Boxing day matches na Arsenal watakuwa na luxury ya kujua matokeo ya Manure na Chelsiki bila kusahau Liverpuli wamefanyaje katika mechi za awali. Distination Portsmouth kwa mchezaji wao wa zamani Sol Sol kembo or sorry Campbell.
Je, nani atatoka kidedea kuukaribisha mwaka mpya.
1441: RED CARD
Ricardo Carvalho is dismissed for a horrid two-footed lunge on Gabriel Agbonlahor. It just looks worse and worse on replay. A true horror story.
Chelsea scores to settle the matter 4 - 3
GARETH BARRYS injury time penalty salvaged a point for Aston Villa in a sensational eight-goal thriller which saw three players sent off. German international Michael Ballack appeared to have secured all three points for Avram Grants Blues with a stunning 88th minute free kick. But England midfielder Barry stepped up to convert his spot kick in injury time after Ashley Cole had been sent off for handling Gabriel Agbonlahors effort on the line
Martin ONeills Villains had gone a goal up inside 13 minutes through Shaun Maloney, who doubled his and Villas tally on 44 minutes. But disaster struck for a minute later when Zat Knight was sent off on the stroke of half time for a clumsy tackle on Michael Ballack and referee Phil Dowd awarded Chelsea a penalty . Ukranian hitman Andrei Shevchenko scored from the spot to give the Blues a lifeline going into the half-time break. Just after the restart, the former AC Milan marksman struck again with his second of the game, firing in from long range to leave Villa goalkeeper Scott Carson with no chance.
Shevchenko then set up defender Alex who finished clinically to put Chelsea 3-2 ahead. But Villa were soon back in it as centrehalf Martin Laursen escaped some slack Chelsea marking to draw the visitors level. Chelsea, already missing John Terry and Didier Drogba for the festive schedule, then lost Ricardo Carvalho after the Portuguese defender was sent off for a two-footed lunge on Ashley Young.
And with just two minutes remaining Chelsea were awarded a free kick which Ballack dispatched brilliantly, firing past Carson from long range. But Villa continued to press forward, and in injury time got their reward when Cole handled Agbonlahors goal-bound effort on the line to allow Barry to slot home the resulting penalty.
Chelsea: Cech, Ferreira, Alex, Carvalho, Ashley Cole, Kalou, Essien, Lampard (Ballack 26), Joe Cole, Pizarro (Obi 85), Shevchenko (Wright-Phillips 82). Subs Not Used: Hilario, Ben-Haim. Sent Off: Carvalho (80), Ashley Cole (90). Booked: Essien, Alex, Ballack. Goals: Shevchenko 45 pen, 50, Alex 66, Ballack 88.
Aston Villa: Carson, Mellberg, Laursen, Knight, Bouma (Harewood 90), Maloney (Davies 46), Reo-Coker, Barry, Young, Carew (Moore 78), Agbonlahor. Subs Not Used: Taylor, Gardner. Sent Off: Knight (45). Booked: Reo-Coker, Harewood. Goals: Maloney 14, 44, Laursen 72, Barry 90 pen.
Att: 41,686
Ref: Phil Dowd (Staffordshire).
EARLY RESULTS
Birmingham 2-0 Middlesbrough
Chelsea 4-4 Aston Villa
Derby 1-2 Liverpool
Everton 2-0 Bolton
Tottenham 5-1 Fulham
Sunderland 0-4 Man Utd
West Ham 1-1 Reading
Wigan 1-0 Newcastle
Manu on top of the Premier League just for the moment wait........
With almost all results in except for the late starters Arsenal Vs portsmouth. What will happen? Stay Tuned........
MANCHESTER UNITED went top of the Premier League after Arsenal were held by Portsmouth. Earlier in the day, United demolished Sunderland 4-0 at the Stadium of Light and Alex Ferguson's side are now one point ahead of the Gunners.
Arsene Wenger's side went into this evening's game knowing they had not won at Fratton Park since 2004 - and they never looked like ending that record on a dreary night on the south coast. The Gunners created few opportunities and had to wait until the 87th minute for a clear sight on goal.
Skipper William Gallas though, managed to smashed the ball over the bar from just six yards out. Zimbabwe striker Benjani had Pompey's best chance when he raced through on goal but he was denied by a poor first touch.
ANTON FERDINAND got one over big brother Rio to put a dent in Manchester United's title charge. Ferdinand Jnr headed home West Ham's equaliser on 77 minutes. And five minutes later, Matthew Upson nodded home the Hammers' winner to spark wild scenes at Upton Park. United had looked like starting 2008 in top spot following Cristiano Ronaldo's 14th-minute opener.
