City must rise to the challenge

The next six days will have huge consequences for Manchester City; the face Liverpool tomorrow night in the Premier League followed by the Manchester derby on Saturday for a place in the FA Cup final. With Spurs getting back to winning ways over the weekend the pressure is back on City to perform at Anfield.

It is not only a huge week for the team; the next two games will also decide Roberto Mancini’s fate. Having spent millions of pounds on his squad the Italian must deliver Champions League football for the club, he simply must. Failure to do so should and surely will result in his departure from the Stadium of Manchester this summer.

The club currently lie in 4^th position and are three points ahead of Tottenham. They still have to play the London club at home on 10^th May which should decide which team will qualify for Europe’s elite club tournament. It is essential that City obtain this lucrative position so they are then able to target the top players from around the world. At present they are capable of paying any figure for any player but lack the resources to offer a serious package.

It is time for City to put their name forward as a growing force in English football. They have had several near misses already and in order to start to convince the players the club is heading in the right direction they must come away with something from Anfield. They will face a tough Liverpool side who have improved significantly under Kenny Dalglish.

Today’s game is based solely around money but it is not always the richest that triumph. Just because City have spent millions assembling a squad of Internationals it doesn’t guarantee them success. If they are to improve then trips like tomorrows will have to be navigated again and again, its time to see whether City really are in for the long haul.

Chelsea back in the title race

After the emphatic win at Stamford Bridge on Sunday against Manchester City Chelsea are now very much back in the title race. It appeared so unlikely after their horrendous form around Christmas when they found themselves facing the possibility of not finishing in the top 4. Since beating Manchester United at the Bridge at the start of this month their confidence has returned.

The season had started so promisingly and it appeared that nobody would be able to stop the reigning league champions. Defeat at Anfield in November rocked them and their confidence; their form then deteriorated so dramatically that Ancelotti’s job was under scrutiny. It shows what a fickle world football is when you win the domestic double in your first season and then face the sack the following – madness.

The additions of Luiz and Torres look good, although the later has still failed to open his Chelsea account. His movement in recent weeks has been that of old but his desperation to score seems to be making his job that much harder at the current moment.

The London side have been drawn against Manchester United in the Champions League which will be a fascinating tie. The Chelsea manager holds the upper hand over Ferguson with the United boss only beating his Italian counterpart on 3 occasions in the past. Both games will be enthralling and with them set to play at Old Trafford in the Premier League the title could go to the wire.

Anfield game could have huge bearing on Premier League title

The game on Sunday between Liverpool and Manchester United should go some way in determining the Premier League title this season. Having lost at Stamford Bridge on Tuesday night United have to come back and make a statement of intent. With their captain Nemanja Vidic suspended and Rio Ferdinand still doubtful it will be a very tough game.

It has by no means been a vintage United team this season; they have struggled at points and have looked short of their usual high standards. The game at Anfield could also see Andy Carroll make his debut which would make Ferdinand’s return imperative. Since the return of Kenny Dalglish Liverpool have improved significantly and are still very strong when they play at home. Their other new striker Luis Suarez is still acclimatising to life in England but has looked very sharp in his appearances thus far and will surely be fired up for his first game against United.

The title is still in United’s hands but another set back could begin to sow seeds of doubt within the squad. They still have to play Arsenal and Chelsea amongst other games so need to ensure they pick up points at the weekend. With Arsenal having the easiest run in another slip could prove costly and Ferguson will be conscious that United do not want to travel to the Emirates needing a victory.

These games are usually very fiery and the visitors are sure to receive a hostile reception. With both clubs sitting on 18 league titles Liverpool will be determined to put a dent in United’s quest for the record this season. It should be a cracker.

Luiz shines as Torres stutters

Last night’s victory at Stamford Bridge could be a turning point in the future of Chelsea football club. The club were under serious pressure to perform and after a rather subdued first half kicked into gear in the second. Although it remains incredibly unlikely that they will challenge for the title it sent a message to those around them that they are still more than capable of beating the best.

The performance from their new Brazilian centre back David Luiz was fantastic and he looks a real talent. It was even noticed by Cesc Fabregas on twitter who commented “David Luiz is looking to be a very good player and still only 23. He’s got class. Defenders playing with the ball are always my favourites.” However, it must be mentioned that he was very lucky to remain on the pitch after a rather cynical foul on Wayne Rooney in the second half. His goal was taken expertly and you could see it visibly lift him as he went on a marauding run after an interception minutes after scoring. The new centre back looks physically strong and very capable with the ball which is something Chelsea have lacked since Carvalho’s departure in the summer.

In contrast Fernando Torres looked well short of what he is capable of, but there were signs that he is developing an understanding with his team mates. It has been a difficult season for the Spaniard who finally managed to leave Liverpool in January after failing to depart over the summer. Some of his movement last night was excellent but his confidence in front of goal has still not returned. With Ancelotti starting with a 4-4-2 formation it suits him more as he is able to roam up front but the supply line needs to be better.

Both sides looked short of creativity and I am convinced both will address this in the summer. They possess wingers who can hurt sides when on form but there has to be more impetuous coming from central positions. This is not a vintage United side we have seen this season but they remain the most efficient at closing sides down when they play through the middle. However, with 36 year old Paul Scholes as their most creative central midfielder this is a problem that must be remedied.

It was one of the better top 4 clashes last night with some exciting football played by both sides. It was nice to see both managers employing 4-4-2 and I cannot remember the last big game when central midfield was so open. United now must get something at Anfield on Sunday while Chelsea just have to keep winning.