Picks of the Big Derby Weekend

Sports - Football - Premier League - Picks of the Weekend

Champs: This week saw two crucial derbies go the home sides' way, two very crucial results in who will finish off in the top four at the end of the season. However, my pick are Hull City. They have impressed me very much lately. They are fighting on and I would find it very cruel if they would not be rewarded for their effort and team work and stay up at the end of the season.

Hero: Didier Drogba is for Chelsea what Wayne Rooney is for Manchester United and what Arsenal are missing: A star striker, a saviour scorer. The Gunners looked totally exposed once again, Drogba was unlucky not to leave Stamford Bridge with a hat-trick.

You Beauty! George Boateng's smacker from outside the box that made it 2-0 for Hull City against Manchester City was unstoppable, breathtaking and crucial. It was a huge win for the Tigers, their first in 11 matches and only the fifth all season. Mohamed Diame strike for Wigan was a stunner, too.

Has-Beens: It was dreadful to watch Portsmouth, sad to see them crumble, like crippled and petrified, numb and rigid, leaving Manchester United time and space to thrash and push them over without much effort scoring an own-goal hat-trick in the process, to make matters even worse. Worrying times for Pompey.

Zero: David James could not have had a more embarrassing appearance in front of the England goalkeeping coach Franco Tancredi. It was an easy ride for United, as Pompey did not pressurize, move or touch them much, leaving James to pick up the pieces - well, from the back of the net that is.

Ouch! The referee Martin Atkinson was everything else but consistent with his decisions at the Merseyside derby at Anfield. He sent Liverpool defender Sotirios Kyrgiakos off but let Marouane Fellaini and Steven Pienaar get away with similar if not even worse offenses. It was a typical rough and tough, brill derby match.

My Predictions - Actual Results

Bolton 2:1 Fulham - 0:0

Burnley 1:1 West Ham - 2:1

Hull City 2:2 Man City - 2:1

Liverpool 1:2 Everton - 1:0

Man United 4:0 Portsmouth - 5:0

Stoke City - 1:1 Blackburn - 3:0

Sunderland 0:0 Wigan - 1:1

Tottenham 3:0 Aston Villa - 0:0

Birmingham 1:1 Wolves - 2:1

Chelsea 2:1 Arsenal - 2:0

10-man Reds beat Toffees

Sports - Football - Premier League - Liverpool 1:0 Everton

Liverpool's Dirk Kuyt took advantage of an absent Everton defence when he headed in Steven Gerrard's inswinging corner past a very frustrated goalkeeper Tim Howard (55). His 50th goal for the club was enough to win Liverpool all three very crucial points in the battle for a Champions League place.

The match and result could have been so different after Sotirios Kyrgiakos controversially saw red in the first half for clashing with Marouane Fellaini. Both men went into the tackle rather recklessly, the Greek defender going in with both feet whilst the Belgian midfielder stepped on his leg.

However, down to ten men, Liverpool surprisingly took control. Everton were unable to take advantage of their extra man on the pitch, creating hardly anything. Tim Cahill put the couple of chances they had either high or wide, giving Pepe Reina not much to do. The Spaniard did make a crucial save late-on in the match though, keeping out sub Yakubu's fine strike to the his left.

All in all, it seemed like the Toffees just fell asleep and the Reds got their act together after Kyrgiakos' sending off. It was a good old rough-and-tough derby which could have seen a couple more red cards if the referee Martin Atkinson would have stayed consistent with his decisions.

Steven Pienaar was lucky to get away with a yellow card for a clumsy tackle against Gerrard (29; however, he got a second yellow eventually, in the last seconds of the match, for head-butting the Reds' skipper) and Fellaini should have left the pitch with Kyrgiakos because he went into the tackle just as reckless.

The win takes Liverpool up to fourth place in the Premier League, Champions League qualification, five points behind Arsenal who face Chelsea at Stamford Bridge tomorrow and the Reds at the Emirates next week. You never know, if Arsenal play anything like they did against Manchester United last weekend, Liverpool could make it up to third come Wednesday night.

