Premier League round-up

The Barclays Premier League games this weekend saw Manchester City go top of the table, but it was only temporarily as their big rivals Manchester United regained the top spot after their result at Spurs.

Nicolas Anelka celebrates with team-mate Frank Lampard
after the Frenchman got  Chelsea's second goal.

Chelsea managed to defeat Blackburn Rovers 2-0 at Stamford Bridge courtesy of goals from Branislav Ivanovic and Frenchman Nicolas Anelka. Roque Santa Cruz started on the bench for Blackburn after he secured a loan move back to his former club from Manchester City. However when the Paraguay International came on, he failed to make an impact on the game, and wasn't influential enough to comeback from the 2-0 deficit.





Supporters at the City of Manchester stadium witnessed a spectacular thriller as Manchester City held on to beat Wolves 4-3. It was the visitors who took the lead through a scrappy goal, Milijas putting his name on the scoresheet for Mick Mccarthy's men. Wolves held on to their lead until the 40th minute when Kolo Toure grabbed the important equaliser before half-time. However, it was an incredible second half with Manchester City scoring three goals in reasonably quick succession, a magnificent solo effort from Carlos Tevez gave City the lad for the first time before Yaya Toure made it 3-1 to the hosts and it was 4-1 when Tevez got his second of the game. It looked to be an inevitable victory for the Blues, but Wolves didn't give up, and a Doyle penalty made it 4-2 before Zubar set up a very nervy and tense end in the 86th minute getting a third for the away side. Roberto Mancini's men held on for a valuable three points sending them to the top of the league, even if it was only for a short time. Widely discussed new City boy Edin Dzeko impressed on his debut after completing a move from German side Wolfsburg whom he scored two for against Manchester United in the Champions League.

Carlos Tevez celebrates after his tremendous goal against Wolves

Etherington on the way down, winning a penalty for the Potters.

Stoke City secured an important 2-0 victory over Bolton Wanderers at a very windy Britannia Stadium, the first goal came from Danny Higginbotham after a scrappy build up, there was a debate over whether the ball had gone over the line but replays were conclusive and showed that the goal was right to have been allowed. Kenwyne Jones was gifted a great opportunity, his testing shot was well tipped over the bar from Jussi Jaskellainen. Tuncay was looking very sharp, and a potential threat to the Bolton defence, and the Turkish star got man of the match after reported to have posted videos of his goals online to attract clubs to him earlier in the week. In the second half, Bolton improved and had more chances in front of goal, but Stoke stayed strong and tight at the back, and when Matthew Etherington burst forwards to the goal, he was brought down by Zat Knight, giving the referee an easy decision to point to the spot awarding the Potters a penalty. The man who won the penalty, Etherington tucked it into the corner and despite Jaskellainen making contact with the ball it came off the post and went in, to give Stoke a 2-0 lead, which was the end result sending Stoke upto 8th in the table, level with Bolton and a game in hand on their opponents.

Jermaine Beckford after giving Everton a 2-1 lead.

The Merseyside Derby was one to enjoy as it finished 2-2 at Anfield in King Kenny's first home game as current manager of Liverpool. It was the home side who took the lead after Tim Howard made a cracking double save to deny Dirk Kuyt twice from close range, the ball found Raul Meireles near the edge of the box who struck it perfectly into the back of the net taking a slight deflection off Everton left-back Leighton Baines. However the Toffees made an immediate response in the second half with Sylvain Distin getting his first premier league goal for Everton heading it in from the corner and despite Glen Johnsons headed effort off the line it went in and it was 1-1. Six minutes later the visitors had the lead after a good finish from former Leeds United striker Jermaine Beckford. But in the 68th minute Tim Howard brought Maxi Rodriguez down inside the box, the referee immediately giving the penalty which Dirk Kuyt took responsibility of in place of suspended captain Steven Gerrard and placed it in the bottom  corner in front of the passionate Kop. Neither side could find a winner though, but an encouraging performance, and Torres looked more motivated, the Spanish man hitting the post in the first half.



Other Results:

Birmingham City 1-1 Aston Villa
(Johnson, 49)           (Collins, 73)

Sunderland 1-1 Newcastle United
(Gyan, 90)        (Nolan, 52)

Tottenham Hotspur 0-0 Manchester United