29/01/2014 Match of the Day

good evening. That Premier League has returned with a vengeance. All

20 teams has been in action. Controversy, goals and a stunning

debut. We have the company of Alan Hansen and Martin Keown. We start

with a game that finished less than an hour ago. Tottenham host a

Manchester City side who knew a victory would take them to the top

of the table. Guy Mowbray was at White Hart Lane.

It is only two months that Manchester City knocked Spurs 46. --

for sex. One change since the game at Swansea.

Navas presented from finding the Zabaleta. Aguero found a shooting

chance. Denied by the woodwork. Vintage Aguero. City have already

started to swarm all over Spurs. Sergio Aguero has scored six goals

in four games since returning from a month out with a calf injury. That

was a classic example of what we are so used to seeing from the

Argentinian. Scored in seven games in a row either side of his break

through injury. Manuel Pellegrini will be, even six minutes in, a lot

more content the start his team made tonight than they did against

Watford at the weekend. Aguero has turned it in! What a cute

finish that is. Stunning awareness. The goalkeeper was, the defenders

were and where the goal is. His 50th merely goal. He has brought the

total up in 51 games. Only a few players and for him quicker to the

half-century. Sergio Aguero has done it so impressively. Scored for the

aid of a game in a row in all competitions. Tim Sherwood has been

a very happy head coach for most of The Games so far. That smile has

gone for the moment. Aguero! Great save I Lloris.

Stunning stop. Strong hands, quick reactions. Aguero prevented from

making it two goals in five or six minutes.

Hoisted behind by Dawson. It was close to Silva, it was creeping

towards Dzeko. Off the line by Rose. Aguero! That would have taken the

net off. Manchester City are putting on a real show here again.

They are furious with the free kick Given against them just outside the

box. Rose went down cheaply, that is for sure. He is in between the two.

Very soft. It has been turned down but the flag is up. It is not going

to count. A reprieve for Manchester City. Even had that gone straight in

with no touch from Dawson, it would have been ruled out because Adebayor

was offside. He went for the ball so he was definitely active. Aguero did

not get to that one. He is hobbling a little bit. Manuel Pellegrini has

seen that. I wonder if it is his calf again. The signs are not good.

Aguero off. Goal-scorer gone. Rose goes sliding in and the flag is

waived by the assistant referee, it is a penalty to Manchester City. A

problem for Danny Rose also. Djeko was about to test Lloris. He is at

full stretch, it is an awkward angle. He gets to the ball. Was it

the angle of the challenge the man with the flag objected to. It is a

red card for Rose. Yaya Toure will try and keep his cool and get on

with the task and doubling up city's lead. He makes it look easy.

Most compo those man inside White Hart Lane. -- most composed.

Off the line! Now it is in. Dzeko scores. Spurs could not get it away

and now Manchester City are running away with it. Just three minutes in

between goals number two and three. Goals that have done any signs of a

challenge for Tim Sherwood's Tottenham. Eriksen. Lennon. Lennon

is happy to settle for the corner. Capoue has put it in. Spurs have a

goal back. The ten men have got some fight left in them. Capoue with his

first Tottenham goal. Zabaleta is claiming he was pushed. He seemed to

just stumble. He has scored. His first goal in the

Premier League, Java ticker. It is the cue for a number of the home

fans to head for the exits early. Navas once more.

That was off Naughton for the corner. Kompany has put it in. Fell

down at his feet. A goal for the captain. Fifth goal for Manchester

City. Ripping Spurs apart again. It is not easy to win away against

Tottenham. But I think the team played really well today. The first

half we scored just one goal but we deserved more. In the second half we

continued the same way. After the penalty, it was more difficult for

them. But from the beginning we were the team that played in the best

way. It was a last-ditch tackle from Danny, he had to come in like that

to have any chance of reaching the ball. Which he did. It is

unfortunate it has gone against us today. But even before the red card,

it was difficult. This team is the best team on the planet, certainly

in the Premier League. It is 30 same Manchester City have had the better

of Spurs this season? They have gone away from home against a team who

have taken 16 points out of 18 in the Premier League. They just

dismiss them. In the first half an hour they could have got five. The

fluency, passing and movement. It was as Merrick. Tottenham were poor

from the off, but you cannot take anything away from Manchester City.

The best player on the pitch was Vincent Kompany. Decisions? Could it

have changed things? Big decision at 1-0. That was the world record for

handball. I don't think that was a free kick. Adebayor offside will

stop the Danny Rose sanding off, he gets wrong. -- sending-off. The

referee is a long way off. The assistant flagged. That was the big

game changer? It is still one - rack -- it was still 1-0 and Tottenham

were still in it. But Manchester City with the deserved winners. It

was Spurs' first league defeat under Tim Sherwood. A little naive? The

rhetoric this week coming from the Tottenham camp, the midfield players

don't like them. They played Ben celeb. They were playing possibly

the best team in the world. They never protected the back four, never

closed in quickly and they never got near anybody. The big thing is for

me, as the ball is flying around the goals, they are ending up on the

edge of the box. This is Aguero, hits the post. He should have

scored. It is too easy. They are in positions, but not getting close to

anything. Again they tend up on the edge of the box. Dzeko comes inside.

