The main clash of the weekend in the English Premier League took place on Sunday at Anfield as Liverpool hosted Arsenal. It was an absorbing game that ended in a 1 - 1 draw which was enough to take the Gunners back to the top of the League ahead of Man Utd based on more goals scored.

It was Cesc Fabregas who toe-poked a late goal to save the Gunners from a second Premiership defeat in a row at Anfield. He cancelled Steven Gerrard’s stunning first-half free-kick.

Gerrard struck his free-kick after only seven minutes and Liverpool looked like they were heading for what would have been a excellent and needed 3 points after their keeper Pepe Reina had saved from Emmanuel Adebayor, Tomas Rosicky’s lob was cleared off the line and Emmanuel Eboue had hit the post only for Fabregas to fluff the rebound. But Fabregas made amends and equalised with only 10 minutes to go to break Liverpool hearts. However, it could have been even worse for Benítez and his men as Fabregas then hit the post late on.

Cesc Fabregas turns away in celebration after his vital equaliser at Anfield

The result means both sides remain unbeaten in the league, although it must be said Liverpooll are dropping too many points, especially at home. Draws against Birmingham, Tottenham and now Arsenal mean 6 precious points gone. A little ironic really. In recent years it has been their away form that has cost them dearly. Probably everyone at Anfield thought they had to rectifiy that and the home for, as usual, would look after itself. Now Liverpool are picking up the points away, it’s their home form (even though still unbeaten) that is costing them.

Liverpool’s manager again kept us all guessing with his selection policy as this time he opted for a three-pronged attack with Fernando Torres back after a recent thigh injury. He lined up alongside Dirk Kuyt and Andriy Voronin. However, it didn’t take too long to for a blind man to realise that Torres was not going to last the game. El Nino quickly became little more than a passenger in what was an ineffective front line for the Reds. Inevitably Benítez had to replace the struggling Torres and brought on Peter Crouch at half-time. Crouch had scored a hat-trick in the corresponding fixture last year, and I for one was a little surprised he didn’t start. Apart from the hat-trick, Arsene Wenger has admitted in the past that he does’t like playing against the 6′7″ forward.

But once again, Liverpool’s saving grace was the driving force of Captain Fantastic, Gerrard. Having already tested Almunia with a fizzing low drive, his ferocious free-kick roared past the Gunner’s goalie after just 7 minutes and suddenly the perceived recent dip in his form was erased and Gerrard was playing like a man who had a point to prove.

But it wasn’t only his goal scoring prowess on show yesterday, his harrying also denied Arsenal’s midfield any time on the ball. However, Arsenal were never going to lie down and they gradually regained their composure and started to play their way into the game and then started to dominate territory and possession.

Another slight blow to Liverpool was a foot injury to their midfielder Xavi Alsono who had to be substituted half way through the second half. After the game Liverpool’s manager said,

“It was going well but we had problems with Torres. We wanted to use his pace and he then had the injury, then Xabi Alonso and we had to change. We now have a good record away and need to improve at home. But a draw at the end, because Arsenal also had chances, was probably not the worst result.”

Menawhile his counterpart, Arsene Wenger said,

“It was a big test today but we have shown tremendous quality. Overall it was a great football game, a bit of an edgy start and we were a bit nervous and punished quickly. But from then on it was all us and it was a question of not conceding a second and coming back. We had enough chances to win the game.”

Meanwhile, Man City and Sven came down to earth with a bit of a bump on Saturday when they were crushed by Chelsea 6 - 0 at Stamford Bridge. To put the defeat into a little context, prior to the game, City had only conceded 5 goals on their travels so far this season. So, they more than doubled their debit column in one game. Oops!

After the game, a somewhat shell-shocked Sven said,

“We forgot how to defend. If you give a team like Chelsea space and time that will happen. It was very bad defending from our side - we have to be much better than that. It has been a good story so far this season but I’m sorry for the fans who travelled here. There were a lot of them here, they wanted to see us play good football - not see us lose like we did. People are talking about us playing good football but you have to defend and be very aggressive. If you don’t do that against a team like Chelsea this happens.”

