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Sports - Football - Premier League - Sunday Action Summary
Chelsea dropped two points at Anfield after a dramatic last-minute equaliser by the master of controversy Luis Suarez. Oscar had headed the visitors ahead comfortably and totally unmarked early on in the first half. After a disappointing first half, Liverpool came back strong and super-sub Daniel Sturridge equalised for the Reds soon after coming on following the break. Just when the Reds looked like they were going from strength to strength and on the brink of turning the game around, Suarez conceded a penalty with an obvious handball, which Eden Hazard netted nice and easy sending Pepe Reina the wrong way.
The home side kept on digging and pressing but Rafael Benitez looked like he was going to leave Anfield with a win against his former side. But Suarez nicked a late header into the back of the net with the last breath of the match, over six minutes in to added time. The Uruguayan was lucky to still be on the pitch at that point after replays showed he had bitten Branislav Ivanovic's right arm earlier on in the match which overshadowed the whole improved performance by the Reds in the second half! Unbelievable as it sounds, a hefty fine and suspension must surely follow, it has to! And it certainly would not be surprising if this was Suarez's last game for Liverpool! He has surely reached the last line, final straw! Sad shame but true!
Tottenham scored three goals in seven minutes to beat Manchester City and deny them any further chance in the title race. After Roberto Mancini's men took an early lead at White Hart Lane thanks to an early Samir Nasri goal, the home side never looked like a threat. However, Andre Villas-Boas' changes paid off late on in the second half, starting off with Clint Dempsey's tap-in equaliser, followed by substitute Jermain Defoe's stunning strike and last but not least provider-turned-scorer Gareth Bale's drop shot, taking City's defence to bits, turning the game on its head and closing the gap to Chelsea in fourth to one point with a strong 3-1 win. Tomorrow Manchester United can win their 20th title if they beat Aston Villa at Old Trafford, ending the reign of their City rivals.
Catch up and read up on all yesterday's results and matches under my Saturday Action Summary!
My Predictions => Actual Results:
Fulham 2-1 Arsenal => 0-1
Norwich 1-1 Reading => 2-1
QPR 1-0 Stoke => 0-2
Sunderland 1-1 Everton => 1-0
Swansea 2-2 Southampton => 0-0
West Brom 3-1 Newcastle => 1-1
West Ham 3-2 Wigan => 2-0
Tottenham 1-2 Man City => 3-1
Liverpool 2-0 Chelsea => 2-2
Man United 2-1 Aston Villa => (tomorrow)
Sports - Football - Premier League - Picks of the Weekend
WOW!
QPR's crucial win over Southampton made up for their alleged few too many drinks during a recent tour. It was only their third win all season and their first in seven, since beating Chelsea at Stamford Bridge on the 2nd January. Harry Redknapp kept his men together and Rangers recorded a much-needed win in the relegation battle reducing the gap to safety down to four points with ten games remaining.
OMG!
What was Rafael Benitez thinking with his rant? That neither helped his cause, his side (eventhough they ended up winning against West Brom, just, 1-0 thanks Demba Ba) nor did it win over any fans! The Spaniard is an experienced manager and should know better than to have a tantrum with the press or fans! If it was some kind of genius tactic to distract the media and fans attention, focus and critics away from his side and players, then fool me! Actions speak louder than words, games, goals, points rather than rants, chants and moans.
TOP & FLOP!
Tottenham outplayed Arsenal with Gareth Bale unable to do anything wrong at the moment. Whilst one side of London is up and rising on a high, the other side is in free fall. A lot of fans are calling for Arsene Wenger's head. However, rather than shaking up and changing the management, how about the Gunners finally make use of the funds they have collected over the years to strengthen their squad? Ok, it's too late to make changes to the squad this season. They can only hope to make it into the top for to qualify for the Champions League. If they fail to do so, it will just show it is time for change, to make use of their resources rather than seeing heads rolling and more question marks raising.
HERO!
My vote obviously goes to the hat-trick heroes Shinji Kagawa and Luis Suarez, the prior keeping his side top of the lot by far (= 12 points) thrashing Norwich 4-0 at Old Trafford whilst the latter is stirring and spicing up the will-he-stay-or-will-he-go-now discussions sinking Wigan 4-0 at the DW Stadium. Sir Alex Ferguson can now focus on their bid to remain in the Champions League in their secound-leg home bout against Real Madrid (1-1 at the Bernabeu), whilst Brendan Rodgers can remain hopeful with his side's bid to qualify for Europe next season.
ZERO!
