Week 26-30: Premier League Tops and Flops

Sports - Football - Premier League - Picks of the Month

It has been a while since my last Picks blog and a lot has happened since! So, here are the summary, picks of the best and worst, stats and facts of the last month/5 match weeks of Premier League action:

Top facts:

- 120 goals scored = average of 2.45 goals per game.

- 18 different score lines on the board, top 5 of those were 1:0 (9 times), 1:1 (7 times), 2:1 (5 times), 2:0 (5 times) and 3:0 (4 times).

- There have only been three games without any bookings, QPR 3:2 Liverpool, Fulham 0:3 Swansea and Manchester City 2:0 Bolton.

Top games: These games showed why you should NEVER leave the ground or switch over onto another channel before the final whistle:

- Newcastle 2:2 Wolves: Succeeding Mick McCarthy was not an easy job anyway. Being down 2-0 at half-time heaped the more pressure on Terry Connor which he mastered brilliantly. His first half-time team talk as Wolves manager worked wonders and saw his side come back on the pitch rejuvinated, dominating possession and eventually pulling two goals and a point back from Newcastle. It was a crucial point gained for the visitors in battle to get out of the relegation, but two points dropped for the home side with their eyes on the top four.

- Arsenal 5:2 Tottenham: With just over ten minutes to go in the first half, Tottenham were on top. 2-0 up, dominating possession, they looked to be on course for the first back-to-back league wins at the home of their arch-rivals for 86 years. Everyone, including Arsenal fans and tweeters, were lambasting Arsene Wenger, his tactics, his lack in big signings, senior players, etc. However, it was Harry Redknapp who ended up being the humiliated manager after seeing the Gunners showing great resilience and character with some breathtaking football, thrashing his side 5-2.

- Liverpool 1:2 Arsenal: As so many times this season, Liverpool looked the team on top enjoying most of the possession and chances. It looked just a matter of time, when not if, Liverpool would certainly score and take the lead. In the end, they had missed 16 chances, including a penalty, only getting one on the scoreboard thanks to an own goal by Laurent Koscielny. Robin van Persie was the man for Arsenal, with the equaliser and injruy-time killer-blow to make it 2-1 and three points to the Gunners. This was a prime example, it is goals that count, nothing else.

- Newcastle 1:1 Sunderland: This was a brutal one! It was a bad-tempered derby which saw eight bookings (5:3) and one sending off (Sunderland's Stephane Sessegnon for elbowing Cheick Tiote), two penalties (one for Sunderland, scored by Nicklas Bendtner on 24, and one for Newcastle, missed by Demba Ba on 82, a brilliant save by Simon Mignolet) and late drama (Shola Ameobi's injury time equaliser and Black Cats skipper Lee Cattermole seeing a straight red after the final whistle). Newcastle will be biting the more sour grape dropping a point after missing 36 chances against Sunderland's 13.

- Tottenham 1:3 Manchester United: If there has ever been a scoreline that reflected the game the least, this is one of them! Tottenham were in command for most of the match, eventhough they were missing key players such as Scott Parker (suspended), Rafael van der Vaart (injured) and Gareth Bale (ill). But thanks to a Wayne Rooney header out of nowhere and two outstanding strikes by Ashley Young against the run of play, substitute's Jermaine Defoe's late goal ended up being just a mere consolation. It was a sobering day for Spurs manager Redknapp after emerging as favourite to replace Fabio Capello as England manager.

Top teams:

- Top form: Manchester United (WWWWW =15/15) have overtaken their City rivals and remain at the top of the table, three points ahead of Roberto Mancini's men. Arsenal (WWWWW = 15/15) have also enjoyed a 100% record and have climbed up to third, three points ahead of their arch-rivals Tottenham, shutting up Wenger's critics with this remarkable run and form. Manchester City (WWLWD = 10/15)  are the next best, but after dropping points against Stoke and Swansea, the blue side of Manchester will be disappointed to see their team let the top spot slip, especially ahead of the big Manchester derby end of April.

- Top scorers: Manchester United and Arsenal also share this record (with 13 goals scored each), followed by Manchester City and Newcastle (8 each).

- Top defence: Manchester United and David De Gea have seen the least goals leak through (2 goals conceded), followed by Manchester City/Chelsea/Stoke (3 each) and Arsenal/Swansea/Aston Villa (4 each.)

Top players: Top scorers are van Persie (26 goals scored), Rooney (21), Sergio Aguero (17); there have been hat-tricks for Fulham's Pavel Pogrebnyak against Wolves and Steven Gerrard in the Merseyside derby and not to forget, the old boys Ryan Giggs and Paul Scholes impressed too of course whose experience and quality have shown to have lasted past their general sell-by date!

Top goal: Peter Crouch's stunner for Stoke against Manchester City earned his side a point and himself an unforgettable strike and goal.

