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SUNDERLAND

Simon Mignolet: 7

Kept Sunderland in the game with some impressive saves off Van Persie and Buttner in the first half. Didn’t have to do much in the second half but pulled off a notable save to deny Van Persie at the end.

Phillip Bardsley: 4

Tried to get involved in the attacking sense but saw most of his shots fly over the crossbar. Was lucky to stay on after a horrible challenge on Buttner. Came off at the end.

Danny Rose: 5.5

Couldn’t combine well enough with McClean with a very able Smalling in their way. Didn’t have much to do against Valencia.

John O’Shea: 6.5

Captained the game and was under a lot of early pressure by Van Persie and Kagawa. Was relieved of those duties further in the game after Sunderland started attacking. Marshalled his team forward.

Titus Bramble: 5

Was in an absolutely awful position as Van Persie’s shot took a deflection off him into the goal. Did improve as the game went on but often relied on his colleagues to get him out of sticky spots.

Alfred N’Diaye: 6

Tried to control Kagawa who ran rings around him in the first half. Kept him quite in the second and helped in maintaining vital possession for Sunderland as they pressed for an equalizer.

Craig Gardner: 5.5

Was completely bossed by Carrick and never really got into the game apart for short bursts towards the end but was unable to conjure up anything meaningful.

Adam Johnson: 4

Wasn’t involved in the game and was completely shut out by the full backs. Put in some crosses without real conviction. Was replaced by Wickham in the 73rd minute.

James McClean: 5

Was found more in the defensive half than in the attacking. Failed to contribute while others in the ,idfield pushed forward in the second half.

Stephane Sessegnon: 3.5

Wasted several opportunities trying to go for glory. Frustrated himself and those around him with his wayward passes and rash decision making. A lazy and uninspired performance.

Danny Graham: 5.5

Worked hard and tried to pressurize the United defense without much luck. Wasn’t helped by those behind him as they frequently lacked the perfect final ball when he occupied good positions.

SUBSTITUTIONS

Sebastian Larsson: N/A

Came on for Bardsley at the end but couldn’t effect the game much.

Connor Wickham: 5

Came on for Johnson and was a little more pro-active but couldn’t help his team conjure up the equalizer.

Jack Colback: N/A

Came on for Danny Rose.

MANCHESTER UNITED

David De Gea: 7

Nervy in the beginning with some awkward clearances. Was brave in the second half to keep the Sunderland pressure at bay. Collided with a brick wall…er …Vidic, but did carry on. Very little actual saving to do.

Rafael: 6

Was involved in getting forward in the early part of the game. Came off after an injury to his groin in the 32nd minute.

Nemanja Vidic: 7.5

Had a stiff back in the beginning. Made important clearances and interceptions especially at the end when Sunderland were piling on the pressure. Was a beast in the air and was first to the ball whenever Sunderland threw the ball into the box.

Chris Smalling: 8

Was brilliant with Vidic in the beginning and held the fort with relative ease. Moved to rightback in place of Rafael when he was subbed off and still excelled in the role. Could improve his first touch as it got away from him on occasion. Also provided some support for Valencia. Showed that he was better at his role as rightback.

Alex Buttner: 7.5

Went forward without invitation and almost opened the scoring with a scintillating run. Put in a good shift in defense and was always responsible in his tackles. Made a very impressive attempt at Mignolet’s goal towards the end.

Anderson: 6

Did try to impress with his driving runs and his one-touch passing. Tried putting pressure on Sunderland when they were on the ball. Didn’t do much other than make daft faces at the goalkeeper when Van Persie took free kicks. Came off for Cleverley in the 85th minute.

Michael Carrick: 9

Was present all over the place with an amazing work rate. Very involved in attack as well as defense, not letting the ball reach Vidic or Evans. It’ll be hard-pressed to find a fault in his performance today. Pulled strings with ease. Made a lovely pirouette turn at the end. Was instrumental in maintaining possession and keeping things calm when Sunderland were in the ascendency.

