Premier League 2012, Week 20: Newcastle Crush Manchester United, Tim Howard Scores In A Loss

Cabaye scored Newcastle’s second in the 47th minute, hitting a jaw-dropping free kick from 30 yards, sneaking his shot just under the crossbar. It was the icing on the cake of a brilliant performance, where the Frenchman contributed just as much with his passing and tackling as he did with that free kick goal.

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It was all downhill from there for Everton though as the Blues, who lost three players to injury during the match, conceeded twice after Howard’s gem and lost at home to the last place team in the Premier League. I doubt Howard will really feel like celebrating his unlikely goal tonight.

Everton Lineup (4-4-2): Howard; Baines, Jagielka, Distin, Hibbert; Osman, Neville, Heitinga, Donovan; Stracqualursi, Saha

Bolton Lineup (4-4-1-1): Bodgan; Steinsson, Knight, Cahill, Ricketts; M. Davies, Muamba, Reo-Coker, Petrov; Eagles; N’Gog

Manchester United Lineup (4-4-2): Lindegaard, Evra, Carrick, Jones, Valencia; Welbeck, Giggs, Rooney, Nani; Hernandez, Berbatov

For more on the two teams, check out Manchester City blog Bitter And Blue and our two Liverpool blogs, Anfield Asylum and The Offside Liverpool. We’ll have coverage of this match and the other Premier League matches this week in our English Premier League Week 20 StoryStream.

For more on the two teams, check out Manchester City blog Bitter And Blue and our two Liverpool blogs, Anfield Asylum and The Offside Liverpool. We’ll have coverage of this match and the other Premier League matches this week in our English Premier League Week 20 StoryStream.

Edin Dzeko is staying in the squad for City and Sergio Aguero re-enters the team, while Liverpool counter with their fearsome forward Andy Carroll, who might be able to hit the frame today if he’s lucky. Maybe the short rest for City isn’t nearly as bad as Liverpool losing Suarez considering his replacement?

Anyways, if the Reds can manage three points they’ll jump Arsenal and move level with Chelsea in fourth place, while City need a point to break the deadlock with United atop the league.

For more, check in with our two Liverpool blogs, Anfield Asylum and The Offside Liverpool.

Game Date/Time: January 3, 3:00 p.m. ET, 8:00 p.m. local

Venue: Ethiad Stadium, Manchester, England

There was once a wonderful time where clubs didn’t go into crisis mode. The “CLUB IN CRISIS” meme hadn’t been invented yet, because there was no reason for it to exist. The top of the Premier League was infallible. A magical place where, no matter the injury or the bad run of form, everyone was safe from harm. There was never any threat of dropping out of Champions League places. There was a “Big Four,” and they were sacred.

Last season was a transitional period. With Tottenham competing on too many fronts and Liverpool in clear rebuilding mode, there was a clear top four again. This group was not nearly as strong as the previous group of four teams that monopolized English football for more than half a decade, and it was obvious that a six-team jumble would eventually emerge. Now, there are six very good teams competing for four Champions League places, and every bad result constitutes a crisis.

A draw would have been a good result for Fulham, but they were able to find a winner in the final minute of stoppage time. While trying to clear a cross, Sebastian Squillaci hit a poor header that fell right to Bobby Zamora on the edge of the penalty area. Zamora hit a composed half volley into the back of the net with a thundering strike, sending the Fulham faithful into raptures and giving his team a massive three points.

Related: Wolverhampton Wanderers 1-2 Chelsea

Didn’t we just do this? Like a few hours ago? Playing more games just seems so extreme. These guys are going to get tired!

15:00 GMT (10:00 AM ET); Villa Park