George Best was in hospital in Belfast yesterday suffering from pneumonia. His father said on BBC radio that he was improving but might have to stay in hospital for a week.

Last March he was rushed to hospital with liver problems and doctors warned him off alcohol.

Sven-Goran Eriksson, who will be in charge of England for the first time when they play Spain in a friendly later this month, is to implement a ban on alcohol during the build-up to international matches.

"If you play for England you don't need to drink wine or beer with your meals," Eriksson told the BBC. "We are together to play football, not for anything else."

He also indicated that he will look to play with a 4-4-2 system.

Joe Royle, the Manchester City manager, yesterday signed striker Egil Ostenstad on loan from Blackburn, while he has also taken another Norwegian, Runar Berg, and German Thomas Strunz on trial.

Liverpool's two games against AS Roma in the UEFA Cup fourth round will be screened live on Network 2. The first leg takes place in Rome on Thursday week, February 15th, with the second at Anfield a week later.