What the papers say - February 17

NEWS OF THE WORLD: Alan Shearer has been asked to front a £250million takeover bid for his beloved Newcastle. Also: Richard Scudamore's job will be on the line if he continues to push his controversial plan to take the Premier League global.

SUNDAY MIRROR: Rafa Benitez and his Liverpool team were dumped out of the FA Cup by brave Barnsley yesterday. Also: Graham Poll claims he was pressured by refs' supremo Keith Hackett to ensure a game between Arsenal and Manchester United passed without controversy.

DAILY STAR SUNDAY: Brilliant Barnsley are in FA Cup dreamland after Simon Davey's men ignored his orders and beat his boyhood heroes 2-1 at Anfield. Also: Sir Alex Ferguson last night insisted Arsenal skipper William Gallas should have been sent off for getting on Nani's goat.

THE PEOPLE: Rafa Benitez and his Liverpool flops were booed off after their FA Cup dream was shattered by Barnsley. Also: Jubilant Sir Alex Ferguson was in wonderland as Manchester United sent 10-man Arsenal crashing to a harrowing 4-0 FA Cup defeat.

SUNDAY EXPRESS: AC Milan fly into London this week on a double mission - to beat Arsenal and to buy back Andriy Shevchenko from Chelsea. Also: Rafa Benitez was left licking his wounds last night after Championship side Barnsley booted Liverpool out of the FA Cup 2-1 at Anfield.

THE OBSERVER: A famous afternoon for Barnsley ended deliriously with ladles of the stuff footballing dreams often promise yet hardly ever deliver. Also: Napoleon can hardly have retreated from Moscow with less dignity than Arsenal returned to London from Manchester.

THE INDEPENDENT: Liverpool, who have spent much of the winter seemingly on a mission to heap FA Cup embarrassment on themselves, finally succeeded yesterday. Also: Though they duly headed back north empty-handed, Huddersfield, players and supporters alike, had the traditional grand day out in London beloved of FA Cup minnows and for a gloriously unbelievable quarter of an hour at the start of the second half, were actually holding the world's richest team 1-1.

SUNDAY TELEGRAPH: England striker Peter Crouch could add to Liverpool manager Rafa Benitez's problems by quitting the club while still under contract as a result of a landmark legal case that has been described by Fifa president Sepp Blatter as having "far-reaching and damaging effects". Also: The athlete who was cheated out of a European Championship 100 metres gold medal by Dwain Chambers has urged UK Athletics to forgive the British sprinter, and has even offered to train with him to help rebuild his track career.

SUNDAY TIMES: And they say the FA Cup is a devalued competition. Try telling that to the 6,000 Barnsley fans who had the time of their life at Anfield yesterday. Also: Arsene Wenger arrived with a weakened team and left with his team weakened.