Week 38: Premier League Tops and Flops

Sports - Football - Premier League - Picks of the Weekend

This weekend was the grand finale weekend of the season and it was the first time ever the title was decided on the last day, in the last match/half/minute/second of the season! After 1,066 goals were scored in total in the Premier League this season, Manchester City ended up top scorer and title winner. But it was not just Manchester that was sweating, screaming, crying, laughing, dancing. The relegation battle, Champions League spot(s) and a hell lot of honour were still left to play for:

Top game: The title deciders at the Stadium of Light and Etihad stadium had EVERYTHING! All the thrills, spills, cheers, tears and drama the game and sport can bring! Manchester United and Wayne Rooney could have bagged 4/5/6/7 goals against Sunderland but in the end it didn't matter. City had fought back late and won the game against relegation-battlers QPR and the title with two goals in the last three minutes of time added on.
United did not know where they were at after their full-time whistle had gone. The suspense was like there to grasp, close to edible in the air. Sergio Aguero will never forbet the moment he scored and won the title for City, their first after 44 years, 22 managers, five relegations, five promotions and right out of their local rivals' laps! Un-be-lievable climax to and unforgettable season! Martin Tyler's and Guy Mowbray's loss of voice control as well as the fans' and team's reactions, faces and body language, covered and summarised that moment and the whole occasion brilliantly!!!

Top team: City ended up on top in the end and were rewarded and celebrated for not giving up the game, match and title. It is not over until the final whistle! United know that the best! Now City know it better! But the juicier next season will be, United's fight-back! As Sir Alex Ferguson said with a smile on his face, he is not going anywhere. And hats off to him, respect to Fergie for congratulating City and saying they deserve the title as the league is the long haul and not just won by accident or some good fortune (after having a dig at the fact that five minutes were added on for City to come back. Sir Alex obviously did not see or watch all highlights and action of the match at the Etihad, with the whole Joey Barton malarkey... More an that below...).

Top player: Rooney could have scored a hat-trick with all the chances he missed and saw saved. Sunderland goalkeeper Simon Mignolet was on top of his game and did brilliantly to bounce back onto his feet after stopping Paul Scholes' shot to also deny none other than Ryan Giggs parrying the latter's shot over the crossbar. Brad Friedel also showed he still has what it takes for Tottenham against Fulham, his terrific stop against Moussa Dembele in the first half proving his awareness and actions/reactions are still up to speed.

Top goal: AGUERRROOOOOOOOOOO!!! Need I say more? More? More? Wigan's third and Emmerson Boyce's second of the match against Wolves at the DW Stadium was outstanding! With a wonderful right-foot swerving volley from the edge of the box, the Carribean defender smashed in Hugo Rodallega's header into the back of the net to make it three goals and three points for the Latics, ending their season on a high at home.

Top news: New England manager Roy Hodgson has announced the full 23-man England squad for Euro 2012, leaving out Rio Ferdinand and naming Steven Gerrard as the England captain. Full England Squad for Euro 2012

Flop game and team: Swansea's home win summed up Liverpool's season. With chances galore, in an otherwise mediocre game, the Reds ended up pointless, miserable and frustrated. This season in 11th place, seven points clear of the relegation zone, it has been Swansea's best and highest finish in 30 years. In 8th place, 37 points behind the champions, this has been Liverpool's worst finish in nearly 50 years! Carling Cup win aside, King Kenny had a lot of soal- and fault-searching, explaining and changing to do in order to keep his crown and throne at Anfield. And as we all know since yesterday, he has failed in doing so and succumbed to the Amercian owners and their demands. This may be an understandable decision and action after this season, but that does not mean it is the right thing to do to make things better in the long run. I just wonder how John Henry and Co will come up with anything and anyone more successful and profiting LONG TERM if they make cuts and changes every year! It took even Sir Alex four years to win his first trophy with United (the FA Cup 1989-90) and seven years for the first league title (1992-93)! It shows, time and patience is of virtue and essence for success and with that comes all the money and profit the owners are looking for and not vice versa. But as long as there are teams like Chelsea and City, I guess owners like Henry will always plead their cases on those examples (and not the others, i.e. Leeds, Newcastle, Blackburn, ...). Only time will tell what all this will mean for Liverpool... I am not too optimistic though! :-(

Flop player: Barton, what were you thinking?! First you elbow Carlos Tevez. Then, whilst arguing your case with the referee and after handing over your CAPTAIN'S ARMBAND, you follow on to your idiotic act with an even more moronic act by kicking into the back of Aguero. I don't know how you can explain your way out of this one!!! = LOOOOOOOONG ban will hopefully follow! Shame on you! DISGRACE!

