Premier League Review - SAS ? Forget Sutton and Shearer

Saturday was an exciting day in the Premier League with lots of class, skill and spirit. There was a comeback win, a header from the edge of the box going in, a sublime chip , a fantastic penalty save among others. Here is a review of all the action.

CRYSTAL PALACE 0—- 2 ARSENAL

Well, there are tougher days to come for Arsenal. The Gunners’ next four games read - Chelsea (in the Capital One Cup), Liverpool , Borussia Dortmund (away in the Champions League) and Manchester United. So it was vital that they grabbed a victory at Selhurst Park to go into those fixtures as the team to be feared rather than the other way round. In this game, Arsenal were brilliant for the first fifteen minutes but Palace , under caretaker boss Keith Millen, snatched the initiative for the remaining of the first half. Just when the worry lines started to appear on Wenger’s face, Palace conceded a shoddy penalty.

Mikel Arteta made no mistake from the spot. However, the Spaniard got sent off leaving Arsenal with their backs against the wall for the remaining game. Palace were nearly level but Arsenal hung on thanks to goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny. And just when a Palace goal was imminent, Olivier Giroud scored to kill the game off. This is yet another goal for Giroud in London.

Man Of The Match - Wojciech Szczesny - It maybe easy to give others the credit for the goals but Arsenal’s goalkeeper was their saviour in times when they looked certain to concede an equaliser

ASTON VILLA 0—- 2 EVERTON

It was the battle of the big Belgian strikers and bald American Goalkeepers as Benteke and Guzan vs Lukaku and Howard decided the tie in Villa Park. I had written on my preview blog as to how Benteke and Lukaku were in a fight for the spot in the national team’s starting XI. Well, Benteke did little here to help his case as he saw his penalty saved by the American Tim Howard. Down the other end, Lukaku netted yet another goal worsening the day for Villa and Benteke. And then Martinez’s Everton largely dominated and cemented the victory when Leon Osman beat Brad Guzan at his near post. If it were a tag team match, Howard and Lukaku were the winners by far. Everton rose to an incredible third place in what has been more than a dream start for Martinez

Man Of The Match - Romelu Lukaku. He was instrumental to everything Everton did upfront and was rewarded with a goal (and a couple of other close attempts). Chelsea will be kicking themselves at having let him go on loan.

LIVERPOOL 4—- 1 WEST BROMWICH ALBION

Liverpool was at their rampant best and conjured up their best performance of the season on Saturday. Luis Suarez scored a hat trick, Sturridge scored what was probably the goal of the season as they put the in form Baggies to the sword . After a bright start, Liverpool took the lead when Suarez danced past and nutmegged defenders and scored. It was the mercurial Uruguayan who struck again when he headed an Aly Chisokho cross in from outside the box. He completed a hat trick when he lost his marker and headed in a Steven Gerrard cross. When Morrison slotted a contentious penalty for West Brom, there were slight doubts in Liverpool minds.

But Sturrdige stole Suarez’s headlines with a chipped goal (that would later be bettered in the day by Alexis Sanchez for Barcelona in the Classico) . A case of - Anything you can do, I can do better. Liverpool climbed into second spot with the win . It’s league leaders Arsenal up for them next.

Man Of The Match - Luis Suarez. The Uruguyan put up one of those magical performances which showed why Liverpool were so desperate to keep him from Arsenal’s clutches in the summer

MANCHESTER UNITED 3—- 2 STOKE CITY

A win isn’t getting as routine as David Moyes would have expected at Old Trafford. The United boss saw his team concede the lead two times. And when he threw in the kitchen sink and brought on Hernandez and Valencia for Smalling and Cleverley, United responded with two goals in two minutes. An instant late turnaround..typical Manchester United. It started very badly for United when former Liverpool man Peter Crouch bundled the ball into the net. United probed and probed and scored finally when Robin Van Persie tapped in the rebound from Rooney’s header. But Phil Jones conceded a silly free kick and Marko Arnautovic scored for Stoke to put them ahead at half time.

And as the time wore on, Moyes and United were getting desperate while Old Trafford was a hot ball of anger . There were jeers for Nani when he was substituted . And then it came. The two moments , like Fergie’s Man United. First Rooney thumped home a header from Van Persie’s corner…just like always, Wayne Rooney was Manchester United’s go-to man. Robin who? And then Javier ‘Chicharito’ Hernandez scored from close range to seal a victory of magnitude that cannot be explained by ‘a home victory against Stoke’

Man Of The Match - Wayne Rooney. The striker was the only one who seemed physically hurt by the fact that Stoke City could come to Old Trafford and possibly win. He tried, tried and tried while Van Persie (and a couple of other United players) were picking fights with Stoke players and getting riled up.

NORWICH CITY 0—- 0 CARDIFF CITY

In the preview blog, I had mentioned how both managers would settle for a point and how we should expect a drab , cagey game. That may not be how it turned out but it was a goalless draw nevertheless. In an entertaining first half , there were 16 attempts on goal and none of them rustled the net thanks to some desperate last ditch defending and some great goalkeeping from Cardiff’s David Marshall . Gary Hooper, Leory Fer and Nathon Redmond all went close for Norwich only for Cardiff’s big goalkeeper to deny them . And then Cardiff had a chance but John Ruddy kept out Mutch’s effort.

As expected, both managers seemed content with the point for a defeat would have been disastrous. The Norwich faithful weren’t pleased with Chris Hughton though. What are the odds on him being the next Premier League manager to go?

Man Of The Match - David Marshall. Cardiff’s goalkeeper was the standout performer and if they are to avoid relegation by a point , they will look back to this day and thank him .

SOUTHAMPTON 2—- 0 FULHAM

Did Mauricio Pochettino miss the memo that his side were supposed to be midtable at best? It would seem so as Southampton incredibly climbed to third place with yet another victory, this time over Martin Jol’s Fulham. The Saints , fresh from having gotten a point at Old Trafford , got all three here and the most gladdening part of it was how they seemed to have a big team mentality. They started the game with intent and Rickie Lambert scored in the twentieth minute.

But Southampton weren’t done yet. They kept going and just before half time, Captain Adam Lallana lifted a deft cross that Rickie Lambert headed across goal and Rodriguez tapped in. It was pretty stuff from the Saints. Fulham , having won their last two games, were pretty drab in this one and will look to improve on this performance. After all, they have Manchester United next!

Man Of The Match - Rickie Lambert. The England international was responsible for both the goals and sent out a strong message to striking rival , the injured Pablo Osvaldo.