These ten things I know are true - week five

The following ten statements are things that I know are true following the Premiership action I've seen over the weekend.

I know that money can buy you happiness – but it might take a while. The clash of the cash at the weekend between Manchester City and Chelsea had been mouthwatering since the blue half of Manchester got flushed with Oil money. A fine start with a Robinho goal but Chelsea looked like a team full of stars who had been playing together for a while. This Chelsea team is scary good and Manchester City will be aspiring to be one their level on the pitch for a couple of years at yet at the very least.

I know that Manchester United playing three strikers away from home at Anfield was a huge gamble that didn't pay off. Yes I know both Liverpool goals were down to individual mistakes by United players (Van der Sar and Giggs) but in the second half Liverpool did look the more likely to grab three points.

I know that Manchester United have missed Ronaldo even more that I thought they would. I knew all about him scoring a zillion goals last season but just his presence on the pitch is important. The opposition have always got to be wary of him and have one eye on him, even if he's not doing anything. United welcome him back in the week and boy do they need him.

I know that referee Alan Wiley is one of the best but even the best can have absolute shockers. He took charge of the Stoke City v Everton game yesterday, which after a lacklustre first half turned into an absolute stormer. He wrongly disallowed a perfectly good Ricardo Fuller goal before awarding a penalty to Everton for a clear handball in the box only to listen to his assistant and give a free kick.

I know that Danny Guthrie's red card was one of the stupidest most petulant things that I have ever seen. I know things are goings tits up at Newcastle and that they were losing at home to Hull City but that doesn't excuse just kicking someone in that manner. I hope he looks himself in the mirror and realises that he has to grow up before he can kick on as a footballer.

I know that Mark Halsey had every right to send John Terry off – but that he didn't have to. It was one of those where a yellow would've sufficed but it could be argued that it was a red card offense. John Terry rugby tackled Jo down with only one covering defender. Had Jo got past Terry then he had Robinho with him so it would've been two on two (including the goalkeeper) with a running start and half the pitch to run into. That is a clear goal scoring opportunity and the rule book says nothing about the last man – just the clear goal scoring opportunity part. I would've given a yellow but if Halsey saw it as a red then I have no issue with that either.

I know that Nemanja Vidic could've been sent off twice for straight red card offenses on Saturday. Following my previous paragraph he could've seen straight red for the Robbie Keane challenge when he was clean through the middle, he only got a yellow. Latterly he got a second yellow for the elbow against Alonso which as we saw in the week in Zagreb could've been a straight red. Howard Webb seemed to forget he had booked Vidic before he was reminded by a Liverpool player – that would've have gone down well with the powers that be.

I know that if Jermain Defoe stays fit all season that he'll challenge for the top scorer in the division honours. He was made for a club like Portsmouth and a manager like Harry Redknapp. He has Peter Crouch alongside him who he'll feed off and he has immense skill himself. With Pompey looking like they are willing to let the shackles off a bit and play more attacking football in recent weeks – expect to see Defoe high in the goal scoring charts all season long and for him to appear in a vast percentage of fantasy teams.

I know that Amr Zaki is someone I'd never heard of but really is someone I should take more notice of. Anyone whose scored five goals in as many games for Wigan is someone worth taking a closer look at.

And finally...

I know that the Premier League is the greatest league in the world. With cracking games and some superb teams it is rare to go through a weekend without many talking points. Even tonight we have a match-up that was 4-4 last season so let's hope for more of the same!