No protection, no closing down. They don't know where they are. This is a

goal again. It is so easy for Manchester City. Great finish? You

are up against great players who are playing out of their skin. But you

could see what was going wrong here. They bring Capoue on in the second

half and he did not do much better. That is the Danny Rose sending-off.

I think they definitely got the attack ticks wrong. If you are

playing Manchester someone who is defensive minded. Pellegrini has

transformed them into a free flying, goal-scoring machine. Unbelievable.

He's got the balance perfectly well with the team. Which Tottenham

haven't got yet. Everybody now wants to play this free-flowing football.

Man City do it better than anyone else. Whether it's enough to win the

league, we will have to see what happens. I feel now this is an

emphatic win. It sends out a big message for their intentions. You

say "possibly the best team in the world"? Would you like to reiterate?

On that form, I think going forward, they're as good as anybody. OK. To a

West Midlands derby, featuring two out of form, low, mid-table sides

looking anxiously over their shoulders. Aston Villa had won just

one of their previous eight games. West Brom only one in 12. Simon

Brotherton watched this one. Agbonlahor misses the match with a

foot injury. That gives Bacuna a new role in behind the attack. His

right-back spot is taken by Matthew Lowton. Nicolas Anelka starts for

West Bromich Albion, after appealing the FA charges against him for the

quenelle gesture. It's the worst home record in the

Premier League, Villa, with just eight points in front of their own

fans so far this season, against West Brom, who have only managed one

win on the road, albeit at Old Trafford over Manchester United.

Oh, what a strike! It's an absolutely brilliant goal, from

Chris Brunt, with just three minutes played, a stunning start for West

Bromich Albion in the derby against Villa. Villa 0, Albion 1.

The pass initially from Ridgewell. A little flick into the air. The nudge

down and then perfectly placed into the far corner by Chris Brunt.

Jonathan De Guzman -- Brad Guzman is beaten at the Holte End.

In terms of the general play at the moment, as well as the fact they've

got that goal. Oh, it's been turned in. It's an own

goal. West Brom lead by 2-0, with just over eight minutes played. Look

at this, as the ball is played in, it's picked up by Morrison. In the

end it's off the boot of Fabian Delph. That will go down as an own

goal and a disastrous start to the match for Aston Villa.

The playing surface is superb here, when you consider how much it's been

raining. It hasn't stopped all day. Offside.

A win at a venue like this, in your first away match would be a great

way to ingratiate yourself with the supporters of your new club.

Villa are back in the game! Three goals inside the first 12 minutes of

the match. Weimann there just looks as if he might have been offside as

the ball was knocked on. No, it came off an Albion player,

which meant the flag stayed down. That's better from the home team. It

was a decent effort as well. Weimann, scorer of the first, almost

provider of the second. Great chance and it's in! Leandro

Bacuna was there. It's 2-2. We've only played for 24 minutes.

Lowton roll it's into the centre. Again, not an offside. Bacuna, well,

he made a hash of it. But somehow it just spun up into the air and over

the line. Aston Villa are level. West Brom racing to a 2-0 lead only

to find it disappear and slip through their fingers.

Oh, it's an absolute screamer! What a pile driver from Fabian Delph.

From two goals down, Villa now 3-2 up. It's an excellent flick on from

Benteke. He doesn't score many, but by the looks of it, when he does

find the net, they're pretty decent. Delph, who scored an own goal

earlier in the match, has now more than made amends at the other.

Benteke can't quite turn it home Villa had only managed eight goals

at home all season before tonight. They've got three in 37 minutes

here. Mulumbu - it's 3-3!

Beautifully-worked goal for West Brom. Mulumbu able to slide it home.

An incredible first half. Good passing move from West Bromich

Albion. It's with Victor Anichebe here. Mulumbu kept just moving

forward. He just ghosted in past the two defenders. The ball smacks the

back of the net. Villa with just two home wins all

season. Foul by Lowton. Brunt thought he

should have had a free kick for the first challenge. Anichebe starting

in the league for only the sixth time this season.

Oh, that was a great chance there for Diego Lugano. He crept in at the

far post, completely unmarked. Lugano, who scored in the last

match, it was the equaliser against Everton and a golden chance to put

West Brom ahead there. Benteke goes down under pressure.

Villa have a penalty. Lugano penalised by the referee. He

clearly had his arms around the back of Benteke's neck, as the ball comes

in. 4-3! Cool, calm and decisive,

Benteke scores for the third match in a row. Aston Villa lead again.

