Premier League Review.

A review of all the Premier League’s action, including a good win for Sunderland while Jamie Vardy broke an impressive record.

Leicester City 1-1 Manchester United.

Jamie Vardy netted for the eleventh consecutive time against United on the weekend, and broke the record for scoring in consecutive games. Bastian Schweinsteiger spoiled the party for the hosts as he netted for the visitors. Vardy broke the deadlock in the 24^th minute, his inch perfect run split the away defence and he kept his cool to strike past David De Gea. Riyad Mahrez saw his shot saved well by De Gea. Schweinsteiger levelled for the visitors in stoppage time of the first half, his free header rocketing into the back of the net thanks to a perfectly placed corner from Daley Blind. Kasper Schmeichel did well to keep the scores level when his reflex save prevented Schweinsteiger getting his second of the day. Leonardo Ulloa had a great chance to win it for the Foxes but saw his effort well stopped by the impressive David De Gea.

Crystal Palace 5-1 Newcastle United.

Palace were in destructive mode Saturday afternoon when they put five past a sorry Newcastle side. Yannick Bolasie and James McArthur chipped in with two goals each while Wilfred Zaha got himself on the score sheet too. Papiss Cisse got one for the visitors. Ironically, Newcastle led with ten minutes on the clock, no one checked Cisse’s run and the Senegalese had a free header at the far post. McArthur got Palace back to level terms four minutes later, his deflected shot beating Rob Elliot in the visitor’s goal. Connor Wickham then squared the ball across the Newcastle box and Bolasie got his first of the afternoon. It only took the home side two minutes after the interval to grab their fourth, Yohan Cabaye producing a good free kick for Damien Delaney to head into Bolasie’s path to grab his second and Palace’s fourth. The scoring was complete when the Toon failed to clear their lines and McArthur put a fifth past a sorry Rob Elliot in the Newcastle goal.

Bournemouth 3-3 Everton.

Fantastic game, excellent come back from the hosts who looked down and out in the 80^th minute. Ramiro Fumes Mori, Romelu Lukaku and Ross Barkley scored for the visitors. Adam Smith and a brace from Junior Stanislas completed the comeback for the hosts. Everton were ahead in the 25^th minute after Fumes Mori leapt well to meet Barkley’s corner with a powerful header. The Visitors doubled their lead eleven minutes later, Lukaku latching on to a brilliant ball from Gerard Deulofeu and beating the Bournemouth stopper at his near post. The Cherries failed to trouble Tim Howard and looked destined to lose yet another game in this season’s campaign. After a Matt Ritchie corner was cleared the ball fell to Smith who connected with the ball cleanly, everyone around the ground watched the ball fly into the top corner of the net. Stanislas then got the hosts back to level terms in the 87^th minute, Joshua King providing the assist. Everton thought they won the match in 90+5 minutes, Bournemouth failing to clear their lines and Barkley converting home from close range. The fourth official announced there would be five minutes added on, however Bournemouth got their equalizer in the 90+8 minute, that man Stanislas once again providing the goods for the strong spirited Bournemouth.

Manchester City 3-1 Southampton.

City bounced back with a comfortable win at home to the Saints on the weekend. Goals from, Kevin De Bruyne, Aleksandar Kolarov and Fabian Delph were enough to see the hosts clear. Shane Long got one for the visitors. Maya Yoshida had a nightmare for the opening goal, trying to take on Raheem Sterling when the sensible option was to clear his lines, after retrieving the ball Sterling then squared the ball for De Bruyne who converted with ease. Delph got City’s second goal in the 20^th minute, a long range drill that took a major deflection ended up in the visitors net. Long gave the visitors hope when he leapt well and headed Sadio Mane’s impressive cross into the net. The scoring was complete in the 69^th minute, De Bruyne switched the play to Kolarov whose half volley found the bottom corner.

Aston Villa 2-3 Watford.

