With their comprehensive beating of Manchester United this weekend, I have heard from countless Liverpool fans in recent days regarding how the title race is now back on, their team is the best in Europe, etc. etc.

While they certainly LOOKED the part versus Manchester United - let's be realistic here.  Liverpool were as much ON their game as United were OFF of theirs.  Shocking performances in defence by Nemanja Vidic and Patrice Evra made United look not only ordinary, but VERY beatable.  Add to that the decision by Sir Alex Ferguson to have Anderson cover Steven Gerrard and it's pretty clear the manager made some poor decisions as well....Ji-Sung Park and Carlos Tevez starting just didn't make sense given the occasion.  Then again, I don't have a million trophies sitting in my trophy case so who the hell am I to judge, right?

I think one of the reasons Liverpool fans are so giddy the past two days is that they know the same truth that the rest of us do - they will screw this up again before United will.  Sitting four points up at the top - and 7pts if you factor in the game at hand - United have to lose as many games as they've lost all season to give Liverpool ANY kind of chance.

It won't happen.

And not because United are incapable of losing three games.  No, Liverpool will not win the title because they will drop more points in their last nine games to mediocre teams - as they have done all season.  And the chances of that happening are magnified TEN FOLD when you take either Torres or Gerrard out of the line-up.  Yes, I like Manchester United more than most of the other Premier League sides - but watching Torres and Gerrard at their best was simply magical.  I firmly believe Benitez when he says they'd be in a different position were EL NINO able to stay healthy.

Looking at Liverpool's finish - their toughest games will be at home (Villa, Arsenal, Tottenham) but the away games versus Fulham, Hull & West Ham have to be cause for concern.  Villa are a wounded animal right now and while we've been waiting for them to get back on track - Liverpool could provide the motivation O'Neill requires for his team.  Hull are not BACK, but they are playing better - and you can bet Gianfranco Zola will have West Ham ready.  And it is interesting to note that all three teams have already drawn Liverpool AT Anfield this season.

United don't have it so easy either - but the only teams to beat them this season are Liverpool and Arsenal.  They play Arsenal again May 16th - and a healthy Gunners could give United some problems - but that is the only true banana-skin left I think.  Tottenham and Villa could get draws - but beating United?  Long odds to be sure.

One thing will be interesting as we head into the last 9-rounds:  How will United respond to what happened this weekend?  We'll know when they play Fulham this weekend - and that might be the indicator of what lies ahead.

Jermaine Defoe's move BACK to Tottenham may not be that much of a surprise - but details of the negotiations for the move may raise an eyebrow or two.  Defoe - who is being sued by former agent Sky Andrew - worked with his mum Sandra in getting the move back to White Hart Lane.  You see, while being sued, he cannot secure new representation and so any move he wants to make has to be done BY him.  Could this be the reason for the supposed 'flu' he had over the weekend when Portsmouth played in the FA Cup?  Perhaps.  Death threats might be a more legitimate reason though.

The deal for Defoe makes him the most expensive England forward in history with his total transfer fees amounting to over 52m US.  He cost Portsmouth 13.4m US last year and has also had 1.6m US paid for his services by West Ham (from Charltonm) and then another 10m US paid when he went to Spurs.  And because of the money Pompey still owed Spurs in that deal (and the sell-on fee), the Londoners got him for what they sold him for - 13.4m US.  What Pompey owed (8.9m US) and the sell-on fee (5.9m US) were written off by Tottenham.

There could still be a slight hitch in the deal - rule L19 of the Premier League board states no player can return to a selling club within a year of the sale.  Sources say though that the rule was put in place to stop clubs from abusing the loan system and it is not expected to cause a problem.

Having not played in a Cup match this season - Defoe is available for the club's Carling Cup 2nd legger versus Burnley on the 21st and the rest of their FA Cup journey (another reason for the flu Saturday - to avoid being Cup tied?) - they play Manchester United in the FA Cup 4th round at the end of the month.

"Harry Houdini" does it again....

In coordination with this weeks TOTW question - it's certainly worth a discussion about how Manchester City are performing as of late.  The question I really have is - is it too late for Hughes to set things right?

