Younes Kaboul is not a cow, or a dog, and nine other things we learned from the weekend's football

Published 10:34 14/12/09

Liverpool are still in crisis, Chelsea can't defend set pieces and Fergie doesn't like refs. All things we probably already knew before this weekend, so what did we learn from this weekend's footy?

1) Chelsea booers don't know they're born
It really is a bit galling for the fans of about 89 other League clubs in England when the Chelsea supporters start booing their team after a draw with Everton - the first time they had dropped points at home ALL season. The Stamford Bridge moaners would do well to remember they would have given their eye teeth to have been in this position before Roman Abramovich came over the hill.

2) City's defence is still crap
The young pretenders to Chelsea's big-spending throne have their own problems to deal with. Not only are they drawing with more regularity than Rolf Harris, but their defence remains about as convincing as OJ Simpson's, despite the millions and millions lavished on Kolo Toure and erm, Joleon Lescott.

3) Hull need Jimmy Bullard back sharpish
For all the talk of Liverpool being a two-man team, over at the KC Stadium poor old Jimmy Bullard has to do the lot on his own. They couldn't win for love nor money when he was injured, he comes back and they put together a decent run. Now he's out again, they played out the most uninspiring game ever against Blackburn on Saturday. Get well soon Jimmy!

4) Big Sam's cardiologist will be pleased
Since his heart operation Sam Allardyce in under doctor's orders to avoid excitement. Luckily there was no chance of his heart rate getting even remotely high at Blackburn's turgid 0-0 draw with Hull.

5) Younes Kaboul is not a cow
The Portsmouth defender scored the equaliser at Sunderland on Saturday before being sent off for taking his shirt off. He revealed after the match that he nearly joined the Black Cats last year. He said: “The reason I did not come here was because of Daniel Levy who runs Spurs. He wanted to treat us like a cow. I said to him look I have a personality and a mind of my own, I am not a dog." That's cleared that up then.

6) Villa are the only ones who want a top four finish
Of all the sides trying to make that breakthrough into the top four, Aston Villa unquestionably had the most difficult assignment this weekend: away to champions Manchester United, where they hadn't won for 26 years. Yet they pulled off a great 1-0 win while Spurs lost 1-0 at home to Wolves, Manchester City could only draw with Bolton, and Liverpool lost at home to Arsenal.

7) No change for Liverpool
Rafa Benitez said this weekend was going to be a new start for Liverpool. Sadly for Rafa, after s natching defeat from the jaws of victory against Arsenal with his first choice team, it seems nothing has changed.

8) No more Mr Nice Guy
Often portrayed as the intellectual, calm and measured manager who doesn't need to raise his voice to get his point across, Arsene Wenger has been outed as a boss as shouty as Fergie when he needs to be. The Arsenal players got a right royal rollocking from the Frenchman at half time on Sunday when they were 1-0 down to Liverpool. Him yelling "you're not fit to wear the shirt" obviously worked though, as they came back out and won 2-1.

9) Pulis hails Stoke's team spirit
"The one thing you cannot question is the spirit in the dressing room," said Stoke boss Tony Pulis on Saturday. No the dressing room is fine, it's the showers where things get heated...

10) Clattenburg v Bellamy
Referee Mark Clattenburn is under fire from Manchester City for sending off Craig Bellamy at Bolton on Saturday. A City source said: "At half-time Clattenburg said to some of our staff 'how do you work with Craig Bellamy all week?'." We're not sure about the red card, but we're with Mark on that one.

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