Tottenham came from behind to beat Manchester City thanks to three quick-fire goals from Clint Dempsey, Jermain Defoe and Gareth Bale which all but ends the reigning Premier League champion’s hopes of retaining their crown.
The away side took a fifth-minute lead through Samir Nasri, converting James Milner’s low cross, and enjoyed superiority over Spurs for much of the opening hour of the match. Despite appearing to be in control, however, City allowed Dempsey to tap home Bale's cross with fifteen minutes remaining, before Defoe and Bale scored in quick succession to give Tottenham a vital win in the race for the top four.
Andre Villas-Boas made two changes from the side that earned a 2-2 draw against Basel as Benoit Assou-Ekotto and, more importantly, Gareth Bale returned to the first team at the expense of Kyle Naughton and Lewis Holtby. Roberto Mancini, meanwhile, rotated his side heavily, making five changes from the team that beat Wigan 1-0 on Wednesday with Edin Dzeko notably replacing Sergio Aguero, while David Silva picked up a knock in training that ruled him out.
After a fairly frantic start, it took just five minutes for the first goal to come. Excellent work from Carlos Tevez allowed Milner to cross for Nasri, who turned the ball home adeptly on the volley to give the away side the lead. The goalscorer was at the centre of the controversy just minutes later, though, when he went in high on Kyle Walker; despite calls for a red card, referee Lee Mason deemed the challenge unworthy of even a foul.
Kyle Walker then spurned what eventually transpired to be Tottenham's only real chance of the half, firing straight at the onrushing Joe Hart after being played through on goal by Clint Dempsey. Following that missed opportunity, City quickly took the initiative and almost doubled their lead before the break. Nasri and Dzeko both went close after being put through by the lively Tevez, but the former poked his effort just wide and the latter struck straight at Hugo Lloris in the Spurs goal.
It took Tottenham a little while to get going in the second half, but, aided by several shrewd substitutions from Villas-Boas, began piling on the pressure after the hour mark. It was, typically, Bale who created the breakthrough goal, receiving the ball on the right wing and flicking a delicious ball to the back post with the outside of his left foot where Dempsey was on hand to convert.
Tottenham's momentum continued and it was mere minutes before the home side completed their comeback with another goal, courtesy of substitute Defoe. After the striker received the ball on the left from Holtby, he ran at Vincent Kompany, cutting inside before lashing an unstoppable effort past Hart into the far corner.
The home side's impetus appeared unstoppable as they extended their lead a few minutes later. Sub Tom Huddlestone embarked on a penetrative run before playing in Bale, who, through on goal, delightfully dinked over Hart to put Spurs 3-1 up and guaranteeing all three points.
In the other match of the day, Luis Suarez scored six minutes into injury time to land a huge blow to Chelsea's Champions League qualification after appearing to bite Branislav Ivanovic earlier in the game.
The controversial striker was at the heart of a notable Liverpool comeback but he is likely to find himself in hot water with the Football Association for once again showing the unsavoury side of his game.
Eden Hazard scored what had looked to be the 58th minute winner from the penalty spot after Daniel Sturridge had cancelled out Oscar’s first-half header. But Suarez headed in a Sturridge cross deep into added time just as Chelsea appeared to have secured the three points necessary to keep them on course for a top-four finish.
The away side took a fifth-minute lead through Samir Nasri, converting James Milner’s low cross, and enjoyed superiority over Spurs for much of the opening hour of the match. Despite appearing to be in control, however, City allowed Dempsey to tap home Bale's cross with fifteen minutes remaining, before Defoe and Bale scored in quick succession to give Tottenham a vital win in the race for the top four.
Andre Villas-Boas made two changes from the side that earned a 2-2 draw against Basel as Benoit Assou-Ekotto and, more importantly, Gareth Bale returned to the first team at the expense of Kyle Naughton and Lewis Holtby. Roberto Mancini, meanwhile, rotated his side heavily, making five changes from the team that beat Wigan 1-0 on Wednesday with Edin Dzeko notably replacing Sergio Aguero, while David Silva picked up a knock in training that ruled him out.
After a fairly frantic start, it took just five minutes for the first goal to come. Excellent work from Carlos Tevez allowed Milner to cross for Nasri, who turned the ball home adeptly on the volley to give the away side the lead. The goalscorer was at the centre of the controversy just minutes later, though, when he went in high on Kyle Walker; despite calls for a red card, referee Lee Mason deemed the challenge unworthy of even a foul.
