Should Torres consider moving to United?

SIR ALEX Ferguson is planning an audacious bid on Liverpool’s Fernando Torres, reports the Sunday Express (see full story here).

Let’s just take a brief look at the advantages of both options:

STAYING AT LIVERPOOL

– The Reds have become a force to be reckoned with under Rafa Benitez, and have pushed United all the way to the title.

– Torres has struck a great understanding with Steven Gerrard

– The Spanish connection at Anfield

MOVING TO UNITED

– Burden of scoring is more spread out than Liverpool

– Better recent track record at winning titles

Even if it turns out to be mere speculation, it does raise an interesting topic – if given a chance, should the Spanish hitman consider moving south to the red half of Manchester?

Question of the Weekend (Is Gerrard deserving of award?)

Hi all,

THE POSTMAN’S QUESTION OF THE WEEKEND: Does Steven Gerrard deserve to be the football writers’ Player of the Year? Or should someone else have won it?

How to disrespect Gerrard and get away with it

THROUGHOUT his career, Liverpool’s Steven Gerrard has been known as a midfield dynamo who is not one to shy away from challenges.

You can hardly get away with disrespecting the newly-crowned football writers’ Player of the Year without being shown up by the Huyton native…not unless you’re just a little boy.

Check out this little Chelsea fan who had the cheek to turn his nose on the Liverpool captain in the players’ tunnel before the game between Chelsea and Liverpool. Hilarious.

Does Giggs deserve the PFA Player of the Year award this season?

VETERAN Manchester United player Ryan Giggs won the PFA Player of the Year award last night (Singapore time), one of the few awards that the Welshman had not won in his glittering career.

The 35-year-old beat United teammates Nemanja Vidic, Rio Ferdinand, Cristiano Ronaldo and Edwin van der Sar, as well as Liverpool’s Steven Gerrard to the award, adding to his two PFA young player awards among other team accolades.

While few will argue that the United vice-captain deserves some form of recognition for his achievements – he has 10 league titles to his name, and has won 4 FA Cups, 3 League Cups and the Champions League twice in his 17-year United career – but does Giggs deserve the award this season?

Reds vs Blues – the English version

THE question on the lips of most football fans by now is if Liverpool can mount another legendary comeback against Chelsea in the Champions League at Stamford Bridge tomorrow morning.

Bearing in mind Liverpool’s poor record against Chelsea (they have never scored more than two goals against the Blues in recent seasons), and the fact that Chelsea are playing at home, there is still widespread optimism that Liverpool can overcome these extraordinary circumstances to advance to the semi-finals.

But who can fault the optimism? After all, several factors do work in Liverpool’s favour – the Miracle of Istanbul, the memory of Hillsborough, and – not least – the fact that Chelsea conceded three goals in eight minutes against Bolton over the weekend.

If you were Rafa Benitez, what would be your line-up and strategy to beat Chelsea by three goals?

Or if you prefer to in Guus Hiddink’s shoes: what would be your strategy to shackle Liverpool, bearing in mind that Liverpool will probably find ways to circumvent Michael Essien’s shackling of Steven Gerrard?

What went wrong with Liverpool this morning?

FOR A team that has been riding high since the 4-0 mauling of Real Madrid in the Champions League last month, Liverpool’s stunning run was brought to an end early this morning with a 3-1 defeat by Chelsea at Anfield.

The Reds started brightly enough though, taking the lead in the 4th minute through Fernando Torres, but it soon fell apart soon enough.

What do you think was the main cause of Liverpool’s defeat? Was it the effective shackling of Steven Gerrard by Michael Essien, or was it the ineffective zonal marking when Liverpool defended its corners? Or maybe it was a poor performance for Lucas, who was deputising for the suspended Javier Mascherano?

On a side note, it could just be me, but Liverpool suffered another blip in their form after flying high in the previous games, straight after Rafa Benitez made comments about Sir Alex Ferguson.

In January, it was about Fergie’s influence on referees and the fixtures list, and recently it was about Fergie being scared stiff by a resurgent Liverpool. Quite a coincidence, isn’t it?

Does Michael Owen fit in the current England set-up?

Michael Owen: fit, but a good fit for England? (Picture: AP)

FRANK Lampard has pledged his support for Michael Owen, after the Newcastle man was not called up by England manager Fabio Capello following the injuries of strikers Emile Heskey and Carlton Cole.

Owen, who scored 40 goals in 89 internationals, has been ignored in favour of Darren Bent, who will have a chance to lead England’s front line against Ukraine on Thursday morning (Singapore time).

Is it just a matter of fitness and form that Owen is not selected, or does the former Liverpool man even fit into the Capello’s preferred strategies and formations?

Who is your EPL Player of the Year?

THE 08/09 Premiership season is coming into its final stretch and talk is hot on who might be crowned the PFA Player of the Year at the end of the season.

Unlike last season, where Cristiano Ronaldo and Fernando Torres were clear cut choices with their blazing performances, not one player seems to have set the league ablaze this season with his brilliance and consistency.

Ronaldo has been a pale shadow of his previous season’s form, while Torres’ sophomore season has been wrecked with injuries, even though he remains brilliant when he is fit.

Other than perennial favourite Steven Gerrard, players such as Manchester United’s Nemanja Vidic’s name has popped up several times in recent times, while PA Sport’s Frank Malley argued his case for Ryan Giggs in today’s edition of The New Paper.

Who do you think deserves the accolade?

What’s the secret behind Liverpool’s superb March form?

(Picture: AP)

FOLLOWING an abysmal first two months of 2009, where they surrendered the Premiership lead to Manchester United, Liverpool have seemingly hit top gear this month, scoring 15 goals against four opponents in all competitions, including the likes of Real Madrid and United.

Thanks to their current form, the Reds have now inched within sight of United, and have a better goal difference than the defending champions.

After a string of poor performances in the preceding months, the Merseyside club are playing like champions of late, especially in last night’s mauling of Aston Villa, where captain Steven Gerrard scored his first Premier League hat trick.

What is the secret behind Liverpool’s superb March form?

THE POSTMAN LIM SAY HENG says: Okay I admit, I was way off the mark when I said last week that Liverpool would be the first to crack, in fact it was the opposite – United and Chelsea lost their matches while Liverpool marched on.

And while some of you guys out there will point to the return of Fernando Torres or Gerrard’s influence for Liverpool’s return to form, I am going with Pepe Reina instead.

Should Rafa risk playing Gerrard tomorrow morning?

CAPTAIN Steven Gerrard has been included in the squad that will face Real Madrid in the Champions League tomorrow morning (Singapore time), raising the possibility that the inspirational midifielder will take the field for the first time in three weeks since injuring his hamstring.

Should Rafa risk playing Gerrard, who has an impressing scoring record in Europe but has yet to complete a full training session since his return from injury?

THE POSTMAN LIM SAY HENG says: Knowing Benitez’s emphasis on the Champions League, Gerrard will probably play some part of tomorrow morning’s tie, but it might not be the best option, given the state of Liverpool’s domestic challenge.