Lugano was adjudged to have fouled Benteke at the other end of the

field, joining the attack here. Going down inside the penalty area.

He's going to get booked for that. ( Number 14 is the player to watch on

the edge of the penalty air why. He tries to get away from Clarke.

This match may not be a defensive master class by any stretch, but you

cannot take your eyes off it. He went down and a great view for

the referee. He is clearly caught. An evening which started so

wonderfully well for Pepe Mel and his new team, going to end in

frustration and disappointment. his new team, going to end in

frustration and The first goal from West Brom was a wonder strike. You

can't do nothing about that. It was a terrific strike. Take nothing away

from Chris Brunt. The second goal, disappointing, because we switched

off. Fabian tries to stop the cross. That can happen. The response after

that was incredible. To turn it around, the way we did, was a

fabulous effort. Incredible match, because score 3-0 away, and no

points, it's incredible for us. Seemed very unhappy about both

decisions. Has he spoken to you about it? Yes, but I spoke with

Diego. Now it's only the next match. What a great game, crazy game in

many ways, epitomised by the performance of Lugano there. Yeah, I

hope he plays like this against England in the summer for Uruguay. I

just feel here that he should be winning this ball. He flicks it on

instead for Weimann. They were comfortable at this point. Gets them

back into the game here at 2-1. Go and win it. Benteke is a problem. Of

course he flicks it on. Fantastic finish, you have to say. Graet goals

in this match. -- great goals in this match. That put them back in

it. You're never going to get a better chance than that as a centre

half. How he misses that, it's unbelievable. Then he gives a

penalty away, which is just plain stupid. You can see he's all over

Benteke. Really, for me, he's clutching at straws there. Yes, I

believe, maybe he is being fouled, but he's never going to get anywhere

near the ball. You can't even see it in shop there. A bit more Luganist

than Lugano there. Yes. The manager is right, he has to put that to one

side. Villa came back, though. They were struggling, played good stuff

to come back. I think they scored a third of their home goals this

season in that game. They have been half decent on the road and they

took a point off Liverpool the last game. Their home form has been poor.

You've got to give the home supporters something to shout about.

I think they've won two home games all season. There's nothing better

than going 2-0 down, coming back and showing grit and determination and

character and scoring four goals. Most importantly, that gives the

supporters a lift, the manager a lift, but ultimately the players a

lift. Also, it was a great game to watch. There were a couple of

phenomenal goals. Villa fans wouldn't appreciate the first goal.

I think Paul Lambert talked about it. It is such a great finish. This

is the opening goal. He's pinged it. I think the one from Delph is even

better. This is only his second Premier League goal. The first one

was against Southampton. It was stunning. But not as good as this.

This is a thunder bolt. The touch... It's the skill as much as the

strike. Phenomenal hit, great hit. Two great goals. I think Benteke

showed a bit more of going direct now Villa. That's their key move,

into Benteke. Delph had a shocking injury as a young player. He's got

back. He looks one of their best players. He's had a really good

season. We've got a London derby next. Chelsea were looking for a

Essexth straight league -- sixth straight league win. Their opponents

were third from bottom. 20-macaro Jose Mourinho was happy to

let Mata go to Manchester United in the knowledge he could hold his new

Chelsea around the boy from Brazil. Andy Carroll starts for the first

time this season. It the bar. Terrific match winner

against Stoke in the cup at the weekend. That would have been his

10th of the campaign. The referee is giving a free kick against K Hill.

The referee has Given offside. A good save by Petr Cech. That was a

real tumble. Three in the middle. Shot was blocked and eventually

away. Two minutes to go at the end of the first half will stop can

Chelsea finally get the breakthrough? Willian taking it.

Terry! The keeper saves with his feet. Terry takes a tumble.

Collins' shirt seems to have been ripped.

Good reactions by the West Ham United goalkeeper. Very good

goalkeeping. Andy Carroll! What a huge moment

that was for the club and the player. It has come and gone.

Chelsea can break from that. Matthew Taylor is booked. Andy Carroll will

note that was a smash and grab moment. Petr Cech should have done

better than that. Demba Ba off the post. Came so close

to winning it. And yet they come again. Hazard! The goalkeeper

gathered it at the second time of asking. Lovely player when he is in

full flight, Hazard. They have had over 20 efforts. Now! What has

happened here? Eto'o has played the ball into the back of the net and

the referee has blown. He blew very early. Eto'o cannot believe it. The

goalkeeper but the ball on the ground, turned away. Eto'o ran up

and put the ball into the back of the net but the referee had already

Given the free kick. Lampard! It is wide, right at the death. West Ham

have hung on and Chelsea are denied. Controversy at the end and that will

be the big talking point. They defended with their heart and I

respect that. But it is not the type of match we can spell -- sell the

Barclays Premier League very expensive around the world. It does

not matter how, but they took the point. I don't want to criticise, my

team did everything possible. How can you play like this in a game of

football? We are in relegation, we cannot come here and play a game

like Manchester United did. Does he want us to play like Manchester

United them beat us 3-0? I am not that foolish. What we lacked in

quality, we made up for in organisation and determination.

