..::Football III::..

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Barclays Premier League 2013.11.02

Barclays Premier League 2013.11.02​

Newcastle United Vs Chelsea

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Fulham Vs Manchester United

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Hull City Vs Sunderland

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Manchester City Vs Norwich City

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Stoke City Vs Southampton

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WBA Vs Crystal Palace

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West Ham Vs Aston Villa

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Arsenal Vs Liverpool

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La Liga 2013.11.02 Fixtures

La Liga 2013.11.02 Fixtures

Real Soceidad Vs Osasuna

Almeria Vs Real Valladolid

Rayo Vallecano Vs Real Madrid

Sevilla Vs Celta Vigo​

 

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Serie A 2013.11.02 Fixtures

Serie A 2013.11.02 Fixtures

Parma Vs Juventus

AC Milan Vs Fiorentina

Napoli Vs Catania​

 

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Full Time

Fulham 1 Vs 3 Manchester United

Fulham Goal(s)

Alexander Kacaniklic 65'

&

Manchester United Goal(s)

Valencia 9'
Robin Van Persie 20'
Rooney 22'


:love:Congratulations Manchester United
1st Half Performance nam pattaBut 2nd half 1ka gana nam satis naha kohomatathanthimaiJust 3 shots
​

 

[rcccc]

Full Time

Fulham 1 Vs 3 Manchester United

Fulham Goal(s)

Alexander Kacaniklic 65'

&

Manchester United Goal(s)

Valencia 9'
Robin Van Persie 20'
Rooney 22'


:love:Congratulations Manchester United
1st Half Performance nam pattaBut 2nd half 1ka gana nam satis naha kohomatathanthimaiJust 3 shots
​

 

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Man City 7-0 Norwich

 

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Full Time

Fulham 1 Vs 3 Manchester United

Fulham Goal(s)

Alexander Kacaniklic 65'

&

Manchester United Goal(s)

Valencia 9'
Robin Van Persie 20'
Rooney 22'


:love:Congratulations Manchester United
1st Half Performance nam pattaBut 2nd half 1ka gana nam satis naha kohomatathanthimaiJust 3 shots
​

Manchester dekatama dam Goal count ekai points 3i tama godak wadagath. Sure me para antimata goal advantage eken tama godak aya Champions league ekata promote wenne

 

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Manchester dekatama dam Goal count ekai points 3i tama godak wadagath. Sure me para antimata goal advantage eken tama godak aya Champions league ekata promote wenne

Ow City lath patta gahillak ada gahala thiyenne....7-0

 

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Parma 0-1 Juventus: Pogba snatches late winner

Paul Pogba scored the only goal of the game as Juventus beat Parma 1-0 on Saturday evening.

The midfielder's strike 13 minutes from time helped to heal the wounds caused by Juve's capitulation at Fiorentina, where they surrendered a two-goal half-time lead on their way to a 4-2 defeat.

Pogba tucked home the rebound from eight yards on 77 minutes after Fabio Quagliarella's long-range effort came back off the crossbar, to secure a third league win on the bounce for the visitors.

With both sides having played on Wednesday, there were six changes in each team as the respective coaches looked to keep their squads fresh, with Andrea Pirlo and Fernando Llorente among those that Juventus coach Antonio Conte opted to rest.

The first chance of note came in the 11th minute, Massimo Gobbi dragging his angled effort wide of the post following patient approach play by the hosts.

Juventus threatened for the first time four minutes later, as Carlos Tevez linked up with strike partner Sebastian Giovinco inside the area before firing his effort straight at Antonio Mirante.

Arturo Vidal, who scored the Bianconeri's first in their 4-0 win over Catania on Wednesday, was next to test Mirante in the 26th minute when his cleanly hit strike from 35 yards was comfortably gathered by the goalkeeper.

Seven minutes later Vidal was at it again, this time dragging a 25-yard shot narrowly wide after being set up by Tevez.

