Premier League Recap (May 7-9)

Everton 2-1 Man City

Man City needed a win to all but lock up the fourth position and a Champions League spot and they looked like they would get that win as Yaya Toure put them ahead in the first half. City had chances but couldn’t make them count and then Sylvan Distin leveled the match with a low header. City always has trouble with Everton and that streak continued when Leon Osman scored with his head to win it for the home team.

Aston Villa 1-1 Wigan

Charles N’Zogbia scored for Wigan then an Ashley Young free kick for Villa got each team a point.

Bolton 1-2 Sunderland

Sunderland got a rare win away from home as these two struggling sides battle for mid-table mediocrity. Bolo Zenden got the opener for Sunderland as they looked the better side until Ivan Klasnic scored a late goal to tie it for Bolton. Then as Bolton were going for the win, Sunderland came back and got a goal when Sulley Muntari played it in and Zat Knight put it in his own net.

Newcastle 2-1 Birmingham

Another mid table battle in Newcastle as the home team got the three points. Liam Ridgewell was sent off for a goal line hand ball that was given as a penalty. Shola Ameobi converted it and then the lead was doubled when Steven Taylor scored from a corner. Lee Bowyer came right back and got one for Birmingham before halftime but that would be the final goal of the match as Newcastle hung on.

West Ham 1-1 Blackburn

This was a relegation battle of the highest order and wouldn’t you know it, it ended as a draw. Jason Roberts first for Blackburn then a Thomas Hitzelsperger low rocket saved the day for Russell Brand and Kanye West’s girlfriends’ club.

Tottenham 1-1 Blackpool

Each of these teams needed a win but for much different reasons. Tottenham to stay in the Champions League race and Blackpool just to stay in the league. A draw is all we would get as Charlie Adam converted a penalty just a minute after he had missed one. Then Jermaine Defoe would strike to earn a point for the home side.

Stoke 3-1 Arsenal

If I were an Arsenal fan, I would be disgusted at my team’s collapse down the stretch. But I am not an Arsenal fan so I am simply amused by the fact that they can’t put two games together. They beat United at home last week then go on the road and lose to mid-table Stoke. I know Stoke has the F.A. Cup Final next week but Arsenal has to be better than this. Stoke went up 2-0 before halftime after goals from Kenwyne Jones (which he just chested in off of a corner) and Jermaine Pennant (a deflected shot from just outside the box). Arsenal looked woeful until Robin van Persie and Marouane Chamakh were paired together in the second half. RVP eventually got the Gunners close with a well taken goal but Stoke would come right back and finish it with a Jon Walters poke home after Arsenal couldn’t get the ball out of their penalty area. Arsene Wenger has a lot of questions to answer.  

Wolves 3-1 West Brom

Wolves have been terrible lately so any kind of win would boost their confidence this late in the season. Steven Fletcher slammed home a ball that was bounced around after a corner then Fletcher was provider as he headed a ball across the goal for Guedioura put home.  Fletcher then sewed up his man of the match performance with another goal after he took advantage of sloppy play at the back from West Brom. Wolves gave up a penalty in the second half but that was it, three points for Wolves.

Manchester United 2-1 Chelsea

It was the game to decide everything. If Chelsea won then they would tie Manchester United on points and go ahead of them on goal differential and if United won then they would essentially lock up the title. Spoiler alert, United won. The match started beautifully for them when after just 36 seconds, Chicharito scored after the ever reliable Ji Sung Park played him in. Sir Alex Ferguson got the most out of his team on this day and they continued to dominate the first half and got a second when Ryan Giggs crossed for Nemanja Vidic to head home. Chelsea was better in the second half and Torres was brought on to hopefully give them some scoring punch. The away side got one back through Frank Lampard but it was a red day as the commentator noted. The match ended 2-1 just as this fixture did last year except this time it was United winning.

Fulham 2-5 Liverpool

Liverpool started out with a bang just as Manchester United did when Maxi Rodriguez scored in the first minute of the game. It got better for the reds as they would make it 3-0 before halftime with another Maxi goal and a soft goal from Dirk Kuyt. Fulham started to make a game out of it in the second half and they became the 20^th team to score in the Prem this weekend when Dembele made it 3-1. Maxi would then round out his hat trick with probably the goal of the weekend. Like I said before, Fulham made a game of it but the three points was always going to be Liverpool’s.

With just two games left for everybody the table is starting to look complete. Manchester United will win the title with just a point out of their last two games which are away at Blackburn and Bolton. There was a very cool moment at the end of their game when the final whistle blew and Sir Alex was jumping up and down with the pure joy that only winning can bring. It was as if right then and there he realized he had finally knocked Liverpool off their effing perch.