Right at the end, did you think it had gone pear shaped because Eto'o

but the ball in the back of the net? It is difficult. The goalkeeper does

not speak a huge amount of English and probably got his wires crossed.

Maybe the referee could have Given the goal but he didn't. He took the

decision early he was going to blow and he stayed strong unfortunately

it wasn't a goal. It was an interesting incident. Worth looking

at before we talk about the game itself. What did you make of it?

I think he does point to a free kick. I am not sure it is a free

kick, by the way. He is pointing in his direction. Clearly, he must say

something to the goalkeeper. There is no way he will put the ball down

there to take a free kick. Eto'o, how cute is he. He thinks he sees an

opportunity and puts it in the back of the net. He is arguing he did not

see the free kick. It looks like he has blown.

Chelsea, 39 shot they had at goal. But they failed to score. Was it

down to Chelsea's profit city in front of goal but is it the

resilience of West Ham? There were enough chances. West Ham, resolute

defending. It was all there today. O'Brien early on, gets stuck in.

Andy Carroll back the set pieces. It was right in front of that defence

where you saw block after block. I thought Mark Noble was a different

class. Look this the commitment. Collins at the back as well. Lampard

coming off the bench, you thought he might have rescued Chelsea. But they

just got people in the way at all times. Determination, belief,

desire, will to win. They are playing big-time for Sam Allardyce.

It was a great point for West Ham. What does Jose Mourinho expect? He

went to Old Trafford and the emirates and played exactly the same

way. Do you think they would be open and expansive and having a go? Sam

Allardyce, it is a lifeline. Players were playing for him.

were Chelsea's nest game takes them to

Manchester City. As a result Match Of The Day 2 has been delayed 24

hours. We still uphold some traditions, Saturday's Match Of The

Day will kick off at 10:30pm on BBC One. Football focus and final score

will be in their usual slots on Saturday. BBC Sport will be on the

transfer trail as the deadline clock ticks by. You can get the latest

news and features on the BBC football app. Child deadline day

unfolds with sports day on the BBC Sport website. There is Radio five

Live and catch a special football focus, transfer deadline day in the

evening to round everything up. Now I meeting of two of the bottom five.

Sunderland have only lost once in their last seven games.

Adam Johnson's recent form has propelled them to the top of

Sunderland's top scoring charts. He is one of nine changes to the 11

that big Kidderminster in the cup on Saturday. He may have only just

completed his move from Cardiff, but Peter Adam Wookey is one of four

changes. No Premier League team has one fewer games at home than

Sunderland and note Premier League team has one fewer games away and

Stoke. That was well saved. I get the

impression Larsson was not shaping to shoot. We believe Gus Poyet is

suffering a little bit. There is an air of belief about Sunderland. No

more than they deserve and no surprise it is Adam Johnson. Seven

goals in a row he has either scored or assisted. 17 minutes of

Sunderland domination. The shot was parried by the goalkeeper. He could

not hold on to it. Adam Johnson put it into the unguarded goal. As mere

bag of which could not hang onto. Desperation as he tried to get to

the second ball. Crouch and merged with the ball and

the goalkeeper made a terrific stop. He atone for his Arab because the

ball popped out of his grasp. That is a bowel. Steven Nzonzi

getting a yellow card. -- foul. Add with a mishit but it turned into

a cross. Shawcross looks up at the heavens and wonders how he never

managed to put Stoke level. And it was Vito Mannone. Shawcross was

onside but he put it too close to the goalkeeper. Vito Mannone tries

to send Jozy Altidore Paul Wood. That is a foul. Steven Nzonzi is in

trouble because he was booked in the first half. Was it a yellow card

offence or a red card offence? It makes no difference because Stephen

ends on the was booked in the first half and he goes anyway. Mark Hughes

is appalled and Stoke are down to ten men. But save! The rebound is

cannoned by Larsson against the legs of Wilson. Al Siddall stopped. What

does Mark Hughes do now? He knows he cannot afford to lose this match

because Sunderland will just be a point behind them and they will be

sent right into the relegation. It's just beyond the post.

I think Begovic got a touch to that. Larsson' shot was arrowing towards

the corner. Begovic hurled himself at it and just nudge today beyond

the post. -- nudged it beyond the post.

Saved. Super chance for Odemwingie to make a hero of himself in his

first match for Stoke. But the keeper got to the ball. Fabulous

play from Stoke, it really S -- is.

