Matt Le Tissier - Sky Sports Expert

Grand designs

Posted: 20th March 2008 12:00

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Grand Slam Super Sunday
There are some massive games coming up involving the big teams and one way or another I can see the title being decided within the next three weeks.

Matt Le Tissier
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GRAND SLAM SUNDAY
Man Utd v Liverpool
Chelsea v Arsenal
Starts 1pm, Sky Sports 1

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Man Utd v Liverpool
1pm, Sunday, Sky Sports 1

This might be the game that Liverpool fans want to win, but Manchester United's need is much greater on Grand Slam Sunday.

Games against United are as important as Merseyside derbies for Liverpool supporters, but for United this could be a defining weekend in their bid to win the title.

If United win and Chelsea draw with Arsenal then Sir Alex Ferguson's side will look almost unstoppable in the title race.

But by the same token, if United lose and Arsenal win at Stamford Bridge then it's 50-50 and it's all up in the air again. We've definitely got an exciting weekend in prospect.

I tipped United for the title at the start of the season and I'd still lean towards them now. However, there are some massive games coming up involving the big teams and one way or another I can see the title being decided within the next three weeks.

If United are going to win it then Cristiano Ronaldo might be they key. I watched him against Bolton in midweek and his talent never fails to impress me.

He has an amazing goalscoring record, but he is about much more than that. He adds so much to the team with his work-rate and his set-pieces and from what I've seen he's the best player in the world at the moment.

I was a little bit surprised to see him named as captain against Bolton, but he wasn't fazed by it at all as he showed with two goals in the first 20 minutes.

He is a wonderful player, but it's not all about Ronaldo. You could take him - and even Wayne Rooney - out of the United team and they'd still be a force.

Ordinary

But the same is not true of Liverpool. Without Fernando Torres and Steven Gerrard they're a very ordinary side.

I've seen Liverpool a few times in the last few weeks and they look really good, but if you take those two star players out then they're pretty average. Everything that's good about Liverpool comes from those two and they rely on them too much.

Some people say the fact Liverpool are looking fresh and are playing well justifies Rafael Benitez's rotation policy earlier in the season.

I disagree. Quite simply, they are too far behind in the race for the championship. If they were only four or five points off the top then the rotation policy would be justified, but they're not.

Ferguson made a number of changes against Bolton on Wednesday night, but I feel he can get away with rotating because his squad of 22 is a lot stronger than Liverpool's.

At times, Benitez changes players around for the sake of it and he ends up weakening his side quite considerably.

Silly

Even if Liverpool win on Sunday, talk of a late title charge is silly. I can't see them troubling the top three and in my opinion they're playing for fourth spot.

They've got a nice cushion above Everton in the race for that final Champions League spot and a win at Old Trafford would give them enough of a boost to secure that place.

I'm not sure they've got what it takes to win the game, but I'm looking forward to the shoot-out between Torres and Ronaldo.

Rio Ferdinand might be missing with his back injury and if he doesn't play then Torres might have a bit more license up front because that would weaken United's back four considerably.

Torres is in superb form, but as good as he is, Ronaldo is still better right now.

And with the game being played at Old Trafford I can see the balance just falling in United's favour.

Le Tiss Predicts

HOME WIN - I think United will win this one, but only just. There should be goals in this game, so I'll go for 3-2 to United. Wouldn't that be great to see!

Matt's Main Man

CRISTIANO RONALDO - It's impossible to ignore him at the moment because he's the best player in the world in my opinion. He's improved his free-kick technique as well and that's added yet another string to his bow.