Liverpool Reina; Carragher, Agger, Insua, Kyrgiakos; Gerrard, Mascherano, Lucas, Rodriguez (Aurelio 91); Kuyt (Skrtel 91), Ngog (Babel 63). Bookings Kuyt 21, Carragher 30, Gerrard 85. Sendings Off Kyrgiakos 34. Subs not used Cavalieri, Degen, Riera, Aquilani.

Everton Howard; Distin, Baines, Heitinga, Neville; Fellaini (Arteta 40), Osman (Yakubu 72), Cahill, Pienaar; Saha (Anichebe 72), Donovan. Bookings Pienaar 29, Heitinga 56, Anichebe 85. Second Yellow Pienaar 91. Subs not used Nash, Senderos, Coleman, Bilyaletdinov.

Referee Martin Atkinson

Man of the Match Dirk Kuyt

BBC Stats

Liverpool-Everton

Attempts: 7-6

On target: 4-3

Corners: 8-8

Free kicks: 23-11

Possession: 54%-46%

Sky Sports Stats

Liverpool-Everton

Attempts: 7-6

On target: 3-3

Corners: 8-8

Free kicks: 24-11

Possession: 48%-52%

Premier League Recap

Sports - Football - Premier League - Recap

Looking back at my pre-season blog, it makes a funny read. My predictions could not have been further off. Arsenal and Chelsea have been most impressive and whilst Manchester United and Liverpool especially have struggled to find consistency. A lot has happened since my last blog and I will dare not predict how it is all going to end this season. I am just going to recap on the last month-and-a-bit:

Champs: Arsenal certainly surprised me with their youngster's uprise over Christmas and into the new year. They reached top spot but that did not last all too long. The last match against Manchester United was definitely a wake-up-call back to reality and never to underestimate United. The ease with which United overcame Arsenal exposed the Gunners' weakness and lack of resilience and depth in the side.

Hero: Wayne Rooney has been riding the show for United and topped it all with his hat-trick against Wigan. At the other end of the table, Boaz Myhill starred for Hull City against Tottenham and has been the man of the team on more than just that occasion. We will see in a couple of months how crucial both players' performances and contributions will prove to be in the title and relegation battle.

You Beauty! Chelsea's thrashing of Wigan just showed their class just as United's cruise past Arsenal showed that there is a much bigger gap between the two teams as the table may show. The players, the team connection and performance, consistency and stamina showed extreme contrast.

Has-Beens: Portsmouth, West Ham, Manchester United and Liverpool have been in all the wrong headlines with their ownership fiasco and financial problems. I think it is sad when a team makes news with a crises which is out of the players hands, they cannot do anything about themselves, but it affects them on the pitch as much as off it.

Zero: John Terry has grabbed most of the headlines lately, also for all the wrong reasons. As a football star - or a professional/celebrity in general - he is a role model and cannot expect anything to stay unnoticed and undiscovered by the media and in general when he is followed and watched by (and paid) millions week in and week out.

Ouch! Rio Ferdinand's elbow-act against Hull City striker Craig Fagan was unprofessional, to say the least. He should have known better than to appeal and challenge the FA, which I found very childish when the cameras showed obvious and definite contact (Ferdinand may call it "frivolous" but it is still wrong). The FA was right to increase the ban, to stop players taking the mick and thinking they can get away with their stupid actions.

