Saturday 3 March 2012

PL Round-Up: 3/3/12

Liverpool 1-2 Arsenal: Another big match, another dramatic game. After an initial Theo Walcott shot, Liverpool had much the better first half. The drama began in the 17th minute when Luis Suarez theatrically went over from a Wojiech Szczesny challenge. After a little thinking, referee Mark Halsey pointed to the spot, although it could be seen as harsh. Dirk Kuyt stepped up and Szczesny saved it before expertly saving Kuyt's rebound from the other side of the goal. Liverpool then took the lead on 23-minutes when Laurent Koscielny sliced a clearance into his own net from a Jordan Henderson cross. Suarez then hit the post before Arsenal found an equaliser from out of the blue; Bacary Sagna finding a cross straight onto Robin Van Persie who headed his 30th goal of the season just after the half hour mark. Liverpool showed why they've hit the wood work the most this season as Kuyt hit the post in first half injury time. Liverpool again arguably had the better chances in the second half but the winning goal came in second half injury time, of which there was eight minutes due to Mikel Arteta suffering concussion. Alex Song launched a ball into the path of that Dutchman and Van Persie volleyed it home to move three points clear in fourth place.

West Brom 1-0 Chelsea: Andre Villas-Boas' position seems to be getting worse and worse each week. The latest result sees Chelsea fall three points behind Arsenal in the race for fourth. Before today, Chelsea hadn't dropped a single point against West Brom in the Premiership and they had chances to keep that record up. But their strikers seemed to all be missing in action and the hosts came back into the game in the second half. The only goal of the game came eight minutes from time when Gareth McAuley stabbed home a Chris Brunt shot, his second goal in an Albion shirt.

Manchester City 2-0 Bolton: Manchester City move five points clear again as they also maintain their 100% home record. The leaders bossed most of the game and the opening came when Gael Clichy's shot came off Gretar Steinsson on 23-minutes, the goal went down as an own goal as it completely wrong-footed Adam Bogdan. Who else, Mario Balotelli, secured the three points by tapping the ball home when Adam Johnson's back heel trickled into his path. Bolton remain 19th but only on goal difference.

Wigan 0-2 Swansea: Wigan remain at the bottom of the pile on goal difference thanks to Roberto Martinez's former club. Gylfi Sigurdsson is quickly proving to be quite the signing with a screamer to end the first half. Sigurdsson did it again just nine minutes after the restart with a superb free-kick that out-foxed Ali Al-Habsi. There wouldn't be a relegation battle without controversy and Nathan Dyer would be shown a red card for a high, studs showing challenge just after the hour mark. But Wigan couldn't make the man advantage count as Swansea move to 14th.

Blackburn 1-1 Aston Villa: Without Darren Bent, it's becoming slightly difficult to find where Villa's goal will come from. But Blackburn have failed to keep a clean sheet this season so it wasn't too much of a surprise to see Charles N'Zogbia smash in his second Villa goal after 24-minutes. With Alex McLeish at the helm, maybe it also wasn't too much of a surprise to see a former Blue rescue a point for Blackburn and haunt Villa. Substitute David Dunn headed home a Bradley Orr cross five minutes from time to see them remain in the relegation zone on goal difference. Villa remain eight points clear but are only three points behind tenth.

QPR 1-1 Everton: QPR remain above the relegation on goal difference after securing a point against Everton. An Adel Taarabt mistake allowed Everton in and Royston Drenthe made him pay just after the half hour mark. But Everton's lead only lasted five minutes as a free-kick was touched home by Bobby Zamora . Everton remain tenth but have a certain Merseyside derby in hand.

Stoke 1-0 Norwich: Stoke are the fourth member of the 33-point club, sitting twelfth but only on goal difference from Sunderland in ninth. Norwich sit a further two points ahead in eighth but four points behind Liverpool who have that game in hand. The only goal of the game came after 72-minutes with Matthew Etherington scoring a fabulous goal from a tight angle.

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