Gameweek 8 results

Hey, well as you have probably guessed, I’m not the best predictor in the world (although I am glad that Steven Gerrard and Van Persie showed up)

Liverpool v Manchester United: 1-1

Liverpool welcomed back Steven Gerrard from injury, 7 months after his last start for the club. After a first half of little opportunities, it was Liverpool who started off the second half better. It was Steven Gerrard that gave Liverpool an advantage.  Rio Ferdinand just clipping Charlie Adam outside the box and the resulting free kick caught out De Gea in the United goal, although most of the blame had to go to Ryan Giggs, who moved out of the way.

Without Rooney or Nani for most of the game, Manchester United struggled in attack but got their goal  9 minutes from time; Welbeck flicking on Nani’s corner onto Hernandez, who couldn’t miss from 5 yards out. Liverpool had two good chances to regain the lead but it finished 1-1 and it was probably deserved by both.

Manchester City v Aston Villa: 4-1

It was a Blues cruise at Eastlands, with four different scorers getting on the score sheet. Mario Balotelli’s overhead kick started things off, before goals from Johnson, Kompany and Milner moved them top of the Barclays Premier League. They took advantage of the points that United dropped at Anfield earlier and are now two points clear of them. The result also was my worst prediction of the week (oh well it can only get better)

Norwich v Swansea: 3-1

Anthony Pilkington’s double kept Norwich in the top half of the table as they beat the Swans 3-1 at Carrow Road. It only took them only 49 seconds to score and was the quickest goal of the season so far. Russell Martin doubled their lead nine minutes later, before Danny Graham pulled a goal back (All of this in the opening 15 minutes). The only other goal came midway through the second-half, Swansea could not defend a corner and the ball eventually fell to Pilkington who scored again. Norwich move up to ninth and have picked up nine points out of their last four games.  

Summed up in 10 words (or less):

Chelsea v Everton: 3-1 – Sturridge scoring again, in easy win for Chelsea  

QPR v Blackburn: 1-1 – Points shared, but Blackburn still look shaky in defence  

Stoke v Fulham: 2-0 – Stoke proving that being in Europe are not affecting them

Wigan v Bolton: 1-3 – Bolton move off bottom with an easy win against Wigan

Newcastle v Tottenham: 2-2 – Late goal by Ameobi denies Tottenham moving up to 4^th

West Brom v Wolves: 2-0 - It’s the Baggies having the bragging rights in this one

Arsenal v Sunderland: 2-1 – RVP quick goal helps Arsenal move up to 10^th  

Simply the Best:

Player of the Weekend: Steven Gerrard (it had to be) – couldn’t have hoped for a quicker comeback and although it wasn’t his best free kick, it went in and that’s all that matters.

Game of the Weekend: Has to be the game at Anfield. It had it all drama, controversy, goals, comeback, oh and in case I forgot it was contested by the two biggest clubs in England

Goal of the Weekend: Mario Balotelli – very creative and well taken overhead kick.

Stat of the Weekend: 90% of Arsenals points have been earned at home.

So there we are another weekend of football over and the premier league table is starting to take shape. Next week is the big one, the Manchester derby. Could it be the title decider? or could it help out the teams close to them? I guess we will have to find out.

If there are any games that you want me to review next week, contact me somehow or leave a comment!

Also well done to Sebastian Vettel and Red bull, who retain the Formula 1 championship and construction championship. Vettel is now the youngest ever back-to-back winner in history and beats the former record (set by Fernando Alonso) by more than a year. I can see him winning plenty more and might be the one to break Schumacher record.