Chelsea Vs Liverpool Part 6

Will a Benitez team finally score at Stamford Bridge?

Will Chelsea ever get to a Champions League Final?

Who will United be playing in the Final?


All of these questions will be answered after the final whistle at The Bridge tonight. Both teams go in the game with few injury worries. Frank Lampard looks set to come back after missing the win against Utd. Liverpool's only concern is Fabio Aurelio who got injured in the first leg. Riise could come into replace him. I expert the game to be like most other games between the pair- tight, scrappy with not much in it. A draw seems the mostly likely result and I think it will finish scoreless, sending Chelsea through.

A review of both Champions League games and a round up of the news to follow.

Manchester United Vs Barcelona Part 2

With the Manchester United/ Barcalona match only hours away here is a quick update on the team news.

Manchester United

Both Vidic and Rooney are doubts after they picked up injuries against Chelsea on Saturday. Neither player trained yesterday but Sir Alex is to give them as much time as possible to prove their fitness. Hargreaves would probably play at right back with Brown in the centre if Vidic doesn't play whilst Tevez is the man most likely to claim Rooney's place. Other than that, Fergie has a full squad to choose from.

Ronaldo, Evra and Scholes are likely to reclaim their places after they were rested at the weekend. Nani, Giggs and Silvestre are the players likely to give way.

Barcelona

Captain Carles Puyol will come in for the suspended Marquez. Meanwhile Yaya Toure is a slight doubt ahead of the game and would be replaced by Edmilson. These are the only likely changes from last Wednesday's game meaning that Henry will keep his place on the bench for his match in England since leaving Arsenal. Former world player of the year Ronaldinhio is out for the rest of the season and has now probably played his last game for the club.

My prediction is for a more entertaining game than last week and as both teams are evenly matched it is too close to call. I don't think it will be settled by more than the odd goal- hopefully in Uniteds favour.

Prediction Update

Chelsea Vs Utd
Prediction:1-1
Final Score: 2-1
Verdict:Being a Utd fan I'm not happy, but at least for the neutrals it keeps the title race very much open.

Birmingham Vs Liverpool
Prediction:0-2
Final Score: 2-2
Verdict:After going 2 up, the Blues must be annoyed they didn't go on to win this game. They now need to beat Fulham next week.

City Vs Fulham
Prediction:3-1
Final Score:2-3
Verdict:My prediction looked good at half time but fair play to Fulham for coming back like they did. Now they have a real chance of staying up.

Sunderland Vs Boro
Prediction:1-1
Final Score:3-2
Verdict:A great game which secures Sunderland's place in the premiership, although Boro aren't quite safe yet.

Spurs Vs Bolton
Prediction:2-2
Final Score:1-1
Verdict:My first correct result, even if I did predict more goals. Bolton will clearly be the happier of the two and still have a good chance of staying up.

West Ham Vs Newcastle
Prediction:1-3
Final Score:2-2
Verdict:A result that doesn't really mean a lot with both teams safely in midtable. West Ham will however be disappointed at letting a two goal lead slip. Newcastle now 7 games unbeaten.

Wigan Vs Reading
Prediction:2-1
Final Score:0-0
Verdict:Not the greatest of games ever and the point doesn't really help either team. Both could still be relegated.

Pompey Vs Blackburn
Prediction:1-2
Final Score:0-1
Verdict:Another correct result predicted! Pompey seem to be in free fall after getting to the Cup Final whereas the result keeps Blackburn's slim hopes of Europe alive.

Everton Vs Villa
Prediction:1-1
Final Score:2-2
Verdict:I was expecting a draw and that is what we got. The game means the UEFA Cup will go right down to the wire and adds another twist to an already fascinating season.

Derby Vs Arsenal
Prediction:0-4
Final Score:2-6
Verdict:The biggest suprises of this match were the fact that Derby actually managed to score and that an Englishman (Walcott) scored for Arsenal.

Football League Up's and Down's

Premier League:
Derby have already been relegated. Any two of Fulham, Birmingham, Reading and Bolton will join them. Wigan and Middlesborough aren't yet mathematically safe but should have enough points.

Championship:
Stoke need just a point from their fianl game to secure promotion, whilst West Brom have 2 games to gain a point. If either team slip up, Hull City would have the chance to gain automatic promotion. If not, they will be joined in the play-offs by Bristol City. Watford also looked to have secured a play-off place. The final place will go to one of Crystal Palace, Wolves, Ipswich or Sheffield Utd.
Scunthorpe and Colchester have both already been relegated. Southampton, Leicester, Sheffiield Wednesday, Coventry or Blackpool are the teams that could join them.