Ashley Young: 6.5

Was a threat always as he was an easy find out wide for players under pressure in the middle and threw in many crosses but did give away possession a lot. Combined extremely well with Buttner and helped him out at the back to handle Johnson. Drifted in and out.

Antonio Valencia: 6

Was relatively anonymous but helped out a lot in defense. Ran a lot to make up ground on both the sides of the pitch and showed some impressive pace but was let down by his terrible crossing and passing.

Shinji Kagawa: 8

Subtle touches and turns and combined with everyone around him and was usually the focal point of attack. Usually got the ball from Carrick and Anderson and combined with Van Persie up front to effect damage. Came off for Welbeck with 10 minutes to go as he drifted off in the second half.

Robin Van Persie: 7.5

Was allowed a lot of time to get his shot away which took a deflection on its way in. Was involved in many of the attacks and really fought to get the goal he wanted. Was starved of service especially in the second half when he barely touched the ball. Dropped in deep later to help in linking up the play.

SUBSTITUTES

Jonny Evans: 7

Came on for Rafael in the 30th minute and did well in the heart of defense. Always calm and composed on the ball and barely put a foot wrong. His development as a center-back this season has been remarkable.

Tom Cleverley: N/A

Came on for Anderson for the last 10 minutes and was available around the midfield to link up the play.

Danny Welbeck: N/A

Came on for Kagawa for 10 minutes.

LONDON, ENGLAND – FEBRUARY 16: Dejected Arsenal players Mikel Arteta (L) and Jack Wilshere (R) look on as Blackburn players celebrate their team’s 1-0 victory during the FA Cup fifth round match between Arsenal and Blackburn Rovers

Wojciech Szczesny: 4
Wasn’t involved in most of the match but it was his miscued parry that allowed Kazim Richards to score the winner.

Laurent Koscielny: 5
Was never actually put under much pressure through the match but was found out of position when it mattered as Blackburn scored the all important goal. Didn’t follow his marker.

Monreal: 6.5
The new signing seemed to be Arsenal’s shining light as he slotted into the squad easily and was solid defensively

Thomas Vermaelen: 6
Back from injury and looked to fit and kept Rhodes at bay. One of his headers also managed to loop just wide.

Francis Coquelin: 6.5
Was more used in the attacking sense and did the job well as he was very solid defensively and managed to involve others into the attacking play as well.

Mikel Arteta: 5.5
Played a holding midfield role in the beginning but started advancing forward as the game went on and especially after the substitutions. Could have won it in the end but missed the target while there were other players waiting in better positions.

A. Diaby: 5.5
Had one of his shots in the beginning saved by Kean. Had a haphazard sort of a match with many of his passes really accurate and some plain awful.

Tomas Rosicky: 6
Had a bullet shot saved by Kean and also played well to bring other players in the match, like Gervinho, who should have scored. Started losing concentration and was subbed off.

Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain: 6
Was a good outlet in the attacking third as his ace was deadly and combined with Coquelin well. Switched flanks in the second half and was not very effective after that.

Olivier Giroud: 5
Was starved of service for most of the match and got into some good positions but he can be disappointed with his teammates.

Gervinho: 3
Returning from the African Confederations Cup, the man was showing his poor form before he left with an awful finish that could have given Arsenal some hope. Was generally sloppy.

SUBSTITUTIONS

Santi Cazorla: 6
Came in to spruce up the attack and did a lot of good work but was unable to deliver in the end.

Jack Wilshere: 6
Added drive in the midfield that was missing in the beginning and one wonders why he didn’t start.

Theo Walcott: 5
Was isolated on the wing and couldn’t get past the Blackburn defense much. Had a great chance at the very end to win it but headed it directly to Kean.

