Manchester City hammer Champions as QPR defeat Chelsea

Manchester City claimed an incredible 6-1 victory over Manchester United at Old Trafford.

City striker Mario Balotelli calmly fired home from inside the United area to give visitors the lead.

United were reduced to ten men just after half-time as Jonny Evans was dismissed for pulling down Mario Balotelli on the edge of the penalty area.

City doubled their lead in the 61st minute as striker Mario Balotelli scored from close range from a David Silva cross. It got even better for City in the 69th minute as Sergio Aguero got on the end of Micah Richards cross to chip home.

United got a goal back in the 81st minute, midfielder Darren Fletcher played a one-two with Javier Hernandez and fired home a superb effort past Joe Hart. In the 90th minute it got worse for United as Joleon Lescott found substitute Edin Dzeko and the Bosnian scored another close range effort.

In the first minute of injury-time Dzeko played in David Silva and the little Spaniard slid past David De Gea. And three minutes into injury-time United’s misery was complete as Silva put Dzeko through on goal and the Bosnian slotted home.

This game will live long in the memory of both sets of fans. City fans will be over the blue moon! United’s fans will be frustrated and annoyed.

Elsewhere Everton secured a dramatic 3-1 victory at Fulham. Everton made a dream start as Dutch winger Royston Drenthe let fly from just outside the area, which Mark Schwarzer could only get fingertips to before the ball found the net.

Fulham found it hard to break the Everton defence down but managed to equalise in the 65th minute. Costa Rican striker Bryan Ruiz picked up the ball on the corner of the penalty area and chipped Tim Howard, who was helpless to keep it out.

Fulham looked to have won the game late-on, as Bobby Zamora rounded Tim Howard but the striker could only find the crossbar with the goal gapping. The home side were made to pay for that effort just a minute later.

Everton substitute Louis Saha dinked the ball under Mark Schwarzer and into the net, after the Frenchman was put through one-on-one with the Australian keeper. And Everton made maximum points secure in injury-time as Jack Rodwell’s shot from outside the area found the back of the net.

This was Fulham’s first home defeat of the season. For Everton this win brought to an end a terrible run of results.

At the Emirates Stadium Arsenal recorded a 3-1 victory over Stoke City. The Gunners took the lead in the 27th minute, striker Gervinho latching onto a Aaron Ramsey pass before controlling on his chest and firing past Asmir Begovic.

The visitors were back on level terms in the 34th minute, Peter Crouch scoring from close range after Jonathan Walters touched the ball to the former-Tottenham striker. The game changed in the 67th minute as Dutch striker Robin Van Persie came off the Arsenal substitute’s bench.

Just seven minutes later the Gunners were ahead, the Dutchman prodding home from a Gervinho cross. And in the 82nd minute the striker doubled his goal tally from close range after more good play from Gervinho.

Arsenal were again unconvincing but the victory will be a welcome one for Arsene Wenger and his side though. Stoke slip down to ninth in the Premier League table.

Arsenal’s North London rivals Tottenham claimed a 2-1 victory at Blackburn. Spurs took the lead in the 14th minute, Rafael Van Der Vaart firing home from a Kyle Walker right wing cross. Blackburn restored parity in the 27th minute.
Defender Christopher Samba did well to find teammate Mauro Formica in the penalty area and the Argentinian found the net. Tottenham regained the lead in the 52nd minute as Van Der Vaart produced a wonderful strike from a left wing pass by Benoit Assou-Ekotto.

This result will not help the cause of under-pressure Rovers boss Steve Kean. Tottenham moved up to fifth in the Premier League.

Chelsea were reduced to nine-men as they lost 1-0 at local rivals QPR. QPR took the lead on nine minutes. David Luiz was adjudged to have brought down Heidar Helguson in the area and the Icelandic striker dusted himself off and scored from the resulting spot kick.

It got worse for Chelsea in the 33rd minute as defender Jose Bosingwa saw red for bringing down Shaun Wright-Phillips when he looked set to run in on goal. Chelsea’s nightmare continued in the 41st minute as striker Didier Drogba was dismissed for a reckless lung on Adel Taarabt.

It left the Blues with a mountain to climb and they couldn’t overcome the numerical disadvantage. The three points took QPR into the top half of the Premier League.