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...

Gerrard in the Dock as takeover talk erupts - a timely coincidence?

So then on the very day that Steven Gerrard was due in court to face charges of assault and affray, media sources are all of a sudden reporting that there’s renewed interest from the Middle East, regarding taking over the troubled Merseyside club.
The timing of this takeover talk coming on the day of Gerrard’s initial court appearance is surely simply too much of a coincidence.

A cynic like myself would say it's a good day to bury potentially damaging news and following the events which led up to Gerrard spending a night in the Southport police cells, it seems that LFC have been using every trick in the PR book to deflect attention away from their captain and his problems.

First we had Rafa’s barmy rant at Ferguson; but the Spaniard didn’t stop there as he went to war with other high-profile targets. You do wonder about Rafa’s more recent scattergun rants, are they part of any concerted media campaign to deflect attention away from Gerrard, or is the Liverpool manager simply losing the plot? I'm fairly certain Rafa's rant at Fergie and today's news is an attempt to deflect attention away from Gerrard, as for the rest of it, I'm not really sure.

This might surprise Liverpool fans, but I wish them well regarding finding new owners. Like United, Liverpool are a huge club; both are institutions and as such they should be run accordingly without threat to their futures due to issues surrounding owners who fail to deliver on promises.

Following on from yesteday's post on possible interest from Dubai concerning taking over United and coming on the back of today's news about potential takeover's for Liverpool and Chelsea fans will be wondering where it will all end.

UPDATE: This update, is partially in response to the LFC fans who rubbished my story yesterday. For the record, and in case there's any misunderstanding; I wasn't suggesting that there is no substance behind the reports. I was however stating, very clearly, that the timing of the leaked story was suspect to say the least. Following on from that today the said Kuwaiti group have denied the takeover claims which further vindicates my initial assertions that the whole story was indeed leaked to time with Gerrard's court appearance.

Grand slam Sunday: Time for Rooney to deliver...

Ahead of the clash with fierce North West rivals Liverpool the team news for United fans is not good as Rio Ferdinand continues to have back problems. If the England defender does not recover in time to face the Merseyside Reds then it's likely Wes Brown or Gerard Pique will fill-in at centre-back. There's better news to report on the 'keeper situation as early reports suggest that Edwin Van der Sar is likely to return.

With Chelsea and Arsenal facing each other later in the day it's vital that United take all three points from what is always a hard fought contest. The best result for United on what has been billed by Sky Sports as Grand Slam Sunday would be for the Red Devils to beat Liverpool and for Chelsea to draw with Arsenal at Stamford Bridge. If results go to plan for United, it would be a great platform for the Reds to push home their advantage in the final weeks of the season.

If United are to win today they will need to ensure that they do their utmost to ensure that Fernando Torres is kept in check. While the Reds have an impressive home record, there has been some alarming reverses this season, against Man City the team did not function in any way shape or form in what was an abject performance on the day, sans banned Wayne Rooney.

Pompey knocked the Reds out of the FA Cup, after delivering a sucker-punch late on in a game that the home to team should have won comfortably. Earlier this week against Derby at Pride Park United were wasteful in front of goal and worryingly less than rock solid at the back - the excellent Ben Foster had to produce two top drawer saves to deny the Rams. Against Bolton in midweek, while the Reds were able to rely upon the brilliance of Ronaldo the visitors came back into the game in the second-half with United unable to push home their first-half advantage.

Rafa Benitez will be fully aware of any perceived weaknesses in United's recent performances and no doubting today's visitors to Old Trafford will be seeking to exploit any gaps at the back, in particular Fergie will be stressing to his defenders that they must not get caught on the counter-attack.

Ferguson will be keen for his team to win the battle for control of midfield and to that end it's likely that United will start with Carlos Tevez on the bench, which could lead to a midfield stalemate. If that happens then once again the Reds will have to rely on Ronaldo and Wayne Rooney who has the chance to dent Liverpool's hopes of securing a Champions League place - to that end on-looking Evertonian's will no doubt be jumping for joy if their former star can help put one over on their bitter local rivals. The England striker is due a goal and today it could be a case of perfect timing if his goals secure all three points for the home team and for this Red that will more than make up for him missing the Manchester derby through suspension. It is time for Rooney to deliver.

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.

United strikers plotting another Merseyside raid...

United will be hoping to add Steven Gerrard's woes by pinching another three points off the Scousers as happened the last time the Reds played at Anfield. The man who did the damage last season was our very own artful Irish dodger, big John O'Shea, who stole in to score the only goal of the game which secured a somewhat fortuitous late victory and a very welcome three points.

For rivals Liverpool it has been a mixed week for Gerrard in particular with a thumping victory in the Champions League against Marseille. However, the personal joy was short lived with the news that Gerrard had just become the sixth Merseyside based big name player to have his mansion robbed.

In the wake of this latest but all too predictable burglary, Rafa Benetiz has been talking about the need to improve security off the pitch, but this weekend's clash could also prove to be a timely reminder that he also needs to add a new central defender or two to this squad as the Merseyside Reds have looked pretty shaky in some games at the back this season.

