Can Liverpool stop Arsenal or Manchester United from winning the Premier League?
In terms of excitement, drama and pure unpredictability, this season’s title race is shaping up to be the best for many years and just when it looks like someone is about to pull away, to put a bit of clear water between themselves and second place, there’s another surprise lurking around the corner.
With United in FA Cup action at the weekend, I fully expected Arsenal to turn the screw by picking up three points at Wigan on Sunday. Fresh from their win in Milan – which had to be one of the finest performances by an English side in Europe for a decade - I thought the Gunners would have no problems at the JJB but instead the Latics pulled off the rare feat of stopping Arsenal scoring and collected a valuable point.
Fair play to Steve Bruce and his players. They’ve been on a decent run of form of late and getting harder and harder to beat but Sunday’s result was another example of how this title race simply refuses to conform to expectations.
There’s nine or 10 games to play for the top teams (remaining season fixtures here) and it’s anyone’s guess now what twists and turns are lying in wait.
I still believe United’s greater maturity, their experience of winning the title last season, give them a slight edge over Arsenal. I’m hugely impressed the way Arsenal have kept going considering the size of their squad and the average age of their players but United have some wily old campaigners who’ve been in this situation before.
United also have that bit more firepower going forward. Adebayor has been sensational for Arsenal but United have more players who can and do stick the ball in the back of the net.
Chelsea certainly aren’t out of it either. They’ve had a funny old season at Stamford Bridge and the domestic cups ultimately haven’t been kind to Avram Grant but the fact remains that if they win their games in hand, they’re within one more win over going level with or overhauling both United and Arsenal.
Chelsea have definitely become the dark horses. Perhaps talk of a two-horse race has worked in their favour because they’ve crept up quietly on the rails and there’s no doubt there’s now three teams in with a shout.
The tantalising thing is all three sides have to play each other before the trophy is handed out. United have got Arsenal at Old Trafford and Chelsea at Stamford Bridge, while Chelsea also have the Gunners at the Bridge.
This is where Liverpool come into the equation. They haven’t featured in the title race but they play Arsenal at Emirates and have to go to face United at Old Trafford. These two games could go a long, long way to deciding who is crowned Premier League champions.
Liverpool still have plenty to play for. Fourth spot and Champions League qualification is not yet in the bag and they’re still locked in a fascinating tussle with Everton. There’s also the matter of pride and a couple of wins over the top two would be something for the fans in what has been another disappointing season.
I say United with both my heart and my head but in all honesty, I don’t think anyone can predict what’s going to happen with any real confidence. No of the top three have really been able to stamp their authority on the title race and whoever ends up popping the champagne in May, it’s going to be tight right until the death.
Written by former Manchester United defender Gary Pallister and first published on 4sportsake.com.
4 results could turn this season’s premiership race on its head. Can Chelsea beat Arsenal and United at Stamford Bridge? Of course they can. Can Liverpool go to Old Trafford and the Emirates and win both? Unlikely, but certainly possible. If those four results go that way, even Liverpool could be back in (or at least on the coat-tails of) the title race. Unlikely, yes; impossible, no. Certainly, not when you consider the peculiar and unpredictable form of the top four sides over the past month (Arsenal thrashed by United; but beat AC Milan the European and world club champions. United thrash Arsenal; but lose to Portsmouth. Chelsea romp home over Olympiakos but are beaten by Barnsley. Liverpool lose to Barnsley, but beat Inter Milan the Serie A champions and leaders, home and away). What the hell’s going on?
I agree with one thing, for sure: it is impossible to call it. Anything can still happen at the top of the Premier League. No side on the basis of form, has yet made out an unanswerable case for the title.
Liverpool wont do shit.theyl lose both games.United will be top by this weekend and they will stay there
liverpool focus on the CL too much, if those games against united and arsenal are anywhere near CL fixtures, u can bet they ll field a weakened team. and lets face it , a weakened liverpool team is a lot weaker than a weakend united side, if u get teh gist
Like Frankie says, it’s more than the Liverpool games that will decide the league and, of course, they have the opportunity to influence the outcome of the league but you could say the same thing of Middlesbrough.
However, you’re right that Chelsea aren’t out of it. If you look at their next 7 games (which they play in the same period as Arsenal’s next 5 games) the only tricky ones they have are against Spurs (away) and Arsenal (home). I’m tipping them to beat Arsenal at the Bridge and push United all the way to title.
liverpool can stop a arsenal and manchaster united from winning the premier league because liverpool is very king
Who has 60 games without loose at home? Correct! the next champion of Europe! xD
I pretty much agree with the 2nd comment
Chelsea - if Chelsea win both games then it’s probably going to be United and Chelsea for the title with Arsenal coming in third. Of course, anything’s possible, but why sit on the fence?
i fancy arsenal to do it this season they look pretty strong but united have a game in handwhich will change things alot. I dont think chelsea are strong enough too do it.