Flop goal: Marton Fulop had an absolute nightmare against Arsenal! In his league debut for West Brom, the Hungarian goalkeeper first produced a terrible error, letting Yossi Benayoun pass him and score with ease after failing to claim the ball in his own box. Then he punched the ball back to Laurent Koscielny and into the back of his own net. After a fine fight-back by West Brom, giving their England-bound manager Hodgson a good send-off, Fulop flopped and held his head in shame after throwing these three points out the window and into the back of the net with the ball(s) and goal(s) he gave away.
And I don't know how both goals for Stoke against Bolton were given. The first was a fowl on goalkeeper Adam Bogdan with Jon Walters tumbling all over him and the ball over the line with him. The second was a very soft penalty with Peter Crouch going down with hardly any contact made with Bogdan. The game ended up 2-2 and the Wanderers religated. Heart-break after everything that has happened to Bolton this season and especially unfair after their brilliant comebacks and fightbacks of late and it looked like they had this match in the bag too. QPR are very lucky!

Flop news: The first boss on the end-of-the-season hanger was Aston Villa's Alex McLeish after only 11 months in the job. Kenny Dalglish followed soon after with only four months longer under his belt this time round. The big question is, who is next? Betting odds

My predictions - Actual results

Chelsea 2:1 Blackburn - 2:1
Everton 2:0 Newcastle - 3:1
Man City 4:0  QPR - 3:2
Man City are champions
Norwich City 2:2 Aston Villa - 2:0
Stoke City 1:2 Bolton - 2:2
Bolton are relegated
Sunderland 1:2 Man United - 0:1
Swansea City 0:2 Liverpool - 1:0
Tottenham 3:0 Fulham - 2:0
West Brom 1:2 Arsenal - 2:3
Wigan 1:1 Wolves - 3:2

Scouser beats Liverpool at St James' Park

Sports - Football - Premier League - Newcastle 3:1 Liverpool

Joey Barton and Andrew Carroll made sure all three points went to the Magpies, the man of the match and former Evertonian poking one in on 80 to give the lead back to the home side, the latter completing a near-perfect day for Newcastle in injury-time, when he had all the time and space, uncovered, to take a strong left-foot shot from 25 yards out and score to make it 3 goals and 3 points for the troubled Toon Army.

Dirk Kuyt tried to spoil the show on Tyneside with a cruel equaliser at the start of the second half when his left foot chip came off Steven Taylor and past goalkeeper Tim Krul. Kevin Nolan had given Newcastle the lead on 15, when he put Carroll's cross off Barton's free kick into the net.

After the turmoil of this week for Newcastle, seeing Chris Hughton replaced by Alan Pardew as their manager and controversial owner Mike Ashley hogging the limelight and causing outrage and protests amongst the fans once again.

All Magpies were back smiling at the end of this day, but still made their statement and dedications to their former manager, the win taking them up from 14th to 8th, overtaking Liverpool in the process.


The Reds had their chances and dominance in the second half, but couldn't take advantage, David Ngog and Fernando Torres disappointing with some easy misses and blatant giveaways.

That takes their away record to only two wins in the last 18 Premier League games, the only two this calendar year. It is their first defeat in the last 5 games against Newcastle and takes Roy Hodgson's away record from bad to worse.

Newcastle: Krul; Jose Enrique, Campbell, Simpson, Taylor; Nolan (scored 15, Smith 87), Barton (scored 80, Routledge 93), Guttierez (booked 78), Tiote (booked 83); Carroll (scored 91), Ameobi (Ranger 63).
Subs not used: Harper, Perch, Guthrie, Lovenkrands.

Liverpool: Reina; Johnson (booked 19), Kyrgiakos, Skrtel, Konchesky; Kuyt (scored 49), Meireles, Lucas, Maxi (Jovanovic 85); Torres, Ngog (Babel 72).
Subs not used: Jones, Aurelio, Kelly, Cole, Poulsen.