Top news: Fabrice Muamba is making a great recovery after collapsing in the FA Cup Quarter Final clash against Tottenham at White Hart Lane which was consequently abandoned on the night. It was great to see how the football world got together for Muamba. The horrifying scenes just put everything into perspective and threw the usual rants and tiffs out the window!

It seemed all too familiar after similar happened to my dear friend Jenny Kerwood a month earlier. She wasn't as lucky as Muamba though and died 22 years young. To find out more and contribute, I attach the following link to the Just Giving page set up in memory of Jenny raising money for Cardiac Risk in the Young (CRY) because they raise awareness of cardiac death in the young. Touch wood, fingers crossed and prayers Muamba is better!

Flop facts:

- 130 bookings made = avergage of 2.65 yellow cards per game.

- 10 red cards shown = average of 0.2 sendings off per game or one player sent off every 5 games or two every week.

- 8 yellow cards = the most shown in one game, which has happened twice, both games ending 1:1 between Norwich and Wigan; Newcastle and Sunderland, the latter also seeing one sending off, as mentioned above.

Flop games:

- Wigan 0:0 Aston Villa: This goalless draw was everything else but boring. Both sides enjoyed their fair share of chances (20:13 shots, 6:3 on target), especially the home side. But it just showed why both sides are struggling in the bottom half of the table, Wigan in the relegation zone, second from bottom, and Aston Villa in 15th. Both sides created, but struggled to challenge the goalkeepers. On a good note, this was Wigan's first clean sheet for eight matches - and Villa's for seven games. On a realistic note, they will need to add names onto their scoresheet if they want to survive! Only goals can win you games.

- Sunderland 1:0 Liverpool: This was one of those matches where there was not much happening, not much of note anyways. Both goalkeepers had a day off in this cagey affair, Liverpool creating nothing and Sunderland holding back, not to concede. Sunderland took the lead when Bendtner side-footed in Fraizer Campbell's shot after it rebounded off the post and keeper Pepe Reina's head, nearly as bizarre as the beach ball incident two season ago. With that, the game shut down completely, seeing Liverpool fall to their third consecutive defeat. They have not done this since October 2003 under Gerard Houllier

- West Brom 1:0 Chelsea: This game was dominated by misses. On 82 Gareth McAuley diverted in Liam Ridgewell's miscued shot to secure the points from an open match which ended up costing Andre Villas-Boas his job. 30-19 was the scoreline, in chances, 19-13 on target, the result was 1-0 to West Brom, Chelsea dropping more points making it only three points out of 12 league games for the Blues. Chelsea were outplayed. Daniel Sturridge missed two fine chances but all in all the Baggies dominated and deserved the win. Roman Abramovich could only take so and so much.

- Chelsea 0:0 Tottenham: It has been over 22 years since Spurs last won at Stamford Bridge. Chelsea had made great progress since interim boss Robert Di Matteo had taken over from Villas-Boas, reaching the last eight in the Champions League and the semi-finals in the FA Cup. But the high hopes soon deminished in a very disappointing match which lacked effort, chances, competitiveness and any kind of ambition, from either side. Both sides continually gave away the ball and seemed like they just could not get their act together.

- Liverpool 1:2 Wigan: Liverpool's desperate run of league form continued last weekend with Wigan recording their first ever win at Anfield. Shaun Maloney's spot kick gave the visitors the lead before Luis Suarez equalised for the Reds and saw a goal disallowed for hand ball. Gary Caldwell then stunned the Kop with a fine finish to give Wigan the lead back and the win. This defeat made it five losses out of Liverpool's last six Premier League games seeing them fall eight points behind Newcastle in sixth, the Carling Cup win a long distant memory. Wigan meanwhile remain in the relegation zone, level on points with QPR in 18th, one behind Bolton in 17th.

Flop teams:

- Flop form: Since McCarthy's departure, Wolves (DLLLL = 1/15) are still looking for their first win under temporary caretaker Connor, sticking at the bottom of the table, three points behind Wigan. Tottenham (LLLDD = 3/15) have also fallen into a bad, winless patch since their 5-0 thrashing of Newcastle after manager Redknapp's connection with the England job to take over from Capello. Liverpool (LLWLL = 3/15) will feel the Carling Cup victory is long gone with only one win in the last five league games which saw them drop eight points behind Newcastle in sixth. Their only win was a comfortable, encouraging 3-0 Merseyside win, with star skipper Gerrard scoring a hat-trick, so you would have thought that would have given the Reds the kick they need, on top of the cup victory. But Kenny Dalglish's men are still looking for answers to avoid yet another hat-trick of defeats!

- Flop scorers: As mentioned above under flop games, when Aston Villa (2 goals scored) and Wolves (3) met, it was no surprise it ended goalless. They both kept clean sheets which was a first in a while for both of them, but as stats show, both teams have scored the least in the last five games, hence the problem. You cannot win unless you score. And especially Wolves will feel it the hardest, at the stone-cold bottom of the table. Wigan/Bolton/Norwich/Everton/Tottenham (4) are next on the list of lowest goal scorers, the blue side of Merseyside getting the most out of the goal drought with 7/15 points.

