Arsenal kept the pressure on the two Manchester clubs at the top of the Premier League as they overwhelmed Birmingham at rainswept St Andrew's.
A Robin van Persie free-kick and Samir Nasri's 13th goal of the season put the visitors in control before an own goal from Roger Johnson added to City's misery.
The Gunners remain in third spot, two points adrift of United and City, after a sixth away success of the season.
Arsenal were worthy winners and carved out a host of gilt-edged opportunities. Skipper Cesc Fabregas pulled the strings in midfield and City struggled to cope with the runs of Van Persie and Nasri. Only poor finishing and a couple of fine saves from Ben Foster kept the scoreline respectable.
EPL Today
Saturday, January 1, 2011
West Ham 2-0 Wolverhampton
Freddie Sears put the seal on a sweet victory for West Ham as they climbed out of the relegation zone and sent Wolves crashing to the foot of the Premier League.
Winger Sears, a product of the club's academy and lifelong Hammers fan, struck from 15 yards in the 79th minute for his first goal since scoring on his debut in March 2008.
West Ham were already ahead by that stage, but they owed a debt of gratitude to Wolves' Ronald Zubar for their 51st-minute opener, the right-back letting the ball trickle in off his knee after Carlton Cole had taken an air shot.
Wolves had plenty of chances but Mick McCarthy's side, who won at Liverpool in midweek, could not find a way past Robert Green.
Winger Sears, a product of the club's academy and lifelong Hammers fan, struck from 15 yards in the 79th minute for his first goal since scoring on his debut in March 2008.
West Ham were already ahead by that stage, but they owed a debt of gratitude to Wolves' Ronald Zubar for their 51st-minute opener, the right-back letting the ball trickle in off his knee after Carlton Cole had taken an air shot.
Wolves had plenty of chances but Mick McCarthy's side, who won at Liverpool in midweek, could not find a way past Robert Green.
Tottenham 1-0 Fulham
Gareth Bale's lightning reflexes proved enough to extend Tottenham's perfect Christmas and send them back into the Premier League top four in a London derby with Fulham.
The winger reacted brilliantly to flick Rafael van der Vaart's free-kick strike past a wrong-footed Mark Schwarzer three minutes before half-time. Spurs missed plenty of chances to add to their lead but Michael Dawson also had to clear off his own line.
Otherwise, Fulham's lack of firepower once again cost them dear as they slipped to second bottom of the table, piling the pressure on manager Mark Hughes.
The build-up to the game was dominated by the news Spurs were trying to sign David Beckham on loan. And the home side set about demonstrating why manager Harry Redknapp was so keen to bring the former England captain to White Hart Lane.
The winger reacted brilliantly to flick Rafael van der Vaart's free-kick strike past a wrong-footed Mark Schwarzer three minutes before half-time. Spurs missed plenty of chances to add to their lead but Michael Dawson also had to clear off his own line.
Otherwise, Fulham's lack of firepower once again cost them dear as they slipped to second bottom of the table, piling the pressure on manager Mark Hughes.
The build-up to the game was dominated by the news Spurs were trying to sign David Beckham on loan. And the home side set about demonstrating why manager Harry Redknapp was so keen to bring the former England captain to White Hart Lane.
Sunderland 3-0 Blackburn
Darren Bent ended his personal goal drought as Sunderland bounced back from their horror show against Blackpool to defeat Blackburn 3-0.
The England striker glanced home a header eight minutes after Danny Welbeck's deflected 11th-minute shot had put the Black Cats in front to claim his 10th goal of the season and his first in six games.
Bent could easily have grabbed a second-half hat-trick and was guilty of a glaring 62nd-minute miss from just three yards, although former Sunderland striker El-Hadji Diouf had earlier contrived to fire over from even closer.
But substitute Asamoah Gyan sealed a victory which took Sunderland to 30 points for the season with a third at the death to provide the perfect antidote to their wastefulness against the Seasiders in front of a crowd of 36,242.
