Edin Dzeko shone to give 10-man Manchester City a battling 4-3 victory at Norwich City but leaders Manchester United also won as own goals and more controversial refereeing marked the last Saturday of 2012.
Egypt have gambled on Mohamed Salah returning to fitness in the coming weeks by naming him in their 23-man squad for this month's World Cup in Russia.
Chelsea manager Roberto Di Matteo returns to former club West Bromwich Albion convinced that his sacking there last year strengthened his resolve and helped him become a European champion.
Stoke City became the highest-profile casualty in the English League Cup second round when third-tier Swindon Town pulled off a dramatic 4-3 win late in extra time on Tuesday.
West Ham had lost their first three Premier League games to sit bottom of the table and their dismal start to the campaign had already sparked speculation among pundits as to whether new manager Manuel Pellegrini would see out the season.
Swansea City and Hull City were fined 20,000 each following a mass confrontation between their players during a Premier League match this month, the Football Association said on Wednesday.
Brendan Rodgers endured a sorry Premier League start as Liverpool boss with a 3-0 defeat at West Bromwich Albion on the opening day of the season on Saturday while Arsenal, without Robin van Persie, were held 0-0 by Sunderland.
Jose Mourinho's wretched week ended on a high note as Manchester United's big guns Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Paul Pogba finally began firing, both finding the target in a 3-1 win at dismal Swansea City on Sunday. Mourinho watched from the stands at the Liberty Stadium following his touchline ban imposed by the Football Association on Wednesday and was buoyed to see Ibrahimovic score twice -- his first league goals in eight weeks -- and Pogba net a superb volley. United, vastly improved after their midweek Europa League defeat at Fenerbahce, went ahead with a 15th minute strike from Pogba worthy of his 89 million pounds price tag before Ibrahimovic ended his goal drought with a sharp first-half double in the space of 12 minutes.
Philippe Coutinho scored twice as Liverpool recovered from an early deficit to beat struggling Premier League champions Chelsea 3-1 at Stamford Bridge on Saturday and pile more pressure on Blues manager Jose Mourinho.
Images from the weekend fixtures of the English Premier League that witnessed holders Manchester City, leaders Chelsea and 19-time winners Manchester United scoring comfortable wins.
Holders Manchester City began their assault on the FA Cup with a 4-1 victory over fourth-tier Port Vale but Manchester United and Wolverhampton Wanderers face an unwanted replay after drawing 0-0 at Molineux on Saturday. Goals from Oleksandr Zinchenko, Sergio Aguero, Taylor Harwood-Bellis and Phil Foden made it a routine day for City, although Tom Pope had equalised for a Vale side sitting 74 places lower in the standings.
Southampton's Ronald Koeman has been named Premier League manager of the month for January, becoming the first Saints manager to receive the award on three separate occasions, while Manchester City striker Sergio Aguero won the players' award.
Roy Hodgson has been appointed England manager on a four-year contract, the English FA said on Tuesday.
Roy Hodgson became the leading contender to take charge of England at Euro 2012 when the English FA said they had spoken to the West Bromwich Albion manager about succeeding Fabio Capello.
Manchester United striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic is relishing his time at the Premier League club and is in talks to extend his contract, saying he "never leaves a job unfinished".
Manchester United fielded a defence boasting only two first-team appearances but still proved too good for Premier League rivals Newcastle United with a 2-1 win in the League Cup third round at Old Trafford on Wednesday.
Chelsea needed a late winner from Ashley Cole to beat Stoke City 1-0 and move three points clear at the top of the English Premier League on Saturday.
Arsenal striker Alexis Sanchez and playmaker Mesut Ozil are fit for Sunday's Premier League clash with Chelsea, manager Arsene Wenger said. The league leaders have been without the influential Chilean, who has scored six league goals this season, since late November after he suffered a hamstring injury. Ozil missed Sunday's goalless draw away at Stoke City with a minor toe injury. "The good news is that Ozil certainly will be available, and Sanchez ... the next two days will be decisive ... but I think this time he will make it to be available for selection," Wenger told reporters on Thursday.