Kyle Walker then spurned what eventually transpired to be Tottenham's only real chance of the half, firing straight at the onrushing Joe Hart after being played through on goal by Clint Dempsey. Following that missed opportunity, City quickly took the initiative and almost doubled their lead before the break. Nasri and Dzeko both went close after being put through by the lively Tevez, but the former poked his effort just wide and the latter struck straight at Hugo Lloris in the Spurs goal.
It took Tottenham a little while to get going in the second half, but, aided by several shrewd substitutions from Villas-Boas, began piling on the pressure after the hour mark. It was, typically, Bale who created the breakthrough goal, receiving the ball on the right wing and flicking a delicious ball to the back post with the outside of his left foot where Dempsey was on hand to convert.
Tottenham's momentum continued and it was mere minutes before the home side completed their comeback with another goal, courtesy of substitute Defoe. After the striker received the ball on the left from Holtby, he ran at Vincent Kompany, cutting inside before lashing an unstoppable effort past Hart into the far corner.
The home side's impetus appeared unstoppable as they extended their lead a few minutes later. Sub Tom Huddlestone embarked on a penetrative run before playing in Bale, who, through on goal, delightfully dinked over Hart to put Spurs 3-1 up and guaranteeing all three points.
In the other match of the day, Luis Suarez scored six minutes into injury time to land a huge blow to Chelsea's Champions League qualification after appearing to bite Branislav Ivanovic earlier in the game.
The controversial striker was at the heart of a notable Liverpool comeback but he is likely to find himself in hot water with the Football Association for once again showing the unsavoury side of his game.
Eden Hazard scored what had looked to be the 58th minute winner from the penalty spot after Daniel Sturridge had cancelled out Oscar’s first-half header. But Suarez headed in a Sturridge cross deep into added time just as Chelsea appeared to have secured the three points necessary to keep them on course for a top-four finish.
On an afternoon when Anfield paid tribute to former manager Rafael Benitez, back at the stadium for the first time since he was sacked in 2010, and tireless Hillsborough campaigner Anne Williams, the occasion will be remembered perhaps more for Suarez's act of madness.The Uruguayan appeared to bite Ivanovic on the arm midway through the second period after they had jostled for the ball in the Chelsea penalty box.
Suarez, who was banned during his Ajax days for biting, could face another lengthy spell on the sidelines when the footage of the incident is reviewed by the Football Association.It was the main talking point at the end of a match that brimmed with plotlines, drama and some high calibre action.
Benitez has had to juggle his recources to cope with Chelsea’s fixture overload but he made a comparatively meagre three changes from the team that won 3-0 at Fulham on Wednesday. Cesar Azpilicueta, John Obi Mikel and Oscar came in for John Terry, Frank Lampard and Victor Moses, who all dropped to the bench.
Liverpool made only a single alteration to the team that drew 0-0 at Reading last weekend, with Stewart Downing replacing the benched Daniel Sturridge. The air was heavy with emotion and sentiment at Anfield. Before kick-off there was a minute’s applause in memory of Anne Williams, who died during the week, and the Boston Marathon. In a terrific tribute, ‘There’s only one Anne Williams’ reverberated around Anfield.
Meanwhile, Benitez was given the warmest possible welcome by the Kop, who chanted his name throughout the first half. The former Liverpool manager watched his old side take an early grip of the match without looking particularly threatening, but it was the team he manages only on an interim basis who took the lead after 25 minutes through an unlikely source. Oscar deserves credit for the deftness of his header direct from Juan Mata’s corner but there will be question marks over both the failure of the defenders to track his straightforward run to the front post and the goalkeeping of Pepe Reina, who was beaten inside his near post.
Moments later, Reina nearly made one of the howlers of the season. A speculative David Luiz shot was pinged straight at him but the Spaniard contrived to make an almighty mess of it, almost spilling it behind the line. The sighs of relief around Anfield were audible when he clawed it away at the last second.
Suarez always looked Liverpool’s most likely avenue for a goal but it was not until the 42ndminute that the Uruguayan got in sight of goal. The No7 was slipped in by Downing on the right of the area but his fiercely-struck shot was too close to Petr Cech, who comfortably made his first meaningful save of the afternoon. The same pair were in action on the cusp of half-time but, on this occasion, Suarez shot weakly at the keeper from what was a tight angle.
Suarez, who was banned during his Ajax days for biting, could face another lengthy spell on the sidelines when the footage of the incident is reviewed by the Football Association.It was the main talking point at the end of a match that brimmed with plotlines, drama and some high calibre action.
Benitez has had to juggle his recources to cope with Chelsea’s fixture overload but he made a comparatively meagre three changes from the team that won 3-0 at Fulham on Wednesday. Cesar Azpilicueta, John Obi Mikel and Oscar came in for John Terry, Frank Lampard and Victor Moses, who all dropped to the bench.
