Two massive matches take place this afternoon, with everyone desperate for the three points that will keep them in touch...either of the top spot... or just the safety of mid-table.
For Newcastle and Sunderland at St. James’ Park, this match means even more than local pride and bragging rights usually at stake in the Tyne Wear derby. Both sides are close to the bottom of the table, Newcastle perilously so, and a win would bring a little relief with teams like Stoke and Bolton picking up 3 points yesterday.
A match that is usually so important to both sets of supporters anyway is likely to have an added edge come 1-30, and Footie Frog expects cards to be flying. Sunderland’s Ricky Sbragia has a near full-strength team to pick from, only missing Tainio and McShane after midweek injuries, but Joe Kinnear’s injury woes in his time at the Toon are piling up. After Joey Barton was ruled out for 6 weeks, and Owen for 4, the already depleted Magpies eleven could be a mish-mash of players this afternoon.
New signings Lovenkrands and Nolan could feature heavily, with the former making his first start and the latter making his Newcastle debut, but whether this small amount of rejuvenation will be able to lift a Newcastle team out of form, out of sorts, and out of strikers is doubtful. Footie Frog is plumping for an away win, and more desperation on Tyneside.
The late kick-off today is a huge match in regards to the title race. Chelsea travel up to Anfield to take on a Liverpool side with whom they are level on 48 points, 5 behind an impressive Manchester United who are sitting high and sitting pretty. Chelsea have a terrible record against the ‘big 4’ this season, having lost their 3 matches against them so far this season, but at least their recent form has seen victories, unlike today’s opponents, who are yet to record a victory this year.
Both attacks are full-strength with Torres and Gerrard fit for the Reds and Lampard and Anelka fit for the Blues, but both have also been somewhat off-form in 2009. Liverpool have looked dire in attack recently, and Torres in particular needs to get his shooting boots back on; his touch and finishing looking weak of late. With him not firing, the Reds side have been exposed for their over-reliance on Stevie G and actually their seeming lack of quality elsewhere in the side. Chelsea have been the same throughout the whole of this season thus far – they have looked unsettled as a team, and while Anelka steered them through the first half of the season, he too was unsettled when Scolari through Drogba straight back into the team when he recovered from injury.
Anelka has not looked the same since and Footie Frog thinks that this match could be (as ever) dominated by the defences. If the lack of confidence from which both clubs have obviously been suffering in 2009 takes control of this game, we could be in for an exciting game on the large, unforgiving Anfield pitch. I reckon that whoever makes the first mistake today will be the ones in trouble, but I can see Liverpool getting themselves back on track this afternoon. Home win. Just.
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