After a quiet first half, the home side went close to breaking the deadlock in the 52nd minute when Amauri's clever back heel rolled wide of the left hand post after Jonathan Biabiany had outwitted Giorgio Chiellini down the right-hand side and pulled the ball across the six-yard box.

With clear opportunities at a premium, Tevez wasted a glorious chance to put his side ahead with 20 minutes remaining. After being picked out by Simone Padoin's low cross in the middle of the box, the Argentine was denied by the legs of Mirante.

But the game's decisive moment was just around the corner as Pogba tucked home from close range after Quagliarella, on as a replacement for Tevez, struck the crossbar from 25 yards.

That goal was enough to secure all three points and leaves Juventus two points behind leaders Roma, who play Torino on Sunday.

 

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Hull City 1-0 Sunderland: Cuellar own goal compounds Poyet’s woe

Hull City beat Sunderland 1-0 on Saturday as the Black Cats had two men sent off before half-time.

Hull grabbed their winner in fortuitous circumstances as Liam Rosenior curled a cross in from the right and, before Yannick Sagbo could connect with it and Carlos Cuellar nodded past his own goalkeeper 25 minutes in.

The match slipped even further from the visitors' grasp at the end of the first half when Lee Cattermole was shown his seventh Premier League red card for a wild tackle on Ahmed El Mohamady.

And after Andrea Dossena had followed him down the tunnel two minutes later after stamping on David Meyler's shin, Hull predictably dominated the second half.

Chances were more apparent in the final 15 minutes, as Steven Fletcher was denied by Steve Harper, before Jake Livermore hit the post, but Hull had already done enough to claim a win that extended their unbeaten run at home in the Premier League to five matches.

Steve Bruce made just the one change from the Hull side that lost to Tottenham in their last Premier League encounter, as Livermore returned.

Fabio Borini’s late winning goal in the north-east derby with Newcastle earned the Italian his second league start of the season for Sunderland, as he replaced Adam Johnson in their only alteration.

Goalscoring opportunities were few and far between early on but the hosts almost took a 17th-minute lead when Livermore flicked Tom Huddlestone’s left-wing free kick just past the far post.

Their next chance did find the net, however, as Rosenior’s controlled cross from the right was headed past his goalkeeper Keiren Westwood by Cuellar.

A collision with Paul McShane then forced Westwood off and his replacement, Vito Mannone, almost conceded just a few moments after coming on but Phil Bardsley deflected Sagbo’s low shot wide.

First-half stoppage time saw Sunderland’s task become an almost impossible one as Cattermole received a straight red card and Dossena soon followed him for a crude stamp on Meyler.

Manager Gus Poyet reacted to the red cards by introducing Johnson and Wes Brown, with the latter making his first league appearance since January 2012.

Hull looked to make the most of their numerical advantage as quickly as possible but George Boyd’s left-footed effort in the 53rd minute flew narrowly wide of the target.

Mannone's goal was coming under increased pressure by the hour mark and the Italian did well to deny Livermore as the on-loan Spurs midfielder shot from distance.

Both sides created chances in the final 15 minutes as Fletcher fired straight at Harper when one-on-one, while Livermore struck the post with a long-range effort, but Hull held on for slender victory.

 

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Ow City lath patta gahillak ada gahala thiyenne....7-0

eka tama...2nd half eke injuries lu neda? eth dan idan goal difference eka wadi karagattanan goda

 

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Stoke 1-1 Southampton: Rodriguez cancels out Begovic stunner

Southampton snatched a point at Stoke City on Saturday, despite a 12th-second opener from goalkeeper Asmir Begovic.

In windy conditions for the Premier League match at the Britannia Stadium, a clearance from Begovic bounced over opposite number Artur Boruc to give Stoke a remarkable early lead.

Southampton were the better side for large periods, however, and equalised before the break when Jay Rodriguez converted a teasing cross from James Ward-Prowse.

The visitors looked more likely to grab a winner in the second half and also saw two strong penalty appeals turned down - but both sides had to, ultimately, settle for a point.

Southampton are now unbeaten in eight matches, while Stoke's winless league run stands at seven games.