Liverpool made only a single alteration to the team that drew 0-0 at Reading last weekend, with Stewart Downing replacing the benched Daniel Sturridge. The air was heavy with emotion and sentiment at Anfield. Before kick-off there was a minute’s applause in memory of Anne Williams, who died during the week, and the Boston Marathon. In a terrific tribute, ‘There’s only one Anne Williams’ reverberated around Anfield.
Meanwhile, Benitez was given the warmest possible welcome by the Kop, who chanted his name throughout the first half. The former Liverpool manager watched his old side take an early grip of the match without looking particularly threatening, but it was the team he manages only on an interim basis who took the lead after 25 minutes through an unlikely source. Oscar deserves credit for the deftness of his header direct from Juan Mata’s corner but there will be question marks over both the failure of the defenders to track his straightforward run to the front post and the goalkeeping of Pepe Reina, who was beaten inside his near post.
Moments later, Reina nearly made one of the howlers of the season. A speculative David Luiz shot was pinged straight at him but the Spaniard contrived to make an almighty mess of it, almost spilling it behind the line. The sighs of relief around Anfield were audible when he clawed it away at the last second.
Suarez always looked Liverpool’s most likely avenue for a goal but it was not until the 42ndminute that the Uruguayan got in sight of goal. The No7 was slipped in by Downing on the right of the area but his fiercely-struck shot was too close to Petr Cech, who comfortably made his first meaningful save of the afternoon. The same pair were in action on the cusp of half-time but, on this occasion, Suarez shot weakly at the keeper from what was a tight angle.
Sturridge, a half-time replacement for the disappointing Philippe Coutinho, immediately gave Liverpool the spark they had been missing.
The former Chelsea man’s first two contributions were exquisite. Firstly, he nearly created the equaliser with a brilliant run and pass from the right only for Cech to divert away Gerrard’s first-time shot with his leg. Then, he cracked a superb 30-yard shot against the post after pirouetting away from the attentions of the boys in blue
It was third time lucky for Sturridge, who put the finishing touch to a sublime move after 52 minutes following the most delightful of dinked crosses from Suarez.
With Liverpool playing some sparkling stuff, the atmosphere was vibrant. But the hosts could only hang on to their lead for five minutes after conceding another soft goal.
Replays showed referee Kevin Friend was correct to point to the penalty spot after Suarez handled the ball in his own area. Hazard nonchalantly drove the spot-kick into the left corner.
Suarez was at the heart of all Liverpool’s best play but he was once again cast in the role of villiain midway through the second period. After wrestling for the ball with Ivanovic in the Chelsea box, Suarez grabbed the defender’s arm, moved his face towards it and appeared to sink his teeth into his opponent’s bicep. It instantly looked a reckless act.
Liverpool continued to press for an equaliser. Jonjo Shelvey appeared to have wasted their final chance when he shot wide late on.
But Suarez refused to give up and sent the home support wild with his late headed equaliser from Sturridge's cross.
The former Chelsea man’s first two contributions were exquisite. Firstly, he nearly created the equaliser with a brilliant run and pass from the right only for Cech to divert away Gerrard’s first-time shot with his leg. Then, he cracked a superb 30-yard shot against the post after pirouetting away from the attentions of the boys in blue
It was third time lucky for Sturridge, who put the finishing touch to a sublime move after 52 minutes following the most delightful of dinked crosses from Suarez.
With Liverpool playing some sparkling stuff, the atmosphere was vibrant. But the hosts could only hang on to their lead for five minutes after conceding another soft goal.
Replays showed referee Kevin Friend was correct to point to the penalty spot after Suarez handled the ball in his own area. Hazard nonchalantly drove the spot-kick into the left corner.
Suarez was at the heart of all Liverpool’s best play but he was once again cast in the role of villiain midway through the second period. After wrestling for the ball with Ivanovic in the Chelsea box, Suarez grabbed the defender’s arm, moved his face towards it and appeared to sink his teeth into his opponent’s bicep. It instantly looked a reckless act.
Liverpool continued to press for an equaliser. Jonjo Shelvey appeared to have wasted their final chance when he shot wide late on.
But Suarez refused to give up and sent the home support wild with his late headed equaliser from Sturridge's cross.
Guy u no dey talk about oda leagues ni
ReplyDeleteso so so boring league.. next pls
ReplyDeleteChamps Lge ball now in totnhams court
ReplyDelete1 london team must go down
ReplyDelete