OMEN
01-12-2008, 09:42 PM
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Ronaldo: Back at the top
Manchester United returned to the top of the Premier League with a crushing 6-0 win over managerless Newcastle, as Arsenal drew with Birmingham.
Chelsea were the afternoon's other big winners as they beat Tottenham, while Liverpool had to settle for a draw.
Avram Grant's side were too strong for Spurs in the capital derby as they were comfortable in claiming a 2-0 success at Stamford Bridge.
The rest of the title contenders were less convincing as Liverpool toiled to a 1-1 draw on their travels to Middlesbrough, while Arsenal were held by the same scoreline at Emirates Stadium by a defiant Birmingham.
Antoine Sibierski was Wigan's saviour as Steve Bruce's side beat ten-man Derby at Pride Park, while east triumphed over west in the capital as West Ham had just about enough to beat Fulham.
The majority inside Goodison Park were left delighted by Everton's deserved 1-0 victory over Manchester City.
Aston Villa cruised a 3-1 victory over Reading at Villa Park as two John Carew goals helped Martin O'Neill's side to the spoils.
Newcastle started life without Sam Allardyce in disastrous fashion, although there was no hint of what was to come as they reached half-time at Old Trafford with the score still goalless.
Cristiano Ronaldo broke the deadlock for Manchester United with a free-kick sent underneath the Newcastle wall, before Carlos Tevez made it 2-0 with a straightforward finish.
Ronaldo showed all his class to add a third and Rio Ferdinand then got in on the act with a well-taken strike from Wayne Rooney's clever pass.
A deflection helped Ronaldo to his hat-trick with just two minutes remaining but there was still time for Carlos Tevez to slam home a sixth off the crossbar.
Newcastle's capitulation was complete in stoppage time when former Manchester United player Alan Smith was sent off for dissent.
On a day when Nicolas Anelka started the game on Chelsea's bench a full-back showed his strikers just how to it, as Juliano Belletti drew first blood against Spurs.
Perhaps only a Brazilian would have thoughts of a shot on goal when receiving possession midway in an opponent's half but as Tottenham backed off Belletti advanced, before unleashing a stunning strike that gave Radek Cerny not a prayer as it passed him into the top corner.
Anelka was given a debut in the second half and with his first touch so nearly grabbed a goal, only for Cerny to brilliantly parry his snapshot on the turn.
Shaun Wright-Phillips made sure of the points when his crisp finish from the edge of the box ended Spurs' resolve.
Rafa Benitez's troubles continued at The Riverside as Liverpool could only manage a 1-1 draw at struggling Middlesbrough.
Liverpool have spent more than ever before on a defender this week and judging by the manner in which they conceded at Middlesbrough, Martin Skrtel is certainly needed.
Stewart Downing's looped cross to the far post was kept alive by Gary O'Neil and after he headed the ball from back to where it came, Jeremie Aliadiere nodded it into the centre of the six-yard box, leaving a recalled George Boateng to surge in front of his marker to stab in from close range.
Liverpool toiled to little avail in the second period but in Fernando Torres they have a class act and predictably it was the Spaniard that drew them level, as he rifled in from a full 25-yards to register his 17th goal of the season in some style.
Arsenal dictated play for long spells at Emirates Stadium but ultimately had to settle for a 1-1 against a spirited Birmingham.
The home side made a dominance of possession pay in the 20th minute but it was in controversial circumstances, as Stephen Kelly was adjudged to have brought down Eduardo da Silva in the box.
His strike partner Emmanuel Adebayor cared not a jot as his penalty just about evaded Maik Taylor to give him his 13th league goal of the season.
Whatever Alex McLeish said at the break had the desired effect as Birmingham found themselves level within three minutes as Sebastian Larsson's corner was converted past Manuel Almunia off Garry O'Connor.
Fulham were given a dream start when a Simon Davies' free-kick in the eighth minute had zip and verve as it evaded everyone in West Ham's box to beat an unsighted Robert Green.
The home side responded positively and drew level just before the half hour mark as Dean Ashton got across his marker to gloriously convert Freddie Ljungberg's pinpoint right-wing delivery with a clever header.
Fulham had Niemi to thank for parity at the break as his fantastic saves denied both Ashton and Carlton Cole.
There was, though, nothing the flying Finn could do to prevent Anton Ferdinand from firing in a well-taken winner, when from Mark Noble's stretched cross he found a finish worthy of any striker.
Top clubs in fine form met at Goodison Park and it was Everton that made home advantage count as Joleon Lescott exposed miserable defending from Manchester City to give his side the lead on the half hour mark.
After City failed to clear a corner the ball was worked back to Mikel Arteta and from the Spaniard's right wing low cross, Lescott was left free at the near post to stab home.
Aston Villa remain the masters of the set-piece and it was from another dead ball that they took the lead against Reading. Ashley Young's ball in was typically devilish in its delivery, leaving Carew to need just the faintest of touches to beat Marcus Hahnemann.
Martin Laursen's remarkable season of goalscoring continued ten minutes into the second half as his header from Young's corner ended any hope of a Reading fight-back.
In the dying stages Carew grabbed his second after Gabriel Agbonlahor combined with Young to set up the big Norwegian, rendering James Harper's last minute effort the scantest of consolations.
Sibierski stepped off the bench in the 82nd minute to give Wigan a crucial three-point haul against a Derby side that handed out five debuts.
Derby's challenge was made all that bit harder in the 55th minute when central defender Claude Davis was sent off, after his clumsy challenge on Marcus Bent earned him a second booking.
Substitute Sibierski's impact was immediate as his crisp drive from the edge of the box gave Wigan the spoils.
