Games In Hand

The FA Cup semi-finalists have played out their games in hand this mid-week as the race for third hots up. Liverpool hosted Fulham on the Tuesday with the Cottagers going level on points with Liverpool with a win. The only goal of the game came within five minutes, Martin Skrtel putting the ball into his own net.

Everton stretch their lead over Liverpool to three points after gaining a point at the Britannia. Everton took the lead a minute before half-time when a scramble in the box saw a Tony Hibbert cross come off Peter Crouch and into the net. Cameron Jerome equalised for Stoke on 69-minutes to put them level on points with Swansea in 13th.

Wednesday saw Chelsea host Newcastle in a true battle for fourth place. The opening goal of the game came after 19-minutes when Papiss Cisse set the ball up with his right before volleying past Petr Cech with his left. Cisse would then equal the record of 13 goals in his first 12 goals with a fantastic curling shot from outside the boot in second half injury time to move themselves four points clear of Chelsea, but just a point behind Arsenal.

Newcastle still remain fifth though as Tottenham secured a win over Bolton to remain fourth on goal difference, also a point behind Arsenal. It was an emotional night at the Reebok as Fabrice Muamba was in attendance and came out before the game to a rapturous applause. Unfortunately for Muamba, the result didn't go as planned when Luka Modric curled a great shot into the net eight minutes before half-time. Bolton were much better in the second half and finally got their reward when Nigel Reo-Coker finished off an attacking move just six minutes after the restart. A counter-attack allowed Rafael Van Der Vaart to make it 2-1 on the hour mark before Emmanuel Adebayor made it two goals in two minutes to break Bolton hearts. Adebayor would then make it 4-1 a further seven minutes to create a scoreline that slightly flatters Spurs. Bolton remain in the relegation zone on goal difference.