Buzzin Football

In an enthralling weekend of Premier League football, results have heated up the competition for top-spot once again. Manchester United’s lead at the top has now diminished to a single point and although they are still firmly in pole position, Liverpool are snapping their heels.

It all began with Man Utd’s 2-0 loss at Fulham on Saturday. It was clear that the champions would have to show a lot of character to pick up points again, yet all they could demonstrate was a lack of cohesion and ill-disciple amidst frustration. Roy Hodgson set his tactics perfectly from the off; not content to sit back and defend, his team pressurised every Manchester United pass and made them pay for careless errors and their two red cards.

This certainly added spice to the delayed Tottenham-Chelsea Premiership fixture across London. Yet knowing they could gain ground on the red devils failed to inspire Chelsea enough to gain points away from home. The 1-0 loss was Guus Hiddink’s first defeat with the club and the Stamford bridge faithful will have a severe case of the blues having missed out on this opportunity.

Liverpool, however, showed no such mercy to a weak, weary Villa squad. 3-0 up before half time the Kop revelled in the Reds utter domination of Martin O’Neill’s Champion League hopefuls. All the omens look good for Liverpool: Steven Gerrard has hit scintillating form, Fernando Torres is purring once more and Pepe Reina is the most in-form goalkeeper in the Premier League.

A lot will be said about momentum over the coming week, and sure, Liverpool have this in abundance. Yet it would take a lot of courage to bet against the holders Manchester United. With a defence which has broken all kinds of records this season and an enviable attacking arsenal, Sir Alex Ferguson will surely be celebrating the title come May… if he can steady his ship through these stormy waters, that is.