Begovic, who previously represented Southampton's rivals Portsmouth, is the fifth goalkeeper to score in the Premier League and follows in the footsteps of Peter Schmeichel, Brad Friedel, Paul Robinson and Tim Howard.

Glenn Whelan replaced Wilson Palacios in the only alteration from Stoke's last league outing at Manchester United.

Southampton, meanwhile named an unchanged starting line-up, with striker Dani Osvaldo missing out once again due to a knock.

Many supporters had yet to find their seat when Begovic got the game off to a scarcely believable start, scoring with Stoke's second touch. His long punt upfield became the fourth-fastest goal in Premier League history.

Buoyed by their stunning opener, the hosts applied further pressure and captain Ryan Shawcross spurned a golden opportunity in the ninth minute after a corner had been flicked into his path eight yards out.

Southampton defender Dejan Lovren was guilty of a similarly bad miss three minutes later, heading wide from an inswinging corner with the goal gaping.

Things settled down thereafter as Southampton regained their composure and started to knock the ball around with increasing confidence.

The visitors' gradual improvement was rewarded four minutes before half-time when Rodriguez popped up unmarked at the far post to meet Ward-Prowse's delivery with a header into the ground that looped over Begovic.

Palacios replaced Whelan at the start of the second half and Stoke came close to retaking the lead in the 50th minute through Marko Arnautovic, only for Boruc to beat away the Austrian's powerful effort from 15 yards.

Southampton were soon enjoying prolonged spells of possession and saw a penalty appeal turned down when Nathaniel Clyne's cross appeared to strike Erik Pieters on the arm.

Ward-Prowse then curled a free-kick narrowly over and Mauricio Pochettino's men continued to look the most likely winners as the game entered its closing stages.

Stoke, who saw Robert Huth booked for a cynical body-check on Southampton substitute Gaston Ramirez, did offer more of a threat late on but could not carve out a clearcut chance.

There was controversy in the 89th minute, however, as another penalty shout from Southampton went unanswered despite Shawcross seemingly blocking a free-kick with his hand.

And Ramirez also saw an effort superbly saved by Begovic with the offside flag raised right at the death.

 

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Stoke GK goal 1kak score karala

 

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West Brom 2-0 Crystal Palace: Beharino & McAuley ensure Eagles remain rock bottom

West Brom beat Crystal Palace 2-0 on Saturday to ensure that the visitors stayed bottom of the Premier League.

Substitute Saido Berahino's first-half strike, his second in the Premier League, handed the hosts the advantage and Gareth McAuley sealed the result seven minutes from time.

Palace, who saw manager Ian Holloway resign on October 23, remain rooted to the foot of the table under the guidance of caretaker boss Keith Millen.

But West Brom, who picked up just their third win of the league campaign, are heading back in the right direction after ending a three-game winless run.

The victory came despite manager Steve Clarke being forced into three changes from the 4-1 loss to Liverpool, with James Morrison replacing Claudio Yacob, while Nicolas Anelka and Victor Anichebe were forced out with illness and injury respectively.

Millen was able to field the same side that lost 2-0 to Arsenal in his first game in charge last weekend.

The visitors had the best opportunity of the opening 10 minutes, with Marouane Chamakh finding Adlene Guedioura, who fired his effort straight at Boaz Myhill.

It proved to be the Algeria international's last meaningful input as he was carried off on a stretcher following a collision with Myhill less than 10 minutes later.

He was replaced by Jason Puncheon but it was another substitute who made the difference on the stroke of half-time, Berahino putting the hosts ahead.

On for the injured Billy Jones only 13 minutes earlier, the 20-year-old converted from Stephane Sessegnon's pass a minute before the break, finding the bottom corner to take his tally for the season to six in all competitions.

The home side came out with the same vigour in the second half and saw a chance to double their advantage go amiss in the 51st minute as Morgan Amalfitano's dangerous ball narrowly eluded Sessegnon and Shane Long.

They continued to dominate as the minutes ticked by but Palace almost managed to get one of their own against the run of play just 10 minutes later as Puncheon forced Myhill to tip over the bar with a powerful strike.

