Liverpool FC moved to the top of the Premier League and maintained their unbeaten home record despite producing an unconvincing display in a goalless draw at home to struggling West Ham United FC.
Rafael Benítez's charges began the day level on points with Chelsea FC after Luiz Felipe Scolari's side were beaten 2-1 at home by London rivals Arsenal FC on Sunday but could not make a firm statement of intent in the title race as they laboured against a resilient West Ham outfit. The Merseysiders reacted to the failure of their challengers the day before by fashioning a couple of early chances only for Albert Riera to see his shot blocked by James Collins and Sami Hyypiä to head over.
The Finnish defender went even closer with another header on 21 minutes, Carlton Cole clearing off the line to save Gianfranco Zola's men, although the visitors nearly took the lead before the interval when Craig Bellamy's long-range drive rebounded off the post. Chances were rare thereafter with Yossi Benayoun's fierce strike that was tipped over by Robert Green the best effort for the hosts while Cole could have earned the visitors a shock success but his header from a near-post corner went centimetres wide. Hyypiä headed another presentable chance from a corner off target as Liverpool failed to score at home for the second league game in succession following their disappointing home draw against Fulham FC nine days ago. West Ham are 13th but just three points above the relegation zone. UEFA
Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson defended Cristiano Ronaldo after the winger's bizarre sending off in the 1-0 win at Manchester City.
A single goal won the day, and it was a tap-in from Wayne Rooney. However, in the second half, the Red Devils almost gifted City a way back into the game when Cristiano Ronaldo picked up his second booking in 10 minutes and was sent off with over 20 minutes still left to play.
With the ball flying towards him, the Portuguese international instinctively put his hands up to protect his face as opposed to heading the ball away and was duly sent for an early bath.
As the champions managed to preserve their lead, Ferguson was not too preoccupied with the decision at full time, but nevertheless suggested that the offence should not have resulted in the No. 7's dismissal and that only external factors resulted in such a decision being taken.
"I've watched it again and he's trying to protect the ball hitting his face. He also thought he heard the whistle. It's not as if he's thrown a hand at the ball to deflect it away or punch it towards goal, it simply hit his hands. If it had been outside the box, the referee would just have given a free-kick, nothing else. The crowd played their part of course and he got sent off." explained Sir Alex on MUTV. -- Goal.com
Recreativo Huelva 1 - 2 Villarreal
Injury-hit Villarreal underlined their Spanish league title credentials with a 2-1 victory over rock-bottom Recreativo Huelva on Sunday to cut the gap on leaders Barcelona to four points. Despite missing seven players, including influential midfielder Marcos Senna, Villarreal had enough to overcome a Recreativo side who have won just once all season.
Villarreal were fortunate to go ahead when Santi Cazorla's shot from outside the area went in off a defender after 26 minutes. Ariel Ibagaza doubled the lead with a well-struck free-kick before Recreativo pulled a goal back through a penalty from Adrian Colunga after Pascal Cygan brought down Marco Ruben.
Valencia 3 - 2 Real Betis
A Ruben Baraja header gave ten-man Valencia a 3-2 victory in a pulsating encounter with Real Betis at the Mestalla to keep them in the championship hunt. Valencia had lost their last two home games but went into a commanding lead after first-half goals from David Villa and Juan Mata. Brazilian midfielder Edu was the key, helping to set up both goals as Betis struggled to muster an attack of their own. But after he exited before half-time holding his thigh Betis seized the initiative and reduced the deficit with Juanma Gonzalez scoring after 56 minutes with the Valencia keeper Renan Brito beaten at his near post.
Betis then levelled just after the hour mark when Sergio Garcia was brought down in the area by Carlos Marchena, who was dismissed. Achille Emana converted the spot-kick. Betis pushed forward looking for the victory but against the run of play Baraja headed a free-kick powerfully past the stranded Betis goalkeeper. fifa
Full results;
Getafe 3 - 1 Real Madrid
Sevilla 0 - 3 Barcelona
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Almeria 0 - 1 Deportivo La Coruna
Athletic Bilbao 2 - 0 Numancia
Espanyol 0 - 1 Sporting Gijon
Malaga 4 - 2 Osasuna
Recreativo Huelva 1 - 2 Villarreal
Valladolid 3 - 0 Mallorca
Valencia 3 - 2 Real Betis
Atletico Madrid 4 - 1 Racing Santander
Inter Milan 2 - 1 Napoli
Inter Milan's Serie A lead doubled to six points on Sunday as they defeated SSC Napoli 2-1 in an afternoon encounter and their neighbours AC Milan lost 3-1 to US Città di Palermo in the late game.
Napoli gifted their hosts a 16th-minute advantage with poor defending at a short corner that was played to Sulley Muntari, who crossed for Colombian centre-back Ivan Cordoba to volley home on the turn. Inter's second was pure class as Julio Cruz's backheel presented Maicon with space to shoot inside the box. He scuffed his effort but it arrived at Muntari's feet on the edge of the six-yard box and the Ghana midfielder reacted quickly to flick the ball between his legs and past the helpless Gennaro Iezzo on 25 minutes.
Nine minutes before the break the visitors fashioned a brilliant goal of their own. Ezequiel Lavezzi cut in from the right flank and played the ball into Uruguayan Marcelo Zalayeta who, with his back to goal, back-heeled the ball past a line of blue and black shirts. Argentina forward Lavezzi had continued his run and found himself clean through before cleverly dinking the ball over Julio Cesar as the Brazilian goalkeeper dived at his feet.