It will be very interesting to see how City react to this defeat. In fact, it will also be interesting to see how Chelsea react. You have to be honest and say that since the departure of The Special One, they haven’t looked that great. Surely this victory will do wonders for their confidence.

I am the Special One! Hmm, we’ll see!

Poor old Spurs! Did I really pick them as a potential top four finisher at the end of the season? Oh dear, good job I didn’t put any money on it because it really just gets worse and worse for the north London club. After the not particularly well handled departure of Martin Jol, Spurs hosted Blackburn and looked at have secured a home point. Then up popped Christopher Samba to strike in the dying seconds to leave Tottenham to begin the post-Martin Jol era with a 2-1. Their neighbours across North London must be loving all this!

At Old Trafford on Saturday, Sir Alex Ferguson’s men were given an early setback when Jeremie Aliadiere equalised following Nani’s stunning opener, however goals from Wayne Rooney and Carlos Tevez handed the home side their eighth successive league victory. It seems that things are definitely falling into place for the Champions after a slightly rocky start to the season with both Ronney and Tevez in excellent form.

Click here for all this weekend’s Premier League results.

The Soccer Blogger

Well, you have to say that it wasn’t a good weekend of sport, in fact let’s face it, it wasn’t a good week of sport, particularly if you were say, an English Evertonian who also happens to like rugby and Formula 1.

First you had to sit through yet another England debarcle over in Moscow.  How long do you think McClaren will be England manager for?  Hmm, I give him one more game.  Then you had a very controversial Mersyeside derby.   Well, it wouldn’t be good if there wasn’t any controversy.  Then England rugby union team failed to make history by becoming the first nation to retain the World Cup.  And then, just to top the week off, Lewis Hamilton, who has led the F1 Championship since the middle of May, losing the chance to also make history by claiming the World Title in his rookie year.  All because of an engine failure that cost him about 30 seconds!  If Lewis just happens to be an Evertonian with a penchant for rugby, he’s probably suicidal right now!

Anyway, I just want to quickly talk about Steve McClaren.  Don’t get me wrong, I have nothing against the bloke apart from the fact I can’t believe he’s the England manager.  McClaren is, in my opinion, an excellent club coach or coach manager.  But I don’t think he’s an international manager, at least not yet.  Perhaps if he’d stayed in club football in a few years time he would of made a great international manager, still could.  Just think it’s far too early for him.  I heard a little part of a Steve Bruce interview last week.  Now I don’t usually listen too much to what the Birmingham manager has to say but having heard this, I thought he had a point.  He was saying that he believed good old Sven should have been kept in the job as England manager.  His main reason?  Experience!  There is no substitute for experience and you have to say Sven has it.  Not ding Man City too much harm at the moment, is it?  As Bruce will no doubt testify even stronger now as Sven beat him 1 - 0 at the weekend.  Best summer signing?  Sven as City manager, if you ask me!

Also interesting to note this morning that both Gus Hiddink and Jose Mourinho are ruling themselves out of potentially replacing McClaren as England boss.  Hiddink doesn’t surprise me, by Jose does a little.  I would have thought The Special One would have absolutely loved coming back to England and managing the national side.  Jose loves the limelight, loves being the centre of attention.  The man is a natural infront of a camera and you don’t get too many more high profile, always in the limelight jobs than England Manager.  I think he would be a natural.  His countryman, Big Phil Scolari, was scared off from the job by the English press (can’t blame him for that) but Jose is a different animal and seems to thrive on the attention.

Anyway, enough of that and back to the Premier League and in particular, the 177th Merseyside Derby.  You just can’t beat a bit of last minute controversy I say and Saturday’s early kick-off definitely claims the ’award’ for involving the weekend’s most controversial incident.  The match at Goodison Park centres around, yes you’ve guessed it, a referee.  In this case Mark Clattenburg and as david Moyes would no doubt tell you, his apparently bewildering penalty decisions.

