Injury time winner put Man United back into the title race after Chelsea looses.

Come what may, the habits remains… Paul Scholes scored in the 92nd minute to give Manchester United a crucial 1-0 win against their city rivals Manchester City at the Eastlands on Saturday. City will be wondering what happens to them when they play against their neighbours. The last time they met at Old Trafford, Michael Owen’s 94th minute goal decided their fate. In the late kick-off, Chelsea lost 1-2 against Totttenham Hotspurs thus making the league further exciting with only a point separating the leaders.  Consolation for spurs for getting in the top and inching closer to the prized champions league qualification spot.  

The match started with many tensions around Manchester United as any loss of points may result in any chance of getting hold of the premier league trophy. Both sides started the game with evident intent to attack. Darren Fletcher fired a 25-yard effort inches wide of Shay Given‘s post, with the Irishman well beaten, before Carlos Tevez‘s top corner free-kick drew a fine full-length catch from Edwin van der Sar. But the defence on both the sides didn’t allow the ball to get past the net. The teams went into the break with goalless score line. 

 
In the second half, Sir Alex substituted Wayne Rooney with Dimitar Berbatov to get something out of the Bulgarian but the match seemed like going for a goal less draw with no real threat at both the ends. But that was not how it supposed to end. The match was in the 92 minute, Patrice Evra‘s superb cross was nicely headed by Paul Scholes, who recently signed a new one year contract with United, to the bottom right of Given to give the visitors a priceless lead and hence the winner.

 

Penalty conversion by Jermain Defoe and a  strike by Gareth Bale in the opening half shocked leaders Chelsea with a 2-1 victory at the White Hart Lane. Chelsea got one back in the injury time of the match through Lampard but it was too late. Also a bad day for John Terry after he received a second yellow for an unwanted tackle. Spurs goalkeeper Heurelho Gomes did everything to stop the ball which resulted in a well deserved win for the home team. 

Other results of Saturday are:

Birmingham City 0-0 Hull City

Blackburn Rovers 2-3 Everton

Fulham 0-0 Wolves

Stoke 1-2  Bolton

Sunderland 2-1 Burnley

Chelsea visits Spurs to further extend the lead. Manchester derby on the cards…

After suffering a major jolt in the premier league title, the defending championsManchester United will be facing the City rivals Manchester City in the Manchester Derby and the timings could not be any better than this. In the other big match tomorrow, leader Chelsea will be visiting White Hart Lane in a tricky fixture againstTottenham Hotspurs. Battling for the all important champions league place, sixth placed Liverpool will be going all out against West Ham United on Monday to climb up places and hope there rivals go the opposite way. So with the top teams playing each other, it will be an exciting Premiership Saturday which is bound to change the table.

 

From the red devils camp there ace striker Wayne Rooney is expected to return from the ankle injury while wingerRyan Giggs and defender Rio Ferdinand are expected to stay at bench following there hamstring injury and groin injury respectively. Latest from the neighbours camp is that Pablo Zabaleta is available again after serving a two-match suspension, and Stephen Ireland is due back following a three-game absence with a shin injury. Patrick Vieira is being carefully watched after he picked up a slight knee injury. Former Man United striker, Carlos Tevezwill be looked as his head to head record with the former club looks interesting.

 

Chelsea will be looking to extend their league at the top when they are up against Spurs. Huge boost for the blues is that England left-back Ashley Cole has recovered from his broken ankle and is back in the first-team squad for the first time since February. 
Other matches over the weekend are:

Saturday

Manchester City v Manchester United 12:451″”> Hours GMT

Birmingham City v Hull City 15:00 Hours GMT

Blackburn Rovers v Everton 15:00 Hours GMT

Fulham v Wolverhampton Wanderers 15:00 Hours GMT

Stoke City v Bolton Wanderers 15:00 Hours GMT

Sunderland v Burnley 15:00 Hours GMT

Tottenham Hotspur v Chelsea 17:30 Hours GMT

Sunday

Wigan Athletic v Arsenal 13:30 Hours GMT

Portsmouth v Aston Villa 16:00 Hours GMT

Monday

Liverpool v West Ham United 20:00 Hours GMT

A sunny premier league ahead after the snow delays proceedings.

