View From the Stretford End  - SHAYAK G

 [Shayak is a marketing professional, a keen watcher of football, a die hard MANU fan also loves to play football]

The weekend is here all you football fans. Another round of mouth-watering fixtures await us at the Barclays Premier League. It’s a feast for us football fans with weekend football matches being played all over Europe. So start rooting for your favourite team now, what are you waiting for.

Arsenal welcome Steve Bruce’s high-flying Sunderland at the Emirates Stadium. Sunderland are just 2 points off sixth placed Liverpool and are in the running for a Europa League spot. Arsenal have been in fine touch themselves, hammering 5 past Leyton Orient without  reply, with Danish international Nicklas Bendtner scoring a hattrick. We have a mouth-watering encounter in the offing to say the least.

Chelsea coming of a victory at the Bridge against table toppers Manchester United, a controversial victory, nonetheless have a relatively easier outing at Blackpool.  A win here would help the Blues close in on 3^rd placed Manchester City. Manchester City welcomes Wigan Athletic at the City of Manchester Stadium.  A string of inconsistent performances has seen Roberto Mancini’s side pick up just 8 points out of a possible 18, in the last 6 matches. The cash-rich outfit, has some serious selection issues with Mancini undecided on who to pick between in-form Carlos Tevez, eccentric Balotelli and Bosnian Dzeko ,whose not been bringing his A-game at premier league matches till date. Clearly, City are not going to benefit if the trio start all at once.

And lastly, the epic battle which football fans around the football globe have been waiting for is here. Fierce rivals Manchester United face Liverpool at Anfield on Super Sunday. Resurgent Liverpool have a point or two to prove after being undone by a superb Dimitar Berbatov hattrick at the reverse fixture at the Theatre of Dreams. Manchester United are well on their way to a record 19^th tittle under Sir Alex, which would eclipse 18 tittles of that famous Liverpool Team of the 80’S.

Manchester United will be coming off a dramatic loss at Stamford Bridge, where the surrendered an initial lead to finally lose that match in the dying moments of the game. A depleted back four will be a cause for worry for Sir Alex. Nmenja Vidic is out with a red card at the last game at the Bridge. Rio Ferdinand has still not recovered calf injury. Johnny Evans has been out for a while with ankle injury.Chris Smalling will partner Wes Brown at the center of defense.

Liverpool are going to miss Portuguese Raul Meireles who has been inspirational in the Mersysiders’ recent resurgence. Daniel Agger and Fabio Aurelio will be back for the Scoucers.The grossly over-rated former Newcastle United man,Andy Carroll could get his first game in the famous Red jersey,this Sunday.It’s gonna be a golden opportunity to justify his 35 million pound price tag,which is way over his usual value,one believes.

Whatever the teams are.when they step onto that Anfield pitch ,it is going to be a feisty affair,with every team giving it their all. Where the crowd eggs you on for that bone-crunching tackle,where every shot on goal is applauded by millions.Where every goal is celebrated with rapturous frenzy,Where tempers flare , where new heroes are applauded and losers incur the full wrath of the team faithful at the Anfield terraces. So,brace yourselves people.