Suarez and Bale were at their very best, while defense lets the Gunners down at last. Three strikers hit for two, and the goalkeeper of the week was…
by Andrew Discenza
Luis Suarez must love playing at Norwich, as he returned to world-class form to lead Liverpool’s much-needed 5-2 win. The Uruguayan was unplayable from the very start, burying his first chance after just 67 seconds. He then refused to be discouraged when referee Mike Jones failed to give a penalty for Leon Barnett’s blatant barge from behind, inventively robbing Michael Turner soon after and using the outside of his foot to fire a stunning second past John Ruddy. He then curled deliberately into the very far corner to complete a dominant performance and a second Carrow Road hat-trick in a row.
Gareth Bale reminded the Premier League of his quality as Tottenham outpaced Manchester United, wining at Old Trafford for the first time since 1989. The Welshman was electrifying as he burst through the middle of the pitch, eluded two defenders and finished clinically across the keeper. Bale then set up Clint Dempsey’s tap-in with a stinging shot that Anders Lindegaard couldn’t hold.
Laurent Koscielny + set pieces = Chelsea stay top. Despite an even contest, Arsenal lost for the first time this season thanks to a pair of free kicks botched by the French defender. There was no doubting the quality of Fernando Torres’ improvised opener, but Koscielny had his positioning wrong from the start. He then helped Juan Mata’s delivery into the net with a slight touch, while leaving his goalkeeper indecisive with a panicky dive in the six-yard box.
A Tale of Three Braces
Everton have matched their best Premier League start ever thanks to Nikica Jelavic, who struck a lethal finish after a 1-2 with Marouane Fellaini and nodded in from close range at the back post to earn a 3-1 win at Southampton.
It was controversial, but Demba Ba’s pair of goals was the highlight of a thrilling 2-2 draw between Newcastle and Reading. His first was a picturesque volley on the turn, but for the second he appeared to inadvertently send the ball in off his outstretched hand rather than his head.
Peter Crouch scored the only two goals as Stoke beat Swansea 2-0. He left his marker in the dust and guided in a corner with his head, before anticipating a rebound and following up with ease.
Keeper of the week: Petr Cech produced a pair of show-stopping saves that preserved three points at Arsenal. His spectacular leap kept Lukas Podolski’s looping header out of the top corner, and it was an awkward but no less important save to push Olivier Giroud’s deflected shot wide.
Fletcher again! Steven Fletcher has scored all five of Sunderlands goals, netting to beat Wigan 1-0 with a touch made to look easy.
Discenza Predicts:
Newcastle 1 – 3 Manchester United. RVP and Co. will be back firing on all cylinders.
Chelsea 5 – 0 Norwich. The Canaries are in for a battering by the league leaders.
Manchester City 2 – 0 Sunderland thanks to Carlitos Tevez.
West Ham 0 – 1 Arsenal. Giroud will finally end his streak and find a winner.
How I did last week: 2 for 4. Arsenal couldn’t manage a draw against Chelsea, and while I predicted the correct scoreline, it was Tottenham grabbing the points over United. But I anticipated Aguero’s involvement in a City win over Fulham, as well as Liverpool’s supremacy at Norwich.
