Week 3: Premier League Tops and Flops

Sports - Football - Premier League - Picks of the Week

Manchester highs, London lows, goals galore, penalties missed, ... Just loads to choose from this weekend gone, unbelievable scores, scenes, action, teams, players and goals! That is the Premier League at its most shocking best!!!

Top game: All Manchester, 16 goals in their two games, 13 goals between the two Mancunian rivals on the day, both topping the Premier League table, United just beating City to the top by one goal more in their goal difference. Mark the 23rd October in your football diary - the first Manchester derby of the season! What are the odds on a 0-0 in that match, I wonder?


Top team: All Manchester again, both sides riding high over everyone at the moment, although Liverpool would want a shout here too with a beautiful display and strong play in their 3-1 win against Bolton. Luis Suarez was crucial and controversial as always, the ref did well though and kept control.


Top player: Scoring the first City hat-trick since 1962, Edin Dzeko is on fire fire fire! Wayne Rooney scored his 102nd United league goal, top notch Premier League record for United, to make it 4:1 against Arsenal. The former Evertonian then completed his 6th career hat-trick with a penalty to make it 7:2, his 151st for the club overtaking Ruud van Nistelrooy and Paul Scholes in the process! And that still wasn't the end of that game!!!


Top goal: Jose Bosingwa's bullett against Norwich to make it 1-0 to Chelsea,was a brilliant strike from outside the box, over 20m away! Grant Holt's equaliser was a cheeky breathtaker too, with his back to the goal, hurling it over the keeper, although it came from Chelsea nr 3 Ashley Cole's mistake/backpass, stunning play.


Top news: Transfer madness to end the transfer window! Arsenal finally having a shout, too, very late on...


Flop game: There was not much happening at Villa Park, 0-0 and yawns against Wolves. It just wasn't meant to be at Swansea, 0-0, Sunderland were saved by woodwork though. Swansea were good up front but showed too many gaps at the back, to be punished against stronger side unless they learn and tighten up. QPR will be wondering what they are doing wrong after hitting the bar three times and still going home without any points! There was very little in the game, mm and a little bit of luck the difference between them.


Flop team: Tottenham once again, showed a strong start, but didn't take their chances, ended up falling to pieces against a strong attack and were thrashed for all their (lack of) effort. The Gunners certainly got their gobs smacked! Another missed penalty for Robin van Persie v David De Gea for Ashley Young to make it 2:0 seconds later with a stunner... But no one could have foreseen the downfall and whipping, hitting, thrashing torture that followed! Unbelievable!


Flop player: When Didier Drogba was knocked out cold, the players showed good reaction, character and attitude, the Norwich keeper John Ruddy especially, he could have just ignored it but realised straight away how serious it was! Respect. But then: Ruddy got himself sent off for felling Ramires in the box, shame but good refereeing after everything, contact was made, risky tackle. Frank Lampard was relieved to net it too, bang straight down the middle. With 11 minutes added time, the third goal came in the 11th minute, good refereeing all round I would say after the Drogba delay. Don't know what the Norwich manager Lambert was on about...


Flop goal: Missed penalties! It was just not meant to be for Blackburn, missing two of them!!! Then a penalty came for Everton, after Chris Samba jumped onto and over Marouane Fellaini, caught him in a sandwich, Mikel Arteta showed Blackburn how it's done and netted the spot kick easy, 0-1, on 90+2! Cruel, cruel, cruel! Of 9 penalties so far this season, 6 have been missed! I think all penalties were correct according to the rule book, harsh but right! (This was before the flood of goals on Sunday, I may note- Rooney netting one penalty and van Persie missing his one makes it 7 misses out of 12 penalties in total so far this season, if I haven't missed anything that is... :-P)

Flop news: Man City's chief executive Garry Cook's resignation over mocking email - rightly so, heartless b....... 

My predictions - Actual results

Aston Villa 1:1 Wolves - 0:0

Blackburn 1:2 Everton - 0:1

Chelsea 2:1 Norwich - 3:1

Swansea 0:0 Sunderland - 0:0

Wigan 0:1 QPR - 2:0

Liverpool 3:0 Bolton - 3:1

Newcastle 2:0 Fulham - 2:1

Tottenham 2:3 Man City - 1:5

West Brom 1:2 Stoke - 0:1

Man Utd 3:1 Arsenal - 8:2

Everton steal the show against United

Sports - Football - Premier League - Picks of the Weekend

Champs: Everton showed great determination and coordination in their play. The capitalised on breaks which Manchester United could not deal with. United might like to blame the defeat on their tiredness after their win against Milan in the Champions League three days beforehand, however, they should have been full of confidence at Goodison Park, which was not the case this time around.

