• Feeling the need to award some warm goal scorers this week.
• Feeling the need to award some ice cold shot stoppers this week.
• Feeling the need for some warmth from this ice cold week.

There were derbies galore this weekend including a dramatic West Midlands derby featuring Wolves and Birmingham City and a certain 36 year old who proved he’s still got something in the tank, a bruising Merseyside derby that could have ended 9 v 9 or less, and a highly anticipated London derby where one team of giants continued their pursuit of silverware and the other team of beautiful passing gnomes gracefully bowed out of the title race.

The team that was second top of the league dealt with bottom of the table and financially stricken Portsmouth, 5-0, where OG-Pompey outscored United 3-2 (debatable). Two teams competing for L4 (lucrative fourth) entertained and canceled each other out in another draw that didn’t produce any goals, but produced some fine individual performances. A certain American scored his first goal in the Premiership and as the Gaffer mysteriously cruised the warm waters of the Gulf of Mexico as ESPN’s guest, we at the mother-ship stayed indoors and out of the 25°F weather and attempted to analyze the Premier League. Hey, what else was there to do, watch the Super Bowl?

Honorable Mentions –

Brad Friedel and Richard Dunne, Aston Villa – I seem to notice a small theme developing here as Villa players, week in-week out seem to deliver strong and consistent performances on their crusade for L4. They’ll need to keep it up as the champs travel to Villa Park this Wednesday looking for revenge, (COME ON ROONEY!) but let’s not get ahead of ourselves. I really like this Villa team. I love what Martin O’Neill has done with them in the aspect that he’s fine to let them sit back and take the brunt of the opposition’s attack waiting for that precise moment when a counter attack presents itself.

Friedel has been quite possibly the best and most consistent keeper in the Premier League all season. The American made numerous fine saves to keep a clean sheet for Villa and his moment of brilliance came in the 41st when he saved a close range flick from Ledley King who was just a few yards out. The quick instincts of Friedel to stretch across the face of goal and divert King’s attempt should be thrown in the hat of top saves of the season.

Maybe the best buy of the season?

Richard Dunne for Villa has barely put a step, ball, header, whatever(!) in the wrong direction all season. Manchester City has to lament letting the talented Republic of Ireland defender go as they continue to struggle to find a cohesive back line. Dunne should have been mentioned last week for his performance against Arsenal in another 0-0 draw. Dunne impressed as he ran with the ball at his feet for 50 plus yards outrunning the, let’s say veteran, Sol Campbell, making himself look like Lionel Messi for a few seconds and the aforementioned Campbell look, well, slow.

Dunne’s sliding block Saturday on Peter Crouch’s 18th minute attempt was an incredible display of poise and timing as Dunne made up 10 yards to perfectly deflect the low Crouch shot. Dunne is strong, good in the air, a goal-scoring threat on set pieces and a natural leader at the back.

Kevin Phillips, Birmingham City – The Premier League and Championship journeyman Phillips came off the bench for the injured Christian Benitez and scored a late brace for the Blues to claim all three points. The first was a classic poacher’s goal as Phillips volleyed a Craig Gardner header home from close range. Right place, right time. Phillip’s second was a masterpiece. City’s Stephen Carr bombed down the right flank and into the penalty area unmolested and sent a neat ball to Phillips who chested down and scissored a right footed strike into the back of the net in one smooth stride. A great piece of skill, technique and control from the veteran striker as Birmingham City continue on their fantastic season and remain in 8th place.

Premier League Footballer of the Week –

Didier Drogba, Chelsea- He’s back. Drogba, love him or hate him, he’s an incredible talent. The Côte d’Ivoire strongman made his return from the African Cup of Nations last week v Burnley and on Sunday scored two and just missed a hat-trick by the skin of Manuel Almunia’s crossbar with a stunning free kick that just wasn’t to be. Drogba officially owns Arsenal Football Club as he’s now scored 12 in 12 games against Arsene Wenger’s men. From the start of Sunday’s big 4 clash with Arsenal, Drogba looked up for it as he made quite the nuisance of himself and only needed seven minutes to open his account for the day.

Drogba patiently awaited a John Terry header to the back post from a Chelsea corner to blast home his first before running at a hesitant Arsenal defence and slotting home a powerful left footed shot to score his second. Chelsea’s second goal was oddly familiar to Manchester United’s second against Arsenal just a week ago. Arsenal, more specifically Arshavin, gave the ball away to Frank Lampard deep in the Chelsea half, Lampard quickly countered and ran untouched with the ball at his feet before sliding to Drogba who continued the forward run shifting the ball to his left and finishing. Game over. For Chelsea, a well worked counter attack. For Arsenal, another failed outing and a defence grasping at straws. The strength of Drogba just too much for the Gooners to deal with.

Thanks to Coachie Ballgames for the new and now official EPL Talk Premier League Footballer of the Week logo. The mother-ship will be back and off the ground floating somewhere high above Lexington, KY this Thursday to cover the midweek Premier League matches from Tuesday and Wednesday. Enjoy your football.

