Stoke’s first league win in 26 years over Liverpool was fully deserved in a scrappy but intense battle which saw the disjointed Reds placed on the back foot. Ricardo Fuller opened the account by poking home from a messy pinball passing while Kenwyne Jones wrapped up the win by slotting in coolly.

It is embarrassing to see Liverpool struggle with the tempo and could not make decent shots on goal. Steven Gerrard and Fernando Torres were so off-color, they hardly do justice to the effusive praises written earlier. To make matters worse, Lucas Leiva, one of the better players, got sent off.

Recent loss of points against lesser teams prove that clinching the Premier League title is still a distant dream for Liverpool. After a stirring comeback against Napoli and vanquishing Premier League leader Chelsea, the Reds felt ready to take on the world but bravado is no answer to structural problems.

Roy Hodgson has wasted no time in highlighting his “fairly small squad with a few injured senior players.” Hodgson feels he has inherited a banal squad and his first XI kept functional solely by 1-2 players. The rebuke from Rafael Benitez was swift; after all the Spaniard has splurged a considerable sum and does not relish his successor pouring scorn on his recruitment.

In fairness, when Benitez clinched the European championships and second spot in the Premier League, he was able to exploit the attacking prowess of Torres and Gerrard and rely on Finnan, Carragher and Hyypia for a solid defense. But since the departure of Hyypia, Finnan, Xabi Alonso and Javier Mascherano, the core has weakened considerably.

Notwithstanding new financial fair play regulations and austerity measures sweeping across Europe, new owner John Henry has to open his purse string in the next transfer window, else Liverpool will see its competitive edge being eroded further.

Champions League qualification for Liverpool is no longer a certainty unlike the past where usual contenders are Manchester United, Chelsea and Arsenal, in different order. These days, Manchester City, Tottenham Hotspur and Everton want a bite of the cherry too and they have formidable squads to stake their claims.

Conversely, Liverpool have looked vulnerable given their thin squad and a manager who has never won the Premier League or Champions League titles. Admittedly, Hodgson possesses a wealth of coaching experience at the club and international level. In Europe, he is held in high regard, having served on the UEFA and FIFA technical study groups.

Roy Hodgson’s last job has burnished his reputation in England, which was in tatters from an earlier stint at Blackburn. Fulham secured an unprecedented 7th place in the Premier League, and then their first major European final the following season.

Though Fulham lost to Atletico Madrid, the impressive run in the UEFA Europa League garnered Hodgson the prestigious LMA Manager of the Year award. Given Fulham’s dearth of talents, Hodgson had outdone himself and it was not surprising that a troubled Liverpool board favored him ahead of their favorite son, Kenny Dalglish who holds the figurehead role of “Ambassador and Head of Football Development.”

So far, Roy Hodgson’s effort at steadying the ship has been mixed, if not negative. Liverpool scored only four goals and picked up just five points from a possible 21 away this season. Away form has always been Hodgson’s Achilles heel; in 105 away league games since Bristol City, Blackburn, Fulham and Liverpool, he has managed only 13 wins and 35 draws.

Managing a club of Liverpool’s stature is different from Fulham where they are more accustomed as underdogs and avoiding relegation. Since the ’90s, the Reds had lost their dominance and worse, its reputation defiled by the rancorous drama of Tom Hicks and George Gillett. Despite the disappointments, the fans still have high expectations every season – top four placing, if not silverware.

Unfortunately, mid-table seem more realistic if Hodgson is unable to stop Liverpool from dropping points in away games. Dishing out this kind of mediocrity will seal Hodgson’s fate in the same way that Rafael Benitez was not pardoned for a poor season. Meanwhile, Kenny Dalglish ‘s stock is rising. Roy Hodgson felt the affective divide when livid Liverpool fans clamored for Dalglish during the defeat to Stoke.

Hodgson said: “If the club decide they want to give the job to somebody else, then I’ll have to accept that. I can’t get upset every time the fans chant someone’s name. They may have to do it a few more times this season, because I can’t see us going through a season winning every single game.”

