Premier League Tops and Flops

Sports - Football - Premier League - Picks of the Weekend

Top game: The top two's clash was the biggest focus of the day, especially as the result went against the run of play and once again a referee was put under scrutiny and questioned by an unhappy Alex Ferguson. He had a point, but his team ended up with niente, that is the way life goes sometimes.

Top team: Arsenal are the one to watch at the moment. Both Chelsea and Manchester United have shown their lacks and weaknesses but the Gunners have been thrashing left, right and centre. I am just curious how they will play against one of the top two - having lost against Manchester United and City early-on in the season but grown from strength to strength since then. I cannot wait for their clash against their London rivals Chelsea end of this month.

Top player: Shay Given once again saved his side from defeat. He let three through but kept so many out, City could have ended up thrashed. They can call themselves lucky they have drawn their last five Premier League matches, because without their keeper most of those draws would have ended up in defeats.

Top goal: A super substitution by under-fire Hull City manager Phil Brown turned the game around for the home side and eased the pressure on him, for the international break at least. Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink scored the crucial winner with just a couple of minutes to go, the fans were understandably relieved. Cameron Jerome's screamer against Liverpool wins my vote, breathtaking. Birmingham were unlucky not to have left Anfield with all three points after that diamond of a goal.

Top manager: Sam Allardyce rang two changes with his side trailing 1-0 at half time against Portsmouth and what a difference they made: Jason Roberts and Benni McCarthy replaced Morten Gamst Pedersen and El-Hadji Diouf, the prior scored two, the latter being the provider for the last. It could hardly have gone better for the Blackburn manager.

Flop game: Wigan recorded the lowest home attendance anywhere in the league this season, not good. The top-two clash was definitely not under the top-two matches this weekend, looking at the lack of chances, action, etc., it was definitely not the most entertaining for the neutral eye.

Flop team: Chelsea disappointed. Most predicted a thrash, but Nicolas Anelka and Didier Drogba wasted the few chances they had. They got lucky to get away with a win. Liverpool tried and tried their best, chance after chance, but were lucky to get a penalty and away with a point. Birmingham held them well. Liverpool will have to dig deep if they want to get out of the hole they have fallen into - with just four points out of the last five games.

Flop player: Dirk Kuyt disappointed for Liverpool. He wasted a lot of chances by not being aware of what and whom is around him. Liverpool had a lot of chances, which they saw going to waste. A lot of fans are ringing for change - but I just question where it will come from and who it could be, because I cannot think of anyone who could work wonders on this side under the turmoil-cirumstances on and off the pitch.

Flop goal: Should Chelsea's goal have stood? Darren Fletcher got the ball but did aggressively push into Ashley Cole, free kicks have been given before for similar tackles. Same goes for the offside appeal against Drogba - he got no touch and had thereby no direct influence in the run of play, it would have gone in one way or the other. It was harsh against Manchester United who were the better and dominant side, but how many times have United seen such decisions fall their way - it is tough luck sometimes.

Flop manager: Rafael Benitez left the changes very late once again against Birmingham. He was forced to bring on not top-fit Steven Gerrard earlier than planned due to injury to Albert Riera. But the run of the matches and results of late just show he has to change something about his tactics, if it is not too late already.

My Predictions - Actual Results

Aston Villa 2:0 Bolton - 5:1

Blackburn 3:1 Portsmouth - 3:1

Man City 4:0 Burnley - 3:3

Tottenham 2:0 Sunderland - 2:0

Wolves 0:3 Arsenal - 1:4

Chelsea 1:2 Man Utd - 1:0

Hull City 0:1 Stoke - 2:1

West Ham 2:2 Everton - 1:2

Wigan 0:0 Fulham - 1:1

Liverpool 2:1 Birmingham - 2:2