Villa put up a valiant effort when they hosted Watford, but for too many times this season, came off second best. Goals from Troy Deeney, Odion Ighalo and an Alan Hutton own goal secured the win for the London team. Micah Richards and Jordan Ayew netted for the hosts. Seventeen minutes the game had to wait for its first goal, Villa failing to clear their lines and the ball finding its way to Ighalo to put the visitors 1-0. Richards put Villa level just before halftime, his powerful header the difference. Watford started the second half stronger and got themselves back in front in the 69^th minute, good pressure from Ighalo forced Hutton to convert into his own net. Deeney wrapped up the points in the 85^th minute, his powerful header gave Brad Guzan no chance. Ayew got one back for the hosts, his fantastic curling effort from the edge of the box. Despite pressure from the hosts they could not find another, and Watford left Villa Park with all three points.

Sunderland 2-0 Stoke City.

Stoke fell just short when they played Sunderland on the weekend. A big factor of the game was Ryan Shawcross’s second yellow while the game was poised at 0-0. Jermain Defoe had a good chance to open the scoring midway through the first half, his effort just wide of the target. Shawcross picked up his first yellow for a clinical foul, preventing Steven Fletcher progressing into the Stoke box. He picked up his second early in the second half for a similar foul. Patrick Van Aanholt got his first goal Sunderland, a long range effort that snuck into the near post. The Black Cats only had to wait two minutes for their second, Duncan Watmore advancing into the box with great pace and slotting past Jack Butland to complete the scoring for the afternoon.

Norwich 1-1 Arsenal.

Norwich played fantastically well and deserved their point on the weekend. Mesut Ozil opened the scoring for the visitors while Lewis Grabban got the equalizer for the hosts. Laurent Koscielny, Alexis Sanchez and Santi Cazorla all picked up injuries for the Gunners. Sanchez had a wild effort early on, flying wide of the post and not troubling John Ruddy. Ruddy then produced a superb save to push Ozil’s shot around the post. Arsenal got their breakthrough in the 30^th minute, Ruddy’s poor clearance handed Sanchez a good chance to play Ozil in, who did not need asking twice to get his name on the scoresheet. Robbie Brady had a good effort, but Petr Cech saved with ease. Grabban got the hosts level in the 43^rd minute when he beat Cech at his near post. Arsenal failed to trouble the Norwich net during the second half while Cech had to be alert to prevent Gabriel from converting into his own net.

Tottenham Hotspur 0-0 Chelsea.

Chelsea picked up a good point away to Spurs, both teams had chances but the deadlock was never broke. Diego Costa was dropped to the bench for the blues trip, he did not take not featuring well as he threw his bib at Jose Mourinho during the latter stages of the match. Harry Kane had two early efforts, one blocked while the other was saved well by Asmir Begovic in the Chelsea goal. Eden Hazard had a chance at the back post, but could only direct his headed effort over the bar. Pedro then struck the ball cleanly as his effort just flew over the bar. Hazard thought he won it for the visitors when his volley was saved excellently well by Hugo Lloris.

West Ham 1-1 West Brom.

The Hammers and the Baggies played out a scoring draw on Sunday afternoon. Mauro Zarate’s early effort flying wide of the target. Rondon then produced an outrageous effort that was inches to putting the visitors in the lead. Zarate broke the deadlock in the 17^th minute, his glorious free kick went into the corner of the net and had the home fans pumped. Boaz Myhill then had to produce two great saves, one from Zarate and the other from Manuel Lanzini. Rickie Lambert came on at half time for the hosts and only took him five minutes to get involved. His deflected shot went in and the Baggies were back at level terms. However, closer looks at the goal and it was rewarded to Winston Reid as an own goal. Rondon had a good chance to win the game for West Brom late on, his header was well stopped by Adrian in the West Ham goal.

Liverpool 1-0 Swansea.

A James Milner penalty was the difference in the late Sunday kick off as Liverpool picked up another valuable three points. Ashley Williams almost gave the hosts an early lead, his effort to clear for a corner rebounded off his own post and back into play. Jordan Ibe then saw his effort well saved by Lukas Fabianski. Liverpool were awarded a penalty in the 62^nd minute, Ibe’s cross making contact with Neil Taylor’s hand inside the box. Miler stepped up and put the Reds 1-0 up. Daniel Sturridge and Jordan Henderson made their returns for Liverpool midway through the second period, good news for Liverpool and England fans. Milner saw his effort wide while Williams had a chance to salvage a late point for the Welsh side, his header well wide of the target.