Their increasingly desperate efforts ended up being in vein come the 83rd minute, though, as McAuley jumped highest to head a corner past Julian Speroni and put the result beyond doubt.

The result takes the hosts to 11th in the Premier League table, leaving Palace six points adrift of safety.

 

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West Ham 0-0 Aston Villa: Strugglers cancel each other out

West Ham's home troubles and Aston Villa's scoring woes continued in a drab goalless Premier League draw on Saturday.

Sam Allardyce's team have now taken just one point from a possible 12 at Upton Park, while Paul Lambert's men saw their run without finding the target extended to 375 minutes.

Villa striker Christian Benteke came closest to preventing a stalemate when he cannoned an effort off the crossbar after the break, but ultimately neither side could find the breakthrough.

Lambert sent his Villa side out in a changed 3-5-2 formation, while Sam Allardyce persisted with his controversial 4-6-0.

The game started at a swift pace and Andreas Weimann got in behind James Tomkins and raced through on goal after six minutes, but the 38-year-old Jussi Jaaskelainen made himself big and blocked the shot.

West Ham responded immediately. Mark Noble's knock-back seemed destined to present Jack Collison with a glaring opportunity, only for Yacouba Sylla to make an impressive interception.

Matt Jarvis then did well to play in Kevin Nolan, who swivelled neatly, but the midfielder mis-hit his shot from 10 yards, before Stewart Downing, who spent two seasons at Villa before leaving for Liverpool in 2011, cut in from the right and forced Brad Guzan into a save.

Against the run of play, Weimann got in behind the Villa defence after 17 minutes. Ravel Morrison, more obviously in the side for his attacking qualities, sprinted back to make a challenge, with referee Howard Webb waving away the young Austria international Weimann's firm appeals for a foul.

Wingers Jarvis and Downing continued to thrive for West Ham, and the latter's excellent cross on the half-hour mark set up Collison, who failed to get his header on target.

The lively Weimann hobbled off with a suspected hamstring injury after 56 minutes, being replaced by former Lazio forward Libor Kozak.

Villa captain Ron Vlaar made a fine sliding challenge to stop a Morrison throughball sending Jarvis clear just past the hour mark, and that proved to be the former Wolves player's last action, as Jarvis and Collison went off for Joe Cole and Carlton Cole, the latter handed his first home appearance since returning to Upton Park after being released at the end of last season.

An action-shy second half burst into life after 71 minutes. First, Benteke's powerful header from Matthew Lowton's high cross from the right came back off the crossbar.

Then West Ham raced up the other end and Downing's clever reverse pass set up Nolan, who, from eight yards, dragged his shot wide.

There was very little noteworthy action thereafter, with the result leaving both managers with plenty to ponder.

 

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Manchester City 7-0 Norwich City: Aguero shines at hosts run riot

Joe Hart's first-team omission became an almost insignificant side story as Manchester City stormed to a 7-0 victory over Norwich City.

The England goalkeeper was dropped for the Premier League clash in favour of Costel Pantilimon, who ultimately had little to do as his outfield team-mates ran riot.

A Bradley Johnson own goal set the ball rolling, before further first-half efforts from David Silva, Matija Nastasic and Alvaro Negredo put the hosts firmly in control.

Yaya Toure, Sergio Aguero and Edin Dzeko added goals five, six and seven after the break as the match lived up to its goal-rich reputation, with 25 having been scored in the previous four top-flight meetings between the two sides.

In addition to the change in goalkeeper, Negredo replaced Javi Garcia in the only other alteration to the City side that started a 2-1 defeat at Chelsea last Sunday.

Chris Hughton also made a double change to his Norwich side from last weekend’s goalless draw with Cardiff City, bringing Johnson and Steven Whittaker in for injured duo Alexander Tettey and Robert Snodgrass.

The hosts dominated possession in the early stages, but they had to wait until the 15th minute for a clear goalscoring opportunity - Samir Nasri drifting into the area from the left before firing an effort against the outside of the post.

