MATOKEO YOTE YA EPL NA PICHA TAZAMA HAPA,ARSENAL NA MANCHESTER UNITED ZAPATA USHINDI MNONO

 

Aston Villa 2 Swansea 0: Lowton and Benteke lift hosts to first win of the season

Goals from newcomers Matthew Lowton and Christian Benteke earned Aston Villa their first Barclays Premier League win under Paul Lambert - and ended Swansea's unbeaten start to the campaign.
Right-back Lowton broke the deadlock with a 20-yard first-half volley and substitute Benteke wrapped up the points with two minutes left.
It was another encouraging performance from a new-look Villa side being assembled by Lambert after their 1-1 draw at Newcastle.

Opening salvo: Matthew Lowton gave Villa an early lead

MATCH FACTS

ASTON VILLA: Guzan, Lowton, Clark, Vlaar, Lichaj, Holman (N'Zogbia 78), El Ahmadi, Ireland (Westwood 69), Bannan, Weimann (Benteke 70), Bent.  Unused subs: Given, Agbonlahor, Bowery, Bennett.
Goals: Lowton 16
Booked: Lowton, Clark, Lichaj
SWANSEA: Vorm, Rangel, Tate, Williams, Davies, Britton (Shechter 78), De Guzman, Michu, Dyer, Routledge (Hernandez 56), Graham (Moore 70). Unused subs: Tremmel, Sung-Yeung, Agustein, Richards.
Booked: Michu
Referee: Lee Mason
Att: 34,005

Lambert had promised to entertain and this Villa side look more likely to create opportunities than the dour football served up under former manager Alex McLeish.

Another newcomer in winger Brett Holman caused problems but of equal encouragement was the solid look about the back four in which keeper Brad Guzan and centre-back Ciaran Clark were outstanding.

After a promising start, the Swans seldom looked like adding to the 10 goals netted in their opening three games despite the promptings of Jonathan De Guzman in midfield.

Villa started on the offensive and a shot on the turn from Andreas Weimann was blocked by Alan Tate.

But Swansea were soon into their stride and Clark produced two fine tackles to halt runs from Danny Graham and Nathan Dyer.

Mobbed: Villa players congratulate Lowton after giving them an 16th-minute lead

It needed two superb reflex saves in the space of 60 seconds from Guzan, again preferred to Shay Given, to prevent Swansea from breaking the deadlock.
First the United States international reacted quickly to turn over a powerful close-range header by Ashley Williams from a De Guzman corner.

 

Then Guzan went full length to finger-tip a dipping 20-yard drive from Dyer over the bar.

Villa retaliated and a superb strike from Lowton put them in front after 16 minutes.
Ben Davies was forced to concede a corner after a good move involving Holman, Stephen Ireland and Darren Bent. Barry Bannan's resulting cross was headed out by Williams but Lowton brought the ball under control and volleyed an unstoppable shot past Michel Vorm from just inside the area.
Clark became the first player to be yellow-carded after lunging in at Swansea defender Angel Rangel.
Lowton and Miguel Michu were also cautioned for fouls on Ben Davies and Eric Lichaj respectively. Vorm reacted sharply to turn aside a first time attempt from Andreas Weimann after being set up by Bent.
But on the stroke of half-time Graham failed to make contact with a low cross from Dyer with the goal at his mercy after a late run into the danger area.

Swansea were having problems coping with set pieces and a Bannan corner at the start of the second period found its way to Clark at the far post and his shot struck the legs of Vorm.
Leon Britton then headed a Weimann shot on the turn off the line after the visitors failed to deal with another Bannan centre.
Lambert was increasingly animated on the touch-line reminiscent of the manager he calls 'gaffer' in former Villa boss Martin O'Neill. Villa's £7million transfer deadline day signing,

Eyes on the prize: Villa's Karim El Ahmadi (left) and Swansea's Michu (right) battle for the ball

Benteke, came on for Weimann and instantly had a shot deflected wide. Bannan's corner again troubled the Swans with Clark's header tipped over by Vorm.

Villa ended on top and Karim El Ahmadi was denied by Vorm before Benteke wrapped up the points.

On it's way: Lowton thumps home the first goal

Late show: Christian Benteke celebrates scoring his side's second goal two minutes from time

Williams headed back pass fell short of Vorm and Benteke nipped in to lob the ball over the keeper before applying the finishing touch.

