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In the aftermath of City’s Manchester derby win - where will the EPL title go?
Monday’s Manchester derby did not decide the winner of the league. The outcome of the match put the Citizens and the Red Devils on equal terms ahead of the next 180 minutes of football. The top two zone is tight; City and United both have 83 points. In terms of goal difference and head-to-head, the advantage is clearly Manchester City’s. However, those remarkable stats could come to nothing if Roberto Mancini loses control right at the end of the road.
“It's important we play a good game against Newcastle [on Sunday] because [Manchester United] play an easy game against Swansea. For now we are top of the league but United have a light advantage,” coach Mancini stated this week according to ESPN Soccernet.
Can the Blues climb to 5th place in the table at Newcastle’s expense on Wednesday?
That could all change on Wednesday. If recent results are anything to go by, then Newcastle are in for a shellacking. Chelsea ran amok against visitors QPR over the weekend beating their neighbors 6-1. What do Newcastle do as an encore after winning 6 straight games and keeping 5 clean sheets? Why, visit the JJB and get thrashed 4-0 by relegation threatened but suddenly in form Wigan of course.
Now was this a blip? Their current run of form surely suggests so. But anyone remember their visit to White Hart Lane earlier in the season? Tottenham thrashed them 5-0. It looks like if Newcastle decide they don’t want to show up, they really do not even get on the bus.
“Biggest Manchester derby” a potential EPL title decider – live on SuperSport
As recent as three weeks back, the door to the title seemed firmly shut in the face of City as United enjoyed an eight point lead at the summit of English football.
Recent results, however, including the dramatic 4-all draw against Everton have re-opened the door for City. The match is exclusively live on SuperSport and in High Definition.
Former United midfield hard men, Roy Keane will be in studio for the one-hour build up to the match which will be preceded by a season-so-far review of both clubs on Monday Night Football.
Manchester United vs Everton Preview
A win for Everton would reduce the deficit between Man Utd and Man City to 2 points with the derby looming large.Sunday is round 35 in the EPL and both Manchester teams are involved. Manchester United hosts Everton while Manchester City will meet Wolves at the Molineux.
The champions are on quite a run. Its what they do best at this crucial time of the season. A lot of people were surprised by their recent loss to Wigan but Wigan have always been an attack minded side always up for a game. It was no fluke win, as they took down Arsenal in their following game to boost their survival chances.
FA Cup semi-finalist Spurs, hopeful Chelsea and anxious Man City in EPL action
Chelsea to resume fourth-spot hunt after Spurs setback and boosting Benfica win
Chelsea were certainly not at their best in midweek but that victory against Benfica was vital – not only for their Champions League aspirations but for their confidence in the final moments of the 2011/12 campaign.
Chelsea, who are alive in the FA Cup, suffered a setback in the English Premier League last weekend. Their goalless draw at home to Tottenham Hotspur prevented them from pushing closer to their fourth-place dream finish.
“Fortunate” Manchester United finally in pole position ahead of Man City – EPL
Manchester United 1-0 Fulham – It took a lone goal by Rooney and a controversial penalty decision by referee Michael Oliver at Old Trafford to fire the Red Devils three points clear off rivals Manchester City at the top of the English Premier League table on Monday night. Michael Carrick’s late tackle on Danny Murphy in the box, which went unpunished, was too blatant for defender Johnny Evans to deny the fact that his team got very lucky. Sky Sports quoted the Northern Ireland defender as saying:
“Yeah, you have a quick look to the referee. He’s waved it away but having seen it back again I think he could’ve given a penalty for it. Yeah, I suppose so [the win was a lucky one].”
Three fierce EPL days – from Chelsea vs Spurs to Manchester United vs Fulham
It will all begin with a lunch time kick-off at Stamford Bridge. The Blues, having lost to Manchester City in midweek, failed to close the gap against fourth-placed Tottenham. Chelsea remain fifth in the standings with 49 points while London rivals Spurs have dropped to fourth with 54 points, 1 point behind new third place tenants Arsenal.
Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur will both be looking to get back to winning ways. The Blues had a really tough time at the Etihad Stadium and they lost out only just. Spurs, meanwhile, proved shaky again as Stoke City held them to a 1-1 draw.
Super EPL action with Man City-Chelsea, Everton-Arsenal & Spurs-Stoke on same day
Manchester City vs Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur vs Stoke City will kick off simultaneously. At the Etihad Stadium, the Citizens will try to make the most of the home factor to defeat the Blues. Earlier in the season, Chelsea taught a lesson to Roberto Mancini and his men.
