08/02/2014 Match of the Day

Hello there. It may be miserable outside, but batten down the

hatches, sit back and enjoy eight superb matches from the Barclays

Premier League. There's a little bit of everything on the way tonight.

It is one of the great games of English football, and they are

hustling at the top again. This is more than just a game, that's for

sure. What a way to start the week. What a win for Chelsea! Sam

Allardyce, less than impressed. That is a screamer!

And casting their eyes over issues surrounding top and bottom are Alan

Shearer and Dietmar Hamann. Top of the shop is Liverpool against

league leaders Arsenal. The Gunners haven't lost at Anfield in seven

years, but Brendan Rodgers' current crop are unbeaten in 12 at home.

Your commentator is Guy Mowbray. It is a game which promises much, a

fixture which has given plenty over the years. But not so much for

Liverpool in recent times, only one win in their last 13 games against

the Gunners. The Liverpool team is completely unchanged. Kolo Toure

stays in after his mistake against West Brom. And it is Suarez and

Sturridge against the only team to have stopped either of them from

scoring in league games this season. For Arsenal, one change,

Jack Wilshere coming back in full Lukas Podolski.

Liverpool, seven games unbeaten. Arsenal have not tasted defeat the

last ten times they have taken the field. What gives? We are about to

find out, in a mouthwatering early start to the Premier League weekend.

A Liverpool win would mean the first time they have won 11 of their first

13 home games since 1987-88. 30 seconds into the match, Luis Suarez

has won the first free kick from Per Mertesacker, grabbing hold of his

shoulder. This gives Steven Gerrard the chance to put the ball in.

And it is in the net! Liverpool have scored. The flag stays down, and

Liverpool are in the lead! Right from the off! The goalkeeper who has

kept the most clean sheets in the Premier League this season, beaten

already. As the ball comes in, Skrtel looks as though he was

onside. Sturridge does not get anything on it. It comes off an

Arsenal boot first. The Liverpool defender gets his third goal of the

season. And there was a school of thought that Brendan Rodgers would

send his side out snarling from the start. They are off and running all

right. Flanagan into the box! Stopped by

Szczesny. A great run that was from right back. If he scores, they will

be hearing the cheers in the house he grew up in, about 200 yards away.

Skrtel again! Liverpool have a second! We have not played ten

minutes yet! Arsenal under one by two set pieces. Another great

delivery, beautifully onto the head of Skrtel. Just like the Everton

Game Two weeks ago, Liverpool have started in top gear. Skrtel has

doubled his goal tally for the season in ten minutes. Suarez,

Sturridge! Suarez almost in tears, he could not have done any more with

it. It was a gorgeous touch into Daniel Sturridge, and the form that

he is in, you would have bet on him scoring. It really could be all over

already. Liverpool just keep on coming. Sturridge. Sterling. Suarez

in the middle. The ball misses him, and Jack Wilshere has to put it

behind, otherwise Henderson had it on a plate. Jack Wilshere is quite

right to ask questions. There are inquests going on all over the place

at the back for Arsenal. A ball in from Gerrard spells danger. Suarez!

Kolo Toure has put it wide! Goodness me! What an explosive start to the

game! Spectacular volley, didn't he let

fly?! This is like the Liverpool of the old days.

Ozil holding off Henderson, but not successfully. Henderson comes away

with it. Sterling to the left. Sterling! He makes it three!

Arsenal's players look in shock, as the majority inside Anfield

celebrate what is for them a dream scoreline. 3-0, Liverpool. Raheem

Sterling makes it a 16 minute triple. Look at all the room he has

got. The usual pinpoint pass from Suarez, absolutely perfect.

Anger, frustration, misery, long way home.

Ozil sold Jack Wilshere short. Sturridge is onto this one! Four!

What a pass, what a finish, what a day for Liverpool! ! Sturridge is

quite right to acknowledge the part played by Philippe Coutinho. That is

slide rule stuff. Sturridge still had plenty to do, and he has been

doing that pretty much perfectly all season. He has now scored in all six

games since his comeback from injury. Guess what, Suarez has not

scored yet. Well, Arsenal have to begin the second half as though it

is still 0-0, that is the only approach open to them, really. The

trouble is for them, Liverpool may start as if it is 0-0 as well, after

easing off at the end of the first half. Sterling! Sterling! That is

his second! Liverpool have five! Any thought of an Arsenal comeback has

just been wiped out. Now it is a question of how many Liverpool could

get. Sterling was not offside, he timed his run beautifully. Szczesny

spread himself for the first one, but could not hold onto the ball,

and that was key. If Liverpool are to score six, seven or eight today,

there will be a few travelling Arsenal fans who will not be here to

see it. Some are already on their way home. Down goes Suarez. The

challenge was from Koscielny. The Liverpool fans will only be

satisfied with more red goals today. Another beautiful ball in

from Gerrard. Sterling! It has gone behind. It looked like that was the

hat-trick. He is offside. Three Arsenal changes. Down goes

Sturridge. Suarez with the ball in, and it was

going in! How audacious was that?! Szczesny enjoyed that himself, he

gives the eyebrows of approval to Luis Suarez. He nearly caught all of

us out! It was going in. It was a wonderful save by Szczesny. What an

attempt. Genius. Coutinho comes away with the ball, with a wonderful

display of balance. It comes to Henderson! He puts it wide. He could

have played it into Suarez. Philippe Coutinho, who made the fourth goal

with a delicious through ball for Daniel Sturridge, nearly made the

sixth. Oxlade-Chamberlain finds Sagna.

Oxlade-Chamberlain goes down. Penalty. Penalty conceded by the

Liverpool skipper. Mikel Arteta with the chance to at least get Arsenal

on the board. And he does. Celebrated by the Arsenal fans still

in the ground as though that goal has won them the points. Jack

Wilshere is onto that. Jack Wilshere is down, after a brush with Steven

Gerrard. What did the referees see in that? Was the Arsenal man

accusing his England captain of putting the Army in? Steven Gerrard

does not do anything. Jack Wilshere has thought better of it and decided

to get back to his feet and get on with the game.

