Heavyweights collide

United lurks as Liverpool faces Arsenal

LONDON (AP) -- As Arsenal and Liverpool prepare to collide in the first of two matches in two weeks, it's Manchester United that could be back atop the Premier League when the weekend's over.

If things go Man United's way, a victory for the defending champion on Sunday at Southampton could cap an abrupt turnaround for the Reds.

In early December, United was 11 points off the lead and lodged in ninth place. Manager Alex Ferguson said at the time it would take a "miracle" for his side to win the league for the eighth time in 10 seasons.

Divine intervention has come in the form of Ruud van Nistelrooy. The can't-miss Dutch striker, signed in the off-season for 19 million pounds (US$27.5 million) from PSV Eindhoven, has been spectacular.

Van Nistelrooy has done what even Man United legends Bobby Charlton and George Best could not manage. By scoring two goals in two minutes as a substitute over the weekend in a come-from-behind 3-2 FA Cup win over Aston Villa, the Dutchman became the first to score in seven straight Man United matches.

If he scores again at Southampton, he will match the record of goals in seven straight Premier League games shared by Ian Wright, Alan Shearer and Mark Stein.

"It is hard to say whether this is the best form of my career, but I have certainly never been in a run like this in terms of scoring goals," Van Nistelrooy said. "I've never scored seven times in a row for anyone.

"I hope I can keep it going, but the important thing was that it was our seventh victory in a row and the team deserves a lot of credit."

Teammate Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, who scored the other goal in the improbable comeback on Sunday, tipped his hat to Van Nistelrooy.

"He is in fantastic form," the Norwegian said. "It is a case of if you give him the ball you know he is going to create something."

David Beckham, who has been benched consistently by Ferguson in the last month, could be there again on Sunday. Inter Milan owner Massimo Moratti said this week he'd like to buy the English midfielder, who is negotiating with Man United for a new contract, but the price is too high.

The Premier League title race has seldom been this tight.

Four of the five top clubs face off this weekend, with league-leading Leeds going to Newcastle on Saturday and Liverpool playing at Arsenal on Sunday.

Leeds has 41 points followed by Manchester United, Arsenal and Newcastle with 39 and Liverpool with 38. Arsenal has a game in hand on the other four. At the bottom, Leicester has 16 points with Ipswich on 18 and Derby with 19.

Slumping Liverpool, thumped 2-0 on Wednesday at Southampton, has picked up only six points in seven matches. But stand-in manager Phil Thompson is keeping a stiff upper lip.

"We'll be back," he said.

Asked if Liverpool was out of contention, Thompson pointed to Man United's turnaround.

"I hope people say that because I know we have the potential in our squad," he said. "Look at Manchester United and the disrespectful things people said about them. They were capable of putting a run together -- and we are capable of turning things round."

Liverpool's French striker Nicolas Anelka could face a hostile reception on his return to Highbury on Sunday. The disenchanted Frenchman failed to return to Arsenal's training camp after the 1998-99 season and was eventually sold to Real Madrid for 22 million pounds (US$31.9 million). Anelka is now on loan from Paris St. Germain.

Arsenal striker Dennis Bergkamp urged Gunners fans to stay calm.

"He has done well for Arsenal and if people look at that, he should get a good reception," said Bergkamp, speaking of a player dubbed the "Incredible Sulk."

Arsenal and Liverpool will meet again on Jan. 27 in the fourth round of the FA Cup at Highbury.

Leeds goes to Newcastle playing its first match since being knocked out of the FA Cup in a 2-1 loss to second-division Cardiff City. Leeds manager David O'Leary will have had time to cool off after confronting Cardiff City owner Sam Hammam after the match.

The Irishman was angered by Hammam's antics of going behind the Leeds' goal and leading cheers at the 22,000-sellout.

In other Premier League games on Saturday: Aston Villa vs. Derby, Blackburn vs. Charlton, Bolton vs. Chelsea, Everton vs. Sunderland, Fulham vs. Middlesbrough, Ipswich vs. Tottenham, and West Ham vs. Leicester.

The English first division is as close as the Premier League with Manchester City on top with 52 points followed by Burnley (50), Wolves (49), Norwich (49), Millwall (48), West Bromwich Albion (47) and Birmingham (46).

In Saturday matches: Bradford vs. Portsmouth, Gillingham vs. Sheffield United, Grimsby vs. West Brom, Nottingham Forest vs. Barnsley, Rotherham vs. Watford, Sheffield Wednesday vs. Crewe, Walsall vs. Preston, Wimbledon vs. Burnley. On Sunday: Man City vs. Norwich, Stockport vs. Crystal Palace, Wolves vs. Coventry.

In Scotland, defending champion Celtic tops the league by 13 points over Rangers, and 21 over Livingston. In Saturday's games: Dundee vs. Hibernian, Hearts vs. Aberdeen, Kilmarnock vs. Celtic, Motherwell vs. Dundee United, Rangers vs. Livingston, St. Johnstone vs. Dunfermline.

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