IT WAS another captivating weekend of Premiership football, which saw more form from the teams battling to beat the drop and the top sides misfiring. Goals and talking points aplenty on another weekend of pure theatre, as this campaign is becoming one of the best ever to have graced the Premiership’s 19-year history.
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| HAT-TRICK HERO: Kuyt grabbed three tap-ins in sweet victory |
The most anticipated game of the weekend was at Anfield, where Dirk Kuyt hit his first ever treble for Liverpool in a highly impressive 3-1 success over leaders Manchester United on Sunday. Kuyt’s hat-trick were all simple tap-ins, and he was helped by the enigmatic Luis Suarez, who produced a magical piece of play to take out three United players in setting up Kuyt’s first goal. Five minutes later, he header in from close range after a wayward header from Nani. His third was courtesy of a Suarez free-kick which was spilt by Edwin Van Der Sar. Even £35million man Andy Carroll made a late cameo, for his Anfield debut after injury. It was almost the perfect day for Liverpool and surely Kenny Dalglish’s appointment on a full-time basis is now only a formality. Even Javier Hernandez’s stoppage header consolation couldn’t take the gloss off a marvellous day for Liverpool. As their revival continued, tempers flared at times in a boiling match. A horrible tackle from Jamie Carragher saw Nani stretchered off before half-time and seconds later, a poor challenge from Rafael on Lucas got him booked and led to a serious confrontation between the players. This was a real off-day for United, who refused to speak to Sky Sports, BBC, MUTV or TalkSport afterwards and they have now lost three of their last five games.
Kuyt’s hat-trick blew the title race wide open, but Arsenal failed to take their opportunity on Saturday, as the Gunners were held to a frustrating 0-0 draw by Sunderland. Arsene Wenger felt justice wasn’t done on two dodgy decisions, with Andrei Arshavin unfortunate on both occasions. First, the Russian was pushed to the ground in the penalty area by Titus Bramble, which should have been a penalty. Later, Arshavin was denied a perfectly good goal, when he was wrongly ruled offside. Nevertheless, Simon Mignolet produced an outstanding goalkeeping display for the visitors and Steve Bruce’s side thoroughly deserved their draw.
Chelsea’s latest mini revival continued last night, as they recorded an impressive 3-1 win at Blackpool, to leave Ian Holloway’s men only two points clear of the drop zone. John Terry powered the Blues infront on 15 minutes and two quickfire goals in the second half from Frank Lampard had Chelsea coasting along to another three points. Carlo Ancelotti insists that the title is gone, but only nine points behind with a game in hand, it is completely over quite yet. Jason Puncheon scored a consolation for Blackpool, but with only one win in nine games, the Tangerines are looking nervously above the trapdoor.
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| HAUNTED: Duff came back to continue Rovers slide down the league |
So too are Blackburn Rovers, after another loss; 3-2 at Fulham. Steve Kean has now seen his team lose five of their six matches as Rovers perilous slide down the table. Damien Duff haunted his old side with two goals, but it was Mark Clattenburg who made the headlines once again, for the wrong reasons. With the scoreline at 2-2 in the 88th minute, Clattenburg denied Andy Johnson a blatant penalty after Grant Hanley tripped him. Seconds later and probably feeling guilty, he awarded Fulham a spot kick for a gentle tug by Hanley on Aaron Hughes. If these were given every game, we’d be looking at rugby scores every weekend. Bobby Zamora converted the penalty in his first Premiership match since September and the drama didn’t end there at Craven Cottage. Gael Givet ran onto the pitch at full-time, angrily remonstrated with Clattenburg and got sent off. Clattenburg had a stinker and after the Wayne Rooney elbow scandal last Saturday, his abilities as a top flight referee must be questioned. He can do the job, he’s proven that before, but a few lower profile matches in the Football League wouldn’t go amiss to take him out of the firing line.
Birmingham City got brought back to reality after their sensational Carling Cup success on Saturday lunchtime. In a crunch relegation clash, Birmingham looked second best throughout their Midlands derby with West Brom and ultimately lost 3-1 at St. Andrews. Goals in the second half from Yusuf Mulumbu, James Morrison with a great strike and a Paul Scharner headed moved Albion clear of the drop zone. Although Jean Beausejour brought the home side level soon after Mulumbu’s opener, Birmingham got what they deserved and slip into the bottom three.
They replace West Ham United, as they continue their impressive run of form. Avram Grant’s side comfortably overcame Stoke City 3-0 at Upton Park in a dress rehearsal for their FA Cup quarter-final this weekend. A nightmare piece of goalkeeping from Asmir Begovic allowed Demba Ba in for a tap-in and a Manuel Da Costa header shortly afterwards doubled the lead. Thomas Hitzlsperger’s 82nd minute bullet shot wrapped the match up and nearly burst the net as a result. Stoke shouldn’t be in any relegation danger, but need to stop the rot on the road, as they recorded their sixth successive away defeat.
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| HORROR: Al-Habsi, after his gaffe cost Wigan a result |
Begovic didn’t make the worst goalkeeping cock-up of the weekend. That went to Ali Al-Habsi, who produced a goalkeeping calamity that is bound to appear on every Christmas blooper DVD for years to come. The Wigan goalkeeper allowed David Silva’s tame strike through his grasp at his near post and it consigned Wigan to a 1-0 loss at Manchester City. Roberto Martinez will be pleased with the performance, but once again, no points, which leaves Wigan closer to slipping out of the Premier League.
The game of the weekend came at Molineux as Wolves and Tottenham played out a wonderful match, drawing 3-3 at Molineux. It was a moving and fitting tribute to the late Dean Richards, who represented both clubs. A minute’s applause was held at the start of the match, in honour of the charismatic defender, who died last week after a long illness. Wolves led on seven minutes, when Kevin Doyle got infront of Hereulho Gomes to head home Nenad Mijias cross. Jermain Defoe single-handily turned the game on its head with two superb strikes in quick succession, taking his Premiership all-time total to 99 on his 300th Premier League appearance. Doyle doubled up from the penalty spot after Mijias was pulled back by Alan Hutton. Despite being the last defender, Hutton was only booked, which was a staggering decision by anyone’s standards. Spurs grabbed the lead back, courtesy of a Roman Pavyluchenko pile driver two minutes into the second half, but Wolves deserved their point and earnt it in the 87th minute. Steven Fletcher met Matt Jarvis cross and the Scottish international powered a header out of Gomes’s reach. Richard Stearman was also denied a legitimate goal, whilst Defoe hit the post for the visitors. The game was breathtaking to watch.
To conclude the weekend, Bolton Wanderers strengthened their quest for European football, with a 3-2 win over Aston Villa. Gary Cahill scored twice against his former club and Ivan Klasnic won the match in the 87th minute for the home side, despite being dominated by Villa for large periods. Everton virtually secured their Premier League status for another campaign, as they beat Newcastle 2-1 at St. James Park. Mikel Arteta was the star of the show, setting up the goals for Leon Osman and Phil Jagielka (his first in three years) to see the Toffees bounce back from their dreadful FA Cup exit at the hands of Reading in midweek.
As the finishing line approaches closer, the entertainment seems to get even better. Maybe it is more than a two-horse race in the title battle and as for relegation, more than half the league is engulfed in fighting to beat the drop. I think everyone will be glad for a week off, as the FA Cup retakes centre stage this weekend.
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