No way through: Lowton (right) tangles with Wayne Routledge

Swans dive: Ashley Westwood (right) ghosts past Swansea's Pablo (left)

Fulham 3 West Brom 0: Brilliant Berbatov at the double as Baggies fire blanks

Fulham striker Dimitar Berbatov scored a brace on his home debut to guide Martin Jol's side to a comfortable victory over 10-man West Brom.
The 31-year-old, making his first start since a deadline-day move from Manchester United, opened the scoring in the 32nd minute before adding a second from the penalty spot on the stroke of half-time, with Steve Sidwell adding a third in the closing stages.
West Brom forward Peter Odemwingie was sent off in between Berbatov's strikes for violent conduct as Steve Clarke's side lost their first Barclays Premier League game of the season.

Tucked away: Dimitar Berbatov struck his second goal from the spot

Match facts

Fulham: Schwarzer, Riether, Hughes, Hangeland, Riise, Duff (Smith 90), Sidwell, Baird, Kacaniklic (Kasami 84), Berbatov, Rodallega. Subs not used: Stockdale, Kelly, Karagounis, Briggs, Trotta.
Scorers: Berbatov 32, 45, Sidwell 89.

West Brom: Foster, Jones, McAuley, Olsson, Ridgewell, Mulumbu, Yacob (Rosenberg 76), Odemwingie, Morrison, Fortune (Lukaku 46), Long (Brunt 46). Subs not used: Myhill, Dorrans, Gera, Dawson.
Sent off: Odemwingie.

Referee: Roger East.
Attendance: 25,691.

The second-half was noticeable for a string of superb saves from West Brom goalkeeper Ben Foster as Fulham failed to add to their lead until the last minute when Sidwell volleyed home.
The home side dominated possession in the opening stages as they pinned West Brom onto the edge of their own penalty area but it was Baggies' winger James Morrison who produced the first effort of quality.
On a rare early foray forward the winger, who signed a new contract yesterday, collected the ball from Billy Jones before forcing a smart save from Fulham goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer.
Jones then pulled a low cross back across goal but neither Shane Long or Marc-Antoine Fortune had gambled on making a run and the ball was eventually cleared.
Fulham's early dominance subsided but they were still looking lively in the final third without testing Foster in the visitor's goal and the final ball lacked quality on a number of occasions.

Easy: Berbatov sent the keeper the wrong way

Berbatov's goal came just after the half-hour mark following some good work from Alex Kacaniklic.
The young winger showed good feet when surrounded by three West Brom defenders before rolling the ball into Berbatov who bent his effort inside Foster's left-hand post.
West Brom came close to an immediate equaliser as Berbatov fouled James Morrison and from the resulting free-kick Fulham skipper Brede Hangeland managed to throw himself in from of Jonas Olsson's shot to keep his side ahead.

Exquisite: Berbatov curls home his first

Moments later West Brom were reduced to 10 men when Peter Odemwingie was shown a straight red card by Roger East for kicking out at Sascha Riether right in front of the dugouts.
Berbatov, who seemed to be at the centre of all of Fulham's decent play, came close to adding a second in the 40th minute but his diving header flew past the post.
The hosts were awarded a penalty in first-half injury time when Jones fouled the busy Kacaniklic after the 21-year-old had beaten him for pace inside the box.
Berbatov stepped up confidently and sent former Manchester United team-mate Foster the wrong way to double Fulham's lead at the interval.

On song: The brilliant Bulgarian was near his effervescent best

Clarke made two changes at the start of the second-half, replacing Long and Fortune with Chris Brunt and Romelu Lukaku.
But it was Fulham who continued to press, looking to make their numerical advantage count.
Brunt forced Schwarzer to tip a long-range effort over the crossbar just after the hour and the Northern Ireland midfielder's corner then hit the outside of Schwarzer's post.
Clarke's other half-time introduction then tested Schwarzer as Lukaku was picked out by Brunt before shooting low and hard at the Australian.
Foster then made a low save from Sidwell's long-range effort and managed to claw the loose ball away from the on-rushing Damien Duff.

Untouchable: West Brom could not contain Berbatov

Get out: Peter Odemwingie was sent off for violent conduct

The former England goalkeeper then palmed Duff's own deflected shot from the edge of the box behind for a corner as Fulham started to take a stranglehold on proceedings.
Only Foster was keeping West Brom in the game as he once again did superbly well to tip Hugo Rodallega's shot around the post after more probing play from Duff.
Despite struggling to maintain Fulham's attacking players Clarke decided to introduce Markus Rosenberg from the bench with 15 minutes remaining in an attempt to claw a goal back.

