First Half: Cole has a long range driven shot across goal parried away. Coutinho sends a volley into the side-netting. Sakho volleys over the bar. Flanagan survives a handball penalty appeal. Goal! 0-1, Gerrard slips on the ball which allows Ba a clear path through to goal before slotting a low shot from the edge of the box under the keeper.
Half Time: 0-1.
Second Half: Gerrard has a deflected shot from long range saved. Allen has a low volley from the edge of the box saved at the far side. Schurrle has a low drive shot from the edge of the box across goal parried away. Gerrard has a long range strike saved at the far side. Suarez has an effort tipped over the bar. Goal! 0-2, Chelsea break away with Torres and Willian from the halfway line before Torres squares the ball across to Willian who simply taps in.
Full Time: 0-2.
Liverpool 1st, 80pts
Chelsea 2nd, 75>78pts
My Opinion:
My man of the match was Matic. Chelsea dent Liverpool's title hopes. Liverpool were largely dominant throughout but they just couldn't score. Chances came and went whilst Suarez was particularly quiet in front of goal. That defeat will come as a huge blow to their title aspirations as it brings both Man City and Chelsea right back into the mix. Liverpool will need to win their remaining games and hope City slip up but their inferior goal difference to City could prove pivotal at the end of the season.
Chelsea were very negative but took their chances superbly well to claim what might seem a surprising victory to some. Mourinho opted to rest his star players for the champions league semi-final second leg against Atletico Madrid but the team that was put out was still a strong side. They were defensively immense and kept an impressive clean sheet against a very strong attack. Ba pounced on Gerrard's unfortunate slip to open the scoring whilst a very late counter attack was enough to seal the win. Another tactical masterclass from Mourinho who has put his team back in the hunt for the title.
Crystal Palace 0 v 2 Manchester City Dzeko (4), Y. Toure (43)
First Half: Goal! 0-,1 City take an early lead through Dzeko who heads in from Yaya Toure's cross at the near side. Kompany heads wide of the near post. Goal! 0-2, City double their lead just before half time as Yaya Toure cuts inside and curls a shot into the top far corner.
Half Time: 0-2.
Second Half: Puncheon has a low shot from long range across goal pushed past the far post. Yaya Toure curls a shot from the edge of the box over the far top corner. Dzeko has a deflected shot saved. Ince has a penalty claim turned down. Fernandinho hits the back of the bar with a misdirected cross.
Full Time: 0-2.
Palace 11th, 43pts
Man City 3rd, 74>77pts
My Opinion:
My man of the match was Yaya Toure. Impressive City too much for Palace. Crystal Palace were outplayed by a strong City team and there is no shame in that. They went behind early on which set the tone of the match before Yaya Toure scored a brilliant goal to put the game to bed. Puncheon had their best chance in front of goal but Hart managed to cope easily enough with it. A tough game for Palace to endure but they won't play teams as good as that every week.
City were magnificent and took full advantage of Liverpool's defeat earlier in the day to Chelsea. They are back in pole position to win the title now and can go top of the league by winning their game in hand on goal difference. Yaya Toure was instrumental in midfield and was clearly the major difference between the two teams. His goal was pure class that would have been a worthy winning goal of any game. I fancy City to go on and win the title now as they have a much easier run in compared to Liverpool and I just can't see them slipping up with an in form Yaya Toure.
Sunderland 4 v 0 Cardiff City Wickham (26,86), Borini (45+1pen), Giaccherini (76)
First Half: Campbell has a penalty claim turned down. Goal! 1-0, Sunderland take the lead through Wickham who heads into the far top corner from a corner. Penalty! Wickham is fouled inside the box by Cala. OFF! Cala is shown a straight red card. Goal! 2-0, Borini scores from the spot with a low strike into the far bottom corner.
Half Time: 2-0.
Second Half: Whittingham has a deflected free kick parried away. Borini has an effort from close range saved at the near post. Goal! 3-0, Giaccherini scores with a low shot at the near side. Goal! 4-0, Wickham heads into near side from a corner kick.
Full Time: 4-0.
Sunderland 20>17th, 29>32pts
Cardiff 18>20th, 30pts
My Opinion:
My man of the match was Wickham. Sunderland thrash Cardiff. That was a huge victory in more ways than one for Sunderland who have incredibly moved out of the relegation zone. They were clearly the better team today and deserved to win the match. The sending off only pushed the momentum further in their favour and they took full advantage. Wickham has been a revelation of late and bagged another brace whilst Borini and Giaccherini both got themselves on the scoresheet. Poyet has done a brilliant job so far to get them into safety from the position they were in and another positive result should guarantee them premier league football for next year.
On the other hand, Cardiff have had an absolute nightmare here. That result means that they fall to the bottom of the table and two points from safety. It seemed like a harsh penalty that was given against them as it could be argued the foul was just outside the box. However, it was given and Cala was consequently sent off which made it a near impossible job to salvage a point out of. In the end it proved too much of a challenge for Cardiff and they were soundly beaten. With two games left to go, Cardiff have to get at least four points which seems unlikely. I fear the end is near for Cardiff.
Best Goal: Ba, Yaya Toure, Wickham. Winner: Yaya Toure - Watch the Goal here
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