my liverpool fc

The Good – Jermaine Jenas The Tottenham midfielder was man of the match in the Spurs’ impressive 4-0 win over Wigan Athletic.

He was a constant creative threat throughout the match on Sunday, and showed composure in front of goal by scoring twice. Jenas was really up for it and made his first mark after only 13 minutes.

After excellent build-up play by Robbie Keane, whose footwork confounded the Wigan defence, the Irishman drove in a low cross and Jenas was first to it, finishing well from close range.

On 26 minutes, Berbatov found space for a lovely pass in behind for Jenas, and the English international took the ball in his stride having raced from midfield. He took a touch into the box from the left, drawing out Wigan keeper Chris Kirkland. Jenas then cut sharply to his left and flew by the keeper, before finishing low, just inside the near post. It was a beautiful goal from the 24 year-old, who looked comfortable on the ball from the kick-off.

He should have had a first half hat-trick, but he finished into the side netting on one occasion and an effort that beat Kirkland was ruled out for offside. However, Jenas was involved in Tottenham’s fourth goal, 18 minutes from time.

He drove toward the box again, forcing the defence to retreat. Then, he spotted a diagonal run by Darren Bent, and he slotted the ball through. Bent took a touch into space before scoring under Kirkland, who had come out to cut off the angle. A comprehensive and entertaining win by Tottenham, whose free flowing and attack-minded football was achieved in no small part by Jenas’ contribution.

The Bad – Eddie Lewis The Derby County midfielder scored a freak own goal on Saturday, and his blunder epitomized a forgettable 5-0 defeat at home to West Ham.

The visiting side had their way with The Rams, but none of the goals embodied their shortcomings as much as the third, as the thirty-three year-old put the ball into his own net amateurishly.

As the corner came in from Solano, Moore got up to head it but only so far as Lucas Neill, who headed it back into the middle. The ball fell kindly to Jonathan Spector, whose low shot was initially blocked by Lewis, standing on the line at the near post.

But the ball somehow squirmed through the legs of the American, and he was helpless to keep the ball from slowly rolling over the line. A terrible moment for the veteran, but even worse for Derby, who are looking, on this evidence, to be hopeless at avoiding relegation.

The Ugly – Peter Crouch

The Liverpool forward was rewarded with a penalty kick for a ludicrous dive on Saturday, and the resulting penalty secured all three points for the home side in their 2-0 victory against Fulham at Anfield.

After Fernando Torres scored a beautiful goal in the 80th minute, Liverpool looked like scoring a second. Six minutes from time Ryan Babel played a through ball in for Peter Crouch, and while running onto it he went down, falling on the ball.

Referee Steve Tanner pointed to the spot, but upon a second viewing it is evident that the lanky English striker tripped over himself, his right leg clattering into the back of his left. Crouch will not want to watch that incident again, but the poor decision led to an assured league win for Liverpool, the first one in three weeks. And whether Crouch dived intentionally or simply tripped, the referee’s mistake turned an embarrassing situation for the 26 year-old into one that the Liverpool faithful won’t be complaining too much about.