Could Fergie prediction come good after amazing night of Champions League action?

In the wake of the recent mind-numbing 4-1 defeat to Liverpool, Fergie went on record saying the winner of the Liverpool vs Chelsea Champions League tie would push United the hardest in the race for the title. My own view has always been that Arsenal who are set to play both United and Liverpool will have a big say in where the title ends up, that view hasn't changed.

However, Chelsea's 3-1 win at Anfield could have an adverse affect on Liverpool, because it wasn't just the result it was the manner of the defeat - it was all a little bit too easy for the West London club. Hiddink won the tactical battle hands down. It made United's 2-2 result with Porto the night before look like a good one, Benitez and Liverpool were out-thought before a ball had been kicked.

It hasn't taken Guus Hiddink long to make his mark on English football, it should be no surprise because the Dutchman is a solid tactician with donkeys years of experience managing at all levels of the game. I don't know why it has taken so long for it to happen, because to me this has been blindingly obvious for a number of weeks and following that 4-1 defeat at the hands of Liverpool I stated on this blog that United lost largely because Fergie didn't have a tactical plan to deal with Steven Gerrard. It is always easier said that done, but importantly Hiddink did have a plan and it centred on Michael Essien man marking the Liverpool skipper who as a result was completely ineffective, so much so that Gerrard had to drop back from his attacking role into a deeper position.

It will be interesting to see how Hiddink approaches the return leg next week, given that his team hold a 3-1 advantage; there’s no need for Chelsea to attack and take chances. It is therefore likely we will see a repeat performance from Essien who will once again likely to try to snuff out Gerrard's attempts at breaking unmarked into the Chelsea penalty area. You cannot allow someone with Gerrard's power and pace time and space to get at your defenders in one-on-one situations around the penalty area - that is suicide, as United found to their cost recently.

With any luck, a repeat performance from Chelsea will see Liverpool knocked-out of Europe and as a result their collective confidence could be shaken to the core and of course their next game will be at home to Arsenal.

Before that this weekend Liverpool face Blackburn and following the drama at Anfield Sky's pundits were last night suggesting that Big Sam Allardyce will have noted Essien's man-marking job on Gerrard - will we see a repeat this weekend with the former Bolton and Newcastle manager detailing a marker on the Liverpool skipper? Stating the obvious, but not every club has a player like Michael Essien, who was once linked strongly to United, the club could certainly do with someone like him right now with Hargreave's out injured.

In the other Champions League quarter final, Barcelona destroyed hapless Bayern Munich 4-0, the Bavarian club have shipped nine goals in two games. It turned out to be a first-half feast of goals at the Nou Camp, Barca created chances at will, so much so that it should have been a lot more.

Messi, Henry and Eto'o are in irresistible form at the present which is why Barca are the tournament favourites. The secret of Barcelona's success is moving the ball quickly on the deck and running off the ball, which makes it extremely difficult for visiting teams to mark Messi et al around the box. Looking back, it beggars belief that the current United defence didn't concede over two legs against the same Barca trio last season.

However, I for one have nagging doubts about the Barcelona back four. Chelsea or even Liverpool will give Barcelona a much tougher game in the semi-final and it wouldn't surprise me in the slightest if either of the English clubs wins through to the final.

Before all of that this coming weekend United take on Sunderland and it will be interesting to see what team Fergie sends out to battle, I'm expecting one or two stars to be rested ahead of the trip to Porto, we might even see Fredrico Macheda starting...

Hughes in City firing-line while Chelsea are in complete turmoil...

So then, United legend Mark Hughes has accepted the poisoned chalice that is the Manchester City manager's job. Stability is not a word often used at Eastlands where the manager's position is concerned and while Thaksin Shinawatra has only been at the club for a relatively short period of time, he has carried on the Blues long-standing tradition of hiring and firing when getting rid of Sven-Goran Eriksson post-haste.

You do wonder how long it will be before Hughes is shown the seemingly ever revolving manager's door. For the record, the Welshman becomes the 16th manager to take charge since Fergie has been at Old Trafford. Ironically, of the Manchester clubs it could well be United who are next looking to appoint a new manager following confirmation that Fergie is likely to only be around for another two years - but Hughes could go before then, that is for certain based on Dr (arf) Shinawatra's treatment of Eriksson.

