Man U 3–0 Sunderland

Man City slip allows Man Utd to claim summit

LONDON: Manchester United exploited Manchester City's 4-1 defeat at Tottenham Hotspur by beating Sunderland 3-0 on Saturday (Sep 26) to replace their rivals at the top of the Premier League table.

City's unexpected capitulation opened the door for Louis van Gaal's side and they strolled through it courtesy of goals from Memphis Depay, Wayne Rooney, who ended a 1,000-minute league scoring drought, and Juan Mata. Depay made the breakthrough in first-half stoppage time, tapping home after Daley Blind's fine pass was volleyed across goal by Mata, with Rooney and Mata finishing the job in the second half.

"It's a nice feeling to be top of the table. It's the first time in my period, so I'm happy," said Van Gaal, who has led United to the summit for the first time since legendary manager Alex Ferguson's retirement in 2013. "I was very happy with the goal in extra time (by Mata) because they punished themselves. They were always wasting time and the referee was not reacting to that."

Rooney's goal, set up by Anthony Martial, was his first in the league since April and saw him draw level with Old Trafford great Denis Law on 171 league goals.

Victory took United a point above City, who slipped to a second consecutive league defeat - and a third loss in four games in all competitions - at White Hart Lane. City went ahead in the 25th minute through Kevin De Bruyne, but Eric Dier, Toby Alderweireld, Harry Kane, with his first goal of the season, and Erik Lamela scored as Spurs roared back for a win that sent them fifth.

WILLIAN RESCUES CHELSEA

"The Premier League is always very difficult," City manager Manuel Pellegrini told BT Sport. "That's why when we won the first five (league) games, we didn't say we were going to win the league. We have to keep working. In future we must play every game as a final."

Defending champions Chelsea remain a long way from the title picture, but a late fight back saw them come from 2-0 down to salvage a 2-2 draw at Newcastle United and avoid a fourth defeat of the campaign.

Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho again left John Terry on the bench and Ayoze Perez capitalised on hesitancy between Kurt Zouma and Branislav Ivanovic to slam Newcastle ahead in the 42nd minute. Georginio Wijnaldum glanced home a Perez corner to double Newcastle's lead on the hour, but substitute Ramires gave Chelsea a foothold with a 25-yard scorcher before crossing for Willian to equalise in the 86th minute.

"It is a point," said Mourinho, whose side are eight points below United in 15th place. "That's what we got. Better than to lose, but I'm never happy when I don't win matches.

"I have to try to understand why they can play so bad in one half and so well in the other."

West Ham United could have gone level on points with Manchester City, but despite drawing 2-2 at home to Norwich City, they remain in third place.

SANCHEZ HAT-TRICK

Nathan Redmond's 83rd-minute strike looked poised to earn Norwich victory, after Diafra Sakho had cancelled out Robbie Brady's opener, only for West Ham midfielder Cheikhou Kouyate to bundle in a stoppage-time equaliser.

Arsenal climbed to fourth, below West Ham on goal difference, after separating Leicester City from their status as the top flight's last unbeaten side with a 5-2 success at the King Power Stadium. Jamie Vardy curled home in the 13th minute to put Leicester ahead, but Theo Walcott equalised five minutes later before Alexis Sanchez claimed a hat-trick - his first goals this season - to secure victory. Vardy netted a second goal late on before Olivier Giroud swept home Arsenal's fifth in added time.

Meanwhile, Daniel Sturridge scored his first goals since returning from a lengthy lay-off with a hip injury as Liverpool edged Aston Villa 3-2 at Anfield to end a winless four-game run and move up to seventh place. James Milner fired Liverpool ahead in the second minute before Sturridge marked his return to fitness with a fine outside-of-the-foot volley from Milner's lofted return pass in the 59th minute. Sturridge added a second goal in the 67th minute, sandwiched by a brace by Rudy Gestede, and it proved enough to secure a win that will take some of the pressure off Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers.

"We wanted to win for the manager," said Liverpool midfielder Lucas Leiva. "We know what has been said about him and I think we showed we are a group of players behind him and trying to make everything right."

Goals from Virgil van Dijk, Dusan Tadic and Sadio Mane saw Southampton to a 3-1 win over Swansea City, while Mame Biram Diouf gave Stoke City a 2-1 success over Bournemouth, who had striker Callum Wilson stretchered off.

Newcastle 2-2 Chelsea

Willian salvages point for Chelsea

After Magpies take two-goal lead in thrilling encounter

Ayoze Perez gave the Magpies a first-half lead in what was a gritty affair, before Georginio Wijnaldum doubled their advantage before the hour mark.

It looked as though the Magpies would be claiming their first three points of the season until substitutes Ramires and Willian both scored to earn a share of the spoils.

The result will leave more questions surrounding Steve McClaren and Jose Mourinho as the pressure grows on both.

It was a scrappy start from both sides with Chelsea coming the closest as the ball was fired in to Loic Remy, who instinctively stuck out a foot but sent his shot just wide of the near post.

Aleksandar Mitrovic had the best chance for the hosts as he linked with fellow summer signing Wijnaldum, but his looping header dropped wide of the goal.

Newcastle continued to force the issue and Asmir Begovic was forced into action twice in a matter of seconds as first Perez and then Daryl Janmaat were denied.

Attacking-wise, Chelsea looked completely devoid of ideas as Cesc Fabregas reverted to taking aim from range, and he almost beat Tim Krul with a drive after 38 minutes.

Then just before half time, Perez broke the deadlock with a fantastic volley as he made the most of a lack of communication between Branislav Ivanovic and Kurt Zouma.

The Spaniard produced a fantastic bit of skill to bring down the long, lofted punt before firing in off the post to give the Magpies a well-deserved half-time lead.