That will be a free kick. When Locke was about to complain that it had

gone against him, but it hasn't, it has gone to Arsenal. -- Jack

Wilshere was about to complain. Arteta! He cannot beat Mignolet.

That was a really good try from Mikel Arteta, and a good stop, too.

Sterling. He is in! It might be three! But Szczesny denies him the

hat-trick for now. This was always going to be a real test of

Arsenal's title credentials, but they have been blown away.

The goals were fantastic. Gave us a great platform in the game. Our

record here at home has been outstanding. So, all round brilliant

performance against a top team. We had a very poor day defensively, but

from the top two defence everywhere we were beaten defensively and

Liverpool took advantage of it. They played well. We've a very poor

(inaudible) unfortunately we were not. I had to give credit to

Liverpool. They were brilliant in the first 20 minutes. We weren't up

to scratch. I thought they were brilliant. Second-half, you know

half-time we weren't happy at all. Second-half we knew we had to

improve on that. I do believe we did that today. Really trying to stamp

our mark on Anfield. Everybody knows that coming here will be difficult.

The lads did it really well today. We pressed high up the field and

really made them know that today is not the day that they will be

playing their passing football. I thought it was a great team effort

again today. Still fourth, still the target? No. Just to finish as high

as we possibly can. We get asked about being title contenders. When

you beat the leaders, like we did today, everybody will ask that

question. It's been about finishing the best that we possibly can in the

highest position we can. Are you a small horse, medium horse or a

stalking horse? No, we're just a foal. Fell were this a foal, Arsenal

were a mare, certainly on this day. Liverpool, electric? Liverpool were

better in every single department from start to finish of that game. I

thought they were brilliant. They started the game off so well. I know

they scored five goals. The truth be told, it could have been eight or

nine and probably should have been. Played brilliant stuff as well. It

was mentioned in the interviews there about the high pressing style.

It's something you picked up on today? We often here the word

"pressing" or "pressing high." When you press you have close the ball

down with an intensity. The difference between Liverpool and

Arsenal today was unbelievable. We saw the three guys there going

together. To win the ball back together. One goes in there. Not

letting them go anywhere. Pressing them on the half-way line. There you

go. They win the ball high up... The middle of the park. They go. They

get the third goal from here. A good ball across. They win that ball on

the half-way line because they are all determined and they are all

going after the ball. Not in ones, not in twos, in threes. If the first

person can't get it his mate backs him up there. The Coutinho in there.

Slide-rule, good run from Sturridge. A very, very good finish. Look at

the difference between Liverpool and Arsenal? We saw Liverpool pressing

in the first 20 minutes. This is Arsenal, standing off. Letting

Liverpool pick their head up. Take touches on the ball. Look, there is

actually there is no-one around them at all. All right, Liverpool might

not be hurting them here. They are 3 or 4-0 up at this stage. Arsenal

have to win the ball back. They don't. Gerrard is taking his time.

No urgency from Arsenal at all. That summed you up their performance.

When you start the game like that. You will get hammered. Arsenal did.

They did. Liverpool terrific. Arsenal not really at the races,

right from the start? Right from the very first second Liverpool had a

long throw-in which Arsenal have to deal with. Mertesacker here. Look

there is no-one around him. He is not aware where Suarez is. He should

go and clear that. He doesn't. He gets caught on the ball. He pulls

him back. They get the free-kick, Liverpool. In the first minute. They

whip the ball in from the free-kick. No-one is picking skirt up at --

Skrtel up at all. Trying to hold a high line. That is the first minute

at Liverpool. Corner here. A few minutes later. He cannot be expected

to win the race from that ball from a standing start. What Ozil is doing

here I'm not sure. He hasn't a clue where anyone is. His back is to the

play. Poor pass. The best pass in the team misses easy passes like

this. There is one over head. Misses one straight after. A 10-meter pass.

You know you are in for a long afternoon. Disappointing from

Arsenal's point of view they weren't beaten in 90 minutes. The game was

over in 30 minutes. This was the league leaders. Disappointment for

them. Ozil has gone off the ball? He started off very well, the last

eight to ten weeks he has been tired. He looks tired. Substituted

in the last eight matches. His form is a worry. The way he is playing at

the moment he becomes a problem for the team. There might be a team when

he won't be in the starting 11. I think people forget how important

Ramsey was at the start of the season. Ozil started well, so did

Aaron Ramsey. Pictures that poor old egg Wenger had a fall That is at

Lime Street Station on his way home. One to forget for Arsenal.

Contrasting weeks for Chelsea and Newcastle. While Jose's charge where

enhancing their title pedigree on Monday night, Newcastle were saying

goodbye to Joe Kineear. Could the Happy One's little horses continue

their impressive form for the final Premier League furlongs? Peter

O'Sullivan... Hazard has to play on current form and would play in any

team you care to mention. Davide Santon played under Mourinho

in Inter Milan where he was used in midfield on occasion. That is where

he plays today. A corner, yes, off Matic. The corner

goes short to Ben Arfa. Santon, four in the middle here. Pulled back

towards Sissoko. Ben Arfa trying to go round Oscar. I think he has. Ben

Arfa here. A check at the near-post -- Cech at the near-post makes the

save. A nice spell here for Newcastle. Looked like they mrufd

the corner. Worked back into Ben Arfa who bamboozled Oscar, couldn't

beat Cech. Losing the Derby was a poor result for Newcastle. If they

get anything here, it will be a great way to bounce back. Ben Arfa.

That is the second time he managed to get a shot on target, Ben Arfa,

without really threatening to beat Cech. Good at this. Onto his left

foot. They are playing their part in this game, Newcastle, Alan Pardew

will be pretty pleased with the first 20 minutes. Here's Willian.