While the City job will be a difficult one, it's beginning to look like Chelsea's search to replace Avram Grant is nearing farcical proportions. Chelsea have been given the knock-back by Carlo Ancelotti, the Milan coach. Hughes was thought to be in the frame, but Chelsea blinked and City got their man. You have to laugh, especially at Peter Kenyon who is often cited as being the single biggest problem at Stamford Bridge by their own supporters.

Frank Rikjaard could be a candidate, but that is by no means certain given he's just left Barcelona under something of a cloud and there's been rumours suggesting all is not well where off the field matters are concerned.

Then there's "big Phil" Scolari, but you do wonder if the Brazilian could be a too much like Henk Ten Cate who wasn't shy of dishing out the odd backhander when players' got out of turn. Would the former Brazilian national team manager put up with interference from upstairs? Answers on a postcard. Chelsea might justifiably be a bit nervous about appointing Scolari - and let's be honest, the West London club cannot afford to screw-up this next appointment - especially given that Mourinho is now back managing and in the limelight again.

However, Chelsea claim that they are perfectly happy with progress on the search for a new manager. This at a time when Mourinho is looking to snap up Drogba and Essien - Chelsea's public show of confidence is of course a load of old blarney it's about as convincing as someone losing a winning lottery jackpot ticket and then saying that they aren't that bothered.

Roberto Mancini, the sacked Inter Manager must be in the frame, but wouldn't appointing him look bad if Mourinho does well? It could be a PR disaster for Chelsea and for this reason alone I suspect Mancini is an unlikely candidate.

You do wonder if Chelsea might have to appoint Steve Clarke - but if they do, I boldly predict it will turn out to be a total disaster - I'd give him a season at best.

Chelsea to finish fourth next season anyone?

United Go Top as Derby Restore Some Pride

It was a good day for United in the Premiership on Saturday as Fergie's men ground out an important 1-0 victory over bottom of the table Derby which springboarded the Reds to the summit of the league table. Even better news was to occur later in the day as Arsenal's league form continued to capitulate with a 1-1 home drawn against Middlesboro - leaving the Red Devils at the top of the shop on goal difference, but with a crucial game in hand.

The win over Paul Jewell's Rams should have been business as usual for Fergie's boys, however this win was far from routine. Derby were coming into this one after a 6-1 spanking at Stamford Bridge in midweek and for the first twenty minutes it seemed inevitable that they would have their collective asses handed to them once again as United, and Ronaldo in particular, carved open some excellent chances.

However United spurned chances and as Derby weathered the storm it was they who nearly took the lead before the break, with United debutant Ben Foster twice denying Scotsman Kenny Miller.

Indeed it was fairly lively debut for Foster, who had a good game despite leaving some question marks over his kicking. Interestingly, his opposite number was former United goalie Roy Carroll, who probably had a better game in this one than many he had when representing the Red Devils.

Thankfully for United, the Irishman's goal was eventually breached with Wayne Rooney crossing in for the unstoppable Ronaldo to put away his 31st goal of the season in the 74th minute. After the Portuguese had broken the deadlock the result was never in doubt, with Carroll again having to deny his former team mates on more than one occasion.

The importance of this result was compounded by the news that Arsenal were later held to their fourth league draw on the trot with Middlesboro grabbing a share of the spoils at the Emirates. Ironically for the Gunners it was Arsenal old boy Jerome Aliadiere who did for them with a goal for the Smoggies on his return to North London. Kolo Toure bagged a late leveler for the Gunners but it wasn't enough to return Wenger's team to pole position.

This could be a crucial weekend in the title race with Arsenal gearing up to face Chelsea, Liverpool and United in three out of their next four league fixtures. Not to mention the added distraction of what could be two energy sapping games against Liverpool in the Champions League during this spell.

Only a fool would count Chelsea out of the race and despite some poor cup results, Avram Grant's flat track bullies are stalking the top two with brutal efficiency. Another league game and another win saw Chelsea's impressive league form continue at Sunderland as John Terry popped up with a crucial goal to put Roy Keane's Blackcats to the sword. This leaves Grant's men within just 3 points of both United and Arsenal, and like United, they have a game in hand on the Gunners.

Those games in hand will happen this Wednesday night as United entertain local rivals Bolton Wanderers and Chelsea travel to their Carling Cup conquerors Tottenham Hotspur. United have eminently the more winnable fixture and while Bolton will be looking to inflict an unlikely double over the Champions, Ferguson has enough aces in his pack to get a measure of revenge over Megson's men. Make no mistake, if United fail to put a bit of daylight between themselves and Arsenal on Wednesday night, then it can be considered an outright disaster by anyone's standards.

