Everton prevented Liverpool from returning to the top of the English Premier League by earning a 1–1 draw after Tim Cahill’s 86th minute equalizer on Monday. Liverpool fell to second, equal on points with Manchester United but with a worse goal differential. United has a game in hand as well.
Liverpool had taken the lead in the 68th minute courtesy of a long Steven Gerrard drive.
There was a lot riding on this Merseyside derby for the red half (Liverpool). But the blue half (Everton) has become a very difficult team to beat as their 7–2–2 away record proves.
Liverpool’s home record fell to 6–5–0, simply not good enough if they want to win the title. This Merseyside derby result was their fourth draw in their last six Premier League games.
Perhaps the off-field distractions of coach Rafa Benitez’s contract situation and his verbal assault on Manchester United’s Sir Alex Ferguson are becoming an impediment to Liverpool’s performance.
Meanwhile, Everton looks like a credible UEFA Cup candidate. The Toffees sit comfortably in sixth position in the table, five points back of Arsenal and five points up on Wigan Athletic.
Nemanja Vidic was in unstoppable form. The mainstay of Bolton’s attacks was set pieces and Vidic and Evans worked well on beating them down.
Bolton had one good chance from open play when Fabrice Muamba’s shot from long range was tipped over the bar by United goalkeeper Edwin Van der Sar.
Midfielders Anderson and Michael Carrick were not providing the penetration needed and Sir Alex Ferguson made a decisive change in the 69th minute by bringing on the more attack-minded Paul Scholes and Ryan Giggs as substitutes.
Then in the final minute, Giggs played a through ball with the outside of his foot to the feet of striker Carlos Tevez who had pushed out wide. Tevez then floated a cross in for Berbatov to head in from six yards out.
The win saw United break the record for the number of consecutive clean sheets with ten, a record previously held by Jose Mourinho’s Chelsea in the 2004–05 season.
Bolton boss Gary Megson told the BBC: “I don’t know if this result was ominous for the rest of the league but if anyone finishes above United, they will win it.”
Long throw specialist Rory Delap gave Stoke the lead on the hour, as he dribbled past two Chelsea defenders and coolly chipped over Petr Cech’s tall figure into the back of the net.
Stoke pushed hard on the attack and, at times, left Chelsea wrong-footed with their physical play and direct balls into the heart of the Blues defense.
Stoke’s new signing James Beattie was making his physical presence felt but, along with striker Richard Cresswell, failed to provide the service to open up the Chelsea back four.
With three minutes left to play, Juliano Belletti popped up at the far post to head in Franco Di Santo’s headed cross.
Then, deep into injury time, Frank Lampard slammed home a loose ball in the 18-yard box to give the home fans something to cheer about.
Chelsea manager Luis Felipe Scolari told the BBC before the match that Stoke are “more dangerous than all the teams in England and the world” and after the game commented on his team’s success in not conceding from set pieces, which has been a problem for Chelsea of late.
“Today it was important to win because we got three points and we did not concede from a set piece.
“What you need, Frank gives to you. Before I have some pressure, now I don’t have pressure.”
“I understand they are happy with this result and we are more together than before because we have won two games.”
On the hour, Ashley Young broke down the wing to pull a cross into the penalty area for James Milner to bundle the ball in with his head and shoulder.
Young, who recently became the only player to win player of the month three times in one year, saw red when he showed two sets of studs to Sunderland midfielder Dean Whitehead. The referee no choice but to send off Young.
But Villa got the winner when Gareth Barry slammed a penalty home in the 80th minute after striker Gabriel Agbonlahor was cut down in the box.
“In the circumstances it was a magnificent win,” said Villa manager Martin O’Neill.
“I’m delighted with the way we fought back and showed fantastic determination and ability.
“I have no complaint about Ashley’s challenge. If you go in two-footed off the ground, it is my belief it is a red card.”
Hull then pulled one back with a header from frustrated striker Daniel Cousin who got on the end of Bernard Mendy cross in the 65th minute.
French midfielder Samir Nasri put Arsenal ahead in the 82nd minute with a low shot to the far side of the net. And then the game was put beyond a doubt four minutes later when Nicklas Bendtner played a give-and-go with Van Persie.
“Bernard Mendy was a handful with his pace and determination, but overall it was a good contest between him and Gael Clichy,” said Arsenal’s Arsene Wenger.
“I believe this team goes from strength to strength. Mentally they were up for it, we were focused, united, and ready for the battle. And we gave it a go until the end.”
Liverpool had taken the lead in the 68th minute courtesy of a long Steven Gerrard drive.
There was a lot riding on this Merseyside derby for the red half (Liverpool). But the blue half (Everton) has become a very difficult team to beat as their 7–2–2 away record proves.
Liverpool’s home record fell to 6–5–0, simply not good enough if they want to win the title. This Merseyside derby result was their fourth draw in their last six Premier League games.
