Well, that was a fairly eventful evening’s entertainment. Burnley’s unbeaten run now stretches to four matches. An increasingly impressive Manchester United’s winning streak extends to four. West Ham and Swansea continue to hover around at the top end of the table. Liverpool still aren’t playing brilliantly, but have turned a corner this week with two victories on the bounce. Aston Villa have sprung away from the danger zone. Not such a good evening for the strugglers Crystal Palace, QPR and Leicester, or for Stoke who will have the radge regarding Manchester United’s faintly controversial winner, plus a plethora of last-minute missed opportunities. The Wednesday fixtures have a lot to live up to.
Full times in the 8pm kick offs
Aston Villa have held out at Crystal Palace for a much-needed win. That’s hoicked them straight out of trouble and into mid-table. Crystal Palace find themselves leapfrogged. And at the Hawthorns, West Ham dig in, with West Brom throwing the kitchen sink at them. It’s enough for another win, and they’re fifth in the table, just behind Manchester United!
Crystal Palace 0-1 Aston Villa
West Bromwich Albion 1-2 West Ham United
Ben Foster is currently playing up front for West Brom. There’s nobody in goal.
Swansea meanwhile just keep on trucking. The sign of a confident side? One which doesn’t panic when things aren’t going quite to plan. And despite being on top against relegation-haunted QPR, it looked like a goalless draw was on the cards. But they kept on keepin’ on, and in the end Rangers broke. It looks like Southampton, West Ham and Swansea will all be in the top six tonight. Good old Premier League. More of this, please!
That’s a big result for Liverpool, too, who record their first back-to-back wins in the league since beating West Brom and QPR in October. Speaking of West Brom, Dorrans has just squeaked a shot wide right from six yards, if that. The Hammers clinging on as the out-of-form Baggies look to salvage a little something from their evening.
Seems it was Ashley Young who was the goalline hero for Manchester United tonight. That’s four wins in a row for Louis van Gaal’s side, who have learned how to grind out results rather brilliantly it would seem. Flashes of the old-style free-flowing football at times, too, though Stoke gave them a hell of a fright this evening.
The full times in the 7.45pm kick offs
Burnley 1-1 Newcastle
Leicester 1-3 Liverpool
Manchester United 2-1 Stoke City
Swansea City 2-0 QPR
And this is preposterous! Diouf has another shot from close range, only for Unidentified United Player to hook the ball off the line! Two-thirds of the ball had gone over, but that’s not enough, and the goalline technology comes to United’s aid! That’s the final whistle: Manchester United have won their fourth match in a row. How they held on there, I’ll never know, but the decisions and the luck went United’s way in that second half. Rojo dances around in front of the supporters; he’s claiming that goal all right!
De Gea has just earned United the win in sensational style! First he saves a point-blank Diouf header at the left-hand post, and then after another phase of Stoke attack, saves a low batter from the same player, six yards out!
Stoke are trying their best to pressurise Manchester United at Old Trafford, in search for an equaliser, but the home side are holding firm. “If Rojo was clearly in an offside position (as you state) and within an eyebrow hair of Mata’s cross, then surely he should have been flagged for offside, and the goal disallowed, whether he touched the ball or not?” wonders Iain Macdonald. Well, yes, but (and I didn’t really make this clear, so apologies) Rojo’s offside run was so marginal that you can forgive the assistant referee for missing that one too. I’m aware this sounds fairly mealy mouthed, but there really wasn’t much in it. I suppose United have had the luck with the decision, bottom line.
GOAL! Leicester City 1-3 Liverpool (Henderson 83)
And Rangers aren’t the only strugglers, er, struggling. On the byline to the right of the Leicester goal, Sterling backheels cleverly into the path of Henderson, who lashes home. The bottom side need a Palace-esque turnaround now. Liverpool are unlikely to be chasing an eight-goal winning margin this time, however.
GOAL! Swansea City 2-0 QPR (Routledge 83)
Dyer, cutting in from the right, needs two opportunities to find Routledge inside. Just as well he did, because Routledge guides a gorgeous low shot into the bottom left from the edge of the box. This was in the balance not so long ago; now it’s as good as over. Such is life at the bottom of the table for QPR.
GOAL! Swansea City 1-0 QPR (Ki 78)
Swansea have been on top at the Liberty, and now they’ve got something to show for it. Ki picks up possession on the left-hand corner of the box, powers down the channel, and from a very tight angle near the byline hammers a shot across Green, onto the base of the right-hand post, and into the net! A deserved lead, and a fine shot, though from a defensive point of view the keeper wants to have a good look at himself.