Chelsea will also have revenge on their minds as they go into the first of two consecutive clashes against North London opposition. Spurs made Chelsea look ordinary in the Carling Cup Final and the Ramos Revolutionaries will be more than confident of taking some points off their bitter local rivals on Wednesday night. The match may also be a true litmus test of Chelsea's title aspirations, the team from the Kings Road have bulldozed inferior opponents all season (Barnsley aside), but have come up short in the big league matches and in two recent cup ties. If they are going to keep pace with the leaders then the Stamford Bridge outfit really need to take something at White Hart Lane and while their outstanding record on this ground shouldn't be ignored, Ramos's team may have a psychological advantage following their Wembley victory.

In the cold light of day, even a Chelsea loss won't knock them out of the race this Wednesday, chiefly because both United and Arsenal need to visit the Blues before the end of the season and Chelsea's home record is second to none. However, failure to take the points against Spurs will leave Grant with a bloody nose, and the media, possibly along with Chelsea honcho Roman Abramovich, will start to sharpen those knives once again.

Liverpool preparing to hoist white flag of surrender ...

If United win their match at Upton Park on Saturday they will go into the New Year as league leaders, they will also no doubt be many pundits favourite to retain the Premier League title.

Meanwhile bitter rivals Liverpool currently lie nine points adrift of the champions, albeit with a game in hand, but if United should win against West Ham on Saturday and Manchester City beat Liverpool on Sunday at Eastlands it will surely mark the end of another fruitless title challenge by Rafa Benitez's team, if indeed it can be described as such.

It was only a few months ago that many in the media were writing-off United as they languished near the foot of the table, while at the same time many supporters were no doubt punting on the Merseyside Reds to finally win their first Premier League.

Liverpool last won the title in 1989-90 when it was the old first division championship, ironically the Margaret Thatcher era also came a crushing end in the same year as she was eventually replaced by John Major.

The early 90s also marked the end of the cold-war and the Soviet Union. East and West Germany were reunited and the early 1990s saw in the beginning of what was to become known as globalisation. It was a case of out with the old and in with the new, it was also a time for change on the pitch as United replaced Liverpool as the dominant force in English football.

While Liverpool fans are quick to remind United supporters that their club has won the European Cup/Champions League five times, they don't like being reminded that it is likely to be 18 years since they last won the thing which they crave the most, the league title.

United fans wont be banking on another league title victory just yet, but with the prospect of yet more problems for Arsenal and Chelsea with both clubs having players who will be involved in the African Cup of Nations in January and February, the champions look like a good bet

For Liverpool, they will surely be preparing to hoist the white flag of surrender above Anfield as the long barren run without a league title to celebrate is likely to continue as they look enviously on at United.

Rivals Chelsea to fall apart?

In the aftermath of Jose Mourinho's dramatic exit there has been much speculation about the real reasons that lay behind the parting of the ways. Going into the game last weekend one big United fan that I have spoken says that he feared a backlash. It did not happen. Van der Sar didn't have to make a save - when was the last time you can say that about a visiting Chelsea team at Old Trafford?

Against Rosenborg and in the other games when Chelsea haven't won recently, the Blues were creating chance after chance, but that wasn't the case against the Red Devils. Sure United have an excelllent defence and we were at home. Ruud Gullit the former Chelsea manager and player, said that he thought something was missing from the Blues performance. Didn't we all think that? I did.

According to one tabloid story, Mourinho had visited the consulting rooms of his medical department to see if there was anything that could explain John Terry's apparent dip in form. This is of course speculation and I do not watch Chelsea week-in, week-out, so I cannot comment on his performances. But if the stories about Terry and Mourinho falling out are true, and if Terry isn't the player he has been over the last few seasons then Chelsea could fall apart because the England captain and Didier Drogba - who were are told wants out of the club - have been the rocks of the former champions team for the last three seasons.

The tabloid press are of course predictably having a field day at Chelsea's expense. The Sun printed an outrageous story today claiming that Barcelona's samba-star-in-chief Ronaldinho has 'already agreed' a five-year deal worth £58m to join Chelsea - but has yet to decide if he will move to Stamford Bridge. So on one hand it's agreed but it's not decided. Go figure.

