United Bury Blackburn To Go Top, Chelsea Held By Newcastle
The 1-1 draw against Newcastle United puts Chelsea second in Premier League
United hit seven to go top spot, Berbatov hits five to become top scorer. Unbeaten Manchester provided their biggest result of the season thwarting Blackburn Rovers 7-1 at the Old Trafford. The Bulgarian striker, who grabbed all the headlines, eclipsed Wayne Rooney by scoring five goals within 70 minutes. He opened the score just two minutes into the game and finished his highlight in the 70th. It’s been the worst defeat for Blackburn who sits now 13th in the table after they have just been overtaken by a new Indian investor. So there is no way to talk about a new promising era yet. On contrast, Manchester United climbed first in the Premiership after Chelsea’s draw.
It’s been also a clean game in which the referee showed just two yellow cards, both in Rovers’ side. Despite the fact Rooney didn’t score, United coach Sir Alex Ferguson didn’t miss the opportunity to praise striker’s game, this being involved in many dangerous actions, including the crucial ones in which the Bulgarian scored. “Both Berbatov and Wayne were fantastic today. They were a constant threat with their movement and passing, their one-twos. It was a top performance from both of them,” said the Scottish boss. Dimitar Berbatov was very close to score his sixth in the end, but couldn’t find the net with his perfect header. However he became the first Manchester United player to score five goals since 1995. Andy Cole would score the same number of goals against Ipswich Town.
Ferguson claimed in the same time that they have been looking for this consistency since weeks, looking very happy things finally start to look normal. The victory is the more important it improved their goal difference, thing which might be crucial if United will have to share the top spot with someone else. But they still have to work on it, taking into account that they came to a +19, the same goal-difference Chelsea have at this moment. So it will be a double fight for the title favorites.
United went 3-0 at the half time, two of the goals being scored by the Bularian and one coming from South Korean Park who made it 2-0 in the 23rd minute. Berbatov completed his hat-trick just two minutes into the second half, Portuguese winger Nani making it 5-0. The enxt 20 minutes saw the striker scoring another two in the 62nd, respectively 70th minute, Rovers’ defender bringing the only goal ten minutes later. Manchester showed its best football while Blackburn played like a school-team.
Berbatov became Premier League’s top scorer. The Bulgarian striker scored 11 goals this season, being now first in the table where Newcastle United forward Andy Carroll and Manchester City Carlos Tevez sit second with nine goals scored so far by each of the two. On contrast, Florent Malouda remains Chelsea’s top scorer. The French winger scored seven goals for the Blues this season, while North-Londoners’ striker Didier Drogba, who finished top spot last season, goes ten in the top-scorer standings with six goals, the same compatriot and club team-mate Salomon Kalou has.
Manchester United remains the only team with the sheet clean. They didn’t lose any game so far in 15 matches. They won eight and draw seven, collecting 31 points. Both Chelsea and Arsenal are second and third with 29 points, the Gunners going behind the Blues due to the +15 goal-difference. United started Saturday’s game against Blackburn with Van Der Sar as keeper’s future for the Devils is already questionable because of his age. Thus, Alex Ferguson brought Anders Lindergaard from Aalesundus FK. The Danish player signed these days a 3 and a half year deal with the Old Trafford side, but this will be eligible to play barely in January.
The Scottish manager seemed pleased with their new acquisition, claiming that he has big expectations from the youngster. Alex Ferguson mentioned in the same time that Anders will be soon integrated with the team. As for the Danish player, this said that the dream came true as he always wanted to play for one of the biggest teams in the world, looking the happier he will have the opportunity to play and train alongside some of the great players in the world.
Next Manchester United will travel to Blackpool, who finished a 2-2 draw against Bolton Wanderers away. They went 11th in the table but have the same number of points the ninth-ranked Newcastle United have. The Devils just cemented their top spot in the group C of Champions League competition. Following their 1-0 away win to Glasgow Rangers, United are first and already qualified in spring’s knock-out phases. They won 13 points in four victories and one draw, and are expected to play second Valencia. But no matter what the result will be, both sides will play in the superior phases next year.
