13/04/2014 Match of the Day 2

Verse is a day of opportunity, I'd be where the permutations narrow. --

a day where. The haze of confusion lifts. This is a day when a dream

becomes reality. So real that you can almost reach out and touch it.

This is a day to believe, to really believe. Now we have a chance. It is

not about what you say, it is about what you do. What the goal.

Absolutely brilliant. This is a date to be great and special. -- this is

a day. This is a day of opportunity. A defining day. Hello.

We've two games to bring you on this most pivotal of Premier League days.

Alan Hansen and Didi Hamann played in many big games during their

careers. We'll get their thoughts shortly. Swansea against Chelsea to

come, but we start with Liverpool against Manchester City, a game that

could decide the outcome of this season's title race. And it was an

emotional Anfield as players and supporters remembered the 96

Liverpool fans who lost their lives in the Hillsborough disaster 25

years ago. The minute's silence will start and

end on the referee's whistle. SILENCE.

CHEERING, APPLAUSE. From the silence to the sound of Anfield in full cry.

The emotions of food bowl given full range for a day and the game of huge

importance. -- football. The Premier League title will not be won today,

but we could get the big clue as to whether it will eventually end up.

Mamadou Sakho continues in defence, despite Daniel Agger's return to

fitness. Steven Gerrard will have to be careful today. Today is the cut

of beef or suspensions and pickings. One booking the will rule out the

Liverpool captain. -- the cut off day for suspensions and bookings.

For Manchester City, Captain Vincent Kompany is fit, despite a training

ground skier. -- ground scare. Luis Suarez did not time that well.

Mark Clattenburg has gone to his pocket for the first time today.

Luis Suarez is furious that he has not been allowed to get away with

the first one. Luis Suarez is laid. It is as simple as that. In most

games, it would be a booking. Raheem Sterling keeps his cool,

magnificently. What composure. Those in the stands cannot contain

themselves. Quite rightly. Liverpool are a leading, 1-0. Luis Suarez

inevitably involved in the build-up. He showed strength, and what the

past two Raheem Sterling who sold dummies to them all. I thought at

that point he might need the help of somebody else. But no. He makes

space to leave himself with an open goal. It is his eighth goal of the

season. It is the first of the day. Liverpool are happy. 19 years old.

That was not quite as Yaya Toure would have liked. He was forced for

their away from goal. Now he is heart. His hands around his left

knee. Did something twist out of shape? Not quite how Yaya Toure

would have wanted it. Daniel Sturridge. That was a great

ball. What a chance that was. What does start to the gym regime

Sterling has had. You would have banked on Daniel Sturridge at least

Demichelis was game.

Demichelis was How on earth was Steven Gerrard

allowed the freedom of the penalty area? Into the goal by Martin

Skrtel. Liverpool have a second. Liverpool have control. Maybe not

just of this game, maybe the Premier League title. It was a simple goal.

Martin Skrtel frees himself of Kompany byes-mac attentions. There

are the ghosts. -- of Kompany's attentions. There is nothing that

Joe Hart could do about that. The big Slovakian is on a run. It is the

first time that he has scored against Manchester City. The other

games both finished 2-2. Mamadou Sakho took a risk going on

like that. Mark Clattenburg says it is a goal kick. It was risky. Look

at that. He was nowhere near the ball, and Dzeko falls over him.

David Silva, I glancing header, and a deflection for the corner. It was

a good cross from Jesus Navas. Simon Mignolet has made a mess of it

again. It is off the line, twice. Liverpool could do with half-time.

Fernandinho. A great save from Simon Mignolet. He was alert. Fernandinho

did make contact cleanly. It still needed a brilliant save. That was

not quite so brilliant, but the defenders came to his aid.

Luis Suarez goes down under the challenge of Demichelis. It is going

to be a goal kick. Manchester City is around Mark Clattenburg. They

say, if it is not a free kick, I do have got to punish the player for

trying to influence your decision. It did not look like he touched him.