Eto'o, square. Well played, Krul. Some stubborn resistance from

Newcastle. Matic. Eto'o. Oscar, shooting chance. Just wide! Real

chances for Oscar. Matic did well. He had a good sight of goal there,

the Brazilian. Hazard, approaching 100 games already. Lampard, Hazard.

Ivanovic, Eden Hazard, 1-0. Brilliant from Eden Hazard. He

finished it brilliantly. Lovely one-two with Ivanovic. The little

Belgian found the corner in an instant. Chelsea lead. Ivanovic,

back into Hazard, what a finish. Not easy to hit that coming across your

body at pace. He swept it right into the corner. Brings up a dozen goals

for Eden Hazard this season. Chelsea's best spell of the game

finishes in the opening goal of the game. It will be tough for Newcastle

now. Sissoko wants it, and gets it. What a ball. He is it through,

Sissoko, poor touch. His first touch did him then. He is onside. Luiz

playing him on. That touch allowed Cech to make it a 50/50. Cech made

the save. Newcastle corner. Oscar, out. Anita running into Matic. Find

ng de Jong. It's Willian. Ivanovic is down the middle, in a centre

forward position, here is Eden Hazard. Hazard. Eto'o. Brilliant!

Oh, what a goal! What a goal by Eden Hazard! That is sensational. 2-0,

Chelsea. Two more goals for Eden Hazard, who has passed his tally for

the whole of last season. What a fantastic goal. Brilliant from start

to finish. Eden Hazard, Samuel Eto'o. 2-0 Chelsea. A thing of

beauty, it's 2-0. Not in the title race, what a load of tosh, and he

knows it. Ben Arfa, forward. Floated in towards de Jong, it might reach

him too. A little bit more power on that header and it might have been

2-1. Chelsea have possession again. Worth chasing. Oh, and Krul's

misjudged it. Oscar can't quite reach it. Almost a comedy of errors

there. David Luiz's clearance almost went in on its own. Oscar couldn't

quite reach it. They are eighth in the Premier League, Newcastle. You

would think they were having a disastrous season, judging by some

of the things that have been written about the club. The Hazard,

brilliant awareness. Oscar, Eto'o takes over. Willian. Space for

Ivanovic. Options too. Eto'o, great block by Williamson. Great

defending. Eto'o has had a great day today. Denied here by a terrific

challenge by Mike Williamson. Gary Cahill.

He let that get away from him. Eden Hazard, he is dhebgd -- checked by

the full-back. It will be a free-kick. Yellow card here. This is

pretty poor defending. Not much of an angle for Lampard to see the goal

here. Lampard does go for goal. A good save by Krul. He's done well

here, Lampard, just to get it on target. Very little angle to same

for. A poor corner, Ameobi kneed it away. The referee has given a

penalty. Eto'o went over inside the penalty area. In the opinion of the

referee he was pulled over. You can't argue with that. That is a

rugby tackle, isn't it? Eden Hazard, has the chance to complete a

hat-trick. 3-0. Made it look ridiclous easy. Eden Hazard, with

the hat-trick. Chelsea have an unassailable three goal lead. Beat

the keeper with his eyes, Eden Hazard, I suspect here. Krul started

to move right. Realised instantly he'd got it wrong and end up being a

spectator to Hazard's hat-trick. Three on to two here. Oscar.

Salah... Saved by Krul. The big moment beckoned. So did Tim Krul.

Great chance here. Into Marveaux. Marveaux misses for Newcastle. By

hook or by crook, it's still only 3-0. The game swung on a big chance

for us. Then they went straight down the other end when we were carrying

an injury and got the second which kind of took the steam out of us a

little bit. Off the back of a great result the other night, it was

important we carried that on and got the result today. Our home form has

been good of late. Weed didn't want that to slip. We got the right

result. We are happy. After the game I spoke to the Chelsea boss.

The little horses are learning quickly? We work hard, in training,

we work hard in matches. People are improving. Individually, it is easy

to understand we have players better this season than in previous

seasons, but I look, I want to know tomorrow, Tottenham and United and

Fulham. When we are far from the fifth and we are in a Champions

League position, under control, it will be time to look to City and

Arsenal and see where they are, to see the distances and from that

point we can start thinking about other things. I don't know whether

you are aware of the expression, we do say that you should always back

the outside of three in a horse race. So while you are looking at

fifth place, we think you have got a real chance of winning the league.

What are your real thoughts? My thought is we have a chance to win

Tuesday, but so do West Brom. It is not in our objective to win the

league this season, but it is our objective to win the game next

Tuesday. Eden Hazard was really the star of the show today. All three

goals. He has been brilliant for you, this season, hasn't he? I have

to say yes but maybe not because this player didn't get one single

award from the Barclays Premier League of Player of the Month. I see

players who get that award month after month and this kid has empty

pockets. He is the best young player in the world, under 23, under 24,

for sure the best in the world. If he goes in this direction, who knows

where he can arrive, but for me, he is amazing, the fact he is so

different than the Eden Hazard I found in the ferns training session,

so different. That for me is a real pleasure as a coach. Thanks for

talking to us and good luck with finishing fourth! I hope so! So we

don't play the qualification, thank you! He is a canny soul, isn't he? I

don't know about empty pockets but Eden Hazard was the star of the

show. He was brilliant. Man of the match the other night, I thought,

against City and he was without doubt man of the match today.

You can see where he does his damage. He is everywhere, left,

right, centre, he loves to attack and when he has the ball and is

running at you, he is brilliant. Look at his vision here. Talk about

having a picture in your head. He knows what is behind him, he knows

Eto'o is there. These two link to all well. He was not content with a

little flick. The same thing here, a little look behind, he knows where

the defend is. He plays the ball out to Ivanovic and Ivanovic did it in

return. A great weight in the pass and gratefully us Le Carre -- look

at Willian here, and defensive corner for Chelsea. Anyone that

plays against Chelsea this season will face this, whether they are at

home, because they did it at City the other night, they are going to

leave two players up. It is bold, brave, very attacking, and it

works. Both Eto'o and Hazard up there and I mentioned Willian, look

at his determination to get up there, to support Hazard, and he was

the one closing down the ball at the near post. A great run to take the

defender away to create the space for Hazard. That is sensational.

