Liverpool's top spot under threat from Man. Utd, Arsenal
By Vic Mills
LONDON (JP): Having been unceremoniously dumped out of the FA Cup Sunday by Chelsea, Liverpool could be deposed at the top of the English Premiership tonight if either Manchester United beats Wimbledon at Old Trafford or Arsenal beats West Ham United by two clear goals at Upton Park.
In either case it will end a miserable four days for the Merseyside giants who sit out this midweek round of matches and can only watch as the other title aspirants try and close the gap.
Fitness tests hold the key to Manchester United's return to the top. The Old Trafford club was without David Beckham, Nicky Butt, Ronny Johnsen and Gary Pallister Saturday, while David May remains sidelined for another month following a hernia operation.
The injuries forced manager Alex Ferguson to play Roy Keane as sweeper behind central defenders Gary Neville and 21-year-old Chris Casper with the even younger Michael Clegg operating at right wing-back. There were first team returns too for Karel Poborsky and Brian McClair.
The combination of injuries and unfamiliar lineup robbed United of its usual rhythm and reduced it to attacking on the break in the second half. With a full squad available for today, United will look to play its more favored passing game.
Fifth in the Premiership, League Cup semifinalist and an FA Cup replay pending against United, Wimbledon is having a fairy- tale season. Manchester United has waited a long time, however, to regain top spot. That it is Liverpool it will depose makes it all the sweeter. Expect a more adventurous United than on Saturday with the likes of Cantona and Giggs playing a full part.
Without a game at the weekend due to a backlog of cup ties, Arsenal stands rested and ready to make up ground on Liverpool. Indeed, if Manchester United fails to beat Wimbledon, then the Gunners will go top on goal difference if it beats struggling West Ham United by a two-goal margin.
The few extra days rest will have increased the likelihood of Ian Wright taking his place in the starting lineup. Back after a three-match suspension the previous weekend against Everton, Wright limped off at halftime with a hamstring injury.
Arsene Wenger will need his top scorer too for Dennis Bergkamp, in irresistible form of late, now starts a three-match suspension for being sent off against Sunderland.
Easier
Arsenal's task is made slightly easier by the fact that West Ham, third from bottom in the Premiership and knocked out of the FA Cup by second division Wrexham, is a club in disarray at the moment.
A pitch invasion at the weekend by protesting fans, a manager that offered his resignation after Saturday's game and a failed experiment in the recruitment of overseas players are just a few of the ills that now haunt Upton Park.
With just one win in its last 16 games, West Ham makes for a pale imitation of the 1960s culture club that boasted the likes of World Cup heroes Bobby Moore, Martin Peters and Geoff Hurst, and more latterly the silky skills of England midfield maestro Trevor Booking.
The turmoil at Upton Park, however, is no less than that hovering over St James' Park at the moment. Desperate for success following an investment of US$90 million on players in the last four years, Newcastle United's Cup hopes ended abruptly Sunday, beaten 2-1 at home by Nottingham Forest.
The Tyneside club gets an early chance to restore form and faith with the visit of Everton. Itself the victim of a cup shock at the hand of first division Bradford City, Everton could well find itself in the wrong place at the wrong time as Newcastle looks to rekindle its ambitions.
Although early days, the Dalglish trademarks are beginning to show. The back four appears a tighter (if still reckless) unit, there is less elaboration in midfield together with a marked willingness to get the ball forward more quickly to the likes of Shearer and Ferdinand.
The imbalance in forwards at the expense of quality defenders suggests too that Dalglish must soon decide the futures of David Ginola and Faustino Asprilla. Both may be deemed expensive luxuries as the manager looks to shed the gung-ho Keegan philosophy in favor of a more calculated style.
Beaten at Derby Saturday, Aston Villa's season has shuddered to a halt. A UEFA Cup place still beckons, but manager Brian Little must refocus his players or the game against Sheffield Wednesday could start the slide to midtable obscurity.
Improvement
Elsewhere around the country, Nottingham Forest looks to confirm its recent improvement with a win at home to inconsistent Coventry City. Caretaker manager Stuart Pearce sees Premiership survival as his goal with a cup run no more that a mild diversion.
After a return to form over Christmas, Coventry has fallen away of late. Its current malaise highlighted by Saturday's 1-1 scoreline against nonleague Woking. Fifth from bottom, it will hope for at least a point at the City Ground.
The relegation battle is very much to the fore at Filbert Street where Leicester City has a crucial game against Sunderland. Lack of motivation around White Hart Lane could see Blackburn Rovers continues its improved form against Tottenham Hotspur, while the game at Elland Road between Leeds United and Derby County has all the makings of a draw.