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| Friday, December 6, 2002 20:51 EST |
Premiership's most successful clubs collide at Old Trafford
[Reuters]
LONDON -- After settling one score with
Liverpool, Manchester United will attempt to bury the memory of
their most painful defeat of recent seasons when they tackle
champions Arsenal at Old Trafford on Saturday.
When the English game's two most successful clubs of the
last decade met in May, United suffered a painful 1-0 defeat in
front of their own fans that cost them their premier league
crown.
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger described the moment as
marking "a shift in power" in the English game, a conclusion
borne out this season, with his record-breaking team again
leading the title race.
Saturday offers United a timely opportunity to sow some
serious doubt in the Londoners' minds.
The title itself is not quite at stake yet, but Saturday's
encounter could have a huge bearing on its destiny.
If United lose, they will be nine points behind
Arsenal going into the frenetic festive season.
Should they win, the gap will be trimmed to a manageable
three points, and Alex Ferguson's side is certainly in the
mood.
Last Saturday's 2-1 win at Liverpool ended the club's run of five
straight defeats by Gerard Houllier's side.
United have also lost their last three encounters with
Arsenal. But with five wins and a draw from the last six
matches, Ferguson's team appears to have found a way to live with
its crippling injury list.
In May, midfielder Roy Keane was United's only real
inspiration on a night when Dutch striker Ruud van Nistelrooy
was strangely rested and his replacement Diego Forlan proved
utterly inadequate alongside Ole Gunnar Solskjaer in attack.
This Saturday will be very different, with Keane grinding
his teeth on the sidelines as he recovers from his hip surgery.
Van Nistelrooy is back in form and Forlan has suddenly
discovered the art of goalscoring in a United shirt.
The Uruguayan netted both goals against Liverpool and was on
target again in Tuesday's League Cup win over Burnley -- a glut
unthinkable a few weeks ago when he was marooned in a 26-game
barren spell.
Ferguson has problems in midfield, with Nicky Butt
definitely out. David Beckham may return following his rib
injury and Juan Sebastian Veron, who has been suffering from
influenza, could also play.
In defense, Rio Ferdinand is close to fitness after his thigh
strain and fellow center-back Frenchman Laurent Blanc could also
return, although both will have a job ousting Wes Brown, who has
been excellent in recent games.
Neither Van Nistelrooy, with eight goals in his last seven
outings, nor Forlan are quite as hot as Arsenal hitman Thierry
Henry, who has netted five outstanding goals in his last two
matches.
The France striker's treble against AS Roma last Wednesday
was one of the finest hat tricks seen in the Champions League.
Saturday's deadball double against Aston Villa -- the first
another swirling free kick, the second the deftest of penalties
-- was evidence that, when it comes to striking a football
sweetly, Henry has few peers.
However, Arsenal's current superiority over United stems
from its squad strength and the club has not missed the likes of
David Seaman, Ray Parlour, Nwankwo Kanu and Lauren in recent
weeks.
Defender Sol Campbell is suspended for Saturday's game, so
Martin Keown, himself back after an injury layoff, will partner with
Pascal Cygan at the heart of the defense.
Other Premiership matches (league position in parentheses):
Saturday
ASTON VILLA (15) v NEWCASTLE UNITED (6)
Though convincingly beaten by Arsenal last weekend, Graham
Taylor will be looking for the kind of second-half fight Villa
showed at Highbury when the club hosts Bobby Robson's side.
Midfielder Ian Taylor is a major doubt after suffering a
thigh injury in its 5-0 League Cup win over Preston.
Craig Bellamy and Alan Shearer, both of whom are suspended
for next week's Champions League trip to Barcelona, should lead
Newcastle's attack after combining late to beat 10-man Everton
last Sunday.
BOLTON WANDERERS (19) v BLACKBURN ROVERS (9)
The derby is likely to swing the visitors' way as Bolton
manager Sam Allardyce is still struggling with injury problems
-- only midfielder Per Frandsen is likely to return from a group
of six who missed last weekend's defeat by Manchester City.
Blackburn will have been lifted by its easy 4-0 passage
into the League Cup quarterfinals against Rotherham plus last
week's first league win since October over Fulham.
New striker Hakan Sukur of Turkey, carrying a slight injury,
is unlikely to make his debut.
CHARLTON ATHLETIC (12) v LIVERPOOL (2)
Charlton had been looking like relegation candidates until a
run of three wins restored the club to more familiar mid-table
security.
Liverpool will have Chris Kirkland in goal after Jerzy
Dudek's howler last weekend cost the club a 2-1 defeat to Manchester
United, though the Pole did play in its League Cup win over
Ipswich on penalties. Gerard Houllier made seven changes for
that game, but the first-team regulars will be back at the
Valley.
EVERTON (5) v CHELSEA (3)
Evertonian pride demands that David Moyes' men bounce back
from Wednesday's 4-1 hammering by Chelsea in the League Cup
fourth round when the two sides meet for the second time in four
days.
It has been an off week for Everton, whose run of six league
wins was ended by Newcastle last weekend after Joseph Yobo's red
card, while Chelsea continue to go from strength to strength.
Gianfranco Zola and Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink are on great form and
Dutch midfielder Boudewijn Zenden is back from an ankle injury.
FULHAM (14) v LEEDS UNITED (16)
Dumped out of the League Cup by Wigan after a defensive
display which manager Jean Tigana described as "horrific",
Fulham should still be able to exploit Leeds's frailties.
Fulham's win over Liverpool a fortnight ago showed its
potential, while the failure of Leeds manager Terry Venables to
end the club's slide down the table -- amid three league defeats in a
row -- has jeopardized his future. South African defender Lucas
Radebe is fit again after a fourth-month absence with a groin
injury, and striker Robbie Fowler could make his long-awaited
return.
MIDDLESBROUGH (7) v WEST HAM UNITED (20)
Middlesbrough has alternated victory and defeat since
November and should continue by following its 1-0 loss to West
Brom with a victory over Glenn Roeder's strugglers.
Boro will be without striker Joseph-Desire Job, who suffered
a fractured skull in a collision against West Brom.
Injuries continue to dog West Ham with skipper Paolo Di
Canio set to be out long-term with a knee injury, strike partner
Frederic Kanoute (groin) still missing after 10 weeks and Steve
midfielder Steve Lomas without a return date.
SOUTHAMPTON (10) v BIRMINGHAM CITY (11)
Southampton will be looking to striker James Beattie, who
has scored nine goals in seven games, to see off the threat from
Birmingham to its unbeaten home record this season.
Influential striker Pahars has an ankle in plaster and is
not expected back until New Year's Day, while Birmingham has
Martin Grainger, Steve Vickers and Michael Johnson out.
Sunday
TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR (8) v WEST BROMWICH ALBION (17)
After picking up four points from two games, Spurs have a
great chance to make further headway against well-disciplined
but lackluster opposition. Wales playmaker Simon Davies is
available again after serving a one-match suspension.
West Brom ended a 10-match winless run with last weekend's
victory over Middlesbrough. Defender Phil Gilchrist is counting
on an anti-inflammatory injection to get him fit.
Monday
SUNDERLAND (18) v MANCHESTER CITY (13)
Sunderland's mini-revival under Howard Wilkinson suffered
its latest setback with the club's League Cup defeat by Sheffield
United. After two consecutive league losses things are unlikely
to improve on Monday.
Kevin Keegan's men saw off another relegation candidate last
weekend by beating Bolton Wanderers and there should be no
stopping City with striker Nicolas Anelka ably supported by
Israeli playmaker Eyal Berkovic.
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