West Ham stage gritty fightback, while rejuvenated Liverpool down Red Devils

Cole played a pivotal role is West Ham's inspired comeback (whufc.com images)

While Chelsea captured the football headlines on Sunday morning with their sublime football against Blackburn Rovers, there were two matches on Sunday that really brought true to the word that the Premier League is the best.

Liverpool played brilliantly against a lacklustre Man Utd side, devoid of creative ideas and lacked sizzling spark that either Cristiano Ronaldo, or even, Carlos Tevez would have given them. While over at East London, West Ham staged a maracoulous comeback against Arsenal to earn a point.

The Reds won 2-0 with goals from Fernando Torres and the fledgling centre forward David N'Gog. Torres looked ordinary for much of the game, going to ground easily and outmuscled by a congested United midfield and defence. But in a move began by the rabid and determined Yossi Benayoun, the Israeli slid a beautifully weighted passed on the right channel to free Torres, who skimmed past Rio Ferdinand and powered his shot past Edwin van der Saar into the roof of the net.

While United pushed and probed, which also saw the introduction of Michael Owen as a sub and recieved a chorus of boos and Judas chants from the Kop support, Liverpool broke in injury-time with Lucas calmly put N'Gog through on goal to slot his second of the season and earn the Reds a much needed win to break their run of four consecutive defeats in all competitions.

The Hammers support were treated to an unusual sensational second-half comeback against Arsenal. The Gunners led 2-0 at half-time thanks to in-form Robin van Persie and William Gallas, before the tide turned against them. West Ham bought on Alessandro Diamianti for the ineffective Guillermo Franco, while the introduction of livewire Zavon Hinds also gave the Hammers a meaningful purpose in their attacking moves.

West Ham scored midway in the second half when an effort by Scott Parker bought a save out of Vito Mannone, only for him to palm his effort towards Carlton Cole, who stooped low to head home. Cole's hold-up play was also becoming a nusance to Arsenal, with Alexandre Song gifting a penalty when he brought down the England striker. Diamanti, with authority, slammed home the penalty in the bottom corner to put the Hammers level. Aresenal had a chance to win the match at the death, when Eduardo's effort was saved by Robert Green, in a game which Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger viewed his side's fallible second half performance as 'sickening'.

Liverpool balloon title hopes as Bent breaks Reds' hearts

By the end of the day, two people will be victimised as the culprits of sending Liverpool to defeat against Sunderland at the Stadium of Light yesterday - Reds boss Rafa Benitez and the boy who punted a Liverpool balloon ball onto the pitch, which played a key part in losing the game and severely damaging their already slim hopes of winning this year's Premier League title.

Sunderland striker Darren Bent's low half-volley ricocheted of a stray ball that landed on Liverpool's six-yard line.

I assume Benitez is still cursing his luck look at the squad's lengthening injury list, as well as his rueful decision in selling playmaker Xabi Alonso. The return of Alberto Aquilani couldn't come any sooner...

England stroll to final WCQ win, go to preparing summer's finals in buoyant mood

England's World Cup qualification campaign ended with a comprehensive 3-0 victory over Belarus at Wembley, but with many fans and media alike seemingly confused as to the man of the match award given to David Beckham after playing only fairly well for just a little over half an hour.

All in all, it was a competent performance without being blindingly brilliant. They didn't need to be of course. Peter Crouch impressed, scoring twice, but it was a kind of performance was expected by the 6"7" striker, who has scored many of his 18 international goals against poorly opposition.

Gabby Agbonlahor also shone under the bright floodlight of Wembley, showing great enthusiasm to get in behind a fraggile Belarus backline, but critics remian uncertain whether he would pose any serious problems to the world-class defenders he could potentially face next summer.

Gareth Barry flattered many England fans and the media with his assured passing display, while keeping the subdued midfield rival Michael Carrick at bay, while Aaron Lennon was very bright and positive in his link up play with Glen Johnson down England's right, though I was was quite sceptical whether his final end product, his crossing, would live up to quite the same billing as his lightening pace.

Manager Fabio Capello has said on ITV's coverage of the Belarus game that he has 16 men that he believes will be on the plane to South Africa next summer. But here is my tip as to who will be in the squad:

Goalkeepers
David James
Robert Green
Joe Hart

Defenders
Glen Johnson
Wes Brown
John Terry
Rio Ferdinand
Matt Upson
Gary Cahill
Ashley Cole
Leighton Baines

Midfielders
Theo Walcott
Aaron Lennon
David Beckham
Steven Gerrard
Gareth Barry
Frank Lampard
Owen Hargreaves
Joe Cole

Strikers
Wayne Rooney
Jermain Defoe
Peter Crouch
Carlton Cole

Cesc on fire as Arsenal hammer Rovers

Fabregas tormented an understrength Blackburn back line (The Times images)

To describe Arsenal's performance against Blackburn on Sunday would simply be a list of hyperbole - good and bad - at the ease in which the Gunners ripped through a flimsy Rovers defence, and the neglectful side to their defending.

Midfielder Cesc Fabregas was at the heart of Arsenal's swift attacking play, and with a plethora of forward-minded players like Andrei Arshavin, Tomas Rosicky, and Theo Walcott, it ended up being a field day for the Spanaird, who found it easy to pick his passes at will.

Blackburn, however, put up a strong fight and used their aerial prowess to effect when scoring the game's first goal when Steven Nzonzi looped his header over home keeper Vito mannone from Paul Robinson's long punt.

They had some chances after that, but were overwhelmed by Arsenal's scintillating play. Fabregas made four assists, creating the goals for Robin van Persie's cool finish, likewise with Walcott, Arshavin, and Rosicky's goals.

Thomas Vermaelen and Nicklas Bentdner scored from crunching hits outside Blackburn's penalty area, but Vermaelen and Arsenal's defending was virtually non-existent, leaving gaps like the size of an Olympic-sized swimming pool, and it was holding midfielder Alex Song that was left drowning trying to cut the supply of Blackburn's counter-attack, which ended in a David Dunn goal in a move started by a fantastic stop from Robinson.

You could almost feel sorry for the pedestrianed England goalkeeper, who had an unreassuring back four in front of him, consisting of full-backs Gael Givet and Lars Olsson playing as makeshift central backs.

We were left purring by the sight of Arsenal's flair and invention, but I was left wondering whether they could continue their title push, or even trophies, with a leaky defence.