5 Biggest Blunders in World Football This Weekend of Dec. 26-28
Thank goodness for the Premier League; while other major top flights have shut down for a winter break, England's biggest action continues apace to bring us great games, action, goals...and moments of madness.
It's a full-on Premier League love-in (or more probably a hate-in, if your team is featured) this time around as we check out the best of the worst moments, errors, brain-melts and blunders of the weekend.
Here's our five worst blunders of the weekend, taking in Boxing Day's games as well as Sunday's full list.
Simon Mignolet, V.1
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Simon Mignolet came on just 16 minutes into Liverpool's Boxing Day match against Burnley after Brad Jones injured his thigh. The Belgian had been taken out of the side for a number of reasons, one of which was his poor distribution.
Mignolet didn't really show that he had learnt his lesson, taking just a few minutes to dally on the ball and get closed down by an opponent. He attempted to then kick clear, far too late, and he was lucky not to concede the most foolish of goals.
Watch that incident here after 19 minutes of game action in first video...
Simon Mignolet, V.2
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...and then watch this incident here.
Nobody yet knows exactly how much time and space Mignolet thought he needed here, or if he does indeed know what those white lines around the outside of the pitch are for.
Barkley's Christmas Gift to Colback
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No laughing at Liverpool's misfortune, Everton fans: More Merseyside misery is coming right up.
Everton lost 3-2 against Newcastle United on Sunday, with Ross Barkley gifting the winning goal to Jack Colback inside his own penalty area, entirely failing to control or clear a routine ball into the box. We know it's the time for giving and all that, Ross, but...
Watch the gaffe here.
Cesc's 'Dive'
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Chelsea have been getting something of a rough time recently on account of all of their players being accused of diving, so much so that manager Jose Mourinho accused the media of launching a "campaign" against his team, per BBC Sport.
The rough time his team are getting is, however, largely down to the fact that Branislav Ivanovic, Willian, Diego Costa and Gary Cahill have all pretty blatantly and appallingly dived in recent matches. So...that's your luck, Jose.
Cesc Fabregas, however, did not, but he was denied a penalty and was promptly booked by referee Anthony Taylor—a quite ridiculous decision, which you can see here.
Giroud's New Year off
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Olivier Giroud is perhaps one of those imported talents who don't like the lack of winter break in the Premier League, which can surely be the only reason he decided to get himself a three-match ban.
The Arsenal forward has been in great form since returning from injury—but ended that run by ridiculously head-butting Nedum Onuoha right in front of the referee on Boxing Day. He thus missed the win over West Ham United on Sunday and will also sit out games against Southampton and Hull City.
Watch the incident here.
