Premier League Picks Of The Week 7

Sports - Football - Premier League - Week 7

The 7th week of the Premier League action saw:

22 goals - most by Tottenham & Man United = 4
256 shots - most by Arsenal & Everton = 23
75 on target - most by Arsenal = 11
92 corners - most by Everton = 9
188 fouls - most by West Ham = 15
24 yellow cards - most by West Brom & West Ham = 3 each
0 red cards
1 penalty - 0 scored (Berahino denied by Forster for Stoke)

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What a match! It was a routine win for Arsenal beating Brighton 2-0 on Sunday at the Emirates, a nice 21st anniversary present for their boss Arsène Wenger. The second goal was sweet, Alexis Sánchez's back-heel pass finding Alex Iwobi nicely to make it 2-0 and three points for the Gunners, taking them up to fifth in the table, just three goals behind the champions. The French manager has now won Premier League matches against 45 different clubs - a record! Man City totally outplayed Chelsea, beating the Blues 0-1 at Stamford Bridge, which keeps them in fourth place on goal difference. It was disappointing to watch, no competition at all, the result not quite reflecting the Citizens dominance, staying top of the league on goal difference.

What a team! Crystal Palace lost again, surprise surprise. Just like their local rivals, it was too easy for United as well, winning comfortably 4-0 and it could have been more. The thrash took the Red Devils just one goal behind the top. Watford showed strength and stubbornness once again, grinding out a result, a late late late equaliser, 2-2 at West Brom. In contrast to that, Bournemouth and Leicester shared their miserable form, no goals, a point each. And why Everton don't like Sundays: They lost their last five Premier League matches on this day by an aggregate score of 1-13! Burnley meanwhile remain unbeaten away from home after beating the Toffees convincingly 0-1 at Goodison Park, the win taking them up to sixth on 12 points from seven games with more away points than in the whole of last season. Ronald Koeman's side meanwhile are down in 16th on seven points. Contrast.

What a man! Harry Kane can't stop scoring! The star striker made it 0-3 to Tottenham within 23 minutes at Huddersfield, in style! Floating and bossing it! The 24-year-old Spurs forward has 13 goals in September, equalling the record in a single month by Lionel Messi (March 2012) and Cristiano Ronaldo (October 2010). Romelu Lukaku continued his top run too, adding a late goal to make it 4-0 to United and keeping his scoring streak going. Daniel Sturridge got a rare start for Liverpool and had scored five goals in the four previous league starts at St James Park, seven in total against Newcastle, making them his favourite opponent. But the out-of-form striker did not impress on Sunday, wasting chance after chance. Philippe Coutinho opened the scoring with a smacker from outside the box, the Reds seemingly in total control. Until the defence mucked it all up again, Joel Matip desperately running back after leaving a big gap between him and Dejan Lovren, kicking the ball against Joselu, for it to roll over the line oh so slowly to make it 1-1. So so so agonising for Jürgen Klopp's men once again, here is my full match report. The only positive stat: The Reds haven't lost a Premier League game in October for the last seven years according to Martin Tyler. Yay?

What a goal! Richarlison's last-breath equaliser for Watford, completing the comeback from two goals down to save a point at West Brom, in the 95th minute, was his second consecutive 90+th minute goal. Peter Crouch scored a late winner as well for Stoke City, three goals in seven appearances for the 36-year-old striker, two of those as a sub, prove he has still got it. Diafra Sakho's last-minute winner for West Ham against Swansea relieved the London Stadium and manager Slaven Bilić of all tension and despair. For now. Marcus Rashford's top-quality free kick, made it too easy for Marouane Fellaini to net, putting United on top, temporary at least. Kevin De Bruyne's finish for City against a less-impressive Chelsea, the build-up and conversion, was just top-quality! Boom!