Foolish: Odemwingie will regret his actions

Foster continued to pull off save after save and denied both Berbatov and Rodallega towards the end of the game.
But he was powerless to stop Sidwell adding the third with only a minute to go.

Wrap up: Steve Sidwell (left) scored the third

Foster kept substitute Pajtim Kasami's front-post cross from sneaking in before Rodallega headed the rebound onto the crossbar.
The loose ball fell to Sidwell who lashed the ball into the empty net.

Raring to go: It was a good afternoon for Fulham

Stoke 1 Man City 1: New boy Garcia rescues a

Asmir Begovic made a stunning late save and Ryan Shawcross cleared off the line as Stoke clung on for a controversial draw against Barclays Premier League champions Manchester City.
Peter Crouch gave the hosts an early lead at the Britannia Stadium despite a suspicion of handball but Javi Garcia marked his City debut by equalising before the break with a free header.

Heads up: Javi Garcia (2nd R) scores for Manchester City

Match facts

Stoke: Begovic, Wilkinson, Shawcross, Huth, Wilson, Walters, Whelan, Nzonzi, Adam (Cameron 84), Kightly (Etherington 69), Crouch (Owen 90). Subs not used: Sorensen, Whitehead, Upson, Jerome.
Scorer: Crouch 15.
Man City: Hart, Maicon, Kompany, Lescott, Clichy, Nasri, Toure, Javi Garcia, Sinclair (Silva 74), Balotelli (Dzeko 90), Tevez (Barry 63). Subs not used: Wright, Kolarov, Rodwell, Toure.
Booked: Garcia.
Scorer: Garcia 35.
Referee: Mark Clattenburg.
Attendance: 27,101.

Garcia almost snatched a last-minute winner but Begovic pushed his header from a corner onto the post and Shawcross chased back after Edin Dzeko lobbed the goalkeeper in injury time.
It meant a fourth consecutive 1-1 draw in this fixture and Stoke's fourth draw of the season.
Stoke had thrown on former England striker Michael Owen for his debut in the last minute but his introduction came too late for him to make an impression.
Garcia had been one of three debutants in the visitors' side along with Maicon and Scott Sinclair, while Steven Nzonzi made his Stoke bow and Charlie Adam his first start.
The champions made a positive start as Sinclair broke into the box to whip in a low ball but Robert Huth cleared. Carlos Tevez also fought off the attention of Nzonzi to get away a shot from long distance but it was deflected narrowly wide.
Stoke went ahead in contentious circumstances after 15 minutes when Crouch, with his back to goal, benefited from a touch with the hand as he controlled a Jon Walters cross and turned Joleon Lescott.
He then enjoyed another slice of luck as the ball took a ricochet off Garcia but he still showed nimble footwork to tuck the ball away.
It was far from the spectacular volley which lit up last season's fixture between the two sides but, with no offences spotted, he gleefully accepted it all the same.

Delight: Garcia celebrates

Javi Garcia of Manchester City scores

City looked for a response and Tevez played in Mario Balotelli with a superb through-ball.
Balotelli, cleared to play after successful eye surgery during the international break, had looked in the mood and dealt well with Stoke's attempts to rile him throughout.
He wrong-footed the defence with a smart turn but clipped a well-struck left-foot effort over the bar.
Yaya Toure whipped a long-range free-kick just over after Balotelli had received some rough treatment - not for the first or last time - from Andy Wilkinson.
City's equaliser came from another free-kick, which Stoke surprisingly failed to cope with, after 35 minutes.

Cool finish: Peter Crouch opens the scoring for Stoke

Deadly: Stoke City's Peter Crouch bundles the ball into the net

Perfect Pete: Crouch celebrates

Garcia was allowed a free header as he ran in to make firm contact with Tevez's curling cross. The closest Stoke player to him, Adam, appeared to have been impeded by his own team-mate Marc Wilson.
The visitors almost went ahead moments later as Maicon forced Begovic to tip around the post with a powerful low volley.
Stoke made a positive start to the second half and Garcia, signed on deadline day from Benfica for a reported £18million, was tested defensively.
He mistimed one tackle on Nzonzi, made another fine effort to win the ball from Walters but was then booked for a crude challenge on Michael Kightly.
Crouch thought about recreating his stunner from six months ago as he flicked up the ball outside the box and attempted to volley but he miscued horribly and Joleon Lescott cleared.