Chelsea came out after the break with a look of intent and within five minutes they almost found the equaliser through former Newcastle-man Remy, if not for a wonderful reaction save from Krul to push it to safety.

The Blues continued to probe until, on 59 minutes, Newcastle doubled their lead as Perez turned provider for Wijnaldum from a corner.

The Dutchman wrestled some space in the area before glancing the ball past a helpless Begovic into the bottom corner.

Again Chelsea did not give up and kept pressing forward and eventually they got their goal through the substitute Ramires.

The Brazilian picked the ball up 25 yards out, following a lovely bit of skill from Eden Hazard, and lashed an unstoppable shot into the top corner.

And remarkably, Chelsea were level after 86 minutes as Willian curled in a dangerous free kick towards Ramires which found its way straight into the back of the net.

Replays showed Ramires didn’t get a touch on the ball but his presence was enough to put off Krul.

It was a poor performance from the champions but the Newcastle faithful will be distraught to see the manner in which their team relinquished their two goal lead.

Will the Fox be Gunned?

Tough battle for Arsenal at the Foxes

By Paul Burrowes

As the best home team and lethal attacking unit so far in the 2015-16 English Premier League, Leicester City are hoping to record only their second victory against Arsenal in the Premier League.
In fact, the Foxes only win against the Gunners was in their debut season in the Premier League in 1994-95. On November 22, 1994, at Filbert Street, Leicester, Ian Ormondryod and David Lowe netted in the 2-1 win. Ian Wright converted a penalty in the Gunners' consolation goal.
After 18 games in the Premier League facing Arsenal, Leicester have one win, six draws, and 11 losses with 15 goals for and 41 goals against.
In their last head-to-head at the King Power Stadium on August 31, 2014, the match ended 1-1 when Argentine Leonardo Ulloa responded three minutes after Alexis Sanchez opened the scoring for Arsenal in the 19th minute.
And given the Foxes good form as the only unbeaten team so far in the league, a draw seems the likely result.
The Foxes are fourth in the standings, led by the league's top scorer Riyad Mahrez (five goals) and supported by teammate James Vardy (four goals).
Mahrez has actually figured in eight goals, including three assists, more than any other player. He will need all the help he can get as Arsenal have failed to score only once in their 18 meetings.
Ulloa, used only twice this season and only as substitute, has yet to score. Will Claudio Ranieri start him on Saturday? In three appearances against the Gunners, the Algerian has yet to win. Despite one draw and two losses, Mahrez scored twice. A start is welcomed.
Arsenal will have to fight to scrape for a point on Saturday as Leicester City have been unbeaten in their last 12 games in all competitions.
The Foxes have also come from behind to salvage at least a point in four successive Premier League games.
Vardy has scored in three successive Premier League games for the first time.

NFL top quarterbacks

Mariota leading quarterback after two weeks

By Paul Burrowes

After two weeks in the regular season of the National Football  League, Marcus Mariota of the Tennessee Titans leads as the top quarterback with a passer rating of 129.1.

The Titans lost to Cleveland Browns 28-14 last Sunday, after winning their opening game 42-14 against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sunday, September 13.
In that win the 21-year-old, 6-4 quarterback threw for 209 yards and had four  touchdowns to secure the award as the American Football  Conference offensive player of the second week.
Big Ben Roethlisberger of Pittsburgh Steelers was the AFC  offensive player in the second week, his passer rating of 155.8 in the 43-18 win over San Francisco 49ers getting the nod over New  England Patriots' Tom Brady.
Brady was the passing leader in the second week, throwing  466 yards which was adorned with three touchdowns.
Brady's quarterback rating was 105.6, having completed 38 of  59 passing attempts.  The 38-year-old Tom Terrific, who was the 2014 NFL Super Bowl MVP, also had one sack and two  fumbles.
Mariota, using the criterion of at least 50 pass attempts, barely got the edge over Green Bay Packers' Aaron Rodgers whose passer rating stands at 128.42, with Carson Palmer of the Arizona Cardinals in third with 124.42.
Darrelle Revis was AFC defensive player of the week, the 30-year-old New York Jets' defensive back posting three tackles, one tackle assist, and a defensive pass interception.
Larry Fitzgerald of Arizona Cardinals was the NFC offensive player of the second week. The 6-3 wide receiver, 32, grabbed nine targets, eight receptions for 112 yards and including three touchdowns.

Top five quarterbacks

1 Marcus Mariota, TEN, 129.9
2 Aaron Rodgers, GNB, 128.4
3 Carson Palmer, ARI, 124.4
4 Ben Roethlisberger, PIT, 122.6
5 Andy Dalton, CIN, 120.3
6 Tom Brady, NWE, 119.9

NFL Thursday

Giants favoured but Redskins to surprise

By Paul Burrowes

Washington Redskins @ New York Giants
Thursday, September 24, 2015

The New York Giants won their last four games against the Washington Redskins, who will travel to MeLife Stadium Thursday to take on Eli Manning and running backs Rashad Jennings and Andre Williams.
Manning is tipped to take the Giants to victory, a winning probability of 62 per cent.
New York lost their two opening matches this season and Washington running back Alfred Morris looks set to upset the odds and hand the Giants their third loss when they meet at East Rutherford at 7:00 pm.
The Redskins have the better defence, marshalled by safety Trenton Robinson, cornerback DeAngelo Hall, and linebacker Keenan Robinson.
Quarterback Kirk Cousins is steadily rising up the rankings and is hoping for a performance of last year September against Philadelphia Eagles when he had three touchdowns and threw for 427 yards.
The Redskins lost that match at the Lincoln Financial Field.
Cousins, however, has not performed well in two matches against the Giants, but he has thrown six interceptions.
Washington should have the edge in yards gained, yards allowed, time of possession and the red zone, while the Giants will be big in kicking and penalties.