2010-11 English Premier League Preview

Another Premier League season begins tomorrow, and those looking for variety might want to look elsewhere. With few significant changes since May, the table figures to shakeout in a manner similar to last season. Chelsea, Manchester United and Arsenal will battle for the title and a pack of teams a notch below will fight for a coveted Champions League spot.

A League and FA Cup double got Carlo Ancelotti's tenure at Stamford Bridge off to a memorable start last season, and his veteran Chelsea squad fully expects to maintain the title this year. The core of this team feels like they've played together forever- Lampard, Terry, Drogba, Cech- all back in blue for another go at the European crown that has alluded them. With the transfer deal for Brazilian midfielder Ramires now complete, Chelsea add an exciting young playmaker to their roster of seasoned pros.

Speaking of seasoned, Sir Alex Ferguson and Manchester United have been unusually quiet since the end of the last campaign, unlike the carnival surrounding Cristiano Ronaldo's transfer a year prior. The addition of Mexican Javier Hernandez is the only change of note. Wayne Rooney had the look of a beaten man in the World Cup. If and when he returns to form will dictate whether or not the Red Devils reclaim the title.

Arsenal hung around the fringes of the title chase much of last season and if not for a few letdown matches could have nabbed the top slot. The fact that Cesc Fabregas hasn't landed at Nou Camp with Barcelona yet is surprising, but for now the World Cup winner remains the focal point of Arsene Wenger's side. Another World Cup finalist, Robin van Persie, will also be key in the Gunners bid for their first title since the "Invincibles" team of 2004.

Beyond the those three, Tottenham, Manchester City, Liverpool and, to a lesser extent, Aston Villa and Everton, will set their sights on a top four finish. Manchester City were big offseason spenders for a second-straight season, this year looking to strengthen a shaky defensive unit. The additions of Aleksandar Kolarov and Jerome Boateng should help in that regard. David Silva and Yaya Toure have also been added as City aim for a Champions League berth.

Tottenham broke into fourth last year, and savvy manger Harry Redknapp is eyeing some additions to keep his side there again. Assuming they can move past Swiss side Young Boys (and what a terrible name that is for a team) in the last round of Champions League qualifying, Spurs will face the tricky balance of league aspirations on the weekend and matches against Europe's elite midweek. With that schedule, top scoring threat Jermain Defoe will need help.

Joe Cole and Roy Hodgson bring a fresh excitement to Liverpool, but a lack of depth has burned the Reds in recent seasons. When Steven Gerrard and/or Fernando Torres get hurt, which tends to happen a lot, Liverpool have few reliable options.

The surprising resignation of Martin O'Neill less than a week before kick off has put a dent in Aston Villa's already long shot hopes of reaching the top four. O'Neill's left because of a lack of transfer funds, which should tell you all you need to know on how much Villa spent improving the squad. Similarly, Everton have the ability to win against any opponent, but lack the depth to make a full-season push.

I'll predict a Chelsea repeat for 2011, followed by Arsenal, ManU, Man City and Liverpool.

The Best of the Decade in Soccer

As the first decade of the new millennium reaches stoppage time, it's time to honor some of the stars and great moments from the past ten years. Here are some of my favorites:

Best Team- 2008-09 FC Barcelona: Great sides are measured by championships, and Barcelona won everything there is to win in 2009. The highlight was a convincing 2-0 win over defending champions Manchester United in the Champions League Final, which followed League and Spanish Cup titles. Spanish and European Super Cups and the World Club Cup completed the six-pack for Lionel Messi and company.

Best Goal- Steven Gerrard, 2006 FA Cup Final: Sure, I'm a little bit biased here, but I challenge you to find a better strike. Trailing West Ham 3-2 in the final minutes of the Final, Captain Fantastic delivered and the Reds ultimately won in a shootout.

Best Tournament- Euro 2008: June in the Alps was a month to remember. The Dutch looked like an unstoppable force in the group stages, until they were dismissed by Guus Hiddink's cagey Russian side. The surprising Turks rode their late-game heroics to the semifinals, before falling to Germany. But in the end, the tournament belonged to Spain, which extinguished decades of disappointment thanks to Fernando Torres' sublime game winner in the Final.

Best Manager- Alex Ferguson: Whether you like ManU or not (and I've made it no secret on here that I don't), you have to admire the accomplishments of Sir Alex at Old Trafford. After capping the '90s with a treble-winning campaign, Ferguson's troops kept on rolling through the decade that followed, capturing six Premier League titles and a Champions League crown in 2008.

