As it Happened: Saturday's Premier League
Updated: Saturday, 01 Dec 2012 19:07
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Relive the action from today's matches in the English Premier League.
Saturday's Premier League Results:
West Ham 3-1 Chelsea
Arsenal 0-2 Swansea
Fulham 0-3 Tottenham
Liverpool 1-0 Southampton
Manchester City 1-1 Everton
West Bromwich Albion 0-1 Stoke
Queens Park Rangers 1-1 Aston Villa
Reading 3-4 Manchester United
Scottish Cup Result:
Celtic 1-1 Arbroath
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Reading finish the match with a brace of corners and win both but can't direct them on target as Manchester United take victory to go three points clear at the top of the Premier League.
Full-time: Reading 3-4 Manchester United
Reading have had a couple of half chances, while United went close with van Persie's effort, but apart from that there hasn't been much of a threat from either side this half. Five minutes of normal time remaining.
Reading keeper Federici almost gifts United another. He receives a back pass under pressure from van Persie and instead of booting it to safety tries to beat the Dutchman with 'fancy footwork'. It goes horribly wrong of course and van Persie blasts wide when he looked certain to score. Still 3-4 in favour of United.
The second half is far less of a spectacle so far, unsurprisingly. Reading had penalty claims waved away rightly by the referee, while neither keeper has been troubled much so far.
The second half is underway...
Half-time: Reading 3-4 Manchester United
United are unlucky not to go further ahead when a van Persie effort appeared to cross the line. It remains 3-4 though with three minutes of the half left.
Van Persie gets in on the action. The Dutchman beats the offside trap and collects a Rooney flick and makes no mistake unhindered from a central position. Both teams have now led twice.
Reading 3-4 Manchester United
Evra and Young combine brilliantly down the left and Rooney is on hand in the middle of the box to convert Evra's low cross. What a game.
Reading 3-3 Manchester United
The madness continues as Reading go back in front with Sean Morrison wriggling free from another corner and heading home. A quarter of the game gone, five goals and Reading are 3-2 up.
Reading 3-2 Manchester United
Crazy game at the Madjeski as Reading equalise in the 19th minute. Adam Le Fondre is left unmarked from a corner and heads past De Gea to equalise.
Reading 2-2 Manchester United
Jay Tabb barges into Jonny Evans, leaving the referee with little choice but to award a penalty, and Wayne Rooney slots home to give United the lead.
Reading 1-2 Manchester United
Anderson brings Manchester United level as he beats Adam Federici at the near post with a strong drive. Good response from United.
Reading 1-1 Manchester United
Manchester United fall behind once more as Hal Robson-Kanu takes on Jobi McAnuff's cross and volleys the ball into the top corner of the net.
Reading 1-0 Manchester United
Reading kick off against Manchester United. Results earlier today mean United can go three clear of Man City and 10 of Chelsea. Wayne Rooney and Robin Van Persie lead the attack.
Reading: Federici, Cummings, Mariappa, Morrison, Shorey, Robson-Kanu, Leigertwood, Tabb, McAnuff, Le Fondre, Roberts.
Subs: Taylor, Pearce, Pogrebnyak, Hunt, McCleary, Guthrie, Harte.
Man Utd: Lindegaard, Da Silva, Ferdinand, Evans, Evra, Fletcher, Anderson, Carrick, Young, Rooney, van Persie.
Subs: De Gea, Jones, Giggs, Smalling, Hernandez, Welbeck, Cleverley.
Next up, Manchester United will meeting Reading looking to open up a three-point lead at the top.
QPR remain eight points adrift of Aston Villa outside of the relegation zone.
Full-time: Queens Park Rangers 1-1 Aston Villa
Just the match at Loftus Road still ongoing after the injury delay in the first half. Can either side find a winner?
Full-time: Fulham 0-3 Tottenham
Full-time: West Bromwich Albion 0-1 Stoke
Full-time: Liverpool 1-0 Southampton
Full-time: Manchester City 1-1 Everton
Embarrassing result for Celtic as they are held to a draw to a mid-table Second Division side.
Full-time: Celtic 1-1 Arbroath
Full-time: Arsenal 0-2 Swansea
Suarez misses a glorious chance to seal victory for Liverpool but they should hang on for the points.
So close for Everton as Hart manages to just tip Jelavic's free-kick around the post.
Arsenal 0-2 Swansea
Celtic 1-1 Arbroath
Michu, probably the best-value transfer of the last window, puts Swansea ahead with another opportunistic strike to shock the Emirates.
