Mourinho’s system begun works for Chelsea, Arsenal & Liverpool you might end up ? Moyes and Manchester United awaken from nightmare.
Chelsea 2 Manchester City 1:Oligark team beat Sheiks boys
Maybe storm warnings, or the thought of Firework Night just around the corner. Whatever it is, the £50?million man has gone from damp squib to a striker on fire, sparking in all directions.
El Nino is wreaking havoc with defences all over the continent. Three goals in a week have seen Torres transformed.
He was nicknamed El Nino in Spain. It means The Kid, but it is also the name of the feared weather system in the Pacific Ocean.
The name has never caught on in his largely disappointing time at Chelsea. It might do now.
The dramatic last-minute winner from Torres, a superb assist to set up Andre Schurrle and another inspirational performance earned Chelsea the narrowest of victories in this battle of the title titans.
And it came after a double strike in midweek at Schalke that put the club’s Champions League campaign back on track.
His ability to cause havoc in the City defence was the difference in a game that was excruciatingly tight. And how many times have we been able to say that in the two years and nine months the Spaniard has been at Stamford Bridge?
Whatever Jose Mourinho has done, whatever the Special One has said, it is working.
When Torres scored his stunning last-minute goal yesterday after a horrendous mix-up in the City defence between Matija Nastasic and Joe Hart, Mourinho leapt into the crowd to celebrate – much to the annoyance of his opposite number Manuel Pellegrini.
Mourinho knew how important that goal was. Inch by inch, game by game, his team have been getting stronger and stronger. Defensively more solid, more clinical in attack, more disciplined in midfield – becoming like his Chelsea of old.
But it was close. That ecstatic leap into the crowd betrayed his relief, because for long periods Chelsea were battered by City.
Venomously dangerous on the break and with Sergio Aguero scoring once and never really tamed by a nervous defence, City left Stamford Bridge wondering how they had lost.
It was a very, very close-run thing. And the difference was Torres.
Mind you, it did not start that well. After a glancing header was saved by Hart, Torres was put clean through by Ramires but lifted his shot over the bar with only the keeper to beat.
The old Torres – or at least the one we have seen for the past two years – would have disappeared in a sulk at that. Not now. Within five minutes he had picked up the ball and left Gael Clichy for dead, scorching to the by-line and delivering a low cross for Schurrle to stab in.
Aguero had already shot straight at Petr Cech, then stung the goalkeeper’s fingers with another cracking drive. Twice Yaya Toure missed as City pressed. Chelsea were hanging on. Three minutes after the break, City got it right. Samir Nasri played the ball through and Aguero nipped behind Gary Cahill. He still had plenty to do, but a brilliant, thunderous drive left Cech grasping as it raced into the top corner.
At that point, Pellegrini’s team looked the more likely winners. Javi Garcia headed straight at Cech and Chelsea were restricted to breakouts. But that is how Mourinho likes to play. Eden Hazard could have had a penalty after a Pablo Zabaleta challenge, but there was plenty of last-ditch stuff at the other end as Cech saved with his legs from David Silva and Aguero’s chip dropped agonisingly wide.
Then, as Willian thumped the ball forward in the final minute, Hart dashed out to cover. But Nastasic, running back, disastrously nodded the ball over him as he tried to find his goalkeeper.
Torres had not stopped running and finished into an empty net to cap his best performance yet in a Chelsea shirt.
In the City dressing room the blame could be equally shared, but again fingers will be pointed at England goalkeeper Hart.
Torres won’t care. The wind of change is at last blowing his way.
Chelsea vs Manchester City Match Stats
Chelsea (4-2-3-1): Cech 7; Ivanovic 7, Cahill 7, Terry 7, Cole 7; Ramires 7, Lampard 7 (Mikel 66, 6); Hazard 7 (Eto’o 84), Oscar 7, Schurrle 7 (Willian 66, 6); Torres 8. Booked: Lampard, Ramires. Goals: Schurrle 33,Torres 90.