Liverpool were a goal down after Sami Hyypia’s excellently taken own goal, but the match was turned on its head courtesy of two Dirk Kuyt spot-kicks.  These were the penalties that were given obviously.  The latter of which came from a Phil Neville superman-like dive to save off the line. And if you listen to Moyes’ after game interview it sounded, to me at least, that he actually wondered why this penalty was even given, hmm!  But that was nothing compared to what was to follow.  In the dying seconds, Clattenburg chose to completely ignore strong claims for a penalty when Jamie Carragher seemed to clearly drag down Joleon Lescott.  Moyes was left fuming, to say the least. 

Mark Clattenburg:  "Oops, did I miss something then?" 

Meanwhile, Saturday’s evening kick-off at Villa Park was jam packed full of even more incident and some glorious football.

Utd ran out 4-1 winners, but the score-line reflects little on what was an truly absorbing game. Gabriel Agbonlahor gave Martin O’Neill’s men an early lead but then three goals in 12 minutes simply turned the match on its head. Wayne Rooney twice capitalised on sloppy defending to begin United’s comeback, and then Craig Gardner’s attempted goal-line clearance smashed off his own bar to make it three.

Early in the second half things went from bad to worse for O’Neill’s side when Nigel Reo-Coker and Scott Carson were given their marching orders. Reo-Coker was dismissed for two daft challenges, and Carson was given a straight red after chopping down a clean through Carlos Tevez. If that wasn’t enough, onto the field trotted the eplacement keeper Stuart Taylor and denied Rooney from the penalty-spot. But it was left to Ryan Giggs to add salt into the Villa wounds with what was a fortunate strike on 75 minute.

However, the goal of the weekend must surely be that from the “tank-like” Alex who opened his Chelsea account in remarkable fashion in Saturday’s game against Middlesbrough. When Chelsea won a free-kick 30 yards from Middlebrough’s goal, Gareth Southgate and the rest of the spectators at the Riverside Stadium must have sniggered at the eagerness at which the centre-back picked up the ball. However, little did Southgate, the Boro fans and the rest of the Premier League know that the Brazilian international packs an extraordinary amount of firepower in his right boot. Frank Lampard rolled the ball off for Alex and the 25-year-old smashed a swerving and vicious strike past a despairing Schwarzer. Cue end of sniggering!

At the Emirates Stadium, with the hour mark approaching, Arsene Wenger’s Arsenal look destined for a stalemate against struggling Bolton. But after a wise peer through his famous spectacles, the French tactician called on Theo Walcott, remember him?, and Tomas Rosicky. Just six minutes after his double change The Gunners took the lead courtesy of Kolo Toure’s daisy-cutter. And then, Arsenal were sparked fully into life when the two subs, Rosicky and Walcott, combined for the second with ten minutes remaining as the Czech finished from six yards out after Walcott’s cross.

So, Utd look to be finally hitting top form, Arsenal just keep on winning and Liverpool, thanks to the ref, secured three valuble points to get back on track. Jus to finish off on those penalty decisions, let’s not forget that Liverpool were the victims themselves of another awful penalty decision when Chelsea visited Anfield. That decision cost Liverpool what would have been a vital three points and a moral boasting win over a major Title contender. Perhaps another manager will be bitterly complaining about a dubious Everton penalty later in the season. It’s a funny old game!

The Soccer Blogger

Firstly, apologies for the lack of any content over the lack few days. Unfortunately, I’ve been experiencing a few technical difficulties which have proven somewhat “frustrating” to say the least. So thanks for your patience!

Anyway, now I’m back, I thought it only right and proper to talk about this weeks best performance by a supporting actor in a major production of the Uefa Champions League. It was one of those ground breaking performances all too rarely seen these days. One of pure class, pure grace…..Oh, let’s cut the crap, shall we! Dida, you should be ashamed of yourself you pathetic little BLEEP and quite frankly if I were President of either Milan or Uefa I’d ban you, you conniving little cheat!

Who the hell does he think he’s trying to fool? Does he think we were all born yesterday, for Christ’s sake? Sorry, but the kind of awful “play-acting tricks” Dida got up to the other night at Celtic Park, bring the game into disrepute far more than some over-excited bloke swept away on a tide of euphoria with a couple too many pints of Heavy inside him!