No doubting Chelsea will continue to dominate the headlines, but you do get the feeling it might not be for running away the league and winning trophies, in the short term at least anyway.

Kenyon and Terry villains behind Mourinho exit?

In the wake of Jose Mourinho's Stamford Bridge exit the press have been looking for the real reasons why the club parted company with arguably the best young manager in the world.

According to one Sunday tabloid report, the breaking point was the 1-1 draw with Rosenborg in Chelsea's group B Champions League game earlier this week. It has been claimed that Jose Mourinho blamed John Terry for the visitors goal at half time, but the England skipper wasn't having any of it, this in turn we are told led to Peter Kenyon allegedly reporting to the Blues board that Mourinho had lost the dressing room. It's a good tabloid story, but it must surely be absolute rubbish. Rows between players and the manager happen all of the time - even if a heated discussion between Mourinho and Terry took place, this would not equate to charges that Mourinho had lost the dressing room.

Perhaps even more bizarrely it has been claimed that Roman Abramovich has been giving tactical advice to the likes of Michael Essien after the draw with Rosenborg. Sure, Roman owns the team and he's entitled to give his opinions on the game, but I cannot for the life of me see him undermining Mourinho in such a direct manner in front of the rest of the Chelsea squad which is what has been claimed today.

Our sensationalist tabloid press are having a field day at Chelsea's expense, it has to said they fully deserve it, as the sacking of Mourinho and appointment of Avram Grant will surely come back to haunt the former champions in spades.

Mourinho sacking: Good for football, bad for Chelsea...

Hands up all those who saw the Jose sacking coming. I didn't. Yes, I've been reading the usual turgid and often sensationalist press headlines following a relatively slow start for Chelsea to the new season 'Jose under pressure' etc, etc. But sacking any manager at this stage of the season is totally ridiculous, and sacking someone who has been as successful as Mourinho has been at Chelsea is complete and utter madness. It beggars belief.

The thing is, what Chelsea need to understand, if they don't understand already, is that rival clubs and fans up and down the land will be rejoicing at this news.

Chelsea had the most money with one of the best, if not the best young manager in the world. It was a powerful combination, too powerful I'd have to say. Which is why from United's perspective and that of making the league more open in terms who can win the Premier League title, the sacking is good news.

So I'm quite pleased about Jose's departure, because Chelsea have scored a very poor own goal, which will lead to many more changes of manager in the not too distant future. Avram Grant wont be in charge for long of that I'm fairly certain.

Will the likes of Drogba stay now that Mourinho his mentor has left the club? You can ask the same of players like Carvalho and Essien. Because one thing you can bet on is that Mourinho wont be out of work for long. He will no doubt soon be in charge of a top Italian or Spanish club and then will his favoured players follow him? Don't bet against that happening.

The reaction of the Chelsea fans to this news will be interesting too, they could turn on Abramovich, but they'd be stupid to do that. The last thing Chelsea needs is for Roman to fall out of love with the club as well as Jose Mourinho. Here again, the rest of us will hoping that Abramovich folds up his tent and moves on to his next big idea, in doing so putting Chelsea back where they were before he arrived, on the road to nowhere and bankruptcy.

One rather large concern that I have now about this turn of events is that the Chelsea board in sacking Mourinho might have by default handed the title to Liverpool. Now that would also be bad for football, at least from a United perspective.

Chelsea and Liverpool fail to impress on a night of missed chances..

Chelsea were somewhat surprisingly held 1-1 at Stamford Bridge on Tuesday night in their Group B Champions League tie with Rosenborg. Sans Drogba, Chelsea are not the same team, that much is clear, despite Shevchenko scoring a very good goal against the Norwegian's the Ukrainian striker does not pose the same threat as Chelsea's Ivory Coast star.

However, despite the scoreline Chelsea should have won this game by some margin, only the thickness of a post denied Malouda twice who was extremely unlucky on the night in front of goal. The Frenchman wasn't the only one who failed to register, as the home team somehow managed to squander a number of gilt-edged chances.

Poor result aside there was some plus points, none more so than Joe Cole who was once again outstanding for the home team in his new central role just behind Shevchenko.

Cole pulls the blues strings in the same way that an on-form Paul Scholes does for United. The Red Devils will need to marshal Joe Cole this coming Sunday when the two sides meet at Old Trafford.

After the game, Jose Mourinho who is forever the drama queen, went overboard about the Blues inability to convert chances. But the Portuguese manager knows only too well that the time to worry is when you're not creating them - and clearly that is not the case with Chelsea.