United have the strikers to capitalise on any slip-ups and ahead of this Sunday's huge game at Anfield on Sunday Louis Saha has been speaking about the intense atmosphere which always surrounds this absorbing fixture. The Frenchman said "Without doubt, it is the most intense atmosphere for a Manchester United player.

"I have played there a few times now but the win we had there last season was amazing. That is one of the greatest feelings I have ever had as a footballer.

"My main memory of last season is that the win at Liverpool kick-started us towards the title. It proved we were strong enough.

"We are going there much earlier in the season this time and there is still a long road ahead. But it does give us a chance to show exactly how good we are."

Meanwhile team-mate Wayne Rooney says that he's plotting to add further daylight between the Champions and Liverpool.

"Obviously, Liverpool away is a massive game, probably our biggest of the season.
"It won't decide the title but it is a chance to put some daylight between us".

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.

New season brings new hope to Premier League new boys...

The Premier League new season started with a bang on Saturday with Sven Goran Eriksson's Man City sharing the headlines with Roy Keane and Sunderland in what turned out to be a very interesting day for neutrals and die-hards alike. With the big-boys (Liverpool excepted) taking centre-stage on Sunday, it was a chance for the lesser lights to showcase their collective new talents.

Having spent over £40m so far this summer, much will be expected of Man City, but even the most loyal Blues fans couldn't have anticipated what happened at Upton Park. Premier League rookie manager Sven Goran Eriksson had given himself much to ponder regarding selection issues, having signed so many overseas stars. Added to which the former England manager hasn't had that much time to work with his new charges - there's some debate as to whether or not he'd even seen some of them play before signing them.

Nonetheless, City, by all accounts, put on a fantastic 90 minute performance and the two-nil scoreline was a fair reflection of the game. City's star man was Blumer Elano, the Brazilian plays in a similar role to United's Paul Scholes and he was key to the Blues victory. West Ham for their part could not break down a well organised City team and here again Eriksson must take a great deal of credit, because few could have expected the former England manager to create such a well balanced side in such short order. Many Man City fans have been saying 'the derby with United will be too soon for us'... now it cannot come soon enough one suspects.

One Saturday does not maketh a season, but on the evidence of the win over the Hammers, maybe this is the season when City will finally have a decent chance of winning a pot? Let the giddyness begin...Predictions: Man City mid table finish, West Ham bottom eight.


Sunderland and Roy Keane made their Premier League debuts when facing Spurs in the day's early kick-off and opening league fixture at the Stadium of Light. The game while not being a snoozfest, lacked goal-mouth action at both ends throughout the ninety minutes.

Former United starlet Paul McShane looks to be a very shrewd signing, the young central defender won just about every header and but for Michael Chopra's late injury time winner for Sunderland the Irishman would have no doubt been the man-of-the-match.

McShane reminds me a lot of Barcelona's Pugol, both have distinctive hairstyles, both charge up and down the park making superbly timed tackles. Keane will be delighted with the one nil win over Spurs, but the Black Cats boss is going to have a very difficult season based on the evidence of the opening game. Sunderland lack genuine star quality up front and in midfield. Richardson, one of Keane's big summer signings did not impress at all and it came as no surprise when he was replaced late on.

Keane and his chairman will be delighted with their opening victory, but they will also realise the size of the task ahead of them, and with money still left in the bank to spend on new players, I for one expect another signing or two. Nyron Noseworthy and Paul McShane were rock solid against a lacklutre Spurs, though once again Martin Jol the Spurs manager did the opposition a huge favour by taking off Berbatov. My prediction for Sunderland and the rest of the season is expect them to be in the bottom six once the season is under way proper. As for Spurs, they have injuries to key players, but as ever they will take points off the big boys. Predictions: Spurs top six finish, Sunderland possible relegation candidates.

Sammy Lee, the new Bolton manager was on the wrong end of a 3-1 scoreline as Big Sam returned to the Reebok stadium with his new club Newcastle United. However, both of Martins goals looked suspiciously like hand-ball. Apparently, the talk coming out of the Bolton Wanderers camp is that this season they will play more football. Dodgy goals aside, losing at home 3-1 to Newcastle doesn't bode well for the new season. Expect a return to 'route one' football in the not too distant future. Predictions: Bolton possible relegation candidates, Newcastle to finish in top eight.

Before a ball was kicked, many pundits had been predicting that Derby County were racing certainties for a quick return to the Champhionship, so the 2-2 scoreline with Portsmouth will give their supporters and manager cause for optimism in what will be a very difficult season. Predictions: Derby possible relegation candidates. Pompey top eight finish.

The new look Liverpool were in action as they travelled to Villa Park for a game that ended in much controversy after visitors ran out 2-1 winners. The media have been going overboard about Steven Gerrard's winning free-kick. It was a stunning effort that much is true. However, if United's Cristiano Ronaldo had 'won' the free-kick in similar cirumstances our loveable and all too often agenda setting media would have surely focused on the disgraceful cheating. Referee Mike Riley was conned big time by Gerrard. It was an appalling decision and one that won the game for the Merseyside Reds. Predictions: Merseyside Reds top four finish. Villa top eight.

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.