Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/288366
23 Sport maltatoday, WEDNESDAY, 2 APRIL 2014 Answers to the MaltaToday crossword will be published next Wednesday WEATHER: Partly cloudy locally partly to rather cloudy at times tonight, becoming misty in coastal areas around dawn and mainly fine with increasing high clouds during the day. VISIBILITY: Good becoming locally moderate to good around dawn WIND: Westerly force 3 to 4 locally force 2 to 3 at first, backing Southerly in the morning and becoming South to Southeast force 3 to 4 locally force 4 to 5 overnight. A B C D E F G H 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 White to play and mate in four moves A B C D E F G H 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 Last week's solution Sudoku rules are extremely easy: Fill all empty squares so that the numbers 1 to 9 appear once in each row, column and 9x9 box. PARTLY CLOUDY 21 º C / 13 º C UV INDEX: 6 Today's Weather Chess Sudoku Pursuits Bf2 Ka6 Bf1 Ka5 Kc4 Ka6 Kxb4# I would have never put money on them in the beginning of the sea- son, but my oh my I wish I had done. Against all expectations Liverpool are in pole position to secure their very first Premier League title (19th league title overall) and truth be told may still can not believe it. As the fixtures panned out Liver- pool's faith lies in their hands and instead of chocking on the pres- sure they seem to be moving from strength to strength on the home straight. They made light work of bitter rivals Manchester United at Old Trafford a fortnight ago and ran circles around poor Spurs last week- end as they cruised to a 4-0 victory at Anfield. Anfield has become somewhat of a fortress at home this season with Liverpool sitting second in the Home Games league table, a point off Chel- sea on top. That incredible home record could be the defining factor of their season as their final three home games come against their closest rivals in the title race. They welcome Manchester City in two weeks time, with Chelsea on the cards two games after. With Chelsea slipping up against Crystal Palace it is not hard to see a Liverpool victory over Mourinho's men at Anfield, however we know how tactically sound Chelsea can be when the going gets tough. Manchester City in my opinion have it all to lose. With two games in hand they currently sit four points off top spot. The figures tell you that like Liverpool, City are in full control of their faith and that up and com- ing clash at Anfield is going to be the most important game of their season. With both clubs heading into the tie needing to maintain a 100% winning record to secure the league it will be very interesting to see which defense will buckle, however on its day the Kop can suck any goal for their home side. The SAS partnership of Sturridge and Suarez is easy to watch with both players so happy to assist one anoth- ers goals. The growth of Henderson and Sterling has come at the perfect time and Coutinho's movement in midfield is proving irresistible. It's all well and good to praise the play- ers when things click into shape but I have to hand it to Brendan Rodg- ers who in my eyes has been the best manager this season, and at just 40 years of age with five seasons under him the best is yet to come from the Liverpool man. A new era is coming at long last for Liverpool and this time Sir Alex Ferguson is not around to spoil the party. European Everton A total revival of Everton sees them occupy fifth place and many are start- ing to smell European grass on the horizon. With one game in hand Rob- erto Martinez argues the race for that all important fourth spot will go down to the wire and Arsenal may will be looking over their shoulders after a dodgy March which saw them lose 6-0 to Chelsea. They may have held their nerve against Manchester City last weekend however a tasty trip to Goodison awaits this weekend in what is being dubbed the Cup Final for forth place. With five games to go after that it is impossible to tell who will win that race, however Everton's game in hand against Crystal Palace might prove to be the tipping point. Under Roberto Martinez Everton have looked like a different team this season. Building from the back in a European style of play their young team has really come of age and with the help of key loan deals Martinez has really shown eve- ryone the club's massive potential. Blue noses have hailed him a hero and have even gone as far to suggest that David Moyes was indeed holding them back toward the end of his 11 year reign as manager. "Bobby", as the fans call him, "totally gets what we are all about" said one fan while another added that The School of Science is on its way back to Goodison. Perhaps the most remarkable ele- ment of their season has been a total lack of financial muscle and this years run might force the tight fist of Bill Kenwright open as the club looks to move from strength to strength. With both Merseyside clubs on the up it is not hard to see why the City of Liverpool is the most successful city in English football and the glory days are on the horizon for this great, football mad city. OPINION Mark Strijbosch The Scouse rise Across 1. Full of pepper (7) 5. Small seedless raisin (7) 9. Mountain in NE Greece (7) 10. Small hard particle (5) 11. Chirp (5) 12. Flow back (3) 13. Passenger ships (6) 14. Collect (6) 15. Honey insect (3) 17. Calming medicines (9) 21. Passenger vehicle (3) 23. Closer (6) 24. Irrational fear (6) 27. Summit (3) 28. Early life (5) 29. Capital of Ecuador (5) 30. Follower of Christ (7) 31. Rudimentary component (7) 32. Cripple (7) Down 1. Adage (7) 2. Due (7) 3. Small Scottish town (6) 4. The day before this day (9) 5. Celestial body (5) 6. Fashion industry (3,5) 7. Disorder (7) 8. Large drinking cup (7) 16. Located on the right (5,4) 18. Everybody (8) 19. Not modern (7) 20. Hobby (7) 21. Tub to bathe in (7) 22. Paramount (7) 25. Sweeping implements (6) 26. Silent (5) Liverpool celebrate following their 4-0 defeat of Tottenham Hotspur at Anfi eld