A good day for Chelsea - and Portsmouth
Posted by DavidM in Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool, Man United, Portsmouth, Premiership | 18 September 2006
As Blog FC pointed out before yesterday, Grand Slam Sunday may not have decided the premiership title but could have defined the season for the top four teams.
Arsenal have had their worst ever start in the Premiership and a loss to Manchester United would have left them 13 points adift. United have been in great form with a perfect record after 4 games.
Liverpool and Chelsea were having a re-run of the Charity Shield in which the Merseysiders were victorious, though they've faltered since.
Of the two games, Man Utd vs Arsenal was the better match with more chances and excitement, though both games ended 1-0.
Arsenal were without Henry and van Persie and dominated the first half (including a missed penalty by Gilberto) and the Gooners deserved to pinch it with a lovely goal from Adebayor.
Chelsea against Liverpool was a less lively affair until near the end. The highlight was a stunning shot from Drogba that won the match for Chelsea.
So what did Grand Slam Sunday mean?
The results leave Man Utd and Chelsea both on 12 points. The big changes is that Arsenal are back in the running, and with only 4 points from 4 games Liverpool have a herculean task if they are going to top the table at the end of the season. No-one's out of the title race until it's mathematically impossible, but Liverpool have to match the performance of Man Utd and Chelsea plus win 3 games those sides lose.
But the surprise outcome from a day of big games is that it leaves Portsmouth top of the table. Harry's nearly all-new team are doing extremely well, though I don't think anyone - even Redknapp - is expecting to still be up there at the end of the season. However, it looks increasingly plausible for them to be challenging for a European place.
Comments
Harrys "Nearly All-New Team"?? What do you mean by that? May I remind you that Matthew Taylor, Gary O'Neil, Pedro Mendes, Sean Davis, Linvoy Primus, Dejan Stefanovic, Lomano Lua-Lua & Benjani were all at the club last season so the inclusion of four new signings hardly warrants that comment. People all to often knock Harry & don't give him the credit he deserves! He hasn't spent much money at all & so far this season has been playing a large majority of the players he had at his disposal last term!!
Fair point. I guess I've been adversely influenced by my Southampton supporting in-laws.
Even so I can't say I'm a big fan of Harry Redknapp's but I have to admit I've been impressed with what he's done this summer and the impact he's had at Portsmouth.
Luckily, Arsenal's opponents in their next 4 matches are Reading, Sheffield United, Watford & Charlton. What an opportunity to gain confidence and make a come back?