Last 6 games:

1) Manchester United - 5 wins, 1 draw, 0 lost - 16 of 18 points

2) Manchester City - 5 wins, 0 draws, 1 lost - 15 of 18 points

3) Chelsea - 4 wins, 2 draws, 0 lost - 14 of 18 points

4) Liverpool - 4 wins, 2 draws, 0 lost - 14 of 18 points

5) Everton - 4 wins, 2 draws, 0 lost - 14 of 18 points

6) Arsenal - 3 wins, 2 draws, 1 lost - 11 of 18 points

7) Tottenham - 2 wins, 3 draws, 1 lost - 9 of 18 points

8) Blackburn - 2 wins, 3 draws, 1 lost - 9 of 18 points

9) Aston Villa - 2 wins, 2 draws, 2 lost - 8 of 18 points

10) Birmingham - 1 win, 4 draws, 1 lost - 7 of 18 points

11) West Ham - 1 win, 4 draws, 1 lost - 7 of 18 points

12) Stoke - 1 win, 2 draws, 3 lost - 5 of 18 points

13) Bolton - 1 win, 2 draws, 3 lost - 5 of 18 points

14) Wolves - 1 win, 2 draws, 3 lost - 5 of 18 points

15) Wigan - 1 win, 1 draw, 4 lost - 4 of 18 points

16) Portsmouth - 1 win, 1 draw, 4 lost - 4 of 18 points

17) Hull - 0 wins, 4 draws, 2 lost - 4 of 18 points

18) Fulham - 1 win, 0 draws, 5 lost - 3 of 18 points

19) Sunderland - 0 wins, 3 draws, 3 lost - 3 of 18 points

20) Burnley - 0 wins, 1 draw, 5 lost - 1 of 18 points

Pompey Beat Sorry Reds

Sports - Football - Premier League - Match Report

Portsmouth 2-0 Liverpool

Liverpool got well and truely beaten at Fratton Park.

Portsmouth never looked out of control. They took the lead just past the half-hour mark thanks to Nadir Belhadj who connected to a Glen Johnson header after Pepe Reina thought he had saved and cleared Kevin-Prince Boateng's strike off Hassan Yebda's cross.

It was the first real chance of the match for either side, Johnson coping and reacting weakly and clumsy against his former side.

Things went from bad to worse for Liverpool just before half time when Javier Mascherano saw red for a puch-/strangle-hold tackle against Tal Ben Haim. As it is his second red card of the season, he will be suspended for the next four matches, to make Liverpool's Christmas and New Year even more dire.

The second half continued in a hardly better trend for the Reds, wasting chances and tackling clumsy.

Portsmouth keeper Asmir Begovic kept the main and only scare out well (67). After being sent the wrong way by two deflections through the sleeping Pompey defence, he kept the ball out with his right hand, instinctively and decisively.

Dirk Kuyt and Lucas Leiva were once again the most frustrating, not able to keep hold of or aim with the ball, total wastes. Jamie Carragher and Johnson looked just as unable to cope at the back.

Boateng capped off a fine display by providing Frederic Piquionne from the right, who netted the ball from a tight angle with a right-foot bounce-volley (82).

Pompey celebrated a fully deserved win. Rafael Benitez meanwhile is looking greyer and older by the match, leaving his substitutions too late and seeming to lack options, alternatives and hope more and more so.

Portsmouth Begovic; Finnan, Ben Haim, Kaboul, Hreidarson; Yebda, Boateng (Mullins 89), Brown (c), O'Hara, Belhadj; Piquionne (Kanu 93). Bookings Yebda 48, Piquionne 82. Subs not used Ashdown, Wilson, Hughes, Utaka, Dindane.

Liverpool Reina; Johnson, Carragher, Agger, Insua (Aurelio 68); Kuyt, Lucas (Spearing 88), Gerrard (c), Mascherano, Dossena (Benayoun 53); Torres. Bookings Lucas 47, Torres 56, Johnson 60. Red Mascherano 45. Subs not used Cavalieri, Skrtel, Babel, Ngog.

1st half stats

Portsmouth-Liverpool

Attempts: 6-3

On target: 3-1

Offsides: 0-0

Corners: 4-4

Free kicks: 7-4

Possession: 44%-56% (20.min)

2nd half stats

Portsmouth-Liverpool

Attempts: 6-4

On target: 2-1

Offsides:0-2

Corners: 3-5

Free kicks: 7-3

Possession: 60%-40% (2nd half, 59.min)

Sky Sports stats

Portsmouth-Liverpool

Possession: 45.3%-54.7%

Passing Success: 73.8%-74.9%

Tackles/Success: 33/84.8%-22/77.3%

Territorial Advantage: 52.8%-47.2%

Referee: L. Mason

Man of the match: Nadir Belhadj

Premier League Tops and Flops

Sports - Football - Premier League - Picks of the Week

Top game: Tottenham's win against City was a juicy encounter and entertaining to watch. Focusing on the question who is worth and can make it into the top four, this match had it all, with Spurs ending up on top.

