Premier League Tops and Flops

Sports - Football - Premier League - Picks of the Weekend

Top game: Hull made a great comeback against West Ham. It was a scruffy encounter but highly entertaining to watch. But the match of the day, week, month, season, etc. has to be Tottenham's thrashing of Wigan. I was on my break at work when I listened into the second half on the radio. I caught four goals and joked to my colleague I would miss another ten after I went back to work - I could not know I was not too far off...

Top team: Chelsea and Tottenham were certainly the dictators and dominators this weekend, but have also shown most constistency and quality this season so far, in the long(er) run and look most promising in the title race and chance to break into the top four (respectively, although I am not making any definite predictions).

Top player: Jermain Defoe rode the show this weekend, rubbing it under Carlo Ancelotti's nose who should be on the priority list for England. All of his goals were lovely to watch. Aaron Lennon was a top provider and scorer himself, too. This weekend was not only great for Spurs but for England also.

Top goal: Darren Fletcher's goal for Manchester United was like a stroke of lightning. Patrice Evra's fine run and cross was met and headed back by Antonio Valencia, to be crashed into the left corner of the net by Fletcher, a right-footer, both feet off the ground. Beauty.

Flop game: Stoke's win against Portsmouth was the least laudable effort, display and match, from both sides. Portsmouth missed the best chance they had, Kevin-Prince Boateng with a soft penalty kick, easy to hold onto for Steve Simonsen. Stoke's goal was the only highlight in an otherwise dim match, a great build-up finished off by a fine finish by Ricardo Fuller against his former side, great turn into the corner of the net.

Flop team: Believe it or not, Chris Kirkland was the best player for Wigan, as he was the only one who seemed present and alert. Wigan were absent, especially the defence, not closing in on Tottenham players, giving them too much time and space, a too big comfort zone. In the end they just gave up. I think they are all too right promising their fans refunds as they did not turn up and were a waste to watch, full stop.

Flop player: Dirk Kuyt has been the most annoying player of late, falling, slipping, tripping and diving at every take of the ball and if he stays up ot gets an obvious chance on goal, he just cues it high or wide or just nowhere to be caught. He is really looking off the reel, but I guess that just reflects his side's display and run.

Flop goal: Bolton's own goal which made it 0-2 to Blackburn will be found amongst thos famous bloopers list in a long time to come. It was due to lack of communication, but Jussi Jaaskelainen was the guilty party charging in the way he did as Samuel Ricketts was not at fault doing the obvious passing it back when there was not too much pressure around. A howler.

My Predictions - Actual Results

Birmingham 1:1 Fulham - 1:0

Burnley 1:3 Aston Villa - 1:1

Chelsea 3:0 Wolves - 4:0

Hull City 0:0 West Ham - 3:3

Liverpool 1:1 Man City - 2:2

Man Utd 2:1 Everton - 3:0

Sunderland 1:3 Arsenal - 1:0

Bolton 0:0 Blackburn - 0:2

Stoke 2:1 Portsmouth - 1:0

Tottenham 3:0 Wigan - 9:1

Fulham 2-1 Blackburn - 3:0

Hull City 1-2 Everton - 3:2