Yes, this bloke should not have got onto the pitch, full-stop! I’m not condoning his actions in any way shape or form, but let’s analyse the facts shall we? This guy is a member of one of the greatest sets of fans in world football. It’s a huge European night at Celtic Park. In fact, let’s face it, it doesn’t get any bigger than hosting the current European Champions, does it? So, let’s call this bloke Jimmy (no obvious stereo-typing here!). Jimmy is rather excited at the prospect of cheering his beloved Bhoys on against Milan. Anyone who has been to Celtic Park will doubtless remember the type of atmosphere that can be generated there, it’s something special.

Anyway, Jimmy and his mates have probably had a couple of pints before the game, chatting about who will play, what Strachan’s tactics will be and God, wouldn’t it be fantastic if we could beat them? Now, Jimmy don’t get too carried away, son!

Jimmy and his pals yet again provide a fabulous backdrop to a great game of European football and as the game goes on, Jimmy and everyone else in Celtic Park start to believe, even more, that “hold on a minute, we could actually win this!” The excitement and the tension mount and what happens? It all culminates in a fantastic, “almost fairy-tale, too good to be true” last gasp winner for Celtic. Jimmy, as well as everyone else inside Celtic Park goes absolutely mental but unfortunately for Jimmy, he has a sudden rush of blood, sees an opportunity to really celebrates with his heroes, and he’s off onto the pitch and starts running towards the Celtic players on the far side!

Unfortunately for Jimmy on his journey across the pitch, and let’s face it at this point he’s simply on cloud nine, there stands a disconsolate Dida in his six yard box. As Jimmy runs past Dida he stretches out his arm, in nothing more than a cheeky, “Way Hay” kind of gesture which brushes Dida ever so slightly on the chest. Jimmy, of course, is not bothered with Dida in the slightest, never was, because he never breaks stride and simply carries on running towards his heroes.

Our “Jimmy” in full flight on his way towards his heroes

As Jimmy’s arm brushes Dida, it takes Dida a spilt second to comprehend what has just happened. “What the hell was that that just ran past?” he probably thought. Then he suddenly realised someone was trying to take the piss out of him a little bit, was embarrassed, angry and thought, “I’ll have you, you little…..!” So Dida, absolutely none the worse for wear, because as I said Jimmy only just brushed past him, starts to run after Jimmy to have it out with him. Hmm, then Dida suddenly realised, “Hold on a minute, I better crumble like the proverbial sack of spuds here, feign serious injury, try and get Celtic thrown out and get the 3 points awarded to us!” So, down he went, in one of the most unconvincing dives and pathetic cowardly acts you have ever seen!

Not only that, he manages to keep the play-acting up so much, he gets himself carried off on a stretcher for God’s sake! If it wasn’t so pathetic it would be laughable! What the medical staff must have thought I can only imagine.

What I don’t understand is, didn’t Dida realise that his little dive and performance would be captured by about 40 cameras from every conceivable angle and beamed around the world for all to laugh at him and say “what a plonker!”? He knew that Jimmy hadn’t really hit him in the face or done any serious harm. If he’d just stood there and complained to the officials he would surely have received more sympathy and empathy for his situation. No player should have to be confronted on the pitch by a supporter, no matter what that supporter is up to and all Jimmy wanted to do really was probably hug and kiss a few of his heroes, especially Scott McDonald who had just scored one of the most important goals in Celtic’s recent history. No mistake, this was a massive win for the Glasgow giants!

Scott McDonald celebrates his last gasp winner. Whilst Dida, with his arm up, looks like he saying, “Anyone want to run past me so I can make a pillock out of myself?

So, Jimmy had no other option yesterday but to turn himself in at Celtic Park. Makes him sound like some kind of master criminal, doesn’t it? When in fact he’s probably nothing more than a passionate Celtic supporter who just got carried away. No, I wouldn’t have don’t it, and neither would you, but!!