Mourinho hinted that Drogba will not be fit for the United game this weekend. Personally, I think Jose isn't telling the truth here and I for one will be amazed if Chelsea are not at full strength when they pitch up at Old Trafford for the season's biggest game so far.

While Chelsea should have been tanking Rosenborg, that certainly wasn't the case with Liverpool, who showed nothing like their early season league form against what can only be described as a very average looking Porto side in another game that ended up 1-1. Nonetheless, Liverpool should easily qualify from group A, as should Chelsea and Arsenal in groups B and H respectively.

United have a tough group for sure, with Roma currently lying top of Serie A and Sporting Lisbon have an excellent recent record against English clubs. Dynamo Kiev are currently third in the Ukrainian league and will no doubt pose a few problems for United who have an appalling recent away record in the Champions League.

Rangers and Celtic will have a real fight on their hands to qualify for the knockout stages of the competition. Celtic currently lie bottom of their group after being spanked 2-0 by Shakhtar Donetsk.

Chelsea beaten at their own game...

I took in the Aston Villa v Chelsea game over the weekend and I have to say that the Villa impressed me, as their two-nil win over Chelsea was fully justified. When was the last time a Jose Mourinho team lost by a two goal margin?

Martin O'Neill has spent well over the summer months, the Villa manager has acquired the likes of Zat Knight, Reo-Coker and big Jon Carew. The former Celtic manager appears to be putting together the best Villa side for some considerable time, his team has a good mixture of youth and experience, plus pace and power.

Against Chelsea, Villa not only competed with the Blues big men like Drogba, but they won the important challenges, none more so than Zat Knight's header when he beat the blues strongman in-chief Didier Drogba from a corner to open the scoring. At the other end Drogba wasn't bullying the Villa centre-halfs, for once it was an even contest.

Villa attacked Chelsea down the flanks with real pace and going off this performance they will take points off the other leading Premier League clubs. On this day, Chelsea were beaten by a team who played them at their own game and won. Villa scored their opening goal from a set-piece and the second goal came from a quick counter attack.

I must add that once again Didier Drogba was guilty of trying to get an opponent booked for his disgraceful play-acting when pretending to have been elbowed in face. TV-replays clearly showed the big man up for what he is at times, a cheat. He's such a good player that he really does not need to do this.

Van Der Sar stands tall to shut out Chelsea...

United, no doubt to the surprise of many Reds, actually managed to win the Charity (Community) Shield today. As ever, they did it the hard way having to overcome Fergie's arch nemesis Jose Mourinho.

Until today, the Sir Alex has only managed one victory in all competitions when he's faced the Portuguese manager. The game finished 1-1 after 90 minutes with Giggs on target midway through the opening period after good work by Vidic and Evra who pulled the ball back from the dead-ball line for the Welshman who scored his first ever Wembley goal with a neat finish.

Chelsea hit back on the stroke of half time when new signing Malouda muscled out Ferdinand to score a very good goal.

As far as Charity Shields go, this wasn't such a bad game, but it was United who were marginally the better side, though not unexpectedly after the game Mourinho saw the game differently.

Not surprisingly the game was eventually decided on penalties and for a pleasant change the Red Devils went on to win with Van Der Sar saving all three of Chelsea's efforts. At the other end Petra Cech could do nothing about the spot-kicks from Ferdinand, Carrick and Rooney. Wayne Rooney got the winner which gave him the opportunity to tell the Chelsea fans, who'd been barracking the former Everton man to button it.

After watching these two sides in what was a full blown competitive match it remains to be seen what if anything this match will mean in the context of the new season.

The traditional curtain raiser to the new season has always been about getting that extra match sharpness under your belt before the real action starts, today was no different for either side, but the injury situation at both clubs is worth commenting on.

From United's perspective, the only injury concern is Paul Scholes, but he should be back fairly soon and so the Reds look to be in pretty good shape.

Fergie has confirmed that Tevez and Hargreaves will get a run out in midweek when United travel to Northern Ireland to face Glentoran. So more good news there for Fergie and the Reds.

Meanwhile, Chelsea have been rocked by the news that John Terry could be out for up to four weeks and Didier Drogba, the blues main man, is set to go for a scan.