The header from Shawcross onto the top of the bar. It was helped over,

no, he couldn't get a touch. Stoke City have done everything but

equalise. Mark Hughes will know his side have given everything they

possibly can. Off the top of the bar. Once again, Stoke's endeavours

go unrewarded. We was desperate to get out of the bottom three as soon

as we can to give hope and belief around the club. We managed to do

that today. Thankfully, for us, we got a pont and long may it continue

that we keep picking up points. I saw the effort and desire to stay in

the game and get back on level terms. That was outstanding.

Unfortunately, at the moment, we're getting decision that's are going

against us. We're disappointed once again by the referee's decision. We

feel that the lad's gone down too easily. It's difficult for referees.

He's bought it. It's very harsh. What we ask every time we play is

just let's have an even, level playing field for both teams.

Whoever is the best team on the day -- on the day, allow them to win.

Tonight was probably the biggest game of the season, with who we were

playing. Sucked everyone right in again. I think we are going from

strength to strength now. It was a competitive game. Not always pretty,

but pretty darn important for Sunderland. Well, I mean, you know,

I think we go back to October when Poyet had just taken over and they

were seven points adrift. The consensus was dead and buried. He's

done a magnificent job. Last seven Sunderland goal Johnson has scored

five and two assists. He's always had ability. It was just trying to

get the best out of the player. Poyet has managed that more than

adequately. Mark Hughes by contrast, I mean, they're falling towards that

relegation zone. He thought they played really well. I've watched

them for the last three, four matches, they haven't been bad.

Every game has been tight. To be fair, the vast majority of the

decisions in the last three or four matches have gone against them. They

node a bit of luck from -- they need a bit of luck from somewhere. Mark

Hughes is only standing up for his team. They've had difficult calls

from referees recently. It was a good response. Is it Manchester

United at the weekend? Yeah. He knows he's got to be in good shape

for that one. It is starting to get tough for them. I believe that Stoke

have got enough to perhaps get out of this. OK to last night's games

and two of the Premier League's top six met in an eagerly anticipated

Merseyside derby at Anfield. That's watched by Steve Wilson.

Steven Gerrard is the last survivor that Everton won on this ground in

1999. This may be the biggest derby with both clubs eyeing the same

Champions League goal and the reverse fixture, 3-3 at Goodison

Park, was arguably the game of the season so far. Leighton Baines'

signature on a four-year deal started Everton on a high.

Good save by him Howard. Instinctive stuff from Mario Suarez. -- Luis

Suarez. He didn't need an invitation to hit this.

an If he could add finishing to his game, Stirling could get 15 a

season. Sometimes he doesn't quite convince in front of goal.

There were three or four blue shirts in front of him and no way through.

He's had something thrown at him, I think. He's just given it to the

referee. In comes the corner kick, it's in!

Liverpool in front and it's Steven Gerrard. 21 minutes, Gerrard

straight from the corner. 1-0 Liverpool. They'll be terribly

disappointed to concede from the corner, Everton. Gerrard got his

head on it. He diverted that power towards the Everton goal. Nothing

McCarthy could do about it. It's Liverpool's old favourite, Steven

Gerrard. It's double jeopardy for Everton. Not only are they behind,

but Lukaku has injured his ankle. It doesn't look good for him.

Sturridge, 2-0! Just always seems to get a goal, Daniel sturge and --

Daniel Sturridge, and he puts Liverpool two goals in front. Lovely

weight on the pass from Coutinhoment -- Coutinho. Sturridge tucks in to

make it two. It's his 18th game of the season. He's scored in 14 of

those 18 games. That's his 15th of the season.

Liverpool have a cushion. Turei is onside. Sturridge over

Howard and in for three! Two goals in the space of three

minutes. And Liverpool lead Everton by three. He's clearly onside. It's

a really good decision. It looked tight, but it wasn't really. He was

well onside. His finish is fantastic. Luis Suarez has scored

some extraordinary goals this season, and that's up there from

Sturridge. He found some room where there

shouldn't have been any. McCarthy has gone down for Everton.

They are playing on. Suarez nicks it away from Jagielka.

Suarez, 4-0 Liverpool! Jagielka's mistake. It's one from which he

couldn't recover. An evening to forget for Evertonians and Jagielka

here. Half the length of the pitch, Luis Suarez. Just ahead of the

Everton defender and did what you would expect him to do - tucks home

his 23rd goal of the season. That equals his total for the whole of

last season's campaign. Tim Howard comes out and that's a

penalty! Oh, it's getting worse by the minute for Everton. Howard doing

everything he could. I think, not to make contact, but he made the

contact. Daniel Sturridge will take the penalty.

Gerrard gave him the ball, gave him the responsibility and he misses.

There's been one hat-trick in this fixture since 1935 at Anfield. That

was Steven Gerrard two years ago. Gerrard gave Sturridge the chance to

add his name to that very short list, and he missed it.