So after Jimmy gave himself up, Celtic had no option but to ban him for life from ever attending another Celtic game, home or away. Can you imagine how Jimmy must be feeling this morning? Gutted, I would imagine. And as for Dida, he’s probably just feeling like the plonker he is, at least I hope he is! Because whether Dida had fallen to the floor as if Tyson had landed one on him or not, Jimmy was always going to be punished, he just shouldn’t have been there!

I think Uefa need to look more at players play acting to gain an unfair advantage, as Dida tried and Malouda did at Anfield earlier in the season. And Celtic should probably have a word with the stewards stationed near to where Jimmy was sitting! Although I have a pretty good idea what happened. They were all probably celebrating McDonald’s winner just as much as Jimmy! Well, minus running onto the pitch, that is!

Update: Sorry, I’ve just been reading a little more about the Dida “incident” and now I’ve stopped laughing, I just had to quote you this:

Milan sporting director Umberto Gandini has confirmed that he expects Dida to be fit for the game against Lazio” [this weekend]. No!!! Wow , what a miraculous victory from his death bed. What a hero Dida is!

Hold on, it gets even funnier….Gandini confirmed that Dida had suffered no long-term effects from the ordeal: “I think Dida is fit to play for Sunday.” Long term effects? Ordeal?

God preserve us! (my Mother always used to say that when I did or said something naughty she couldn’t believe!)

Rik
The Soccer Blogger

Hi

Please accept my apologies but I am experiencing a few technical issues. The midweek European round-up including a great win by Celtic over the current Champions AC Milan, shock defeat of Liverpool by Marseille and lots more will (hopefully) follow soon.

Many thanks for your patience.

The Soccer Blogger

There was an amazing and thrilling game at Fratton Park this weekend as Portsmouth and Reading exchanged, an almost hard to believe, 11 goals. Portsmouth’s Benjani was the hero scoring a hat-trick as Pompey ran out 7-4 winners. Don’t get too many scores like that in the Premiership. Sounds more like a game down the local park on a Sunday morning, doesn’t it?

Anyway, Benjani opened the scoring after just seven minutes as he played in John Utaka before racing into the box to convert his team-mate’s cross. He then made it 2-0 after 37 minutes with a run and low shot. However Reading bounced back and levelled at the end of the first half when Stephen Hunt’s header made sure after Liam Rosenior’s shot appeared to bounce over the line after hitting the crossbar. David James gifted Reading a second goal on 48 minutes when rashly racing out of his box to allow Dave Kitson in for the 100th goal of his career.

But poor goalkeeping from James’ opposite number, Marcus Hahnemann, enabled Hermann Hreidarsson to head Pompey back in front on 55 minutes before James redeemed himself by saving Nicky Shorey’s penalty after Papa Bouba Diop was penalised for handball.

It was then left to Benjani to complete his hat-trick which he duly did on 70 minutes after being played in by Sulley Muntari. But that wasn’t then end of the scoring as Niko Kranjcar headed a fifth goal on 75 minutes. James Harper’s volley deflected in off substitute Shane Long for Reading on 79 minutes, but Pompey replied straight away as Sean Davis’ shot deflected off Ivar Ingimarsson for 6-3.

Pompey’s hat-trick hero, Benjani

In the final minute, Muntari made the scoreline an unbelievable 7-3 by converting a penalty after Kranjcar was brought down in the box, and yet there was still time for a fourth Reading goal as Shorey’s shot was deflected past James. If the final whistle hadn’t have blown, who knows what the scoring would have ended up as!

Back to more normal games, Arsenal remained in first place in the Premier League table after they beat London rivals West Ham United 0 - 1 at Upton Park. Arsenal grabbed the only goal at West Ham on 13 minutes when Alexander Hleb’s cross to the far post was headed in by Robin van Persie.

Meanwhile, what appears to be Arsenal’s main rivals with the sudden “demise” of Chelsea, Manchester United and Liverpool both won 1 - 0 away from home.

Cristiano Ronaldo scored the only goal of the game as Manchester United defeated Birmingham to secure their fifth successive Premier League victory.

Blues missed a number of good chances before the interval and were made to pay when Franck Queudrue allowed Ronaldo to escape into the area and he slotted home after rounding Maik Taylor.

