Seven clubs jostling for UEFA Cup places

By Vic Mills

LONDON (JP): In the most wide-open championship race in years, seven clubs go into the traditional New Year's Day fixture with an eye, if not on the title itself, then in securing a UEFA Cup place come May.

With 42 points from 21 games Liverpool currently stands five points clear of Manchester United, Arsenal and Wimbledon, but has played one game more than United and Arsenal and two more than the Dons. Newcastle United and Aston Villa, level on 34 points, stand fifth and sixth respectively with Chelsea two points behind, all having played 20 games.

The final matches of this frenetic Christmas and New Year program pits four of the top seven clubs against one another as Liverpool visits Chelsea and form team Manchester United entertains Aston Villa.

Lucky to escape with the points against Southampton, Liverpool faces a Chelsea side that ranks as unpredictable as the British weather. Blessed with players of outstanding ability in LeBoeuf, Gullit, Di Matteo, Zola, Vialli and Hughes it nevertheless appears prone to bouts of extreme carelessness which has it gifting goals and points to opposition sides.

A greater discipline and level of concentration would have had it far higher in the Premiership that its current fringe placing. Driven to distraction, manager Ruud Gullit will hope that a Liverpool side packed with internationals will be enough to bring the best out of his players.

Something of a loose cannon in the Premiership race, Liverpool will fear this game more than most. For on its day, Chelsea can beat the best as it proved with victory at Old Trafford in November.

Liverpool manager Roy Evans will be looking for an improved performance from his side following disappointing games against Leicester City and Southampton. An early goal for either side could transform this contest into one of the most entertaining of the season.

Much the same can be said of Manchester United's meeting with Aston Villa at Old Trafford. The visitors showed great skill and determination to share the points against Arsenal Saturday after twice going behind.

Defense

With Dwight Yorke and Savo Milosevic back at their best, it will be a testing time for United's defense. A defense still to replace the commanding presence of Steve Bruce; and a defense not beyond moments of charity itself. Evidence this by the two late goals gifted to West Ham at Upton Park before Christmas.

The saving grace, quite literally, has been the return to form of Peter Schmeichel. After a worrying time in the early part of the season, the Danish international has again proved himself to be one of the best goalkeepers in the world.

Three clean sheets and 10 scored in recent games makes for impressive reading. But such a record should be read in context of the opposition and against the likes of Sunderland, Nottingham Forrest and Leeds this is what manager Alex Ferguson would have hoped and expected.

The big plus from this recent run, however, is the growing confidence of Eric Cantona. Poor performances in Europe, compounded by modest championship displays, left the Frenchman a shadow of his former self. But the signs are that his form is improving which, for a United supporter or not, can only be good for the Premiership.

The game against Aston Villa presents an ideal forum for Cantona to parade his skills.

Firepower

For the Midlands club will come to play soccer and as it demonstrated against Arsenal it has more than enough firepower to take the points.

Poor Leeds United, having taken on free-scoring Manchester United on Saturday and held it to just a single goal, it must now travel to Tyneside to face a rampant Newcastle which put seven past Tottenham at the weekend.

With Kevin Keegan preaching attack as the best form of defense, Tottenham was left mesmerized by the movement, pace and vision of Newcastle in full cry.

Yet Leeds manager George Graham and his assistant David O'Leary have worked wonders defensively with the Elland Road side. Uncaring for the esthetics of the occasion, Graham will look to fill the midfield, defend in depth and hope that the fit again Tony Yeboah can take advantage of what half-chances come his way.

The least impressive of the top sides in December has been Arsenal. Although third in the Premier League its form has dipped alarmingly. Since its win at Newcastle it has taken just three points from a possible 12.

Yet Wright continues to score, Merson and Bergkamp appear industrious and Vieira is a breath of fresh air in a midfield occasionally short on ideas. Not a man to panic, manager Arsene Wenger has continued about his work reassuring players and press alike that the dip in form is temporary and could end at any moment.

That moment may well coincide with the appearance of luckless Middlesbrough at Highbury on New Year's Day. While boasting the likes of Ravanelli, Juninho and Emerson in their ranks, the inescapable fact is that the visitors also bring to North London the worst defensive record in the Premiership.

Wimbledon, title challengers and resident crazy gang, begin its new year with a visit to Southampton. A no frills encounter, the visitors will have more appetite for such a game than Liverpool and would hope to take the points. Which is not good news for the Saints who languish just one place off the bottom.

Elsewhere in the Premiership, in-form Coventry looks to make it five in a row at the expense of visitors Sunderland; West Ham United plays host to bottom club Nottingham Forrest in a game that neither side can afford to lose; while relegation candidate Blackburn Rovers visits near-neighbor Everton and Leicester City plays host to Tottenham Hotspur's porous defense. The remaining fixture has an all-Midlands flavor about it with Derby County at home to Sheffield Wednesday.