Christmas EPL roundup
by Paul O'Donnell
Notice that we are one match short of the half way point of the season. When the holiday blitz is over we will be several matches into the 2nd half which is what makes this time of year so pivotal. With time running out on Liverpool (actually any realistic possibility of a title challenge is already gone) can they recover and actually defeat a quality opponent on their own home ground? The Reds have played host to the other three members of the big four at Anfield and failed to win any of those games (they took only 2 points from the three games). Will the Toffees run of unbeaten matches continue as they visit Old Trafford? Don't be a bit surprised if the outcome of this one is determined by some intervention by the match officials.
Can Spurs mount a reasonable challenge to the Gunners at the Emirates? Well, they can, but it is not likely this time. Will Villa rebound from their dip in form for the home fans? Speaking of home fans Fulham desperately needs to produce a good effort for their fans and a victory is required against Wigan. That will have to happen under an interim manager as Sanchez was sacked on Friday. Can Mark Hughes right the ship at Ewood Park against the Blues of Chelsea?
Arsenal 2:1 Tottenham
There wasn't much in the opening half but the 2nd 45 was terrific stuff. Not often do you see a back heel pass actually work; in this match there were two of them perfectly executed and both produced goals. The first was from Fabregas putting Adebayor in alone and he slipped the ball under Robinson in the 48th minute. The 2nd came from Keane setting up Berbatov from a difficult angle and he toe poked it over Alumnia to level the score in the 66th. Keane then had an opportunity to put Spurs on top in the 71st when a penalty was awarded but his low shot was well saved by Alumnia. Arsenal earned a corner and Wenger made a wonderful choice for a substitute sending out Bendtner who stepped on to head home the match winner for the Gunners with his first touch from the Fabregas perfectly placed corner. It certainly didn't hurt that Bendtner's marker (Huddlestone) was knocked to the ground leaving the young man unchallenged. The win holds top spot for Arsenal and extends their mastery over their north London rivals to over 8 years (Tottenham have not defeated Arsenal in over 40 years when they have been the away side).
Aston Villa 1:1 Man City
Bianchi scored for the 3rd match in a row (10) with his nice sliding touch putting the finishing touch to a perfect cross from Martin Petrov before Carew got the leveler just 3 minutes later with a powerful run and well placed shot. Carew had a strong game for the Villains and came close to winning it but his blast was directed away and off the far post on a nice diving save from Joe Hart.
Fulham 1:1 Wigan
In a true relegation six pointer as you'd expect the match was very competitive but neither side could produce much in the way of quality chances. Fulham had the best of them early on but the final touch eluded them. Marcus Bent got free on a corner when the entire Fulham defense tried to win the ball in the air, the ball fell into his path and he made no mistake on the finish for the opening goal in the 70th minute. Dempsey leveled for Fulham after the ball was headed wide then driven across the area onto his run and his strike off the outside of his right boot found the corner (77). That strike was the Cottager's first goal in over 370 minutes.
M'Boro 1:2 West Ham
Boro went up via Wheater (39) before Ashton (43) leveled the score and Scott Parker got the match winner late (89) for the Hammers.
Liverpool 4:1 Portsmouth
In a dominant performance the Reds thrashed Pompey at Anfield with the opener a classy finish from Benayoun (12). The intense pressure from Liverpool resulted in a Distin OG just three minutes later. Benjani pulled one back for Pompey (56) before Torres brace (66 & 84) sealed the deal. The first came from a rebound of a Babel shot and the second was setup by Gerrard nodding the ball back to the center of the area for Torres to send it low to the corner at the far post.
Bolton 3:0 Birmingham
City gifted Bolton all three goals with Diouf (71) gathering the ball after a whiff attempt by a defender and Anelka's first came from a throw back to the keeper that ran out of legs allowing him to sneak in and steal a goal (77). Anelka's 2nd came when he was sent in alone on the break as City were sending all hands up the pitch looking for a goal of their own.
Reading 2:1 Sunderland
Neil saw a good one! He told me he was planning to attend this game and he brought the Royals some good cheer and fortune too with Hunt's winner coming at the death (90). The officials ruled the Sunderland keeper had not stopped the ball from crossing the line giving Reading the winning goal in stoppage time. Ingimarsson put Reading on top in the 68th and Chopra cashed in a penalty in the 80th before Hunt's disputed winner. This is now two straight games where Roy Keane's Black Cats felt hard done by the match officials. They were denied a goal last match and now this one called a goal after a conference on the sideline.
Man United 2:1 Everton
United ended Everton's unbeaten run at 13 and as I suspected might happen the match was decided by the whistle. A daft challenge on Giggs by Pinnear, who has been among the best of the Toffees on their run, resulted in Ronaldo's successful penalty (87) for the winner. Ronaldo opened the scoring with a left footed blast that rooted Howard in the 21st minute and Tim Cahill leveled matters with his headed goal in the 26th.
Newcastle 2:2 Derby
Giles Barnes shocked St James' Park with the opener early (6) and Viduka provided the response to settle the nerves in the 26th before Kenny Miller's strike in the 52nd put Derby on top again. Again Viduka lifted the Toon army with his strike in the 87th to save the day.
Blackburn 0:1 Chelsea
This one was hard to watch for a Rovers fan; they were horrid for much of the day. The Blues weren't much better except for the wonderful pass for Joe Cole to run onto and his blast from in close over Friedel (22).
Serie A
I've been remiss in not keeping up with the Italian league; sorry. Inter are off to a truly terrific season and remain unbeaten at this stage holding a 7 point lead over Roma. This weekend's action has the headliner match with Inter facing crosstown rival, and newly crowned Club World Cup holder AC Milan in the 267th edition of the Milan Derby. AC Milan despite their CWC success are languishing in 11th place in the league 22pts behind pacesetter Inter. With their situation in the league this one becomes one of those must win games for AC Milan and could make the match a bell ringer.
Inter 2:1 AC Milan
Inter won the war of Milan with a nice come from behind victory. Pirlo put Milan up (18) before his was answered by Cruz (36) and then Cambiasso (63) for the match winner. Inter's run of excellence continues into the break.