See the highlight;
Palermo 1 - 3 AC Milan
AC Milan crashed, 3-1, at Palermo on Sunday to hand city rivals and reigning champions Inter Milan a six-point lead at the top of the Serie A table. Milan remained third on goal difference behind Juventus who beat Reggina, 4-0, on Saturday in a match that saw veteran Italian striker Alessandro Del Piero score his 250th goal for the club.Palermo dominated for an hour in Sicily but Milan had the better chances of the first half. Goalkeeper Marco Amelia saved a Ronaldinho penalty on 27 minutes after he had knocked into Pato. Ronaldinho also hit the crossbar in first-half stoppage time direct from a free-kick but Palermo had enjoyed more pressure. Five minutes into the second half Fabrizio Miccoli faked to shoot on the edge of the box, made space and then curled a right-footer around Christian Abbiati.
Just before the hour mark Fabio Liverani chipped the ball into the area and Brazilian forward Edison Cavani rose above Paolo Maldini to head home. Brazilian Simplicio was left completely unmarked in the box to head in the third 10 minutes from time from a Federico Balzaretti cross. Ronaldinho scored a consolation from the spot seven minutes from time after he was brought down by Cesare Bovo. fifa
See the highlight;
Full results;
Catania 1 - 1 Lecce
Juventus 4 - 0 Reggina
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AS Roma 1 - 0 Fiorentina
Atalanta 2 - 0 Lazio
Cagliari 1 - 0 Sampdoria
Genoa 1 - 1 Bologna
Inter Milan 2 - 1 Napoli
Siena 1 - 0 Torino
Udinese 0 - 1 Chievo
Palermo 3 - 1 AC Milan
Manchester City 0 - 1 Manchester United 
Cristiano Ronaldo was sent off for the third time in his Manchester United career as Wayne Rooney's 100th goal in club football sealed a 1-0 victory for Sir Alex Ferguson's men against Manchester City at Eastlands on Sunday. Rooney's goal, his first in seven games, settled the 150th meeting between the Manchester neighbours and cemented United in third spot in the Premier League.
But United were forced to play the final 21 minutes with ten men after Ronaldo was dismissed for handling the ball from Rooney's corner, his second booking in the space of nine minutes. With five other players booked, United now face an FA fine for failing to control their players, but Ferguson will not be concerned by that having sealed a crucial victory. City hadn't landed back in Manchester until early on Friday morning following their UEFA Cup tie against Schalke in Germany, and United went into this game with the advantage of having had an extra two days to prepare.
The extra freshness within the United ranks showed in the first half as the European champions dominated possession and created the best chances. Not for the first time this season, though, Ferguson's team failed to capitalise on their early dominance and, just as happened at Liverpool, Everton and Arsenal earlier this campaign, United struggled to kill off their bitter rivals.
See the highlight;
Chelsea 1 - 2 Arsenal
Robin van Persie rocketed Arsenal back into the English Premier League title race with a quickfire double that stunned leaders Chelsea in a 2-1 away win at Stamford Bridge on Sunday. Arsenal's title hopes would have been dealt a severe blow by a defeat that would have left them 13 points off the pace and having suffered three consecutive league defeats. But the manner of their victory at what was the most difficult ground in England to win at will have surely sent notice to the likes of Manchester United and Liverpool that the Gunners are in no mood to give up the race.Chelsea, who had not been beaten at home in the league for 86 games before their 1-0 defeat to Liverpool on 26 October, have now lost two of their last four Premier League ties at Stamford Bridge. The result meant Arsenal are in fourth place, seven points behind the leaders ahead of second-placed Liverpool's match at home to West Ham on Monday.
In a keenly-contested London derby filled with end-to-end action, the Blues were 1-0 up thanks to Switzerland defender Johan Djourou's 30th-minute own goal. But Netherlands striker Van Persie, making his 100th start for the Gunners, equalised with a controversial offside goal in the 59th minute and stunned the hosts with a second goal three minutes later.Gunners captain Cesc Fabregas played a free kick into the penalty box that Adebayor headed back across goal for Van Persie. With his back to goal, Van Persie turned Lampard and blasted his shot in across Cech to shock Stamford Bridge.
Tottenham 0 - 1 Everton
South African midfielder Steven Pienaar ended his goal drought to give Everton a 1-0 win against Tottenham on Sunday.Pienaar hadn't scored for David Moyes' side for more than a year but he finally got back on target with a deflected effort early in the second half at White Hart Lane. The 26-year-old's goal was enough to give Moyes a victory in his 300th game as Everton boss and handed Tottenham manager Harry Redknapp a first home defeat.
The victory came at a great cost for Everton when Nigeria forward Ayegbeni Yakubu, who was leading Everton's attack on his own, fell awkwardly after a challenge with Ledley King and was forced off. Yakubu has been ruled out for the rest of the season after rupturing his Achilles. Moyes also admitted that France striker Louis Saha, only recently back from injury, could miss significant time with a hamstring injury. fifa
Full results;
Aston Villa 0 - 0 Fulham
Middlesbrough 0 - 0 Newcastle United
Stoke City 1 - 1 Hull City
Sunderland 1 - 4 Bolton Wanderers
Wigan Athletic 2 - 1 West Bromwich
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Manchester City 0 - 1 Manchester U.
Portsmouth 3 - 2 Blackburn Rovers
Tottenham 0 - 1 Everton
Chelsea 1 - 2 Arsenal
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