Manchester United took their time before turning on the style against Watford to maintain their six-point lead at the top of the Premiership.
The leaders ran out 4-0 winners over the rock-bottom Hornets at Old Trafford to keep second-placed Chelsea at arm's length.
United went ahead when Jay DeMerit conceded a penalty for hauling down Ole Gunnar Solskjaer 20 minutes in.
Cristiano Ronaldo showed all the confidence of a man with seven goals in his last seven games to send Hornets keeper Richard Lee the wrong way from the spot.
The leaders were far from their best and were gifted their second goal just past the hour mark when Lloyd Doyley headed Kieron Richardson's left-wing cross into his own net.
United turned on the style for their third and fourth, substitute Henrik Larsson exchanging passes with Wayne Rooney before finishing deftly.
Ronaldo and Rooney then combined in breathtaking fashion, the former's delicious lofted pass releasing the latter, whose outrageous chipped finish left Lee stranded.
Chelsea were almost equally comfortable in beating in-form Blackburn 3-0 at Stamford Bridge, re-establishing their five-point lead over third placed Liverpool.
The champions did not take long to open the scoring, Didier Drogba continuing his remarkable scoring form with his 23rd goal of the season six minutes in.
Put through by Frank Lampard, Drogba outpaced Stephane Henchoz before planting a low left-foot shot across Brad Friedel from 12 yards.
In-form Blackburn refused to buckle and it took until the 67th minute for Chelsea to double their advantage, Frank Lampard drilling a rising shot past Friedel from 25 yards.
Salomon Kalou wrapped up the points by sliding the ball home in the first minute of injury-time after Michael Ballack nodded on Wayne Bridge's pass.
Charlton moved level on points with third-bottom West Ham thanks to a hard-fought 1-1 at Bolton.
It looked ominous for the Premiership strugglers when Henrik Pedersen grabbed his first goal of the season six minutes in.
The striker netted from eight yards from Gary Speed's left-wing cross.
But it took just another six minutes for the visitors to level, Talal El Karkouri's free-kick deflecting off the wall, hitting Jussi Jaaskelainen's arms before squirming into the net.
An electric start ultimately earned Newcastle a 3-1 victory over Aston Villa at St James' Park.
The home side flew out of the blocks, going 2-0 up inside the opening seven minutes.
James Milner got the ball rolling five minutes in, picking up the ball midway inside the Villa half and charging at the defence before unleashing a fierce left-foot shot from the edge of the area.
Milner then turned provider, lofting the ball in from the right for Kieron Dyer to loop a header over Thomas Sorensen.
Ashley then cut the deficit on his debut, drilling the ball home from eight yards after a corner caused confusion inside the Newcastle six-yard box.
It took until stoppage-time for the home side to break Villa's resistance again, Antoine Sibierski sliding home after some trickery from the returning Damien Duff.
Thursday, February 1, 2007
Manchester United still at the top
Wednesday, January 31, 2007
Premiership review on Tuesday
Dirk Kuyt and Peter Crouch combined to fire Liverpool to within two points of Barclays Premiership champions Chelsea as West Ham blew their latest chance to climb out of the drop zone.
The Reds duo both netted sublime goals in their 2-1 win at Upton Park which put the in-form visitors to within touching distance of second place in the table.
After a cat-and-mouse first half, barely 12 seconds had lapsed after the restart when Liverpool scored, Kuyt rifling the ball in off the underside of the crossbar.
It was not long before the lead was doubled, a brilliant flowing move matched by Crouch's controlled finish from John Arne Riise's cutback.
Liverpool looked completely in control and should have added to their lead before substitute Kepa Blanco marked his Hammers debut by pulling a goal back 13 minutes from time.
Some sloppy play from the visitors allowed Nigel Reo-Coker to feed Bobby Zamora into the inside-left channel, the forward squaring for Kepa to net with ease.
But, despite piling on the pressure, the home side were unable to force an equaliser and are now seven games without a league success.