1st half stats:
Newcastle-Liverpool
Attempts: 4-7
On target: 4-2
Offsides: 1-1
Corners: 2-3
Free kicks: 5-11
Possession:
47%-53% after 30 minutes
46%-54% at HT

2nd half stats:
Newcastle-Liverpool
Attempts: 3-7
On target: 2-2
Offsides: 1-2
Corners: 0-2
Free kicks: 6-10
Possession:
45%-55% after 60 minutes
47%-53% at FT

Sky Sports Stats:
Newcastle-Liverpool
Passing Success: 73.8%-76.4%
Tackles/Success: 19/68.4%-27/63%
Territorial Advantage: 49.1%-50.9%

Referee: Lee Mason
Man of the match: Joey Barton

FT Summary: Newcastle 3-1 Liverpool

Sports - Football - Premier League - Newcastle 3:1 Liverpool

Dirk Kuyt tried to spoil the show with a cruel equaliser at the start of the second half, but Joey Barton and Andrew Carroll made sure their goals got all three points for the Magpies, making Mike Ashley's and Alan Pardew's day after the latter's controlvesial appointment and first game as Newcastle manager.

Match summary:

- Liverpool are coming to St James' Park with everything else but an enviable away record with only two wins in the last 17 Premier League games and those make all the away wins they have had this calendar year on the road. A win would take them up to 6th.

- After the turmoil of this week at the Tyneside, seeing Chris Hughton replaced by Alan Pardew as Newcastle manager and controversial owner Mike Ashley hogging the limelight and causing outrage and protests amongst the Toon Army once again, Pardew and the Magpies are desperate for a result. A win could see them climb up from 14th to 8th.

- Liverpool have won their last four games against Newcastle, scoring a total of 14 goals. They won 5-1 on the last visit to St James' Park in December 2008.

- The Magpies have lost seven of their last eight games against the Reds. The exception was a 2-1 home win in February 2007.

- New Newcastle boss Pardew makes two changes following the defeat at West Brom: Kevin Nolan and Joey Barton come into the midfield replacing Wayne Routledge and Danny Guthrie. For Liverpool, Fernando Torres returns form his short paternity leave and takes Ryan Babel's place in attack.

- David Ngog and Fernando Torres kick off the game for Liverpool at St James' Park.

- Maxi Rodriguez sends the first attempt of the night high over the bar, a nice build-up, turn and right-foot shot, ends up a waste.

- Shola Ameobi tries a cheeky sneak-through in the box with the back of his left, doesn't quite get it, easy pick-up for Pepe Reina.

- Glen Johnson on his 50th appearance for the Reds, loses the ball clumsily with a dreadful first touch, but gets a free kick out of it, after falling dramatically against Danny Simpson's block.

- The free kick is cleared, eventually the ball ends up in the box again, a shot from the edge by Sotirios Kyrgiakos is pushed away by Toon keeper Tim Krul.

- First corner of the evening goes to Liverpool, nothing from it, ends up in Krul's gloves nice, soft and easy.

- Kyrgiakos gives a stupid free kick away, jumping on top of Andrew Carroll knowing he can't get to the ball. Joey Barton takes it, Carroll knocks it down from the right side of the box and crosses it to give Kevin Nolan an easy goal in the bottom right-hand corner, his 8th of the season. They made it look easy, Liverpool's defence not covering and made to pay for it. 1-0 after 14:35 minutes, Tyneside relieved and on a high.

- Barton misskicks the next free kick from about 25 yards out, given against Johnson for a stupid tackle from behind on Jonas Gutierrez which he is booked for aswell, but the nearly had Pepe Reina worried again, but ended up safely in the Spaniards gloves.

- Wonderful pass by Johnson, headed over by Ngog, should have made more of that, at least on target.

- Torres goes down tackled by air after he is unable to connect to the ball just outside the box, Liverpool get a free kick out of his act. The Spaniard takes it and smacks it right into the wall, Ngog's shot from it goes wide and out for a goal kick.

- Reina holds on well to Carroll's low shot, still 1-0 with half an hour gone, 47%-53% in possession, Liverpool playing some nice football, connecting well, but need to keep going to find and get something out of it.

- Newcastle give away a corner after a little bit of confusion about who was claiming the ball, the corner cleared but not far outside the box, Raul Meireles' shot bounces off the goalkeeper Krul and is cleared off the line by Jose Enrique.

- Ameobi shot it deflected wide, just, the home side's first corner of the night, taken by Barton from the left, leads to nothing as a free kick is given against Carroll and his foul on Kyrgiakos.

- Free kick given against a raging, ranting Kyrgiakos, the ref calms him down, Barton takes it from a similar distance to where the goal was scored from, but it is cleared, no threat.

