- Chelsea won tenth game in a row after Cesc Fabregas strike at Sunderland
- Zlatan Ibrahimovic struck late for Manchester United at Crystal Palace
- Liverpool win at Middlesbrough though Adam Lallana (2) and Divock Origi goals
- Christian Eriksen (2) and Victor Wanyama fired Tottenham to win over Hull
- Pablo Zabaleta and David Silva strikes help Manchester City overcome Watford
- Mark Noble gives West Ham United win over Burnley despite missing penalty
- Also Stoke City 0-0 Southampton and West Bromwich Albion 3-1 Swansea City
- Sunderland 0-1 Chelsea
Chelsea 1 - 0 Sunderland
Chelsea made it 10 Premier League wins in a row as they ground out a 1-0 win against Sunderland at the Stadium of Light.
A fine finish from Cesc Fabregas just before half-time ensured the Blues extended their lead at the top of the table.
Antonio Conte’s men are now six points clear after capitalising on Arsenal’s defeat at Everton last night.
David Moyes set his side up to frustrate with seven defenders in his starting line-up and for 40 minutes Chelsea had no answer.
As half-time approached Sunderland’s resistance was broken. The visitors swept upfield and Willian laid the ball into the path of Fabregas who picked his spot with pinpoint precision.
The home side continued to battle in the second half, affording their visitors little space in the final third.
Chelseas couldn’t find that precious second as Willian hit the bar and Jordan Pickford stepped up when called upon. In the end, the home side’s depleted side didn’t have enough quality to trouble Chelsea who showed their title-winning credentials with a hard-fought win.
Sunderland almost nicked a point at the death when Patrick van Aanholt hit a left-foot rocket goalwards, but Thibaut Courtois flung out a hand and denied the Dutchman with a fine save.
The Blues missed Eden Hazard, no doubt about that. His explosive bursts and blood twisting runs would have helped them penetrate the red and white brick wall erected in front of Sunderland’s 18-yard-box, but his deputy Willian did a fine job in his absence.
The energetic Brazilian unselfishly teed up Fabregas goal when he could have shot himself and he hit the bar in the second half.
If Chelsea are to maintain their title charge they’re going to need a member of their squad to come to the fore when called upon.
Willian proved tonight he has the quality to step in to the shoes of Hazard and deliver.
Here is how the Premier League table looks like:
Manchester United 2-1 Palace
As he has done many times in his career, Zlatan Ibrahimovic came through when it was needed the most.
The Sweden international scored in the 88th minute to give Manchester United a hard-fought 2-1 win over Crystal Palace on Wednesday.
Ibrahimovic helped the Red Devils take the initial lead on a controversial assist to Paul Pogba just before halftime. The midfielder returned the favour late in the second half, earning an assist on Ibrahimovic's game-winner.
Crystal Palace evened the match in the second half when James McArthur scored off a pretty pass from Damien Delaney, but the hard-luck squad was unable to hold on for any points in the match.
Manchester United extended its unbeaten streak to seven Premier League matches, including wins in the last two. Crystal Palace suffered its first loss in three matches, again putting the club in danger of falling near the relegation line.
Neither squad was able to get much going at the start of the match, with few periods of sustained possession or shots on goal.
The first real opportunity came in the 37th minute when Manchester United got its first shot on goal. Wayne Rooney had a chance to give his club the lead but was stopped by goalkeeper Wayne Hennessey.
After earning a free kick in stoppage time, Juan Mata kicked the ball into the box, which went off Ibrahimovic before Pogba buried it into the back of the net.
A questionable tackle by Marcos Rojo could have been worth a red card, the home fans were not happy with the end of the first half. In any case, it was enough to give the visitors a 1-0 lead heading into intermission.
The second half featured much of the same, with neither club making much of an impact in the final third. Crystal Palace earned its first good opportunity in the 62nd minute with a drive from McArthur, but David De Gea was there for the stop.
Middlesbrough 0 vs. Liverpool 3
Liverpool comfortably dispatched Middlesbrough 3-0 at the Riverside Stadium on Wednesday as Adam Lallana grabbed two goals and an assist.
Divock Origi also netted as the Reds saw off a spirited challenge from Boro, who enjoyed a number of chances in the first half.
The Reds started the game with Simon Mignolet in goal, with the Belgian replacing the under-fire Loris Karius, while Ragnar Klavan came in for Joel Matip, who was ruled out late on, per James Pearce of the Liverpool Echo.
Both sides began positively amid a bright start to the game, but clear-cut chances were at a premium in the early stages as each team defended resolutely.
The hosts' first real sight of goal came after 18 minutes, when Fabio da Silva fired in an effort from 25 yards, but the shot was straight at Mignolet, who comfortably dealt with the challenge.
Mignolet was called into action again six minutes later to keep out Ben Gibson's header after he connected with an Adam Forshaw free-kick.
The Reds broke the deadlock when Lallana met Nathaniel Clyne's superb cross with his head at the back post.
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