Hero: Steven Pienaar's performance for Everton was wonderful to watch. He owned the pitch, make or break, he did not let anything come in or past his way. A brilliant contribution to the game. It was only the third win for Everton against the champions in 36 matches, the first against United in five years, which made it the more extraordinary.

You Beauty! Didier Drogba's first goal was a wonderful team goal and made it nine in ten games for the Ivory man. Chelsea carved Wolves open at the back, taking five passes from Petr Cech's throw to Drogba netting it. That took Chelsea four points clear at the top of the table and makes it 25 goals for the striker this season, and counting...

Has-Beens: It was just not Hull City's day. Having gone behind within just three minutes of the match against West Ham, they had Craig Fagan sent off early in the second half and went down to nine men with ten minutes remaining after they had used up all their substitutions and Anthony Gardner had to be stretchered off, making a comeback impossible.

Zero: Returning to his former ground, Wayne Rooney's performance was oblivious. He did not seem able to focus, sending crosses, shots and free kicks high or wide. Everton covered their former striker well, with three or four players constantly covering him, knowing too well what he is capable of.

Ouch! The referees had everything but a good weekend once again. But the biggest howler came at the DW Stadium, where Jermain Defoe's goal was yards offside. He himself checked looking towards the linesman, giving himself away, but the flag stayed down. I know, mistakes are human, but it is so annoying to notice such key errors seconds after they occure, but not being able to do anything about it. Very disappointing.

My Predictions - Actual Results

Arsenal 2:0 Sunderland - 2:0

Everton 1:1 Man United - 3:1

Portsmouth 0:0 Stoke City - 1:2

West Ham 2:1 Hull City - 3:0

Wolves 0:3 Chelsea - 0:2

Aston Villa 1:0 Burnley - 5:2

Fulham 4:1 Birmingham - 2:1

Man City 2:1 Liverpool - 0:0

Wigan 1:1 Tottenham - 0:3

Blackburn 2:0 Bolton - 3:0

Man United 3:1 West Ham - 3:0

Picks of the Big Derby Weekend

Sports - Football - Premier League - Picks of the Weekend

Champs: This week saw two crucial derbies go the home sides' way, two very crucial results in who will finish off in the top four at the end of the season. However, my pick are Hull City. They have impressed me very much lately. They are fighting on and I would find it very cruel if they would not be rewarded for their effort and team work and stay up at the end of the season.

Hero: Didier Drogba is for Chelsea what Wayne Rooney is for Manchester United and what Arsenal are missing: A star striker, a saviour scorer. The Gunners looked totally exposed once again, Drogba was unlucky not to leave Stamford Bridge with a hat-trick.

You Beauty! George Boateng's smacker from outside the box that made it 2-0 for Hull City against Manchester City was unstoppable, breathtaking and crucial. It was a huge win for the Tigers, their first in 11 matches and only the fifth all season. Mohamed Diame strike for Wigan was a stunner, too.

Has-Beens: It was dreadful to watch Portsmouth, sad to see them crumble, like crippled and petrified, numb and rigid, leaving Manchester United time and space to thrash and push them over without much effort scoring an own-goal hat-trick in the process, to make matters even worse. Worrying times for Pompey.

Zero: David James could not have had a more embarrassing appearance in front of the England goalkeeping coach Franco Tancredi. It was an easy ride for United, as Pompey did not pressurize, move or touch them much, leaving James to pick up the pieces - well, from the back of the net that is.

Ouch! The referee Martin Atkinson was everything else but consistent with his decisions at the Merseyside derby at Anfield. He sent Liverpool defender Sotirios Kyrgiakos off but let Marouane Fellaini and Steven Pienaar get away with similar if not even worse offenses. It was a typical rough and tough, brill derby match.

My Predictions - Actual Results

Bolton 2:1 Fulham - 0:0

Burnley 1:1 West Ham - 2:1

Hull City 2:2 Man City - 2:1

Liverpool 1:2 Everton - 1:0

Man United 4:0 Portsmouth - 5:0

Stoke City - 1:1 Blackburn - 3:0

Sunderland 0:0 Wigan - 1:1

Tottenham 3:0 Aston Villa - 0:0

Birmingham 1:1 Wolves - 2:1

Chelsea 2:1 Arsenal - 2:0

Premier League Tops and Flops

Sports - Football - Premier League - Picks of the Weekend

Top game: Manchester United's win against Portsmouth and the flood of goals at West Ham against Burnley. The prior was more of a contest than expected - in the first half that is, but then United capitalised as usual. The Hammers looked like they were going to throw away a comfortable lead, well, not really in then end. Entertaining twists and turns all the way, all one way in the end, for United and West Ham.

