Mouthwatering double-header

GIDEON NKALA
Staff Writer | Thursday March 20, 2008 00:00

 

In a late afternoon kickoff, Londoners Arsenal and Chelsea go head to head in another mouthwatering clash. The double-header comes hours before the day of resurrection in the Christian calendar and Liverpool manager, Rafael Benitez believes that Sunday will mark a major revival for his team. To most people, Liverpool is realistically out of the title race and the game is just about rivalries and bragging rights.

The Merseysiders are left with eight games and trailing their Manchester rivals by what looks like an unassailable eight points. Having posted a seven-game winning streak, Benitez believes the fat lady has not sang yet. What with a calculator on his side! After a bad start in 2008 against clubs that 'the Reds' should have bundled off with contemptuous ease, Liverpool has seen a revival of fortunes while Manchester United seem to be losing traction as evidenced by their unconvincing 1-0 win over the bottom-placed Derby County on Saturday. Liverpool goes into the game boosted by the free scoring exploits of 'El Nino' Fernando Torres. Just in his first season, Torres is already tearing record books at Anfield. He has already scored 20 league goals and thus breaking a record that was achieved by Robbie Fowler some 12 years ago.

At 20 goals, Torres is just two strikes behind the leader of the pack, Cristiano Ronaldo of Manchester United. This would be an interesting sideshow when the two teams meet on Sunday. Will the Manchester rearguard stop the Spanish superstar or will Ronaldo increase his tally to inch closer to the golden boot award?

Benitez seems to have discovered a potent working partnership between captain Steven Gerard and Torres. With Javier Mascherano doing the donkey work in the middle of the pack, Gerard plays in an advanced role where he either sets up Torres or scores himself.

When all is said and done, Benitez himself knows that he has a personal record to improve against Manchester United. The Spanish tactician has never beaten United in a league game. In fact apart from his exploits in the Champions League, he has never had it easy against fellow big teams such as Chelsea, Arsenal and Manchester United. His side always plays the football while Alex Ferguson's boys deliver the sucker punch to grab maximum points. That was the case in November when Carlos Tevez broke the hearts of the Kop at Anfield when he scored the single goal that won the game.

Chelsea manager, Avram Grant is walking a very tight rope and he would know this when his side meets Arsenal on Sunday. Chelsea have a chance to win the title as they are only three points adrift of both United and Arsenal. If Grant does not want to hear any chants of Jose Mourinho's name from Chelsea supporters, he must neutralise the Gunners in this encounter.

Arsenal are limping and their indifferent form in the league has made them surrender a comfortable lead over Manchester United.

Coach Arsene Wenger has been forced to draw very deep in his reserves because Arsenal is afflicted by injuries in all the departments. The Gunners cannot afford to slip up because it would seriously endanger their real prospects of any silverware this season.