Premier League Weekend Review

Premier League Weekend Review

Status quo was maintained at the top as Manchester United, Chelsea and Arsenal all won their matches.

On Sunday, another Wayne Rooney double helped sweep United back to the Premier League summit with a 3-0 victory over Fulham at Old Trafford.

It was no more than the Red Devils deserved, having completely outclassed the Cottagers throughout the match.

After a goalless first half, it took Rooney just 30 seconds of the second half to stamp his mark on the game.

A header down from Dimitar Berbatov fell to Rooney, who initially moved the ball wide to Nani before picking up possession again and hitting a powerful shot past a dumbfounded Mark Schwarzer.

Fulham had done well to hold him at bay until then but they were powerless as the match progressed.

The England striker notched his second late in the game, having again been set up nicely by his strike partner.

Not to be outdone, Berbatov made it 3-0 in stoppage time with a diving header to send United back to top spot.

Manchester United vs Fulham Player Ratings

Sunderland vs Manchester City Player Ratings

In Sunday's other game, Adam Johnson curled home a superb injury time equaliser to deny Sunderland victory as Manchester City escaped with a 1-1 draw.

Sunderland-born Johnson, who rejected a January move to the Stadium of Light to join City, struck after Black Cats keeper Craig Gordon had made five excellent second half saves to keep the visitors at bay.

Kenwyne Jones' ninth-minute header looked likely to give the home side all three points until Johnson's last-gasp intervention.

Photo Gallery

On Saturday, Chelsea went to the top of the Premier League for a day with a 4-1 thumping of West Ham while Arsenal left it late to beat Hull.

Alex headed the Blues in front on 16 minutes, only for Scott Parker to smash a 25-yard effort past rookie goalkeeper Ross Turnbull and level against his former club.

However, Chelsea took full advantage of Manchester United not playing until tomorrow when Didier Drogba (55) headed in Florent Malouda's cross and the French winger capped a superb display when he netted a third with 13 minutes left.

Former Hammers man Frank Lampard hit the post, before Ivory Coast striker Drogba scored his second in stoppage time as Chelsea went top in style.

Chelsea vs West Ham Player Ratings

Tottenham vs Blackburn Player Ratings

At the other end of the table, Wolves put some distance between themselves and the bottom three with a 2-1 win at struggling Burnley.

Matt Jarvis (26) fired the visitors ahead after latching onto a poor back-pass from Tyrone Mears.

Clarets striker David Nugent saw his close-range effort bounce up onto the top of the crossbar, and Burnley's luck was out again when Clarke Carlisle deflected Adlene Guedioura's shot into his own net at the start of the second half.

Steven Thompson (73) set up a grandstand finish with a goal for the hosts, but Wolves held on to secure a much-needed victory.

In the early kick-off, Tottenham maintained their hopes of a top-four finish as they beat Blackburn 3-1 at White Hart Lane.

Roman Pavlyuchenko netted a second-half brace to take his tally to eight goal in six games, after Jermain Defoe (45) had put the hosts ahead just before the interval with his 17th Premier League goal of the season.

Chris Samba (80) pulled a goal back, but the in-form Russian had the final say to wrap up the points for Harry Redknapp's side.

Bolton continued their resurgence under Owen Coyle as Wigan were thumped 4-0 at the Reebok Stadium.

Swede Johan Elmander (10) put the Trotters ahead, but Jussi Jaaskelainen had to produce a fine save from Charles N'Zogbia to keep the hosts in front.

Kevin Davies converted a penalty at the start of the second half after Gary Caldwell had fouled Tamir Cohen.

Fabrice Muamba (53) then netted a fine individual effort to get his first Trotters goal, with Matthew Taylor (69) putting the seal on a third win in four.

Birmingham fought back from 2-0 down to draw 2-2 against in-form Everton at St Andrews.

Victor Anichebe (19) and Ayegbeni Yakubu (22) put the visitors - who have lost just twice in the League since the end of November - well in charge.

Alex McLeish's men, however, have an impressive home record, and got themselves back in the match through Cameron Jerome (26) before Craig Gardner (52) secured a share of the spoils.

Stoke and Aston Villa played out a goalless draw at the Britannia Stadium, where chances were few and far between.

Stiliyan Petrov had a shot on target in the 27th minute, but goalkeeper Thomas Sorensen got down low to his right to make the save, while England midfielder James Milner was just off target with a late free-kick.

Match Reports

Manchester United 3-0 Fulham

Sunderland 1-1 Manchester City

Chelsea 4-1 West Ham

Tottenham 3-1 Blackburn

Bolton 4-0 Wigan

Stoke 0-0 Aston Villa

Burnley 1-2 Wolves

Birmingham 2-2 Everton

Hull 1-2 Arsenal

Post-match Reactions (Video)

Manchester United vs Fulham

Manchester City vs Sunderland

Chelsea vs West Ham

Tottenham vs Blackburn

Bolton vs Wigan

Stoke vs Aston Villa

Burnley vs Wolves

Birmingham vs Everton

Hull vs Arsenal


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