Top teams: Chelsea and Portsmouth; Chelsea outplayed and -classed Arsenal, who squandered the chance of catching up with the top two, whilst the score looked harsh against Pompey. They were on top in the first half, it just all crumbled to bits in the second half. It was still a good reply to all the problems behind the scenes and the change of management. It was an encouraging display for Avram Grant to work with and make progress.

Top player: Didier Drogba; I can only say again and again, I wonder how the Blues will do without him when he departs for the African Cup of Nations in January... Ryan Giggs is another obvious choice, his date will never run out with United it seems.

Top goal: Ivan Klasnic's smart turn and finish for Bolton wins it for me. Fulham had enough chances to come, take and go with all three points but instead they had to settle for a point thanks to the lively Croatian striker. I loved Hull City's celebration to their equaliser against City, cheeky.

Flop game: Everton were unlucky not to get anything out of the derby, they were so much better than Liverpool. Jo nearly got a hat-trick of disallowed goals and the opening goal for the Reds was against the run of play and undeserved. Unlucky for the Toffees... I honestly do not know what Liverpool expect from such lacking performances, three points is definitely not worthily!

Flop team: Liverpool, Liverpool, Liverpool... I will not repeat it again. Anyway, what was up with Spurs after thrashing Wigan 9-1 the other week, they looked very subdued and the shadow of that side this week?! What a contrast! Harry Redknapp will hopefully have a word...

Flop referees: What the hell was going on with the referees this weekend?! Penalty after penalty given, goals disallowed left, right and center... If that was supposed to be a clear stance against video referees, that they can do the job without technological help, they are having a laugh!

Flop goal: Again, Liverpool's opener... It was just a lucky (or unlucky, depending on which side you see it from) deflection off Joseph Yobo, Yossi Benayoun's shot looked like it would have otherwise gone wide. Dirk Kuyt's goal just added salt onto the wound, an easy tap-in as Everton looked to have given up and run down after all their dominance. Both goals came against run of play.

My Predictions - Actual Results

Aston Villa 1:2 Tottenham - 1:1

Blackburn 1:1 Stoke - 0:0

Fulham 2:1 Bolton - 1:1

Man City 3:0 Hull City - 1:1

Portsmouth 0:2 Man Utd - 1:4

West Ham 2:2 Burnley - 5:3

Wigan 1:1 Sunderland - 1:0

Arsenal 2:1 Chelsea - 0:3

Everton 1:1 Liverpool - 0:2

Wolves 1:1 Birmingham - 0:1

Premier League Tops and Flops

Sports - Football - Premier League - Picks of the Weekend

Top game: The obvious picks would be Liverpool's sorry defeat against Fulham, Arsenal's thrashing of Tottenham and Chelsea's show time win at the Reebok Stadium - but Portsmouth's crucial and convincing 4-0 win against an eratic Wigan will have a massive and the biggest impact on a side that has been cursed and given up on by most.

Top team: Birmingham were brilliant allround, in attack and defence, so too Fulham. And have Portsmouth risen from the dead with their win, or was it just a one-off? I hope not, it was great to watch.

Top player: Aruna Dindane's hat-trick and Shay Given's saves made both of them the most crucial players for their sides - the prior giving Portsmouth the win and three much-needed points; the latter making save after save, sparing Manchester City from defeat and saving a point for them.

Top goal: Nicolas Anelka, Deco and Didier Drogba co-starred in Chelsea's fourth goal. They made it look like a show time choreography, well rehearsed and put on stage, showing up Bolton how deluded they were of their hopes and chances against the show makers.

Flop game: Everton against Aston Villa was the dullest of all games, but still had two goals and two red cards in it. That indicates a lot to how highly-pitched the Premier League is.

Flop team: It was a day, week and month to forget for Liverpool - the confident win against Manchester United has been the only exception, but seemed far far away, on a different planet with this display. Tottenham were just as disappointing when you expected the upmost against their local rivals.

