Chelsea moved into first place on Saturday, as they gave visiting Sunderland a 5–0 demolition lesson. Liverpool, after their historic win at Chelsea last week, lost to Tottenham 2–1 despite dominating the game.
It was not a good weekend for Arsenal either, as they lost to Stoke 2–1. Hull was valiant at Old Trafford, scoring three goals, but went home with zero points losing 4–3.
Chelsea’s Nicolas Anelka grabbed a hat trick in a comprehensive win over the Black Cats. In the first 15 minutes of the game Sunderland defended well but they couldn’t hold out, and from then on it was one-way traffic. Alex opened the scoring with Anelka not too far behind with one on the half hour and then again just before the break. Joe Cole then set up Frank Lampard to head in his 100th league goal, and some unselfish play by Florent Malouda set up Anelka for his third.
Liverpool traveled to North London to face Tottenham. The entire game was played under a torrential downpour. Liverpool created many chances but only took one of them.
Robbie Keane was quick of the mark against his old team and set up Dirk Kuyt to smash one in from a tight angle in the third minute.
Spurs keeper Gomes did well by keeping out Steven Gerrard’s volley but later on gave away the ball with some lame footwork that enabled Gerrard to steal the ball and shoot from a very wide position only to hit the bar.
Tottenham, under the new management of Harry Redknapp have been able to find a positive streak and didn’t give up in this game. Their persistence was rewarded when Jamie Carragher headed into his own net to bring the home side back in it in the 70th.
Then, Roman Pavlyuchenko converted a Darren Bent injury-time cross for the home side to take all the points.
Premiership newcomers Hull traveled to Old Trafford. United had enough goal-scoring opportunities in the first half to win three games. Cristiano Ronaldo started the scoring with a low strike but then Daniel Cousin headed one past Edwin van der Sar to level the game.
Michael Carrick, who was playing his first game since being out from injury, then scored from 20 yards out. United kept up the pressure scoring two goals from corners, one a Ronaldo header and the other a Nemanja Vidic volley after the break.
The second half saw Hull really try to force their way back into the game and it paid off when Bernard Mendy lobbed Edwin van der Sar. Later, Mendy was fouled by Rio Ferdinand in the penalty box and Geovanni converted the dot shot. United held on in the last ten minutes of the game though.
Sir Alex Ferguson said to the BBC, “I feel a bit low.
“We should have won by 10 or 11 and we ended up scrambling for a victory. We might have been embarrassed at the end. Cristiano Ronaldo could have had five on his own and I don’t know how many chances Dimitar Berbatov created.”
Arsenal traveled to Premiership newcomers Stoke. The home side has the unusual tactic of utilizing the talent of Rory Delap whose long throw-ins are giving opposing teams nightmares. These long throws led to Stoke’s two goals, a header by Ricardo Fuller and the other a loose ball slotted in by Seyi Olofinjana. Arsenal’s vulnerability off of set plays continues.
Strikers Fuller and Mamady Sidibe were rattling the Gunners defense and it was clear the game plan was to show physical presence to unsettle Arsene Wenger’s men.
Arsenal had possession but failed to create chances with Emmanuel Adebayor having the best chance with a wayward shot.
Robin van Persie and Theo Walcott both came off from the bench to give Arsenal more attacking options. However van Persie was only on 12 minutes when he was sent off for a petulant shove of the Stoke keeper Thomas Sorensen.
To add to Arsenal’s nightmare, Theo Walcott was stretchered off after falling awkwardly and twisting his shoulder.
Adebayor and Bacary Sagna also came off injured in a miserable day for the Gunners.
By the end of the game Gael Clichy’s last minute goal was little to console Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger.
Elsewhere in the Premiership big spenders Manchester City lost to bottom of the table Bolton 2–0 while, on Monday, Aston Villa fell by the same score to Newcastle United, missing a chance to go third in the table.
It was not a good weekend for Arsenal either, as they lost to Stoke 2–1. Hull was valiant at Old Trafford, scoring three goals, but went home with zero points losing 4–3.
Chelsea’s Nicolas Anelka grabbed a hat trick in a comprehensive win over the Black Cats. In the first 15 minutes of the game Sunderland defended well but they couldn’t hold out, and from then on it was one-way traffic. Alex opened the scoring with Anelka not too far behind with one on the half hour and then again just before the break. Joe Cole then set up Frank Lampard to head in his 100th league goal, and some unselfish play by Florent Malouda set up Anelka for his third.
First Loss
Liverpool traveled to North London to face Tottenham. The entire game was played under a torrential downpour. Liverpool created many chances but only took one of them.
Robbie Keane was quick of the mark against his old team and set up Dirk Kuyt to smash one in from a tight angle in the third minute.
Spurs keeper Gomes did well by keeping out Steven Gerrard’s volley but later on gave away the ball with some lame footwork that enabled Gerrard to steal the ball and shoot from a very wide position only to hit the bar.
Tottenham, under the new management of Harry Redknapp have been able to find a positive streak and didn’t give up in this game. Their persistence was rewarded when Jamie Carragher headed into his own net to bring the home side back in it in the 70th.
Then, Roman Pavlyuchenko converted a Darren Bent injury-time cross for the home side to take all the points.
Too Close for Comfort
Premiership newcomers Hull traveled to Old Trafford. United had enough goal-scoring opportunities in the first half to win three games. Cristiano Ronaldo started the scoring with a low strike but then Daniel Cousin headed one past Edwin van der Sar to level the game.
Michael Carrick, who was playing his first game since being out from injury, then scored from 20 yards out. United kept up the pressure scoring two goals from corners, one a Ronaldo header and the other a Nemanja Vidic volley after the break.
The second half saw Hull really try to force their way back into the game and it paid off when Bernard Mendy lobbed Edwin van der Sar. Later, Mendy was fouled by Rio Ferdinand in the penalty box and Geovanni converted the dot shot. United held on in the last ten minutes of the game though.
Sir Alex Ferguson said to the BBC, “I feel a bit low.
“We should have won by 10 or 11 and we ended up scrambling for a victory. We might have been embarrassed at the end. Cristiano Ronaldo could have had five on his own and I don’t know how many chances Dimitar Berbatov created.”
Arsenal Stunned
Arsenal traveled to Premiership newcomers Stoke. The home side has the unusual tactic of utilizing the talent of Rory Delap whose long throw-ins are giving opposing teams nightmares. These long throws led to Stoke’s two goals, a header by Ricardo Fuller and the other a loose ball slotted in by Seyi Olofinjana. Arsenal’s vulnerability off of set plays continues.
Strikers Fuller and Mamady Sidibe were rattling the Gunners defense and it was clear the game plan was to show physical presence to unsettle Arsene Wenger’s men.
Arsenal had possession but failed to create chances with Emmanuel Adebayor having the best chance with a wayward shot.
Robin van Persie and Theo Walcott both came off from the bench to give Arsenal more attacking options. However van Persie was only on 12 minutes when he was sent off for a petulant shove of the Stoke keeper Thomas Sorensen.
To add to Arsenal’s nightmare, Theo Walcott was stretchered off after falling awkwardly and twisting his shoulder.
Adebayor and Bacary Sagna also came off injured in a miserable day for the Gunners.
By the end of the game Gael Clichy’s last minute goal was little to console Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger.
Elsewhere in the Premiership big spenders Manchester City lost to bottom of the table Bolton 2–0 while, on Monday, Aston Villa fell by the same score to Newcastle United, missing a chance to go third in the table.
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