Premier League: The Week that was

Star Player of the week: Fraizer Campbell

Fraizer Campbell did make a good start to his first full season in the Premier League with Cardiff City FC and gave Winston Reid, the West Ham United defender a really difficult time. Although he did not have a shot on goal, he had a brilliant game.

But on Sunday against Manchester City, spurred on by the lively home crowd at the Millennium Stadium, the former Manchester United trainee was on fire, scoring twice as the Bluebirds stunned the former champions 3-2.

The former Manchester United man has had a lot of loan spells and has suffered from a lot of injury problems. If he manages to stay fit, having put on some weight and looking strong enough, he could be the key man to Cardiff’s survival hopes.

The Trio who were pick of the week

A) Sami Hyypia played 464 first team games for Liverpool in a career that spanned over a decade. Not many people saw him as a future manager but he has made a spectacular start to life as a manager with Bayer Leverkusen.

On Saturday they beat Borussia Monchengladbach to record his ninth successive win, a run which started at the end of last season. They are joint top after three games with Champions League finalists Borussia Dortmund and Bayern Munich.

It wouldn’t be surprising to anyone if he lands a big job in England or elsewhere by the time his career as a manager is over.

B) Arsenal v/s Tottenham has been a perennial fourth place battle in the Premier League over the least four or five years.  And from what Liverpool have produced so far this season, their name can be thrown into the hat for Champions League qualification easily.

Having played two matches and won two, Liverpool has a tough task on their hands with Manchester United the visitors next weekend. If they can hang in by the skin of their teeth for the initial exchanges, and coupled with the return of Luis Suarez, they could easily give the North London rivals a run for their money.

Liverpool finished 12 points off the final Champions League place last season, scoring more goals than Manchester City and conceding the same as Manchester United. 

They’ve been close and with quality like Daniel Sturridge showed at Villa Park, this is the season they can get even closer.

C) Malky Makay was a revelation against Manchester City. His team fed off the chants from the stands at the Millennium Stadium and played a high tempo pressing game.

They were aggressive and energetic and City were short at the back. Cardiff exploited that.

They will need more days like this at home to be safe.

The big game tonight

Jose Mourinho lost just once against Sir Alex Ferguson during his first stint as Chelsea manager. They may have shared a nice bottle of red wine and there was unquestionably respect between the two, but Jose held the upper hand over his illustrious rival.

In his nine games against Fergie at Old Trafford with Chelsea, Mourinho won five and drew three and he would take a draw when they visit United tonight with the Red Devils under a new manager in David Moyes.

Chelsea and Manchester City have freshened up their teams but Manchester United, packed with champions, still have the one player Chelsea cannot lure. Not Wayne Rooney but the prolific Robin van Persie.

With back-to-back leading goalscorer awards behind him, RVP is still the biggest single difference between the clubs.

This Chelsea, minus Didier Drogba, do not have the threat of Mourinho’s former team.

Fernando Torres should start against United, unless Mourinho gambles with the youngster Romelu Lukaku.

Either way, United are the greater threat.


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Posted by Subham Mitra on behalf of FootballWorld.