Football
ESPN staff 8y

Man United and Arsenal lose, Liverpool end Leicester run, Chelsea held

Stoke City piled the pressure on Louis van Gaal with a 2-0 victory over Manchester United at the Britannia Stadium.

Stoke took the lead on 19 minutes when Glen Johnson set up Bojan Krkic to slot home at close range following a poor header from Memphis Depay towards David De Gea.

They doubled their advantage soon afterwards when the ball fell to Marko Arnautovic on the edge of the area following a free kick and he fired a powerful shot beyond De Gea's reach.

Wayne Rooney, a half-time substitute for Depay, nearly helped United find a way back into the game when he set up Marouane Fellaini with just over an hour gone, but the Belgian's shot was tame.

The defeat, which extended United's run of defeats to four straight games in all competitions, leaves Van Gaal under heavy pressure and he admitted after the game that it was possible he could resign.

Liverpool ended Leicester City's three-month unbeaten run as Jurgen Klopp's men won 1-0 at Anfield.

Leicester, who had scored in every Premier League game and were unbeaten since their 5-2 loss to Arsenal on Sept. 26, had reason to be confident facing a Liverpool side that had taken just one point from their previous three games.

Liverpool had the better of the first half against the league leaders but also saw Divock Origi sustain an injury before the break, and he was replaced by fellow Belgium international Christian Benteke.

Benteke seized his chance, side-footing home after being set up by Roberto Firmino on 63 minutes.

Benteke missed the simplest of chances on the counter in injury time as Leicester went in desperate search of an equaliser but there were no further goals as the Reds claimed a valuable win.

Needing a win to go top of the Premier League table, Arsenal instead put in one of their worst performances of the campaign, falling to Southampton 4-0.

Cuco Martina opened the scoring in the 19th minute with a remarkable 35-yard strike that curled around defenders and into the corner of the net.

Shane Long found Southampton's second 10 minutes after half-time as Sadio Mane centred for him to score on the counter-attack. Arsenal shouted that Long had intentionally tripped up Laurent Koscielny while running toward goal, but referee Jon Moss did not appear to see the incident.

Jose Fonte made it 3-0 on 69 minutes by heading home Ryan Bertrand's corner from close range.

Long remained dangerous, hitting the post with a shot before finding his second goal and Southampton's fourth by shooting between Petr Cech's legs in stoppage time.

Chelsea had to settle for a 2-2 draw with Watford in interim manager Guus Hiddink's first game in charge as Oscar missed a late penalty.

Diego Costa broke the deadlock on 32 minutes, scoring his first in over a month after John Terry had headed a Willian corner towards goal.

However, the in-form Hornets, seeking a fifth consecutive league win, were level by half-time after Nemanja Matic handled in the area, allowing Troy Deeney to convert from the penalty spot.

Watford went ahead early in the second half through a deflected Odion Ighalo shot on 57 minutes -- the Nigerian scoring for a fifth consecutive league game -- but Costa scored his second of the game from a Willian assist soon afterwards.

The Blues won a penalty in the 78th minute when substitute Eden Hazard was fouled by Valon Behrami, but Oscar slipped when taking the spot kick and sent the ball over Heurelho Gomes' crossbar.

Costa also picked up a late booking that will see him suspended for Chelsea's game against Manchester United on Dec. 28.

Manchester City eased to a 4-1 victory over strugglers Sunderland but their triumph was soured by an injury to captain Vincent Kompany.

Raheem Sterling was booked for simulation early on when he went down in the area following a block from Billy Jones, but the England star would not be denied for long, heading home from a Kevin De Bruyne cross.

They doubled their advantage soon afterwards, Yaya Toure drilling a shot past Vito Mannone, and Wilfried Bony headed home from another De Bruyne cross to secure a three-goal lead at the break.

De Bruyne then got his own name on the scoresheet, slotting under Mannone on 55 minutes, but City's afternoon worsened afterwards.

Sunderland hit back through Fabio Borini and Bony then missed from the penalty spot after Sebastian Coates had brought down David Silva. They suffered a more serious setback on 71 minutes when Kompany, a second-half substitute, came off with an injury just minutes after making his return to action.

Harry Kane starred for Tottenham Hotspur as they beat Norwich City 3-0 at White Hart Lane.

Spurs took the lead through a Kane penalty after the striker had been brought down in the area by Declan Rudd.

They should have doubled their advantage when Toby Alderweireld missed the target when left unmarked six yards out, but Kane soon struck again after good work from Dele Alli.

Spurs remained dominant going into the second half and extended their advantage through substitute Tom Carroll's first Premier League goal.

Tom Cleverley scored deep into stoppage time to give Everton a 1-0 win at Newcastle, who dropped into the relegation zone.

The former Manchester United man reacted quickly as goalkeeper Robert Elliot cleared a corner into his path and he headed home in the 93rd minute with his first  goal for the Toffees.

Newcastle, now in 18th place and behind Norwich on goal difference, had few chances but should have taken the lead when Aleksandar Mitrovic sent a free header wide in the second half. 

Aston Villa and West Ham United shared the spoils in a 1-1 draw at Villa Park.

West Ham took the lead in first-half injury time when, shortly after they had struck the woodwork, full-back Aaron Cresswell picked up a pass from Michail Antonio and then fired in a superb low shot past Villa keeper Brad Guzan.

Villa -- marooned at the foot of the table, having not won since the opening day -- found a route back into the game with an hour played when Rudy Gestede won a penalty that Jordan Ayew converted.

The Hammers threatened a late winner but Villa held on for a point.

Swansea City clung on to secure a much-needed 1-0 victory over West Bromwich Albion.

The Swans, still without a permanent manager, took an early lead when Ki Sung-yueng was presented with a tap-in after an Angel Rangel shot struck the post and then bounced back off West Brom keeper Boaz Myhill.

That proved enough to secure Swansea's second league victory since August as they moved within two points of their opponents.

Bournemouth and Crystal Palace played out a goalless draw at Dean Court.

Both sides had chances to win but in a game that was played mostly in the midfield it came as no surprise the clash remained goalless until the final whistle.

Information from the Press Association was used in this report.

^ Back to Top ^