Man City (4-4-1-1): Hart 6; Zabaleta 6, Demechelis 6, Nastasic 6, Clichy 6; Garcia 6 (Kolarov 80), Fernandinho 7, Silva 7, Toure 7; Nasri 7 (Navas 70, 7); Aguero 7 (Negredo 87). Booked: Zabaleta, Nastasic, Garcia. Goal: Aguero 49.
Referee: H Webb (S Yorkshire).
Chelsea 2 Manchester City 1 Match Video
[media id=966 width=610 height=340]Liverpool 4 West Bromwich 1:Suarez and Sturridge Lift Reds
Namely, what if Liverpool had not resolved to stand firm in the summer when the striker wanted to join Arsenal? Had that scenario come to pass, how would he be seeking to nullify the menace Suarez might pose at the Emirates this coming Saturday?
Rodgers started to answer the question but veered off track, ultimately assured in the knowledge that it remains Arsene Wenger’s problem to solve.
“I am really looking forward to the Arsenal game now,” said the Liverpool manager. “We played well there last season, albeit we surrendered a two-goal lead, but we are a better team this year.”
As Wenger will appreciate when he watches a DVD of this game, there are some conundrums which simply cannot be unravelled. If Suarez performs like this, there is little anyone can do but be mesmerised by his spell-binding talents.
Defender Jonas Olsson was hoodwinked by the Uruguayan’s party piece when nutmegged for the opener. It is no wonder Liverpool owner John W Henry tweeted: “Luis. Magician.”
Anfield did not have to wait long for his next tricks as two headers, one an opportunistic effort from the edge of the area, followed to secure his first hat-trick on home turf.
It speaks volumes as to the depth of Suarez’s display that Daniel Sturridge’s chip to round off the scoring deserved more than to merely apply a layer of gloss.
“Sometimes you have to take your hat off and accept their strikers are electric at the moment,” said Albion manager Steve Clarke. “There is not too much you can do when they are playing like that.”
It is now 10 goals for Sturridge and Suarez in their past four games and it is at their feet that Liverpool’s hopes will rest over the coming months. They will determine whether a top-four finish is achievable and also whether there is any chance Suarez can remain on Merseyside beyond the end of the season. Arsenal may sit at the summit, but Rodgers maintains the forward is at a club where the prospect of success carries more lustre.
“No, I wouldn’t say that [it is inevitable Luis leaves],” he said. “I think he, like ourselves, wants to be at the very highest level he can be and you can see by his performances that he deserves to be looking at that level. We are growing as a team and he can grow with us. Even if we were in mid-table, then this was the place for him to be because this is a massive club.”
Rodgers, too, is impressing after masterminding his side’s biggest, and most convincing, win of the campaign. He has switched formations this season – 4-2-3-1, 3-4-2-1 and now 3-1-4-2 – in his search for perfection. He is managing the team and seeking out answers, rather than waiting for them to fall into his lap.
Anfield was later evacuated due to an alarm going off. “It’s because Suarez is on fire,” said one wag. Wenger has been warned.
Liverpool vs West Bromwich Match Stats
LIVERPOOL (3-1-4-2): Mignolet 7; Toure 7, Skrtel 7, Sakho 6; Lucas 8; Johnson 7 (Kelly 62, 6), Gerrard 8 (Allen 86), Henderson 7, Cissokho 6; Suarez 9 (Alberto 89), Sturridge 8. Goals: Suarez 12, 17, 55, Sturridge 78.
WEST BROMWHICH ALBION (4-2-3-1): Myhill 7, Jones 6, McAuley 6, Olsson 6, Ridgewell 5; Yacob 6 (Brunt 69, 6), Mulumbu 6, Amalfitano 5 (Morrison 46, 6), Sessegnon 7, Anichebe 5; Anelka 6 (Long 69, 6). Booked: Yacob, Olsson. Goals: Morrison 66 pen.
