If English giants and 2005 winners Liverpool lose to Lyon in France on Wednesday night their Champions League dreams could be all but over.  Should Fiorentina beat Hungarian outfit Debrecen (a very likely occurrence) Liverpool will be six points adrift with just two games left.

It makes for grim reading for the Anfield faithful, with their Premier League title hopes in tatters the Champions League represents a great chance for them to pick up some silverware and an exit in the group stages is virtually unthinkable.

Lyon will, of course, be no pushovers.  They came back from a goal down to beat Liverpool 2-1 at Anfield the last time these two sides met and they’ll be confident on home soil.  To make matters worse for the English club they’ll be without star player and ‘captain fantastic’ Steven Gerrard, while it seems unlikely Alberto Aquilani will start against Lyon, if indeed he makes an appearance at all.

Liverpool’s loss to Fulham at the weekend raised further questions about their strength in depth and whether they can mount a title challenge this season.  They head into this fixture with Lyon as the underdogs in the betting markets and it will be a hard task for them to take all three points.  The French side have some extremely talented players, such as Sweden’s Kim Kallstrom, midfielder Miralem Pjanic and French international Jeremy Toulalan.  In attack Bafetimbi Gomis and Sidney Govou can cause plenty of problems for any defence and with Liverpool’s defensive problems (under performing and injuries) Lyon certainly have the potential to end Liverpool’s Champions League campaign.

That is certainly what Lyon winger Cesar Delgado seems to think anyway.  Speaking to British tabloid newspaper the Sun he said: “It won’t surprise me if we beat them again,” the winger told The Sun: “It won’t surprise me if we beat them again,

“People thought Liverpool would be a fixture in the quarter-finals but now we make sure they are left out.”

“The problem with Liverpool is they are so inconsistent, with huge differences in the levels of their performances,

“We have analysed them against Manchester United and against Fulham and they are like two different teams.

“Nobody could doubt that we are the best team in the group. We can go a very long way.”

Delgado is right, there have been ‘huge differences’ in the Merseysiders’ performances through the course of the season and you never really know which Liverpool team is going to turn up on any given day.  However, their fixtures against the bigger clubs have brought their better performances in general (a 2-0 win against Manchester United) and this fixture against Lyon is arguably their biggest of the season so far.  They may just pick their performance up for this tie and they are very much capable of taking the French side apart, even in their own back yard.

Because of the significance of this tie and the implications should Liverpool lose this could well be the pick of this particular round of fixtures. AC Milan face Real Madrid in another must see game but thankfully that tie is today (Tuesday), while Liverpool play tomorrow.  The Champions League can bring out the best in teams and Liverpool are greatly in need of a lift, it all depends on the players performances and whether boss Rafael Benitez can mastermind an upset in Lyon.

Written by Gareth Freeman, a sports writer promoting Irish racing betting advice for Betfair.

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Over the last few weeks I’ve been picking out the biggest derby fixtures from around the Premier League and elsewhere for my soccerondish articles.  This weekend two of London’s biggest clubs, and indeed historically London’s biggest clubs before Roman Abramovic started the Chelsea revolution, meet in what is always massive fixture. Needless to say, in footballing terms Spurs fans and Arsenal fans aren’t the best of friends and local bragging rights are important to both.  Over the last few years (well a lot longer in all fairness) Arsenal have been the stronger team by quite a way but there is a feeling around White Hart Lane that all that could change this season.

Since the arrival of Harry Redknapp at Spurs they’ve improved dramatically and look real contenders for Champions League qualification this season.  They disappointed last weekend with a 1-0 loss on home soil to Stoke, but in reality Spurs enjoyed the majority of the chances in that game and on any other day they would have comfortably beaten the Potters.  Arsenal let a two goal lead slip against strugglers West Ham and boss Arsene Wenger will be eager to see his side get back to winning ways.