Sturridge tried to do too much. Wasted. Suarez is furious. Just

overegged it here. He made scoring in the first half look easy. A

brilliant win for us and a big game and a derby game. So to score four

goals and arguably we could have had two or three more with the right

final pass and the penalty miss, but overall, I'm delighted for the

players because they work very, very hard. Too many things that weren't

as they can be, the circumstances are clear. We have many players

coming back, probably rushed back too early. We've had lack of match

fitness. That cost us the way that we normally perform. That's

something that we need to make sure they recover. We need to bounce

straight back on Saturday and make sure that we perform in the manner

we did until today. Merseyside derbies are always

significant games. But this one perhaps more than most. This is the

biggest game in 30 years because of the Champions League and fourth

place. The biggest thing in a Merseyside derby for the players to

adjust to the pace of the game. Liverpool did it. Everton didn't. In

the first half Liverpool, with Gerrard leading by example, just got

into them quick and never let them settle. Every time Everton attacked,

I thought Liverpool were going to score much the tactics from Brendan

Rogers were spot on. You mention the tactics, counteracting in many ways.

Everton's tactics have been so successful. I think you're a fan of

the two full full backs. Long as you have someone else. Yeah, you need

the insurance. The old days, if a fullback on the left side bombed

forward, the fullback on the other side would tuck in. But Everton have

done well with the two full backs bombing forward. This is Coleman

against Manchester United, six minutes to go in the match, This is

when they score. The two of them are in the box here. It's unheard of.

It's eventually in the back of the net. Against Arsenal they had masses

of possession. Two full backs again, they're running at will. Again, we

haven't got time, we could go back, but sooner or later this will come

unstuck. Last night it did. Stones should never, ever go forward

because of the space. Anybody can see the space. If you have Suarez

and Sturridge in your side, you have to have masses of insurance. The

space is there, Suarez picks up. Sturridge makes the run. Jagielka

can't get across. 2-0 and the game is effectively over. It was a

massive defeat for Everton. It's finding that balance. The modern

day, you could say Everton lost it trying to win it, the way they're

trying to attack with the full backs. We worked with Arsene Wenger,

the philosophy was to attack. You have two managers here who wanted to

play attacking football. I would look at Barry giving the ball away,

Stones is told to get forward. His manager sending him forward the

whole match. If they don't lose the ball, they build attack from there.

You have to applaud the way they try to play. But the balance was not

quite right but it was with Liverpool with Gerrard in front,

they were magnificent. You should never applaud anybody just beaten

4-0 when it could have been seven. But it's worked for them so far this

season. They've been a standout side. Fourth place is going to be

Liverpool's probably. Sooner or later was going to go wrong and it

went wrong last night. Arsenal went into the FA Cup break at the top of

the table. Their return to league action last night saw them face a

stern test away to Southampton. Martin Fisher was at St Mary's.

The latest youngster to emerge from Southampton's impressive production

line, 18-year-old Sam Gallagher makes his full Premier League debut.

He came off the bench to score against Yeovil here in the cup on

Saturday. Arteta is back to captain Arsenal.

Jack Wilshere ruled out with an injury.

Adam Lallana was still bad. The penalty area is very congested.

Squeezes the cross over. Arteta in the way. Gallagher! Great save by

the goalkeeper. What a dream introduction this would have been on

his fault and merely their beautiful. Arsenal have made a rocky

start. Southampton take the lead. What a

terrific ball in. Joe is a font gets the better of his marker. Fonte,

with his first goal since August at Southampton in front. What a mess by

Sam Gallagher. What an opportunity for the 18-year-old. It ricocheted

off a Southampton player. This looked as though it would be a tough

test. Southampton have looked dangerous throughout. Free kick to

Arsenal. Up went Mertesacker. Arsenal's first

corner and we are in the 44th minute. Terrific save. Koscielny

denied. It is in. Sign your! Two minutes

into the second half, Arsenal are level. Sagna does ever so well to

keep it alive. Look at that lovely backheel touch from Giroud. We have

a real game on our hands now. Arsenal have two players over on the

right hand side. Lots of Ozil. It is in! Cazorla. The game has been

turned on its head. Those ill's pass back, just moved away from the

goalkeeper. He could not get across in time. Cazorla could not have

placed it any better. What did he say at half-time? Arsenal fans are

chanting, " we are top of the league". But hang on a minute, 2-2!

Adam Lallana, the Southampton captain at the superb work from his

fellow international, Rodriguez. Lovely ball across and Adam Lallana

sweeps home his seventh of the campaign. A regular scorer here.

Deflected and against the bar. The goalkeeper was a spectator. It was a

terrific run from Ozil. That was a robust challenge by

Flamini. He is in trouble. Flamini sent off. He led with both feet.