The England striker glanced home a header eight minutes after Danny Welbeck's deflected 11th-minute shot had put the Black Cats in front to claim his 10th goal of the season and his first in six games.
Bent could easily have grabbed a second-half hat-trick and was guilty of a glaring 62nd-minute miss from just three yards, although former Sunderland striker El-Hadji Diouf had earlier contrived to fire over from even closer.
But substitute Asamoah Gyan sealed a victory which took Sunderland to 30 points for the season with a third at the death to provide the perfect antidote to their wastefulness against the Seasiders in front of a crowd of 36,242.
Stoke City 2-0 Everton
A Kenwyne Jones header and a freak Phil Jagielka own goal handed Stoke victory in a full-blooded Premier League clash against Everton.
Jones rose to power the ball past Tim Howard midway through the first half before Jagielka put through his own net for second time in successive appearances with 21 minutes remaining at the Britannia Stadium.
Everton enjoyed large spells of dominance as they looked to kickstart their stuttering season but spurned a number of good opportunities.
Talisman Tim Cahill, making his final appearance before departing for Asia Cup duty with Australia, went the closest when he headed wide soon after Jones' opener.
Jones rose to power the ball past Tim Howard midway through the first half before Jagielka put through his own net for second time in successive appearances with 21 minutes remaining at the Britannia Stadium.
Everton enjoyed large spells of dominance as they looked to kickstart their stuttering season but spurned a number of good opportunities.
Talisman Tim Cahill, making his final appearance before departing for Asia Cup duty with Australia, went the closest when he headed wide soon after Jones' opener.
Manchester City 1-0 Blackpool
Three stunning misses from Carlos Tevez almost proved costly as Manchester City narrowly edged out Blackpool 1-0 to stay level with neighbours United at the top of the Premier League.
Tevez missed a first-half penalty and then two sitters in the space of five minutes after the break, including an open goal as he fell after rounding the goalkeeper.
But all that came after Adam Johnson's 33rd-minute strike and City endured a nervous finish to take all three points.
Tevez returned to lead the City attack as a knee injury ruled out Mario Balotelli only four days after his hat-trick against Aston Villa, one of four changes manager Roberto Mancini made to the side that won 4-0.
Tevez missed a first-half penalty and then two sitters in the space of five minutes after the break, including an open goal as he fell after rounding the goalkeeper.
But all that came after Adam Johnson's 33rd-minute strike and City endured a nervous finish to take all three points.
Tevez returned to lead the City attack as a knee injury ruled out Mario Balotelli only four days after his hat-trick against Aston Villa, one of four changes manager Roberto Mancini made to the side that won 4-0.
Liverpool 2-1 Bolton
Liverpool earned manager Roy Hodgson some breathing space, but nothing more, with a last-gasp 2-1 victory over Bolton at Anfield.
With reports suggesting owners New England Sports Ventures are now actively seeking a replacement, the 63-year-old knows he is living on borrowed time after a woeful six months in charge.
When Kevin Davies headed in Matt Taylor's 43rd-minute free-kick things looked even worse for Hodgson, but a revitalised Torres volleyed home an equaliser before Cole tapped in his first league goal for the club he joined in the summer.
The result came as a welcome relief to Hodgson after back-to-back Premier League defeats, but it may only give the Reds boss a temporary stay of execution.
With reports suggesting owners New England Sports Ventures are now actively seeking a replacement, the 63-year-old knows he is living on borrowed time after a woeful six months in charge.
When Kevin Davies headed in Matt Taylor's 43rd-minute free-kick things looked even worse for Hodgson, but a revitalised Torres volleyed home an equaliser before Cole tapped in his first league goal for the club he joined in the summer.
The result came as a welcome relief to Hodgson after back-to-back Premier League defeats, but it may only give the Reds boss a temporary stay of execution.
Manchester United 2-1 West Bromwich Albion
Javier Hernandez once again became Manchester United's head-boy to seal a controversial victory over West Brom.