Arsenal 0-1 Swansea
Villa make all three changes and Darren Bent is not one of them so it is another afternoon of frustration for the England international.
Everton are still the better side in the closing stages at the City of Manchester Stadium. Fellaini a persistant threat, Balotelli is coming on for Dzeko.
Defoe with another excellent finish to add gloss for Spurs.
Fulham 0-3 Tottenham
Jermaine Defoe's goal should seal the win for Tottenham. AVB's side are gathering a head of steam in the Premier League.
Fulham 0-2 Tottenham
Dean Whitehead gives Stoke City the lead at the Hawthorns and the Baggies are facing a second defeat of the weke. Stoke can move within four points of their hosts if they hang on.
West Bromwich Albion 0-1 Stoke
It is Everton doing the pressing in Manchester with City forced to demend amid a spate of aerial balls towards their goal. Naismith lively, and City sometimes run ragged in behind by Jelavic.
Still just the six goals in the Premier League in the 3pm games. Arsenal and City among the sides being held.
Suarez flicks a lovely ball to Enqirue to put the Spaniard through on goal but he makes a mess of the shot at goal and Southampton survive at 1-0 still.
Blow for Tottenham as Gareth Bale pulls up with a hamstring injury.
City are still plugging away looking for a lead goal against Everton. This is turning into a fantastic day for Manchester United before they even take to the field.
Sandro puts Tottenham in front with a 30-yard screamer, a man not known for his goal-scoring ability it's a fantastic strike to put Tottenham in the advantage.
Fulham 0-1 Tottenham
Santi Cazorla's low shot is pushed away by Gerhard Tremmel in the Swansea goal as Arsenal start the second half on the front foot at the Emirates.
Underway in the second half in all games. Big 45 minutes for Harry Redknapp and QPR.
Half-time: Queens Park Rangers 1-1 Aston Villa
Half-time: Manchester City 1-1 Everton
Half-time: Fulham 0-0 Tottenham
Half-time: West Bromwich Albion 0-0 Stoke City
Half-time: Liverpool 1-0 Southampton
Rickie Lambert almost embarrasses Pepe Reina as his long-range effort forces the goalkeeper to tip the ball past the post.
Half-time: Arsenal 0-0 Swansea
City are back level as Carlos Tevez converts a penalty with two minutes to half-time.
Manchester City 1-1 Everton
Wonderful header by Daniel Agger to give Liverpool the lead at Anfield. Seconds earlier, Luis Suarez's free-kick struck the crossbar but Liverpool regrouped and set up Agger to direct the ball into the net.
Liverpool 1-0 Southampton
Eunan O'Kane (Bournemouth) and Matt Doherty (Bury) among the Irish scorers in the FA Cup so far today.
Alexander Keddie's own goal finally breaks the Arbroath resistance in the Scottish Cup.
Celtic 1-0 Arbroath
Jonjo Shelvey's thunderous shot at goal strikes the post with the Southampton goalkeeper rooted to the spot. Liverpool still waiting for the breakthrough.
Marouane Fellaini sneaks in at the near post to force Joe Hart into a fine save from a close-range header. The Everton midfielder follows it up to knee the ball over the line and the Toffees, the last team to beat City on their own patch in the league, are ahead.
Manchester City 0-1 Everton
Luis Suarez is denied again as Saints goalkeeper Gazzaniga blocks his prodded effort away from goal. Liverpool are keeping the intensity level high, with their top scorer very much the focal point.
Kevin Doyle finds the net for Wolves as they go 2-0 up against Bristol City. Nice to see the Republic of Ireland striker on the goal trail.
Gareth Bale is booked for diving at Craven Cottage, while Luis Suarez's half-volley is saved at Anfield. Still waiting for today's action to come to the boil.
Glen Johnson is once again involved in a Liverpool attack as he moves the ball to his left foot and sees a weak shot blocked by the Southampton goalkeeper.
Jamie Mackie, goalscorer at Old Trafford last week, brings relief to Loftus Road as Harry Redknapp's side draw level. A majestic header beats Guzan in the Villa goal.
QPR 1-1 Aston Villa
Quiet start at the home of the champions with little City pressure so far. Just the Brett Holman goal so far to talk about in the entire 3pm programme.
Brett Holman piles the pressure on QPR in what is a must-win game today you feel against their relegation rivals. Villa make the perfect start on the back of the win over Reading earlier in the week.
Glen Johnson misses a glorious chance to put Liverpool ahead against Southampton as he just helps the ball on at the near post rather than shooting towards goal.