With the referee have brandished a yellow card for that if you had not

already booked Luis Suarez earlier in the game?

Manchester City are back in the game! How many passes in that myth?

It was really well worked. Expertly finished by David Silva. The game is

far from finished. Mastery of the football from all in sky blue. David

Silva makes it 2-1. It has been coming. Manchester City will now

keep on coming. Dzeko cannot get there. Liverpool

are rocking. Nerves are frayed and the game is on.

Simon Mignolet cannot keep it out. Manchester City have pulled it back,

from 2-0, it is now two -- two. Simon Mignolet, beaten at his near

post. All the momentum is with the men in sky blue from Manchester. --

it is now 2-2. It was David Silva who played it against Glen Johnson.

Daly that is what wrong-footed Martin Skrtel and Simon Mignolet.

What resolve his side have shown since have time. What a

substitution, to take off Jesus Navas and throw on James Milner, who

has been superb. Luis Suarez has gone down. There is

no penalty. The Manchester City fans are furious with Luis Suarez. He

smiles at them, and then the referee. Luis Suarez goes down

cheaply. I tell you what, it is a penalty. Had it been anybody else,

would Mark Clattenburg have given it?

David Silva gets it but can't score! It is the best chance he has had

yet. He put one way that looked much more difficult to execute than that.

Have City missed the chance to turn it around to three points when it

looked like they weren't getting any? And there was still a quarter

of an hour to go. Vincent Kompany miskicked. Coutinho!

Liverpool have their lead back, gifted to them by the Manchester

City captain and crashed into the net by Philippe Coutinho. He is

under all that. Vincent Kompany is under a cloud. All of the players,

Mr Dependable, a player many rank as the world's best defender. But it is

hapless slice at the ball. Coutinho had one chance to hit it and how

well did he hit it? That is perfect. Joe Hart is never getting there.

3-2, can render Rogers' Reds hold on this time? -- Brendan Rodgers'. This

is the game of the season so far. Skrtel climbed highest of all. Moses

runs it too close to Vincent Kompany. Henderson runs it too close

to Nasri and then goes in. A free kick and what else? Red for Jordan

Henderson. He went in rashly. No great argument from his Liverpool

team-mates. He is overstretching, the boot is raised high and it goes

over the ball and clatters into Samir Nasri. There weren't many

complaints, they can't really be any. Well Manchester City asked a

question later about the way Skrtel cleared this? I think they might. He

has punished it away. It looks pretty deliberate. He is not looking

at it, but he knows where his armies and he knows where the ball is.

Manchester City would have found the draw far more beneficial. They would

have taken it. I lied what a result for Liverpool, what a day in the

Barclays Premier League -- what a result. Look at Steven Gerrard's

phase, you would almost think this is the day the title is decided. But

there will be more stories to tell before the race is completely run.

That is how draining it is for the Liverpool skipper and his

team-mates, pure raw emotion. They had it one, they gave it away, they

had to win it all over again. What a day.

It had pretty much everything, that. Yes, and we were brilliant, I

have got to say. I think the performance of the players today and

the composure they showed against an outstanding Manchester City team was

incredible, really. Do you have any complaints with any decisions? No,

no. It was a clear penalty from Skrtel, he has handled it in his

box, but I don't think the result today was the fault of the referee.

I think the teams made a very good work today in a difficult game. We

go to Norwich, exactly the same again. We go together. We go again.

I am lost for words at the moment, it is emotional. It is emotional,

but we need to keep calm. Still four big games to come but that meant so

much, especially when they got back into the game. You fear the worst at

that point, but I think we have shown today that we are going to go

to the wire, we want to go all the way. Nothing is one yet but that is

probably the biggest statement we have made so far. Coming in today,

the coach, the atmosphere, we couldn't even move. I was recording

the fans singing and cheering. It was a great atmosphere again at

Anfield and long may it continue, the fans continuing to supporters

and hopefully we do the business the pitch. We have two games in hand, we

can be just one point behind the par if we win them and we can be one

point on top of Chelsea -- behind Liverpool. There is a lot of things

that will happen between now and the end of the season. We will try to

recover as soon as we can and win next Wednesday.

