The Sports Lowdown For All Your News and OpinionsA review of all the weekends’ Premier League action. Manchester City suffer another loss, Chelsea couldn’t build on last week’s triumph while the Red Devils top the league for the first time this season.
Leicester City 2-5 Arsenal.
A superb Alexis Sanchez hat trick was enough to see Arsenal take all the points in an enthralling clash at the King Power Stadium. Leicester were by far the sharpest out of the two teams in the opening stages, Jamie Vardy hitting the post within the first ten minutes. It didn’t take Vardy long to get himself on the score sheet, slotting home from close range to open the encounter. He could’ve grabbed himself a second but could only see his header deflect off the bar. Theo Walcott is currently in incredible form, so there was no surprise to see him equalize for the Gunners, running onto a Santi Cazorla through ball and netting. Arsenal found themselves in the lead after 33 minutes, Sanchez connecting well with Hector Bellerin’s cross. In the 57th minute Sanchez had his second, Mesut Ozil’s inventive chipped ball finding the head of Sanchez, who was the first one to the ball to net into an empty net. Sanchez completed his hat trick in the 81st minute when his emphatic long range effort beat Kasper Schmeichel and made the score line 1-4. Vardy managed to get one back for Leicester, a curling effort from close range that left Petr Cech rooted to the spot. There was time for another goal as the out of favour Olivier Giroud fired past Schmeichel from close range deep into second half stoppage time.
Tottenham Hotspur 4-1 Manchester City.
Tottenham inflicted more pain on to City as they cruised to a three goal margin win. Controversial scenes for three of the goals as they were offside, Harry Kane managed to get himself on the score sheet. The result means Manchester City have now dropped down to second, being leapfrogged by their noisy neighbours. Kevin De Bruyne opened the scoring for the day with a tidy finish from the edge of the box. Replays show that De Bryune was marginally offside. Spurs got themselves an equalizer on the stroke of half time, Eric Dier scoring an absolute cracking goal from 30 yards out, however, replays show that passing play up to the goal Kyle Walker was offside by a considerate amount. It took spurs five minutes to score in the second half, Toby Alderweireld meeting Erik Lamela’s free kick to put Tottenham ahead. Christian Eriksen saw his impressive 25 yard free kick cannoning off the post and back into play, Kane was in the right place at the right time and put Spurs 3-1 up. Lamela got himself on the score sheet and all but eneded the game with eleven munutes to go. He took it round Willy Caballero and made it 4-1.
Newcastle United 2-2 Chelsea.
Chelsea couldn’t build on their win last week as they had to scamper back from a 2-0 deficit to leave St James’ Park with a point. Newcastle started well and had Chelsea defending deep in the first half, Ayoze Perez opened up the scoring in the 42nd minute when he pounced on a Chelsea defending error. Newcastle had doubled their lead in the 60th minute, Perez involved again, his corner was met by Georginio Wijnaldum to head home. Ramires came on for the away team and made an impact almost immediately, his 20 yard effort went flying into the top corner. Chelsea were level after Willian’s free kick was whipped into the box, Ramires run past the keeper had blinded Tim Krul’s view of the ball and it flew into the back of the net.
Liverpool 3-2 Aston Villa.
Liverpool got back to winning ways after a tight encounter at Anfield saw them take all the points as a superb Daniel Sturridge brace was enough to win the game. James Milner started the game brightly and grabbed himself a goal in the second minute of the match, a shot from outside the box curling into the bottom corner. Sturridge got his first goal in the 59th minute, Milner’s flick up to him was met by an excellent volley that gave Brad Guzan no chance. Villa got themselves a goal though seven minutes later, Rudy Gestede converting from close range. Less than a minute later and Liverpool had their two goal barrier again, this time Sturridge linking up well with Phillipe Coutinho and converting calmly past Guzan. Liverpool conceded again to make it an edgy finish, a second goal from Gestede but Liverpool took all three points.
Manchester United 3-0 Sunderland.
United ran out comfortable winners when they hosted Sunderland on the weekend, Goals from Wayne Rooney, Memphis Depay and Juan Mata was enough to see them home. The game didn’t get its first goal until the 45+4th minute, Mata squaring the ball to Depay for him to tap into an empty net. It only took United one minute to double their lead in the second half, Anthony Martial crossing the ball for Rooney to convert home via his knee. Costel Pantilimon kept out Depay late on but could do nothing for Mata’s goal, the ball running smoothly for the Spaniard to convert home at the back post.
