More Big Names Fall: ManU and Barca Lose On Saturday

It was a not a good day for the big names in the sport...

Stoke City beat Manchester United for the first time in the history of the Premier League with a 2-1 win for the Potters...and their first win against the Devils since 1984...

Charlie Adam had a big day for former ManU star Mark Hughes' squad including a little luck on a free kick...


It's already the 8th loss for Manchester United this season...

Barcelona's 25-game home match win streak was also thrown away in La Liga when Valencia beat the title holders 3-2...

The visitors became the first La Liga side not named Real Madrid to leave Camp Nou with three points since Hercules won 2-0 in September 2010.

Here's your look at the back and forth

OSG Prem: Hughes And Rodgers Answering The Piper Soon...

((HT: BBC Sport/BPL))

If you haven't seen why these two managers are currently in trouble...

Liverpool's Brendan Rodgers after his loss to ManCity when he went off on the officials...
((HT: BT Sport))


The Football Association has asked Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers to explain his post-match comments:

When asked about it at his press conference today, he said:

"I think they know that when I come out and make a statement like I did yesterday, it was obviously emotional after the game of course, but it was something that I will speak honestly on. As I said, whatever action they will take, they will decide.

"I have to speak on behalf of the supporters of the club, a club that has an emotional investment for many, many millions of people throughout the world. As the manager I represent them, and I'm sure where they were throughout the world yesterday they would have been asking the questions on the decision-making, which I repeat I didn't think was so good, after the game.

"In terms of geography, it wasn't the case at all, I certainly wasn't questioning the integrity of the referees. As I said before, I fully understand the job, it was more the logic of it, in terms of having a referee from that particular part of the world refereeing a game in Manchester, I wouldn't suspect that Mike Dean from the Wirral has refereed many games for Liverpool over the years."

Here's Stoke's Mark Hughes after being sent to the stands in their game Boxing Day, in the process of losing 5-1 to Newscastle...


And his post-match questions-and-answers


Hughes has been officially charged by the FA after jettisoning his coat:

"Stoke City manager Mark Hughes has been charged by The FA following his side's game at Newcastle United yesterday [Thursday 26 December].

"It is alleged that his behaviour in or around the 40th minute of the fixture amounted to improper conduct."

Hughes has until the 2nd of January to respond... which will be an interesting answer to the FA charge...

Looks like a reprimand and a suspension are coming...

OSG Prem: Boxing Day Recap Borders On The Wacky

((HT: BPL on NBCSN))

Let's start with the less eventful...

An own goal saved Manchester United's hind-quarters at Hull City FC, 3-2...

Chelsea scored once and beat an offensively-crippled (at the moment) Swansea, 1-0...

Tottenham and West Brom tied at ones...

Arsenal took care of a tiring West Ham squad in the second half, 3-1, but are concerned over an Aaron Ramsey injury as the weekend continues...

Tony Pulis' turnaround with Crystal Palace continues with a stoppage time goal win over Aston Villa...

Fulham needed a win over Norwich to start a climb out of the bottom of the table and got one, 2-1...

And now for the final four matches of the day...

We'll start with Cardiff and Southampton since the HQ is under the impression that the porous defensive showing in the first half in a 3-0 loss may have buried manager Malky Mackay in the eyes of joke of an owner Vincent Tan. Protests by Cardiff City fans outside the stadium before the match numbered in the hundreds, and there were a lot of fans wearing the team's original color, blue, in the stands...

Here's Mackay's post-match interview...
((HT: BBC Sport))


Everton keeper Tim Howard was sent off for the first time in ten years after getting a red against Sunderland- the team at the bottom of the table. And one goal was all that the Black Cats needed as Gus Poyet continues the team's climb from the basement...


Stoke was leading 1-0 until all hell broke loose, The Potters went two men down on red cards, manager Mark Hughes exploded and was sent to the stands and Newcastle scored 5 in a row to win 5-1.

Here's Hughes eviscerating everyone in ref's colors...
((HT: BBC Sport))


And the finale was Liverpool and Man City...

After Liverpool got the early lead, the rest of the game was Man City's with goals from Kompany and Negredo for the three points and a 2-1 win...