What the hell?! Dele Alli was rightly booked for his diving antiques in Tottenham's comfortable win at Huddersfield. After his England middle-finger ban, you would think he would try to stay out of trouble. Manager Mauricio Pocchetino rightly came out strong saying the 21-year-old has to learn and work on his attitude. Do these players forget they are being watched?!?!?! It made a change to the officials act and react correctly. Bournemouth were denied an obvious handball by Leicester's Danny Simpson! And Lovren had his shirt pulled to bits, again, nothing given. The refs are just blind, ignorant and/or oblivious. When will the FA introduce something called VI-DE-O that will show the officials within seconds whether their decision can stand or not. And how many times do I rant about it!!! FFS!!!

My Predictions - Actual Results
Huddersfield 2:4 Tottenham - 0:4
Bournemouth 1:1 Leicester - 0:0
Man United 3:0 Crystal Palace - 4:0
Stoke City 1:1 Southampton - 2:1
West Brom 1:1 Watford - 2:2
West Ham 2:0 Swansea - 1:0
Chelsea 2:2 Man City - 0:1
Arsenal 2:0 Brighton - 2:0
Everton 2:1 Burnley - 0:1
Newcastle 2:1 Liverpool - 1:1 or click here for my match report

Click here for last week's Premier League Picks.

Pictures, stats and facts taken from the BBC match reports, MOTD, Twitter, Sky Sports and SFR match coverage.

Liverpool come back to thrash Stoke 4-1

Sports - Football - Premier League - LFC 4:1 SCFC

Liverpool broke down a stubborn Stoke side coming back from a goal down to beat Potters, comfortably in the end, 4-1 at Anfield.

Jon Walters had headed the visitors ahead from close range, beating keeper Simon Mignolet all too easily, exposing the hosts' vulnerability at the back once again.

Former Reds Peter Crouch and Joe Allen caused the home side's back line all sorts of problems, adding to the defensive headache.

But after a too familiar iffy and shaky start, Jürgen Klopp's side got into gear, with Adam Lallana and Roberto Firmino scoring, turning the game around and giving the hosts the lead before the break.

That turned both side's half-time team talk on its head. And things went from bad to worse for Mark Hughes' men after the break.

First Giannelli Imbula turned the ball into his own net off Divock Origi's cross, before Ryan Shawcross inexplicably put the ball back, intended for keeper Lee Grant, but straight to Daniel Sturridge instead, who netted the gift gratefully to make it 4-1.

It was the striker's first Premier League goal of the season, Liverpool's 100th under Klopp, just seconds after he had replaced Origi.

That makes it 86 league goals for the Reds in 2016, their most in a calendar year since 1985. And the year isn't over yet, Manchester City being the next visitors to come to Anfield on New Year's Eve.

Liverpool Goals: Lallana 34', Firmino 44', Imbula OG 59' & Sturridge 70'.

Stoke City Goal: Walters 12.

Liverpool Team: 22 Mignolet; 2 Clyne, 6 Lovren, 17 Klavan, 7 Milner; 14 Henderson (c), 20 Lallana (23 Can 69'), 5 Wijnaldum; 27 Origi (15 Sturridge 70'), 19 Mané, 11 Firmino (18 Moreno 79'). 4-3-3
Subs not used: 1 Karius, 21 Lucas, 53 Ejaria & 58 Woodburn.

Stoke City Team: 33 Grant; 8 Johnson, 17 Shawcross, 15 Martins Indi; 18 Diouf (14 Afellay 75'), 21 Imbula, 6 Whelan (32 Sobhi 66'), 4 Allen (booked 36'), 3 Pieters; 25 Crouch (12 Bony 84'), Walters. 3-5-2
Subs not used: 16 Adam, 22 Shaqiri, 24 Given, 27 Krkic.

Match Stats: Liverpool-Stoke City
Possession: 64%-36%
Attempts: 20-6
On target; 6-2
Corners: 8-2
Fouls: 9-6
Bookings: 0-1

Referee: Michael Oliver
Ground: Anfield
Attendance: 53,094

Pictures and stats taken from the BBC match report.