New boy: Michael Owen made his Stoke debut

Disappointment: City boss Roberto Mancini

Kightly, coming into the game after a quiet first half, also got forward but saw his shot blocked by Maicon. Toure, so often City's talisman, attempted to spark his side into life and charged forward to play a fine-looking ball through for Sinclair.
Sinclair failed to reach it as Shawcross stretched out a foot but the ball rebounded for Toure, who continued his run and brought a superb save out of Begovic.
The game was interrupted when Balotelli went down after an apparent off-the-ball clash with Wilkinson, the pair having shadowed each other most of the afternoon.
Referee Mark Clattenburg spoke to the players but took no action and replays did not suggest anything serious had occurred.
Balotelli, however, maybe feeling wronged, snatched at a shot moments later and failed to work Begovic.
Owen received a huge ovation when he warmed up but manager Tony Pulis resisted the temptation to use him until the last minute.
City pressed for a late winner and Samir Nasri turned in the area and went down under pressure but nothing was given. The Frenchman then stung the palms of Begovic with an 18-yard effort moments later.
In a frantic finish, Garcia was denied brilliantly by Begovic and Shawcross did just as well to prevent Dzeko snatching victory.

Man United 4 Wigan 0: Scholes marks 700th appearance with goal in Old Trafford rout

Paul Scholes marked his 700th Manchester United appearance by sending the Red Devils to their biggest win of the season after victory over Wigan at Old Trafford.
Sir Alex Ferguson described Scholes' cameo at Southampton last month as like someone 'opening a door'.
On Saturday, the veteran midfielder did not just open it. He sent it crashing off its hinges.

Opener: Scholes scored on his 700th appearance

Match facts

Man Utd: Lindegaard, Da Silva, Ferdinand, Vidic (Evans 77), Buttner, Nani, Scholes (van Persie 71), Carrick, Giggs (Powell 71), Hernandez, Welbeck. Subs not used: De Gea, Valencia, Cleverley, Kagawa.
Booked: Buttner.
Scorers: Scholes 51, Hernandez 63, Buttner 66, Powell 82.
Wigan: Al Habsi, Boyce, Caldwell, Ramis, Figueroa, Maloney (Gomez 59), McCarthy, McArthur, Beausejour (Jones 69), Kone, Di Santo. Subs not used: Pollitt, Crusat, Watson, Boselli, Miyaichi.
Booked: Boyce, McArthur.
Referee: Michael Oliver.
Attendance: 75,142.

Mixing a typically astute performance with some of those thunderous challengers for which he is noted, Scholes also broke the deadlock with his 155th United goal.

Few could have been converted in such ease as he tapped home after Ali Al Habsi had pushed Nani's low cross straight into his path.

Javier Hernandez, who missed a first-half penalty, bagged a second when he turned home Alexander Buttner's misdirected shot, then the Dutchman capped a fine debut by driving home the hosts' third, putting more pressure on an underperforming Patrice Evra, who watched from the stand.

Robin van Persie was introduced 19 minutes from time but it was his fellow substitute Nick Powell who wrapped up the win on his debut, blasting in from 20 yards.

Although he declared Van Persie and Shinji Kagawa fit on Friday, Ferguson opted to leave both men on the bench as he cast an eye towards the start of his side's Champions League campaign against Galatasaray on Wednesday.

Even with Wayne Rooney missing, the alternative was not too shabby as Hernandez was paired with Danny Welbeck.

Praised for his performances at Euro 2012 and again for England against Ukraine in midweek, Welbeck is a player of immense potential.

It was sad therefore to see what he did after just three minutes.

Level pegging: neither side managed to score in the first half

Charging into the Wigan box, Welbeck was greeted by Ali Al Habsi, who quickly decided to pull out of his challenge, wisely deeming it to be unsafe.

Welbeck went down anyway. And referee Michael Oliver bought it.

Hopefully, Welbeck will learn from such incidents and avoid them in future.

The post-script at least was fitting as Al Habsi turned away Hernandez's spot-kick with a smart, low save to his left.

Initially, United made light of their setback.