Magical. Brilliant. Another flick from him. He is full of confidence.

The pass this time into Eto'o, again, a picture in his head. He

knows what he's doing when the ball comes to him. This is his hat-trick

goal, full of confidence. He is 23 years of age. He has 12 goals this

year. He is already a top player. He is going to get better. Thing I

noticed from your analysis. If the team leaves two .com you have to

leave three back, don't you? At times you have to. Newcastle left

two onto 1's got punished. They did against city the other day, so they

are doing it away from home as well so they are full of confidence. You

are both former Newcastle players. It has gone flat for them, hasn't

it? It has tailed off, they have lost five of the last seven, the

director of football left their best player for Paris St-Germain,

Cabaye, and the whole camp and team are looking uncertain at the

moment, disillusioned. They need a spark from somewhere because there

is football to be played. Manchester City next. They failed for the Earps

time -- they failed to score for the first time on Monday night and

travelled to Norwich. Keeping count was Jonathan Pearce.

45 months after his last Premier League appearance, Yobo steps into

the Norwich breach. Fer Andy Redman also return. If to bridge gets a

start. Clichy and Milner are back. -- Jovetic returns.

A lovely piece of control by Redmond.

Manchester City playing well within themselves.

That gives further food for thought for his critics. Manuel Pellegrini

is such a perfectionist. If his team wins 4-1, he is unhappy about the

one. Hooper, half a chance. Oh, no composure, dear, oh dear.

They will not get many chances against Manchester City and that was

a really big one. Norwich pounds, Hooper from close

range and the flag is raised and it won't count! For one moment, they

thought they may be on the way to a major shock. The assistant referee

got it absolutely right. Negredo was off-site. -- offside.

His arm looked beyond the last defender, but I am not sure his feet

were. Can Norwich counter here? No,

Kompany got back. Manchester City with their first really potent

attack, very nearly opened the scoring.

Ruddy got down well. The quality of the past there was superb. Ruddy

thought about coming, then has to backpedal. He has to get his balance

right. He got it at the second time of asking. There has been a

hesitancy about Manchester City. The result against Chelsea has

undermined confidence, there is no doubt about that.

Terrific. Martin Olsson, really brave blocking. Bassong played his

part and was hurt in doing it. A really brave block and that -- and I

think after the ball had gone, Olsson fell into his own team-mate.

It stays out. Really brave defending their by Martin. Just did enough to

put off the Manchester City striker. Manchester City are in danger of

going two games without a win for the first time since the start of

October. Norwich have given it away. Blocked by Yobo. Three or four weeks

ago he would have got a decent cross in there. Manchester City has been

underwhelming. Norwich have been competitive and stopped them

playing. Is this a famous moment? Oh!

Goodness me, behind Van Wolfswinkel and behind Pilkington and the whole

title race would have been opened up there. The situation at the bottom

would have been looking rosy for the Canaries.

Demichelis hooks it away. Suddenly it is Manchester City that is

defending desperately. Redmond has held the key all

afternoon to unlock Manchester City. He could have created real damage.

That is a defensive deflection. Pilkington! Goodness me. The

headlines nearly belonged to Norwich City. Not that the latter's finest

hour. Pilkington had options, he could have pulled it back in the

middle. There were players waiting and that was the first chance. The

pace of Redmond come and it beat them all.

Van Wolfswinkel has stayed down. He is holding the pit of his back. Did

he kick out at him, Yaya Toure, when the ball was on the ground? Rarely

in the world of football do you get such an intense performance from a

struggling team against one of the lofty title challengers.

How frustrated were you buy that? Frustrated because we could not win.

We didn't all we could to win it but the team defended well today. There

isn't any team that doesn't have to defend well against Manchester City

to get something but over the 90 minutes I thought we deserved it. I

said at the beginning this Premier League will be five or six teams

fighting for the title. We are two points and we have 39 points...

Another of your form teams, they have one macro in every game so

far. Norwich were spectacular, a gritty performance. Manchester City,

the first time they have failed to score into consecutive games in over

two years? Norwich deserved the point today.

There was only one man in the box, Jovetic closes. It is too late and

the ball is cleared. They didn't manage a single shot on goal in the

first half and if you see these clips, you know why. Navas arrives

too late in the box. Then, towards the end of the half, this is how

desperate they were. Negredo, they played with one centre forward,

picks the ball up, 25 yards and tries a shot from distance. In the

second half it was a different story, they committed players

forward but superb defending by Norwich. We see some last-ditch

blocking by Johnson. They tried and they were more urgent in the second

half. This is the best tackle of the whole game, Olsson, last-ditch

defending and they put their bodies on the line and they deserved their

point. Johnson was a block and Norwich have been fantastic. They

were under the cosh for most of the 90 minutes but City only managed to

macro shots on target and you can say that very often. When you

consider in the reverse fixture I was very critical of Norwich when

they got stuffed seven goals, today, I think that could be a very, very

important point and I thought they deserved it. Could Yaya Toure be on

the spot of bother? You spotted a little bit of a kick out in that

game? I think he will be in trouble because the rule says if the referee

doesn't see the incident then they can act we seek Van Wolfswinkel goes

down, Torre gets a knock on the head, he gets angry and hits him in

the back. I don't condone the player, it wasn't as harsh as he

makes out. But at the end of the day if you are Yaya Toure, don't give

him the opportunity to do that. The referee did not look. I will be

surprised if he doesn't get it. It is hardly a lash out. If you pick

somebody off the ball, you can't do it. He knows, he did it himself. Way

back when. Significant day possibly in the title race. Pivotal possibly?

Chelsea have been brilliant all week, had two massive results.