Reds manager Brendan Rodgers was less than pleased...
((HT: BBC Sport))


And that's the beginning of the weekend...

OSG Prem: Stoke's Begovic Scores... And It's A Big Deal...

((HT: BPL on NBC))

After just 12 seconds in today's Stoke-Southampton match, Potters goalie Asmir Begovic scored for Stoke City- joining the likes of Tim Howard, Paul Robinson, and Peter Schmeichel as goalies who scored in Premier League action.

It was 1-1 at the break...

Enjoy...

OSG Prem: Suarez Shines, Southampton Rolling

((HT: NBCSN/BPL))

Luis Suarez and Liverpool are on a huge roll right now as it has been not necessarily proven, but reinforced, as to how important he is on the offense. Suarez and Sturridge were credited for all four goals today against West Brom...

Here's Suarez's first of the day, which was special...


Which team do we pay attention to when we're talking about Manchester United...???
The one that was on display in the first half Saturday against Stoke, or the one that did this on their way to a 3-2 come-from-behind win at Old Trafford...???


Elsewhere, Arsenal and Everton scored 2-0 wins, and Southampton got one of those themselves and are now THIRD in the league table

And We're Off: Sturridge Nets First Prem Goal Of 2013, Mignolet Comes Up Huge In Debut

((HT: BPL/Canal+))

Daniel Sturridge is the answer to your trivia question... as he opened the scoring of the 2013/14 Premier League season as Liverpool took on Stoke and their pesky defensive-minded soccer.

Iago Aspas found Sturridge on a pass across the outside of the box before Sturridge's shot went through the legs of Robert Huth and found the far post beating Asmir Begovic for the goal.

Liverpool's hearts were almost broken in the 88th minute at Anfield as Daniel Agger was called for a hand ball in the box. But Jonathan Walters penalty kick attempt was saved by Simon Mignolet- as was the follow- to preserve the shut out.

Here's the first of the firsts of this season in the 1-0 win...


And the HQ wonders if new Stoke manager Mark Hughes still thinks his squad stinks...

Stoke City's Pig-Headed Players

((HT: Fox Soccer))

The end of the season couldn't come any sooner for the mid-carders at Stoke City...

First, Michael Owen is retiring and teammates puts eggs and flour all over his rather expensive car...

Now, apparently, Kenwyne Jones became the proud owner of a pig's head in his locker...
No one is coming forward to say who put it in there even as US import Brek Shea tweeted out an image that really wasn't all that flattering after the fact...

Here's how Sky Sports chased after the story...


Jones' girlfriend, Kissa Abdullah, went off on her twitter- understandably...

"Big men acting like kids a pigs head is not a prank its just disgusting!!!!! I don't get how was that sup 2 be funny!!!! Really???

"Where I come from that's not anywhere close 2 funny! Esp not knowing religious beliefs.

"It just takes a minute to be sensitive to someone's beliefs no one says u can't have a sense of humour but let it be a joke! This wasn't!"

"The club takes seriously reports of an incident at our training ground this afternoon," the club said in a statement. "A full internal investigation will be carried out, and those responsible for any unacceptable behaviour will be dealt with in accordance with the club's disciplinary procedures."

Makes you wonder how the team will respond in their last game of the Premier League Season at Southampton...

OSG Prem: Lowton Gives Villa Hope

((HT: Fox Sports/EPL))

There's no way to couch it...

Aston Villa needs help to stay up in the Premier League this season...

Reading is in dire straits today after a 2-0 loss to Southampton. They're tied with QPR with 23 points. Wigan is the third team in the drop zone at present with 30 and Sunderland (with their new allegedly Fascist manager Paolo diCanio) only one point higher- Villa needed to do something on the road at Stoke...

They did... with some help from Matthew Lowton... and Benteke after that...

Here's the cracker from distance...

OSG Prem: Jonathan Walters' Bad Day

Not to be confused, in any way, with Ferris Bueller's Day Off...

Chelsea knocked off Stoke 4-0 today on the strength of Walters, but it wasn't in a good way...

Walters was charged with two own goals and airmailed an attempt at a third goal off a late penalty kick... (video not available)

But the Chelsea goals are available- until they get pulled...
((HT: EPL/youtube))


Not the kind of day you want to be known for...