GAME ON!

Two weeks ago, Manchester United had it all. They sat pretty at the top of the Premier League, and had secured a place in the quarterfinals of the Champions League. Things were going smooth. But little did they know that this would be the silence before the storm – a red storm called Liverpool FC that would wreck their quiet confidence and transform tranquility to chaos, and how!

On 14^th March 2009 United came tumbling down to earth with a 4-1 hammering by their fiercest rivals in their own backyard. And all so suddenly, the Red Devils seemed so much more human again. That afternoon, Liverpool sent out a message – a message that the battle is far from over.

But United still had the upper hand in the overall picture. Four points ahead of their conquerors, with a game in hand, and ten more to play, they could still cruise home with ease. Fast-forward to 21^st March 2009 – Fulham v United. A spirited performance from the hosts stunned the champions. The next day, Liverpool mauled Aston Villa 5-0. And that was the day the title race came roaring back to life.

With 9 games to go, the picture isn’t as rosy anymore if you are a United fan. 1 point ahead, with a game in hand – a potential lead of 4 points; still too early, and too close, to put the champagne on ice. An out-of-sorts Aston Villa come visiting after the international break. United will be looking to put painful days behind them by registering a convincing win. That task will be made that much more difficult by the farcical sendings-off of Rooney and Scholes in their previous game. But they’ll be charged up nevertheless. The wounded tiger will be ready for the kill.

On a brighter note, its happy days at Anfield back again. Moving in the right direction in the league, securing a quarterfinal berth against rivals Chelsea in the Champions League after a 4-0 thrashing of Real Madrid, and to top it all off, their manager signing a new long-term contract, Liverpool seem to be the team with the smile at the moment. But they know any minor slip-up will throw their title pursuit off course, and they’ll be back to being also-rans in the title race.

The Reds’ success has struck a positive note at Stamford Bridge as well. Chelsea will now believe that United are within reach, although that belief will have been shaken by their 1-0 defeat by Tottenham last week.

But the title is still United’s to lose. Nevertheless, Liverpool have done us all a favor (unless you’re a United fan) by throwing the title race open, and unsettling the swagger at Manchester. Only time will tell where the Premier League title will finally find its resting place for the summer – at Manchester, Liverpool, or London.