Liverpool's Fernando Torres has some way to go before he can even shine Marco van Basten's boots, says Eugene YS Han.
HEROES
MANCHESTER UNITED
The pressure was very much on Manchester United after Liverpool won in their lunch-time kick-off but the champions responded yet again. It was the second time in two weeks that United had to win to retake top spot. And win they did. And they did it the hard way, again. Sunderland, with Djbril Cisse and Kenwyne Jones, were proving a handful for the United defence. Sir Alex Ferguson bravely picked Ben Foster between the sticks and again chose to give Federico Macheda a chance on the bench. It was not all about the new faces in the team though. Paul Scholes reminded everyone why he will always be a threat in the box with a deft header to give United the lead. The 34-year-old may not be attracting the plaudits he deserves - he doesn't want it anyway - but his contribution to the team is right up there with the best.
LIVERPOOL
On an emotional day at Anfield, Liverpool did not disappoint their home fans. The Reds were also eager to purge the dismal Chelsea defeat in the Champions League out of their system. The victory over Blackburn helped ease some of that pain. Almost everyone - apart from the shaky Pepe Reina - played their part. Javier Mascherano's display was inspiring and showed how much Liverpool missed him in the Chelsea defeat while Xabi Alonso controlled the midfield by keeping it simple. Dirk Kuyt has not been playing as a striker as much as he would like these days but his selfless running opened up spaces for the others to exploit. So dominant were Liverpool that there could have been more than four goals. As a result, Liverpool kept up the pressure on leaders Man United in the title race. Although the Merseysiders are running out of games to overtake United, at least they are making sure the defending champions know they are earning the title the hard way.
FERNANDO TORRES
Just like Marco van Basten? Not quite, but Fernando Torres is almost there. Like the ever-cautious manager he is, Rafael Benitez tried to play down comparisons between the great Dutch striker and Torres, insisting there is still room for improvement for the latter. Rafa is right about Torres being the unfinished article as the Spaniard keeps on doing the unexpected. His first goal against Rovers demonstrated he can shoot from distance while his second showed how he can be physical when he wants to. Right now, he is one of the hottest strikers in Europe.
MIDDLESBROUGH
Middlesbrough are not out of trouble yet but this win over Hull will go some way in lifting any sagging spirits that is needed in their relegation fight. Tuncay Sanli played a big part in their win by scoring the crucial opening goal while Marlon King scored the killer third goal to help Boro win 3-1. It was a sweet moment for King who had fallen out with Hull manager Phil Brown and also gone through some personal troubles. King had also scored an injury-time equaliser against Portsmouth just a month ago at the Riverside. That game was marred by the home fans jeering their own team which prompted Gareth Southgate to defend his players. These fans, I am sure, are cheering now.
BOLTON
To score three goals away at Stamford Bridge and still lose is really, really unlucky. 4-0 down after 60 minutes, Bolton scored three times in 11 minutes through Andy O'Brien, Chris Basham and Matt Taylor to give the Blues an almighty scare. Had Deco not cleared a last-minute effort from Gary Cahill, Bolton could have escaped with a point and dealt a blow to the Blues' slim title hopes. Liverpool and Rafael Benitez will be watching the recordings of this game with great interest.
IN REMEMBRANCE
April 15, 1989 - remembering Hillsborough 96.
ZEROES
ASTON VILLA
The win-less run in the league continues for Aston Villa. Out of all Cup competitions, including the UEFA Cup which Martin O'Neill had forsaken for the league, Villa again failed to match Arsenal's result this weekend. To make matters worse for Villa, top-scorer Gabriel Agbonlahor could be out for weeks after he suffered a hamstring injury. At least, they managed to avoid another defeat and not cede fifth place to an improving Everton side. The Toffees are just one point behind Villa with six more games to play and they look stronger in the run-in. Villa Park used to be a fortress for Martin O'Neill's side but they have only recorded five wins in 16 home games this season. Villa may have enjoyed a great first-half of the season, but they are looking very flat for the second.
MANCHESTER CITY
Mark Hughes could have gotten away with dropping Robinho to the bench if Manchester City had beaten Fulham. But instead he was left with eggs on his face after a 3-1 defeat that left some supporters baying for the City manager's blood. It begs the question: how long can Hughes hold on to his job? City's abundance of talent at Hughes' disposal can't be denied but it seems he is not able to bring the best out of the individual players - especially Robinho in away games. City do have a slim hope of silverware in the UEFA Cup but they have to make up a 3-1 deficit to Martin Jol's Hamburg in the quarter-finals this Thursday. For weeks, Jol has been campaigning for a return to the Premier League, what odds then for the former Tottenham manager to take over the reins at City?
BIG SAM
Sam Allardyce and Rafael Benitez have never gotten along ever since the Spaniard's arrival to England. Ahead of their clash at Anfield, Big Sam tried to get under skin by saying the Liverpool manager loves 'whingeing and moaning'. And Benitez's response was to let his team, sans Steven Gerrard, do the talking - on the pitch. After a 4-0 result, Big Sam tried to smooth matters by saying Liverpool can challenge for the title. Well at least Big Sam knows when to talk big and when to talk sense.