It was a staggeringly good game, Premier League football at its

finest. It was just a great game, pace, intensity, real quality unto

exceptionally attacking minded teams delivering what was really a treat

to watch. All of us predicted goals in this game because of the way both

sides approach matches, but this was both teams hell-bent on winning,

what football should be about. We weren't disappointed, this is the

way they have played all season and it is the reason they got into the

position to win the title. They play the same way today, it was a

thrilling game with a lot of goal-scoring opportunities. It swung

and threw a mistake, Liverpool won it. a busy day per Mark Clattenburg,

decisions, decisions. He got one or two wrong, there were four or five

penalty appeals. This one on Edin Dzeko, that is a stonewall penalty

kick. He has missed the ball completely. This is the second one

on Suarez. Vincent Kompany gets caught, he has got both hands on

Suarez, on his chest, knocks him off balance. Again, a blatant penalty

for me. Last one, the handball, Skrtel. The referee is close to it,

but he obviously didn't see it. It is blatant handball and a penalty

kick. And then the decision here. Demichelis and Suarez, Suarez has

been booked? Did he die? No. -- did he died. We thought at the time

there wasn't any contact but you can see he caught his left foot. At the

way Liverpool played, breathtaking in the first half, a

counterattacking style and the diamond in midfield, it is all

working. Whenever questions have been asked against Everton or

Arsenal at home, Tottenham at home, they have learned them away. The

same today, the first 25 minutes. -- blown away. Flat back four, Steven

Gerrard holding and then the next five, Raheem Sterling at the tip of

the diamond and the rest of them go bombing forward. It is an explosion

of pace that blows everyone away. It was no different in this match. 2-0

up, conceivably it could have been three or four. So many chances. They

have men behind the ball, Raheem Sterling is there, but you don't

need precision passes. Flanagan just hoofs it. What a touch from Suarez.

You have a Raheem Sterling through the middle, Suarez left, Sturridge

Wright and Jordan Henderson, who can run up and down all day long in

coming forward. And Man City are under real pressure, you can smell

the fear. This time, Coutinho, great ball into Suarez, Raheem Sterling

and storage are on their way. Defence into attack. -- Daniel

Sturridge are on their way. Very close to scoring. This time, we

circle Raheem Sterling and Flanagan is in possession. Raheem Sterling

only has one thing in his mind, get past his man and so much pace. He is

terrific, isn't he? It is unbelievable how many they can get

forward so quickly. The goal is exactly the same, the first goal. We

have him again at the tip of the diamond. He bombs past Suarez.

Suarez started the game relatively poorly but this is brilliant. Shrugs

off Demichelis, the next challenge, strong and a great ball into the

space beyond. Hart shouldn't have come, Vincent Kompany gets it wrong

and it is in the net. It is so difficult to play against and we

have seen time and again in this run, when Liverpool sit back and hit

on the break, it is very hard to keep them at bay. Manchester City

turn things around, something happened at half-time, they were

much better in the second half and came back with and style. They did.

A lot was left to David Silva in the first half. Jesus Navas didn't play

well, when he hasn't got space to run in behind, he can be very quiet.

