Rockets hold on to Fulham beat17 Spurs 112-106 sack18 Jol MONDAY, DECEMBER 2, 2013

Terry seals Chelsea landmark in style Page 19

LONDON: Manchester United’s English striker (C) scores a goal during the English football match between Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester United at in London yesterday. — AFP Spurs and United share spoils

by goalkeeper Hugo Lloris handed Rooney pressure manager Andre Villas-Boas told clumsy foul on the edge of area and Walker the chance to level from the penalty spot. reporters in a frosty press conference in drilled his free kick under United’s four-man EPL standings Tottenham 2 It was a point that left United nine points which he accused some members of the wall who had jumped in unison. behind leaders Arsenal in eighth place, one media of “disrespect” following the defeat by The home side were suddenly sweeping LONDON: English Premier League table after yesterday’s place above Spurs, and despite not losing City. forward with relish and Roberto Soldado matches (played, won, drawn, lost, goals for, goals against, since September, manager David Moyes was “The penalty could have been another call. wasted a great chance being set free by points): frustrated. “But for a minute at Cardiff last But it was a good response from the defeat at Paulinho and De Gea saved well from Lennon Arsenal 13 10 1 2 27 10 31 Man Utd 2 week it would have been a great week for us City, not perfect because we wanted to win, as United wobbled. Chelsea 13 8 3 2 24 11 27 as Tottenham is not an easy game and they but it keeps us in touch.” Tottenham’s momentum was then halted Man City 13 8 1 4 37 12 25 had their pride to restore today, which they Tottenham had not beaten United in 12 by a terrible mistake from Walker, the England 13 7 3 3 25 16 24 did with their performance,” Moyes told previous home attempts but they began the right back diverting the ball across his own Everton 13 6 6 1 21 13 24 LONDON: Wayne Rooney equalised twice as reporters. game looking determined to improve that area for Rooney to smash United level after Newcastle 13 7 2 4 19 18 23 Manchester United stretched their unbeaten “But United have to win. I’m concerned dismal statistic and get their season back on 32 minutes. Southampton 13 6 4 3 16 10 22 run to 12 matches with a lively 2-2 draw at that we are not closer to the top but it’s a track. The Londoners began the second half full Man United 13 6 4 3 22 17 22 Tottenham Hotspur in the Premier League long season and I still feel we have room to With Villas-Boas pacing around his techni- of purpose and went back in front with an Tottenham 13 6 3 4 11 14 21 yesterday. progress. It’s a busy period coming up and we cal area from the first minute they began at a unstoppable shot from Brazil Hull City 13 5 2 6 12 16 17 With both sides anxious to make up want to be on the shirt tails of (the leading high tempo with Walker and Aaron Lennon Sandro after 54 minutes. However, United Aston Villa 13 4 4 5 13 14 16 ground on the top four, Tottenham had most teams) going into the end of the year, and at impressive down the right flank. Lennon cut were given another helping hand three min- to feel frustrated about as they failed to com- the start of next year. in to test keeper David de Gea with a low shot utes later, Lloris needlessly racing off his line West Bromwich 13 3 6 4 15 16 15 pletely capitalise on a much-improved dis- “Undoubtedly Arsenal have been very after 10 minutes. to clip ’s ankle as he veered Swansea City 13 4 3 6 17 19 15 play after last week’s 6-0 mauling at consistent and they have got off to a great Slow-starting United, with Shinji Kagawa away from goal. Norwich City 13 4 2 7 11 23 14 Manchester City. start but there will be a lot of teams now given a starting berth in central midfield, Rooney made no mistake from the West Ham 13 3 4 6 12 14 13 Kyle Walker’s fierce free kick gave them an looking to chase them down and hopefully were nearly gifted a head start when Vlad penalty spot, hammering his eighth league Stoke 13 3 4 6 12 18 13 18th minute lead only for Rooney to equalise we are one of them.” Chiriches was robbed by Rooney who goal of the season past Lloris. “Wayne was Cardiff City 13 3 4 6 11 20 13 with poacher’s goal after Walker went from But for the form of Rooney, United would exchanged passes with Antonio Valencia but very good today,” Moyes, who was again Fulham 13 3 1 9 11 24 10 hero to zero with a terrible error. A spectacu- have been staring at a damaging defeat as then found himself crowded out. without Robin van Persie, said. “He can Sunderland 13 2 2 9 8 24 8 lar strike by Sandro restored the home team’s they flattered to deceive at times. “We Tottenham deservedly took the lead in the score great goals but that first one was a Crystal Palace 13 2 1 10 7 22 7 lead after the interval before a rash moment deserved more I think,” Tottenham’s under- 18th minute when Jonny Evans committed a real sniffer’s goal.” — Reuters Tigers tame title-chasers Liverpool with record win

