Berbatov sinks Liverpool as Chelsea crush Blackpool

Dimitar Berbatov scores a hat-trick as Manchester United overcomes Liverpool 3-2 in a classic Premier League battle.

LONDON: Dimitar Berbatov scored a hat-trick as Manchester United overcame Liverpool 3-2 in a classic Premier League battle.

Berbatov rose high to nod home an 84th-minute header to seal maximum points for United, who had seen Liverpool recover from two goals down thanks to a second-half brace from skipper Steven Gerrard.

Ferguson later hailed the performance of Berbatov. “This season he’s started off in the right fashion, his pre-season training was very good,” said the manager.

Roy Hodgson, on the other hand, defended the mixed performance of Torres, who was at fault for Berbatov’s opening goal. “Fernando needs more games, time and training, but we’ll get tremendous use out of him for the rest of the season,” said Hodgson.

Chelsea crush Blackpool

Chelsea’s fifth consecutive win was settled in the opening 45 minutes, with Salomon Kalou, Didier Drogba and Florent Malouda (2) putting Carlo Ancelotti’s rampant Blues 4-0 up after half an hour.

The reigning champions have now rattled in a remarkable 21 goals in only five games and could have had a fifth had they not been denied a certain penalty in injury time after a foul on Drogba.

Tevez shines as City down Wigan

Argentine international Carlos Tevez scored one and created another as Manchester City moved into the top four with a 2-0 victory against Wigan. City took the lead just before the break through Tevez’s fine chip. City’s second goal came with 20 minutes remaining thanks to a Wigan defensive lapse. Maynor Figueroa headed Zabaleta’s cross back into trouble and Gohouri could only head as far as Tevez, who clipped to the far post for Kolo Toure to touch in.

Draw holds Arsenal back

Arsene Wenger’s side was denied top spot in the Premier League thanks to Darren Bent’s injury-time goal in a 1-1 draw against Sunderland.

Bent scored in the fifth minute of stoppage time after Atkinson had indicated a minimum of four would be added on, to spark a conflict near the technical area.

Alex Song was sent off early in the second-half for the Gunners, who were left to rue a late penalty miss by Tomas Rosicky.

Wenger had praise for his team although he was clearly fuming at the circumstances in which his side was denied two priceless points.

“I don’t comment on any decision by the referee. You saw the game like I did,” said the manager.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 20^th, 2010.