With the Premier League reaching its business end, every single game from now on till May would have a massive bearing on the final shapeup of the league table. A few such momentous clashes are taking place on both ends of the table this weekend, as the grand daddies of English football go head to head, and the bottom six teams all take on each other. However, first up there’s reaction from last week’s clash between Chelsea and United.
POST MORTEM: CHELSEA VS MAN UTD
We witnessed a modern EPL classic last Sunday, as United came from three goals down to earn a point at Stamford Bridge. While United are getting a lot of plaudits for their exhilarating comeback, the strong retort at the attacking end has overshadowed the dismal showing at other end; and has shrouded the more telling question as to how Sir Alex’s side found itself 3-0 down in the first place. United’s defensive frailties have prevented them from gathering any sort of momentum this season, and once again despite controlling the game they ended up settling for a draw.
Rio Ferdinand has joined Patrice Evra this season in parading defensive mediocrity and with Nemanja Vidic out for the season, United’s defense borders on a rushed patch-up work. Also, with their goal keeping merry-go-round this season, the backline hasn’t had any inkling of permanence – barring the stand-in skipper at left back, who has possibly been the worst United defender over the past couple of seasons. David De Gea’s performance ran the entire gamut against Chelsea, from being thoroughly disconcerting – ‘that’ nervy punch in the early skirmishes of the first half – to jaw-dropping stagger – ‘that’ save from Juan Mata’s free kick at the tail end of the game. De Gea has showcased enough to suggest that he has what it takes to be a world beating keeper one day, but he has also displayed enough to confirm that he is far from being that as things stand.
Mata’s goal aside the game wasn’t exactly permeated with quality; it was more about intensity, desire and a plethora of mistakes. And as is the norm, it’s the refereeing bloopers that hog most of the limelight in that department; cue Howard Webb. In the immediate aftermath of the game, the Chelsea faithful were quick to jump to the convenient conclusion that it was Webb who cost their side the game, when in fact his multitude of blunders was actually skewed towards the Blues. Yes, the second United penalty should not have been given, but another one – with Ashley Young’s shirt being tugged – could easily have been. And then there was the Cahill sending off, that never was, and one could argue that it was Chelsea who got the rub of the green from the officials.
Also, it isn’t exactly Howard Webb’s fault if Andre Villas-Boas chooses to take Daniel Sturridge – one of their better players in the attacking third – off and decides to shut up shop even though his side was in the lead. Nor the fact that Fernando Torres prefers to prowl around the wings in lieu of his actual position of being the center forward. And yes, while the Mata goal was courtesy one such out of position loiter, Torres’ patent dilly-dallying about entering the penalty box is clear evidence of the Spaniard being shorn of confidence and being blatantly reluctant about entering positions where he might end up missing a goal.
On the positive front, the performances of two left-footed maestros stood out in the game. While, Rooney received a lot of approbation for his well-taken penalties, it was actually Mata and Ryan Giggs who provided the moments of inspiration for their sides. Second on the assists chart with eight dishes, Mata’s performance throughout the season bears an uncanny resemblance to the volley he thumped in De Gea’s net – genuinely awe-inspiring. It goes without saying that Mata has a massive role to play if Chelsea are to clinch a top four spot come May. Giggs was easily United’s most creative player, and his ingenuity eventually culminated in that picturesque cross, that Chicharito buried with typical efficiency. David Luiz might have seemed to be giving United’s lackluster defence a run for their money by letting Hernandez loaf around as if he was in his living room; but when it comes to positional forward play and being the Johnny on the spot, there are few better strikers in world football than the Mexican. Despite the feel good factor of the comeback, it was undoubtedly two points dropped for United against Chelsea, and they can’t afford similar imprudence against Liverpool today.
PREVIEW: MAN UTD VS LIVERPOOL
As if the mutual animosity wasn’t intense already, the recent racism hullaballoo has added another inflammable facet to the fixture between the two most successful clubs in the history of English football. Luis Suarez was suspended for Liverpool’s FA Cup triumph over Manchester United, and hence it would be the first time that the Uruguayan faces Evra since their unceremonious confrontation in the league game at Old Trafford in October. Even though this particular façade is unfortunately the biggest talking point in the buildup to the game, there is a lot that rests on the outcome of the exploits on the pitch.
United have the incentive of going to the top of the league table – even if temporarily – with a win against their old foes today. Sir Alex’s team trail leaders Manchester City by two points, and could leap frog their neighbours with three points, before City visit Villa Park tomorrow. Seventh placed Liverpool, on the other hand, trail fourth placed Chelsea by four points, with Arsenal and Newcastle United one and three points ahead of the Anfield club respectively. With two wins in eight games in the league, Liverpool are struggling to put results together as they vie to forestall the three sides ahead of them in the race for the coveted Champions League spot. However, lucrative cup runs, which include an impending trip to Wembley in the Carling Cup final and reaching the fifth round of the FA Cup – courtesy a momentous triumph over today’s hosts – have ensured that the Kop has had cause for buoyancy. All the same, most Liverpool buffs would choose Champions League football over cup glory any day, and their side could receive a massive boost in that quest for fourth by a desirable result against United.
Luis Enrique is a doubt for Liverpool, but they do have Fabio Aurelio returning to fitness. Man Utd could be without Phil Jones and Chris Smalling today, this coupled with Vidic’s long term absence connotes that United’s backline would again be ripe to be bullied in air – a la their defeat at Newcastle – and hence Andy Carroll’s inclusion is a decent shout; especially since he has traced tangible form recently (if his goal against Wolves and the assist to Kuyt against United is anything to go by). Hence, while all eyes would be on Suarez – for both the wrong at right reasons – it could be Carroll who might strike the decisive blow.
Nevertheless, one feels that United have a lot more at stake in this one, and after being toppled at Anfield a couple of weeks back, they would be all out for vengeance, to get one over their archenemy and throw over the gauntlet to City for their game on Sunday.