WDF Post Game Analysis: Game 35

Well good people, this is the new Barclays Premier League. A league where no one is safe. Where they three teams that are promoted are mid-table and regulars like Bolton and Blackburn are relegation threatened. Where seven teams fight for four spots. This is the prologue to our analysis of the hardest league to call, worldwide.

Arsenal FC vs. Chelsea FC, April 21^st

A game that was supposed to be a thriller, turned out to be quite a bore. Chelsea looked content to maintain possession and look for a point as neither team looked like breaking the deadlock before the half-hour mark. Torres, in for Drogba, made a few clever moves, but nothing came of his industry and guile. The one notable chance came to the home side, as Walcott wiped in a dangerous free kick from the right side that miraculously fell to the prolific Arsenal number 10. van Persie’s effort drove straight into Cech hands and the 27-goal man denied his 28^th of the season. The tepid affair became duller and the second half posed no interesting points apart from the Walcott injury (what looked like a hamstring tweak). van Persie created little in the way of chance, the talismanic striker's attempts impotent at best. The visitors almost broke free but not for a brilliantly dangerous tackle on Daniel Sturridge inside the six-yard box. Both teams will need to step up their attempts if they look to dismantle Newcastle in the race for fourth.

Newcastle United FC vs. Stoke City FC, April 21

From the moment the whistle blew, this game was one-way traffic. Yes, Stoke City had a few notable chances but this game was written as a win before it had even began. Newcastle’s two-man show did it again as Cisse and Cabaye flexed their creative muscles all over the pitch. The game started with a bang, with Johan Cabaye opening the scoring. A quick counter attack orchestrated by Hatem Ben Arfa down the left proved perilous for the Stoke defense. Ben Arfa skipped my Marc Wilson to tee up Cisse, only for his brilliantly taken header to rattle off the woodwork. Cabaye was on hand to nod in the opener from four yards out. The game could have started differently with John Walters wasting an excellent opportunity to put Stoke ahead. But it was all Newcastle and four minutes after the introductory goal, Cabaye was at it again. A quick counter-attack broke Cabaye and Cisse free and the Frenchman found his Senegalese partner with an exquisite pass from left to centre. Cisse slotted home the nutmeged pass and the game was all but over. A few chances went Stokes way but nothing of distinguished worth to put on paper. The second half came and just before the hour mark, Cabaye hit home a fastidious 20-yard curler. The game fizzled out and Newcastle marched, yet again, towards the elusive Champions League spot.

Manchester United FC vs. Everton FC, April 22^nd

This game epitomized why we watch the English Premier League. It also gives anyone who is trying to predict these matches a near impossible task. Where to begin! The game erupted into life with Jelavic opening the scoring — a sublime header off a brilliant cross from Hibbert — just after the half hour mark. Jelavic had to place his header perfectly, going back across goal, finding the side mesh. United responded eight minutes later with his own idea of a well-taken header and turned home a wonderful cross from Nani. The winger from Portugal was looking dangerous down the left flank and would do more damage later on. The second half began and it went all United's way in the opening minutes. Ten minutes into the last 45, Welback made a goal out of nothing. The ball fell to him at the top of the box and some crafty footwork opened the space. The young English striker opened his hips and fired in a glorious shot into the top right corner. Nani was on hand three minutes later and a well worked one touch play around the Everton box — something of a United staple — put the left winger through. A lovely chip beat Tim Howard and the game seemed all but over. Everton were not about to roll over and it was Hibbert again that was the provider. The right back found an unmarked Fellaini with a low cross, the Belgium international hitting a sweat volley to put the game within one goal. United were at it again, and Rooney and Welback combined to put the home side two goals to the good. The Toffees kept asking the question of a very precarious Untied defense and their probing paid off. Phil Neville sent in a dangerous ball into the six-yard box, looking for Fellaini. Johnny Evans and Rio Ferdinand made an absolute mess of the clearance and Jelavic was first to jump on the sloppy defense. A well taken, close range volley form the Croatian striker put the game with reach and two minutes later, the drama continued. A lovely worked play down the left flank, combined with shoddy marking from a certain United right back (Rafael) put Steven Pienaar in on goal and the South African made no mistake. The left-winger banged in the close range shot to tie the game up, four a-piece. The game ended with a few more attempts going Manchester’s way, none of which coming to fruition. United will feel robbed of three points but the only assailant of their worries is their self. Attack wins games, but defense wins titles.

Liverpool FC vs. West Bromwich Albion FC, April 22^nd

Poor Liverpool. Kenny Dalglish hit the nail on the head (or whatever that saying is) in his post game: “Same old story.” Sadly it is. The Reds have hit the woodwork a stunning 30 times this season. If they had tucked a third of those chances away, the men in red would be fighting for a Champions League spot at this point. But the gods had different ideas. The ever-improving Andy Carroll and consistent threat that is Luis Suarez could not find their scoring boot on this day. The Reds laid siege to the WBA defense and the all action display almost led to the opener ten minutes into the first half. Suarez twisted and turned, in his customary fashion, and slipped a perfect ball into the right flank for Dirk Kuyt. The Dutch hit-man-turned-winger smashed his shot wide of the mark to sum up a torrid season. My spidey-senses tell me the Netherlands international is on his way out of the Anfield door come the end of the season. The onslaught continued and this time it was Glen Johnson who played provider. A cute run from the right flank and a sweet pass found Suarez just inside the box. The Uruguayan striker ripped a shot into Ben Foster’s hands and the resulting loose ball was fired over the top by Maxi Rodriguez. WBA had a few things to say about the game and almost caught Liverpool sleeping. Just before the half hour mark, Shane Long headed Jonas Olsson’s long ball into the path of Chris Brunt, only for the right-wingers volley to be palmed away in convincing fashion by Pepe Reina. The Spanish keeper reestablished his worth after his three game suspension at Newcastle. WBA had started to find a rhythm and a Liam Ridgewell almost opened the scoring from a West Brom corner. The centre back hit his shot straight into the hands of Reina. The first half ended, and the home side must have gone into the dressing rooms perplexed at how they weren’t in front by at least two goals. Jordan Henderson hit a sweet strike after another brilliant build-up by the Reds after the restart. The young Englishman was on the end of another play down the right flank and hit the woodwork from 17 yards out. A scramble in front of the net almost fell perfectly for Jay Spearing who’s resulting shot was cleared off the line by a relieved West Brom defense. But it was WBA who struck with impunity 15 minutes before the final whistle. Glen Johnson’s perfect game in attack was quickly turned into a nightmare in defense. The right back’s dangerous lateral pass was intercepted my Mulumbu and found it’s way to Peter Odemwingie who wrong footed the Liverpool goalie, firing the Baggies into the lead. It was the sucker punch, the fatal blow, and Liverpool had no counter. The Merseyside outfit continued to probe but could produce nothing of meaning. Kenny Dalglish’s side have now taken 12 points from 14 games this calendar year and are 16 points adrift of the top four place they so desperately strive for. Can Kenny turn it around? I think so.

We wrap up this week with our scores: Justin takes home the points for this week having guessed a draw at the Emirate over my Arsenal victory. Thanks for tuning in and we’ll talk and be boggled by the EPL next weekend.

Cheers.