Barclays Premier League - Day 32

I think a health warning should accompany Manchester United games. For the past few matches, Manchester United scored an early goal, only to concede goal(s) and end up drawing or losing the game.

Manchester United had to turn to the wunderkid to deliver the winning goal against Sunderland in last evening's Barclays Premier League match. Paul Scholes scored a rare header in halfway in the first half, but United's attacking and defending were poor after that goal. Ben Foster and the woodwork held to keep the score at 1-0, but luck finally ran out not long after the start of the second half when Sunderland equalised. United's game picked up pace, but Sunderland were up to the task of containing United's players away from the goal. Then came Macheda, who scored within two minutes of being on the pitch. He diverted a shot from Carrick, which wrongfooted the Sunderland keeper. Even then, Sunderland did not stop; they continued to pile on the pressure until the final whistle. I am sure many United fans' hearts were working overtime over the course of the game! Also, not to mention many sore throats among the United fans.

Liverpool kept up the pressure early on on Manchester United when they trashed hapless Blackburn Rovers 4-0. The victory briefly put Liverpool on top of the Barclays Premier League table.

Chelsea had a scare against Bolton Wanderers who staged a late comeback to overcome an early scoreline of 4-0. Some goalkeeping mistakes from Peter Cech allowed Bolton Wanderers to score three goals to set up an intense and nervewrecking end to the game. Bolton Wanderers piled on the pressure up to the final whistle, when they had the chance to share the points from two corner kicks which set up goalmouth scramble and everyone in the Chelsea blue threw their bodies to prevent that equaliser. But Chelsea held on to their nerves to run out as the winners.

With the results of Saturday's games, Manchester United remain at the top of the Barclays Premier League with one point more, but having played one game less than Liverpool. Chelsea remain third.

Now, the season is getting more interesting. Liverpool and Chelsea have six more games to play and Manchester United has seven. But Manchester United and Chelsea are still involved in the FA Cup, Chelsea is almost sure to proceed to the semi-final and Manchester United still have that outside chance to proceed of the same phase of the Champions League. These extra games will perhaps be a deciding factor on the Barclays Premier League this season. I hope that Manchester United players take it one game at a time and not to overwork themselves in the closing phase of the season.