Both the top two failed to impress this weekend as neither of them picked up maximum points, which has increased the scrutiny of their title credentials. Chelsea's less pragmatic, more expansive attacking verve under Scolari has no doubt pleased Abramovich and reaped rewards on the road, but seemingly at the price of their formerly invincible home form as they lost to Arsenal. It was a perfect game for Wenger's team in a way, as whereas they struggle against the lesser lights, when a team attacks and attempts to play football rather than stifle them, they are in their element. Van Persie's clinical brace was the difference here and goes to show that if he stays injury free, he can be a top draw performer. The first of his goals was clearly offside and in his post match interviews, Big Phil certainly was not the jovial character he has been portraying thus far to the English Media. Normally smiling and happy like he's fresh from watching a Heurelho Gomes greatest hits video, Scolari was agitated and exasperated, possibly feeling the pressure for the first time. Meanwhile, the monday game saw Liverpool going clear at the summit, but only by a point, as they mustered up a second consecutive tepid goal-less draw. The result was greeted by scattered jeers at Anfield and it seems that the summer arrivals of Robbie Keane & a plethora of mediocre full backs haven't cured last years problem of not having the creativity and guile to break down stubborn defences.
Man Utd got right back in the hunt by overcoming their city rivals 1-0. The bad news for the red devils was that Ballon d'Or winner Cristiano Ronaldo managed to ludicrously get himself sent off for confusing the sport with volleyball. At a loss to explain this bizarre behaviour, Ferguson just threw out every excuse under the sun, claiming that the coiffeured rodent was pushed, had heard a phantom whistle and that the poser was protecting his immaculate rat-chops. I can explain why he did what he did in 4 words. He is a wanker.
Two former Man Utd hardmen find themselves in the drop zone and under pressure as Ince's Blackburn and Keane's Sunderland were both defeated. A late Sean Davis goal sealed victory for Pompey and had Rovers fans repeat their claims that the Guv'nor has undone all of Mark Hughes good work, whilst the Black Cats collapse at home to Bolton seemed to make Keane's bushy vagrant beard go a bit Christian Gross. The Irishman currently seems racked with self doubt and the question of whether he will sign, or indeed be offered, a new contract remains up in the air.
Aston Villa failed to capitalise on their last two big results, with a 0-0 against Fulham. It is clear that O'Neill needs more firepower up front and seeing as we spent big in the summer and it's the credit crunch, I would be very happy to see a couple of cheeky cheap bids for Heskey (possibly off-loading Harewood to Wigan to make up the balance) and Owen in January, seeing as they will both soon be out of contract. O'Neill likes buying domestic players, so I don't think this is beyond the realms of possibility.
In other results, the Redknapp bandwagon continued to stutter as Tottenham lost at home to Everton, who lost Saha and Yakubu to injury, the latter being season ending. The cash strapped toffees have been linked with veteran Henrik Larsson as a short term solution. Boro and Newcastle played out a dour stalemate in the Tyne-Tees derby, new boys Stoke & Hull shared the spoils 1 all and Wigan defeated West Brom 2-1, leaving Mowbray's Baggies firmly rooted to the bottom of the league.
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