Sunday, April 5, 2015

Burnley v Tottenham preview: Spurs look to keep top-four hopes alive

Tottenham travel to Turf Moor to face Burnley on Super Sunday hoping to keep their Premier League top-four hopes alive.
Spurs have won three of their last four games and have star striker Harry Kane back in action after the 21-year-old’s goalscoring debut for England during the international period. 
Opponents Burnley sit in the relegation zone with seven games remaining, and followed up their fine 1-0 win over Manchester City with a 2-0 defeat at Southampton.


  • BurnleyvsTottenham Hotspur

  • Burnley v Tottenham

  • April 5, 2015 
Tottenham beat Burnley 2-1 in the return Premier League fixture in December, and also saw off Sean Dyche's men in the FA Cup third round after a replay.
Team news
Burnley defender Stephen Ward should be back in contention for Sunday's clash after overcoming an ankle injury, while midfielder Matt Taylor, who has not featured since August, is also nearing a return after resuming training following his recovery from Achilles surgery
The Clarets have no fresh injury concerns following the international break but Dean Marney and Kevin Long (both cruciate ligament) remain on the long-term absentee list.
Spurs goalkeeper Hugo Lloris has been ruled out the trip to Turf Moor after failing to recover in time from the knee injury he picked up in their last match against Leicester City.
Meanwhile, striker Roberto Soldado may also be absent with a knee problem, although coach Mauricio Pochettino has confirmed that all his other players have returned fit from international duty.
Opta facts
The Clarets have scored just 14 goals in 15 Premier League home games this season.
Spurs have kept just one clean sheet in their last 13 Premier League away matches.
Burnley have only won six of their last 28 Premier League home matches (W6 D10 L12), but Spurs were one of their victims in a 4-2 win in May 2010.
Spurs won 2-1 in December against Burnley in the Premier League
Burnley have been losing at half-time in 14 of their 30 Premier League games this season; more often than any other team.
Harry Kane’s 19 Premier League goals this season have won Spurs 22 points – nine more than any other player in the PL has won for their side this season.
Merson's prediction
It’s another tough game to predict with both sides desperate for points at different ends of the table. Sean Dyche will have to find a way of stopping Harry Kane, who is on fire at the moment, and they will also have to cope with a confident Andros Townsend after his goal for England against Italy.
But as Burnley proved against Manchester City, they are no pushovers at home and this will be a difficult test for Spurs. It’s a hard game for both sides and I cannot separate them.
PAUL PREDICTS: 1-1 
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Sunderland v Newcastle preview: Toon looking for long-awaited win over rivals

Newcastle travel to Sunderland on Super Sunday looking for a first win in six games against their north-east rivals.
The Toon have lost their last four games against Sunderland, scoring just one goal, but both have installed new managers since they last played in December.
Sunderland ran out 1-0 winners at St James' Park that time, but both Alan Pardew and Gus Poyet have since departed.


  • SunderlandvsNewcastle United

  • S'land v Newcastle

  • April 5, 2015
Dick Advocaat's Sunderland are in severe relegation danger having not won since the end of January, while John Carver's Newcastle are stuck in mid-table and out of form, losing their last three.
Team news
Sunderland are without Wes Brown due to a knee injury, although they still hope to have the defender back before the end of the season.
Newcastle defender Massadio Haidara will not play again this season after undergoing surgery to remove a cyst from the knee which has forced him to sit out the last two games. He joins fellow defenders Steven Taylor (Achilles), Paul Dummett (knee) and midfielders Cheick Tiote (also knee) and Siem de Jong (collapsed lung) on the sidelines.
Midfielder Mehdi Abeid could be involved after recovering from a thigh problem, but winger Rolando Aarons (hamstring) will not be risked while Fabricio Coloccini and Papiss Cisse continue their respective suspensions.
Opta facts
Sunderland are unbeaten in their last six Premier League games against Newcastle United (W4 D2), winning the last four for the first time in their history.
Sunderland have won just two of their last 16 Premier League matches at the Stadium of Light (W2 D7 L7) and failed to score in four of their last five home matches.
Those nine goals conceded in the final five minutes of top-flight games in 2014-15 have cost Newcastle United eight points.
The two players with the most yellow cards in the Premier League this season could meet in this match – Lee Cattermole and Jack Colback (10 yellows each).
Merson's prediction
Sunderland ran out 1-0 winners in the reverse fixture in December
This is a really tight game. It’s a massive derby which is a cup final to both sets of supports and I think both sides will be petrified to lose.
However, if the results go the way I think they will then Sunderland have a chance to open up a bit of a gap on the relegation places. I just can’t see that happening.
Lee Cattermole is back and that’s a huge boost for the Sunderland but it’s tough to side with either team. Sunderland will have to bomb on as the home side and take the game to Newcastle but that could well play into Carver’s side’s hands. This one has a draw written all over it.
PAUL PREDICTS: 1-1
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Swansea 3-1 Hull: Bafetimbi Gomis double helps heighten visitors' relegation fears

