Sunday August 24, 2008 16:03

Premier League - Gerrard Saves Reds, Again!

Posted by The Soccer Blogger as English Premiership

It was another excellent Saturday of Premier League action this week. Maybe not quite to the high standards set during the opening weekend but still some great goals and last minute drama.

How many times have we seen a certain Steven Gerrard rescue Liverpool in the dying moments of games? The honest answer would probably be too many for comfort but on Saturday Liverpool had to rely on their inspirational captain yet again.

With memories of that amazing and dramatic goal against Olympiacos back in 2005, Gerrard suddenly realised in the 94th minute that he had the red shirt of Liverpool on his back not the white of England and blasted the ball into the top corner of the net to win all three points for the Reds on an afternoon where they would have been happy with one point. Some people maybe starting to wonder whether Capello has missed a trick with his choice of captain. When you watch Gerrard play and the amount of times he comes up with goals like he did yesterday, would his country and his England colleagues not benefit with a little more of that passion? Liverpool and his teammates certainly seem to.

Liverpool draw level againist Middlesbrough

Liverpool were perhaps also a little lucky to draw level after a shot by Carragher was deflected off the Boro captain. Liverpool suddenly seemed to believe they could go onto win the game despite their performance and turned a game that would have ended in a draw last season into a vital win.

I’ve been extremely interested in the voting in the “Which Team Will Win The Premier League Title” poll over the last week by those who have placed their choice. Before the season kicked off, Liverpool were the favourites to lift the trophy [Premiership] for the first time. However in the last week Chelsea have overtaken them. Perhaps not too surprising after last weeks 4 - 0 defeat of Portsmouth. However, if Liverpool can turn their bad performances into wins, this year’s title race could be more than a two horse one.

Whilst Liverpool were fighting for the three points, a former Liverpool player Djibril Cisse was enjoying what can only be described as a dream debut for new his club Sunderland, where he is on a season loan from Marseille. On the other side of the coin his joy was mirrored by early season pressure being administered on Tottenham boss Juande Ramos. Spurs have no points from their opening two games.

Also at White Hart Lane, it is looking increasingly likely that Berbatov will not wear the Spurs shirt again. He was not even in the squad to face Sunderland. Apparently he “wasn’t in the right frame of mind.”

Spurs weren’t the only team from North London to have a bad day as Arsenal also lost, beaten 1 - 0 by a new look Fulham at Craven Cottage.

It was a memorable day at the Britannia Stadium as Stoke City picked up their first Premier League points with a dramatic last-gasp 3 - 2 victory over Aston Villa. At least a couple of the promoted sides will be thinking what all the fuss is about with the Premier League. Whilst Stoke were claiming all 3 points, Hull City continued to impress after their first day victory with a draw against Paul Ince’s Blackburn. However the third promoted team, West Brom couldn’t net their first points of the campaign after they lost beaten at home to an Everton team that were already under increasing pressure even after only one game.

If you listen to the media, David Moyes seems to be losing a little interest after all his failed attempts in the transfer market over the summer. He has been up against it firstly trying to persuade players that a move to Everton is something they should be interested in and secondly there doesn’t seem to be a great amount of money available to him. He has only 8 days left to strengthen his squad. If he fail to do so, it could be a long season for Everton and Moyes and you really can’t blame the man if he suddenly decides he’s had enough. He’s done a great job at Goodison Park but maybe he’s done all he can?

Up at St. James’ Park Newcastle, Kevin Keegan and the Toon Army were hoping they could built on their excellent point at Old Trafford. No one wanted to lose the momentum and a disappointing result against Bolton would have undone all of that good work. But luckily two players in particular stood up to be counted, so to speak. First the goalie Shay Given and then Michael Owen [yes, that little bloke you used to play more often] were Newcastle’s heroes.

First Given pulled off an excellent penalty save to deny Nolan and then up popped Owen to head all three points for Newcastle. Job done, momentum continued!

Sunday’s games are Wigan v Chelsea (result just in Chelsea won 1 - 0 and go top of the League, report to follow). The other game is Man City v West Ham. Will the City Chairman be there? Will anyone care? (Again, report to follow.)

Monday’s final game of the second week of games is a repeat of the Charity Shield between Portsmouth and Man Utd. Presumably Portsmouth can’t be as bad as they were last weekend against Chelsea. A report will follow, so you’ll find out!

Rik

The Soccer Blogger

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