Biggest Gag- England's Euro 2008 Qualifying Campaign: Despite all their stumbles along the way, including draws against Israel and Macedonia, England were still in position to qualify for Euro 2008 heading into their final match. Needing only a home draw against a Croatia side that had nothing at stake, England fell behind 2-0, rallied to equalize, but then gave up a late winner and missed the continent's showpiece event.

Best Game- Liverpool over AC Milan in the 2005 Champions League Final: I may have mentioned this one a time or two before on this blog, but just to show you I'm no homer, Sports Illustrated's Grant Wahl gave the match similar praise in his end of decade review. Down 3-0 at the half, Liverpool tied the match within a six-minute span in the second half, then defeated favored AC Milan on PKs for their fifth European Cup.

Biggest Shock- Greece wins Euro 2004: While their defensive-minded tactics weren't always crowd-pleasing, the Greeks earned the world's attention with a stunning run to the European title in Portugal. After edging Spain for second in their group on the third tiebreaker, the Greeks netted three straight 1-0 wins in the knockout stages over France, the Czech Republic, and the hosts.

Best Way to Spend a Week- 2006 World Cup: The Germans put on a fantastic tournament for visitors from around the world, including two brothers who had the time of their lives.

Best Source of Comedy- Special 1 TV: The real Jose Mourinho held plenty of entertaining press conferences, but his puppet alter ego and his friends took soccer comedy to new heights.


Biggest Moment- Zidane's World Cup Head Butt: Zinedine Zidane was on the brink of capping his legendary career with a second World Cup title, but instead he went loco and drilled his head into the chest of Italy's Marco Materazzi. Instead of hoisting the trophy, Zidane was in the locker room as Italy triumphed in a shootout.

Rafaball Strikes Again

Rafael Benitez's six seasons at Anfield have been marked by one consistent trend: when his team's fortunes appear bleakest, the Reds have the ability to summon their finest efforts. On Sunday the concept of "Rafaball" was once more on display.

The last time LFC lost four straight, Margaret Thatcher was enjoying high tea with Ronald Reagan. With captain Steven Gerrard in the stands and star striker Fernando Torres returning from injury, there was reason for apprehension as the three-time defending league champions arrived in Liverpool. But as if to borrow a line from the team's anthem, Rafa believes that at the end of the storm is a golden sky. And again that golden sky came in the form of an inspired Liverpool performance and a deserved 2-0 win that re-ignites their title chase.

We've seen this act before under Benitez. The signature Rafaball victory came in his first season in charge. Down 3-0 at halftime in the Champions League Final against AC Milan, Liverpool rallied to tie the match and won in a shootout. And Liverpool would never have reached that Final without a furious three-goal outburst in their final group stage match against Olympiakos that secured passage to the knockout round.

Since 2005 their have been many more Rafaball moments. From 2-0 down against West Ham, the Reds tied the 2006 FA Cup Final on the brink of stoppage time before winning in a shootout. There was a 2-1 win at Barcelona in the knockout stages of the 2007 Champions League, won on goals by Craig Bellamy and John Arne Riise after the former had attacked the latter with a golf club in the team hotel. Passage to the 2008 Champions League group stages seemed unlikely after an 0-1-2 start, but the Reds won their next three by a combined total of 16-1 and advanced to the semis.

Manchester United were familiar with Sunday's performance. Last September LFC won at home 2-1 without the services of Gerrard or Torres. In March, just as the team's obituary was being penned, the Reds shocked the Old Trafford faithful with a 4-1 victory. In both matches, ManU scored first before the Reds rallied.

The frustrating flip side to Rafaball is that legendary wins are often followed by flat performances. Every Liverpool fan should be on guard heading into Saturday's fixture at Fulham. But if the Reds can continue to play Rafaball, this campaign will have plenty more pleasant surprises.

England: The Miracle at Burnley

There's no accurate comparison in the U.S. to the European system of promotion and relegation, but consider this theoretical scenario. The University of Chicago, a founding member of the Big Ten, revives its long dormant college football program, works its way up through Division III and Division II, and eventually returns to Division I-A status. And in their first home game back at the top level, the Maroons upset Ohio State.