Top team: Spurs gets my vote again. They were much better than the previous game when they experienced a sorry defeat against Wolves. They showed determination and formed a destructive combination.

Top player: Niko Kranjcar, Jermain Defoe and Aaron Lennon formed a deadly trio for Tottenham, a top combination that damned City to defeat. Fernando Torres showed top mentality, crucial for the match and win for Liverpool. His team mates should follow his example if Liverpool want to finally get a good run together.

Top goal: Kranjcar's second for Tottenham was of stubbornly strong top quality. Off a Lennon corner, it looked like he had spilled and wasted the chance, but he stayed up and going and put it in. Cheeky but good.

Flop game: United's win against Wolves was no competition. Manager Mick McCarthy has been questioned about the ten changes he made to the side that beat Tottenham last week. I know the schedule is tight, a lot of fixtures squeezed into a couple of weeks, but that is no excuse for changing a winning side completely.

Flop team: I have to pick Wolves again for making it too easy for Manchester United. You never want to see that as a football fan. It is supposed to be and stay a competition, not a concession.

Flop goal: Portsmouth's equaliser against Chelsea prooved and underlined the Blues' weakness with set pieces once again. It was a cheeky goal that snuck in after coming off two defenders, that should not have happened if Chelsea's back line would have stayed and kept solid. But no discrediting Portsmouth, they have improved a lot since Avram Grant has taken over and just lost out to a last-minute penalty. Unlucky.

My Predictions - Actual Results

Birmingham 1:0 Blackburn - 2:1

Bolton 3:2 West Ham - 3:1

Man Utd 4:1 Wolves - 3:0

Sunderland 2:1 Aston Villa - 0:2

Burnley 1:2 Arsenal - 1:1

Chelsea 2:0 Portsmouth - 2:1

Liverpool 3:1 Wigan - 2:1

Tottenham 4:2 Man City - 3:1

Premier League Tops and Flops

Sports - Football - Premier League - Picks of the Weekend

Top game: Everton's and Aston Villa's historic results at Stamford Bridge and Old Trafford respectively have to mentioned. But the one to watch, was the strugglers against the cruisers, Bolton versus Manchester City. It was end-to-end-stuff, with referee blunders but still mouthwatering viewing. You did not know which way it was going to go next. City will definitely feel more like it was two points lost rather than a point gained, in contrast to Bolton, who can and will be proud as Larry.

Top team: Villa were brilliant. They put their bodies on the line and threw themselves in against United, stopping and blocking the champions with great tackles and loads of bodies in the box. Especially Manchester City and Chelsea should have a look at this defensive display as they have been leaking most goals from set pieces and should therefore rethink and - structure their defence.

Top player: Ivan Klasnic has impressed me lately. The first goal against City did look offside, but it does not change the fact that the Croatian striker is a thorn in the opposition's defence's eyes. Every point is precious for Bolton's battle and he is the main combatant for them.

Top goal: The second Wigan goal was amazing. Defender Maynor Figueroa spotted Stoke keeper Thomas Sorensen off his line when a free kick was given just inside his own half. The Honduran's quick thinking and exquisit skill, took the ball over and past the Danish goalie. Cheeky and legendary. Andrey Arshavin's winner for Arsenal at Anfield was unstoppable, off the post and in, nowhere near in react for the goal keeper, even if Pepe Reina had wings.

Flop game: Hull City's goalless draw against Blackburn was the only disappointment of the day. No goals, no penalties, no red cards, no controversial refereeing decisions... Just a draw... A rarity this season.

