Premier League Tops and Flops: Picks of the Weekend

Sports - Football - Premier League

This week has seen just one part of the relegation battle decided with West Brom losing out and the crown once again going to the kings Manchester United. The last week of the season will not lose out on tention and excitement though, with Newcastle, Hull City and Sunderland still to fight it out who will stay up and who will go down.

Top Game: Although there were not any goals to cheer about, I think both Manchester United and Arsenal were able to be happy about the 0:0 draw, United because it won them the title, Arsenal because they were spared from yet another thrashing.

Top Goal: Gretar Steinsson's far range goal for Boltons impressive, but Tuncay Sanli's overhead kick was breathtaking and and the more crucial for Middlesbrough's relegation battle. Fulham's goal was good team work and cool and calm completion by Clint Dempsey and Diomansy Kamara, the more painful for Newcastle though.

Top Save: Jussi Jaaskelainen made some great saves for Bolton, denying Hull City three crucial points. Pepe Reina did the same to West Brom and Jonathan Greening with a brilliant double save at the end of the match. It seemed to be a weekend of too-good-too-cruel goalkeepers, Fulham's Mark Schwarzer also palming away fine attempts from struggling Newcastle's Nicky Butt.

Top Team Fans: Again, I laud West Brom - to say they have been doomed for months, they still fought on and their fans cheered and sung them on. Great to see, shame to be relegated.

Flop Game: Portsmouth's comfortable 3:1 win against strugglers Sunderland increased the worry about survival for the Black Cats looking at the last weekend of the season when they have to face Chelsea. Of course it depends on how fellow strugglers Newcastle and Hull City play against Aston Villa and Manchester United respectively, too, but regarding all three opositions and their mindset and probable team lineup, I think Sunderland will not or should not be the most optimistic, that is for sure.

Flop Goal: Hull were maybe denied a win by Jaaskelainen but were given a goal by Trotters defender Danny Shittu who failed to clear the ball and gave Craig Fagan an easy chance to slide in and equalise. Steven Gerrard's march past Shelton Martis and through to West Brom's goal was heartbreaking to watch, especially after the urge to fight back West Brom have shown lately with hardly any hope left.

Flop Teams and Refs: Both Middlesbrough and Newcastle were the unlucky ones this weekend. Both teams have been on the wrong side of referees' decision too often this season. Injuries have not helped them in their quest either. This week, I just cannot see why Mark Viduka's goal was not given. There was no foul. It is just unrealistic to expect goalkeepers to stay untouched. They are just as much a player as the other ten men of their team are, so why can they not get covered or touched at all?

Flop Players: Jamie Carragher clashing with Alvaro Arbeloa is understandable looking at Carra's heart and desire for his team and their clean sheet but is everything else but productive and impressive. He had a point against Arbeloa, who was rarely in his cover position, too often too far forward, giving bottom-of-the-table West Brom too many too good chances in attack and to advance. But, the last thing any team needs is a feud on the pitch.

My Predictions - Actual Results

Bolton 1:1 Hull City - 1:1
Chelsea 3:0 Blackburn - 2:0
Everton 1:1 West Ham - 3:1
Man Utd 2:0 Arsenal - 0:0
Middlesbrough 2:1 Aston Villa - 1:1
Newcastle 2:1 Fulham - 0:1
Portsmouth 2:0 Sunderland - 3:1
Stoke 1:0 Wigan - 2:0
Tottenham 1:0 Man City - 2:1
West Brom 0:3 Liverpool - 0:2