Premier League, Week 33: Liverpool go top after Everton stun Arsenal

It was only a matter of time before one of Spurs’ deliveries was converted a second time, and so it proved when youngster Harry Kane was on hand to poke Eriksen’s deep delivery past Mannone on the hour. From then there was no way back for the visitors, whose best chance of an equaliser was Ignacio Scocco’s effort from outside the area which harmlessly bulged the side-netting.

Eriksen guaranteed the win with a third for Spurs with 12 minutes left on the clock, drilling the ball past Mannone from the edge of the area. They weren’t quite finished yet, with Kane’s low effort squirming under the hand of Mannone and prodded in for a fourth by Adebayor in the final five minutes of the 90, before substitute Gylfi Sigurðsson fired in from inside the box in the second minute of stoppage time.

Unsurprisingly, West Ham set up to defend and counter, though they didn’t actually do a great job of keeping track of Luis Suarez. Somehow, he didn’t score in the first half, despite the decent amount of space that West Ham gifted to him. However, that doesn’t mean that West Ham contained him. Suarez hit the bar on one occasion, in the 20th minute, then went on to win a penalty.

Liverpool were in control in the second half, but it took them a while to find the eventual winning goal. When they did, it was on another penalty, and this one perhaps a bit soft. Adrian went in aggressively on a low challenge with John Flanagan and certainly got a lot of the ball, but in the estimation of the referee, he also clipped Flanagan’s feet, and the Reds were granted a penalty. Once again, Gerrard stepped up and buried.

Seamus Coleman did this for 30 yards.

Seamus Coleman is a right back.

Arsenal failed to get a grip on the game throughout the first half. They had a bit more possession after that first goal and fewer cheap turnovers, but still failed to find anyone in dangerous spots going forward, while Everton continued to look threatening on quick counters. Barkley had a good chance saved in the 30th minute, but Everton wouldn’t have to wait much longer for their second.

Mirallas was the Everton man on the end of the move, though the goal is being credited as an own goal to former Toffees star Mikel Arteta. The goal was similar to the first, with Szczesny making an initial save -- this time on Naismith -- but giving up a big rebound. Mirallas barreled towards this one and nudged it towards the net, but Arteta got the final touch before the ball rolled over the line.

by Kevin McCauley

Most challenges that lead to penalties being awarded are dumb. In some cases, a defender just slightly mistimed what could have been a great tackle. In others, they were put into terrible positions by their teammates. Most, though, are the result of very bad individual errors. Still, there’s usually some sort of intention to stop an opponent from scoring by legal means or to win the ball. Jose Fonte’s foul on Edin Džeko was a completely different story.

The Blues kept the pressure on until the end of the half and were a bit unlucky not to double their lead. Branislav Ivanovic scored in the 41st minute, but had his goal waved off by the assistant referee for being offside by the slimmest of margins.

If Wilkinson’s introduction was purely tactical, it was a bad decision by Mark Hughes. He gave away a penalty just 15 minutes after coming on, and it was a bad one. The Stoke defender lost Salah in the penalty area and responded by hacking him down with an awful scissor challenge, which miraculously didn’t earn him a booking. Frank Lampard’s penalty was saved, but Chelsea’s all-time leading scorer followed up and poked in the rebound.

Full match report.

The Aston Villa we know and some of us begrudgingly love is back.

The breakthrough was inevitable and came from a Mata free kick so sweet it wouldn’t have looked out of place on a dessert cart.

In stoppage time it was more of the same, this time with Nani and Mata carving open the host’s disinterested back line to lay on the fourth.

Gareth McCauley is a vandal.

I can’t imagine why West Brom are struggling to stay out of the relegation zone.

Southampton got off to the worst start possible, and in completely unnecessary fashion. Just two minutes into the game, Jose Fonte inexplicably stuck his leg out behind him with no intention to win the ball, appearing to intentionally trip Edin Dzeko in the box. A penalty was given and Yaya Toure buried it, putting City in control of the match instantly.

Manchester City: Hart, Kolarov, Demichelis, Kompany, Zabaleta, Garcia (Fernandinho 46’), Toure, Nasri, Silva (Jovetic 77’), Navas, Dzeko (Negredo 65’)

Chelsea injuries and suspensions

Out: Samuel Eto’o (hamstring), Marco van Ginkel (knee), Ramires (suspended). In doubt: Ashley Cole (knee).

Manchester City injuries and suspensions

Out: Matija Nastasić (knee). In doubt: Micah Richards (knee), Sergio Agüero (hamstring).

Etihad Stadium; Saturday, 12:45 GMT/7:45 AM ET

City are still rightful favorites, and there’s no reason to think they’ll be looking past Southampton towards next weekend’s date with Liverpool. But that doesn’t mean the Saints aren’t capable of making the title race even more interesting than it already is.