Referee: N Moss (West Yorkshire).
Liverpool 4 West Bromwich Albion 1 Match Video
[media id=967 width=610 height=340]Crystal Palace 0 Arsenal 2: Is Arteta genius or mad ?
Rather than admire his handiwork or take a breather, he turned and sprinted into the area.
Ramsey spotted the run, dinked a lovely ball over Joel Ward and Giroud powered a header past Julian Speroni to kill off a spirited Crystal Palace. He celebrated wildly in front of the travelling Arsenal fans – a strong bond has been formed.
Giroud has had to play virtually every game this season because of a lack of striking options and has responded with eight goals. He also has four assists in the Premier League, more than any other player this season.
Marouane Chamakh, who left Arsenal this summer to join Palace, has not had such a productive start to life at Selhurst Park. One goal in nine games, no assists, a bust-up with a team-mate and an embarrassing yellow card for diving in the match against Southampton are the Moroccan’s highlights.
Giroud left the field on Saturday like he had run a marathon and wrestled a couple of bears along the way. He was cooked. Chamakh, meanwhile, gave the ball to an Arsenal player far more often than he did when he was playing for them. His touch was shocking and he was far too easily dispossessed and knocked off the ball.
For a striker who scores so few goals, Chamakh would do well to replicate Giroud’s work-rate and the dedication he has to improving his game. Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger recognises the graft his fellow Frenchman has put in and reveals that his team-mates will not stand for anything less than the highest standards.
“He missed some chances but he always had the support of our fans because he shows he is ready for a fight,” said Wenger. “The fact that he kept going got him a goal. That is what makes him great.”
Arsenal will need to keep Giroud fit, especially next month where they face three key games: Liverpool and Manchester United either side of the return Champions League match in Borussia Dortmund.
Arsenal were awarded a penalty in the first minute of the second half after Adlene Guedioura’s reckless lunge on Serge Gnabry and Mikel Arteta tucked it away confidently.
Chamakh was involved in the game’s most controversial incident – the dismissal of Arteta in the 65th minute, when the two tangled 45 yards from goal.
Referee Chris Foy decided Arteta had blocked Chamakh, denying him a clear goalscoring opportunity, and so issued a red card. Few agreed with the decision. Arteta will miss tomorrow’s League Cup game against Chelsea and Mathieu Flamini is expected to be out for two weeks with the groin injury that saw him replaced after eight minutes.
Palace did show great spirit after a difficult week that saw them lose 4-1 to Fulham and lose their manager Ian Holloway swiftly after.
Tony Pulis remains the favourite to replace Holloway, and caretaker Keith Millen was quick to point out the positives for whoever comes in.
“The fans are definitely with you and we saw a team spirit today and a togetherness that would make most people want to come and work with these players,” he said.
“We actually created more chances than Arsenal.”
Crystal Palace vs Arsenal Match Stats
CRYSTAL PALACE (4-2-3-1): Speroni 7; Ward 7, Gabbidon 6, Delaney 7, Moxey 6; Dikgacoi 5, Jedinak 6; Bannan 6 (Gayle 77, 5), Guedioura 6 (Kebe 72, 5), Thomas 7 (Bolasie 58, 6); Chamakh 5.
ARSENAL (4-2-3-1): Szczesny 8; Sagna 6, Mertesacker 7, Koscielny 7, Gibbs 6; Flamini 5 (Gnabry 8, 7; Wilshere 69, 6), Arteta 6; Ramsey 7, Ozil 6, Cazorla 6 (Monreal 72, 7); Giroud 7. Sent off: Arteta 65. Goals: Arteta 47 pen, Giroud 87.
Referee: C Foy (Lancashire).
Crystal Palace 0 Arsenal 2 Match Video
[media id=968 width=610 height=340]Manchester United 3 Stoke City 2:Its a day like nightmare !!
