Premier League, Week 30: Manchester United Defeat Fulham 1-0

Liverpool cannot get a win, or even a point right now, but that’s not the Reds’ fault. No, it is the fault of the cups and TV and the referees. Basically it is everyone’s fault except for anyone that has to do with the club because that is what accountability at Anfield is all about.

“We looked a wee bit tired,” Dalglish said following the Reds’ 2-1 home loss to Wigan. “We gave the ball away quite a lot in vital positions and that’s not because the players can’t play it’s because of tiredness. You play on Sunday, Wednesday and Saturday and it is going to take its toll. We’ve not had enough players at our disposal to give them adequate rest. That’s the problem put on the club by the television schedule and the fact that we’ve done well in two cups.”

Beware the aliens. They are coming.

Stoke opened playing, well, like Stoke. They were organized defensively, put men behind the ball and relied on some speed to counter-attack quickly as well as the occasional set piece to get a chance at goal. Manchester City spent a lot of time on the ball, but they didn’t create many more chances than Stoke, needing to expose themselves at the back and throw men forward just to break Stoke down.

The Citizens pushed on late and if any team was going to win, it should have been them, but it was hardly a fluid performance and Stoke did what they do best to nab a point.

Chelsea (4-2-3-1): Cech; Cole, Terry, Cahill, Bosingwa; Ramires, Essien; Mata, Lampard, Sturridge; Drogba

Subs: Turnbull, Luiz, Mikel, Torres, Malouda, Meireles, Kalou

The weekend’s biggest and best matchup will be over and done with before the rest of a pretty uninspiring-looking slate even gets under way. So, yeah!

Saturday 3/24; 12:45 GMT/8:45 AM ET