12/21/24
April 07, 2003
EPL REPORT WEEK 34: Man Utd trashes ten-man Liverpool 4-0, ties Arsenal for top spot with four weeks to go. (More inside!)
posted by worldcup2002 to soccer at 11:11 PM - 19 comments
There is absolutley no need for Birmingham to be sweating, we have no difficult games left, and if we can't get enough points from the games we have left we deserve to go down, it won't happen though . If I was a Villa fan however, I would be getting very twitchy, they have a very scary run in. 
posted by Fat Buddha at 02:45 AM on April 08, 2003
Yes, I've been keeping quiet on here, hoping none of you would notice Villa's nasty run-in. We have to beat West Ham at the weekend, or we'll be in serious trouble. Blues are not out of it yet though FB - a defeat at the hands of Sunderland and you'll be looking precarious indeed. Nice pic by the way :o)
posted by BigCalm at 02:56 AM on April 08, 2003
More grist for the mill. Claudio Reyna states that he'll stay with Sunderland despite the impending drop. Does this mean they'll only languish in the first division for a year with new manager Mick McCarthy?
posted by trox at 09:21 AM on April 08, 2003
Carragher is my best man...
posted by StarFucker at 09:40 AM on April 08, 2003
BigCalm: I'm rooting for Villa to beat West Ham and stay up. C'mon! Just think of that tosser Bowyer playing down in the First Division. Go Villa! trox: That's if Reyna doesn't pop another kneecap (his own) and spend another three to six months at the physio. Think he has it tough in the EPL? Wait until he has to play 46 league matches a season.
posted by worldcup2002 at 09:45 AM on April 08, 2003
SF: We really need more width. Dunn? Duff? C'mon, the Duff & Diouf show would be awesome!
posted by worldcup2002 at 09:46 AM on April 08, 2003
Duff?! Dunn?! Those guys are trash compared to... 
KEWELL!!!
posted by StarFucker at 09:50 AM on April 08, 2003
I Tivo'd the LFC-ManU match but then foolishly checked Google News and saw the amazingly bad news. I could only watch up until the Hyypia penalty and then ran off screaming. Which scared my fiance. No CL hope at all, is there?
posted by billsaysthis at 11:14 AM on April 08, 2003
"Life Of Riley Apropos of nothing, here's Mike Riley's refereeing record for the last five games he has officiated at Old Trafford: 05/04/03 Manchester United 4 Liverpool 0 Manchester United awarded two penalties. Silvestre booked. Three Liverpool players booked and one sent off. 04/01/03 Manchester United 4 Portsmouth 1 Manchester United awarded two penalties. No Manchester United players booked. Two Portsmouth players booked. 07/10/02 Manchester United 3 Everton 0 Manchester United awarded one penalty. No Manchester United players booked. Two Everton players booked and one sent off. 03/09/02 Manchester United 1 Middlesbrough 0 Manchester United awarded one penalty. Veron booked. Two Middlesbrough players booked. 06/03/02 Manchester United 4 Tottenham Hotspur 0 Manchester United awarded one penalty. Keane booked. Three Tottenham players booked and one sent off. That's seven penalties in five games for United and none for their opponents. Three Manchester United players have been cautioned as opposed to 12 visiting players. Three visiting players have received red cards, while no United player has been sent off. Manchester United have gone on to win all five of those games, scoring 16 goals and conceding but one " Take from that what you will, but Liverpool were playing against 12 men IMHO.
posted by squealy at 12:42 PM on April 08, 2003
SHIT!! THATS TOTAL BULLSHIT!! SHIT!! Where'd ya get those stats Squealy?
posted by StarFucker at 02:10 PM on April 08, 2003
Here SF. Real Madrid 2 - Man Utd 0 at half-time as I write. Heh.
posted by squealy at 02:34 PM on April 08, 2003
I guess they couldn't get Riley to ref this game too, huh? Fucking punks...
posted by StarFucker at 02:48 PM on April 08, 2003
3 - 0 now. Double heh.