That was the case today and you have got to change things. When you can't

go past players, you have to give the defender is something to think

about. Within two minutes of James Milner coming on, the first thing he

is going to do, he comes inside. He gets a bit of luck, there is a touch

from Henderson and all of a sudden, Fernandinho is in. He played an

instrumental hand in both goals. Coming inside again. Flanagan

doesn't know whether to come or go and he gives Flanagan something to

think about. And for the goal, the play is phenomenal. He is a very

underrated player. A great 1-2 with Fernandinho and what about this for

composure? Sliding it back to David Silva. Here, the other side of the

pitch, a nice reverse pass into David Silva. A huge impact within 15

-20 minutes. Milner made all the difference. He did. Jesus Navas

against Flanagan was a mismatch. Flanagan has been sensational and he

can't half put his foot in. Milner wasn't scared of him. City came back

to 2-2, it was a real test of the Liverpool but they showed great

resilience and character. I think in this run, the questions have all

been asked before the match, Arsenal, Everton, Tottenham away,

this is the first time the questions have been asked right in the middle

of the match. City, 15 minutes before half-time and after that,

were terrific. If this goes in, Aguero, this is at 2-2, this goes

in, I don't know if they are going to come back. But two minutes later,

this is a mistake beyond belief by Vincent Kompany. But the heat is

terrific. Yes, a sensational finish by Coutinho, bending it around

Zabaleta. Liverpool showed in the last 15 minutes that they can

defend, how good they are defensively. A word on Steven

Gerrard. You could see afterwards, that thing about "exactly the same

against Norwich" . Steven Gerrard for such a long time has been Mr

Liverpool, before Fernando Torres arrived, he was holding the team. He

has won the Champions League, the FA Cup but the league has eluded them

for such a long time. And you could tell at the end, what apart he has

played in this run. Brendan Rodgers, the two of them have got

that position for him using his now is in there. The impressive thing is

the way they play, they commit some any men forward, they never look off

balance and the way they create chances, commit players forward, he

plays an impressive role not only on the pitch but telling the lads to

calm down with another four games to go. That when gave Liverpool a

5-point lead at the top, so it was over to Chelsea, the third team in

the title race, and they came and Swansea.

They say if you don't believe in yourself, no one well. I think now

we have a chance of finishing first. We don't believe you, Jose. This is

a Dave for positive thinking. This is the team that hammered Spurs,

battered Arsenal. Europe's elite. This is a day to play like the

champions you were, like the champions you could still be. This

is a day of opportunity. A defining day.

Steve Wilson was at the Liberty Stadium.

The ground on which Chelsea have never won. Three visits, three

draws. A game which they probably always knew they had to win, but now

they know the Anfield resolve and that at this moment, Liverpool are

five points clear -- the Anfield resolve. It is arguably as big for

Swansea. Results could hardly have gone worse for them yesterday and

they find themselves just three points above the bottom three.

Swansea have only won eight league games all season. Garry Monk is

looking for two more to stay up. Meet you's ankle injury keeps him

out of -- Mitch you's. Chelsea's Eden Hazard is injured and Frank

Lampard rested. Ramires returns from a ban to start and Demba Ba's reward

for his winner against PSG is only his third Premier League start of

the season. As at Anfield, as at Wembley, as at

everywhere this weekend, the Liberty Stadium remembers the Hillsborough

disaster 25 years ago. WHISTLE, CHEERING

Chelsea's last winter in Swansea was in 1983. Their last win in Wales was

back in 2007. That was dangerous. Mohamed Salah,

just wide. This was a golden opportunity for the Egyptian. He has

got to be disappointed not to hit the target.

Wilfried Bony. Good header. That was a really good leap. It was tipped

over by Petr Cech. Willian is fouled by Chico Flores.

He may well get the yellow card for that. He realise that Chelsea were

in danger of outnumbering Swansea on the counterattack.

Andre Schurrle. Chico Flores is in trouble. He has just had a yellow

card. Chelsea are in Phil Dowd's you are. You can understand why. It was

a pretty clumsy challenge. Is he now going to called him over? He took

his time about it, but Phil Dowd has sent off Chico Flores. He said, I am

thinking about it. He was not swayed by John Terry. He told the Chelsea

captain to go away. Chico Flores is sent off. Swansea have a long time

to play with ten men. Nathan Dyer to hate it. Petr Cech

saves. This was a good strike. It took a little neck on its way

through. -- a little nick. Nine minutes of the second half have been

played. That was hooked away by Ashley

Williams. This was very nearly a proper site of Michel Vorm's goal.