- Flop defence: Wolves (16 goals conceded) and Tottenham (10) unsurprisingly top this list having recorded the least points of the lot as noted above. QPR (9) are next on the list and since taking over from Neil Warnock in January, Mark Hughes has only recorded two wins, only making four points in the last five games, which keeps his side in the relegation zone one point behind Bolton in 17th. Hard times for the Welshman which will definitely not get any easier, quite the opposite with eight games remaining.

Flop players: When players see red after scoring, it turns them from hero to zero in anyone's eye, but especially the fans. Norwich's Grant Holt became the third player this season having done exactly that, scoring and then being sent off for a stupid offence, joining Fernando Torres (Chelsea) and Joey Barton (QPR). Djibril Cisse is another QPR culprit, having been sent off for the second time this season after fowling Sunderland's Campbell and seeing his side fall to a 3:1 defeat and into the relegation zone.

Flop goal: QPR's Clint Hill saw his goal disallowed against Bolton eventhough goalkeeper Adam Bogdan's body was clearly inside the goal, seeing the ball over line before making contact with it. This is just another example, one of many, of where technology would and could be crucial and solve the problem, if only it could be used and thereby finally come to effect! This has been going on for so long, I am sick and tired of talking about it and by the time FIFA/UEFA/FA finally introduce it, we will most probably be able to beam the ball over the line anyway, more likely! Pathetic!

Flop news: A student who admitted posting racially offensive comments on Twitter about footballer Fabrice Muamba has been jailed for 56 days. I couldn't believe what I read! Not such a hard guy now, are you? How moronic can you get? He obviously doesn't have a clue and has not learnt what life means - yet. Hope this has opened his eyes!

My predictions - Useless! - Actual results:

Week 26:

Chelsea 1:1 Bolton - 3:0

Newcastle 3:1 Wolves - 2:2

QPR 1:1 Fulham - 0:1

West Brom 1:0 Sunderland - 4:0

Wigan 1:4 Aston Villa - 0:0

Man City 3:0 Blackburn - 3:0

Arsenal 3:3 Tottenham - 5:2

Norwich 0:2 Man United - 1:2

Stoke 2:1 Swansea - 2:0

Liverpool 1:1 Everton - 3:0

Week 27:

Liverpool 1:1 Arsenal - 1:2

Blackburn 0:2 Aston Villa - 1:1

Man City 3:0 Bolton - 2:0

QPR 1:1 Everton - 1:1

Stoke 2:2 Norwich - 1:0

West Brom 1:2 Chelsea - 1:0

Wigan 1:1 Swansea - 0:2

Newcastle 4:1 Sunderland - 1:1

Fulham 2:1 Wolves - 5:0

Tottenham 1:1 Man United - 1:3

Week 28:

Bolton 1:1 QPR - 2:1

Aston Villa 2:2 Fulham - 1:0

Chelsea 3:0 Stoke - 1:0

Sunderland 1:1 Liverpool - 1:0

Wolves 1:1 Blackburn - 0:2

Everton 1:1 Tottenham - 1:0

Man United 2:3 West Brom - 2:0

Swansea 1:1 Man City - 1:0

Nowich 2:0 Wigan - 1:1

Arsenal 3:0 Newcastle - 2:1

Week 29:

Fulham 1:1 Swansea - 0:3

Wigan 1:2 West Brom - 1:1

Wolves 1:2 Man United - 0:5

Newcastle 3:0 Norwich - 1:0

Aston Villa 2:1 Bolton - P:P

Blackburn 2:2 Sunderland - 2:0

Man City 3:0 Chelsea - 2:1

Tottenham 2:0 Stoke - 1:1

Everton 1:2 Arsenal - 0:1

QPR 0:3 Liverpool - 3:2

Week 30:

Chelsea 2:1 Tottenham - 0:0

Arsenal 2:1 Aston Villa - 3:0

Bolton 2:1 Blackburn - 2:1

Liverpool 2:1 Wigan - 1:2

Norwich 2:1 Wolves - 2:1

Sunderland 2:1 QPR - 3:1

Swansea 2:1 Everton - 0:1

Stoke 2:1 Man City - 1:1

West Brom 2:1 Newcastle - 1:3

Man United 2:1 Fulham - 1:0

In case you are wondering about the 2:1 predictions I made in all games last week, that was because I forgot to predict and the auto-predictor put all predictions 2:1. Told ye USELESS! ;-P

Liverpool lift the cup after Wembley drama!

