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Two big clashes on Sunday at the Emirates and Old Trafford just re-affirmed something we were already predicting. It can nearly be said with utmost confidence that it’s going to be a two horse race with Chelsea trying to make a case for a third participant. Football is a weird game and you can never count out Rafa’s boys.
The game of the week however came at the Madejski. Trailing by two goals, thanks to a brace from Romelo Lukaku, Reading mounted an unbelievable comeback which was concluded by a final minute goal by Pavel Pogrebnyak.
Here is how this week’s team looks like:
Mark Schwarzer returned from a neck-injury to produce a fine performance between the sticks for the cottagers. He was there whenever called into action and produced a blinder of a save off a long ranger from Shawn Maloney. Had no chance for the goal.
Honourable mentions: Julio Cesar (QPR), Simon Mignolet (Sunderland).
Ashley Williams has grown to be one of the most dominating centre-backs in recent years. Williams put forth a clinical defensive performance at Goodison Park as Swansea came away with a vital away point at Everton which has become a fortress in recent times for David Moyes’ men. Joining him at the centre of the park is Fabricio Coloccini. The Argentine has had personal issues surrounding his future at Newcastle. His performance however seemed to be undeterred by his recent problems off the field as he led Newcastle to their first away point after seven consecutive defeats away from St. James’s.
The two full-back positions are held by players from the two teams of Manchester. While Pablo Zabaleta‘s assured play on the right helped to get City their first away win to Arsenal in 37 years, Patrice Evra proved to be the thorn in Liverpool‘s foot once again as he negated the threat of Downing throughout the match and popped up an important assist for United’s second goal.
Honourable mentions: Chico Flores (Swansea), Titus Bramble (Sunderland).
James Milner makes his first appearance in the list as the English winger stepped up to the plate to help Manchester City score their first goal at the Emirates and later set the second up on a plate for Edin Dzeko to slot home.
Frank Lampard and Eden Hazard make it a double for Chelsea as they romped to a 4-0 victory with a little help from Jonathan Walters at the Britannia, which precipitated into Stoke’s second straight loss at home. Hazard was ever-present in the attacking third for Chelsea as he made clever runs off the ball and got his name on the score sheet with a screamer. Lampard seems to get better as his contract comes to an end at Stamford bridge. The English midfielder was again pulling the strings from the midfield and also increased his tally of goals to 194.
The rest of the midfield is made up by the gritty duo of Aston Villa’s Fabian Delph and Manchester United‘s Michael Carrick. Delph worked his socks off in the midfield for Villa. The Englishman has been immense in Villa’s last two games and if the others in the claret and blue had put their foot forward in the fashion that Delph did, Villa would have come out of the game against Southampton with at least a point. Carrick on the other hand, put in another midfield masterclass as he kept the United ticking and provided ample cover to an oft leaky defence.
Honourable mentions: Shaun Derry (QPR), James Morrison (West Brom), David Silva (Manchester City), Giorgos Karagounis (Fulham)
Romelo Lukaku is showing why Chelsea had spent so many millions on the young Belgian. His huge frame coupled with strong running off the ball and composure while on it, has baggies licking their lips thinking about the prospect of Lukaku’s future being extended at the Hawthorn. The young forward was the standout amongst this week’s forwards with a brace that looked to have set West Brom on their way to an away win at Reading. Alas! It was not meant to be.
Honourable mentions: Robin Van Persie (Manchester United)
SPECIAL MENTION: JONATHAN WALTERS. The Englishman was embarrassed at the weekend as he probably had the worst individual game in Premier League history which included two own goals, a missed penalty and a volley which he somehow managed to hit his face with. He might have just created a new adjective in the English language but the only consolation for the guy must be the fact that there is no way down from here.
So here it is, our team of the week:
