Summary Review: Round 3 (22/08/2009 to 24/08/2009) 26 August, 2009

Aston Villa provided the biggest talking point of the round, beating Liverpool 3 - 1 at Anfield. Liverpool now have as many defeats this season as they had for the whole of the last, and will have to look for improvements to keep up with their title challenge. Despite what Rafa Benitez believes, Lucas is not going to fill the gaping hole left behind by Alonso. But what a huge three points it was for Villa, who were looking short of ideas in their opening day defeat.

Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur both made it three wins out of three with victories over Fulham and West Ham United respectively. Chelsea in particular, are looking like they are going to methodically and systematically take three points from every match.

Arsenal maintained their perfect start to the season (albeit being a game behind) and continued to give their goal difference an early boost. They put four past Portsmouth to make it ten goals in two games. Equally, Manchester City have won both of their games so far, this time beating Wolverhampton Wanderers as most would have expected. Perhaps less predicted, is the fact that they are now the only team in the league yet to have conceded a goal.

Manchester United put five past Wigan Athletic in a game of two contrasting halves. They had struggled to find a breakthrough in the first half but ran out comfortable winners in the end. Burnley, their conquerors in midweek, continued to turn predictions on their head with another 1 - 0 win, this time against Everton who find themselves at the bottom of the table for now.

Elsewhere, Hull City and Sunderland registered home wins against Bolton Wanderers and Blackburn Rovers respectively while Birmingham City and Stoke City played out a tedious goalless draw (the only draw in the league so far after twenty-six games).

Predictions

Arsenal - Portsmouth
Prediction: 2 - 0
Result: 4 - 1

Birmingham City - Stoke City
Prediction: 2 - 1
Result: 0 - 0

Hull City - Bolton Wanderers
Prediction: 1 - 1
Result: 1 - 0

Sunderland - Blackburn Rovers
Prediction: 1 - 1
Result: 2 - 1

Manchester City - Wolverhampton Wanderers
Prediction: 2 - 0
Result: 1 - 0

Wigan Athletic - Manchester United
Prediction: 1 - 1
Result: 0 - 5

West Ham United - Tottenham Hotspur
Prediction: 2 - 1
Result: 1 - 2

Burnley - Everton
Prediction: 0 - 1
Result: 1 - 0

Fulham - Chelsea
Prediction: 1 - 2
Result: 0 - 2

Liverpool - Aston Villa
Prediction: 2 - 0
Result: 1 - 3

Round 3 Tally: 10 Predictions; 0 Correct Scores; 3 Correct Outcomes
Season Tally: 26 Predictions; 0 Correct Scores; 11 Correct Outcomes

Betting

Birmingham City - Stoke City
Bet: £10 on Home Win at 2.25
Result: Draw (Lost £10.00)

Sunderland - Blackburn Rovers
Bet: £10 on Draw at 3.60
Result: Home Win (Lost £10.00)

West Ham United - Tottenham Hotspur
Bet: £10 on Home Win at 3.00
Result: Away Win (Lost £10.00)

Burnley - Everton
Bet: £20 on Away Win at 2.30
Result: Home Win (Lost £20.00)

Round 2 Tally: £50.00 in Bets; -£50.00 in Takings
Season Tally: £200.00 in Bets; -£65.60 in Takings

Fantasy Football

Finally a more decent gameweek (as compared to the last two). Significant contributions from Cech, Queudrue, Lennon, Cattermole, Wright-Philips and Rooney saw my team notch up 56 points.

I have to do a better job choosing my captain though. Rooney (my captain for the last gameweek) should have been selected to score double points in this gameweek instead.

Overall, 56 points is a good improvement, but more progress is needed if my team are to be contending for any sort of honour this season.

Oh and by the way, if you're interested, you can follow the exploits of my fantasy team here.