City had a slice of fortune as they broke the deadlock a minute later. Silva saw a shot blocked by Russell Martin in the penalty area, before an Aguero strike took a huge deflection off Johnson and looped over a stranded John Ruddy.

And City were two up within five minutes of going ahead, as Aguero cut the ball back for an advancing Silva, who made no mistake in sending a low drive beyond the Norwich goalkeeper.

The goals kept on coming for Manuel Pellegrini’s men with Nastasic the next to add his name to the scoresheet after 25 minutes - heading home from a corner via another significant deflection off Martin.

Negredo compounded Norwich’s misery 10 minutes before the break as he made it four from close range, although there were suspicions of offside against Aguero in the build-up.

Norwich finally gave Pantilimon something to do in the 38th minute, as the Romanian stopper got down well to touch Anthony Pilkington's effort wide of his post.

The half-time break provided some brief relief for Norwich, who were outclassed once again in the second period.

Toure curled in goal number five from a 20-yard free-kick on the hour mark as the match increasingly became a damage limitation operation for Hughton’s charges.

However, intent on causing even more carnage in the Norwich defence, Aguero added a sixth from the centre of the penalty area in the 71st minute, before Dzeko completed the rout four minutes from time from the edge of the box.

 

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Fulham 1-3 Manchester United: Rooney & Van Persie heap more misery on struggling Jol

Manchester United piled the pressure on Fulhamboss Martin Jol as they cruised to a 3-1 win at Craven Cottage.

Speculation over Jol's future at the club has been rife following a poor start to the season that has seen the Cottagers win just three games so far, leaving them in 15th in the Premier League.

Fulham have not tasted victory over United since 2009 and were behind early on as Antonio Valencia was handed the easy task of tapping in from close range after Wayne Rooney had cleverly sucked in goalkeeper Maarten Stekelenburg.Robin van Persie doubled the lead as he latched on to a ball from Adnan Januzaj before rifling in at the near post.

And a first-half rout was completed when Van Persie supplied Rooney for another simple finish as United made it 10 goals in their last three games in all competitions, highlighting their continued improvement under manager David Moyes.Alex Kacaniklic's deflected strike gave Fulham hope midway through the second half, but that proved to be nothing more than a consolation.

United made five changes from the side that beat Stoke City 3-2 in their last Premier League outing, including Januzaj's deployment on the left wing in place of Shinji Kagawa, while Nemanja Vidic was restored to the defence.

Striker Darren Bent was dropped for Fulham as Iranian midfielder Ashkan Dejagah was handed his first league start of the campaign.

It took United just nine minutes to break the deadlock as Valencia slotted into an unguarded net following neat link-up play between Van Persie and Rooney.
Moyes' men continued to dictate play following the goal, but Fulham twice had chances to level matters as David de Gea denied Dimitar Berbatov from close range.

The hosts were made to pay for their profligacy, though, Van Persie emphatically slamming the ball past Stekelenburg after 20 minutes following a deft pass from Januzaj.

And United put the game beyond all doubt a mere two minutes later as Van Persie turned provider for Rooney after dubiously being ruled onside from Phil Jones' throughball.

Moyes, perhaps not content with a 3-0 lead, brought on Marouane Fellaini, Kagawa and Chris Smalling for Tom Cleverley, Rafael and Jonny Evans at the break.Fulham made an improved start to the second half and came close to pulling one back when Pajtim Kasami's long-range effort flew just past the right-hand post.

United went close through substitute Fellaini, but Fulham did pull one back 20 minutes into the second half as Kacaniklic cut inside to unleash a fierce effort that deflected off Rooney, giving De Gea no chance.

Substitute Bent hit the bar from close range late on but Jol's men never looked like mounting a miraculous comeback as United moved just two points shy of the top four

 

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Hoffenheim 1-2 Bayern: Muller snatches win for Pep's men

Bayern Munich equalled a 30-year Bundesliga record by winning 2-1 at Hoffenheim on Saturday.