Sports - Football - Carling Cup Final - Cardif 2:2 Liverpool AET

Liverpool beat Cardiff 3-2 on penalties after a dramatic 120 minutes ended all evens at 2-2. Steven Gerrard's cousin Anthony missed the decisive spot-kick for the Welsh side, handing the Reds their record eighth league cup, first domestic trophy since 2006 and first cup celebration at the new Wembley. And with this Carling Cup, Liverpool manager Kenny Dalglish breaks another record, none other than Bill Shankly's (of seven trophies with the Reds).

Liverpool should have been walking home with the trophy with all the chances they had but wasted (22 in normal time + 5 in ET)! But Cardiff fought hard, held on and deserved the chance to grab a win from the penalty spot.

The underdogs were ahead at half time of regular play thanks to Joe Mason's fine finish. The striker had plenty of time and space in the box to send Kenny Miller's pass through Pepe Reina's legs and into the back of the net.

The goal came against the run of play as Liverpool dominated possession but wasted chance after chance, Andy Carrol and Luis Suarez the main offenders with the Uruguayan looking a shadow of his usual self.

Half an hour from regular play time, the Reds finally got something to cheer about when Martin Skrtel put the rebound of Suarez' header which came off the post through Tom Heaton's legs to make it 1:1.

Into extra time, Liverpool continued to dominate, but it took super-sub Dirk Kuyt to make the difference. Brought on in extra time, the Dutchman brought some freshness and speed to the Reds' game and his energy payed off when he netted a rebound, after a fine run. It looked like he was slipping, but he somehow got the ball in to put Liverpool aheade for the first time in the game on 108.

But Turner had a different idea and netted one of his own, right in front of the goal, Kuyt and Reina unable to stop him, to level the score at 2-2, 2 minutes from time.
His star role in the back line and on the scoreboard cam to no avail in the end thanks to three penalty misses by his side against the Reds' two misses, Reina not needing to make one save.

It was one of those dramas you will never forget, ending in Welsh tears and Scouser smiles. We will see if this is going to open the floodgates for a consistent run of trophies for Liverpool, who are still in the FA Cup and thanks to this cup win will be in Europe next season, no matter where the Reds will end in the league.

King Kenny has git his crown back, well, one little one of many more and bigger hopefully!

YNWA! For Jenny Kerwood (1989-2012)! xxx RIP xxx

1st & 2nd half stats
Cardiff-Liverpool
Attempts: 2-11 & 4-11
On target: 1-3 & 1-5
Offsides: 1-0 & 0-3
Corners: 0-4 & 0-10
Free kicks: 6-4 & 7-4
Possession: 34%-66% (17.min), 29%-71% (HT),
29.7%-70.3% (1st half), 36.8%-63.2% (2nd half)
Action Areas: Cardiff 18%-63%-19% Liverpool (HT)

ET 1st & 2nd half stats:
Cardiff-Liverpool
Attempts: 1-3 & 4-1
On target: 0-1 & 3-1
Offsides: 0-1 & 0-1
Corners: 0-3 & 2-1
Free kicks: 1-1 & 0-0

Sky Stats:
Cardiff-Liverpool
Passing Success: 66.8%-84.4%
Tackles/Success: 26/80.8%-12/58.3%
Territorial Advantage: 50.2%-49.8%
Possession: 35%-65%

Penalty Shoot-Out:
Liverpool won the toss and chose to go first, at the red end of Wembley.

Liverpool: S Gerrard x, Adam x, Kuyt 1, Downing 1, Johnson 1 = 3 penalties scored, 2 missed.

Cardiff: Miller x, Cowie 1, Gestede x, Whittingham 1, A Gerrard x = 2 penalties scored, 3 missed.

Cardiff: Heaton; McNaughton (Blake 106), Hudson (A Gerrard 99), Turner (booked 98, scored 118), Taylor; Mason (scored 19, Kiss ET, booked 119), Whittingham, Gunnarson, Cowie; Miller, Gestede. 4-4-2
Subs not used: Marshall, Earnshaw, Conway, Naylor.

Liverpool: Reina; Johnson, Skrtel (scored 60), Agger (Carragher 86), Enrique; Henderson (booked 52, Bellamy 58), S Gerrard, Adam, Downing; Suarez, Carroll (Kuyt 103, scored 108). 4-4-2
Subs not used: Doni, Spearing, Kelly, Maxi.

Man of the match: Ben Turner
Referee: Mark Clattenburg (Tyne & Wear)
Assistant Referees: Simon Beck and Mick McDonough
Fourth official: Anthony Taylor

After ET & pen drama: Liverpool lift the cup!

Sports - Football - Carling Cup Final - Cardiff 2:2 Liverpol AET

ET notes:

Mason off, Kiss on, Cardiff kick off.