Paying the penalty: Ali Al-Habsi saved Hernandez's spot-kick

With veteran duo Ryan Giggs - making his 600th Premier League appearance - and Scholes flitting in and out of the game and Alexander Buttner looking dangerous on his debut, the hosts carved out a succession of opportunities.

Welbeck flashed a volley wide from Nani's cross before having a shot deflected wide by Gary Caldwell.

Scholes, after robbing Shaun Maloney with a thunderous tackle, also had a piledriver blocked as the pressure intensified.

After Welbeck had headed over, Hernandez and Giggs combined to send Nani clear but the Portugal wide-man, whose United future is in doubt, sent a delicate chip sailing harmlessly over the bar.
Surviving so many scares gave Wigan added belief.

Scramble: Scholes beats the Wigan defenders to the loose ball

A team who until April had never even taken a point off their north-west neighbours, Wigan should have gone in front when Jean Beausejour floated a cross to the far post.

When Rio Ferdinand, who was celebrating his own milestone - 400 United games - missed it, at the very least Arouna Kone should have tested Anders Lindegaard, who had been preferred in goal to David de Gea.

The moment was too much for Kone though and as he jabbed at the ball with the underneath of his boot, he could only send it rolling wide.

Making amends: Hernandez doubled United's lead

Kone stooped to send a header over immediately after the restart, leading to a sense of agitation amongst the home support.

Not for the first time, Scholes settled the nerves.

At 37, he may not longer be capable of those old midfield bursts. However, his sense of timing remains impeccable.

If anyone doubts Michael Carrick's abilities, they would have been answered by a brilliant pass through the Wigan defence for Nani, who, in an all-too-infrequent example of striker-friendly crossing, drove the ball straight at the visitors' goal.

Mobbed: Buttner's team-mates rush to celebrate his goal

Al Habsi had to do something.

Unfortunately for the Omani, he could only push the ball out to Scholes, who had sauntered in unnoticed and, from four yards, could not miss.

Wigan clung on for a little while longer but when Giggs teed up Buttner, Hernandez was able to turn the Dutchman's misdirected shot home thanks to Emmerson Boyce's failure to move up as Wigan tried to play offside.

One for the future: Powell took his goal well

Buttner was not finished either.

With Patrice Evra looking down from the stands, the Dutchman forced his way past Boyce and James McCarthy before driving a shot from the tightest of angles, which flew in off Al Habsi.

Powell made a remarkable first contribution for United when he latched onto a loose ball and drove home eight minutes from time.

Special guest: British Olympic taekwondo gold medallist Jade Jones was presented with a United shirt before the game

Arsenal 6 Southampton 1: Gervinho helps glorious Gunners smash sorry Saints for six

Gervinho struck twice as Arsenal continued their unbeaten start to the season with a 6-1 demolition of Premier League new boys Southampton.
The visitors resembled a rabbit in the headlights for most of the first half as they failed to deal with Arsenal's pace and directness - epitomised as early as the 11th minute as Jos Hooiveld accidentally put into his own net.
Lukas Podolski bent in a 25-yard free-kick as the onslaught continued, before Gervinho rifled home and Nathaniel Clyne netted an own goal to make it 4-0 inside 37 minutes.

Rampant: Arsenal extended their unbeaten start to the season with a one-sided victory

Match facts

Arsenal: Szczesny, Jenkinson, Mertesacker, Vermaelen, Gibbs, Coquelin (Ramsey 67), Arteta, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Cazorla, Podolski (Giroud 74), Gervinho (Walcott 74). Subs not used: Mannone, Koscielny, Andre Santos, Arshavin.
Scorers: Hooiveld (og) 11, Podolski 31, Gervinho 35, 71, Clyne (og) 37, Walcott 88.
Southampton: Kelvin Davis, Clyne, Hooiveld (Yoshida 28), Fonte, Fox, Puncheon, Ward-Prowse, Schneiderlin, Steven Davis (Ramirez 45), Lallana, Lambert (Rodriguez 76). Subs not used: Gazzaniga, Richardson, Mayuka, Chaplow.
Scorer: Fox 45.
Referee: Kevin Friend.
Attendance: 60,097.

Wojciech Szczesny's clanger denied the north Londoners a fourth successive clean sheet to start the season as the returning Poland international flapped at a cross late in the first half and Danny Fox lashed home.

