International break is winding down now (thank goodness!). A two week period of dull tedium interspersed with sometimes concerning, other times down right infuriating, injury news now gives way to previewing the resumption of club play this weekend. The biggest fixture in the English Premier League is of course Manchester United at Liverpool Saturday afternoon.
When these two arch-rivals get together, it’s always the headliner fixture, and that’s certainly the case this time in the match-up of league title contenders at Anfield in three days.
Let’s take a look at some of the news surrounding this clash trending on the internet right now.
-United have had injury worries about striker Romelu Lukau during this international break, as the big Belgian has missed some training time with Belgium, and underwent scans. However, he’s fine, and he’s given United a big fitness boost. The Manchester Evening news reports that:
“Belgium boss Roberto Martinez declared Lukaku was fit enough to start the World Cup qualifier against Cyprus. But, given they had already qualified for next summer’s tournament fans didn’t want Lukaku to be risked.”
-Betting odds (via betfair) Liverpool to win: 6/4 Draw: 23/10 Man Utd to win: 15/8
-Bookmakers are convinced that the race for the English Premier League top 4 will be between just the top six this season. Thus, once again the British top flight is a world of the big six, and then everybody else. In order of favorites, it all starts with the two Manchester clubs, which are also the two sides which happen to be strongest league title contenders by far.
Manchester City, Manchester United, Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur are all odds on to finish in the top four, with Liverpool next up at best odds of 7/4 and Arsenal FC coming in at 9/4 odds of qualifying for the UEFA Champions League. More on all this at this link.
-Emre Can potentially leaving Liverpool to join Juventus is a narrative gathering a lot of momentum right now as even the player himself said yesterday that he was flattered by the interest shown from the Italian juggernaut. Can called their kicking the tires on him an honor, and some outlets are reporting that Juve will be pursuing him hard come January transfer window.
Here’s more on that over at this link.
Paul M. Banks runs The Sports Bank.net and TheBank.News, which is partnered with News Now and Minute Media. Banks, a former writer for the Washington Times, NBC Chicago.com and Chicago Tribune.com, currently contributes regularly to WGN CLTV and Chicago Now.
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