Gerard Houllier and Arsene Wenger agree on one thing ahead of tomorrow's showdown between their teams at Highbury - it looks like the Premiership title is on its way to Old Trafford again.
Arsenal manager Wenger virtually threw in the towel this week when he admitted Manchester United look strong favourites to retain their crown. And Liverpool boss Houllier agrees with his fellow Frenchman over the likely destination of the championship.
"I agree totally with Arsene," said the Anfield manager. "It will be very difficult to catch Manchester United now. They have a good lead at the top and they have a reasonable fixture list ahead of them once they have got out of the way home games with ourselves, Chelsea and Sunderland.
"We have improved, considerably, and fourth place at the moment is something to be proud of. But it will be very difficult to challenge United this season now. Saying that, football is unpredictable.
"I do expect United to drop points maybe when they have European matches back in their sights. But they are the best team in the country by a long way at the moment, and I can't see anyone catching them."
Houllier goes head to head with a man he describes as "my very good friend" for tomorrow's televised clash, a game that could see Liverpool leapfrog Arsenal into third place in the chase for a Champions League spot.
Arsenal have not beaten Liverpool home or away for six years while Liverpool are in the middle of a three-match run against the trio of teams above them in the title race. They beat Leeds last weekend and victory at Highbury would send the Anfield club into their next match at Old Trafford on March 4th on the crest of a wave.
"We are only behind Arsenal on goal difference," Houllier added. "It is an important game for both of us. I don't see these three games as being decisive because there will still be 13 games to go after the Highbury match. Liverpool are protecting a record of only two defeats in their last 16 league games but Houllier will be hoping that they do not suffer another London fade-out because those two defeats came away at West Ham and Spurs.
The Merseysiders should be unchanged at Highbury following their 3-1 win over Leeds. David Thompson is still suspended, while Liverpool's three injured England internationals - Michael Owen, Robbie Fowler and Jamie Redknaap - are not expected to return until March.
Meanwhile, Wenger said yesterday he was not interested in signing Dutch star Ruud van Nistelrooy and plans to give Dennis Bergkamp the chance to prove he still has what it takes.
Wenger was in Holland Thursday night, among a large gathering of top European club managers including Chelsea's Gianluca Vialli, to watch van Nistelrooy score a hat-trick for PSV Eindhoven in a 4-0 win over Ajax to bring his goal tally for the season to 21 in 19 games.
But even though the 23-year-old striker was strongly recommended to Wenger by Newcastle's former PSV boss Bobby Robson and has also had glowing references from fellow Dutchmen Bergkamp and Marc Overmars at Highbury, the Arsenal boss said he was unimpressed with what he saw.
"He's a very good player, the star striker in Holland at the moment, but it was certainly not only him that I had a look at. It was a poor game. PSV were 3-0 up after only 20 minutes and it was never a contest. Nobody played really well."
Andy Cole would love to continue his goalscoring streak at St James' Park today and score his 100th goal for Manchester United. Cole needs just one more strike to notch up 100 goals for the Treble winners.
However, Cole's main priority today will be to make sure United win and maintain their six-point lead in the Premiership race.
Cole will be partnered by either Teddy Sheringham or Ole Gunnar Solskjaer in attack because Dwight Yorke is on international duty at the Gold Cup, while Ryan Giggs is expected to be fit after his hamstring scare.
