Of injuries and opportunities

As we play and replay those images of a memorable football week in our minds, of Ronaldinho's ballet with the ball, of Raul's rescue of Real, and other such, we have a tired weekend of football awaiting us. That adjective not only describes us fans, but the fare in store.

My pick of the week, without much to pick from, would be the Arsenal-Liverpool clash on Sunday.

Previous column All eyes on El Classico

A gasping-for-breath Liverpool is in such a sorry state that they are just short of fielding some of their fans! Djibril Cisse, Milan Baros, Vladimir Smicer and now Luis Garcia are all out to injury. Reports also talk about them approaching Real Zaragoza for striker David Villa to remedy their striker crisis. Thankfully, they will not face a fully loaded Arsenal side either -- with Jose Antonio Reyes and Thierry Henry likely to miss out.

What is amusing to watch is a team like Arsenal struggling ever since that loss to Manchester United.

With Arsenal clearly not in the best of moods and with their traditional rivalry with Liverpool, this should be a very enjoyable match.

Of course, Manchester United will be salivating at the thought of meeting West Bromwich Albion especially at a time that Arsenal and Chelsea look out of sorts. We cannot watch, but Ferguson will be looking at taking a big bite out of that 7-point deficit.

Also do not miss our cowboys Newcastle United take on Everton, who are the silent killers of the Premiership, for a heavy-duty physical encounter. Does anybody even know that they are just two points adrift off Arsenal?

Real Madrid return to our screens as they take on seventh placed Levante, and will be keeping their heads down to deliver and avoid further embarrassment after the Barcelona humiliation.

Like Don Quixote rising from his deathbed to deliver one final flourish, and without the implication of death, Figo dazzled us with a run conjured up out of nothing at all to show Real Madrid and the world that with the Galacticos, there is always a way. They may be ageing, but you can never outgrow them. That run topped off with Raul's record equaling goal was my moment of the week. Let's hope this weekend gives us an equally memorable moment.

Have a restful weekend.

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Fixtures:

Saturday:
Fulham vs Blackburn Rovers – ESPN – 18:10 hrs
Chelsea vs Charlton Athletic – ESPN – 20:25 hrs
Bolton Wanderers vs Portsmouth – Star Sports – 20:24 hrs
Aston Villa vs Manchester City – ESPN – 22:40 hrs

Sunday:
Espanyol vs Athletico Madrid – ESPN – 02:30 hrs
Newcastle United vs Everton – Star Sports – 19:25 hrs
Liverpool vs Arsenal – Star Sports – 21:30 hrs

Monday:
Real Madrid vs Levante – Star Sports – 01:30 hrs