Newcastle United 1 – 1 Chelsea
Chelsea still looks miserable. Despite they are still playing like champions, the Blues are unable to take advantage of the good performances and continue to pay tribute to the many defensive errors. This is what happened on Sunday at the St James Park. A long ball saw both Alex and Peter Czech unable to manage a simple ball inside the box. The Brazilian stole Andy Carroll’s face in his attempt to protect the ball. But Alex chose to pass the ball towards the keeper who came off his line. Newcastle’s long-hair striker intercepted the ball easily to make it 1-0 just six minutes after the start whistle.
Ancelotti’s eyebrow said it all once again as Chelsea were heading through their fifth loss. Fortunately, they started to look better as the game progressed. Despite Newcastle’s forcing, the Blues succeeded to create many attempts on goal, but neither Kalou, nor Drogba and Anelka put the ball into Krul’s net. But a couple of minutes before the break Malouda passes the ball smartly to Kalou inside the box, the Ivorian making it 1-1 by putting it bottom left corner of the net.
The second half saw the two sides sharing the ball possession 50-50, but with Chelsea looking more dangerous. Unfortunately, the second period looked goal-less for the two sides, Ancelotti’s side going home with one point. This was their second draw of the season and Newcastle’s fourth. Chelsea are now two points behind Manchester United with a 9-2-4 record of the season. The Magpies go ninth in the table with 19 points after they re-joined the Premiership this season. Newcastle spent last year in Championship following their 2008 relegation.
Chelsea manager looked once again delighted with team’s performance despite they obtained just one point. The West-Londoners lost three games in the last five games. First Chelsea lost to Liverpool 2-0, then they conceded an humiliating 3-goal loss to Sunderland at Stamford Bridge. They last won a game in November 10 when Ancelotti’s side passed Fulham 1-0 home. Chelsea were following a 1-0 loss to Birmingham City before Sunday’s game against the Magpies.
Unfortunately, Chelsea don’t follow the same great performances they provided in Champions League. Ancelotti led the Blues through knock-out phases after claiming the top spot in group F. They are the only team that won 15 points in five group-games. The Blues just beat MSK Zilina this mid-week to become a main trophy favorite. Real Madrid and Manchester United won 13 points so far in UCL. Next, Chelsea will play Everton at Stamford Bridge and Marseille in the Champions League. Then two important clashes are expected. First, the Blues travel to White Hart Lane to face Tottenham Hotspur and on November 19 they will host Manchester United, whom Carlo Ancelotti beat last season twice in their double.
It is very clear the Italian boss feels Frank Lampard and John Terry’s absences, especially the defender’s. Chelsea defense went wrong in the last period. But the two club’s legends alive are expected to return next week, according to the coach. Ancelotti declared after Magpies’ meeting that the midfielder and team’s captain will start training with the squad and they are likely to play in the next game against Everton. Terry is about to get fully recovered after his leg injury sidelined him few weeks, while Lampard is almost heal, as well. he follows a groin injury. Said Ancelotti: “They are very important players, not just technically, but because they have personality and character, and at the moment, we need to have that kind of player at our disposal.”
Tottenham Hotspur 2 – 1 Liverpool
The Reds need something more than lot of money. They do look better, but not as everybody expects. Skrtel scored two goals, one against the Spurs and another against his own keeper on Sunday. The defender opened the score in the 42nd minute, but he also came with the leveling 20 minutes into the second half. Thus, the Spurs needed to score just one goal in order to claim the victory. Which they did. Lennon follows Coruch’s touch to beat Pepe Reina in the 90th minute.
Liverpool concedes their sixth loss of the season and goes tenth in the table with 19 points, the same Newcastle, Blackpool and West Bromwich Albion have. On contrast, the Spurs sit fifth and they are still keeping the good pace they showed in Champions League. Harry Redknapp led the Londoners to their seventh win of the season to cumulate 25 points in 15 games. Tottenham are top spot in the first group of the Champions League and already qualified for spring’s knock-out phases. It is for the first time in the last decades that Spurs reach such performance. Liverpool are also just about to play the same superior phase but in Europa League.
Next Tottenham Hotspur play 14th-placed Birmingham City away next Saturday, while Liverpool are expected to host Aston Villa on Monday.
Premier League results:
Wolverhampton Wanderers 3 – 2 Sunderland
Stoke City 1 – 1 Manchester City
West Ham United 3 – 1 Wigan Athletic
Everton 1 – 4 West Bromwich Albion
Bolton Wanderers 2 – Blackpool
Fulham 1 – 1 Birmingham City
Aston Villa 2 – 4 Arsenal11
