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Can Man United come back?

Liverpool produced a five star performance on Thursday night to beat Man United 2-0 at Anfield in the first leg of their Europa round of 16, the knock out stage. Manchester United looked in disarray as Liverpool powered through the midfield with relentless attacking football that suggested Liverpool have embraced Jurgen Klopp’s style of football.

There are those who feel that United were out of sorts due to the inclusion of older players such as Fellaini who have shown lack of ambition.

May be LVG should have stuck to his youthful experiments. However, all is not lost because United can turn the tables in the second leg. They will have a home advantage and have every opportunity to invoke the inspiration that helped them beat Midjttyland after losing the first leg.

But Liverpool should not be Man United’s immediate worry at the moment rather West Ham, their round six FA Cup opponent tomorrow.

West Ham have proved too good for all the top four teams in the league. To reach round six, they have had to dismiss Liverpool and Tottenham. United need more than their youthful charm to beat West Ham tomorrow. West Ham boast some of the best players in the league in the shape of Dimitry Payet.

He is a complete product blessed with incredible dribbles, an eye for that defence-splitting pass and a dead ball specialist. West Ham look ominous because they are a combination of power, skill and experience.

Chelsea versus Everton is another FA Cup clash to look out for today in the evening. After being eliminated in humiliating fashion at home in the Champions League, Chelsea know the only way for redemption this season is to win the FA Cup. But Everton are a tricky customer which makes this match an interesting one.

To make matters worse for Guus Hiddink is the fact that inform striker Diego Costa and Edin Hazard both limped out against PSG. But Chelsea is not the only team with eyes on FA Cup, Arsenal are also in the run.

They, too, face an apocalypse fixture in the Champions League at Nou Camp trailing 2-0 from the first leg. They are eight points behind leaders Leicester City in the league. They face Watford tomorrow in the late kick off coming after Man United versus West Ham.

There are only four league matches this week. Today Norwich face Man City, Bournemouth play Swansea and Stoke line up against Southampton. But my interest will be on the match on Monday between Leicester City and relegation threatened Newcastle. If Leicester win, they will maintain their five points advantage while Steve Maclaren will have been sacked by the time they play the game if reports are anything to go by. n

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