Liverpool in all competitions. Defeat and looped into the net over Simon dropped Liverpool from second place to Mignolet. Seven minutes later, Liverpool Hull City 3 third on goal difference and left them seven were level courtesy of captain Gerrard. Curtis points behind leaders Arsenal. Davies’s challenge on Jordan Henderson on The visitors badly missed striker Daniel the edge of the box gave Liverpool their first Sturridge, ruled out for up to eight weeks chance of note and Gerrard smashed his 20- Liverpool 1 after suffering ligament damage to his left yard free-kick low into the corner. ankle in training on Friday. Sturridge is Liverpool’s failed to take Liverpool’s top scorer this season, with 11 a chance to impress as he made his first goals and the highest scorer in the Premier appearance since mid-October and only his KINGSTON UPON HULL: Liverpool’s Premier League in 2013, with 19 goals in total. Hull second start of the season. The England League title credentials were dealt a blow as were promoted from the Championship last winger was largely ineffective and was they were beaten 3-1 by a spirited Hull City season and made a promising start to life replaced in the 66th minute. at the KC Stadium yesterday , back in the Premier League with seven The effort involved in their fine first-half HULL: Hull City’s Irish midfielder David Meyler (R) tackles Liverpool’s English defender Glen the midfielder on loan from Tottenham points from their opening five fixtures but performance limited Hull to a counter-attack- Johnson during the English Premier League football match between Hull City and Liverpool Hotspur, gave Hull a 20th minute lead with they’d lost four of their last five games head- ing style after the break and Liverpool had bat the KC Stadium in Hull yesterday. — AFP his first Premier League goal before Steven ing into this home clash against Liverpool. the lion’s share of possession. Gerrard equalised with a free-kick seven min- ’s aim might have been for his While Liverpool controlled the play, Hull Coutinho in place of Sterling in an effort to low finish beyond Mignolet. Luis Suarez sent utes later. Hull side to stifle their opponents but City did a good job of keeping them at arm’s give his side more spark. a 30-yard free kick wide with seven minutes David Meyler put Hull 2-1 ahead midway gave as good as they got in the early stages length and had chances of their own. His first contribution, in the 71st minute, left but Hull finished the job in 87th minute. through the second half before Martin Skrtel and grabbed the lead, albeit with a slice of Davies’s header from Robbie Brady’s deliv- was a low cross from the right that Moses A long ball found Yannick Sagbo, who was headed Tom Huddlestone’s chip into his own luck. Victor Moses lost possession in his own ery zipped wide and Skrtel had to be at his met but Allan McGregor did brilliantly to onside thanks to Kolo Toure being down net with three minutes left to seal a first vic- half and Livermore pounced on the loose best to cut out low cross from the Irishman at claw it off the line. injured. The Ivorian held up the ball long tory over Liverpool for the East Yorkshire ball. He then exchanged passes with fellow the near post. A minute later, Hull were back in front. enough to find Huddlestone, whose chipped club. midfielder David Meyler and his shot from 20 Liverpool manager had Liverpool failed to clear their lines as Hull effort was steered beyond Mignolet by It was Hull’s first ever victory against yards hit Liverpool defender Martin Skrtel seen enough and brought on Philippe threw bodies forward and Meyler sent a crisp Skrtel. — AFP