EPL Match Previews: 20-21 March

Game of the week: Man United vs Liverpool

previewed by Nick Byrne

Come one, come all! The Rafa circus is in Manchester this Sunday for a one day extravaganza. Yes, the match of the weekend is the fiercely contested derby between Manchester United and Liverpool.

Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez could desperately do with a win to reinforce his position, but should his side nab victory at Old Trafford, the effect would be trebled. Liverpool may not currently be at their strongest, but they weren’t last season either when they turned up to Old Trafford and dished out a humiliating 4-1 victory.

Liverpool may have lost to Wigan last week, but they always pick it up for the big games.

United have not beaten their Mersey counterparts in their last three encounters, a fact the likes of Gary Neville will not have forgotten in a hurry. Neville will have been spitting blood this past week and will not have allowed the others any respite in their preparations for the big match.

Liverpool have nothing left to play for this season (a set of Mickey Mouse ears doesn’t count) but they won’t have given up on the fourth spot just yet. At this point in the season, fourth and a place in Europe’s elite competition will be as good as first for Rafa.

The battle for the position in a mini-league between Spurs, Villa and Man City is heating up nicely and will be just as spectacular to watch as the title race itself. Amazing as it sounds, should Liverpool fail in their fourth place quest, Benitez could end up with even more egg on his face than usual. So despite the facade, Rafa will be quietly nervous that his team back him up on his promises.

The task in hand would appear all the more difficult given that the Red Devils have their first-choice centre back pairing back, but in two of the last three encounters Nemanja Vidic has looked particularly clumsy when facing Fernando Torres and has only finished one of those games after receiving red cards.

Many will be looking at the match being a battle being Wayne Rooney and Torres, but the game will instead be won and lost in the midfield. United’s long stretch of consecutive victories came on the back of players like Anderson and Fletcher keeping Steven Gerrard and co quiet. It was no surprise when a sluggish midfield comprising of Michael Carrick, Paul Scholes and Ryan Giggs were overran and succumbed to a 2-0 defeat at Anfield earlier this season.

Fergie will not want to see the opposition given the freedom of the town like they were in Liverpool, not now that Alberto Aquilani looks set to play. Was it just me or was Lucas actually left on the bench? (Hopefully he will be back this weekend). In the few glimpses he has been allowed to shine, Aquilani’s passing has been immaculate.

However there is hope. As inevitably as Jose Mourinho not losing at Stamford Bridge, United are hitting form at the business end of the season. This “squeaky bum” period has twice seen Fergie’s side brush aside AC Milan and a tough Fulham outfit.

And he could certainly do with a win here. United’s record against the top four last season was pretty shocking, the only victory coming against a Chelsea side that in truth didn’t turn up to Old Trafford.

With this season as tight as it is, victories against these teams are more of a necessity than usual. It was only a few games ago that United had established a seven point gap over Arsenal after all.

Verdict: Rafa's nightmare continues at the Theatre of Dreams

Saturday, 20th March 2010

Arsenal vs West Ham: Verdict: North Londoners to continue on their assault to the summit, whilst the East Londoners slide south and nearer to trouble.
Aston Villa vs Wolves: Verdict: The strange hoodoo of O’Neill not winning at Villa Park in March will be broken and Martin’s Men will march to victory.
Everton vs Bolton: Verdict: Things get stick on Merseyside for Coyle
Portsmouth vs Hull: Verdict: Two teams in disarray to share the spoils, to little avail.
Stoke vs Tottenham: Verdict: Potters to crack under pressure
Sunderland vs Birmingham: Verdict: Bruce fails to get one over Yeung in stalemate
Wigan vs Burnley: Verdict: Wigan go from woeful to wonderful again, as Burnley continue to sink

Sunday, 21st March 2010

Blackburn vs Chelsea: Verdict: Chelsea may have lacked penetration in the Champions League, but their dominant domestic form will surely continue here.
Fulham vs Man City: Verdict: European chasers share points at the Cottage

For the full previews, please visit www.football-previews.co.uk.