Roy Hodgson is being honest, but the defeatist attitude will not endear him to the fans. To make matters worse, Glen Johnson – who was criticized by the manager for his poor form – hit back by describing Liverpool as ‘boring’ under his charge. The last thing Hodgson needs is internal strife and losing the support of key players. It also doesn’t reflect well on his man management skills.

Despite Kenny Dalglish being the fans’ top choice and Roy Hodgson having little chance of eclipsing his predecessor Rafael Benitez in winning the Champions League, I believe his immediate dismissal is counterproductive.

Since 1991, Liverpool has gone through several management changes, including Graham Souness, Roy Evans, Gerard Houillier and Rafael Benitez. Each manager brought a new direction but the constant transformations in transfer strategy and formation are disruptive, financially wasteful, and left the club nowhere near its much craved Premier League title.

Rather than having the whole process start again, Liverpool should live by its decision in appointing Roy Hodgson. To be sure, Hodgson is still on track for European qualification. Those who expect him to perform miracles in his first season which saw Liverpool narrowly escaping administration and a 10 points deduction, need to wake up and smell the roses.

Roy Hodgson can heave a sigh of relief that player transfers are taken out of his hands; the fans have one less complaint. Damien Comolli, the newly installed Director of Football, has to identify and purchase suitable reinforcements. The Frenchman comes with a big reputation as talent evaluator, recommended by Billy Beane, close friend of John Henry and general manager of Oakland A’s baseball team.

Billy Beane is best remembered for his use of objective metrics in baseball. The statistical analysis on players’ performances allows him to find talents worth more than their market value. John Henry wants this approach replicated at Liverpool and Damien Comolli is deemed the best person to implement it.

As scout and sporting director, the Frenchman picked up from obscurity Koulo Toure, Emmanuel Eboue and Gareth Bale, all admirable coups which fit into Henry’s long term value-for-money strategy.

However, it is not clear if Comolli will bridge the gap between the manager and owner/directors. His presence has certainly made Kenny Dalglish more of a peripheral figure. Very likely, a clash of egos may erupt soon. At Tottenham Hotspur, Comolli undermined successive managers Martin Jol and Juande Ramos by signing players without their knowledge. His return to Saint-Étienne as sporting director in 2008 has also hastened the departure of manager Laurent Roussey.

On the surface, Roy Hodgson has welcomed Comolli’s arrival, even though he was caught off-guard by the club’s sudden announcement.
The Director of Football is an eminent position at continental clubs but has never caught on in England. Overlaps and conflicts with the all-powerful manager often arise as the scope of work is not clearly defined.

Having assumed the role of Director of Football at other clubs, Hodgson may be more understanding towards the new hierarchical structure. But a fallout is inevitable if Damien Comolli decides on transfer deals unilaterally or try to teach Hodgson what to do.

In a sign of things to come (putting Hodgson and Dalglish in their place), Christian Poulsen could be axed just months after signing for Liverpool. He was bought by Hodgson in the summer, with the blessing of Dalglish, along with Joe Cole, Raul Meireles, Paul Konchesky and Milan Jovanovic.

They had been largely lackluster but Poulsen is the biggest flop, considering the intention for him to replace midfield stalwart Javier Mascherano. Damien Comolli views Poulsen as part of the ills of the old regime in which aged players with little resale value were signed.

He wants to bring in a younger player with better ability. In this case, I believe Hodgson has no argument, seeing how Poulson’s lack of pace, energy and passing made the £5m outlay appear extravagant as compared to Spurs £8m bargain for Van der Vaart.

Since Hodgson has tried and failed to impress with his transfer policy, I doubt John Henry will parlay more money for another round of trial-and-error by the former. Damien Comolli has to convince Henry that Liverpool needs more reinforcements in the January transfer window.

Due to injuries, Roy Hodgson has been deprived of fielding his best team on several occasions. Daniel Agger, Sotirios Kyrgiakos, Joe Cole and Glen Johnson saw more action in the treatment room, while Fabio Aurelio, Dirk Kyut and Ryan Babel have not hit peak fitness after recovering. Liverpool’s resurgent form, albeit short-lived, has coincided with returning players and increased confidence.

As it is, the Reds appeared stretched from playing two matches in a week. One wonders what happen when Christmas come around as the schedule becomes tighter and players usually make do with two days of rest. If Liverpool are again decimated by injuries, they could end up back in the relegation zone.