That's how many league defeats both Spurs and United have suffered so far this year, the last two undefeated Premier League sides in 2013. The prior last saw defeat at Everton beginning of December, whilst the latter last fell at Norwich back in November 2012 and both seem to go from strength to strength. The worst league run goes to Sunderland who haven't won in their last five (DLLLD) and Reading who lost their last three games. The Black Cats climbed up to 14th thought after their draw against Fulham whilst The Royals remain deep in trouble in 19th, but just one point from safety.
My Predictions => Actual Results:
Chelsea 3-0 West Brom => 1-0
Everton 2-0 Reading => 3-1
Man United 4-0 Norwich => 4-0
Southampton 0-0 QPR => 1-2
Stoke 1-1 West Ham => 0-1
Sunderland 1-2 Fulham => 2-2
Swansea 2-2 Newcastle => 1-0
Wigan 1-1 Liverpool => 0-4
Tottenham 2-1 Arsenal => 2-1
Aston Villa 0-1 Man City => 0-1
Sports - Football - Premier League - Picks of the Weekend
WOW!
The relegation battle between Newcastle and Southampton was thrilling to watch, the Magpies coming from behind to win a league game for the first time this season after conceding the opening goal. Morgan Schneiderlin lashed in a shot for the Saints just three minutes into the match before Moussa Sissoko equalised for the hosts with a six-yard tap-in half an hour later. Papiss Cisse's stunning 25-yard strike just before half time was levelled out by Rickie Lambert's sidefoot off a near-post cross five minutes into the second half. Yohan Cabaye then netted from the spot on 67 after Danny Fox's handball before Jos Hooiveld sealed the deal 4-2 with an own goal just over ten minutes from time. The victory moved Alan Pardew's side up to 13th, six points clear of the relegation zone, whilst Mauricio Pochettino sees his side hovering in 16th, only three points seperating them from the drop zone.
OMG!
Norwich's late comeback against Everton came out of nowhere and just shows you can never settle a score before the final whistle has been blown. The Toffees were leading and deservedly so thanks to a Leon Osman header at the end of the first half. David Moyes' men were sure to keep the pressure on fifth-place Arsenal in the race for the top four and Champions League qualification dominating possession and play before the game was turned on its head late on. Canaries substitute Kei Kamara's header levelled the score, making him the first player from Sierra Leone and 88th different nationality to score in the English top flight, before Grant Holt's injury-time strike earned Chris Hughton's side their first Premier League win in 10 games and took them up to 12th whilst Everton remain in sixth, now five points behind the Gunners.
TOP!
Tottenham went up to third after their incredible win against West Ham. The Hammers did not make things easy for Andre Villas-Boas' side on the 20th anniversary of legend Bobby Moore's death, but were left pointless thanks to hero Gareth Bale. The star man gave his side the lead on 13 with a powerful strike before Andy Carroll equalised after winning and scoring a penalty 12 minutes later. The second half continued intense, Joe Cole putting the home side ahead again with a low shot before Gylfi Sigurdsson poked in the second equaliser. Bale's stunning last-minute winner silenced Upton Park, sending Sam Allerdyce's men down to 14th, six points clear of the relegation zone, whilst Boas' boys climbed up to third, five points behind Manchester City in second and two points clear of Chelsea in fourth.
FLOP!
Chelsea were wasteful and in the end well beaten by Manchester City. Roberto Mancini's men were rewarded for their more open and attacking approach after Yaya Toure and Carlos Tevez helped their side to a hard-fought 2-0 win with their stunning late goals. Both sides had their fair share of chances, Jack Rodwell and Sergio Aguero both going close for the hosts whilst Frank Lampard missed a glorious opportunity to register his 200th Chelsea goal thanks to a splendid penalty save by Joe Hart after the keeper had conceded the penalty for bringing down Demba Ba, but did not even receive a booking for it (much in contrast to the Bradford keeper in the Capital One Cup final I may note!). Interim manager Rafael Benitez was left ruing missed chances and bemoaning the referee's decision, but with ten points dropped out of the last 18, his side is left in fourth, only two points clear of Arsenal in fifth whilst City stay in second, keeping the title race on the edge but not the end (yet), twelve points behind rivals United.
HERO!
As mentioned above and nearly every week, Gareth Bale was the hero for Tottenham once again with his late match-winning stunner. The Welshman scored his 14th and 15th Premier League goals of the season against West Ham,
drawing level with Miguel Michu in the scoring charts. Only Robin van Persie (19) and
Luis Suarez (18) have more. With his 10th and 11th PL away goals of the season, the Spurs number 11 has scored the outright
most away goals of any player in the division. And having scored nine goals in eight PL matches since Christmas Day, the star front man has more
goals to his name than any other PL player in that time frame. Tremendous indeed.