It was diverted to safety by Ashley Williams.

That is Demba Ba. Right across goal. Any moron that, and it might have

been the goal that Chelsea were looking for. This is a transfer

Samuel Eto'o. He drags it wide. The flag stayed down. You would expect

him to put that away. The face of Samuel Eto'o reflected in those

faces behind the goal. Routledge. Deflected off the back of

John Terry for a corner. What a run from Routledge. That is from inside

his own half. It went on to John Terry's shoulder. It was perilously

close to hitting him on the arm. Ben Davies had time to pick his

spot, but not that one. It is a Chelsea throwing. Demba Ba's shot,

through Michel Vorm, into the net. Suddenly Swansea were caught

short-handed at the back. It was Demba Ba against Michel Vorm, and

Demba Ba one. Chelsea have the gall, midway through the second half.

Demba Ba makes his point again. It was a great ball from Nemanja Matic.

Good control and a really good finish. I think it was the pass from

Nemanja Matic that caught Swansea flat fitted. Michel Vorm will be

disappointed that he did not get a hand on it. -- flat-footed. Maybe

not as crucial as the goal in the Champions League midweek, what

really significant for Chelsea nonetheless.

-- but really. Demba Ba on the turn. It was a rising shot, just over the

bar. Samuel Eto'o. That is two he has

missed from similar range. He could have put it to bed. Routledge trying

to win a throw from Mohamed Salah. And the throw is taking.

In it goes from Jonjo Shelvey. Petr Cech palms it away. It was a cross,

but it was creeping in at the back post.

Samuel Eto'o seems destined not to score today. Then again... No, it is

blocked by De Guzman. They fought for glory and anything they could

possibly get out of the game. It was really difficult for us. There was a

period in the second half where we should have done better, we had so

many counterattacks. Would you have bagged yourself to have a week like

this? You have been struggling to get minutes on the pitch. I always

believed, even though it is hard, when you have not been playing, and

your fitness goals down. Your confidence goes down as well, but I

am happy today. I cannot complain, the application from my players, to

try and defend properly. Where you are unhappy with the red card, or

the fact it took so long? That is why you're surprised by it. It took

so long. I'm sure the referee has a legitimate answer. You have

experienced some massive encounters with Liverpool over the last few

years. It will be like a cup final for both teams. Whoever wins will

put the pressure on Manchester City. Until then, everything is possible.

It will be exciting. If we show exactly what we showed today in the

last four games, we will be fine. Nothing from Jose Mourinho. He

decided to keep his own counsel after that game. The sending-off

killed the game. Chelsea had a host of chances but Swansea had some

moments of their own. They played pretty well with ten men. As a

spectacle, it was a nonevent. You talked about the sending-off of

Chico Flores. Any grumbles with that one? I do not think that Swansea can

have any complaints. Chico Flores, bringing down Willian. He just needs

to get back, he does not need to make a challenge. He rightly gets

booked. Within two minutes, he gets exposed. Andre Schurrle takes him

on. If he cannot live with him, he has got to bring him inside. John

Terry asks the referee, are you going to send him off? He says, I am

thinking about it. Within five seconds, the red card came out, and

I think, rightly so. Chelsea against ten men. They were patient, or

laboured, whichever way you want to look at it. You can see why the 20

goals Manchester City. We have mentioned the lack of a centre

forward. Today they had about six great chances. Mohamed Salah, the

first one, an open goal. He misses it. The next one to Mohamed Salah

again. Over the top. Willian has a good chance. Demba Ba makes a good

run to the near post and should probably score. It goes on and on.

