Chelsea blow out Swansea on the road, while Manchester City fails to keep up with a huge loss to Arsenal and West Ham sets themselves for a run for the top 4.
Let’s get to the games:
Aston Villa (0) – Liverpool (2)
Liverpool comfortably pushed aside Villa, extending the Red’s unbeaten run to eight games. Liverpool waited for their chance, and 24 minutes in they got on the board with a Fabio Borini finish to a Jordan Hamilton cross that was volleyed in at the far post. Aston Villa responded with enthusiasm, but Rickie Lambert sealed the victory with 11 minutes remaining. Sterling, fresh back from vacation, got the ball on the edge of the box and found Lambert for a fine touch and shot into the corner. The shutout extends Aston Villa’s goalless streak to 8 hours and 42 minutes of play.
Burnley (2) – Crystal Palace (3)
Burnley appeared to have this one in the bag, but Dwight Gayle and Jason Puncheon rescued Palace for the second week in a row to get the win – while several questionable calls from the referee contributed as well. Kieran Trippier took a corner from outside the quadrant but Ben Mee lost his marker and headed home at the far post. Burnley’s second was even more hotly contested, as Scott Arfield muscled Joel Ward aside to keep the ball in play before passing inside for Danny Ings to finish. Palace retaliated by swapping wingers and Wilfried Zaha took advantage by running down the wing, feeding James McArthur whose shot was blocked but spilled and finished by Dwight Gayle. Three minutes after the break, Burley paid for their weak defense when Palace equalized as Jason Puncheon picked up the ball and ran 25-yards without challenge to beat Tom Heaton with a low shot just inside the left post. With the momentum in their sails, Palace finished the comeback when Dwight Gayle got his brace on a rebound off the post.
Leicester City (0) – Stoke City (1)
After a tame first half, troubled Barcelona product Bojan Krkic netted his fourth goal of the season to give Stoke the win. Neither team possessed any creativity or pressure, and the goalkeepers remained relatively unbothered. The second-half breakthrough came on a pass from Walters to Bojan, who touched with his right before shooting with his left foot into the back of the net. The win brings to end an unexpected nice run of play from Leicester.
Queens Park Rangers (0) – Manchester United (2)
United pick up another win, despite an uninspired effort from both teams. United broke through in the second half as Rooney picked out Valencia who lost the ball in the box only to have it picked up by halftime-sub Fellaini and lashed home. The game was put away just before the death by James Wilson, who was played in by Di Maria. The story of the game, however, was the continued poor play of Radamel Falcao, who missed several chances and has failed to impress in his time in Manchester.
Swansea City (0) – Chelsea (5)
Chelsea sent out a strong message ahead of Manchester City’s clash with Arsenal that they are for real, delivering a crushing blow at Swansea. The blowout started early, as Oscar strode forward and shot from 20-yards out to score the first goal a mere 49 seconds after the starting whistle. Chelsea got their second at the 20 minute mark when Cesc Fabregas got his 15th assist of the season with a beautiful pass into Diego Costa who finished with style. Just after the 34 minute mark, Costa got his second on a loose clearance from Swansea’s Federico Fernandez leading to an easy one-on-one. Two short minutes later, Costa took a pass from Willian and cut it back for Oscar who also got his second of the day. 11 minutes from time the Blues got their 5th after Bratislava Ivanovic’s cross was tapped into an empty net by Andre Schurrle, giving Swansea their worst home defeat in 24 years.
Tottenham Hotspur (2) – Sunderland (1)
The return of Jermain Defoe to the Premier League was the highlight of this match – with his return coming to Sunderland rather than his former club Tottenham. Tottenham won the day, however, on a late strike from Christian Eriksen. Scoring started with a poor Sunderland clearance that led to shot by Vertonghen that was deflected off of Johnny O’Shea into the net. Vertonghen would give away the equalizer, though, when he brought down Defoe for a free-kick 25-yeards from goal. Sunderland forward Larsson stepped up to curl the equalizer in, putting Spurs on notice. Late on, Tottenham got the win, however, when Townsend squared at 20-yards out and Christian Eriksen struck low just inside the post to secure the win for the home side.
Newcastle United (1) – Southampton (2)
Southampton remain in third place after a strong win at Newcastle. the Saint’s Eljero Elia scored in the 14th minute after James Ward-Prowse slid the ball into his feet. Newcastle’s goal came on a costly error, as Southampton defender Florin Gardos cleared an attacking cross into Yoan Gouffran who looped home the equalizer in the 29th minute. Southampton would regain the lead just seconds later, though, with another goal from Elia that fired off of Janmaat’s shins. Southampton has earned 16 of 18 points in their last 6 games as they continue to impress in the league.
West Ham United (3) – Hull City (0)
A dull first half left the West ham fans to boo their side going into the locker room. They returned in the second half ready to go, scoring three to put Hull away. Andy Carroll opened the scoring in the 49th minute with a rebound goal after out-working Curtis Davies for the ball. Morgan Amalfitano scored the second for the hammers, with a simple dink after Valencia slid him in. Three minutes later they got their third when Alex Song released Stewart Downing with a through ball that was tucked home. The win puts West Ham fifth and within reach of the top four ahead of a tough run of games in the next few weeks.
Manchester City (0) – Arsenal (2)
Manchester City came out lackluster and paid the price, as a thorough beating by Arsenal means they drop five points back of Chelsea after being tied on Christmas Day. Vincent Kompany impeded Nacho Monreal in the box and the subsequent penalty was scored by Santi Cazorla. The Gunners put them away with a second in the 67th minute as Sancez was fouled by Jovetic. Cazorla took the free-kick and sent it into the box where Olivier Giroud lost his marker and headed home easily. City continue to sorely miss Yaya Toure, and next face leaders Chelsea on January 31st in a must-win game if they have real title hopes.
Everton (0) – West Bromwich Albion (0)
West Brom came in looking for the draw and left with exactly that as Everton missed a penalty that cost them the chance to record their first win in 8 matches. A minute before halftime, Everton was awarded a penalty and up stepped Kevin Mirallas, not regular taker Leighton Baines. Mirallas, hotly rumored to be on the way out of town, missed – causing the crowd outrage. Roberto Martinez caught the boos as well with his substitutions, but the draw gives West Brom a 3-point gap to the relegation drop, and a solid footing to begin the move to mid-table.