With the benefit a full team and new options, there is hope for Hodgson to avoid mediocrity. Of course, he has to motivate the players to show the same passion as Steven Gerrard and step up their performances. Gerrard and Torres cannot be at their best in every game, so their team mates have to drive the team forward, take chances on goal and close down on opponents too. Playing as a team has been Liverpool’s recipe for success from the mid 60′s through the mid 80′s.

If the relationship stays harmonious, Comolli’s expertise will strengthen Liverpool in the long run and the fans can expect more unpolished gems like Martin Skrtel to arrive rather than expensive but over-the-hill superstars.

A possible target in January is France under-21 midfielder Dimitri Payet who caught the eye of Comolli at Saint-Etienne. Other transfer activities could involve Dutch utility man Urby Emanuelson. The 24 year-old is versatile and may eventually be available on a free if contract negotiations with Ajax break down.

Comolli should focus on quality defenders too as as the backline has been inadequate and sloppy at times, leaving Pepe Reina to fend for himself. Against Chelsea, the Reds were cruising but had to endure close shaves in the second half. Against Wigan and Stoke, luck deserted them and the defense crumbled under relentless pressure.

Liverpool had conceded more goals than they scored and it is discomforting to know Hodgson’s conservative lineup of 2 holding midfielders in front of the back four (similar to Rafael Benitez) is still insufficient to stop opponents from scoring. Hodgson will do well to focus on the defensive frailties, as the midfield is still capable of holding its own and creating chances for the lethal Gerrard-Torres front line.

Besides recruiting talents from aboard, it has been a while since the youth academy churn out players who take the league by storm. During Benitez’s era, no notable youngsters made their mark and it is worrying where the next Robbie Fowler, Michael Owen or Steven Gerrard will come from. Traditionally, Liverpool possess a resolute English core; and the youth may just get a chance to flourish under Roy Hodgson.

Currently, youngsters like Martin Kelly, Jonjo Shelvey, Jay Spearing, Dani Pacheco and Nathan Eccleston are given more match time, thanks to the absence of senior players. While throwing the youth into the Premier League cauldron may have adverse effects if they are not ready, it is better than practicing in the reserve squad forever.

For all of Roy Hodgson’s limitations, he does not possess some of Rafael Benitez’s frustrating habits. The latter is known for rotating players or keeping them in cold storage for inexplicable reasons. Robbie Keane virtually gave up on Liverpool after being kept on the bench even when the front line is lacking firepower.

Hodgson has stuck largely with a winning team and only resting Gerrard and Torres for important fixtures. Having a settled squad will reap dividends for Hodgson in the later part of the season.

A New Dawn under NESV

Roy Hodgson’s future may look bleak, and it is hard to see him at Liverpool beyond next season. Nevertheless, I like the changes which John Henry is putting into place. He is building an institution where managers are dispensable but it ensures stability at Liverpool. They can remain on track to challenge for trophies, whoever is in charge.

The fans need not worry about implementation like Tom Hicks and George Gillett who painted a rosy picture but underachieved. In fact, their leveraged buyout left only a trail of destruction in its wake. On the other hand, John Henry knows what a successful club entails.

Since Henry’s company, New England Sports Ventures, took over Boston Red Sox in 2002, the club has been perennial playoff contenders in the Major League Baseball and have won two World Series titles, emerging as one of the most successful teams of the last decade.

The Red Sox also consistently top the average road attendance, only the small home capacity of Fenway Park prevents them from leading in overall attendance. Every home game since 2003 has been sold out—an MLB record that has spanned over seven years.

Besides appointing Damien Comolli as part of an American styled corporate makeover to curb wasteful transfer policy, John Henry is also aiming to cut expanding wages. Under Rafael Benitez, Liverpool wage bill increased from £66m in 2004 to over £100m in 2010 which is unsustainable.

Henry said: “There were a number of unpleasant surprises during our due diligence. The wage bill is high, it’s going to be higher next year and we’re not a young team. That was disappointing.”

The twin approach of greater accountability on transfer funds and wage bill will bring Liverpool in compliance with the break-even requirement by UEFA.

