“We've showed that we are genuine contenders and we are going to fight to the end for this.”
Goals from Steven Gerrard and Luis Suárez helped Liverpool thrash Manchester United 3-0 at Old Trafford. Liverpool are now four points behind Chelsea in the Premier League, but have a game in hand.
Chelsea suffered a shocking 1-0 defeat at Aston Villa with a late strike from Fabian Delph. Arsenal beat Tottenham Hotspur 1-0 to stay in contention for the Premier League title.
Manchester City won 2-0 at Hull City with goals from David Silva and Edin Džeko. Everton climbed to 6th in the table after a 2-1 win versus Cardiff City at Goodison Park.
Hull City 0 Manchester City 2 – 12.45pm KO, Saturday
Manchester City beat Hull City 2-0 to move fourth in the Premier League.
The home side started brightly and threatened to score early on. It was strong pressure by Hull’s Nikica Jelavi? that prompted a bad tackle from City Skipper Vincent Kompany, resulting in a red card.
With the visitors down to ten men early on, it was not going to be easy. However after a good team move, a David Silva strike gave Manchester City a 1-0 lead.
Hull started the second half with intent, but were unable to convert their chances. Edin Džeko then sealed the win with a last minute goal to pile the pressure on league leaders Chelsea.
Aston Villa 1 Chelsea 0 – 5.30pm KO, Saturday
Following Manchester City’s lunchtime victory, the pressure was on Chelsea to maintain their dominance at the top of the Premier League. The match turned out controversial with two red cards for the visitors and a dismissal for Chelsea boss José Mourinho.
Chelsea certainly did not play like Champions-elect as they fell well below their best. The home side took advantage of playing against ten men. Willian’s second yellow card saw him go for an early bath halfway into the second half.
A well worked team move eight minutes from time saw The Villans stun The Blues and take a deserved lead through Fabian Delph. Chelsea’s misery was complete when Ramires was given his marching orders following a dangerous challenge on Karim El Ahmadi.
An incensed Mourinho said at full time: “We must be very, very unlucky to have another refereeing performance like this one. This is not about one mistake from a referee. This is about a performance from minute one to minute 94.”
A confident Chelsea fan on Facebook said: “We are still top even after losing. I am not worried.”
Manchester United 0 Liverpool 3 – 1.30 pm KO, Sunday
Two penalties from captain Steven Gerrard and a late Luis Suárez strike sent Liverpool second in the table. Although Manchester United did not play to their normal standards, full credit to Liverpool for not allowing them to do so.
Liverpool took a well earned lead eleven minutes before the break, courtesy of a Gerrard penalty after Rafael handled the ball.
Manchester United then gave away another penalty, this time for a Phil Jones foul on Joe Allen. Gerrard converted the spot kick, prompting a huge celebration from the away fans.
The home side could not convert their chances, before Liverpool were awarded their third penalty for a foul on Daniel Sturridge. Defender, Nemanja Vidi? was shown the red card after committing his second bookable offence. Gerrard was denied a hat trick, as his third penalty struck the post.
Liverpool having the last laugh, rubbed salt into the wound as Sturridge put Luis Suárez through on goal to grab Liverpool’s third.
An ecstatic Gerrard said post-match: “We’ve showed that we are genuine contenders and we are going to fight to the end for this.”
At this stage last season, Manchester United were leading by twenty-nine points following a 2-1 win against Liverpool at home. Since then, both teams fortunes have changed dramatically.
Tottenham Hotspur 0 Arsenal 1 – 4pm KO, Sunday
Despite missing a number of key players, Arsenal pulled off an important win to keep their title challenge alive.
A quick start by the visitors led to a goal in the 2nd minute as the ball inadvertently fell to Tomáš Rosický, who made no mistake in firing the Gunners 1-0 up.
Although Arsenal could not extend their lead, Spurs did not manage to find that all important equaliser. Spurs were left to rue missed opportunities as yet another defeat dented their hopes for a European spot.
Spurs have lost three of their last four Premier League encounters, scoring just the one goal during this period.
The magnitude of this win was felt all the way in India as an ardent Arsenal fan tweeted: “Yes. Yes. Yes. What a goal, what a derby.”
Elsewhere, Everton kept their push for a European spot alive after a 2-1 win at home against Cardiff City. Shahid Khan’s Fulham managed to get all three points in their 1-0 win against Newcastle United at Craven Cottage.
Southampton’s good home form continued as they swept aside Norwich City in a 4-2 win at St Mary’s. While Stoke City beat West Ham United 3-1 in a mid-table clash, West Bromwich Albion eased their relegation fears with at 2-1 victory at Swansea City.
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