28.4.08

Back to Business - Football

A decisive week awaits my favorite clubs - Liverpool FC and Rangers FC. Liverpool has clinched the 4th spot in the Premiership with Everton drawing at home to Aston Villa. Rangers dropping their second consecutive game to Celtic at Celtic Park fell to five points behind in the race for the Scottish title. However, they hold an absurd three games in hand needing only wins in two of them to retake the lead. Rangers also await a tie in the Scottish Cup Final against Queen of the South where they will be prohibitive favorites. And here is the rest of it.

Both clubs face daunting challenges in Europe. Liverpool travel to Stamford Bridge for the return match against Chelsea in the Champions League semi-final. Chelsea pulled out a last second goal off John Arne Risse's head to level the match at 1-1 and pick up a valuable away goal.

Rangers will travel to Italy for the return match against Fiorentina. A massively depleted Rangers squad - lacking their captain Barry Ferguson and Kevin Thomson due to suspension. First choice goalkeeper Allan McGregor, Charlie Adam, Lee McCulloch, Steven Naismith, Chris Burke and DaMarcus Beasley were out with injuries. At the least, they can expect their two midfielders to return from suspension.

A win for Liverpool puts them in the Champions League final for the third time in four years and is their only shot at silverware on the season. A loss effectively ends their season.

A Rangers win keeps them alive for an unprecedented quadruple although Bayern Munich likely awaits in the finals. Rangers have been remarkably effective on the road so far so the Italians have cause to worry - a 1-1 result and they lose. Walter Smith will have his boys attacking from the start.

So it's Go Reds on Wednesday and Go Blue on Thursday.

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