In the corresponding fixture last season the two north London rivals played out an enthralling 4-4 draw.  The pick of the eight goals in that fixture was without a doubt Spurs’ midfielder David Bentley’s smasher from range (and when I say range, he was barely in the opposition’s half!).  That goal has proved to be the highlight of Bentley’s Tottenham career so far and he has languished in the shadows a bit since Aaron Lennon made the right-wing his own.  Bentley is a product of Arsenal’s youth academy but left as a youngster to join Blackburn Rovers before making a big money switch to Spurs.  Lennon has picked up an ankle injury and will play no part against the Gunners, with Redknapp all but confirming Bentley will start on the right.

This is what the Spurs boss had to say:  “There’s no doubt Bentley has balls – plenty of ‘em – and his performance during our 2-0 Carling Cup win on Tuesday night (against Everton) was worth its weight in gold.

“What Tottenham need now is more of the same from Bentley and I can’t think of a better place for him to do it than at one of his former clubs.

“It’s not been easy for David of late. There was his well-publicised brush with the law on a motoring offence and, by his own admission, he’s not been pushing Aaron Lennon hard enough for the right-wing position – until Tuesday night that is.

“A lot of people also have completely the wrong idea of what he is like to deal with. I can tell you he is a decent lad.

“Sure he’s a good-looking young man and has talent in shedloads but he is not the flash Herbert some try to make him out to be.

“Not so long ago, he was being tipped as David Beckham’s successor on the right wing for England but now young Lennon is in possession of that place.

“What my team will need at the Emirates is Bentley supplying plenty of those quality crosses to put the Arsenal defence under pressure.”

So can Bentley shine against his former employers? We’ll find out on Saturday and it will be a massive test for the visiting Spurs team to take all three points at the Emirates.  Arsenal’s style of play is perhaps the most attractive in the world, with the possible exception of Barcelona, and they have look devastating at times this season.

In all honesty I doubt we’ll see another eight goal thriller between these two high-flying sides but I’m still expecting plenty of goals and a hard-fought occasion. Both sides have excellent attacking talent within their ranks but defences hat perhaps are quite easily breached on occasion so we should see a few goals.  On paper this is the pick of the fixtures this weekend and it should be a game well worth tuning in for.

Written by Gareth Freeman, a sports writer promoting Irish racing betting picks, tips and advice for Betfair.

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It may still only be October but should Liverpool lose to Manchester United on Sunday their title challenge will effectively be over.  They’ve already lost four times in the league this season and boss Rafael Benitez’s woes continued in midweek when French outfit Lyon pulled off a surprise 2-1 victory at Anfield.  That result has left Benitez needing victory in their next Champions League game to stand any chance of reaching the knock-out rounds, while he also has the tricky task of United’s visit on Sunday.

To make matters worse for the home side it looks very likely they’ll be without captain and talisman Steven Gerrard.  The talented midfielder is suffering with an injury and looks highly-doubtful to take part, although Spanish striker Fernando Torres should be available for selection after missing the defeat to Lyon in midweek.  Make no mistake, if Liverpool lose this fixture or only secure a point it will be catastrophic for the Merseysiders and their title hunt may well be over.

Liverpool’s problems this season have been mainly in their defence and they won’t bee looking forward to taking on an in form Dimitar Berbatov and Wayne Rooney, who has just returned from injury.  Veteran playmaker Ryan Giggs should be available and he has been in fine form this season, no doubt he would love to pile more misery on United’s old rivals.

A major factor in this game could be former Liverpool striker and current United employee Michael Owen.  The 29-year-old was a hero on Merseyside but the boos and jeers will surely ring out if he sees any action in a United shirt on Sunday.  He has a habit of scoring important goals and it wouldn’t surprise me if he managed to get among the goals at Anfield this weekend.  I doubt he’ll start the game but I’m sure he’ll see some action, especially if United are in need of a late goal.

Whenever United and Liverpool meet there is always plenty of interest but considering the importance of this tie this game should be an absolute cracker.  Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez is under immense pressure to turn their fortunes around while his United counterpart Sir Alex Ferguson would surely love to see off Liverpool and end their title hunt at this early stage of the season.  The game kicks off at 14.00 (GMT) On Sunday and should be one well worth checking out.

