Zimpapers Logo

It really did go in! Samuel Eto’o celebrates with his team-mates after just his fifth goal in Chelsea colours

CHELSEA heaped more Christmas misery on Liverpool with a 2-1 victory at Stamford Bridge and Olivier Giroud ended a seven-game scoring drought to help Arsenal win 1-0 at Newcastle United and return to the top of the Premier League yesterday.
Everton moved back into the top four with a 2-1 win over Southampton.
Chelsea fell behind to a goal from Martin Skrtel after four minutes, but rallied with first-half strikes from Eden Hazard and Samuel Eto’o to inflict a second defeat in four days on Liverpool, who lost to Manchester City on Thursday.

Arsenal’s France striker Giroud, who had not scored in all competitions since November 23, got the faintest of touches to glance a Theo Walcott free kick into the net midway through the second half.

Arsenal top the table with 42 points from 19 games, one clear of Manchester City with Chelsea a point further adrift in third.
Liverpool, who topped the table on Christmas Day, dropped to fifth, a point behind local rivals Everton who moved fourth with 37 points thanks to a second-half winner from Romelu Lukaku.

The Belgian, who had not scored for Everton in five games, struck three minutes after Gaston Ramirez cancelled out Seamus Coleman’s early opener.

A Roberto Soldado penalty and goals from Mousa Dembele and Aaron Lennon lifted Tottenham go seventh on 34 points.
In another match played last night, Tottenham moved three points off the top four in the league with a comfortable victory over Stoke. Spurs went ahead when Roberto Soldado scored a penalty after Ryan Shawcross handled Emmanuel Adebayor’s volley. Soldado had a tame 10-yard shot saved before Mousa Dembele added a second when he rifled in a 20-yard shot.

Stoke rarely threatened and Aaron Lennon’s angled strike across goal sealed Tottenham’s first home league win in five outings.
The victory also provided Spurs head coach Tim Sherwood with his first win since taking over as permanent manager as his side rose to seventh in the top-flight and level on points with sixth-placed Manchester United, who they visit on New Year’s Day.

Sherwood has been keen to implement a more attacking style of play since he replaced Andre Villas-Boas and his team certainly put that into practice as they won at White Hart Lane for the first time since 27 October.

Tottenham were helped by an obliging Stoke, who have the joint-worst away record in the Premier League, having accumulated just five points on their travels.

The Potters had set themselves up to frustrate Spurs but did give the home side an early scare when striker Jon Walters ran on to a long ball and went down following a challenge by covering left-back Ezekiel Fryers. Referee Kevin Friend did not entertain the half-hearted penalty appeals from the visitors, who then had to withstand increasing pressure from Spurs.

The home side created plenty of chances and Adebayor had a clear sight of goal when he latched on to a Lennon pull-back only to miscue his eight-yard shot. The ball found Christian Eriksen, whose point-blank effort was saved by keeper Thomas Sorensen.

Paulinho was back for Tottenham after suspension and he blended power with panache in midfield – the Brazilian producing an audacious looped backheel pass which Soldado controlled before shooting wide across goal.

Stoke were doing well to keep the game goalless, although they again threatened when winger Oussama Assaidi cut into the Spurs area from the right but, just as he was about to shoot, he had the ball stolen away from him by a crucial tackle by Michael Dawson. However, the home side’s efforts were eventually rewarded when Soldado rolled in the opener from the penalty spot after Adebayor controlled a cross on his chest and had his volley blocked by the arms of Shawcross. Four of the Spaniard’s five top-flight goals this season have come from the spot, and he should have added to his tally when he was found by a Lennon pass only to shoot straight at Sorensen from close range.

However, Dembele helped consolidate Tottenham’s lead when he sidestepped to the left and powered a low 20-yard shot into the bottom corner.

Lennon impressively controlled at the far post before applying an emphatic finish for Tottenham’s third and the home side could have had more, with Erik Lamela having a late shot turned wide by Shawcross.
Results: Everton 2 – 1 Southampton; Newcastle United 0 – 1 Arsenal; Chelsea 2 – 1 Liverpool; Tottenham Hotspur 3 – 0 Stoke City.-Reuters/BBC Sport