That is your lot from Sportsday Live for today. Enjoy a terrific weekend of sport and we will see you next week.

Manchester City boss Manuel Pellegrini refuses to dismiss the title threat of neighbours Manchester United.

"The major rivals are the teams that are very near. Arsenal sit top, one point on top of us and Chelsea is one point behind," said Pellegrini, with United 10 points his team in the table.

"But we are absolutely sure Manchester United will continue fighting to the end, because they are used to doing it, and Liverpool and Everton are teams that will continue fighting to the end.

Former Manchester United goalkeeper Peter Schmeichel has questioned the commitment of some of the club's current players.

"There are a few in the dressing room that are not taking the responsibility of being a Manchester United player as seriously as I would like it," said the Dane, 50, who won five league titles at Old Trafford.

"I find that a big shame. There are a few players there that haven't been performing this year or the year before and I think at some point the manager needs to make a decision, whether to keep them or not keep them, and then maybe bring some younger players in instead to make some kind of statement.

"If you're a senior player and you really want to make an impact in the dressing room, it's difficult if you have players there who are not as committed as you are and they have a certain status. I've said it before and I'm not afraid to say that and it could be something that could be done in this transfer window, to maybe let a few players go and if that happens you have a better chance of self-help in the dressing room."

Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers insists that he is not an "enemy of officials" after he was fined £8,000 for suggesting the referee Lee Mason should not have taken charge of his side's 2-1 defeat away to Manchester City as he lives in nearby Bolton.

"I was just talking about the logic and facts about other appointments would prove that true I am sure," he said.

"My view hasn't changed. I obviously accept the punishment but I'm not one who is the enemy to the officials."

Stoke manager Mark Hughes is hopeful of turning midfielder Stephen Ireland's loan move into a permanent deal this month.

Ireland has scored three times in 15 appearances for the Potters.

"We've had conversations with Villa and we would like it to be concluded. If it does happen it frees up another loan for us domestically that would give us a bit of flexibility, which would help," said Hughes.

"We'll try and use that loan in a good way. We'll be pleased if it does come off and there's no reason to think it wouldn't.

"If Stephen does join permanently that's credit to him since he's been here because he has done very well."

Tottenham manager Tim Sherwood assures club record signing Erik Lamela that he still has a future at White Hart Lane despite starting only three league games since his £25.7m move from Roma in August.

"He has a big future here, absolutely," Sherwood said of the Argentina international.

"We know what a talented player Erik is. We also understand that players need time to settle.

"We are going to take it nice and steady with him. I really want to put him on the stage when he's ready to perform, rather than let people judge him when he's half-cocked."

Spurs manager Tim Sherwood will be another guest on Football Focus this weekend as he talks over his plans. The programme is broadcast at 1200 GMT on BBC One.

Anon via text on 81111: Can't say that I agree with Jose. I think Manchester United will be hard pushed to reach the top four this season, let alone win the title. If they don't get into Europe then they will find it very difficult to attract good players, which could mark the end of a Man Utd dominated era.

Former Aston Villa, West Ham and Everton midfielder Thomas Hitzlsperger will be one of the guests on Football Focus this Saturday.

The German will speak to Gary Lineker about his announcement earlier this week that he is gay, discrimination in football and his time in England.

The programme begins at 1200 GMT on BBC One and will also be available online.

Here are your thoughts on Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho's views on Manchester United, Kevin De Bruyne, foreign managers and the January transfer window.

Ugo Williams:, external Mourinho is right. MUFC remains a force in the EPL. It's early to write off the club's chances now. RVP & Rooney will help.

Rian Hoskins:, external De Bruyne will want to save his World Cup place for Belgium. They have a wealth of midfield options so he may go in January.

Liverpool striker Daniel Sturridge is set to return to the Liverpool squad to face Stoke on Sunday after seven weeks on the sidelines with an ankle sprain.

The England international returned to full training this week having not featured in a matchday squad since the Merseyside derby on 23 November.

Centre-back Daniel Agger has been ruled out for three to four weeks with a calf strain, but Mamadou Sakho is back after a hamstring injury.

Provisional squad: Mignolet, Johnson, Skrtel, Sakho, Cissokho, Gerrard, Lucas, Henderson, Sterling, Coutinho, Suarez, Jones, Toure, Kelly, Alberto, Aspas, Sturridge, Moses, Ibe.

Championship side Wigan Athletic, external sign Everton and England Under-19 defender Tyias Browning on a month-long loan deal.

Toronto FC-bound striker Jermain Defoe has overcome a hamstring injury and is available for Tottenham's home game against Crystal Palace on Saturday.

Midfielder Lewis Holtby (knee), winger Andros Townsend (hamstring) and forward Gylfi Sigurdsson (calf) have overcome their injuries and could feature.

Erik Lamela (thigh) is a doubt, but Younes Kaboul (thigh), Jan Vertonghen (ankle), Sandro (calf) and Paulinho (ankle) are definitely out.

