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Arsenal 2-2 Swansea
Newcastle 0-3 Everton
Man United 0-3 Man City
Hello, and welcome to our liveblog of tonight’s big game.
We’ll also be keeping you updated on the other two Premier League games happening tonight.
All the team news is below…
MAN UNITED: De Gea; Rafael, Ferdinand, Jones, Evra; Carrick, Cleverley, Fellaini; Mata, Welbeck, Rooney
MAN CITY: Hart, Zabaleta, Kompany, Demichelis, Clichy, Yaya Toure, Fernandinho, Nasri, Silva, Navas, Dzeko
NEWCASTLE: Krul; Yanga-Mbiwa, Williamson, Coloccini, Dummett; Sissoko, Anita, Tiote, Gouffran; de Jong, Cisse
EVERTON: Howard, Baines, Distin, Stones, Coleman, Barry, McCarthy, Deulofeu, Barkley, Osman, Lukaku.
ARSENAL: Szczesny, Sagna Mertesacker, Vermaelen, Gibbs, Flamini, Arteta, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Rosicky, Cazorla, Giroud.
SWANSEA: Vorm, Rangel, Williams, Chico Flores, Taylor, Britton, Shelvey, de Guzman, Routledge, Michu, Bony.
Those fine people at PA have taken a look at the recent history between the sides.
Meanwhile, here’s how it looks outside Old Trafford around about now.
Plenty of pre-match reading for you below.
- Dave Lyons takes a look at how United have struggled to cope with the burden of expectation at Old Trafford under David Moyes.
- Meanwhile, I look at five talking points ahead of the game tonight.
- We also ask United fans whether they would be happy winning tonight given that it would hand arch rivals Liverpool an advantage in the title race.
- David Moyes admits to feeling “hurt” in recent months, but denies that United’s best days are behind them.
- And finally, check out this provocative ad ahead of tonight’s game.
So who do you see winning this game?
Poll Results:
No big surprise to see Cleverley in the team.
United struggled against Liverpool with Fellaini and Carrick on their own in the midfield, so the England midfielder — while he may not be hugely talented on the ball — will give United the type of pace and physicality that they have lacked at times this season.
This game has produced some fantastic moments over the years. This one will take some beating:
We’re underway…
GOAL FOR MAN CITY!
Man City 1-0 Man United: Nasri evades Rafael and his strike hits the post, but the ball deflects into the path of Dzeko, who slots into the empty net (2 mins).
Great start for City!
Man City have easily been the superior team in the opening stages.
Almost all the play has been in United’s half, with City enjoying the majority of possession.
The hosts have struggled, in particular, to cope with the influential David Silva, who’s proving tricky to pick up owing to his intelligent movement and positioning.
Arsenal 0-1 Swansea: Things have gone from bad to worse for the Gunners, as Wilfried Bony has given the Welsh side the lead.
United finally look as if they’re beginning to settle down a little and have at last made some inroads into the City half.
The hosts already appear to have made a tactical switch, with Cleverley playing on the right now and Mata seemingly operating deeper.
Meanwhile, as I type, both players are down after Welbeck crunches into Zabaleta. He gets a yellow, but it could have even been a red owing to its sheer recklessness.
Good break from United. Rooney turns Demichelis and plays it to Mata, whose cross is cut out by the City defender.
United have looked incredibly panicky at the back, but the swift manner of their counter-attack has given fans scope for optimism.
Rooney beats Zabaleta but his shot is deflected harmlessly into the hands of Joe Hart.
The England striker looks lively tonight.
Newcastle 0-1 Everton: Ross Barkley has given the Toffees the lead.
They could be right back in the Champions League race, especially if Arsenal fail to win tonight.
Meanwhile, an ex-Everton player Fellaini has just forced Hart into a save with a pot shot as United continue to improve.
According to Sky, City have had 67% of the possession in the last 10 minutes.
That doesn’t reflect how United have improved of late though.
Fellaini has just been booked for shouldering/elbowing Zabaleta off the ball.
The midfielder looks very frustrated and he’s lucky the punishment wasn’t more severe there.
Some nice build-up play from United, but Mata badly overhits an attempted pass to Fellaini.
United have grown into this game, after they could have effectively been beaten in the first ten minutes.