How can you put the words liverpool and title in the same sentence. theyre a european team who have had a couple of decent wins recently.:-)
Frankie, not so fast with the recent form analysis if you don’t mind!!
Arseanl were excellent at the San Siro but that was their only win in 6 games. Draws with Wigan, Birmingham and Villa have squandered 6 points in the PL and handed the initiative back to Utd. They have faied to score in 3 of 6.
Now that’s a worrying trend in my view if you’re an Arsenal fan.
Man Utd dominated against Portsmouth but failed to take a host of chances. That’s the way it goes sometimes and good luck to Pompey in the semi’s. However, I wouldn’t read a form drop, in any sense, into this. Other than this in Utd’s last 6 games it’s been Arsenal 4-0, Newcastle 5-1, Fulham 3-0 and Lyon 1-0 and 1-1.
So for my money recent form is definitely with Utd.
Chelsea have always been a dark horse this season and could easily win it.
Liverpool fans would sure love to spoil the Man Utd party!
Interesting times ahead.
Much as I hate to admit it, the pendulum has swung in Manu’s favour after Arsenal squandered the lead. United have a good bench while the Gunners are beginnig to show signs of fatigue. Liverpool look good but dropped far too many points earlier and are surely out of the title race. Chelsea may have thrashed Derby but their performances lack cohesion. I’d say it’d be either Arsenal and Manu. The Heart says it’ll be the former but the Head nods towards the latter………………
Iqnadirshah:
I wouldn’t worry about it mate. It will swing one way one week and then the other way the next week. Arsenal seem to make a decisive break from the pack, then they screw up and drop points. United hit the front, once they do that no one will catch them, right? Well think again, they go and screw up (e.g. Man City). Chelsea the great dark horses moving up fast on the inside track… oops they go and drop points at home with unexpected draws.
Liverpool, we know threw it away in December/January amidst all the boardroom turmoil, but their current good form could prove a real threat to both United and Arsenal. Liverpool haters beware; you could yet choke on your prawn sandwiches at Old Trafford and the Emirates.
Best thing to do is sit back and enjoy it; watch the drama unfold. “Que sera, sera, whatever will be, will be. The futures not ours to see (or if you prefer, “the Big Four are not going to Wembley” - we know that much). Que sera, sera”.
see: http://www.singsnap.com/snap/r/b5104c724
For me the key to Arsenal winning is the comeback of RVP. If he can get a decent run of games then mark my words, Arsenal will edge out Man Utd & Chelsea to win the title. Admittedly at the current rate we’re going we’ll probably come second.
I hate to say this but its all down to RVP now. He needs to get us the goals in the tough match-ups ahead.
Oh yeah. And no more injured players please!
tbh, Liverpool beating Inter has gotten to your head frankie
without the first sending off it is unlikely that the tie would have been the same.
To be a genuine threat, Liverpool need to win at the Emirates AND at Old Trafford. I know you shouldn’t count out the 5-time, 5-time champions, but do you know the odds of that happening? Very slim. Very very slim.
Well, Ahmed if my aunt was a man she’d be my uncle. But she isn’t and she’s not. Liverpool beat Milan fair and square. They’re are in great form, and neither United nor Arsenal can afford to be over-confident (as you appear to be) when facing them. Besides, when is the last time United went away from home in Europe and beat the likes of Inter Milan and Barcelona on their own patches, as Liverpool have done in the past two seasons. Let’s be fair, Liverpool have a better record in Europe over the past three years than United.
But getting back to the EPL. I’m not suggesting that Liverpool are going to win the title. As I’ve aaid they lost it in December/January. What I’m saying is that they are a real threat to the chances of both United and Arsenal (i.e. as spoilers), and so could leave the gate open for Chelsea. That is a real possibility. Liverpool are capable of defending as well as Man City/Portsmouth (against United) and Wigan/Aston Villa (against Arsenal). And they have Torres up front, who unlike United’s current crop of forwards does not appear to need five chances for every one converted.
Much as all red blooded United fans would love to thump Liverpool, it would be foolish to under-estimate them. If they can’t win the title, the next best thing for their fans is to deliver a grievous blow to United’s chances of doing so. Liverpool will be highly motivated, even more against United than Arsenal. There are no givens as to the results. Anything could still happen.
Liverpool hardly beat Milan fairly, if you recall, Torres dived twice to get Materazzi the two yellows, they scored their goals in the last 10 minutes when Milan were really tired, etc etc. Not excuses, merely facts, causes and consequences. This current Liverpool side is playing well, but the past 3 years would have told you that while Rafa’s teams play well in Europe, they don’t do so well in the Premier League.
What is Rafa’s record at the Emirates and Old Trafford?
That’s what we should be basing any predictions on, not on a dodgy win against Inter.
