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Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers has confirmed that defender Jon Flanagan will be out for up to nine months after undergoing knee surgery.
The full-back made 23 Premier League appearances in an impressive 2013-14 season, but has not featured this term.
Despite nearing a comeback in March, Flanagan is set for another lengthy spell on the sidelines.
"He has fought back having been out for a period of time but the issue that he's had, if he didn't have the operation it was only going to delay it," Rodgers said.
"Jon is a really strong character. He trained for a few days last week and looked absolutely brilliant.
"I was asking the medics if it was something that he definitely needed. But for him and his career, he definitely needed the operation and now he's had that and it will be over the course of the next six to nine months now.
"Hopefully we can get him back fit and stronger than ever because he's a really, really important player for us.
"He is the one player that I think has never been mentioned throughout the season, in terms of people looking at goals, people that have left the club and people that are here and have been unfit.
"But he has been a huge miss for us because in the second half of last season when he got into the team, he was arguably the best full-back in the league."
Liverpool boss Rodgers also revealed on Friday that the club are consulting specialists in the United States over Daniel Sturridge's injury problems.
Rodgers also confirmed that midfielder Lucas Leiva (thigh) and Alberto Moreno (knock) will return for Saturday's clash against QPR at Anfield having missed the midweek 1-0 defeat at Hull City.
However, striker Mario Balotelli, who hurt his foot at the KC Stadium, and defender Mamadou Sakho (hamstring) are unavailable.
Wayne Rooney has suffered no reaction to the knee injury he suffered against Everton and will feature for Manchester United against West Brom.
The England captain was substituted towards the end of United's 3-0 Premier League defeat against his former club at Goodison Park last Sunday and there were concerns about his fitness.
However, manager Louis van Gaal has confirmed the striker is fit for the visit of Tony Pulis' side on Saturday.
"Rooney is fit to play, it was not so heavy as we expected," he told MUTV.
"Wayne is very important for us, so I am very happy."
United will also welcome back Phil Jones, but fellow defender Luke Shaw will not feature.
Van Gaal added: "Jones is fit but we have to see his match rhythm, of course. But Shaw has trouble with his groin so he cannot play."
West Brom head coach Tony Pulis believes Louis van Gaal will be under pressure to ensure Manchester United are genuine contenders for the Premier League title next season.
United turned to David Moyes to replace legendary manager Alex Ferguson ahead of the 2013-14 campaign, but the Scot was dismissed less than 12 months in to the job.
Subsequently, Dutchman Van Gaal - who has won the domestic titles in Netherlands, Spain and Germany - took over and has steered the club to fourth place with four matches remaining.
With a return to the UEFA Champions League seemingly assured, Pulis expects Van Gaal to make more of an impact in his second season at the helm.
"Louis has obviously spent a bit of money and brought quite a few players in, I think he has had a year to look at it," Pulis said ahead of West Brom's visit to Old Trafford on Saturday.
"The difference from himself and [Chelsea manager Jose] Mourinho was that Jose knew the league. This is Van Gaal's first season in the league. Next year he has to come close to winning the league, he'll know that.
"It's been great experience for him this year. I'm sure he'll add a few players to the squad next year. They'll want to win it, I see them getting stronger, I can't see them getting weaker.
"David didn't get it [time], but Louis has, most probably on the basis he has been successful at bigger clubs. He's won major titles at bigger clubs. He's earned it by what he's done elsewhere, that's a fact of life."
A 2-0 victory at Crystal Palace and a goalless draw with Liverpool moved Albion seven points clear of the relegation zone.
But, with United, Chelsea and Arsenal to come in their final four matches, Pulis says there is still work to be done.
"We still need a couple of points and we have a tough run-in," he added. "We're underdogs in every game."
Manchester City manager Manuel Pellegrini says Yaya Toure's hamstring injury is likely to rule the midfielder out for their next two Premier League matches.
The Ivorian was substituted at half-time during Saturday's 3-2 win over Aston Villa after suffering the setback.
