Premier League round up
by DANNY O’BRIEN
looprevilpress@live.co.uk
Everton (Miralles 8, Lukaku 72 82) 3 3 Liverpool (Coutinho 5, Suarez 19, Sturridge 89)
Merseyside derbies are always built up heavily, with both sides having huge hopes of victory but also huge fears of defeat. This derby was one that did not disappoint, delivering one of the best Derbies in recent memory, arguably since Liverpool’s 3-2 victory in 2001. It was Liverpool who took the early lead with Coutinho tapping in from close range after Steven Gerrard’s corner was headed into his path by Luis Suarez. Everton fought back quickly and pulled level in similar circumstances, this time Kevin Miralles slotted in from close range after Leighton Baines free kick ended up on his laces after Steven Gerrard did not track his run. Everton where their own worst enemy with Liverpool’s next goal, a soft free kick was given away 30 yards out, leading to Suarez bending the ball through a gap in the wall past Howard with a brilliant free kick very similar to his effort against Manchester City over a year ago. After Liverpool’s second Miralles committed a clear red card offensive on Suarez and was extremely lucky to avoid a red card, it was the definition of a red card offensive, however Liverpool led going into half time.
Everton took charge after the first 15 minutes of the second half and an awful miss by Joe Allen to tie the game up for the reds had passed. They could have easily pulled level if it hadn’t been for the weak finishing of Gerard Deluofeu, the Barcelona loanee was at fault for a number of chances including one where he was straight through on goal. Everton were rewarded for their fine second half performance when Romelu Lukaku finally scored to even the match. Everton’s comeback was completed on 82 minutes when Lukaku headed in from a corner to finally give Everton the lead. Liverpool finally got their deserved point when a looping Daniel Sturridge header flew over Tim Howard in the Everton net. Deluofeu had a chance with the final kick of the game which was easily saved by the out stretched Simon Mignolet. It was a great game, in which Liverpool shout have won but Everton and really the game merited a draw.
West Ham United 0 3 Chelsea (Lampard 21, 82 Oscar 34)
Chelsea recovered from two poor performances to outclass West Ham at Upton Park. Frank Lampard opened the scoring on 21 minutes when Oscar was clattered into by West Ham keeper Jussi Jaaskelainen earning the away team a penalty that was coolly converted by Lampard to give Chelsea the lead, Lampard loves scoring against his former club and did make a point of celebrating in front of the home fans. Oscar doubled Chelsea’s advantage on 34 minutes with a driving run through the Hammers defence before sliding the ball past the helpless Jaaskelainen. The visitors wrapped up the points in the second half after Hazards shot rebounded and fell to Lampard to fire the ball into the bottom corner for Chelsea’s third. A comfortable and deserved win for Chelsea.
Cardiff City (Campbell 33, Kim 90) 2 2 Manchester United (Rooney 15, Evra 45)
Cardiff are certainly making their home ground a fortress as they snatched a point from the champions. The champions took an early lead after some sloppy passing from Cardiff allowed Valencia to intercept the ball and find Rooney who delivered the finish. However before this Wayne Rooney showed what we all know about him, he committed violent conduct and should have been sent off, his escape proved costly for Cardiff with the opener. The main problem with United this season has been the defensive ability of some of their players and Cardiff exploited this with a through ball that parted the entire United defence which found Frazier Campbell to apply a typical strikers finish to make it one all. Just before half time United where able to grab the lead once again with a rare header from captain Patrice Evra, slotting in from a Wayne Rooney corner.
Cardiff showed great determination second half and where rewarded in the dying minutes of the match when Kim rose above the defence to header the ball into the bottom corner to give Cardiff a deserved point, with goal scorer Evra to blame for poor marking for this goal. Rooney should have won the game for United with the last kick of the game but instead tried to set up the returning Danny Welbeck and the ball was smothered by Cardiff goalkeeper David Marshall.
Stoke City (Adam 30, Nzonzi 81) 2 0 Sunderland
Sunderlands bad luck doesn’t seem to be leaving any time soon under new manager Gus Poyet even after a promising result against Manchester city last time out. Stoke took the leader after a Steven Nzonzi pull back was slotted into the bottom corner by Charlie Adam. Sunderlands misery was compounded after Wes Brown was dismissed for basically winning the ball, the FA will surely rescind Kevin Friends error and replays showed Brown made no contact with the Stoke player, this decision infuriated the usually cool and collected Poyet at full time. Stoke sealed the win with a beautiful ball from Crouch found the unmarked Nzonzi who easily slid the ball past Westwood to score the Potters only 12th goal of the season. A day not to remember to the black cats.
