Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez saw his side lose a second consecutive Premier League game – following their 1-0 defeat at the hands of Steve Bruce’s Sunderland – and a little help from a beach ball. A Liverpool fan through a beach ball on the pitch – which played an enormous part in Darren Bent’s winner early in the first half.
Many reports this morning have suggested that the freak goal should have been disallowed and play be restarted with a drop ball – which prompted Steve Bruce to declare that any player, manager, official or fan to be a ‘little sad’ if they knew the rule prior to events of yesterday. Liverpool will be disappointed that they didn’t get anything out of the game considering they passed the ball around the Stadium of Light (424 passes to Sunderland’s 185) – whilst also getting in more shots than their hosts (19 to Sunderland’s 15). Liverpool have now lost four of their first nine Premier League games and trail league leaders Manchester United by seven points.
Elsewhere in the Premier League in the early kick off – Chelsea lost at Aston Villa after conceding two goals from set pieces. Didier Drogba put Chelsea in the lead after a mistake from Aston Villa keeper Brad Friedel but two headed goals from Richard Dunne and James Collins gave the 1982 European Cup winners the three points. Manchester United took advantage of this slip up with a 2-1 victory over Bolton Wanders whilst Arsenal scored three past Birmingham City at the Emirates to win 3-1. Wigan Athletic drew 1-1 at home with Manchester City after a goal from Charles N’Zogbia before half time. The visitors responded right after halftime with a goal from Martin Petrov. City had to play the last 25 minutes with ten men after defender Pablo Zabaleta was sent off for two bookable offenses.