Samuel Eto'o hits it wide. They are obviously creating the chances. But

they could not convert them. Playing up front is not that hard! To be

fair, Swansea did put men behind the ball. But that is like an own goal,

it is a bad touch. It is amazing. It seems that in the Chelsea camp it is

doom and gloom. They are in the semifinal of the Champions League

and they have a chance of winning the title. Do me a favour. Do not

talk to me about tiredness. I never did. Jose Mourinho is talking about

Liverpool having an advantage. If you said to Brendan Rodgers, would

you rather swap, they would bite your hand off. We need to talk about

Swansea as well. After yesterday's results, Swansea are not out of

trouble. No, they are on a terrible run at the moment. They have not got

the hardest running, but the way that they are playing, there are no

easy games for them. Norwich City look like they are in big trouble,

playing against the top four teams. Swansea are far from out of it. I

agree with that, but I think they should enough today, they will be

safe. In many ways, they have similar problems to Chelsea. They

struggled to score goals? Yes, I like Wilfried Bony. He's a good

player, but they have got to get the ball to him. So we've seen both

games. Here's a reminder of how things stand in the title race.

Today, it all depends on things stand in the title race.

Today, it all depends what we can do in the future. If Liverpool window

game, maybe they deserve to win the title. We will do everything we can

to try and win the championship for our club, are supporters. It looks

like an exciting conclusion to the season. Ten victories in the

Barclays Premier League is an incredible achievement. We are still

fighting. We have got to concentrate and keep doing the job. Hopefully

ten games will become a living game next week. We are concentrating on

the next game. next week. We are concentrating on

the It has been a magical season. Who would have tipped that at the

start? Not many people. At the start of the season, they were speaking

about the Champions League, that would be phenomenal. Many of the do

not win the league, it is still a great season. That is not true. They

have four games left. There will not be one easy game. Norwich City away

as the next match. They are fighting for their lives. Chelsea is

obviously the big one. Crystal Palace away, where Tony Pulis has

done a thin plastic job. Even Newcastle at home. That will not be

easy. The mindset will be different. For the first time, they are

favourites. They play Norwich City and Chelsea. I think it would be a

good time to play Crystal Palace. By the time that they play them, they

should be out of trouble. It is Liverpool's Toulouse. How big a

factor this momentum? Ten victories. The confidence, plus you have Luis

Suarez. If you're sitting in the dressing room and you are not sure,

and you think about Luis Suarez, you automatically go, we have got a

great chance. Daniel Sturridge looks like he might be injured for a

while. He may have a hamstring injury. We have not heard about

that. They do not have the deepest squad. If storage was out for the

season, it would be a big blow. Henderson will be missed as well.

The one player they cannot afford to lose is Luis Suarez. What about

Manchester City? Where do they go from zero? Anything other than

winning the title, it will be a massively disappointing season for

them. And I don't think they will win the title. They have spent

millions on attacking players but the left side of the defence

concerns me. Vincent Kompany made mistakes today, he obviously wasn't

fit and I think they will finish second or third. In a word,

Liverpool? Yes, and to me. You both think they are going to do it. The

game at Anfield, as you would expect, dominates the back pages

Monday's papers. The Guardian reflects on a tearful Steven

Gerrard, the captain revealing it was the longest 90 minutes he has

ever played in. The Mirror also focusing on that and the Daily Mail

focusing on Steven Gerrard urging his team-mates to turn their

attention to next week's game against Norwich. Saturday's action

to come after we remind you of something special that is coming up

in a couple of months' time. What really separates the great from the

good? Style? Of course. Flair? Obviously. Passion. That is a given.

Learn from your mistakes. Always think about what you missed. Never

be satisfied with what you have done. Whatever you do, do it with

your heart. I never thought about what I could get out of football. I

just wanted to play. Spain have surely won the World Cup!

I sense it will all be rather smashing. Time now for the best of

yesterday's action, starting with vital wins for three teams fighting

relegation. Neal Adams takes charge of Norwich

for the first time, with one objective, to keep the canaries in

the Premier League. It is going to be a tense afternoon at Craven

cottage, five huge matches remaining for both of these sites. Driven

across, it is a wonderful save by Stockdale. What a reaction stop.

