United punish Gerrard, Chelsea extend lead

Manchester United punished Steven Gerrard’s moment of madness as Juan
Mata’s double secured a vital 2-1 win over bitter rivals Liverpool, while
leaders Chelsea reestablished their stranglehold on the Premier League title race
with a 3-2 victory at Hull on Sunday.
United were already leading through Mata’s composed finish in the 14th minute
at Anfield when Gerrard made Liverpool’s task even harder as he earned a red
card just 43 seconds after coming on as a half-time substitute.
Making his final appearance against United before his close-season move to LA
Galaxy, Gerrard was sent off, for the eighth time in his career, for a clear stamp
on Ander Herrera.
United took full advantage of their numerical superiority as Mata scored a quite
brilliant second goal in the 59th minute.
Angel Di Maria picked out the former Chelsea midfielder with a clipped pass
that Mata converted with a stunning bicycle kick.
Daniel Sturridge got one back for Liverpool 10 minutes later, but Brendan
Rodgers’ side couldn’t find an equaliser, leaving Gerrard to apologise for a
mistake that could cost his team a place in next season’s Champions League.
Fifth placed Liverpool are now five points behind fourth placed United in the
race for a top four finish and Gerrard said: “I have let my team-mates and
manager down today, even more importantly I let all the supporters down and I
take full responsibility for my action.”
United’s victory would have been even bigger if Wayne Rooney’s stoppage-time
penalty hadn’t been saved by Simon Mignolet, but boss Louis van Gaal was
content with a success which keeps them one point behind third-placed
Arsenal.
“It’s an amazing result for the fans, because we’ve beaten Liverpool three times
this season. We now have a gap from positions five, six and seven which is
very important,” he said.
“We kept the ball and created a lot of possibilities to score. I said whoever
could beat the pressure shall win. Juan Mata was very good.”
- Superb strike -
At the KC Stadium, Chelsea survived some self-inflicted wounds to secure a win
that kept them firmly on course to win the title for the first time since 2010.
After second-placed Manchester City had closed to within three points on
Saturday, the west Londoners are now six points clear again, with a game in
hand making their position even stronger.
Jose Mourinho’s side took just 78 seconds to go in front as Belgium midfielder
Eden Hazard advanced to the edge of the penalty area, where he lashed a
superb strike past Allan McGregor.
The Blues looked in complete control in the ninth minute when Spain striker
Diego Costa cut in front the left to curl a fine finish into the far corner for his
19th league goal of the season.
But Hull reduced the deficit in the 26th minute thanks to Egypt international
Ahmed Elmohamady.
And Steve Bruce’s team equalised just two minutes later after a disastrous
piece of play from Chelsea goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois.
When Branislav Ivanovic pushed a risky backpass towards Courtois, the Belgian
tried to take a touch before clearing, but he allowed the ball to trickle away
from him towards Hernandez and the Uruguayan forward slotted into the empty
net.
Courtois redeemed himself with a series of second half saves
and Chelseagrabbed a priceless winner in the 77th minute when McGregor
allowed a fairly tame shot from French forward Loic Remy, who had only been
on for three minutes, to escape his grasp and trickle into the net.
“The victory is very, very important obviously,” Mourinho said. “Our position is
our best since the start of the season.
“Now it’s six points and a match in hand with nine matches to go.
“I believe we can finish the season very strong.”
At Loftus Road, Everton erased the frustration of their Europa League exit with a
2-1 success at lowly QPR.
Roberto Martinez’s side had bowed out of Europe with a humbling 5-2 defeat at
Dynamo Kiev on Thursday, but they took the lead in the 18th minute through
Seamus Coleman.
QPR drew level when substitute Eduardo Vargas struck from close-range in the
65th minute.
But on-loan Tottenham winger Aaron Lennon won it for Everton in the 77th
minute to move the Toffees nine points away from the relegation zone and
leave second-bottom QPR four points from safety.