English Premier League: Chelsea Retain Top Spot, Manchester Duo Turn Up The Heat

Branislav Ivanovic of Chelsea (centre) celebrates with Juan Mata (L) and Fernando Torres (R) (Photo by Mike Hewitt/Getty Images)

It was another fruitful weekend for Chelsea, who are now four points clear at the top of the Premier League table. There were also wins for last season’s top two as Manchester United and Manchester City set about stamping their authority on the table. Of the ten games on show, we saw an average of 3.4 goals per game for the second successive week, this time with only one encounter failing to produce any goals at all.
The action began at the Etihad Stadium, as Manchester City produced arguably their best display of the season with a 3-0 win over Sunderland, thus ending the Mackem’s unbeaten start to the campaign. Alexander Kolarov opened the scoring with a trademark free kick, and in truth City could have been home and dry at half time, Simon Mignolet denying Pablo Zabaleta before Carlos Tevez fired wide. Sergio Aguero was came on for a frustrated Mario Balotelli in the second period and made an instant impact, tucking away at the near post from Kolarov’s center. James Milner then sealed a thoroughly satisfying result for Roberto Mancini’s men, catching out Mignolet with a free kick that took a slight deflection off of Craig Gardner. After a slow start to the season, City are finally showing the form that secured them the Premier League trophy last term.
There were a further 18 goals from the rest of Saturday afternoon’s action, in four particularly entertaining games. Everton’s impressive form stuttered somewhat as they were held to a 2-2 draw in an exciting affair against Wigan Athletic at the DW Stadium. Arouna Kone opened the scoring for the Latics amid suspicions of offside, only for Nikica Jelavic to level in the following minute. Di Santo then restored Wigan’s lead after some more good work from Kone, before Leighton Baines capped off a great display with a brilliant 87^th minute penalty.

Leaders Chelsea marched on with a dominant 4-1 victory over Norwich, with Juan Mata instrumental for the Blues. Norwich had taken the lead through an emphatic Grant Holt strike, before impressive goals from Fernando Torres, Frank Lampard, Eden Hazard and Branislav Ivanovic saw Chelsea stroll to victory, leaving the Canaries still searching for their maiden victory.
Reading and QPR also remain without a win this season. The Royals were held to a 2-2 draw at Swansea, despite having been two goals to the goal via Pavel Pogrebnyak and Noel Hunt. The free-scoring Michu and then Wayne Routledge netted for the swans in the final twenty minutes to leave the spoils shared at the Liberty Stadium.
QPR meanwhile were on the losing end of a dramatic 3-2 defeat to high-flying West Brom, James Morrison and Zoltan Gera capitalizing on slack defending to put the Baggies 2-0 up. Adel Taarabt then showed his worth with an exquisite volley after displaying deft control with his chest, before Youssef Mulumbu finished a fantastic West Brom move for which Gonzalo Jara must take a great deal of credit. Esteban Granero’s 90^th minute strike set up an enthralling end to the tie that saw Jose Bosingwa blaze over from a last minute corner.
The evening’s game saw West Ham take the lead against Arsenal through Mohamed Diame’s tidy finish from an acute angle, before Olivier Giroud finally opened his Arsenal account with a real poacher’s effort from Lukas Podolski’s cross. Nolan then spurned a great opportunity with the scores level at 1-1, before Theo Walcott burst through to put the Gunners 2-1 to the good. It was a finish that somewhat justified Arsene Wenger’s decision to grant Walcott’s wish of being given a chance in his favoured striker’s position. Spanish maestro Santi Cazorla then showed fantastic ambidexterity with a beautiful dipping strike from outside the box to wrap up a 3-1 victory for Wenger’s side.
Sunday’s action got underway with a 2-2 draw between Southampton and Fulham. Jose Fonte’s 4^th minute strike was cancelled out by Jos Hooiveld’s own goal, before Kieran Richardson netted in the 87^th minute to seemingly secure victory for the Cottagers. However Fonte once again came up trumps to nod in his second just three minutes later.
Liverpool were then denied their first home success of the campaign as they failed to penetrate a stubborn Stoke side in a 0-0 stalemate. The Reds hit the woodwork three times throughout the match, and now have just six points from the first seven games of the season. Tottenham meanwhile, continued their steady climb up the table with a 2-0 win over Aston Villa at White Hart Lane. Andre Villas Boas gave Hugo Lloris his domestic debut, thus ending Brad Friedel’s astonishing run of 310 successive Premier League games. Aaron Lennon celebrated his return to the international fold with his side’s second, after the young Steven Caulker had earlier opened the scoring.
The final game of the day, and arguably the biggest, saw Newcastle host Manchester United. However, there was to be no repeat of last season’s result, as the Red Devils exacted revenge by running out 3-0 winners thanks to goals from Jonny Evans, Patrice Evra and Tom Cleverly. The result sees Sir Alex Ferguson’s men rise to second in the standings, as a more familiar trio occupy the table’s top three spots. Everton complete the top four, with Tottenham, West Brom and Arsenal lurking close behind. At the other end, the luckless QPR remain rooted to the foot of the table with new-boys Norwich and Reading a point ahead in the other relegation places.
Unfortunately, there will be no Premier League fixtures next week due to the October international break. The action does return though on October 20 as Tottenham face London rivals Chelsea, before Sunderland host Newcastle in the hotly anticipated Tyne-Wear derby; certainly not a weekend to be missed.
Stat of the Day:
Five players scored their first ever Premier League goals for their clubs this weekend, they were Esteban Granero (QPR), Mohamed Diame (West Ham), Olivier Giroud (Arsenal), Kieran Richardson (Fulham) and Steven Caulker (Tottenham).
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