20 years On

Who can forget that day in May 1989, when Arsenal won the league with the last kick of the season. Liverpool would go on to win the league the following year but it has the been the last time they have done so. They’ve won three FAC ups and the Champions League since then but it is the lack of a league title which really drives them on.

It is not going to happen this year with Liverpool struggling in 7th spot. Time has caught up to them. They could cover over the cracks while they were still going deep into the Champions League but now they are out of that it’s a different story. True they are still in the Europa League and knowing Rafa Benitez’s luck they will probably win that and in the process grant him a stay of execution. Soccer betting is taking bets as to when he will be sacked. Most people think it will be sooner rather than later.

Arsenal has won the league four times and the FA Cup four times since then. They also were  runners-up in the Champions League in 2006. They have gone close a number of times to winning trophies but for a club of their size, close is no consolation. They haven’t won anything since the 2005 FA Cup and in modern parlance that is an eternity.

Arsenal have a game in hand of Chelsea but are still 8 points behind them. The fact is that Tottenham, Aston Villa and Manchester City have put on a concerted push on the top four which is really making an impact.

Villa travel to Old Trafford on Saturday in what is a huge game. This is a repeat of the Macheda Game when Federico Macheda scored a stunning injury-time goal to hand United a thrilling 3-2 win over Villa. The motivation will be there for Villa to try and exact some sort of revenge.

Elsewhere Spur host Wolves and Man City travel to Bolton. Top of the table Everton host injury-ravaged Everton. If Everton were already stretch thinly enough they will have to make do with the absence of talisman and inspirational leader Tim Cahill. He is suspended for one match but John Heitinga returns after serving his one game suspension. The Toffees are clearly a better side than what the ladder suggests and should improve once some of the players return from the sick bay. This is balanced by the absence of Michael Essien but still Chelsea should be too strong.

David Wiseman writes for this blog. He also writes about tennis betting.

Man City are growing, keeper states

Manchester City need to maintain the standards they have set in their last two matches to get into the Premier League title race, according to Shay Given.

The Irish keeper has seen his side record wins over both Arsenal and Premier League leaders Chelsea in the last week, with Given saving a late penalty in the latter to ensure his side were victorious.

City had endured a string of seven Premier League draws on the bounce and the victory over Chelsea sees them sit sixth in the table, one point behind Aston Villa with a game in hand.

Mark Hughes’ side are looking to break into the top four to qualify for the Champions League in 2010 and Given admits the players at City had conducted their own inquest into their failings and managed to turn things around.

The former Newcastle goalkeeper told the Manchester Evening News: “The odd rollicking never did anyone any harm if you take it in the right way. We’re all grown men as well, and you have to take criticism when it comes along. We’ve set the bar now and we can’t drop below it.”

City’s defeat of Chelsea at the weekend has helped out their rivals Manchester United’s Premier League title ambitions.

Sir Alex Ferguson’s men managed a 4-0 win away at West Ham to close the gap on their West London rivals to two points.