BLACKBURN ROVERS:

LONDON, ENGLAND – FEBRUARY 16: Match winning goalscorer Colin Kazim-Richards of Blackburn celebrates his team’s 1-0 victory during the FA Cup fifth round match between Arsenal and Blackburn Rovers

Jake Kean: 8
Was tested very sporadically but made an awesome reflex save to deny Diaby and managed to keep Arsenal at bay till the end.

Bradley Orr: 5
Managed Gervinho easily and was a live wire going forward. Was a little shaken after receiving his booking.

Grant Hanley: 7
Was sturdy at the back and didn’t let anyone past him. Gave the attackers very little time on the ball and was always there to match the last tackle.

Martin Olsson: 7
Was really in the mood today as he used his pace very effectively and managed to clear the ball away from danger. It was his probing run that allowed Blackburn to score, forcing a save by the goalkeeper.

Scott Dann: 6
Was a solid presence at the back and easily won aerial duels. Managed to stifle Arsenal till the very end.

Jason Lowe: 6.5
Worked hard and tracked his runners well. Once the substitutions were made, he had to cope up but was confident along with his very able defense.

Lee Williamson: 5
Was tormented for most of the game by the attacking presence of Arsenal and was a little shaky but put some well timed blocks in.

Morten-Gamst Pedersen: 5.5
Was caught out of position occasionally and couldn’t actually manage with his various roles as the attackers kept changing.

Marcus Olsson: 6.5
Was brave enough and had a good deal of industry in his game as he was found in the attack at one minute and clearing the ball from the back in the next minute.

Colin Kazim-Richards: 6
Was totally out of the game almost contributing nothing, but was there at the right moment to knock home the ball.

Jordan Rhodes: 6
Was industrious in his overall play but compensated on actual quality. Was subbed off later.

SUBSTITUTIONS:

David Bentley: 6
Was introduced and failed to make much impact.

David Goodwillie: N/A
Late sub for Rhodes.

Simon Mignolet: 7.5

Was solid in the first half and made some really good saves from one on one positions. Didn’t have much to do in the second.

Danny Rose: 5

Let Walcott run rings round him throughout and he was lucky that he didn’t score. Was subbed off due to a hamstring injury.

Lee Cattermole: 4

Was up against a very combative Wilshere and had to bring him down many times. Was subbed off at half time due to injury.

Craig Gardner: 5

Was passable defensively. He did go forward on a few occasions but his final ball was terrible.

John O’Shea: 7

Played really well with a very clever reading of the game. Managed his positions well both in defense and offense.

Titus Bramble: 6

Was good for the most part, making some good tackles and clearances but when Arsenal were in the ascendancy, he just couldn’t keep up with their smooth style of play.

Alfred Ndiaye: 5

Started the game well and was found in many attacking positions but his touch on the ball let him down a lot. This pushed him back as the game progressed where he didn’t do particularly well.

Jack Colback: 6

Worked very hard in the midfield as he tried to break up the play and did it well for the most part. Caused Jenkinson to make the challenge which earned him his first booking.

Adam Johnson: 4.5

Wasn’t allowed to move thanks to Monreal’s marking of him and never really got into the game save for a few shots off target.

Steven Fletcher: 5

Was not the big guy’s game as he could’ve scored on at least 3 separate occasions but had an inspired Arsenal goalkeeper to handle. Also wasted a few chances on goal. Still he did work hard for the cause.

Stephane Sessegnon: 7

Was the shining light of Sunderland’s play and was very prominent in the second. Forced Jenkinson to make his second bookable offense and was Sunderland’s biggest attacking threat.

Substitutions

Sebastian Larsson: 5

Replaced Cattermole on the half. Attacked well with good delivery but came to nothing much in the end.

David Vaughan: N/A

Came on for Rose but didn’t contribute much

Danny Graham: 5

Was a bit of a threat for the little time he was on but didn’t come up with the needed goal . Showed good potential though.

