Clash of the Big Four

The giants of English football square off in a huge weekend across the pond

Dec. 11, 2007

By Jason Brough
Bodog Nation Contributing Writer

The top of the table is tight as can be in England's Premier League. The four big boys – Arsenal, Manchester United, Chelsea and Liverpool – all have a shot to add to their trophy cases by season's end. This Sunday, the Gunners host the Blues and the Red Devils travel to Anfield. Before both matches, let's get caught up on the season to date in English soccer.

Arsenal
Odds to win the Premier League: 3/1

It should've been three more points on Sunday at Middlesbrough, but the league-leading Gunners allowed a side that hadn't won in 11 matches to breathe new life into the title race. Arsenal's 2-1 defeat, their first league loss of the year, meant Arsene Wenger and company had collected just one point out of a possible six in their past two outings. On Wednesday, Newcastle managed a 1-1 draw with the Gunners at St. James' Park.

Injuries have certainly played a part in Arsenal's recent struggles. Cesc Fabregas (hamstring), Mathieu Flamini (thigh), Alexander Hleb (Achilles) and Robin Van Persie (knee) all missed the fixture at Middlesbrough.

This Sunday, in quite possibly the biggest match of the still-young season, the Gunners host Chelsea, which are just three points back in third spot. Said fullback Gael Clichy: "If we had won [over Middlesbrough] it would have been perfect but now the gap has closed and we have to do something good against Chelsea because the pressure is on. This is now a massive game."

As for those injuries, Wenger hopes to have Flamini and Van Persie back in the lineup, but is doubtful about Fabregas and Hleb.

Chelsea
Odds to win the Premier League: 5/2

The Blues won't have Didier Drogba at their service until the New Year. (AP Images)

The season started out poorly for the Blues but has since turned around nicely.

On Sept. 29, barely a week after manager Jose Mourinho unexpectedly quit the club, Chelsea drew Fulham 0-0 at Stamford Bridge. It was the fourth consecutive scoreless outing for the Blues, who found themselves booed off the pitch by the home supporters.

Since then, Chelsea, under the guidance of new manager Avram Grant, have won seven of eight Premier League matches with one draw and have outscored their opponents by a margin of 17-1.

The one negative, and it's a big one, is the status of striker Didier Drogba, who underwent knee surgery last week and will likely be ruled out until mid-February.

"It is impossible to replace Drogba because nobody else has the same power, pace and intelligence," said Grant. "But we have to find an answer. We have good strikers. I think we have a title-winning dressing room, but there are four teams in it and all of them have the quality to win the championship."

Manchester United
Odds to win the Premier League: 11/10

Cristiano Ronaldo and United are scoring in bunches. (AP Images)

Last year's champs are still the oddsmakers' favourites to win the league, and a newly discovered offensive attack isn't hurting their odds. United started the league campaign by scoring five goals in six matches, good for four wins and two draws.

But that was then. Now finds a team that have hit the back of the old onion bag a whopping 22 times in their last eight league outings. On Saturday, Carlos Tevez notched a pair as United abused bottom-of-the-table Derby 4-1 at Old Trafford.

This Sunday, the Red Devils take their highly potent show on the road to Liverpool.

"It's such a big game, especially at Anfield," United's Ryan Giggs said. "And we know we're going to have to play well to come away with a result. 

"The top four are all playing each other next Sunday, so no one's going to lose the title on the day, but it's important for everyone to try to get a decent result."

Liverpool
Odds to win the Premier League: 8/1

Fernando Torres and Liverpool have a huge week ahead. (AP Images)

Like Arsenal, the Reds suffered a shocking league loss over the weekend. The 3-1 defeat to Reading was, to say the least, a bad start to a very important week for Rafael Benitez's side, which face a do-or-die Champions League match Tuesday in Marseille and come home to face United on Sunday.

How big are the Reds' next two games? The Daily Telegraph's Alan Hansen wrote this: "You could argue that we are going into the biggest week in the history of Liverpool Football Club." That's a strong statement about a side that have won 18 English league titles and five European Cups in their history.

For Benitez, who has criticised American owners Tom Hicks and George Gillett Jr. over their willingness to release transfer funds, Liverpool's season might not be the only thing on the line this week; his job is certainly in play too.

TOP PHOTO: Cesc Fabregas is just one of the sidelined players for Arsenal. (AP Images)