Premier League Analysis at a Glance from the YTM Muser

Birmingham 3 - 2 Wigan

Goals number three and four of the season for Olivier Kapo who is up to fourth best midfielder and sixth top scorer overall on 46 points. Not bad for £3M. Captain Ridgewell is useful at set pieces and should add to his one goal and two KC’s so far this term.

26 of Marcus Bent’s 36 Premier League goals have been scored away from home. He was partnered up front by early season pace setter Antoine Sibierski - playing his second game back after injury.

Chelsea 6 - 0 Man City

Chelsea’s improvement has been driven by a return to form for Frank Lampard and Didier Drogba. Lampard set-up the first three goals whilst Drogba has scored three in his last two games. Expect both players to be challenging for top points scorer in the weeks and months ahead.

A rude awakening for City. Sven says it won’t happen again but if you’ve got Garrido in your team I’d be considering his future. Samaras started with Mpenza not even on the bench.

Man Utd 4 - 1 Middlesbrough

And I doubted whether Rooney and Tevez could play together! Having been the 1-0 masters United have now scored four in each of their last four games. Sir Alex opted for a very attacking 4-2-2-1-1 formation and it certainly did the trick.

Aliadiere’s first goal in 39 league appearances. Boro look lightweight and a relagation battle looms.

Portsmouth 0 - 0 West Ham

Five clean sheets in his last six games for David James. Glen Johnson was the top scoring defender in October with 23 points. Krancjar seemed set to take the last minute penalty until Benjani grabbed the ball and took a lame penalty that Green saved easily - ‘Arry was not not a happy chappy.

England form from Robert Green. Bellamy played at right midfield but went off injured at half time leaving Carlton Cole as West Ham’s only fit striker.

Reading 2 - 1 Newcastle

Kitson continues to impress. He’s now got four goals and two KC’s and seems to be establishing himself as the number one striker. Lita partnered him in attack with Doyle pushed back to midfield. Long came on to grab a late winner.

It’s 18 away games since Newcastle last kept a clean sheet. N’Zogbia, Milner and Smith all only good enough for the bench and had little impact when they came on. Owen managed the full 90 minutes.

Sunderland 1 - 1 Fulham

Sunderland increasingly looking like a one man team. Kenwyne Jones with four goals and two KC’s in six starts is on a mission to keep Sunderland up and be the YTM bargain striker of the season - he might just do both.

Fulham love to give away a lead late on. Sanchez went with two straight strikers in Healy and Kamara with Dempsey on the left of midfield. Davies was the pick of their players and Danny Murphy looks like he’s starting to settle in.

Bolton 1 - 1 Aston Villa

Better from Bolton who reverted to their traditional 4-1-3-2 formation. Anelka with six goals and a KC is the class component. If Megson can keep him happy the Trotters will be fine. After a poor season so far Kevin Nolan is approaching some form.

Pretty uninspired from Villa although Berger and Moore coming on at half time did perk things up.

Derby 0 - 2 Everton

Derby have failed to score in seven of their last 10 Premier League matches.

A welcome return for Tim Cahill who should have scored and is definitely one to watch. Everton’s first away clean sheet in 11. The unpredictable Yakubu is another player to put on your shortlist as he’s capable of a run of prolific points scoring.

Liverpool 1 - 1 Arsenal

Worrying injuries for Alonso, Mascherano and Torres. Signs of Captain Marvel returning to his best. Liverpool will need it as they’ve drawn five of their last six home league games and that’s not title winning form if you are thinking of voting in our new blog poll.

The Gunners stood up well to their so called “first test” of the season and will go in to next weekend’s clash with Man United in good spirits. Hleb was inspired and Fabregas continues on his player of the season quest.

Tottenham 1 - 2 Blackburn

Robbie Keane was joint top scoring YTM striker in October (with Rooney) and his 49 points for the season takes him three points clear of Benjani at the top of the charts. He’s scored six in his last five Premier League games. Juande Ramos has a big job to do in defence.

McCarthy has bagged five goals in his last six league games and the partnership with Santa Cruz is quality. Mark Hughes’ team are up to fifth in the table and go in to a home game with Liverpool full of confidence. Samba loves to get forward and is very threatening at set pieces.

That’s it for now. Congratulations to Zoran Furlan for winning the £10,000 October manager of the month competition.

Cheers,
Tom

Tags (click to view more!): Olivier Kapo, Antoine Sibierski, Frank Lampard, Didier Drogba, Rooney, Tevez, Kenwyne Jones, Anelka, Tim Cahill, Torres, Fabregas, Robbie Keane, Premier League, Juande Ramos