by Darren Wicks (April 25, 2007)

I don't really know who Nikolay Levinkov is, but I have to say I am rather pleased that the Russian is refereeing tonight's home Champions League clash with Liverpool.

If only because Mr Levinkov isn't one of the inadequates who are conspiring to spoil this season's Premiership race.

With a level playing field, the Blues would have overhauled United at the top by now.

But this weekend's matches highlighted just how monumental an achievement it would be if Jose Mourinho were to complete a hat-trick of Premiership successes this season.

It has been clear for some time that Chelsea are not only up against the considerable talents of Ronaldo, Rooney and friends.

They are also having to beat the football establishment, who were not content with a bizarre fixture list, which has allowed United first shot nearly every week at extending their lead in the table before the Blues can kick a ball in anger.

Now the referees are apparently doing everything they can to ensure that Fergie gets his mitts on the Premiership for the first time since 2003.

In both of their past two games, United's opponents have been denied clear-cut penalties at Old Trafford.

It could be said that, with United 2-0 up, Rob Styles' appalling failure to award Sheffield United a penalty and send off Gabriel Heinze for hacking down Sheffield United's Luton Shelton in the area was not a key decision.

However, don't forget that the visitors hit the bar after that.

More inexplicable was the last minute incident which saw John O'Shea clearly foul Middlesbrough's Lee Dong-Gook on Saturday. Had Peter Walton given a penalty, United would have suffered a morale-shattering defeat.

It has been clear for a few weeks that United cannot cope with the absence of Nemanja Vidic, but it really is too much that referees are now showing sympathy for their defensive inadequacies.

"If you tell me it was not a penalty for Sheffield United or a penalty for Middlesbrough or for us against Newcastle. I must go to my optician," said Mourinho.

You can understand Jose feeling that the world, or at least the referees, are against the Blues when Mark Halsey failed to give a penalty when Stephen Carr scooped Salomon Kalou's cross with his hand.

Don't expect a shed-load of goals tonight. Chelsea have failed to score in four previous Champions League clashes with Liverpool, who are bound to be looking for a 0-0 again.

But, after our performance in Valencia, I reckon Mourinho would be happy with a single-goal success tonight.