Super Sunday

A breathtaking football weekend awaits us. Lined up on Sunday evening are two massive games involving the Premiership’s top four teams.

Chelsea vs Liverpool – 6 pm

The animosity between Liverpool, the most successful club in England and Chelsea, the club whose ambition is to go beyond anything Liverpool (or the legendary Real Madrid) have achieved, has already reached epic proportions. However this one has some interesting twists to it. Liverpool have a meagre 4 points from their 3 games, including a 3-0 drubbing in the derby at Everton, which is a mini-disaster for their title hopes considering the amount of money Benitez has spent on players this season. Mourinho was quick to rubbish Liverpool’s chances in pre-season saying Arsenal and Man U were more serious title contenders. Steven Gerrard, who played only 18 minutes in the Champions League opener against PSV Eindhoven, saving up for this crucial game might be the one to show(as he once told Mourinho) that Liverpool ‘deserve respect.’
Chelsea meanwhile are caught up in the infancy of team coordination. With as many as six new signings, the holding champions are having a rough ride in their early campaign which included a stunning loss to Boro despite the presence of huge stars like Ballack and Shevchenko. Plus the fearful fact of Liverpool playing on an extra limb against their west London rivals. They sent Chelsea packing 2-1 in the last two games that effectively denied them two trophies (the FA cup last year and the Community Shield pre-season). Chelsea will be itching to have a go at revenge. On the other hand, Liverpool must win to stay seriously alive in this season’s Premiership race.
Either way it should be a match to watch.

Manchester United vs Arsenal – 8.30 pm

Man U have had an extraordinary start to the season. They sit pretty on top of the table with four wins out of four – something they’ve never done in their illustrious Premiership history. More surprising is the fact that it comes at a time when nobody expected them to be anywhere near the top, with the lack of any new signings (except Carrick). Needless to say they will be looking to tighten the stranglehold at the top. A win against Arsenal could prove a double whammy if Chelsea succumb to Liverpool at Stamford Bridge. Ferguson will have the Red Devils fired up, that’s for sure.
Arsenal meanwhile have had an even more disastrous start to the season than Liverpool. Despite having played some attractive football, the Gunners have developed some shooting malfunctions in the box. The result – not a single league win and a horrendous loss against Manchester City. They currently languish at four places from bottom, something the three time champions are not used to, and will be itching to correct when they arrive at Old Trafford on Sunday. They will be bolstered by the return of talismanic Henry, and Arsene Wenger’s brilliance might harness something special out of them.
Beneath it all will be the strong undercurrent of the legendary Man U – Arsenal rivalry. This one should be a cracker.

P.S. Two powerhouses – Henry and Rooney – haven’t really fired as yet because of various reasons (fatigue, suspensions etc). If either of them turns on a show, it could be wonderful. If both of them do, it will be unforgettable.