Today's win for United actually counts for little but if Chelsea are without Terry and Drogba for any length of time, it could be significant, especially if the Reds can like last season get off to flying start. Other Premiership sides will also fancy their chances against Chelsea without the two central rocks of the Chelsea squad.

Rivals Chelsea make key signing..

Rivals Chelsea have made a key signing by capturing Brazilian defender Alex, subject to the formality of a passing a medical.

Earlier this week the PSV man was at the centre of a giant administration cock-up which eventually saw him returning to his homeland after being interrogated by immigration officials for several hours over his work permit.

The bad news for the rest of the Premier League and indeed Europe is that Alex has now been granted his work permit following an appeal.

The Brazilian defender will make a massive difference to a defence that at times last season looked anything like the one we'd seen in the previous two campaigns while Gallas was still at the club.

Chelsea could yet also sign Feyenoord's Royston Drenthe, if Dutch winger Robben moves to Real Madrid.

Make no mistake Chelsea will be as strong as they've ever been under the stewardship of Jose Mourinho. With rivals Liverpool also making significant signings, many will no doubt be predicting the toughest Premier League to date.

Real Madrid no longer calling the shots in the transfer market...

There was a time not so long ago that a click of El Presidente's fingers would have seen the biggest names in world football scurrying to sign for Real Madrid. However, things appear to have changed somewhat over the last couple of years. Madrid tried and failed to sign our very own Cristiano Ronaldo, they would no doubt have loved to have signed Thierry Henry too, but they did not.

Madrid are currently trying to prize away two Chelsea players in Robben and Ballack, but times have changed I suspect that they will only be allowed to leave Chelsea if the blues want either or both of them out of the door.

Many fans despise many things about the 'play thing' that is Roman Abramovich's Chelsea, but at least the Russian's cash has made it more interesting at the very top end of the European transfer market.

Some things haven't changed though and that is Madrid's seemingly never ending efforts to unsettle players. Bernd Schuster, the Real coach, this week openly invited Ballack to join him at the Bernabeau. Today it's being reported that next summer's No 1 transfer target is Arsenal's Cesc Fàbregas.

Ramón Calderón, the current President has made the rather bold prediction that Madrid will eventually capture Robben, Fàbregas and Kaká: “There’s a chance that they will all be here by the end of my third year in office.” When asked if that could mean Robben this summer, Fàbregas next year and Kaká the next year, Calderón said: “I think so.”

Arsenal only allowed Henry to join Barca because Wenger was happy for that to happen. The same will no doubt apply to Fàbregas, any deal for the Spaniard will be on the Frenchman's terms.

Wenger is a very smooth operator in the transfer market, there is none better. Added to which, unlike Madrid the north London club doesn't have a policy of unsettling other clubs and their star players.

Many Reds supporters despise everything that the 'new Chelsea' stands for and in particular Peter Kenyon (the 'Manchester United fan'), but even the former Reds marketing man doesn't go around openly stating that he will soon sign a top trio from Arsenal, AC Milan and Chelsea. Madrid's continued public advances towards rival star players should be dealt with by UEFA, but don't hold your breath...

Real are still of course a massive club and only a fool would argue otherwise, but they are no longer getting their own way where it concerns signing the very top players because they are no longer calling the shots in the transfer market, they even contrived to allow Beckham to slip through their fingertips.

Champions League: United, Chelsea and Liverpool through, but disaster for Arsenal..

There shouldn't have been that many surprises in the Champions League this week as far British teams werw concerned. Celtic had what looked like on paper to be the toughest task, but to their credit they took AC Milan to extra time before being undone by Brazilian Kaka.

United faced Lille in what was another tough looking assignment, and they just about deserved to win with Larsson scoring the only goal of the game, but it wasn't pretty or convincing. Based on the level of the two performances against Lille, the quarter final will be United's curtain call, but bizarrely the bookies make United favourites to win the competition, given the Reds limitations up front, that must be completely wrong. What United do not need is to be drawn against Liverpool or Chelsea, losing to either might be catastrophic in terms of confidence.

Liverpool despite losing on the night to Barca, deserved to win the game and the tie over both legs. Barcelona look nothing like last season.

Chelsea scraped through with a scratchy performance against Porto and they too do not look convincing at present.

Arsenal despite being one down from the first leg, went out somewhat surprisingly, as PSV managed to draw 1-1 with Alex scoring at both ends.

The competition is now wide open. Any of the remaining sides can win it, but I fear sadly not United due to our lack of firepower up front.