Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/426299
maltatoday, WEDNESDAY, 3 DECEMBER 2014 20 Sport FOOTBALL SPORTTODAY United see off Stoke as Gerrard inspires Liverpool to victory A review of Tuesday night's action in the Barclays Premier League as there were wins for Liverpool, Manchester United and Swansea MANCHESTER United's recent revival stretched to a fourth succes- sive victory to hand former old boy and Stoke boss Mark Hughes a third straight defeat. It was two players with a combined worth of £64.6million that lifted boss Louis van Gaal's side to within eight points of Barclays Premier League leaders Chelsea with goals in a 2-1 win over the Potters. Marouane Fellaini, who cost Unit- ed £27.5million upon his arrival from Everton in September last year, head- ed the Reds into a 21st-minute lead in meeting a cross from Ander Herrera. City, who have now lost on their last 12 visits to Old Trafford, were back on level terms six minutes be- fore the break when Steven N'Zonzi rifled home a fizzing shot from just outside the area. But it was Juan Mata, a £36.1million capture from Chelsea in January, who struck the decisive blow with a free-kick from wide on the right that should have been cleared, only to drift into the net. Defender Marcos Rojo appeared to indicate he had got a touch to the ball on its way in, but Mata claimed the winning goal. Liverpool further eased the pres- sure on manager Brendan Rodgers with a 3-1 victory at rock-bottom Leicester, following on from their own win over Stoke on Saturday. Goalkeeper Simon Mignolet has come in for considerable criticism of late, and it was the Belgian who in- advertently gave City the lead in the 22nd minute when a Leonardo Ulloa struck a post, rebounded off his back and over the line. But Liverpool fought back with goals from Adam Lallana and Steven Gerrard, the latter restored to the side, before Wes Morgan was sent off for a foul on Rickie Lambert in the 63rd minute. Jordan Henderson then sealed the points in the 83rd minute to hand Leicester their seventh defeat from their last nine matches. Swansea are up to sixth following a 2-0 win at the Liberty Stadium over relegation-threatened QPR. The Swans left it late, however, as Ki Sung-yueng netted his first goal since the opening day of the season in the 78th minute. That was followed five minutes later by former Rangers midfielder Wayne Routledge clinching the victory with a strike from outside the box. West Ham continue to ride high in fifth after they came from behind to beat West Brom 2-1 at The Haw- thorns. The Baggies had taken a 10th- minute lead when Craig Dawson headed in a free kick from Graeme Dorrans, ending the home side's goal drought at 323 minutes. But first Kevin Nolan pounced after goalkeeper Ben Foster had pushed away an overhead kick from Andy Carroll in the 35th minute prior to centre-back James Tomkins scoring his first goal for two years on the stroke of half time. Aston Villa are up to 12th after Christian Benteke scored the only goal of the game in a vital win for Paul Lambert's side at Crystal Palace. Making only his fifth appearance of the season due to injuries, Ben- teke capitalised on a mistake from Scott Dann inside his own half be- fore striding forward and confidently beating Julian Speroni for his first goal since March. Burnley are out of the bottom three as they stretched their unbeaten run to four matches with a 1-1 draw at Turf Moor with Newcastle. George Boyd gave the Clarets the lead with a scintillating strike from 22 yards in the 34th minute, but the Magpies levelled three minutes after the break when Papiss Cisse kneed home the equaliser for his fifth goal of the season. Torino coach banned for 'threatening expression' Rodriguez bags brace in Real rout TORINO coach Giampiero Ven- tura has been given a one-match touchline ban for looking at a spectator with a "threatening ex- pression", Italy's disciplinary tri- bunal said on Tuesday. The tribunal said that, at the end of Sunday's 2-1 defeat to Juventus, Ventura "turned to a spectator with a seriously intimi- dating gesture and a threatening expression." Sampdoria were fined €15 000 because of "insulting chants based on territorial origin" by their supporters during Monday's 1-1 draw against Napoli. Inter Milan coach Roberto Mancini escaped with a warning after he was sent from the touch- line during his side's 4-2 defeat by AS Roma on Sunday. Marouane Fellaini opened the scoring for Manchester United Giampiero Ventura JAMES Rodriguez scored twice as Real Madrid completed victory over UE Cornella in the Copa del Rey fourth round in comprehensive fashion. Leading 4-1 from the first leg, Real won 5-0 at the Bernabeu and 9-1 on aggregate. Rodriguez scored twice in the first half, lashing in Isco's through-ball and firing home from outside the box having been teed up by Javier Hernandez, and in between times set up Isco for the second. A Borja Lopez own goal made it 4-0 on the night and Isco then set up substitute Jese to round off an emphatic victory. James Rodriguez scored twice for Real Madrid