Originally Posted by SkySports

Premier League round-up

Chelsea began life under Guus Hiddink in fine style as they claimed a massive win at Aston Villa, while Manchester United extended their lead at the Premier League summit to eight points with a hard-fought victory over Blackburn at Old Trafford.


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Andrey Arshavin's debut in an Arsenal shirt ended in frustration as they failed to find a way past Sunderland at Emirates Stadium.

At the opposite end of the table, Ryan Shawcross' last minute own goal saw Portsmouth escape from a trip to Stoke City with a 2-2 draw, with Middlesbrough's 0-0 stalemate against Wigan at The Riverside unlikely to live long in the memory.

Bolton's bid to beat the drop was handed a huge boost as they hung on at the death to record a 2-1 victory over West Ham at The Reebok.

Chelsea travelled to the Midlands post-Luiz Felipe Scolari with talk of a divided dressing room abound in West London.

Aware that a big performance was needed at Villa Park, Chelsea's players responded impressively with the type of display that was full of a bullish resolve which recalled the Jose Mourinho years.

Nicolas Anelka's winner in the 19th minute was beautifully constructed by Frank Lampard's exquisite footwork, that bamboozled Villa's Curtis Davies and Stiliyan Petrov, before a cute pass found the Frenchman.

Anelka's finish was equal to the pass, as he dinked over Brad Friedel for his 21st goal of the season.

John Terry went close to extending Chelsea's advantage as his free header brought an excellent stop from Friedel, before Ashley Young struck the bar with a dipping free-kick.

After the interval Villa had their visitors on the back foot but Chelsea held on with some resolute defending, to claim three points that takes them back above their hosts in third.

At Old Trafford, Manchester United never really hit full throttle against Blackburn but still did enough to pick up a 2-1 victory that saw their amazing sequence without conceding a Premier League goal broken at 1,333 minutes.

Wayne Rooney, handed his first start since returning from injury, broke the deadlock in the 23rd minute with a close-range poked finish from Nani's teasing cross.

If the floodgates were expected to be opened, Rovers clearly had other ideas as Roque Santa Cruz finally proved United are not impregnable with a smart finish after rounding Tomasz Kuzczak before half-time.

The second half was all about Cristiano Ronaldo. The Portuguese winger seemingly kicked-out at David Dunn, in an incident not seen by the referee, before being booked for an outrageous dive on the edge of Rovers' box.

He remains though the master of turning from villain to hero as his stunning angled free-kick beat Paul Robinson all ends-up to extend United's advantage over Liverpool.

A familiar tale of Arsenal being frustrated at the Emirates ensued in North London as Sunderland returned from the capital with a useful point.

Arshavin twice went close to opening his Arsenal account on a lively bow before fading and being replaced on the hour mark, while Kolo Toure was denied by a fine save from Sunderland goalkeeper Marton Fulop.

Sunderland had the occasional chance of their own, as Dean Whitehead forced Manuel Almunia into a decent save and, over the course of the 90 minutes, the Black Cats will feel they were worthy of a point.

Bolton got off to a dream start on home soil as they caught West Ham cold in racing into a two-goal lead within 11 minutes.

Matt Taylor's seventh goal of the season added to his collection of strikes from range, as a fine free-kick from around 25-yards gave Robert Green not a prayer. Although, West Ham's keeper may feel his positioning could have been better.

A minute later and West Ham's woes were exacerbated as Kevin Davies exchanged passes with strike partner Johan Elmander, before firing a low drive past Green on the stretch from around 12 yards.

Scott Parker's neat near post finish on 66 minutes broke a barren in front of goal that stretches back over a year, but ultimately proved to be no more than a consolation for the Hammers.

At the Britannia Stadium Stoke City and Portsmouth played out a first half that both sets of supporters would have forgotten about by the time they had queued up for their half-time brew. No chances, no excitement, no football.

After the break it was a case of same again until the game exploded into the life in the 75th minute, as Niko Kranjcar showed a touch of class previously absent from the contest in converting David Nugent's clever reverse ball.