A number of articles int he UK are saying he is fighting against a group of three influential players who are leading a mutiny against him in the dressing room (Jo, Elano & Tal Ben Haim) and based on the way the team played versus Nottingham Forest, it's a battle Hughes appears to be losing.  He's trying to get Ben Haim shipped out in the Santa Cruz deal but Jo and Elano might be tougher - though Elano seems to think Lazio are coming in for him right away.  It's interesting to note that Ben Haim was the first player Hughes brought in when he arrived - but obviously the player is not into the manager's strict style.

This situation also begs the question - if Hughes knew the frailties of his squad when he took over in June, why has it taken him THIS long to address them?  This is essentially his 2nd transfer window (1st with an unlimited budget) - yet the squad still have the same problems as when he came in. 

I gave my answer to the TOTW question on the Monday show - I'd have walked away.  Sure you have an unlimited budget but you are under immense pressure to get results, you have a large portion of the team that essentially hates you (Dunne, Vassell, Robinho also not fans) and a frustrating set of purchases ahead that will be made under inflated pricing based on your ownership's wealth - not to mention media types like me questioning the fact he's now made Wayne Bridge the highest paid defender in England (145k US per week!!).

I used to be of the mind that Hughes was just going to bide his time and wait for Sir Alex to retire and then take his rightful place along the touchline at Old Trafford....Now, I know that won't ever happen.  And at the rate he's going - he could be the next Sam Allardyce.....Lots of promise, but you end up managing a team like Blackburn.....Oh wait...He's done that already....

Your thoughts?

Ok - a day behind this week due to - well, being rather busy (ie: away for the weekend).
No shortage of stuff to address though so let's stop wasting time shall we?

Maybe it was the 'Topic of the Week' but right after we discuss the Arsene Wenger situation at Arsenal, the Gunners go and get blanked by Aston Villa.  I don't know about you, but I can't figure this team out.  One minute they look brilliant and the next - well, they look like shite.  Full credit to Aston Villa though - they continue to show that they DO have the talent to be a top-four side.  It's beating the little teams - the teams they SHOULD beat - that seems to hamper their progress.  Same goes for Arsenal *cough* Stoke City *cough*.

Speaking of Stoke - how about that beating they took at Old Trafford this weekend?  A good article in one of the English papers said it best - the way to beat Stoke is to score early and get them to come out and play.  Then just pick them off - which is what United did.  Cristiano Ronaldo bagging his 100th for the club.  Here's hoping he's got another 100 coming in a United uniform!  Not to take anything away from the other nominees for the Ballon D'Or - but I don't see any of them beating Ronaldo this year.

New York Red Bulls and Columbus Crew will face off for the MLS Cup (Yes!  It finally IS a Cup!!) this coming Sunday in Carson, CA.  Congrats to both sides for getting there.  Having been to Columbus a few times (and NY too!), I have to say I like the Crew to win.  Last season they came this close (thumb and forefinger within a millimeter) to axing coach Sigi Schmid and thank goodness they didn't!  Schmid told me at the end of last season the team was not that far from being a challenger - and I'm glad to see he was right!  And how about Red Bulls?  One road win all regular season and they rattle off two to get to the Final!  And if they win it in LA, I'm sure some of those players will hoist that Cup nice and high for Galaxy boss (and former NY coach) Bruce Arena to see.  Should be a good match!

We'll also get to hear about Expansion soon enough.  Not that I really want to.  I'm one of the guys that believes MLS is growing way too fast.  Maybe it's the Canadian in me having watched the NHL balloon quickly and then lose me as a fan with a diluted talent pool.  Smarter guys than me though are making these decisions and while we give them the benefit of the doubt, I just hope they are taking into consideration that there IS a tipping point - and they are getting VERY close to it.

The NCAA College Soccer season is winding down - and while everyone is focused on what's going on in Division I, I want to send out some kudos to a good friend of mine in Division III.  Greg Holker is the coach of the Augsburg College Auggies and for the first time in the school's history, Holker has taken the team into the NCAA tournament!  Sure, it's not a unique story but having come to know Greg, I know it wasn't easy.  He took a program with a horrid track record and has turned them into a winner.  He's one of the most dedicated coaches I know and no matter how the season ends for the Auggies, they have every reason to be proud of themselves.  They play Loras College in Dubuque, IA this weekend - should be a good game!

