There's no trophy at stake. But with a Champions League spot worth a potential £20 million (US$32 million) on the line, tomorrow's season-ending game between Chelsea and Liverpool is virtually a cup final.
The two teams are battling for fourth place in the Premier League behind newly-crowned champion Manchester United, runner-up Arsenal and third-place Newcastle.
More importantly, the winner gets into the qualifying round of the Champions League and the chance to earn millions in prize money and TV revenue.
A four-time winner of Europe's most coveted trophy, Liverpool hasn't won it since 1984. The Reds did win the UEFA Cup two seasons ago.
Chelsea, whose last European triumph was the Cup Winners Cup in 1998, goes into the game at Stamford Bridge as favorite.
As well as having home advantage, Claudio Ranieri's players need only a tie to hold onto fourth because they have a superior goal difference. They also haven't lost at home to Liverpool since 1989-90 and have won their last six meetings at Stamford Bridge.
On the other hand, no team can match Liverpool's record of nine wins on the road this season.
"We do well away from home and we know if we win at Stamford Bridge we qualify," Liverpool manager Gerard Houllier said. "My players like cup finals. We win them, so we can win this last game."
Michael Owen scored four goals in Liverpool's last away game at relegated West Bromwich Albion to take his total to 30 for the season and will be the biggest threat to Chelsea.
Czech midfielder Vladimir Smicer is out with a calf strain and German midfielder Dietmar Hamann is doubtful because of a shin injury, but England star Steven Gerrard has recovered from a hip problem and will face the Blues.
John Terry could return to the heart of the Chelsea defense after recovering from injury, although Ranieri may decide to continue with Marcel Desailly and William Gallas to keep Owen quiet.
The manager also has to decide who should team up in attack, with Eidur Gudjohnsen, Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink and Gianfranco Zola the candidates.
Midfielder Mario Stanic believes Chelsea would be foolish to aim for a tie.
"On paper, we are in a better position than Liverpool but that doesn't mean anything when the game starts," the Croatian international said. "If someone scores early, all your tactics and work during the week is gone. I'm sure that we will have to score to reach the Champions League. I don't think it will be 0-0. So we have to play to score and win the game."
OUT AGAINST INDONESIA: Taiwan reached the semi-finals at the tournament for the first time by defeating Denmark, with Chou Tien-chen beating Viktor Axelsen Taiwan yesterday crashed out of the Thomas Cup team competition in Chengdu, China, but achieved their best result at the top-tier badminton event by reaching the semi-finals. Indonesia were too good in the semis, winning 3-0 to advance to today’s final against China, who eliminated Malaysia 3-1. In the opening singles of the men’s team clash at the Hi-Tech Zone Sports Center Gymnasium 2, Anthony Ginting defeated Taiwan’s Chou Tien-chen 21-18, 21-19 in 51 minutes, which put a huge hole in Taiwan’s aspirations to perhaps even make the final. In the men’s doubles, Fajar Alfian and Muhammad Ardianto downed Lee Yang and Wang
NO DOUBT: Spurs star Wembanyama was unanimously selected as NBA Rookie of the Year, winning all 99 votes to become the first Frenchman to capture the honor The Minnesota Timberwolves on Monday night produced a dominant defensive display to seize a commanding 2-0 lead in their best-of-seven playoff series against the Denver Nuggets with a 106-80 road victory. The third-seeded Timberwolves harassed Denver relentlessly to claim a second straight win over the NBA champions as the series heads back to Minneapolis for Game 3 on Friday. Karl-Anthony Towns and Anthony Edwards scored 27 points apiece, but the star of the show was Minnesota’s suffocating defensive effort, which knocked Denver out of their stride almost from the tip-off. The Timberwolves finished with 11 steals and 12 blocks, in sharp contrast to
Top-ranked Iga Swiatek on Saturday came through “the most intense and crazy final” she has ever contested to avenge her loss to Aryna Sabalenka in last year’s Madrid Open final with a grueling three hour, 11 minute victory in the Spanish capital. Coming back from 1-3 down in the decider and saving three match points in total, Swiatek claimed a 7-5, 4-6, 7-6 (9/7) victory to secure the Madrid Open trophy for the first time. “Well, who is going to say now that women’s tennis is boring, right?” Swiatek said. Swiatek, who picked up the 20th title of her career, and ninth at
One of Malaysia’s top soccer clubs has pulled out of today’s season-opening Charity Shield after a spate of assaults, including an acid attack, on players in the country. It leaves the kickoff of Malaysia’s season this weekend under a cloud following the unprecedented acts of violence against players, which have left the country shocked and angry. Authorities said they have imposed tighter security, but Selangor said that they would not play in the showpiece curtain-raiser against Malaysian Super League champions Johor Darul Ta’zim (JDT) citing “a series of criminal incidents and recent threats.” Selangor and Malaysia winger Faisal Halim is in intensive care