Let’s get caught up.
Things are starting to take shape in the Premier League. We are now thru 8 matches and the proverbial “Cream” is starting to rise to the top. The teams in trouble are starting to panic a bit and the teams at the bottom are now realizing they have to fight to stay in the Premier League.
Match Week 8 Recap
This week was all about 1 v 2. Liverpool vs. Manchester City. The two teams predicted to finish first in the table clashing on the pitch. Most expected a high scoring game with two of the leagues best offenses on display. So as usually happens when you think about a high-flying offensive battle, , the game finishes in a 0-0 draw. Wow….did not see that one coming. But it makes for an interesting table and a perfect result for Chelsea.
It was an interesting game off “almost. Shots almost going in, PK’s almost called, star players almost making some incredible plays, but int he end, the GK’s came up big when needed and kept it a draw. Toward the end of the game, Manchester City earned a PK in the 85th minute. It was a shame as I was watching the game. A bummer that Liverpool would lose this late on a PK after battling so hard the entire game. Riyad Mahrez stepped to the line to earn the 3 points for Manchester City….but you already know…the game ended in a draw. Check out the highlights below and keep watching to the end. Not likely Mahrez will get another opportunity to kick a PK for a while after this attempt.
In other games the winners were:
Brighton 1-0 over West Ham
Wolverhampton 1-0 over Crystal Palace. The Wolves are the new darlings of the Premier League after being promoted and now threatening the Top 6.
Bournemouth 4-0 over Watford
Everton 2-1 over Leicester
Tottenham 1-0 over Cardiff City
Manchester United 3-2 over Newcastle United.
Arsenal 5-0 over Fulham. Watch out for Arsenal, they are playing some of the best soccer in the league right now…very dangerous.
Chelsea 3-0 over Southampton. Eden Hazard is the Best player in the Premier League right now. He is on quite a roll.
Race for the Title and Champions League Top 4
Win-Tie-Loss
1. Manchester City 6-2-0 20 Points
2. Chelsea 6-2-0 20 Points
3. Liverpool 6-2-0 20 Points
4. Arsenal 6-0-2 18 Points
5. Tottenham 6-0-2 18 Points
6. Bournemouth 5-1-2 16 Points
Wolves, Manchester United, Watford and Leicester round out the Top 10.
Relegation Zone
5 Teams are currently fighting to stay up. Southampton and Fulham with 5 points are in the danger zone.
18. Huddersfield 0-3-5 3 Points
19. Newcastle United 0-2-6 2 Points
20. Cardiff City 0-2-6 2 Points
Match Week 9 Preview
Game of the Week.
Manchester United vs. Chelsea. Chelsea fans would love to put a dagger in Marinho’s team and be the reason he gets fired. It will be interesting on the pitch and on the sidelines. How will the fans embrace their former coach who left them in shambles a few years back. A Man U wins gets them back on track…a Chelsea wins establishes their hopes to be in the title hunt all season. It should be a good one!
In Case You Missed It
An interesting game between bottom of the table Newcastle United and Manchester City. Many of the experts are predicting Jose Marinho will be fired soon after the slowest start to a Manchester United season in many many years. There is trouble with their star player Paul Pogba, and the fans are restless. So they start their game against Newcastle down 2-0 early and very easily could have been 3-0 if not for an amazing save and a non-call on a pretty obvious hand ball in the box. Then, summoning seasons past, Man U comes back for an epic victory 3-2. Amazing really. Will it save Marinho’s job. Did he earn a few more weeks to figure things out. It is an evolving soap opera. Most are surprised he did not get fired last week, but he is a cat with 9 lives, so he continues on, hoping the team can use the rally as a springboard to a strong few weeks of play.