Blackburn Rovers is in top spot
By Vic Mills
LONDON (JP): After a couple of seasons in the doldrums, Blackburn Rovers stands proudly on top of the English Premiership. Nowhere is the new found confidence more evident than in attack where Chris Sutton and Kevin Gallacher have already hit nine goals.
Rejuvenated Rovers travels to Crystal Palace tomorrow having demonstrated its leadership qualities in the 7-2 demolition of Sheffield Wednesday on Monday night.
Success, however, has come at a price. Goalkeeper John Filan broke an arm against Wednesday and Billy McKinlay was sidelined with a leg injury. Former England keeper Tim Flowers and Lars Bohinen will start tomorrow.
Having lost to Barnsley in its only home game of the season, Palace appear more comfortable on the road with a game plan built around defense and counterattack. Much will depend on Attilo Lombardo, while there will be an early reunion for Rovers old boy, Paul Warhurst.
Reunion will be much in the minds of those at Anfield on Sunday with John Barnes and Ian Rush in the Newcastle United squad. The recall of Faustino Asprilla will see both start on the bench, although Rush should get his chance in the second half.
No longer the carefree entertainers of the Keegan era, Dalglish has bought both steel and subtlety to his defense with the signings of Shay Given, Allesandro Pistone and Stuart Peace. Fatigue may be a problem for Newcastle late in the game following its successful mid-week excursion into Europe.
With Liverpool back to winning ways at Leeds on Tuesday, the talk on Merseyside has switched to matters of selection. The dilemma - which two from Michael Owen, Karl Heinz Riedle and a fit again Robbie Fowler should lead the attack?
Owen has been a sensation this season in Fowler's absence, scoring twice and being the only bright spot in Liverpool's poor start to the season. Riedle has shown flashes of pedigree, most noticeably a delicate chip for the second goal at Leeds. The likelihood is that Owen and Riedle will start with Fowler coming on in the second half.
Same problem
Alex Ferguson has much the same problem at second place Manchester United where Alex Ferguson has much the same problem at second place Manchester United where a fit again Andy Cole will be one of the substitutes against Coventry City tomorrow.
An injury to Jordi Cryuff last weekend saw Ryan Giggs partner Teddy Sheringham up front in the 2-0 win at Everton on Wednesday night. The injury helped ease the problem in midfield where places were found for both David Beckham and Paul Scholes.
Without the riches of Old Trafford, Coventry nevertheless have, in Darren Huckerby and Dion Gublin, the pace and aerial power to make the difficult for United.
Hotspur
Tottenham Hotspur will use Ruel Fox and Les Ferdinand in much the same fashion as it makes the short journey across North London for the derby against Arsenal. John Scales again deputizes in defense for Sol Campbell whose ankle injury looks set to keep him out for several weeks.
SCTV will broadcast live the match between Tottenham Hotspur and Arsenal tomorrow at 9 p.m.
The aerial threat of Ferdinand, added to the loss of a two- goal lead in the 3-3 draw at Leicester in mid-week, could see a return to first team football for Tony Adams.
No such problems exist in attack where Dennis Bergkamp remains in spectacular form with five goals (including a hat-trick against Leicester) in the last two games. Ian Wright requires just two more goals to become Arsenal's all-time record scorer.
London could be the place for goals at the weekend with high scoring Chelsea set to entertain struggling Southampton. After three away games, manager Ruud Gullit may choose to celebrate the new season at Stamford Bridge by selecting a front three of Gianluca Vialli, Mark Hughes and Gianfranco Zola.
This would not be good news for Southampton with Dryden and Le Tissler injured, van Gobbel sold and Magilton, the captain, on the verge of a move to Celtic.
As if to add the inconvenience on the London Underground tomorrow, West Ham United meet Wimbledon at Upton Park in yet another derby game. With both sides packing big men up front, the ball is unlikely to spend much time on the turf.
Despite possessing accomplished and expensive strikers, the story this season for Aston Villa has been one of missed chances. After four successive defeats, the latest being 3-2 at Tottenham on Wednesday, Villa stand bottom of the Premiership.
Life is little better for its opponents this weekend, Leeds United. Yet the potential for a showdown (of sorts) remains, but only if the likes of Stan Collymore and Jimmy Floyd Hasselbank recall the shape, size and location of the goalposts.
Elsewhere around the Premiership, Bolton and Everton look set to share the points in the Lancashire derby; unbeaten Leicester City will start favorites against Sheffield Wednesday at Hillsborough; and second to bottom Derby County will have to fight for the points at pride Park against a Barnsley side who beat Bolton 2-1 in mid-week.