PL Round-Up 31/1/12

Everton 1–0 Manchester City: Everton are quickly becoming Manchester City’s bogey side at Goodison Park. The first half saw Joleon Lescott clear a ball off the line before Samir Nasri hit the bar at the other end. The most unusual thing of the night saw a member of the crowd handcuff himself to a goalpost as the opening period remained goalless. The only goal of the game came on the hour mark when a Landon Donovan lay-off was met by former Manchester United man, Darron Gibson. Gibson’s shot took a slight deflection before flying past Joe Hart, his first goal of the season to ensure Everton’s first win in four matches.

Manchester United 2–0 Stoke: United go level on points with Manchester City at the top. Both goals came from twelve yards as Stoke lost their heads at times. The first penalty came seven minutes before half-time when Jermaine Pennant brought Ji-Sung Park down. Javier Hernandez stepped-up ahead of the absent Wayne Rooney and converted it, his first goal since November. The second penalty came eight minutes into the second half, this time Jonathan Walters cynically pulled Antonio Valencia back in the box. This time Dimitar Berbatov stepped up and also converted into the bottom corner. Ben Amos made his debut in the United goal as Anders Lindegaard injured an ankle and David De Gea fell ill, the young keeper didn’t have too much to do as United sealed the three points.

Wolves 0–3 Liverpool: Liverpool come back to the Premiership on the back of the two cup wins over the Manchester clubs and comprehensively beat Wolves. Liverpool had a first half penalty shout turned when Emmanuel Frimpong looked to have obstructed Charlie Adam. Wolves were very much in it with Michael Kightly coming closest. But Liverpool pressed home their momentum in the second half and Andy Carroll broke the deadlock by tapping in an Adam low cross seven minutes into it. Wayne Hennessey made various good saves throughout the match but his poor effort allowed Craig Bellamy to claim his sixth goal in seven, making it 2-0 just after the hour mark. Dirk Kuyt then finished it off after a one-two with Adam with twelve minutes to go. Wolves move nine games without a victory.

Tottenham 3–1 Wigan: Tottenham keep in touch with the Manchester sides courtesy of fantastic performances by Luka Modric and Gareth Bale. Spurs took the lead just before the half-hour mark when a Modric cross was chested down by Bale before the Welshman half-volleyed it past Ali Al-Habsi, his tenth of the season.  Modric then made it 2-0 with an exquisite shot on the turn five minutes later. Bale found half a yard to get another shot away on 64-minutes and found the bottom corner to make it 3-0. Wigan did pull a goal back when substitute Gary McArthur lobbed Brad Friedel but it wasn’t enough to spring a comeback with ten minutes to play.

Swansea 1–1 Chelsea: Chelsea lose further ground on the top three, although it could have been a lot worse. Swansea had much the better game and could have taken the lead earlier on but Branislav Ivanovic and David Luiz both made goal-line clearances.  Former Chelsea youngster, Scott Sinclair, found a great shot that hit the top corner to give the hosts the lead six minutes before half-time. It was a heated affair throughout and Ashley Cole received his second yellow card four minutes from time. Swansea could have wrapped it up but Jose Bosingwa saved Chelsea’s blushes in injury time on his 100^th start at the club.