1 Suarez shot saved by goalkeeper, out for a corner. Suarez header cleared off the line by Taylor, how vital is that!

2 Another corner for Liverpool, Bellamy takes it, Gerrard blasts chance far, far away.

7 Good Cardiff free kick collected cooly by Reina.

8 Scuffed shot by Kiss, collected by Reina. Kiss gives away free kick with fowl on Bellamy.

9 Steven Gerrard's cousin Anthony Gerrard on for Hudson. This could get interesting!

10 Downing shot high.

12 Carroll header off corner just wide.

13 Kuyt on for Carroll who lets his hair down.

14 Bellamy right-foot curl aimed at the top corner goes wide, JUST. First real chance for the Welshman against his boyhood team.

HT 1:1, not much to write about apart from a couple of wasted chances by Liverpool.

Liverpool kick off second half of ET.

16 McNaughton off, Blake on for Cardiff.

17 Kuyt breaks free from the right, crosses to Suarez in the box who fails to control it. Argh!

18 And the Dutchman is the hero! Super-sub! His energy pays off, run, cross, nets the rebound, looked like he was slipping, but he somehow got it in. Liverpool ahead for the first time, 1-2, 107:24.

112 Turner turns one in well, blocked, long throw-in by Gunnarson, defended and headed away well by Liverpool. Gunnarson can hardly walk!

114 Gestede down, referee stops play.

117 Cardiff win a corner, their first of the game! Reina deals with it, clears it. Another corner, Reina spills it, shot cleared off the line! Another corner!

118 Turner nets it right in front of goal, Kuyt and Reina unable to stop him! Unbelievable, 2:2, 117:22! Under 3 minutes left, time for another twist?!

120 Corner for Liverpool with seconds to go... Comes to nothing... Another corner, Kuyt tries overhead kick, blocked by Cardiff, 1 minute added on... Liverpool pressing, Cardiff have all men back...

Final whistle 2:2! What a final! Penalties it is! (I'm gonna throw up...)
Liverpool should have been walking home with the trophy with all the chances they had but wasted! Cardiff held on, fought hard, deserve the chance! See notes below on the shoot-out...

ET 1st & 2nd half stats:
Cardiff-Liverpool
Attempts: 1-3 & 4-1
On target: 0-1 & 3-1
Offsides: 0-1 & 0-1
Corners: 0-3 & 2-1
Free kicks: 1-1 & 0-0

Cardiff: Heaton; McNaughton (Blake 106), Hudson (A Gerrard 99), Turner (booked 98, scored 118), Taylor; Mason (scored 19, Kiss ET, booked 119), Whittingham, Gunnarson, Cowie; Miller, Gestede. 4-4-2
Subs not used: Marshall, Earnshaw, Conway, Naylor.

Liverpool: Reina; Johnson, Skrtel (scored 60), Agger (Carragher 86), Enrique; Henderson (booked 52, Bellamy 58), S Gerrard, Adam, Downing; Suarez, Carroll (Kuyt 103, scored 108). 4-4-2
Subs not used: Doni, Spearing, Kelly, Maxi.

Referee: Mark Clattenburg (Tyne & Wear)
Assistant referees: Simon Beck and Mick McDonough
Fourth official: Anthony Taylor

Penalty shoot-out:

Liverpool win toss, so the spot kicks will be taken at the red end of Wembley.

Gerrard to take first, Heaton saves it!!! What a save!

Miller opening for Cardiff, sends Pepe the wrong way but hits the post!

AWEFUL high shot by Adam, SHOCKER!

Cowie scores, over Pepe.

Kuyt scores, sending keeper the wrong way.

Gestede hits the post!

Downing scores, keeper wrong way again, first cool one.

Whittingham scores, Pepe wrong side.

Johnson for Liverpool, hits it into the roof of the net, his first spot-kick for the Reds. Pressure on Cardiff... Another miss! By Anthony Gerrard! Family curse today! Wide on the left!
Liverpool won! Welsh tears! Scouser smiles! What a drama!

Liverpool: x x 1 2 3

Cardiff: x 1 x 2 x

Liverpool win 3-2 on penalties! Their 8th league cup, record, first domestic trophy since 2006. With this Carling Cup Kenny Dalglish breaks another record, none other than Bill Shankly's (of seven trophies with Liverpool)! YNWA

FT Summary: Cardiff 1:1 Liverpool

Sports - Football - Carling Cup final - FT Cardiff 1:1 Liverpool

2nd half notes:

Liverpool kick off the second half.

47 Free kick to Liverpool on the left, after Miller pushed Enrique, soft one, Gerrard takes it, blocked, Henderson blasts it nowhere near goal.

49 Miller shot wide, after clever flick by Cowie.

50 Suarez nicks the ball into the Cardiff box, Carroll stuck on his feet, could have had a chance there.

51 Free kick cleared, following corner cleared, Cardiff's back line tested, so far so solid. Another block, corner, Cardiff hold on tight.

52 Henderson booked for diving challenge on Mason, first yellow of the day.

55 Poor ball by Agger, Cardiff into attack, ball out for throw-in. What a bunch of wasters in red! High and far throw, punched out by Reina, rebound taken and thrown out for counter. Spaniard under pressure.