Ahmed:
I know it goes against the grain when it comes to Liverpool, but do us a favour, take the blinkers off. Liverpool deservedly beat Inter Milan home and away, whatever the excuses you may want to dream up.
Current form is more important than how Liverpool have fared at Old Trafford and the Emirates in the recent past. These things can go in cycles. It’s all about the here and now. You don’t get extra points because you did well against a side last year. Because Arsenal did the double over United last season, did that mean they would do the double over them this season? Of course not. Because West Ham have beaten United home and away 3 times in row does that mean they will beat them again the next time they meet? Of course not.
Don’t be too cocky and assume that United and Arsenal are going to arse-whip Liverpool when they come calling, just because you don’t like Liverpool. Liverpool’s chances of surprising both are somewhat higher than those of Portsmouth, Bolton, West Ham or Man city’s were (against United) or Middlesborough’s were(againt Arsenal). All games which either United or Arsenal lost.
Spiral,
I agree with you on RVP. Getting him firing could be key for Arsenal. Interestingly the goals have somewhat dried up for Fabregas in recent weeks and Adebayor is not hitting the net as regularly either. Have teams learnt how to play Arsenal who, let’s not forget, were something of an unknown quantity at the start of the season?
Frankie,
I think you are a bit ahead of yourself regarding Liverpool’s recent form. Beating West Ham 4-0 (Chelsea and Spurs have also just done that) and Newcastle 3-0 (Utd just beat them 5-1 away), is nothing to get carried away about.
Other than that you beat Boro 3-2 at Anfield and then there was the Inter affair.
Without the dubious sendings off in both games the outcome would almost certainly have been different. Also don’t forget that Inter had a number of key players just back from injury. It looks good on paper but if I were you I’d do a quick review of Liverpool’s season so far and not get ahead of myself.
One factor you may have overlooked. Isn’t this about the time of year that Liverpool sacrifice everything for a run in the CL? While Utd, Arsenal and Chelsea battle it out for the one tropy that proves you’re the best in the land, Liverpool rest up and concentrate on Europe.
Don’t you think this is a factor in recent years?
Probably not!
Liverpool deservedly beat Inter home and away
no blinkers here my friend, just some diving and two yellows that shouldn’t have been given. make of that what you will.
I didn’t say it was going to be easy or that United or Arsenal would arse-whip Liverpool. Just that when it comes to these two sides, Rafa’s tactics don’t always bring him the results that he gets elsewhere.
Both current form and recent form against the side in question come into play. Liverpool’s current form is *not* great (if you’re basing everything on the Inter win, then it’s definitely not great), and their recent form against both sides is average / below par.
Of course Liverpool have a chance at OT and Emirates. But that chance is significantly less than the chance that they’ll get beaten at both venues. If both fixtures were at Anfield, then I might have given it a 50-50 chance.
BDConnell:
I am not a Liverpool supporter - far from it. But if they have done well recently, I don’t see any reason not to recognise that fact, by making mealy-mouthed excuses (as you do) as to why they have won recently.
You say that the 4-0 hiding of West Ham means nothing because Chelsea and Spurs have also beaten them 4-0. Well, for the record both Chelsea and Spurs on current form would prove to be difficult opponents for both Arsenal and United. The fact is, that Liverpool are likely to be difficult opponents.
It’s not about Liverpool’s entire season when they meet Arsenal and United, but simply those one-off games. Those are the two big domestic fixtures left for Liverpool this season. Liverpool’s records in one-off games, when Benitez is really up for it, is not that bad. Perhaps, they’ll be really up for the games at Old Trafford and The Emirates. We’ll see.
Ahmed:
I agree that Liverpool’s chances at Old Trafford and the Emirates are less than even. All I’m saying is that their chances of upsetting Arsenal or United are rather better than some of the teams United and Arsenal have lost to this season. There is no room for complacency. It’s the cocky complacency that you seem to exude that I’m addressing.
Liverpool’s current form is as good as, if not better, than all the sides who have beaten the top two, going into those games. We all buy into the tribalism, but it would be silly not to respect Liverpool as opponents.
Liverpool?why?inter had no defence!nothing!inter isnt a good team in my opinion.Their dominance in italy doesnt show them for what they are.Inter cant be compared to united or arsenal.Liverpool like slow pace.Arsenal and united dont give it.Teams in europe are scared of liverpool.Are Man united and arsenal.No
James:
Are Inter Milan a good team? Yes, they are. Look at their record in Serie A over the past 3 years. Are United and Arsenal “scared” of Liverpool? Of course they are not. Does that mean that Liverpool will be easy-peasy for United or Arsenal? Possibly, but unlikely. They should be two tough contests.
Respecting a team is not the same as being scared of them. Alex Ferguson and Arsene Wenger are not “scared” of Liverpool, or Chelsea for that matter; but they do respect them. Disrespecting opponents should not be mistaken for confidence; it’s not, it just plain stupidity. But then again, stupidity is a luxury fans can afford, but managers can’t.
