Clashes between Liverpool and Manchester United are always memorable games, but for Jonjo Shelvey, Sunday’s meeting at Anfield was one to forget.

The 20-year-old was sent off for a challenge on centre-back Jonny Evans in the first half, and was furious with the role he believes Sir Alex Ferguson played in the dismissal.

“I apologise to the fans for getting sent off but no way was I pulling out of that tackle in a game of that importance. Im sorry,” Shelvey posted on Twitter.

“I have also apologised to sir Alex, just where I come from people don’t grass people up to get someone sent off.”

Daniel Sturridge’s tally of three Chelsea goals in 29 games since Christmas represents a disappointing return for a player who had briefly thrived under Andres Villas-Boas at Stamford Bridge.

After scoring 17 Premier League goals in 2011, Sturridge now finds himself firmly below Fernando Torres in the pecking order for the one striker place and unlikely to get a look in on the flanks.

Roberto Di Matteo left the England international on the bench as an unused substitute for both the FA Cup and UEFA Champions League finals in the spring, suggesting he is not wholly impressed either.

The good news for the 23-year-old forward is that there are plenty of big clubs in England still on the look-out for a forward.

Liverpool are the favourites to secure Sturridge’s signature should he move and – unlike Clint Dempsey – the former Bolton loanee is at the right age to interest the Reds.

Raheem Sterling is a fine prospect but Sturridge could offer a greater goal threat in an advanced position on the right. Sturridge is 15/ 8 (2.88) to join Liverpool.

Second-favourites are Tottenham and their manager Villas-Boas will remember what Sturridge is capable of when fit and firing.

Spurs have only two out-and-out strikers while Sturridge would also provide a very different option to Aaron Lennon on the right. He is 9/2 (5.50) to pitch up at White Hart Lane.

Beyond that, do not rule out the prospect of a return to Manchester City as Robert Mancini is a confirmed fan.

“It was strange because Sturridge was developed in Manchester and someone let him go,” said Mancini, quoted in the Daily Mail last year. “For sure, he was one of the best young players at City. It was not difficult to see he was a good player.

“If Sturridge was here today, he’d be in the first team. I’ve watched him many times and know him well. It would have been better for City to send him on loan to improve than let him leave altogether.”

Man City are 7/1 (8.00) to offer Sturridge a route out of Chelsea.

Finally, perhaps Mark Hughes is another former boss that would be keen to give the forward some playing time.

Paddy Power pay out on loan moves and it wouldn’t be a huge shock for Sturridge to make the short move across west London to join QPR. That’s available at 10/1 (11.00).

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Adam Bate is a professional freelance journalist who specialises in football and betting. He is editor of GhostGoal which can be found here – you can also follow Adam on

Liverpool defender Daniel Agger could face a long time out of action if, as Reds manager Brendan Rodgers fears, he suffered a ligament injury in the 2-1 defeat to Manchester United.

Agger was injured in a clash with team-mate Glen Johnson and stretchered off after the right-back subsequently conceded a penalty that Robin van Persie converted to seal three points for the visitors.

After the game Rodgers revealed that the Liverpool physios suspected that the 27-year-old had suffered damage to the knee and did not sound hopeful about his prospects of a quick return to action.

“Daniel Agger we’ll need to wait and see,” he told reporters. “It didn’t look so good with his knee, and some of the medics were saying he may have a problem with his medial ligament, but we’ll to assess that over the next 24 hours and look at it again tomorrow.”

The duration of Agger’s stay on the sidelines will depend on the extent of the damage done to the medial ligament. Johnson was coincidentally ruled out for three months of the 2009-10 season after suffering a tear to the same area.

The injury that ended Nemanja Vidic’s 2011-12 season in December, meanwhile, was initially suspected to be a medial ligament problem but was later revealed to involve additional and more serious damage to his cruciate ligament.