57 Fantastic tackle by McNaughton on Suarez who was just about to pull the trigger in the box, corner comes to nothing.

58 Bellamy on for Henderson, was about time for Liverpool, the Welshman is cheered by both sets of fans, goosebump moment.

60 Carroll shot off corner, Suarez heads it onto the post, Skrtel puts rebound past Cardiff defence through Heaton's legs! 59:31, 1:1! FINALLY something to cheer about for the Reds!

65 Mason pops one shot into Reina's gloves, could have been an awkward one.

66 Downing corner comes to nothing, Cardiff working hard.

67 Downing forces another corner on the right, ends in a goal kick. Finally there's some signs of hunger from the Reds.

71 Gerrard smashes into Gunnarsson who goes down injured, requires treatment. The Red skipper is lucky to get away with that one without a card to his name!

74 Skrtel volley off corner stopped by goalkeeper.

75 Carroll heads one wide, looked like he didn't have a clue where he or the ball was.

77 Now Hudson is down, with a cramp, in his box, play is stopped.

78 Downing shot from outside the box saved by Heaton, fine jump to his left.

80 Push by Downing on Miller, looked more like a slip, but free kick given, in dangerous position, goes straight into the wall. Gunnarson's long throw into box cleared.

82 Johnson puts one wide, 8 Cardiff players in front of him!

84 Cardiff get ball into box, Turner heads it just wide. Excellent chance.

86 Agger smacker held well by Heaton.

87 Carragher on for Agger. Corner taken by Liverpool comes to nothing, goal kick.

88 Golden chance again for Cardiff, goal gaping, missed again, Miller puts it high. Brilliant first touch, looked promising, 2nd touch let down.

90 Ball smacks off Clattenburg to Cardiff's advantage, Carragher not happy, gives away a free kick.

4 minutes added on.

91 Suarez onside, takes to long, wastes it wide.

92 Gerrards shoots high off corner.

94 Suarez takes ball beautifully to see it deflect out for a goal kick. Sarcastic smile by the Uruguayan.

FT 1:1 Liverpool comeback not complete after promising header by Skrtel made it 1:1, Cardiff holding on, hard! 30 minutes of extra time coming up and if it stays level it goes to penalties! 

2nd half stats:
Cardiff-Liverpool
Attempts: 4-11
On target: 1-5
Offsides: 0-3
Corners: 0-10
Free kicks: 7-4

Cardiff: Heaton; McNaughton, Hudson, Turner, Taylor; Mason (scored 19), Whittingham, Gunnarson, Cowie; Miller, Gestede. 4-4-2
Subs: Marshall, Kiss, A Gerrard, Earnshaw, Conway, Naylor, Blake

Liverpool: Reina; Johnson, Skrtel (scored 60), Agger, Enrique; Henderson (booked 52, Bellamy 58), S Gerrard, Adam, Downing; Suarez, Carroll. 4-4-2
Subs not used: Doni, Carragher, Spearing, Bellamy, Kuyt, Kelly, Maxi.

Referee: Mark Clattenburg (Tyne & Wear)
Assistant referees: Simon Beck and Mick McDonough
Fourth official: Anthony Taylor

HT Summary: Cardiff 1:0 Liverpool

Sports - Football - Carling Cup Final - Cardiff 1:0 Liverpool

1st half notes:

Cardiff's 1st, Liverpool's 11th League Cup final. The Welsh side kick the game off.

2 Johnson shot from outisde the box comes off the bar and bounces clear! What a start that would have been!

5 Carroll heads one over but is penalised for a push on Hudson.

6 Downing from left, wins corner, Gerrard takes it.

7 Corner headed out by Cardiff defence, another corner headed into the goalkeeper Heaton's gloves by Skrtel.

10 Miller left-foot shot high over the bar.

13 Carroll gives away another free kick in the box pushing around when Downing was taking the corner.

16 Carroll heads one way wide, could & should have made more of that! Good chance wasted.

34%-66% possession so far, Red dominance

18 Carroll header into goalkeepers gloves, AGAIN, another chance gone too wastefully. Good interplay by Liverpool beforehand.

19 Cardiff take the lead, Miller to Mason, plenty of time & space, puts it through Reina's legs, into the back of the net, 1-0 against the run of play, 18:32! Enrique was not doing his job! Absent second costs Liverpool.

24 Suarez blocked in box, Carroll blasts the ball over and out, that summarises his day so far. Useless!

27 Suarez looked like he could break but blocked again, Cardiff strong on counter, causing Liverpool plenty of headache.

28 Downing cross from left, no one there to take it, Carroll couldn't get there.

30 Enrique curls a shot from the edge of the box, wide.

32 Liverpool appeal for a handball but the ball was shot at the player, couldn't do much about it, slightest of a brush, good decision by the ref. Adam put one wide.

