Gary Newbon presents The Pieman's Blog

The Premier League title race has been thrown open after a couple of amazing weeks. The football is still in Manchester United's favour but it’s a lot tighter now. Just to add to the tension with eight games left (9 in the case of United) the competition takes a breather for a week or so as we concentrate on the International matches. I'll comment on those in my next blog but the definite results and facts concern this wonderful Premier League season.

Who would have thought that Liverpool would strike 13 goals in three successive matches - 4 nil at home to the famous Read Madrid team in the European Champions League, 4-1 at Old Trafford in the home den of the reigning Premier League Champions Manchester United and then 5-nil at home to Aston Villa. Wow! All this and their manager Rafa Benitez at last signing a new contract. One point the game but Manchester United with nine games left do have a match in hand - at home to Portsmouth - and despite the pressure and suspensions I do believe they have the manager and quality to get them home. They have been there before. Liverpool have not won the League title since 1990 and I do not accept they will win all eight remaining matches. But what a finale in prospect.

The long season is catching up on Aston Villa. No win in eight matches in all competitions and they are down to 5th in the Premier League - probably their final position. The depth and strength in quality will result in the Big Four - United, Liverpool, Chelsea and Arsenal being the top four yet again and taking the four English places in next season's European Champions League. Do you agree? Do you think Manchester United will be champions again or have I got it wrong about Liverpool? Will Arsenal or Aston Villa finish fourth?

And what about relegation. I have West Bromwich Albion and Middlesbrough to go down with Newcastle in the absence of manager Joe Kinnear as the other club to finish in the drop zone. Unlike many other I do think last season's promoted clubs Hull and Stoke City will survive by the skin of their teeth. Do you agree?

Try and catch my latest show with Tom Ross. We had a right barney 20 minutes or so in! It is a wonder we agree on anything. Still, that's football. It’s all about opinion. The Pieman wants you opinions. Try our website for emails and texts and we'll answer them in the show. Back next week with the show.

Gary Newbon presents THE PIEMAN BLOG

My European Champions League predictions were correct. All four English clubs are through to the quarter-finals. Liverpool thrashed Read Madrid at home to complete a double in both legs; Manchester United saw off Inter-Milan and Jose Mourinho without conceding a goal, Chelsea overcame Juventus in Turin while Arsenal won a nail biting penalty shootout in Rome against Roma. England 3 Italy 0... The draw is this Friday, March 20. Love it. England will retain the Champions League. I see the only danger as Barcelona. Agreed?

Meanwhile in the Premier League we were all shocked by Liverpool's 4-1 win at Old Trafford against Manchester United. I do not believe that Liverpool thought they would win by such a big margin. Who would have thought that United's outstanding central defender Nemanja Vidic would have made bad blunders and been sent off? He has been outstanding this season but it was a nightmare afternoon for him. He was also sent off in the defeat at Liverpool earlier in the season. Seven players have been sent off against Liverpool in the PL this season - Vidic with a double! Manchester United still have a four points lead with a game in hand. They will still retain the PL. Agreed? Fernando Torres was brilliant for Liverpool. He is the best striker in the world. Agreed?

Arsenal are in fourth place albeit on goal difference. They beat Blackburn 4-0 at home while the next day Aston Villa lost 2-1 at home to Spurs. Villa's small squad is floundering at long last and although they have done better away from home this season with their speedy counter-attacks you cannot see Villa in their present form getting much out of their next two matches - away to Liverpool and then Manchester United. Everton who will be Villa's next opponents at Villa Park are closing on the Midlands team. The ever changing face of football but as I blog the Big Four are 1-2-3-4!

The powers that be have decided that Howard Webb is the Premier League's best ref. I am no longer convinced. I put Alan Wiley, who was excellent at Old Trafford, and Mark Halsey above Webb these days. Any thoughts?

The Pieman's Blog for Monday, 9 March

Gary Newbon: The Pieman has invited me to take over the Pieman Radio blog and I am happy to make my internet debut. I love working at Sky Sports and I hope very much you will catch YOU'RE ON SKY SPORTS which goes out live on most Wednesdays and Saturdays during the football season. It’s a platform for Sky Sports viewers to air their football views. My stance is the same as the Pieman's. Fair play mate and keep it balanced, but like the Pieman I always want to hear your views. So please tell your mates about this radio station and send either the Pieman or myself your thoughts via the email address or text as shown on this site. There may be a Pukka Pie or several in it for you! Balti Pukka Pies are my favourites!

What a week for European football. I am posting this blog on Monday March 9. If you read this later in the week you will be able to see if my predictions are right! I think Manchester United are unstoppable at present. They are on course with their wonderful squad for five trophies. They have already won the World Club Championship and the Carling Cup. They meet Everton in the FA Cup semi-finals and have a great chance of winning that competition plus they are set up to retain the Premier League title. Now they face Inter-Milan in the second leg of the first knock-out stage in the European Champions League. Retaining the European crown is United's hardest task. They should have beaten Jose Mourinho’s side in Turin. I hope, like manager Sir Alex Ferguson, that it does not come back to bite them!

Liverpool had the best result in the first leg - one nil in Madrid over Real. They should be stitched on at Anfield on Tuesday. Rafa Benitez is better in Europe than the Premier League. Take Chelsea to get through in Turin. They have a 1-nil lead over Juventus and I do think Chelsea will score as well. Arsenal will find it tight in Rome against Roma but I would hope they can build on their 1-0 home win over the Italians. I expect all four English clubs to go through but it may be tight!

The two remaining Championship teams were knocked out of the FA Cup at the weekend. I saw Coventry lose 2-0 at home to Chelsea. Coventry tried hard but were guilty of a terrible defensive error for the first goal. Burnley went out 3 nil at Arsenal. Eduardo was back and showed what his manager Arsene Wenger described as a beach volley. Sublime skill. So now Arsenal play Hull at the Emirates in their delayed quarter-final. The winner will play Chelsea in one semi-final with Manchester United playing Everton in the other. The semi-finals will both be played at Wembley on April 18 and 19.

I will be posting like the Pieman some football funnies. Might as well start with one of mine:
There will be more football later but first highlights of the Scottish League Cup final!