An emphatic 3–0 home win over Bolton Wanderers, the first in the last four games at Anfield by Liverpool, kept them top of the English Premier League on Friday.
It was clear that Bolton’s aim was to pack the midfield and use Johan Elmander as a lone striker.
Rafa Benitez, still recovering from kidney stone surgery, watched the game from the stands.
Albert Riera put Liverpool in front with a volley from a corner within the first half hour that looked as if it had been practiced in the training ground.
Early in the first half, Bolton midfielder Kevin Nolan tried to pick out an unmarked Ricardo Gardner however Liverpool keeper Pepe Reina plucked the weightless cross out the air. Then from that point on, the game was more or less one-way traffic for the Reds.
Riera, Robbie Keane, Emiliano Insua, and Dirk Kuyt had chances but Jussi Jaaskelainen, the Bolton keeper, stopped them all.
No changes were made to the Bolton game plan until the second half, when striker Kevin Davies was brought on for defender Jlloyd Samuel and the formation was changed to 4–4–2. But before the change could be felt, Liverpool had scored another.
Steven Gerrard put through Keane who fired it home with his left foot after deftly controlling the pass.
Liverpool’s third goal came from a move that was started by a Reina throw to Xabi Alonso straight down the middle. Alonso then picked out Yossi Benayoun down the right wing who squared the ball to Keane. Keane made it two goals with the easy tap in. It was a beautiful counter-attacking move.
This match-up provided a comfortable home win for the Blues with goals from Didier Drogba and Frank Lampard.
Drogba scored his first of the season with a header in the third minute from a whipped in Joe Cole cross.
Chelsea boss Luiz Felipe Scolari opted to partner the much-awaited combination of Drogba and Premier League top scorer Nicolas Anelka and it paid off.
Chelsea created most of the chances with Lampard being guilty of not making more of them, however his goal just before the break was well taken and halted, what is by his standards, a dry spell of goal scoring.
West Brom manager Tony Mowbray told the BBC, “The gap in class was there to see. We worked hard enough and tried to frustrate them, but we lacked the quality to give them any real problems.”
Carlos Tevez’s late strike stole a win from a scrappy encounter that moved United into third place with two games in hand on league leaders Liverpool.
In the 72nd minute, Stoke’s Andy Wilkinson was sent off when he was handed his second yellow card for a careless tackle from behind on Cristiano Ronaldo.
United have had a busy schedule last week playing in and winning the Club World Cup. But with their squad depth, they should be able to see the busy Christmas timetable through without too much strain.
There will be one loss though, as Rio Ferdinand pulled up in the warm up with a back spasm. It is thought that he’ll be sidelined for at least 10 days.
Sir Alex Ferguson told the BBC: “Rio suffered a back spasm. He has done it a few times this year. We have got to get to the bottom of the problem.”
Ferguson hailed Jonny Evans who replaced Ferdinand, “We are fortunate to have such a talented boy to call on.
“At 20 he shows such maturity. He reads the game well, he uses the ball well and his pace is good. He has all the attributes of a top player.”
Evans had an early scare in the first few minutes when Ricardo Fuller got onto a long ball but fired wide.
United quickly bounced back with Nemanja Vidic getting on the end of a Ryan Giggs cross only to miss the target.
The game was by no means a pretty affair and lacked open creative movements.
Opportunities fell to Wayne Rooney and Carlos Tevez but Stoke keeper Thomas Sorensen was in place to block them.
Sorensen also thwarted a long range shot from Paul Scholes who was making his first Premier League start in three months after having knee surgery.
Stoke used their typical long throw game plan with Rory Delap at hand.
It was clear United were pushing for the win and the introduction Dimitar Berbatov for John O’Shea gave them more attacking options.
Tevez made the breakthrough with seven minutes to go and Ronaldo nearly made it two with a free kick.
“Hopefully we will look back and say this was a significant win for us,” said Ferguson.
“If we get to New Year’s Day and are only a point or two away, then we will have a chance.
“Stoke are very resilient, determined and gutsy. However there is no question it was a sending off as it was a rash challenge by their player.”
Zat Knight scored in injury time to level the game for Aston Villa who came back from two goals down.
Villa dominated play in the first half with chances falling to Steve Sidwell, Curtis Davies, and James Milner. Totally against the run of play, Arsenal scored when Denilson found a way through the heart of the Villa defense.
Arsenal did have a chance early on in the match when Robin van Persie controlled a long ball and fired, hitting the post.
Arsenal’s second goal came from a move started and finished by Abou Diaby. Diaby linked up with Emmanuel Eboue who ran at the Villa defense on the break. Eboue then fed it back to Diaby for him to coolly slot past Villa’s American keeper Brad Friedel.
The game was open and full of end-to-end moves and it looked like Arsenal was going to win the game against the run of play.
However, a penalty was given when William Gallas slid in on Gabriel Agbonlahor while missing the ball. Gareth Barry quickly stepped up to pull one back for the home side.
Aston Villa managed to grab a point when Stiliyan Petrov crossed in for Knight. Arsenal lacked defenders in the box and Knight provided the final finish to send the home crowd wild.
Arsenal drop a further two points behind their fellow “Big Four” members Liverpool, Chelsea, and Manchester United.
