We know the managers don’t love the schedule congestion in the Premier League, but after a day like Tuesday we’re thrilled to have a midweek like this.
Manchester United looked like the Red Devils of old, Leicester City continued its incredible run, Arsenal continued its tumultuous table run and Spurs looked ready to the bright lights.
Those were just four of the teams toiling on Tuesday.
Manchester United 3-0 Stoke City — RECAP
The combination of Anthony Martial and Wayne Rooney will receive a lot of the accolades, but Juan Mata put forth an all-world effort in orchestrating the other two members of his power trio. United scored first half goals at home for the first time in 11 matches, and Old Trafford was, at least for a day, the Theater of Dreams.
Leicester City 2-0 Liverpool — RECAP
Jurgen Klopp won’t be pleased, but Jamie Vardy banged in a pair of goals to give the Foxes a three-point table lead heading into the weekend. England coach Roy Hodgson was in attendance, and it’s hard to imagine he isn’t salivating at the thought of in-form Vardy and Rooney in an attack with Raheem Sterling this summer in France.
Arsenal 0-0 Southampton — RECAP
- Koeman hails “magic” Forster in stonewalling of Arsenal
- Wenger slams Gunners’ finishing after wasteful day
Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger is understandably frustrated that his side couldn’t find the back of the goal, but he’ll watch the tape and realize Saints goalkeeper Fraser Forster was guilty of robbery on so many occasions that he’d get a life sentence from any sensible judge.
Sunderland 0-1 Manchester City — RECAP
Sergio Aguero scored early, and that’s all the league’s No. 2 team needed to advance past Sam Allardyce‘s side, as the big English manager slumped back in the dugout, wondering what his team will look like once the transfer buys hits the pitch together.
West Browmich Albion 1-1 Swansea City — RECAP
Opinion here, but Tony Pulis spent another afternoon robbing soccer fans of entertainment before Gylfi Sigurdsson broke through and put Swans up top. Baggies striker Salomon Rondon snared a point late, but West Brom was unconvincing again and sits just a trio of points above Swansea.
Norwich City 0-3 Tottenham Hotspur — RECAP
The Canaries could be in real trouble, but Spurs sure have made a lot of teams feel that way. Dele Alli scored, won a penalty for Harry Kane to convert, and then watched as Kane added a second goal as the North London side ran through Carrow Road with ease. Spurs now have the best goal differential in the Premier League (25).
West Ham United 2-0 Aston Villa — RECAP
Poor Remi Garde. We’re sure he’s a better manager than this, and Jordan Ayew‘s needless and vicious elbow had the last-place Villans down a man for most of this one. Dmitri Payet was again a string-puller for the Irons, who got goals from Michail Antonio and Cheikhou Kouyate.
Crystal Palace 1-2 Bournemouth — RECAP
Alan Pardew‘s Eagles are struggling, and now sit closer to the drop zone than the Top Four after coughing up an early lead provided by Scott Dann and Wilfried Zaha teaming up. Selhurst Park watched in horror as Marc Pugh dizzied the Palace ‘D’ for one goal and Benik Afobe buried his third in three games for the eventual match winner. That’s five-straight losses for Pardew’s Palace.
Standings |
| Team | GP | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Home | Away | PTS | |||
| Leicester City | 24 | 14 | 8 | 2 | 44 | 26 | 18 | 7-4-1 | 7-4-1 | 50 | |||
| Manchester City | 24 | 14 | 5 | 5 | 46 | 23 | 23 | 9-1-2 | 5-4-3 | 47 | |||
| Tottenham Hotspur | 24 | 12 | 9 | 3 | 44 | 19 | 25 | 6-4-2 | 6-5-1 | 45 | |||
| Arsenal | 24 | 13 | 6 | 5 | 37 | 22 | 15 | 7-3-2 | 6-3-3 | 45 | |||
| Manchester United | 24 | 11 | 7 | 6 | 31 | 21 | 10 | 6-4-2 | 5-3-4 | 40 | |||
| West Ham United | 24 | 10 | 9 | 5 | 38 | 28 | 10 | 5-5-2 | 5-4-3 | 39 | |||
| Southampton | 24 | 9 | 7 | 8 | 32 | 24 | 8 | 6-2-4 | 3-5-4 | 34 | |||
| Liverpool | 24 | 9 | 7 | 8 | 30 | 34 | -4 | 4-4-3 | 5-3-5 | 34 | |||
| Stoke City | 24 | 9 | 6 | 9 | 24 | 28 | -4 | 5-2-4 | 4-4-5 | 33 | |||
| Watford | 23 | 9 | 5 | 9 | 27 | 26 | 1 | 5-2-5 | 4-3-4 | 32 | |||
| Crystal Palace | 24 | 9 | 4 | 11 | 25 | 29 | -4 | 4-2-7 | 5-2-4 | 31 | |||
| Everton | 23 | 6 | 11 | 6 | 40 | 34 | 6 | 3-4-5 | 3-7-1 | 29 | |||
| West Bromwich Albion | 24 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 23 | 31 | -8 | 4-4-5 | 3-4-4 | 29 | |||
| Chelsea | 23 | 7 | 7 | 9 | 32 | 34 | -2 | 4-4-4 | 3-3-5 | 28 | |||
| Bournemouth | 24 | 7 | 7 | 10 | 29 | 39 | -10 | 3-4-4 | 4-3-6 | 28 | |||
| Swansea City | 24 | 6 | 8 | 10 | 23 | 32 | -9 | 4-4-4 | 2-4-6 | 26 | |||
| Norwich City | 24 | 6 | 5 | 13 | 28 | 46 | -18 | 4-3-5 | 2-2-8 | 23 | |||
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| Newcastle United | 23 | 5 | 6 | 12 | 25 | 41 | -16 | 3-5-4 | 2-1-8 | 21 | |||
| Sunderland | 24 | 5 | 4 | 15 | 28 | 47 | -19 | 3-3-6 | 2-1-9 | 19 | |||
| Aston Villa | 24 | 2 | 7 | 15 | 18 | 40 | -22 | 1-4-6 | 1-3-9 | 13 | |||