After years of highlighting and comparing their incompatible brilliance, Frank Lampard and Steven Gerrard have both ended their England careers and their careers in England this season. Both signed off from the Premier League with a goal in their final match before heading to MLS, but the hugely different circumstances in which they scored and emotions on the day sum up their divergent experiences in the Premier League.
Tag: Premier League
Didier Drogba gets carried off by his teammates in his final match with the club
Prior to Chelsea’s final match of the season, Didier Drogba announced that it would be his last with the club (as a player, at least).
“I want to play for at least one more season and in order to play more football I feel I need to go to another club,” he told Chelsea’s official website. “All the fans know my love for Chelsea and I hope to be back here in the future in another role.”
Drogba started Chelsea’s Premier League finale against Sunderland and, given the occasion, his teammates decided that he should wear the captain’s armband for it. Their show of love and respect for the 37-year-old striker continued when Diego Costa came on for Drogba just before the half hour mark and the other Chelsea players carried the slightly embarrassed Ivorian to a standing ovation.
Dick Advocaat in tears as Sunderland avoid relegation
Sunderland matches the Premier League record of 17 draws in a 38-game season with their scoreless effort against Arsenal, but it was enough to avoid relegation yet again. It also had manager Dick Advocaat in tears…of joy. Not boredom, like everyone else.
Jose Mourinho and Tony Pulis: A tale of middle-aged bromance
Jose Mourinho and Tony Pulis are two men with similar no holds barred approaches to management. Both have proven willing to sacrifice the aesthetic to get the results they need. And, in a more literal sense, Mourinho has poked a rival coach in the eye and Pulis has (allegedly) headbutted one of his own players while naked. So they clearly have a lot in common and they definitely appreciate that about each other.
Cesc Fabregas sent off for being too good at kicking the ball at Chris Brunt’s head
Diego Costa returned to Chelsea’s starting XI for their trip to West Brom and even though the match was ultimately meaningless for the Premier League champions, he still couldn’t help but piss everyone off within the first half hour. Read more
Phil Jones defends like something out of a nature special
Phil Jones is the greatest centre back of all time for this 😂😂😂😂 pic.twitter.com/KS5HGIiN54
— Kash #TeamMayweather (@MiaSanKash) May 17, 2015
In a match that featured Chris Smalling as captain of Manchester United, Phil Jones’ golden retriever on an icy pond method of defending was the oddest thing to happen during the first half of Man United v Arsenal. Hilarious and ultimately somehow effective, but still odd.
Hull’s Jake Livermore tests positive for cocaine, living in Hull considered punishment enough
Hull midfielder Jake Livermore has been suspended by both his club and the FA after testing positive for cocaine (aka Maradona’s Miracle Munch). This is an odd measure, since playing for a relegation threatened club in the city voted Britain’s dullest place in 2008 without being able to take any drugs is punishment enough.
Jose Mourinho texted Andre Schurrle to tell him he was a Premier League champion
Andre Schurrle’s season and a half stint with Chelsea ended in January, when he was sold to Wolfsburg, but just because he’s gone doesn’t mean he’s been forgotten. When Chelsea clinched the Premier League title earlier this month, Schurrle doubted his 14 appearances (only five of which were starts) would be enough to get him a winner’s medal. But Jose Mourinho took it upon himself to clear that up for the German winger.
Goal-line technology gives Swansea a win against Arsenal
Swansea came away with a late winner at the Emirates that left most people wondering what the hell they just saw as goal-line technology proved itself to be Man of the Match.
Liverpool give Chelsea guard of honor, Chelsea fans give Steven Gerrard standing ovation
Adding one more depressing moment to the end of Steven Gerrard’s Liverpool career, the Reds lined up on the pitch at Stamford Bridge to give Chelsea a guard of honor before their match on Sunday. Chelsea clinched the Premier League title last week against Crystal Palace to earn the traditional show of respect from their next opponent.