John Henry has also expressed distaste at the overarching power of agents and players in Premier League which he likened to the “wild west.” In the United States, Henry said players generally see out their contracts and clubs were in control.

It must have been a “culture shock” to Henry when he saw Wayne Rooney forcing Manchester United into submission over his astronomical wage demands and the club having to come out the next day to assure all is well. The NESV owner is firm that he will not be held to ransom and players who are not committed to Liverpool’s cause will not be retained.

That could be too early to say though; if Steven Gerrard wants similar wage terms as Wayne Rooney, Liverpool will be unwise to walk away. Fact is, there are players who are hard to replace, else Liverpool will not be missing the pin-point passing of Xabi Alonso.

Whilst Damein Comolli goes about uncovering raw talents, Liverpool have to retain its key assets too. Pepe Reina has expressed his intention to move on and Chelsea are keen to pry away Fernando Torres who has become too much of a bogeyman for the champions. If the trio are missing from Liverpool team list, appointing Kenny Dalglish as manager with a bunch of kids in tow is not going to win championships either.

Nevertheless, John Henry is sending the right message that players who are under contract must toe the line. It is time for football clubs to gain an upper hand since the Bosman ruling skewed contract negotiations in favor of footballers. The days of pandering to players could be over.

As John Henry control expenses, he also has an eye on increasing Liverpool’s top and bottom line through TV revenue and merchandising. He walks the talk, with his Boston Red Sox generating impressive off-field revenue despite a moderate fan base.

As Liverpool’s brand and popularity in Asia and Middle East is largely untapped, Henry is virtually sitting on a goldmine by bringing the club closer to these markets. There is no reason why Liverpool cannot grow their revenue to compete against Manchester United and Chelsea.

Manchester United have boosted commercial revenue around the world by targeting global sponsors in a range of new categories and Liverpool are expected to follow suit. A new stadium with larger capacity is being evaluated and that will certainly generate more gate receipts to repay debts and buy new players.

After the turmoil of the past year, I am looking forward to a new chapter for Liverpool, even if major trophies for this season seem a remote possibility. The title race is going to be tight as there is not a single team which appear invincible this season.

Liverpool’s closest rivals are dropping points – Chelsea just suffered a 3-0 defeat to Sunderland, while Manchester United are starting slowing again and Arsenal have its usual youth and inconsistency problem. Man City and Spurs are also not looking like automatic top 4 finishers with their shaky forms.

Liverpool remain a match for any side on its day but they have to improve their mental approach towards bread and butter games. The Reds have always excelled in cup competitions and outwitted Goliaths but the occasional display of brilliance is not enough to win a Premier League title.

This weekend, Liverpool take on West Ham and it is time to pummel the opponent into oblivion. West Ham, winless since September and nestling sweetly at the bottom of the Premier League table, will be foolhardy to go on the offensive at Anfield.

Roy Hodgson must throw caution to the wind and unshackle his team. Playing a defensive setup against Stoke and Wigan has shown Hodgson’s naivety. You do that in Champions League against European teams but not teams which are clearly short on quality.

That is not to say West Ham are just a ragtag team of losers. Scot Parker and Luis Boa Morte are likely to hold the midfield together while Carlton Cole and new star Piquionne will feature up front. Matthew Upson will lead the defense in front of Robert Green. That is a fairly decent assemblage and Avram Grant will certainly want to capitalize on Liverpool’s loss of confidence.

I don’t have much illusions about Roy Hodgson winning anything, if he proves to be better than mediocre, it is an achievement. If not, the Liverpool board should blame themselves. The fans should let Hodgson do his work, instead of having knee-jerk swings from positive to negative reviews.

By the way, it is not a long way off from 4th place… having another unbeaten streak, starting with West Ham, will see Liverpool creep higher up the table. Even with an injured Steven Gerrard, the odds are good at most online betting sites for Roy Hodgson to beat West Ham handily. Let’s keep our fingers crossed.

Last week, some semblance of peace descended on Anfield after Rafael Benitez and Hicks called for ceasefire. The manager was offered a new contract which will stretch to 2012, Javier Mascherano’s 18.6 million pounds contract was completed and the Bolton bogeyman was put to the sword.

