SEPTEMBER RESULTS
3rd Rafael Benitez (Liverpool (2nd - 14pts)):
September: 7/9pts
Looking at Liverpool's September prior to any ninth-month ball being hit, Benitez - and the red side of Liverpool in fact - would have accepted an offer of a seven out of nine point haul. With a visit of Manchester United, Stoke City, and a short trip to Goodison Park to take on Everton, who would have thought that the points dropped would have come in the central fixture? The Manchester United triumph was made even more meritorious considering the absence of key personnel: talismanic and influential captain Steven Gerrard, and the emphatic and unforgiving Fernando Torres. To follow that up with a dissappointing draw irked Liverpudlians due to the questionable striking off of a Steven Gerrard set-piece, but business resumed with a convincing twosome from Torres in the Merseyside battle with Everton - a victory that ensured Benitez would claim his seventh derby win. Liverpool - like the other Premier League clubs battling on four fronts this season - had a congested schedule due to an away Champions League trip to Marseille, and a visit of Crewe Alexandra in the Carling Cup - both of which ended with a Liverpool win, but the extra 180 minutes of football did little to tire Liverpool's legs. Robbie Keane has even begun to settle into north-western life as his audacious assist set up Torres in the derby clash. Rafa Benitez has recently said he can smell a title challenge in the air, and states it is reminiscent of the whiffs from his glory, glory Valencia days, he has also promised to bin his rotation policy in favour of a mainstay spine meaning October could be an even more fruitful month for the Spaniard.
2nd Martin O'Neill (Aston Villa (3rd - 13pts)):
September: 9/9pts
Martin O'Neill has enjoyed the full support of a loyal fanbase wherever he has gone to manage, and this unswerving faith in the Northern Irishman stretches back as far as his Wycombe Wanderers days when the home support consistently chanted: 'Martin... Martin, Martin: Give us a wave!' To which he always complied. One man that O'Neill refused to wave goodbye to though is Gareth Barry, and the Villa boss' man management skills have come to the fore as Barry's coquet summer sojourn with Liverpool now seems a distant memory as the versatile midfielder returned to his prime mid month. O'Neill guided Villa to three Premier League wins out of three with a hat-trick of 2-1 victories over Tottenham Hotspur, West Bromwich Albion, and Sunderland. The Spurs win was followed up with a Uefa Cup win leaving the Villans topped up with self assurance but running on empty. The former Celtic boss though significantly strenghtened his side over the summer and Villa's depth was put to the sword. Tony Mowbray, ahead of the West Brom game, gave an admiring glance O'Neill's way when he admitted that: "You have to admire the talent," refering to Villa's rising English quarter. The midlands side then put the Carling Cup loss to QPR to one side as they overcome Roy Keane's Sunderland. As September came to a close, Villa maintained their Champions League spot. Only Manchester United and Arsenal scored more than the clarets last term, and Villa are level pegging on goals scored with top of the league Chelsea.
1st Phil Brown (Hull City (6th 11pts)):
September: 7/9pts
A worthy winner of Goal.com's Premier League Manager of the Month. Phil Brown and his Tigers responded in a 'beau ideal' fashion after their 5-0 August humbling from Wigan Athletic. Their September results read like a title contending side's, not one that was deemed to be battling relegation: a 2-1 away win over Newcastle United; a 2-2 home draw with Everton; concluding with a historic 2-1 away win over Arsenal. While squad rotation has not worked in the past for third placed Rafa Benitez, tinkering seems to be providing a more favourable outcome for Phil Brown. Gabonese international Daniel Cousin, on his second appearance of the season, scored the winner against Arsenal. Throughout the game at the Emirates, Brown remained tactically spot on. He changed a winning tactic ahead of the clash, and boldly played Giovanni behind his strikers in a 4-3-3. Ian Ashbee helped run the midfield and pacey Gunners winger Theo Walcott was largely ineffective as he was not allowed to run the lines like he has in the past, instead being forced to cut inside, where a waiting pack of defenders - led by Michael Turner - would block his path. Hull City remain the only side in the history of the Premier League to maintain an unbeaten record away from home, and are only the second team to have left Ashburton Grove with three league points.
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