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Canwest News Service
Two big derbies highlight the Premier League schedule on Sunday, as Arsenal hosts leader Chelsea, while Everton entertains Liverpool.
Chelsea is going strong, but this is its toughest road game so far this season. And it comes against a Gunners side that has traditionally done very well against the Blues when holding home-field advantage.
Arsenal also boasts a perfect home record this season, but that could change Sunday. The Gunners picked up quite a few knocks in Tuesday's Champions League win over Standard Liege, while influential striker Robin van Persie also remains sidelined.
The Liverpool derby meanwhile sees two struggling teams both in need of a victory. The Reds have just one win in their last six league games, and are still reeling from their early elimination from Champions League play.
Bitter rival Everton may be just the tonic Liverpool needs, as David Moyes' men have only one victory in their last seven, and are now dangerously close to relegation territory. Everton would be in even worsen shape if not for striker Louis Saha, who has been its only player to find net with any consistency. The Frenchman is fifth in Premiership scoring with eight goals.
GOAL SPREE
Speaking of scoring, it doesn't get much better than the five goals Jermain Defoe netted for Tottenham in its remarkable 9-1 thrashing of Wigan on Sunday. Defoe now leads the league with 11, which is more than his former club Portsmouth have managed in total! He now looks to be a lock for the England squad in South Africa. He and his club Spurs have a big game on Saturday away to Aston Villa, in a battle for fourth place and that all-important Champions League spot.
Meanwhile, on Tuesday came the big announcement that Tottenham executive director Paul Barber will leave London for Vancouver, to become Whitecaps CEO starting next March.
He brings a wealth of experience from one of the top clubs in the world, and we're all very much looking forward to working with him, as we gear up to join Major League Soccer in 2011.
EL CLASICO
The biggest game of the weekend is Sunday in Barcelona, with the annual grudge match against Real Madrid. In this fixture last season, Barca romped to a crushing 6-2 win. The time before that though, the roles were reversed, with Madrid stunning its hosts 4-1. So who knows what might happen in this one!
Barcelona is coming off an impressive midweek win over a sub-par Inter Milan side, despite being without injured stars Lionel Messi and Zlatan Ibrahimovic. Both players remain in doubt for Sunday.
Real Madrid, meanwhile, has welcomed back Cristiano Ronaldo to the squad, and is hoping he can lift them to victory. Madrid has edged a point ahead of Barcelona in the standings, but its critics point out that Real has benefitted from a very easy home schedule, and that the going will get a lot tougher in the new year.
CUP RUNNETH OVER
I had the pleasure of taking in the MLS Cup in Seattle on Sunday along with over 46,000 others, and was really taken aback by the atmosphere. Though their team wasn't playing, the Seattle fans were out in force, and really made the most of it. Everything made you feel that you were at significant event, starting with Seattle's now-traditional massive fan march to the stadium from Pioneer Square, led by a marching band.
After a tentative start, the game eventually opened up, and finished with underdogs Real Salt Lake upsetting the L.A. Galaxy to win dramatically on penalty kicks. On the balance of play, I'd say they deserved it. Well done all around!
Bob Lenarduzzi is president of the Vancouver Whitecaps FC. For information on Whitecaps tickets and seasonal camps visit www.whitecapsfc.com or call 604-669-9283.