In this match against West Ham, it was a comprehensive 4-0 victory. Revenge is sweet as a stoppage time penalty at Upton Park in January cost Liverpool three points. Fernando Torres notched his second successive hat-trick and lifted Liverpool to fourth in the Premier League, displacing Everton on goal difference.

Gerrard put the seal on the victory with a trademark run and long-range drive. However, the night belongs to Fernando Torres alone. His hat-trick emphasizes his evolving skills as a poacher: sense of awareness, accuracy, pace and power. He has scored 24 goals so far, (nowhere near midfielder Cristiano Ronaldo’s 30), but considering this is Torres debut season and Liverpool’s campaign taking on a yo-yo behavior, the return on investment is above expectations.

From the word go, Liverpool were the aggressor, charging forward in numbers and retaining possession with slick passing. West Ham were reminded why they are a mid-table team and any lofty ambitions will have to wait. A barren 45 years record of not winning a league game at Anfield was set to be extended.

As early as the 8th minute, Dirk Kuyt made a low cross which Torres connected quickly, drilling the ball past Robert Green before Anton Ferdinand can made a clearance. Liverpool then lapsed momentarily when Luis Boa Morte rounded keeper Jose Reina, but Alvaro Arbeloa cut out the danger in the nick of time.

After the break, Torres continued his rampage with a simple header from Kuyt’s cross, a fitting punishment for the sloppy West Ham defense. However, Torres was not done yet. After wasting a chance when his diving header hit a post, he completed his hat-trick in the 80th minute. Taking a knockdown from Risse, Torres weaved his way into the six-yard box and rolled the ball past Green. Two minutes later, Gerrard blasted home the fourth goal with a blistering drive.

Rafa Benitez said: “We started the season well, but at this crucial stage of the season we are playing really well. It was important to win tonight because we have been talking about this game in hand for a long time, but now when you see the points, it is much better for the confidence.

On Torres, Benitez added: “If he continues scoring goals, I’m sure he will be a threat for all defenders, but he can give us more than that because the defenders might be thinking about him and give a chance to Babel, Gerrard, Kuyt or another.”

Early in the season, Liverpool were undone by Birmingham, Wigan, Middlesbrough, West Ham and Reading, which forced them to concede the Premier League battle in January. In order to prevent next season’s campaign from being derailed, they cannot punch above their weight against the Goliaths but trip up against lowly teams. Rafael Benitez’s expensively assembled squad must set their sights on emulating the all-conquering ’80s team.

Liverpool have enjoyed a good run whilst adopting the 4-2-3-1 formation. Whether Benitez adhere to this winning formula and maintaining the core group of players remains to be seen. Fabio Aurelio was absent and it was surprising given his solid display in his last match.

John Arne Riise was fielded after being excluded for an inept display in the FA Cup humiliation to Barnsley, fortunately, his performance was satisfactory. As for Martin Skrtel, he is a rare find and I am glad to see his continued improvement into a defensive bedrock.

With only ten league matches left, if Liverpool maintain their fine form, Everton will be wondering what it takes to qualify for the final Champions League berth after slogging tirelessly and maintaining a consistent form for most of the season.

For now, Liverpool have to turn their attention to Newcastle (not in the best of form) and then secure the Inter Milan match (a clear advantage already established), followed by a clash with Manchester United on March 23.

Liverpool is most dangerous at this stage of the season – to prepare for the Champions League battles as well as to grab the fourth spot. Everton can only keep their fingers crossed.

Yet, the ebb in confidence has cast doubts about a win and Grant is now a hot favorite to be the next Premier League manager to be sacked. Anything less than a win will be disastrous. Rumors are already circulating that Frank Rijkaard or Hiddink have been lined up to take over once Grant is disposed. I doubt Rijkaard is keen to enter this cauldron; there is no job security, not even for Jose Mourinho.

How fast the winds of fortune change. Things weren’t like that when Avram Grant took the mantle from Mourinho. Despite the outcry and derision which greeted his appointment, he steadied the ship and put together an impressive run under extreme circumstances – African Nations Cup, injuries and suspensions having ravaged his team beyond recognition. Confounding critics, Grant made a brave challenge for titles on all fronts, an unprecedented quadruple, to be exact.

