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US goalkeepers go head to head in Premiership clash

American goalkeepers have made a big impact in England, with three of them starting for Premier League teams. Today, two of them come face to face.

With seven shutouts and just seven goals conceded in 12 Premier League games, Manchester United's Tim Howard goes up against Blackburn's Brad Friedel at Old Trafford.

It's the first matchup between the two since Howard moved to United this season from the New York/New Jersey MetroStars of Major League Soccer. Tottenham's Kasey Keller is the other American 'keeper in the Premier League.

Howard, who took over as United's No. 1 `keeper from France's Fabien Barthez, has given the Reds more stability at the back. Friedel, meanwhile, is struggling.

With 15 shutouts, America's 2002 World Cup starter was voted the Premier League's top goalkeeper last season when Rovers finished sixth to secure a place in the UEFA Cup. But, this season, Friedel has already let in 22 league goals and Rovers have slumped to fourth from last.

Defending champion Manchester United is in third place, two points behind Arsenal, and manager Alex Ferguson is determined to maintain the pressure on the Gunners.

Two United stars were in goalscoring form in Wednesday's international games while another suffered the heartbreak of failing to make it to the European Championship finals yet again.

Ruud van Nistelrooy scored three times in the Dutch team's 6-0 thrashing of Scotland in a Euro 2004 qualifying playoff, while Diego Forlan hit two as Uruguay pulled out a thrilling 3-3 tie with Brazil in a World Cup qualifier.

But Ryan Giggs was a sad figure as Wales lost 1-0 at home to Russia and failed to qualify for the Euros in Portugal.

Against Rovers today, Giggs will face two of his former Old Trafford teammates, striker Dwight Yorke and defender Henning Berg. Another, Andy Cole, misses the game through suspension.

Yorke hasn't scored in four games against the Reds since he moved from Old Trafford a year ago. He would love to end that sequence against a club that effectively froze him out in his final season.

Another player facing his former club today is England defender Matthew Upson.

The former Arsenal centerback now lines up for fifth place Birmingham City after leaving Highbury last season frustrated at not getting any first team experience.

"To be fair to Matthew, he wanted to come and play for us. He has nothing to prove to Arsenal," said Blues manager Steve Bruce.

"He had had enough of sitting on the fringes and being on the outside looking in. When that happens, it is very hard. ... I know I keep saying this but I honestly believe he is the best left-sided defender in this country."

Second-place Chelsea, which is a point behind Arsenal, has scored nine goals without reply in its last two league and Champions League games. The Blues go Southampton seeking another big victory.

With a seven-point gap between third-place United and fourth-place Charlton, the title race is dominated by the top three.

Alan Curbishley's Charlton goes to lowly Leicester and sixth-place Manchester City visits a Newcastle team whose revival was ended by a 5-0 loss at Chelsea.

Fulham, holding a higher than expected seventh place, is not in action until Monday when Chris Coleman's team hosts promoted Portsmouth.
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