MARCH 14 — Following the euphoria of success in the Champions League last 16 knockout stage by all four teams representing the English Premier League , two of them could possibly be giving a quarterfinal preview (depending on the draw next Friday) in a highly anticipated top-of-the-table clash.
Liverpool travel to Old Trafford today (8.45pm, live on ESPN Channel 812) desperate to rekindle what little hopes they might have of winning the English title after 19 years.
Was it really only two months ago that Liverpool were seven points clear? Incredibly, and sadly for all Reds fans, the answer is yes.
Like Arsenal the season before, one can actually pinpoint the moment everything went awry for Liverpool in their quest for the title. It was at the now-infamous press conference where Rafa Benitez went on a major rant against Alex Ferguson.
Just this week, Pope Benedict XVI said he should’ve checked the Internet for more information on a controversial bishop before accepting him back into the Catholic Church. Similarly, Benitez would’ve done well to google “Kevin Keegan”, “Newcastle United”, “how to lose a title” back in the first week of January.
Benitez will likely be the same subject of ridicule for years, maybe decades, to come like how Keegan remains after all these years, never having won the Premiership.
The only thing going for the Spaniard is the massive boost that a 4-0 win over Real Madrid should provide for his lads, when they take their game to MU.
But he is pragmatic in his expectations, saying: “It was important for us to play that well, but we are now facing a very good team and we must win to close the gap at the top. We have a few days to enjoy this (CL) result and make sure we are positive and prepared properly for the game at Old Trafford."
Meanwhile, last year’s red-card victim of the usual biased refereeing at Old Trafford, Javier Mascherano, reckons MU could have it tough depending on which Liverpool side shows up. "If we play like we did against Real, it will be difficult for any team to beat us," insists the Argentine. Or it could be the one which lost at Middlesborough just two weeks ago, right senor Javier?
Liverpool are in the midst of an indifferent run in the league. In the last eight games they've won only three times (Chelsea, Portsmouth and Sunderland), drawn on four occasions and lost 2-0 to Boro at Riverside.
In contrast MU have won the last 11 in the league and progressed to the next stage of both the Champions League and FA Cup whilst taking care of the small matter of winning the Carling Cup.
Manchester United rode their luck against Inter. A repeat performance and Liverpool could take advantage, especially with Fernando Torres and Steven Gerrard lurking. However, I doubt they will be as casual against Liverpool today as they were against Inter Milan on Wednesday night.
My prediction is a safe game that will produce goals but still end in a draw, a result that favours the Red Devils.
Also on the cards this weekend is an interesting clash of riches — Chelsea vs Manchester City (9.30pm, tomorrow, ESPN) — but that is monetarily speaking of course. If you are talking about world-class players and manager, then the Blues from London will stand way taller than the Manchester Blues.
This tie could be all about Robinho. How will he fare against a top club, the club he almost joined?
If past performances are to be taken into consideration, Robinho better just not turn up, literally, as how he is prone to not “turning up” when City play away from home. City have won only one match on their travels despite a reasonable number of quality (but still not world-class) players.
After a difficult tie at Turin in mid-week, Guus Hiddink’s Chelsea couldn’t have wished for an easier match. Chelsea should waltz easily past a hapless City.
Arsenal, meanwhile, will play Blackburn Rovers at the Emirates Stadium today (11pm, ESPN). The Gunners have indeed been impressive of late.
However, with the talisman that is Eduardo injured again, albeit a light one, he will be sitting this one out and a useless lump of clay moulded into the shape of a tall Dane is likely to play instead.
This game will not be an easy one for the Gunners after being pushed all the way to penalties in midweek. Then we have the Sam Allardyce factor. He just knows how to get at the Gunners, even with resources who are way past their expiry date.
The only positive for Arsene Wenger is that Andrei Arshavin will be fresh and raring to go, after missing out on the Champions League celebration because he is cup-tied in Europe.
With Blackburn also having played a league game at Fulham on Wednesday, in which they came back from a goal down to win 2-1, both teams will have had little time to recover so it will literally be a case of survival of the fittest determining the outcome.
Hence, with an average age of under-25 in the first team, it will surely be advantage Arsenal. A win by a good two- or three-goal margin will be the order of the day for the Gunners and Arshavin should be able to achieve the distinction of being the first Russian to score in Arsenal colours.
Vsego horoshego Andrei Arshavin! In case you’re wondering, that’s Russian for “wishing you every success Andrei Arshavin!”
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