It proved a mere consolation, though, as Gervinho and former Southampton winger Theo Walcott netted in a more even second period to condemn Nigel Adkins' side to a fourth league defeat.

Arsenal made three changes coming into the game, with Szczesny the standout returnee after missing recent matches with a rib injury.

Saints, meanwhile, stuck with the same starting team that fell to a harsh 3-2 defeat to Manchester United before the international break, while new signings Gaston Ramirez and Maya Yoshida were named on the bench.

The latter was brought in to shore up a weak Southampton defence that found itself under pressure from the outset in north London.

Podolski tested Kelvin Davis with a stinging effort inside three minutes, before former Southampton winger Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain's dangerous cross was inexplicably scooped over the bar by Santi Cazorla.

Influential: Gervinho hit two and was at the heart of much of Arsenal's attacking guile

The early pressure continued as Southampton regularly gave away possession as they failed in their attempts to get a foothold on proceedings.

Arsenal capitalised on the visitors' early ineptitude as Podolski took possession in the middle and played through Kieran Gibbs, whose low effort squirmed through Davis' legs and was inadvertently turned home by Hooiveld.

Clinical: Gervinho punishes some lacklustre Southampton defending to beat Kelvin Davis at the near post

The hosts' dominance continued after the 11th-minute opener and came close to doubling their advantage soon after.
Davis flapped at a Cazorla corner and had to be on his toes to prevent Per Mertesacker heading home when the ball was played back into the box.

Jumping for joy: Lukas Podolski celebrates making it 2-0 with a crisply struck free-kick

Gervinho was the next to threaten, nodding wide and then bursting forward to send a driven effort just wide of the right-hand post.

The early exchanges made bleak viewing for the travelling fans and Adkins was forced into his first change after 28 minutes, bringing on Yoshida for his debut in place of Hooiveld, who had been struggling with a calf injury this week.

The floodgates open: Jos Hooiveld pokes into his own net

The Japan defender could do nothing, though, to prevent Podolski scoring three minutes later.
After Coquelin was upended, the Germany international exquisitely curled a 25-yard free-kick over the wall into the top corner past the helpless Davis.

However, the Southampton goalkeeper - and defence - should have done much better with Arsenal's third that came after 35 minutes.

In a heap: Kieran Gibbs takes the plaudits after Jos Hooiveld is slumped in his own net after scoring the opener

Gervinho connected with an excellent Mikel Arteta dink over the top and the Ivorian lashed home, finding time and space to beat Davis at his near post.
It was proving a nightmare first half for Saints as they failed to cope with Arsenal and it got worse eight minutes before half-time with a second own goal.

Salt in the wound: Theo Walcott completed the rout with a goal against his former club

Another break ended with the being ball played out left to Gibbs, who again saw his cross directed home by a player in yellow - this time Clyne the unfortunate party.

It was not just Southampton making errors, though, as the returning Szczesny spilt a high cross from the right under pressure from Rickie Lambert, allowing Fox to lash home on the stroke of half-time.

Consolation: Danny Fox rifles home Southampton's goal just before the break

It was one of a handful of chances for the visitors in the second half, leading Adkins to bring on record signing Ramirez for his debut in a bid to create more going forward.

Saints looked far more confident and composed following the introduction of the Uruguay international, who tested Szczesny five minutes after coming on.

Chastened: Southampton trudge off after defat

Ramirez soon turned provider as he played through Lambert, but he could only direct wide under pressure.

Oxlade-Chamberlain bundled wide a Gervinho cross as Arsenal looked to extend their advantage - which they managed to do in the 71st minute.

Moving on: Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain turned out against his former club

Cazorla, impressing once again in midfield, played through substitute Aaron Ramsey, whose exquisite turn was followed up by a shot that came back off the post for Gervinho to tap home.

Davis was forced into a fine save to prevent former team-mate Oxlade-Chamberlain netting, before substitute Walcott capped a fine day for Arsenal by netting late on after the Saints goalkeeper parried.

