United assuming invincible aura

By Vic Mills

LONDON (JP): The idea of football being 90 minutes of blood, sweat and tears is something of a myth around Old Trafford these days.

For the ease with which Manchester United is beating opponents has enabled manager Alex Ferguson the luxury of saving key players for the more demanding Champions' League. The next game of which is against Feyenoord in Rotterdam on Wednesday.

In the 7-0 demolition of Barnsley last week, David Beckham was substituted after just 55 minutes with Gary Pallister and Paul Scholes following shortly after. The bench will be no less active tomorrow for the visit of Sheffield Wednesday.

To this end, United will look to test the fitness of defenders Henning Berg and Ronny Johnsen, while the likelihood is that Teddy Sheringham will return to partner Andy Cole in attack with Ole Gunnar Solskjaer used as a replacement.

In this top against bottom clash, the pressure is all on Sheffield Wednesday. A loss on the Barnsley scale could signal the first managerial casualty of the season with David Pleat on his way out of Hillsborough.

Tactical substitutions are no less evident at second place Arsenal, but for all the wrong seasons. The changes, more necessity than luxury, stem from the club's poor disciplinary record.

Memories of last season's faltering title challenge returned to haunt Arsenal this week as it prepares to meet Derby County without the suspended Dennis Bergkamp.

The Dutch ace will be joined on the sidelines by Emmanuel Petit next weekend for the crucial game against Manchester United; the midfielder having been sent off against Aston Villa on Sunday.

Nor does the role of dishonor look set to end as both Patrik Vieira and Steve Bould are themselves just a booking away from an enforced rest.

The loss of key players through suspension allied to the disappointing form of Luis Boa Morte and the inexperience of Nicolas Anelka has left Arsenal dangerously short of cover. A point unlikely to be lost on Derby as it looks to return to wining ways after a heavy defeat on Merseyside.

There were changes of a more permanent kind on the mind of Liverpool manager Roy Evans last weekend after his side had performed miserably against both Everton and Strasbourg. He resisted and was rewarded with a 4-0 victory over Derby.

Departures

The score-line flattered the Anfield club, however, and departures can be expected, but not before the right replacements have been found. Those most under threat include David James, Neil Ruddock, Jason McAteer and Michael Thomas.

Only James is set to make the team sheet tomorrow as Liverpool travels the short distance to Bolton, while the lack of understanding last week between Michael Owen and Robbie Fowler could see the youngster replaced by Karl Heinz Riedle.

Having adopted a largely defensive formation at Newcastle, Roy Hodgson, manager of third-place Blackburn Rovers, has every incentive to select a more attack-minded side for the visit to bottom club Barnsley.

In an attempt to stretch the already over-stretched home defense, Hodgson looks set to play both Stuart Ripley and 18-year-old winger Damine Duff. With Chris Sutton and Kevin Gallacher likely to cause havoc in the box, the prospect is of another difficult afternoon for the Barnsley faithful.

A more competitive game is expected at Goodison Park on Sunday where Everton meets Southampton. The visitors have bought shrewdly in recent weeks, adding the experienced Carlton Palmer and David Hirst to its ranks. Hirst replaces Egil Ostenstad who will be out until Christmas following ankle surgery.

Home advantage could be the key here with close to a capacity crowd expecting the same level of performance that accounted for Liverpool. With five goals in seven games, 18-year-old Danny Cadamarteri has quickly established himself as a favorite among the fans. His speed and the aerial power of Duncan Ferguson should give Everton the edge in a close game.

With difficult second-leg games in Europe next week, the meeting between Aston Villa and Chelsea may well be a subdued affair. Both sides welcome back players from World Cup duty, although the likes of Savo Milosevic, Gianfranco Zola and Roberto Di Matteo are all likely to start on the bench. With enterprise in short supply, the most likely outcome is a draw.

In common with events at Villa Park, Newcastle United, which entertains Leicester City, will be all too aware of its crucial Champions' League game against PSV Eindhoven at St James' Park on Wednesday.

Hampered by its lack of a quality striker, Kenny Dalglish will look to keep it tight in midfield and hope to prosper from a breakaway or set-piece. A committed Leicester side should be capable of taking a point, but it will need something special from Emile Heskey to capture all three.

Elsewhere around the Premiership, Tottenham Hotspur faces the unenviable task of unlocking the Leeds defense; a problem unlikely to trouble Wimbledon, which entertains Coventry City; while in the Monday match, West Ham will need to be on its guard as Crystal Palace arrives at Upton Park with the best away record in the league.