The third and fourth placed teams with the meanest defence in the league faced each other in an epic battle of Italian Managers. Chelsea, who had failed to beat Manchester City in their last three encounters, played some scintillating ‘Brazilian’ football to get the better of a ‘defensive-minded’ City side at the Bridge. At the end of the match, the two sides swapped places in the league table, however, they still stare at a 9 points deficit from the top of the table.
Goals of the Weekend – Ramires makes it look so easy!
The Blue Kenyan – slowing silencing all his critics.
Ramires – The Chelsea midfielder, who didn’t have a particularly good start to the season, has finally started paying back the money spent on him. His sharp passing and movement was one of the talking points of Chelsea’s dominance over City this weekend. For Chelsea’s second goal, he collected the ball way outside the D, calmly went past Lescott and Kolarov and smashed home over an helpless Joe Hart. It perfectly summarized the home team’s game last night – composed and clinical.
Charlie Adam – The Blackpool skipper, after coming back from a two-match ban, played his usual dominating role in the middle of the park for the visiting Seasiders. His first goal was a penalty under controversial circumstances, but nonetheless he calmly converted his sixth spot-kick of the season. His second goal was an absolute peacher as the goal-keeper was left stranded while Adam’s ball curled and ended up in the top right hand corner to give Blackpool a two-goals lead.
Save of the Weekend
Robert Green – The on-and-off English International keeper had a fantastic day in the office, keeping a clean sheet with a string of very good saves against Tottenham Hotspur. The best of the lot came in the dying minutes when he stopped a blinder of a free-kick from the sensational Gareth Bale.
Controversies of the Weekend – It’s not a Beach Ball this time!
Dirk Kuyt coolly finished a spot-kick that was never a penalty as Spearing was tripped outside the box. Though the referee Kevin Friend gave a free-kick initially, he was wrongly overturned by his linesman. It looks like Liverpool and Sunderland will continue with their history of controversial fixtures, with ‘The Beach Ball Gate incident‘ still fresh in everybody’s mind.
Johnny Evans ‘unintentionally’ shawcrossed Stuart Holden’s legs in a fiercely competitive match between the Red Devils and Bolton. The United man was sent off following the challenge but his team still managed to pick up three vital points, thanks to a goal from the league’s highest goal scorer, Berbatov. The US International is expected to be sidelined for six months following the horrific injury, it remains to be seen if Evans will get further punishment for the same.
Match of the Weekend – Charlie Adam rules, yet not good enuf!
Blackburn 2 – 2 Blackpool
Run for the Golden Boot
- Dimitar Berbatov – 20
- Carlos Tevez – 18
- Darren Bent – 11
- Andrew Carroll – 11
- Kevin Nolan – 11
- Robin Van Persie – 11
Run for Top Assists
- Luis Nani – 16
- Andrey Arshavin – 11
- Leighton Baines – 11
- Chris Brunt – 11
- Wayne Rooney – 11
Team of the Weekend – (Manager – Carlo Ancelotti)
Results of the Weekend
Sunderland 0 – 2 Liverpool
Chelsea 2 – 0 Man City
Tottenham 0 – 0 West Ham
Wigan 2 – 1 Birmingham
Blackburn 2 – 2 Blackpool
Stoke 4 – 0 Newcastle
Everton 2 – 1 Fulham
Man Utd 1 – 0 Bolton
Aston Villa 0 – 1 Wolverhampton
West Brom 2 – 2 Arsenal
Total Goals scored over the Weekend – 34 (Previous Weekend -> 35)
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