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Issue 00492 |
October 27 - November 2, 2007 |
issn 0856 - 9135 |
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Sports |
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The Corner Flag by Chris George
Big Clash at Anfield! To start with a big celebration for the Corner Flag. This is the 50th article written. Therefore the Corner Flag turns Golden this weekend. Here’s to a Century! This week all eyes turn to Anfield for another clash of the big four. On Sunday 28 November at 6.00pm, Liverpool host the Premiership leaders and the team in form, Arsenal. In what is turning to be a magical year for Arsenal, the team made up of youth have confounded all critics and have notched up 12 wins in a row in all competitions. In their latest win on Tuesday, they hammered Slavia Prague 7-0 in the UEFA Champions League to equal the record set by Juventus for the biggest win. Arsenal are not only looking like the best team in England, but the best team in the world! Against Slavia Prague, their passing was extremely sleek and their finishing critical. Arsenal face one of their biggest tests this season, when they face one of the so called big four teams, Liverpool at Liverpool’s hallowed turf, Anfield. Liverpool as usual have been having a jerky start to the season. The main problem with Liverpool, that critics point out is that of manager Rafa Benitez changing the team week-in week-out. Liverpool have only named an unchanged side once in over a hundred games. Benetiz justification for this. The season is long and hard and with so many matches and so many competitions, he has to use his players sparingly. While Arsenal have no injury worries, and having class players like last year’s skipper, Gilberto biding his time on the bench, Liverpool are missing two influential players, Daniel Agger and Xabi Alonso. Cesc Fabregas is turning out to be a star midfielder and is already a contender for English player of the year at even this early stage of the season. He orchestrates everything from the midfield. Adebayor is also very sharp at the front. Manual Almunia has replaced Germany’s number one Jens Lehmann in goal with some terrific displays. The back four of Sagna, Toure, Gallas (or Senderos) and Clichy is impregnable. Arsene Wenger must be very proud of his young lads. Arsenal’s secret this year? Very little money has been spent on new players, unlike most of the other teams including Tottenham who are in the relegation zone. I would say the departure of Thierry Henry galvanized the young boys into saying we will show the world we can do it without him. Probable teams: Arsenal; Almunia, Sagna, Toure, Gallas, Clichy, Flamini, Hleb, Fabregas, Rosicky, Adebayor, Walcott. Liverpool; Reina, Finnan, Carragher, Hyppia, Riise, Pennant, Gerrard, Maschareno, Benayoun, Torres, Kuyt, My prediction 2-1 to Arsenal. Another intriguing match is Chelsea hosting Sven’s Manchester City. This will be the top bill match on Saturday. Portsmouth against West Ham is also interesting and Man. Utd. are playing against their jinx team Middlesborough. Last week, the gap widened between the top and bottom teams, this is because for the first time in the history of Premiership, all the top eight teams won. Those hoping to narrow the gap on the teams above them were disappointed. Predictions this weekend Birmingham 1 Wigan 1; Chelsea 1 Manchester City 0; Manchester United 3 Middlesbrough 0; Reading 2 Newcastle 1; Sunderland 2 Fulham 1; Portsmouth 2 West Ham 0; Bolton 1 Aston Villa 1; Derby 0 Everton 2; Tottenham 1 Blackburn 2; Liverpool 1 Arsenal 2 Watch out for next week’s column, we will be previewing another top four clash – Arsenal v Manchester United at the Emirates.
Premiership Fixtures Saturday, 27 October 2007
5.00pm (Tanzanian time) Birmingham v Wigan Chelsea v Manchester City Manchester United v Middlesbrough Reading v Newcastle Sunderland v Fulham
7.15pm Portsmouth v West Ham
Sunday, 28 October 2007 3.30pm Bolton v Aston Villa
4.00pm Derby v Everton
5.00pm Tottenham v Blackburn
6.00pm Liverpool v Arsenal
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