Barclays Premier League Capsule

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Gameweek 12 of the Barclays Premier League produced 24 goals, two red cards, and only one goal-less draw. Here’s a round-up of the results in this week’s edition of the Premier League Capsule:

Chelsea 2-0 West Bromwich Albion

Chelsea continue their march towards the Premier League title with a convincing victory at home to West Brom. Diego Costa and Eden Hazard scored the goals to give Chelsea the victory. And, although West Brom were reduced to 10-men after Chelsea had already scored their second, the Blues weren’t able to find a third goal. Chelsea now extend their lead at the top to six points, while West Brom remain in 13th.

Best player:

Oscar (Chelsea): brilliant throughout, picked out Costa with great vision before testing the keeper himself with a few shots.

Ben Foster (West Brom): he was immense the entire match, never letting his head drop even after conceding two goals. Foster pulled off eight saves including a few reflex saves to deny John Terry a double.

Everton 2-1 West Ham United

Everton beat an in-form West Ham side to move up the table. Romelu Lukaku scored first for the hosts before West Ham’s new signing, Mauro Zarate, found the equalizer. With a little over 15 minutes to go, Everton grabbed a second, what would prove to be the winner, through Leon Osman’s finish. As a result, West Ham drop out of the top-four, while Everton move within two-points of it.

Best player:

Leon Osman (Everton): the midfielder scored the winner and was a threat the entire match.

Mauro Zarate (West Ham): the substitute immediately made his mark on the game after just six minutes, scoring his second goal for the club, but couldn’t help his team to victory.

Leicester City 0-0 Sunderland

Leicester City stay in the relegation zone after their goal-less draw with Sunderland. Sunderland meanwhile are edging closer to the danger zone themselves, now only three points clear.

Best player:

Kasper Schmeichel (Leicester): the Danish keeper made five saves and deserved his clean sheet. It proved to be a game of keepers, and he was up for it.

Costel Pantilimon (Sunderland): the former Manchester City man matched his rival, making four saves. He will certainly be happy with his clean sheet.

Manchester 2-1 Swansea City

Manchester City came from behind to beat a Swansea side who never looked like an easy opponent. The Swans took the lead after great perseverance from Wilfried Bony to get into the box, control, and fire past Joe Hart. The lead didn’t last long however, after Stefan Jovetic scored from close range before Yaya Toure ploughed through the Swans defense to score the winner, and give city the nerve-wrecking win. City remain in the top four while Swansea drop to fifth and miss their chance to stay in the Champions League spots.

Best player:

Yaya Toure (Man City): big-game man, and he was needed more than ever. City couldn’t afford to drop more points after shooting themselves in the foot last gameweek. Toure provided the winner and was a strong presence throughout.

Wilfried Bony (Swansea): the Ivorian was involved throughout the game, and worked tirelessly in the closing stages where his team were hounding for an equalizer.

Newcastle United 1-0 Queens Park Rangers
Newcastle recorded their fifth Premier League win in a row after beating a struggling QPR at the Sports Direct Arena. Alan Pardew will be brimming with delight and confidence with the performance of his players, which has seen the club transform from relegation contenders into top-four contenders. They currently sit fifth, while QPR’s misery continues at the bottom of the pile.

Best player:

Moussa Sissoko (Newcastle): his work-rate was phenomenal and the French international deserved his goal.

Robert Green (QPR): made some very important saves, and is the reason QPR didn’t get hammered.

Stoke City 1-2 Burnley

Two quick-fire goals from Danny Ings helped Burnley to their second consecutive win in the Premier League, moving them one point away from safety. Stoke City, meanwhile, who pegged one back through Jonathan Walters, couldn’t find an equalizer and remain mid-table dropping to 11th place.

Best player:

Danny Ings (Burnley): an important figure in Burnley’s rise from the Championship, Ings’ double may be the most important he has scored for the Lancashire club.

Bojan Krkić (Stoke): the former Barcelona forward provided the assist for Walters’ goal and looked the most likely to equalise, but couldn’t find an opening. He will be looking to improve on his performance in the next gameweek.

Arsenal 1-2 Manchester United

Manchester United inflicted a second successive defeat on Arsenal, while at the same time, picking up their first Premier League away win of the season. Arsenal had loads of chances early in the game to finish Man United off, but it was United who took the lead thanks to a Kieran Gibbs own-goal. Wayne Rooney added a second after being set-up from a Di María pass. Olivier Giroud marked his return from a broken foot with a goal late into stoppage time, but it wasn’t enough as United now move to fourth after their win, Arsenal drop to eighth place.

Best player:

David de Gea (Man United): phenomenal performance behind an inexperienced back-four. He was strong, confident, and reliable when called upon recording eight saves.

Mikel Arteta (Arsenal): created lots of chances and provided the assist for Giroud with a great pass, but his teammates let him down.

Crystal Palace 3-1 Liverpool

Liverpool’s poor form continued as they fell to a third successive defeat away to Crystal Palace. Rickie Lambert struck first for the Reds after a fine pass from Adam Lallana, but any ideas of an easy win were dashed when Dwight Gayle scored from a rebound to equalise. Gayle provided the assist for Joseph Ledley before a sublime Mile Jedinak free-kick ensured Crystal Palace took all three points, leaving Brendan Rodgers with a headache. Liverpool sit four points from the relegation zone while Crystal Palace move up to safety.

Best player:

Rickie Lambert (Liverpool): scored early and was probably Liverpool’s best player. Although he couldn’t help his team to victory, he will look to improve after getting his start, playing the full 90 minutes.

Dwight Gayle (Crystal Palace): he has been haunting Liverpool for a few seasons now, and he struck once again scoring one and providing an assist.

Hull City 1-2 Tottenham Hotspur

Tottenham came from behind away from home, beating 10-man Hull City. Jake Livermore gave the Tigers the half-time lead, scoring in the eighth minute. However, five minutes into the restart, Gaston Ramirez was shown a straight red-card, and Tottenham found the equalizer soon after through Harry Kane. Hull tried their best to fight for a point, but Tottenham continued to push forward, eventually scoring in the final minute. Christian Eriksen scored to send the fans and players into eruption. With that win, Tottenham move to 10th while Hull City drop to within one point of relegation.

Best player:

Christian Eriksen (Tottenham): scored the winner that gave Tottenham all three points, and hit the bar with a great free-kick before Kane pounced on the rebound. He showed why he is a very important player for Spurs.

Allan McGregor (Hull City): made four saves to keep his team in it, but was helpless for the equalizer. Could do little with Eriksen’s low strike.

Aston Villa 1-1 Southampton

Southampton remain in second despite dropping points to Villa. They are now six points behind league leaders Chelsea. The Saints had to come from a goal behind after Gabriel Agbonlahor capitalized on a mistake from the Saints’ goalkeeper. The home side, however, couldn’t hold on to their lead, and it was the Southampton right-back, Nathaniel Clyne, who found the equalizer to rescue a point for Ronald Koeman’s men.

Best player:

Ryan Bertrand (Southampton): the on-loan Chelsea left-back has been an important player for Southampton so far this season, and it was his determination to get a cross into the box that led to the equalizer.

Gabriel Agbonlahor (Aston Villa): used his strength well to unsettle Southampton’s defenders, and took his chance clinically to give his team the lead.