Ki Sung-Yueng: Gave Swansea the lead against Hull
Ki Sung-Yueng: Gave Swansea the lead against Hull
Swansea heightened Hull's relegation fears after earning a 3-1 victory over the 10-man relegation candidates at the Liberty Stadium.
Ki Sung-Yueng had given the Swans the lead against the run of play after 18 minutes, before Bafetimbi Gomis acrobatically doubled the Welshmen’s lead on 37 minutes.
Hull pulled one back through Paul McShane’s close-range strike five minutes after the break, but their task was made even tougher when David Meyler saw red card for a reckless lunge on Kyle Naughton, who limped off as a result.
Bafetimbi Gomis: Brilliantly scored Swansea's second
Swansea looked in control from that moment on and made sure of the points in stoppage-time through Gomis, Garry Monk's side just two points off bettering their Premier League points record after another win.
Steve Bruce’s men began the day just three points above the bottom three but looked like they were about to build on their spirited performance against Chelsea last time out after a bright start, without troubling Golden Glove-chasing Lukasz Fabianski in the hosts’ goal.
But they could not make their possession count and after allowing Jonjo Shelvey far too much time to line up the shot, Alan McGregor could only parry the midfielder’s effort into the path of the onrushing Ki, who had the simple task of side-footing into the net from a six yards.
Kyle Naughton: Had to be replaced after the tackle that saw David Meyler sent off
The goal was a hammer blow to the Tigers, but they only had themselves to blame for going further behind.
A corner was floated in from the right, but after several attempts, Hull could not get the ball clear and only diverted the ball into the path of Gomis, who brilliantly dispatched an overhead kick to double the home side’s lead.
After the break, Hull again came out of the blocks and almost immediately got themselves back into the match.
Robbie Brady curled a dangerous free-kick into the box, Alex Bruce got up first to flick the ball on, and McShane beat Fabianski to the ball to prod home to get the Tigers back in the contest.
Then, just as the momentum seemed to have swung in the visitors’ favour, Meyler inexplicably lunged at Naughton, with his studs high, leaving referee Andre Marriner no choice but to brandish the red card.
Abel Hernandez had a golden opportunity to get Hull back in it against the run of play, but he could not get the right connection when in acres of space in the box.
And that miss proved costly as the excellent Gylfi Sigurdsson lofted the ball over the top to Gomis, who had the time and space to stride towards goal and loft the ball over McGregor to seal victory in the dying moments, and leave Hull with it all to do to ensure their survival.
Phil Thompson's verdict:
“It was a poor start to the game, both teams jousting in midfield to get control. It was boring, both keepers had nothing to do. Then bang, out of the blue, Jonjo Shelvey has a shot, McGregor parries it and Ki puts it in. 37 minutes, it’s 2-0, Gomis. A corner comes in, gets headed out, and when the ball comes back in, he’s actually in an offside position. But it goes on and he puts it in with an overhead kick. In the second half, we’re all thinking, ‘what is Steve Bruce going to do here?’
“I imagine Steve will be angry at the outcome (of the red card). Meyler has led with his wrong foot, right across with his left foot, and he catches the top of the ball which accelerates his movement into the shin of Kyle Walker. I’ve seen it a few times, and people might say it’s a bit unfortunate because he’s got the ball, but it’s excessive force. I think the referee has got it right.”
Player ratings:
Swansea: Fabianski (6), Naughton (6), Fernandez (7), Williams (7), Taylor (7), Ki (7), Cork (7), Shelvey (6), Routledge (6), Gomis (7), Sigurdsson (8).
Subs: Dyer (6), Grimes (5), Rangel (6).
Hull: McGregor (6), Dawson (6), Bruce (6), McShane (7), Elmohamady(6), Ramirez (5), Livermore (5), Meyler (3), Brady (7), N'Doye (6), Hernandez (4).
Subs: Diame (5), Sagbo, Aluko (5), Quinn (6).
Man of the match: Gylfi Sigurdsson.
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Everton 1-0 Southampton: Phil Jagielka goal lifts Toffees clear of danger

