Premier League: Manchester United, Liverpool, West Ham, Swansea and Aston Villa all win
Wednesday 3 December 2014 10:28, UK
Manchester United made it four straight Premier League wins with a 2-1 victory over Stoke City on Tuesday night.
United were missing the injured Wayne Rooney, who was hurt in a collision with an advertising hoarding against Hull on Saturday.
But they took the lead at Old Trafford on 21 minutes when Ander Herrera's cross was met by Marouane Fellaini’s header.
Stoke levelled six minutes before the break. Bojan Krkic's run into the box was halted, the ball rolled back to Steven Nzonzi who powered in a shot from the edge of the box.
United took the lead just before the hour mark. Juan Mata whipped in a free-kick, no-one got a touch and the ball flew straight past Asmir Begovic. In a dramatic finale, David De Gea made a stunning save to deny Mame Biram Diouf and then Ashley Young came to United's rescue with a sensational goal-line clearance in the fourth minute of stoppage time.
After all the questions about Steven Gerrard’s future, Liverpool’s skipper played a pivotal role in their 3-1 win at 10-man Leicester.
The hosts took the lead through Simon Mignolet’s unfortunate own goal - a low Leo Ulloa shot came off the post, hit him on the back and went in - on 22 minutes, but Adam Lallana fired home the equaliser with his left foot four minutes later.
On 54 minutes, Gerrard scored his first goal since September, steering home after good work from Raheem Sterling, and soon after Wes Morgan was sent off for tugging back Rickie Lambert after making a hash of a pass.
Then on 83, City keeper Kasper Schmeichel spilled the ball, Sterling recycled it for Jordan Henderson and the midfielder fired home.
Burnley are now unbeaten in four games after their 1-1 draw with Newcastle at Turf Moor.
The home side took the lead on 34 minutes when George Boyd powered home a superb shot from the edge of the box from Danny Ings’ knock-down.
But on 48, Papiss Cisse fired home the equaliser from six yards, after Kieran Trippier’s poor clearance.
Swansea took 78 minutes to break down QPR, and in particular an inspired Rob Green, at the Liberty Stadium before winning 2-0.
Green pulled off a string of fine saves, the best on 21. Gylfi Sigurdsson’s free-kick looked to be sailing in - replays showed the ball was three-quarters over the line - but the keeper somehow managed to claw it out.
But on 78, Ki Sung-Yueng fired a fine shot across Green, off the post and in and two minutes later, Wayne Routledge lashed in the second from the edge of the box. That makes it seven home wins in 10 for the Swans, who leapfrog Arsenal into sixth.
West Brom lost their fourth straight game, 2-1 at home to West Ham, whose fine form continues - they stay in fifth.
The Baggies took the lead when Craig Dawson powered home a header from Graham Dorrans' cross in the 10th minute, but Kevin Nolan forced in an equaliser on 35 after Andy Carroll's overhead was saved.
Deep in first-half injury time, James Tomkins put the Hammers ahead. The centre-back, at the centre of a play-acting row at the weekend, climbed above Dawson to meet Stewart Downing's corner and head home.
West Brom battered at the door in the second-half, Dorrans missing by an inch with a fine shot, but could find no way through.
Aston Villa secured their first win in 10 games with a 1-0 victory at Crystal Palace.
Soon after the half hour, Christian Benteke robbed Scott Dann and ran at the last defender, using him as a shield to curl in a low shot from the edge of the box - his first Premier League goal since March on his return to the side after a ban.