Click here for my previous LFC match report.

Premier League Tops and Flops

Sports - Football - Premier League - Picks of the Weekend

Adrenaline was running high at Old Trafford, nerves were pumping wild at the Reebok Stadium and Stamford Bridge had plenty of reasons to cheer and jeer:

Top game: An intense encounter between bitter rivals made the match at Old Trafford the one worth watching most. Especially after all the furore Arsenal caused midweek in the Champions League qualifier against Celtic, all the eyes were on the players' and referee's actions and reactions. Everything and everyone was put under scrutiny.

Top team: Chelsea looked unstoppable with some beautiful fluent and fast play. It is only thanks to exemplary goalkeeping, Burnley did not end up thrashed by six, seven or even more. And this is the same confident and competent team that came to Stamford Bridge after they had beaten Manchester United and Everton.

Top player: It was a weekend of super-subs at White Hart Lane. Birmingham's Christian Benitez created most pressure and served for the equalizer. He was a livewire for his side. Peter Crouch was the same for the home side. He came on for an injured Luka Modric, who suffered a fracture to his leg. After missing a set of chances, the striker headed a free kick into the right corner of the net. Both players were crucial for their sides and the run of play, the home side ending up on top.

Top goal: Andrey Arshavin's super strike, a wonderful right-foot belter, which took the lead at Old Trafford, was the most crucial and decisive after just moments before that the Russian striker was brought down by Darren Fletcher and denied a penalty. Great statement to make and way to react and reply to that letdown by the referee. Steven Gerrard's bullet-volley from the edge of the box was just as breathtaking and opposition-silencing.


Top save: Burnley could have conceded dozens of goals if it were not for their goalkeeper Brian Jensen. Chelsea had 25 attempts, with over half on target, it could have ended up in a gate-crashing thrash, if the goalkeeper would not have been omnipresent and the top stopper he was on the day.

Top manager: Alex Ferguson must have said something right at half time, because United were a different side in the second half. They started the match holding off Arsenal, being chased around and laboured, not creating anything themselves. The second half, they put on the pressure and thereby made Arsenal slip up and give the match away. It was not the best and most convincing way of winning, but in the end, Ferguson got three points out of it and that is the main thing, especially against thier main rivals.

Flop game: Blackburn's goalless draw against West Ham was a wretched match, but the only disappointment of the weekend.

Flop team: Arsenal could not have been more hypocritical. They were the side on top, dominating the home side. Then they started to slip and give the match away with an own goal out of nowhere and stupid, stupid, stupid fowling, diving and whining.

Flop player: Emmanuel Eboue's dive, after everything that has happened in the last week, discredited and disrespected him and his side in my eyes. It was just plainly stupid and it has nothing to do in football, a supposed man's game.

Flop goal: Abou Diaby's own goal off a United counter attack started off the crumbling of Arsenal's cookie. The class performance and dominance could have hardly ended more ugly and stupid, with not much influence of the opposition.

Flop manager: Arsene Wenger and his antiques for the press and opposing fans to thrive on, just summed up the day for Arsenal. His and his side's childish actions and reactions look everything else but professional and will hardly make them champions or even win a case like the one against Eduardo. They have drawn a contrasting sad picture of themselves after starting the season with some beautiful football.

My Predictions - Actual Results

Blackburn 0:1 West Ham - 0:0

Bolton 0:2 Liverpool - 2:3

Chelsea 2:1 Burnley - 3:0

Man Utd 1:2 Arsenal - 2:1

Stoke 3:0 Sunderland - 1:0

Tottenham 2:0 Birmingham - 2:1

Wolves 0:1 Hull City - 1:1

Aston Villa 0:1 Fulham - 2:0

Everton 0:2 Wigan -2:1

Portsmouth 0:1 Man City - 0:1