Ricky Van Wolfswinkel so close to breaking his goal drought, but that

is an outstanding one-handed save. Leroy Fer! And again, Stockdale is

there to make the save. And just wide, what a chance for Johnson.

Snodgrass, off the bar. Stockdale didn't move.

Norwich have brought everybody back. Sidwell with the touch. Rodallega!

What a huge goal that could be. Overwhelming relief amongst the home

supporters. And Rodallega pounces and Fulham lead in this vital

basement battle. It is a terrific run, Snodgrass!

Just wide. Brilliant defending, Fulham threw themselves towards the

loose ball. The fans are celebrating, they are convinced the

great escape might be on again for Fulham.

There are too waiting for it! It is Dejagah, can he finished question

what he can't, but the full-time whistle has blown. Fulham are just

two points behind Norwich. -- can he finish?

Here comes Adam Lallana, Ramires is to his left. Gaston Ramirez! And the

deflection takes it on to the bar. Away by Chambers, only as far as

Cala, who tees it up. And Cardiff are ahead in a match they

desperately need to win. Cala's shot behind acrid elite beyond the

despairing dive of Gazza Nader. -- beyond the despairing dive of

Gazzaniga. Nathaniel Clyne for Southampton!

What a save. Great stop by Marshall. It is now or never for

Southampton. I reckon Cardiff only need to hang on for one last attack.

It is all over. And Cardiff are far from finished in their quest to stay

in the Premier League. This is promising. It is Bolasie.

Good effort. It could still going? It hasn't. Wonderful save by Brad

Guzan from Bolasie and against the bar by Cameron Jerome, who should

really have scored. Good cross by Bolasie. A chance

shoulder for Crystal Palace. It is Puncheon. And he has done it again.

Jason Puncheon. The cross beat everybody apart from Puncheon and he

smacked that in the inside of the post and it is deserved on the play.

Can Grant Holt headed them for Andreas Weimann? Good save, Speroni.

-- had it down. A very, very good save by Julian Speroni.

A couple of great saves yesterday. Back-to-back wins for Fulham, it has

really spiced things up. It is the most amazing season. We have said

consistently, those two are gone, and then six weeks later, those two

are gone. We don't know who is going to go. Well, there will be three go

down. Speaking there will be more twists and turns until the end of

the season. And Fulham with back-to-back victories, who would

have thought it? I think you go up to Aston Villa. I think 36 points

will be enough. Fulham, you talk about momentum in the title race but

equally at the bottom, Cardiff and Fulham up against it and suddenly

you win. That whistled at Southampton is unreal. -- result.

You look at the Cardiff goalkeeper, one of the best in the Premier

League, he has been trying to stave off relegation and he has saved them

so many points, Marshall. We have talked about Norwich's running for a

long time and it has finally arrived. Two points above the drop

some, is that enough? They just can't score goals. I mentioned

Cardiff, I saw them play away there and at West Ham and even Fulham

yesterday, they should have beaten them. They have paid the ultimate

price for not scoring enough goals and you look at that run in... It is

beastly. It is. They drew against Manchester City at home six or seven

weeks ago, so they can pick up points at home but away, their form

is appalling. There is a remarkable story this season among many and

that would be Crystal Palace. If it wasn't for Brendan Rodgers and

Martin is doing so well, you would make him a contender for manager of

the season -- Roberto Martinez. Fourth from bottom when he took

over, and they look as good as safe now. They were goners. They were one

of the ones we mentioned. Here are the remaining matches from

yesterday, including a classic at the Hawthorns.