 

PREMIER LEAGUE LIVE: Sunderland v Liverpool - the action from the Stadium of Light as it happens

Sunderland 0-0 Liverpool (5.30pm)

Click here for the live goals as they go in
Sunderland: Mignolet, Gardner, Cuellar, O'Shea, Rose, Larsson, Colback, Cattermole, McClean, Sessegnon, Fletcher.
Subs: Westwood, Campbell, Kilgallon, Ji, Meyler, Bramble, Saha.
Liverpool: Reina, Kelly, Skrtel, Agger, Johnson, Gerrard, Allen, Shelvey, Borini, Suarez, Sterling.
Subs: Jones, Jose Enrique, Sahin, Assaidi, Henderson, Downing, Carragher.
Referee: Martin Atkinson (W Yorkshire)

Click here for the live Premier League table

20min: Reina still yet to be tested but that is a fantastic ball from Seb Larsson.
From a free-kick, the Swede hits an inswinging curler to the back post that somehow evades everyone as it sails wide.

19min: Nearly a goal out of nothing for Liverpool. A poor headed backpass goes straight into the path of Fabio Borini, but he is blocked by Simon Mignolet before Shelvey scuffs his rebound half volley wide from 20 yards.

16min: Disappointed with Sunderland so far. They haven't forced Pepe Reina into any sort of danger and the Spanish keeper is picking up an easy week's wages so far.

13min: Oh good, another shot! Liverpool are not getting any closer though as Luis Suarez's strike follows the same path as Shelvey's earlier effort.

10min: Still no real action as Fletcher goes down injured for Sunderland. The striker is down for a good half-minute but is soon up on his feet again.

7min: Liverpool slightly edging the play so far but still nothing to split these teams.
Reds fans were thought to applaud after six minutes in acknowledgment to the 96 that lost their lives at Hillsborough, but nothing has noticeably come so far (not that I could hear anyway, happy to be proven wrong though).
Either way there are plenty of banners in the away end acknowledging the disaster.

4min: Jonjo Shelvey has the first strike at goal but the Liverpool midfielder's attempt flies comfortably wide.

3min: Slow start here as both sides feel each other out. There is a big atmosphere inside the stadium created by fans from both teams so I expect this game to rise with it.

Kick-off: Steven Fletcher and Stephane Sessegnon of Sunderland get us going.
17.28: On a sunny evening in the north east, the players make their way out.

17.25: Believe it or not but due to a postponement here a couple of weeks ago, this is the first game at the Satdium of Light this season.
Always seems to be drama in this fixture, who could forget Darren Bent's beach ball goal three years ago?

17.22: Liverpool boss, Brendan Rodgers spoke to ESPN before the game:
'It was a very difficult and sad week for the people of the city and the club. It was a long hard fight for the people and for them to get that result was a fantastic thing.
'There is no doubt whenever you come to Liverpool as a player or a manager you are not signing a football contact but an emotional contract with the people of the city.
'It's one that makes you very proud and we understand our role in the community.'
17.19: On the release of the Hillsborough files, Sportsmail Des Kelly has added his two cents to the unveiling of the truth. It's well worth a read.

Rewarded: After impressing against Arsenal, Jonjo Shelvey (centre) is drafted into Liverpool's starting line-up

17.16: The full line-ups from the Stadium of Light:
Sunderland v LiverpoolSunderland: Mignolet, Gardner, Cuellar, O'Shea, Rose, Larsson, Colback, Cattermole, McClean, Sessegnon, Fletcher. Subs: Westwood, Campbell, Kilgallon, Ji, Meyler, Bramble, Saha.
Liverpool: Reina, Kelly, Skrtel, Agger, Johnson, Gerrard, Allen, Shelvey, Borini, Suarez, Sterling. Subs: Jones, Jose Enrique, Sahin, Assaidi, Henderson, Downing, Carragher.
Referee: Martin Atkinson (W Yorkshire)

17.13: Adam Johnson misses out on a Barclays Premier League home debut for Sunderland against Liverpool after failing to shake off a thigh injury.
The 25-year-old, who picked up the problem on England duty, trained at the end of the week, but has not recovered sufficiently to be considered, and his place in the starting line-up is taken by loan signing Danny Rose.
Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers makes two changes to the side beaten 2-0 at home by Arsenal last time out as Martin Kelly and Jonjo Shelvey come in for Jose Enrique and Nuri Sahin.

17.10: It's been a highly emotional week for Liverpool fans as they were finally given the truth over the Hillsborough disaster after 23 years of campaigning.
But although the attention now focuses on their side's trip to Sunderland this evening in search of their first win of the season, 'Justice for the 96' will still be at the forefront of everyone's mind, at least at the away end of the Stadium of Light.

Searching for first win: Steven Gerrard (right) will hope his Liverpool side can record their first victory this term