Manchester City 3
Toure 57’, Jovetic 66’, Lampard 73’
Sunderland 2
Rodwell 68’, Johnson 71’ (pen)
Frank Lampard marked the extension of his Manchester City stay by grabbing the winner in a 3-2 victory over Sunderland which turned up the pressure on Premier League leaders Chelsea’s evening clash with Tottenham.
The game at the Etihad Stadium burst into life when Yaya Toure rifled City into the lead shortly before the hour mark and Stevan Jovetic back-heeled a second.
Jack Rodwell’s header and a penalty from fellow City old boy Adam Johnson, after Pablo Zabaleta fouled Santiago Vergini, got Sunderland dramatically back on terms.
But Lampard, on for Jovetic having extended his loan from New York City FC, restored the Blues’ lead to ensure his former club would kick off at White Hart Lane only level on points with City.
John Carver’s stint as Newcastle caretaker manager began with a thrilling game in which they led Burnley three times but had to settle for a draw.
Local boys Steven Taylor and Jack Colback put the Magpies ahead but Paul Dummett’s shambolic own goal and Danny Ings’ strike had Burnley level on each occasion.
Moussa Sissoko restored the Magpies’ advantage but George Boyd’s low angled drive made it 3-3.
Liverpool also let a winning position slip as Leicester came from 2-0 down to draw 2-2 at Anfield.
The hosts led through two Steven Gerrard penalties but two goals in three minutes, from David Nugent and Jeff Schlupp, levelled matters.
Other results
Stoke City 1
Shawcross 2’
Manchester United 1
Falcao 26’
STOKE-ON-TRENT // Manchester United came through a test of character to draw 1-1 at Stoke City in the first Premier League game of 2015 on New Year’s Day.
Louis van Gaal’s side had to bounce back from the shock of falling behind to a second-minute goal from their former defender Ryan Shawcross at the Britannia Stadium.
And they had to show great resilience to stretch their unbeaten record to 10 matches after Radamel Falcao had hauled them back on level terms with an opportunistic goal.
United may look back on this as a point gained rather than two dropped at a windswept stadium where the home side tend to make things uncomfortable for visitors.
Despite the fact that Stoke were robbed of their main attacking threat, Bojan Krkic, who was ruled out by injury, Mark Hughes’s men quickly imposed themselves.
United were clearly flustered by it and they were found wanting defensively when the home side were awarded a right-wing corner following honest endeavour by Steven Nzonzi.
Peter Crouch was picked out at the far post by Marko Arnautovic’s deep ball into the box and his goal-bound header was hooked into the roof of the net by the grateful Shawcross.
Although United composed themselves after the early shock by claiming the lion’s share of possession, their final ball often let them down.
United captain Wayne Rooney fired a 30-yard free-kick off target after he had been fouled by Nzonzi.
The fragile nature of United’s defending was exposed again when their former striker Mame Biram Diouf outmuscled a hesitant Jonny Evans, only to shape his left-foot shot wide of the left-hand upright.
It proved to be a decisive moment in the contest because rather than finding themselves two goals down, United were back on level terms seven minutes later.
Like Stoke had done in the second minute, United secured their equaliser by way of a well-worked corner.
Aston Villa 0
Crystal Palace 0
Aston Villa completed another 0-0 draw after being held at home to Crystal Palace, who have been winless in eight game.
Hull City 2
Elmohamady 33’, Jelavic 43’
Everton 0
Red card Alcaraz
Nikica Jelavic scored against his former club to seal a memorable 2-0 win against Everton who have now lost five of their last six league games.
Liverpool 2
Gerrard 17’ (pen), 40’ (pen)
Leicester City 2
Nugent 58’, Schlupp 60’
Liverpool’s indifferent season continued after Leicester City came back from 2-0 down to draw the match.
Newcastle United 3
Taylor 15’, Colback 26’, Sissoko 78’
Burnley 3
Dummett 19’ (og), Ings 66’, Boyd 86’
Injury-hit Burnley shocked Newcastle United in their backyard to draw 3-3.
Queens Park Rangers 1
Fer 20’
Swansea City 1
Bony 90’
Wilfried Bony scored his ninth league goal of the season to steal an away draw against Queens Park Rangers. It was just Swansea’s second away victory this term.
Southampton 2
Mane 34’, Tadic 56’
Arsenal 0
Southampton made Wojciech Szczesny, the Arsenal goalkeeper, pay for two errors as they moved fourth in the league.
West Ham United 1
Sakho 10’
West Bromwich Albion 1
Berahino 42’
Tony Pulis began his stint with West Bromwich Albion with an away draw against West Ham United. It was Saido Berahino’s ninth goal of the season.
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