It was clear that Bolton’s aim was to pack the midfield and use Johan Elmander as a lone striker.
Rafa Benitez, still recovering from kidney stone surgery, watched the game from the stands.
Albert Riera put Liverpool in front with a volley from a corner within the first half hour that looked as if it had been practiced in the training ground.
Early in the first half, Bolton midfielder Kevin Nolan tried to pick out an unmarked Ricardo Gardner however Liverpool keeper Pepe Reina plucked the weightless cross out the air. Then from that point on, the game was more or less one-way traffic for the Reds.
Riera, Robbie Keane, Emiliano Insua, and Dirk Kuyt had chances but Jussi Jaaskelainen, the Bolton keeper, stopped them all.
No changes were made to the Bolton game plan until the second half, when striker Kevin Davies was brought on for defender Jlloyd Samuel and the formation was changed to 4–4–2. But before the change could be felt, Liverpool had scored another.
Steven Gerrard put through Keane who fired it home with his left foot after deftly controlling the pass.
Liverpool’s third goal came from a move that was started by a Reina throw to Xabi Alonso straight down the middle. Alonso then picked out Yossi Benayoun down the right wing who squared the ball to Keane. Keane made it two goals with the easy tap in. It was a beautiful counter-attacking move.
Chelsea 2, West Brom 0
This match-up provided a comfortable home win for the Blues with goals from Didier Drogba and Frank Lampard.
Drogba scored his first of the season with a header in the third minute from a whipped in Joe Cole cross.
Chelsea boss Luiz Felipe Scolari opted to partner the much-awaited combination of Drogba and Premier League top scorer Nicolas Anelka and it paid off.
Chelsea created most of the chances with Lampard being guilty of not making more of them, however his goal just before the break was well taken and halted, what is by his standards, a dry spell of goal scoring.
West Brom manager Tony Mowbray told the BBC, “The gap in class was there to see. We worked hard enough and tried to frustrate them, but we lacked the quality to give them any real problems.”
Stoke City 0, Manchester United 1
Carlos Tevez’s late strike stole a win from a scrappy encounter that moved United into third place with two games in hand on league leaders Liverpool.
In the 72nd minute, Stoke’s Andy Wilkinson was sent off when he was handed his second yellow card for a careless tackle from behind on Cristiano Ronaldo.
United have had a busy schedule last week playing in and winning the Club World Cup. But with their squad depth, they should be able to see the busy Christmas timetable through without too much strain.
There will be one loss though, as Rio Ferdinand pulled up in the warm up with a back spasm. It is thought that he’ll be sidelined for at least 10 days.
Sir Alex Ferguson told the BBC: “Rio suffered a back spasm. He has done it a few times this year. We have got to get to the bottom of the problem.”
Ferguson hailed Jonny Evans who replaced Ferdinand, “We are fortunate to have such a talented boy to call on.
“At 20 he shows such maturity. He reads the game well, he uses the ball well and his pace is good. He has all the attributes of a top player.”
Evans had an early scare in the first few minutes when Ricardo Fuller got onto a long ball but fired wide.
United quickly bounced back with Nemanja Vidic getting on the end of a Ryan Giggs cross only to miss the target.
The game was by no means a pretty affair and lacked open creative movements.
Opportunities fell to Wayne Rooney and Carlos Tevez but Stoke keeper Thomas Sorensen was in place to block them.
Sorensen also thwarted a long range shot from Paul Scholes who was making his first Premier League start in three months after having knee surgery.
Stoke used their typical long throw game plan with Rory Delap at hand.
It was clear United were pushing for the win and the introduction Dimitar Berbatov for John O’Shea gave them more attacking options.
Tevez made the breakthrough with seven minutes to go and Ronaldo nearly made it two with a free kick.
“Hopefully we will look back and say this was a significant win for us,” said Ferguson.
“If we get to New Year’s Day and are only a point or two away, then we will have a chance.
“Stoke are very resilient, determined and gutsy. However there is no question it was a sending off as it was a rash challenge by their player.”
Aston Villa 2, Arsenal 2
Zat Knight scored in injury time to level the game for Aston Villa who came back from two goals down.
Villa dominated play in the first half with chances falling to Steve Sidwell, Curtis Davies, and James Milner. Totally against the run of play, Arsenal scored when Denilson found a way through the heart of the Villa defense.
Arsenal did have a chance early on in the match when Robin van Persie controlled a long ball and fired, hitting the post.
Arsenal’s second goal came from a move started and finished by Abou Diaby. Diaby linked up with Emmanuel Eboue who ran at the Villa defense on the break. Eboue then fed it back to Diaby for him to coolly slot past Villa’s American keeper Brad Friedel.
The game was open and full of end-to-end moves and it looked like Arsenal was going to win the game against the run of play.
However, a penalty was given when William Gallas slid in on Gabriel Agbonlahor while missing the ball. Gareth Barry quickly stepped up to pull one back for the home side.
Aston Villa managed to grab a point when Stiliyan Petrov crossed in for Knight. Arsenal lacked defenders in the box and Knight provided the final finish to send the home crowd wild.
Arsenal drop a further two points behind their fellow “Big Four” members Liverpool, Chelsea, and Manchester United.