And finally this week - some of you may have heard through the grapevine (and Big Soccer) that FSR is losing Mitch Peacock at the end of this month.  Mitch has decided to take a position with the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation station here in Winnipeg as their supper sports anchor.  The good news for Canadian footie fans is that Mitch will continue to do sideline reporting for the CBC during Toronto FC matches next season.  I know deciding to go wasn't an easy decision for Mitch but we here at FSR wish him all the best and are genuinely happy for him and his family.  Having known Mitch since we were in college together, I can say he is a top-notch journalist and a top-notch individual.  There are very few people more knowledgeable about what's going on in the game than Mitch.  It's my belief that the best compliment a person can receive is that they've made the people around them better - and Mitch has certainly done that here at FSR.  He will be missed.

That's all for now - talk at ya next week!  And as usual, your comments are welcome and appreciated.

As always - lots of good stuff from the weekend to discuss....Or for me to discuss I guess.  The blog is apparently deserted these days - not a shock considering the economic climate and people's financial concerns.

First a kudos to all the American readers out there.  In electing Barack Obama you have restored the faith of the world that the United States' days as a tyrant are at an end.  It's going to be a tough four years ahead as you try to recover from the Bush years - but we (the rest of the world whom I now speak for) are hopeful you can make a speedy recovery.  And we will try to help in any way we can.  An historic moment in your history to be sure.

On to the footie....

An alarming trend is developing in Italy with footballers dying from a Motor Neuron Disease (ALS) - the same disease Stephen Hawking suffers from.  Since 1973, 41 former players have died and doctors are baffled as to what is causing it - since no trends appear in other leagues.  Some think the disease might be linked to pesticides used at Italian stadiums.  Others say it could be doping or physical injuries from tackles or heading the ball - but again, no trends have appeared in other leagues from the physicality of the sport leading me to favor the pesticide theory.  But what the hell do I know....Hopefully they get a handle on it.  Italian players have suggested donating 1% of their salaries to finance research which is a GREAT idea.

Joey Barton is getting sued for scarring the teenager he attacked outside a McDo's a year ago.  Jailbird Barton served 74-days for the attack and now 17-year old Jordan Spencer wants more than the 5k a court has awarded him.  Spencer says he's been left with a scar on his face.  Hopefully Spence can get to the bucks before Barton goes back into the clink - and you know he will.  Oh he's being a good boy these days but we're slowly seeing the re-emergence of the Joey we all know and hate.  He says he wants to be a 'role model'....I agree with Bobby who last week added a pa- in front of the word 'role' when we chatted about it.

This week's TOPIC question has to do with the relieving of the pressure on one Arsene Wenger.  Was Wenger REALLY feeling any heat though?  There isn't a manager around that believes in himself or his system more than Wenger.  I'm a Manchester United fan but not for one second did I think United would handle the Gunners last weekend - Wenger is way too sharp.  And when Nasri ripped in that second - I was chapped but what a great goal.  Arsenal unlocked United to perfection and I don't know if any other manager has more faith in his team (and vice versa) than Wenger.  What do you think?  Hit up TOTW.

Foreshadowing to next week's Topic - How much longer will Roy Keane last at Sunderland?  Am I the only one that gets the feeling Keane is ready to pull a KK and walk?  Three wins in 12-games, lots of money spent, stalled contract talks and now another fight with slippery Jack Warner over Kenwyne Jones coming up makes me think Keane has just about had it.  He's also going at the pundits now too and that's never a good sign.

Foul-mouth Joe was at it again after Newcastle lost to Fulham Sunday.  Kinnear calling Martin Atkinson a 'Mickey Mouse' referee.  The FA are reviewing his comments.  I was hoping for more 'F-bombs' myself after listening to his rant at the media when he first came in.  If you haven't heard it by the way - look it up - it was GOLD.

Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson is boycotting Sky TV after former Liverpool manager Phil Thompson and Arsenal's Paul Merson criticized Wayne Rooney for kissing his badge at the Everton match.  Thompson said Rooney should have been red carded for the gesture and Merson said he could have been sent off against Hull as well.  Ferguson is already boycotting the BBC for their 'Father & Son' documentary in 2004 that alleged he put pressure on youngsters to sign with his agent son Jason.  No word on how long Fergie's boycott will last.  It sure makes the Prem less interesting when Fergie won't speak.

That's it for now - see ya next week!