22 JANUARY 2002

Manchester United (0) 0
Liverpool (0) 1 (Murphy 85)

Danny Murphy scored a winner at Old Trafford for the second season in a row to
end Man United's eight game winning run and move Liverpool to within two
points of their great rivals. The only goal of a tight game came when Steven
Gerrard's near post ball found Murphy, who lobbed a delightful effort over
Barthez and into the far corner.


21 JANUARY 2002

Charlton (0) 1 (Stuart 87)
Aston Villa (2) 2 (Vassell 8, Angel 42)

Aston Villa move into 7th after a comfortable victory against Charlton at the
Valley. Villa took the lead early on as a long ball forward was miscontrolled by
Mark Fish and fell to J.Lloyd Samuel on the left. His cross found Darius
Vassell, whose shot struck the leg of Jorge Costa, who was attempting a tackle,
looped over Dean Kiely and into the far corner. The lead was doubled when
George Boateng out jumped Costa on the half way line and send Juan Pablo
Angel clear down the right. He ran unchallenged into the area and fired home
past Kiely off the far post. Charlton pulled one back when Lisbie broke away
down the left and was fouled by Angel who had tracked him back. The referee
awarded a penalty and although Schmeichel saved Graham Stuart's spot kick,
the Charlton man reacted smartly to nod the rebound into the corner.


20 JANUARY 2002

Chelsea (3) 5 (Hasselbaink 45, 60, Gudjohnsen 51, 87, Forsell 90)
West Ham (0) 1 (Defoe 88)
RED CARD: Di Canio (West Ham) 70

Chelsea destroyed West Ham in the big London derby, although the headlines
belonged to Paolo di Canio for the wrong reasons. The Italian was red carded
with his team 3-0 down when he stamped on Jody Morris after being caught by
a heavy challenge. In truth, by then the destiny of the points was beyond doubt
with the rout started by Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink in first half stoppage time,
firing through a crowded penalty area after Eidur Gudjohnsen had shot from a
tricky angle. The Icelandic star then added a second, shooting in off the post
from John Terry's fine long pass and the Hasselbaink added a third, bursting
clear of Tomas Repka and scoring at the second attempt. Then came Di Canio's
moment of madness, before Gudjohnsen made it 4-0 after good work by Mikkel
Forsell. Jermaine Defoe then pulled one back, however Chelsea had the final
say, Mickel Forsell scoring the fifth in stoppage time after Mario Stanic had set
him up.


Leeds United (1) 1 (Fowler 6)
Arsenal (1) 1 (Pires 44)

Honours even at Elland Rd as both clubs move within touching distance of Man
Unietd, although the Old Trafford club will be delighted with the draw. Leeds
took an early lead when Jason Wilcox's cross was headed home firmly at the far
post by Robbie Fowler, however a rare moment of class in the match put the
Gunners level. Dennis Bergkamp's pass was dummied by Thierry Henry to send
Robert Pires clear and the Frenchman fired into the top corner.


19 JANUARY 2002

Derby (0) 1 (Christie 78)
Ipswich (0) 3 (Bent (M) 48, Peralta 66, Reuser 87)
MISS PENS: Stewart (Ipswich) 40, Burton (Derby) 51

Ipswich move out of the drop zone, despite being rooted at the bottom at
Christmas, in a remarkable match which saw both clubs miss a penalty. Ipswich
were the first villains when Marcus Stewart struck his spot kick against the
post after Carbonari was fouled for doing very little apart from use Marcus Bent
for a little leverage, however early in the second half Bent gave the visitors
the lead, running onto a long pass and finding the corner from a tight angle.
Derby then missed their penalty when Andy Marshall saved from Deon Burton
after Ravanelli was bundled over in the area. They were made to pay when Sixto
Peralta doubled the lead, prodding into the corner after Bent had set him up.
Christie pulled one back, heading home Ravanelli's cross from close range,
however the points were secured for Ipswich when Martijn Reuser drilled his shot
home from 20 yards.


Leicester (0) 0
Newcastle (0) 0

No goals at Filbert Street as Newcastle lose ground on the leaders, whilst
Leicester become further adrift at the foot of the table. Muzzy Izzet came close
for the home side when he saw his goalbound shot somehow blocked by Dabizas,
whilst at the other end Alan Shearer sent an unmarked header wide when he
looked certain to score.


Liverpool (1) 1 (Owen 7)
Southampton (0) 1 (Davies 47)

Liverpool lost ground on Man United after losing a lead against Southampton.
Michael Owen gave the hosts an early lead, scrambling the ball in after Paul
Jones had spilled Dietmar Hamann's shot, however early in the second half Kevin
Davies scored his first goal in over a year, drilling home after Chris Marsden
caused problems for the home defence.


Manchester United (1) 2 (Van Nistelrooy (pen) 45, Keane 81)
Blackburn (0) 1 (Hignett 49)

Man United go two points clear at the top, but didn't have it all their own way
against Blackburn. Ruud van Nistelrooy scored for a record eighth successive
Premiership game when he converted a penalty after Laurent Blanc had been
fouled by visiting keeper Brad Friedel, although claims that the Frenchman had
dived seemed justified. Rovers equalised early in the second half when Craig
Hignett fired into the corner after Matt Jansen had put him through. Van
Nistelrooy then hit the bar with a spectacular overhead kick, before Roy Keane
won the game via the hand of Friedel after Ryan Giggs backheel had set him up.
Blackburn were left to rue a number of missed chances which would have
earned them a deserved point.


Middlesbrough (1) 1 (Whelan 38)
Bolton (0) 1 (Hansen 73)

Middlesbrough drop into the bottom three after losing a lead at home to Bolton.
Boro rarely looked in trouble after Noel Whelan put them ahead, firing in from a
tight angle after Bolton failed to clear a scramble, however sub Bo Hansen
levelled matters late on, crashing home a volley from the edge of the area.


Sunderland (0) 1 (Phillips 65)
Fulham (1) 1 (Malbranque 17)

Honours even at the Stadium of Light as Sunderland's dismal season continues.
Fulham took the lead when Steed Malbranque found the top corner after a jinky
solo run. Kevin Phillips earned a point for the hosts when he latched onto
Stefan Schwarz's through ball, rounded Van der Sar and slotted into an empty
net.


Tottenham (1) 1 (Ferdinand 5)
Everton (1) 1 (Weir 7)

Two goals in the first seven minutes at White Hart Lane, but neither club could
grab a winner in the remaining 83 minutes. Les Ferdinand opened the scoring,
fizzing home a header from Oyvind Leonhardsen's cross, however within three
minutes David Weir made it 1-1, volleying into the net after Spurs failed to
deal with a cross from the right by Paul Gascoigne.


Gary Dowden
Chief Editor SoccerAge UK
http://www.soccerage.com
gary@soccerage.com
garydowden@blueyonder.co.uk