Man City vs Queens Park Rangers

13 May 2012

By Richard Jolly

A 44-year wait may come to an end. Manchester City were last champions in 1968 and, for much of the intervening time, they have not even come close to lifting the league title for the third time. Now, however, their chance has presented itself. Beat QPR and they may be officially England’s top team, a status that will be all the sweeter as it would be at the expense of Manchester United.

Yet what could be a landmark occasion for City is also a reunion. More to the point, it is a hugely significant occasion for Queens Park Rangers. They will need a result to preserve their Premier League status, and they are managed by Mark Hughes, the man who was at the helm at City when the Abu Dhabi Group took the club over in 2008, catapulting them into the ranks of the super-rich.

Hughes was dismissed in December 2009 because he was not meeting the owners’ expectations. Few at the Etihad Stadium are in any doubt that it was the right move and that Roberto Mancini is the superior manager. Yet as Hughes returns to Manchester, he will see plenty of familiar faces.

The rejuvenated Carlos Tevez was his biggest signing. In midfield, there is Gareth Barry, whom he bought, alongside Yaya Toure, signed by Mancini but identified by Hughes. At the back, it is possible that three-quarters of the defence, should Pablo Zabaleta join Vincent Kompany and Joleon Lescott in the starting line-up, will be Hughes' recruits.

Liverpool vs Chelsea

8 May 2012

By Richard Jolly

Revenge is supposed to be a dish best served cold. There are rarely opportunities to get it when it is as hot. Because, a mere three days after Liverpool and Chelsea meet in the FA Cup final, they renew acquaintances at Anfield. For the loser, it is a chance to make amends – even if there is no silverware at stake – for the winner, the chance of a swift double in one of the major modern rivalries.

This is north against south, historic supremacy against new money. It is a fixture that acquired spice when it was Rafael Benitez against Jose Mourinho with Liverpool twice beating Chelsea in Champions League semi-finals when the Spaniard faced the Portuguese. Now Liverpool have become strangers to the Champions League - for the third successive season, they will not qualify for it – while Chelsea, having defied all predictions to reach the final, are aiming for another year among the elite. To do that, they either have to beat Bayern Munich on May 19 or finish ahead of two of Arsenal, Newcastle and Tottenham in the Premier League.

After a marathon season, Chelsea could be forgiven for suffering from fatigue. There have been few signs of it of late, though, and the chances are that, having showed renewed resolve under Roberto di Matteo, they will rouse themselves for one last push.

Liverpool, meanwhile, have had an unwanted consistency at home. All too often, they have failed to win league games with plenty of visitors departing Anfield happy. Kenny Dalglish has often praised his players for their performances but chances have been missed, the woodwork hit and opposing goalkeepers have excelled. The themes stay the same.