This weekend may well be remembered as the round of giant killing. In a league that's major criticism is a predictable finishing spot for every team, we witnessed plenty of drama.
Liverpool continued their slow start to the season with new gaffer Hodgson, with 4 goals a piece when Sunderland traveled to Anfield. Kuyt opened the game with an early goal in the 5th minute when Torres took advantage of a poor pass by Micheal Turner and squared it for the Holland striker. Sunderland then responded impressively from a converted penalty by Bent after Poulsen handled the ball in the box, before half time. Only for Sunderland to continue their momentum after the break and score a quick goal in the 48th minute by none other than Bent again. Luckily for the Reds, their captain stepped up to the spot like he has done so often in the past, and scored on the 64th minute to save a point for his club. Daniel Agger almost managed to save Liverpool from embarrassment in the 7th minute when he headered wide merely 4 yards from goal. How long Hodgson will have to get into the pace of things is unsure, but a single point against a team who hadn't won an away game in some time, will not do.
Over in London, things weren't going exactly to plan either. At the Emirates Stadium, Arsenal managed to slip up when the Baggies managed to walk away with a 3-2 victory. The upset started when Chris Brunt failed to convert a first half penalty. Emmanuel Eboue had the first real chance for Arsenal in the 13th minute as well as Andrey Arshavin who should have put the home side in front seconds later when he managed to hit the post twice when he got on the end of a cross leaving Arsenal feeling a little unfortunate when they went into the break with 0-0 on the score board. But Roberto Di Matteo's side came out after the break with a little more passion than the first, and with 2 goals in 2 minutes on the 50th minute mark by Odemwingie and Jara on top of a goal from Jerome Thomas on the 73rd minute, they found themselves three goals to the good, with seventeen minutes to protect it. Samir Nasri then dragged his side back into the game with a brace (on the 75th and 90th minute) to set up a nervy finish. Arsenal pushed forward in numbers but Albion's rearguard held firm despite all the home side's efforts, to grab 3 points and leave Arsenal wondering what had just happened.
Perhaps the biggest upset of the weekend was Manchester citys win over chelsea on Saturday afternoon with a 1-0 victory at the city of Manchester stadium.
In a game touted as a battle of two Italian tactical managers, we saw Mancini set up with a 4-5-1 formation(yes the same one we saw time and time again at inter) to counter the free scoring 4-3-3 Chelsea line up.
The first half was rather dull, with nothing more than an Ivanovic header off the post from a corner, as Chelsea dictated the pace of the game and City looking their usual inept selves up front.
The second half was a different story. Yaya Toure, De Jong, and Barry were asked to close down quicker and we saw a chelsea side who struggled to hold on to possession or the ball (particularly ramires who got caught in possession for the goal),on top of a Didier Drogba having the poorest game of his season, thanks to an inspired Kompany who ended up with the man of the match award for his merited performance. City found the break through on the 59th minute from Carlos Tevez as he scored his 25th league goal in 29 games after an impressive solo run and long range effort that managed to slot into the bottom left corner from just outside the box. The victory saw Manchester City move into fourth spot and more importantly, prove a few people wrong about the cynicism to their title ambitions.
Around the rest of the country, we saw West Ham pick up their first victory against top 4 ambitious side Tottenham after Piquionne put his side in front from a corner on the 29th minute for his side to hold on to the lead. Robert Green looked like his old self pulling off a few spectacular saves, especially Modric's volley just before half time. It doesn't surprise that Green looking like hes back in form seems to be coinciding with West Ham finally picking up important points.
Martin Petrov inspired his Bolton side to a 2-2 draw with Utd on Sunday afternoon at the Reebok stadium. A 6th minute goal from Knight was cancelled out by Nani's superb solo effort hauling the visitors' level, only for Petrov to claim the lead for his side on the 67th minute. A troubling moment followed when Wayne Rooney was substituted on the 60th minute mark by Macheda, speaking loudly about the kind of place the English striker is in at the moment. Micheal Owen managed to grab a vital equaliser in the 74th minute with his third goal in two games for the Manchester side. But with 9 goals conceded in 6 games and Chelsea's slip up against City leaving a squandered opportunity by Fergie's side, Man Utd look some way from a Premier League winning team.
The rest of the fixtures saw Birmingham draw with Wigan at home 0-0, Blackburn pick up an important 3 points away to Blackpool in a 2-1 victory, Fulham hold off Everton for a goalless draw ( which saw Everton sink to the bottom of the table), Aston Villa travelled to the Molineux Stadium and managed to pick up 3 points with a late winner from Emile Heskey, and Stoke travelled north to Newcastle and managed to pick up 3 points in a 2-1 victory after going behind from a Kevin Nolan penalty only to win it in the 85th minute by a Perch own goal.