Wojciech Szczesny: 7.5

Didn’t have to do much in the first half but was the sole reason why Arsenal won the match in the end. Made some unbelievable saves, including a one-on-one block and a world class reflex save

Bacary Sagna: 7

Played at centre back due to Kocielny’s late injury but looked much more secure than when he was at his wing back position. Managed to contain Fletcher and made some important blocks at the end.

Nacho Monreal: 5

Wasn’t a reassuring presence at the back as Sessegnon easily played around him in the first half. Handled Johnson in the second half though.

Carl Jenkinson: 4

Was a last minute inclusion into the team and was the first to return after he was sent off for two bookings. Was never confident on the ball and made reckless tackles.

Per Mertesacker: 6.5

Was a beast in the air and kept Fletcher in check. Was confident on and off the ball and made some really good tackles and clearances as well.

Mikel Arteta: 6.5

Unspectacular but was tidy in possession and always found his man while passing. Initiated many attacks, especially in the second half.

Jack Wilshere: 7

Showed his grit and determination throughout the game as he gave his heart for the Arsenal cause. Was involved in their attack and tracked backed as well. Was the driving force of the Arsenal side until he was withdrawn after picking up a knock.

Theo Walcott: 6

Was involved in the build up to Cazorla’s goal with some clever play. Made some very close attempts on goal and should have scored at least twice. Occupied dangerous positions but just couldn’t get the ball into the net.

Aaron Ramsey: 6.5

Should have scored when he was through on goal but could only direct it towards Mignolet. Worked well with Arteta and switched roles with the attackers well.

Olivier Giroud: 6

Didn’t make many attempts on goal and should have showed a little more intent in the dying minutes. Made some good passes and combined well with Cazorla.

Santi Cazorla: 7

Took his goal incredibly well in a crowded penalty box and directed it home. Didn’t have much of a direct influence through much of the game though he burst into life occasionally and Arsenal looked really menacing when he was involved.

Substitutes

Ignasi Miquel: N/A

Came on for Walcott with 5 minutes left

Abou Diaby: 6

Took over Wilshere’s job, maybe not as effectively, but managed to keep his game simple and continued the good forward play.

LONDON, ENGLAND – FEBRUARY 02: Javier Hernandez of Manchester United and Urby Emanuelson of Fulham tussle for the ball during the Barclays Premier League match between Fulham and Manchester United at Craven Cottage on February 2, 2013 in London, England. (Photo by Jamie McDonald/Getty Images)

Mark Schwarzer: 8

Brought out an almost perfect performance with some unbelievable saves, particularly off Rooney. Was unlucky not to have gotten a clean sheet

John Arne Riise: 7

Ran around all over the pitch as industrious as ever and had his long range canon ball shot pushed just over by de Gea. Made some excellent runs using his deadly pace

Philippe Santos: 6.5

Made some superb clearances, particularly with the head when United piled on the pressure. Held strong but was at fault for the goal after being out of position.

Brede Hangeland: 6

Denied Evra a good chance at goal but didn’t do much else as he was replaced after the first half.

Chris Baird: 6

Made some excellent passes and moved the ball well as he plucked the ball off the United midfield easily.

Sascha Riether: 7

Had Nani in his pocket and got past him fairly easily and attacked well as well

Giorgos Karagounis: 6

Was brave and went into tackles hard. Put good pressure on Carrick as well. Ran his heart out and was replaced by Emanuelson

Damien Duff: 6

Made some excellent pass and move plays along with Dejagah and showed real attacking intent but was nullified by the Carrick – Cleverley combination

Ashkan Dejagah: 6.5

Attacked with real pace and had many shots on goal but they didn’t come to much effect

Bryan Ruiz: 6

Lost possession many a time but was still a threat when he got it. Needed the presence of Berbatov’s experience to help him, which he didn’t get from Rodallega

Hugo Rodallega: 6.5

Beat Evans many times but still his impressive work rate amounted to nothing as his few shots were blasted wide. Also took the last free kick which could’ve given them a point but it didn’t even get past the wall

SUBSTITUTIONS

Aaron Hughes: 6

Came on at half time and battled well for the ball

Urby Emanuelson: 5

Came on for 25 minutes but didn’t really affect he match

Mladen Petric: 5

Came on for the last 10 minutes.