Written by Gareth Freeman, a sports writer promoting Irish racing betting tips for Betfair.

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On Wednesday night two of the world’s biggest clubs meet in the Champions League.  La Liga giants Real Madrid take on Serie A outfit AC Milan in a game that should really whet the footballing appetite.

The two sides have had contrasting fortunes in both league and cup this season.  While Real Madrid, fresh from their massive summer spending, sit second in La Liga and have won their opening two Champions League games AC Milan have endured a difficult start.  The San Siro side were beaten by Swiss minnows FC Zurich in their last European tie and are way off the pace in the Serie A title race, indeed their title challenge may already be over.

Milan boss Leonardo is under serious pressure despite the board voicing their support for him.  A game against Real Madrid at the Bernabeu is perhaps not what he needs right now, but then again if they can rock the boat and get a result it may restore his reputation somewhat.

The Rossonerri have plenty of talent in their ranks despite their lowly league position.  Former Real Madrid striker Klaas-Jan Huntelaar will line up against his former employers and the Dutchman will have a point to prove.  He didn’t get much of a chance at Real and was sold after just one season so I’m sure he’ll be eager to show the Spanish giants what they’re missing.  Former Barcelona star Ronaldinho is having a tough time at the moment and may not even be involved but if he is expect him to get a frosty reception on his return to Spain.

Real will go into this one heavy favourites and it is little doubt considering the talent they acquired over the summer.  It will be the first time Kaka will line up against his old club after his mega-money move in the summer and it will be intriguing to see how he performs against his former employers.  Cristiano Ronaldo will play no part after suffering an injury in Real’s last Champions League outing, which will surely come as a bonus to the visiting Italians.

Real will go into this game eager for victory as they chase the Champions League title, a competition they haven’t won since 2002.  Midfielder Xabi Alonso confirmed Los Galacticos see this as their priority for the season.

He said:  “The Champions League is the primary objective for Real Madrid this season,

“The title will not be easy though as the competition is very open.

“We know the race will be hard because there are many strong clubs from England and Italy.

“But to win the trophy would be spectacular for us.”

The final of this season’s competition will be held at Real Madrid’s Santiago Bernabeu Stadium and Alonso admits it would be a special moment to secure Europe’s top prize on home soil.

He added:  “The attraction to play the final at home is enormous but I do not believe it brings greater pressure.

“For clubs like Madrid we are obliged to fight on all fronts each season.”

When clubs like AC Milan and Real Madrid are drawn together in the European fixtures they really are games to tune in to.  Sometimes the hype outweighs the occasion but this is still an important fixture for both clubs.  AC Milan saw off Roma on Sunday and sometimes that kind of result is what a team in crisis needs to pick themselves up.  Make no mistake, Milan are a massive club and their start to the season should be considered abysmal by their high standards.  After seeing off Roma they have restored some pride for themselves and their supporters and by denying Real Madrid victory or taking all three points themselves Leonardo and his squad could breath a little easier still.  For Real it is a chance to demonstrate their power to the Italian audience and a wider European market. Their league performances may have been impressive so far but when AC Milan and Real Madrid meet the eyes of the footballing world focus on them and it is a great chance for the likes of Kaka and Benzema to showcase their talents.

Written by Gareth Freeman, a sports writer promoting Irish racing betting and Champions League betting for Betfair.

There are just two rounds of qualifying left in the European World Cup qualifying groups and there has been some mixed news for all the sides still with a chance of making the tournament in South Africa from Fifa this week.  The ruling body have announced that the teams who finish second in their Euro qualifying groups will be seeded before their play-off match.  For the Republic of Ireland this will come as a massive blow, should the hold on to second spot they will face one of the higher ranked teams in the Fifa rankings, such as France, rather than a draw which may have thrown up a much more beatable team.