Sound far fetched? That's basically what went down in England today as Burnley shocked Manchester United 1-0. Burnley last played in the top level of English football in the same year that I was born, 1976. Today's home opener was a festive occasion before the opening kickoff, but no one expected Owen Coyle's men to take down the three-time defending champions for the first time in 41 years.

But it happened and tonight the Clarets and their fans are celebrating. While no one is suggesting that Burnley will contend for the title, the win gives them a leg up in their efforts to remain Premier League members beyond this season.

As for the champs, was this a fluke setback or the first signs of a fading dynasty? Last year United surged to the title during a three-month stretch in which they pulled 10 one-goal victories out of 14 matches. (They won three and tied one among the other four matches.) Today ManU were on the wrong end of the simple 1-0 formula that served them so well last season. But Alex Ferguson's men won only one of their first four matches each of the last two campaigns, so there will be little panic at Old Trafford.

All we know for sure tonight is that the evening's result is one that be celebrated at Burnley for years to come.

England: 2009-10 Premier League Preview

I was getting ready to draft my Premier League preview when I stumbled across the news of ESPN's agreement to air games in the U.S. this season. Talk about a great way to start the season. Now that I've calmed a little from that excitement, it's time to talk Premier League!

If there is a silver lining to the global economic crisis, it might be this: With wild spending down, we are looking at potentially the most competitive season in the history of the Premier League. Only Manchester City flashed serious cash this summer, while the big four migrated back to the pack. A second tier of contenders might have a shot at the title.

But let's not get carried away. The leading candidates are still the big names we're accustomed to seeing, led by Manchester United and Chelsea. Last Sunday's entertaining Community Shield clash could foreshadow a see-saw battle between the winners of the last five EPL titles. While ManU will clearly miss Cristiano Ronaldo and, to a lesser extent, Carlos Tevez, the Red Devils will still contend for a record fourth-straight crown. ManU has gotten off to slow starts but recovered to win the league the last two seasons. To avoid another sluggish opening, they'll need goaltender Ben Foster to show he's capable of replacing the injured Edwin van der Sar on a permanent basis.

The biggest off-season addition among the big four wasn't a player, but rather new Chelsea boss Carlo Ancelotti. The former AC Milan skipper is the fifth man to hold the top post at Stamford Bridge since 2007, but it would be surprising if he doesn't bring stability to the position. Chelsea return a loaded roster, but you have to wonder if their primary focus is the Premier League the Champions League. Europe's biggest prize is the only one Roman Abramovich's men are missing. After crushing defeats against Liverpool, Manchester United and Barcelona the last three seasons, the quest remains the same. Ancelotti actually won more Champions League trophies (two) than Serie A titles (one) in his time at the San Siro. If that trend is any indicator, the Blues could be celebrating in Madrid in May, while someone else takes the EPL.

Could that someone else be Liverpool? In Steven Gerrard and Fernando Torres, the Reds have a leading duo as good as any in the world. But in order to capture their first Premier League title, Rafa Benitez's team will need to overcome the maddening inconsistency that sunk their 2009 title bid. Liverpool took 14 points from six matches against ManU, Chelsea and Arsenal, highlighted by a 4-1 romp at Old Trafford. But a series of baffling draws against lesser opponents left the Reds in second, despite only two losses. If they can convert those draws into wins, a long-awaited title will be coming to Anfield.

Arsenal aren't going plummet, but Arsene Wenger's team has suffered too many losses to mount a serious challenge. Waiting to take their place in the leading quartet are Manchester City. Backed by big bucks from their UAE-based ownership, the Blues roster now features Gareth Barry, Roque Santa Cruz, Carlos Tevez, Emmanuel Adebayor and Kolo Toure, along with last year’s key addition, Robinho. But many superstar-laden teams have looked unbeatable on paper. How this group gels under manager Mark Hughes remains to be seen, and questions abound regarding the ManCity defense.

If the race remains tight, Everton, Aston Villa and Tottenham could sneak into the mix, but realistically those sides are hoping for a Champions League slot at best. Look for last year's top three to pull away again in 2010. While my heart pulls for Liverpool, by head says Chelsea. God I hope I'm wrong.

If you want EPL previews from more knowledgeable outlets, here are some options:
The Times of London
The Independent
Sky Sports
ESPN Soccernet

Transfer-Palooza

Each summer speculation around the European transfer market resembles the board game "Fact or Crap." There are an endless number of rumors, but those stories greatly outnumber the completed deals. Here's a look at some of the players and storylines central to this year's transfer gossip.

