First Half: Goal! 0-1, City take the lead in the opening minute as Nasri strikes against the near post with a low shot before Dzeko taps in the rebound from close range at the near side. Fellaini has a volley saved at the near side. Mata fires a shot over the bar.
Half Time: 0-1.
Second Half: Goal! 0-2, City double their lead as Dzeko volleys in from a corner at the near post. Goal! 0-3, Yaya Toure rounds off the night with a low shot into the far bottom corner.
Full Time: 0-3.
Man United 7th, 51pts
Man City 3rd, 63>66pts
My Opinion:
My man of the match was Dzeko. City too strong for United. It was a very poor performance from United who completely outclassed and outplayed. They really struggled to impose themselves in the game and never looked likely to score. It was another tough and embarrassing game to watch as United are clearly finding it difficult to play against the bigger and better teams this year. Bring on that transfer window!!
City started the game superbly and made the game extremely comfortable for themselves when they took the lead within the opening minute. It was pretty much a stroll in the park for City who were dominant, powerful and deserved to win. Another hammer blow to their local rivals and their title pursuit continues along strongly.
Arsenal 2 v 2 Swansea City Bony (11), Podolski (73), Giroud (74), Flamini OG (90)
First Half: Goal! 0-1, Swansea take the lead as Bony scores with a powerful header at the near side.
Half Time: 0-1.
Second Half: Goal! 1-1, Arsenal equalise as Podolski scores with a volley at the near side following a Gibbs cross. Goal! 2-1, Arsenal turn the game around and take the lead as Giroud latches onto a low cross from Podolski to score from close range, slotting past the keeper at the near side. Goal! 2-2, Swansea get a dramatic late equaliser as Britton has a low shot saved before the ball rebounds off Flamini and into his own net.
Full Time: 2-2.
Arsenal 4th, 62>63pts
Swansea 15th, 29>30pts
My Opinion:
My man of the match was Podolski. Flamini own goal scuppers Arsenal. Overall, it was a poor display from Arsenal who struggled to get going until the final third of the game. They went behind early on and it seemed to unsettle their game. However, a brilliant two minute spell saw them turn the game around in their favour and all seemed well again. Unfortunately, Flamini couldn't get out of the way of the keeper's save in the 90th minute and the groans came back at the Emirates. A disappointing result for the Gunners which puts yet another dent into the title bid this year.
Swansea definitely deserved to take away a point from the game although in the end it came from rather fortunate circumstances. They were the better team in the first half but were sloppy in the second which saw them go behind. The Swans will be pleased they did actually take a point but it could have been more.
Newcastle 0 v 3 Everton Barkley (22), Lukaku (52), Osman (87)
First Half: Goal! 0-1, Everton take the lead through a spectacular goal from Barkley who runs from the halfway line to the edge of the Newcastle box before cutting across goal and past the defence and firing a shot into the near top corner.
Half Time: 0-1.
Second Half: Goal! 0-2, Everton double their lead as a low Deulofeu cross finds Lukaku who scores with a sliding effort into the near top corner. Goal! 0-3, Everton round off a great night with another goal as Lukaku plays in Osman who rifles home a shot into the near top corner.
Full Time: 0-3.
Newcastle 8th, 46pts
Everton 6>5th, 54>57pts
My Opinion:
My man of the match was Barkley. Rampant Everton destroy Newcastle. It was a night to forget for the Toon army who had to witness yet another very poor performance from their team. Without Remy they are so so bad and they just can't find anything from anyone in their team. There is clearly no confidence or belief in any of their players and they are suffering terribly because of it. Luckily for Newcastle they are safe from relegation otherwise I would be very worried for them.
Everton were terrific and put in a very strong performance. It was a deserved resounding win whilst there were some huge displays from Barkley and co. Barkley's goal was simply incredible and is surely a contender for goal of the year. Amazing stuff and with that win, Everton move up one place into 5th.
Liverpool 2 v 1 Sunderland Gerrard (39), Sturridge (48), Ki (76)
First Half: Goal! 1-0, Liverpool take the lead as Gerrard scores with a free kick into the far top corner.
Half Time: 1-0.
Second Half: Goal! 2-0, Liverpool double their lead as Sturridge cuts inside before firing a shot into the far top corner. Cattermole slices a shot that hits the crossbar. Sturridge strikes a shot from the edge of the box against the crossbar. Goal! 2-1, Sunderland half the deficit as Ki heads home at the far post from close range following a corner.
Full Time: 2-1.
Liverpool 2nd, 65>68pts
Sunderland 18th, 25pts
My Opinion:
My man of the match was Gerrard. Nervous Liverpool get job done. In the end Liverpool took those three points but it was not as easy as it may have seemed. Although they went 2-0 up, it was almost a case of hanging on to the lead, especially when Ki scored to make it 2-1. The crowd atmosphere got increasingly more tense and nervous which was echoed by the Liverpool players on the field. However, they held on and push ahead for that title.
Sunderland grew into the game as it went on but they were a completely different side when Poyet brought on both Ki and Johnson in the second half. Not sure why they didn't start but when they did come on Sunderland looked so much more threatening going forward. They got one goal back and looked like they might nick an equaliser but it was not to be. Poyet must be ruing his decision not to start them both as the match could have played out completely differently. That defeat means Sunderland are still in desperate times as they currently occupy that final relegation spot.
West Ham United 2 v 1 Hull City Noble (26pen), Jelavic (48), Chester OG (54)
First Half: Penalty! Diame is fouled inside the box by McGregor. OFF! McGregor is shown a straight red card for his foul. Goal! 1-0, West Ham take the lead as Noble slots the penalty home into the far side.
Half Time: 1-0.
Second Half: Goal! 1-1, Hull equalise as a Huddlestone driven free kick deflects off Jelavic and into the near side. Goal! 2-1, West Ham restore their lead as Chester slices into his own far top corner trying to clear a cross.
Full Time: 2-1.
West Ham 14>11th, 31>34pts
Hull 12>13th, 33pts
My Opinion:
My man of the match was Noble. West Ham win ugly. It looks like West Ham are going to be safe from relegation with that win and that was the most important thing. The fans may boo the way they played but it is a results business and they need results in the position they find themselves. It may not have been pretty football but Allardyce has time to work on that if they stay up. With the extra man, West Ham looked reasonably comfortable playing out the match but they got a rather fortunate winning goal when Chester sliced into his own net. With that win, West Ham move up three places into 11th.
Hull were not at their best and were in fact extremely average. Losing their keeper in the first half for a straight red card limited their offensive play and it ultimately cost them tonight. They equalised early in the second half but Chester scoring an own goal didn't help them in the slightest in the tough position they were in already. One to forget for Hull as they fall down one place into 13th with that defeat.
Best Goal: Yaya Toure, Barkley, Gerrard, Osman, Sturridge. Winner: Barkley
League Leaders
1. Chelsea 69pts
2. Liverpool 68pts
3. Man City 66pts
4. Arsenal 63pts
5. Everton 57pts
Relegation Battle
16. West Brom 28pts
17. Crystal Palace 28pts
18. Sunderland 25pts
19. Cardiff 25pts
20. Fulham 24pts
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