Who can bet against
United? Defending champions Manchester United, without injured Wayne
Rooney, travel to the Reebok Stadium with a win in sight none the less.
There is no point risking Rooney with a trip to Munich to face Bayern
Munich in the UEFA Champions League. Normally, when United get into
first place in either February or March, it stays that way till the
last day of the season. There is a yawning gap in quality between these
two sides as, while Wayne Rooney is highest scorer for United with 26
goals, Ivan Klasnic is the leading goal scorer for Owen Coyle’s side
with 6 goals. United have no other injury worry apart from John O’Shea
who is out for the rest of the season. United should keep their
position after the weekend.
Chelsea need to consolidate
Chelsea got a
floundering season back on track with the 5-0 mauling of
almost-relegated Portsmouth on Wednesday, but doubts still linger.
Carlo Ancelotti said as much after the match: “We needed to win and I
hope the bad moment is finished,” the Italian added. “We have to wait
until Saturday because this is a very important test for us.
Well the Blues face
a side that is never an easy foe in Aston Villa. No Ashley Cole and
Branislav Ivanovic mean that Ashley Young can do havoc from both flanks
when he confronts either Yuri Zhirkov – who has not looked a 100% fit
or the fickle Paulo Ferreira.
Then there is the
hulking figure of John Carew and John Terry and Alex know that they
have to be up for the game. In the reverse fixture, the Villains
exploited Chelsea’s aerial weakness to come back from a Didier Drogba
early goal. The frailty is still there as the Blues have conceded 18
headed goals this term out of 28 conceded in the league. Aston Villa
have drawn their last two matches and need the points in the pursuit of
fourth place and a Champions League slot for next season. Villa may be
without Emile Heskey and Richard Dunne who suffered injuries and will
undergo scans ahead the game.
Chelsea travel to
Old Trafford on April 3 and they need to win their remaining seven
league games to claim a first championship since 2006. “If we win every
game between now and the end of the season, we will be champions,”
Ancelotti concluded.
Arsenal still have a chance
Third placed
Arsenal travel to face Birmingham and have to become the first side to
beat Alex McLeish’s team to stay in the race for the league diadem.
After two consecutive losses, the first time in four months, Birmingham
have to bounce back quickly.
Cameron Jerome is
in a rich vein of form scoring four goals in his last three matches but
the Gunners need the win to continue to hope for the trophy. Led by
captain and highest goal scorer with 15 goals, Cesc Fabregas, Arsenal
will be missing Thomas Vermaleen, whose red card against West Ham and
subsequent protest was thrown out by the FA. Expect a very tough match
with Barcelona in view for the Gunners next at the Emirates.
Other matches
Tottenham continue their Champions League pursuit with a match against
basement side, Portsmouth and it should be a banker for Harry
Redknapps’ side. Jermain Defoe is still out and Roman Pavlyuchenko
should continue. Two sides in good form; Everton and Wolves will tango
at the Moulineux with David Moyes seeking at least a Europa Cup slot
after a disastrous opening to the season.
Everton won away at Manchester City 2-0 and Wolves destroyed West Ham at Upton Park – something will have to give.
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