From The Times
April 13, 2009
Liverpool have chance to strike first in Premier League title race
James Ducker
Sir Alex Ferguson has already claimed that Manchester United have been deliberately handicapped by the Barclays Premier League fixture list this season and the manager may be wondering if there is another conspiracy during the title run-in.
Ferguson is thought to be puzzled because United have to play six of their final nine league fixtures after Liverpool have already played.
Liverpool have leapfrogged United at the top of the table for the past two weekends by virtue of their wins away to Fulham and at home to Blackburn Rovers coming before the champions’ respective matches against Aston Villa and Sunderland.
United regained first place on both occasions, but Liverpool have the opportunity to keep piling the pressure on Ferguson’s team in the weeks ahead, given that each of their next four league matches kick off earlier than United’s, mainly as a consequence of the television scheduling.
Liverpool will go two points clear if they beat Arsenal at Anfield next Tuesday, the night before United entertain Portsmouth at Old Trafford.
The Merseyside club’s game away to Hull City on Saturday week will have finished by the time United take on Tottenham Hotspur at Old Trafford in the day’s evening kick-off and Liverpool host Newcastle United in a 1.30pm kick-off on May 3 — 2½ hours before United play Middlesbrough at the Riverside Stadium. Rafael Benítez’s team then face West Ham United away on May 9, with United not playing Manchester City at Old Trafford until the next day.
Ferguson raised eyebrows in January when he complained that the fixture schedule was not drawn randomly, given that United were forced to play the eight teams that finished directly below them last season away from home during the first half of this campaign. “Our fixture programme didn’t do us any favours and I think we have been handicapped by the Premier League in the fixture list,” he said. “They tell me it’s not planned. Bloody hell!”
Of more immediate concern to Ferguson, however, is the Champions League. United fly to Portugal this morning for the second leg of their quarter-final against Porto knowing that they will probably have to become the first English team to win at the Estadio do Dragão if they are to progress to the last four after a 2-2 draw at Old Trafford a week ago.
Michael Carrick, the United midfield player, is adamant that they will not surrender their European crown lightly. “We’re English and European champions and we don’t want to let either trophy go,” he said.
Fernando, the Porto midfield player, is wary of the threat posed by Cristiano Ronaldo, even though the United forward has not been at his best this season. “We’ll have to be ready,” he said. “If we don’t play like we did, then Ronaldo can make all the difference.”
April 13, 2009
Liverpool have chance to strike first in Premier League title race
James Ducker
Sir Alex Ferguson has already claimed that Manchester United have been deliberately handicapped by the Barclays Premier League fixture list this season and the manager may be wondering if there is another conspiracy during the title run-in.
Ferguson is thought to be puzzled because United have to play six of their final nine league fixtures after Liverpool have already played.
Liverpool have leapfrogged United at the top of the table for the past two weekends by virtue of their wins away to Fulham and at home to Blackburn Rovers coming before the champions’ respective matches against Aston Villa and Sunderland.
United regained first place on both occasions, but Liverpool have the opportunity to keep piling the pressure on Ferguson’s team in the weeks ahead, given that each of their next four league matches kick off earlier than United’s, mainly as a consequence of the television scheduling.
Liverpool will go two points clear if they beat Arsenal at Anfield next Tuesday, the night before United entertain Portsmouth at Old Trafford.
The Merseyside club’s game away to Hull City on Saturday week will have finished by the time United take on Tottenham Hotspur at Old Trafford in the day’s evening kick-off and Liverpool host Newcastle United in a 1.30pm kick-off on May 3 — 2½ hours before United play Middlesbrough at the Riverside Stadium. Rafael Benítez’s team then face West Ham United away on May 9, with United not playing Manchester City at Old Trafford until the next day.
Ferguson raised eyebrows in January when he complained that the fixture schedule was not drawn randomly, given that United were forced to play the eight teams that finished directly below them last season away from home during the first half of this campaign. “Our fixture programme didn’t do us any favours and I think we have been handicapped by the Premier League in the fixture list,” he said. “They tell me it’s not planned. Bloody hell!”
Of more immediate concern to Ferguson, however, is the Champions League. United fly to Portugal this morning for the second leg of their quarter-final against Porto knowing that they will probably have to become the first English team to win at the Estadio do Dragão if they are to progress to the last four after a 2-2 draw at Old Trafford a week ago.
Michael Carrick, the United midfield player, is adamant that they will not surrender their European crown lightly. “We’re English and European champions and we don’t want to let either trophy go,” he said.
Fernando, the Porto midfield player, is wary of the threat posed by Cristiano Ronaldo, even though the United forward has not been at his best this season. “We’ll have to be ready,” he said. “If we don’t play like we did, then Ronaldo can make all the difference.”
Anything else Mr Ferguson? Balls too round, are they? Pitch got too much grass on it?
****. He's feeling the pressure.
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