Everton dashes Manchester United’s title hopes.

Manchester United‘s hopes to retain the premiership flag took a major blow when they lost 1-3 against Everton at Goodison park on Saturday. While their rivals Chelsea andArsenal cruised to victory against Wolverhampton Wanderers and Sunderlandrespectively. At the bottom of the table Portsmouth’s survival is the top flight is almost becoming elusive after they lost 1-2 against Stoke City at home.

Leaders Chelsea went four poinst clear at the top of the table with 4 points lead over United when Didier Drogba‘s goal in each half made the task easy for the visitors. Drogba got is first in the 39th minute when Ballack slided a superb ball across the face of goal for Drogba to finish in he made no mistakes. In the 66th minute Drogba got his second in a relatively easy way when he held of two defenders before firing into an empty net.

Man United took the early lead in the 16th minute through Dimitar Berbatov who shot the ball well past the goalkeeper from six yards. Just three minutes later Everton equalised when Bilyaletdinov cleverly used Wes Brown to conceal a wicked left-foot shot that left Van der Sar still at his spot. The teams went into the break with 1-1 scoreline. Much was expected from Sir Alex who knows how to turn the tables but it was not United‘s day. In the 76th minute Dan Gosling scored through the cross from Steven Pienaar‘s cross from the left giving the home side the much awaited lead. Just when United were trying to level Everton sealed their victory with another one in the 90th minute through Rodwell giving them the much deserved victory.

Final score of Saturday’s matches are:

Everton 3-1 Manchester United
Arsenal 2-0 Sunderland
West Ham United 3-0 Hull City
Wolves 0-2 Chelsea
Portsmouth 1-2 Stoke City

Leeds root out Manchester United from the FA Cup

FA Cup is known for its giant killing action and last night was no exception to it. In just the third round of one of the oldest tournaments of the football world, more than 100 years old, the winner of 11 FA Cups, Manchester United went out crashing in the hands of Leeds United who are currently on top in League 1. Meanwhile last year’s winners Chelsea made a perfect start to this year by hammering Watford FC by five goals. Liverpool has to get ready for a reply of their match against Reading after the match ended with a draw much to the frustration to the reds.

Old Trafford atmosphere was electrifying before the match. It was Leeds no. 9 Jermaine Beckford who scored a brilliant goal of the long pass from the centre. The goal keeper Tomasz Kuszczak was not in the right position andWes Brown late dive was of no use. The match went on and the teams went into the break with United trailing at half time.

Manchester United got there share of chances in the match. Even the return of Gary Neville couldn’t turn the tables for United. Michael Owen missed a close range shot when the ball bounced in front of him and he couldn’t adjust to it. Citing tensions Sir Alex introduced Giggs and Valencia to get the work done but it seemed like nothing is their way not even two penalties which were turned down. Wayne Rooney missed another golden opportunity 15 minutes from time as the crowded penalty area hindered the progress. Full time 0-1.
With the worst possible beginning to the year, Manchester United has to concentrate on the up coming league cupsemi final and ofcourse the premier league and the champions league. The red devils were in all praise for Leeds before the match and their thanks giving for the 2003 win over Arsenal which led to the premier league victory but now the things seems to be different…

Fulham’s 3 goals leaves Manchester United with a long road to recover.

Fulham took full advantage of weak Manchester United defence by thrashing them 3-0 at home. This was red devils fifth defeat this season and could also be a big dent to their title hopes as Chelsea is already 3 points clear and Arsenal at third place is also starting to catch up. Things got worse for Liverpool as they suffered a 2-0 defeat from the hands of bottom team Portsmouth.
Things aren’t going the United way at Craven cottage. First there defence was not up to the mark because of many players being injured. Michael Carrick and Darren Fletcher were again pushed to defence for the match. United’s goal keeper Kuszczakhad to stretch his legs in the 17th minute to push over Zoltan Gera’s close-range shot at goal. Fulham scored their first goal in the 22nd minute when Danny Murphy won the ball from Paul Scholes and shot from 20 yards to give the home side the much awaited lead. Half time score 1-0.

Whatever was the discussion for the reds in the half time break, it had no effect on the field as the second goal for the home side was scored just 20 seconds after the start. Damien Duff’s ball from the right was headed by Dempseyin United’s penalty area found Zamora who had no problems in getting past the United’s goal keeper. Things went worse for United 16 minutes from time when Duff scored of a brilliant pass from Zamora to give the home side 3-0 lead. The final score remain as it is.