Everton's Phil Jagielka celebrates his fifth goal of the season
Everton's Phil Jagielka celebrates his fifth goal of the season
Phil Jagielka’s first-half goal was enough for Everton to beat Southampton 1-0 at Goodison Park and clinch a third successive league victory.
The England defender slotted home a loose ball on 16 minutes after the Saints failed to clear a corner and Seamus Coleman found his captain with a cut-back from the byline.
Southampton book-ended the game with impressive spells and went closest through James Ward-Prowse and Graziano Pelle in the first half.
But Everton held on to lift themselves to their highest league position since the turn of the year - 11th - and further away from relegation danger.
Southampton missed the chance to leapfrog Liverpool into fifth in the table, and they will feel hard done-by after arguably having the better of the game.
After assuming the early initiative, Pelle - on target against England during the international break - was denied a first league goal of 2015 when Tim Howard brilliantly clawed a looping shot away from the top corner.
But the hosts hit back and went close through Ross Barkley’s fierce shot past the far post, before Jagielka tapped Coleman’s low cross into the far corner for Everton’s opener.
Ward-Prowse, who was dangerous in a more advanced position than usual, threatened with a free-kick that shaved the outside of the side-netting, before testing Howard again minutes later.
Phil Jagielka slots home Everton's opening goal on 16 minutes
Everton continued to benefit from the Saints’ lacklustre form in front of goal and Jagielka might have added a second before the interval when he rose above his marker but headed another corner over the bar.
But they could not create clear-cut chances in the second and were instead forced to show how they have improved defensively, keeping the Saints at bay - despite Ronald Koeman’s side finishing the game with four forwards - to earn a rare clean sheet.
Koeman threw on Dusan Tadic and Saido Mane after the hour mark and looked to play more directly into Pelle, but the Italian, who scored in the 1-1 friendly draw with England last Tuesday, was confined to just a single chance wide of the far post before the end.
Jose Fonte also fired at goal after a neat short corner found him just inside the area, but Jagielka and John Stones did enough to force his effort over the crossbar.
Southampton finished the game with three defenders after Koeman also threw on Filip Djuricic with 10 minutes left, but the Toffees stood firm to secure another vital win and move 12 points clear of trouble while the visitors missed the chance to climb above Liverpool and stay a point behind them in sixth.
Player ratings
Everton: Howard 8, Baines 7, Jagielka 8, Stones 7, Coleman 7, Barry 7, McCarthy 6, Osman 7, Barkley 7, Lennon 7, Kone 6
Subs used: Naismith 6, Besic 6
Southampton: Davis 6, Bertrand 6, Fonte 7, Alderweireld 6, Clyne 7, Schneiderlin 6, Wanyama 6, Ward-Prowse 7, Elia 6, Long 7, Pelle 6
Subs used: Mane 6, Tadic 6, Duricic 6
Man of the match: Phil Jagielka

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Manchester United 3-1 Aston Villa: Ander Herrera nets two as hosts go third

Ander Herrera: Celebrates scoring with Ashley Young
Ander Herrera: Celebrates scoring with Ashley Young
Ander Herrera scored twice as Manchester United saw off Aston Villa to move above rivals Manchester City - who dropped to fourth - with a 3-1 win at Old Trafford on Saturday.
Herrera’s low finish gave United the lead just before half-time after a dominant opening 45 minutes and Wayne Rooney’s superb strike 11 minutes from time doubled their lead.
But though Christian Benteke provided a scare when he pulled one back within a minute of Rooney's volley, Herrera grabbed his second of the match to seal victory in stoppage-time.
It was a sixth Premier League win in succession for United and puts more pressure on City, who take on Crystal Palace on Monday Night Football before a huge Manchester derby clash with United next weekend - also live on Sky Sports.


