PREMIER LEAGUE RESULTS

The week after the international break brought mixed fortunes to the “Big 4″. League leaders Chelsea took the lead at Villa Park through Didier Drogba but goals from Richard Dunne and James Collins saw the home side win the closely contested encounter 2-1. They were displaced off the top spot by Manchester United, who held off a stiff challenge from Bolton. They won 2-1 riding on a strong first half performance.

Arsenal played flowing football and brushed aside a hard-working Wigan team 3-1 at home. Goals from van Persie, Diaby and Arshavin were enough to push Arsenal into the top four. Liverpool, though, were thoroughly unconvincing as they lost 1-0 at the Stadium of Light under controversial circumstances. Darren Bent’s shot ricocheted off a balloon which was thrown onto the pitch by a Liverpool fan and went into the net, wrongfooting Pepe Reina. That was Liverpool’s fourth loss in nine games, two more than the whole of last season.

Harry Redknapp took Tottenham to Fratton Park and returned victorious. Ledley King and Jermaine Defoe scored to secure a 2-1 win. Pompey scored through Kevin Prince Boateng and should have secured at least a point. Everton and Wolves played out a competitive 1-1 draw. Kevin Doyle gave the visitors the lead in the 76th minute but Diniyar Bilyaletdinov equalised late for the Toffees. West Ham suffered yet another defeat, succumbing 1-2 to Stoke City.

Blackburn won a thrilling East Lancashire derby by beating Burnley 3-2 in a pulsating encounter. Burnley took the early lead through Robbie Blake but the home side responded with goals from Dunn, di Santo and Chimbonda.

In Sunday’s second game, Wigan and Manchester City played out a keenly contested game which ended in a 1-1 draw. Wigan took the lead in first half injury time through Charles NZogbia but City equalised immediately after the lemon break through Martin Petrov. Pablo Zabaleta was sent off with 20 minutes to go and City spent most of that time defending with their backs against the wall.