40 Downing from left, strong cross, Henderson blasts but misses, Gerrard blasts it high.

41 Suarez tackles himself in the crowded box, loses the ball.

43 Suarez right-foot shot easily collected by Heaton.

44 Gerrad free kick into the box, Agger heads it straight into Heaton who just about holds on to the ball. Golden chance, missed.

45 Gerrard shot blocked, slips and sends rebound shot high into the sky.

1 minute injury time added on.

Liverpool on last attack of the half, ball goes out.

HT the underdogs in the lead thanks to Joe Mason's fine finish, Cardiff 1:0 Liverpool.

1st half stats
Cardiff-Liverpool
Attempts: 2-11
On target: 1-3
Offsides: 1-0
Corners: 0-4
Free kicks: 6-4
Possession: 34%-66% (17.min), 29%-71% (HT) 
Action Areas: Cardiff 18%-63%-19% Liverpool

Cardiff: Heaton; McNaughton, Hudson, Turner, Taylor; Mason (scored 19), Whittingham, Gunnarson, Cowie; Miller, Gestede. 4-4-2
Subs: Marshall, Kiss, A Gerrard, Earnshaw, Conway, Naylor, Blake

Liverpool: Reina; Johnson, Skrtel, Agger, Enrique; Henderson, S Gerrard, Adam, Downing; Suarez, Carroll. 4-4-2
Subs: Doni, Carragher, Spearing, Bellamy, Kuyt, Kelly, Maxi.

Referee: Mark Clattenburg (Tyne & Wear)
Assistant referees: Simon Beck and Mick McDonough
Fourth official: Anthony Taylor

Week 25: Premier League Tops and Flops

Sports - Football - Premier League- Picks of the Weekend

Top game and team: If you wondered for one second whether Tottenham could cope with all the stress and attention around their manager, with the court case and England speculation, please join the laughing stock! The team got together and smashed their opponents to pieces 5-0! I feel sorry for Newcastle who could never have predicted what was ahead of them, after most probably favouring their chance, thinking they could catch out Spurs, that they were at a weak or crises point. The London side quickly put that to bed with three goals inside 19 minutes. Unbelievable!

Top player: Wayne Rooney made the difference at Old Trafford and got the ground rocking with two goals inside three minutes at the start of the second half. It was a scruffy, intense encounter with Liverpool matching their rivals and staying in the competition with a shout eventhough the home side dominated most of the game. But the former Evertonian stole the show, the first goal summarising his top class, an unstoppable volley off a Ryan Giggs corner.

Top goal: Thierry Henry's last minute winner for Arsenal was another one of those too-good-to-be-true goals! The Frenchman ended his return just as he started it, like a scripted dream. Jamie Mackie's late two goals, especially the second for QPR, was an unstoppable smacker and unbelievable show by the sub striker. Too little, too late though in their 3-2 defeat at Blackburn.

Top news: Harry Redknapp said a part-time role as England manager would be possible... Really?! That would be too good to be true for England. I don't think the Spurs Director quite agrees with his manager, no surprise there... :-P

Flop game: Manchester City's 1-0 win at Villa Park was not much to write home about. City dominated the game from the first second to the last minute, Joleon Lescott grabbing the only goal of the game in the 63rd minute from close range against his boyhood club. It saw Aston Villa drop down to 15th and the fans showing their frustration towards manager Alex McLeish.

Flop team: Wolves' 5-1 thrash defeat against West Brom was sad, no, annoying to watch. As soon as the first goal fell, the home side crumbled to bits. It looked like no one wanted to shoulder the blame, eventhough they were all contributors to their downfall, no one took the responsibility to grab the side and get a grip. In the end, it saw the side drop into the relegation zone and cost Mick McCarthy his job and after six successful years at the club, it is sad to see him leave. Chelsea's Andre Villas-Boas is the most likely candidate next on the sacked list after his side's dire 2-0 defeat at Everton. Pressure is moutning on the Portuguese - his side dropping out of the top four into fifth, level points with Arsenal in fourth, tehn points behind Tottenham in third.

Flop player: Luis Suarez, what were you thinking?! It was your chance to wipe the slate clean with Patrice Evra, but instead you spat on it and poked it into his face! It caused unnecessary trouble adding to the already intense rivalry and atmosphere in the game and ground. It cast an unnecessary and unwanted shadow over the game, teams and the whole competition and sport. I know apologies have now been officially given by both player and manager Kenny Dalglish and accepted by Manchester United, but there is still something crucial missing: Suarez and Evra shaking hands and drawing a line under it! Sir Alex Ferguson's post-match interview was a bit harsh (the striker should never play for the honorable Merseyside club again) but understandable. I hope the Uruguayan has slowly but surely come to his sences now!


