Manchester United's Rio Ferdinand (L)
challenges Newcastle United's Steven Taylor for the ball during
their English Premier League soccer match at St James Park in
Newcastle, northern England January 1, 2007.
More zest was added to the English Premiership title race as
pacesetters Manchester United were held to a 2-2 draw at Newcastle
on Monday, giving Chelsea hope to catch up.
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Liverpool and Reading enjoyed the best possible start to a New
Year but for West Ham it looks to be a long 2007 ahead for Alan
Curbishley and his side.
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Manchester United were left to rue a home debut goal for
Newcastle defender David Edgar as they came away from St James'
Park with the draw.
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James Milner gave Newcastle a surprise lead with a stunning
strike but Paul Scholes hit back with goals either side of
half-time to put his side in control.
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Newcastle rarely threatened in the second half but in the 72nd
minute, Edgar left fly from distance and his shot deflected off
Scholes for a hard fought leveller.
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With the draw Manchester United now move seven points clear of
Chelsea, who could move two points closer if they win at Aston
Villa on Tuesday.
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In the day's early kick-off Liverpool were held by a stubborn
Bolton side for an hour but once Peter Crouch, in for hamstring
victim Craig Bellamy, converted Jermaine Pennant's delivery there
was only ever to be one winner.
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Steven Gerrard showed all the credentials of an MBE recipient
when he doubled his side's advantage just two minutes later, before
the impressive Dirk Kuyt added gloss to a polished Liverpool
performance.
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At The Madejski Stadium, Reading were rampant and West Ham
nothing short of woeful. Brynjar Gunnarsson got Reading on their
way when he headed in Nick Shorey's set-piece in the 12th minute
and just moments later, the home side was in complete control when
Stephen Hunt converted Steve Sidwell's clipped cross.
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West Ham were a shambles at the back and at half-time were four
down, as Anton Ferdinand put through his own goal and then Kevin
Doyle grabbed his first of the afternoon.
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Curbishley's woes were compounded in the second half when Leroy
Lita converted and then Doyle with his second completed the
scoring.
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Tottenham had Steed Malbranque to thank for a point at Fratton
Park as the diminutive midfielder headed in Danny Murphy's cross,
to cancel out Benjani Mwaruwari's against the run-of-play opener in
the first half.
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At the wrong end of the table Middlesbrough grabbed a crucial
three points with a 3-1 win over a Sheffield United side that could
not match their exploits against Arsenal.
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Mark Viduka's deflected drive got Boro on track in the 36th
minute but by half-time United were level thanks to Phil Jagielka's
penalty.
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The second period was all about Yakubu Aiyegbeni, as the big
Nigerian grabbed a brace. The first saw him snatch a goal from
Viduka as he prodded home after his team-mate had beaten Paul
Gerrard from the angle, the second was a coolly dispatched
penalty.
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Substitute Georgios Samaras shrugged off indifferent form of
late to score a double that helped Manchester City to a 2-1 victory
over Everton at Eastlands.
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His first was a near post finish from a DaMarcus Beasley
pull-back in the 50th minute, the second a penalty after Tim Howard
had ended a City foray illegally.
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Leon Osman made for a nervous finish with six minutes remaining
when he converted Phil Neville's cross, but City held on and were
full value for the win.
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Fulham and Watford missed a glut of chances between them but
neither side could break the deadlock at Craven Cottage, in a game
overshadowed by the sight of Antti Niemi leaving the field in a
neck brace.
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Wigan had an afternoon to forget as they entertained an in-form
Blackburn side that won the Lancashire bragging rights with a 3-0
victory.
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Emile Heskey put through his own goal to put Blackburn on their
way, leaving Matt Derbyshire to fire in his first Premiership goal
and a Benni McCarthy penalty to complete the rout.
(Xinhua News Agency January 2, 2007)