Pompey's lead lasted just three minutes though, as referee Mike Jones got it all wrong in awarding Stoke a penalty when the ball clearly came off Glen Johnson's shoulder.

James Beattie stepped up and with customary aplomb from 12 yards dispatched past David James.

Portsmouth's bench was apoplectic on the touchline and even more so when in the 80th minute Beattie grabbed his second, despite appearing to be off-side, as he headed in Danny Pugh's volley into the ground from just a few yards out.

All looked lost for Portsmouth until the final minute when Herman Hreidarsson popped up at the back post to deliver a right-footed cross, which Shawcross diverted horribly past his own goalkeeper.

Over in Teesside, Middlesbrough and Wigan played out a goalless draw that was devoid of anything of note.

The Latics will be pleased enough to take a point back to The JJB, but for Boro boss Gareth Southgate home draws may not be enough to keep his side in the top flight.

Originally Posted by SkySports

City dent Reds' title hopes

Liverpool provided a snapshot of their season on Sunday as they dropped more points in the Premier League title race following a 1-1 draw with Manchester City.


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Build-up to the fixture had been overshadowed by fresh speculation that Reds boss Rafa Benitez is still refusing to sign a new deal offered by the club's hierarchy, sparking rumours the former Valencia chief could be ready to walk away in the summer.

And Benitez - whose next fixture is against Real Madrid, a club understood to be keen on his services, in the UEFA Champions League on Wednesday - saw his side do little in an uninspiring first half to deflect from the rumours or suggest they were set to reduce Manchester United's eight-point lead at the top of the table.

Liverpool have infamously struggled in the first 45 minutes of games this campaign and have been forced to come from behind on numerous occasions after dominating games, memorably against City at Eastlands in October.

And the Reds again found themselves behind to City as Craig Bellamy returned to haunt his former employers, netting via a deflection off Alvaro Arbeloa in the 51st minute.

Liverpool fought back as Dirk Kuyt prodded a 78th minute equaliser from Yossi Benayoun's cross, but Benitez's men could not find a winner to leave them sitting seven points behind United.

Liverpool made four changes from the side that won at Portsmouth last time out. There was still no Steven Gerrard with his hamstring injury, while Lucas Leiva, back from suspension, Fernando Torres, Dirk Kuyt and Albert Riera returned to the starting line-up in place of Ryan Babel, David Ngog, Fabio Aurelio and Daniel Agger.

City - who have won away only once this season - made one enforced change from the side that drew 2-2 at FC Copenhagen in the Uefa Cup on Thursday, Nigel de Jong replacing the suspended Shaun Wright-Phillips.

Despite being under plenty of early pressure, Shay Given was rarely called into action for the visitors, who will have pleased boss Mark Hughes with their performance.
Intense pressure

Riera headed wide from an Arbeloa cross, under intense pressure from Micah Richards. Then Jamie Carragher's long ball down the right was touched on by Benayoun for Torres to fire wide first time.

Kuyt was next away on the right, with Richard Dunne clearing the near post cross from Riera's toes, while both Lucas and Benayoun failed to connect with crosses.

The pressure mounted and Kuyt drove wide after being set up by Torres before Richards then chested away a Riera hook in the six-yard box.

City had weathered Liverpool's early fire and eased their way into the game. They should have scored after 30 minutes when Andrea Dossena lost possession and the ball was switched immediately to Robinho.

The little Brazilian had been very quiet in the early stages, but he jinked inside to lay a pass invitingly into Stephen Ireland's stride.

The Irishman had a free run at Jose Reina, but the Spanish keeper blocked the first shot, with Ireland firing the rebound into the side netting.

Torres set up Riera and Benayoun, both chances flying wide before Kuyt missed with a far-post header to end a frustrating half for Liverpool.

Four minutes into the second period, City were ahead. Robinho fed the ball into the box for Vincent Kompany to turn it into the path of Bellamy.

