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Chelsea or United to take the EPL Title?
This weekend really looks like The Big One.
The penultimate weekend of the season sees both title challengers with tricky away games and any points dropped this weekend could be crucial.
The final day of the Premier League campaign sees Chelsea and Manchester United both playing at home, where you would fancy all three points to be picked up. This means the games on Sunday afternoon could well be the defining moments of the 2009/10 season.
Chelsea currently hold a one point lead at the top of the league. They returned to the top last Sunday with a thumping 7-0 home victory over Stoke City. That’s the sort of result that breeds confidence and in a race so tight, won’t be bad for the goal difference either.
Chelsea boss Carlo Ancelotti doesn’t believe that goal difference will be a factor in the title run-in but then again, he probably expects his side to win both matches. It is always better to be safe to sorry and Chelsea now have a huge gap over the Red Devils.
The 7-0 win on Sunday sees Chelsea sit with a goal difference of 61. This is 8 higher than Manchester United’s tally of 53 so you can see how crucial the late goals at Stamford Bridge could turn out to be.
As Daniel Sturridge and Flourent Malouda netted late on, you could probably hear the groans from United fans up and down the country and all over the world. Most football fans would have expected Chelsea to beat Stoke at home, very few people would have considered such a rout to be a viable option. With some teams having nothing to play for and other teams having everything at stake, funny results can be obtained. Whether any more peculiar results happen on Sunday remains to be seen.
Chelsea travel to Anfield to take on Liverpool and it is fair to say, there is little love lost between the two clubs. A number of epic Champions League showdowns between the two clubs has driven a wedge between the two fans but come Sunday. Don’t be surprised to see some Liverpool fans with a smile on their face if they lose.
This is because no matter how much Liverpool fans dislike Chelsea and their fans, they despise Manchester United more. Ordinarily, the thought of denying United a title would be sweet enough for a Scouser but the circumstances of this season mean an awful lot more.
Liverpool have won 18 top flight league campaigns in England, the exact same number as Manchester United. Another triumph for Alex Ferguson would see his side out clear with regards to league wins and that is bad news for Liverpool.
For years, the club could mock and laugh at their rivals for not having a history as glorious as theirs. It is therefore ironic that if Liverpool do manage a victory, they will likely aid United to surpass them in the number of league wins. Sunday promises to be a strange day for Liverpool fans.
Liverpool still need to clinch their own European place for next season, with an outside chance of a Champions League spot up for grabs, even though the lesser European tournament looks more likely. This means that the club and players have to be keyed up for the visit of Chelsea.
With Fernando Torres out injured, Liverpool are definitely under-strength but you cannot imagine Steven Gerrard would be too happy to see Frank Lampard out-perform him in midfield. Realistically, both teams have a lot to play for but you just wonder if the psychological implications may play on Liverpool’s minds.
Mind you, there is no guarantee that Manchester United will win their game when they play away at Sunderland later on Sunday. The Red Devils have been struggling of late. Dumped out of the Champions League by Bayern Munich, losing at home to Chelsea and then drawing away to Blackburn Rovers could well be disastrous in the course of United’s season.
This run of results has been followed by a late late show versus Manchester City and then a stuttering victory over Tottenham Hotspur.
These six points alongside Spurs victory at home over Chelsea has kept the title race alive but United are still relying on favours. However, these favours are no use if they do not win their own matches and this is why they have to ensure they are on top form at the Stadium of Light. Steve Bruce may be an ex Manchester United league winning captain but Sunderland pay his wages and he will be wanting to send his own fans home happy. With league positions worth a lot of money for each club, Sunderland may still have a bit of motivation to get a positive result this week.
The Sunderland fans will have every confidence about getting a result because Manchester United are not the same team without Wayne Rooney.
The man that all of England are pinning their hopes on for the World Cup has been stumbling with injuries of late and he appears to be definitely out of this match. Rooney hopes to be fit enough to return for the final game of the season when Manchester United take on Stoke City at Old Trafford but it could be too late for the Red Devils.
United have been scraping by recently thanks to the goals and performances of veteran players like Ryan Giggs and Paul Scholes. The fact that these players are still the most important parts of the United team when multi-million signings like Dimitar Berbatov or Michael Carrick have been unable to find has to be a worrying sign for United fans.
The veteran players cannot go on forever and with Alex Ferguson looking likely to be questioned further about his retirement with every passing month, you wonder if it is an end of an era for United.
If United do not win the league this season, they may find they need a few years to get back on top, which could allow their rivals to strengthen and put some space between them and the recent trend setters in English football. Liverpool may find it is worthwhile to lose on game this weekend in order to preserve their legacy.
by Andrew Reilly
for The Silver Circle at www.footballtip.co.uk
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Dear Greg,
I've been a member since July 2003, maybe one of the first to join the Silver Circle.
2004 was a good year but I really enjoyed the long run we had in, I think, July 2005. It was exhilarating! 2006-2007 was not as exciting although still quite profitable and so far 2007-2008 looks quite good. I'm wondering if we're going to hit a long one again soon. Anyway, it's been a pleasure as always with your service, Greg. Armstrong and you are one of the few people I trust on the internet. You have made my retirement so much more fun and financially happy!
Best Wishes, Trent Wrayford, Sidney