And Pellegrini confirmed on Friday that Toure will miss Sunday's trip to Tottenham and is highly doubtful for the visit of QPR a week later.
"Yaya is injured. I think he will be out at least one more week. It will be difficult for him to play against QPR," explained the Chilean, who is also set to be without captain Vincent Kompany (thigh) this weekend.
Pellegrini added: "Kompany is progressing and maybe next week he can be ready.
United can be title contenders next season, says Van Gaal
1 May 2015
Louis van Gaal expects Manchester United to take the fight to Chelsea next season and challenge for the Premier League title.
Fourth-placed United trail the league leaders by 15 points with four matches remaining after an inconsistent campaign that saw them struggle early on.
However, a record of four defeats in 24 has seen them charge back up the table.
A return to the UEFA Champions League looks on the cards if United can maintain their advantage over fifth-placed Liverpool - currently seven points - but Van Gaal has much higher ambitions for next season.
"The board have given me three years for that objective [winning the league]," he said. "This year we have not challenged Chelsea but we are very close to second position.
"There is not a big gap, I don't think so. You can judge that when the clubs are playing matches against each other.
"Chelsea are far above the other clubs. Next year can be different. Next year we shall be better prepared.
"I cannot deny that we need balance in our selection. I think also the preparation of our season, I think that Manchester United has already adapted to a better preparation.
"We started very badly this year because when you cut the start of it, I think we equal Chelsea, for example. Now we have to start better, and then we have to perform at the moment it is being asked of."
United face West Brom at Old Trafford on Saturday with captain Wayne Rooney and Robin van Persie fit to play, however Michael Carrick continues to be absent with a calf injury.
Managers must respect each other, Wenger tells Mourinho
1 May 2015
Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho has come under fire from his Arsenal counterpart Arsene Wenger for not showing enough respect for his fellow managers.
Chants of 'boring, boring Chelsea' rang out around the Emirates Stadium from Arsenal fans after the sides played out a goalless draw last weekend, causing Mourinho to react.
Mourinho responded in his post-match interviews by saying "boring, I think is 10 years without a title", something Wenger feels was disrespectful towards his achievements at Arsenal.
"The biggest thing of managers is to respect each other, and some people have to improve on that," said the Frenchman when asked about Mourinho's comments.
"Everybody lives with his own internal problems. I live with mine and that's enough.
"You always know you have to control yourself and remain controlled, polite and respectful. But of course sometimes you feel that people are not respectful of you."
Arsenal currently sit 13 points behind Chelsea – the Premier League leaders – with five games remaining, starting at Hull City on Monday.
Manchester City manager Manuel Pellegrini seemed less than pleased with Jose Mourinho's comments regarding Financial Fair Play (FFP) sanctions but refused to be drawn into a war of words.
The Portuguese stated on Friday that City - fined £49million fine last year for FFP violations - needed to be docked points instead.
Mourinho told the Daily Mail: "When Manchester City pays off £50million of fine because they exceeded the FFP, I think it's unfair."
The Chelsea boss has resumed a spat with Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger during recent weeks but Pellegrini refused to retaliate with full force on Friday.
"No, no. I don't have any views about that," he told reporters.
"Every manager can say what they want. I think don't lose points because we don't deserve to.
"There are so many things that [Mourinho] always says that it doesn't matter - about Chelsea or referees or the FA Cup or other managers or other things.
"When you think that everything is normal to say to win, you can say what you want. I think as a manager have a different way of thinking about this.
"If you think that to win a game you can do all that you can, you can do it. I don't think the same way.
"He does what he needs to win. I don't know what Arsene Wenger said today - I always try to think in the same way when we are winning or losing.
"You ask me about this season - I think that Chelsea was the best team, that they deserve to win the title because they have been the most consistent team with very good players.
"I congratulate their owner because he is always improving his squad and I congratulate their fans and Jose Mourinho and the players because they deserve absolutely the title."
Dick Advocaat is adamant Sunderland will not collapse to another humiliating defeat at the hands of Southampton when they meet in the Premier League on Saturday.