The little Mexican's eighth goal of the season, 15 minutes from time, sealed a second Premier League away win and kept United top of the table.
Yet it barely told the story of a controversial match, the majority of which the hosts will forever be convinced United should have played with 10 men.
In addition, Wayne Rooney ended his nine-month wait for a goal in open play, James Morrison levelled with a brilliant volley and Peter Odemwingie missed a second-half penalty after Gary Neville had inexplicably escaped conceding one before the break.
The little Mexican's eighth goal of the season, 15 minutes from time, sealed a second Premier League away win and kept United top of the table.
Yet it barely told the story of a controversial match, the majority of which the hosts will forever be convinced United should have played with 10 men.
In addition, Wayne Rooney ended his nine-month wait for a goal in open play, James Morrison levelled with a brilliant volley and Peter Odemwingie missed a second-half penalty after Gary Neville had inexplicably escaped conceding one before the break.
Friday, December 31, 2010
Tottenham Interested in Beckham
By ESPNsoccernet staff
Harry Redknapp has confirmed his interest in bringing David Beckham on loan to Tottenham, although he admitted the midfielder's wages could be a possible stumbling block to the move.
In what was a U-turn from his recent denials of interest in Beckham, Redknapp revealed he would ask chairman Daniel Levy to persuade Los Angeles Galaxy to lend the 35-year-old to Spurs until the Major League Soccer season begins in March. Beckham has spent the last two MLS close seasons on loan at AC Milan, partly in a bid to extend his England career.
Reports suggest he is eyeing a similar move to Europe this winter and that Premier League sides are queuing up to bring him home. Spurs have now jumped right to the front of the line, with Redknapp revealing he would attempt to bring him back to the club where it all began - before Manchester United even - for the world's most famous player.
Harry Redknapp has confirmed his interest in bringing David Beckham on loan to Tottenham, although he admitted the midfielder's wages could be a possible stumbling block to the move.
In what was a U-turn from his recent denials of interest in Beckham, Redknapp revealed he would ask chairman Daniel Levy to persuade Los Angeles Galaxy to lend the 35-year-old to Spurs until the Major League Soccer season begins in March. Beckham has spent the last two MLS close seasons on loan at AC Milan, partly in a bid to extend his England career.
Reports suggest he is eyeing a similar move to Europe this winter and that Premier League sides are queuing up to bring him home. Spurs have now jumped right to the front of the line, with Redknapp revealing he would attempt to bring him back to the club where it all began - before Manchester United even - for the world's most famous player.
Furgueson: Five Horse Race for the Title
Sir Alex Ferguson believes the Premier League title race is a five-horse affair and that it could take as little as 82 points to become champions.
Not since Manchester United completed the last of their first hat-trick of championships a decade ago has any team finished top with so few points. On that occasion, 80 proved enough to see off Arsenal by a 10-point margin.
In more recent years, 90 points has been the aim, United and Arsenal reaching that figure once each in the past decade, and Chelsea breaking through the barrier twice under Jose Mourinho.
Now, instead of the bar being raised, rungs are being whipped away from the bottom, not just by title contenders Manchester City and Tottenham, but progressive outfits such as Sunderland, Bolton and West Brom, whom United visit on Saturday. All three have collected points from clubs expected to do far better, which is why Ferguson feels sights have to be trained somewhat lower this term.
Not since Manchester United completed the last of their first hat-trick of championships a decade ago has any team finished top with so few points. On that occasion, 80 proved enough to see off Arsenal by a 10-point margin.
In more recent years, 90 points has been the aim, United and Arsenal reaching that figure once each in the past decade, and Chelsea breaking through the barrier twice under Jose Mourinho.
Now, instead of the bar being raised, rungs are being whipped away from the bottom, not just by title contenders Manchester City and Tottenham, but progressive outfits such as Sunderland, Bolton and West Brom, whom United visit on Saturday. All three have collected points from clubs expected to do far better, which is why Ferguson feels sights have to be trained somewhat lower this term.
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