Thanks to City’s 1-0 win over United on Monday evening, the Swans now find themselves caught in the Premier League title race crossfire and could act as party poopers on Sunday. United will be hurting from the loss that saw them cede top spot to their rivals and will more than fancy a crack at the Swans, who shipped in four against Wolverhampton last week.

Swans boss Brendan Rodgers started with three at the back against Wolves and then reverted to a 4-3-3 with Steven Caulker filling in at right back. Caulker could again have to play as a makeshift defender if neither of Alan Tate or Angel Rangel pass their fitness tests prior to the game.

Swansea’s Premier League survival is pretty much guaranteed, but the team could even finish in the top ten if they get decent results against United this weekend and the Red Devils’ great North-West rivals Liverpool on the final day of the season.

With City playing Newcastle United earlier in the day, United could be three points behind their rivals by the time they take the field against the Swans. United played a 4-5-1 formation against City, but are expected to lineup more aggressively against the Swans as they also need goals to make up the goal difference between them and City.

Sir Alex Ferguson’s men, for the record, edged the reverse fixture at the Liberty earlier this season 1-0 thanks to Javier Hernandez’s first half goal.

The first leg at the San Siro ended in a goalless draw and Milan coach Massimiliano Allegri has insisted that his side can emulate what rivals Inter did two years ago and knock the Catalans out of the competition. Milan drew 1-1 with Catania in their weekend league clash, while Barcelona beat a talented Athletic Bilbao side 2-0.

Tuesday’s other quarterfinal sees German giants Bayern Munich host Marseille. Bayern are in the driving seat having won the first leg 2-0 at the Velodrome and despite the presence of players like Valbuena and Remy in the opposition lineup, asking L’OM to beat Bayern convincingly at the fortress that is the Allianz Arena might be too much. The last team to visit the Allianz Arena in Europe was Swiss outfit Basel and they were at the receiving end of a 7-0 hiding.

Real Madrid already have one foot in the quarterfinals thanks to their 3-0 win over APOEL a week ago and only the most optimistic APOEL fan will feel that the Cypriot underdogs have a chance of overturning the three goal deficit at the Bernabeu. Along with the Bayern-Marseille game, this looks like the easiest one to predict.

On the other side of the draw, Benfica, who while ruing not being able to make the most of home advantage last week, will go out all guns blazing at the Bridge. Chelsea won 1-0 last week and have discovered some of their old swagger in recent weeks under Roberto di Matteo. Benfica’s Nicolas Gaitan, a target for many Premier League biggies, was quiet in the first leg at the Estadio da Luz, but an assured performance on Wednesday night could seal a lucrative summer switch to England for the diminutive Argentine.

Chelsea’s goal came through Gary Cahill, while Man City netted through Sergio Aguero and Samir Nasri. Substitute Carlos Tevez had a hand in City’s winner and he could well prove to be the player that swings the momentum of the title from the red side to the blue side of Manchester.
Elsewhere, Arsenal’s hot streak continued as they beat Everton 1-0 at Goodison Park. Belgian Thomas Vermaelen’s goal took the Gunners above rivals Tottenham, who needed to beat Stoke to keep their noses ahead of the Gunners. Despite Harry Redknapp’s best efforts, Spurs could only draw 1-1 with Stoke, thereby resulting in the Lilywhites conceding third place to the Gunners.

The shock of the day took place at Loftus Road, where a great goal from Sebastian Coates was overshadowed by Liverpool’s capitulation in the last quarter of the game. Leading 2-0 with less than thirteen minutes to go, the Reds defence let in three as QPR and Mark Hughes celebrated a famous league win that could go a long way in ensuring Premier League survival for the R’s. Derry, Cisse and Buzsaky were on target for the Londoners against Kenny Dalglish’s men.

The competition provides both sides an opportunity to confirm their spot in the 2012-2013 Europa League. A win for Cardiff will allow the Welsh side to emulate Birmingham City, who played in this season’s Europa League despite being relegated to the Championship thanks to their win last year.

This will be an emotional moment for Welsh forward Craig Bellamy, who has been one of Liverpool’s better players this season and is expected to start on Sunday along with Luis Suarez. Bellamy was on loan at Cardiff last season from Manchester City. Liverpool go into this game on the back of a 6-1 demolition of Brighton in the League Cup. Cardiff hopes will rely on the skills of midfielder Peter Whittingham, who has already been nominated for the Championship’s player of the season.
For Cardiff, this represents an opportunity to avenge their 2007 League Cup loss to Liverpool. And in a strange quirk of fate, Liverpool’s 2006 FA Cup win was achieved at the Millenium Stadium in the Welsh capital.

