Premier League Tops and Flops

Sports - Football - Premier League - Picks of the weekend

Top game: Arsenal's demolition of Blackburn was harsh on the visitors, but the Gunners were sensational and ripped their guests to bits after it looked like an even match for the opening half-an-hour or so. Manchester United were lucky to get away with a point. Sunderland showed a competitively poised and solid display. They should have walked away from Old Trafford with three points in the bag. Instead, United made a great escape, unlucky for the Black Cats.

Top team: Ater everything they have been through the past weeks, Portsmouth would have had a bunch of excuses to hang their heads and give up, i.e. lose for the seventh time out of seven games and condemn the side to nearly certain relegation this early in the season already. But instead, they fought on and got their first points when it looked least likely. A nice surprise.

Top player: Didier Drogba saved Chelsea from a boring 0-0 draw against Liverpool. As scorer and provider, the Ivory Coast striker was the only shimmer of light in an otherwise dark, less spectacular match. How Chelsea will be able to win mediocre performances without him is the question.

Top goal: Dimitar Berbatov's high-flying cracker will have cheered himself and his side up after disappointing displays and admitting his failure as a star player. Bolton's second was a great team goal against Tottenham. Ricardo Gardner, Tamir Cohen and Sean Davis connected and interplayed well to take a 2-1 lead. Cohen's back-foot-flick was especially cheeky.

Top manager: Mick McCarthy conceded defeat, did not moan although decisions had gone against Wolves. If you want to be a competitor, you have to fight on and win against the odds and mistakes. But, unlike McCarthy, some managers never learn that, even after decades in the job... I am naming no names... Not yet, anyway...

Flop game: Chelsea 2-0 Liverpool - a such promisingly juicy encounter, with two top teams, turned out to be a letdown from a neutral perspective. There was not much action, ooooohs or aaaaahs, as both sides eliminated each other through solid defences. Not bad but just a shame

Flop team: Liverpool, United and Chelsea were all not up to their best and disappointed. Only one got away with a win thanks to their top striker, the Blues and Drogba. But there is not much between the sides. Arsenal looked the best out of the "Big Four" when it comes to their team display, coherence, confidence and the scoreboard. But, points count most, so, Chelsea will be just as happy.

Flop player: Didier Drogba has to quit as a drama queen otherwise it will keep on overshadowing his main role and talent as a striker. Kieran Richardson was just as stupid. He was daft to get sent off for flicking the ball away, after he was already on a yellow. Both should be grounded to think about their actions and the way they act in front of adults!

Flop goal: Anton Ferdinand's own goal could not have been more of a nightmare after his side led against the champions Manchester United and to make things worse, he equalised for his brother's team! OUCH!

Flop manager: Alex Ferguson once again - why can he not concede his team was outplayed and lucky to get away with a point! It happens rare enough! Instead, he tries to put the blame on somebody else, referee Alan Wiley in this case. Alex, Alex, Alex! You will never learn when your team has been toppled!

My Predictions - Actual Results

Bolton 1:2 Tottenham - 2:2

Burnley 1:0 Birmingham - 2:1

Hull City 1:2 Wigan - 2:1

Man Utd 3:1 Sunderland - 2:2

Wolves 3:0 Portsmouth - 0:1

Arsenal 4:0 Blackburn - 6:2

Chelsea 2:0 Liverpool - 2:0

Everton 2:1 Stoke - 1:1

West Ham 2:1 Fulham - 2:2

Aston Villa 2:2 Man City - 1:1