Are Liverpool’s title hopes over?
Liverpool’s 1-1 draw against Manchester City means that they are now seven points behind Manchester United. As a Liverpool fan, it was a result you did not want, but had conditioned your mind to accept when you saw that Alonso and Gerrard were not in the lineup and that Nigel De Jong was playing like a man possessed.
Liverpool lacked that something extra- an edge to go forward. Both Mascherano and Lucas ( the less I speak about him the better) are defensive minded players and are not used to running into the box and sending defence splitting passes through. For all the effort that Kuyt and Torres put in, it was evident how important a cog Gerrard is in the Liverpool wheel.
City had not won away from Eastlands in the league, but seemed determined to do a favour to their bitter derby rivals Manchester United. And unfortunately for Liverpool, who had collected seventeen points from losing positions in the league this season, they could not repeat the comeback 3-2 victory over the Citizens at Eastlands last year.
Are United guaranteed of their 18th title? At this moment, the odds are heavily stacked in their favour. They have got the bench strength and are playing with more confidence than any other team in the league. United could yet slip up, but the chances of them doing that are as low as Benitez wanting to resign Keane from Tottenham. Forget that Liverpool traditionally tend to finish better than Liverpool- Ferguson is determined to pay Benitez back for the scathing remark aimed at him by the latter not too long ago.
Chelsea and Villa are now within sniffing distance of Liverpool, and Benitez would have taken note of that fact too. It has been a while since Liverpool took the automatic Champions League spot, and this year they certainly deserve it by virtue of their performance in the league.
But fatigue and lack of bench strength could still see Liverpool slip further, and Chelsea, where Guus Hiddink has already put the system restore button in action ( Thanks to Kevin Garside of the Telegraph), are well placed to take advantage.
The Champions League still remains Liverpool’s best chance of a trophy, but with the likes of Barcelona, Inter and Manchester United in it, don’t be surprised if the Reds end up trophyless this season.
FA Cup – Latest News
Manchester United cruised to a 3-0 win over Southampton, but Aston Villa needed two James Milner goals to beat a stubborn Gillingham 2-1 in yesterday evening’s FA Cup ties.
The draw for the fourth round has also been made. Liverpool and Everton are paired together for what promises to be another exciting Merseyside derby, while United will welcome Tottenham Hotspur to Old Trafford. Nottingham Forest, who eliminated Manchester City in the previous round, will play Derby County. Hartlepool’s reward for a shock win over Stoke is a game against Gianfranco Zola’s West Ham. Last year’s runners up Cardiff City will host Arsenal, while winners Portsmouth could face non league Histon should they beat Bristol City and the Stutes get past Swansea.
FA Cup fourth round draw ( Fixtures given below)
Liverpool vs Everton
Manchester United vs Tottenham
Hull or Newcastle vs Millwall/Crewe
Sunderland vs Blyth/ Blackburn
Hartlepool vs West Ham
Leyton Orient/Sheffield United vs Charlton/ Norwich
Cardiff vs Arsenal
Portsmouth/ Bristol City vs Histon/ Swansea
Chelsea/ Southend vs Ipswich
Cheltenham/ Doncaster vs Aston Villa
West Brom / Peterborough vs QPR/Burnley
Torquay vs Coventry
Kettering vs Fulham
Watford vs Leicester/Crystal Palace
Derby vs Nottingham Forest
Birmingham/Wolves v Middlesbrough