PREMIERSHIP ROUND 16
 
1 DECEMBER 2002

Liverpool (0) 1 (Hyypia 81)
Man United (0) 2 (Forlan 63, 66)

Two goals from Diego Forlan and an epic howler from Liverpool keeper Jerzy
Dudek helped Man United to their first win against the Merseysiders in six
attempts and pulled them to within two points of the Anfield side. Chances were
few and far between in a tight opening hour, then Dudek somehow dropped
a routine catch from a headed back pass, allowing Forlan a tap in from three
yards. Three minutes later, Ryan Giggs drove at the home defence, found
Forlan to his right and he then doubled the lead with a firm drive inside the
near post. Sami Hyypia pulled a goal back, drilling in after El Hadji Diouf
held the ball up in the area and it was almost 2-2 when Dietmar Hamann's
bullet shot was brilliantly tipped away by Barthez. United host Arsenal next,
knowing that victory would leave them just three points adrift of the London
club.


Newcastle (0) 2 (Shearer 86, Bellamy 89)
Everton (1) 1 (Campbell 17)
RED CARD: Yobo (Everton) 22

Two late goals handed Newcastle a much needed victory and denied Everton
the chance to go second. Everton took the lead when Kevin Campbell latched
onto a long clearance, showed good control before bundling the ball past
Shay Given, however within five minutes they were reduced to ten men when
Joseph Yobo tripped Craig Bellamy as the Welshman bore down on goal.
The home side dominated the second half but only drew level with four
minutes to go when Alan Shearer crashed home an unstoppable 25 yard
volley from Shola Ameobi's header. The game was there for the taking then,
although it took an element of luck to win it as Bellamy cut inside and saw
his shot from a tight angle deflected off both Li Tie and keeper Richard
Wright before finding the net.


Leeds (1) 1 (Kewell 42)
Charlton (0) 2 (Lisbie 80, Parker 90)
Details to follow when I've seen highlights


30 NOVEMBER 2002

Arsenal (1) 3 (Pires 17, Henry 49, (pen) 82)
Aston Villa (0) 1 (Hitzlesperger 64)

Normal service was resumed at Highbury as Arsenal saw off Aston Villa as
Thierry Henry took his personal tally to five goals in four days. It was his
compatriot, Robert Pires, who opened the scoring, firing home having been
sent clear by Dennis Bergkamp, and then just after half time, Henry doubled
the lead with a sweetly struck free kick into the top corner from the left edge
of the area. Thomas Hitzlesperger pulled a goal back with a long range
effort after a short corner, however with time running out, Henry put the
points beyond doubt with a coolly taken chipped penalty after Steve
Staunton was judged to have fouled Freddie Ljungberg, although contact
looked minimal.


Birmingham (0) 1 (Kenna 68)
Spurs (0) 1 (Sheringham 55)

Honours even at St Andrews as Spurs poor away form continues. They did take
the lead through Teddy Sheringham who was on hand to tap the ball home
after Nico Vaesen had spilled Christian Ziege's cross, however Jeff Kenna
netted his first goal for Birmingham, cutting in from the left before drilling
into the far corner to earn a deserved point.


Blackburn (1) 2 (Yorke 35, Brevett (og) 77)
Fulham (0) 1 (Marlet 60)
MISSED PEN: Marlet (Fulham) 67

Brad Friedel saved a penalty and made a superb point-blank save in the second
half as Blackburn edged past Fulham. Dwight Yorke gave the hosts the lead with
a tap in after good work from Damien Duff, however Steve Marlet levelled things
up on the hour, slotting home after Luis Boa Morte's flick set him up. The
Frenchman then saw his penalty saved by the American keeper after Boa Morte
was sent sprawling by Craig Short. Rovers won it with a slice of luck as
Edwin Van der Sar saved well from Yorke's volley only for the rebound to
strike Rufus Brevett and end up in the net.


Chelsea (0) 3 (Gallas 58, Desailly 84, Hasselbaink 89)
Sunderland (0) 0

Chelsea succeeded where Liverpool failed and broke down an eleven man
Sunderland defence, although they took almost an hour to open the scoring.
The unlikely scorer was William Gallas who volleyed in Graeme Le Saaux
cross at the far post. Late on, Marcel Desailly doubled the lead with another
far post volley, this time from Le Saux's corner, before Jimmy Floyd
Hasselbaink added a third after an excellent run from Gianfranco Zola.


Man City (1) 2 (Howey 25, Berkovic 56)
Bolton (0) 0

The first north-west derby of the weekend saw Man City win comfortable against
Bolton. Steve Howey scored the opener with a diving post header after Marc
Vivien Foe had helped on a corner, and the points were secured in the second
half when Eyal Berkovic found the net with a deflected shot after Nik Anelka
played him in.


West Brom (0) 1 (Dichio 72)
Middlesbrough (0) 0

West Brom moved out of the bottom three after a narrow win over high flying
Middlesbrough. The only goal of a poor game came through Danny Dichio, firing
into the corner after a penalty area scramble. Late on, the game was marred
due to an awful clash of heads that saw Boro's Joseph Desire Job stretchered
off and Baggies defender Darren Moore helped off.


Gary Dowden - Joint Admin Topica Premier-L list
Leeds United and Scotland and proud of it
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