QPR 0-1 Aston Villa
Kolorav picks up an injury four minutes into the game for Manchester City. He will have to go off. Zabaleta will come on.
Underway in all the games around England.
QPR: Green, Bosingwa, Nelsen, Hill, Traore, Mbia, Diakite, Granero, Wright-Phillips, Taarabt, Mackie.
Subs: Murphy, Derry, Ferdinand, Park, Cisse, Da Silva, Hoilett.
Aston Villa: Guzan, Lowton, Clark, Baker, Lichaj, Holman, Herd, Westwood, Bannan, Benteke, Agbonlahor.
Subs: Given, Ireland, El Ahmadi, Bent, Delph, Weimann, Williams.
Fulham: Schwarzer, Riether, Senderos, Hughes, Riise, Frei, Diarra, Sidwell, Dejagah, Berbatov, Petric.
Subs: Etheridge, Kelly, Baird, Karagounis, Richardson, Duff, Rodallega.
Tottenham: Lloris, Naughton, Dawson, Caulker, Vertonghen, Lennon, Dembele, Sandro, Bale, Defoe, Dempsey.
Subs: Friedel, Gallas, Sigurdsson, Falque, Walker, Livermore, Carroll.
Man City: Hart, Maicon, Kompany, Lescott, Kolarov, Toure, Barry, Silva, Tevez, Nasri, Dzeko.
Subs: Pantilimon, Zabaleta, Javi Garcia, Sinclair, Aguero, Toure, Balotelli.
Everton: Howard, Hibbert, Jagielka, Distin, Baines, Gibson, Osman, Naismith, Fellaini, Pienaar, Jelavic.
Subs: Mucha, Heitinga, Oviedo, Hitzlsperger, Gueye, Barkley, Vellios.
Boisterous celebrations in Upton Park by home supporters, this is a big win for the Hammers. Chelsea look stunned and could go 10 points behind the leaders Manchester United later today. Unrest after three games for Benitez.
Full-time: West Ham 3-1 Chelsea
Ashley Cole's error allows West Ham to seal it but this sums up how Chelsea are feeling. Cole's mis-placed pass gives Matt Taylor the chance to beat Cech, the goalkeeper makes the save but Modibo Maiga blasts home the follow up.
West Ham are attempting to keep the ball in the corner with just 30 seconds until the 90th minute. The Hammers work-rate has been the inspiration behind the comeback, Chelsea have been outbattled in the second period.
Liverpool: Reina, Johnson, Skrtel, Agger, Jose Enrique, Lucas, Allen, Shelvey, Gerrard, Sterling, Suarez.
Subs: Jones, Sahin, Henderson, Downing, Carragher, Fernandez Saez, Wisdom.
Southampton: Gazzaniga, Clyne, Yoshida, Fonte, Shaw, Puncheon, Cork, Schneiderlin, Lallana, Ramirez, Lambert.
Subs: Kelvin Davis, Hooiveld, Steven Davis, Rodriguez, Ward-Prowse, Mayuka, Reeves.
West Ham take the lead as Diame's powerful strike following magnificent work by Cole gives Peter Cech no chance. Diame powered the ball through the legs of Ivanovic and things have gone from bad to worse for Rafael Benitez.
Arsenal: Szczesny, Jenkinson, Mertesacker, Vermaelen, Gibbs, Cazorla, Arteta, Wilshere, Walcott, Gervinho, Podolski.
Subs: Mannone, Rosicky, Giroud, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Ramsey, Squillaci, Coquelin.
Swansea: Tremmel, Rangel, Chico, Williams, Davies, Dyer, Britton, Ki, de Guzman, Shechter, Michu.
Subs: Cornell, Monk, Moore, Tiendalli, Agustien, Richards, Donnelly.
West Brom: Myhill, Reid, McAuley, Olsson, Popov, Yacob, Mulumbu, Dorrans, Rosenberg, Gera, Long.
Subs: Daniels, Ridgewell, Morrison, Brunt, Lukaku, Odemwingie, Tamas.
Stoke: Begovic, Shotton, Shawcross, Huth, Cameron, Walters, Nzonzi, Adam, Whelan, Etherington, Jones.
Subs: Sorensen, Palacios, Whitehead, Upson, Kightly, Wilkinson, Jerome.
Winston Reid thinks he puts West Ham into the lead, until Ashley Cole's goal-line header clears the ball following an excellent corner by the Hammers. This second-half display is worthy of a point but all three are still there for them with seven minutes on the clock.
