1: Visions of United can haunt Liverpool

Liverpool look at Manchester United and see nothing but the insufferable complacency of serial winners. They see a team who expect to win, and who know that the expectation is halfway to the achievement.

Meanwhile, Liverpool look at themselves and see a team perpetually rising to challenge United, perpetually falling back; a team who seem doomed to walk a pace or two behind, to follow, rather than set, the footballing agenda. But if they have hope, they can find it within themselves.

In living memory — a long time ago only by the accelerated reckonings of sport — the situation was the exact opposite. Liverpool seemed to be an empire that would carry on for ever. But then came a change of manager too far.

Liverpool play United tomorrow in a season awash with troubles, while United seem to be revelling in the gifts showered upon them by lesser clubs. These clubs are too set in their roles for a radical change to take place this season. Must Liverpool wait for the retirement of Sir Alex Ferguson before they can hope to be insufferable again?

2: Cadillac heading for a Patriots pounding

This weekend gives us a chance to examine in detail the implications of the idea that winning isn’t everything, it’s the only thing. The line comes from American football, generally attributed to Vince Lombardi, the former Green Bay Packers coach, although it probably came from another coach, Henry Russell “Red” Sanders.

The New England Patriots exemplify this notion. They are all-conquering, grim and joyless. Under their coach, Bill Belichick, they have become a side of crunching might — often reluctantly admired, but seldom loved.

Tomorrow they take on the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Wembley. Once again this is a real game, rather than an exhibition. The NFL has gone where the FA got cold feet and exported the real product overseas. This will not give any comfort to the Bucs. The chances are that we will see a crushing; the Patriots have developed the habit not just of winning, but winning by colossal margins.

Tom Brady, the quarterback, massive and modest, is the Patriots’ main man. The best that can be said about the Buccs is that they have a running back called Carnell “Cadillac” Williams.

3: London Irish looking to make point or two

If you thought that London Irish were a bunch of cheerful, carefree, Guinness-drinking exiles who played the odd game of rugby union, you are seriously out of date. These days, the Irish are a power in the land and a threat to the old-established power centres such as Leicester.

London Irish will be looking to set down a marker at the Madejski Stadium in Reading today after Leicester, the visiting team, beat them by a point in the Guinness Premiership Final last season. Now, as the domestic league gets into its stride after the break for the Heineken Cup, the Irish, after losing to the Scarlets, are looking to get serious.

Not that there are that many actual Irishmen involved. A heavy brigade of South Sea Islanders represent their not-so-secret weapon, along with fierce and pragmatic coaching from Toby Booth and Mike Catt. A rugby multiculturalism has been the most important factor, but they need to rack up consistent victories against teams such as Leicester, especially at home. This is a bit of a tester. Serious game, serious point to make.

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