Despite whatever Jose say it, they are in it and in it big style. I've

said from day one, before a ball was kicked, that I fancied Chelsea. I

ain't changing my mind. Certainly not after this week anyway. First

time Chelsea have been favourites this season. Manuel Pellegrini has

only won one title of any significant. Testing time. He didn't

work with many big clubs to win trophies. Only with Real Madrid. A

big few weeks. First time they are not favourites any more. No Aguero

or Nasri. They lacked quality. They have to pick them up very quick.

Quickly things can change in football. Our next game sees only

the second ever top flight match between Swansea and Cardiff. There

were two new faces in the Derby dug-out after Michael's Laudrup

departure this week. Throw in the added spice of a relegation battle

and it's not surprising why this game means so much. Your commentator

at the Liberty is Martin Fisher. We can't wait for the game. The Derby

is nearly here. We won the last one. One name for you, Caulker. The thing

is with them they think they are better. We are not in the relegation

zone. Are the bigger club, we have more history. It's our time to do it

again. This is our time to do it again. It's time to put the record

straight. Vorm returns. Emnes three years ago

scored the winner in the Derby. Bellamy got the winner on their last

visit here. It was Saha who came off the bench to star. He is in from the

start today - Zaha. Bony through the centre. He has gone for rout rout.

Chance early on. Rout rout didn't really get hold of that. No real

meat in the drive. It's one of the more simple stops that Marshall will

expect to make today. 10 years as a player. In the 10 years he led them

from League Two to the Premier League. It will drop for

Whittingham. It was on target. Vorm produces his first save of the

afternoon. It was swinging in. Vorm needed to stop it. A first half that

brought plenty of bluster, not much quality. The stakes are so high that

players are so nervous they might make an error. Hernandez. Brilliant

ball. Rout rout... Scores! Swansea take the lead. Wayne Routledge

buries this opportunity. Brilliant ball from De Guzman. Rout rout in

behind a sleepy Fabio. An excellent finish from a man who has played for

Cardiff in this fixture before. First-strike, Swansea. In the last

three meetings between these clubs, one goal has been enough to settle

it. Look at the joy on Garry Monk's face. His former colleague, at the

heart of the central defence for Swansea, comes across to celebrate.

Swansea one, Cardiff nil. Now, we've got a game on. Zaha. Trying to get

away from Rangel. Bellamy takes over. Can he get the shot away? Yes,

can! Against the bar. Vorm was beaten. Bellamy so close. The bar

still shaking. Cardiff's recent away record has been awful. They've lost

their previous five in a row. They have found scoring goals away from

home very difficult all season. Kim has gone down and stayed down.

Swansea have player down too. De Guzman taking a blow to the back of

the head. This is how De Guzman, well, he knew what he was doing

Craig Bellamy. Thats with a little bit naughty. Bony. Dyer.

Dyer's strike. It was always rising. Marshall was at full stretch, it

wasn't required. For a moment there he was worried. Much quickly

involved. Away from the figure of Chico. He has been caught by

Hernandez. For the fist time this afternoon the card is brought out.

Inept defence, first from Chico and then from Pablo Hernandez. A good

opportunity for Cardiff. Bellamy's delivery. Whipped in towards the

back post. Swansea haven't cleared it. It's hooked over the crossbar.

Kim it was with the effort. It looked as though it was too strong

this. It was kept alive at the back post. Kim trying to hook it across.

Unable to keep it down. Bony. Pablo. Rout rout wants it through

again. Pablo delays the pass. Rout rout has it now. Too strong for

Bony. Dyer is arriving. Dyer scores! The smallest man on the pitch,

stoops to conquer, Swansea go two in front. Surely, the South Wales Derby

is settled now. Careful in the build-up, Swansea. Pablo looked as

though he made the wrong pass there. Rout rout floats in one. Too strong

for Bony. Dyer nips in between the two Cardiff City defenders to beat

Marshall from close-range. His third goal against Cardiff and surely it

settles the issue. He can barely contain his delight, Garry Monk, why

should he? This means so much in in these parts. Mr Jenkins who sacked

Michael Laudrup. The gamble to put Garry Monk in charge, what a dream

start. Pablo. Dyer. It's brilliant play. He was caught, a free-kick.

John has had his work cut out to keep Dyer quiet. Most of the Liberty

Stadium is rocking. Swansea fans around this stadium, bouncing

up-and-down, celebrating this scoreline. Cardiff fans, at the

other end of the ground, silent. It could get get worse. Pablo's

delivery. Bony! It has got worse. Swansea City three, Cardiff City

nil. Bony does it again. Who is the top dog in South Wales now? Great

delivery from Pablo Karanka. -- Hernandez. He couldn't have dreamt

it would go this well last night. I thought, get the players prepared

and ready and you know get the Swansea way. The way we built things

up. I understand that stuff. That is what I tried to put across to the

players today. Thankfully we gave a great performance. Everyone is

devastated, which they should be. They have lost maybe the most

important game of the year. The they've got to bounce back ability,

as has been said so many times. The character in the lads is great. I

just want to thank, it's not an oscar, thank the staff, the

Chairman, the board of directors, the fans themselves. Magnificent. I

can't thank them enough. I guess we have to carry on the work now and

make sure the boys take the belief of this game into the next games

coming. Quite a strt start for him We saw Ole Gunnar Solskjaer make

substitutions that changed the game and Cardiff won. This time Garry

Monk did stha? Hernandez did what Solskjaer did to opposing teams in

his long career. Hernandez came on and played off Bony. We see him

within two minutes. Gets the ball, spots the pass. Great skill.

Releases rout rout. Who puts it into the bottom corner, 1-0 after two

minutes coming on. Hernandez made the difference. Little one, two with

Dyer, switches the play. He kept that throughout the second-half. He

kept the ball. He kept the game flowing. This is towards the end

there, they are 2-0 up. Needs to waste time. Get a corner, run the

clock down. This is right towards the end. Great ball in. Bony loses

Turner make it is 3-0. Hernandez had a major impact on this game. He

changed the game. When you have someone who can pass a ball like

that for a forward. When you are making runs knowing the ball will

come. They didn't have it first half. They had it second-half. Is so

true. We had an incident where a player might find himself in

trouble. Craig Bellamy, Alan, your view of this? It's probably

frustration. Getting beaten 1-0. He doesn't swing an elbow at him. The

referee has a decent view. What could save him is that the referee

can say he didn't see it. He has a decent view of it then. He doesn't

swing the elbow. He lifts it up to run into him rather than elbow him.