At Old Trafford, Wilson has just embarked on a long slalom down the inside-right channel, beating three men before sliding a shot inches wide of the right-hand post from the edge of the box. So close to sealing the win. Meanwhile that Mata/Rojo goal ... perhaps the controversialists have a point after all. The slow-motion replays suggest the ball took a slight deviation from the line Mata set it off along. Er, perhaps. It’s inconclusive. What’s clear is that Rojo was claiming that goal without embarrassment. If he did head it on, Stoke have the right to feel aggrieved, but it’s far from clear at slow speed on the replay, so who’d be a referee?
A red card for Morgan at Leicester, who miskicks as he attempts a backpass and drags Lambert down with the striker planning to make good for the area. He can have no complaints. More bad luck for those who get off on manufactured controversy. Journalists, basically.
GOAL! Manchester United 2-1 Stoke City (Mata 59)
A free kick out on the right, 30 yards out. Mata loops it into the box. And it flies into the top-left corner! Now then, Rojo races off celebrating, claiming he’d eyebrowed the ball onwards for the goal, rising from a central position ten yards out. If he did, that was offside, because he’d mistimed his move forward. If he didn’t meet the ball - and it looks like the Mata cross-cum-shot went straight in, saucy Rojo - it’s fair enough. Old Trafford erupts, and the goal’s been given to Mata officially, so it’s bad luck for those who enjoy a bit of tedious controversy.
GOAL! Leicester City 1-2 Liverpool (Gerrard 54)
Gerrard begins and ends a move, firing a shot into the bottom right. Barry Glendenning has the details. This of course will be used as ammo for those who want Gerrard to play every moment of every game - but doesn’t this suggest he might benefit from the odd rest, having been parked on the bench last weekend? Yes, would be the answer to that.
Manchester United are on the front foot again at Old Trafford, van Persie finding Herrera down the inside-right. The midfielder’s staring at Begovic, albeit at a tight angle. The keeper parries. In the resulting melee, van Persie stands on the ankle of Pieters. It was a powerful stomp, but an accidental one: he was looking the other way, and couldn’t have known where the defender’s ankle was. Also a suggestion that Fellaini planted an elbow on the same defender during an earlier phase of play. Anyway, Pieters plays on, but he’s struggling. Limping a lot.
GOAL! Burnley 1-1 Newcastle (Cisse 48)
Gouffran scuffs a cross into the Burnley area from a tight spot down near the right touchline. No matter. Burnley fail to clear, the ball allowed to bounce through a thicket of players by the near post, allowing Cisse to smash a sidefoot home from a couple of yards!
The other half times ...
Crystal Palace 0-1 Aston Villa
West Brom 1-2 West Ham
GOAL! WBA 1-2 West Ham (Tomkins 45+2)
A free kick for the away side down the right. It’s lifted into the box, and Tomkins rises highest, clacking a header into the right-hand side of the net from eight yards!
Updated
A few half times, then ...
Burnley 1-0 Newcastle United
Leicester 1-1 Liverpool
Manchester United 1-1 Stoke City
Swansea City 0-0 QPR
GOAL! WBA 1-1 West Ham (Nolan 35)
Foster saves a spectacular Carroll bicycle kick. Great football all round, but it’s only the Hammers who benefit, as Nolan is on hand to nut the rebound into the net.
GOAL! Crystal Palace 0-1 Aston Villa (Benteke 32)
This is an astonishing solo effort from Benteke. Minutes after nearly scoring a spectacular curler from 25 yards, he now brushes Dann off the ball down the Villa left, romps down the wing, drifts inside, and threads a low curler into the bottom right from the edge of the box. Fully rested after suspension, Benteke is on fire tonight!
It’s goalless at Selhurst Park, where Crystal Palace have been the better side so far. But they nearly fell behind just then, with Benteke picking up possession, his back to goal 30 yards out, then turning and whipping a curler towards the top right. Speroni, at full stretch, tips wide. Nothing comes from the corner.
Manchester United nearly equalise. Young is upended down the left. The free kick leads to a stramash in the Stoke area, and Fellaini has the ball at his feet, six yards out, level with the right-hand post! He fluffs the chance, though, allowing Begovic to smother. Great save, but the shot was dismal.
GOAL! Manchester United 1-1 Stoke City (Nzonzi 39)
What a strike this is! Bojan goes on a meander down the inside-left channel. He draws three defenders and the ball eventually breaks to the right, for Nzonzi, just outside the D. Nzonzi makes a rat-a-tat readjustment of his feet, then lashes a ludicrously sweet riser into the top right! De Gea had no chance whatsoever!