Carlos Tevez isn't exactly leaving Manchester United on good terms, taking some parting shots at Sir Alex Ferguson on his way out of Old Trafford. Oddly Tevez ruled out Liverpool as a destination because of their rivalry with ManU, but the Argentine now appears headed to crosstown Manchester City.

Inter Milan's Zlatan Ibrahimovichas been the talk of a move out of Serie A, but Inter's asking price may be too high for potential suitors. In other Inter news, Brazilian fullback Maicon has been linked to a move to Chelsea.

Staying with Barcelona or heading to Manchester City are the two options for Samuel Eto'o. A two-year extension of Eto'o's current deal is the latest offer from the reigning European champs.

Xabi Alonso is the latest target of free-spending Real Madrid. Defender Alvaro Arbeloa could also make the Liverpool to Real leap.

Premier League Schedule Released

The Premier League released its 2009-10 schedule today. You can get a team-by-team schedule here and the week-by-week schedule here. The Premier League Web site also has a rundown of key matches for the upcoming season, including the "Big Four" meetings between Manchester United, Liverpool, Chelsea and Arsenal.

Counting Down the Best European Cup Finals

Wednesday's Champions League Final between Manchester United and Barcelona has the potential to be an all-time classic. All season long, ManU and Barca have stood out as the top two teams in Europe, so if you're not a fan of one of the two sides, you have to hope that Wednesday's meeting in Rome joins the list of great finals. Here's my take on the top 10 European Cup finals of all-time.

10) 1994: AC Milan 4, Barcelona 0: A meeting of the winners of three of the last five cups was noteworthy not for the match's close score line, but for the impressive manner in which AC Milan pounded the favored Catalans. Without star defenders Franco Baresi and Alessandro Costacurta, the Rossoneri scored four times within the first hour en route to their fifth title.

9) 2006: Barcelona 2, Arsenal 1: An early red card against goalkeeper Jens Lehmann left Arsenal down to 10 men, but the shorthanded Gunners shockingly took the lead on a 37th minute goal by Sol Campbell and gamely tried to preserve the advantage. But two goals by Barca in the final 15 minutes- a 76th minute equalizer by Samuel Eto'o and the winner from Juliano Belletti four minutes later- gave the Spaniards their second Cup.

8) 1987: Porto 2, Bayern Munich 1: Just 12 minutes from time, a sublime back heel touch from Porto's Rabah Madjer erased Bayern's first half lead. Before the Germans could recover, Juary put home the winner two minutes later. It would not be the last time Bayern would be victimized by a pair of late goals.

7) 1967: Celtic 2, Inter Milan 1: Another match highlighted by a second-half rally, Celtic broke the 11-year cup dominance of Mediterranean sides, becoming the first British team to win the title. The Celtic roster, made up entirely of players from within 50 minutes of Glasgow, are still celebrated fondly as the "Lisbon Lions."

6) 1960: Real Madrid 7, Eintracht Frankfurt 3: While many consider this match the greatest final of all-time, the lopsided score keeps it from ranking higher on my list. This was, however, the Real Madrid dynasty at the peak of its power. Ferenc Puskas scored four times and Alfredo Di Stefano added a hat trick as Real captured their record fifth-straight title.

5) 1968: Manchester United 4, Benfica 1, a.e.t.: In front of a pro-ManU crowd at a packed Wembley Stadium, Manchester United found their second wind in extra time, scoring three times in a five-minute span to capture their first title. Bobby Charlton scored the Red Devils' first and last goals, while George Best put home the eventual game winner.

4) 1999: Manchester United 2, Bayern Munich 1: The ultimate late show saw Teddy Sheringham and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer both score in stoppage time to give Manchester United the treble. The shock ending lead to one of the all-time great broadcasting quotes from Clive Tyldesle: "What must Lothar Matthäus be thinking? Well, with the greatest respect, who cares?"

3) 1962: Benfica 5, Real Madrid 3: A meeting of the first six cup winners was a back-and-forth affair. Real took first half leads of 2-0 and 3-2, with all three goals coming from Puskas. After Benfica tied the match early in the second half, Eusebio netted a pair of goals to give the Portugese squad back-to-back titles.

2) 1956: Real Madrid 4, Stade de Reims, 3: The first European Cup Final set a lofty standard for future matches. Real rallied from 2-0 and 3-2 deficits, with Marquitos scoring in the 79th minute to send the innaugural title to Madrid.