Were both feet off the ground as he made contact? The referee had a

perfect view of the incident. Flamini is sent off. If there is to

be a winner at the moment you would sends it is the home side. Great

save by the goalkeeper. Says Neil keeps Southampton out. --

Shenzhen Eto'o. TRANSLATION: I am disappointed because the team

deserved three points today. We made a couple of mistakes that got

Arsenal back into the game. You have to give credit to Southampton, they

played very well. You have to give credit to my team who responded in

the second half. We have shown a lot of character again tonight. It was

great to get the goal and we looked like the only team that looked like

scoring. On the whole, disappointing we did not get the three points.

Southampton played really well. Like a whirlwind in that first half. I

don't know what Arsene Wenger said at half-time but they came out a

different team. Suddenly they went in front and then they will be

unhappy with the way they conceded. Flamini was sent off and Mrs four

games. Cazorla has been magnificent. Jack Wilshere is out. You wonder if

this will catch up with Arsenal. Have you ever seen Arsene Wenger

having a rant? No, never lost it in front of the players. He waits until

the Monday to address the players. I don't think this is an Arsenal team

looking over their shoulder, I think they are enjoying being at the top,

until tonight. A few cracks? They have a lot of hard games coming up.

They play Liverpool a week on Saturday. Manchester United coming

up. They have got themselves into a position where they can enjoy it. If

you have them in this position now, they would handle it. After some

well-documented difficulties, Manchester United were hoping then

you star signing could kick-start their seeds and against Cardiff City

last night. It also marked the return of legends past and present.

Manchester United's most expensive player in straight in the team. Mata

has the chance to link up with Robin van Persie. Ole Gunnar Solskjaer

will be looking to dampen their enthusiasm on his first return to

Manchester United. Second time! Less than six minutes

gone, Robin van Persie is back and back amongst the goals. Last year's

top scorer instantly back on the scoresheet. It started with Mata's

crossfield ball. Cardiff thought they had survived the first

onslaught. First the crossbar save them and then Marshall said then, it

was third time lucky. This is going to be a tough one to write the fairy

tale return. It is far from the perfect start.

Could not apply the all-important touch. It came from the vision of

Mata. Fantastic delivery. Evra, Young was on the move ahead of him.

Manchester United throw. Now I Manchester United corner.

Robin van Persie took over. Very close to his and Manchester

United's second. Beautifully worked from the short corner. Ryan Giggs

looked as though he wanted it. Five matches out with a groin injury.

Wayne Rooney is back in the squad tonight. That was just behind

Campbell. Evra, in the nick of time.

Ashley Young! Tremendous strike from Ashley Young. He has doubled

Manchester United's advantage. His second Premier League goal of the

season. It was a fine effort. Manchester United needed that.

Little drop of the shoulder, saw the opportunity and a really clean

strike into the bottom of the corner. Just before the hour mark. A

real piece of quality. Valencia in with a shooting

opportunity. What a save by Marshall to keep out the Ecuadorian

international. They look as though the chance had gone when he had

stepped inside. That is a fantastic fingertip save from Marshall.

Everybody told me Robin van Persie came up with the goods. So to get

him and Rooney on the pitch will be important and with the addition of

Mata will be important. We kept the ball really well. We never bottled

it, as it is said here. We kept possession but the last third, we

need to add speed and change the tempo. That will come. We have two

players to give us the little extra in the last third. It was very

exciting. It is unbelievable. I am happy with the team and the lads.

They have welcomed me. I am looking forward to play more and to help the

team. It was a real coup to sign him and all liars were on Mata. When you

are signing a calibre player he is going to be on the ball a lot.

Immediately you feel he is comfortable in his surroundings.

There is van Percie. They know the quality of the man. He is looking

forward. How often are you calling out for that in a Manchester United

midfield? He plays a long ball, 60 yards into space. This sets the goal

up. It is like a hand Renee going off suddenly. There is a spark about

the team. They are following in on it. Fantastic start. This is a

simple ball. Given himself time, has a look to see what is on. Ashley

Young at the far post. He just needed to pull of the past. We know

he has the technique. Here he is again, nice and simple. He is a

quality, Pedigree player. The crowd were lifted as well. Ashley Young

felt he was going to hit this. There is a spark about Manchester United.

Don't give him that kind of space because he will hurt you. He has

gone after the applause -- applause of the crowd. The big thing getting

Robin van Persie back but you put Mata into the equation! It is now

between Liverpool and Manchester United for fourth. They have spent a

lot of money, but he has proven it. Only six points behind of a top four

space. It could happen for them. Three games to show you from last

night. Palace versus Norwich but first a meeting between two sides,

Swansea against Fulham. Dan Burn made his debut last time

and it's the same team that started against the Gunners.

That was the right idea from the Fulham man, wrong execution.

Hangerland heads that ball over the bar.

It was straight at Tremmel. It's against the bar. Shelvey again.

Swansea's first chance of the match and it was so close to being the

first goal of the match. Just a fraction too high.

Swansea make the breakthrough and Jonjo Shelvey has got it.