GOAL! Burnley 1-0 Newcastle (Boyd 34)
Boyd latches onto a knock-down on the edge of the Newcastle D, and positively larrups a shot into the right-hand side of the net. Unstoppable!
Updated
Stoke could easily be level at Old Trafford. Pieters hoicks a cross into the United box from the left. Bojan prepares to sidefoot home on the edge of the six-yard box, but Smalling gets in his way, just in time. Brilliant defending. And then they’re so close to falling two goals behind, as Cameron clumsily nudges the back of Wilson in the penalty box. It would have been the softest of penalties, but you’ve seen them given when referees are in generous moods. It’s still 1-0.
GOAL! Leicester City 1-1 Liverpool (Lallana 26)
Leicester’s lead didn’t last long. Southampton equalise for Liverpool, Lambert heading a high ball into the City area down the right for Lallana, who sweeps home. Given the understanding built up over years at St Mary’s, why don’t these two play together more often?
GOAL! West Brom 1-0 West Ham (Dawson 10)
Dorrans whips in a free kick from the left. Dawson meets it. In. It’s an ersatz tribute to Fellaini’s majestic number at Old Trafford.
GOAL! Leicester City 1-0 Liverpool (Mignolet og 22)
Leonardo Ulloa hits the post. And when your luck’s out, your luck’s out. Poor Simon Mignolet! The ball rebounds off the woodwork, ricochets off the hapless keeper’s back, and into the net.
GOAL! Manchester United 1-0 Stoke City (Fellaini 21)
Herrera didn’t take that miss to heart! He zips down the left and hoicks a high ball into the box from the byline. At the far post, Fellaini rises high and batters a header down and into the left-hand side of the net. Brilliant finish! Louis van Gaal’s Manchester United are finally beginning to get a bit of momentum. Should Chelsea, Manchester City and Southampton be worried? Hell yeah.
Updated
And with total and complete predictability, having said that, Manchester United nearly take the lead. They should be leading, in fact. Begovic telegraphs an awful pass out to the left of his box, and van Persie intercepts. The Dutch striker slides the ball inside for Herrera, who on the edge of the D has an open net to guide the ball into. He leans back and blazes over. Dearie me.
Stoke are holding their own at Old Trafford right now. Manchester United haven’t caused them much sorrow as of yet. Assiadi just embarked on a determined skitter down the left wing, with the home defence backtracking in panic, but his indecision, with Diouf and Bojan inside, costs him. United breathe again.
It’s all happening. Gerrard has whipped a free kick into the Leicester area from the left. From six yards, Skrtel has managed to shoulder the ball wide left of goal. Up the other end, Vardy was clean through down the inside-right channel, and failed to hit the target. Meanwhile at Turf Moor, Ings was threaded clear down the inside-left channel, but his effort was palmed clear by Elliot. No goals yet.
And we’re off for the evening! A rare old atmosphere at Old Trafford, where the home fans may be sniffing a return to old Fergusonian ways. Stoke should give them a game, though. Not only did they put on a show at Anfield on Saturday, they’ve won at Spurs and Manchester City. Meanwhile the Swansea-QPR game has started in busy fashion, Kranjcar whistling a free kick inches wide, Routledge missing a one-on-one with Green.
The team news, then.
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Burnley, three unbeaten, swap Michael Kightly for Scott Arfield!
- Papiss Cisse and Mehdi Abeid replace the suspended Jack Colback and Moussa Sissoko for Newcastle!
- Crystal Palace draft Wilfried Zaha and James McArthur into their starting XI!
- Christian Benteke is back for Aston Villa after suspension!
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Leicester name the same side which lost at QPR!
- Steven Gerrard is back for Liverpool, having had a nice rest, while Javier Manquillo and Adam Lallana also return!
- Wayne Rooney and Angel di Maria are missing for Manchester United, injured, while Ander Herrera and James Wilson step up!
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Stoke City shake it up after their defeat at Anfield, with Phil Bardsley, Stephen Ireland and Oussama Assaidi coming into the side!
- Leon Britton makes his first start of the season for Swansea, with Jazz Richards replacing Angel Rangel!
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QPR welcome back Richard Dunne from suspension!
- West Brom recall Chris Baird and Victor Anichebe!
- Kevin Nolan, Winston Reid and Mauro Zarate are all welcomed back by West Ham!
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I am not sure this format works!
