Kevin Muscat, Melbourne Victory's coach, looked unimpressed when asked on the eve of the Big Blue clash with Sydney if the current league leaders, unbeaten in 16 A-League matches coming into Thursday night's game, could be the best A-League team ever.

Provocative comments from Kevin Muscat attempted to rattle the nerves of Sydney FC ahead of Thursday's Big Blue with Melbourne Victory, though the Sky Blue's midfielder Milos Ninkovic didn't even flinch.

Three games in seven days with trips to Wellington and Perth thrown in for good measure. Surely that takes its toll on players physical and mental strength?

A-League title favourites Sydney FC enter this week's Big Blue with a psychological advantage after nearest rivals Melbourne Victory were brought undone by their gruelling road trip.

Melbourne Victory have slumped to their second straight defeat, with Perth coming from behind to secure a 2-1 win in Saturday night's A-League clash at nib Stadium.

Sydney FC heap pressure on Melbourne Victory ahead of Thursday's "Big Blue" suggesting the race for the premiership will become a one horse race if Victory fail to win.

Melbourne Victory's credentials as genuine challengers for top spot on the A-League ladder were always going to be sorely tested during their fixture pile-up, but the examination has become much tougher following their 3-0 loss to Wellington Phoenix.

Roly Bonevacia's form resurgence has continued with a match-winning performance for Wellington Phoenix against Melbourne Victory.

Melbourne Victory striker Besart Berisha is free to play against Wellington on Tuesday after his controversial A-League red card against Brisbane was rescinded.

Marco Rojas is fit to start in Melbourne Victory's clash with Brisbane Roar on Friday night as the A-League powerhouse chases a sixth consecutive win.

Former Socceroo reflects on how his life has turned around in the last 12 months.

This isn't a derby, but Adelaide United v Melbourne Victory is in some ways more fiercely contested than any other fixture in the A-League.

Mitch Austin could turn out for his first A-League appearance in more than a month when Melbourne Victory face Adelaide United.

Melbourne Victory assistant coach Jean-Paul de Marigny has been handed a three-week touchline ban after his expletive-ridden tirade directed towards the Newcastle Jets bench during Monday night's A-League clash.

On paper it looked like a regulation assignment, and that's how it turned out as Melbourne Victory eased to a 4-1 win over Central Coast Mariners to end round 12, setting themselves up perfectly for a New Year's clash with Newcastle Jets in Geelong.

South Melbourne has upped the ante in its bid to win one of the first licenses when the A League expands by saying it has targeted Brazilian soccer legend Roberto Carlos to become its coach if the club  gets the go ahead to joint the competition.

He may not have hit the target yet, but James Troisi has done everything but score for Melbourne Victory since returning to the starting line-up.

• ANALYSIS

With almost half the A-League season gone the two Melbourne clubs sit in the top four on the ladder and are poised to push on in a challenge to runaway leaders Sydney over the Christmas and New Year break.

Creative destruction is a concept well known in the business world _ the idea that you have to break something up to create the conditions for fresh thinking and a new approach.

Besart Berisha is poised to overtake Archie Thompson as the A-League's leading scorer. But is he the better player?

Allegations of a dangerous stomping incident surfaced after Western Sydney Wanderers 3-0 defeat to Melbourne Victory.

Western Sydney Wanderers' disappointing season goes from bad to worse after suffering a heavy defeat to rivals Melbourne Victory.

Coach Tony Popovic says Western Sydney will be out to right some recent wrongs in Saturday's A-League clash against Melbourne Victory.

Melbourne Victory will be without winger Marco Rojas for their clash against Western Sydney Wanderers because of a hamstring injury. 

Melbourne Victory have been handed a most taxing A-League haul with the rescheduling of their earthquake-affected match with Wellington Phoenix from last month.

Kevin Muscat could only shake his head in disbelief and marvel at the lack of justice soccer sometimes delivers after his Melbourne Victory side mustered 20 shots to 2 but could only draw 1-1 with Perth Glory.

Sometimes you do everything in your power to win but it just doesn't happen.

Melbourne Victory battled hard and worked tirelessly before submitting to the W-League's flagship team Melbourne City.

Melbourne Victory boss Ian Robson rates his club's chances of bringing Liverpool icon Steven Gerrard to the A-League as "a million to one shot".