English Premier League

November 22, 2010: Sunday saw high-tempo clashes between Fulham and Manchester City on the one hand; and Blackburn Rovers and Aston Villa. Liverpool hosted West Ham United in a late kick-off on Saturday.

Fulham 1-4 Manchester City

Manchester City blew Fulham away as a versatile performance saw them defeat the home side by 4 goals to 1 at Craven Cottage in South West London. City skipper Carlos Tevez led his side from the front as he scored a brace in the match, taking his total goal tally for this season to 10. The Argentinean put City in the driver’s seat in only the 6^th minute of the match with a low shot beyond Fulham keeper Mark Schwarzer after expertly handling Gareth Barry’s pass. City dominated throughout and it culminated in a goal for Pablo Zabaleta in the 32^nd minute. The ball fell perfectly for him after Damien Duff managed a clearance from a low David Silva cross. He hit the ball with such ferocity that it flew into the corner of the goal. Within 2 minutes of the second goal, Ivorian Yaya Toure added to the tally as he masterfully finished a team move and put the ball home. The second half saw more or less the same flow of play. In the 56^th minute, captain Tevez added another feather in his cap when he footed the ball inside the net from a corner. Zoltan Gera snatched a consolation goal for the hosts in the 69^th minute, but despite that Fulham now languish in the 16^th position on the table just above the relegation zone.

Blackburn Rovers 2-0 Aston Villa

Blackburn ensured a winning start for new Indian owners Venky’s as they beat Aston Villa 2-0 at Ewood Park with a brace from Norwegian Mortem Gamst Pedersen. The match was evenly fought in the first half with the ball mainly hanging in the midfield with both teams trying to break the deadlock. However, the home side drew first blood just before half-time when Pedersen scored with an ingenious curling free kick which landed in the goal just beyond the reach of Villa keeper Brad Friedel. In the second half, Rovers doubled their lead through goalscorer Pedersen in the 65^th minute when he gave the finishing touch after a scuffle at the corner.

Liverpool 3-0 West Ham United

Liverpool beat last placed West Ham United comprehensively at Anfield on Saturday to get back on track after two consecutive poor performances consisting of a draw against Wigan and a loss to Stoke. Without injured captain, Steven Gerrard, the players needed to fill the void and were urged by manager Roy Hodgson to show their class. The players responded in great style as the Reds scored 3 goals in the first half including a penalty by Dirk Kuyt. The match was dominated wholly throughout the 90 minutes by the home side even though the momentum built in the first half was lost in the second one. Only in the 17^th minute, Glen Johnson scored the first goal for the home side after he had chested and controlled the ball expertly.  In the 27^th minute, a shout for penalty was granted when Gabbidon handled the ball in the area. Dirk Kuyt converted it without much ado. The humiliation was complete in the 38^th minute, when Paul Konchesky put in the ball after a Torres shot was stopped by the keeper had rebounded in his path.

Positions After The Weekend

Chelsea and Manchester United occupy the 1^st and 2^nd positions on top of the table separated only by goal difference, as both teams have earned 28 points from 14 matches played. Arsenal is 3^rd behind them on 26 points followed by Manchester City on 25.

Wigan, Wolves and West Ham United sit at the 18^th, 19^th and 20^th positions respectively.

Tags: Aston Villa, Blackburn Rovers, English Premier League, EPL, Football, Fulham, Liverpool, Manchester City, Sports, West Ham United