Premier League Week 32, Saturday Scores: Clint Dempsey On Fire, Liverpool Not
The anguish at Liverpool continues. While it has been some time since the Reds were legitimately good, they were always good at Anfield, at least. It’s safe to say that is no longer the case. Wigan took down Liverpool last time the Reds were at Anfield and today, relegation threatened Aston Villa picked up a point as Liverpool continues to sink down the table.
Villa notched the opening goal when Doni, in for the suspended Pepe Reina, did a poot job getting off his line to clear a cross. That allowed Barry Bannan to collect the ball and cross for Chris Herd, whose tidy finish put the visitors up 1-0 after just 10 minutes. Liverpool came back and controlled much of the match from there on, but they weren't creating a ton of chances. They had a couple that forced Shay Given into a good save and scared him another time, but it was hardly a convincing performance. Even so, Luis Suarez found an equalizer when Daniel Agger's shot hit the bar and bounced right to the Uruguayan to finish.
That’s all that was in the match, though, as both teams probably got what they deserved in a rather dreadful 90 minutes.
Clint Dempsey's dream season continues. The American notched two more goals on Saturday to lead Fulham to a 3-0 win over Bolton. The first goal came 30 minutes in on a gorgeous free kick from 30 yards that left Adam Bogdan no chance. Dempsey then doubled the Cottagers' lead 15 minutes later when Damien Duff's fine run unlocked the Bolton defense. Duff then crossed for Dempsey, who had a simple headed finish to put Fulham up two. Mahmadou Diarra then added one more to secure a rare away win for Fulham.
Norwich City 2-2 Everton
A late goal by Grant Holt earned Norwich City a draw and it might have also earned the striker some consideration for an England call in as he became the second-highest scoring Englishman on the season. Tim Howard couldn't control a good shot, leaving it in front for Holt, who battled four Toffees to get to the ball and get to the ball first for the equalizer.
Nikica Jelavic put the Toffees in front early with a cheeky backheel to beat John Ruddy, but Norwich answered when Wes Hoolahan’s square ball left Jonathan Howson an easy finish from seven yards. Jelalich put Everton back in front on the other side of the break, but Holt’s late goal meant a point apiece at Goodson Park.
With six matches to go, Norwich City are on 40 points, the supposedly safe mark for teams thought to be a relegation, which is a real compliment to the newly-promoted side. Well done, Canaries.
Blackburn's bid to stay up took a major blow on Saturday when West Brom, well, beat the piss out of them. There is no other way to put it after the Baggies picked up an easy 3-0 win at the Hawthorns. Martin Olsson handed West Brom a lead after just seven minutes when he put the ball in his own net before Marc-Antoine Fortune and Liam Ridgewell added goals to give the Baggies an easy win.
The loss has Blackburn in the drop zone on 28 points, level with 17th place QPR. West Brom are now oon 39 points, almost assuredly guaranteeing them a spot in the Premier League next year.
Stoke City 2-1 Wolverhampton Wanderers
Michael Kightly may have scored first for Wolves, but Stoke City stormed back with two of their own to grab three points at the Britannia. David Edwards fed Kightly for the opener in the 26th minute, but Robert Huth equalized 11 minutes later on, what else, a set piece. It took until after the hour mark for Stoke to secure the winner as Peter Crouch nodded him the deciding goal in the most Stoke game to ever Stoke.
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