New manager to cement Newcastle defense
By Vic Mills
LONDON (JP): In what amounts to a perfect piece of symmetry, Kenny Dalglish, the man Liverpool bought to replace Kevin Keegan in his playing days, was appointed this week to succeed Keegan as manager of Newcastle United.
The first job for the taciturn Scot will be to provide much- needed stability to a defense that has shipped goals all season. In this he will work closely with his former Liverpool teammate and defense coordinator Mark Lawrenson.
There is much to do as last week's game against Aston Villa demonstrated, with the Tyneside club going two up in 21 minutes, only to concede two goals through defensive errors and have a Shaka Hislop penalty save late in the game to thank for earning a point.
The Dalglish reign begins with an away game against relegation candidate Southampton tomorrow and a meeting with another Anfield old boy turned manager, Graeme Souness.
Although not easy, Southampton coming off a first-away win of the season last weekend at Middlesbrough, Newcastle, should have enough firepower to take the points and put the Geordies in good heart after the emotional roller coaster of the past week.
With underachieving Liverpool set for a good test against Aston Villa at home tomorrow, the possibility exists that the Premiership could have new leader this weekend if Manchester United wins at Coventry.
Having just committed himself to the club for another five years, Villa manager Brian Little will be looking for a similar response from his players. In recent weeks, his spirited side has come from behind to take points off Arsenal and Newcastle United and, but for the brilliance of Peter Schmeichel, would have beaten Manchester United at Old Trafford.
Villa's forward pairing of Dwight Yorke and Savo Milosevic are currently in peak form and will trouble a Liverpool side that is unlikely to know its center-back formation, Phil Babb and Neil Ruddock are set for fitness tests, until the morning of the match, Mark Wright is expected to return after missing last week's nil-all-draw with West Ham through illness.
In the corresponding game last year, the Anfield side emerged as comfortable 3-0 winners with two goals from Robbie Fowler and another from Steve McManaman. Manager Roy Evans would settle for a repeat performance, although a month of modest performances culminating in League Cup defeat at Middlesbrough would tend to suggest that Liverpool's championship bid is running on empty and about to be overhauled.
Critic
Not that Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson is taking anything for granted. Indeed, he is his team's sternest critic at the moment, describing their progress into second place as a "stumble" and the win against Tottenham last weekend as both "ordinary" and "average".
Problems
He too has defensive problems with David May likely to be out for six weeks following a hernia operation. Ferguson attempted to lure Henning Berg as cover for May but the bid was rejected by near neighbors Blackburn Rovers.
Roy Keane could deputize at the back, but Ferguson is loathed to move him from midfield where his performances of late have been nothing short of brilliant and a key element in United's resurgence.
After a dramatic rise from bottom to midtable on the strength of four consecutive wins, Coventry struggled last week going down 4-0 at Blackburn. It also had Dion Dublin sent off for the second time in a week and now face the prospect of being without their utility player for six matches.
Third place Arsenal has an outside chance of going top of the Premiership on goal difference if it beats Everton at Highbury and both Liverpool and Manchester United lose.
The big question for the North London club, however, is not one of the mathematical probability, but whether it will actually completes a game with a full contingent of players.
Since the dismissal of Tony Adams against Newcastle in late November, the Gunners have had Patrik Vieira, Ian Wright, John Hartson and Dennis Bergkamp sentoff. Wright and Hartson will be missing this weekend and Bergkamp can expect a three-match ban later this month.
Everton arrives in the middle of an injury crisis with Andy Hinchcliffe, Joe Parkinson and John Ebbrell all long-term casualties. The one saving grace in a difficult season is the form of Duncan Ferguson, whose physical presence will surely test the Arsenal defense.
With just one defeat in its last 22 games, Wimbledon travels to the Midlands to play a lightweight Leicester City side beaten 3-0 at Leeds last weekend. Dubbed the unacceptable face of English football, the public perception of Wimbledon appears to be changing as it looks to discard its aerial assault in favor of a more all-around passing game.
Ruud Gullit will be looking for better results from his stylish passing game tomorrow as unpredictable Chelsea, well beaten at Nottingham Forest last weekend, plays host to hardworking Derby County.
At the foot of the table, Middlesbrough moved further into trouble this week without kicking a ball. The Teeside club had three points deducted from its already precarious league position for illegally calling off a game against Blackburn Rovers in December. Sheffield Wednesday, unbeaten in 13 games, visits the Riverside Stadium tomorrow,
Elsewhere in the relegation zone there are crucial games for Nottingham Forest, which will look to add to Stuart Pearce's growing managerial reputation at the expense of Tottenham Hotspur; West Ham United, which entertains a workmanlike Leeds United side; and Sunderland, which has a difficult game at home to fast-improving Blackburn Rovers.