There is a slim chance Ireland could top their qualifying group, but they must beat Italy on Saturday to stand any chance of this.  The Italians are yet to lose in qualification but the Irish held them to a 1-1 draw in Bari the last time they met and the trip to Ireland will not be easy for the Azzurri.  On paper the visitors are of course the better team, they have the better players and a much more impressive record over the years but that is no reason to discount Ireland’s chances of upsetting the World Cup betting odds.

Italian managerial legend Giovanni Trapattoni is the current boss of Ireland and he will be relishing the test of coming up against his home nation.  ‘Il Trap’ is widely regarded as one of the most successful Italian managers ever at club level with seven Serie A winners medals in his collection.  He has also won titles across Europe in countries such as Austria, Portugal and Germany and he certainly has a very impressive record.  However, his reign as the national coach of Italy was less successful, he led the Azzurri to the World Cup in 2002 and the Euro Championships in 2004 but on both occasions the Italians fell early.  A win for ‘Il Trap’ against Italy would of course be massive for the 70-year-old and I’m sure his desire for all the points will filter through to the Irish squad.

Current Italy boss Marcello Lippi is largely expected to name a squad dominated by players fro Juventus, the club he managed until 2004. Nicola Legrottaglie and Giorgio Chiellini will probably be the chosen central defensive pair in the absence of Fabio Cannavaro (who may indeed by absent from the tournament next summer after failing a drugs test, we still don’t know the circumstances surrounding that yet).  They have a great side throughout and players such as Fiorentina’s Riccardo Montolivo and Daniele De Rossi, of Roma, will look to unlock the Irish defence with clever passes and runs from midfield, while Luca Toni, Alberto Gilardino and Vincenzo Iaquinta are more than capable of finding the net.

Ireland have been dealt a massive blow with the news Fulham’s Damien Duff will be unavailable through injury.  However, Celtic Aiden McGeady and Hull’s Stephen Hunt are both talented wingers who should be able to make the effects of Duff’s absence minimal.  In defence Aston Villa’s Richard Dunne is a hard man to pass and Man City’s Shay Given is perhaps one of the best goalkeepers in world football (as is the Italian stopper Gianluigi Buffon of course).  Spurs striker Robbie Keane is likely to be partnered by Wolves frontman Kevin Doyle in attack and both have been among the goals of late.  The Italians will be the heavy World Cup betting favourites but Ireland should give them a great game and have every chance of getting a result.  The game takes place at Croke Park, Dublin on Saturday October 10, kick off is at 20.00 (GMT) and I expect this to be the most entertaining of the qualifiers taking place this weekend.

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Scottish football may have fallen behind some of the other European leagues in recent years but no one can deny that the Old Firm is one of the hottest contested derbies in world football.  Both Rangers and Celtic have a massive fan base who create an intense atmosphere and Sunday’s Old Firm at Ibrox should be a tight and hard fought contest.

Rangers are the current holders of the SPL title but they trail league leaders Celtic by four points at this early stage of the season.  The two Glasgow sides have dominated Scottish football throughout their history, with Rangers lifting the title on 52 occasions and Celtic 42, and the Old Firm games are vital to the team who will lift the trophy at the end of the season.

Both sides played in Europe in midweek but don’t expect that to affect the player’s performances.  Rangers were frankly hammered by Sevilla who defeated them 4-1 in Glasgow, while Celtic failed to take revenge on Rapid Vienna and were held to a 1-1 draw at Celtic Park.  Despite their European obligations the season is young enough for the palayers to have had time to recover and the fans will not forgive them if they put in a lackluster display.  As the home side Rangers will have to attack from the off and put pressure on their fierce rivals.  This will allow Celtic the opportunity to get forward on the break and if star man Aiden McGeady is declared fit for the fixture he could be vital for the visiting side.

Rangers Utility man Lee McCulloch knows the importance of Old Firm success as his side bid for their second successive SPL title.

“Old Firm games have a big say in what happens in the title race and not just because of the result,” he told Scottish newspaper the Daily Record.  “If you come out on top it can give you a lift and you tend to take your momentum into the couple of matches that follow.”

