FIVE REASONS WHY TITLE IS
LIVERPOOL'S
1 RAFA BENITEZ
Nobody plots individual matches better than Rafa but eight games in
two months will allow the Spaniard to show he knows how to manage a
season. Benitez has won a title from the big guns before, when
Valencia pipped Barcelona and Real Madrid to lift La Liga.
2 STEVEN GERRARD & JAMIE CARRAGHER
The side's heart and soul - they know just how much it would mean
to end that 19-year wait for the title. Gerrard has been an
inspiration all season, while Carragher epitomises Scouse
conviction and passion.
3 FERNANDO TORRES
The Spaniard has had an injuryscarred campaign but his movement
remains magical. He's come on in leaps and bounds from the man
known more for his misses than his goals at Atletico Madrid.
4 ANFIELD
The Kop are Liverpool's extra man and are set to pick the players
up and carry them over the line like they used to in those European
glory nights of the 70s and 80s.
5 FIXTURES
The Reds have a kinder run-in than United and even the hardest
game, against Arsenal, comes with them having rested over the FA
Cup semi-final weekend, three days earlier.
FIVE REASONS WHY UNITED COULD BLOW
IT
1 NERVES
They looked a shoo-in two weeks ago but now the pressure is on and
United could lose a title that really was theirs for the taking.
Fergie went through the same thing in 1998 as Arsenal won their
first crown under Arsene Wenger.
2 DISCIPLINE
Recent red cards for Nemanja Vidic, Paul Scholes and Wayne Rooney
mean all three will be missing against Aston Villa. Referees will
have noted the snarling aimed at Phil Dowd on Saturday and will
clamp down harder than before.
3 CRISTIANO RONALDO
Unstoppable last term but his on-field bickering with teammates,
opponents and referees is turning the Portuguese back into Public
Enemy No.1. Unless he gets his act together it could be
destabilising.
4 OLD TRAFFORD
The stadium is more intimidating than the fans and back- to-back
defeats will add to the edginess against Villa in a fortnight. Fans
are prone to get on the players' backs when things aren't going
well.
5 FIXTURES
United are still competing on three fronts and have a much tougher
league run-in than Liverpool, including Arsenal and Spurs at home,
and desperate Middlesbrough away.
