Substitute Javier Hernandez scored a very debatable winner for Manchester United against Chelsea
Sunday’s Premier League action produced a number of controversial incidents.
In the early Premier League kick-off Everton and Liverpool drew 2-2 at Goodison Park.
Liverpool made a dream start, Luis Suarez’s 14th minute effort hitting Leighton Baines and beating Tim Howard in the Everton goal.
The Reds doubled their lead in the 20th minute. Steven Gerrard’s free-kick glanced past Howard by Suarez, to the annoyance of the Everton fans.
Everton were back in the game two minutes later. Midfielder Leon Osman drove an effort that took a deflection off Joe Allen and beat keeper Brad Jones in the Liverpool goal.
Everton completed the superb comeback on 35 minutes. Scottish attacker Steven Naismith opened his Everton account from close-range from a good centre from Belgium midfielder Marouane Fellaini.
Everton then looked the more likely winners, but Liverpool came closest to claiming maximum points. In injury-time the Reds had a goal disallowed. Gerrard’s free-kick was headed back across the face of goal by Sebastian Coates and Luis Suarez lashed home.
The Liverpool striker ran-off celebrating only for the linesman’s flag to go up. Replays showed that the Uruguayan wasn’t offside at any stage of the attack.
The other big game of the day saw Manchester United win 3-2 at Chelsea, after the Blues were reduced to nine men. United established an early two goal lead. United took the lead on four minutes as Robin Van Persie’s effort hit the post and rebounded off David Luiz into the net.
Van Persie doubled the Red Devils lead on 12 minutes from Antonio Valencia’s cross. The home side were back in the game just before the interval as Spanish midfielder Juan Mata struck an excellent free-kick past David de Gea.
Ramires headed home the equaliser for Chelsea in the 53rd minute. The Blues were reduced to ten men on 63 minutes, Branislav Ivanovic receiving a straight for clipping Ashley Young’s heels. It got even worse Chelsea in the 69th minute.
Record signing Fernando Torres was shown a second yellow card, after going down under a challenge from Jonny Evans. Referee Mark Clattenburg decided that the Spaniard had dived. Chelsea defended gallantly with nine men, but in the 75th minute Chelsea was on the end of another debatable decision.
Petr Cech had saved an effort from Robin Van Persie and palmed the ball away from goal. Brazilian full-back Rafael then fired the ball back in and substitute Javier Hernandez reacted quickly to find the net. The Mexican was standing in an offside position when he received the ball.
The victory moved Manchester United back up to second place, just one point behind Chelsea. However the home side could count themselves very unlucky to have lost this clash.
Elsewhere Tottenham claimed a 2-1 victory at Southampton’s St Marys. Former-Saints winger Gareth Bale headed the visitors into the lead on 15 minutes from Tom Huddlestone’s cross. Spurs doubled their lead on 39 minutes, USA midfielder Clint Dempsey tapping home.
The Saints came back into the game in the second half. Southampton got a goal back in the 66th minute, Jay Rodriguez rifling home from close-range. Southampton pushed hard for an equaliser, but the Tottenham defence held out. The victory took Spurs up to fourth place.
Newcastle United also claimed a 2-1 victory, defeating West Brom at St James Park. The Magpies took the lead in the 35th minute striker Demba Ba thumping home the opening goal. West Brom came back into the game and got their reward in the 55th minute.
Zoltan Gera’s cross was headed home at the far post by on-loan Chelsea striker Romelu Lukaku. Just as the game looked to be heading for a draw Newcastle snatched a winner. Shola Ameobi’s shot took a deflection off Papiss Cisse and found a way past Ben Foster in the away side’s goal.
Can Chelsea bounce back from defeat to Manchester United?
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