English league to resume despite fierce heat wave

By Vic Mills

LONDON (JP): The English Premiership resumes this weekend after a break of nine days for World Cup commitments. With the country still beset by heat-wave conditions, stamina will again be a key factor.

Pace setter Blackburn Rovers faces an early challenge to its occupancy of top spot with the visit of Liverpool. Despite losing Graham Le Saux to Chelsea and Henning Berg to Manchester United, new manager Roy Hodgson has hit the ground running.

The influence of a successful managerial career on the continent, and a squad boasting players from six foreign countries, has not stopped Hodgson settling on an English style 4-4-2 system to bring the glory days back to Blackburn.

Rovers followed its modest 1-0 win in the season opener against Derby County by humbling Aston Villa 4-0 at Villa Park courtesy of a first-half Chris Sutton hat trick. His partnership up front with Kevin Gallacher is sure to trouble the ever hesitant Liverpool defense.

The Anfield club arrive at Blackburn with just one point following a draw at Wimbledon and a surprise 2-1 home defeat by Leicester City. A start that suggests the vibrant new form of football promised by the signings of Paul Ince and Karl Heinz Riedle has yet to materialize.

Unsettled Steve McManaman held clear-the-air talks with manager Roy Evans in the week after the collapse of his US$20 million move to Barcelona. Liverpool currently await an answer on its offer of a new five-year contract.

There was better news for Evans on the injury front with Robbie Fowler, Patric Berger and Oyvind Leonhardsen all passed fit and available for the Blackburn match.

One man destined never to wear the red of Liverpool again is John Barnes. Released on a free transfer, the 10-year Anfield veteran was snapped up by Newcastle United. He was followed, a matter of days later, by Ian Rush who was recruited on a free transfer from Leeds United.

Aston Villa will travel to Newcastle tomorrow without a point or goal from its opening fixtures. With Savo Milosevic relegated to the bench, manager Brian Little looks set to swap his adventurous 3-4-3 system for a more orthodox 4-4-2.

Leicester City and Manchester United put their unbeaten records on the line at Filbert Street this weekend. Brimming with confidence after victories over Aston Villa and Liverpool, Leicester present a stern test for the champions.

Home fortunes rely heavily on the strength and determined running of 19-year-old Emile Heskey and his ability to create openings for the likes of Ian Marshall, Graham Fenton and Steve Claridge.

United look set to give a full debut to new signing Henning Berg. The Norwegian made a second-half appearance against Southampton; a game in which substitute David Becham hit a late winner.

With Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and Andy Cole short of match fitness, the likelihood is that Jordi Cruyff will again partner Teddy Sheringham in attack. Midfield and defense are more problematical with the return of Beckham set to oust either Nicky Butt or Paul Scholes. A place for Berg would mean a spell on the bench for Ronny Johnsen.

The visit of unbeaten West Ham United to Everton will see a swift return to Goodison Park for David Unsworth. The uncompromising defender will line up alongside teenage sensation Rio Ferdinand as the pride of East London look to extend its best start in a decade.

With the poise and pace of Eyal Berkovic and Stan Lazaridis in midfield, West Ham has unearthed the perfect combination to complement the forward menace of John Hartson and Paul Kitson.

Beaten at home by Crystal Palace on opening day, Everton will look to ex-Hammers defender Slaven Bilic to keep things tight at the back and hope that Derek Ferguson, Gary Speed and Nick Barmby can perform to their potential up front.

With Brian Deane and Ian Rush transferred, and Tomas Brolin and Tony Yeboah in dispute, Leeds United has settled upon the new and exciting strike force of Jimmy Floyd Hasselbank and Rod Wallace. The pace and mobility of the front two added to the subtle prompting from midfield of Bruno Ribeiro should be too much for the visit on inconsistent Crystal Palace.

Confrontations

Arsenal and Chelsea vacate the capital at the weekend en route to Southampton and Barnsley respectively. Rich verses poor confrontations both, the small grounds and high temperatures should help negate the imbalance in skill and sophistication.

Peter Beardsley, signed from Newcastle in midweek, will feature in the Bolton line up for its visit to Coventry. The diminutive forward will join forces with former Tyneside colleagues Scott Sellars and Robbie Elliot. Having beaten Chelsea and lost to Arsenal, Coventry look set for another roller-coaster season.

Elsewhere around the Premiership, Tottenham Hotspur and Derby County, both without a point this season, meet at White Hart Lane. Another setback for Spurs and manager Gerry Francis may have cause to fear for his future.

Having won their first games last season, Sheffield Wednesday face the prospect of three consecutive defeats to this campaign if they lose at Wimbledon. A tough game at any time of the year, Selhurst Park is no place for a side low on confidence and short on luck.