The Hammers' evening could not have been in sharper contrast to that of relegation rivals Sheffield United, who beat Fulham 2-0 to move seven points clear of danger.
United bossed the first half at Bramall Lane and were rewarded 23 minutes in when Jon Stead netted his first goal since signing from Sunderland this month.
Vincenzo Montella gave the ball away in a dangerous area, allowing Nick Montgomery to find Stead, who rasped home a left-foot drive off the bar from six yards.
It got better five minutes later, Ian Pearce failing to clear Stephen Quinn's left-wing cross, allowing Michael Tonge to convert from close range.
The only bright spot for West Ham was that fourth-bottom Wigan slumped to their ninth straight defeat in all competitions after Reading came from behind to win 3-2 at the Madejski Stadium.
The visitors got off to the best possible start when, three minutes in, Emile Heskey latched onto a long ball from Josip Skoko, and finished with aplomb on the volley, left-footed.
Reading eased their way back into the game and drew level when Latics goalkeeper Chris Kirkland found himself in no-man's-land, allowing Ivar Ingimarsson to glance a header into the net.
More awful goalkeeping allowed the Royals to take the lead, Kirkland punching a Glen Little cross straight onto the head of Stephen Hunt, who headed it goalward for Shane Long to nod in from point-blank range.
Kirkland completed a hat-trick of howlers in the closing moments, beaten to the ball by Dave Kitson, with the resultant deflection finding Leroy Lita, who could not miss.
Denny Landzaat pulled a goal back for the visitors in the fifth minute of injury-time - but there was no time for them to find an equaliser.
Elsewhere, the Fratton Park faithful were left disappointed for the second straight home game as Portsmouth were held to a goalless draw by Middlesbrough.
Following the shock 1-0 defeat to Charlton 10 days ago, Pompey were looking to reignite their European push but they were thwarted by a stubborn Boro display to remain sixth in the table.
Wednesday, January 24, 2007
EPL's matches result game week 24th
Chelsea lost 2-0 against Liverpool at Anfield followed by Arsenal's 2-1 victory over Man Utd at Emirates Stadium make the competition more tight than before.
Mean while Vicenzo Montella proved that his transfer was the most successful transfer ever made on winter transfer window in this season with a goal debut in Premiership. Before he also made 2 goals on his debut in F.A. Cup.
Liverpool [2 - 0] Chelsea
4' [1 - 0] D. Kuyt
18' [2 - 0] J. Pennant
Aston Villa [2 - 0] Watford
86' [1 - 0] G. Mahon (o.g.)
90' [2 - 0] G. Agbonlahor
Fulham [1 - 1] Tottenham H.
84' [1 - 0] V. Montella (pen.)
88' [1 - 1] P. Chimbonda
Middlesbrough [5 - 1] Bolton W.
6' [1 - 0] G. Speed (o.g.)
10' [2 - 0] A. Xavier
23' [3 - 0] M. Viduka
25' [3 - 1] K. Nolan
43' [4 - 1] S. Downing
84' [5 - 1] M. Viduka
Newcastle U. [2 - 2] West Ham U.
18' [0 - 1] C. Cole
22' [0 - 2] M. Harewood
45' [1 - 2] J. Milner
53' [2 - 2] N. Solano (pen.)
Portsmouth [0 - 1] Charlton Athletic
79' [0 - 1] A. Faye
Reading [3 - 1] Sheffield U.
44' [1 - 0] S. Long
50' [2 - 0] U.D.L. Cruz
70' [3 - 0] S. Hunt
77' [3 - 1] C. Nadé
Manchester C. [0 - 3] Blackburn R.
44' [0 - 1] M.G. Pedersen
62' [0 - 2] M.G. Pedersen
90' [0 - 3] M. Derbyshire
Wigan Athletic [0 - 2] Everton
65' [0 - 1] M. Arteta (pen.)
90' [0 - 2] M. Arteta
Arsenal [2 - 1] Manchester U.
53' [0 - 1] W. Rooney
83' [1 - 1] R.v. Persie
90' [2 - 1] T. Henry
