• Premier League: Plays of the Day

Brave Terry struck down as Suarez celebrates alone

ESPN staff
November 11, 2012
John Terry scored ... and then got injured © PA Photos
Enlarge

Fifty and out

Chelsea captain John Terry, returning from a ban that is not even acknowledged by fans of the west London club, celebrated his return by opening the scoring at Stamford Bridge - planting a firm header beyond Brad Jones that was his 50th career goal for his boyhood club.

Unfortunately, just minutes later Terry was stretchered off - having seemingly caused his knee serious damage in an awkward (and accidental) collision with Luis Suarez. Considering how much pain England's ex-finest appeared to be in, it might be a while before we see the defender back on the pitch for the Blues. That 51st goal could be a while.

An assist a long time in the making

Jamie Carragher's assist for Luis Suarez's equalising goal - a flick-on from a corner - was his first Premier League assist since 2009. Of course, if you count defensive errors that lead to opposition goals as 'assists', then Carragher has had more than his fair share of those in the last few seasons...

A popular equaliser

After running 20 yards towards the corner flag to celebrate his equaliser, we can only imagine Luis Suarez was a little disappointed to turn around and find that exactly no other Liverpool player had attempted to come across and join him. On your own, son.

Striking statistic

Sunday's victory for Manchester City over Tottenham means they have now won all 11 Premier League matches in which Sergio Aguero and Carlos Tevez both started. There again, Igor Stepanovs has the best win percentage of any Arsenal player in Premier League history so read into that what you will.

Playstation stuff

Emmanuel Adebayor started the day by kissing and hugging just about every person stood in the tunnel prior to kick-off. But within 20 minutes of kick-off he was being ambushed by an angry Pablo Zabaleta, who clearly felt the Togolese had dived to earn a free-kick. Sensing the anger, Adebayor immediately got on the ball again, dribbling back and forth past Zabaleta three times until the City man snapped and lunged in. A booking predictably followed.

Inevitable comeback

The writing was on the wall for Tottenham as soon as they entered half-time with a lead at City. The last time City trailed 1-0 at half-time in a Premier League game that they ended up winning, was in a home match with Spurs in 2008. City had also won four and drawn one of the last five Premier League home games in which they trailed. Maybe they should adopt the chant: "We only win when we're losing…"

Anyone but him...

The more pessimistic of Newcastle fans (there must be some - although probably not the tattooed ones who watch topless even in deepest winter) probably thought it was inevitable that their one-time hero, now representing West Ham, would score the winner against them at St James' Park on Sunday.

And they would have been right ... except, it wasn't Andy Carroll who scored the decider in a 1-0 win for a side managed by Sam Allardyce (another familiar face on Tyneside). Instead it was Kevin Nolan, the one-time Magpies captain, who did the dirty work. The lesson, as always, is never sell any player, ever. At least Joey Barton is in Marseille...

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.
Close