United to lock horns with New Castle

Manchester United's manager Alex Ferguson claimed that the Champions League will be his priority this season.

Manchester United will open their Premier League season against Newcastle United with manager Alex Ferguson claiming the Champions League will be his priority this season. In a break from his usual stance, the he has outlined his desperation to make up for last season’s quarter-final exit in the competition.

United went out on away goals in April after drawing 4-4 on aggregate with Bayern Munich in two compelling contests, particularly the game at Old Trafford where a stunning Arjen Robben goal for Bayern plus Rafael’s sending off provided the talking points.

United’s exit rankled with Ferguson at the time and it still rankles with him now and he considers rectifying last season’s “unlucky” Champions League campaign as the most important job on his to-do list. However, Ferguson was also keen to stress the Premier League title to regain the title they lost to Chelsea last term.

Few but the most ardent Newcastle supporters would give Chris Hughton’s side a chance of recording their first league win at Old Trafford in almost four decades as the Football League champions return to the Premier League following a season-long absence.

It is approaching nine years since Newcastle’s last victory over United in any competition, since when they have lost 13 of the clubs’ 16 meetings, although they did emerge with a creditable 1-1 draw on their most recent Old Trafford visit to open the campaign in 2008.

With Dan Gosling out until January following knee surgery and Sol Campbell still struggling for match fitness, defender James Perch, a £1 million signing from Nottingham Forest, is likely to be the only one of Hughton’s pre-season arrivals on show.

Andy Carroll has recovered from a back problem to wear the number nine shirt for the first time after he was allocated Newcastle’s iconic jersey in a major vote of confidence from the manager.Hughton, who is without injured striker Leon Best in addition to long-term casualties Steven Taylor and Danny Simpson, admits the North-East club are taking a step into the unknown as they contemplate life back in the top-flight.

Chelsea overpower West Brom

Didier Drogba scored a hat-trick as Chelsea began the defence of their English Premier League title with a crushing 6-0 victory over West Bromwich Albion.

Florent Malouda, who ended the goal spree in the 90th minute, started Chelsea’s rout with a sixth-minute goal after Baggies keeper Scott Carson spilled Drogba’s tame free-kick.

Chelsea doubled their lead in the 45th minute when Drogba scored a free-kick from 25 yards against a West Brom side managed by former Blues midfielder Roberto di Matteo.

Ten minutes after the break, Drogba made it 3-0 when he forced home from close range after John Terry’s goalbound header from  a corner was cleared. England midfielder Frank Lampard added a fourth goal in the 63rd minute after good work by Nicolas Anelka and Ashley Cole.

Drogba, who ended the last Premier League season with a hat-trick against Wigan, completed his treble five minutes later with the aid of a shot deflected off Gabriel Tamas.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 16^th, 2010.