The key men for the current champions could well be Nacho Novo, who scored a terrific goal against Sevilla, frontman Kenny Miller and midfielder Pedro Mendes.  Make no mistake, even though the season is only six games old victory is vital for Rangers.  If they lose they will trail Celtic by seven points and the pressure will really be on them.  They have also drawn their last three SPL ties 0-0 and need to get scoring again, striker Kris Boyd appeared as a substitute in the game against Aberdeen last weekend and he could well be the man to solve that particular problem.

This is Celtic manager Tony Maowbray’s first Old Firm fixture since he took charge at Celtic Park.  However, Mowbray spent four years during his playing career at Celtic and is no stranger to the passion and the atmosphere of one of football’s most famous derby fixtures.  The key men for Celtic could well be their defenders as you would expect Rangers to put pressure on the visitors backed by the loud support of the home fans.  Though Aiden McGeady, Greek striker Georgios Samaras and Scott McDonald are all talented forwards who will cause the Rangers defence problems.

McDonald insisted the Celtic players will be up for the big occasion and is targeting three points, he told the club’s official website:  “We have a massive game against Rangers and we need to pick ourselves up for it. Rangers have been saying they are ready for it after their disappointment in Europe and so are we.

“I’m pretty confident it will be an attacking game and I love these matches as they are such great challenges.

“Rangers at Ibrox is a tough one and we’ll be well up for it, I managed to score there last season and it would be nice to repeat that.”

Old Firm derbies are always great occasions and this should be no different.  The two sides meet at 12.30 (GMT) on Sunday afternoon.

Written by Gareth Freeman, a sports writer promoting Irish horse racing tips for Betfair.

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Real Madrid spent plenty of money in the summer to rejuvenate their faltering team.  After falling way short of eventual Spanish and European Champions Barcelona last season Los Merengues forked out huge transfer fees on the likes of Ballon d’Or winners Cristiano Ronaldo and Kaka, while Karim Benzema and Xabi Alonso also completed big moves to the Spanish capital.  So far it seems to be working and Madrid sit top of their Champions League group table (albeit after just one game) and La Liga table (level on points but with a superior goal difference to Barcelona).  Real will have another chance to prove their Champions League credentials when they face Marseille at the Bernabeu on Wednesday night.

The heavy favourites in this particular tie are Real Madrid with the Champions League betting odds.  At 1/4 the bookies haven’t given Marseille much of a chance but they’ve enjoyed a decent start to the French season and sit third in the table having been beaten just once.  Current manager Didier Deschamps has an excellent Champions League pedigree and once guided minnows Monaco all the way to the final only to lose to Portuguese side Porto, managed then by a certain Jose Mourinho.  Deschamps will now the task ahead of him is a great one but the Frenchman will not be daunted by the experience and I expect his side to compete.  They have some quality players such as captain Mamadou Niang and striker Bakiri Kone, while former Real defender Gabriel Heinze is a familiar face in the Spanish capital.  Midfielder Hatem Ben Arfa possesses plenty of guile and may well be able to ruffle a few Real feathers.

It should be an excellent game full of attacking football as both sides tend to focus more on going forward than keeping it tight at the back.  Real’s stars are undoubtedly the star attraction in this one and Ronaldo and co will cause the French hopefuls plenty of problems.   I wouldn’t go as far as to offer a betting prediction on an upset but this is the kind of game players should relish and Marseille should go into this one fairly relaxed. No one is expecting them to get anything out of the fixture and that should allow them to play their own game.

As both teams like to get forward I’m hoping this one produces plenty of goals and talking points.  Former Lyon man Karim Benzema will be eager to get amongst the goals against his old rivals and he could be a man to watch when the two sides meet.  Cristiano Ronaldo is still searching for his top gear at his new home and the Champions League is the perfect place to display his considerable talent. With the world watching I expect Real to put on a show and take all three points off Marseille, but it may not be as easy for them as some expect.

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Spanish heavyweights Atletico Madrid are still seeking their first La Liga victory this season.  In four games they’ve drawn two and lost two and they face the daunting task of traveling to Valencia’s Mestalla Stadium on Saturday as they attempt to get it right at the fifth attempt.

