* Shearer:
"My feeling is that any team with Wayne Rooney in it will always have a chance of scoring goals.
"Rooney came under a little bit of criticism recently for his goalscoring record for Manchester United this season but his two-goal display against Bolton on Saturday proved his class."
* Southampton's Gareth Bales talks about United rumours:
"I'm not interested in all the talk going on at the moment, nothing has happened, all I want to do is keep playing and enjoy what I'm doing, so I'm happy with that.
"I just keep playing football, no matter what the opposition. I don't feel pressure because I love playing football. It's what I want to do.
"I don't take much notice of all the talk and speculation. I'm not fussed about it. I enjoy playing for Southampton. It's my club. I stay in touch with my mates from school, who are in the sixth form now or at college, and have plenty of banter with them.
"That helps make sure I don't get carried away with things."
* Arsenal's Cesc Fabregas
"Right now, United are going really well and playing good football.
"Chelsea are six points and you never know what can happen in football..
"It's always difficult to predict who is going to win but at the moment I think United deserve to win."
* The Sun claim that Eidur Gudjohnsen is being targeted by United.
* From a Sanctuarite in Bulgaria:
For the past two years, Bulgarian fan Marin Levidzhev has been fighting in his country's courts to have his name legally changed to 'Manchester United'. Magistrates in Bulgaria have just ruled that he can call himself Manchester Levidzhev but not Manchester United. Which kind of defeats the object. Can he call himself Marin United though?
Levidhev plans on appealing the decision to a higher court: 'I feel as if I am only at the half-time break.' he said. 'I won't feel right until I get all my name changed to Manchester United… I love the club. It's my whole life and I want my name to reflect that.'
* Steve Staunton responding to Keano's quotes of fine line between loyalty and stupidity:
"He has his own opinions, and that's his opinion.
"Roy has done a wonderful job at Sunderland. That's his job - he picks his team. I've my team here, and I'll pick mine.
"That's the end of it.
"It's not about Roy Keane. It's about Ireland playing a qualifying game on Saturday. I've nothing more to say. That's it. End of story."
And from the Beeb:
Staunton refused to comment on whether he was disappointed at Keane for airing his views, or whether such comments could be used positively to fire up his side as the prepare for the first ever football international at Croke Park.
Privately, Staunton cannot have been impressed with Keane's bitter accusations, although not that they are friends in any respect.
Staunton was one of three players who sat alongside former Republic manager Mick McCarthy the day he explained his reasons for sending Keane home following their infamous bust-up in Saipan ahead of the 2002 World Cup.
* United's reserves beat Everton last night with a goal from James Derbyshire.