I can’t see it being anything other than Arsenal or Man U in contention for the title. Chelsea may be consistent but they are not invincible under Avram and I’m sure there will be more disastrous results. Liverpool are still much better in Europe than in the League and a few big wins against bottom the table teams does not really change that.
Ahmed, few points:
-Materazzi deserved the second yellow, even if it was only for his brains(I mean who would grab another players’ jersey while already booked). STOP saying that it was a dive
-Its going to be either Man U or Arsenal but like Frankie said, Liverpool will play spoiler. Rafa can make the team superb, but only for 1 game, not for two consecutive ones.
-Liverpool’s performances in the last three years are enough for everyone to sit up and take notice
The Champions League draw may have dealt a decisive blow to Arsenal’s chances of the securing the title, perversely not because Liverpool will necessarily beat them in any of the games, but because Liverpool are likely to exhaust them.
Look at Arsenal’s fixtures in a critical three week period:
23 March: Chelsea (away)
29 March: Bolton (away)
2 April : Liverpool (home) Champions League
5 April : Liverpool (home)
9 April : Liverpool (away) Champions League
13 April: Man Utd (away)
Having played Chelsea and a rough tough Bolton side away, Arsenal then have the triple-header against Liverpool and then only 4 days later they have to go to United to play for the title. Arsenal, already showing signs of fatigue, simply may not have the physical resources to go to United at the end of that exhausting fixture list and get anything.
The big question now, is whether Arsenal can last the pace in the race for the title. The Champions League draw has been kinder to Chelsea and United, who at least will not have to face the kind of physical intensity playing against another one of the Big Four would inevitably bring. They also have bigger and more experienced squads and are likely to be able to spread the load better than Arsenal.
frankie
good point mate, arsenal will be sick of Gerrard by the end of it.
Would Rafa play Gerrard / Torres in all 3? Rafa might “throw” the Emirates game to keep Torres fit for the 2nd leg…
Thats the only bright side of it. Rafa may focus on the CL and decide to field a weaker side for the EPL game.
I’d be surprised if Benitez played Torres in the Emirates PL game. He might also start that game with Gerrard on the bench. He’ll set out his stall for a 0-0 draw in the PL game by flooding the middle of the park with defensive midfielders, and asking his forwards and wide men to drop back and compress the midfield area.
Arsenal’s best hope of negotiating these fixtures is to effectively win the tie in the first leg by giving themselves at least a 2-0 lead. They could then go all out for the points against Liverpool in the PL game, and Wenger might then be able to freshen up in one or two positions in the CL game at Anfield, and then start with his first rank players at Old Trafford.
The real dilemma for Wenger comes if they don’t put Liverpool away in the first game. He then has no option but to play his best side, against Liverpool in the PL, the return CL game at Anfield, and then against United in the PL only 4 days later. That will probably be asking too much of his players.
The X factor in all of this are injuries. It’s difficult to see Arsenal or Liverpool getting through so many tough games in such a short period of time without the odd injury or niggle for the star players.
Which trophy would Wenger most want to win? The PL or the CL? He’s won the PL before. I think if push came to shuv, Wenger would lean towards the CL. It’s the one achievement missing from his impressive managerial record; it is the one competition Arsenal has never won. To be ranked a truly great European club, you must win the CL. As Abramovich and Chelsea understand only too well.
So, if Liverpool are still in it come the second leg, watch Wenger play his best side at Anfield, and then select whoever is left standing to face United in the championship shoot-out at Old Trafford. Advantage United.
I definitely agree that arsenal’s squad lacks experience and that manutd n chelsea have some old-biggies like lampard, drogba and ronaldo,neville with them. BUT, Arsenal is a very strong team with lot of potential and team-spirit(fabregas,adebayor)… I hope and i’m quite sure that they’ll emerge the champions of the UEFA champions-league…
At the moment Man Utd sit on top of the Premier League table with the same points as Arsenal but Utd have a game in hand and so do Chelsea. I am a die hard Man U fan and really want the red devils to win it again, so for us to win it 2 times in a row this is what has to happen.
Man Utd v Bolton, Man Utd win they go to 71 points.
Chelsea v Tottenham, Tottenham win so chelsea stay on 64 points.
Arsenal v Chelsea, the match is a draw Arsenal go to 68 points and Chelsea go to 65 points.
Man United v Liverpool, Man Utd win, they go to 74 points.
In the last 6 or 7 games chelsea and arsenal choke and Man Utd go on a roll to end up 10+ on top and win the Cup.
Aidan:
If events turn out like exactly as you’ve dreamt it, you’ll be hailed a genius or a latter-day prophet. And we’d have heard it here first.
Aidan - what, you 9 or something?