In case you missed weekend’s action from the Barclays Premier League, here is a summary of what happened.
- All teams are consistently inconsistent
The only thing which is certainly consistent in the 2015/16 Premier League season is the level of inconsistency displayed by all clubs thus far.
Arsenal once again failed to capitalise on Leicester City’s slip by dropping points at Stoke – while Liverpool, Aston Villa, Sunderland and West Ham all failed to continue their impressive runs.
“We could be in for one of the most interesting leagues we have had in a long time if it continues to be as inconsistent as it has been so far,” former Manchester United skipper, Gary Neville, said last year.
- Manchester United vs. Liverpool isn’t really a big game anymore
Despite Wayne Rooney wheeling away after scoring the goal which secured United a 1-0 smash-and-grab raid at Anfield, the one-time clash of the Premier League titans was hardly vintage stuff
Forget the pre-match rhetoric of rival bosses, Jurgen Klopp and Louis van Gaal, the truth is both these teams are a long way from mounting a sustained challenge on the title
Battling for a place in the top six or, at a push, the top four is a more realistic goal – and one which shows just how far down the pecking order these two great clubs now find themselves.
- It’s not over until otherwise
As the saying goes, play to the whistle.
Perhaps there was a tad more than the ‘minimum’ of the allocated seven minutes played when John Terry flicked in an offside equaliser for Chelsea
But whether you want to blame Everton for over-egging their celebrations following what should have been a winner in the last of the regulation 90, credit to the Blues for battling on until the referee says time is finally up.
- Aston Villa’s resurgence continues
Aston Villa capped a remarkable week with a well deserved point at home to high-flying Leicester.
Remi Garde’s side picked up four points from six in their last two games and are now brewing with confidence despite still stocked at the foot of the log.
Six points separates the Midland club and closest relegation-neighbour Sunderland but Garde feels his wards can achieve the unbelievable.
“It’s not too late,” the Frenchman said at the weekend.
“There are 16 games to go and it will, of course, be very difficult.
“But I didn’t see players who are not believing in the target. We are still believing in that.”
- Referees could do with a little bit of help
Certainly referee Mike Jones and assistant Peter Kirkup could have done with a quick glance at an instant replay, beamed instantaneously straight to their smart watch, when Terry tucked the ball away despite having sneaked a couple of yards ahead of the last Everton defender
If the Premier League is to hold itself as the greatest sports entertainment on the globe, then it has to get these game-changing moments right.
Embracing such vital new technology sooner rather than later must be the way forward, just as the goal decision system has proven.
- Someone needs to get a grip at the top of the table
The longer the campaign goes on, the less we appear to learn about where the final destination of the Premier League trophy will be come May
Leicester came away from bottom club Villa with a point, but will feel it should have been three after missing a penalty.
Arsenal also failed to pick up an away victory, but will probably be just about happy enough with a draw at Stoke, where they have so often come unstuck in the past
The big winners of the weekend were Manchester City, who demolished a fading Crystal Palace side 4-0 at the Etihad Stadium
Expect the lead to change hands again, before maybe in February when one side will actually lay down a marker for the run-in.