Manchester United striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic, who believes that age is just a number, has insisted he can go on to play for another 15 years if he stays healthy and continues to find the back of the net. Despite being 35-years-old, Ibrahimovic has been in prime form this season and has scored 10 times in his last nine matches in competitions, thus proving that he is still a force to be reckoned with when it comes to scoring goals.
Frank Lampard and Edin Dzeko scored twice as holders Manchester City sailed into the English League Cup fourth round with a crushing 7-0 win over Sheffield Wednesday and Chelsea beat Bolton Wanderers 2-1 on Wednesday.
Spanish striker Michu hit his fourth goal in three league games but Swansea City missed the chance to top the fledgling Premier League standings after the Welsh side were held 2-2 at home by Sunderland on Saturday.
Iceland midfielder Gylfi Sigurdsson produced his second two-goal blast in three games to inspire promoted Swansea City to an emphatic 3-0 win at Fulham in the Premier League on Saturday.
Chelsea's Brazilian midfielder Oscar has taken to Twitter to deny reports of a training ground row with team mate and Spain international Diego Costa.
Since the formation of the Premier League two decades ago, Liverpool have been classed as one of the division's "Big Four" but their weakening grip on a place among the true elite was eroded further by a woeful start to the new campaign.
Carlos Tevez of Manchester City and Dimitar Berbatov of Manchester United emerged the top scorers with 20 goals in the English Premier League season, which concluded on Sunday. Arsenal's Robin van Persie, with 18 goals, was next best.
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger says his team will not be daunted when they attempt to clinch a place in the Champions League at West Bromwich Albion on Sunday against a side playing their last match under England-bound coach Roy Hodgson.
Manchester United's sparkling performance in the Community Shield should put them in good heart for the start of their Premier League title defence at West Bromwich Albion on Sunday.
There are too many foreign managers in the Premier League and little opportunity for local talents, according to former Manchester United winger and assistant manager Ryan Giggs.
Arsenal extend Aubameyang stay with new three-year deal
Match-by-match facts and statistics ahead of the Premier League
Manchester City's expensively-assembled squad came back down to earth with a bump on Friday after manager Roberto Mancini said they should be happy finishing second to Manchester United because they are 'not on the moon'.
Lacazette fired the Gunners ahead in the eighth minute after poor defending by the home side before new signing Gabriel made it 2-0 in the 49th and Aubameyang put the icing on the cake with a superb shot into the top corner.
Holders Manchester City held their nerve to beat Leicester City 3-1 on penalties and reach the League Cup semi-finals after an entertaining last-eight tie ended 1-1 on Tuesday.
Rediff.com brings you this and a lot more gripping sporting action from the week gone by...
Manchester United spurned a chance to move into the Premier League's top four after striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic missed a penalty in a 1-1 draw against 10-man Bournemouth on Saturday.
Real Madrid have signed Spain right-back Alvaro Odriozola from Real Sociedad on a contract until 2024, the European champions said on Thursday.
Newcastle United continued their push for Europa League football next season when two excellent goals from Papiss Cisse and a superb strike from Hatem ben Arfa gave them a 3-1 win at West Bromwich Albion in the Premier League on Sunday.
Manchester City set a new top-flight record of 15 consecutive wins as their seemingly unstoppable march towards the English Premier League title continued with a 4-0 romp at bottom club Swansea City.
Chelsea's senior players should not be blamed for Andre Villas-Boas losing his job as the club's manager, skipper John Terry has said.
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has been feeling the pressure in the race for a Champions League place but a 2-0 win over West Bromwich Albion on Thursday got his team back up to third spot.
© 2026 Rediff.com - Advertise with us - Disclaimer - Privacy Policy - Sitemap - Feedback - About us - Terms of use - Grievances