  • Ford Monday Night Football

  • Crystal Palace v Manchester City
  • April 7, 2015
United began in confident mood and had a huge penalty appeal turned down inside five minutes as Marouane Fellaini met a long ball over the top and played in Rooney, who went down under Ciaran Clark’s challenge. The defender looked to have an arm around the United man but referee Roger East waved away the appeals, much to Rooney’s frustration.
Undeterred, United continued to dominate possession although clear-cut chances were not regularly forthcoming until the 23rd minute, when Marcos Rojo’s 35-yard piledriver was turned over by Brad Guzan.
United’s pressure eventually paid off just as the home fans were starting to become frustrated. On 43 minutes Daley Blind’s low pass into the box was met by Herrera, who contolled with his right before firing past the Brad Guzan to give the hosts a deserved half-time lead.
Hosts dominant
It was a familiar pattern after the break as Villa continued to struggle to impose themselves on the game, Ashley Young missing a good chance to double United’s lead as he cut in from the left and curled a 20-yard effort inches wide of the far post.
Wayne Rooney scored a sublime second for the hosts
Fellaini, who grew increasingly frustrated as the wide men regularly fell short with their delivery, then spurned a glorious chance, nodding a header into the ground which Guzan turned over the bar.
And it was not until the closing stages that the hosts finally breached the Villa defence once again. Substitute Angel Di Maria raced down the left and fired in a cross, which Rooney brought down with a sublime touch before swivelling and volleying a thunderous effort past Guzan.
It looked to be game over, but within 60 seconds Villa were back in it as Joe Cole’s low corner was met by Benteke, whose shot drew a rare mistake from David De Gea as it squirmed under the United goalkeeper to give Tim Sherwood’s men a lifeline.
But there to be no comeback, and two minutes into stoppage time United secured the points. Rooney was quicker to a drop-ball than Benteke and he set Juan Mata away down the right. The Spaniard pulled it back to the edge of the box for Herrera, who swept an excellent low finish into the bottom corner.
Charlie Nicholas' verdict
"I think Manchester United made it difficult for themselves. Villa have good energy, they’re organised, but they never get their midfield players into a position to be a menace. Ashley Young was good today, Herrera as well, he enjoys playing with Mata.
"I thought Herrera was the star turn today. He’s very deliberate in what he does. I’m a big fan of midfield runners, who will stretch defenders and make them think. It creates space for the attack-minded players and he does that in a very calm way."
Player ratings
Man Utd: De Gea (6), Valencia (6), Jones (7), Rojo (7), Blind (7), Carrick (6), Herrera (8), Mata (7), Fellaini (6), Young (7), Rooney (7).
Used subs: Di Maria (7), Falcao (5).
Aston Villa: Guzan (5), Hutton (7), Okore (6), Clark (7), Lowton (6), Delph (6), Sanchez (5), N’Zogbia (4), Weimann (5), Agbonlahor (5), Benteke (6).
Used subs: Bacuna (6), Cole (6), Baker (6).
Man of the match: Ander Herrera
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Arsenal 4-1 Liverpool: Olivier Giroud scores again as Arsenal dent Liverpool top-four hopes