Flop team: What happened with the top two? They seemed disorganised and shaky, especially at the back. I feel the title race is more open than people think with not even half the season gone and the top teams leaking and weakening... I can understand Alex Ferguson's rage in that respect. Minutes, seconds are crucial and can end up being lethal.

Flop player: Tottenham full-back Benoit Assou-Ekotto is facing police-investigation after a clash with a fan - looks like he cannot deal with defeat and being picked on. He is a professional football player and should know better how to deal with situations like this professionally. I say that every time a situation escelates between players, too, they get payed enough to keep their sences.

Flop goal: Petr Cech was furious with his players after he was left stranded when Didier Drogba headed and Everton free kick against Louis Saha's shoulder to see it deflect into goal. Set pieces seem to be the bogey for Chelsea, this match showed it again Everton capitalised well on it. Glen Johnson's own goal at Anfield could not have felt more like a curse. It seems like nothing is going Liverpool's way at the moment. I wonder where or when the fall will end...

My Predictions - Actual Results

Birmingham 2:2 West Ham - 1:0

Bolton 1:1 Man City - 3:3

Burnley 1:0 Fulham - 1:1

Chelsea 3:0 Everton - 3:3

Hull City 3:1 Blackburn - 0:0

Man Utd 3:1 Aston Villa - 0:1

Stoke City 1:2 Wigan - 2:2

Sunderland 3:2 Portsmouth - 1:1

Tottenham 5:0 Wolves - 0:1

Liverpool 2:2 Arsenal - 1:2

Premier League Tops and Flops

Sports - Football - Premier League - Picks of the Weekend

Top game: Manchester City against Chelsea was the battle of the riches. It was not the best display by the referee with some crucial errors that led to both City goals. It was a competitive encounter that could have gone either way, but City created most of the pressure and got Petr Cech sweating most throughout the match.

Top team: Manchester City ended up on top. Chelsea keeper Cech struggled to keep up with the pressure. Mark Hughes will be very happy to finally bank a win after the long run of draws and fans starting to doubting the credibility of the side and manager.

Top player: Shay Given was man of the match at the City ground, with a brilliant display and decsisive penalty save against one of the most consistent penalty takers Frank Lampard. Chelsea are starting to shake and leak, to the relief of their rivals and other title competitors. The race is long from over.

Top goal: Wolves' opener stunned Bolton. The more stunned they were when Nenad Milijas turned from provider to scorer with a devil of a strike for the second goal. From over 20 yards outside the box the swing left Jussi Jaaskelainen with no chance. Beauty.

Flop game: Liverpool's goalless draw against Blackburn was and is only worth a yawn...

Flop team: The team with the worst home record faced the side with the dimnest away record - and Portsmouth ended up on top. Burnley looked better but have to keep working on their travelling display.

Flop player: What was Steven Gerrard thinking? At least Martin Atkinson called it right as a dive and gave a free kick against him. But Phil Dowd was not as alert when Hermann Hreidarsson tried out his theatricals on him. Players do not help making the job easier for the referees, in a time where a growing majority call for video referees and stiffer penalties against whiners and divers, i.e. drama queens.

Flop goal: As mentioned above, Wolves' opener stunned Bolton, but looked offside, with three Wolves players clear of the defenders. In the end is was good fortune and play for Wolves and hard luck for Bolton. They had more than enough chances to not only equalise but to run away with all three points, Ivan Klasnic enjoying but missing most of the chances, the one goal he got on target was just not enough.

My Predictions - Actual Results

Arsenal 1:0 Stoke - 2:0

Aston Villa 2:0 Hull City - 3:0

Blackburn 0:0 Liverpool - 0:0

Man City 2:2 Chelsea - 2:1

Portsmouth 2:1 Burnley - 2:0

West Ham 1:1 Man Utd - 0:4

Wigan 1:0 Birmingham - 2:3

Wolves 2:3 Bolton - 2:1

Everton 1:1 Tottenham - 2:2

Fulham 3:0 Sunderland - 1:0