Liverpool vs Fulham

The elite of English football, the so-called big four, were all brought to a sudden halt on Saturday November 22 2008, and not only that but none of them even managed to score a goal With the battle on top being closer than ever, and new challengers Aston Villa attempting to break the hegemony of Liverpool – Manchester United, Chelsea and Arsenal – and qualify in the Champions League zone, this is transpiring to be the most interesting Premiership season on record.

Liverpool missed on an diamond opportunity to be top of the league with two more points spilled at Anfield, which might turn very costly later on as the season unfolds. They were halted by a determined Fulham, who, in lengthy spells in the first half, enjoyed more possession of the ball and actually had more shots on goal than the hosts. It was in the second half that Liverpool stepped on the accelerator, but it was all in vein. Fulham dag in and lived to tell the tale.

Disappointed Rafael Benitez told the official Liverpool website: “It was a bad day. We weren't playing well, we didn't have enough energy and we did not pass well. But we had three good opportunities even though we played badly. We started the second half really well. We had more intensity and more determination. There is a bit of frustration. We are disappointed because when we got to the dressing room we were told that Chelsea drew and Arsenal lost. Clearly it is an opportunity lost – but it's also an opportunity lost for Chelsea.”

Fulham boss Roy Hodgson commented on the match, as quoted by Sky Sports: “It's a point against a potential champion of this country so we've got to be happy with our performance. They've won almost all of their recent games and we knew they were going to throw the kitchen sink at us. You are never comfortable against Liverpool.”

Man City vs Arsenal 3-0

Arsenal has had a bad week – and it turned for worse as they slumped to a very heavy defeat in the hands of rich boys Manchester City . This was Arsenal's fifth defeat of the season, and the end of their title aspirations.

Arsenal appear to be unstoppable on the rapid descend, after skipper William Gallas was dropped for his midweek nervous outburst. Stephen Ireland scored the first goal for City after Gael Clichy didn't manage a proper clearance, and after that his teammate Robinho doubled the lead for Manchester City when he superbly beat Manuel Almunia with a beautifully chipped ball.

Robinho managed a shot on goal, which was cleared off the line before Daniel Sturridge scored with a penalty after he had been fouled, making the score 3-0 for the hosts and effectively killing off the intrigue and Arsenal's dream of the Premiership this season. Halfway through the season or not, make no mistake, Arsenal will not be in the top three this time around.

And if that's not bad enough for the north London club, the Gunner now have to prepare for the difficult visit of Dynamo Kiev in the Champions League on Tuesday. This is a match which will stretch Arsenal to the limit, but banking on previously accumulated points, Arsenal remain on course for qualification for the knockoutknockout stages of the competition.

“We have had difficult times,” Wenger said, as quoted by the BBC. “We have always been strong enough to deal with it and we will be strong again to deal with it.”

Far worse for Arsenal, which will have a massive impact on the rest of their season, both domestically and in Europe, is the massive long-term casually list: injury worries with key players, Theo Walcott, Emmanuel Adebayor, Kolo Toure, Eduardo, Tomas Rosicky and Emmanuel Eboue among the absentees.

Walcott is out for three months after suffering a dislocated shoulder while training with the England squad.

Manchester City manager Mark Hughes told the Manchester City official website after the match with Arsenal: “I think it is only the second time in the Premier League we have been able to beat Arsenal, so it is a significant victory for us. We were good value for the win as well. We had a game plan and wanted to break up the rhythm of their play. We did not want them to dictate the game. The players stuck to their task and caused them problems.”

Chelsea vs Newcastle 0-0

Premiership leaders Chelsea were also stalled in a frustrating afternoon at Stamford Bridge after being held to a goalless draw by northerners Newcastle.

Chelsea did not play their best football but still managed to created a string of opportunities to have won the the match, and having missed on all of them, they surely must be gutted for missing on an opportunity to make some distance from Liverpool who also slipped at home to Fulham. For the third week going, Chelsea and Liverpool are neck and neck at the top of the table.

Frank Lampard was denied by a stunning Shay Given save and Ashley Cole and Branislav Ivanović both went close to scoring, but that's as far as it went. Newcastle defended stoutly and at times the visitors played with nine defenders, but their defense tactics capitalised: they got the point they wanted, and deservedly so. Joe Cole had a goal disallowed for offside and Chelsea claimed Given had carried a Lampard free-kick over the line, but in the end it was a 0-0.

Chelsea manager Luiz Felipe Scolari told the official Chelsea website: “We played 70 per cent of the game in the opponent's half and we tried 10 times to score a goal. They didn't try to make anything against us. Who won today? Newcastle because they came here to draw with us. The players tried but it is not the day for us. The man on the pitch is the boss. I didn't like this referee today but he's the referee and if he said it is offside it is offside. Finish.”

After full time, Newcastle manager Joe Kinnear was quoted by the BBC as saying: “It was a magnificent performance and about the best we've played as a team. Shay Given pulled off some great saves, but as a team it was as good as it gets. I don't think Chelsea created a clear-cut chance. Our commitment was magnificent. We've drawn at Manchester United and Chelsea. It's not bad, is it?”

Aston Villa vs Manchester United 0-0

Aston Villa are determined to change the landscape of English football and qualify for the Champions League this season and break the tradition of the Big Four. In a spirited performance late on Saturday, they battled it out with visitors Manchester United at Villa Park, and after 90 minutes of a fast and furious game which both teams wanted something out of, they took a point, stalled United with two points and managed to leapfrog struggling Arsenal in the process. At forth place in the Premiership, this was not a bad weekend for Villa at all.

Meanwhile, Manchester United remain eight points off the top of the Premier League after failing to outwrestle Villa and capitalise on all of their rival's unsatisfactory performances earlier on Saturday.
After Gabriel Agbonlahor hit an early chance straight at Edwin van der Sar, Ashley Young's tackle prevented Ji-Sung Park from giving United the lead. Villa wanted a penalty when Nemanja Vidić challenged Agbonlahor before Wayne Rooney miscued in front of goal. Both teams created openings late on but could do nothing to break the deadlock.

Aston Villa manager Martin O'Neill told the BBC in an interview after the clash at Villa Park:
“We tried to perform in the same way as at Arsenal. It is very difficult against United – they are great players who can turn games but we stuck at it and deserved something. These have been two big games for us after losing to Newcastle and Middlesbrough and will help to give the players great self-belief.”

Sir Alex Ferguson, who must have been as disappointed as anyone at the United camp, said on the Manchester United website: “I thought we were the better team apart from a 15-minute spell after half-time when Villa got the ball into our box from free-kicks and corners and caused a lot of problems. Apart from that, we weren't in danger. I was pleased with the effort we put in against an aggressive and determined team who defended for their lives.”