Sports

Arsenal or Liverpool?

Arsenal FC and Liverpool FC have a point in their season where a draw is not good enough and one team must come out victorious. These two English sides haves faced each on several occasions this season and each time it resulted in a 1-1 draw, but now they face each other in the second leg of the Champions League and one team has to depart.

This weekend Arsenal faced Liverpool for the third time this season and the game resulted in a 1-1 draw, also for the third time this season, leaving Arsenal in the third place six points behind the leaders Manchester United and eight points clear of Liverpool, who are currently fourth in the table. If it results in the same 1-1 draw at Anfield for the Champions League quarter-final then the game heads to a tie-breaker. Most importantly Liverpool scored away from home on the first-leg, so they have an advantage. Therefore Arsenal now have to score at some point of the game to stay in the competition.

When Rafael Benitez was asked if the game would be different from the last three this season he replied, “Yes, I think so, for two reasons – one is that we are playing at Anfield and that is a massive difference, and the other thing is that they [Arsenal] need to win, so it could be an attacking game. We need to win also … we don’t want a 0-0 draw. We prefer to score and we prefer to win. We know that Arsenal can score away from home.”

Liverpool face a dilemma of injuries as Centre-Back Daniel Agger is out with a long term foot injury, wingers Harry Kewell having a groin injury and Jermaine Pennant having a hamstring problem. Benitez admitted that he has a big decision to make on which striker to play up front with Peter Crouch in splendid form. He also admitted that he wants to play Spaniard Fernando Torres supported by Dirk Kuyt and Steven Gerrard with flexible attacking roles.

Arsene Wenger on the other hand does not want to underestimate his opponent and wants to expect the unexpected. He said “A surprise can always happen, even if you know each other very well,” he said. “I believe it will be different this time because, at the end of the game, there will be a sanction – we want to stay in this competition but one of us has to move out. So there is more urgency in this game and less observation.”

Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger failed to hold down his nerves more than usual this season but he thinks his team can cope with the noisy atmosphere of Anfield and keep their cool when needed. He said “They [Liverpool] have the support for them but it’s down to us to keep the crowd quiet, though I accept that’s difficult because here they are a bit louder than anywhere else and, especially, they have more stamina than anywhere else. At the end of the day, it will still be down to how well we play on the pitch.”

There is good news in the Arsenal camp as striker Robin Van Persie is back in their squad, although he limped off the field with a thigh strain last week and missed the subsequent premier league fixture. The injuries for Arsenal include Eduardo Da Silva, Tomas Rosicky, Johan Djourou, Alexandre Song and Bacary Sagna.

Photo: Getty Images

Petr Cech out for a fortnight

Chelsea FC will be without the services of Petr Cech for two more weeks after undergoing a facial surgery to his lips and chin due to a collision with a team-mate while training. Reports suggest that the Czech Republic International required 50 stitches.

Petr Cech has missed nine games already due to an ankle injury and now he’ll be out for the Champions league encounter against Turkish side Fenerbahce. Now he must avoid further delays and might struggle to make an appearance against Manchester united on April 26.

“He has been unlucky with injuries this year, but this is football - it happens,” said Chelsea boss Avram Grant. “It was a tackle between two players, it doesn’t matter who, all that matters is he is injured. This year is not a good year for him. It is his third injury. He was looking good in training. I think he will be out for two weeks, something like this. I don’t feel so good about it but every player that is injured doesn’t make me happy.”

Petr Cech has worn a protective headgear during training and during matches after his horrific fracture to the skull in a collision with Reading midfielder Stephen Hunt in October 2006. His last game for Chelsea this season was on 1st March when they beat West Ham 4-0.

Photo: Getty Images

Injury blow to Petr Cech

Chelsea manager Avram Grant has hinted that the injured Petr Cech will not be risked as they travel to Manchester to face Manchester City. The Czech Republic International has missed 8 matches due to his ankle injury ad although he is back in training with Chelsea, the manager seems more likely to start with the second choice Goal Keeper Carlo Cudicini.

