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Not for the first time this season, Chelsea recorded a thumping win over their rivals in a match away from Stamford Bridge. The Potters were on an unbeaten run at home since February. All it took was two Jon Walters own goals, a coolly dispatched Frank Lampard penalty and an Eden Hazard wonder-strike to hand Stoke their heaviest home defeat in the League since gaining promotion in 2008. Since Benitez took over the reins at the Bridge, the Blues have won only one league match at home while they have won all but one match away. It represents a particularly worrying fact for Rafa, whom the Chelsea faithful have made it abundantly clear that he is not welcome at the Bridge. He was roundly booed by his own set of fans in his very first game in charge as also in their last outing against the Swans. By his own admission, Benitez feels that Chelsea do find it easier to play away when the pressure is less. But it must be kept in mind that most successful league campaigns are built on the fortification of their home stadium. Abramovich trusts Rafa. Perhaps it is time for Chelsea fans to get their act together.
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Eight minutes left on the clock and two goals in front against a club placed at the bottom of the league, Steve Clarke could be forgiven for thinking that he had three points in the bag. Come the final whistle, the match had turned on its head and it was Brian McDermott’s men who were celebrating their third and most improbable win of the season. In producing a turnaround so reminiscent of Manchester United during this season, it was no wonder really that at the end of the match, the Reading fans were in full voice, singing “We are Manchester United in disguise”. Two quickfire goals from Jimmy Kébé and Pavel Pogrebnyak with an Adam Le Fondre penalty sandwiched in between, gave the Royals three priceless points and helped them leapfrog QPR to the 19th position in the league table.
Manchester City had not defeated the Gunners in the league in their own backyard since the mid-1970’s. Laurent Koscielny’s red card in the eighth minute provided City with the opening they needed. From there on, they dominated the exchanges and though Arsenal, led by a gritty Jack Wilshere in the middle of the park, admirably refused to be overrun, victory always looked like a formality for City. Koscielny’s red card was of his own making, making a rugby-like grapple on Edin Dzeko in the box. Courtesy of a crisp James Milner strike and a Dzeko tap-in, Man City had the match in their pockets as early as in the 32nd minute with a sizeable lead they never looked like relinquishing. The match finished with both sides having 10 men on the pitch after Kompany was sent off for a studs-up tackle on Wilshere. With this victory, City keep United within their sights whereas Arsenal’s top-four push receives another body blow. Maybe it is time for Wenger to take a look into the winter transfer window.
Shirt no. 20 is leading the march for Title No. 20 for the Red Devils. In a match of two contrasting halves, Liverpool failed to turn up for the first half, thereby handing United the early initiative. Van Persie has been in sublime form and yet again he was at the end of a wonderful move as he sidefooted an Evra cross into the back of the net. It took the introduction of Daniel Sturridge and a tactical switch from Brendan Rodgers to enable Liverpool to make a match of it. By the time the match ended, Liverpool was very much in the ascendancy with Suarez and Sturridge showing signs of forging a brilliant partnership in the final third. But yet again, it was too little too late for the Reds as they succumbed to a hard fought 2-1 loss. Having completed the league double over their illustrious neighbours, it will be the Mancunians who will hold the bragging rights over the Scousers.
After 22 rounds of the Premier League, Spurs under Andre Vilas-Boas are well on course for a top-four finish. However, one must keep in mind the way the Lilywhites imploded last season from an even better position. With Emmanuel Adebayor leaving for AFCON, the drab draw versus QPR this weekend will be a timely reminder for AVB and Daniel Levy to take a dip into the transfer window to look for some firepower at the head of the field to unlock deep dogged defences. Aston Villa are closer to the other end of the table as they have slowly been sucked into the desperate relegation dogfight. 8 goals conceded in their last three home league games with none in return presents a very damning stat for Paul Lambert’s side. Randy Lerner, the billionaire owner of the club, needs to foot the bill for an experienced centre-back and a midfielder in order to ensure Premier League safety this season. Else, with QPR and Reading picking up favourable results, it could be curtains for the Villains sooner than they expected.