When the two sides met in October, Southampton romped to an 8-0 victory as Sunderland scored three own goals.
That defeat came under former head coach Gus Poyet, and Advocaat - who succeeded the Uruguayan in March – is keen to ensure Sunderland do not suffer at the hands of Ronald Koeman's side again.
"I don't think would be a good idea to discuss the game [with the players] again," he said. "I have seen the video, we gave the goals away easily, that will definitely not happen tomorrow. It will be a totally different game."
A 1-1 draw with Stoke City last weekend saw Sunderland slip into the bottom three for the first time, but Advocaat is not panicking despite their run-in including trips to Arsenal and Chelsea.
He added: "We have five matches [to save relegation]. We know the last two are difficult but there is no reason to think about those games, so in the next three games we need to get the points, but still we can do something at Arsenal and Chelsea.
"We have to see it game by game, try and get the points in the next game and that's tomorrow.
"There's no need to look to other clubs, we have to get the points by ourselves.
"How [we do it] is not important. It will be a great achievement for this club to get the results we need."
Manchester United midfielder Andreas Pereira has signed a new three-year contract at Old Trafford, ending speculation surrounding his future.
The 19-year-old joined United from Anderlecht in 2011 and, after consistently showing his ability in the club's youth setup and Under-21 side, made his first-team debut against Milton Keynes Dons in August 2014.
With his previous deal expiring in June, Pereira had reportedly attracted interest from the likes of Paris Saint-Germain, but United have secured the attacking midfielder's future, holding the option to extend the agreement until 2019.
And manager Louis van Gaal is expecting big things from Pereira, telling United's official website: "I am delighted that Andreas has signed a new contract.
"Andreas has all the attributes to become an integral part of the first team; great natural talent coupled with a good appetite to learn.
"I am pleased with his progression so far this season and look forward to working with him to develop his talent even further."
Pereira added: "I am pleased to have signed my new contract.
"I am at the right club to continue my development as a player and to learn as much as I can. I want to thank my family and God for the opportunity he has given me."
Whether Burnley are relegated or not, defender Ben Mee wants manager Sean Dyche to stay put.
Dyche, who guided Burnley to the Premier League last term on a modest budget, has gained plenty of admirers for his brand of football, despite the club's lowly position in England's top flight.
Burnley are five points adrift of safety with matches against West Ham, Hull City, Stoke City and Aston Villa remaining.
Speaking ahead of Saturday's trip to Upton Park, Mee said his team-mates do not want the talented 43-year-old to leave.
"He has brought a lot of the lads' games on in his time here so obviously we definitely want to keep hold of him," Mee said.
"He has not just taken the selfish route and bought loads of players. He's worked with the people upstairs and done really well. It's been a good couple of years for the club to expand.
"It will be a massive challenge for us but we are looking forward to it - we still have that belief. The games coming up are massively winnable and we will look to do that, definitely."
Tottenham manager Mauricio Pochettino will decide who comes and who goes at White Hart Lane.
Pochettino inherited a Tottenham squad that underachieved last season, with Roberto Soldado, Erik Lamela and Paulinho failing to live up to their hefty price tags as the London club finished sixth in the Premier League.
The Argentine boss, who took the reins after Tim Sherwood replaced Andre Villas-Boas in December 2013, has brought in Federico Fazio, Dele Alli, Eric Dier, Benjamin Stambouli, Michel Vorm, Ben Davies and DeAndre Yedlin since his arrival.
And Pochettino plans more upheaval in the off-season, with outcasts Soldado, Emmanuel Adebayor and Younes Kaboul on the chopping block.
"I think the person who has the final decision should be me, no?" he said.
"Always the manager and the coaching staff need to deal with the player, in the changing room or on the pitch, and if the feeling is not good between us it is difficult to achieve something.
"It is very important that I agree on the players who stay here and the players who we may bring in and it is my decision.
"If not; if you bring in some players here and I don't know them, then maybe it is not that they are bad players but the feeling with the coaching staff or the manager is important."
Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers said the club have held talks with second-choice goalkeeper Brad Jones regarding a new contract.
Jones is a free agent at the end of the season and the Australian shot-stopper has not played for Liverpool since Boxing Day after suffering a thigh injury.
But the 33-year-old could extend his stay at Anfield as backup for Simon Mignolet, after Rodgers told reporters: "There have been discussions.
"Obviously, Brad is in his last year but nothing has been resolved on that."
Jones, who arrived from Middlesbrough in 2010, stepped in for the embattled Mignolet and played four consecutive fixtures in all competitions before injuring himself in Liverpool's 1-0 win at Burnley on December 26.
Jose Mourinho says he will only take five minutes to celebrate before turning his thoughts to next season if Chelsea seal the Premier League title this weekend.
Mourinho's side know victory over Crystal Palace on Sunday will be enough to secure their first league championship since 2010.
The Portuguese, who already boasts seven league titles from spells with Porto, Chelsea, Inter and Real Madrid, has fond memories of previous successes, but plans to swiftly refocus once silverware is secured.
"I have replicas of every cup I won, and I don't care about the replicas. Or the medals. They're in my houses. I have some in Portugal, some here, some in my son’s room. I really don't care," said Mourinho.
"What stays forever is the feeling, the emotion, the memory of the moment. I have clear in my head every one of these moments I lived.
"What motivated me are the basic things in football, like when you are a kid, you play in the street with your neighbours, three against three, four against four, and you want to win. That's the most pure feeling in football.
"The meaning is the important thing: the feeling, the emotion … that's what stays with you forever.
"If you are in a championship, you want to win it. It doesn't depend on the level you are. To be champions in the Premier League is not a different feeling to winning the championship in League One, League Two or the Conference. The happiness, also the frustrations … in terms of human feelings, they're exactly the same.
"But the moment itself, it only lasts for a flash. For that moment a final finishes, or the game that gives you the league ends, you have like a flash of the people you love most, the people who are with you, a little bit of the most important moments that lead to that trophy.
"It's like a quick flash. And, with me, five minutes later, I move on. I have to think about next season, to prepare. We need to think about that."
Rio Ferdinand's wife Rebecca has died at a hospital in London after a short battle with cancer.
The QPR defender confirmed news of his wife's passing at Royal Marsden Hospital in a statement on the club's official website on Saturday.
It read: "My soul mate slipped away last night. Rebecca, my wonderful wife, passed away peacefully after a short battle with cancer at the Royal Marsden Hospital in London.
"She was a fantastic loving mother to our three beautiful children. She will be missed as a wife, sister, aunt, daughter and granddaughter. She will live on in our memory, as a guide and inspiration.
"Myself, my parents Janice and Julian, along with Rebecca's parents Lesley and Stephen, would like to thank our families, friends and my club colleagues who have rallied around in these desperate days, weeks and months.
"I would also like to express my gratitude for the dedication and expertise of the staff led by Professors Johnstone and Clarke at the Royal Marsden. Their valiant efforts to prolong Rebecca's all-too-short life will not be forgotten.
"Our grief, as a family, is total. We would appreciate being allowed to mourn privately."
QPR added: "The thoughts of everyone at Queens Park Rangers Football Club are with Rio and his family at this immensely difficult time."
Rodgers warns Sterling: We won't sell you even if you don't sign contract
By Greg Lea
May 2, 2015 08:35:00
The England international forward has reportedly rejected new terms worth €135,000 per week but his manager insists that the Reds will not let him go for any price
Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers has warned Raheem Sterling that he will not be sold this summer even if he rejects another contact offer.
The 20-year-old reportedly refused to sign a new deal worth €135,000 per week in October, insisting that he would only resume talks at the end of the campaign.
In April, Sterling was heavily criticised for giving an unauthorised interview in which he spoke at length about his future, but Rodgers insists that the England forward will not leave Anfield under any circumstances.