League One
Swansea City have already won the league. They will be automatically promoted alongside either Doncaster, Nottingham Forest or Carlilse. Leeds and Southend have secured the final play-off births.*
Luton and Port Vale are already relegated. Two of Gillingham, Bournemouth and Cheltenham will join them.

League Two
M.K. Dons promoted as champions, with Peterborough and Hereford Utd also playing in League One next season. The play-offs will feature Rochdale, Stockport, Darlington and Wycombe.
Wrexham have already been relegated and will be joined by Mansfield.

*If Leeds Utd are succesful in their appeal against the 15 points they were deducted at the start of the season, they will be promoted automatically.

The title race has been blown wide open after Chelsea's win against Man Utd yesterday lunchtime. Was it a penalty? I don't think so and Sir Alex clearly doesn't......



So it wasn't a good day for Utd fans (including me), but they are still favourites for the league and as Fergie says, if we win our last two games we are champions.

Another race that looks set to right down to the last day of the season is the race for the final UEFA spot, after todays 2-2 between Everton and Villa. Both teams should be happy with a point: Everton because it keeps them 3 points clear; Villa because they twice came back from a goal behind.

It is vert difficult to predict who will finish 5th. Everton are in poor form and appear to have the harder run in with games against Arsenal (away) and in form Newcastle (home). The one advantage of playing these teams is that neither have much to play except pride. Villa, on the other hand, have to play Wigan (home) and West Ham (away). The West Ham game looks a formality but Wigan still aren't safe yet and will put put their all in at Villa Park, especially as they have to play Utd on the final day. Villa's major advantage is their superior goal difference and that is why I think they will just about shade it, with both teams finishing on equal points.

Barclay's Premiership Table

My Predictions

My predictions for this weekends football are:

Chelsea Vs Utd
A tough one to call so I'll sent on the fence and predict a draw.
Final Score 1-1.

Birmingham Vs Liverpool
Even though Benetiez will probably rest a few players his team should still be good enough.
Final Score 0-2.

City Vs Fulham
I'd like to see Fulham stay up but it's not going to happen. this game will probably confirm their plight.
Final Score 3-1.

Sunderland Vs Boro
A local derby between too evenly matched teams. Got to be a draw.
Final Score 1-1.

Spurs Vs Bolton
If Spurs play well they will win but they probably won't, so I see another draw- hopefully entertaining.
Final Score 2-2.

West Ham Vs Newcastle
Geordies on a roll, Keegan a legend, only one result surely?
Final Score 1-3.

Wigan Vs Reading
Reading can't win away.
Fianl Score 2-1.

Pompey Vs Blackburn
Pompey have gone a bit off the boil recently whereas Blackburn will be encouraged by last weeks draw with Utd.
Final Score 1-2.

Everton Vs Villa
Although Everton havn'e been playing well, Moyes should be able to lift them for this one.
Final Score 1-1.

Derby Vs Arsenal
I'd love to see a Derby win but it's not ging to happen. A question of how many for the Gonners.
Final Score 0-4.

Now compare my predictions to those of the living legend that is Lawro.

RonalD'OH

First things first, my prediction for Wednesdays football match could probably not have been more wrong (see prevoius blog). I was expecting goals and excitement, instead there was barely a chance created. When a game is past its best after the first minute, you know it hasn’t been a classic. However, it was still job done by Utd, having kept a clean sheet and they should be full of confidence going into the second leg at Old Trafford. The important thing is not to go to Gung-Ho, as Barca could hit us on the counter attack if we're not careful. The penalty by Ronaldo was abosultely absymal but apart from that he played alright, if he was a little isolated playing up front by himself.




Better news for the Red devils is the fact that Frank Lampard will not be playing for Chelsea on Saturday, following the untimely death of his mother, Pat, from pneumonia. The two were very close and Lamps has been given as much time of he needs by Avram Grant and Chelsea. Although I'm not a Chelsea, or Lampard, fan, all my sympathies go out to him and his family. Lets hope he recovers from his personal tradegy soon and gets back to his best for next season, although it probably won't be for Chelsea, giving that he looks certain to follow Jose Mourinho wherever he ends up next season.

On a lighter note, it looks like we know who Paul Jewell's successor at Derby will be. This comes after the news that Chris Hutching has been appointed as his assistant manager for the third time after doing the same job at both Bradford and Wigan. On each of those occasions he has gone on to take the job after Jewell resigned. He lasted 12 Premiership games at both clubs, winning a total of 3 league games. Will Derby make the same mistake if Jewell resigns after a hectic season. Would it be 3rd time lucky for Hutchings? My answers are yes then no. Afterall, it must have finally be proved that Assistants don't make good First Team managers.

