There were only six games this morning but did they pack a bunch of action. We had clean sheets, blowouts, come from behind wins and game winning goals coming at the very end.
Swansea 0-5 Chelsea
Yikes, Chelsea just flat out trounced Swansea. Chelsea was the strong favorite anyway but it’s nearly impossible to get any points as the underdog when you give up the ball and get scored on within a minute like this.
After a Diego Costa goal, Costa once again capitalized on an easy giveaway from Swansea and made it 3-0.
Bottom line, Swansea needs help. They looked so lifeless today that they didn’t even put up a fight. I know you’re playing against the best team in the EPL but show some pride. At least try in front of the home fans.
QPR 0-2 Manchester United
Manchester United got another away win to provisionally move back into 3rd. The clincher was scored by Marouane Fellaini as he scored on a rather cheeky volley. This was after Louis van Gaal was forced to put out a 4-4-2 after halftime instead of his usual 3-5-2. The move looked to work today and quite frankly, they looked more solid as a whole in a 4-4-2 formation.
Leicester City 0-1 Stoke City
This wasn’t the most exciting game of the lot but it provided one of the better goals. Began Krkic took the ball did a little do-se-do spin and put it away to give Stoke the three points away.
Tottenham Hotspur 2-1 Sunderland
Tottenham and Sunderland marked the debut of former MLS player Jermain Defoe. While his old club was intently watching, Defoe took on his previous former team in Tottenham. After a 1-1 slugfest throughout the entire game, Tottenham broke through at the end with a beautifully timed Christian Eriksen shot from the top of the box.
The win was important because it moved Tottenham up to 5th.
Aston Villa 0-2 Liverpool
It hasn’t been the most beautiful way and they have really done this in a covert way but Liverpool has turned it around from their notorious woes. Before today, since their loss against Manchester United on December 13, Liverpool is undefeated in five games going 3-0-2 and has done this without Daniel Sturridge. They are the same players who struggled earlier this season. They’re bringing themselves up by the bootstraps and are scrappily getting points.
That happened today as Liverpool played Aston Villa. Two players who don’t usually get many opportunities to play for Liverpool stepped up and earned the three points. First, was Fabio Borini, who slid the ball home in the first half.
And then Rickie Lambert sealed the deal with the second goal of the day for Liverpool. Watch out for Liverpool when Daniel Sturridge comes back. They may not look good but they’re still in it for the top four.
Burnley 2-3 Crystal Palace
Alan Pardew must’ve given this team some much needed mojo in the second half. After falling behind by two goals to Burnley away, Dwight Gayle put the score at 2-1 at the half.
After a Jason Puncheon goal right out of the gate in the second half, the two goal comeback was started and completed by Gayle as he got Crystal Palace a two game winning streak with the 3-2 result. Alan Pardew is still undefeated as Crystal Palace manager and Palace is climbing themselves out of the relegation zone and into 12th as of this game.
As far as Burnley was concerned, this was a win and three points that they desperately needed. It may only be three points lost and Burnley is still outside relegation as of this game, but this is one of those games that can break the spirit of a team who’s trying to escape relegation.
