Though the FA Cup took the headlines, we weren't without goals and drama in the league. Mahrez swung Leicester out of Arsenal's reach, whilst those at the bottom came out scrapping. We were treated to 19 goals in the 4 games on Saturday, and whilst Sunday didn't have such a high goals/game ratio, the resultswere equally interesting.
Man City v Stoke
Prediction: Man City 3 - 0 Stoke
Score: Man City 4 - 0 Stoke
Real Madrid, are you watching? Just before the Spanish giants, minusRonaldo, made hard work ofRayo Vallecano, their Champions League opponents walked all over Stoke. As I said in my Iheanacho focus, the Stoke back line were unable to handle the young Nigerian's partnership with the talismanic Argentinian. Iheanacho got two, Aguero one, but in all honesty this could have been even more. Stoke lacked the quality, effort and desire to win, and they were rightly dispatched. I came close to the perfect score, but not close enough.
Aston Villa v Southampton
Prediction: Aston Villa 1 - 3 Southampton
Score: Aston Villa 2 - 4 Southampton
I bet Joleon Lescott was glad to get into bed last night. Booed almost constantly throughout the game, his words came back to haunt him. Though Villa did seem to play with an iota more freedom, they were still second-best. Ashley Westwood's brace could only halve the deficit, as Southampton dominated. The coastal club kept up the pace on West Ham, two points ahead in 6th, and dreams of Europe, well and truly alive. I think we all called this one; Villa have been cut-adrift for a while now.
Bournemouth v Chelsea
Prediction: Bournemouth 0 - 1 Chelsea
Score: Bournemouth 1 - 4 Chelsea
Chelsea recovered from their disappointing defeat to Manchester City with a confident victory over a overly-comfortable Bournemouth side. Chelsea set right the loss they suffered in the reverse fixture earlier this season, but this was at the back of everyone's mind come full time. Most important to the travelling fans were the two goals from the 2015 PFA player of the year. Eden Hazard's first league goals of the campaign have been a long time coming, but they'll have been a huge weight off his shoulders. Another one a few of us saw coming, but I doubt anyone saw this level of Bournemouth leakiness.
Liverpool v Newcastle
Prediction: Liverpool 2 - 1 Newcastle
Score: Liverpool 2 - 2 Newcastle
Half an hour in, Liverpool were two-nil up and cruising. Liverpool's English attackers, Sturridge and Lallana, had fired a pair of beautiful goals and Newcastle looked beaten. Rafa's team-talk must have been brilliant. Papiss Cisse proved his selection over Mitrovic to be astute management, as his leaping header set up a nervy second half. A Liverpool side without the Sakho distraction may have held out for all three points. That wasn't to be the case, and Newcastle stayed within touching distance. Michael W called the draw, and bravo to him for doing so!
Sunderland v Arsenal
Prediction: Sunderland 2 - 4 Arsenal
Score: Sunderland 0 - 0 Arsenal
Arsenal disappoint again. Danny T called the draw, as did Steve T, but we all expected at least one. Not only did the goal produce six fewer goals than I'd hoped for, the spectacle was equally lacking. Hardly a thrilling encounter, this draw will have been satisfactory for Allardyce, but devastating for Wenger. Sunderland bounced out of the bottom three, albeit on goal difference, whilst Arsenal remain in fourth, seemingly their spiritual home. Giroud looked toothless, Ozil limp and Sanchez lacking ideas, as Arsenal floundered in front of a resolute Sunderland defence. Kaboul, Kone and Kirchoff, let's not put those three into an acronym, were unmovable, even when Welbeck and Walcott were thrown on. The only positive for the Gunners? A returning Wilshere, who looks as lively as anyone after his return.
Leicester v Swansea
Prediction: Leicester 1 - 0 Swansea
Score: Leicester 4 - 0 Swansea
Frimpong tweeted the following after Mahrez's opener this afternoon: "Even to this day I still watch Leicester and think how is this possible". I think most of us would agree. Proving the great Mike Bassett right, playing a simple 4-4-2 formation, Leicester coped brilliantly without their top goalscorer, taking the game to Swansea. Vardy's replacement, Leo Ulloa, bagged a brace after the Player of the Year-to-be, Riyad Mahrez, had powered them into the lead. Swansea fought in the face of certain defeat, but this was not their day. This was the day Leicester went 8 points clear, if only temporarily.Stephen Whitepicked this one almost spot-on, being much more complimentary to the leagueleadersthan I.
So how did you all do? Many greenscreens or were they all ruined by Newcastle?