EPL weekend review, Valentine’s Day style
Football does not stop for Valentine’s Day. And neither is any love lost between opponents in honour of Saint Valentine – just ask all those who picked up bookings or were sent off, if you believe us not. That said, the weekend was sufficiently suffused with the tender sentiment for us to look at it through rose-tinted lenses, or rather ears. Here is our look at the EPL weekend that was, in the form of love songs:
Nothing’s Gonna Stop Us Now
The Gunners and their supporters might well be thinking this is their year after they came from behind to sneak a 2-1 win over current leaders Leicester City. City seemed set to repeat their Manchester City heroics when they took the lead courtesy a very controversial penalty from (who else) Jamie Vardy but Theo Walcott put Arsenal back on level terms and then Danny Welbeck stole a win for them late into added time. Leicester remain on top of the Premiership, but we strongly suspect that ‘tis Wenger’s boys who are now favourites for the title, no matter how erratic they may be. Don’t write off Leicester yet though – they are still top of the Premiership and have every right to be singing We Built This City (on Rock and Roll).
How Deep is Your Love
Wahbi Khazri scored the opening goal for Sunderland against Manchester United. (Source: Reuters)
Verily, there seems to be no end of the depth of the love that the Manchester United board have for Louis Van Gaal. In perhaps the biggest shock of the weekend, the Reds from Manchester found themselves losing 2-1 to relegation battlers Sunderland. Their football was not boring but neither was it exhilarating, and when the final whistle blew, United found themselves still in fifth place, but a massive twelve points behind the leaders and even six points behind the fourth placed Man City. Even Europe is looking a shaky prospect for Van Gaal’s men right now. Indeed, the question is just how long they will be Van Gaal’s men?
It’s Yesterday Once More
You could forgive Liverpool’s fans singing the Carpenters’ classic number as their team seemingly rolled back the years to record a stunning 6-0 win over an Aston Villa that looked as composed as a shell-shocked veteran in the Somme. Six different players got on the scoresheet as the Anfield Reds rolled the ball around with an ease and elan that brought back memories of golden days gone by. We reckon the Villa players would have been singing Please Forgive Me to their fans who were departing by their hundreds well before the final whistle.
All You Need is Love
You would have thought that When the Saints Go Marching In would suit Southampton (who are nicknamed the Saints) better, but what better song than the Beatles’ love classic for a team that seems to be addicted to clean sheets. They made it six in a row against Swansea as they pulled away to a 1-0 win, courtesy a Shane Long goal. The win gets Southampton into a surprising sixth spot in the table while it sends Swansea into a relegation dogfight. The Saints will be hoping to continue handing out love scores (love is ‘zero’ in sport, for the uninitiated) to their opponents in the future. All you truly need is love.
Yesterday
The Beatles’ timeless classic about how one’s troubles seemed so far away yesterday and needing a place to hide away in the here and now would have struck a chord with quite a few clubs this week, but none more so than Crystal Palace. At one stage, Alan Pardew’s men seemed to be set to challenge for Europe, but a spate of defeats, the latest being a 1-2 shock by Watford in front of their own fans, has seen the Palace team drop into the lower half of the Premiership. A few more defeats and they might even be staring at the drop zone! Watford on the other hand, might well be singing The Only Way is Up – far from being relegation candidates, they are in the top ten now.
What Have I Done to Deserve This
It was a refrain that would have well suited the Toon Army when Newcastle were taken apart at Stamford Bridge by a resurgent Chelsea. The 5-1 battering was bad enough in itself, but what rubbed further salt into the deep wounds at Tyneside was that the margin of defeat suddenly put Newcastle right back into the relegation zone, thanks to a wrecked goal difference. The supporters were passionate as ever but now must be wondering what they did to deserve the sight that met their eyes, although Andros Townsend’s goal at the very end did get a ragged cheer.
Rhythm Divine
Tottenham Hotspur certainly seem to have got hold of Enrique Inglesias’ divine rhythm. They might not have been making headlines but an absolute refusal to accept defeat and superb organisation have seen Mauricio Pochettino’s men emerge seemingly from the shadows to become dark horses for the title. And their rhythm was absolutely sublime at the Etihad as they outplayed Manchester City for long periods to seal a surprise 2-1 win. The first goal by Harry Kane was off a debatable penalty but the decisive goal by Christian Eriksen was nothing short of superb. Man City’s fans might be feeling that they Have Lost That Lovin’ Feeling thanks to two high-profile defeats at home!
I Just Called To Say (I Love You)
Stevie Wonder’s classic love song will sit so easily with the visiting fans of West Bromwich Albion who pulled off a footballing heist of sorts at Goodison Park, shocking Everton 1-0, thanks to a strike by Salomon Rondon. Barkley and Cleverley rattled the West Brom woodwork, and desperate clearances were the rule rather than the exception in the West Brom penalty area, but at the end of it all, the Baggies waltzed away with an all-important win, scoring with their only shot on goal, and moving a few points clear of the dreaded drop zone.
With or Without You
Are Bournemouth a good side? Or an unlucky one? Or one that is performing out of its skin? The questions around the newcomers to the Premiership continued, making them a perfect candidate to be serenaded by U2’s immortal number of love and hatred. After an impressive that saw them get out of the danger (read “relegation”) zone, Bournemouth found themselves finding for their right to be in the Premiership once again, following defeats by Arsenal and then by Stoke City, whose sparkling display in a 3-1 win (complete with a step over routine by Shaqiri before he crossed for a vital goal) might have their supporters singing “Back Where We Belong.”
It Takes Two (Just me and you)
They came, they saw, they played, they entertained and well, they both went off well satisfied with the result. Having scored two goals apiece. Norwich might have fancied their chances when they went 2-0 up against West Ham but such was the Hammers’ onslaught that they might well be contented with the 2-2 draw which leaves West Ham still in the upper half of the Premiership and Norwich just out of the relegation area (only on goal difference). It was all for Love that weekend with everyone returning if not contented, then at least reasonably satisfied. It could have been worse.
Hold Me Thrill me Kiss Me Kill Me
Liverpool substitute Dvirok Origi might have understood what U2 were implying in that classic song of theirs when he dived into the crowd after scoring within a minute of coming on against Aston Villa. He was promptly seized and kissed several times by a joy-addled fan. By the time he was extricated from his arms Origi looked more stirred and shaken than he had been by the Villa defence. That’s the power of love for you!