- Rodriguez goes down in the box, nothing given, Liverpool putting the pressure on at the end of the first half. Replays showed it was the slightest of touches by Steven Taylor on Maxi's ankle, no reason to go down in that dramatic fashion. The Argentine is still not happy though.

- Kyrgiakos heads Meireles' corner from the left wide, best chance of the half for the Reds, with the last move of the half, Newcastle 1-0 ahead at half time.

- Newcastle kick off the second half, Barton's shot held fine by Reina.

- Cruel left-footed equaliser by Dirk Kuyt on 49:00, chip comes off Taylor and passes his goalkeeper, into the back of the net. The three defenders confusing and conceding that one.

- Torres face to face with Krul in the box after Konchesky's quickly taken free kick, Campbell and Jose Enrique caught sleeping, but the keeper blocks it well. Should have been 1-2.

- Ngog, 6-7 yards out, can't get the header right and puts the ball wide. Seconds later Torres flicks one with the back foot straight to the goalkeeper. Liverpool on top so far in the second half.

- Barton crosses the ball into the box, fine cross, Carrol should have had that one but heads it over.

- Torres puts one wide to the left, just, Krul was nearly fooled.

- With just under half an hour to go, Nile Ranger comes on for Shola Ameobi who looks like he has taken a knock. Caroll wins the ball and Newcastle break from the left, Ranger nearly scoring with his first and second touch, putting the ball wide. What a wonder-sub he would have been...

- The Ranger is hungry... A free kick given against him after running and turning the Red defence mad...

- Ngog goes off bleading after his head clashed between Kyrgiakos and Bartone, the teams questioning each other about the incident but it all ends up in handshakes and backtapps, Ryan Babel is on.

- Konchesky loses the ball, Carroll and Ranger pressurising the Reds back line, give away a free kick though. Newcastle a changed side with the Ranger, much more positive, adventurous and outgoing. See if they will get something out of it.

- Guttierez bring down Johnson on the right side outside the box, clumsy but did not have many options. Ball ends up with Lucas Leiva and high and wide, nowhere near the goal.

- And there it is: Sketchy Liverpool defending, Carroll winning a header again,into the box, Joey Barton focused on the ball,claims it easily with no Liverpool player really covering or coming in, Reina nowhere inbetween, hesitant, Barton pokes it in with his right foot. It was coming, Newcastle lead again, 2-1 on 79:39.

- Cheik Tiote takes one for the team, booked for bringing down goalbound Torres, free kick comes to nothing.

- Second changes made by Liverpool and Newcastle, Alan Smith on for Nolan and Milan Jovanovic on for Maxi Rodriguez respectively, about 5 minutes to go.

- Johnson heads a corner high and over, theme of the night for Liverpool, there but not there, not able to take advantage when they were on top - just the one goal off Newcastle's mix-up.

- Carroll completes a perfect day for Newcastle on 90:36, nobody closes in on him, left-foot shot from 25 yards with loads of space, strong shot, strong goal, strong statement by Newcastle. Another away defeat for Liverpool.

- The ref blows the whistle to cheers by the Toon Army, recrimination before the game, celebration after, Newcastle 3-1 Liverpool.

Newcastle: Krul; Jose Enrique, Campbell, Simpson, Taylor; Nolan (scored 15, Smith 87), Barton (scored 80, Routledge 93), Guttierez (booked 78), Tiote (booked 83); Carroll (scored 91), Ameobi (Ranger 63).
Subs not used: Harper, Perch, Guthrie, Lovenkrands.

Liverpool: Reina; Johnson (booked 19), Kyrgiakos, Skrtel, Konchesky; Kuyt (scored 49), Meireles, Lucas, Maxi (Jovanovic 85); Torres, Ngog (Babel 72).
Subs not used: Jones, Aurelio, Kelly, Cole, Poulsen.

1st half stats:
Newcastle-Liverpool
Attempts: 4-7
On target: 4-2
Offsides: 1-1
Corners: 2-3
Free kicks: 5-11
Possession:
47%-53% after 30 minutes
46%-54% at HT

2nd half stats:
Newcastle-Liverpool
Attempts: 3-7
On target: 2-2
Offsides: 1-2
Corners: 0-2
Free kicks: 6-10
Possession:
45%-55% after 60 minutes
47%-53% at FT

Referee: Lee Mason
Man of the match: Joey Barton