MANCHESTER United are one foot into the Champions League final, thanks to John O’Shea’s solitary goal in the first-leg semi-final at Old Trafford early this morning.
But the victory comes at a price, as centreback Rio Ferdinand could be out for the rest of the season with a cracked rib, pending further tests.
This comes at a time where United’s backline is just looking more confident following its recent shakiness, notably in games where Sir Alex Ferguson had to rely on central defensive pairings other than the usual Ferdinand-Vidic axis.
United are currently leading Liverpool by three points, with a game in hand, but United have some tough opponents in their remaining five league matches – against Manchester City at home on 10 May, and a home game against Arsenal the following weekend.
Given how United looked so frail without Ferdinand and Vidic together in the heart of defence, and how Liverpool have come into form in March, will Ferdinand’s injury swing the fate of the Premiership race this season yet again?
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Rio’s injury will be come as fairly bad news to Ferguson. United has built their success on defence this season, and it will be a big blow if Ferdinand is to be out for the rest of the season.
The loss of their best defensive pairing has resulted in a shaky backline, as can be seen in past games. Although Evans emerged as a capable replacement this season, he is still young and inexperienced.
However, United has shown improvements upfront in their recent games. The Red Devils seem to have rediscovered the scoring touch they possessed last season. Even against Arsenal this morning, they strung up waves and waves of attack, and therefore credit to Almunia who put up an impressive display to keep the score at 1-0.
United will need to lose 2 of their 5 remaining games in order for Liverpool to snatch the title from under their nose. While there is no doubt about the importance of Rio, it is difficult to see that it will cause United 6 points in this final stage of the season. If United can keep up their scoring form, they should be able to secure the title.
Liverpool, on the other hand, will be heartened by the news. However, the Reds will be facing some tough opponents themselves in the likes of Tottenham and West Ham. The Hammers have had a good home form this season, and Spurs are on a great run until Howard Webb’s penalty decision that went against them.
I expect the Premiership crown to remain at Old Trafford this season. However, I believe it is in the Champions League where United will face a tougher task. With the big games coming, it remains to be seen whether Evans can live up to the occasion if needed.
Comment by Suen Chun Lung — April 30, 2009 @ 4:27 pm
We should know later today whether Rio will still play a part in this season’s campaign. There is no doubt he is a vital part of United’s team. Without him, Vidic seems like a man without a leg!
Let’s say (touch wood!) Rio is ruled out of the season, I think United will be a little bit more vulnerable at the back, no doubt about it.
That’s where the likes of Evans and the fit-again Brown need to stand up and be counted. I don’t think Rio or Brown will be fit to face Arsenal next Tuesday, so the job of marking Adebayor will be Evan’s.
I don’t really think United will lose the title now even if Rio is gonna be missed. The United squad are too experienced to throw it away with only 5 matches remaining. Evans is no mug! He is one of the six Young Player of the Year nominees and that shows his credential.
Although I can see United drop points along the way, I think it would not be enough for Liverpool to overtake them. They should drop points against Boro & Arsenal, but they should be too much for City, Wigan and Hull.
As for this morning’s clash, United thoroughly deserved to beat Arsenal. They should have won 3-0 or 4-0 and Arsenal would have no chance next week. But as things stand, it’s still only 1-0 and anything can still happen.
But it’s advantage United no doubt because they didn’t concede the dreaded “Away Goal”. If United were to score 1 at the Emirates, Arsenal would have to score 3., so Arsenal would have to be really tight at the back next week.
I can see the game being very open with both sides going for it. It should be fantastic stuff and a high-scoring game could be on the cards. I am tipping United to go through the tie and I think Barca will beat off the challenge of Chelsea. The Blues will live to regret they didn’t score an away goal to take back to the Bridge because Barca will surely, definitely, absolutely score in London.
