Liverpool failed to beat Chelsea at Stamford Bridge on Sunday dropping the Reds down to sixth behind Arsenal on goal difference with the Londoners having a game in hand! Chelsea who beat the Merseysiders 2 – 0 on Sunday move top of the league after Manchester United dropped two points against Sunderland on Saturday afternoon. Liverpool have really looked out of sorts this week, firstly being defeated in the European Champions League by Fiorentina on Tuesday and then Sunday’s loss to Chelsea. The Reds really don’t look like the team that beat Hull City 6 – 1 last Saturday. Liverpool were frustrated by Chelsea Didier Drogba’s theatrics; the man should be on a stage not a football pitch with his dives, going down with minimal contact. No-one can deny that the Ivory Coast striker is one of the most talented players in English football but his theatrics ruins it for me. Although Drogba didn’t get on the score sheet himself; the Ivorian did deliver the final balls allowing for Nicolas Anelka and Florent Malouda to find the back of the net. Liverpool’s title challenge may already be starting to falter; this game against Chelsea was a crucial game with the top six being so close this season. The Reds find themselves six points off the top of the table and four points off second placed Manchester United. Liverpool’s indifferent form so far this season doesn’t bode well for the remainder of the 2009/10 season. Sure the other top teams have had patchy form as well but Liverpool simply don’t have the form to capitalise on others slip-ups.
In Formula 1; Jenson Button’s title hopes are in jeopardy as Sebastian Vettel closes to 16 points of the Briton and just two points behind Rubens Barrichello. Button only needs two fifth place finishes to take the drivers championship but with Brawn struggling to get in the points at Suzuka and Vettel’s late season charge, getting two fifth place finishes could be harder than it would seem. Will Ross Brawn put all his eggs in one basket and push all resources into Jenson’s title bid or will he allow for his two drivers to battle it out for the remaining two races. Personally I would put my eggs in the Jenson basket as Rubens is unlikely to outscore his team mate by 15 points in two races, Rubens is equal to Jenson in skill and experience, certainly not better than Button by any stretch of the imagination. Although I believe that Jenson’s saving grace will be Vettel’s engine supply; the German has to use the same engine for the remaining two races so will be cautious while Jenson can afford to push his Mercedes engine harder, the Mercedes power unit has been bullet proof this season; which can’t be said for the Renault engine in the back of the Red Bull. Overall I would say this season has been dull; the first half of the season saw Brawn dominance, the second half has seen half dozen race winners but none of the races could be described as exciting; I would say “processional” is the best word to describe this season, with the exception of the first two races we have seen very little overtaking this year. The Japanese Grand Prix at Suzuka sums up this season nicely; with five laps remaining the safety car pulled in and not one overtaking manoeuvre took place; dear Max Mosley; it seems your radical regulation changes have done the square root of nothing to improve the spectacle of Formula One! Hopefully the next FIA president will have more foresight and be able to improve the spectacle that is Formula One; I hope that man is former rally world champion Ari Vatanen but I have a feeling the election will be “fixed” by incumbent president Max Mosley in former Ferrari team principle Jean Todt’s favour.
This morning I went to attempt to get my learners permit so I can drive legally as long as a licensed adult is also in the car. We arrive at the DMV and find it out it’s $10 for the learners permit which is dirt cheap compared to a UK provisional licence. Then they ask for ID, I hand over my permanent resident card and I am told I need something from list C or D, the only thing that I have is our marriage licence which Erin stores at her mothers house for safe keeping; which we can’t get it until this evening. I have multiple forms of ID in my wallet; in fact I have more ID now than I have in my life. So we need to go back tomorrow with a piece of postal mail with my name on it; marriage certificate and my permanent resident card. You would think that they’d accept my ID as I have four cards with my name on it; two of them are government issued, also they don’t accept foreign birth certificates; that’s Kansas for you! I need to get the learners permit so Erin’s grandmother can sign over her car to me as she is unable to drive any more due to illness. Its kind of hard for me to accept such a gift as I have only been in the family for nine months, but Erin and I sure appreciate it as it will make life easier when I am working and I have my full drivers licence.