  • Arsenal celebrate Ozil's free-kick on 40 minutes.
  • Bellerin's exquisite effort opened the scoring
Bellerin's exquisite effort opened the scoring
2/5
Arsenal dealt Liverpool’s top-four hopes a substantial blow with an emphatic 4-1 victory at the Emirates Stadium.
Three goals in the final eight minutes of the first half stunned Liverpool as Hector Bellerin’s curled strike on 37 minutes, Mesut Ozil’s exquisite free-kick three minutes later and Alexis Sanchez’s thunderous effort on the verge of half-time took the game away from Brendan Rodgers’ side.
Jordan Henderson converted a penalty 15 minutes from time after Raheem Sterling was brought down by Bellerin but Emre Can’s dismissal for a second bookable offence 10 minutes later all-but ended the contest.
Olivier Giroud bagged his seventh strike in six Premier League games in stoppage-time with a well-taken, left-footed effort as Arsenal moved up to second in the table.
Bellerin's exquisite effort opened the scoring
The result, which leaves Arsenal four points behind leaders Chelsea, is the Gunners’ seventh consecutive league victory as well as their seventh consecutive win in all competitions.
Liverpool, who suffered back-to-back defeats for the first time since November, remain fifth, five points adrift of Manchester United having played a game more.
Despite the recent scrutiny surrounding his contract negotiations, Rodgers started Sterling, but it was the absence of captain Steven Gerrard and Martin Skrtel, who both started three-match bans, which had the greater impact as the visitors made a nervy start.
Sterling had frustrating afternoon at the Emirates
Santi Cazorla drew a fine save from Simon Mignolet with just three minutes on the clock and the Belgian was called into action two minutes later to deny Aaron Ramsey after Kolo Toure was dispossessed. The Ivorian, however, was on hand to atone for his initial error as he denied Cazorla converting the rebound.
Having weathered the early Arsenal onslaught, Liverpool began to dictate the pace of the game and created two gilt-edged chances to take the lead.
After being put through on goal by Philippe Coutinho, Lazar Markovic opted to square the ball to Sterling but his pass was ill-judged and over-hit allowing Arsenal to clear.
Sterling then squandered a chance himself as he dragged a shot past the target having done well to shake off Laurent Koscielny’s challenge.
Having kept his side in the game in the opening exchanges, Mignolet was helpless as Arsenal struck three times before the break.
Emre Can saw red for clumsy foul on Danny Welbeck
First Bellerin cut in off the right flank, stepped inside Alberto Moreno’s weak challenge before producing a fine left-footed strike to break the deadlock.
It was two three minutes later as Ozil, who returned to the starting line-up after recovering from illness, found the same corner of Mignolet’s goal with a stunning free kick from 25 yards.
Sanchez blasted Arsenal’s third in emphatic style on the stroke of half-time as his half-volley whistled past Mignolet before nestling in the back of the net.
The Gunners created the first clear chance of the second half 10 minutes after the interval but Mignolet was on hand to palm Giroud’s effort over.
Olivier Giroud celebrated his seventh goal in six games
His opposite number, David Ospina, was called into action for the first time two minutes later as Can’s near-post effort was tipped out for a corner.
Liverpool were then handed a glimmer of hope when referee Anthony Taylor penalised Bellerin for a clumsy foul on Sterling, and Henderson's strike from 12 yards escaped Ospina’s clutches.
But hopes of a comeback were dashed when Can, who had seen yellow for a challenge on Cazorla and subsequent dissent, lunged in on substitute Welbeck and was sent from the field.
Giroud was not to be denied as he rifled home the fourth from the edge of the area in the closing stages.
Player ratings
Arsenal: Ospina (7), Bellerin (8), Mertesacker (7), Koscielny (8), Monreal, (7), Coquelin (7), Cazorla (8), Ramsey (7), Ozil (9), Sanchez (8), Giroud (7).
Used subs: Gabriel (6), Welbeck (6), Flamini (6).
Liverpool: Mignolet (8), Can (5), Toure (5), Sakho (6), Henderson (6), Lucas (6), Allen (7), Moreno (6), Markovic (5), Coutinho (6), Sterling (7).
Used subs: Sturridge (7).
Man of the Match: Mesut Ozil.
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Chelsea 2-1 Stoke: League leaders battle to win despite Charlie Adam's wonder goal

