The Flat Back Four: 2009/2010 Barclays Premier League Week 9 Review: Liverpool's Title Challenge Back On!

Tuesday, October 27, 2009

2009/2010 Barclays Premier League Week 9 Review: Liverpool's Title Challenge Back On!

It was another incredible weekend of English Premier League football. One single match was all it took to lift the doom and gloom at Anfield. A stunning 2-0 win over arch-rivals Manchester United was just the tonic that Rafa's men needed. An excellent all-round Liverpool performance got even better when David Ngog glossed the scoreline with a goal that put the issue beyond doubt.

The win brought about three notable quotes seen in today's (Tuesday 27th Oct 2009) backpages,

HATTRICK ZERO– Nemanja Vidic. Sent off for the third time in a row against Liverpool.

ADEBAYOR GOAL CELEBRATION RUN– Pepe Reina who ran the length of the field to congratulate David Ngog on his second against United.

ALTERNATIVE CAREER– Escapologist - Rafa Benitez.

EXCOMMUNICATED– Michael Owen. “Once a Man, never a Red,” was how the Kop greeted a player who scored 158 goals for Liverpool.

ALREADY A KOP LEGEND– Fernando Torres. Said Rafa Benitez: “You could see that he was not 100% and you could see he was not fresh - but still sometimes 80% of Fernando can make a difference.” Torres’ 65th-minute strike against United took his goal haul to an incredible 34 in 35 home league games for the Reds

The pictures were no less special:

Torres outmuscles Ferdinand, the unrestraint celebrations by Pepe Reina - Getty Images

West Ham's team spirit and determination to fight till the end brought them an unlikely draw against Arsenal. Unlike Samson, though shorn of his "Mad Professor" locks, Alessandro Diamanti showed yet again why he is now the NEW cult hero of Upton Park. His introduction turned the match around and West Ham reveled in his presence. Diamanti created one for Carlton Cole and scored the other from the penalty spot to salvage a point for the Hammers.

Mad Professor no more, cult hero status INTACT! - Getty Images

What did the backpages say about this comeback draw?

DIDIER DROGBA IMPERSONATION AWARD– Carlton Cole. The West Ham striker spent a lot of time on the ground and “won” a dubious penalty. Fumed Arsene Wenger: “Frankly, look at how many times he [Cole] went down in the game.”

WENGER-FERGUSON SORE LOSER AWARD– Jointly sponsored and jointly won, Wenger and Ferguson who both blamed the ref yet again for their team’s failings.

Frank Lampard cured his goal scoring Premiership blues by bagging two goals against Blackburn Rovers. The return of Joe Cole liberated his ex-Hammer mate and Cole could prove the most important "new" player to Chelsea and England. I personally tip Cole to be England's ace-in-the-pack in Capello's World Cup squad as he has that ability to do something different to change a match.

LONDON BUSES– You wait ages…Frank Lampard hadn’t scored since mid-August but now three have come along in two games.

TACTICAL INNOVATION– Sam Allardyce. “We’ve got Manchester United away next week. I’m going to try to play with 13 there.”

DESCRIPTIONS OF THE WEEK– (1) Pathetic – Sam Allardyce’s no-mincing word for Blackburn’s second half performance at Chelsea. (2) Genius – Carlo Ancelotti’s description of Joe Cole. Steady on, Carlo, wait till you see more of him.

Other than Chelsea and Liverpool, none of the top six won. Spurs lost at home to Stoke, Manchester City drew with Fulham at the City of Manchester Stadium, while Villa let slip a one-goal lead against Wolves.

NON-COMBATANT AWARD – Aaron Lennon. Like his Beatle namesake, the Spurs winger qualified as a fully paid-up peacenik after walking off against Stoke with an injured ankle – even though Spurs had no more subs to bring on.

MRS REDKNAPP WOULD HAVE BURIED IT – Bobby Zamora against Man City. The Independent added: “… in stilettos.”

Elsewhere, Louis Saha's excellent form continues with this wonder goal against Bolton. My candidate for goal of the month. Portsmouth could not overcome a Jozy Altidore and Jimmy Bullard-less Hull City. Chucho Benitez started and starred for Birmingham. A freak injury to Brian Jensen ended Burnley's unbeaten home record.

LOUIS SAHA CROCK AWARD – Jimmy Bullard – again. The man whose knee was described as a bomb site still needs the disposal experts. Yet to make his home debut for Hull a year after a £5m (RM27.5m) move from Fulham, he was supposed to play on Saturday but injured himself in a reserve game.

CUTTING UP ROUGH– Christian ‘Chucho’ Benitez. Birmingham’s Ecuadorian striker has a hair-cut that makes Carson Yeung glad he gave up the scissors.

TAMING OF THE BEAST– Brian Jensen, Burnley’s hippo-size keeper known as The Beast, twisted an ankle and stayed down after failing to cut out a routine ball. Unfortunately, it led to a Wigan goal, Burnley lost their home record and The Beast had to be replaced.

All in all, a great weekend of English Premier League football took place. There is space for yet another brilliant take on last weekend's matches.

TWIT OF THE WEEK– Jozy Altidore. Overslept and didn’t make it for Hull’s game against Portsmouth. Then dozy Jozy went on Twitter to explain. Phil Brown was not amused.

Finally, here are the results for Week 9.

Saturday, October 24, 2009
Status	Home	Score	Away
FT	Wolverhampton Wanderers	1 - 1	Aston Villa
FT	Birmingham	2 - 1	Sunderland
FT	Burnley	1 - 3	Wigan Athletic
FT	Hull City	0 - 0	Portsmouth
FT	Tottenham Hotspur	0 - 1	Stoke City
FT	Chelsea	5 - 0	Blackburn Rovers

Sunday, October 25, 2009
Status	Home	Score	Away
FT	Bolton Wanderers	3 - 2	Everton
FT	Liverpool	2 - 0	Manchester United
FT	Manchester City	2 - 2	Fulham
FT	West Ham United	2 - 2	Arsenal