EPL: Chelsea lose, City beat Everton

Sport360 staff 08:17 07/12/2014
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  • Keeping a cool head: Yaya Toure converts his penalty for the only goal of the game.

    Manchester City will have to fight to fulfil their Champions League dream without talisman Sergio Aguero – and possibly up to five other key men.

    The Argentine striker, who has scored 19 goals this season, went off after just two minutes in the 1-0 win over Everton with knee ligament damage, and was substituted five minutes later.

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    Manager Manuel Pellegrini says Aguero will undergo tests today to determine the extent, but has already ruled him out of Wednesday’s match against Roma, where a City victory or a draw, coupled with CSKA Moscow failing to win against Bayern, will confirm their place in the last 16.

    With Yaya Toure suspended, City also have concerns over Vincent Kompany, Stevan Jovetic, David Silva and Fernandinho.

    At least they will go into the match lifted by a fifth successive win as Yaya Toure’s 24th minute penalty closed the gap on leaders Chelsea to three points.

    The penalty decision was debatable as Phil Jagielka came in to challenge James Milner. Toure ignored the furore to slot his spot-kick into the corner and seal the win for ‘City.

    Jose Mourinho was left complaining about ball-boys after seeing his Chelsea side’s unbeaten start to the season come to an end at Newcastle.

    The Portuguese could only look on in horror as substitute Papiss Cisse struck twice after the break, making Didier Drogba’s late header after defender Steven Taylor had been dismissed irrelevant with the home side holding out for victory.

    Cisse, who had replaced Remy Cabella four minutes earlier, fired the home side into a 57th-minute lead after defender Gary Cahill had failed to cut out Sammy Ameobi’s left-wing cross, and then doubled their advantage 12 minutes from time when he converted Moussa Sissoko’s pass after the once-again impressive midfielder had charged at the heart of the Chelsea defence.

    Mourinho’s men grabbed a lifeline with seven minutes remaining when, after Taylor had been sent off for a second bookable offence, substitute Drogba glanced a header past debutant ‘keeper Jak Alnwick, who had replaced the injured Rob Elliot at the break.

    Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger accused his side of being too soft as they once again came unstuck at the Britannia Stadium.

    The Gunners have won only one of their last nine games at Stoke City and saw a run of three straight victories end in a frenetic 3-2 defeat.

    Wenger said: “Stoke started strong and we were not decisive enough in our defensive challenges.

    Stoke raced into a convincing 3-0 lead at half-time through goals from Peter Crouch, the impressive Bojan Krkic and Jonathan Walters.

    But Arsenal refused to buckle and they fought back in the second half to provide a brief revival. Santi Cazorla unleashed a powerful shot to score before Aaron Ramsey grabbed the second.

    Arsenal pushed for an equaliser but their cause was not helped when Chambers was sent off 12 minutes from time, picking up a second yellow card for pulling Bojan.

    Brendan Rodgers’ decision to rest Steven Gerrard failed to pay dividends as Liverpool were held to a 0-0 draw by a resolute Sunderland at Anfield.

    In protecting his captain’s legs for supposedly greater challenges, namely Tuesday’s must-win Champions League tie at home to Basel, Rodgers placed the emphasis on those who, in years to come – if not before should Gerrard not agree a new deal by the summer – will have to replace the skipper.

    Elsewhere, Charlie Austin scored his eighth goal of the season as QPR beat fellow strugglers Burnley 2-0 and climbed out of the bottom three for the first time since September.

    Austin and Leroy Fer registered the goals for QPR.

    Tottenham’s poor home form made a worrying return as they stumbled to a 0-0 draw against relegation-threatened Crystal Palace.

    This was the fifth time in eight Premier League matches that Spurs have failed to win on home turf and the locals let their dissatisfaction be known.

    England new boy Saido Berahino found himself relegated to a bit-part role as West Brom’s sluggish run of form continued in a tepid 0-0 draw against Hull.

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