But the Portuguese winger missed a penalty after handball by Jonathan Spector and Alan Curbishley's men yet again thwarted United following their league double over the Red Devils last season. United boss Alex Ferguson admitted his side were outplayed. He said: I have no complaints. We were beaten by the better team. We were not nearly up to our normal performance.
Scoring the penalty would have killed the game but if you lose goals to set-pieces you are not at your best.
Its difficult to say why, but they are human beings and you cant expect them to be perfect all the time. "They were very competitive and aggressive, West Ham, and were always about us.
They were very motivated and it was probably their biggest game of the season. Carlos Tevez received a standing ovation from the Hammers fans in recognition of his one-man rescue mission last season when he saved the Londoners from relegation.
But the home faithful were left speechless on eight minutes when Mark Noble fired over the bar with the goal gaping after Hayden Mullins' shot had come back off the woodwork. United made him pay six minutes later when Ronaldo headed home a Ryan Giggs cross. Nobby Solano went down on the edge of the box under pressure from Rio Ferdinand but ref Mike Dean waved play-on.
Tomasz Kuszczak denied Solano an equaliser on 36 minutes as he tipped over the Peruvian's lob.
Carlton Cole then headed over Noble's cross and Ronaldo drove wide of Rob Green's post. Solano curled another free-kick wide before limping off with a leg injury. Scott Parker made way for Ferdinand, who had been missing through injury since October, while the ineffective Tevez was replaced by Anderson. United were awarded a penalty when Spector handled under pressure from Anderson.
Up stepped Ronaldo but his spot-kick flew wide of Greens right-hand post to keep the Hammers in the game. Ferdinand took full advantage to head home Noble's corner with 20 minutes left.
And another set-piece from Noble saw West Ham seal their comeback win as Upson got the leap on Nemanja Vidic to nod in.
West Ham boss Curbishley said: We played ever so well in the first half and were disappointed to be one down.
"Hayden Mullins hit the bar and it came back to Mark Noble and if we had nicked our goal who knows what would have happened.
It is a fantastic result considering I had 16 fit players and lost another two. West Ham: Green, Neill, Spector, Upson, McCartney, Solano (Pantsil 49), Parker (Ferdinand 55), Mullins, Noble, Ljungberg (Ashton 70), Cole. Subs not used: Wright, Camara. Booked: Pantsil, Mullins. Goals: Ferdinand 77, Upson 82.
Man Utd: Kuszczak, Brown (O'Shea 89), Ferdinand, Vidic, Evra, Ronaldo, Hargreaves (Nani 80), Fletcher, Giggs, Saha, Tevez (Anderson 64). Subs not used: Heaton, Pique. Goals: Ronaldo 14.
Att: 34,966
Ref: Mike Dean (Wirral)
What fans say 'Silly Winker! Ron to blame for defeat?
Back to where we belong- TOP!
Leaders Arsenal will be aiming to maintain their place at the summit when they entertain West Ham, who did The Gunners a favour by beating Manchester United at the weekend.
The Hammers are the only side to beat Arsenal at Emirates Stadium and they will be hoping to add Arsene Wenger's side to the scalp of the champions. Sir Alex Ferguson's men will be looking to bounce back from their shock defeat at Upton Park when they welcome Birmingham to Old Trafford.
Roy Hodgson begins his tenure as Fulham manager with a West London derby against Chelsea in the first Premier League offering of 2008, live on Sky Sports 1. Aston Villa and Tottenham will be hoping to serve up a treat in the evening kick-off at Villa Park, also live on Sky Sports 1. Everton travel to Middlesbrough looking to get their European challenge back on track after Saturday's 4-1 defeat to Arsenal.
Reading and Portsmouth will be aiming to get back to winning ways when they lock horns at the Madejski Stadium.
Arsenal v West Ham
Arsenal have failed to score in three of their last five Premier League meetings with West Ham.
Aston Villa v Tottenham
Villa have not been able to defeat Spurs in any of their last six Premier League meetings.
Fulham v Chelsea
Fulham have won none of their last 10 Premier League London derbies.
Man Utd v Birmingham
Birmingham have never managed to defeat Manchester United in the Premier League.
Of the nine occasions that they have met in the Premier League, United have won seven.
Middlesbrough v Everton
Middlesbrough have failed to score in five of their last seven Premier League matches against Everton.
Reading v Portsmouth
Portsmouth have managed to score 10 goals in three matches against Reading.