Fulham most unfortunate here, as the ball is played in, Shelvey with the

shot, certainly on target. But it pings off Sidwell and then

Hangeland. Just pushed over by Stekelenburg.

Swansea search for a second. He will get the first yellow card.

That's the reason why. It's in! It's another deflection,

but choke yes Flores will be claiming this one. For the second

time this season, Maarten Stekelenburg is beaten by a Swansea

effort which took the final touch from a Fulham player.

It comes off Dimitar Berbatovment -- Dimitar Berbatov. It's not a good

night for them. Trz a massive win today. First of all, winning after

several games in the league. Secondly against a direct opponent.

They had 19 points. We had 21 H of course, when we play those direct

opponents now, which we have to in the next games as well, it's even

more important to get the points. I think the three points today were

massive. The first half we played a good game, we were well organised.

We didn't give anything away. We should have been 1-0 up. The second

half was disappointing from our thought. Swansea played well, moved

the ball better. They got the break with the goal that he got from

Shelvey with through a deflection it took, but it typifies the situation

we're in. Crystal Palace defender Dela ne y

won two romotions with Hull City. Jerome returns to the side. Hull

have their ?14 million strike force together for the first time.

Hull look to end a run of eight away games without a win.

Ease gone down. All eyes on the referee here. He gives a goal kick.

Shane Long can't believe it. You just sense he's thought about it for

a moment and may well have heard from his assistants. It's an awful

tangle. He's furious, isn't he?

It's 1-0 to Crystal Palace! Jason Puncheon has done it again.

15 minutes played, and the work down the right set it up. Puncheon needed

two opportunities. But he made no mistake with the second one.

A slightly fortunate break. A second chance to cross and a second chance

to have a sight of goal. Crystal Palace lead by 1-0.

The wind has caught hold of this one.

He should have hit the target surely and perhaps should have scored for

Hull City. It's good work from Jelavic.

He picked someone out but somehow it's gone wide.

A good challenge. He went in firmly there. He's caused McGreggor to come

a long way. That was late. It's a yellow card.

Oh, and a red card for the Hull City goalkeeper, McGregor. What drama in

stoppage time. Hull City's goalkeeper is sent off. He draws a

kick. It's an arm raised and then a kick out from him. One draws yellow,

the other brings straight red. We've seen again today, we've played a

team with a lot of quality. You know, we do that every week, we have

to play teams with real quality. We have 23 points. We need another 17.

It's going to be difficult. We know that. We're totally disappointed

that we haven't taken anything from the game because we didn't deserve

that. We deserved to win the match, the possession we've had. Our night

was summed up by the decisions we didn't get.

One Norwich change: Pilkington's first start in two months.

There's a place on the bench for 16-year-old striker Adam Armstrong.

Oh, off the post somehow! That was a real muddle.

Newcastle really unlucky. Remy tries to curl one. He hits the

post! Newcastle are on top in this match by a massive margin so far.

The post has saved Norwich not once, but twice, already.

He goes down, the referee waits and says no penalty.

He accelerates, there's the clip. No card for him.

Arfa has tumbled, edge of the box. Arfa is a real box of tricks.

It's Remy. And the wood work again. Three times the frame of the goal

has kept out Newcastle's moo raweding hordes.

-- marading hordes. Now the cross-bar saves Newcastle.

Now Remy being fouled. And Johnson and Remy square up. Remy goes in.

Now what did Chris toy and maybe his assistant see? A red card for Loic

Remy. Newcastle down to ten. Now what punishment for Johnson here.

It's red for him too. Both dismissed.

A good cross and somehow Krul makes the save. What a save it was, as

well. Tim Krul underused for so much of this game, when it matters most,

boy, does he deliver. How on earth have you not won that

game tonight? It begs belief. We were terrific. We pushed the Kabay

thing to one side. We set up differently with two players. They

terrorised Norwich in the first half an hour. We didn't work their

goalkeeper enough. That's a concern. We're up against a real good team

today. Certainly it is a concern. We'll just have to continue to keep

working as hard as we can. No goals there, big wins for Swansea and

Crystal Palace. The way they're going, they might qualify for the

Europa League. Similar to Sunderland, where Crystal Palace in

November, we thought they were gone. Now six points separating ten sides

at the bottom. It's going to be exceptionally exciting. , five clean

sheets from 11 games, have you to question the wisdom. He's never been

relegated. It doesn't look like he's going to be relegated now. The Great

Escape. Before we leave you, let's look at the league table:

Let's see what tomorrow morning's papers have to say. Manchester City

dominate the back pages. Catch us if you can, in the Daily Express. Next

to a picture of Manchester City celebrating players. The Times lead

on the latest injury concern for Sergio Aguero. The Mirror says

Arsenal are on the verge of signing Draxler for ?30 million.

Manchester City march to the top in emphatic style. Can anyone stand

firm against the sky blue battering ram? It's Chelsea next. Good luck

with that one, Jose. Good night.