OK. Well, Jose will be watching Sunday's

Match of the Day 2 for the jostling for those top four spots. Spurs take

on Everton and Manchester United play Fulham, plus there's your

chance to vote for January's Goal of the Month. Could Eden finally win a

prize? Here's Johnson. It's positive. . Adam Johnson. What a

strike! He scored. He might fancy a go. He does.

Charlie Adam! He is going to have a go. He is. Tremendous strike from

Ashley Young. Oh, it's an absolute screamer.

Mark Chapman will help you warm up for that nicely at lunch-time with

Match of the Day 2 Extra. We're back on Wednesday night with highlights

of all 10 midweek Premier League games. 10.35pm on BBC One. If the

Football League is your bag, Manish is here.

Crystal Palace fans may have been planning for the Championship, but

Tony Pulis has lifted the Eagles out of the relegation zone and added

some useful acquisitions. Not much new blood for West Brom, but a

useful point against Liverpool was a step in the right direction. Your

commentator is Dan O'Hagan. McAuley for Billy Jones. The baggy

fans have been clamouring to get a chance. One game in the Premier

League so far this campaign for him. On the chase. Here's Anichebe. He

should have scored. Anichebe, who scored at the Hawthorns on Sunday,

to earn a point, here has missed what must go down as a really good

chance for West Brom. The Albion one in 14 since beating Palace at the

Hawthorns. The first corner ball here. Off McAuley. Good work by Tom

Ince. In goes that corner ball. Off the line. It's Dann who has the

second bite at it. Is Mulumbu, onto Dann, up-and-over. The tempo is

unrelenting. Bolasie. Tom Ince in here. Debut goal. Thomas Ince,

welcome to the Premier League. Many believe he could be a top player.

Lovely, delicate finish. He shows at this level he can deliver. Many

wanted him. Palace got him. That's exactly why they got him. Bolasie,

who got through the ball through to Tom Ince, he finished magnificently.

New fans to adore him, and a giant eagle! Three home games here without

defeat for Palace. In 2014 Norwich got a goal here. Wins over Stoke and

Hull by a single goal. Yacob there with a blatant shove on

Tom Ince. It is going to be a corner for

Crystal Palace. Ince takes it. A debut go for

Ledley! But where was the Mark King in West Bromwich Albion? Where was

it? He gets through, no one near him.

Double debut delight at Selhurst Park.

There have been two changes, Sinclair and Thievy. Thievy, his

debut for the Baggies today. He has lots of pace.

Thievy goes on, what a debut start for Thievy! Well, the half-time

change inside the first 40 seconds of the half, plays instant

dividends. Bifouma becomes the third debut goal

scorer. That is brilliant. The game is brought to life by West Bromwich

Albion. Morrison! A superstate -- save,

Speroni. Full extension, palms it away brilliantly. An absorbing

contest. I deflection, a chance, Speroni

again. A remarkable save from Speroni. Heroics from Palace's cult

hero. That is a wonderful save, it really is.

Chamakh is away from McAuley. Caught by Foster. A penalty! Chamakh goes

through here. Does the goalkeeper get a touch? I think he does, you

know. He does get to do that. The referee, Chris Foy, is not for

moving. A Palace penalty. No further action taken against Ben Foster.

Cool, calm, composed, opposition penalty.

Congratulations, a perfect start. Yes, I played a bit out of position,

but to get a goal is fantastic. An opportunity for me to make my debut

and it is brilliant to be a Premiership footballer now. To score

on my debut as a nice way to start but this is not just keeping my

feet, I have to keep firmly on the ground and see if I can get in the

squad for Wednesday. You must have been pleased with those making their

debuts? Delighted. The most important thing is we got three

points against a very good West Brom sight, who have been in the

Premiership a long time. -- a good West Brom sight. We have tough games

coming up. TRANSLATION:

We had a poor first half, the second half was better. I don't know why

there was a difference between the two has. The penalty, not happy with

it? West Brom have played two games away from home and we have had to

macro penalty decisions go against us which are laughable. Palace's

remarkable recovery and a Tony Pulis continues and the new boys played

their part, Alan? They did and whatever Tony Pulis is doing, he can

do no wrong, can he? His signings came up trumps today. Tom Ince, I

was impressed. He gave them an option to running

behind. A free roll up front to play where he wanted Tom at ago and cause

some damage and running behind, this is a quality finish. There is still

a lot to do there, composed finish. The other new guy, Joe Ledley, a

good ball in. He gets away from Billy Jones Fatou easily. Ben Foster

is nowhere but that is a good header. Another good sign for the

Palace fans is Glenn Murray coming back. He will be like another

signing for him, 30 goals in the Championship last year so things are

looking very good for Palace. Lewis has done a great job. West Brom will

be worried. He has not had the immediate effect we sometimes see

with the managers. It has been a struggle? The way it is with

clueless, he is new to the Premier League, he does not speak the

language which makes it hard to get his point across. They sold Shane

Long, a proven player, Anelka is out injured and the band may be coming,

we don't know how long he will be out for and there are inexperienced

players on the bench. They go to Chelsea on Tuesday, it doesn't get

any easier. West Brom is in trouble. To St Mary's and two teams who

enjoyed impressive victories last weekend, Southampton took on Stoke

City with all three of the previous Premier League meetings ending in

draws. The commentator was John Roder.

