Here’s what happened in the English Premiership over the weekend, in case you missed it…
Arsenal earning results despite cracks
Gerry Dobson and Craig Forrest break down Saturday’s action in the Premiership, including Arsenal’s laboured win over Fulham.
Nolan nets a beauty
Kevin Nolan’s goal for West Ham United was Saturday’s play of the day on Soccer Central Matchday.
Suarez takes a bite out of Ivanovic
Here’s the incident that everyone is talking about.
Liverpool 2, Chelsea 2
Luis Suarez’s act of depravity in biting Branislav Ivanovic is the latest mis-step by the Uruguayan striker in a Liverpool uniform, and it could cost him and the club dearly. Even when you take his past transgressions out of the equation and look at this on an isolated nasis, realistically, the English FA has to come down hard on Suarez and give him a lengthy ban. He should be done for the rest of the season, and at least for the first five matches of the 2013-14 campaign. What Suarez did – actually turning his head, grabbing Ivanovic to pull him closer to before sinking his teeth into the Serb’s arm – was the most disgusting act this correspondent has witnessed in a very long time. The English FA has to throw the book at Suarez.
Match facts: Liverpool has won four and lost none of its last six Premier League meetings versus Chelsea. Also, Fernando Torres has gone 997 minutes without a goal in the league.
Tottenham 3, Manchester City 1
This was a massive win for a Tottenham side that had sputtered somewhat in recent weeks. The victory kept fifth-place Spurs within two points of Arsenal, with a game in hand. Full credit in this one goes to manager Andre Villas-Boas, who replaced an ineffective Emmanuel Adebayor with Jermain Defoe in the 71st minute while down 1-0 to the defending champions. Defoe made an instant impact, breathing new life into a stagnant Spurs attack that exploded for three goals within a seven-minute span, including the winner from Defoe. Spurs’ amazing comeback also means that Manchester United can clinch the title (with four games to spare) if they beat relegation-threatened Aston Villa on Monday evening.
Match facts: There have been 18 goals scored in the last four Premier League games between Tottenham and Manchester City. Also, Manchester City kept a clean sheet in their previous four Premier League trips to London before Sunday.
Queens Park Rangers 0, Stoke City 2
Speaking of huge wins, that’s exactly what this was at Loftus Road for the Potters, who climbed six points above the relegation zone and 18th place Wigan Athletic with four games to play – although the Latics have a game in hand. Winless in their previous seven contests, Stoke weathered an early storm against the Hoops and then took advantage of one of the worst defences in the league to take the lead through Peter Crouch just before halftime. It was far too easy for Crouch, who poked home from in close after being unchecked inside the box, and QPR never recovered. Stoke still has some work to do, with games against Tottenham, and resurgent Sunderland and Southampton sides looming. A win next week at home against Norwich City would ease the pressure going into those challenging fixtures.
Match facts: Harry Redknapp has won just four of his 21 Premier League games in charge of Queens Park Rangers. Also, Stoke City has earned fewer points (eight) in 2013 than any other Premier League club.
Fulham 0, Arsenal 1
Two horrible and ugly tackles in this one led to the referee brandishing a pair of red cards: one for Steve Sidwell of Fulham, the other to Arsenal’s Olivier Giroud. Sidwell’s lunging challenge on Mikel Arteta in the 12th minute gave the Gunners an early numerical advantage, but it was the Cottagers who looked the more dangerous side going forward. Indeed, the lone goal came just before halftime and totally against the run of play, with Per Mertesacker heading home from only a yard off the goal-line. This was hardly vintage Arsenal as they laboured to the win, but maybe that’s an encouraging sign – that they’re finally learning it doesn’t always have to be so pretty.
Match facts: There have been four red cards issues in the last three Premier League meetings between these two sides at Craven Cottage. Also, Fulham’s Mark Schwarzer is the ninth player, and only the second goalkeeper after David James, to make 500 Premier League appearances.
Norwich City 2, Reading 1
While Reading took one more inevitable step towards taking the drop, Norwich distanced itself somewhat from the relegation battle with a big victory at Carrow Road. The Canaries’ second win in 17 matches saw them move seven points clear of the drop zone, and it came after being outplayed for much of the first half by their hapless opponents. But three minutes of madness early in the second half saw Ryan Bennett and Elliott Bennett score on Alex McCarthy, who had been brilliant up to that point in the Royals’ net, to propel them to what could be a decisive win in keeping Norwich up.
Match facts: Reading didn’t make a substitution on Saturday, only the third team not to do so in the Premier League this season. Also, Reading has conceded a goal in all 17 of their Premier League away games this season.
West Bromwich Albion 1, Newcastle United 1
Romelu Lukaku gets a lot of attention for his goal-scoring exploits (he’s West Brom’s tops scorer this season with 13 goals). But it was his great support play that was on display in this game. Check out video for his fine work on the tying goal, as Lukaku used his strength to hold up the ball while having a Newcastle played draped all over him inside the box before laying off a delicate pass for Bill Jones to drive home.
Match facts: Newcastle has kept just one clean sheet in their last 18 Premier League away games. Also, West Brom has just two wins 14 Premier League meetings versus Newcastle United (with four draws and eight losses).
Sunderland 1 Everton 0
Yes, Sunderland has received a boost from Paolo Di Canio, winning away to bitter rivals Newcastle and at home to a good Everton side. And yes, they’re now six points above the drop zone. But Di Canio shouldn’t be judged on short term results; rather on whether or not he keeps the Black Cats up. That’s why it’s far too early to label him a saviour. If he can navigate Sunderland through tricky upcoming games against Aston Villa, Stoke, Southampton and Spurs and keep Sunderland in the top-flight, then fair play to him. But until then, any talk of him being a managerial genius or master motivator is premature.
Match facts: Sunderland was winless in its previous 16 Premier League meetings against Everton before Saturday (12 losses and four draws). Also, in the last four Premier League meetings between these two sides, all three of Sunderland’s goals have come in the first half and all seven of Everton’s have come in the second half.
West Ham United 2, Wigan Athletic 0
This was a costly loss for Wigan, as they sat 18th in the table by the end of the weekend, teetering ever so close to relegation. You can’t help but think it might have been different had they been more clinical in front of goal in key moments in the game. Shaun Maloney really should have given the Latics the lead in the 10th minute, only to come up shot on a breakaway chance. And then Emmerson Boyce had a chance to level the score in the second half, but instead of burying his shot he fired straight at West Ham goalkeeper Jussi Jaaskelainen. Minutes later Kevin Nolan scored for West Ham to put the game away.
Match facts: West Ham has won four consecutive home games against Wigan Athletic in the Premier League. Also, West Ham has scored in all but one of their 17 Premier League home games this season (0-0 versus Manchester City).
Swansea City 0, Southampton 0
Not much to say about this one, other than the Swans continue to stumble along ever since winning the League Cup. Since their win over fourth-tier Bradford in February, the Welsh side has won just once in six games.
Match facts: Swansea has earned just one point and scored just one goal in their last three matches at home. Also, Southampton hasn’t won away at Swansea since January 1962.