English Premier League
What a Saturday we witnessed yesterday in the English Premier League. When India was busy watching the World Cup final, English Premier League gave some magnificent results to make the hardcore football fans at least give a thought to it amidst the euphoria of India winning the World Cup.
With Manchester United striking four goals in quick succession to sink West Ham and Chelsea and Arsenal stuttering to draws, the premier league race now tightens in the favour of the Old Trafford outfit. With Roy Hodgeson returning to haunt Liverpool, it capped a rather surprising and exciting day of action at the Barclays Premier League.
Manchester United squared off against West Ham with both teams in absolute need of the 3 crucial points albeit for different reasons. And the start was a bleak one with Manchester United defence clearly struggling thereby gifting 2 penalties to West Ham which he duly converted. But the second half showed a magnificent fight back from Manchester united led by their inform striker Wayne Rooney as he latched on to a 12 minute hat trick to stun the Upton Park crowd into silence . With Hernandes adding a fourth to rub salt in to the wounds, Manchester United opened a bigger gap and now looks poised to lift their 19th league trophy.
Chelsea conceded a draw away to Stoke thereby almost conceding the title even though Carlo remains adamant that much is still left to play for. And with Stoke putting up an energetic performance in the second half where they hit the crossbar twice, Chelsea should find themselves lucky to at least have a point to prove for their efforts. John Walters’ 3rd minute strike was cancelled by Didier Drogba in the 33rd minute but they failed to capitalize on it and now face a mountain to climb.
Arsenal produced another of their famous insipid displays when it matters most as they were held to a 10 man Blackburn Rovers leaving Arsene Wenger frustrated. Elsewhere Roy Hodgeson exacted sweet revenge on Kenny Dalglish and the Liverpool board as Chris Brunt’s penalty double sunk Liverpool to a 2-1 loss at the Hawthorns. Tottenham like their champions league rivals Real produced a stuttering display as they were held by Wigan 0-0 as their hopes of Champions League spot next year almost certainly over.
Newcastle United gaffer Alan Pardew was a relieved man as his side came back from a string of poor performances to produce a stunning 4-1 win against fellow relegation strugglers Wolves.
Tags: Arsenal, Chelsea, English Premier League, EPL, Football, Manchester United, Review