The teamsheets for the 8pm kick offs
Crystal Palace: Speroni, Kelly, Dann, Hangeland, Ward, Zaha, Jedinak, McArthur, Bolasie, Chamakh, Gayle.
Subs: Campbell, Hennessey, Thomas, Fryers, Bannan, Boateng, Puncheon.
Aston Villa: Guzan, Hutton, Okore, Clark, Cissokho, Cleverley, Westwood, Cole, Agbonlahor, Benteke, Weimann.
Subs: Herd, Richardson, Sanchez, N’Zogbia, Given, Lowton, Grealish.
Referee: Michael Oliver (Northumberland)
West Bromwich Albion: Foster, Wisdom, Dawson, Lescott, Baird, Sessegnon, Dorrans, Gardner, Brunt, Berahino, Anichebe. Subs: Ideye, Myhill, Gamboa, Mulumbu, McAuley, Varela, Samaras.
West Ham United: Adrian, Jenkinson, Tomkins, Reid, Cresswell, Kouyate, Nolan, Downing, Zarate, Amalfitano, Carroll. Subs: Jarvis, O’Brien, Collins, Demel, Jaaskelainen, Cole, Valencia.
Referee: Mike Jones (Cheshire)
The teamsheets for the 7.45pm kick offs
Burnley: Heaton, Trippier, Shackell, Keane, Ward, Arfield, Marney, Jones, Boyd, Ings, Barnes.
Subs: Mee, Wallace, Kightly, Sordell, Jutkiewicz, Gilks, Long.
Newcastle United: Elliot, Janmaat, Williamson, Dummett, Haidara, Abeid, Tiote, Ameobi, Perez, Cisse, Gouffran.
Subs: Anita, Cabella, Steven Taylor, Riviere, Alnwick, Armstrong, Streete.
Referee: Phil Dowd (Staffordshire)
Leicester City: Schmeichel, De Laet, Morgan, Wasilewski, Konchesky, Mahrez, James, Cambiasso, Schlupp, Ulloa, Vardy.
Subs: Drinkwater, King, Albrighton, Hamer, Moore, Knockaert, Wood.
Liverpool: Mignolet, Manquillo, Toure, Skrtel, Johnson, Henderson, Gerrard, Lucas, Sterling, Lambert, Lallana.
Subs: Brad Jones, Lovren, Coutinho, Moreno, Can, Allen, Markovic.
Referee: Lee Mason (Lancashire)
Manchester United: De Gea, Valencia, Smalling, Rojo, Young, Carrick, Fellaini, Mata, Ander Herrera, van Persie, Wilson.
Subs: Falcao, Januzaj, Lindegaard, Fletcher, McNair, Blackett, Keane.
Stoke City: Begovic, Bardsley, Shawcross, Wilson, Pieters, Cameron, Nzonzi, Bojan, Ireland, Assaidi, Diouf.
Subs: Muniesa, Palacios, Arnautovic, Adam, Butland, Crouch, Shenton.
Referee: Jon Moss (W Yorkshire)
Swansea City: Fabianski, Richards, Bartley, Williams, Taylor, Britton, Ki, Routledge, Sigurdsson, Montero, Bony.
Subs: Amat, Shelvey, Dyer, Carroll, Gomis, Tremmel, Barrow.
Queens Park Rangers: Green, Onuoha, Dunne, Caulker, Yun, Kranjcar, Barton, Henry, Fer, Vargas, Austin.
Subs: Ferdinand, Phillips, McCarthy, Isla, Mutch, Hoilett, Zamora.
Referee: Kevin Friend (Leicestershire)
A rollocking night of Premier League action stretches out ahead of us. All three clubs below the relegation dotted line are in action: QPR are at Swansea, Burnley host Newcastle, and Leicester City look to reassert their status as Liverpool’s premier bogey team, a post they held in the 1960s, 1980s and during the Martin O’Neill era. Meanwhile there’s plenty of action at the top, too. There are a few clubs playing tonight who’ll be hoping to close the gap on the modern Big Three of Chelsea, Manchester City and Southampton: Manchester United host Stoke, West Ham are at West Brom, and we’ve already mentioned Swansea, Newcastle and Liverpool. Exciting times. Let us go, then, you and I...
- Burnley v Newcastle United (7.45pm)
- Crystal Palace v Aston Villa (8pm)
- Leicester City v Liverpool (7.45pm - and live on our MBM)
- Manchester United v Stoke City (7.45pm)
- Swansea City v Queens Park Rangers (7.45pm)
- West Bromwich Albion v West Ham United (8pm)
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