After the snowfall caused some unwanted delays, the predicted sunny weather would mean that the premier league is back for the weekend where all 20 teams would be playing. And looking forward to the fixtures it seems like an easy ones for the big guns but this also gives rise to the giant killing instincts of the bottom players.
Liverpool would be hoping to get back on track this Saturday in an early kick off against Stoke City. The Reds FA Cup hopes were also dashed out after their 1-2 loss against division 1 side Reading Football Club. More worry for the manager is that their three star players Fernando Torres, Steven Gerrard and Yossi Benayoun all pick up injuries in the last match and are expected to be out for more than a month.

Manchester United will be definitely working on their strategy to retain the second place and launch themselves for the first place. After their frustrating draw against Birmingham City last week where they could not score even a single goal in the mach, they would be putting all behind and go for a big win against Burnley on Saturday.

Bottom Players Portsmouth would be desperate for a win but it may not came as a new year gift as they would be hosting Birmingham City at Fratton Park. Birmingham City is doing great work under their new manager Alex McLeishwhere in their are unbeaten for the last 11 games and have climbed to eighth place in the premiership.
With the sun expected to give some light to league, the action pack weekend is on the way.
Liverpool’s match will be starting at 1245 Hours GMT (1715 Hours IST) while the match at Old Trafford will kick off at 1500 Hours GMT (2030 Hours IST) on Saturday.
Other matches during the weekend are:
Saturday:
Chelsea Vs Sunderland 1500 Hours GMT
Tottenham Hotspurs Vs Hull City 1500 Hours GMT
Wolverhampton Wanderers VS Wigan Athletic 1500 Hours GMT
Everton VS Manchester City 1730 Hours GMT

Sunday:
Aston Villa VS West Ham United 1330 Hours GMT
Blackburn Rovers Vs Fulham 1500 Hours GMT
Bolton Wanderers Vs Arsenal 1600 Hours GMT

Hull for Chelsea, Birmingham hosts Manchester United.

After much of drama in the FA Cup recently the premier league matches are back for the weekend. After being humiliated by second division side Leeds United,Manchester United will be travelling to St. Andrews for the crucial match againstBirmingham City who have been doing well this season under Alex McLeish. LeadersChelsea will also be on an away match against last year’s giant Killers Hull City who aren’t show any sign of staying in the top flight for next season.

Manchester United will be up against a strong Birmingham side who haven’t lost any of its last six match in thepremiership and its manager Alex McLeish has been recently awarded the “manager of the month” for December award. Further there is some more bad news for the red devils is that Nemanja Vidic will not accompany the team as he has been diagnosed with leg nerve problem which has some long term complications. Seeing the light at the end of the tunnel there is some good news for United that Paul Scholes is fit to play the Saturday’s match. What seems interesting is that the likes of De Silva brothers will be tested alongside the striking powers of Dimitar Berbatov andWayne Rooney who have been missing from that regular scoring list for Manchester United.
Arsenal will be hosting Everton this Saturday and hoping to get full three points from the fixture and continue their pressure on the leaders in the coming weeks. After Arshavin is back and all set for to silence them, their is little doubt that this fixture will go against them.
Match at Birmingham will be starting at 1730 Hours GMT (2300 Hours IST) on Saturday while Chelsea’s match will be having an early start at 1245 Hours GMT followed by Arsenal’s match at 1500 Hours GMT.
Other matches for the weekend and beyond are:
Saturday
Wigan Athletic Vs Aston Villa

Sunday
West Ham United Vs Wolverhampton Wanderers

Monday
Manchester City Vs Blackburn Rovers

Important announcement: League Cup Match Postponed.

The Carling Cup/League Cup semi final between Manchester United and Manchester City, originally scheduled on 6th January, has been postponed due to heavy snowfall in the Eastlands.
The match will now be played on 19th January ’10 and the return leg at Old Trafford will be played on 27th January ’10. As a result of it, the premier league match of thered devils against Hull City originally scheduled on 26th January ’10 has been further postponed which wil be communicated on a further date.
Thank You.

EPL Reporter