A repeat of such an outcome would only be good news to title aspirants, Manchester United. Following their shocking defeat to Swansea City earlier in the month, let’s just say that Manchester City have no room for more mistakes. That would put them 4 points behind the Red Devils.
Wednesday night’s battle in Manchester will be like a final for both teams but Chelsea perhaps have the advantage. The Blues don’t only have more experience than City. They are also in great revival form following the sacking of Andre Villas-Boas a few weeks ago.
Arsenal vs Newcastle and the EPL’s enticing Champions League spot battle
Both Arsenal and Newcastle United are chasing European qualification. The Magpies would be satisfied with UEFA Europa League football but the Gunners wouldn’t settle for less than UEFA Champions League action. However, this doesn’t mean that the visitors are the Emirates tonight will seat back. At this point in the championship, every minute and every movement on the pitch counts. The race between the fourth-placed and the seventh-placed teams is so congested that third-placed Tottenham Hotspur are even feeling the heat.
EPL: Everton vs Spurs & Chelsea vs Stoke highlight Saturday’s Matchday 28 action
There’s an exception for Tottenham Hotspur, however. The London-based contenders suffered a 3-1 defeat in the hands of Manchester United last weekend. The outcome of this game virtually ended their contest for the English Premier League title so Harry Redknapp is forced to see the rest of the campaign in a different way.
Spurs are 9 points behind second-placed Man United and 13 points behind Manchester City with 11 Matchdays to go. Mathematically, nothing is lost. Realistically, though, Tottenham Hotspur better take off their eyes from the prestigious trophy.
Arsenal can’t replace Wenger – Tottenham Hotspur manager Harry Redknapp
However, Harry Redknapp doesn’t share this opinion. The Tottenham Hotspur manager, who could pile more misery his London rivals on Sunday, claims that Wenger and Arsenal are a match made in heaven.“Arsenal can't do any better than what they have got. They can't replace Wenger, can they?
“He's been amazing with the job he has done there. They have had 15 years of Champions League football and play amazing football.”
Arsenal are virtually out of the UEFA Champions League. On the domestic front, things don’t look very bright either. Recently, the Gunners crashed out of the FA Cup.
Manchester United vs Liverpool opens an exciting weekend of action in the EPL
Manchester United vs Liverpool
The Red Devils earned a point in controversial fashion last Sunday. Two crucial penalty decisions went in their favor as Chelsea dropped a 3-0 lead and thus two precious points at the Bridge.
Manchester United are now two points behind league leaders Manchester City. Ferguson’s men could temporarily claim the top spot but will Liverpool allow them to do so?
The Merseyside Reds have a pretty good record against Manchester United so they can confidently fancy their chances of winning. Liverpool should find pride, favor and hope in the following: their FA Cup triumph over Man United in January, Man City’s 6-1 humiliation of the Red Devils at Old Trafford and Blackburn Rovers’ 3-2 giant-killing at the same venue back in December.
The EPL’s top 6 teams & 10 big records they made in the first half of the season
1) Who scored the first goal of the season?
How else to start but by recalling this moment which happened at Anfield? On Matchday 1 of the 2011/12 English Premier League, Liverpool hosted Sunderland. The Merseyside Reds were given the chance to take a seventh-minute lead through the penalty spot. This opportunity, however, went missing as striker Luis Suarez wasted it.
The Uruguayan later redeemed himself with a twelfth-minute strike which became the first goal of the 2011/12 English Premier League season. This will remind some people that Luis Suarez also makes the headlines for good reasons…
Tottenham Hotspur in EPL title crusade: The pressure is on Manchester City!
The top three zone in the Premiership is not Tottenham Hotspur’s usual place – especially not during the second half of the campaign. The reality, this year, is that the London club can optimistically dream about lifting the prestigious trophy in May.Of course, Spurs need long-term consistency to achieve such a feat. In addition, they have to fight against the historical and financial power of England’s top teams. These include Arsenal, Liverpool, Chelsea, Manchester United and Manchester City. The competition between the English Premier League’s top six contenders is tight – both in terms of points and mental strength.
