SOCCER:STEVEN GERRARD'S FA Cup derby equaliser for Liverpool yesterday may have unwittingly handed Manchester United a problem. United are without 12 senior players for tonight's Premier League trip to West Brom, leaving Alex Ferguson to pick through his squad for a team of fit players.
Ferguson was hoping the situation might have eased in time for United’s next league game against Everton – with both Rio Ferdinand and Wes Brown tipped to be available after long-standing back and ankle problems respectively and Park Ji-sung on the brink of a comeback from a minor hamstring complaint.
But the Old Trafford encounter with David Moyes’ men will now be played 48 hours ahead of schedule – moving forward to Saturday January 31st from Monday February 2nd to clear the way for Everton’s FA Cup replay with Liverpool on February 4th.
It robs Ferdinand, Brown and Park, or anyone else among United’s walking wounded who might have had a chance of returning against Everton, of two extra days’ preparation.
The late change is part of a confusing February fixture list for United. Their remaining outstanding game against Fulham – originally postponed in August because of United’s presence in the European Super Cup – has been pencilled in for February 17th. But that will be dependent on neither side requiring a fifth-round replay.
In addition, United’s home match against Portsmouth on February 28th has been postponed because of their appearance in the League Cup Final the following day.
United may be struggling badly with injuries, but Ryan Giggs confirms they have no intention of giving up their position at the top of the Premier League. Amazingly, having returned from the Club World Cup in Japan seven points adrift of Liverpool, United are now ahead of their arch rivals on goal difference – with a game in hand.
It is a situation even Ferguson did not expect – and with the Old Trafford fixture against Everton brought forward 48 hours to Saturday teatime, a day before Rafael Benitez’s men tackle Chelsea, few will be shocked if United are not headed for the rest of the campaign as they look to complete a title hat-trick.
As a veteran of all 10 previous Premier League championships, Giggs is aware life is seldom so straightforward. But the former Wales captain is adamant United will be clinging on to top spot with all their might.
“Once you hit the front, you want to stay there,” he said. “We always try to be somewhere near at Christmas. If there are one or two points between the top two or three it is whoever goes into the last few weeks in form.
“But we know what the run-in is like, and there is no doubt we want the others chasing us rather than the other way round.”
For Giggs, finishing top again would have special significance – because it would give him an 11th title, matching the number on his shirt that has been worn with such distinction for almost two decades.
Confirmation that Ferguson will offer him another year at the highest level was no shock – and while most pundits expect next season to be Giggs’ last, the 35-year-old may still have an impact in 2011.
“I don’t really think of it in these terms. But yes, it would definitely be nice to get 11,” he agrees.
A visit to West Brom tonight has turned out to be an important trip as United look to take the next step towards an unprecedented quadruple, or quintet – if the world championship triumph in Japan is taken into account.
Given they will be without a dozen senior men, including five defenders, it promises to be a stern test of United’s resolve.
Darren Fletcher is expected to start at right-back, with Giggs handed one of the midfield berths as Ferguson looks to inject an element of freshness into his team following the weekend FA Cup win over Tottenham.
Luke Young last night said Aston Villa will be genuine title contenders if they can remain within three points of the Premier League leaders at the beginning of March.
That is the gap between Villa and Manchester United before tonight’s trip to Portsmouth, where Martin O’Neill’s side go in search of a sixth successive away win in the league to maintain their primary objective of securing a top-four finish.
“We haven’t really spoken about [the title] but when you are three points off the top of the league you have put yourself in a great position,” said Young, who returns to the Villa side after serving a one-match suspension.
“If we can get to March and still be in the same situation then we will be thinking ‘Why not?’”
Young predicts Emile Heskey, who is expected to make his debut tonight, can “thrive” at Villa following his signing from Wigan.
Ricardo Fuller, meanwhile, is expected to return to the Stoke City side at White Hart Lane tonight for the first time since he slapped his team-mate Andy Griffin at Upton Park a month ago leading to his second-half dismissal.
