Staring into the Sun might not be good for your health, but there's no better reminder that Christmas is on its merry way than when the first Santa story hits the back pages.

And who better than Martin Blackburn, the Sun reporter whose extensive South American contacts have brought him a string of exclusives, to get the explosive tale from City's Cruz missile?

Under a no-nonsense Sun headline - "Santa: We'll ruin Rafa's Xmas" - our Paraguay pin-up fires a warning to Liverpool's boss that is singularly lacking in traditional seasonal goodwill.

Martin kicks off in jaunty yuletide fashion: "Rafa Benitez has been warned Santa is out to wreck his run-up to Christmas. Roque Santa Cruz and his Manchester City team-mates head for Anfield tomorrow looking to push Liverpool boss Benitez closer to the sack."

And in case you'd forgotten what time of year it is, he adds: "The Reds' season could be over before the decorations have even gone up if the next few days go badly at home and in Europe."

Blaggers quotes his pal Rocky: "People say this is a big game for City, to prove we are worthy of being called a big club. But this is also a big game for Liverpool. They'll look at us and see us above them in the table.

"Our main aim is to be in one of the Champions League places by finishing in the top four. So we need to go to Liverpool and prove we can take one of those places they want to be involved in."

It's a cracker of a read from the reporter who persuaded Santa to dress up as, er, Santa last Christmas and give Sun readers a real festive snap to complement those crisp (and even) words.

Elsewhere, the Mirror reckons that City tabled big bids for Fernando Torres and Javier Mascherano which Rafa rejected. Let's face it, if you haven't been linked with City, you're off the radar.