LONDON, ENGLAND – FEBRUARY 02: Wayne Rooney of Manchester United scores the opening goal during the Barclays Premier League match between Fulham and Manchester United at Craven Cottage on February 2, 2013 in London, England. (Photo by Jamie McDonald/Getty Images)

David de Gea: 7.5

Confident in the goal and was responsible for keeping United in the match after some world class saves in the first half. Was also confident in the air to catch the balls from corners and crosses.

Rafael Da Silva: 7

Showed absolutely immense work rate to bomb ahead in attack and the charged back to defend. Made some great clearances. One of United’s most improved players of recent times

Patrice Evra: 7

Defended well even though he was caught out of position a few times. Went forward in attack many times, linking up with others and provided crosses. Should have opened the scoring in a crowded penalty box.

Jony Evans: 8

Started out miserably but came back into the match with some truly amazing tackles and blocks. Handled Rodallega well and also got the assist to Rooney’s goal.

Rio Ferdinand: 7

Got about his game calmly and efficiently. Won many duels in the air, especially towards the end. Held off the Fulham attacking tide towards the end with ease and composure.

Antonio Valencia: 4

Continued his poor run of form and looks merely a shadow of what he was last season. He should have blown Riise out of the water but did nothing to contribute to the attack as his decision making was bad. Replaced on the hour by Hernandez.

Michael Carrick: 7

United’s go to man had a difficult game with the Fulham players intent on closing him down but he kept things simple and effective. Made the right decisions and his passes always found a man. Helped a great deal in defense towards the end.

Tom Cleverley: 6.5

Energetic and accurate with his passes. Moved around Carrick providing him woth options. Could have gotten forward a few times but decided to stay back deep

Nani: 6

A little respite from his previous performances as he delivered many crosses but weren’t effective enough. Also helped out in defense a bit.

Wayne Rooney: 8

Was unlucky not to have added a few more goals to his tally today as he ran the show. Popped up in the right place and combined well with Van Persie. His goal was a testament to his pace and deadly finishing as he scored his 10^th goal in as many matches to continue his red hot form!

Robin Van Persie: 7

Had a relatively quiet game but still was involved in most of United’s play as he linked up with Rooney well and always provided options. Made an excellent goal line clearance at the very end.

SUBSTITUTIONS

Ryan Giggs: 6

Didn’t see much of the ball and was fairly anonymous. Beat some defenders in the wing a few times easily but didn’t do much else

Javier Hernandez: 6

Tried to get onto the end of many long balls as the play was directed towards him and his pace. Should have sealed the game after going clean through on the goalkeeper at the end.

Danny Welbeck: N/A

Came on in the last few minutes to keep hold of the ball

NEWCASTLE, ENGLAND – FEB 2: Tim Krul (L) of Newcastle hugs team-mate Mapou Yanga-Mbiwa at full time of the Premier League match between Newcastle United and Chelsea at St James Park. 

Tim Krul: 6.5

Made a superb save when Ba was through on goal and some excellent catches and punches when Chelsea had a strew of corners.

Fabricio Coloccini: 6

Made several interceptions and blocks when Chelsea put on the pressure. Was steady and confident. Almost broke his former teammate Ba’s nose but put in a slid shift.

Davide Santon: 7

Kept Oscar in check and went forward many times and played in several great crosses. Assisted the winning goal in the end.

James Perch: 5

Mata ran rings around him throughout the game. Didn’t impose himself as a presence at the back and was easily beaten most of the time.

Mathieu Debuchy: 6

Managed to keep Bertrand in his pocket throughout as he brushed past him easily. Moved forward at will and was tidy but unspectacular.

