Football
ESPN staff 9y

Arsenal win big against Liverpool, Chelsea see off Stoke

Arsenal went second in the Premier League by beating Liverpool 4-1 at the Emirates thanks to a first-half blitz that included three goals in eight minutes.

Both sides had chances in the first half, but Arsenal took the lead when Hector Bellerin found space inside the box and curled the opener home. Mesut Ozil then sent a free kick into the far corner to make it 2-0 and, just before the break, Alexis Sanchez's rocket from just outside the box deepened Liverpool's misery.

Liverpool looked to have a glimmer of hope when Bellerin brought down Raheem Sterling in the box and Jordan Henderson stroked home the penalty with 15 minutes left.

However, Emre Can was then sent off as he clattered into Danny Welbeck to earn a second yellow and Giroud then added a fourth just before the final whistle as Liverpool went down to a defeat that seriously hindered their hopes of a top-four finish.

Chelsea battled to a 2-1 victory at home to Stoke City as Charlie Adam scored a remarkable goal for the visitors.

Chelsea, who nearly opened the scoring early on through a deflected Loic Remy shot, went ahead through a 39th-minute Eden Hazard penalty after Philipp Wollscheid had fouled Cesc Fabregas.

However, Stoke drew level just before the break when Adam took aim from inside his own half and caught Thibaut Courtois off his line.

Jose Mourinho opted to bring Diego Costa on at the break, but the Spain international lasted barely 10 minutes before having to be replaced by Didier Drogba.

However, they were soon back in front as Hazard danced through the defence before setting up Remy for the simplest of finishes to secure a win that puts his side seven points clear at the top of the table.

Manchester United moved eight points clear of Liverpool after beating Aston Villa 3-1 at Old Trafford.

United, who saw a Wayne Rooney penalty appeal rejected after five minutes, took the lead just before the break when Ander Herrera controlled Daley Blind's cutback before firing into the far corner.

Rooney looked to have made the game safe with a stunning effort on 79 minutes as he blasted the ball home on the turn, but Christian Benteke reduced the arrears almost immediately when David De Gea somehow failed to stop his shot.

However, there was to be no comeback as Herrera sidefooted home his second of the afternoon in injury time.

Southampton's hopes of playing European football next season suffered a blow as they lost 1-0 at resurgent Everton.

Southampton, who dropped out of the top four after winning just one of their five games in February, went into the match looking to secure a win that would take them two points clear of Liverpool, but they fell behind on 16 minutes when Phil Jagielka turned the ball home at close range.

That goal proved enough to give Everton a third successive win in the league to ease any lingering fears over relegation.

Queens Park Rangers claimed only their second away win of the season as they won 4-1 at West Bromwich Albion.

QPR had failed to register a single point away from Loftus Road until February's 2-0 success at Sunderland, and had also lost both their away games since, but they showed no sign of travel sickness as they scored three goals in the first half at The Hawthorns.

Eduardo Vargas opened the scoring with a 25-yard drive, Charlie Austin headed dome to double their lead on 37 minutes, and Bobby Zamora's deft flick increased their advantage just before the break.

West Brom substitute Victor Anichebe pulled a goal back just before the hour mark when he headed home a Saido Berahino cross, but Tony Pulis' side found themselves down to 10 men on 83 minutes when Youssuf Mulumbu was dismissed for a foul on Joey Barton.

Barton then increased QPR's lead deep into injury time to complete the victory.

Leicester City won 2-1 at home to West Ham United to bolster their hopes of avoiding the drop.

Esteban Cambiasso volleyed rock-bottom Leicester into the lead on 12 minutes, and they might have doubled their advantage shortly afterwards when Carl Jenkinson fouled Leonardo Ulloa in the area, but West Ham keeper Adrian saved David Nugent's spot kick.

West Ham, though, produced an instant response and, after a period of pressure, drew level on 32 minutes when Cheikhou Kouyate controlled an Alex Song pass with his chest before firing home.

Leicester restored their advantage on 86 minutes when Andy King turned in Andrej Kramaric's cutback from close range, and that proved enough to secure a first league win since Jan. 10.

Swansea City defeated 10-man Hull City 3-1 at the Liberty Stadium.

Ki Sung-Yueng opened the scoring after Hull keeper Allan McGregor had failed to hold a Jonjo Shelvey shot, and Bafetimbi Gomis volleyed home to double their lead going into the break.

Paul McShane pulled one back for Hull straight after the break, but their hopes of salvaging something from the game receded when David Meyler was shown a straight red card for a dangerous tackle on Kyle Naughton, who had to be substituted.

Swansea finally ended any hope of a Hull leveller when Gomis netted his second of the afternoon in injury time.

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