Southampton and Stoke are two places apart in the Premier League table

but they are separated by ten points, a huge difference. While the

Saints look good for a top ten finish, Stoke are only three points

above the relegation zone. It is a very blustery day at St Mary's, just

as it was a the Britannia, when Begovic scored after only 14 seconds

in a draw against Southampton in November. Cork hasn't scored for the

same since joining in 2011. It starts in midfield. One of Rod

requires's goals this season came in that draw at Stoke three months ago.

Charlie Adam with the challenge, it was wonderfully timed. The Stoke

midfielder managers to recover at the expense of a corner. The corner

taken quickly. Appeals for hand ball, it has been given. It is just

outside the penalty area, clearly so. Rickie Lambert to fire this ball

across the goal, or Mike Teague go direct to the goal? -- or might he

go direct to the goal? Lambert, brilliant! Utterly brilliant, from

Rickie Lambert! Southampton make the early breakthrough. Rickie Lambert,

after just six minutes at St Mary's, this is placed absolutely

perfectly. His ninth goal of the season.

Southampton one, Stoke nil. The rain is sweeping in. It is almost as if

somebody has turned on the garden hose.

Odemwingie gets the equaliser for Stoke City! His first goal for his

new club. The ball forward was absolutely

perfect. With the goalkeeper advancing, Peter Odemwingie, with

only one thought in his mind, to place it first time past Boruc.

It is an awkward one, it has gone all the way in! Goodness gracious

me. Stoke back on level terms. Steven Davis has got Southampton's

second. It is a very soft goal indeed as far

as Stoke are concerned. Southampton two, Stoke one.

Charlie Adams' delivery for Stoke's equaliser was pinpoint perfect. What

can he do here? Boruc could not get there, it is turned in! Peter Crouch

scores against his old club, what a time at St Mary's. Look at the run

of Crouch here as he gets away from his marker.

Both Stoke goal created by Charlie Adam. -- goals.

He puts it behind for the corner kick.

Rodriguez could not make the most of it, off target. An excellent chance

for Jay Rodriguez. Begovic trying to get it but he did not need to make

the save. Can Southampton break? He could not find a team-mate in the

middle. Was there a hand ball here? Southampton were asking the

question. As the ball stuck dash-macro/Glenn Whelan there. -- as

the ball struck Glenn Whelan there. This match is drawing to a close.

Everybody back for Stoke. Driven into the side netting. A

chance for Schneiderlin. Chambers, the substitute, floating that ball

forward. Schneiderlin just wide. Was 2-2 about the right result?

TRANSLATION: It is a shame because in the end

does not reflect the superiority that the other two was lacking. We

needed to be more clinical in front of the goal and also we need to be

-- we need to be more on the ball in terms of not conceding goals. I

thought we were the better team in the first half but went behind

twice, but the second half it was a case that we cancelled each other

out to a certain extent. Overall, we are satisfied with the performance

away from home given the problems we have had on the road this season.

The first half was better than the second. You Germans are always

producing real talent, aren't you, but if there is one club we can rely

on in England to produce players in recent times, it seems to be

Southampton. They have loads of them. Yes, a very long list in the

past to have made it into the top clubs in England and Europe and they

have another one in Luke Shaw. He came through the ranks, made his

debut when he was 16. He reminds me a little bit of Gareth

Bale. If you look at him he is a very strong runner. He is a very

powerful runner. But he is only 18. You make mistakes and here we see

for the first goal how he is attracted to Odemwingie. As soon as

the ball is transferred he has to go five or six yards across, link up

with the centre half, Odemwingie gets ahead of him, Charlie Adam

plays a great ball through. You make mistakes and you have to learn from

them, but what a tremendous talent they have got in Shaw. He will not

feel very good tonight but that will do him good in the long term because

the games after, he will not want to repeat that mistake. Peter Crouch,

his 42nd header, he is now third in the Premier League list. Top of that

list is yourself, Alan. It is all about the service, Gary! It must

have been. Before we move on, a reminder that there is plenty of

sport on the BBC this weekend. On Sunday, France take on Italy at 2.30

on BBC One. Also, the Winter Olympics is under way in Sochi.

Shortly, we will see Steve Bruce looking for a victory with Hull. But

first, Aston Villa, who have kept just one clean sheet in their last

11, against West Ham, who have failed to score in nine out of 24

matches this season. Gabby Agbonlahor returns. Ron Vlaar misses

the match with a hamstring problem, so Matt Lowton comes in. Meanwhile,

Andy Carroll starts his much debated three match ban for West Ham. So,

Carlton Cole leads the attack against one of his former clubs.

Neither side could manage a goal in the reverse fixture at Upton Park

back in November. Jarvis gets in behind! Great chance for Downing, he

cannot take it! It really opened up for West Ham, Java is getting in

behind Lowton. It was a tremendous ball, and Downing came in, Bertrand

doing everything he could to get in the way.

Bertrand collided with the upright, thankfully, no lasting damage done.

West Ham have been stewing for most of the week over the three match ban

handed out to Andy Carroll. Jarvis puts it wide! He claims that there

was a touch off a Villa player, but referee Mike Dean has given a free

kick. That was a rare bright moment for

Aston Villa in the first half. Could not quite find the bottom corner.

West Ham United are looking for their first win at Villa Park since

2006, which was in the FA Cup semifinal against Middlesbrough.

Those were the days when Alan Pardew was in charge, and they went on to

lose the final on penalties to Liverpool. What a good goal!

Superbly created by Stewart Downing, finished by Kevin Nolan.

But it was Downing who created it. Just seconds gone in the second

half, and here is Downing... He gets away from Ryan Bertrand, put -- puts

it in, and what a flick that was from Kevin Nolan. West Ham United

have the lead. And on the balance of play and chances created, they

deserve it. Fabian Delph dispossessed. Great

chance for two! And it is two! And it is Kevin Nolan on the double! Two

goals in three minutes at the start of the second half. And what a big

result this could be for West Ham if they can hang onto this. Sloppy play

by Villa. Delph was dispossessed. Villa are in a big hole now.

