Liverpool and Chelsea were both winners on Sunday, albeit in very different ways, and share top spot in the Premiership on 17 points. Manchester United kept pace with the leaders while Arsenal could only salvage a draw. Hull surged into third place with a 1–0 win over last place Tottenham.
Manchester City 2, Liverpool 3
Liverpool showed great character to come back from two goals down and score an injury-time goal winner courtesy of Dirk Kuyt. Kuyt’s workrate was excellent, as usual, and it paid off just in time to give the Reds the win.
Goals from Stephen Ireland and Javier Garrido put City ahead. Fernando Torres then scored two goals after the break. This win will enhance Liverpool’s belief that this year they can go the long haul and challenge for the title.
Chelsea 2, Aston Villa 0
Chelsea started the weekend at the top of the table with Aston Villa in third.
This week’s match at Stamford Bridge showed there was a bigger gap in the level of play between the two teams.
Many have commented on the fact that Chelsea’s success is built upon the solidness of the team as a unit but this week they showed that they can certainly turn on the style and play some breathtaking soccer.
Frank Lampard set up the first goal with a perfect pass, sliding a through ball to Joe Cole with backspin. The pass sat up into Cole’s stride for him to put his team in front.
Chelsea piled on the pressure and they got the second when American Brad Friedel, the Villa keeper, managed to keep out Michael Ballack’s shot but Nicolas Anelka was there for the rebound.
Villa had a couple of chances but the vast majority of the game was one-way traffic. Chelsea Manager Luiz Felipe Scolari said to the BBC, “In the circumstances, it’s the best performance this season, with four or five players out.”
Sunderland 1, Arsenal 1
Arsenal dropped two points, settling for a draw with Sunderland as they failed to break down the host’s defensive set up.
Theo Walcott caused trouble for Sunderland in the first half down the right side. He pulled the ball back from the byline for Robin van Persie to score, but the goal was disallowed because the ball was said to have gone off the pitch before Walcott pulled the ball back.
Grant Leadbitter came on as a substitution for Sunderland and scored on a terrific shot from 30 yards out in the 86th minute. His first touch controlled the ball and his second touch of the ball was his goal-bound shot.
Cesc Fabregas managed to pull one back in injury time, heading home from a corner, to enable the Gunners to salvage a point.
Blackburn 0, Manchester United 2
Manchester United opened the scoring with a corner to the far post as Blackburn keeper Jason Brown jumped for the ball and didn’t getting there. Wes Brown headed the ball into the goal but replays showed that United defender Nemanja Vidic fouled Brown, preventing the keeper from coming out to catch the ball.
In the second half, Cristiano Ronaldo broke down the right wing and found Wayne Rooney on the edge of the box who smashed a right foot shot across the keeper and into the roof of the net. Even though the first goal was scored under controversial circumstances, United did dominate the game and deserved the three points.
