Four FA Cup third round matches were postponed on Saturday because of freezing weather gripping parts of England.
Holders Chelsea eased into the FA Cup quarter-finals with a 4-1 home victory over Championship (second division) side Cardiff City on Saturday while Portsmouth won by the same score at local rivals Southampton. After a season of shocks, the upsets dried up in the fifth round as Birmingham City came from behind to win 2-1 at Championship side Derby County with a last-minute goal by Liam Ridgewell while Manchester City and Stoke City drew 1-1.
No English team has won four successive top-flight titles and United, champions for the last three seasons, are involved in the most open and unpredictable title race for years.
Manchester United and Arsenal failed to take advantage of Chelsea's inactivity in the snowbound Premier League when they were held to draws by Birmingham City and Everton on Saturday. United came from behind to draw 1-1 at Birmingham while Arsenal rescued a point when a last-gasp Tomas Rosicky equaliser earned a 2-2 home draw with Everton.
Wayne Rooney scored to give Manchester United a 1-0 win over Birmingham City at the start of their bid for a fourth consecutive Premier League title but Liverpool lost 2-1 at Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday. North-west rivals United and Liverpool slugged it out for the trophy last season but both looked below-par and pedestrian compared with Arsenal who thumped six goals past Everton on Saturday.
Wayne Rooney got Manchester United's bid for a fourth consecutive Premier League title off to a winning start with the only goal in a 1-0 victory over promoted Birmingham City at Old Trafford on Sunday.
Cesc Fabregas scored twice to send Arsenal second in the Premier League, four points behind Chelsea but with a game in hand, after brushing aside Aston Villa 3-0 at the Emirates Stadium on Sunday.
Chelsea's stuttering form continued on Saturday when the Premier League leaders kicked off a hectic holiday programme with a 0-0 draw at Birmingham City.
Birmingham City managing director Karren Brady was arrested on Tuesday by London police investigating alleged corruption in English soccer.
Three goals in seven minutes gave Chelsea a 3-0 Premier League home win over Burnley on Saturday while champions Manchester United were thankful for an Abou Diaby own goal as they came from 1-0 down to beat Arsenal 2-1 at Old Trafford.
IMAGES from football matches played in the Serie A and the English Premier League on Saturday.
Manchester City to beat second-tier Sheffield Wednesday 1-0 and reach the FA Cup quarter-finals but Jose Mourinho's problems piled up as his Tottenham Hotspur side were bundled out in a penalty shootout by Norwich City.
Holders Chelsea advanced to the semi-finals of the FA Cup with a 2-0 home win over Stoke City while Aston Villa joined them after coming from 2-0 down to win 4-2 at Reading with a John Carew hat-trick on Sunday.
Bolton Wanderers secured a priceless three points in their bid to escape relegation on Saturday, winning 1-0 at Middlesbrough.
The manifesto also commits Labour to constitute a judge-led inquiry into Britain's "injustices of the past", including a public review of the country's role in Operation Blue Star -- referred to as the "Amritsar massacre".
Manchester United went top of the Premier League with a 2-1 home win over Bolton Wanderers on Saturday as Chelsea went down 2-1 at Aston Villa and Liverpool lost at Sunderland to a goal that went in off a beach ball.
Newcastle United drew a scrappy Premier League relegation clash 1-1 at Birmingham City on Monday leaving coach Kevin Keegan still without a win in eight league matches since returning to the club. The draw lifted Newcastle one spot to 14th with 29 points from 30 matches, while Birmingham rose from 17th to 16th taking their tally to 27 points from 30 games.
Arsenal will host Newcastle United in the outstanding League Cup third-round tie after the draw was made on Saturday.
The Arsenal striker was rushed to hospital and medical staff at the ground were also reported to be shocked at the seriousness of the injury.
Manchester United stayed put atop the English Premier League after 2-0 victory over Reading as Arsenal routed Fulham 3-0 and Chelsea beat Birmingham City 1-0.
Everton were knocked out of the FA Cup 1-0 by third division Oldham Athletic in the third round.
Chelsea also begin the new English season at home, against promoted Birmingham City.
The 'Iron Man of India' has emerged a contender to buy English Premiership football club Birmingham City after making an initial inquiry, The Daily Telegraph reported on Wednesday.
Birmingham City presented Alex McLeish as manager on Wednesday then cast doubt on the likelihood of Hong Kong businessman Carson Yeung taking control of the Premier League club
Aston Villa thrashed local rivals Birmingham City 5-1 to take their goal tally to 15 in their last three EPL games.
Fulham and Bolton Wanderers earned English Premier League lifelines on Saturday with victories over Reading and West Ham United respectively to keep their survival hopes alive with four games remaining. Goals by Brian McBride and Erik Nevland secured Fulham's 2-0 win, their first away success in the league in 19 months, while Bolton ended a dire run with a 1-0 home victory over West Ham courtesy of a Kevin Davies goal.
Arsenal's Eduardo da Silva has forgiven Birmingham City defender Martin Taylor for the tackle that left him with a fractured left fibula and dislocated ankle.
Champions Manchester United reduced Arsenal's lead to three points when they thrashed Newcastle United 5-1.
Birmingham drew 2-2 with Arsenal after James McFadden equalised with a late penalty in the EPL tie.
The rally was being planned by UK-based Kashmiri groups to mark the first death anniversary of the commander of the Hizbul Mujahideen terrorist outfit killed in a gun battle with Indian armed forces in the Kashmir Valley on July 8 last year.
Champions Manchester United stumbled to their second successive Premier League draw on Wednesday when they were held 1-1 at Portsmouth.
Chelsea set an unbeaten home record of 64 matches during their 3-2 win over Birmingham City.
A stunning hat-trick by Cristiano Ronaldo saw the champions outclass Newcastle United and go top of the Premier League.
Chelsea closed the gap on Arsenal at the top of the Premier League when they beat Tottenham Hotspur 2-0 on Saturday and Arsenal were held to a surprising 1-1 draw by Birmingham City.
Liverpool continued their hot streak by beating Bolton Wanderers 4-0 on Sunday with captain Steven Gerrard scoring one goal and having a hand in the other three. In the day's other Premier League game Alex McLeish got off to a flying start in charge of Birmingham City as Sebastian Larsson stuck a terrific injury-time goal to snatch a 3-2 win at Tottenham Hotspur.
Sunderland 5-0 win over Luton Town took the team into the Premier League in Roy Keane's first season as manager.
England striker Wayne Rooney suffered a hairline fracture of his left foot in Manchester United's 0-0 draw with Reading on Sunday, the Premier League champions announced.
Manchester United had to settle for a goalless draw against Reading on Sunday.
Newcastle United were thrashed 5-1 by second divison leaders Birmingham City in their FA Cup third round replay on Wednesday at St James's Park.
© 2026 Rediff.com - Investor Information - Advertise with us - Disclaimer - Privacy Policy - Sitemap - Feedback - About us - Terms of use - Grievances