Flop goal: The top sides' defenders seemed to be asleep this weekend. The Chelsea back line let Everton's Steven Pienaar and Denis Stracqualursi to the ball too easily, giving away open chances they both netted with thanks. David Luiz and Jose Bosingwa were especially poor, seeming completely unaware of play and where the ball is on more than one occasion. 
Liverpool's Jay Spearing and United's Rio Ferdinand both saw giveaways they will want to forget, the former losing the ball to Antonio Valencia who eventually found Rooney to net it and the latter pushing the ball ón to Saurez right in front of the goal.
Stoke keeper Thomas Sorensen's own goal against Fulham was cruel, he didn't see any of it, Clint Dempsey's shot from 25 yards hitting the cross bar and bouncing off the goalkeepers back and over the line.

Flop news: Aaaaaand Carlos Tevez is back, whining on, blaiming manager Roberto Mancini and painting him as the booman... Zzzzzz...

My predictions-Actual results:

Man United 2:1 Liverpool - 2:1

Blackburn 1:1 QPR - 3:2

Bolton 4:1 Wigan - 1:2

Everton 1:0 Chelsea - 2:0

Fulham 2:0 Stoke - 2:1

Sunderland 1:1 Arsenal - 1:2

Swansea 2:0 Norwich - 2:3

Tottenham 3:1 Newcastle - 5:0

Wolves 1:2 West Brom - 1:5

Aston Villa 0:1 Man City - 0:1

Match Report: Rooney double beats Liverpool

Sports - Football - Premier League - Man United 2:1 Liverpool

Man of the match Wayne Rooney stole the show with two goals at the start of the second half which saw Manchester United beat Liverpool 2:1 at Old Trafford and return to the top of the Premier League table (for the night).

There were some ugly scenes at the end of both halves, with the saga between Luis Suarez and Patrice Evra hanging over the teams after the Urugayan striker had refused to shake the United defender's hand before the match and clashes continuing into the tunnels. Shame on the players, forgetting the meaning of the word respect, you would have thought the managers would have had a word!

Moving on (as I hoped the teams would and going by their statements, they finally have), the game was more ill-spirited than tempered with only two bookings and both teams cancelling each other out, leaving the main action and possession in the centre of the field.

United bossed the game throughout but Liverpool stayed solid at the back and stubborn in the centre looking like they would not give up that easily and break and get something out of the game.

However, Rio Ferdinand's giveaway to Suarez ended up to be just a consolation goal. It spiced up the end of a game which United controlled and Liverpool held onto as much and long as they could.

But a certain former Evertonian striker had made sure the visitors would not get much out of the match, doubling his tally against the Merseysiders, smashing in a Ryan Giggs corner on 47 and tapping in an easy chance from a fine Antonio Valencia cross three minutes later after Jay Spearing lost the ball to the Ecuadorian winger.

It was not a match to write much about, if it weren't for all the ill temper of certain players, Evra's OTT-celebrations after the match right in front of Suarez not helping the matter much.

I hope now both players and managers had a chance to look back, consider and apologise their actions, we can move on and come back to what it is all about, the game and not a couple of idiots/idiotic actions that are taken out of all proportions and try to spoil and destroy the team spirit of it!

As John Barnes put it best on BBC: "...We are making a mountain out of a molehill. There are worse things happening in the world."

United: De Gea; Evra, Evans, Ferdinand, Rafael da Silva; Giggs, Scholes, Carrick (booked 80), Valencia; Welbeck, Rooney (scored 46:17 & 49:04). 4-4-2
Subs not used: Amos, Fabio da Silva, Park Ji-sung, Cleverley, Pogba, Berbatov, Hernandez.

Liverpool: Reina; Jose Enrique, Agger, Skrtel, Johnson; Downing (booked 45, Bellamy 61), Gerrard,  Spearing (Carroll 61), Kuyt (Adam 75), Henderson; Suarez (scored 79:55). 4-5-1
Subs not used: Doni, Carragher, Kelly, Shelvey.

1st & 2nd half stats:
United-Liverpool
Attempts: 6-4 & 5-3
On target: 3-2 & 3-2
Offsides: 0-1 & 0-3
Corners: 2-2 & 1-1
Free kicks: 5-4 & 5-4
Possession: 62%-38% (BBC, 22 mins), 57.8%-42.2% (Sky, 23 mins), 55.9%-44.1% (1st half, Sky), 52%-48% (BBC, 67 mins), 54.1%-45.9% (Sky, 67 mins), 47%-53% (2nd half possession up to 76. minute, Sky) , 54.6%-45.4% (2nd half, Sky), 54%-46% (FT, Sky), 47%-53% (FT, BBC).

Sky Stats:
United-Liverpool
Passing Success: 87.9%-81.7%
Tackles/Success: 23/78.3%-21/76.2%
Territorial Advantage: 50.1%-49.9%
Action Areas: United 13%-74%-13% Liverpool

Referee: Phil Dowd
Man of the match: Wayne Rooney