Sky
Ronaldo: Back at the top
Manchester United returned to the top of the Premier League with a crushing 6-0 win over managerless Newcastle, as Arsenal drew with Birmingham.
Chelsea were the afternoon's other big winners as they beat Tottenham, while Liverpool had to settle for a draw.
Avram Grant's side were too strong for Spurs in the capital derby as they were comfortable in claiming a 2-0 success at Stamford Bridge.
The rest of the title contenders were less convincing as Liverpool toiled to a 1-1 draw on their travels to Middlesbrough, while Arsenal were held by the same scoreline at Emirates Stadium by a defiant Birmingham.
Antoine Sibierski was Wigan's saviour as Steve Bruce's side beat ten-man Derby at Pride Park, while east triumphed over west in the capital as West Ham had just about enough to beat Fulham.
The majority inside Goodison Park were left delighted by Everton's deserved 1-0 victory over Manchester City.
Aston Villa cruised a 3-1 victory over Reading at Villa Park as two John Carew goals helped Martin O'Neill's side to the spoils.
Newcastle started life without Sam Allardyce in disastrous fashion, although there was no hint of what was to come as they reached half-time at Old Trafford with the score still goalless.
Cristiano Ronaldo broke the deadlock for Manchester United with a free-kick sent underneath the Newcastle wall, before Carlos Tevez made it 2-0 with a straightforward finish.
Ronaldo showed all his class to add a third and Rio Ferdinand then got in on the act with a well-taken strike from Wayne Rooney's clever pass.
A deflection helped Ronaldo to his hat-trick with just two minutes remaining but there was still time for Carlos Tevez to slam home a sixth off the crossbar.
Newcastle's capitulation was complete in stoppage time when former Manchester United player Alan Smith was sent off for dissent.
On a day when Nicolas Anelka started the game on Chelsea's bench a full-back showed his strikers just how to it, as Juliano Belletti drew first blood against Spurs.
Perhaps only a Brazilian would have thoughts of a shot on goal when receiving possession midway in an opponent's half but as Tottenham backed off Belletti advanced, before unleashing a stunning strike that gave Radek Cerny not a prayer as it passed him into the top corner.
Anelka was given a debut in the second half and with his first touch so nearly grabbed a goal, only for Cerny to brilliantly parry his snapshot on the turn.
Shaun Wright-Phillips made sure of the points when his crisp finish from the edge of the box ended Spurs' resolve.
Rafa Benitez's troubles continued at The Riverside as Liverpool could only manage a 1-1 draw at struggling Middlesbrough.
Liverpool have spent more than ever before on a defender this week and judging by the manner in which they conceded at Middlesbrough, Martin Skrtel is certainly needed.
Stewart Downing's looped cross to the far post was kept alive by Gary O'Neil and after he headed the ball from back to where it came, Jeremie Aliadiere nodded it into the centre of the six-yard box, leaving a recalled George Boateng to surge in front of his marker to stab in from close range.
Liverpool toiled to little avail in the second period but in Fernando Torres they have a class act and predictably it was the Spaniard that drew them level, as he rifled in from a full 25-yards to register his 17th goal of the season in some style.
Arsenal dictated play for long spells at Emirates Stadium but ultimately had to settle for a 1-1 against a spirited Birmingham.
The home side made a dominance of possession pay in the 20th minute but it was in controversial circumstances, as Stephen Kelly was adjudged to have brought down Eduardo da Silva in the box.
His strike partner Emmanuel Adebayor cared not a jot as his penalty just about evaded Maik Taylor to give him his 13th league goal of the season.
Whatever Alex McLeish said at the break had the desired effect as Birmingham found themselves level within three minutes as Sebastian Larsson's corner was converted past Manuel Almunia off Garry O'Connor.
Fulham were given a dream start when a Simon Davies' free-kick in the eighth minute had zip and verve as it evaded everyone in West Ham's box to beat an unsighted Robert Green.
The home side responded positively and drew level just before the half hour mark as Dean Ashton got across his marker to gloriously convert Freddie Ljungberg's pinpoint right-wing delivery with a clever header.
Fulham had Niemi to thank for parity at the break as his fantastic saves denied both Ashton and Carlton Cole.
There was, though, nothing the flying Finn could do to prevent Anton Ferdinand from firing in a well-taken winner, when from Mark Noble's stretched cross he found a finish worthy of any striker.
Top clubs in fine form met at Goodison Park and it was Everton that made home advantage count as Joleon Lescott exposed miserable defending from Manchester City to give his side the lead on the half hour mark.
After City failed to clear a corner the ball was worked back to Mikel Arteta and from the Spaniard's right wing low cross, Lescott was left free at the near post to stab home.
Aston Villa remain the masters of the set-piece and it was from another dead ball that they took the lead against Reading. Ashley Young's ball in was typically devilish in its delivery, leaving Carew to need just the faintest of touches to beat Marcus Hahnemann.
Martin Laursen's remarkable season of goalscoring continued ten minutes into the second half as his header from Young's corner ended any hope of a Reading fight-back.
In the dying stages Carew grabbed his second after Gabriel Agbonlahor combined with Young to set up the big Norwegian, rendering James Harper's last minute effort the scantest of consolations.
Sibierski stepped off the bench in the 82nd minute to give Wigan a crucial three-point haul against a Derby side that handed out five debuts.
Derby's challenge was made all that bit harder in the 55th minute when central defender Claude Davis was sent off, after his clumsy challenge on Marcus Bent earned him a second booking.
Substitute Sibierski's impact was immediate as his crisp drive from the edge of the box gave Wigan the spoils.
Sky