Flop player: Drogba was once again the drama queen of the game. A top quality, world-class player like him should not be in need of such poor and childish actions to take advantage of the opposition. It is just sad to watch divers and whiners and it is even sadder he is not the only one and that they all represent their team, the league, the sport. They should be more aware of the responsibility.

Flop goal: Why was Nikola Kalinic's goal not given for Blackburn?! It was nowhere near offside as replays showed! It would have been his first goal for the side, not that it would have made much of a difference to the result as Manchester United rode the show and deserved the win.

Flop referees: The weekend saw a record of nine red cards! There were a lot of iffy decisions amongst them, the referees did everything else but hold back, giving the impression they had it in for the whole Premier League lot!

My Predictions - Actual Results

Arsenal 4:3 Tottenham - 3:0

Bolton 2:2 Chelsea - 0:4

Burnley 2:1 Hull City - 2:0

Everton 2:1 Aston Villa - 1:1

Fulham 0:2 Liverpool - 3:1

Man Utd 4:1 Blackburn - 2:0

Portsmouth 2:1 Wigan - 4:0

Stoke 2:1 Wolves - 2:2

Sunderland 4:2 West Ham - 2:2

Birmingham 1:1 Man City - 0:0

West Ham 2:1 Aston Villa - 2:1

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

Chelsea take advantage and top spot

Sports - Football - Premier League - Chelsea 2:0 Liverpool

Chelsea recorded their first home victory against one of the "Big Four" since 26 April 2008, when they beat Manchester United 2-1. Didier Drogba was scorer and provider to make it 2-0 and take Chelsea two points clear at the top of the table for the international break. Liverpool move down to sixth on their third defeat.

The first half started tight at both ends, neither team able to create enough pressure and a serious threat to Pepe Reina and Henrique Hilario, who was standing in for a suspended Petr Cech.

Fernando Torres and Steven Gerrard were kept anonymous and covered well by John Terry and Ricardo Carvalho. The only save Hilario had to make came from an Albert Riera free-kick from 40 yards. The Portuguese saw it late but was alert enough to tip it around the post for a corner.

Drogba and Frank Lampard had a couple of efforts for Chelsea, but nothing close. Reina had an easy job to save Nicolas Anelka's header, the closest the Blues got in the first half.

The second half continued in the same unspectacular way, until Drogba broke the deadlock 30 minutes later. The Ivory Coast striker took the ball off Javier Mascherano, broke away on the right and put it past Reina with his right foot.

With three minutes injury time added on to Rafael Benitez's disgrace, Drogba got the better of Jamie Carragher, outrunning and turning away from the defender, his cross from the right side of the box finding Deco-replacement Florent Malouda, who bubbled it over the line and condemned Liverpool to their third defeat of the season.

Carragher enjoyed a solid display and no problems with Martin Skrtel at the back as they had shown in previous matches, up until then. Drogba made the difference, although he impressed as much as he infuriated the spectators, with his quality contributions and dramatic diving and whining antiques.

Yossi Benayoun missed a chance for Liverpool late on after coming on for Riera, but it was not to be, not even a consolation goal for the Reds.

It was not a classic encounter, less mouthwatering and breathtaking. Both sides were not at their best, but Chelsea were the side who were able to take advantage and record their 11th win under Carlo Ancelotti.

They take a two-point cushion, being able to enjoy the international break at the top of the Premier League. Liverpool on the other hand will have to answer a lot of questions, whether they are still in the title challenge with a shout and where and why it has all gone pear-shaped for them so early on in the season.

Chelsea Hilario; A Cole, Terry, Cavalho, Ivanovic; Lampard, Essien, Ballack; Anelka, Deco (Malouda 76), Drogba. Subs not used Turnbull, J Cole, Zhirkov, Kalou, Sturridge, Belletti. Bookings Essien 44.

Liverpool Reina; Insua (Aurelio 83), Skrtel, Carragher, Johnson; Riera (Benayoun 67), Mascherano, Gerrard, Lucas (Babel 76), Kuyt; Torres. Subs not used Cavalieri, Agger, Kyrgiakos, Ngog. Bookings Gerrard 77.

1st half stats

Chelsea-Liverpool

Attempts: 7-6

On target: 4-2

Offsides: 0-1

Corners: 3-5

Free kicks: 8-6

Possession: 50%-50%

2nd half stats

Chelsea-Liverpool

Attempts: 8-9

On target: 6-3

Offsides: 0-0

Corners: 1-2

Free kicks: 7-4

Referee: Martin Atkinson

Man of the match: John Terry