However, with a surplus of talents at his disposal now that the majority of players have returned to the fore, Chelsea have not consolidated their position. In fact, they imploded. Now, everybody is baying for Grant’s blood on the basis of one match. Yes, it was disgraceful to watch. Grant was totally out of his depth and slumping in his seat with that crestfallen look, I don’t blame the players for not finding inspiration when they needed it. But I urge a moment of calm and patience here.

Do not forget that Arsenal also lost to this Tottenham team 5-1, but the response to Wenger’s selections and tactics was decidedly more civil. Some may feel that the current dissatisfaction with Grant extends further than just one match, as the statistics of his season so far will attest, but for better or worse, the numbers game do not tell the entire story.

This is the not the time for the fans to rock the boat. The players can choose to close ranks and turn adversity into strength by rebounding from their setback, or they can blow apart their season by splitting into different camps and showing off to Roman Abramovich who is the real boss.

Fact is the team fielded against Tottenham have enough star players and should be good enough to win. The loss in form or interest of Drogba is showing up, regardless of the big-game player he claims himself to be. Players like Terry and Lampard have to understand that they do not have a divine right to be in the team, in spite of the contributions made in the past. Every player loves to play, especially when it is a Cup final.

I believe John Terry loves the club and wants only the best for them. He has no qualms about placing his head before a thunderous foot in order to stop a goal. Considering the years of excellent service, it is natural that he possess an untouchable position as well as the private ears of the owners and directors. However, power corrupts and absolute power is absolutely bad.

The influence he now wields over the team is beyond what is considered normal for a player. Over the past season, he has grown “too big for his boots.” I find it particularly hard to accept his constant arguing with the referees when decisions go against his team.

His game has been affected by the injuries which have taken their toil. He has lost a bit of pace but thankfully his reading of the game is still not impaired. Scoring match-winning headers has been his forte during the early championship years but these goals have been few and far in between.

Another grouse I have about Terry is that he never allow himself to get fully fit, the doctors recommend an eight-week layoff but he is back in six weeks. Amazing recovery and anxiety to captain the team notwithstanding, it doesn’t benefit anybody if he is carrying a niggling injury and hampering the team’s defense by becoming the weak link.

Arsene Wenger did not go out of his way to satisfy all his players and the unrest among players like Gilberto, Aliaderie and Diarra were well documented. The difference lies in the support of the management in both clubs. If Grant is strong enough, he should strip Terry of the captain’s armband when he is fully fit, and let him know that a place in the first XI has to be earned like everybody else.

Even though Avram Grant may not admit it, it is a delicate situation when the owner, Roman Abramovich, takes a personal interest on the tactical aspects and selection of players. During his time, Jose Mourinho was under pressure to field Shevchenko even when he is clearly not contributing, his exclusion was a sore point with Abramovich.

The interest in team affairs can undermine the manager. There should only be one person calling the shots and decision making lies in the hands of the manager, not the captain or the owner. If Grant insists on a core group of players or he wants to adjust his formation to indulge the unhappy players, he should do it on his free will but he needs to account for his report card at the end of the day.

Looking forward, Chelsea have three massive titles in front of them; if truth be told, Premier League success is out of the question. Overhauling Manchester United or Arsenal will require a calamity for both teams to take place simultaneously. Turning in consistent results and keeping their third spot will already be an achievement given the pack of hungry wolfs snapping at their heels.

They may progress to the next round of the Champions League by clearing the Olympiakos hurdle but clinching the title will require something extra which I do not yet sense in this team. As for the FA Cup, it should be an epic clash with Manchester United and this is a competition which I believe lies their best chance of silverware.

It is fascinating to see what team Grant picks against West Ham and whether he can motivate the team again from the setback. If Chelsea end up empty-handed this season, it is up to the board to decide if instant results are too much to ask for and give Grant another chance or to appoint another manager with a more credible CV.

And to prepare for the worst case, I think it is wise for Grant to take his UEFA pro license sessions seriously. Playing truant may cost him his next job dearly.

Without exception, the FA Cup Third Round saw several casualties. Everton FC was the latest club to suffer an ignominious elimination after losing 1-0 to third division Oldham Athletic. Three other Premier League teams, Birmingham City, Blackburn Rovers and Bolton Wanderers, were also displaced by lower league opposition.

