Premier League, Midweek 37: Papiss Cisse Stuns Chelsea

Enjoy.

For more on the two teams, check out Chelsea FC blog We Ain’t Got No History and Newcastle United blog Coming Home Newcastle.

Is Newcastle a paper tiger, or were they just focusing on the Chelsea match too early? They might produce a definitive answer either way on Wednesday night.

Game Date/Time: Wednesday, May 2, 2:45 p.m. ET, 7:45 p.m. local

Tuesday’s loss marked the second consecutive loss for the Reds at Anfield and fourth loss at the ground this season. More astonishingly, they have dropped 30 points at home this season, having won just five of their 18 home contest.

None of that mattered to Fulham, though. Missed opportunities, missing Liverpool players and a team that has not been able to defend their home turf could not dampen the Cottagers’ spirits when the final whistle went. After all, they had finally broken the Anfield hex.

The first half wasn’t compelling watching. Both teams did generate some chances but as usually happens in a match involving Stoke, attempts by the opponent to move the ball around and create are thwarted by heaping helpings of physicality. Fear not though, there was a goal!

Despite some dangerous moments in the final minutes, mostly from Stoke, neither side could break the tie and the match finished with a 1-1 draw.

Not a whole lot of time to catch one’s breath this week, is there? The Premier League is back with a mid-week quartet of games that could have major implications on the European places and the relegation battle. Well, two of them could. The other two are largely pointless.

Tuesday 5/1; 19:45 GMT/2:45 PM ET