Over the last couple of weeks my ‘game of the week’ style articles have focused heavily on English football, being English this is understandable but I will certainly be checking out La Liga action on Saturday night.  You could argue that the talent now resides in Spain and not England.  Cristiano Ronaldo, Kaka, Thierry Henry and Lionel Messi could all stake a claim for the best player in the world and Spanish football is perhaps a more skillful, if slightly slower, brand than the English game.

Atletico and Valencia are blessed with some outstanding footballers.  Diego Forland, Simao and Sergio Agureo all ply their trade in Madrid and are all outstanding players.  Argentine Aguero in particular is an exciting young talent and I’m sure he will enjoy a very successful career.  Valencia are a club in turmoil with massive debts to pay on their new Mestalla stadium but they resisted bids for their top stars over the summer transfer period and kept the big names.  Los Che’s star man is without a doubt David Villa, the Spaniard, who is perhaps the best striker in the world, was the subject of huge bids by Real Madrid and Barcelona but Valencia managed to hang on to him.  In midfield Valencia still have a wealth of talent with Joaquin and David Silva just two of the big names vying for places in the starting eleven.

I touched earlier on the fact Atletico had endured a difficult start to the season.  They had high hopes before the season kicked off and some had even suggested they had a decent chance of taking the title.  However, four games without a win and a very disappointing 0-0 Champions League draw against Cypriot outfit Apoel Nicosia I doubt many are betting on Ateletico success this season.  Understandably manager Abel Resino is under pressure at the moment but he claims not to be worried and feels one win will turn things around.

He said:  “I’m going to do all that I can to turn the current situation around. I’m not worried about, nor am I thinking about, my future. I’ll continue to search for solutions for the team.

“The tension being felt by the team is produced by a lack of confidence. We won’t get it back until we win again.

“The squad need to stick together. One match can resolve the problems.”

Valencia are understandably heavy favourites with the La Liga betting odds but Atletico have a squad capable of getting a result anywhere.  The Madrid side need to get back to winning ways soon though or Rosino may well be out of a job.

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Over recent years the Arsenal youth academy has introduced some fantastic players into English football.  On Tuesday night Arsene Wenger’s side take on Championship high-flyers West Brom in the Carling Cup in a game where we may see the next crop of Arsenal youngsters make an appearance.

Wenger likes to use the Carling Cup to test his fringe and youth players and this season should be no different, even if they are under pressure to end their trophy drought.  One youngster who looks set to have a big future at Arsenal and indeed in football is ack Wilshere.  The 17-year-old caused a stir in the Emirates Cup over the summer with two stunning goals which led some to suggest he could force his way into Fabio Capello’s plans for the World Cup in South Africa.  Wenger is a manager who likes to protect his younger players from the spotlight and as yet Wilshere has had very little action this season.  However, it seems highly likely the midfielder will start against the Baggies tomorrow as the Arsenal boss rests his first-choice players and he could well be one to watch over the course of the season.

The opposition must not be ignored of course.  West Brom won many an admirer with their passing football in the Premier League last season and they’ll be up for the challenge.  Manager Roberto Di Matteo likes his side to play an open attacking brand of football and he won’t change this just because they’re at the Emirates.  The Baggies will consider the league and promotion their top priority and will go into this game eager to prove themselves without the real pressure of being expected to progress.  This tie should be a great one between two attacking sides who like to keep the ball on the floor and it should be a fantastic encounter.

The Arsenal V West Brom game is not the only encounter worth keeping an eye on tommorow night.  Fallen giants Leeds United welcome Liverpool to Elland Road in a game that should be highly charged.  The long suffering Leeds fans continue to turn up in numbers despite the fact the club are currently in League One and the visit of Liverpool to Yorkshire should draw a bumper crowd.   The Leeds fans are known for their passion to the game and will be in full voice with Liverpool in town.