Havant & Waterlooville, a minor league club, advanced into the fourth round after snatching a late 1-1 draw at third division leaders Swansea. No doubt the press will have a field day if this minnow clears all obstacles and progress to the FA Cup Finals.

Fortunately, the Big Four are as yet unscathed – an outcome which can determine the glamor and viewership of the competition. FA Cup holders Chelsea scraped through with a 1-0 win against Queens Park Rangers at Stamford Bridge. The Blues struggled to stamp their authority and when QPR gift-wrapped three points for them with an own goal by their keeper Lee Camp, Avram Grant took it with aplomb.

His relief is understandable considering how badly Chelsea squad is decimated. The African Nations Cup deprived them of their effervescent Ivory Coast striker Didier Drogba, his mate Salomon Kalou, Ghana’s Michael Essien and Nigeria’s John Obi Mikel.

Chelsea’s skipper John Terry heads the injury list with three broken bones and is now on crutches, while vice captain Frank Lampard, Florent Malouda, Claude Makelele and Andriy Shevchenko are also incapacitated. The absence of Cech and Cudicini has allowed third-choice keeper Henrique Hilario to feature in three consecutive games (conceding two goals) but he did enough to keep Chelsea in the running.

The impending swop for Nicolas Anelka, a rumor at this stage, is practically certain. Manchester City may throw a spanner into the works as manager Eriksson needs a free-scoring forward to boost their chances of qualifying for Champions League. Darius Vassel, Emile Mpenza and Rolando Bianchi don’t quite cut it.

Since both clubs have sugar daddies to finance the transfer, Anelka can sit back and let them battle it out. His agent will be laughing all the way to the bank, having secured the seventh astronomical signing-on fee for his representative.

As for Manchester United, last year’s runners-up, they had a 2-0 success at Aston Villa, thanks to goals from Cristiano Ronaldo and substitute Wayne Rooney in the last nine minutes. The other half of the Premier League Big Four, Arsenal and Liverpool, will see action later tonight, away to Burnley and Luton Town respectively, while struggling Newcastle United face a tough trip to Stoke City.

Everton’s loss is baffling considering their excellent form. They have suffered only two defeats in their last 17 games and both at the hands of Manchester United and Arsenal. However, Oldham claimed their scalp with a Gary McDonald’s 25-metre strike at the end of the first half. Everton fought back valiantly but was frustrated by a combination of bad luck and a stubborn Oldham defense. Their best chance came in the last minute but was denied by the post.

“To come to a Premier League ground against a team who are really flying at the moment was a great performance,” Oldham boss John Sheridan told Sky Sports. “I told the players to really enjoy the occasion, because things like this might not happen to them again. I was so pleased and proud of them.”

Coventry, also caused a major upset by winning 4-1 at Blackburn with two goals by Michael Mifsud and one each from Elliott Ward and Dele Adebola. Coventry, made a mockery of their precarious position (17th spot) in second division with this lop-sided result. The players went in hard to win the ball and paid little respect to Blackburn’s Premier League standing. Maltese striker Mifsud said: “Every one of us played with his heart and gave his best to ensure we got the result.”

Third division Huddersfield were also celebrating after a 2-1 home win over Birmingham, while Bolton, having rested Nicolas Anelka and most of the rest of their leading players, lost 1-0 at home to Sheffield United.

In other matches, Tottenham Hotspur, who beat Reading 6-4 last week, drew 2-2 with them at White Hart Lane. West Ham United and Manchester City drew 0-0 at Upton Park while Wigan Athletic won 3-0 away to Sunderland, whose performance left manager Roy Keane “ashamed.”

Keane is in a rut-hole at the moment. Sunderland have make it a habit of losing and the commitment to fight for every point is missing. The hairdryer treatment, if Keane has not already done so, is needed to jolt his defense from their slumber. Wigan, also missing a few key players, look slick standing beside them.

The FA Cup may not rank highly in Sunderland’s priority but being relegated will be a serious setback. Sunderland’s next three Premier League home games against Birmingham, Portsmouth and Wigan will be the right opportunity to get back to winning ways.

