A look at the winners and losers after week 18 in the English Premier League.
Winners
Arsenal
Lost Fabregas and had Emmanuel Adebayor sent off early in the second half. The draw leaves them still 8 points behind Liverpool, but that is better than being 11 points behind. Arsenal titles hopes are still alive. At least for another week.
Ricky Sbragia
Two impressive wins as Sunderland’s caretaker manager could end up earning Sbragia the job on a full-time position. In his two games in charge Sunderland have scored 8 goals while only conceding one. The six points have moved Sunderland three points above the relegation zone.
Aston Villa
It was not an impressive win against West Ham, but it was the type of win that top teams commonly grind out. Villa sit in third place with Arsenal coming to Villa Park next weekend and have a chance to put six points between themselves and Arsenal in that race for the 4th Champions League place.
Portsmouth
Pompey is reported to have sold Lassana Diarra to Real Madrid with a fee reported to be in the region of £20 million. That will be about a £15 million profit in a year on Diarra. That is the kind of profit that could save Portsmouth from having a mass sale in January.
Losers
Liverpool
When you have a chance to knock one of your biggest rivals out of the title race before Christmas you have to take it. After Adebayor was sent off, Liverpool failed to take advantage of the man advantage by pushing forward for the win. Champions have a killer ability and Liverpool seem to be lacking this.
Nemanja Vidic
A stupid red card in the World Club finals will see Vidic miss at least the first leg against Inter Milan in the Champions League and potentially United’s next three Champions League games. Vidic is the heart and soul of the United defence and his presence will be sorely missed in Italy.
Mark Hughes
Third bottom at Christmas is not the position that City’s Arab investors were expecting to see. City will be linked with a lot of big names during the January transfer window and you have to wonder how much longer Mark Hughes will have to turn City’s season around before his is replaced by a big name manager from overseas.
Tony Adams
The other manager on the hot seat is Adams. Under his leadership, Portsmouth has only one win in the last six Premier League and with West Ham and Arsenal on the schedule for the holiday season; Portsmouth could easily find itself getting dragged down into the relegation battle.
