Huge pay day awaits as Newcastle, United clash

By Vic Mills

LONDON (JP): The cream has come quickly to the top of the English Premiership. With a quarter of the season gone, just two points separate the "big four" of Newcastle United, Arsenal, Liverpool and Manchester United.

While big may not always be best, the reality of football in this last decade of the century is that financial might and purchasing power go a long way toward guaranteeing success on the pitch. Indeed, another huge pay day is in the offing on Sunday as championship rivals Newcastle and Manchester United collide head- on at St. James' Park.

Alan Shearer's 76th-minute winner against Derby County on Saturday took Newcastle to the top of the Premiership for the first time since March. Seven months on and the signs are that the lessons of last season's fall from grace have been heeded.

The flair and personality remain, but there is now a distinctively gritty edge to their play. Much of their belligerence comes from David Batty. Although Lee and Beardsley play the role with more finesse, Batty is the man to rattle a shin pad or nip an ankle in midfield.

The game also demonstrated the tremendous spirit in the side, with players modifying their natural game for the greater good.

Phillipe Albert remained steadfast in defense, Les Ferdinand routinely covered for his full backs, and Keith Gillespie, so often a player of great virtuosity, joined in the midfield symphony of tackle on tackle.

This spirit and resilience was tested again in their midweek UEFA Cup tie against Ferencvaros. Defensive errors saw Newcastle go two down inside 17 minutes only to rally and draw level by half-time through goals from Ferdinand and Shearer.

Another error cost a third goal, but Newcastle look more than capable of reversing the result at home in the second leg.

Tyneside challenge

The visit of Manchester United to Tyneside offers an altogether different challenge than the rough and tumble of Budapest.

Master of the counter-attack, United demonstrated it to stunning effect against Liverpool last Saturday and again on Wednesday evening against Fenerbahce in the Champions Cup.

A swift break out of defense, an incisive ball from midfield and on both occasions the fast-maturing David Beckham was there to fire home a priceless goal.

Against Liverpool it left United as the only unbeaten side in the Premiership; against the Turkish champions it put the Old Trafford side firmly on course for a lucrative quarterfinal place.

The 2-0 win in Turkey however was not without a price. Gary Pallister, having passed a late fitness test, took a knock to the ribs.

His presence on Sunday is vital to combat the aerial power of Les Ferdinand.

Ronny Johnsen, selected in midfield against Fenerbahce for the injured Keane, will drop back into defense if Pallister suffers a reaction to the injury. Poborsky and Cruyff contest the midfield place vacated by the injured Giggs.

A draw at St. James' Park on Sunday will most likely mean a third change at the top of the Premiership in three weeks. Indeed Arsenal will take over top spot if they defeat lowly Coventry City at Highbury on Saturday.

This remarkable run of form by the north London club owes much to a rejuvenated Ian Wright. With 10 goals in ten games, he has been instrumental in Arsenal's challenge. However, Wright will be 33 next month as are nine others in the Arsenal squad, a statistic which club and manager will be only too aware of as they look to the future.

No star-gazing for the good folk of Merseyside this weekend; they will have eyes only on mother earth as city rivals Liverpool and Everton meet for the first time this season on Sunday.

Having out-passed Manchester United to the point of distraction last weekend, Liverpool failed miserably in the goal- scoring department. Time and again opportunities were created only to be squandered.

In the last campaign 55 goals came from the partnership of Fowler and Collymore. This season Fowler seems beset by one injury after another and Collymore has too erratic an approach -- first languid, then full of muscular urgency.

The rising talent of newcomer Patrik Berger could well be the answer against an Everton side weakened by injury.

Already without Ferguson, Rideout and Watson, the Goodison side suffered further injuries to Parkinson (hamstring) and Ebbrell (ankle ligaments) in last weekend's win over West Ham.

Elsewhere, romance and reality fuse with uncertain consequences at Stamford Bridge where Chelsea meet Wimbledon. A Vialli-inspired victory at Leicester last week restored Ruud Gullit's faith in artistic impression.

Meanwhile, and no less impressive, Wimbledon, artisans to a man, chalked up a club-record sixth successive win in the Premiership to cement fifth place and leave them two points clear of Chelsea.

The battle between art and life has taken many forms through the ages, but none more bizarre than awaits the Chelsea faithful on Saturday.

Fixtures

English premier league:

Saturday, Oct. 19: Arsenal v Coventry; Aston Villa v Leeds; Chelsea v Wimbledon; Middlesbrough v Tottenham; Nottingham Forest v Derby (live on SCTV at 9 p.m.); Sheffield Wednesday v Blackburn; Southampton v Sunderland; West Ham v Leicester

Sunday, Oct. 20: Liverpool v Everton; Newcastle v Manchester United (delayed show on ANTV at 11.30 p.m).