Print

Mail

wiki links

Chelsea's lead may further erode

Manchester United's Ruud van Nistelrooy appeals a linesman's decision during his team's 1-0 win over West Ham United in Manchester, England, on Wednesday. PHOTO: AP

Chelsea's Premier League lead is down to nine points, and that could be cut to six today.

Second-place Manchester United will know what its chances are of catching the Blues before it kicks off at Bolton today. If Chelsea tumbles at relegation-threatened Birmingham in a game that kicks off early, the title race could be back on with six games still to play.

"It is going to be tough for United," said West Ham manager Alan Pardew, whose team lost 1-0 at United on Wednesday. "Chelsea are a team who can get results and they have proved it over the season. But United are making a really good fist of it and you cannot ask for any more than that."

Jose Mourinho's Chelsea was 18 points ahead only two weeks ago before a 1-0 loss at Fulham gave the chasing teams a glimpse of a chance.

Although the Blues responded with a 2-0 victory over Manchester City, Manchester United -- which had games in hand -- has made up ground thanks to a run of five league victories in a row, including Wednesday's win over West Ham.

"We're in great form at the moment and looking forward to every match," said Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson, whose team has 69 points to Chelsea's 78 and has a five-point advantage over third-place Liverpool with a game to spare.

The chances of Chelsea losing at Birmingham appear slim, however.

Steve Bruce's Birmingham is in a depressing run of form, losing 7-0 at home to Liverpool in the FA Cup a week ago and 3-0 at Manchester United in the Premier League on Sunday. It has lost its last three league and cup games, scoring none and conceding 12.

While 18th-place Birmingham is threatened with relegation from the top flight, Chelsea is reportedly close to signing Bayern Munich midfielder Michael Ballack and AC Milan striker Andriy Shevchenko.

But Chelsea's recent form, including the surprise loss at Fulham, gives Bruce's team a slight chance. Blues striker Didier Drogba came in for heavy criticism after handling the ball for one goal in Saturday's victory over Manchester City and admitting that he sometimes dives -- a statement he later retracted.

By contrast, traditional rivals Manchester United, Liverpool and Arsenal are in standout form. Fourth-place Tottenham has won three of its last four games and lost one of its last seven.

Ruud van Nistelrooy, returning to the United starting lineup after spending five games on the bench, scored the only goal against the Hammers. That took him ahead of Arsenal's Thierry Henry in the Premier League scorers' list with 20.

Ferguson's decision to drop the Dutch striker prompted speculation that Van Nistelrooy might be leaving Old Trafford. The veteran manager said it was part of his strategy to give all his strikers some action.

"When we were at our very best, we had four great strikers," Ferguson said. "It was one of the factors in us winning the [league, FA Cup and Champions League] treble. We had great players at the time and everyone did their job.

"If we can do that again and get four strikers competing for the position, and we can rotate them at the right moments, that has to be good for the club."

Liverpool has won four league and cup games in a row with a combined goals tally of 18. Today, it goes to another relegation-threatened club, West Bromwich Albion, and has a great record against the Baggies.

Liverpool has won its last five meetings with West Brom with a combined goals tally of 17-0 and has won its last two visits to the Hawthorns 5-0 and 6-0.

Arsenal's 2-0 Champions League victory over Italian titlist Juventus on Tuesday was the highlight of a series of top-quality performances. The Gunners have also won their last three league games, have conceded only one goal in their last five outings and should be confident of beating 16th-place Aston Villa at home.

Fourth-place Tottenham goes to Newcastle, while today's other game is Fulham at home to next-to-last Portsmouth. Tomorrow, Manchester City hosts Middlesbrough and West Ham welcomes Charlton. Monday's game is Blackburn-Wigan.

Having already clinched promotion to the top flight for the first time in its 135-year history, Reading can capture the League Championship title today.

Steve Coppell's team holds a 14-point lead over second-place Sheffield United with six games to go and hosts lowly Derby. Neil Warnock's Blades go to mid-standings Stoke.

League leader Juventus is at last-place Treviso today seeking to protect an eight-point advantage after it was beaten midweek by Arsenal in the Champions League.

Arsenal won 2-0 at Highbury in the first-leg quarterfinal on Tuesday to put Juve on the brink of elimination and cast doubt over its physical and psychological condition.

Although unbeaten in its last 21 games, the Turin powerhouse has drawn two of its last three matches.

There are concerns over the form of striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic -- who has scored only six Serie A goals, compared with David Trezeguet's 20 and Alessandro Del Piero's 10 -- and Patrick Vieira.

At Treviso, Juve will be without suspended midfielder Pavel Nedved and the injured Del Piero.

Second-place AC Milan is at next-to-last Lecce following a 0-0 draw at Lyon in the first-leg quarterfinal on Wednesday. Third-place Inter Milan hosts 18th-place Messina after beating Villarreal 2-1 in Europe on Wednesday.

The three Serie A clubs play their second-leg Champions League games on Tuesday or Wednesday.

Milan coach Carlo Ancelotti said fatigue was increasing for the teams in the Champions League.

"Surprising results are possible. Concentration is a decisive factor," Ancelotti said.

Juventus coach Fabio Capello said a 29th Serie A title was not yet certain with seven rounds left.

"Treviso is our immediate problem. Arsenal comes later," Capello said.

Treviso, which has won one game at home in 13, has only conceded one goal in each of its last three matches.

Unbeaten in its last 12 matches, Milan is expected to rest key players at Lecce. While Inter is likely to start striker Julio Ricardo Cruz against Messina, which has newly appointed coach Pietro Ventura.

Ventura replaced Bortolo Mutti this week after the Sicilian team slipped into the relegation zone.

Juventus, Milan and Inter all play today. Sunday's big match pits Fiorentina against AS Roma.

The fourth-place Florentine side leads Roma by one point in the table with a berth in the Champions League preliminary rounds going to the No. 4 team.

Fiorentina is coming off a 3-1 loss at Milan, while Roma drew 1-1 with Juventus in the previous round.

"It's an important match, but not decisive for the fourth place. And we start one point ahead -- that's a better situation," Fiorentina defender Thomas Ujfalusi said.

Fiorentina striker Luca Toni has scored 24 goals -- almost half his team's total -- to be the leading scorer in the league.
This story has been viewed 1587 times.