Comments on: Can Liverpool stop Arsenal or Manchester United from winning the Premier League?

By: Ahmed Bilal

Ahmed Bilal — Mon, 17 Mar 2008 11:36:38 +0000

Aidan – what, you 9 or something?

By: Frankie

Frankie — Mon, 17 Mar 2008 11:29:08 +0000

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.

By: Aidan Nelson

Aidan Nelson — Mon, 17 Mar 2008 05:40:55 +0000

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.

By: Arsenal-fan

Arsenal-fan — Sun, 16 Mar 2008 18:31:44 +0000

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…

By: Frankie

Frankie — Sat, 15 Mar 2008 11:30:20 +0000

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.

By: iqnadirshah

iqnadirshah — Sat, 15 Mar 2008 11:12:09 +0000

Thats the only bright side of it. Rafa may focus on the CL and decide to field a weaker side for the EPL game.

By: Ahmed Bilal

Ahmed Bilal — Sat, 15 Mar 2008 02:19:33 +0000

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…

By: Frankie

Frankie — Fri, 14 Mar 2008 14:41:37 +0000

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.

By: iqnadirshah

iqnadirshah — Fri, 14 Mar 2008 12:13:23 +0000

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

By: colver john

colver john — Fri, 14 Mar 2008 11:31:08 +0000

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.