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Sir Alex Ferguson claims he may ride off into the sunset with Arsene Wenger when the curtain comes down on the Premier League's most enduring managerial rivalry.

It might be stretching reality to breaking point to describe the old stagers as the game's version of Noel and Liam Gallagher - .

however, Ferguson and Wenger are not going anywhere yet and on the evidence of the latest eventful instalment in this drama, football should be thankful.

- and mixed emotions were the order of the day for Wenger as loser and even Ferguson as winner.

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Arsene Wenger's confidence in Arsenal is almost set in concrete - unbreakable even under the greatest strain. And yet It has rarely been as hopelessly misplaced as it was before a meeting with Manchester United last May.

Wenger watched Arsenal being outclassed in the Champions League semi-final first leg at Old Trafford and used this flimsy (make that non-existent) evidence to announce victory would be theirs in the return - even inviting one cynic to meet him at his triumphant media conference.

A slight problem then arose. United exposed a rather glaring failing in Wenger's optimism by , transforming what was meant to be a glory night into what the Arsenal manager confessed was .

Arsenal meet Manchester United again at Old Trafford on Saturday and Wenger once again travels with great hope after a virtually flawless start to the season, recording four emphatic victories.

It is not hope without foundation because circumstances, and more significantly personnel, have changed. , and Wenger has gone some way to addressing a flaw in his side's make-up.

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Rafael Benitez marched briskly through Anfield's main entrance nearly two hours after defeat to Aston Villa and moved to reassure a concerned Liverpool supporter with the words: "We keep going."

Early days to be delivering such a message - but there is no doubt unease is in the air at Anfield as Liverpool's ensured they equalled their total for the whole of last season.

Aston Villa manager Martin O'Neill, himself subjected to the first undercurrent of questioning about his tenure before this win, complained that it was "staggering" that prophecies were being made about a team's fate on the basis of one or two games.

And there is no reason for Liverpool to be discounted as Premier League title contenders on the basis of what can reasonably be described as undistinguished opening fortnight.

No-one, however, can escape from the reality that this has not been the start Benitez or Liverpool planned and it was reflected in the mood of deflation as .

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Manchester City's ruthless pursuit of success has ruffled feathers around the Premier League. .

Eastlands is an environment growing in confidence - confident enough to poke a little fun at neighbours Manchester United

"Manchester thanks you, Sheikh Mansour" read the giant banner draped over a balcony inside Eastlands. Not all of Manchester mind you, but certainly every City supporter at their opening home game against Wolves.

And with chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak checking on Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan's vast investments, .

As Oasis icon Gallagher also said as he revelled in a perfect start to this campaign of renewal fuelled by the Abu Dhabi billions, most City fans would happily swap popularity for silverware in a heartbeat.

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"Welcome To Warp Factor 10" was how Burnley chairman Barry Kilby announced the return of top tier football to Turf Moor after an absence of 33 years.

- a successful businessman who has crossed the often hazardous divide between terrace and boardroom - but a billing that was fully justified at the end of an emotional night at Turf Moor.

was not simply an emphatic statement of intent by Owen Coyle's team, it was accompanied by an all-out assault on all the senses that made this a truly special night.

. The James Hargreaves Stand actually shook to sound of celebrations when Robbie Blake's volley ripped past Ben Foster for the first-half winner.

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Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez produced his glasses from their box and polished them with dramatic irony when asked to assess referee Phil Dowd's display in .

As a moment of comedy it went down well - but .

Sure Benoit Assou-Ekotto's late penalty box barge on Andriy Voronin fell into "you've seen them given" territory and the same player was the culprit in a later handball claim, but Benitez's eyes would be better focused on his own team's failings.

And, spectacles or not, that undermined Liverpool's attempt to make a winning start to the season they hope will end a 20-year wait to reclaim English football's top domestic honour.

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The song Carlo Ancelotti sang as part of his official Chelsea initiation ceremony remains John Terry's secret for now - but the dance was on show for all inside Stamford Bridge.

Ancelotti's vocal skills were on display behind closed doors as part of bonding during Chelsea's pre-season tour of America. The dance was in full public view as Didier Drogba gave the Italian .

To call it a dance may be stretching the point, but the clenched fist and advance out of the technical area was an emphatic show of emotion from the normally phlegmatic Ancelotti and emphasised the importance of starting the domestic campaign with victory against resilient opponents in Hull.

Ancelotti had learned the history behind this fixture. just 48 hours after in February.

He admitted he was aware of this significant fact and was even treated to a rendition of "You're Geting Sacked In The Morning" by Hull's fans when Stephen Hunt gave the visitors a first half lead.

And while even Chelsea's reputation for impatience does not run to sacking a manager after the season's opening game, Ancelotti knows it is always best to start with a win.

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England coach Fabio Capello insists he spoke quietly to his players after a shambolic first 45 minutes in Amsterdam - the Italian will keep his powder dry for more significant days than this.

The trademark iron mask slipped as he generously blamed .

It is unlikely Capello will be so forgiving if lapses are repeated as the countdown continues towards what England captain .

As Capello rightly stated, it is better to distribute the presents in a friendly rather than in a World Cup encounter, when they could prove fatal, but the lessons must still be learned.

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Chelsea and Manchester United set the tone for the battle at the top of the Premier League in a Community Shield encounter .

The traditional quartet will jostle at the sharp end of the table - but can anyone break up the cartel of the so-called "Big Four"?

Can Liverpool end a 20-year wait to bring the title back to Anfield? Who will emerge from the pack? Who will consolidate? Who will be condemned to a season fighting for survival? It will all unfold once the top-flight campaign commences next Saturday.

Time to polish off the crystal ball and study the prospects of those hoping to make an impact in the Premier League in 2009/2010.

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Wembley's desire for spectacle means that pyrotechnics come as part of the package before and after every showpiece game - but it was the fireworks provided in between by Chelsea and Manchester United that revealed the Community Shield's sub-plot.

does not count as a defining moment in shaping the forthcoming Premier League season. It was, however, an early psychological blow that both of these heavweights were, on this feisty and entertaining evidence, desperate to land.

.

And with Chelsea intent on making an early statement on behalf of their Italian coach and prove Ferguson's point, .

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