Cech may make his return on the second leg of the Champions League quarter-final against the Turkish side Fenerbahce.

“Until yesterday Cech had made a lot of improvement and we need to see where he is at the end of the recovery period,” Grant said. “He is better than 50-50, he is almost ready. It will be a medical decision. But we have other goalkeepers who have done a good job this year.”

In another incident, Grant has denied the reports of a fight with midfielder Frank Lampard after the England International’s furious reaction when he was substituted in the 2-1 loss against Fenerbahce in Turkey.

“Frank is a very passionate player. He was very disappointed that Fenerbahce had equalised,” said the Israeli coach. “I shook hands with Frank. I like passionate players. If his reaction was good or not, it is an internal matter.

“The discipline at Chelsea has been very good since I’ve been here. I speak with all the players, but I speak about the game and not something else. Everybody was disappointed. It was one of our best performances but we lost the game so he wanted to understand why, that’s all.”

Alexandre Pato: A Thunder-storm

Wow! Am I dreaming? It seems I went back to 1994 world cup football. Lots of Big names were there . There was great Bebeto-Romario Duo . But one name is heard every where as antonym of great Edison Arantes do Nascimento (Pele). This name is none other than another Living Legend of Brazil Ronaldo. He is my all time favorite. I first came to see Ronaldo from his PSV Eindhoven days. But unfortunately half of Potentiality of this great could not be utilized because of his Injury. Even after that he is the highest scorer of all time time world cup history. I truly miss trademark with and with out ball movement of Ronaldo master Piece.

But I think my wait is over . A New 18 years Phenomenon has already  declared his arrival in highest stage of world football. This name is Alexandre Pato. Present Brazil Coach and Ex BrazilCaptain Carlos Dunga has already declared ” Pato reminds him his ex team mate Ronaldo.

The Video Clips of Pato reminds me to the Young Ronaldo of PSV days.

Sehwag demolishes the Proteas

Virender Sehwag crippled the bowling attack of South Africa on the third day of the first Test held in Chennai scoring the fastest ever triple century in history with 300 runs off 278 balls. Sehwag finished the day unbeaten at 309 taking India to 468-1 in reply to South Africa’s total of 540. The Indian smashed 42 fours and five sixes before nudging the ball to square leg for his 300 off Makhaya Ntini.

The 29 year old opener scored 309 against Pakistan in 2004 and became only the third player to achieve the triple century feat beside the West Indian Legend Brian Lara and Australian Don Bradman.

Sehwag scored 300 from 278 balls surpassing Mathew Hayden’s 380 runs off 368 balls, which was a record back then for the quickest triple hundred, in 2004 against Zimbabwe.

India are in a very good position to put some pressure on the visitors with a flawless performance from Sehwag’s 292 ball innings. He had a good support from Rahul Dravid, who finished 65 not out, on a 255 run second wicket partnership.

India started the day with 82 runs on the board. Sehwag scored 213 before the first wicket alongside Wasin Jaffer, who edged Paul Harris’ delivery to Jaques Kallis in the slip giving the Proteas their only break-through of the game.

Then Sehwag was accompanied by the man known as “The Wall”, Rahul Dravid, who lived up to his name scoring 65 in 181 balls. In the process he took his career total to 9,985 runs, now only needing 15 runs to complete the 10,000 run feat and set to be only the sixth player in history to accomplish such an achievement.

The test Veteran Sehwag was at his best on his 55th Test when he scored 108 runs in India’s 133, as the Proteas bowled in hot and humid conditions typical to the sub-continent.

This was Sehwag’s consecutive three figure total following his match saving effort of 151 runs against Australia in Adelaide in January. On the fourth day of the test Sehwag is set to surpass Brian Lara’s record of 400 and India have the opportunity to have a lead over the tourists before day five.

[By Shahnawaz Alam]

Photo: Sky Sports