Kieran Davies looks back on a week of Lady C mood-swings and anything but a smash-and-grab at the Etihad.
Police in the Greater Manchester area are appealing for witnesses to a mugging Saturday evening at The Etihad Stadium. The culprits are described as two Brazilian men answering to nicknames of Firmino and Coutinho. They managed apparently to steal all three points from the table toppers in front of 54,444 eye witnesses.
Klopp’s side aren’t quite playing the ‘heavy metal football’ the German demands of his sides but we are starting to see his Liverpool side adopt new styles of play particularly their high pressing game. This exploited Pellegrini’s side and Liverpool took the title challengers apart. At Chelsea Liverpool had to counter attack far more but in this outing they were on the front foot for large portions of the game. At 3-0 up with only half an hour played this game was all but over. Sergio Aguero scored a spectacular effort carved individually out of nothing but City could not find the comeback they craved with the reds coming out 4-1 victors. The Etihad Stadium started to concern away fans after Martin Skrtel’s 81st minute screamer as they worried there had been a fire drill they had missed, the ground was that empty. I wonder if Raheem tried sneaking on the bus back to Anfield. Today City will need to bounce back after their midweek defeat in Europe against Southampton at home. Koeman’s side will feel the need for the same and see City in an identical rut Chelsea were when they beat them away from home. Stoke City showed them how to do it St Mary’s last weekend.
Another mouth watering game this weekend sees Leicester City host Manchester United, top of the table versus second. Even better, an opportunity for Vardy to make it 11 goals in as many games, emulating Ruud Van Nistelrooy a United legend. No pressure lads to defend your man’s record! LVG is dealing with discontent from fans with his negative style of play and the yawnfest they witnessed against PSV at home in the Champions League. In form Tottenham host Chelsea this weekend and this fixture has history in recent times for being an entertaining game. Despite a scratchy victory over Norwich at home by the single goal, Chelsea will still feel under pressure. Due to their poor start, only a run of ten or twelve straight wins would appease fans and seriously put them back in a race for Champions League qualification. In such a competitive league, this is a big ask! Swansea still find themselves flirting with the wrong end of the table and wont be relishing a trip to Anfield. Realistically this game is a ‘free hit’ for the Welshman as it is not a game they will have pinpointed picking three points up in. A draw at home with Bournemouth last weekend was actually a good comeback from being 2-0 down. Eddie Howe’s team will hope to take some confidence from that into their game against Everton.
Palace suffered a surprising home defeat against Sunderland last time out. With Newcastle visiting on Saturday, Pardew will have added incentive to get back to winning ways. There will be plenty of people Pardew will want to show what they are missing as he looks to lead his current side to victory over his ex-employers. Another ex-manager of that Newcastle role which should surely have a revolving door by now is Sam Allardyce. His current side Sunderland have a chance to get out of the bottom three if they can replicate the shift they put in against Palace on Monday.
Arsenal suffered a shock defeat at The Hawthorns against Pullis’ West Brom. After going 1-0 up no one would have predicted a Baggies victory. Title contenders win these games with ease. Norwich pose a similar threat when they entertain Wenger’s side at The House of Delia. On a Super Sunday with four big teams playing some may overlook the battle of the West’s. No this is not a fight between Fred and Rose to see who was culpable for the most murders, this is West Brom versus West Ham. The Hammers are about as predictable as Lady C’s moods but some of their performances this season have been less manly than the I’m a Celebrity contestant who looks like the result of a Peter Stringfellow and Dog the Bounty Hunter menage a trois. Both these sides now with the table looking so tight, three points can make such a difference to where they sit Sunday evening.