1) 2005: Liverpool 3, AC Milan 3 (Liverpool wins on PKs): The two games above were the only time a team had rallied from two goals. Never had a team recovered from a three-goal margin. That was the deficit staring Liverpool in the face at halftime of their final against AC Milan. But as fast as you can say Gerrard, Smicer, Alonso, the Reds leveled the match and hung on for PKs. Two years after sealing a shootout win against Juventus, Andrei Shevchenko saw his spot kick saved, giving Liverpool an improbable fifth title. The match was the highest-scoring European final in 33 years.

If you don't like my list, SI.com has its own take on the Top 10.

Champions League: Pick Your Pair

With the Champions League semifinals beginning this afternoon, the four remaining sides offer four potential Final match-ups with compelling story lines. Which of the following will we see in Rome May 27?

The 2006 Re-match: Arsenal vs. Barcelona: Arsenal rode the goaltending of Jens Lehmann to the 2006 Final with 10 consecutive clean sheets. Despite Lehmann's red card, 10-man Arsenal fought bravely against Barcelona, even taking the lead, before two goals in the final 15 minutes denied the Gunners. While Lehmann is gone and Thierry Henry has switched kits, there are plenty of Arsenal players and supporters who would love another crack at the Spaniards.

The 2008 Re-match: Manchester United vs. Chelsea: A Final settled on penalty kicks is never satisfying (just ask John Terry), so Chelsea would gladly take another fixture against their neighbors to the north. With Manchester United out of the FA Cup, the end of their bid for the quadruple takes some of the sizzle out of this match-up. But the showdown would be a historic first; two teams have never met in the European Final in consecutive seasons.

The All-London Final: Arsenal vs. Chelsea: No London side has ever captured the European Cup, but a showdown between the North London Gunners and the West London Blues would send the capital city into a frenzy.

The Dream Final: Manchester United vs. Barcelona: Ten years ago, Manchester United met Bayern Munich in a classic final in Barcelona. That match marked the last time that two teams that won their domestic leagues faced off for Europe's top honors in the same season. With both Barcelona and ManU in comfortable position atop their leagues, we could see that scenario repeat itself. These two sides have been Europe's best all year; a match-up of the two giants would be a fitting end to the season.

Prediction: ManU's form has slipped of late, while the fortunes of Arsenal have improved along with the team's health. Look for Arsenal to pull the upset and earn another date with Barcelona in the Final. 

The New York Times and Chicago Tribune have their takes on the semifinals as well.

England: EPL Race Takes Shape

The English Premier League season is roughly one-quarter done, and the results of the last four days have brought some separation at the top. The leaders are Liverpool, and if a September home win over Manchester United didn't establish the Reds as leading contenders, Sunday's shock win away to Chelsea certainly did. In his previous four seasons at Anfield, Rafa Benitez has made his name through Liverpool's Champions League success. But the message from fans this season has been clear: win the league, something Liverpool has not done since the dawn of the Premier League. Liverpool are pulling out come-from-behind wins and late victories this season in the types of games that ended in draws or losses last year. That form has resulted in a three-point cushion atop the table.

So which team's will mount the biggest challenge? Chelsea, despite the end of their 84-match home unbeaten streak, have used superior firepower to overcome early injuries and should still be considered the favorites. Unlike Liverpool, Chelsea have buried weaker competition and are building a sizable goal differential advantage (currently nine goals better than Liverpool) that could be critical in a tight race. And after last season's slow start/fast finish, no one will discount Manchester United, especially now that the Cristiano Ronaldo saga has simmered considerably.

The member of the Big Four most likely to fade from contention is Arsenal. Wednesday's home draw to Tottenham put the Gunners six points off the pace, but the psychological impact of the match may prove more damaging than the loss of two points. Hosting their bottom-of-the-table arch rivals, Arsenal allowed two goals in the final two minutes of the match for 4-4 draw. Arsenal's November slate includes ManU, Chelsea and Aston Villa, so Arsene Wenger should know by the December if his men have the mettle to stay in the race.

Champions League: A Unique Look at 1999

Maybe you've seen this before, but until Thursday, I had not. I was searching for the clip of the 1999 Champions League Final that includes Clive Tyldesley's famous call of "What must Lothar Matthäus be thinking? Well, with the greatest respect, who cares?" 

