Brace From Torres Sees Liverpool Pull Chelsea Back To Premier League Pack

Regardless of the fact that I just compared Torres to a hobo, the Spanish striker was brilliant for Liverpool on the day producing two stunning strikes that the world of football has come to know him for. Torres equaled great, but Liverpool as a unit(e), as a team and as an ideal were equally as impressive over the course of the full 90 as Torres was in his few short moments of inspiration.

Chelsea were the opposite of Liverpool’s dominance. Having conceded only three league goals thus far this Premier League season, the reigning champs gave up two in one match. Were those two goals possible proof that Chelsea’s strength in depth, or lack thereof, is not only a chink in their armor, but a variable that could prove their title defense futile?

Manchester City convincingly earned three points at The Hawthorns on Sunday, though the same sword that cut the Citizens an early two goal lead left the club in a precarious position at the match’s two-thirds mark. Ultimately that sword, City striker Mario Balotelli, lived up to both his positive and negative billings. In a somewhat surprise start over James Milner, Balotelli had a brace within half an hour. He also was dismissed in the 63rd minute.

Before that, the league got a glimpse of how dangerous City will be once they find a goal scorer to augment Carlos Tévez. Balotelli’s sliding score at the far post in the 21st minute converted the work of David Silva and Tévez. Shortly after, a right-footed finished from 16 yards gave City the match. The Citizens were able to settle into their conservative approach, play off the counter, and keep West Bromwich Albion at arms length.

With City’s confidence being restored after 15 minutes of control by Brom, the Citizens were holding the ball near midfield along West Brom’s left flank. Seemingly in frustration at Brom’s inability to gain possession, Mulumbu tried an extreme measure. As Tévez gain possession near the sideline, back to the pitch, Mulumbu slid through the back of him, getting but ankles while sending City’s capable to the turf.

As much as anybody, Mulumbu has been responsible for West Brom’s strong start to the season, but in only seeing a second yellow card for his challenge, the Baggie defensive midfielder was lucky. The challenge should have seen straight red. He should be suspended for three matches. Instead, he’ll only miss West Brom’s mid-week fixture and will be back for the weekend.

The man with the brace, Mario Balotelli, has completely altered the course of the game at The Hawthorns by getting himself sent off in the 63rd minute. Balotelli was already on a yellow card, but he wasn’t sent off for a second yellow. Regardless, the fact that he was already on a yellow makes his actions all the more ridiculous.

Lee Probert showed a straight red card to Balotelli for raking his studs across Youssef Mulumbu after kicking him about three times. Balotelli was already about to be withdrawn from the game and instead of letting himself get substituted off, Balotelli took his removal from the game into his own hands and decided to go out in style. As he walked off the pitch and down the tunnel, his manager Roberto Mancini appeared to be visibly disgusted.

The plan: hold tight in defense, but occupy Arsenal’s defenders with the forward two. Use height advantage to win headers, stay composed and compact in midfield and score a late first half goal to control momentum going into the half.

Maybe the late goal wasn’t a bullet point in Chris Hughton’s pre match plans, but Andy Carroll and Shola Ameobi have formed quite the partnership up front for Newcastle, one in which both strikers are able to express themselves and their strengths in order to create space for each other. Carroll is good in the air, usually wins headers and occupies more than one defender at all times, especially during set pieces.

If you needed clarification as to where a healthy Mario Balotelli fits into Roberto Mancini’s plans, consider the manager’s selection for Sunday’s match at the Hawthorns. On the road against an attack-minded team that could take fourth place from them, Mancini put the young Italian into the starting lineup. The choice paid dividends 20 minutes into City’s trip to West Bromwich.

David Silva was also crucial in City’s next goal, another Balotelli tally that’s put City up two. A twenty yard ball from near midfield found Balotelli running between defenders toward the edge of the box. A moment of chaos left the young striker with the ball on his right foot, allowing Balotelli to finish into the lower-left hand corner of Caron’s goal, putting City up 0-2.

For Newcastle, there has been little to offer in attack. Early advances down the left from Jonas Gutierrez were countered by Arsenal playing a higher line and constricting the midfield. This allowed Arsenal to control the thirty minutes before half, with strong play from Cheick Tiote preventing Arsenal from their trademark passing in-and-around the Magpie defense.

The only thing which separates the two sides is a rather innocuous foul, a well executed set piece, and a striker out-working a goalkeeper. Andy Carroll has the Toon on top in London.

For more on these matches, check out our week 11 preview thread, where we have previews and predictions of all three matches. As always, we will be bringing you live updates throughout the day.