ZERO!
Pavel Pogrebnyak's sending off against Wigan drove a nail into Reading's coffin for the game and relegation battle at the Madejski Stadium. The Russian's dreadful tackle on Maynor Figueroa deserved red and added to manager Brian McDermott's problems, who conceded his side had a bad day. Two goals by Arouna Kone and a nutmegger by Figueroa sank The Royals down to 19th after their second consecutive defeat, one point from safety, whilst the Latics climbed up to 17th, level on points with Aston Villa in 18th, leaving manager Roberto Martinez pleased with his side's display and "intensity" and ending their dreadful run of only one win in their previous 13 league outings and conceding 51 goals in their last 26. No other side had conceded more in the Premier League yet it was the home side who crashed and crumbled to defeat.
My Predictions => Actual Results:
Fulham 2-1 Stoke => 1-0
Arsenal 3-1 Aston Villa => 2-1
Norwich 0-1 Everton => 2-1
QPR 1-4 Man United => 0-2
Reading 1-2 Wigan => 0-3
West Brom 2-0 Sunderland => 2-1
Man City 2-2 Chelsea => 2-0
Newcastle 3-3 Southampton => 4-2
West Ham 1-2 Tottenham => 2-3
Sports - Football - Premier League - Picks of the Weekend
WOW!
Swansea wiped QPR away, showing the big gaping gap between the two sides. The Welsh side are having everything else but the second season syndrome, sitting comfortably in the top half of the table, in eighth place, whilst Harry Redknapp has been assigned to a lost cause, sitting at the bottom of the table, seven points from safety. QPR were shambolic and the Swans were able to make the most of it.
OMG!
Manchester City's defeat against Southampton was shocking! No discrediting the Saints and their strong display and stubbornness, but the Champions looked the shadow of the fighting team and players they used to be and they still have! Are Roberto Mancini's men missing Mario Balotelli = some ATTITUDE?! Gareth Barry's header into the back of his own net completed a nightmare afternoon for City, widening the gap to rivals United at the top to twelve points. Southampton meanwhile move into 15th, four points clear of the relegation zone, after their first win under Mauricio Pochettino.
TOP!
As mentioned above, United are now twelve points ahead of their City rivals after a routine-win against Everton. I feel and think that is a more than comfortable gap/seat/throne at the top of the table, their name and with it their 20th title already engraved on it! Looking at the next five opponents on both sides' (Premier League) fixture list, I feel and think again, that by the time the two rivals meet in April, the title race will already be over and decided. I hope not, for entertainment sake and value, but have to stay realistic.
FLOP!
No discrediting West Brom, but their win at Anfield was nearly comical. Liverpool had so many chances, including a penalty, all off target. Ben Foster was on form and did his job too, that's for sure, same goes for his defence. But the Reds went down to ninth, one point behind West Brom in eighth, even though they could and should have been a couple of goals ahead and settled the game by half time! The result means Liverpool are still to beat a team currently in the top half of
the Premier League table this season.
HERO!
Gareth Bale scored and starred yet again, two goals and three points for Tottenham in a highly competitive game against Newcastle. This brought his total to 13, four goals in three league games, not bad for a midfielder! And he could have had a double-hat-trick if he had netted all chances! But Andre Villas-Boas and the fans at a packed White Hart Lane will have forgiven him after leaving the ground all smiles and three points richer in fourth, one point behind Chelsea in third and four points clear of bitter rivals Arsenal in fifth.
ZERO!
England keeper Joe Hart's blooper which conceded the second goal epitomised City's fall against the Saints, the blue Mancs looked like a sinking ship, a hobbling runner from start to finish. As mentioned above, Barry's headed own goal put a very sour icing on a very bitter cake for City. The first goal came after a Barry giveaway too! It was just a collection of total shambles! Mancini's men have Chelsea next on their (Premier League) fixture list, who have made a fine comeback from their own set of shambles with a 4-1 thrashing of Wigan. I'm curious which side will step up and make a match rather than a mess of it next weekend!
