11.19 AM Friday, 29 March 2024
  • City Fajr Shuruq Duhr Asr Magrib Isha
  • Dubai 04:56 06:10 12:26 15:53 18:37 19:52
29 March 2024

Arsenal, Liverpool relish test of title claims

Jordan Henderson of Liverpool scores their second goal during the Barclays Premier League match between Arsenal and Liverpool at Emirates Stadium on January 30, 2013 in London, England. (GETTY)

Published
By Reuters

The title credentials of leaders Arsenal and third-placed Liverpool will come under scrutiny when they meet in a heavyweight Premier League clash on Saturday.

Arsenal, top of the table with 22 points, have only lost one league match this season, on the opening day against Aston Villa, but have been beaten by Borussia Dortmund in the Champions League and Chelsea in the League Cup in the past week.

The visit of Liverpool (5:30 p.m.), on 20 points, is only the second time they have met a team with realistic top-four ambitions following a win over local rivals Tottenham Hotspur.

Manager Arsene Wenger fielded a weakened side against Chelsea and he said it was important not to read too much into recent results.

"Let's not jump too quickly to conclusions because if you take the points we have made since the first of January, we have made more than anyone else," he told reporters after the 2-0 home loss to Chelsea.

"I believe that a longer distance reveals more about the quality of a team than the last few games. It is difficult to swallow that happened to us in the last week, but the mistakes are not so big that it cannot be corrected."

He acknowledged, however, that it was vital to get back on track against Liverpool, for whom Luis Suarez and Daniel Sturridge scored all the goals in last week's 4-1 thrashing of West Brom, especially with tough games against champions Manchester United and surprise packages Southampton to follow.

"It's a difficult (run), but that's part of the season. We know the games," Wenger said.

"We have to respond well against Liverpool. We are in a strong position in the league and have a good opportunity at home, and we have to turn this round. Away from home we are very solid, but at home you know it's important and vital to win the big games."

SENDING MESSAGE

Liverpool midfielder Jordan Henderson said his team were determined to send a message that they were genuine contenders this season having not finished in the top five since 2008-09.

"They're all tough games in the Premier League and Arsenal have been flying of late," he told the club's website (www.liverpoolfc.com)

"But so have we, so I think it will be a good game to watch and hopefully we can get a good result.

"It would send out a message to the rest of the teams that we're here and we mean business. But I think the main focus is going there and playing like we have been."

Under-pressure Newcastle United manager Alan Pardew's side have picked up one Premier League win in the last five matches, and he believes Saturday's match against Chelsea (12:45 p.m.) and the following one against Spurs will define their season.

"We are coming into some games which are really what our season is all about. We have lost two games to teams in and around us and we have to try to make up those two against the top teams."

Champions Manchester United, languishing eighth after a poor start to the season, head to Fulham (3:00 p.m.), for whom Hugo Rodallega is doubtful with a groin injury after scoring two goals in the League Cup defeat by second-tier Leicester City.

Manchester City host Norwich City who have injury question marks over Robert Snodgrass and Nathan Redmond.

Stoke City host Southampton, West Brom play struggling Crystal Palace, Sunderland travel to Hull City and West Ham United play Aston Villa on Saturday.

Sunday brings the first ever top-flight match-up between Welsh sides Cardiff City and Swansea City (4:00 p.m.), while John Heitinga and Arouna Kone are unlikely to be fit for Everton's game against fourth-placed Tottenham (1:30 p.m.).

Swansea City's Danish manager, Michael Laudrup, who knows a thing or two about rivalries having played for Lazio, Juventus, Barcelona, Real Madrid and Ajax Amsterdam in his glittering career, is anticipating another special experience.

"It doesn't matter if it's Lazio v Roma, Copenhagen v Brondby, Real Madrid v Barcelona or Juventus v Torino, whatever it is or whatever country it's in, you know it's always something special because it means so much to so many people, especially the fans," he said.

"They want to win every game but some games are more special to them.

"A lot of people are talking about it, people walking down the street are talking about it and how much they want to win it. But that's OK because the players understand how important it is for the fans."

Cardiff and Swansea have played each other relatively infrequently because they have spent so many seasons in different divisions.

Liverpool have met Everton 218 times, Spurs have played Arsenal 171 times and Manchester United have clashed with Manchester City on 165 occasions, but there have only been 60 Swansea v Cardiff games with Swansea winning 24 and Cardiff 20.

Cardiff have had three previous spells in the top flight - between 1921-29, 1952-57 and 1960-62 - and Swansea graced the old first division in 1981-83 before reclaiming Premier League status in 2011. Cardiff achieved the same feat this year.

THIRD TIER

An indication of how far both clubs have come in recent times is that in 1998-99 they were in the third tier of English football playing at Ninian Park in Cardiff and Vetch Field in Swansea.

Both now have bright new stadiums and growing honours' lists. Cardiff have been FA Cup and League Cup finalists in the past five years, and Swansea won the League Cup last season and are now in Europe.

The Swans also have the better record in the league this season, lying ninth in the table with 11 points, two points and seven places above Cardiff, who are a point clear of the relegation zone.

Despite their position, Cardiff scored a notable 3-2 win over title contenders Manchester City in their first home league game of the season, and apart from a 4-1 defeat at Chelsea only one of their four league defeats has been by more than one goal.

Cardiff's main crisis this season has been off the field, when Malaysian owner Vincent Tan replaced manager Malky Mackay's confidant Iain Moody, the club's head of recruitment, with a 23-year-old who is the son of a friend of Tan's and was helping paint the stadium in the summer.

The issue prompted suggestions that Mackay could leave, but striker Peter Odemwingie, who arrived from West Bromwich Albion in the summer, hopes that does not happen and that Cardiff can build on their success in winning the Championship in 2012-13.

"(Mackay) is a good young manager, the people of this city have waited a long time for this," Odemwingie said.

"Our target is a realistic one - to stay up this year. The plan is to strengthen again next summer. It is a gradual process, but we are optimistic we can achieve it."

Like most clubs, Cardiff and Swansea now feature players from all over the world, but several Welshmen will be particularly inspired by Sunday's derby.

They include Wales captain Ashley Williams, back in the Swansea side following injury, and Cardiff's Craig Bellamy, who has just retired from international duty after making his 78th appearance for Wales in a 1-1 draw against Belgium this month.