The long-term future of Tim Sherwood is still in huge doubt. Pepe Mel

says he isn't certain he will be in charge next season either as his

West Brom team search for back-to-back victories for just the

second time all season. Captained by Amalfitano. The last

time West Brom played at home, he scored a stunning goal against

Cardiff in a 3-3 draw. He gets the crossing. Beaten away by Hugo Lloris

and backing by Vydra. What a start within 30 seconds. Amalfitano went

past Danny Rose, straight into the path of the Czech Republic

international, who gleefully accepted and drilled it into the

bottom corner. It might come to Chris Brunt! Would

you believe this? Inside four minutes, West Bromwich Albion are

two up. Spurs didn't deal with it, Chris Brunt was unmarked, 2-0 West

Bromwich Albion. What a start, even Pepe Mel couldn't have dreamt of

this. And the referee has given a penalty.

It is all happening in the first quarter of an hour. Emanuel Adebayor

has the chance to get one back. And he is denied by Foster. Ben Foster

guessed correctly. He is smiling but deep down he will be absolutely

fuming. That came off Younis Kabul and

Sessegnon could be in. Still Sessegnon, 3-0! As soon as it came

off the head of Younis Kabul, Sessegnon held off the challenge and

got the third -- Kaboul. A deflected own goal, taken away

from Foster by the left leg of Olsson.

There is the head. And Harry Kane has got one back for Tottenham.

Brilliant play by Lennon and a free header for Harry Kane. Steven Reid

couldn't keep it out. Paulinho, Aaron Lennon. So many

bodies in the penalty area. Is this the chance? It is Christian Eriksen!

Spurs have done it. Tim Sherwood's team have come from three down to

level it at 3-3 and four the second home game running, Pepe Mel says an

injury time equaliser going. -- sees.

As always, it is a blustery afternoon at the potteries.

Arnautovic, Erik Pieters available to his left. The cross is in. Tim

Krul embarrassed by Erik Pieters. I am not convinced he was going for

gold. I am pretty sure that is across. I doubt anybody in the

stadium would have had Erik Pieters down as first goal-scorer.

The home team fearing the Championship. The visitors flying

towards the Champions League. Deulofeu does well against Alonso.

And it has gone in, it is off Wes Brown. It is the seventh own goal

but Sunderland have conceded, six in the Premier League. Everton don't

care how it goes in. What a big goal for them.

His demeanour never changes but I sure he knows how excited he is

making Everton fans. The winner will be celebrated all the way back to

Merseyside by Everton supporters. They have moved into the top four

and Sunderland are once again left to rue their luck.

Sunderland are gone? It looks like it. I think that might actually be

the case. Everton are hanging in there, playing some great football

of late, but yesterday was more of a battling performance. They had to

battle and they did. We all know they can grind a result out, they

are very powerful with a lot of flair. They beat Arsenal last week

and yesterday, they got the goal with a slice of luck, but they are

in pole position. Arsenal have the cup final, they haven't been at

their best in the league. They are two points ahead, it would be an

amazing story if they finish fourth. Momentum, Everton have got it. They

played so well against Arsenal and Roberto Martinez has done a

fantastic job. What was going on at the Hawthorns? Incredible, the last

two home games, 3-3. They did it against Cardiff. And yesterday, but

ultimately might cost them. So this is how the table looks after

this weekend's action. Wins for Liverpool and Chelsea see them steal

a march on Manchester City in the race for the title. The Reds'

advantage remains two points over Chelsea, but City are now seven

points off top spot. Everton and Arsenal are both involved in midweek

action as the race for fourth place heats up. Swansea remain just three

points above the relegation places with four games left to play. FA Cup

finalists Hull are six clear of trouble. Thank you very much to Alan

and Didi. 24 years after their last title win, Liverpool have it in

their grasp. Goodbye. This was a day of opportunity. A

defining day in the Premier League title race. This was a day when the

performance mattered little, when the result was key. This was a day

that kept the dream alive. This was a day the dream died a little. This

was a day when hope became expectation. And for all the hype

and conjecture, most of all, this was a day to remember.

This is the most priceless work in the artist's collection

It took him just five minutes and 20 seconds to create.