For Liverpool, a trophy at Wembley will mark their first since the return of Kenny Dalglish. With the Reds all but out of the title race, this Cup is their best chance for silverware this season. While he knows that Liverpool are the favourites, Dalglish will do his best to ward off complacency. He was after all the manager of the 1988 Liverpool squad that suffered a shock loss to Wimbledon in the FA Cup final, remembered even today as one of the biggest Cupsets of all time.

Spurs were thumped 5-1 by City when they met in the reverse fixture at the Lane, but since then, the Lilywhites’ fortunes have seen a great change, and they are now within striking distance of the title. Win this game and Redknapp’s boys will be within two points of Man City. Lose it and the gap becomes eight. To say that Tottenham’s Premier League hopes will be made or destroyed on Sunday would be a tad premature, but it will certainly tell us whether the Lilywhites are genuine title contenders or not.

Man City will themselves be missing Yaya Toure and Vincent Kompany, two colossuses at Eastlands, but their defence will be happy at not seeing Emmanuel Adebayor on Spurs’ lineup sheet. Adebayor is on loan at Spurs from City and the terms of his loan agreement do not allow him to take the field this weekend.

Arsenal suffered one of the most horrific days in their history when they lost 8-2 to Man Utd on the same afternoon Spurs were thumped 5-1 by City. Sir Alex Ferguson’s United are not in great form, but they’re still able to pick up points when required, and have an impressive tally of 48 points to their name at this point of time.
While United are still in the race for the crown, Arsenal’s title hopes are all but over (36 points), but qualifying for the Champions League remains a priority for the Gunners. Plus there’s always the little matter of revenge for that ghastly 8-2 loss !

In other fixtures, goal shy Liverpool meet Bolton Wanderers, who have the poorest home defensive record in the league. Chelsea will be up against Norwich City in Saturday’s early kick off while QPR and Wigan meet in an important bottom of the table clash. Demba Ba-less Newcastle are away at Fulham, in form Sunderland meet last weekend’s heroes Swansea and Robbie Keane and his Villa comrades travel to his old club Wolves. Stoke v West Brom completes this weekend’s list of fixtures.

Wigan vs. Sunderland

Wigan Athletic host Sunderland hoping to move out of the relegation zone. The Latic’s are currently third from bottom in the Premier League and three points would move them up to 16th. Wigan have enjoyed a decent run of form which has included draws against Liverpool and Chelsea.

Sunderland are enjoying a renaissance under new boss Martin O’Neill. The Black Cats clinched a dramatic 1-0 victory over league leaders Manchester City in their last outing. Sunderland have started to pull away from the drop zone.

However they are currently plagued by injuries. They are currently without Titus Bramble, Sebastian Larsson and Phil Bardsley. Connor Wickham, Craig Gordon and Frazier Campbell are also out with knee injuries.

The home side will be without keeper Chris Kirkland and defender Emmerson Boyce for this vital home clash.

Manchester City vs. Liverpool

Manchester City will be looking to bounce back from a shock 1-0 defeat at Sunderland with a home win against Liverpool. The Reds are a hard side to score against though and won’t make it easy for the home side. The Merseysider’s have the best defensive record in the top flight.

City are currently top of the Premier League on goal difference but will be looking to go three points clear of arch-rivals Manchester United in the Premier League table. Liverpool could move up to fifth in the Premier League table if they claim three points.

Both sides have near full strength squads. The only players missing being Owen Hargreaves for City and Brazilian midfielder Lucas Leiva for Liverpool.

Tottenham vs. West Brom

Tottenham will be looking to go three points behind second place Manchester United with a victory over West Brom at White Hart Lane. The Baggies form has been patchy this season and they lost 1-0 against Everton in their last outing.

The Baggies are struggling to score goals this season but Roy Hodgson’s side will still be hoping to pull off a shock. The Baggies will be without key players Jonas Olsson and Youssouf Mulumbu. Shane Long and Chris Brunt are also doubts for the clash.

Tottenham should have a full squad available, apart from midfielder Tom Huddlestone, who is a long-term injury casualty. Sebastien Bassong and Roman Pavlyuchenko will return to the squad after missing the trip to Swansea.

