Liverpool Top Fairplay Chart

*On the move:Cavani

IT'S the weekend of big matches, with top of the table clashes not just here in Australia, but across Europe.

Paper Talk steers you into the weekend with snippets from across the globe - on and off the pitch.

WHO'S THE FAIREST OF THEM ALL?

Luis Suarez's mob, that's who!

Everyone's favourite villain plays for the side that tops the EPL's new Fair Play Table.

Liverpool comes in ahead of Arsenal, Tottenham and Manchester City, with Stoke City rounding out the table. Manchester United is 17th!

Points are earned for: red and yellow cards, positive play, respect toward opponents, respect towards the referee and behaviour of the team officials.

What's "positive play"? It's a reward to "encourage attractive play that will increase the enjoyment of spectators".

NO REGRETS

With Suarez's side hosting Arsene Wenger, the Frenchman - who said this week he knows he still has to convince the English public of his side's title worth - has spoken about failing to land the Uruguayan in the transfer market.

"You sometimes have regrets when players who played for you score goals or do well somewhere else," said Wenger.

"But he was never our player, it is a situation that didn't come off and that is it."

Wenger added it's not a move the club is going to revisit.

TOUGH BEING A PRO FOOTBALLER

Ronaldo's missus has been spending time posting pictures on Twitter. Now it's Neymar's girlfriend's turn.

Bruna Marquezine features in the first episode of 'Em Familia' in Brazil.

That's how you get the punters back for episode two ...

COME AND GET ME CAVANI

Daily Mail is suggesting that Paris Saint Germain superstar Edinson Cavani is toying up an EPL move, with persistent interest from Manchester United, Chelsea and Arsenal.

The 26-year-old's representatives are reportedly in London at the moment. Despite being on the cusp of Ligue 1 silverware, the paper reports that playing second fiddle to Zlatan Ibrahimovic, including being forced into a wider role, is playing a role as he weighs up his future.

BLOCKBUSTER TIME

In France, PSG travel to second-placed Monaco for a massive contest. Summer signings Cavani (thigh injury) and Radamel Falcao (knee) won't be there, but Dimitar Berbatov will.

What a stage for Falcao's replacement at Monaco to make his debut as the club looks to peg back a five-point deficit.

"t's the best possible way (to start)," Berbatov said.

"You play against one of the biggest clubs in football, one of the best players in football (Zlatan Ibrahimovic), so what else can a player want?

"It's going to be a fantastic opportunity for me.

"They are favourites, but they're coming to ours so it will be difficult for them."

There will also be plenty of buzz about Rome on the weekend, with Roma hosting Lazio.

THAT'S NOT WHAT I MEANT

Play

Brendan Rodgers has sought to clarify comments yesterday that hinted he'd given up on the title race. Far from it, he added today, saying that he hadn't lowered his side's expectations - but was just answering a question honestly.

"Well it's certainly the objective," said Rodgers.

"I think that the position we've been in for most of the season means that we're fighting and we're up there.

"I was asked a question yesterday in terms of the title and I gave an answer that I felt was an honest answer. It doesn't mean that we're any less ambitious.

"We want to finish as high as we possibly can, but certainly being in that top four is a key objective for us."

VIDIC OUT, HERE'S WHY BAINES DIDN'T JOIN

As Nemanja Vidic searches for new challenges, Leighton Baines, 29, has explained why he didn't follow David Moyes to Manchester United as many had predicted.

He's paid tribute to Roberto Martinez, who has freshened things up at Goodison Park.

"It was great to sign and commit to the club and put everything else to bed and be able to focus on football and the future - my future and the club's future," Baines told evertontv.

"It has been really positive for the most part this season and I've been really impressed with the manager's approach to everything.

"The various aspects to what he does and the way we approach games is asking new questions of all of us, whether you've been here a few months or a few years.

"It is challenging and has freshened the place up. It was a fresh start for all of us and it was exciting because it was such a change and that was a big part of it."

HEAD HUNTED?

From Southampton to Real Madrid. Sounds crazy, but Mauricio Pochettino's cultured Saints outfit has seemingly impressed the right people in the Spanish capital.

People thought Nigel Adkins had been hard done by when he was dismissed, but Southampton are ninth now, a far cry from three points clear of the drop zone when he took over.

He said he is happy at Southampton, but didn't quite pledge his future there - and why not, if he's being touted as a replacement should Carlo Ancelotti move on.

"You all know I am not one to speak about rumours, speak about unrealistic things, intangible things so I really have no comment on that," Pochettino said.

"I also don't like to talk about the future - I am not one to talk about the long-term future.

"Real Madrid are an amazing club, a great club and you never know what could happen in football, but at the moment I am really happy at Southampton and that is my present right now. Nothing else."

'WE'RE TOO SEXY'

Valentines Day has sparked a cheeky war of words between stadium co-inhabitants Bayern Munch and 1860 Munich, with the new boss of the second-division club kicking things off last month.

"1860 has much more sex than Bayern," Markus Rejek declared.

Okay, then ...

It's been 10 years since 1860 has been in the Bundesliga, and Bayern is the dominant force in Europe at the moment.

That's sexy enough, says chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge.

"More girls and women come to watch Bayern games than go to 1860 matches, that should prove we are the sexier club," he hit back.

I'M OUT OF HERE

Newcastle United reserve team manager Willie Donachie resigned after the Premier League club launched an investigation into an allegation that he hit one of his players.

The accusation surrounds an incident involving former Scotland international Donachie and 19-year-old defender Remie Streete after Monday's 2-0 Under-21s defeat at Sunderland.

A club statement said: "Newcastle United can confirm that Willie Donachie has resigned from his position as reserve team manager with immediate effect. The club will be making no further comment.''
Read more: http://www.foxsports.com.au//football/premier-league/paper-talk-arsene-wenger-has-no-regrets-over-failed-move-for-liverpools-luis-suarez/story-fn8uzjqx-1226820883350#ixzz2seXEyNDE