Saturday 11 January 2014 20:40, UK
Chelsea moved top of the Premier League table after beating Hull City, Sunderland climbed off the bottom after thrashing Fulham and West Ham United claimed a vital win at Cardiff City.
Manchester United avenged last week's FA Cup third-round defeat by Swansea City with a 2-0 Premier League victory over Michael Laudrup's side at Old Trafford. Adnan Januzaj struck the crossbar for United with an early free-kick, but it was Swansea who controlled possession in the first half without posing a major threat. However, United scored the decisive first goal barely a minute into the second half when Antonio Valencia fired home the loose ball after Gerhard Tremmel had pushed out Shinji Kagawa's shot. The second goal arrived on 59 minutes when Patrice Evra bundled the ball into the box and Danny Welbeck flicked a shot beyond Tremmel. Everton moved back up to fourth spot in the standings after posting a comfortable 2-0 success over Norwich City at Goodison Park. The Toffees took the lead midway through the first half when Romelu Lukaku laid the ball off to Gareth Barry and the midfielder was allowed to stride forward before arrowing a rising 25-yard shot beyond John Ruddy. Norwich keeper Ruddy was again left grasping at air for Everton's second goal on 59 minutes when Kevin Mirallas curled a 25-yard free-kick up and over the wall. Crystal Palace slipped to the foot of the table after suffering a 2-0 defeat at the hands of London rivals Tottenham at White Hart Lane as Jermain Defoe scored just a day after it was confirmed he will be joining Toronto FC. Palace wasted a golden chance to take the lead on eight minutes when Mousa Dembele's clumsy challenge brought down Marouane Chamakh in the box, but Jason Puncheon's penalty was woeful as he fired high and wide into the stands. Nabil Benteleb's curler came back off the post for Spurs before the hosts took the lead on 50 minutes when Emmanuel Adebayor flicked on a long ball and Christian Eriksen took a touch before crashing a shot past Julian Speroni. Spurs went further ahead on 73 minutes when Aaron Lennon fed Defoe and, after the ball bounced kindly in the box, the substitute lifted his shot over Speroni. New West Brom manager Pepe Mel watched from the stands as Adam Lallana's goal secured Southampton a 1-0 win at St Mary's. Southampton made the breakthrough on 66 minutes when Gaston Ramirez dinked a pass into the path of Adam Lallana and the England international controlled the ball brilliantly before slotting a low right-footed shot past Ben Foster.