I will have more reports on the FA Cup later. Till tomorrow.

The gap could widen further after the Gunners meet the Everton roadblock which Man United struggled to clear, leaving it late to a Cristiano Ronaldo’s penalty to scrape by 2-1. The Toffees are 11 points behind Arsenal FC and if they show the same kind of resilience, Ferguson will be gloating that his words about Arsenal dropping points is proven right.

From Man United’s early season gloom of getting only two points from their first three games to the current electrifying form of winning 14 out of 16, the change in fortune is certainly welcome. Their vanquished opponent, Black Cats manager Roy Keane, is one of the believers that United will repeat last season’s success.

He said: “My money is still on United. They are always strong in the second half of the season. They can go on runs of 20 to 30 games. They missed players here and still flexed their muscles.”

Against Sunderland, Alex Ferguson has the luxury of keeping some key players fresh for the impending West Ham match. Ryan Giggs and Anderson stayed home while Carlos Tevez and Patrice Evra remained on the substitutes’ bench. Owen Hargreaves absence was also not missed.

Goals are now the least of Man United’s worries as all their outfield players look capable of scoring from the abundance of chances created in any one match. Cristiano Ronaldo is approaching an inconceivable 20 goals for the season (at the half way mark only) after scoring one against Sunderland with a trademark free kick, while Wayne Rooney grabbed his first goal in 2 months.

Manchester United are sitting pretty on top of the table and they will want to end the year as winter champions by getting full points from their third game in six days. Nevertheless, Ferguson is aware of the threat posed by West Ham at Upton Park and he will be treading carefully and most likely with his strongest team to avoid slipping on a banana skin yet again.

Alan Curbishley is the man giving Ferguson food for thought. Though languishing for the better part of last season in the relegation zone, Curbishley has made it a habit of beating the Red Devils.

On his debut with West Ham, he masterminded a 1-0 shock at Upton Park. He then repeated the feat at Old Trafford, and the winner from Carlos Tevez, saved the Hammers from a financially crippling drop at the final day of the season. There are also past “guaranteed to win” matches against West Ham which have gone awry for Alex Ferguson.

Carlos Tevez, despite moving on to greener pastures at Manchester United, will no doubt get a warm welcome from the Upton Park faithful. He has all the makings of a legend at Old Trafford and has struck up a lethal partnership with Wayne Rooney. After being rested against Sunderland, the Argentine will be raring to start against his former team.

The talismanic effect of Tevez on West Ham was best summarized by his former team mate, Matthew Upson. He said: “He really did single-handedly turn things around last season. Carlos will get a fantastic reception. All our fans respect him for what he did and he will be welcomed back for the rest of his life.”

Louis Saha expects Manchester United’s superior squad to give them an edge as the title challenge heats up. With so many games coming thick and fast over the Christmas period, Saha believes Man United’s strength in depth is the envy of their competitors.

The French striker, who scored twice at Sunderland, said: “The squad we have is amazing. It is strong in every position. We are all aware this is a difficult period. Any team who has not got the right squad will struggle because fitness-wise, it is very hard.”

With Paul Scholes, Gary Neville and Park Ji Sung expected to be back in coming weeks, it is a fearful thought for their competitors who are either struggling with exhaustion, lack of depth and weight of expectations.

Ferguson expects to capitalize further on the African Cup of Nations which will take even more players away from Arsenal and Chelsea squad. In Arsenal’s case, Emmanuel Eboue and Kolo Toure while for Chelsea, Mikel John Obi, Didier Drogba, Michael Essien and Salomon Kalou will be missing in action.

Ferguson said: “Arsenal and Chelsea are losing players and I hope it will stand in our favour. They can buy players to help them through this period. But it’s not easy. January is difficult because if you’re a Champions League club you want someone who can play in that competition.”

Arsene Wenger will be eager to share a bottle of wine with Curbishley if he does the Gunners a favor by tripping up his arch rival. Manchester United will be without goalkeeper Edwin van der Sar again and that is a major concern but if their fluidity and creativity in midfield are undisrupted, and the front line are less wasteful of the chances, it will be a victory to the Red Devils, though I am sure West Ham will make them earn it the hard way.