Premier League Tops and Flops: Picks of the Weekend

Sports - Football - Premier League

With 40 goals, this weekend's action proved the Premier League's worth in the football world. Manchester United and Chelsea looked shivery at times but got the results and three points they need, that is the only thing that matters end of the season. Liverpool netted four goals as if it was the usual procedure, showing no lack of confidence nor form.

The relegation battle got a couple of more twists and turns. Already-considered-down-and-out Wets Brom showed guts against Portsmouth and were rewared with a point. Newcastle also got their first point under Alan Shearer against Stoke City and Middlesbrough recorded a solid and promising 3:1 win oagainst Hull City which improved their chance of survival. Aston Villa and Everton fought out a belter of a match but both had to separate with only a point each in the end, which more or less saved Arsenal the 4th and final Champions League qualification place, who thrashed Wigan comfortably 4:1.

Game: How Chelsea nearly gave away a 4-goal lead is shocking. After a superb and overall-dominant 1st half, with Didier Drogba and Frank Lampard back to their usual outstanding selves, Chelsea relaxed and took off their two talismen after netting the fourth and no one would blame them. But then eight crazy minutes passed, where Chelsea's vulnerability and leaks showed. And it could have been worse when deep into stoppage time Gary Cahill's shot deflected here, there and everywhere between a huddle of bodies to go just wide. It will also serve Liverpool's confidence to know it is not impossible to pass three over Chelsea's goal line and get their best result at Stamford Bridge in 19 years to be able to progress when they meet on Tuesday in the Champions League Quarter Final second leg.

Goal: Fernando Torres' first goal was a beauty, controlling a Carragher-cross with his first touch and turning a right-footed shot up and over Paul Robinson. Not many would have been able to score from that position, but Torres has proven his quality and class once again.

Team: Liverpool have come back strong after their Champions League defeat against Chelsea, what one should expect against struggling Blackburn and are keeping the title race hot and juicy. Even without captain Steven Gerrard the likes of Javier Mascherano, Dirk Kuyt, Daniel Agger and - 0f course - Fernando Torres proved that they can reach peak without their skipper.

Player: Federico Macheda again for Manchester United has saved the points and title spot for the Red Devils again - although I am not too sure he knew much about his goal. How crucial will his gials prove to be end of the season?

Manager: Finally Gareth Southgate got something to smile about again. After the match, he put what the win ment to him short and sweet, honest, blunt and obvious: With a sigh of relief. Cut him some slack, this result could prove vital. You never know, maybe this is a start of a great survival comeback. Then Boro will maybe be lauded to have stuck with him. Too many clubs sack manager too soon too often...

My Predictions - Actual Results

Aston Villa 2:2 Everton - 3:3
Chelsea 1:1 Bolton - 4:3
Liverpool 3:1 Blackburn - 4:0
Man City 2:0 Fulham - 1:3
Middlesbrough 0:0 Hull City - 3:1
Portsmouth 2:0 West Brom - 2:2
Stoke 1:0 Newcastle - 1:1
Sunderland 0:4 Man Utd - 1:2
Tottenham 2:1 West Ham - 1:0
Wigan 1:3 Arsenal - 1:4

Premier League Tops and Flops: Picks of the Weekend

Sports - Football - Premier League

Sir Alex Ferguson has done it again and pulled a rabbit called Federico Macheda out of the hat. 17 years and 226 days of age, he is the fourth-youngest player to have scored a late match winner and stealing the spot light and maybe/most probably the Premier League title with it. Liverpool had also snatched a late winner the evening before and were most likely watching on when their hopes of catching up and staying top were dashed at Old Trafford.

Game: Manchester United's win shocked Aston Villa who thought they had their first win in six, but any conscious football follower and supporter of the last couple of decades know what has made United the most successful Premier League club and to never write them of before the last whistle has been blown.

Goals: Yossi Benayoun and Federico Macheda both got crucial quality last-minute strikes, but which one will prove more crucial at the end of the season?

Team: Stoke finally got their first away win at the Hawthornes which put them six points above the relegation zone. They have been a forgotten team for a while but £3.5m signing James Beattie has been crucial to them scoring six goals in 10 league games and the match winner in this match, making times look much more promising for City. For West Brom on the other hand, things look much more bleak, same for Middlesbrough, both staring relegation in the face.

Hero: Youngster Federico Macheda, in the picture above, won the match for Manchester United and most probably the title. Nothing is sweeter than to introduce yourself into the football world with a crucial and beautiful debut goal like this right-footed turnaround curl into the top corner. Ferguson has got an eye for them, so, it is no dare to say we will see and enjoy much more quality like this from the promising youngster.

Villain: It has not been a good weekend for referees. Chris Foy's second yellow for Portsmouth's fouled Glen Johnson and Peter Walton sending off Wilson Palacios for a challenge he pulled out of, made both referees look not just harsh but due an appointment at their opticians. Maybe Walton has to also see his psychiatrist, because no one else saw what he gave Spurs' penalty for. The linesman at St James'Park can be added to this little rant, having denied Michael Owen a goal, his shot crossing the line before Ashley Cole hooked it clear. It could have changed the course of the match and relegation battle for the Toon Army. Why they cannot regard video replays I still cannot understand.

Manager: Alan Shearer caught all the headlines before someone at Old Trafford stole the limelight. I thought it was an April fool's joke when I read last Wednesday he was going to take over from Joe Kinnear for the rest of the season. Who would want to start their managerial career in a relegation battle, facing Manchester United, at Old Trafford, I thought?! Well, fool me. In his first post-match interview of his managerial career for the Toon, he made a respectable figure, the legend he is, not moaning or ranting about lost opportunities and the referee's fault in losing his team a goal and maybe the chance of leaving the pitch with a point but reasoning and underlining his decision and aim on his job as Newcastle manager until end of the season.

Predictions - Results

Arsenal 1:0 Man City - 2:0
Blackburn 1:2 Tottenham - 2:1
Bolton 1:0 Middlesbrough - 4:1
Everton 2:0 Wigan - 4:0
Fulham 1:2 Liverpool - 0:1
Hull City 1:1 Portsmouth - 0:0
Man Utd 2:0 Aston Villa - 3:2
Newcastle 1:1 Chelsea - 0:2
West Brom 3:2 Stoke - 0:2
West Ham 0:0 Sunderland - 2:0

Picture taken from bbc.com