Manchester City (Navas 1 92, Sandro OG 34, Aguero 41 50, Negrado 55) 6 0 Tottenham Hotspurs
Whoever had Tottenham down as a title contender this season got a real reality check after this game, as Spurs where completely out classed by a Manchester City who have been in deadly home form this season. It took only 15 seconds for Hugo Lloris to miss kick a clearance straight to Aguero whose shot was saved by Lloris but fell to Navas who superbly bent his shot around the Spurs keeper. City doubled their lead as Aguero left Walker with a burst of pace and squared it to Negrado whose shot cannoned off Sandro’s legs and fell over the line. Aguero finally got his just reward after Kaboul missed Navas’s cross for a simple tap in.
Spurs turned into the creators of their own demise by not changing their defensive formation after the second goal. The high defensive line was always caught out throughout the game leading to a complete collapse of the defence in the second half.
Aguero’s second came after Yaya Toure charged through the Spurs defence before sliding the ball to the unmarked Aguero for another simple tap in. Cities fifth came on 55 minutes with a superb curling finish from Negrado from the outside of the box. City wrapped up the points in the final seconds of the match with a long ball to Navas who sliced his shot passed the out running Lloris.
Arsenal (Giroud 22, 86) 2 0 Southampton
Arsenal maintained their place at the top of the Premier League with a win against shock high flyers Southampton. The Saints have been rightly recognised as a team who do not concede many goals, largely down to the great form of their back four and keeper Artur Boruc. Which makes Arsenals first goal all the more bemusing as the in form keeper was caught out after attempting to round Oliver Giroud, this led to Giroud stealing the ball off the keeper and sliding it into a unguarded net, this is surely a moment he will want to forget as soon as possible. Southampton’s day went from bad to worse when Arsenal were awarded a penalty after Mertesacker was clumsily fouled in the box. Giroud slotted the ball away to give the Gunners all three points and perhaps prove Southampton aren’t quite this level just yet.
Newcastle (Remy 2, Gouffran 38) 2 1 Norwich City (Fer 80)
Norwich are looking precariously over their shoulder after another defeat, It took Loic Remy less than two minutes to continue his excellent start to the season after heading in from Yohan Cabaye’s corner after the Norwich defence just seemed to forget what defending is. Newcastle finalised the three points after Shola Ameobi’s header was spilled by John Ruddy leading to an easy tap in from Yoan Gouffran from less than five yards. Norwich finally found the net on 80 minutes with Leroy Fer powerfully heading in from a corner but it proved to be little more than a consolation goal for the Canaries who really are in for a struggle this season.
Hull City 0 1 Crystal Palace (Bannan 81)
New manager Tony Pullis can breathe a little easier when he takes charge of the relegation threatened side this week after Palace recorded their first away victory of the season against fellow promoted side Hull City and moved up to the lofty heights of 19th in the table. This was not before they were reduced to ten men after Bolasie was dismissed for stamping on a Hull player. That didn’t stop Cameron Jerome showing his Premier League skill rounding the Hull defence before sliding the ball to the awaiting Barry Bannan to give Palace the much needed three points, Hull could rue losing to a palace team that so far seem miles away from a premier league standard.
Fulham (Parker 64) 1 2 Swansea City (Hughes OG 56, Shelvey 80)
Both these sides have suffered disappointing starts to the season, however both their troubles seem to be at home, with Swansea looking much better when travelling away from the liberty, so it’s not too surprising to find that after a relatively uneventful first half a scrappy own goal courtesy of Aaron Hughes was what was needed to break the deadlock at Craven Cottage, the Fulham defender slotted into his own net 15 minutes into the second half. Fulham drew level with an unlikely goal from Scott Parker, the ex England international’s cross spiralled high above the box and landed in the top corner of the net. Sadly Fulham couldn’t hold on to a much needed point as Swansea’s sheer better class proved too much for the home side as Jonjo Shelvey rounded two players blasting a powerful shot past the Fulham keeper to guarantee Swansea all three points. Fulham are another team in need of a change and something new before their season becomes a fight to stay up.
Team of the Week
Mignolet
Zabaleta Mertesacker Terry Flanagan
Jesus Navas Lampard Barkley
Suarez Lukaku Aguero
Looprevil Press 