A Day (Year) for Manchester

Giggs, Ferdinand and Vidic
Celebrate the day in history for United.

Balotelli and Yaya Toure
Celebrate for the latter's trophy-lifting goal.

It must be a year for Manchester. Manchester United, after securing a 1-1 draw against Blackburn, has officially claimed the 19th top-flight league trophy for the club and become the most successful club in England's history. Chelsea must have thought that they still have chance when Blackburn led by 1-0, but a late penalty has ensured that the Red Devils take what that's required to drive the trophy back to Old Trafford.

On the other hand, Manchester City claimed a must needed victory against Stoke in the FA Cup final after quite an exciting game at Wembley. This ended their trophy drought for 35 years. Coupled with a ticket to UEFA Champions League, this is such a fantastic year for the Manchester Blues.

It's all but Manchester. Congratulations for both sides and celebrate the day!

Game of the Season: Arsenal 1-1 Liverpool @ Emirates

Lucas Leiva
Conceded two important fouls which helped Liverpool to equalise.

Unbelievable DRAMA.

The game didn't promise much in the first 80 minutes. But it started to get crazy after that with a van Persie's one-on-one parried by Reina, and then the longer than usual eight minute stoppage time due to Carragher's time dragging injury. Now that's where the great drama started.

96th minute. Fabregas dribbled into the box and was continuously challenged by Spearing. The ref whistled! Penalty! Van Persie took it with a great angle and power and sent Pepe Reina the wrong way. 1-0! The Dutch took off his shirt and celebrated, but he would never believe what happened next...

98th minute. Lucas was challenged on the edge of penalty box, with the ball inside the box already but not him. Just a free kick. After a long set piece preparations, Suarez fired the ball and it was well deflected by the defenders. But the story didn't end...

Lucas took the ball and tried to maintain the possession, but Eboue made a silly push on the Brazilian. A payback penalty! Kuyt again took it in the absence of Gerrard. 1-1 and the whistle signaled the end of the game! Great game!

Now some of my reflections from this game:

• A very very fantastic display from the Reds' two youthful full backs. Both John Flanagan and Jack Robinson have contained the Gunners' flanks very very well. This is indeed totally out of my expectations. Liverpool need not to worry about the future of their defence with them and Martin Kelly.
• On the other hand, the men in the middle, Skrtel and Carragher, were much more vulnerable to attacks.
• How respectable is Jamie Carragher? It was totally shown on his injury. The claps were so loud, even when it's not Anfield. Salute.
• Van Persie again showed how important he is for Arsenal to challenge for the title. Numerous golden chances he has today, only to be denied by godly Reina. Bad luck. Five pre-bonus fantasy points weren't too bad for his fantasy managers anyway.
• Another man on bad luck was Koscielny. If his attempt on the first half hit the net instead of post, things would go very differently.

Drama of the season. Do you agree?

Also featured on today was Stoke's 5-0 humiliation to Bolton in the FA Cup semifinals.

Treble Gone Away From United

Gnegneri Yaya Toure
Scored the only goal to take Manchester City to Wembley.

An unfortunate day for Manchester United as they were outshone by their local rivals Manchester City.

Yaya Toure scored the only goal of the game but the Red Devils can only have themselves to blame for. Berbatov especially, has wasted a big deal of chances at the beginning of the game.

It looks like Mancini will win a trophy to secure his place. Good luck.

Dalglish's Nightmare Debut

Kenny Dalglish
No luck for him for his first game in charge.

It turned out to be a disaster for the new Liverpool manager Kenny Dalglish as his side crashed out of FA Cup due to some controversial judgements.

Manchester United grabbed the lead in as early as 2 minutes after Berbatov's cheap dive was cheaply awarded a penalty by the one who we call United's lucky star, Howard Webb. Great decision by England's so called best referee.

Manchester United had more to celebrate with Steven Gerrard tackled Darren Fletcher two-footedly in 33rd minute. It effectively sentenced a death to Dalglish's debut game as the Reds' manager.

But still Liverpool were able to fight their best to at least prevent any more leakage at the back and the display by the players were obviously better than Roy Hodgson's era. A sign of relief to the fans.

Man Utd 1-0 Liverpool, but the battle between Dalglish and Ferguson was certainly a draw. Two exciting old men.