Gillett and Hicks will not pull the dosh from their own pockets to sack Raffa and get a decent replacement unless one of them (Gillett) thinks its worth winning the argument with his co-owner (Hicks) that it is his get even time with the Spanish waiter for having sided the wrong way when Parry was still there. It is like "Soap!" at Anfield these days. Liverpool FC haven't got that sort of money lying around themselves so Raffa will probably stay even if the Mancs wup the scousers at Anfield this weekend.

Yes Lyon could easily double Fiorentina but even that favourable result leaves Liverpool needing effectively to get the better of Fiorentina over two legs starting the second leg 2-0 down. Even if they beat Fiorentina 3-0, Liverpool still have to get as good a result in Lyon as Fiorentina do at home to Debrecin. If Fiorentina get a draw or win against Lyon, Liverpool could get through with a better than 2-1 win in Lyon if they also win their other two games and given how they struggled at Anfield against Debrecin, the Hungarians will be fancying themselves at home- they might well be challenging Liverpool for the Europa League slot if Liverpool don't buck up. They are as good as out I tell you!

How? Look at the table, results to date and fixtures. Even winning all three games (two away and Fiorentina at home) will not guarantee them qualification.

Interesting tonight- excellent results for Kiev and Kazan in Milan and Barcelona. Most significantly, I think we have just seen the end of England's Big 4 with Liverpool's home defeat by Lyon. To all intents and purposes, they are the first English club not to progress to the knock out stages of the CL for five years I think it is. Fiorentina's win in Hungary coupled with Liverpool having a much inferior goal difference and effectively needing to reverse a 2-0 deficit to get ahead of Fiorentina means they are headed for the Europa League.

That's why Salgado came to Rovers.

Early days but that Fiorentina defeat has actually put Liverpool in some danger of not qualifying. I enjoyed Zurich winning at AC. On the balance of play it was no fluke.

If the area gets a really strong reputation for superb food (which they are) then they grow the market between them. What is clear, the future for any pub not doing sensational grub in the Ribble valley area is zero. Unless it has a local crowd to support it by drinking a lot, it will be finished. There are many areas in France and Italy where there is a similar agglomeration of superb eateries in seemingly rural and not well to do parts and they do fine without having four million plus people within forty miles of their doorsteps.

I went to Quanjude in 1987 and was underwhelmed to say the least! Hopefully it has all improved since then.

Where to eat the 50 best foods in the world. Useful addresses for anyone going to New York, Barcelona or Paris!

Apparently Ince did and was playing RSC towards the end of his time at Rovers against the advice of a medic. That came from a pretty reliable source within the club.

Europa Cup. Rapid Vienna who did for Villa are two up in the first half against Hamburg. Is it only me but these Europa Cup games look much more like proper European encounters than the CL now they have amended the rules to give the likes of Valletta FC a decent chance of qualifying for the Group stages.

All four English clubs won- what a surprise.

Bashall Eaves' Red Pump gets a nod in the Times today for the best meat in Britain.

Back it comes tonight. The English clubs can use it like the Carling Cup until the knock out phase- their opponents are below the standard they normally face in the PL for the most part. Inter v Barca will be a bit tasty though.

Sorry to bang on about this but ending prohibition is easily the most sensible and painless way to cut unnecessary public expenditure. Now in Britain Astonishing statistic there- 75% of all Britain's acquisition crime (stealing in one form or another) is drugs related. Just think what can be done to cut prison population, redirect policing and, above all, slash car and household insurance premiums.

Yet another call to end prohibition

I believe Sergio Peter was (and presumably still is) just a complete headcase. Great shame as he is probably the most talented youngster to come out of the Academy from his cohort.

Boro will be significantly strengthened by this signing. He is a massive improvement over the player he is replacing.

Nicko reporting Zura moving to Boro I think this is a terrible move. I really rate Zura and believe we need him as back-up.

No far from it. The 'drog made the point that Nigel Haworth uses a lot of very basic ingredients. The foundation of French cuisine is the south west of the country where poor rough soils forced the peasantry to eat every bit of the animals they killed- from that and judicious use of local herbs, mushrooms and vegetables came the genius of French cuisine. Basically turning unpromising ingredients into the food of the Gods.

That is the key to the greatest cuisine everywhere. It is the foundation of French cullinary brilliance.

Guardian review of the Bull at Broughton

Esquire produces the stats.

LA Times articled- another sign that prohibition is nearing its end

Repercussions start