West Ham in recent times have not got such a good record at Villa

Park. Benteke with a chance! Albrighton's first touch, straight

off the bench, was a beautifully flighted delivery. Into Benteke,

just goes under his foot. Villa having all the play. But creating

little. Albrighton! West Ham were so lucky. Marc Albrighton, who had

created a great chance for Benteke, almost had a goal from nothing. And

Adrian is lucky, that could easily have deflected in. Albrighton.

Albrighton continuing his run, and he has done really well against

Demel. Benteke, so close! That is twice now that Villa have hit the

frame of the goal. This time it was Albrighton who was the creator, for

Benteke. Marc Albrighton. Cleared by

Tomkins, corner to Villa. West Ham inching towards the line, they have

got just over ten minutes to go. Benteke! What a spec tech killer

goal that would have been. -- spectacular.

A thoroughly professional performance in the second half, but

in the first half, in terms of attacking play, we were excellent,

but could not find the goal. Kevin came up with the goods again. He

showed today he does not need Andy Carroll to score. We are really

proud of that clean sheet, and it just needed somebody to start

scoring goals. Hopefully from now until the end of the season, I can

start doing that to get us back up the league. Sam Allardyce's teams

are always pretty difficult to breakdown, but the goals we conceded

were really, really poor. Sunderland's momentum has been

gathering, but that of Hull has been faltering. A 9-point gap between

them has been eradicated since the start of the year. The form of Adam

Johnson has been a major factor, and Roy Hodgson has come to see the

improvement for himself. Sunderland are unchanged. Shane Long scored in

the draw with Spurs last weekend, his first since he joined the club

in January. His new strike partner, Nikica Jelavic, is seeking his first

Premier League goal since last March.

That is a terrible ball from Bardsley, an absolute gift for Shane

Long. Brown with the challenge, he has caught him! Is it denying a

goal-scoring opportunity? Yes, says Mike Jones. A calamitous ball by

Bardsley put his team under incredible problems, and suddenly,

Brown was faced with Shane Long, and he brought him down, and he has seen

a red card. In reality, I do not think the referee had any

alternative. Huddlestone will take the resulting free kick. And Mannone

manages to hold onto the rebound! He stopped the free kick from

Huddlestone first of all. You would imagine that Hull will dominate

possession now. But Sunderland will make it as awkward as possible.

Excellent save from Mannone, to deny Livermore. Lovely touch, which set

up Livermore, and a fabulous stop from Mannone, who is emerging as a

regular hero. Livermore, and this time it is turned in! And Shane Long

gets a little touch, just in front of the goalkeeper, and scores his

second goal in successive weeks. Steve Bruce conceals his emotions,

but his side, which has a one-man advantage, now has a goal AdVantage.

The predatory instincts which he acquired from West Brom, he now sees

for himself for a second week running, as he turns it in, beyond

the despairing Mannone. Rosenior keeps it in play, and

Jelavic with the header! Clawed away by Mannone. The flag was up for

offside, but the goal would have stood, had Jelavic got it beyond

Mannone. Where was the marking? Off the inside of the post!

Brilliant effort from Long. He has it within him not just to score

predatory goals, as he did today, but also to hit it from range.

Vergini up towards Bardsley. Johnson's volley! Well, it was on

target, but the positioning of steam -- the position of Steve Harper was

perfect. Meyler tries to find Jelavic, and he

succeeds, but Jelavic has put it wide. That is how it has been going

for him, without a Premier League goal since March of last year. This

is his first return since he was sacked here at the Stadium of Light.

Hull City's only Premier League away win this season was at St James'

Park. They quite like playing in the north-east. Jelavic! His first

Premier League goal in almost a year, and surely now, the points

belonged to Hull. He has waited an awful long time, Nikica Jelavic,

hence the delight. The shot from Figueroa just popped up off the

heels of the defender, and invited Jelavic to head it yawned the

despairing dive of Mannone. A little unfortunate for Sunderland that it

popped up, perhaps. Jelavic was definitely on side.

Surely, Hull have their second away win of the campaign.

It is not often you come away to a Premier League club and have total

domination, even when you are playing against ten men. We posed

them problems all afternoon. In the last 15-20 minutes, if our pass

selection had been right, we might have got a couple more. To get the

goal last week was a good start. To get another one today, I am

delighted. It is a good start to the end of the season for us. We have

still got a lot of hard work to do. We are in probably the best

situation this season, and everything was looking bright, and

you go into the game with a possible at the of winning it, and after five

minutes, the sending-off, and the whole game changes. We had to

reorganise. It was a difficult afternoon, we need to accept that,

there is nothing to analyse. We will be the judge of that! A combined

total of ?13 million I think is very good business here. It was a poor

backpass. But the pace of Long gets him away from Brown. And this was

great skill. Very unlucky to hit the inside and come back out. And they

worked well together as accommodation. This time Jelavic

should have hit the target. This was a lucky deflection, but very good

header. But I think Steve Bruce has had a great season, and that is very

good business, on those two. And a terrific win for West Ham, Didi?

Yes, Kevin Nolan got himself sent off twice and missed vital games

against Liverpool and Fulham, but today, he changed the game and

decided a game with his goal, as he did last week. Great imagination and

innovation by Kevin Nolan. And the second one, this is what he is all

about, hard work, desire and finishing. He closes Delph down, and

he repays the faith shown in him by the manager. We are out of time.

Thank you very much, but before we leave you, let's have a look at the

table. Chelsea are looking down on the rest. Liverpool keep up their

title challenge, in fourth. At the bottom, Fulham stay at the foot of

the table. They play Manchester United on Sunday. West Brom drop

into the bottom three. A quick look at the morning papers. Arsene Wenger

holds his hands up after Arsenal were thrashed by Liverpool.

In the Daily Express, an airborne Martin Skrtel. So, one point from

six for Manchester City. All our pundits say Arsenal cannot win it.

Jose Mourinho is settling for third spot, and Brendan Rodgers is

settling for fourth. Well, someone has got to win it, surely! Goodbye.