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No expense spared on Anfield benches

Wayne Rooney was left on the bench at Anfield © PA Photos

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Head scratcher
You have to wonder what the respective American owners thought when the teams were announced at Anfield ahead of Saturday's 1-1 draw between Liverpool and Manchester United. Given their US heritage, you could forgive either for struggling to come to terms with English football, and Liverpool owner John Henry even admitted earlier this week that he knew little of the Premier League before he bought the club. So when Henry sees £55 million of talent left on the Liverpool bench for their biggest game of the season, and the Glazers see upwards of £90 million on their bench, it probably begged a question or two...

Hit it higher to beat De Gea
Manchester United will have been delighted to escape Anfield with a point after they survived a late onslaught from the home side at the Kop end. First Dirk Kuyt produced a fine save from David De Gea and then later Jordan Henderson headed over in injury-time. However, the closest Liverpool chance came sandwiched between the two, when De Gea backpeddled, twisted and grew an extra couple of metres to claw a dipping Henderson volley away from the top corner. Fine save!

Have we started yet?
Swansea players looked at the referee in disbelief when they found themselves a goal down inside the first minute at Norwich. Anthony Pilkington's effort was the quickest Premier League goal of the season, timed at 49 seconds, leaving the Swans to rue that late alarm clock.

Super Mario
What do you mean our title isn't imaginative? Very difficult to describe Mario Balotelli by any other adjective after his deadlock-breaker for Manchester City against Aston Villa. Latching onto Micah Richards' header eight yards out, Balotelli showed excellent technique to beat Shay Given with an overhead kick - prompting fans and journalists alike to proclaim "that's super... Mario".

A pump of the first was as far as James Milner would go after scoring against Aston Villa © PA Photos

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Debt repaid
James Milner killed Aston Villa off with City's fourth at the Etihad Stadium, but he stayed true to the latest fashion in football by refusing to celebrate against his former club. Villa were responsible for giving the England man the platform on which to truly launch his career, and after Milner's first really eye-catching season he then decided to jump ship. Don't worry though because he refused to celebrate his part in a Villa walloping. True gent.

Experienced enough to know better
When Premier League managers attempt to hoodwink fans by using the word "experience" to justify big wages for ageing foreigners, don't accept a word of it. Blackburn had former Real Madrid right-back Michel Salgado, not the lowest wage earner by any means, guarding an upright as QPR lined up a corner at Loftus Road. Now, a man with "experience" would have known to guard that piece of white upholstery with his life until the ball is completely cleared. Salgado though, went absent without leave, and was then left red-faced when Heidar Helguson sent a lucky chip over Paul Robinson.

Missing a trick
For those of you who are looking for a reason to use ESPN goals this weekend (providing footage of every Premier League goal direct to your phone... ahem... shameless plug), it might be worth taking a look at Bolton's attempts to get the white round thing in between the sticks. In fairness, they managed it three times against Wigan, but for a long time the game was in the balance as the Trotters led 2-1. Twice they should have killed matters, but Dedryck Boyata (from three yards) and Kevin Davies (from the penalty spot) both messed up in laughable attempts to score.

The magic of Mata
ESPN Arena was unveiled ahead of Chelsea's clash with Everton and Juan Mata featured prominently in the pre-game talk. He did not disappointment Messrs Keegan, Stubbs and Burley as the Spaniard served up a masterclass. He is being tipped to do for Chelsea what David Silva has done for Manchester City and he showed his class with an exquisite pass for Ashley Cole to tee up Daniel Sturridge for the opener and he laid on the third for Ramires as Chelsea beat Everton for the first time since the 2009 FA Cup final.

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