In more of today's football news, Blackburn striker Benni McCarthy has signed a new 3-year contract. Although having seen Jason Roberts take his place in recent weeks, the South African is still considered a key part of the Rovers team. He will hope to be back to his best next season after a largely disappointing season, where he has been outdone by strike partner Roque Santa Cruz. It also continues to show the ambition of Mark Hughes and Rovers, who are looking to keep their best players as they seek to improve.

In the newspapers today the craziest story has to be Thierry Henry apparantly going to Newcastle. Now why the hell would he want to go there. I know he hasn't won anythng for a while and it looks like he'll go another season empty handed but Newcastle? Be serious. That would be such a step down for him and why would anyone want to move from one of the most cultural places in Europe to a place which considers The Angel of the North as a work of art? The only reason I could imagine him going there is to be centre of attention again. For a look at other stories click here.

Finally, it looks that David Beckham may be in line for more caps after Fabio Cappello claimed he could still play in the 2010 World Cup- if he can prove his fitness.

Riise Own Goal gives advantage to Chelsea

After John Arne Riise’s last gasp own goal last night, Chelsea have gained a vital away goal, giving them a slender advantage against Liverpool in their Champions League Semi-Final. Having previously been knocked out at the same stage in both 2005 and 2007, the London club will be hoping to finally reach their first final of the competition. Due to the away goal they should now be seen as clear favourites, not necessarily because they are the better team, more due to Liverpool’s recent record at Stamford Bridge. Not only have failed to score there in their last 2 European encounters, they have failed to score there since Beneiez took over in the summer of 2004. So although Liverpool were by far the better side last night, the Avram Grant luck should prevail in two weeks time. Thus, by prediction is for an incredibly boring 0-0 at the Bridge and for Chelski to get throught. This may also finally prove that “the special one,” Jose wasn’t all that as a manager.

The other semi-final kicks off tonight with Man Utd wanting to get a good result to take a good result back to Old Trafford. Unfortunately, reports are suggesting that central defender Vidic is a doublt after going to hospital late last night, with a stomach problem. If the Serbian were not to be ready, ex-Barca player Pique is likely to take his place alongside Ferdinand. Apart from that, Fergie has a full squad to choose from and will be hopeful of getting at least one away goal from the scene of his greatest managerial triumph, The Nov Camp. If Ronaldo and Rooney play to the best it could even end up being a comfortable prediction, especially with Henry struggling for fitness and Messi having just come back from injury. My prediction is for a very entertaining match with plenty of goals- I’d say 2-2.

In other news it has been confirmed that Alexander Hleb is out for the season after been found guilty of violent against Reading. The Arsenal midfielder will now serve a 3 match ban meaning if rumours are to believed, he has played game for the club. Finally it appears that Wigan manager Steve Bruce has lost patience with Aghahowa and Olembe. The pair are set to leave the club in the summer, with their most likely destination being Kayserispor, in Turkey.

To see what today’s newspapers are saying click here.

Lamps and Stevie G back!

Both Steven Gerrard and Frank Lampard are available for tomorrows Champions League Semi-Final. According to the Chelsea website, Lamp’s has declared himself ready to play after his mothers condition stabilised. The playmaker has met up with the rest of the squad as they travel to Liverpool. Once up there he is set to face Scouse Captain Stevie G, who has recovered from his neck injury. It is a well held belief that the two can not play with each other, but both are crucially important to their respective teams. The Chelsea man has had a below-par season by his own standards, but has still managed to chip in with 19 goals. Stevie G has managed to out-do his rival by 3 goals but has played in more games. What has been impressive, though, is his almost telepathic understanding with Fernando Torres this season. The two have developed a deadly partnership.

According to some rather dubious reports yesterday Gerrard will soon replace Lampard at the heart of Chelsea, who is apparently going to be signed by Mourinhio (as will Drogba), probably at Inter Milan. I don’t see Gerrard going somehow. He loves it up there, being treated as a god. Still if Rafa Benetiz’s team don’t win the league soon, they might just lose him. For other newspaper gossip click here.

In other news, the Newcastle chairman Chris Mort, is looking to tie up Michael Owen up with a new contract. The striker has been in excellent form recently with 6 goals in his last 6 games, including both in yesterdays 2-0 derby win. It looks like he is finally justifying his £17million price tag. Now the Geordies want to agree to an extension, as his current deal runs out at the end of the next season. A striker, who is on the move however, is Leroy Lita who has been recalled by Reading. The player was on loan at Charlton Athletic but the Royals feel they need to boost their firepower having gone four games without scoring. With the Addicks having missed out on the play-offs, both clubs felt it was right to end the loan early. Finally, it looks like Alexander Hleb could be in trouble with the F.A. after an off the ball incident during Arsenals 2-0 win over Reading. Reports are suggesting that the Belarus international slapped Graham Murty. If found guilty, Hleb’s season would be over.