Robin Van Persie scored an injury-time winner as United defeated City 3-2 in the Manchester derby.
Yesterday produced a dramatic day of action in the Premier League.
In the early kick-off Manchester United defeated arch-rivals Manchester City 3-2 at the Etihad Stadium.
The visitors took the lead in the 16th minute, as Wayne Rooney’s tamely hit effort found a way past Joe Hart in the City goal.
United doubled their lead in the 29th minute. Rafael’s cross was side-footed home by Rooney inside the penalty area for the striker’s 150th Premier League goal.
The game was turned around in the second half by the introduction of Argentinian striker Carlos Tevez, who replaced Mario Balotelli.
Ashley Young had an effort disallowed for offside in controversial style, before the home side got back in the contest. The decision was a very debatable one.
City got a goal back in the 60th minute. Tevez’s persistence led to the equaliser. A scramble in the United box saw Tevez tee-up Yaya Toure, who side-footed an effort past Davide De Gea in the United goal.
City were back on level terms with just four minutes of normal time remaining. Carlos Tevez’s corner was headed away by Robin Van Persie only for Argentinian full-back Pablo Zabaleta to fire past De Gea.
It looked like City would retain their two-year unbeaten home record in the top flight until stoppage-time. Rafael was fouled just outside the penalty area by Tevez. Van Persie’s free-kick took a deflection off Samir Nasri and beat Hart in the City goal.
During the wild celebrations United defender Rio Ferdinand was hit by a coin thrown by the City fans. It was a sour end to what had been a superb spectacle. The victory sent United six points clear of their city rivals at the top of the Premier League table.
Elsewhere, Everton hit two goals late-on to beat Tottenham 2-1 at Goodison Park. The game was a cagey affair, but the visitors took the lead in the 76th minute, as a Clint Dempsey effort took a deflection off Sylvain Distin and looped past Tim Howard in the Everton goal.
Just as it seemed that Spurs were set to take home maximum points Everton equalised in the last minute. Seamus Coleman fired a superb cross into the penalty area and former-Spurs midfielder Steven Pienaar headed past Hugo Lloris in the Tottenham goal.
The turnaround was complete in stoppage-time. Darren Gibson fired a cross into the Everton area, which substitute Vellios inadvertently turned onto Nikica Jelavic, who clinically fired home the winner to send Goodison wild.
The win took Everton above Tottenham on goal difference into fourth place in the Premier League table.
Liverpool claimed a 3-2 victory at West Ham’s Boleyn Ground. Liverpool took the lead in the 11th minute through a superb long-range strike from former-Irons full-back Glen Johnson. The Hammers equalised in the 36th minute.
Mohamed Diame’s drive was handled by Joe Allen in the penalty area and midfielder Mark Noble scored with the resulting spot-kick. The home side were ahead in the 43rd minute, Matt Jarvis’ cross headed past his own keeper by Steven Gerrard.
Another former-Hammer scored the equaliser in the 76th minute, as Joe Cole was found superbly by Raheem Sterling and the mercurial star fired past Jussi Jaaskelainen. Just three minutes later and Liverpool were in front.
Substitute Jordan Henderson fired in a low cross, which Jonjo Shelvey and James Collins challenged for, only for the ball to loop off the centre-backs foot and beat Jaaskelainen in the home goal.
The victory moved Liverpool up to tenth in the Premier League table, a place above the Hammers. However, both teams are just four points behind fourth place Everton in the top flight table.
Who will claim fourth spot in the Premier League?
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