Saturday 11 January 2014

Premier League - Moment of genius from Hazard as Chelsea go top

Premier League, KC Stadium – Hull City 0 Chelsea 2 (Hazard 56 Torres 87)

A moment of individual brilliance from Eden Hazard helped Chelseato a 2-0 victory over Hull City to send them top of the Premier League for at least 24 hours.
Yannick Sagbo spurned a huge opportunity to edge Hull ahead shortly before the half hour when he lashed wide after John Terry’s sloppy pass was closed down by Jake Livermore.
At the other end an even better chance to break the deadlock went the way of the visitors, as Oscar’s close-range effort was somehow tipped over the bar by a wonder save from Allan McGregor.
Chelsea improved after the break and scored the opening goal when Ashley Cole’s clever flick released Hazard, with the Belgian evading several defenders as he ran across the hosts’ penalty area before firing a low shot into the bottom corner.
Hull struggled to create anything of note, and their miserable second-half was compounded when Fernando Torres - who had been completely anonymous throughout the match - marked his 200th Premier League appearance by sliding home a late second.
KEY MOMENTS
PRE-MATCH – Juan Mata benched. He’s got to leave, hasn’t he? Mata takes his place on the Chelsea bench again with Jose Mourinho electing for an attacking midfield trio of Willian, Oscar and Eden Hazard.
25’ – CHANCE - John Terry's sloppy pass is charged down and bobbles into the path of Sagbo. The striker has a crack... Wide! Massive chance wasted. If Hull go on to lose, which is a probable outcome, they will not want to see that again.
33’ – CHANCE: Hazard embarks on a mazy run down the left and cuts the ball back into the path of Oscar. The Brazilian must score... McGregor gambles and flings himself to his right. What. A. Save. Ridiculous goalkeeping.
56’ – GOAL: Hull 0-1 Chelsea. Hazard picks the ball up and dribbles across the edge of the penalty area. He feigns a shot, which sends a poor Hull defender hurtling to the turf, before unleashing a clever effort into the bottom corner. Great goal. Pop yourself back on the bench, Mata...
87’ – GOAL: Hull 0-2 Chelsea. Torres glides past Bruce and smashes it inside the near post of McGregor's goal. He's barely done anything this afternoon, although that is partly down to a lack of service, but the Spaniard comes up with the goods when it matters on his 200th Premier League appearance.
KEY STATS
Petr Cech becomes the first Premier League goalkeeper to keep 150 clean sheets in the competition for just one club – David James’ 170 was split amongst five clubs, with Liverpool (72 clean sheets) his most for one side. (Infostrada)
Hull have won just three Premier League points from losing positions this season – only Crystal Palace, Sunderland & West Ham (all one) have won fewer. (Infostrada)
Chelsea make their 63rd substitution of the season, more than any other team. They are the only team to use all three substitutes in every Premier League game this season. (Infostrada)
Eden Hazard scored his ninth Premier League goal of the season, the same amount that he netted for the club last season. (Infostrada)
TALKING POINT
Are Chelsea one striker short in their title challenge? He might have bagged himself a goal, but Fernando Torres was largely anonymous against Hull. With Manchester City looking increasingly formidable, surely Chelsea’s best hopes of staying in the title race are to invest in a reliable striker pronto.
MAN OF THE MATCH
Eden Hazard (Chelsea): The only one of Chelsea’s attacking contingent to look threatening on a consistent basis. His fine solo goal set the Blues on their way.
PLAYER RATINGS
Hull: McGregor 7, Chester 6, Bruce 6, Davies 6, Elmohamady 6, Figueroa 6, Meyler 6, Huddlestone 6, Livermore 7, Boyd 6, Sagbo 6… Subs: Koren 6, Fryatt 6, Quinn 6.
Chelsea: Cech 6, Azpilicueta 6, Cahill 6, Terry 6, Cole 6, Ramires 6, David Luiz 6, Willian 6, Oscar 6, Hazard 7, Torres 6… Subs: Mikel 6, Schurrle N/A, Essien N/A.
THE MATCH IN A TWEET
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Wenger: Fit-again Podolski key

Arsenal, the, is, to, he
Arsene Wenger insists Lukas Podolski can help Arsenal cope with the recent spate of injuries to a number of the club's forward players.
With Theo Walcott out for the remainder of the season with a knee injury and Danish striker Nicklas Bendtner currently sidelined by an ankle injury, Arsenal have little cover for Frenchman Olivier Giroud.
But Wenger says Podolski, who is edging his way back to peak fitness after four months out with a torn hamstring, can help relieve Giroud of the attacking burden when he is firing on all cylinders.
"Podolski has been out for four months and after being available, it doesn't mean you are competitive in the Premier League - it takes some time to come back," said Wenger.
"He is working hard. This week he looked sharper in training, so he is getting closer now to being completely fit again.
"If there is one (player) you want to see in front of the goal in a shooting position, it is him because Podolski is certainly one of the best finishers I have ever seen.
"He can play that central role when he is completely fit and is one of the potential assets we have there.
"When he is physically ready, he will of course help us."
Giroud has been rested for the Arsenal's last two matches although he is expected to return for the visit to Aston Villa on Monday night.
Wenger feels there is still more to come from Giroud and insisted that other players in the team can help relieve the 6ft 4in frontman of the goalscoring burden for the club.
"Giroud needed a rest physically and he got one, and I am convinced he will come back refreshed and ready to score again," said Wenger.
"What is most important, for Olivier Giroud and for me, is the team produces a good collective performance.
"[Whether] he scores or somebody else, we have plenty of people who can score and for me it is always most important that we play the football we want to play, and after anybody can score in my team."
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Transfer news: Inter Milan coach Walter Mazzarri want to keep Fredy Guarin

Chelsea, the, his, to, be
Inter Milan coach Walter Mazzarri is keen to keep Fredy Guarin, but accepts that the decision over his future may be taken out of his hands.
Chelsea have previously been linked with a January move for the Colombia international, while recent reports suggest Southampton could also be in the reckoning.
Mazzarri is eager to keep the attacking midfielder at the San Siro, although he could be hampered by the contractual situation regarding a number of his squad.
The Inter boss admitted that eight of his side will see their current deals expire in the summer, which could persuade the Serie A side to cash in now, rather than risk losing them for nothing if fresh terms cannot be agreed.
Mazzarri is quoted as telling RAI Sport: "Clearly I'd like him to stay, but if his sale is being considered then that explains the club's situation.
"This year there are eight players coming towards the end of their contracts."
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