posted by squealy at 02:50 PM on April 08, 2003
3-1...Van Nothingrooy tripped over a piece of grass and accidentally hit the ball in with his face from one yard out...
posted by StarFucker at 03:17 PM on April 08, 2003
It's a conspiracy! Hang Riley! Thanks for the stats, squealy! A friend in need ... Go Blues!
posted by worldcup2002 at 04:25 PM on April 08, 2003
From the Guardian home page: "Manchester United were made look [sic] like a very poor pub side for 70 minutes, but a Ruud van Nistlerooy strike means they still have a fighting chance." Poor pub side, hahahahahaha! Stupid United must fail! Viva Real Madrid! Viva Raul! Viva Figo! Gol! Gol! Gol! At the end of the season, at least Liverpool will have the Worthington Cup to look at, while Man U will, I hope, be out of the running for anything. btw, the upcoming week's EPL matches will have Man U crying for mercy. First, it's Man U at Newcastle (#3) on Saturday. Then, it's Man U at Arsenal (#1). Two away games against their closest competitors. The championship will be decided this week.
posted by worldcup2002 at 04:34 PM on April 08, 2003
Hey, I saw that game, that was a totally legit penalty. Maybe Hyypia could have got away with a yellow, but the penalty was deserved. It would have helped Liverpool a bit too if they didn't just try to lose 1-0. Heskey alone up front? There's trouble. wc2002, don't forget the return leg against Real... United looked like my team playing against professionals in that game, their only real solid player was Nistlerooy. As for the Newcastle - Everton game, the Magpies were extremely unlucky. First Everton win the ball on a clear foul and definite yellow by Graveson, then Rooney doesn't put the ball out, THEN a crap penalty call...
posted by sauril at 06:04 PM on April 08, 2003
Yeah, sauril, it looks like Rooney refused to put the ball out even tho his manager was calling for it. Oh well. Them's the breaks.
posted by worldcup2002 at 10:53 PM on April 08, 2003
It was incredibly painful to post that, Liverpool fan that I am, but the truth must be told. AT THE TOP Manchester United are tied on points with defending champions and league leaders Arsenal, who stay top on goal difference (Gunners 33, Red Devils 28), even after a lousy 1-1 draw at Aston Villa, where both goals were scored by Arsenal. Liverpool's neighbors Everton kept within striking distance of a place in the Champion's League a controversial 2-1 win over third-placed Newcastle which has surely put paid to the Magpies' title challenge. Everton moved into fifth place, just a point and one spot above Liverpool. Chelsea strengthened their position at fourth (the last Champions League spot), with a 2-1 victory over bottom club Sunderland, who are now doomed for the First Division next season. AT THE BOTTOM At Sunderland's (#20) end of the table, second-last West Brom (#19) was beaten 3-0 by a well-organized Middlesborough. West Brom look to be headed down with Sunderland. West Ham (#18), third from bottom, scratched out a point against Southampton to keep in touch with fourth-from-bottom Birmingham (#17). Birmingham, for their part, must surely be sweating bullets now, with an ignominous 2-1 defeat at Tottenham. Bolton (#16) are right in there with the Blues, but can celebrate a 2-0 victory over Manchester City, which leaves them tied on points with Birmingham, but one spot above, thanks to superior goal difference. Birmingham's city rivals Aston Villa (#15) are only two places and two points above them after that tough Arsenal draw. They are tied on points with Leeds (#14), who are only one place above on goal difference, after a thumping 6-1 win over Charlton yesterday. Finally, Fulham (#13) must be the highest-placed relegation candidate after taking a 4-0 fragging by Blackburn Rovers today. With six games to go, the scramble for survival can only get bloodier. MORE LINKY GOODNESS
- EPL Table: All the glory and gory numbers
- Goal of the week: Robbie Keane sneaks from behind newbie goalie Marriott to steal Spurs' opening goal against Birmingham.
Your links? Snarky pictures?