Petr Cech does well again as Matt Jarvia bears down on goal with the Czech goalkeeper getting to ground to deny West Ham.
Demel's header aimed towards the far post is gathered by Cech as the Hammers increase the pressuure with 15 minutes remaining. Exciting finish to come.
Oscar comes on for Hazard for Chelsea with the Blues supporters singing "You don't know what you're doing" at their interim manager.
What a response from Chelsea as they come close to going back in front on three occasions in the space of two minutes. Azpilicueta's determind run sees Jaaskelainen block a well-struck shot and Torres' weak rebound is also kept out. Juan Mata's beautifully hit free-kick then strikes the post. West Ham escape, 23 minutes remain.
Contentious equaliser for West Ham as Carlton Cole beats Branislav Ivanovic to the ball to win a header and see the ball past Petr Cech. It had looped into the air and Cole outfought the Chelsea man. There is an argument it was a foul, but the goal stands and the Hammers are level.
Stats on possession for the first 15 minutes of the second half show, unsurprisingly, that West Ham have had 60% of the ball.
Some lovely inter-play from West Ham carves another opportunity by Ivanovic is on hand to clear. Chelsea may be struggling to get on the ball for any reasonable period, but you can't fault their commitment at the back.
Some desperate defending in the Chelsea box with Cahill, again, proving he is giving everything to the cause by diving to head the ball clear, knowing he's going to get hurt in doing so. A kick in the face results and, understandably, he requires treatment.
Some concerted pressure from West Ham in these first five minutes of the second period. Gary Cahill has to stand big and strong to deny a goal-bound effort.
Carlton Cole arrived late into the Chelsea box to meet a cross from Matt Jarvis, but his header is pretty poor. Bright start to the second half, though.
The injury which kept Andy Carroll out of today's game will also keep him out of action for up to eight weeks.
West Ham boss Sam Allardyce told BBC: "It's pretty severe. We didn't expect it to be quite as severe. It's going to be about six to eight weeks. It's a blow for us and Andy."
Having already missed a month due to a hamstring injury suffered against Fulham in September, Carroll had netted only once in 10 games for the Hammers.
Half-time: West Ham 0-1 Chelsea
Petr Cech gives away a free-kick after punching the ball outside of his area. Cech is booked for the incident, but makes up for it as he keeps out Kevin Nolan's powerful header from seven yards.
Juan Mata sees his shot from 10 yards blocked by Jaaskelainen after excellent play by Juan Mata. Joey O'Brien took care of the rebound. There is no doubt Chelsea deserve this lead and they may regret not bagging a second in this period.
Just eight minutes to the break and West Ham have failed to muster a significant chance in the game so far.
James Tomkins' header, set to go out for a corner, is cleared by a Chelsea defender to rid any danger and the Blues break again.
It has been all-Chelsea since the goal with good movement up front from the Blues front man. West Ham are struggling to keep possession with Carlton Cole fighting a difficult battle on his own up front.
Chelsea take the lead after 13 minutes as a clever pull-back by Fernando Torres tees up Juan Mata to sidefoot the ball into the corner of the net. Chelsea have been positive, and they have got their reward.
Chelsea will a corner after 37 seconds after good work by Torres but West Ham manager to clear amid the Upton Park bubbles.
West Ham have enjoyed a good start to the season but they will miss Andy Carroll today. There is no doubt the home support will make it as difficult as possible for Benitez and under-pressure Chelsea. Big test for the new manager today.
West Ham: Jaaskelainen, Demel, Collins, Reid, O'Brien, Tomkins, Noble, O'Neil, Nolan, Jarvis, Cole.
Subs: Spiegel, Taylor, Diame, Maiga, Spence, Fanimo, Moncur.
Chelsea: Cech, Azpilicueta, Ivanovic, Cahill, Cole, Mikel, Ramires, Moses, Hazard, Mata, Torres.
Subs: Turnbull, Ferreira, Bertrand, Romeu, Oscar, Marin, Piazon.
Benitez has made several changes again today as he drops Oscar to the bench and recalls Juan Mata and Victor Moses.
Gary Cahill also makes his first start under the interim manager , with David Luiz serving a one-match ban after picking up five bookings this season.
West Ham have lost Andy Carroll to a knee injury as Carlton Cole starts against his former club. Mark Noble returns from suspension and Gary O'Neil is also drafted in.
Chelsea visit London rivals West Ham United in the first of the Premier League matches, knowing they could be 10 points behind leaders Manchester United by the end of proceedings today. Rafael Benitez is looking for a first win in charge of the Blues. Follow all the action here today.