The Red Knights group has seen its bid to gain control of Manchester United receive a shot in the arm with confirmation a leading global investment bank has agreed to advise on a possible acquisition.

Wednesday’s night demolition job on AC Milan was played out against a backdrop of supporter unrest as repeated chants against the Glazer family were aired inside Old Trafford.

The Glazers, through chief executive David Gill, have said it is business as usual and that they have no intention of selling despite United being over £700million in debt.

Investment back Nomura will work closely with the Red Knights, the Manchester United Supporters’ Trust and other potential investors to “coordinate and formulate the proposal to be put to the Glazer family”.

The Nomura team will be led by Guy Dawson and Andrew McNaught, both of whom advised the Board of Manchester United plc when the club was sold to the Glazer family in 2005.

Nomura is beginning its role by contacting the many expressions of financial support the Red Knights have received to date.

A spokesman for the Red Knights has told Sky Sports News there are now “up to 70 expressions of interest” from wealthy investors.

Beckham boost

The Red Knights group could not have been handed a more favourable piece of publicity on the night, as returning old boy David Beckham donned a green and gold scarf to a rapturous reception.

Protesters against the Glazers have adopted the green and gold colours and they have been highly visible at United matches in recent weeks.

“I’m a Man United fan. I saw the scarf there. I put it round my neck, it’s the old colours of Man United, that’s all I knew,” Beckham said.

“To be honest it’s (the protest) not my business. I’m a Manchester United fan. I support the club. I always have done and I always will do.

“It’s nothing to do with me the way everything is run, that’s to do with other people but I’m a Man United fan and I support the team. I will always support them.”

Barclays Prem 2009/10 Win Outright: Man Utd 6/4

Wayne Rooney has been tipped to go from strength to strength this season after hitting the 30-goal mark.

The Manchester United striker reached the landmark with a brace in Wednesday’s 4-0 UEFA Champions League win over AC Milan, his 35th start of the season.

Rooney’s tally is already his best-ever for a season having eclipsed his previous best of 23 during the 2006/07 campaign.

And with nine league games left and United into the Champions League quarter-finals, the 24-year-old England man has now set his sights on topping the 42-goal haul ex-United star Cristiano Ronaldo managed in the 2007/08 season.

“If he keeps going the way he is then he definitely will,” United midfielder Darren Fletcher told Sky Sports.

“I don’t think Wayne’s the type of player to pass up on this opportunity now, he’s going to push on.

“He’s a determined player and we hope he pushes on because we’re still fighting for the Premier League and the Champions League.

Challenge

“Let’s see if he can get to 40, and I’m sure the manager will keep challenging him as well.”

United captain Gary Neville added: “Hopefully he can score every game until the end of the season but more importantly we hope he scores crucial goals that win us matches.

“His performances and goals have been fantastic for us and we need to keep him fit going into this run-in.

“It’s a great moment for himself, the way he’s playing. He’s confident and he’s scoring goals. We just need to keep him fit now and keep him out there.”

AC Milan coach Leonardo has also hailed Rooney after seeing his side torn to shreds by the burly forward in continental competition.

Complete player

Wednesday’s double made it 14 goals in 11 games for Rooney, with the England star scoring a glut of goals with his head, including the opener against Milan.

“He’s reached his best level and he’s one of the best players in the world at the moment,” said Leonardo.

“This year he’s scored a lot of goals in different ways, that’s why I think he’s the complete player – he’s very strong, very fast.

“He’s one of the best in the world, if not the best at the moment,” he added.

Champions League Top Goalscorer 09/10: Rooney, W. 7/2

Rafa Benitez has told his underperforming Liverpool side to stop playing the blame game and unite behind the collective cause.

The Reds’ manager felt some of his players were pointing fingers after Hugo Rodallega scored the only goal in Monday’s woeful defeat at Wigan.

That was a major setback to Liverpool’s chances of clinching fourth spot in a stuttering campaign.

And ahead of their Europa League game against Lille on Thursday, Benitez has called for greater unity within his squad.

“I don’t think it is right to suggest there is any lack of trust between the players,” he said.

“You can look at last season as an example of that when these same players were doing well, playing with confidence and winning games and there was not a problem.

“But against Wigan the keeper (Jose Reina) was blaming the defenders for something that was wrong and the defenders were blaming the keeper.

Wrong message

“It happens in games but I don’t like it. If you are showing your disappointment with that sort of body language it is sending out the wrong message.

“It is not positive and I don’t want to see this sort of reaction.

“I accept that each player is different but it is important to show leadership qualities and the right approach to your team-mates.

“I have told them I want an improvement and that if an error is made the person responsible must be kept on board.”

Liverpool travel to France knowing they face another stern test in the last-16 first leg at Lille’s Metropole ground.

Les Dogues have lost just twice there in Ligue 1 this season and scored 25 goals in their last nine league games at home.

Johnson return

Liverpool defender Glen Johnson made his first appearance since late December as a substitute against Wigan and could start at Lille after recovering from a knee injury.

“We know they are going to have some players with pace in certain areas,” said the England World Cup hopeful.

“They’re well-organised and will work hard, and we know they are playing very well at home.

“I’ve been out for a while but I feel really good, although I’m just getting my match fitness back.”

Lille v Liverpool Correct Score: Liverpool 2-1 17/2

Manchester United insist Owen Hargreaves’ withdrawal from their reserve match on Thursday is not a setback in his comeback from injury.

The England international was due to make his long-awaited return at Altrincham’s Moss Lane, but he will no longer feature in the game.

The former Bayern Munich man has not played for the Red Devils since September 2008 with a series of knee problems keeping him on the sidelines.

United insists Hargreaves has not suffered a fresh problem and that the timing of the reserve fixture no longer works within his schedule.

“This definitely isn’t another injury setback,” a spokesman told the club’s official website.

“It just doesn’t fit in with Owen’s training schedule.”

Man. Utd 1/4, Draw 4/1, Fulham 14/1

Portsmouth owner Balu Chainrai is confident he will be able to recover the money he has loaned the troubled football club.

The Hong Kong businessman took control of the South Coast outfit from Ali Al-Faraj in February after the club defaulted on loans from him.

Chainrai had shelled out at least £17million to to keep the club afloat through Portpin, the company he owns with his Israeli business partner, Levi Kushnir, and their associates.

Those loans were secured against the stadium, the club’s future television revenue and Faraj’s 90 per cent share.

Despite Portsmouth entering administration to combat spiralling debts, Chainrai remains confident that while the club remains in business, so do his chances to recouping his money.

“I don’t feel I’ve lost the money,” he told Bloomberg TV. “I feel the money is there, I can see it. If the club is alive my money is alive.

“There were court cases against the club, it was a possibility that the club would have been wound up, and if that happened everybody would have lost their jobs.

“I would have lost my money and my main focus was to actually stabilise the club, to try and get my money back. The only way I could do it was to exercise my right to seize the shares.”

Objective

Administrator Andrew Andronikou announced 85 job cuts on Wednesday and promised more if the club is relegated, as seems likely if the Premier League enforce a nine-point deduction for entering administration.

Chainrai admitted his priority is to find a buyer for the 2008 FA Cup winners.

“The main objective is to sell off the club to some consortium or institution or person, who would be able to be responsible enough to stabilise it and run it properly,” he continued.

“I’ve heard through my lawyers that they are in conversations with several parties. They are deep into talks that could finalise in the very near future.”

Liverpool 1/4, Draw 4/1, Portsmouth 14/1