I couldn't find that clip, so if you have it, feel free to send me the link.  But I did come across a very unique look at ManU's shocking win over Bayern Munich, taken from behind the touch line where the Red Devils netted their two stoppage time goals.

Let the Transfers Begin

With the focus shifting back to club sides, July will be a busy month in the transfer market. It's always a challenge separating truth from rumor, but here's a look at some of the names and possible moves to watch in the coming weeks.

• Deco to Chelsea: Done deal as of today, as the Portuguese midfielder follows Big Phil Scolari to Stamford Bridge


• Frank Lampard to Inter Milan?: Will Frank take all the pies with him as he re-unites with The Special One?


• Didier Drogba to AC Milan?: The Chelsea makeover continues. Drogba could end up with either San Siro squad, but his Champions League Final red card was most likely his final act for the Blues.


• Emmanuel Adebayor leaving Arsenal?: Chelsea, Barcelona and AC Milan have all been mentioned as possible destinations.


• Ronaldinhio to Manchester City?: Manchester's number two team has some cash to throw around, and although the Brazilian seems past his prime, this would elevate the squad's profile immediately.


• Samuel Eto'o leaving Barcelona?: With Deco gone, the likelihood that either Eto'o or Ronaldinhio stay put seems greater.


• Gareth Barry to Liverpool?: This one's been in the works for awhile. Let's get it done, please.


• Cristiano Ronaldo to Real Madrid?: How will the soap opera play out? If ManU stick to their word, Ronaldo will be back in red this year.

England: 2008-09 Premier League Schedule Released

Mark your calendars- the 2008-09 Premier League schedule is out!

Manchester United begin defense of their title August 16th at Old Trafford against Newcastle and their early schedule will be tricky- the Red Devils visit Liverpool, Chelsea and Arsenal all before mid-November. If they get through that stretch in first, they'll be tough to catch. The schedule of "big four" matches includes:

Sept. 13: Manchester United @ Liverpool
Sept. 20: Manchester United @ Chelsea
Oct. 25: Liverpool @ Chelsea
Nov. 8: Manchester United @ Arsenal
Nov. 29th: Arsenal @ Chelsea
Dec. 20th: Liverpool @ Arsenal
Jan. 10th: Chelsea @ Manchester United
Jan. 31st: Chelsea @ Liverpool
March 14th: Liverpool @ Manchester United
April 18th: Arsenal @ Liverpool
May 9th: Chelsea @ Arsenal
May 16th: Arsenal @ Manchester United

England: The Latest on Cristiano

Thankfully Euro 08 has pushed this Cristiano Ronaldo foolishness out of the headlines for a few weeks. The world's two most prestigious clubs continue to grapple for the rights to the world's greatest player, but between Ronaldo, Manchester United and Real Madrid, only the European champs have any leverage. Assuming ManU aren't budging from their claim that Ronaldo will not be dealt under any circumstances, the player isn't going anywhere this off-season, which is what makes this saga irritating at best.

On Monday Manchester United registered a formal complaint to FIFA over Real's continued pursuit of Ronaldo. The episode shows why Europe could benefit from stricter tampering rules such as those used in American leagues. While Europe has policies against "tapping up," the process is frequently accepted with a wink and a nod. By contrast, if an American franchise so much as whispered the name of a player under contract to another squad, they'd face an immediate stiff fine. Real's coy pursuit of Ronaldo is beneath a club of their stature. On the other side of the Atlantic they'd be dealing with far more than just a tarnished reputation.

Champions League Final Recap

Manchester United have won the European Cup for the third time in their history. Extra time winners in '68 and victors in a last-second thriller in '99, the Red Devils never take the easy road. Today's Champions League Final was no exception, as ManU won a penalty kick shootout 6-5 over Chelsea following a nervy 1-1 draw.

I feel terrible for Chelsea captain John Terry. With Didier Drogba sent off for a foolish red card in extra time, Terry bravely stepped forward to take Chelsea's fifth penalty kick with a chance to clinch the Cup. Slipping on the rain-soaked grass, Terry's effort sailed wide right. Two rounds later, Nicolas Anelka was stopped by Edwin van der Sar, and Manchester had won the title. Instead of lifting the trophy, a disconsolate Terry was left to accept his second-place medal.

The match was a highly entertaining back-and-forth affair. Manchester United controlled play in the first half and could have easily put the match away early if not for some great saves by Petr Chech. When Frank Lampard drew Chelsea level just before the break, the Blues took control of the game.

