Man Utd 4-1 Middlesbrough

Wayne Rooney scored one goal and superbly set up another as Manchester United overwhelmed Middlesbrough to move to the top of the Premier League. United went ahead on three minutes when Nani drove in a cracking shot from 30 yards but Jeremie Aliadiere soon equalised with a precise header.

Nani robbed Stuart Downing and played in Rooney, to smash United’s second.

After the break Carlos Tevez slotted in after a sublime Rooney back-heel and he added a fourth with a deflected shot.

United scored four goals in a fourth successive game – the first time in 100 years they have done so.

Middlesbrough 0-2 Chelsea

Didier Drogba’s cool finish set Chelsea on their way to victory and increased the pressure on Gareth Southgate’s struggling Middlesbrough side. Drogba showed great composure to slot home after racing through following a slick one-two with Frank Lampard.

Mido missed a glorious chance to level moments later, Petr Cech reacting brilliantly to keep his header out.

But Chelsea sealed the win after the break when Alex crashed a wonderful 30-yard free-kick past Mark Schwarzer.

Up until Alex’s stunning strike the game was in the balance but the second goal relaxed the visitors who suddenly started to play with a swagger and saw out the remaining half an hour in relative comfort.

It was Drogba, who this week went public with his desire to quit the club, who eased the early pressure on both himself and the club with the crucial opening goal.

Everton 1-2 Liverpool

Dirk Kuyt’s injury-time penalty gave Liverpool a crucial Merseyside derby win against nine-man Everton. Sami Hyypia sliced into his own goal after 37 minutes to give Everton the lead at the interval.

But Kuyt scored from the spot after 54 minutes when Tony Hibbert was sent off for hauling down Steven Gerrard as he raced clear on goal.

And Kuyt struck again in time added on, with Phil Neville also sent off for handling Lucas’ goal-bound shot.

Everton were then furious with referee Mark Clattenburg, who ignored strong claims for a spot-kick in the dying seconds when Jamie Carragher clearly dragged down Joleon Lescott.

Liverpool were without groin-injury victim Fernando Torres, while Everton resisted the temptation to recall long-term absentees Tim Cahill, Thomas Gravesen and James Vaughan.

Aston Villa 1-4 Man Utd

Wayne Rooney struck twice and missed a penalty as Manchester United eased to victory against nine-man Aston Villa. Gabriel Agbonlahor headed Villa into an early lead, but Rooney’s two composed finishes put United in front.

Craig Gardner’s own goal gave United a third before half-time, and Nigel Reo-Coker was sent off on the hour.

Keeper Scott Carson followed for a foul on Carlos Tevez, and even though Stuart Taylor saved Rooney’s spot-kick, Ryan Giggs added a deflected fourth.

United boss Sir Alex Ferguson rested Cristiano Ronaldo and gave fellow countryman Nani a place in the starting line-up.

Villa opened brightly and were ahead in the 11th minute when Ashley Young retrieved Gardner’s dangerous centre and crossed for Agbonlahor to flick a header beyond Edwin van der Sar.

Beckham returns in LA Galaxy draw

David Beckham returned from injury for Los Angeles Galaxy as the side extended their unbeaten run to seven games. Beckham, who has been out with a knee injury since 29 August, came on after 68 minutes in the 1-1 draw with New York Red Bulls.

The midfielder failed to help his side to a sixth straight win but they still have a chance of making the play-offs.

Drogba regrets ‘quit’ admission

Chelsea striker Didier Drogba says he regrets his comments in a French magazine in which he made it clear he wished to leave the west London club. “I am a Chelsea player and will be 100% committed and supportive to my manager, my team-mates and the club,” he said in a statement released by Chelsea.

“I will not be discussing my future any further until I meet privately with the club at the end of the season.”

In an interview with France Football, he said he “wanted to leave Chelsea”.

“Something is broken with Chelsea,” he was quoted as saying. “The damage is big in the dressing-room.

Adebayor fired up by injury

Arsenal’s Emmanuel Adebayor has revealed one of the reasons behind his flying start to the season.

The Togo international is the joint top scorer in the Barclays Premier League with six goals. He has turned in some impressive displays this season, catching the eye with a hat-trick against Derby County last month.

Adebayor is just two short of his league tally for the whole of last season and says that a pre-season injury fired him up ahead of the campaign.

“I had an injury when I was [at the pre-season training camp] in Austria and this frustrated me a great deal,” he said.

“When I came back I was really angry and hungry. This is one of the reasons that explains why I have had such a good start to the season.”

Arsenal’s next Barclays Premier League match is against Bolton Wanderers on 20th October. The Gunners are currently two points clear at the top of the league.

source:premierleague

Ten Cate completes Chelsea switch

Dutchman Henk ten Cate has joined Chelsea as assistant first-team coach to manager Avram Grant. Ajax had already given Chelsea permission to open talks with the 52-year-old Dutchman.

Ten Cate was formerly assistant to Barcelona coach Frank Rijkaard and helped Barca win the Champions League and Spanish title in 2006.

“Chelsea can confirm that Henk ten Cate has joined as assistant first-team coach,” said a Blues statement.

Coach Steve Clarke is also in talks to sign a new contract at Chelsea.

Celtic fined as Dida receives ban

Celtic have been fined £25,000 and AC Milan goalkeeper Dida has been banned for two matches following trouble at the recent Champions League game. However, the European champions intend to appeal against the penalty imposed on the 34-year-old Brazilian.

Dida collapsed dramatically after a fan appeared to strike him near the end of AC Milan’s 2-1 defeat on 3 October.

Celtic were found guilty of a lack of organisation and improper conduct of supporters at the Celtic Park match.

The Scottish champions will pay half of the fine now, while the rest is deferred over a two-year probationary period.

Santa Cruz suffers injury setback

Blackburn’s Roque Santa Cruz has pulled out of Paraguay’s World Cup qualifiers because of tendonitis in his knee. Reports suggested the 26-year-old striker, who will miss Paraguay’s matches against Peru and Uruguay, could face up to six weeks on the sidelines.

However, Rovers chairman John Williams said: “We do not know at the moment how long he will be out for.”

Santa Cruz said he has had injections for a “few weeks” and a scan on Monday showed the extent of the problem.

Santa Cruz said: “I’ve reached a point where I had to decide if I should continue but run the risk of having to stop for two or three months, or if I should stop now and see if the injury gets better.”