Javier Hernandez’s winner was hailed as a pivotal moment for David Moyes. But Hughes is not so sure his old club have turned the corner just yet.
He believes Stoke’s performance backed up his pre-match claim that Old Trafford has lost its aura of invincibility.
The Potters followed the adventurous example of West Brom and Southampton, could have been three ahead at the break and were 12 minutes away from a victory that would have effectively ended United’s title challenge.
Hughes claims more and more teams will fancy their chances because of United’s lightweight midfield, a vulnerable defence and players not prepared to graft enough when they have not got the ball.
Hughes said: “There’s an onus on United players to do the hard yards themselves and I felt that while their attacking play will always be good, maybe going the other way it is not quite where it needs to be at the moment.
“We took encouragement from what West Brom and Southampton had done here. We felt we were capable of doing exactly the same. And other teams will feel the same.
“Can they finish in the top four? Well, as we all know, there are a lot of good teams in the Premier League this season with a real ambition of being the top dogs and United will find it difficult.”
United fans were edgy after their team’s poor first half and vented most of their frustration on the erratic Nani when he was finally put out of his misery by David Moyes after 58 minutes.
But Hughes believes United’s restless followers should keep a sense of perspective. He was a member of the team in the dark days of 1989-90 when fans were calling for Ferguson’s head.
“I remember when we went to Millwall and we were 1-0 down and if we had been beaten we would have been in the bottom three.
“It seems a long time ago now, but there have been worse times here. They are still in the top half of the table and they will still win a lot of games this season, but teams will come here and try and have a go.”
Stoke left-back Erik Pieters burst past three non-existent challenges to set up his side’s first goal for Peter Crouch.
After Robin van Persie had equalised, Phil Jones gave away an unnecessary free-kick from which Mark Arnautovic scored the second right on half-time.Moyes’ three second-half substitutions – Antonio Valencia, Adnan Januzaj and Hernandez – injected some much-needed pace and penetration, but United had to wait until the 78th minute for Rooney to head the equaliser from Van Persie’s corner.
Two minutes later Januzaj’s superb cross-field pass sent Patrice Evra racing down the left and his cross was headed in by Hernandez. Stoke felt Hernandez should not have been on the pitch, believing his late challenge on Robert Huth deserved a red rather than yellow card.
But some cynical fouls and blatant time-wasting in the second half did not earn them much sympathy.
Manchester United vs Stoke City Match Stats
Man Utd (4-4-2): De Gea 7; Smalling 5 (Valencia 76), Jones 5, Evans 6, Evra 6; Nani 4 (Januzaj 58, 7), Carrick 6, Cleverley 5 (Hernandez 68, 7), Kagawa 5; Rooney 8, Van Persie 7. Booked: Valencia, Hernandez. Goals: Van Persie 43, Rooney 78, Hernandez 80.
Stoke (4-4-1-1): Begovic 7; Cameron 6, Shawcross 6, Huth 6, Pieters 6; Walters 5, Palacios 6 (Whelan 70, 5), Nzonzi 6, Arnautovic 7 (Wilson 49, 5); Ireland 6; Crouch 7. Booked: Shawcross, Huth, Palacios, Crouch, Ireland, Wilson. Goals: Crouch 4, Arnautovic 45.
Referee: L Mason (Lancs).
Manchester United 3 Stoke City 2 Match Video
[media id=969 width=610 height=340]English Premier League Game Week 9 Results
Saturday 26 October
Aston Villa 0 – 2 Everton
Scorers: Lukaku 69, Osman 81
Norwich City 0 – 0 Cardiff City
Southampton 2-0 Fulham
Scorers: Lambert 21, Rodriguez 43
Sunday 27 October
Sunderland 2-1 Newcastle United
Scorers: Steven Fletcher 5, Fabio Borini 84 / Mathieu Debuchy 58
Swansea City 0-0 West Ham United
Tottenham Hotspur 1-0 Hull City
Scorers: Soldado 80 (pen)