Eden Hazard struck as Chelsea won 2-1 at home to Stoke
Eden Hazard struck as Chelsea won 2-1 at home to Stoke
Chelsea extended their lead at the top of the Premier League to seven points after a 2-1 win over Stoke in which they were given a scare by Charlie Adam’s 59-yard strike.
Eden Hazard gave Chelsea the lead from the penalty spot in the 39th minute after Philipp Wollscheid’s late challenge on Cesc Fabregas, but they were pegged back by one of the goals of the season.
Adam produced arguably one of the best goals in Premier League history from inside his own half to catch Thibaut Courtois off his line and give Stoke a lifeline just before the break.
Chelsea goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois fails to keep out a 59-yard 'worldy' strike from Stoke's Charlie Adam
But Chelsea, who lost second-half substitute Diego Costa to another hamstring injury, responded as Hazard pounced on Asmir Begovic’s error to give Loic Remy a tap in.
The win means Chelsea are just 16 points away from Premier League glory and it moves them seven points clear of nearest rivals Arsenal, eight ahead of Manchester United and nine better than Manchester City, who play Crystal Palace in the Monday Night Football.
With the chasing pack closing the gap at the top of the table earlier in the day, Chelsea looked to make a fast start and nearly had the lead inside three minutes as Remy’s deflected shot looked to be nestling into the far corner only for Begovic to scramble across and claw the ball to safety.
The Blues were dominating possession and it looked only a matter of time before they broke the deadlock as Remy raced into the penalty area, but his low shot was once again well saved by Begovic.
The home side seemed to be in the mood and continued to press forward, but they were given a warning midway through the first half as Nemanja Matic’s poor clearance fell to Steven N’Zonzi, but his curling shot sailed over the crossbar.
However, normal service was resumed minutes later as the influential Hazard skipped away from three Stoke defenders on the edge of the penalty area before firing a low shot straight at the 'keeper.
Chelsea finally made the breakthrough in the 39th minute after Wollscheid caught Fabregas late in the penalty area. The referee pointed to the spot and up stepped Hazard to score his 12th league goal of the season.
Jose Mourinho’s side, who are the only team in the four divisions of English football who have not lost a home match in the league this season, would have thought they were well on the way to all three points but the home fans were stunned minutes before the break when Adam produced a moment of brilliance from long range.
Charlie Adam shoots from 59 yards out to score against Chelsea
The 29-year-old picked up the ball inside his own half, looked up and powered an effort towards goal which had Courtois scrambling backwards. The Belgian got a hand to the ball but could not keep it out of the net as Adam wheeled away to celebrate his 50th goal in English football.
Stamford Bridge was silenced and Mourinho gambled by sending for Costa at half-time as Chelsea came out with renewed vigour.
Hazard, who was at the heart of everything for the Blues, cut inside on his left foot and fired a powerful shot towards the top corner which Begovic parried around the post.
The Bosnia and Herzegovina international was called into action again minutes later when Glenn Whelan got a touch on Willian’s free-kick, but the sprawling Begovic somehow manage to keep it out.
Mourinho’s side’s task became even harder when Costa, who was an injury doubt coming into the match, pulled up clutching his hamstring and was replaced by Didier Drogba.
It was a huge blow to Chelsea but they showed the character of potential champions to get their noses in front as Hazard pounced on a poor throw from Begovic to run in on goal, before squaring the ball to Remy to tap into an empty net.
Stoke were not done yet though as N’Zonzi went within an inch of levelling things up again, but his shot from 20 yards hit the outside of the post.
Diego Costa limps off against Stoke
Chelsea could have made all three points safe with just 10 minutes remaining when Hazard found substitute Juan Cuadrado five yards out from goal, but he could not beat Begovic, who produced a brilliant double stop.
There was to be one final chance for Mark Hughes’ men in added time as a long throw into the box caused confusion in the home defence but Marko Arnautovic fired wildly over the bar to secure Chelsea a vital win the race for the title.
Player Ratings
Chelsea: Courtois (6), Ivanovic (6), Cahill (7), Terry (7), Azpilicueta (7), Matic (6), Fabregas (7), Willian (7), Oscar (5), Hazard (8), Remy (7).
Subs used: Cuadrado (5), Drogba (5), Diego Costa (4).
Stoke City: Begovic (7), Cameron (6), Shawcross (6), Wollscheid (5), Wilson (6), Ireland (5), Whelan (6), Nzonzi (7), Adam (7), Walters (6), Diouf (5).
Subs used:  Pieters (5), Arnautovic (5), Crouch (5).
Man of the Match: Eden Hazard
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