Wally of the Week is back again after match day 5 of the Premier League which, if I’m honest, didn’t throw up too many controversial incidents. That means we have to delve into the catalog of teams and managers who drew blanks over the weekend which features a frizzy Brazilian, an unwanted record and a team who did score but can’t stop conceding.
3. Jurgen Klopp
Liverpool lost ground again on the Premier League front runners after a 1-1 draw at home to Burnley. This kind of result shows the lack of progression the Reds are making under their German manager who has an inferior record to that of Brendan Rodgers had after the same amount of league games in charge. Klopp insisted on starting Ragnar Klavan at centre-back and quite frankly, having Augsburg and AZ Alkmaar on your CV doesn’t even make you good enough to start for Liverpool. He was at fault for Scott Arfield’s first-half goal and has come off for strong criticism from fans and pundits alike. Jurgen Klopp and Liverpool are now without a win in 3 games and after their last away performance at the Etihad, don’t be surprised if they drop more points against Leicester at the weekend.
2. Crystal Palace
The Eagles feature in the Wally of the Week shortlist for a second week in a row and that’s mainly because they’ve broken an incredible record. After their disappointing 1-0 home defeat at the hands of Southampton, they became the first ever top-flight team to lose their first 5 games without scoring a single goal. There’s something for Roy Hodgson to cherish in his retirement if he even retires. Christian Benteke, already on a barren spell in front of goal, had a torrid time up against the Saints defence. The couple of times he did actually move to find space, he squandered golden chances that would’ve secured a result for his side. Even though it seems impossible at the moment, things are only going to get worse for Palace and Hodgson if you look at their upcoming fixtures. They travel to both Manchester clubs, host Chelsea and play an in-form Newcastle team at St. James’s Park. By November, Palace could be cut adrift at the bottom of the league and on their third Manager of the season.
1. David Luiz
Chelsea vs Arsenal – a classic London derby full of history and rivalry. In the match day programme, a Chelsea player stresses the importance of keeping ‘emotions under control’ in these kinds of games. And what does that Chelsea player do during the game? He loses control of the ball and lunges in on an opposition player with brute force and showing his studs. And to make to make matters worse, he was already on a booking, so I don’t know how he thought he was going to get away with it. David Luiz was promptly sent off by Michael Oliver after his horror tackle on Sead Kolasinac in the dying embers of the game. If that isn’t irony, I don’t know what is. The Brazilian will miss a crucial game against Manchester City if he receives an expected 3-match ban and with Andreas Christensen in reserve, the Blues have very little Premier League experience to call upon. Just when we thought the old David Luiz, the one who rolled around on the floor laughing, was gone, his frizzy haired head reared itself once again.