Provisional squad: Lloris, Friedel, Archer, Walker, Naughton, Fredericks, Dawson, Chiriches, Rose, Fryers, Dembele, Capoue, Eriksen, Bentaleb, Townsend, Holtby, Chadli, Lamela, Sigurdsson, Lennon, Soldado, Adebayor, Kane, Defoe.

Manchester United manager David Moyes is charged for misconduct by The Football Association in relation to post-match comments he made following his side's game against Sunderland on Tuesday 7 January 2014.

The FA statement:

"It is alleged the comments called into question the integrity of the match officials appointed to that fixture and/or appointed to Manchester United fixtures generally, and/or implied that such match officials are motivated by bias; and/or brought the game into disrepute, in contravention of Rule E3(1).

"Moyes has until 18:00 GMT on 15 January 2014 to respond to the charge."

Image source, Getty Images

What did you make of Mourinho's comments on foreign managers, De Bruyne possibly leaving, Manchester United still with a chance of the title and a shorter January transfer window?

Yes, all of that in one news conference.

Use #bbcsportsday, external to have your say

Image source, Getty Images

Real Madrid midfielder Xabi Alonso said he never received an offer from Chelsea.

The 32-year-old former Liverpool player signed a new two-year contract with the Spanish giants this week.

"There was no offer," he said. "We (Alonso and Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho) have a good relationship but he never said anything about going to Chelsea.

"I am happy here and (Real coach, Carlo) Ancelotti is one of those who has pushed most for me to stay. He was a midfielder and knows what the role involves. His public support for me was also important in my decision to stay."

Chelsea have no fresh fitness concerns for Saturday's Premier League clash at Hull.

Midfielder Frank Lampard (calf) and right-back Branislav Ivanovic (knee) are out until the end of the month, while Marco van Ginkel (knee) is continuing his rehabilitation.

Provisional squad: Cech, Cole, Luiz, Essien, Ramires, Torres, Mata, Oscar, Mikel, Schurrle, De Bruyne, Hazard, Ba, Willian, Schwarzer, Cahill, Terry, Azpilicueta, Eto'o, Blackman, Bertrand.

Goalkeeper Jack Butland could make his first Premier League start for Stoke against Liverpool on Sunday, although Thomas Sorensen is back in training.

With Asmir Begovic having broken a finger, Butland came off the bench to replace Sorensen (Achilles) against Everton and started the FA Cup third-round win over Leicester.

Defender Robert Huth (knee) also trained with the first team this week but may not be ready, while Andy Wilkinson (heel) remains sidelined.

Provisional squad: Butland, Sorensen, Bachmann, Cameron, Shawcross, Pieters, Muniesa, Wilson, Shotton, Palacios, Pennant, Nzonzi, Arnautovic, Adam, Walters, Whelan, Etherington, Crouch, Jones.

Wayne Rooney and Robin van Persie will again be missing when Manchester United host Swansea at Old Trafford on Saturday.

Rooney has been sent for some warm weather training as he tries to overcome a groin problem that has kept him out of United's last two games, while Van Persie has not recovered from a thigh strain which has sidelined him for a month.

Defenders Rio Ferdinand (knee) and Phil Jones (knee) and midfielders Marouane Fellaini (wrist), Nani (hamstring) and Ashley Young (shoulder) are injured, while Fabio is suspended.

Provisional squad: De Gea, Lindegaard, Smalling, Rafael, Evans, Vidic, Evra, Buttner, Valencia, Anderson, Giggs, Carrick, Cleverley, Fletcher, Kagawa, Zaha, Hernandez, Welbeck, Januzaj.

Aston Villa will assess the condition of defenders Ron Vlaar and Nathan Baker ahead of Monday's home clash with Arsenal.

Both club captain Vlaar (calf) and Baker (hamstring) sat out last weekend's FA Cup third-round loss to Sheffield United.

Forward Gabriel Agbonlahor, who also missed the cup tie, and goalkeeper Brad Guzan are fit despite having had niggles, but the game is too soon for midfielder Chris Herd and defender Joe Bennett to make their comebacks after injury.

Provisional squad: Guzan, Steer, Baker, Vlaar, Clark, Luna, Donacien, Lowton, Bacuna, El Ahmadi, Albrighton, Westwood, Delph, Sylla, Gardner, Tonev, Helenius, Weimann, Agbonlahor, Benteke, Bowery.

Manchester City midfielder Yaya Toure is fit for Sunday's Premier League trip to Newcastle after overcoming a minor ankle knock suffered in midweek.

Top scorer Sergio Aguero (calf) remains on the sidelines but could be close to a return while fellow forward Stevan Jovetic and midfielder Jack Rodwell (both hamstring) are also still out.

Winger Jesus Navas returns after resting a knee problem while defender Dedryck Boyata is available again after suspension. Defenders Micah Richards and Martin Demichelis are available after injury.

Provisional squad: Hart, Pantilimon, Zabaleta, Richards, Kompany, Nastasic, Lescott, Demichelis, Boyata, Kolarov, Clichy, Milner, Navas, Nasri, Silva, Toure, Fernandinho, Garcia, Dzeko, Negredo, Guidetti.