Chelsea has made an emphatic return to form and you have to wonder, with Rooney’s injuries and the countless issues plaguing Arsenal, if anyone is actually capable challenging their title hopes.
Drogba had the game winner on Saturday as Rooney watched painfully from the crowd. Here are highlights…
Manchester United v Chelsea
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By Jake Glavies
Sunday’s clash between Manchester City and Liverpool is the showdown that could have been. While both teams prepare to face off for the fourth spot in the Premier League, they’ll each be doing so without their most dangerous offensive weapons. Boasting two of the league’s most proficient goal scorers in Carlos Tevez and Fernando Torres, the contest in Manchester could have been one of the league’s best. However, neither player will be in uniform when their teams meet this weekend.
An injury plagued year has held Torres to just 15 league appearances, in which time he’s netted a team-high 12 goals. After returning from nearly a month long layoff during the first half of the season, Torres managed to stay healthy for just five league matches before again returning to the sidelines. As for Tevez, an extended family leave to look after his daughter in Argentina has kept the forward out since a 2-0 victory over Bolton on Feb. 9. After getting off to a slow start during his first season at City, Tevez has come on strong over the past two months – scoring 11 goals in 11 matches to help Manchester rise to No. 4 in the league, just one point ahead of Liverpool.
Scoring a combined 25 goals this year – with Tevez accounting for a team-leading 13 scores – the duo has helped keep their respective clubs in the top quarter of the table for most of the season. With both scratched from the line-up for Sunday though, the match will take on a completely different dynamic. Both teams must look to their background players for the lift they need to stay in Champions League contention. For Liverpool it’ll be a combination of Dirk Kuyt and Steven Gerrard. The duo has teamed up for 14 goals this year – with Kuyt leading the way with nine.
On City’s side, Emmanuel Adebayor will attempt to pick up the slack while Tevez is across the Atlantic. Netting nine goals this season, including three in his last four league matches, Adebayor will be the focal point of Manchester’s attack.
Though both teams are without their top offensive stars, neither should have much difficulty finding the back of the net. City has allowed 33 goals this season, most amongst the top five teams in the league. Liverpool has fared only slightly better, giving up 27 scores.
After playing to a 2-2 draw on Nov. 21, each team would certainly like to knock the other out of the top quarter of the table. But just who’ll step up and grab the victory for his team won’t be known until the action begins Sunday.
Check out video highlights. Dempsey reps the USA like no other in the EPL. Even after a 3-0 first half in Stoke’s favor (Stoke City played brilliantly), Dempsey had Fulham fans thinking that a tie was in the works. Dempsey is pure heart.
Bobby Zamora is out with a dislocated collarbone which presents a whole new set of problems for Fulham. Hopefully they can find some balance in the striker’s absence.
No manager on earth can match Arsene Wenger at developing good professionals into world class players. Arsenal captain Cesc Fabregas had two of the most exciting goals of the weekend, followed by a 3rd from Diaby.
Fabregas was subbed out after his second goal with hamstring problems, though Wenger believes that the injury is minor. Let’s hope so. When this team is healthy, they play some of the most beautiful soccer on earth.
With the firing of Mark Hughes, Manchester City took one giant step toward becoming the most-hated-club on earth. Who fires a manager after a win? By this measure, how does Rafa Benitez (or Diego Maradona) sleep at night? Hughes came to City from Blackburn in June, 2008. He didn’t have enough time to build a real team at City. If he takes another job in the premiership, I hope that his side (even if it’s Portsmouth) will spank Man City all over the field.
The hiring of former-Inter boss Roberto Mancini was a calculated gamble that had been in the works long before City eeked out a 4-3 victory over Sunderland. While Mancini denies talk of an uprising in the locker room, there is no doubt that many key players will suffer from this transition. Mancini may be the perfect manager for Robinho, Adebayor, and Tevez, but he can say goodbye to Welsh international Craig Bellamy. Many undervalue the importance of Bellamy at City, but he is critical to their success. If he leaves, Mancini will have the responsibility of re-establishing a philosophy at the club. Good luck!
photo credit: N/A – UK Footbal
WHAT A GAME FOR FULHAM!!! Dempsey’s squad were on fire today. It started with an early goal from Danny Murphy and continued with a performance of the highest caliber. Bobby Zamora scored on a PERFECT Dempsey assist early in the second half. If that weren’t enough, Zamora (MVP) set up Damien Duff for a 3rd goal in the 76th minute. What a day. It ended 3-0 for Man United’s 5th, and most decisive, loss of the season.
Everton boss Moyes is interested in bringing Landon Donovan aboard for the rest of the EPL season. With Seamus Coleman back in shape and Saha re-focused on his club duties, Donovan would have the support he needs to be effective both at midfield and on the attack.
Manchester City are keen on German international and Bayern Munich defender Philip Lahm. If you aren’t a big Bundesliga follower, you can see Lahm in action against Juventus today.
Depsite injuries at the club level, Lahm is a key ingredient in Germany’s dangerous world cup squad. City’s Wayne Bridge risks losing a starting position if Lahm makes the move, but this could prove to be the answer to City’s problems. Lahm is a tough defender, an excellent passer, and a big offensive threat.
photo credit: AFP
Klass-Jan Huntelaar, who has been under fire for not finding his form at AC Milan, was brilliant today against Catania scoring the only goals of the game. Huntelaar came in as a substitute in the 84th minute and scored two goals in the last two minutes of injury time to give AC Milan the win and the points to climb to second place in Serie A. These were Huntelaar’s first goals for AC Milan.
Huntelaar, who has been linked for a move to Tottenham, has been under scrutiny ever since leaving Real Madrid. The Dutch national has stated that he wants to stay with AC Milan, even though he is behind Pato, Inzaghi, and Borriello in the striker pecking order. Huntelaar was a highly-touted star while at Ajax, scoring 76 goals in 92 appearances, but failed to shine at Real Madrid leading to his departure to AC Milan, where until this game, has again not lived up to expectations.
Photo Credit: AP Photo
Cesc Fabregas cleared the air of Barca rumors last week when he publicly voiced a desire to stay at Arsenal for the long haul. This week, rumor has Fabregas going to Inter Milan in a clean swap for Mario Balotelli. No official statements have been issued from either organization, though Wenger is said to be as fond of Balotelli at striker as Mourinho is of Fabregas at midfield. Wenger is hardly the type to act desperately under pressure, but he may have a plan for Balotelli. These gambles make the game exciting.
There is also a slight chance that Wenger is getting ready leave Arsenal. That would seem like the only circumstance under-which Cesc would hit the road, unless he just wants to win the Champions League and a Serie A league title. We’ll know if this is all a big nothing by mid-week.
What do you think?
photo credit: Getty Images