And the ex-Liverpool forward struck a 51st-minute shot from the corner of the penalty area that flicked off Arbeloa, but the effort was clearly on target and flew past Reina into the far corner.

Fierce

This was the fourth time this season that Bellamy has scored against a former club, having netted for West Ham against Newcastle and Blackburn, and for City also against Newcastle.

Ireland had an effort disallowed for offside, Liverpool leaving gaps now as they went forward looking for an equaliser.

Kompany was booked for a high challenge on Martin Skrtel, with Liverpool having brought on young winger Nabil El Zhar for Riera, with the Moroccan soon booked for a foul on Pablo Zabaleta.

City, who had gradually grown into this game, started to look like a team which has had £120million spent on it in under a year.

They flowed forward, looked fierce and committed, while Liverpool lacked the leadership of Gerrard.

But the Reds responded with fight of their own. After 78 minutes Benayoun got away on the left and drove in a cross that Torres missed in the six-yard box, allowing Kuyt to force home the equaliser.

Kuyt them drove past countryman De Jong, and cracked in a fierce 25-yarder that Given beat away. Given's next save, a close range block from Benayoun, was even better.

But when Benayoun hurled himself at the rebound, the ball looked to hit Dunne's arm as it deflected away.

Liverpool had Aurelio and Babel on for Dossena and Mascherano by now, a point just not good enough.

City then took off Robinho and sent on Felipe Caicedo up front for the final minutes as Liverpool searched in vain for a leveller.

Originally Posted by Flash_Back
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Some dodgy decisions at Old Trafford handed United a massive 3 points which looks to have given them their 3rd league title in a row.

Originally Posted by Tommy Red
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Pedersen should have been booked for diving.

And Ronaldo did kick out, but it was so minor that it was common sense to let it go. You don't like to see players sent off for something as small as that. Why did you think there was such a storm when Beckham was sent off in 98? His was worse than what Ronaldo did.

Originally Posted by Tommy Red
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Pedersen should have been booked for diving.

And Ronaldo did kick out, but it was so minor that it was common sense to let it go. You don't like to see players sent off for something as small as that. Why did you think there was such a storm when Beckham was sent off in 98? His was worse than what Ronaldo did.

Any others? Ronaldo was rightly booked for his dive of course.

Oh and there is no way in hell we should have got that corner, but the goal was inexplicably ruled out so that balances out.

Originally Posted by PeaceSells
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As for Jonny's goal, I didn't see it properly, I was barely watching the highlights at the start, so I can't judge if it was disallowed correctly or not. I'm going to guess it might have actually been a little harsh on United.

Originally Posted by Tommy Red
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It wasn't a corner in the first place, so it would have been harsh had it stood, but once the corner is given, surely you don't account for your mistake by disallowing a legit goal.

If players got sent off for what Ronaldo did then someone would go every game. I find it particularly ironic that a City fan is villifying him for it, because Michael Ball's disgraceful behaviour in 2007 is an example of the sort of shit Ronaldo has to take. That is REAL violent conduct. Ronaldo by the letter of the law should have gone, but I can honestly say that if a player did that against us, I wouldn't really be too angry that he didn't go.

Rafael barely touched Pedersen. Seen them given of course, but I think the way he went down warranted a booking.

Originally Posted by PeaceSells
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Rafael tugged Pederson back. Pederson had no other reason to go down. He's one on one with the keeper, and pretty certain to score (I mean it was Kuszczak in nets after all), so why would he go down unless impeded?

As for your defending of Ronaldo, there's nothing I hate more about him than when he kicks out. He does it so often.

If someone just went up and kicked a player because they got tackled (and it's usually fairly too when he actually does this), it's a sending off. No questions asked.

No player should feel they're allowed to kick out at a player because they're frustrated. He needs to learn, and I almost look forward to the day he does get sent off for it, and knowing football it'll probably be in a key game, and he'll not be such a hero then if United lose. In fact much like Beckham, he'd turn into public enemy #1.