What a final it would. United against Barca! Hopefully Rio will be there to face the Spaniards…
Comment by Loh Shengli, 24, Man United — April 30, 2009 @ 4:33 pm
I don’t give a horsecrap which of these two team wins. Most MU fans support them because they always win. Most Liverpool fans are swept off their feet by the Cinderella story of 2005.
Why I support Chelsea? It so happens that Cech, Carvalho, Mikel, Lampard, Joe Cole and Kalou are my favourite players in the world.
As for Rio Ferdinand, looks like he won’t be clubbing for a long time. But he’s rich. He can just hire a personal nurse and give him personal treatment personally.
If you ask me between MU and Liverpool who I would rather win. The answer is, ‘Do I look like I care?’.
Qyaerus-Syahrein, 27, Schoolgirl Killer
Comment by Alex Hart — April 30, 2009 @ 7:30 pm
To answer the question, Rio Ferdinand’s injury will not swing the premiership title race. Yes, his injury might worry Alex Ferguson, as Rio is an excellent reader of the game. With Vidic to battle aggressively for every high ball, Rio is always there to restore stability at the back. Thats why Vidic-Ferdinand partnership is one of the best in the premiership. However, I do not think that the title race may swing in favour of Liverpool because of the injury. Johnny Evans has stepped up during countless occasions in Rio’s absence due to his back problems and put in a good shift. With 5 games left, I can’t see Man Utd losing the title to Liverpool. Especially after that tremendous comeback against Tottenham; the win over Arsenal which could have easily been 4 to 5-0, they are playing well and as long as Rooney, Ronaldo stay fit, the goals will come. With the depth of the squad and relatively fit squad of Anderson, Scholes, Carrick, Fletcher, Park, Giggs, Ronaldo, Nani, Rooney, Berbatov, Tevez and Brown coming back from injury, I strongly believe that Man Utd will retain the Premier League Trophy this year. Glory Glory Man Utd!!
Jun Jie, 18, Man Utd Fan
Comment by Jun Jie — April 30, 2009 @ 9:15 pm
It’s already too late for the EPL trophy to go any direction other than Old Trafford now. Manchester United will definitely be affected badly by Ferdinand’s absence at this late stage of the season, but in the UEFA Champions League and not the Premier League. There’s no way Man Utd can throw it away at this point of the season with a fairly good lead over Liverpool and Chelsea.
Comment by Toh Zhi Hua — April 30, 2009 @ 10:52 pm
With or without Rio, United’s defence still look atrocious and erratic. They can defend well in this game but in the next they can go totally to sleep. Edwin Van Der Sar may want to consider immediate retirement cause he has been put in an awkward position many times and more than last season.
The pivotal point that decides whether United can retain their EPL and UCL title falls on their attack and the number of goals they can score in a match. The more the merrier.
Comment by Jack — May 1, 2009 @ 2:39 am
Oh yeah, most Chelsea fans started the band wagon thing back when Mr Russian Oil Billionaire took over, suddenly the band wagon became full of Chelsea fans. Even with so much money financially when he came, he literally bought his way to success considering that 500 million was spent within 3 years of his arrival. Erm any top 4 team could buy their way to success with that amount of money.
Now back to the Ferdinand issue, sure he makes a good partnership with Vidic but lets just say Man U’s attack is so strong that it compensates for its defence. As we all saw against Spurs, Ronaldo, Rooney, Tevez, Berbatov make one of the most formidable attacking forces in EPL and should man u’s defence be weak, there is always Carrick to play the “Makelele Role” and with the most experience coach in the world SAF, Man U season with a few games more will not be derailed. Should Liverpool somehow win the league at the end of the season, I would say it was Man U’s to lose and man u got careless – not that liverpool deserved it, though I myself am a liverpool fan. I do give credit to my rivals which I do hereby agree with Man U being the best EPL team in the last 2 decades. RESPECTZ!.
KC
Liverpool Fan
Comment by KC — May 1, 2009 @ 10:45 am
Test
Comment by Alex Hart — May 2, 2009 @ 3:41 pm