United easily beat Leeds 3-0 thanks to a brace from Michael Owen while Arsenal endured a horror start to their game before picking themselves up to win 3-1. League Two side Shrewsbury took advantage of some shambolic defending from the Gunners to go 1-0 up but Kieran Gibbs, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Yossi Benayoun struck to spare Arsenal the blushes.

Tottenham were eliminated as Stoke City beat them 7-6 on penalties after the clash ended goalless in normal time. Joining Spurs out of the competition were Alex McLeish’s Aston Villa, who slumped to a 2-0 loss at home to Bolton.

Blackburn won for the second time in three days as they edged out Leyton Orient 3-2. Newcastle United were taken the distance by Nottingham Forest before a late Fabricio Coloccini goal gave the Magpies a 4-3 extra time victory.

Wolves thrashed the living daylights out of Millwall as they routed the Lions 5-0 while Burnley and Crystal Palace recorded identical 2-1 wins over MK Dons and Middlesbrough respectively. Aldershot also continued their dream run in the competition as they overcame Rochdale 2-1.

City are expected to pose a serious threat to United’s title defence in the forthcoming 11/12 season and will be looking for a repeat of their 1-0 FA Cup semi final win over the Red Devils at the same ground last season. Manager Roberto Mancini has continued to add to his squad, bringing in Gael Clichy and Sergio Aguero to Eastlands. However £38m striker Aguero will only start on the bench, with Mancini set to pair the temperamental Mario Balotelli in attack with Bosnian hitman Edin Dzeko. Former United striker Carlos Tevez, so critical to City’s success last season, will play no part in this fixture. In Tevez’s absence, a player who could have a big say in the result of this fixture is hugely talented playmaker David Silva, whose silky passes will pose a major threat to the United backline.

United, who have had a perfect pre-season record so far, will also be without some key players. Midfielder Michael Carrick, who is nursing an Achilles injury, will definitely miss this game and so will young Mexican Javier Chicharito Hernandez, who suffered a concussion during United’s pre-season tour of America. New signing Ashley Young will have to make do with a spot on the bench as Sir Alex Ferguson is expected to start Nani and Valencia on the wings.

Three of the last four Community Shield finals have been decided on penalties. United are regulars at this fixture, while City are making their first appearance since 1973. Winning this title could see City steal a march over their rivals for the Premier League trophy and Mancini is expected to do everything possible in order to ensure a victory for his charges over Sir Alex’s men.

Man Utd vs Man City- Odds:-

Bet365:- Man Utd at 13/10 to win, Man City at 11/5
SkyBet:- Man Utd at 13/8 to win, Man City at 2/1

Media are claiming that Bayern Munich officials will be meeting up in the next few days in order to discuss the amount they are going to be placing for Boateng but if City rejects it, then the club will explore for alternatives.

Bayern Munich already offered around €12 million for Boateng but City wants at least €25 million although an agreement if very plausible to happen in the next upcoming days.

“I think both clubs will talk to each other again in the next few days,” Jerome Boateng stated to the press.

“I hope that they will then find an agreement. I will hold another meeting with Manchester City officials on Tuesday but I have already made my point clear. I cannot be any clearer – I want to join Bayern.

“I want to join as soon as possible. I hope that this will be resolved quickly and that both parties will come to an agreement.”

If everything fails and City rejects them once again, then Gabriel Milito of Barcelona and Alex of Chelsea are rumored to be the next targets of the German Titans.

Maradona continues slamming and contradicting almost everything Pele says and this time it’s concerning the rising star Neymar of Santos.

The 19 years old Brazilian player of Santos Neymar recently said in an interview that he can surpass the likes of Lionel Messi without even going to Europe and staying with the Brazilian club Santos for the rest of his career.

Following the interview of Neymar, the Argentine former player Maradona did not enjoy tose words and even considered Neymar to be ‘’ bad mannered, just like Pele’’.

The exact words of Maradona read as follows:

“Neymar is bad-mannered, just like Pele,” the Al Wasl coach told TVE.

“Messi is an exceptional player and I doubt anyone can separate him from being the best.”

Lionel Messi recently just arrived after playing with his national team Argentina in which they placed against Albania and finished the encounter with a comfortable 4-0 score and Messi easily being the best player on the pitch.

Demonstrating to the World that he does not need the likes of: Xavi or Iniesta in order to pull of breathtaking moves and leading his team to victory,

While the Brazilian 19 years old is expected to be one of the players to guide Brazil into a successful World Cup f the upcoming years alongside the highly rated Ganso.