Manchester United’s title bid stutters as they are beaten 3-0 at Newcastle United
With City beating Liverpool 3-0 the previous day, the Red Devils traveled to Newcastle knowing only a win would be good enough to keep pace with the league leaders.The game had a frantic opening, with both teams struggling to get to grips with the windy conditions.
Manchester United had the first chance to take the lead when Dimitar Berbatov got on the end of an Antonio Valencia cross, but the Bulgarian striker’s header bounced back off the goalpost.
Newcastle began to gain the upper hand as the game wore on, with central midfielder Cheick Tiote exerting a lot of influence on the game. The Geordies took a deserved lead at the 33 minute mark when Shola Ameobi flicked on, and Demba Ba hooked the ball past Anders Lindegaard for his 15th Premier League goal of the season.
Manchester City regain upper hand in title race with 3-0 win over Liverpool
City bounced back quickly from their New Year’s Day defeat at the hands of Sunderland, while this result snapped a five game unbeaten streak for the Reds.Liverpool started without the suspended Luis Suarez, but had the first chance to score when winger Stewart Downing was denied by a Joe Hart save.
Hart’s exploits were not matched by Pepe Reina at the other end, and the Spanish goalkeeper gifted City a 10th minute lead when he allowed Sergio Aguero’s long distance shot to slip underneath his body.
City carried the play after Aguero’s strike, and almost doubled their lead when Edin Dzeko’s shot was deflected wide of the goalpost.
Late collapse costs Arsenal in 2-1 loss at Fulham
Laurent Koscielny headed the Gunners into a first half lead, before Steve Sidwell and Bobby Zamora netted during the last five minutes to hand Fulham a dramatic victory.If Arsene Wenger’s New Year’s resolution involved not blaming referees for defeats, then it did not last two days as the Gunners boss fumed over the dismissal of Johan Djourou during the second half.
Arsenal dominated possession from the outset, and created early chances that were not converted by Theo Walcott and Gervinho.
Gervinho was lively during the opening exchanges, and had a penalty appeal denied when he was brought down by former Gunner Philippe Senderos.
Wolverhampton Wanderers 1 Chelsea 2: Has Frank Lampard’s late winner kept Chelsea’s title dream alive?
Brazilian midfielder Ramires opened the scoring for Chelsea during the second half, before Stephen Ward equalized in the 84th minute. The Wolves fans thought their side had earned a battling point, but Lampard broke the hearts of the Molineux faithful when he volleyed home Ashley Cole’s cross.Wolves almost took a first minute lead, but David Jones cold not finish after pouncing on Jose Bosingwa’s errant back-pass.
The visitors settled into the game and began to dominate possession for long spells. Heavily criticized striker Fernando Torres looked sharp in the opening exchanges, and released Juan Mata with a slick through ball, only for Wayne Hennessey to rush out and smother the shot.
Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard makes goal-scoring return in 3-1 win over Newcastle United
Newcastle had taken a first half lead through a Daniel Agger own goal, but two goals by Welsh striker Craig Bellamy put the Reds in charge. Gerrard then sealed the win with a good finish that lifted the roof off Anfield.Liverpool dominated possession in the early stages without creating any clear cut chances, but the Magpes stunned Anfield by taking a 25th minute lead against the run of play.
Ryan Taylor’s probing cross was flicked on by Yohan Cabaye, and Danish defender Agger deflected the ball past Jose Reina and into his own net.
The goal brought an almost immediate response from Liverpool. Charlie Adam sent in a low cross that was only half cleared by Cheick Tiote. Bellamy seized upon the clearance, and beat Tim Krul with a low finish into the corner.
How will Chelsea manager Andre Villas-Boas revamp his squad during the January transfer window?
Speaking after the 1-1 Boxing Day draw with Fulham, Villas-Boas told BBC Sport that “with City and United continuing to get the points they are getting, it’ll be difficult. Maybe the Premier League is over for us at the moment.”It is a common belief of fans and pundits that one of the biggest tasks facing AVB is revamping an aging squad.
This January, Villas-Boas will have an opportunity to revamp the Chelsea dressing room, and if he truly believes that this season’s title bid is “over,” what better time to do it?
With half a season left, AVB would have time to bed in players who would fit his system and style of play if he was to make moves in January, rather than waiting for next summer.
As far as incoming transfer targets for Chelsea, players from AVB’s former club FC Porto are an obvious choice. Not only does Villas-Boas have a good relationship with many of them, but Porto’s elimination from the UEFA Champions League could mean they cash in on some of their big name stars.