Barclays Premier League Roundup, 19th and 20th Nov 2011

By Raghavan,

All eyes were on Sunday's match while building up to the week. Fernando Torres and Raul Mereiles to host their former club. A fixture that has rarely ceased to be full of surprises and at times controversies too. Stamford Bridge welcomed the reds of Liverpool on Sunday for our match of the week. The foremost thing on Chelsea's mind was to rebuild their home fortress after being cannoned down by the gunners last time. Liverpool too have come under some criticism after failing to win against promoted sides like Swansea and Norwich City. Liverpool did the double against their rivals last season, had the double done on them the season before that, and all that put together built up to a much awaited fixture. And the team news carried some surprise as well. King Kenny sprang the biggest surprise when he started an almost forgotten Maxi Rodriguez on the left flank, and detained Andy Carroll on the bench, preferring the energy of Craig Bellamy instead. Andre Villas-Boas's only measure to address defensive leaks, it appears, is his continuance to keep Jose Bosingwa away while still starting with 'the 10 year old on a PlayStation' in the heart of defence. Neither former Liverpool men started as Didier Drogba returned after his ban and John Obi Mikel kept out Raul Mereiles. Second top scorer Daniel Sturridge sat on the bench while Florent Malouda started on Juan Mata's opposite flank. The first chance fell to the home side in the form of a free kick 25 yard-ish. Didier Drogba and the crowd were half celebrating as the ball seemed to have flown past a stranded Pepe Reina. But the ball had, infact, just missed the outside of the post and deflected itself to behind the net. Later it was Mikel's sudden situation of cluelessness that helped the visitors draw first blood. Petr Cech opted to roll down the ball to Mikel to start a build up from scratch. Mikel however wasn't able to find a pass target as quickly as he needed (  the full backs were by then behind his back, and Mikel failed to locate any midfielder), and before he could make up his mind, he was closed down by an alert Charlie Adam, and the loose ball was gathered by Craig Bellamy who found Luis Suarez waiting inside the box, who returned it back to Bellamy before Bellamy played the ball past Suarez to find Maxi Rodriguez who helped himself to his first goal with his first start.  The alarm bell clearly rung as AvB had no qualms in recalling Mikel at half time and thrusting in Daniel Sturridge. It helped. Chelsea started on the ascendancy in the second half and around 55 mins, Malouda was allowed too much room to run into the box, and whipped a diagonal ball to the right post which was gobbled up by Sturridge to even the scores. But Liverpool weathered the storm and decided to wait for their chance. It was as late as in the 87th minute that Stuart Downing got the ball from a crowded position near the left out-line and prodded it towards Adam waiting at the center. Super vision from Adam, his long lofted ball found Glen Johnson's free run down the right. The latter did brilliantly, with his pace, to cut inside and took it on his own to create a dramatic winning goal. David Luiz arrived late, and Malouda didn't do enough to nudge Johnson before the shot was just taken, the fear of conceding a penalty perhaps. Torres and Mereiles were brought on at 85 mins but that was frankly too late. So its 3 losses in 4 games and 2 in 2 at home. Stamford Bridge is falling down. On this note , do visit: http://hasandrevillasboasbeensackedyet.com/

The weekend's action kicked off with Arsenal visiting Norwich. Team news: Laurent Koscielny starts on the right. Per Mertesacker partners Tomas Vermaelan. Other than van Persie tapping in Arsenal's equaliser from Walcott's cross-goal pass, it was Norwich central defender Martin everywhere. Three goal saving clearences in the first half, one very lucky, when he kneed it away behind from dangerously close to the post, that it could have gone into his own net. Also RvP's equaliser was to cancel Morison's goal who was dealt with very softly by Per Mertesacker without asserting himself when Morison took charge of Tierney's long pass, before Morison made the ball limp past Wojziech Sczensny into the Arsenal net. What went around came around in the second half as an arsenal player was sent through on goal after Alexander Song won the ball in the middle of the field, and the player applied a cool chip over the bent over Ruddy. I don't think I need to mention the player's name. Anthony Pilkington spurned a chance to earn his side a draw as he failed to properly connect a pacy low cross sent in by Bennett, which ended up drifting wide of goal. Arsenal thus continued resurgence.

The other big talking point into the week was how long Newcastle's dream run would last. It faced it's first critical test as it faced off against table toppers Manchester City. Injured Chiok Tiote remained unavailable and Danny Guthrie started. Sammy Ameobi  also started in place of Gabriel Obertan. For the Citizens, David Silva, Edin Dzeko, Gareth Barry and Aleksandr Kolarov were left out. Samir Nasri, 'Super' Mario Balotelli, Nigel de Jong and Gael Clichy got a start. It was City dominating possession. But Demba Ba wasted Newcastle's biggest chance when he broke free of his marker inside the box, but shot horribly wide from a good angle. Just before 45, Yaya Toure's shot from near the penalty spot was handled by Ryan Taylor, resulting in a penalty kick. Super Mario applied the coolest finish, and his coolest of glances afterward gave something for the cameramen (you got to see both the kick and the glance!!). Minutes later, Sergio Aguero tried to find Micah Richards who was rapidly running in from the right into the box, Taylor almost got a foot to it, but Micah stole the ball from him, broke free and slotted it to his near corner. A 2-0 half time lead was made 3-0 by Aguero's penalty after Richards was bundled over by Taylor. Aguero taking the kick since Balotelli had given way for David Silva. Newcastle made it 3-1 through Dan Gosling late on. But the match brought an end to the magpies' dream run. 