My Predictions => Actual Results:
Tottenham 1-0 Newcastle => 2-1
Chelsea 2-1 Wigan => 4-1
Norwich 0-0 Fulham => 0-0
Stoke 0-0 Reading => 2-1
Sunderland 0-1 Arsenal => 0-1
Swansea 2-2 QPR => 4-1
Southampton 2-3 Man City => 3-1
Aston Villa 1-1 West Ham => 2-1
Man United 2-2 Everton => 2-0
Liverpool 2-0 West Brom => 0-2
Sports - Football - Premier League - Picks of the Week
WOW! OMG!
Manchester United's home win against Newcastle was a seven-goal thriller-and-a-half! So much happened, so much to talk and write about, you could not blink! Newcastle took the shock lead four minutes into the game thanks to James Perch, but Jonny Evans levelled things for United. Then came the controversy, Evans saw the ball into his own net but was relieved to see the flag up, Papiss Cisse given offside and the goal disallowed. But referee Mike Dean overruled his assistant and the goal stood as Cisse did not interefere with play before Evans netted the ball. Sir Alex Ferguson did not agree and was fuming on the side line even after the break.
But Evra soon equalised for the home side arrowing the ball past Tim Krul after a poor clearance to make it 2-2. Cisse then put the visitors back ahead thanks to a smart finish with his left and the United defence limping behind the Toons. RVP netted the third equaliser before United were denied a penalty for Toon skipper Fabricio Coloccini's handball. But after all frustration and aggravation, Javier Hernandez was once again the last-minute hero guiding the ball past Krul after a fine cross by Michael Carrick to make it 4-3 on the 90th minute mark.
Fergie turned from mad at half time to more than glad at full time. The Scotsman certainly put the pressure on the officials. After this game, he should be worried about United's defence more than anything else. But their outstanding attack spared them from disappointment, even without their main striker Wayne Rooney, who was out injured, and are now seven points clear at the top. Happy Christmas indeed, for one side of Manchester at least...
TOP!
The game at Villa Park could not have been more one-sided. Tottenham were all over Villa who kept giving away the ball. With all the space in the world, Jermain Defoe opened the scoring by nut-megging the Villa goalkeeper. Gareth Bale then calmly took advantage of the Villa mess up with the outside of his left foot and produced a nice chip-in to make it 2-0. With loads of space again, Aaron Lennon found Bale, who staged a left-foot Waltz, once, 0-3, and then a second time, this time off number 22 for the hat-trick to make it 0-4. Tottenham climbed up to fourth postion and Champions League qualification whilst Villa are hovering of the relegation zone just three points clear of the drop.
FLOP!
It was a shakey performance by Liverpool and exactly what they did not need or expect after their confidence-boosting 4-0 win against Fulham just a couple of ago! No discrediting Stoke for their performance and great response and stubbornness, they deserved the win. The only goal for the home side came thanks to a penalty, their first of this season! But Stoke were level seconds later after Robert Huth hooved the ball forward for Jonathan Walters to burry the ball past Pepe Reina. The visitors then took the lead thanks to Kenwyne Jones' header off a corner. Liverpool's defence was nowhere on both occasions, same goes for the final and winning goal. Reina could only help the ball in off Walter's fine left-foot strike and seal the dead deal for the Reds who dropped down to tenth in the table, eight points away from Champions League qualification.
HERO! and ZERO!
Adam Johnson scored the winning goal for Sunderland against Manchester City without realising. City protested, they wanted a free kick for a fowl against Pablo Zabaleta, but the defence was nowhere when Johnson's left-foot shot from the right squeezed past Joe Hart. Ambitious and productive, but Hart should have saved that one! I guess the England goalkeeper expected a cross rather than a shot but it ended up a Boxing Day delight for the home side at the Stadium of Light.
QPR's Rob Green will know the embarrassing feeling after tapping the ball into his own net against West Brom. Harry Redknapp was not happy with that goal as it looked like Marc-Antoine Fortune was backing into the goalkeeper. However, I feel he just stood his ground and the goalkeeper had no reason to backup so far! He was too soft and in the wrong position to start off with. It is all always relative, isn't it? Although Liam Ridgewell was very lucky not to concede a penalty for handling the ball. In the end, either way, this defeat saw QPR back to the bottom of the table.
My Predictions => Actual Results:
Everton 2-1 Wigan => 2-1
Fulham 0-0 Southampton => 1-1
Man United 2-1 Newcastle => 4-3
Norwich 1-1 Chelsea => 0-1
QPR 0-2 West Brom => 1-2
Reading 0-0 Swansea => 0-0
Sunderland 0-3 Man City => 1-0
Aston Villa 1-2 Tottenham => 0-4
Stoke 1-0 Liverpool => 3-1
