Premiership Round Up

The Premiership campaign resumed once again this weekend, greeted with welcome relief one would expect from most players, after another forgettable international break for the home nations. And it was business as usual for the top 4 clubs who all won, although at present Man Utd and Arsenal look to be steadily and ruthlessly setting up a two horse charge for the title. Arsenal have now won 11 on the spin in all competitions, while Utd have won 10 from their last 11, the Carling Cup blip against Coventry seems merely to have stoked the fires at Old Trafford. Man City kept pace with a hard fought 1-0 win over Birmingham with that man Elano again proving the match winner. City will be tested more sternly however when they meet Chelsea at Stamford Bridge next weekend. Liverpool remain just within striking distance as they narrowly and controversially turned a draw into a much needed win over rivals Everton at Goodison Park. With passion, panic and perspiration aplenty at Goodison, Everton were eventually reduced to 10 men. Tony Hibbert committing a professional foul on Steven Gerrard leading to a penalty, before Phil Neville stopped a goal-bound effort with his hand to give Liverpool the match winning spot-kick. The final score was 2-1, following Sami Hyypia’s opening own-goal disaster.

Everton fury as Reds steal points
Although still unbeaten in the league this season, early signs are that Liverpool may struggle to stand the rip-roaring pace set at the top of the table. The Reds got 3 points on Saturday but only just, and from a game they were expected to win, especially after the Everton dismissals. In fact things could have been very different had Everton been given a penalty for a blatant foul in stoppage time. Jamie Carragher wrenched Joleon Lescott down from behind, seen by all inside Goodison Park but with the referee Mark Clattenberg standing only 10 yards away, he waved play on. Clattenberg did not have a good game, failing to give a penalty for an earlier foul on Lescott as well as preparing a yellow card for Hibbert’s foul, before Gerrard had a persuasive word and the card changed to red. Crucial decisions were going Liverpool’s way, much to the animated fury of David Moyes on the touchline. Benitez though could yet have salvaged something for Everton with a momentous gamble which horrified the fans and commentators alike. Perhaps all those strawberry sweets were going to his head, as well as his ridiculous looking tongue, when he decided to hauled his captain off after 70 minutes. He later justified the sub, ‘We had a player with passion when we needed to pass and control the ball.’ Benitez was lucky it came off, Gerrard’s passion had recently seen him run the length of the field to earn a penalty and is surely a more accomplished passer of the ball than Mo Sissoko.

The Underrated Underdogs
Lastly, praise must go to 5th placed Portsmouth and 6th Blackburn. Relatively unnoticed, despite some spectacular results, uncluding 7 goals pundered against Reading, Pompey have been getting on with business collecting 5 straight wins in all competitions. Through a little injection of funds Harry Redknapp has constructed a strong, tough and energetic side at Fratton Park that are hard to beat. Summer imports have gelled quickly and their is an immese sense of strength and power throughout the side; from Sol Campbell and Sylvain Distin at the back, Sulley Muntari and Papa Diop in midfied and John Utaka and Bnejani in attack. In a word -awesome. They are a very hard working team, with pace and guile to compliment the evident brute force and are fully deserving of their high placing in the league table.

Blackburn are another club who have built from the foundations of being an uncompromising, tough team who fought hard, into a strong Premiership side. It is a reputaion the club was keen to get rid of and this season Rovers have showed they can play very attractive football indeed. Mark Hughes has proved in his short time at Blackburn that he has a nack for finding and attracting real quality strikers to the club. Benni McCarthy, and particularly Roque Santa Cruz, would walk into any team in the Premiership in my opinion and have already formed a good understanding. The midfield possesses a good deal of flair too, which is often overlooked as far as Blackburn are concerned and David Bentley's form has been excellent. Bentley was mentored at Arsenal by Dennis Bergkamp, who had high praise for the youngster. After a few glimpses of his ability, this season is proving to be the curtain raiser for a stage on which Bentley has long been set to shine. He has all the attributes required to be a fan favourite; a box of tricks, long range capabilities and excellent crossing. A regular England chance can't be too far away either.