Season Defining Weekend

Easter weekend 2008 will be a season defining one for many, especially if they follow football and in particular the English Premier League. Sunday has an exciting menu on the football pitch. Manchester United, the league leaders entertain fourth placed Liverpool while Arsenal go South across town to face Chelsea at the bridge. Chelsea and Arsenal are the only two teams who are yet to lose a home game this season. Whilst both of them have conceded 22 goals so far this season, Arsenal have scored 5 more than Chelsea's tally of 53. Also Arsenal's away record this season has been pretty dismal compared to the other big three. The gunners, along with Liverpool have won 7 out of 14 games, which is a 50% win rate against United's 9/15 at 60%, Chelsea's 10/16 at 62.5%. It will be worth waiting to see what happens to the United-Liverpool game early on as it is likely to have an impact on the starting eleven of both sides.

When Liverpool travel to Old Trafford, they will have their task cut out; secure three points! Now how difficult is that? Old Trafford has never been an easy venue when you are visiting. Packed to capacity with 70,000 passionate United supporters with an inbred dissent towards Liverpool, Old Trafford will witness once again the fortunes of another season being manipulated. Clashes between United and Liverpool have always been ugly and it will be nasty, brutal, highly physical and volatile, end-to-end football. Goal or no goal, this is one clash I am looking forward to. Benitez has already shown his disapproval of Sir Alex's psychotrics and mind games. The all important question that we need to ask is how will the referees react to the Scot's demands of protecting Ronaldo. There is already a lot that has been said about it and Ronaldo is also has the reputation of being a diver.

Now for the possible outcomes and how the top four will look.

United win and Arsenal win
1. United with 73 points
2. Arsenal with 70 points
3. Chelsea with 65 points
4. Liverpool with 59 points

United win and Arsenal lose
1. United with 73 points
2. Chelsea with 68 points
3. Arsenal with 67 points
4. Liverpool with 59 points

United win and a draw
1. United with 73 points
2. Arsenal with 68 points
3. Chelsea with 66 points
4. Liverpool with 59 points

United lose and Arsenal lose
1. United with 70 points
2. Chelsea with 68 points
3. Arsenal with 67 points
4. Liverpool with 62 points

United lose and Arsenal win
1. United with 70 points
2. Arsenal with 70 points
3. Chelsea with 65 points
4. Liverpool with 62 points

United lose and draw
1.United with 70 points
2. Arsenal with 68 points
3. Chelsea with 66 points
4. Liverpool with 62 points

Draw and Arsenal win
1. United with 71 points
2. Arsenal with 70 points
3. Chelsea with 65 points
4. Liverpool with 60 points

Draw and Arsenal lose
1. United with 71 points
2. Chelsea with 68 points
3. Arsenal with 67 points
4. Liverpool with 60 points

Draw and draw
1. United with 71 points
2. Arsenal with 68 points
3. Chelsea with 66 points
4. Liverpool with 60 points

Now the only result that will change the top four positions is a victory for Chelsea. If United win, result of the Arsenal Chelsea game will not matter because, either way United will be five points clear. Now having said this, the outcome of Sunday's game will not remove United from top spot, but it will do enough to make their position precarious. Why? This is why.

After Easter's fixtures, United host Villa, travel to Middlesborough, host Arsenal, travel to Blackburn and Chelsea and host West Ham before finishing the season at Wigan. I can easily see three defeats if they get complacent. Yes, Arsenal, Chelsea and West Ham have the potential and the hammers did it twice last season! In recent times, this is by far, the closest season I have witnessed in the premiership.