Week 34: Premier League Action Summary

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)

Week 2: Premier League Tops and Flops

Sports - Football - Premier League - Picks of the Week

Plenty of action and controversy this week as the referees' decisions are under the microscope and hefty criticism once again, after overseeing 23 goals, two penalties  (which should have been three), 32 bookings and three sendings off (which should have been four):


Top game: The Tyneside derby had a little bit of everything. Sunderland and Newcastle head-to-head in competitive spirit, showing the good and ugly side of the game, it was certainly not pretty but feisty, the fans definitely got what they paid for.

Top team: QPR made a good bounce back against Everton after their opening day 4-0 thrashing against Bolton. Their 1-0 win at Goodison Park was an amazing result, especially regarding the circumstances after their team was hit by a virus on top of everything else.

Top player: Manchester City's Edin Dzeko was on fire, he looked a totally different player in his side's 3-2 win at the Reebok Stadium. With him on form and Samir Nasri finally signed, the likes of out-of-favour Carlos Tevez and Craig Bellamy will not be missed much if &and when they finally go.

Top goal: Gabriel Agbonlahor's opener for Aston Villa in their 3-1 win against Blackburn was a supreme take. After good buildup with Darren Bent, the number 11 striker cut one way, then the other, fooled everyone to float and curl the ball past Paul Robinson. Brilliant.

Top news: Champions League group draw, Europa League group draw, only days left for the transfer window to produce a couple more suprises and uproars...

Flop game: I thought Tottenham's trip to Old Trafford would be a bit more of a competition. It was a good match in the first half, but in the second half it was all United, Spurs nowhere to be seen, making no real competition of it, letting United dance all over them. No discredit to United, but it was a boring shame.

Flop team: Arsenal looked like a nervous bunch of nobodies, showing lack of discipline, defensive gaps and leaks everywhere, making it an easy 2-0 win for Liverpool at the Emirates eventhough the visitors were not at their best either. Even Sunday League football looks more competitive and professional then these dragging Gunners.

Flop player: Emmanuel Frimpong's tackle on Liverpool's Lucas Leiva and his consequential sending off was unnecessary and irresponsible. It was one of the rare occasions where the ref got the decision spot-on though. Otherwise, the refs have not been on top of the game, especially Howard Webb at the Stadium of Light, after not giving Sebastian Larsson's handball which stopped Joey Barton's goalbound shot. The linesman disappointed Webb and left Barton outraged, makes a change, then. Why the video replays cannot be used is still a myth to me!

Flop goal: It has been a good week(end) for goalkeepers, the only flop goals were missed penalties and/or good saves! Although, Aaron Ramsey will not feel so lucky with the own goal he conceded against Liverpool...

Flop news: Kenwright blaming the bank for Everton's misery and lack of transfer activity; if you cannot afford it, why keep it?! Does nobody else want it or are you asking for too much, maybe?

My predictions - Actual results

Sunderland 1:1 Newcastle - 0:1

Arsenal 1:1 Liverpool - 0:2

Aston Villa 2:1 Blackburn - 3:1

Everton 3:1 QPR - 0:1

Swansea 1:1 Wigan - 0:0

Chelsea 4:1 West Brom - 2:1

Norwich 0:0 Stoke - 1:1

Wolves 2:1 Fulham - 2:0

Bolton 2:3 Man City - 2:3

Man Utd 4:2 Tottenham - 3:0