"Raheem won't be going anywhere this summer, even if there's not a deal agreed. We've made that clear from the beginning," the Liverpool manager told reporters.
"I think Raheem looks a lot more relaxed now than he has done for a while. We had a couple of good meetings. He came to the house and had a good chat on a personal level as well.
"It's not just about the football side, it's also about his welfare because he's still young and he's been through a lot in the last couple of years so I talked to him generally and I think he's in a good place at the moment.
"The club will meet up again with Raheem's representatives and we'll reinforce [the message]. Look, everyone wants to win trophies, everyone wants to play in the big competitions but it's also important that you have the opportunity to do that so we'll just be reinforcing our stance that's been in place all the way along — that this is the best club for him at this moment."
Manchester United 0-1 West Brom: Lacklustre hosts suffer third straight defeat The Baggies earned all three points at Old Trafford, with Chris Brunt's free-kick deflecting off Jonas Olsson and beating David De Gea, while Robin van Persie had a penalty saved
Sunderland 2-1 Southampton: Penalty king Gomez secures vital three points The Spaniard struck twice from the spot to ensure Dick Advocaat's men kept themselves alive in the battle to avoid the drop, with James Ward-Prowse dismissed for the visitors
West Ham 1-0 Burnley: Clarets look down and out after Noble penalty The Hammers earn just their third Premier League victory of 2015 over Sean Dyche's 10 men, who now look doomed to make an instant return to the Championship
Swansea City 2-0 Stoke City: Ki & Montero seals three points for Monk’s men Garry Monk's side earned a comfortable victory over the Potters on Saturday and remain on course to finish in the Premier League's top eight, which would be their best ever finish
Aston Villa 3-2 Everton: Benteke double fires Sherwood’s men closer to safety The hosts earned a crucial win, largely thanks to a brace from the Belgian forward, to give their survival hopes a huge boost with just three league games remaining
Liverpool 2-1 QPR: Gerrard atones for penalty miss with late winner The 34-year-old rose highest to nod in a Coutinho corner on 87 minutes to mark his penultimate game at Anfield with a winning goal after seeing his spot-kick saved
Leicester City 3-0 Newcastle United: Ulloa double condemns Carver to eighth straight defeat The Foxes eased to victory against their struggling opponents, thanks to the Argentine's brace and a Wes Morgan header, to move further away from the relegation zone
Henry baffled by Van Gaal's use of Rooney & Van Persie
By Gill Clark
May 2, 2015 22:22:00
The former Arsenal striker says West Bromwich Albion, who pulled off a shock win at Old Trafford, would have been happy to see the strike duo playing in midfield
Thierry Henry has criticised Louis van Gaal's tactics after Manchester United suffered their third straight Premier League defeat, going down 1-0 at home to West Brom on Saturday.
The hosts struggled to break down a disciplined Baggies side, despite boasting nearly 80 per cent possession, with Chris Brunt's deflected free kick on 63 minutes proving decisive.
Robin van Persie returned to the starting line-up for the first time since February, but missed a second-half penalty, and saw a late chance superbly saved by Boaz Myhill, before dropping into midfield alongside Wayne Rooney late on.
Radamel Falcao and Angel Di Maria were both introduced as substitutes with Marouane Fellaini pushed furthest forwards as United sought an equaliser but Henry feels Van Gaal must take some of the blame for the club's latest loss.
"If you play and you need to score a goal at Old Trafford and you're losing against West Brom. If I'm playing for West Brom and I see Rooney in midfield, Van Persie in midfield… I'm happy," he told Sky Sports.
"You're not scared. I thought at a certain moment that he was going to change that and put Robin higher up the field and maybe Rooney too, guys that can score in some key moment. But they stayed in midfield."
United are still on course to finish in the top four as they sit four points ahead of Liverpool with three games left to play but Dwight Yorke has warned they must spend big to improve their squad this summer.
"How much does Van Gaal need to spend in the summer? A few million that's for sure," he told Sky Sports. "Can you put a price tag on how much they're going to spend to really make the team better?
