and have been defeated at Anfield by Premier League new-boys Blackpool and, even more embarrassingly, by League Two side Northampton Town in the Carling Cup.

Allardyce goes into the game without captain Chris Samba after his sending off in the draw with Sunderland last time out. Ryan Nelsen is set to come in and replace him, while strikers Benjani (8/1 to be first goal scorer) and Jason Roberts are back in contention.

The experienced manager admits it is a “good time” to be facing Liverpool, but he expects a tough challenge from Hodgson’s side as they look to put in a good performance in their first home game under their new owners.

“They’ve had a difficult time results wise of late, they had a good result in Europe but from our point of view we have a better chance than normal to get a result at Anfield on Sunday,” said Allardyce.

“We have still got to play at our best and I think this time it gives us a better chance of getting a result. You can be at your best many times at Anfield and it still wouldn’t be good enough to get you anything.

“I think at this moment in time it might be good enough to get us something.”

Hodgson is expected to recall captain Steven Gerrard and Fernando Torres to the first team after they sat out the Europa League draw with Napoli on Thursday (Liverpool 11/1 to win Europa League).

Glen Johnson and Daniel Agger are also available for Hodgson as the manager looks to stop a rot that has seen Liverpool endure their worst start to a top-flight campaign for more than 50 years.

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Nigeria

The country’s President, Goodluck Jonathan, had taken the measure on Thursday in the wake of the team’s poor showing at the World Cup.

He issued a statement that Nigeria’s team would not be allowed to play in international competitions for the next two years, and would only be able to play in friendly matches.

FIFA’s reaction was swift, threatening to suspend the country from the organisation which would mean they could not play any matches, and financial sanctions could also be imposed.

FIFA had issued an ultimatum that Nigeria had until Monday night to reverse their decision.

“Mr President will not rescind the decision because it’s the best decision for football development in Nigeria,” a presidency source said.

“Mr President and his team had weighed the consequences of this decision and arrived at this decision as in the interest of the nation. We need to restructure and reorganise our football for effective and commendable results.”

“FIFA will today send a letter to the Nigerian football federation indicating that the government of Nigeria has until Monday 6pm (1600 GMT) to cancel its decision to withdraw Nigeria’s participation in all FIFA and CAF organised football competitions,” FIFA spokesman Nicolas Maingot told a news briefing on Friday.

After meeting the country’s World Cup organising committee, Jonathan also said the accounts of the committee should be audited, and named an 11-member caretaker committee to sort out the administration and management of the game.

Maingot said FIFA would not recognise the management committee, but would send an executive member of the world body to attempt last minute mediation on Monday.

If the Nigerian government fails to heed FIFA’s ultimatum, it risks getting cut-off from all FIFA activities, including junior and female competitions. FIFA funding to the football association could also be cut.

“A suspension goes beyond the suspension of the national team, it also involves the freezing of the financial help and no referees can participate in international competition,” Maingot said.

Nigeria were set to begin their bid to qualify for the 2012 African Nations Cup finals in September against Madagascar.

They also qualified for the upcoming women’s world championships at under-20 and under-17 level and their top club side Heartland is to play in the African Champions League group phase later this month.

A ban would also cut access to its development courses and stop the annual payment of $250,000 each member association receives, cash that is much needed by Nigerian football.

This latest episode is not the first time Nigerian political authorities have been at loggerheads with football governing bodies over political interference.

Nigeria were banned by the Confederation of African Football in 1996 when then President Sani Abacha withdrew the team from the African Nations Cup finals in South Africa because he had been criticised by Nelson Mandela over the judicial execution of political opponents.

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