On a day where title credentials would yet again be on display, the odds-on favorites for lifting the trophy showed why the bookies have them where they do. Chelsea, Manchester City and Liverpool all put in fantastic performances, Manchester United avoided a European hangover and much more in our review of Match Day 31.
Chelsea 6-0 Arsenal
On the day where Arsene Wenger took charge for the 1,000th time, his nemesis in the league Jose Mourinho led his Chelsea side in what can only be described as the massacre at Stamford Bridge. For those of you reading that are Arsenal supporters, this was a very hard one to take. Chelsea went 2-0 up inside the first seven minutes, and you just knew that the match was decided at that point. A controversial red card saw Kieran Gibbs booked for the actions taken by Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain as he hand-balled on the line to deny a goal scoring chance. Eden Hazard converted the spot kick and Chelsea were up 3-0 on 16 minutes. Further goals from Mohamed Salah and a brace from Oscar saw Chelsea run rampant. London certainly is blue after that match and Mourinho still has yet to lose a match to Wenger in the BPL.
Implications: Chelsea remain at the top of the table, seven points clear of the Gunners, who still have a match in hand. Arsenal’s next three fixtures are Swansea at home, City at home and Everton away – was this the end of Arsenal’s title chance? The Gunners are now sitting fourth after all their rivals gained wins on the day.
Cardiff City 3-6 Liverpool
Liverpool went into their away fixture knowing full well the result that Chelsea earned at Stamford Bridge – Brendan Rodger’s men would respond with an impressive performance in their own right as they put Cardiff to the sword by the final score line of 6-3. It was a worrying first half for Pool however, as Cardiff City were came out strong in what was a key match for them as well. At the half both sides were level at two, but then a flurry of second half strikes saw Liverpool take away all three points. Luis Suarez netted a hat-trick (he is now on 28 goals), Martin Skrtel bagged a brace and Daniel Sturridge continued to find the net. Jordan Munch bagged a brace for Cardiff while Frazier Campbell scored the other for the south Wales side. While Liverpool have not been fantastic at the back, there is no denying their prowess when going forward.
Implications: Liverpool keep pace with Chelsea and remain four points back but still have that vital match in hand. Cardiff remain in 19th position and will have to do very well indeed from here on out if they are to avoid the drop.
Everton 3-2 Swansea City
Everton continue to solidify their fortress at Goodison Park with a hard fought win against a determined Swansea side. The Toffees opener through a Leighton Baines spot kick was cancelled out by Wilfried Bony and the sides would go in level at the half. The impressice duo of Romelu Lukaku and Ross Barkley would both net second half strikes and despite Ashley Williams pulling one back late on, Everton held on to all the points as they continue their assault on up-for-grabs European places in the table. Swansea however continue their underwhelming season, which surely will see them bring in a proper manager come the summer.
Implications: Everton are up to 5th in the table after their win and could remain their baring the result in the Tottenham match tomorrow. More surprisingly, Everton are now only eight points back of Arsenal with a match in hand over the London club. Swansea slip down to 15th and risk flirtations with the drop zone.
Hull City 2-0 West Bromwich Albion
Hull put in a very solid performance at the KC Stadium in a match that see’s them put a little distance between themselves and the drop zone. Hull are a decent enough side at home, but this was a performance that they can build upon as goals from Liam Rosenior and former Brum man Shane Long put the result firmly in the hands of the Tigers. West Brom continue to struggle on the road, regardless of who has been at the helm this season.
Implications: Hull are up to 12th with an 8 point cushion on Sunderland who are in 18th, the one spot they do not want to become familiar with. Brum however remain in 16th and unable to gain any points as they try to avoid the drop – they remain within touching distance of the relegation zone.
Manchester City 5-0 Fulham
City continue to be unstoppable at home under first-year manager Manuel Pellegrini and Fulham remain woeful in just about every category as they were trashed on their travels north. City, like Liverpool, did exceptionally well to keep pace with Chelsea and capitalize on Arsenal’s demise, a hat-trick from Yaya Toure and further goals from Fernandinho and Martin Demichelis would resign the Cottagers to yet another league defeat. With no European commitments and their multiple matches in hand over both Chelsea and Liverpool, City are sure to test the pair to the limit.
Implications: City leapfrog Arsenal with the win and they are now up to third six points behind Chelsea and two points behind Liverpool, who they have three and two matches in hand over respectively. Fulham unsurprisingly remain bottom after this loss and there is a real chance that their supporters are mentality preparing for life in the Championship.
Newcastle United 1-0 Crystal Palace
In a match that could have seen Papiss Demba Cisse easy bag a hat-trick, he at least got it right when it mattered most. A stoppage time strike by the big Senegalese striker saw Newcastle escape with all the points at St. James’ Park. The match would be a microcosm of their season – they simply dominated from start to finish, but without the influential Loic Remy, could not put the matter to bed long before stoppage time. Newcastle were impressive today after being underwhelming in their previous fixture and plenty of their supporters will be wondering which side will turn up in their next engagement.
Implications: Newcastle rise up to 8th and now have a firm grip on a top-half finish come seasons end. Crystal Palace remain 17th however, three points ahead of Sunderland who have two crucial matches in hand over them.
Norwich City 2-0 Sunderland
Sunderland failed to gain ground on the clubs above them in the continuing battle to avoid relegation as they were ousted 2-0 by Norwich City. A goal from Robert Snodgrass and a wonder strike from Alexander Tettey would be all the home side would need to put the result firmly in their back pocket. Sunderland did threaten in periods of the match, but such is their woeful nature in front of goal that they could not capitalize any of the chances that they did manage to carve out.
Implications: Norwich are up to 13th but with little to no room to breathe in the dogfight near the foot of the table. Sunderland failed to gain any points to start their rise out of the relegation zone, but will still be clutching to their matches in hand as their potential saving grace – they remain in 18th.
West Ham United 0-2 Manchester United
United did not allow their midweek Champions League fixture to cause any negative impact on the home front as they earned a 2-0 win at Upton Park. The Red Devils would only need the first half to get the job done however, as a brace before the half by Wayne Rooney, which included what surely will be the goal of the season was enough to see the job done. West Ham have slipped a bit after their good run of form, but they are decent enough at Upton Park and with United without Robin van Persie, David Moyes played both Juan Mata and Shinji Kagawa in the attacking trio behind Wayne Rooney and it paid off quite well – finally a bit of tactical adjustment in the positive by the Scottish manager.
Implications: United remain seventh, but are in touching distance of a top-6 finish. They’ll have to do it without Robin van Persie, but could their European turn around spurn them on to a run of domestic form? After their good spell of play, West Ham are in a slide, which see’s them drop to 14th and only three points clear of 17th placed Crystal Palace.
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