Premier League round-up

Hammers slip into drop zone, Potters cruise, Black Cats held

Last updated: 6th February 2010   Subscribe to RSS Feed

Premier League round-up

Rooney: Started the rout

Click below for match stats and reports:
Liverpool 1 Everton 0
Bolton 0 Fulham 0
Burnley 2 West Ham 1
Hull City 2 Man City 1
Man Utd 5 Portsmouth 0
Stoke 3 Blackburn 0
Sunderland 1 Wigan 1
Tottenham 0 Aston Villa 0

Related links

Teams

Also see

Manchester United returned to the top of the Premier League table in style as Portsmouth's problems went from bad to worse, while Manchester City slipped up at Hull City and Liverpool defeated Everton in the Merseyside derby.

UEFA Champions League rivals Tottenham and Aston Villa could not be separated, West Ham suffered what could prove a decisive defeat in their relegation battle with Burnley, Stoke picked up three points against Blackburn, Sunderland and Wigan shared the spoils and Bolton and Fulham played out a game to forget.

Manchester United took advantage of Chelsea's commitments against Arsenal on Sunday with a 5-0 demolition of crisis-club Portsmouth at Old Trafford.

With an almost air of inevitably it was Wayne Rooney that opened the scoring for United as the England striker was inexcusably given room in a congested six-yard area to head Darren Fletcher's 40th minute cross past David James.

There was, however, nothing predictable about Sir Alex Ferguson's side's second goal as Nani's attempted cross deflected into the back of the net off the unfortunate Anthony Vanden Borre on the stroke of half-time.

United then scored twice in four second-half minutes either side of the hour mark as a Michael Carrick shot ballooned over the head of a rather dejected-looking James after deflecting off Richard Hughes, before Dimitar Berbatov curled in his team's fourth.

Portsmouth's afternoon went from bad to worse on 69 minutes as Marc Wilson, who signed a new long-term contract in midweek, volleyed his side's third own goal of the match.

Manchester City's hopes of qualifying for the Champions League took a dent as they lost 2-1 at Hull City, who climbed out of the drop zone.

Manchester City had Wayne Bridge back in their line-up for the first time since the John Terry saga, but that did not stop the top-four hopefuls falling behind as Jozy Altidore scored on 31 minutes.

Hull had been excellent and were replicating the form which held Chelsea in midweek before George Boateng's left-footed volley doubled their advantage in the 53rd minute.

City pulled a goal back five minutes later when Hull failed to clear and Emmanuel Adebayor was able to prod home from close range after something of a scramble.

Ten-man Liverpool continued their recent dominance over Everton in the lunchtime kick-off as a Merseyside derby that was more of a war of attrition than a football match was settled when Dirk Kuyt scored the home side's goal in a 1-0 win.

The Reds had Sotirios Kyrgiakos sent off in the first half before Kuyt headed Steven Gerrard's corner after the interval.

Everton's Steven Pienaar then saw red for a second booking in injury time at the end of a ferocious contest at Anfield.

Tottenham and Aston Villa inflicted self-harm on their respective quests for a place in next season's UEFA Champions League following a 0-0 draw at White Hart Lane in the evening kick-off.

Spurs, who had surrendered fourth place to Merseyside derby winners Liverpool on Saturday lunchtime, pushed in the closing stages and Jermain Defoe was unfortunate not to win a penalty when challenged by Stiliyan Petrov.

But Harry Redknapp's men could not find a way past Villa's notoriously stubborn defence and, with Manchester City having lost at Hull City earlier in the day, both Spurs and Villa will be disappointed not to have fully capitalised.

West Ham fell into the relegation zone following a 2-1 defeat at fellow strugglers Burnley.

The Clarets took the lead in the 14th minute as David Nugent demonstrated why his current club were so keen to retain his loan services from Portsmouth as the striker latched onto winter transfer window signing Danny Fox's long ball to convert.

Debutant Fox then curled his side into a two-goal lead in the 55th minute as his free-kick from wide on the right looped over the head of England World Cup hopeful Robert Green.

New signing Ilan gave West Ham hope with a poacher's goal eight minutes from time to set up a tense finish but Burnley managed to hang on for a vital win.

Sunderland's wait for a win continued as they were forced to come from behind in a 1-1 draw with Wigan at the Stadium of Light.

Black Cats boss Steve Bruce has been unimpressed with his side's defending in their struggles, but he could not blame his rearguard for Wigan's opener in 20th minute when Mohamed Diame smashed spectacularly past Craig Gordon.

Sunderland, though, were level on 64 minutes when Kenwyne Jones rose to head home Jordan Henderson's excellent cross.

Stoke City cruised to a comfortable 3-0 victory over Blackburn Rovers, who had Christopher Samba sent off, at the Britannia Stadium.

Danny Higginbotham put Stoke in front after just eight minutes with an excellent volley from 10 yards and Mamady Sidibe added a scrappy second in first-half injury time.

Samba was sent off for a second booking shortly before the hour and Matthew Etherington, who has been in excellent form, added further punishment with Stoke's third goal in the 67th minute.

Bolton and Fulham drew 0-0 at the Reebok Stadium, with the home side's loan signing Vladimir Weiss proving the only real highlight.

Kevin Davies thought he had scored the winner at the death, but his effort was controversially ruled out for a perceived foul on Brede Hangeland.