If most managers like to use game 10 of the season as a marker for how their season is progressing, then Sir Alex Ferguson will be happy with how things are going so far as Manchester United replaced Chelsea and returned to the top of the table once more.
The big game of the weekend saw United take on Arsenal at Old Trafford with the spotlight focussing fully on Robin van Persie as he played the first game of his career against a former club. The script was written for the Dutchman with the form he has been in this season, and low and behold, with just three minutes played, the striker coolly slotted home the opening goal, welcomed with a respectfully muted celebration. After numerous missed chances from the home side, a second did follow courtesy of Evra, and there should have been more as United dominated throughout. A late Arsenal consolation after a Jack Wilshere red card made the score line 2-1, but it was Man United’s afternoon.
Their win meant that Chelsea had to win away at Swansea to return to the top of the pile. But the three points eluded them after a late equaliser from the Welsh outfit had cancelled out Victor Moses second half goal. The single point may be a useful one come the end of the season, but just a 1-1 draw meant that Chelsea were displaced from the top since the opening stages of the season.
On Sunday, Anfield and Liverpool hosted Newcastle in a fixture voted the best game in Premier League history recently. However, the 4-3 encounters from yesteryear were not to be replicated after a 1-1 draw was played out. Liverpool were the better side throughout the game but had to come from behind after a Cabaye beauty on the stroke of half time. After the break, Liverpool pushed forward even more this paid dividends as Luis Suarez continued his brilliant scoring run with a wonder goal, surely a contender for goal of the season.
In a low scoring weekend overall, Everton, the season’s surprise package so far, drew 2-2 at Fulham after a wonderful performance and a brace of goals from Marouane Fellaini. Wigan stunned Spurs after winning at White Hart Lane, Man City faltered again in a stalemate at West Ham and the only two teams still without a win this season, QPR and Reading, cancelled each other out in a 1-1 draw.
Matchday 10
Man United 2-1 Arsenal
Fulham 2-2 Everton
Norwich 1-0 Stoke
Sunderland 0-1 Aston Villa
Swansea 1-1 Chelsea
Tottenham 0-1 Wigan
West Ham 0-0 Man City
QPR 1-1 Reading
Liverpool 1-1 Newcastle
West Brom 2-0 Southampton
By Duncan Robinson
Also visit – Britishballs Jobs
