Listless Liverpool fall at Old Trafford

Predictably, the buildup to Saturday’s game between Manchester United and Liverpool was dominated by the ongoing controversy between Patrice Evra and Luis Suarez. The furore escalated to fever pitch with Suarez snubbing Evra’s pre-match handshake, and continued apace with a set-to between the two sets of players in the tunnel at half-time and then with Evra’s juvenile celebrations at the end of the game. Despite the context, the game itself was a rather tame affair, and while violence and ill-discipline would have done them no favours, Reds fans must be wishing their side had shown the same resolve and fighting spirit on the pitch as they have in their strident defence of Suarez.  

After a goalless and largely uneventful first half, Liverpool pressed the self-destruct button early in the second to gift United two goals in five minutes. After Wayne Rooney volleyed home unmarked from a corner, Jay Spearing was robbed by Antonio Valencia, who played in Rooney to double the lead. From then on the visitors seemed to content to admire the ball-retention skills of Michael Carrick and Paul Scholes, with the Red Devils midfielders spreading the ball around at will with minimal pressure from Spearing and Co. A late effort from Suarez made the scoreline more respectable, but could not mask the lack of penetration, creativity, and energy of Kenny Dalglish’s side – and neither should the latest silliness between Suarez and Evra.  

Saha debuts in style as Spurs crush Magpies

A frustration 2010/11 season which saw numerous points squandered due to poor finishing meant Tottenham manager Harry Redknapp’s summer homework assignment appeared crystal clear: acquiring a top-class striker to convert the creativity of Luka Modric, Gareth Bale, et al into goals. Former Arsenal man (and Spurs tormentor) Emmanuel Adebayor, signed on loan from Manchester City, wasn’t what most fans had in mind, but despite his maddening inconsistency, he has proven a major improvement just by being competent at holding the ball up and a capable if erratic finisher. Similarly, when Redknapp went looking for added depth up front in the January transfer window, the injury-prone and out-of-form Louis Saha was hardly the star name the Tottenham faithful would have been craving.  

On the evidence of Saturday’s 5-0 mauling of Newcastle, Redknapp may well have pulled off another masterstroke in adding the 33-year-old Frenchman. Saha marked his first start in a Tottenham shirt with a well-taken brace and laid on another for Adebayor, who produced his best performance in weeks with four assists before finding the net himself. Notwithstanding his poor displays with Everton this season, Saha is generally a fine all-round striker when fit, with the ability to lead the line on his own – which means Adebayor’s place in the starting lineup is no longer ironclad – as well as do dovetail with a strike partner as he did against the hapless Geordies. The increasing probability of a top-three finish and Champions League football means a higher calibre of frontman should soon be attainable, but for now the combination of Saha, Adebayor, and Jermain Defoe should be just about enough.  

Henry signs off in style

For all the sentimental value of Thierry Henry’s return to Arsenal on loan from the New York Red Bulls, the benefits on the pitch have been rather limited for the Gunners, particularly in league play. Prior to Saturday’s trip to Sunderland, Henry had made three substitute appearances in two months, his only goal a deflected effort to round off a 7-1 rout of lowly Blackburn Rovers. With results over the last few weeks also proving mixed, one could hardly point to the emotional lift of the Arsenal icon returning to his old stomping grounds. Apart from a fine winner on his second debut against Leeds in a third round FA Cup tie, the move had made little material difference to the fortunes of the North London club.  

That all changed on the weekend as Arsene Wenger’s men eked out a 2-1 victory against a Black Cats side which has shown the form of title contenders under new boss Martin O’Neill. The Gunners showed uncharacteristic resilience to bounce back after going behind under unfortunate circumstances to James McClean's opener. Aaron Ramsey levelled matters within five minutes with the aid of both posts before Henry, making his final Premier League appearance before his loan deal expires, stepped off the bench to mark the occasion in style in second-half stoppage time. Credit goes to another substitute, Andrei Arshavin, who flashed a rare glimpse of his former quality with a magnificent left-wing cross, and Henry’s ice-cool volley was enough to lift the Gunners into pole position in the race for the fourth and final Champions League spot.