There was a hard-fought battle at The JJB Stadium saw Liverpool nick the points against Wigan Athletic on 75 minutes when Yossi Benayoun twisted smartly in the box before finishing past former Reds keeper Chris Kirkland. It was Benayoun’s first goal for the Reds in the League and it was certainly a very welcome one for Rafa Benítez, especially after Torres had wasted some excellent chances to add to his hat-trick in the Carling Cup during the week. But I suppose Benítez would claim that’s why they have such a big rotating squad!

Chelsea dropped yet another two points, which you feel they just can’t afford to keep doing, having been held to a 0 - 0 draw in the west London derby against their close neighbours Fulham. In fact Chelsea were lucky to only drop two points. With a little more composure in front of goal Fulham could, in fact should, have scored 3 goals in about the last five minutes. it was Avram Grant’s first home game in charge of the Blues. But I wouldn’t get too familiar with Mr. Grant, aka The Ordinary One, if I were you, I don’t think he’s going to be around for too long.

Dropping two points though wasn’t the only bad news for Chelsea. They lost their captain John Terry at half-time with a suspected fractured cheekbone. And if that wasn’t enough, the returning Didier Drogba got himself sent off for a second bookable offence. An extremely high kung-fu style kick on Chris Baird that Jackie Chan would have been proud of!

Manchester City’s impressive start to the season continued in an excellent end to end game that ended in a 3 - 1 win over Newcastle United. The Magpies, minus the injured Michael Owen, took the lead on 29 minutes after Obafemi Martins showed great skill to control Geremi’s searching pass before finishing past Joe Hart.

City drew level before half-time when Martin Petrov scored at the far post from Stephen Ireland’s cross and the Bulgarian turned provider two minutes into the second half as his cross was headed home astutely by Emile Mpenza.

But the best goal was saved for last when Brazilian schemer Elano let rip with an unstoppable free-kick into the top corner on 87 minutes. Fans at Eastlands must be rubbing their eyes and wondering what the hell is going on at the moment! Whilst England fans in general are probably doing the same and thinking why they hell couldn’t England play like this under Sven?

There was already a huge “six-pointer” as Derby County took on Bolton Wanderers. However, the result didn’t really do either team any favours as it finished in a 1 - 1 draw. Kenny Miller put Derby ahead on 19 minutes after combining with Steve Howard, but Nicolas Anelka’s deflected shot on 32 minutes secured Bolton a point.

Up at The Stadium of Light, a two-goal blast in the space of two second-half minutes enabled the ever improving Blackburn Rovers to claim the points from Sunderland.

Mark Hughes, up against former Man Utd team-mate Roy Keane for the first time as managers, saw his side take the lead on 53 minutes when David Bentley finished after Roque Santa Cruz’s shot deflected into his path.

Those two were involved for the second goal on 55 minutes as Bentley pounced on Danny Higginbotham’s poor backpass and, after his shot was saved, he showed good awareness to head across for Santa Cruz to finish. Grant Leadbitter curled home a last-minute consolation for Sunderland, but it was too little, too late for the hosts.

All of Saturday Results

Birmingham 0 Man Utd 1
Chelsea 0 Fulham 0
Derby 1 Bolton 1
Man City 3 Newcastle 1
Pompey 7 Reading 4
Sunderland 1 Blackburn 2
West Ham 0 Arsenal 1
Wigan 0 Liverpool 1

Meanwhile on Sunday, Middlesbrough’s miserable run at Goodison Park continued as they crashed to a 2-0 defeat against Everton. Joleon Lescott and Steven Pienaar handed Everton the victory and ensured Boro’s seven-year run without a league win at the Blue half of Merseyside continues. It is a little fortunate for David Moyes, the Everton manager that Lescott and Pienaar where both on target as his strike force continues to struggle in front of goal.

Menawhile Gareth Southgate Boro’s boss would probably sell his grandmother at the moment for a goal. This was Middlesbrough’s third blank sheet in four games without a win, ouch! The win moved Everton into fifth place.

The Soccer Blogger