Manchester United however got off to a blazing start, opening the scoring in 11 minutes through the little pea, who was  fed a regulation finish from Ryan Giggs who started in place of Ashley Young/Ji Sung Park. Swansea blew their biggest chance as Scott Sinclair completely missed his kick that would have sent the square ball from an impressive Nathan Dyer into a virtually empty goal. Swansea exerted more pressure in the second half, Graham had a header straight to De Gea's grasp. A chance from the edge of the box for substitute Joe Allen too had gasps coming from the visitors. But United stayed in pace with City with their third straight 1-0 win. Grinding the results as they say.

A thrilling 3-3 draw was played out between Blackburn rovers and Wigan Athletic at the DW. The 2nd minute saw the Nigerian Ayegbeni Yakubu break clear and chip one over Al-Habsi that was just able to bounce inside before the hurrying defenders could clear. Jordi Gomez unleashed a left foot scorcher from outside the box to level scores. Gary Caldwell headed in a corner to go into half time with the lead. Junior Hoilett levelled terms around the hour mark when Wigan had an extended spell of being pegged back inside their own box as Pedersen's floated cross found him. Crusat found the bottom left corner just before full time and Wigan had almost won. So near yet so far, as Blackburn earned a penalty in the 93rd minute that Yakubu put away. A thrilling game that wasn't telecast live.

Stoke's depreciation continued as they were beaten at home by an impressive Queens Park Rangers in another thriller. Jonathan Walters was picked out by Peter Crouch to his left and Stoke had an early lead. Armand Traore's cross found Heidar Helguson who headed in the equaliser and Luke Young got his first goal for QPR before half time to take QPR in with the lead. Helguson slotted in Joey Barton's cross from a badly defended corner to give some breathing space for QPR. But Ryan Shawcross got his first goal of the season from Mathew Etherington's corner to raise hopes around the hour mark. Stoke had a penalty appeal turned down late on, and QPR managed to hold on and become the second team after Newcastle to ruin the Brittannia fortress this season.

Sunderland and Fulham played out a goalless draw. Chris Baird started in place of Jon Arne Riise. Moussa Dembele had a couple of chances in the second half, especially when he found himself in space from Clint Dempsey's overhead pass. But Kieron Westwood arrived in time to gather it. However Sunderland may feel they were unlucky as Jack Colback thudded Damien Duff's failed clearance against the post. Kieron Richardson's header from Sessegnon's cross left Mark Schwarzer a mere spectator, but that too found the framework.

West Bromwich Albion inflicted further misery on Owen Coyle's Bolton who just last time thrashed Stoke City 5-0 raising some hopes of a turn in fortunes. Jerome Thomas nicely rounded Jaaskelainen and slid home the first goal for WBA. He also later conceded the penalty that Bolton's top scorer Ivan Klasnic buried dutifully. Returning from injury, Shane Long headed in the winner from Nicky Shorey's cross to give WBA 3 valuable points.

Everton earned 3 valuable points at Goodison against Wolverhampton Wanderers. Stephen Hunt's penalty helped Wolves to lead but Phil Jagielka headed in Leon Osman's corner before half time to draw level. Leighton Baines scored a late penalty to seal the victory.

Monday's game saw Aston Villa visit Tottenham Hotspur at White Hart Lane. Spurs were looking to go third in the table after Chelsea lost on Sunday. The match also saw manager Harry Redknapp return from surgery. Emmanuel Adebayor's spectacle to open the scoring did no good to Harry's heart. Rafael van der Vaart's corner was met by Gareth Bale, but his effort was blocked and went vertical. Emmanuel Adebayor sized up the falling ball and executed a picture perfect overhead kick to earn his 4th of the season. Before half time, Shay Given failed to grasp Gareth Bale's low cross, that fell right at Adebayor's feet. The Togolese gleefully accepted his and Spurs' second goal of the night. The game finished at 2-0 and Spurs now occupy third in the table, 4 points behind 2nd, but with a game in hand.

Winners: Manchester City-Handed Newcastle their first defeat, and they did it without David Silva; Manchester United- Still just scraping wins, but they now seem proficient and comfortable at it. In any case its 3 wins in 3 games; Arsenal (rather Robin van Persie) - They continue to climb and continue to win, winning all matches since their loss at White Hart Lane . Also they came from behind to win; QPR- A good win at Stoke means they are making sure they are getting good results in the tough games involving mid table teams. Always important those; Liverpool - Silencing criticism after dropping points vs new teams, the win at Chelsea means they are in good contention for the top 3; Spurs - A no drama, no nonsense performance vs a tricky team like Aston Villa, moving into third with a game in hand. Good Job!; WBA& Everton- Any win for bottom half teams should be counted a good result.

Losers: Chelsea - of course! 2 losses in 2 games at home. Period!; Stoke City- 5-0 loss last time, now a loss at home to a promoted side. Where has the rugged attitude and toughness at home that held United and Chelsea to draws gone?; Wolves- Everton are not at their best by any means, a draw was necessary for Wolves being just 2 points off the drop zone,though early days; Wigan & Blackburn - the game won in terms of entertainment value, but being at the absolute bottom, both teams should have found a way to win though you can argue with a 3-3 scoreline that that was exactly what both did but ended upwith a draw;