Some hesitant play from Mata perhaps highlights the widely-held belief that he’s not a natural winger.
He receives the ball in a good position, but doesn’t have the confidence to take on the full back. Consequently, he dwells on the ball before passing it backwards and the attack loses all momentum in the process.
A cross falls to Mata, and the Spanish midfielder curls the ball just over.
United have shown good character to get back into this match, and they’re definitely on top at the moment.
Rooney guides a dangerous cross towards Fellaini, but Clichy does well to head away for a corner.
The Belgian player could have shown a bit more aggression there — he looked like he didn’t fancy a potential clash of heads with the defender.
Fernandinho has just been rightly booked for a cynical professional foul on Rooney as the first half draws to a close.
Then Rooney commits an even worse tackle and inexplicably isn’t booked.
It’s been a great game so far.
HALF-TIME: MAN UNITED 0-1 MAN CITY
HALF-TIME: ARSENAL 0-1 SWANSEA
HALF-TIME: NEWCASTLE 0-1 EVERTON
The second half is underway, and Kagawa is on in place of Cleverley.
Moyes might just lose his reputation as a cautious manager with a change like that.
Another strong early start from City as Carrick is forced to throw himself at a shot from Zabaleta and concede a corner.
It comes to nothing though, and United can relax for now.
Newcastle 0-2 Everton: Lukaku puts Everton two-ahead, which could set them up for a final Champions League push (52 mins).
Arsenal, meanwhile, are still losing to Swansea.
Very close for City! Kompany beats Fellaini to a header from a corner and it deflects to Fernandinho, who heads the ball just over.
City have regained control of the contest at the start of this second half.
Important tackle from Jones on Dzeko after some glorious play by David Silva in the build-up.
GOAL FOR MAN CITY!
Man City 2-0 Man United: Dzeko capitalises as Ferdinand is caught sleeping (55 mins).
The big striker guides a corner into the net expertly, having evaded the ex-England international.
Long way back for United now!
As we contemplate the ramifications of the second Dzeko goal, here’s a look back at the first one.
David Moyes is not happy, naturally.
Cheers from the crowd as Antonio Valencia replaces Marouane Fellaini.
It looks like Wayne Rooney will now play in midfield, with Welbeck operating as the lone striker.
And for City, Javi Garcia has replaced Navas.
So it looks like Silva will now play on the right, with Garcia slotting in centrally, as the visitors look to acquire a bit more defensive solidity.
Good save from Hart, as Welbeck attempts to backheel Rafael’s cross into the net. United look like they haven’t given up all hope yet.
Meanwhile, Milner is set to come on for City.
Arsenal 2-1 Swansea: Giroud and Podolski have scored in quick concession to turn things around for Arsenal (75 mins).
Meanwhile, Milner has replaced Nasri for City.
Do you agree, United fans?
Welbeck has now come off with Hernandez replacing him, as United throw the dice for one last time.
All these substitutions have significantly disrupted the rhythm of this second half. Consequently, City have been relatively comfortable since the second goal.
A poor pass from Valencia allows Demichelis to make a well-timed tackle on the onrushing Rafael.
The much-maligned City centre-back has put in a flawless performance this evening.
Newcastle 0-3 Everton: Leon Osman has just got a third for the Toffees with a fantastic strike (84 mins).
Game over there!
Kompany commits a rash challenge on Hernandez.
He’s on a booking, and the referee gives him the benefit of the doubt and refrains from handing out a second yellow.
GOAL FOR MAN CITY!
Man United 0-3 Man City: A cross deflects into the path of Yaya Toure (90 mins).
The Ivorian goes past Patrice Evra all too easily, and strikes it consummately into the corner.
Game, set and match!
Arsenal 2-2 Swansea: Meanwhile, Swansea have sensationally equalised.
A Mathieu Flamini own goal looks like making it a great night for Everton fans (90 mins).
FULL-TIME: MAN UNITED 0-3 MAN CITY
FULL-TIME: ARSENAL 2-2 SWANSEA
FULL-TIME: NEWCASTLE 0-3 EVERTON
Right, that’s all from me for now, but we’ll have more reaction to come on the site, so stay tuned.
Thanks for reading and commenting.
