Discuss: Liverpool /Chelsea / Man U & Arsenal matches here
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"savage wasnt that guilty either" ?Originally posted by used:wtf?! damn stupid! right infront of the ref. savage wasnt that guilty either
You meant innocent right? Looks like he acted a bit also...
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oops i meant innocent. but he acted like a saint when the ref came running
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Blackburn 0 - 1 Arsenal
Half-Time:
37" K Toure
Gunners down to 10 men. -
anyone would predict a 1-1 draw for bb and arse?
arsenal sure bound to concede.
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Watford 0-3 Liverpool
Liverpool ended a turbulent week with an emphatic Premiership win at Watford.
After two cup exits at home to Arsenal, the under-pressure Reds responded with a fine display, Craig Bellamy scoring the first from Steve Finnan's cross.
Peter Crouch got the next, nodding into an empty net after Ben Foster pulled off a stunning save to deny Bellamy.
Crouch made it 3-0 by slotting home from 12 yards after more good work from Bellamy, while Jordan Stewart hit the bar from 30 yards for a poor Watford.
The Hornets remain rooted to the bottom of the Premiership, still 10 points from safety.
As for the visitors, the game provided exactly the sort of therapy they were after following two destructive defeats against Arsenal in the FA Cup and Carling Cup.
Watford boss Aidy Boothroyd:
"I felt they were there for the taking. If we'd done what we usually do, we may have got something. "When we play one of the big four, a choke goes on for some of the players.
"They come up against people they are used to seeing on the television, and some of them cannot cope with it. We didn't show heart and soul or passion."
Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez on the criticism he received after their two cup defeats to Arsenal: "I was surprised, for sure. "Sometimes, people do not understand what you are trying to do and what we are trying to analyse.
"After the defeats, we needed to show character. I could see that the players were really focused on controlling the game and creating lots of chances." -
Chelsea 4-0 Wigan
Arjen Robben produced a fine display to help ensure Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho ended a tumultuous week with a win.
Despite a host of rumours surrounding Mourinho's predicted exit, the Blues saw off a poor Wigan side with ease.
Lampard's free-kick drifted in for the first and Kristofer Haestad's back-pass fell to Robben to make it two.
Chris Kirkland then put the Dutchman's cross into his own net, before Didier Drogba's header sealed the victory to make it six straight defeats for Wigan.
It was no more than Chelsea deserved against a desperate Latics outfit, and was the best possible answer after a week of speculation regarding Mourinho's future.
Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho:
"It was a very good result for us. We pushed the defence up, scored a few goals, played with a good spirit and dominated the game. "After a run of three league games without a win it is nice to get one. It has been a dark period in that we haven't won, but a light one because we haven't lost despite all our problems.
"We have missed our special players recently. You saw the way Robben played today - imagine if we had been able to call upon him over Christmas, a lot of the results might have been different."
Wigan boss Paul Jewell:
"I thought at half-time that if we could just nick a goal - even though we didn't look like doing so - we might get something from the game. "But their second goal was an absolute disaster and it really broke us. In fact, the first three goals were avoidable and you can't give away soft goals at this level and get away with it.
"We have 16 matches left and, yes, it is going to be a battle to stay in this division. I think we need five or six victories and that's what we are aiming for." -
Man Utd 3-1 Aston Villa
Manchester United maintained their six-point lead at the Premiership summit in impressive style.
Ji-Sung Park's low drive opened the scoring early on and Michael Carrick's first goal for United doubled the advantage two minutes later.
Carrick turned creator to cross for Cristiano Ronaldo to head home at the far post 10 minutes before half-time.
Gabriel Agbonlahor pulled a goal back for Villa from close range after 51 minutes, but United were a class apart.
Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson:
"There is great determination and a marvellous team spirit in this side. "There are 15 games to go and we are in a very good position. We played some good football and it was a period we capitalised on - sometimes you don't do that, but we managed to get a three-goal lead by half-time. "We have got Arsenal next week, and with Paul Scholes back it was a chance to give Ryan Giggs a break and give Ji-Sung Park an hour and a bit as he gets more games under his belt."
Aston Villa manager Martin O'Neill:
"It is a long, long time without a win now, but I don't think I was ever fooled by our early position and I don't think anyone around the football club was. "We did fine in terms of getting points and results early on, but they have dried up so we have got to do something about it. "Manchester United are a very fine side. We have got a lot of work to do, but we have known that for a long time." -
Blackburn 0-2 Arsenal
Arsenal made light of the 12th-minute dismissal of Gilberto to deservedly beat Blackburn, thanks to goals from Kolo Toure and Thierry Henry.
Gilberto was shown a straight red card for flicking a leg out at Robbie Savage after the pair had tangled.
But the visitors managed to cope with the loss, and the swirling wind and rain, to go in front when Toure superbly headed in Henry's free-kick.
And Henry sealed the win when he unleashed a drive into the top corner.
Blackburn manager Mark Hughes:
He said: "We are disappointed as we expect to put a 10-man team under more pressure and to create more chances. "I think the sending off hurt us more than them. It allowed them to sit back and hit us on the break. "We just did not have enough guile to draw Arsenal out. We never really got any momentum to put Arsenal under sustained pressure."
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger:
"We were under pressure and we showed we can resist that and still play good football. "We showed solidarity, good technique and some wonderful movement. "The sending off looked harsh, although Gilberto reacted when he shouldn't. But my team stuck together and that was the best answer and I am very proud."