Perhaps the off-field distractions of coach Rafa Benitez’s contract situation and his verbal assault on Manchester United’s Sir Alex Ferguson are becoming an impediment to Liverpool’s performance.
Meanwhile, Everton looks like a credible UEFA Cup candidate. The Toffees sit comfortably in sixth position in the table, five points back of Arsenal and five points up on Wigan Athletic.
Bolton Wanderers 0, Manchester United 1
A last-minute goal from striker Dimitar Berbatov gave United top spot in the English Premier League. United who had been denied on many occasions by Bolton keeper Jussi Jaaskelainen made the break through in the dying moments of the game leaving the hosts without a point.
United were without Rio Ferdinand, Wayne Rooney, and Patrice Evra but had late fitness tests passed by Carlos Tevez and Jonny Evans.Nemanja Vidic was in unstoppable form. The mainstay of Bolton’s attacks was set pieces and Vidic and Evans worked well on beating them down.
Bolton had one good chance from open play when Fabrice Muamba’s shot from long range was tipped over the bar by United goalkeeper Edwin Van der Sar.
Midfielders Anderson and Michael Carrick were not providing the penetration needed and Sir Alex Ferguson made a decisive change in the 69th minute by bringing on the more attack-minded Paul Scholes and Ryan Giggs as substitutes.
Then in the final minute, Giggs played a through ball with the outside of his foot to the feet of striker Carlos Tevez who had pushed out wide. Tevez then floated a cross in for Berbatov to head in from six yards out.
The win saw United break the record for the number of consecutive clean sheets with ten, a record previously held by Jose Mourinho’s Chelsea in the 2004–05 season.
Bolton boss Gary Megson told the BBC: “I don’t know if this result was ominous for the rest of the league but if anyone finishes above United, they will win it.”
Chelsea 2, Stoke 1
A very late comeback enabled Chelsea to take all three points and keep pace with the top of the table.
Captain John Terry had pulled out in the warm-up with an ankle problem and played no part in the match.Long throw specialist Rory Delap gave Stoke the lead on the hour, as he dribbled past two Chelsea defenders and coolly chipped over Petr Cech’s tall figure into the back of the net.
Stoke pushed hard on the attack and, at times, left Chelsea wrong-footed with their physical play and direct balls into the heart of the Blues defense.
Stoke’s new signing James Beattie was making his physical presence felt but, along with striker Richard Cresswell, failed to provide the service to open up the Chelsea back four.
With three minutes left to play, Juliano Belletti popped up at the far post to head in Franco Di Santo’s headed cross.
Then, deep into injury time, Frank Lampard slammed home a loose ball in the 18-yard box to give the home fans something to cheer about.
Chelsea manager Luis Felipe Scolari told the BBC before the match that Stoke are “more dangerous than all the teams in England and the world” and after the game commented on his team’s success in not conceding from set pieces, which has been a problem for Chelsea of late.
“Today it was important to win because we got three points and we did not concede from a set piece.
“What you need, Frank gives to you. Before I have some pressure, now I don’t have pressure.”
“I understand they are happy with this result and we are more together than before because we have won two games.”
Sunderland 1, Aston Villa 2
In an open end-to-end game with a few flash points, visiting Aston Villa stole the points in the North of England.
Sunderland took the lead with Danny Collins heading a Carlos Edwards free-kick into the back of the net in the 11th minute.On the hour, Ashley Young broke down the wing to pull a cross into the penalty area for James Milner to bundle the ball in with his head and shoulder.
Young, who recently became the only player to win player of the month three times in one year, saw red when he showed two sets of studs to Sunderland midfielder Dean Whitehead. The referee no choice but to send off Young.
But Villa got the winner when Gareth Barry slammed a penalty home in the 80th minute after striker Gabriel Agbonlahor was cut down in the box.
“In the circumstances it was a magnificent win,” said Villa manager Martin O’Neill.
“I’m delighted with the way we fought back and showed fantastic determination and ability.
“I have no complaint about Ashley’s challenge. If you go in two-footed off the ground, it is my belief it is a red card.”
Hull 1, Arsenal 3
Arsenal had a spirited come back which kept them in fifth place, six points behind the league leaders Manchester United.
Emmanuel Adebayor scored first with a header in the 30th minute soon after fellow-striker Robin van Persie hit the woodwork.Hull then pulled one back with a header from frustrated striker Daniel Cousin who got on the end of Bernard Mendy cross in the 65th minute.
French midfielder Samir Nasri put Arsenal ahead in the 82nd minute with a low shot to the far side of the net. And then the game was put beyond a doubt four minutes later when Nicklas Bendtner played a give-and-go with Van Persie.
“Bernard Mendy was a handful with his pace and determination, but overall it was a good contest between him and Gael Clichy,” said Arsenal’s Arsene Wenger.
“I believe this team goes from strength to strength. Mentally they were up for it, we were focused, united, and ready for the battle. And we gave it a go until the end.”
