English Premier League title run-in

LONDON (Reuters) -- Liverpool, Manchester United and Arsenal are the teams battling it out for the English Premier League title.

Liverpool currently tops the top table with 65 points, one point clear of champion Manchester United.

Arsenal is third on 63 but it has eight games left, two more than its rivals.

LIVERPOOL

STRENGTHS: Liverpool has won the championship a record 18 times, four more than United, but not since 1990, so its fans are the hungriest of all. It boasts the meanest defense in the league with only 26 goals conceded in 32 games. In Michael Owen, Emile Heskey, Jari Litmanen and Nicolas Anelka it has four strikers capable of winning a match with one moment of magic. The return of inspirational manager Gerard Houllier after heart surgery has given the club an added lift. Four of its last six games are at home and five are against teams in the lower half of the table.

WEAKNESSES: Both Owen and influential midfielder Steven Gerrard are injury-prone. Heavily dependent on central defensive pair of Sami Hyypia and Stephane Henchoz. Generally the team is less impressive at home than on its travels. Like United, Liverpool has the distraction of the Champions League.

FIXTURES: March 30 - Charlton Athletic (H), April 7 - Blackburn Rovers (H), April 13 - Sunderland (A), April 20 - Derby County (H), April 27 - Tottenham Hotspur (A), May 11 Ipswich Town (H).

CHANCES: Last year's UEFA Cup, League Cup and FA Cup treble showed it can cope with a hectic schedule. Will need to avoid habit this season of dropping points against lesser sides. Inspired by the return of Houllier, it should take it right to the wire.

PREDICTION: 2nd

MANCHESTER UNITED

STRENGTHS: After three successive titles United's players and their manager Alex Ferguson have the experience and the incentive of knowing no team has ever won four in a row. This season their strikers, especially Dutchman Ruud van Nistelrooy, have been scoring for fun -- the team has netted 18 more goals than any other team in the premier league. They also have a vastly superior goal difference to their rivals, effectively an extra point. Squad is filled with potential match-winners of proven ability -- David Beckham, Juan Sebastian Veron, Ryan Giggs and Paul Scholes -- and, in Roy Keane, United boast the most competitive player in English football.

WEAKNESSES: Difficult run-in, with games against Leeds, Chelsea and, perhaps decisively, Arsenal. Defensively suspect and no longer invincible at Old Trafford, where it has lost five times this season in the league. United have conceded more goals than relegation-threatened Everton, Fulham and Sunderland this season. Terrible start to the campaign is likely to return to haunt them, and eight losses in 32 games is several too many. Keane's absence through injury could also be costly. The Champions League is likely to be an even bigger distraction than for Liverpool, with the final taking place in Ferguson's home city of Glasgow.

FIXTURES: March 30 - Leeds United (A), April 6 - Leicester City (A), April 20- Chelsea (A), April 27 - Ipswich (A), May 11 - Charlton Athletic (h), TBA Arsenal (H).

CHANCES: Has suffered too many defeats already and cannot afford another if it is to retain its title. Likely to fall just short, although Europe could offer compensation.

PREDICTION: 3rd

ARSENAL

STRENGTHS: Outstanding away form has been the key to their challenge -- they have not lost a single league game on their travels. Probably the most consistent team of the three contenders over the season, despite a crippling injury list. Squad strength is very impressive. Deprived of silverware since the 1998 league and FA Cup double, manager Arsene Wenger is hungry for success after finishing runners-up to United in each of the last three seasons. French contingent is key, with Thierry Henry, Robert Pires and Patrick Vieira outstanding this season. Return to fitness of England goalkeeper David Seaman has given them a big boost. Champions League exit has left it free to concentrate on the league, although it also has an FA Cup semifinal to consider.

WEAKNESSES: Defensive injury list could yet take its toll, with Martin Keown, Matthew Upson, Igor Stepanovs, Tony Adams, Ashley Cole and Giovanni van Bronckhorst all regulars in the treatment room this season. The loss of Pires for the run-in due to a knee injury could be decisive. Disciplinary record has again been poor, with 12 players sent off. Although they have two games in hand, points on the board are generally better at this stage of the season. Arsenal has to travel to Old Trafford and three of its games will be tightly-contested London derbies, notably the clash with neighbor Tottenham Hotspur.

FIXTURES: March 30 - Sunderland (H), April 1 - Charlton Athletic (A), April 6 - Tottenham Hotspur (H), April 21 - Ipswich (H), April 27 - Bolton Wanderers (A), May 11 - Everton (H), TBA West Ham (H), Manchester United (A).

CHANCES: Arsenal's destiny is in its hands, although its game against United could yet prove to be the title decider. Champions League exit has made them doubly determined to win the domestic championship, and the title is there for the taking.

PREDICTION: 1st

 

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