Tied at 1-1, Chelsea had narrow misses in the second half and extra time. Drogba hit the left bar late in regulation and Lampard drilled the bottom of the crossbar in extra time. PKs seemed inevitable by the time Drogba was red carded for his silly slap to the face on Nemanja Vidic, so ManU saw little benefit from the man advantage. But who knows what might have been if it was he and not Terry taking the fifth PK for Chelsea.

While Manchester United's biggest stars didn't exactly shine tonight- Wayne Rooney was a non-factor, Carlos Tevez struggled mightily, and Cristinao Ronaldo was nearly the goat in the shootout- the quality of veteran players like Rio Ferdinand, Paul Scholes, Edwin van Der Sar and Ryan Giggs carried the team through. It was a classic ending to a memorable season in Europe; a night when Manchester United painted Moscow red.

Champions League Preview Central

With less than 24 hours to go until kickoff in Moscow, there's no shortage of storylines. I'll leave the analysis to the experts, but here's a look at the headlines for tomorrow's Champions League Final.



Chelsea
With Drogba and Terry already banged up, the last thing Chelsea needed was another injury. It looks like Ashley Cole will be okay, but The Telegraph has all the images from Cole's practice collision with teammate Claude Makelele

Could this be Avaram Grant's last game as Chelsea head coach? The BBC has the story of a man who has accomplished much but apparently still has much to prove.

This could also be the Chelsea farewell for Frank Lampard, who's been linked with a move to Inter Milan. As you'd expect, Lampard downplayed the rumors , but didn't dismiss them completely.

The Independent has a look at the enigma that is Didier Drogba.

Will John Terry be hoisting the trophy tomorrow night? Sky Sports shares the story of what fuels Chelsea's captain.

Manchester United
The Times reports that Wayne Rooney is ready to erase some bad memories of Moscow.

Sir Alex Ferguson will take your foolish wagers on Cristiano Ronaldo returning to Old Trafford next year. In today's Guardian, the ManU boss says his Portugese star isn't heading anywhere.

Speaking of Ronaldo, tomorrow's game will go a long way towards validating his lofty claims of being the world's best, according to The Telegraph.

Nine years after Manchester's last appearance in a Champions League Final, Paul Scholes is finally reading to take to the pitch in Europe's biggest game.

Around Moscow
Those red shirts fit perfectly in downtown Moscow. The Independent has the story of the biggest English invasion to hit Russia since, well, ever.

UEFA Chief Michel Platini has no worries about the pitch for the big game. Of course, he hasn't seen it yet, according to The Guardian.

I'm looking forward to taking the afternoon off from work and heading to my favorite Chicago soccer bar, Fado, to watch the game. With concerns about the playing surface and the familiarity these teams have with one another, scoring will be at a premium. I think we're headed for a 1-1 draw and the cruel lottery of penalty kicks. What happens then? Your guess is as good as mine.

Title Ten for Manchester United

Manchester United claimed their second consecutive Premier League title and tenth overall with a 2-0 win over Wigan.  ManU's win coupled with Chelsea's 1-1 home draw with Bolton saw the Red Devils take the title by two points.

Cristiano Ronaldo had given United a 1-0 lead with a first half PK, but Manchester fans remained on  edge when Andriy Shevcehnko put Chelsea up 1-0 in the 62nd minute at Stamford Bridge.  Ryan Giggs came on in the second half, tying Sir Bobby Charlton's team record for appearances, and the veteran's 80th minute tally secured the crown.  Chelsea surrendered a late equalizer, but the goal proved to be irrelevant.

Elsewhere, Fulham grabbed a 1-0 win at Portsmouth to secure 17th place and avoid relegation.  Fulham won three-straight Premier League road matches for the first time, sending Reading and Birmingham down along with Derby.  Everton's 3-1 win over Newcastle clinched fifth place and a UEFA cup slot.   We'll have to wait and see who claims the UEFA Cup slot based on Fair Play rankings.  Manchester City had a man sent off in an 8-1 thrashing against Middlesbrough, which could cost them the advantage for the Fair Play spot. 

Premier League: The Final Sunday

It finally dawned on me who I thought Avram Grant looks like- actor Seabastian Shaw, who you may better know as the face of Anakin Skywalker at the end of Return of the Jedi. What does this have to do with the last day of the English Premier League season? Not much, but Grant may need to summon the powers of the dark side if Chelsea are to steal the title from Manchester United.