In avoiding defeat, Pep Guardiola's side stretched their unbeaten league run to 36 matches, equalling the record set by Hamburg between January 1982 and January 1983.

Niklas Sule gave the hosts the lead in the 34th minute following a mistake from Manuel Neuer.

However, Bayern equalised in fortuitous fashion five minutes later when Franck Ribery's free-kick was deflected in by Mario Mandzukic for his eighth league goal of the season and Thomas Muller netted the winner 15 minutes from time.

The victory means Bayern climb back to the top of the table and set a new club record for their longest unbeaten start to a Bundesliga season, surpassing the old mark of 10 matches set at the start of the 1968-69 campaign.

Hoffenheim made one change from last week's win at Hannover, as Kevin Volland replaced Eugen Polanski, while Dante and Javi Martinez returned for Bayern after respective ankle and groin injuries.

After a quiet opening to proceedings, Philipp Lahm and Muller were both denied by Hoffenheim goalkeeper Koen Casteels within the space of two minutes.

Lahm was kept out at the near post from the tightest of angles in the 15th minute before the Belgian flung himself to his left to parry Muller's powerful drive from the edge of the area.

The visitors began to dominate possession and Mario Mandzukic diverted the ball wide from David Alaba's cut-back.

Muller and Martinez then got in each other's way while attempting to convert a Bastian Schweinsteiger free-kick, with the ball trickling wide after rebounding off the latter's thigh.

Despite Bayern's dominance, the hosts took the lead following a mistake from Neuer.

The Germany international made a mess of what appeared to be a routine catch from Kai Herdling's left-wing corner and Sule made no mistake when presented with an empty net from six yards.

Hoffenheim’s lead did not last long as Ribery's free-kick from 20 yards took a wicked deflection off Mandzukic and wrong-footed Casteels on its way into the bottom left-hand corner.

But the homeside went close through Volland twice at the start of the seond half, after he firstly volleyed over Sebastian Rudy's deep cross before seeing a 20-yard effort parried wide by Neuer.

Muller then scored what proved to be the winner from close range after being set up by Ribery's quick turn and pass.

The Bayern forward then wasted a golden chance to add a third four minutes from time when he somehow headed Schweinsteiger's cross wide from six yards, but it mattered little as Bayern held on to extend their incredible unbeaten run.

 

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Newcastle 2-0 Chelsea: Remy & Gouffran stun Mourinho's title chasers

Yoan Gouffran and Loic Remy gave Newcastle United a 2-0 win over Chelsea as Jose Mourinho's poor St. James' Park record continued.


The Chelsea manager entered the match with just two points from his previous three visits to Newcastle, and watched on as his side wasted a chance to move to the top of the Premier League table on Saturday.

Chelsea controlled a first half devoid of clear-cut chances – their best effort saw John Terry hit the crossbar with a header – but were left reeling when Gouffran headed in an inviting Yohan Cabaye free-kick in the 68th minute.

Substitutes Willian and Samuel Eto'o went close for Chelsea in the latter stages, but Remy hammered home Vurnon Anita's cut-back with two minutes left to seal Newcastle's win.

The loss was Chelsea's second of the league campaign, meaning Arsenal could go five points clear if they beat Liverpool on Saturday.

Mourinho made two changes from the side that beat Manchester City in their last Premier League fixture, with Juan Mata and David Luiz replacing Andre Schurrle and Gary Cahill respectively.

Newcastle also made two alterations, with defender Mapou Yanga-Mbiwa returning from suspension and Shola Ameobi selected, as Hatem Ben Arfa and Paul Dummett (hamstring) made way.

In a scrappy first half, Chelsea came close to an opener when Terry's thumping header hit the bar in the 13th minute.

Chelsea begun strongly but failed to create a clear openings until the captain's chance, which came when he rose above Mike Williamson to nod Mata's corner against the woodwork, while Branislav Ivanovic's follow-up deflected onto the top of the bar.