I doubt Rafael Benitez will field his strongest team in these early stages of the Carling Cup but that should not detract from what is a massive game between two huge clubs, albeit clubs in very different situations at the moment.  Leeds have been in fine form in the league and sit proudly at the top of the division, having won seven and drawn one of their opening eight fixtures.  There will be no pressure to progress on the home side and they will play to enjoy the occasion.

Leeds have scored an impressive 16 goals so far this season and their defence has only been breached four times.  I doubt they’ll beat Liverpool in all honesty but it wouldn’t surprise me a great deal if they forced the replay.  In players like Jermaine Beckford, Lucciano Becchio and Mike Grella they have players with enough quality to cause Premier League sides problems and I’m sure all three will be fired up for a tie with Liverpool.

The Carling Cup may not be the most prestigious of competitions but it still throws up some great games and I’m hoping we see some decent encounters tomorrow night.  The smart money would go on Liverpool and Arsenal but I’m sure West Brom and Leeds will prove worthy opposition for the Premier League sides when the games kick off on Tuesday.

Written by Gareth Freeman, a sports writer who works for Betfair, where you can find Rugby betting advice and horse racing betting advice.

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Fair enough, it isn’t the biggest Manchester derby ever but it is certainly one of the most important for years, perhaps even decades.  For the first time in a very long time City see themselves as genuine contenders to take the title from United and after a summer of unprecedented spending they should go into this tie full of confidence.  Both sides are level on 12 points, though United have played a game more, and they will both be eager to emerge victorious from one of England’s most highly charged derby fixtures.

City managed to tempt Carlos Tevez away from United over the summer and following his arrival they put a sign up in Manchester with Tevez’s image on a blue background with the words ‘welcome to Manchester’ written across it (see pic).  This riled the United fans and I expect this to be a very hard fought contest.  There are question marks over whether Tevez will play against his former club as he has been struggling with an injury but if he is fit enough to play I;m sure boss Mark Hughes will use the Argentine, even if he is restricted to a place on the bench.

Despite the arrival of a wealth of attacking talent at Eastlands over the summer they are in the middle of a striker crisis.  Tevez is unlikely to play, though there is a possibility, while Roque Santa Cruz is also described as ‘very doubtful’ to face the current champions.  Emmanuel Adebayor will play no part after the FA banned him for three games following his unsavoury exploits in City’s victory over Arsenal last weekend, while Brazilian superstar Robinho is also ruled out through injury.

The Premier League betting odds are heavily in United’s favour, perhaps in light of City’s problems up front, but I still expect this to be a very close affair.  The war of words between the two clubs has already started, with United the more vocal of the two sides, to add some extra spice to an already fiery encounter.

Wayne Rooney has stated he expects United to emerge with all three points after the meeting at Old Trafford on Sunday as the England striker believes they have a winning mentality that money can’t buy.

This is what Rooney told English newspaper the Daily Mail:  “They have bought some great players and there is a real excitement around the city. It’s great for everyone in Manchester and probably in the Premier League too, because there’s another team now challenging.

“But we all know that it’s not just about who you buy and how much you spend. I’m confident we’ll see off their threat.

“We have the experience of winning big trophies and a manager who has been there, seen it and done it.”

United boss Sir Alex Ferguson has described City as ‘cocky’ since their take-over and he will be eager to put them back in their place, so to speak, when the two sides meet on Sunday.

Speaking to American radio station Sirius XM the United boss said: “The rivalry has gone up a notch in the last few months, with them signing all those players and then coming up with that advert and all their posters about Carlos Tevez,

“They’ve been a bit, how can I put it, cocky. Yes, a bit cocky. They’ve got seven centre-forwards now, which is crazy, just amazing.”

Manchester derby days are always events to watch out for in the English football calendar but this one is one of the most anticipated meetings between these two clubs in years.  For the neutral it should be a great spectacle with plenty of talent on display, even if City are missing some key players, and hopefully it will produce a couple of goals.  The soccer betting favourites may be United in this particular encounter but they won’t get it all their own way and I’m sure City will cause the home side problems.

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