Premier League Recap (April 23-25)
Manchester United 1-0 Everton
If I told you before the game that this would be a decent game where both teams created chances but United looked like the more likely to score and they eventually would late in the game, would you be all that surprised? Well, if you would have said yes then I don’t know what team you have watched this year. Tim Howard was in top form but it was Chicharito who would beat him with a header with just over 5 minutes to play. Manchester United does it again.
Wolves 1-1 Fulham
Fletcher (Wolves) in the 21st and Johnson (Fulham) in the 80th is all you need to know here.
Tottenham 2-2 West Brom
One of my new favorite players, Peter Odemwingie, scored the matches first goal for West Brom with a curling left footed strike. The left foot was again in play for a forward when Roman Pavlyuchenko tied it with his left peg, 1-1 at halftime. The game continued to be open and lively and Spurs took the lead through Jermaine Defoe, with you guessed it, his left foot. Finally a goal was scored with a right foot, and what a goal it was. Simon Cox came on for West Brom and scored his first Premier League goal on a brilliant shot that curled into the top corner. A point for each side.
Aston Villa 1-1 Stoke City
Fresh off of their dream performance at Wembley last week, Stoke could only get a point at Villa Park. The strikers for each club, Kenwyne Jones then Darren Bent, each headed one home to earn their respective teams a point.
Blackpool 1-1 Newcastle
Blackpool could have really used a win at home but a draw will have to do for Holloway’s men. Joey Barton scored first for Newcastle but it was DJ Campbell who continued his good run of form with the equalizer. Blackpool came at Newcastle in waves but simply couldn’t find a winner.
Sunderland 4-2 Wigan
It was a must win for Sunderland if they didn’t want to get dragged into the drop zone. While the match was 0-0 at the half, we would have no shortage of goals in the second half. Diame rifled home the opener for Wigan in the 52nd minute but Asamoah Gyan, who has struggled recently, got Sunderland back on track. Gyan then went out with a hamstring injury but Sulley Muntari and Jordan Henderson hooked up to give Sundrland the lead. The lead would be stretched when Stephen Sessegnon converted the weak penalty he drew and then Henderson got himself a second. Former Chelsea boy, Franco di Santo got a consolation goal but it was a massive three points for the home side.
Liverpool 5-0 Birmingham
This was the largest margin for Liverpool in awhile and certainly the biggest since Kenny Dalglish took over. Maxi Rodriguez had his best game in red, netting a hat trick while Dirk Kuyt scored again and oddly enough, Joe Cole got a goal when his shot was spilled in by Birmingham’s backup keeper, Doyle. Anfield is beginning to see the start of a pretty good team.
Chelsea 3-0 West Ham
Chelsea is making a late charge towards United with another three points but the big story from this game is the Fernando Torres finally scored for his new club. His goal was the second of the day, but it was Frank Lampard who struck first to give the Blues a halftime lead. West Ham started to create chances but Chelsea got the Torres goal and eventually it was Florent Malouda who would make it three goals and three points.
Bolton 2-1 Arsenal
Wow, this Arsenal team just finds new ways to screw up every week it seems. Danny Sturridge got the opener for Bolton but Arsenal responded well to their credit. Arsenal, once again, had plenty of opportunities but they could not get a goal. Bolton got a weak penalty but Kevin Davies penalty kick was even weaker. Robin van Persie then scored after some nice link up play with Samir Nasri to tie at 1 all. It stayed at 1-1 until, inevitably, Arsenal gave up a soft goal from a corner that Tamir Cohen headed home. Arsene Wenger goes home a defeated man.
Blackburn 0-1 Manchester City
City needed a win if they were going to take full advantage of Tottenham dropping points against West Brom, and a win is what they got. 0-0 at the break, it was Edin Dzeko who came on for Adam Johnson and it paid immediate dividends with a goal in the 74th minute. This is Dzeko’s best moment for City so far and an even bigger one for City.
So Chelsea is clearly in second and Arsenal continues to free fall. Chelsea will be rooting hard for their crosstown rivals against United, however, this upcoming weekend. Liverpool is looking great and Man City may bore us all to fourth place. There are two midweek games
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