The Sports Lowdown For All Your News and OpinionsA review of all the weekend’s Premier League action, Chelsea finally look like they’re back on track after an impressive away display against Palace, while the Red Devils finally found the win they needed when they hosted Swansea during Saturday afternoon.
West Ham 2-0 Liverpool.
West Ham have completed the double after their impressive victory when they hosted Liverpool in the first Premier League encounter of the year. Goals from Michail Antonio and Andy Carroll sealed the points for the Hammers. Liverpool had the first attempt of the afternoon, Jordan Ibe coming agonisingly close to opening the scoring, his shot just shy of the target. It didn’t take West Ham long to find their stride and they were ahead with ten minutes on the clock, Enner Valencia’s cross was well met by Antonio who headed home the opener. The hosts could have their second of the afternoon shortly after, Manuel Lanzini striking the ball perfectly, but the ball cannoned off the post and back into play. Emre Can came closest for Liverpool in the first half, his late effort striking the bar and back into play. Ten minutes into the second half and the Hammers had doubled their lead, ex Liverpool man Carroll rose well in the air to head home Mark Noble’s well placed cross. Simon Mignolet then had to produce a fantastic double save to keep Antonio and Carroll at bay. Late into the second half, Lucas Leiva saw his headed effort well cleared off the line by Noble. Joe Allen had the final chance of the match, but could not direct his headed effort on target. A fantastic display by the home side, who have not lost a match at home since losing to Bournemouth. Liverpool did not create enough chances to win the match and can have no complaints with the score line.
West Brom 2-1 Stoke City.
West Brom sent Stoke crashing back to reality after an impressive win Saturday afternoon. After picking up victories against the bigger teams in the league, Stoke will feel disappointed that they could not pick up all three here. Goals from Johnny Evans and Stephane Sessegnon saw the hosts home, while Johnathan Walters netted for the Potters. Evans had an early chance to get on the score sheet, failing to make a clean contact with the ball and could only direct his effort wide of the target. Boaz Myhill then kept Glenn Johnson at bay with a comfortable save to keep the game goalless. Darren Fletcher had a glorious chance to open the scoring, but his effort was comfortably over the bar. It took until the 60th minute for the game to get its goal. James Morrison playing a great ball into Sessegnon who made no mistake with the finish to put the Baggies in the lead. Walters replied in the 81st minute, beating his marker and heading into the bottom corner. The game looked set to stay at 1-1, that was until Geoff Cameron was shown his marching orders for violent conduct. The American international potentially lost his team the game, as his team conceded in stoppage time, Evans with a simple tap in from close range. If Stoke want to be recognised as contenders for Europe then these are the games where they’ll need to pick up points. A moment of madness cost them all three points in this one.
Watford 1-2 Manchester City.
Despite a valiant effort from the courageous Watford, the home side went down thanks to two late strikes from Sergio Aguero and Yaya Toure. Aleksandar Kolarov netted in his own goal for the hosts lead. Almen Abdi had a good chance early on to open the scoring, his effort flying wide of the target. Watford kept the tempo at a high pace as they looked for the opener, Joe Hart getting down well to keep Odion Ighalo out. Raheem Sterling found himself in some space to create a chance, but the Englishman could only fire his effort wide. Fernandinho should have scored late into the first half, his free header going comfortably over the bar. Ben Watson then produced a terrific corner for the hosts, forcing Kolarov to deal with it, unfortunately for the Serbian, the ball went flying into his own net off the top of his head. Heurelho Gomes produced a fantastic save to keep Kevin De Bruyne at bay. In the 82nd minute the visitors won a corner, Kolarov’s cross was met by a fantastic left footed volley by Toure that flew into the top corner. It only took the Manchester team two minutes to get themselves in the lead, Aguero rising well and meeting Bacary Sagna’s cross to head into the bottom corner. Hart kept Ighalo out late on as City picked up a vital three points in their push to become this season’s champions.
Sunderland 3-1 Aston Villa.
In perhaps what was the shock result of the weekend, Sunderland finally turned up to a game. They played with a quick tempo and were all over the Midlands team. Goals from Patrick Van Aanholt, and a brace from Jermain Defoe saw the Black cats win this encounter comfortably. Carles Gil scored for the visitors. Duncan Watmore had the earliest chance of the encounter, firing over the bar from close range. Van Aanholt then opened the scoring in the 30th minute, his shot took a deflection off Micah Richards and beat Brad Guzan between the sticks. Guzan Kept out Defoe just before the interval, to keep the deficit at one. Villa were level in the 63rd minute, Adama Traore with a remarkable run down the line and his cross found Gil, Gil on the turn, saw his incredible volleyed effort fly into the top corner. The visitors were level for all of nine minutes as the Black Cats re-established their lead. Defoe managed to squeeze the ball past Guzan’s near post to get his first for the afternoon. He doubled his goal tally in stoppage time, blasting home from close range to complete an impressive display from a team who look to be in a relegation battle.
Arsenal 1-0 Newcastle United.
Despite the visitors absolutely dominating the first half, the Gunners came out of this tough encounter with maximum points. A rare goal from Laurent Koscielny was the difference. Petr Cech had to be at his best as Newcastle had countless efforts to get the lead. Cech was forced into a double save to prevent Georginio Wijnaldum from opening the scoring. At the other end rob Elliot got down well to prevent Aaron Ramsey. The deadlock was finally broken in the 72nd minute, Koscielny poking the ball home from close range, thanks to an Olivier Giroud assist. Aleksandar Mitrovic had the best chance of the second half for the away team, but could not control his headed effort, as the ball went flying over the bar. Elliot at the other end had to make another good stop to deny the Gunners doubled their lead, Ramsey with the effort. Ramsey had numerous chances to score but his best chance came late in the game, he failed to find the target and really should have scored from the close range he was at. Another win for Arsenal that keeps them at the summit of the table, with Manchester City applying pressure with a win it will be interesting to see if the Gunners can keep up this impressive winning form.
