Manchester City Do The Samba As Liverpool Look Hot On Top

Records tumbled as history was made this weekend in the Premier League.

Sunderland ended their incredible 28-year wait for a home win over Newcastle United with a 2-1 win at the Stadium of Light. Hot or Not wonders how many in the crowd witnessed Sunderland’s 1980 win at the old Roker Park, and are secretly wondering how long they’ll have to wait for the next one?

Well a year at least of course.

Chelsea’s four year undefeated home league record came tumbling down after a deflected Xabi Alonso goal gave Liverpool a very impressive 1-0 win at Stamford Bridge.

That wasn’t all the action though, as we get into this weeks Hot or Not.

HOT

Where else could we start but with the fairy tale that is Hull City? Ten years ago they were sitting bottom of the football league. For those of you who don’t know that's the bottom of League Two or as it was known then, Division Three. Yes, that is bottom of the fourth tier of English football.

Fast forward ten years and on Saturday night after a 3-0 win at West Bromwich Albion, Hull City were joint top of the Premier League. It’s what dreams are made of.

That game also provided the save of the weekend as WBA’s Scott Carson reacted instinctively to save Geovanni’s effort.

Hot or Not couldn’t ignore Darren Fletcher after he scored his third goal of the season in Manchester United’s 1-1 draw at Everton. It was a fantastically well taken goal from a player enjoying an extended run in United’s first team. The Scot didn’t give the ball away once and is making the holding role at Old Trafford his own. Funnily enough, whenever Fletcher scores, it tends to be United’s only goal of the game.

Wes Brown got his run in the United side last year in the absence of Gary Neville and in all fairness, he has been unfortunate to lose his place in the side. The England international right back had a terrific first half at Goodison Park. His second half wasn’t as good but it was well disguised in the United backline, even Titus Bramble would have looked worldclass alongside the hapless Rio Ferdinand.

Goal of the week has to be Kieran Richardson‘s thunderbolt free kick that earned Sunderland that glorious victory. It was truly unstoppable.

So now to Saturday night's news that Harry Redknapp had taken over at Tottenham Hotspur. And we have a go at players for their loyalty. The former Portsmouth manager said it was possibly his last chance to manage a big club. Sorry Jermain, Peter and all the other quality players persuaded by Harry to join not such a big club.

He certainly had the right effect at White Hart Lane, as his new Spurs team won 2-0 on Sunday for their first three points of the season with a new buzz about the players.

A few sleepless nights for Spurs fans when Sir Alex retires then? At least they would get their £5 million back—or is it £6 million now Harry?

Overshadowed by other weekends events was Liverpool’s announcement that they are title challengers. They have now beaten both Chelsea and Manchester United this term and sit proudly atop the Premier League. Hot or Not feels far better about their Spurs prediction now that Liverpool look a decent bet for the top two.

At the heart of that Liverpool side are the simply amazing Jamie Carragher and Steven Gerrard. Carragher could easily have stolen save of the week with his tremendous tackle on Deco inside the penalty area. Gerrard and Deco put on an exhibition of passing at Stamford Bridge, the likes of which won’t be bettered anywhere in the world. It was a pleasure to watch.

Hot or Not likes to highlight young talent and this week Nadir Belhadj stormed into our sights with a great performance at home in Portsmouth’s 1-1 draw with Fulham. The left back nearly capped off the performance with goal of the season following a Giggsy-esque run, but he couldn’t find a way past the keeper.

Aston Villa woke up from their October hibernation to score four at Wigan Athletic. It’s definitely Villa and Manchester City, who beat Stoke City 3-0, who’ll battle it out for 5^thplace and that UEFA Cup spot. Steven Sidwell capped off Villa’s win and his own debut with a screamer that flew into the top corner.

We began with the hard working Hull City and now we will end with brilliance that is Manchester City. They didn’t have it all their own way however and Joe Hart celebrated his new five-year deal with a hard earned clean sheet.

So far £32 million well spent. Robinho has been a breath of fresh air and his three goals on Sunday put his cross city rival Cristiano Ronaldo to shame. It’s not only money well spent at City either with youngsters Chad Evans and Daniel Sturridge adding valuable contributions. Well done Mark Hughes.

NOT

Wayne Rooney didn’t deserve the yellow card that subsequently led to his substitution on Saturday. Every week Hot or Not moans about referee’s taking away the physical side of football and this was another prime example of how soft football has become.

As for his kissing of the badge? We say if the Everton crowd are allowed to boo him, then why can’t he show allegiance to United?

This week's miss of the week was at the Hawthorns. It could have been all so different for Hull City had Jonas Olsson not headed against the bar with Boaz Myhill grounded. Even Hot or Not would have put that away. In second place was Ashley Cole, who couldn’t keep Chelsea’s record intact with what seemed to be a simple far post tap-in.

Hot or Not cannot believe the transformation in Daniel Cousin since his move to such a big club. The former Rangers fan just was not motivated by 50,000 home fans it seems. All credit to Hull boss Phil Brown, he must be stroking Cousin’s rather big ego.

It’s not often we get to have a go at Rio and Vidic but the chuckle brothers gave us all a good laugh at Goodison Park.

If a referee ever chopped off a bicycle kick scored by Hot or Not like Middlesbrough’s poor old Tuncay on Saturday, we would retire in protest. Having said that, if we scored any kind of acrobatic effort, we’d retire on the spot.

Spurs may be back to winning days but not all the problems have been resolved. Heurelho Gomes still hates Vedran Corluka and attacked him again during Spurs win over Bolton. And everyone says Joey Barton is a villain.

It has been a while since we saw a 'keeper catch the ball outside his box but we all saw Robert Green do just that during West Ham’s defeat at home to Arsenal. Pity the silver fox on the sideline posing as an assistant referee. Halloween is next weekend old man.

We finish this week with a bit of punditry. To us it’s clear what Stoke’s problem was at the weekend. They didn’t win enough throw-ins.

We'll be back later in the week for a Hot or Not mid week special.