Mar

Merseyside ding-dong to go all the way to the wire

By Graham Clifford on March 1, 2008 11:11 AM | Permalink

PREMIERSHIP FOOTBALL

When fans on the blue side of Liverpool look at the Premiership table this morning broad smiles will come to their faces.

David Moye's side sit in the fourth Champions League position three points ahead of bitter rivals and neighbours Liverpool.

Despite this though Liverpool have a game in hand and manager Rafa Benitez says he's still confident that it will be they who take that crucial fourth place finish.

This weekend Everton entertain Portsmouth at Goodison Park in whats sure to be a real test for the Toffeemen.

When Portsmouth and Everton met at Fratton Park in December it ended goaless and Steven Gerrard and company would be more than happy with a similar scoreline on Sunday.

The introduction of burly striker Yakubu Aiyegbeni (Pictured above with Steven Gerrard) from Middlesboro has re-invigorated Everton's attack force with the big Nigerian hitting 10 league goals already this season.

All eyes will be on Anfield at the end of the month when Liverpool entertain Moyes' men on the 30th in whats sure to be a game packed with drama with a hell of a lot at stake.

Failure to qualify for Champions League football would simply be a disaster for Liverpool and with concern surrounding the dedication of the current owners alarm bells would be ringing upstairs at Anfield.

Of course Liverpool did qualify for the Champions League in 2005/6 despite finsihing in fifth, a place behind Everton the season before. Spaniard Rafael Benitez will be keeping his fingers crossed that his side will not have to repeat the same feat this year to secure Champions League football in 2008/9.

This weekend the Reds are away to Bolton at the Reebok Stadium knowing that anything other than victory could see them fall to as low as 7th.

With Fernando Torres in exceptional form though Liverpool should be more than capable of picking up all three points against the Wanderers.

In their last meeting in the Premiership Liverpool ran riot at Anfield winning 4-0 with goals from Hyypia, Torres, Gerard and Babel.

Of course both Liverpool and Everton could miss out on fourth place with the likes of Aston Villa, Portsmouth, Manchester City and Blackburn Rovers all still very much in contention.

Aston Villa in particular have been impressive lately but today face Arsenal in a game which will really test their quality.

Merseyside ding-dong to go all the way to the wire

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