Tuesday and Wednesday bring a full slate of Premier League action to us as the reverse fixtures of the opening weekend are played. Tonight I’ll preview Tuesday’s action, tomorrow night I’ll preview Wednesday’s action. Remember all times are Eastern.

Portsmouth v Chelsea (2:45 pm live on Fox Soccer Channel). Portsmouth have had plenty of time to prepare for Chelsea after having a ten day break. Pompey will have seen Chelsea barely scrape by Juventus and Wigan Athletic. They will have heard Guus Hiddink say that Chelsea need to find a killer instinct. The last three Chelsea performances have proven that they can be had in the second half. The question is can Portsmouth take advantage? I don’t think so, but not for a lack of trying. Portsmouth 0 Chelsea 1

West Bromwich Albion v Arsenal (2:45 pm live on Setanta Xtra. On Setanta Sports 5:00 pm). The two sides who probably at present have the most in common. Plenty of ‘pretty passing’, but no goals to show for it. Arsenal have certainly had their chances, West Bromwich Albion not so much. Both sides are desperate for points for their own individual reason. The one thing that Arsenal have going for them is the fact West Brom leave massive gaps at the back. I just don’t think they can exploit them. Yes until Arsenal can prove they can score goal for two consecutive matches, my prediction for their matches set themselves. West Bromwich Albion 0 Arsenal 0

Liverpool v Sunderland (3:00 pm live on Setanta Sports). Liverpool will be without Fernando Torres  and Alvaro Arbeloa, but will be looking to respond after their horrific performance against Middlesbrough. Sunderland have had plenty of time to prepare for Liverpool, but right now I don’t think it matters much. Liverpool will be looking to take out their bad performance against Boro on somebody, Sunderland will get to face the brunt of that revenge. This one won’t be pretty. Liverpool 3 Sunderland 0

Other Stories
So the story that seems to be getting the most legs tonight is Guus Hididnk’s pledge that he will chase Manchester United until the end of the season for the title. Well he’s right in one thing, it’ll be an uphill battle. As a Chelsea fan, I know this title race is over. There will be no repeat of what happened last season.

Sol Campbell feels that clubs that continue to see racial abuse towards players should see points deductions. That’s a start.

Brad Friedel is comparing Aston Villa’s remaining schedule as ‘11 cup finals‘. Talk about strong talk for a side just looking to get into the Champions League.

Cristiano Ronaldo is saying that Chris Foy wrongly booked him for diving in the Carling Cup Final. From my eyes watching the game, it sure looked like he got it right.

Speaking of the Carling Cup Final, Ben Foster will not have any action taken against him after it was revealed he used his video iPod to watch Tottenham players take penalties during the break between extra time and penalties.

And finally, David James warns there is still plenty of work to do in order for Portsmouth to avoid the drop.

It’s Friday, so if you’re in the mood for I’d-rather-be-reading-than-working, here are several very revealing Premier League-related articles from around the world. Enjoy.

• “Credit Crunch Makes Premier League Clubs Feel The Squeeze” (The Telegraph). Read how the Credit Crunch, which started in the U.S., is having a major impact on Premier League clubs this summer.
• The Premier League Is Considering Playing A Couple Of Carling Cup Games In Asia (BBC Sport). This idea is ridiculous. Premier League clubs already don’t care about the early rounds of the Carling Cup. How much less will they care about it when those matches are played overseas?
• “Peter Kenyon Pushing The Wrong Game In Basketball-Obsessed China” (The Telegraph). The amount of money that Manchester United makes in China is about the same as the club makes from match-day pie concessions.
• UK Internet Traffic To Football Websites And Fantasy Football Sites (Hitwise). No surprise. Fantasy Premier League is number one.
• Sirius Satellite Radio Will Be Broadcasting Premier League Matches In The States Again (Fang’s Bites). The blog also features Sirius’s schedule for the first few weeks.
• “Why Is The Premiership So Popular In India?” (Goal). Read why the match-day commentary is a key to the success of the league in India.
• “Brad Friedel’s Premier Soccer Academies Hosts Its First Big International Tournament” (The Cleveland Plain Dealer). If you build it, they will come.
• “GolTV Scores Time Warner Cable Launches” (Multichannel News). Take that DISH Network!
• Tottenham Launches New Look To Their Matchday Programme (Tottenham Hotspur). Who says football programmes are dead?
• Football Film Festival Coming To London (Fulham FC). I wish I was there.
• “ITV Expands Football Website For New Season” (The Guardian). The Gloryhunter sounds like a winning formula. Shame the bloody video doesn’t work for me. I get an ugly error message.
• “Cheapest Way To Watch Football This Season” (The Mirror). The Brits do make it complicated, don’t they, ‘eh?
• ITV Regional Football Highlights From 1968-1983. Exhaustive research into the history of football on ITV. For me, I grew up on HTV.