Fratton park saw more trouble for Liverpool as they went down 2-0 against Portsmouth. Goals from Nadir Belhadj &Frederic Piquionne in each half took the Pompey’s home but they still are at the bottom of the table.
Other results are:
Aston Villa 1-0 Stoke City
Blackburn Rovers 0-2 Tottenham Hotspur
Manchester City 4-3 Sunderland
Arsenal 3-0 Hull City

Chelsea wins with a Terry Goal.

One of the toughest match of the premiership featuring Chelsea and Manchester United, the hosted just managed to win from a lone goal by John Terry from a set piece in the 76th minute. With the result Chelsea go 5 points clear and have a new rival at second place that is their London neighbours Arsenal who thrashedWolverhampton Wanderers 4-1. Gunners are now second with higher positive goal difference and they may even narrow the gap with a game in hand.

The match started in front of electrifying crowd at Stamford bridge with a heavy amount of play in the midfield. Soon in the fifth minute United’s goalkeeper Van der Sar was tested when Ivanovic shot had to be saved. Otherwise the visiting side dominated the possession but could not convert it, the first real chance came in the 29th minute when a brilliant pass by Fletcher found Giggs who shot to high over Chelsea goalkeeper Peter Cech. Chelsea kept on creating half chances but both the teams went into the half with a 0-0 score line.

Second half saw plenty of action and the eventual goal but before that in the 67th minute Reds’ had their best effort came. A quick free-kick from Anderson allowed Rooney to press menacingly on into the final third. He played a clever one-two with Antonio Valencia and then drilled his shot inches wide. As the situation was getting hotter on the field even little fouls were an ignitions to big fights and by the end of the match three players from both the teams were showed yellow card.
The goal finally came for the home side in the 76 minute when referee Martin Atkinson gave a foul to Darren Fletcher who had clearly won the ball from Ashley Cole. Frank Lampard took the free kick, the ball curled in to find John Terrywho headed it into the back of United net. With the result Chelsea is intact with a 100 per cent home record under Carlo Ancelotti this season that too conceding only one goal.
It was Chelsea’s day and they made everything out of it, Drogba tried his best but was checked by United every time so was the case with Anelka. A positive note for the visiting team who played well expect the decision that went against.
Other results from this weekend are:
Aston Villa 5-1 Bolton Wanderers
Blackburn Rovers 3-1 Portsmouth
Manchester City 3-3 Burnley
Tottenham Hotspurs 2-0 Sunderland
Hull City 2-1 Stoke City
West Ham United 1-2Everton
Wigan 1-1 Fulham

Beachball trouble deflated this time, Liverpool loosing streak ends.

After four wins in a row, Manchester United lost to Liverpool in a tough but one sided match at Anfield on Sunday. It was a match were the home side dominated without giving many chances to the visiting team. The final result was a clean sheet for Liverpool with a score line of 2-0. With this result we have a new leader after Chelsea thrashed Blackburn Rovers 5-0 at Stamford Bridge. Chelsea is now two points clear at the top of the table.

It was the third minute as Rooney has a good chance to open the scoring with a good pass from Dimitar Berbatov but was denied with an offside. On the other side Man United’s goalkeeper Edwin Van der Sar had to stretch himself twice saving balls from Fabio Aurelio’s free-kick and Dirk Kuyt’s shot. Minutes later Dirk Kuyt has another chance when Paul Scholes lost possession to Lucas who then passes the ball to Dirk Kuyt just to shot wide of the post. The half time went goalless.

Second half again had some chilling moments for the visiting team, in the 65th minute Fernando Torres scored his ninth goal of the season when Benayoun’s pass sent him into the penalty area and from there Torres did well to fend off Rio Ferdinand and fire past Van der Sar from the corner of the six-yard box. The ball just flashed into the net giving a little to react. In the 74th minute. Former Liverpool striker Michael Owen was introduced by Sir Alex expecting him to deliver against his former club. Matter became worse for Manchester United when Liverpool substitute David Ngog scored deep into the injury time thus sealing the victory for his side and much to the joy of the home fans. Even goal keeper Reina joined the celebrations running all the way to the other end. It became worst for United when defender Vidic was sent of following his second yellow card. Mescherano was also sent off following his second yellow when he fouled Edwin Van der Sar out side the penalty box.
The match seemed to be an eye opener for Manchester United who didn’t play the way they played some of their previous matches winning is a comfortable way. They didn’t deserve to win. The fire power was lacking which needed to be reinstated as the next match against Blackburn is crucial especially when Arsenal is also catching up and Chelsea going two points clear.