HEROES
MANCHESTER UNITED
The pressure was very much on Manchester United after Liverpool won in their lunch-time kick-off but the champions responded yet again. It was the second time in two weeks that United had to win to retake top spot. And win they did. And they did it the hard way, again. Sunderland, with Djbril Cisse and Kenwyne Jones, were proving a handful for the United defence. Sir Alex Ferguson bravely picked Ben Foster between the sticks and again chose to give Federico Macheda a chance on the bench. It was not all about the new faces in the team though. Paul Scholes reminded everyone why he will always be a threat in the box with a deft header to give United the lead. The 34-year-old may not be attracting the plaudits he deserves - he doesn't want it anyway - but his contribution to the team is right up there with the best.
LIVERPOOL
On an emotional day at Anfield, Liverpool did not disappoint their home fans. The Reds were also eager to purge the dismal Chelsea defeat in the Champions League out of their system. The victory over Blackburn helped ease some of that pain. Almost everyone - apart from the shaky Pepe Reina - played their part. Javier Mascherano's display was inspiring and showed how much Liverpool missed him in the Chelsea defeat while Xabi Alonso controlled the midfield by keeping it simple. Dirk Kuyt has not been playing as a striker as much as he would like these days but his selfless running opened up spaces for the others to exploit. So dominant were Liverpool that there could have been more than four goals. As a result, Liverpool kept up the pressure on leaders Man United in the title race. Although the Merseysiders are running out of games to overtake United, at least they are making sure the defending champions know they are earning the title the hard way.
FERNANDO TORRES
Just like Marco van Basten? Not quite, but Fernando Torres is almost there. Like the ever-cautious manager he is, Rafael Benitez tried to play down comparisons between the great Dutch striker and Torres, insisting there is still room for improvement for the latter. Rafa is right about Torres being the unfinished article as the Spaniard keeps on doing the unexpected. His first goal against Rovers demonstrated he can shoot from distance while his second showed how he can be physical when he wants to. Right now, he is one of the hottest strikers in Europe.
MIDDLESBROUGH
Middlesbrough are not out of trouble yet but this win over Hull will go some way in lifting any sagging spirits that is needed in their relegation fight. Tuncay Sanli played a big part in their win by scoring the crucial opening goal while Marlon King scored the killer third goal to help Boro win 3-1. It was a sweet moment for King who had fallen out with Hull manager Phil Brown and also gone through some personal troubles. King had also scored an injury-time equaliser against Portsmouth just a month ago at the Riverside. That game was marred by the home fans jeering their own team which prompted Gareth Southgate to defend his players. These fans, I am sure, are cheering now.
BOLTON
To score three goals away at Stamford Bridge and still lose is really, really unlucky. 4-0 down after 60 minutes, Bolton scored three times in 11 minutes through Andy O'Brien, Chris Basham and Matt Taylor to give the Blues an almighty scare. Had Deco not cleared a last-minute effort from Gary Cahill, Bolton could have escaped with a point and dealt a blow to the Blues' slim title hopes. Liverpool and Rafael Benitez will be watching the recordings of this game with great interest.
IN REMEMBRANCE
April 15, 1989 - remembering Hillsborough 96.
ZEROES
ASTON VILLA
The win-less run in the league continues for Aston Villa. Out of all Cup competitions, including the UEFA Cup which Martin O'Neill had forsaken for the league, Villa again failed to match Arsenal's result this weekend. To make matters worse for Villa, top-scorer Gabriel Agbonlahor could be out for weeks after he suffered a hamstring injury. At least, they managed to avoid another defeat and not cede fifth place to an improving Everton side. The Toffees are just one point behind Villa with six more games to play and they look stronger in the run-in. Villa Park used to be a fortress for Martin O'Neill's side but they have only recorded five wins in 16 home games this season. Villa may have enjoyed a great first-half of the season, but they are looking very flat for the second.
MANCHESTER CITY
Mark Hughes could have gotten away with dropping Robinho to the bench if Manchester City had beaten Fulham. But instead he was left with eggs on his face after a 3-1 defeat that left some supporters baying for the City manager's blood. It begs the question: how long can Hughes hold on to his job? City's abundance of talent at Hughes' disposal can't be denied but it seems he is not able to bring the best out of the individual players - especially Robinho in away games. City do have a slim hope of silverware in the UEFA Cup but they have to make up a 3-1 deficit to Martin Jol's Hamburg in the quarter-finals this Thursday. For weeks, Jol has been campaigning for a return to the Premier League, what odds then for the former Tottenham manager to take over the reins at City?
BIG SAM
Sam Allardyce and Rafael Benitez have never gotten along ever since the Spaniard's arrival to England. Ahead of their clash at Anfield, Big Sam tried to get under skin by saying the Liverpool manager loves 'whingeing and moaning'. And Benitez's response was to let his team, sans Steven Gerrard, do the talking - on the pitch. After a 4-0 result, Big Sam tried to smooth matters by saying Liverpool can challenge for the title. Well at least Big Sam knows when to talk big and when to talk sense.
(Note: This article has been taken from espnstar.com)
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