Another Terry header almost led to a goal, with his effort cleared off the line by Davide Santon, and at the other end, Moussa Sissoko – scorer of two goals in Newcastle's 3-2 win over Chelsea in February – forced a smart save from Chelsea goalkeeper Petr Cech at the near post seven minutes before the break.

Newcastle skipper Chiekh Tiote limped off with an apparent thigh injury eight minutes after the break but that did not stop them from enjoying a terrific spell around the hour-mark.

Sissoko was first to go close, forcing Cech to tip wide when released by Mathieu Debuchy, before Remy shot straight at the goalkeeper from close range.

Gouffran had a good effort saved by Cech at the near post in the 66th minute and three minutes later, Newcastle's pressure told, with the Frenchman breaking the deadlock by nodding in Cabaye's excellent free-kick.

They quickly went in search of a second, with Terry making an excellent sliding tackle to deny Remy after he linked well with Sissoko, before Eto'o had an effort deflected wide by Yanga-Mbiwa.

A clever Oscar cut-back let Willian in with 10 minutes remaining, but his shot was well saved by Newcastle goalkeeper Tim Krul, and a follow-up from Eto'o hit Debuchy and went wide.

And Newcastle wrapped up their victory in the 88th minute, as Remy produced a powerful finish to convert Anita's clever assist.

 

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Arsenal 2-0 Liverpool: Ramsey stunner sends Gunners five points clear

Arsenal beat Liverpool 2-0 at the Emirates Stadium on Saturday to extend their lead at the top of the Premier League to five points.

Arsene Wenger's men had gone into the game on the back of a Capital One Cup defeat to Chelsea but bounced back to open up a healthy advantage over the chasing pack in the league, especially pertinent following their London rivals' 2-0 loss at Newcastle United earlier in the day.

Arsenal made no mistake in underlining their title credentials at the Emirates as they produced a dominant performance to secure victory.

Santi Cazorla opened the scoring as he pounced on a rebound after heading Bacary Sagna's right-wing cross against the post following a fine counterattack from the hosts.

Liverpool had spells of pressure at various points in the match but Arsenal killed things off after 59 minutes, when Aaron Ramsey collected a square pass from Mesut Ozil on the edge of the area before unleashing a magnificent volley to all but the end the game as a contest.

Jack Wilshere was left out of the Arsenal starting XI due to an ankle problem, while Tomas Rosicky came in for the injured Mathieu Flamini.

Brendan Rodgers, meanwhile, made just one change to the Liverpool side that beat West Brom 4-1 in their previous Premier League clash, as Jon Flanagan replaced Glen Johnson to make his first start of the season at wing-back.

Arsenal created the first chance after five minutes, Liverpool goalkeeper Simon Mignolet producing a good save to deny midfielder Rosicky from close range following neat build-up play from the hosts.

Liverpool dictated possession for much of the early stages - yet it was Arsenal who went ahead 19 minutes in as Cazorla showed great reactions to fire past Mignolet after initially hitting the woodwork.

Wenger's men looked to press home their superiority following the goal, Cazorla's long-range drive forcing another strong stop from Mignolet, who was called into action again to prevent Ramsey from doubling their advantage soon afterwards.

Cazorla was at the centre of the majority of Arsenal’s attacks and the Spain international wasted another opportunity to increase the lead when he dragged a poor shot wide of the right-hand post just before half-time.

Liverpool went close to levelling in the early stages of the second half, however, as midfielder Jordan Henderson fired narrowly over the crossbar following good work down the right from Luis Suarez, who played well considering the furore surrounding his potential move to the Emirates this summer gone.

But the visitors were fortunate not to concede a second as Olivier Giroud somehow shot wide after a mistake from Kolo Toure had allowed the France international striker to race through on goal.

Rodgers' men did not learn from that let off, though, and were duly punished a few minutes later, Ramsey shooting past a helpless Mignolet with a sublime volley.

Liverpool threatened an unlikely comeback in the closing stages, Suarez twice spurning glaring opportunities and Wojciech Szczesny denying substitute Philippe Coutinho - but Arsenal saw out a deserved victory and are now five points clear at the top of the table.