2010-11 Barclays Premier League Review: The stage is set for next year’s battle
After missing some footballing action for a couple of weeks due to adverse weather conditions, fans were entertained with some quality football this week. In the last round of matches, all the big teams were seen in action but
not everyone had favourable results. In the end, as we move into the next year, the 2010-11 Premier League is tighter than ever.
The league leaders, Manchester United, faced Birmingham City in their bid to reclaim the top position, which was earlier taken over by their neighbours Manchester City. In the end, United did finish on top of the table going into
the next year, but they dropped two points at St Andrew’s. Birmingham City got a controversial late equaliser through http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Dimitar-Berbatov-c11254. This point meant that Birmingham will go into the next year only one position
above the relegation zone. United, on the other hand, are on top and have two matches in hand as well (against Blackpool and Chelsea).
Earlier, Manchester City went on top of the League table for a short period. They hosted Aston Villa but were missing their star striker Carlos Tevez because of an injury. However, http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Mario-Balotelli-c23937 was quick to replace the Argentinean
and made a big impact on the game. The Italian scored a hat-trick against Villa, winning the match for City by 4-0.
Villa did a poor job in their defence as they gave away two penalties during the match. The other two goals, scored by http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Joleon-Lescott-c18941 and Balotelli, were also conceded as a result of poor defending. In the end, City finished the
year on second position but they have played one match more than the third-placed Arsenal. Villa manager http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Gerard-c14664 Houllier has had a terrible season so far as his side is in 15th
place, only one point clear of the drop zone.
For the first time this season, Tottenham Hotspur also moved into the top four of the Premier League for a short while, replacing the current champions Chelsea. Tottenham hosted Newcastle United at White Hart Lane, emerging victorious
by 2-0. The goals were scored by http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Chelsea-c38786 once again. Newcastle have dropped
from the top ten and are in 13th place at the moment.
On the second day of the last round of matches, Chelsea, Arsenal and Liverpool were seen in action. Chelsea were having a terrible winter with no victory in their last seven matches. The Blues hosted Bolton Wanderers at Stamford
Bridge and were able to overcome their nightmares, winning the match by 1-0 through a strike by http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Florent-Malouda-c13838. Chelsea will move into the next year on the fourth spot with a difference of four points from leaders Manchester United. Bolton are just behind
Tottenham in sixth place and look firm to finish in the European spots.
After a draw from Manchester United, Arsenal had yet another chance to close their gap from the top. Arsenal faced Wigan Athletic at the DW Stadium and went down in the opening twenty minutes. However, towards the end of first
half, Arsenal had taken the lead and had a firm grip on the match. Later on, Arsenal had further advantage to finish the match as http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Charles-c8808 N’Zogbia of Wigan was shown a straight red card. However, after a few minutes Wigan levelled with help from Arsenal’s
Sebastien Squillaci, who headed the ball into his own goal. In the end, Arsenal drew the match 2-2 and are sitting in third place while Wigan are out of the danger zone in 16th place.
In another important match, Roy Hodgson’s Liverpool failed to beat Wolverhampton Wanderers at Anfield. The http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Liverpool-c39809 are sitting in 12th place
and are still trying to find their rhythm, as the league moves into the new year.
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