Alex Livesey
Five things we learned from watching the English Premier League last weekend:
1. Dzeko addition is nice, but maybe Manchester City should have bought another defender
"When you lead the 4-1 after 70 minutes you must control the game better," said Manchester City manager Roberto Mancini after the 4-3 win over Wolves. "We lost concentration because we thought it was finished, but it is never finished here." He really hit the nail on the head with that final comment, and for a team that has designs on the title this year, it simply must do better at closing out games - especially at home. After all, had Ronald Zubar's shot found the back of the net instead of the crossbar, City may have been forced to settle for a point. Still, Dzeko, the club's new $42.77-million (U.S.) signing from Wolfsburg showed some nice touches, most notable of which was a sublime through-ball to set up Yaya Toure for City's third.
2. Defence making the difference in Manchester United's title challenge
Sir Alex Ferguson's side continues to show the kind of rearguard action that wins championships with Sunday's 0-0 draw at Tottenham Hotspur, even playing the last 16 minutes with 10 men after Rafael picked up a second yellow card. Nemanja Vidic was widely lauded for his efforts in containing Tottenham's free-flowing attack, but he was ably abetted by centre-back partner Rio Ferdinand, and despite Rafael's dismissal, the 20-year-old right back has shown the kind of form this year to suggest he is the long-term successor to Gary Neville. It's just as well the back four is stepping it up - and yet to concede a goal against any of the other top-five sides - because the attack remains out of sorts, with Wayne Rooney still searching for his best form and Dimitar Berbatov's goal-scoring can only be described as streaky at best.
3. West Ham is going down if it continues with Grant at the helm
Yes, it was playing an on-song Arsenal, but West Ham looked so shorn of ideas going forward - and toothless on the few chances it did create - that it is hard to see its position at the foot of the table changing any time soon, especially if it is content to rely on the former Chelsea and Portsmouth boss to guide the Hammers back to safety. Granted, they were missing their best player (Scott Parker) and attacking options were limited with top scorer Frederic Piquionne out with a hamstring problem, but the way Grant threw his lucky claret-and-blue scarf into the crowd after the 3-0 defeat suggested he is out of ideas, and despite the club board publicly backing him Tuesday, he is still the 5/6 favourite to be the next EPL manager looking for a new job.
4. Lack of depth remains a problem for Liverpool
Though Daniel Agger taking ill during Sunday's Merseyside derby was unfortunate, replacing him with Sotirios Kyrgiakos at half-time surely shouldn't have pre-empted the seven minutes that followed. By the 52nd minute of the game, Liverpool's 1-0 lead had turned into a 2-1 deficit, with Kyrgiakos failing to mark Sylvain Distin, who headed the equalizer, before showing little to prevent Jermaine Beckford from putting the Toffees in front. Still, Dirk Kuyt's penalty ensured that Kenny Dalglish didn't begin his second spell as Reds manager with three straight defeats.
5. Rivalries remain alive and well
There was little to divide the teams on "Stalemate Sunday." All four games ended in draws, with three of those matchups being among the English Premier League's biggest derby matches. Liverpool-Everton, Sunderland-Newcastle and Birmingham City-Aston Villa all finished in score draws, showing just how closely contested these games can be, while Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur - two teams vying for the league title - both failed to make the net bulge as the honours finished even in a 0-0 tie. The only shame was the continued ability for fans to invade the pitch, with a Sunderland fan pushing over Newcastle goalkeeper Steven Harper after he conceded Asamoah Gyan's last-gasp equalizer. That followed a Blackpool fan running on to taunt Jose Reina after Liverpool's 2-1 loss last week, and a Man. U fan hugging Ryan Giggs after he scored the winner against Liverpool last weekend. It's becoming a trend, and a very unwelcome - and potentially dangerous - one at that.
Player of the weekend
The highly touted - and paid - Edin Dzeko may have arrived at Eastlands, but Carlos Tevez remains the straw that stirs the Manchester City drink. He proved as much with his two-goal salvo - including a sublime piece of skill for the first - in front of his on-looking children.
Goat of the weekend
As debuts go, Wayne Bridge's first outing in claret and blue could certainly have gone better. Short of match fitness after spending much of his time on the bench at Man. City, Bridge was exposed by Theo Walcott on Arsenal's second goal on Saturday, and just plain embarrassed on the third, when Walcott smartly invited his England international teammate to bring him down in the area to win the penalty.
By the numbers
25
Manchester United's unbeaten streak in the English Premier League after Sunday's 0-0 draw at Tottenham Hotspur, although left-back Patrice Evra insists his club is not concerned about emulating Arsenal's unbeaten 2003-04 campaign.
He said it
'"He's just run in and clipped [Assou-Ekotto's]heels. He hasn't stuck his leg out. It was Mary Decker and Zola Budd wasn't it? What can you do about that? He hasn't broken his stride."
Tottenham manager Harry Redknapp comes to the defence of Manchester United defender Rafael, comparing the right-back's dismissal for a second yellow card to the 1984 women's 3,000-metre Olympic final.