Top game: Two matches were classic examples of games of two halves with plenty of entertainment. The big spendings this January transfer window did not quite bring the result for QPR but showed very encouraging signs in form of Djibril Cisse. Aston Villa made a brilliant comeback in the second half, manager Alex McLeish can only hope his side can show this kind of display more often. Liverpool, without their talisman captain Steven Gerrard, were looking for improvement in the league after their impressive cup run against both Manchester sides. Wolves were in the game just as much as the Reds were in the first half. However, in the second half, it all went down hill for the home side, Andy Carroll netting Charlie Adam's cross with all the space in the world, Craig Bellamy adding the second without meeting any resistence, the goalkeeper missing the ball completely and Dirk Kuyt netting the third off Jose Enrique's exquisite pass taken off a Wolves attack, the Dutchman netting his 50th PL goal, first since May. It was Liverpool's first double over Wolves for over 30 years, worrying times for Mick McCarthy.
Top team: Stoke started strongly against Manchester United, testing league debutant goalkeeper Ben Amos. However, the result is more important than the performance for United, whose win is their seventh out of seven against Stoke and saw them move level on points with league leaders City. Tottenham kept themselves in the race too with an exhilarating display and performance which consolidated their third spot, seven points ahead of Chelsea in fourth and five points behind the Manchester sides at the top.
Top player: This week seemed goalkeepers' prime time! Blackburn continued strong and would not let themselves be put down despite the early own goal they conceded against Newcastle. They created plenty of chances including misses and a missed penalty, Dutch goalkeeper Tim Krul doing brilliant to keep his side in the game, frustrating for the home side though. QPR's Paddy Kenny was man of the match for more than one reason/save but his stop against Aston Villa's Robbie Keane was top notch and earned his side a point in the end.
Top goal: The terrific right-foot finish by French debutant Cisse was his third debut goal in the Premier League, adding QPR to his list, joining Liverpool and Sunderland. Talking about Sunderland, with four changes against Norwich, they saw a bright start with on-loan signing Wayne Bridge on the bench. Norwich were a threat too and had won last two away games. The home side took the lead thanks to a supreme right-foot strike into the top right corner by Fraizer Campbell, breathtaking stuff, which led to a confident performance and result, a 3-0 win and three points on the board.Top news: The January transfer window has closed with no major spendings this time round, the total reaching only £60m, 70% less compared to January last year at £225m. I think the clubs are slowly but surely coming to their sences.
Flop game: The goalless draw between Bolton and Arsenal was a frustrating night for both sides. Arsenal dominated with Robin van Persie enjoying his fair share of chances, as always. David Ngog also missed a couple of chances. The second half saw less attempts, but RVP was the main man again, hitting the post and crossbar. When Mark Davies burst through and was brought down by Wojciech Szczesny, it looked like Bolton would get a late breakthrough and winner, but a penalty was not given. Hence, the action that could have been or anything that looked promising, never came around really. Disappointing.
Flop team: Swansea were unchanged from their defeat against Sunderland, but caused Chelsea problems early on, the Blues struggling to create much themselves. Swansea had go after go at Chelsea's goal, Scott Sinclair finally finding the net against his former side. The London side beat Swansea 4-1 at home, but did not come close to that in this match, Ashley Cole's second yellow not making things easier, the fourth s.o. for Andre Villas-Boas' side this season. But Chelsea never gave up and three minutes into injury time, Bosingwa's cross and a Neil Taylor deflection rescued a point for the visitors, the Swans manager Brendan Rodgers understandably disappointed. Worrying sign for Chelsea that the late goal and point against the promoted side comes to a great relief!
Flop player: Fernando Torres is still goalless, even Carrol has made it onto the scoreboard! The Spanish striker still looks very insecure, unaware, as if he doesn't have a clue of the where/what/how/when of scoring in the game. Ashley Cole's dire performance and sending off did not help Chelsea either, but it is not the first time they have dropped points and looked like they could not even grab or hold on to the one they scraped out somehow.
Flop goal: Stephen Warnock's own goal hurt to see! His gift header made it 2-0 to QPR and must have made McCleish cringe and think his side just did not want to stay in the game. Until he had his word and the second half kicked off as mentioned above. Scott Dann's own goal was an ugly deflection which handed Newcastle their first goal. Blackburn goalkeeper Paul Robinson could never have predicted and covered that one and will never want to see that one again.Flop news: Aaaaand Carlos Tevez remains at Manchester City after AC Milan and Paris Saint-German pulled out of the chase. I laughed my face off when a rumour went around about a swap deal between City and Liverpool, Tevez for Andy Carroll. LMAO! What a joke!
My predictions - Actual results:
Swansea 1:1 Chelsea - 1:1
Tottenham 4:0 Wigan - 3:1
Wolves 1:1 Liverpool - 0:3
Everton 1:2 Man City - 1:0
Man Utd 3:0 Stoke - 2:0
Aston Villa 1:1 QPR - 2:2
Blackburn 3:2 Newcastle - 0:2
Bolton 2:3 Arsenal - 0:0
Fulham 2:0 West Brom - 1:1
Sunderland 1:1 Norwich - 3:0
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