Chelsea win; Manchester magic
A review of Saturday's action in the Barclays Premier League.
- Related Content
Chelsea returned to the top of the Barclays Premier League with a routine 3-0 victory over Stoke.
Jose Mourinho declared Chelsea's title challenge was over after last weekend's loss at Crystal Palace and, with the Blues' fate out of their own hands, winning the remaining six games was the target.
Liverpool, who play West Ham on Sunday, and Manchester City, 4-1 winners over Southampton earlier on Saturday, have games in-hand, but Chelsea sit top with five games to go after Mohamed Salah netted on his full debut.
Frank Lampard followed up to score after Asmir Begovic saved his penalty and Willian curled in a third in the Blues' 15th home win of the season.
City increased the pressure on Liverpool and Chelsea with an emphatic victory over Southampton at the Etihad Stadium.
A controversial Samir Nasri goal and an Edin Dzeko header moments later turned a tight game in City's favour after Rickie Lambert's penalty had cancelled out one from Yaya Toure.
Substitute Stevan Jovetic made victory certain, but for Southampton prime concerns were over a knee injury to 17-goal top scorer Jay Rodriguez.
Juan Mata struck in each half as Manchester United beat Newcastle 4-0 with the Spaniard on target with a fine free-kick for the opener.
Shinji Kagawa was influential throughout and he helped set up Mata's second, before being heavily involved as Javier Hernandez continued the rout at St James' Park.
Newcastle kept pushing forward, enabling United to claim a fourth goal through Adnan Januzaj.
Fulham climbed off the foot of the table when Hugo Rodallega pounced for a late winner in a 2-1 victory at Aston Villa.
With just four minutes remaining, Lewis Holtby floated in a cross that was met by Rodallega's glancing header for his first Premier League goal in 15 months.
Kieran Richardson had nudged Fulham into a 62nd-minute lead with a super strike, only for Grant Holt to capitalise on poor defending to equalise.
Fulham would have won by more but for some sloppy finishing and despite securing the three points, they still remain five points adrift of safety.
- Photo Galleries/
- Premier League
Two goals from Jason Puncheon enabled Crystal Palace to take another giant stride towards Premier League survival by triumphing 3-0 at Cardiff.
Puncheon and Joe Ledley gave the Eagles a comfortable two-goal cushion, but Puncheon saved his best for last with an outstanding late strike.
The victory, which comes a week after Chelsea were humbled at Selhurst Park, nudges woeful Cardiff closer to the Sky Bet Championship.
West Brom secured a priceless 1-0 victory at Norwich when Morgan Amalfitano struck in the 17th minute with a magnificent goal.
George Boyd headed in a cross from Liam Rosenior at the far post as Hull dispatched Swansea 1-0 at the KC Stadium to leave the Welsh club glancing nervously over their shoulders at the bottom three.