"We've seen them spend £150 million (€200m), has the team improved? Slightly. I would think he definitely needs to bring in two or three players. I'm sure he knows the type of players he needs."
Swansea City striker Nelson Oliveira's ankle will be assessed over the coming days after he was forced off in the first half of the 2-0 Premier League victory over Stoke City.
Oliveira - on loan from Benfica - appeared to pick up the problem under the challenge of Ryan Shawcross five minutes from the break and left the field to be replaced by Marvin Emnes.
Swansea are already without first-choice frontman Bafetimbi Gomis through a hamstring injury, so manager Garry Monk is keen to have Oliveira back as soon as possible.
"He's had it for a couple of weeks that ankle injury," said Monk. "Under the challenge, it was a heavy challenge on him, he rolled his ankle and it was enough to come off.
"There was swelling, so it's one of them that we'll have to assess in 48 hours' time.
"Hopefully the swelling goes down and he's available for next week, but won't really know until probably Tuesday."
Roberto Martinez believes Everton suffered from the elation of beating Manchester United last weekend in Saturday's 3-2 Premier League defeat at Aston Villa.
Everton ran out comprehensive 3-0 winners against United at Goodison Park last Sunday, but they fell well short of that standard at Villa Park.
The Merseysiders were particularly underwhelming in the first half as two goals from Christian Benteke put Villa 2-0 ahead.
Romelu Lukaku scored from the penalty spot in an improved second-half showing, but Villa earned a big win in their fight against relegation as Tom Cleverley's 64th-minute strike took the game away from Everton and rendered Phil Jagielka's injury-time goal a mere consolation.
"The intensity we had in our last game against Manchester United maybe made it difficult to start at the same level," manager Martinez said.
"I was a little bit worried about exactly what happened, of coming here and not having the stimulation after having such a big performance and result and atmosphere at Goodison last weekend.
"Sometimes it can be difficult away from home. I thought having fresh legs and players would bring something to the side and it would help us.
"It wasn't the case and we got heavily damaged defensively. You're not going to be perfect every game."
Martinez was happy with his team's response after the break, but conceded the first-half display left Everton with too much to do.
The Spaniard added: "First half we were second best in everything we did even in the way we kicked the ball, reacted to second balls, defended with poor intensity in our box.
"Villa were the best side in first half, we were better side in second half, but we couldn't get through the poor period without being too damaged."
Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers saluted captain Steven Gerrard's "unique" battling character as he overcame the disappointment of missing a penalty by heading the winner in a 2-1 victory over QPR.
The hosts established an early lead at Anfield courtesy of Philippe Coutinho's eighth goal of the season, only to be pegged back by a 73rd-minute volley from Leroy Fer.
Nedum Onuoha's pull on Martin Skrtel then handed Gerrard the opportunity to restore his side's lead from the spot, but his effort was comfortably saved by Rob Green.
Onuoha saw red for a foul on Jordon Ibe and, with three minutes left, Gerrard nodded home to seal a Premier League win that just about keeps his side's UEFA Champions League hopes alive.
It was a poignant moment for Gerrard in front of the Kop as he prepares to leave Liverpool at the end of the season to move to the MLS.
"There's a very, very small group of players in that bracket, where in the big games they score the big goals and make the big contributions," said Rodgers.
"He's [Gerrard] done that, everyone has seen that throughout his entire career at Liverpool.
"He missed the penalty and sometimes you think it may go against us, but there is no-one more determined to score and make up for it than Steven.
"It was a very, very good header.
"He was very determined, especially after the penalty.
"You sometimes find with a lot of players that when they miss a big penalty like that, normally their game goes and their confidence goes.
"But he's the total opposite. He's one of a unique group of players that whenever they need to respond, they normally do. It was an outstanding header and obviously gets us the win."
Rodgers reflected: "We made it tough for ourselves but we responded brilliantly once they drew level."
Next on the agenda for Rodgers' side is Sunday's trip to Stamford Bridge for a clash with champions-elect Chelsea.