With 10 games all kicking off at 3 pm English time/9 am here in Chicago, there's plenty at stake besides the destination of the championship trophy. Here's a preview.

The Battle for First
The scenario is quite simple. Tied at 84 points and with Manchester United's goal differential lead untouchable, Chelsea will have to better ManU's result Sunday. The Red Devils are away to Wigan, and the Latics are tricky enough to make an upset a possibility. Wigan drew at Stamford Bridge in mid-April, a result that seemed to apply the death blow to Chelsea's title hopes, and posted a 2-0 win at Aston Villa last week. Conspiracy theorists will point to Wigan being managed by former United captain Steve Bruce, but there's no reason to suspect anything but a fair fight.

Chelsea fans will have one eye on the field and one eye on the scoreboard. The Blues will host a Bolton side that essentially secured saftey from the relegation zone last week.

The Battle for Fifth
With Arsenal and Liverpool locked into third and fourth, the remaining slot in Europe next season involves the race for fifth. Everton have held down the position most of the season and currently sit three points ahead of Aston Villa. With the teams even on goal differential (+20), an Everton loss coupled with an Aston Villa win would give Villa the UEFA Cup spot. Any other scenario sees Everton through. Everton will be home to Newcastle, while Aston Villa travels to West Ham.

The Battle for Seventeenth
Seventeenth place means avoiding the bottom three and a ticket to relegation. We know Derby, owners of the worst record in Premier League history, are headed down. Who among Fulham, Reading and Birmingham will join them? Here's where we stand heading into Sunday:

Bolton: 36 points, -18 goal differential
Fulham 33 points, -23
--------------------------
Reading 33 points, -29
Birmingham 32 points, -19
Derby 11 points, -65

Officaly Bolton are not safe, but their 11 goal lead over Reading is nearly untouchable. The match-ups for Sunday are Fulham at Portsmouth, Reading at Derby and Birmingham home to Blackburn. With that schedule, it's advantage Reading, who should avoid the relegation sword on the final day.

Sunday, Sunday, SUNDAY!

With Chelsea's 2-0 win over Newcastle yesterday, it's all to play for in the Premier League this Sunday. Regardless of the results, this will be the closest Premier League finish since Manchester United edged Arsenal by one point in 1999, ironically the last time ManU reached the Champions League Final.

Manchester United are away to Wigan and Chelsea are home to Bolton. With ManU's lead in goal differential untouchable, Chelsea will need to better the Red Devils' result to cop their third title in four years. Prediction: both teams take care of business and Manchester United wins the title, decided on goal differential for the first time in EPL history.

At the other end of the table, Fulham, Reading and Birmingham will battle to avoid relegation, with two of those three teams joining Derby in next year's Coca Cola Championship.

One of the beauties of the last day of the Premier League season is that all 10 matches kickoff simultaneously at 3 pm. That schedule has resulted in some memorable last day scrambles, such as Blackburn Rovers holding off ManU on the last day despite losing in 1995. We'll see how it all unfolds on Sunday, Sunday, SUNDAY!

Manchester United-Barcelona Recap

The Reds go marching on. On to Moscow, that is. Manchester United ensured the first ever all-English European Cup final with an efficent 1-0 win over Barcelona at Old Trafford to win the semifinal after a scorless draw last week in Spain.

Paul Scholes brillant strike following a Barca giveaway in the 14th minute was all the home team needed. Cristiano Ronaldo led a rush, but lost the ball to Xavi, whose sloppy clearing pass came straight to Scholes. The veteran midfielder made no mistake, hitting the top right corner from 30 yards out.

For the rest of the night, Barcelona had plenty of possession, but few quality scoring chances- only three shots on goal despite a 62-38% advantage in posession. Manchester United defended bravely in the final minutes to preserve the 1-0 victory.

The win must be especially sweet for Scholes, who was suspended for Manchester's last Champions League Final appearance in 1999. Meanwhile, the loss likely means the end of the road for Milli Vanilli lead singer/Barcelona head coach Frank Rijkaard. In the two seasons since their 2006 Champions League title, Barcelona has failed to capture any trophies, and trophies are the name of the game when you're one of Europe's elite teams.

It's hard to believe that for a squad with Manchester United's tradition and pedigree, this will only be their third European Cup Final. If it's anything like their matches in 1968 and 1999, we'll be in for a classic. Tomorrow we'll know their English opponents.