Steve Taylor: 8

Was Newcastle’s heart and soul at the back. Flew into challenges and didn’t allow Torres or Ba an inch of space. Made some fantastic blocks especially one to deny Lampard at the very end.

Yohan Cabaye: 7

Combined well with Sissoko and Debuchy. Made some excellent long passes and crosses as well.

Moussa Sissoko: 8.5

Was a midfield goliath as he as he did everything so well. Ran and passes the ball well as he tackled strong as well. Scored two really good goals to win the game. An almost perfect performance.

Jonas Gutierrez: 7.5

Was his usual industrious self and went about with great determination but was wary in his passing and decision making. Did well to rise above all of them to make the header that opened Newcastle’s scoring.

Papiss Cisse: 6

Was always ready to blast forward but his finishing left much to be desire. Was one on one with Cech on two occasions but couldn’t do much about it.

Yoan Gouffran : 7

New addition to the team and had a brilliant connection with his attacking teammates. Gave Ivanovic a terrible time and will come out to develop into a good player soon.

SUBSTITUTIONS

Sylvain Marveaux : N/A

Came on for Gouffran in the 85^th  minute.

Mapou Yanga M’biwa : N/A

Came on for Sissoko in the 90^th minute.

NEWCASTLE UPON TYNE, ENG – FEB 02: Frank Lampard of Chelsea celebrates his goal during the Barclays Premier League match between Newcastle United at St James Park.

Petr Cech: 6.5

Made some amazing saves throughout and looked reassured most of the time in the first half. Couldn’t do much about the Gutierrez’s header but could have done better with Sissoko’s goal as he parried it right into his path.

Branislav Ivanovic: 4.5

Was troubled by Gouffran throughout the match and was rarely able to go forward. But he managed to get involved in the build up to Mata’s goal.

Ashley Cole: 6.5

Handled Gutierrez well for the most part. Couldn’t and didn’t have to do much against Debuchy. Was beaten by him on quite a few occasions though.

Gary Cahill: 6

Wasn’t very assured at the back and let Cisse get past him many times. Was out of position many a time and allowed a lot of space for the Newcastle attackers.

John Terry: 6

Started his first Premier League game after almost 3 months and was put alongside a nervy Cahill. Cleared and blocked well although he was beaten a few times in the air.

Ryan Bertrand: 3

Was put into an unfamiliar left wing position and was totally kept in check by Debuchy. Didn’t do anything of importance in attack or in defense.

Ramires: 3.5

Was totally out of his usual deadly form and was constantly giving away possession and lunged into tackles. Was lucky to stay on the  pitch after a two-footed challenge.

Frank Lampard: 7.5

Carried the team along and kept them ticking. Should have scored early on but blasted home a  screamer out of nothing to instill hope in his team.

Oscar: 5

Started on the right and was kept quiet by Santon. Wasn’t effective much when his other attackers moved forward.

Juan Mata: 8

If Chelsea were attacking, the ball would have gone through Mata at least once. Attacked and passed with his usual level of excellence but also helped out in defence very well. Brought other players into the match and was a constant influence in the attack.

Demba Ba: 5

On his return to St. James’ Park he didn’t have a very productive performance. Couldn’t finish of the attack when he was through on goal. Broke his nose after Coloccini kicked him in the face and was subbed off at he half.

SUBSTITUTES

Fernando Torres: 5

Didn’t touch the ball much but was involved in the build up to Chelsa’s second.

David De Gea: 6

Barely touched the ball as he didn’t have a save to make, apart from the header by Hughes, which would be asking a bit too much out of him.

Rafael: 7

Continuing his impressive form of late, the right back showed a lot of determination to go forward and worked tirelessly for the team.

Patrice Evra: 6.5

Combined with Giggs well and used his pace (and trickery surprisingly) to get past his man. Could have attacked a little more and taken a few more shots but had a very good match.

Phil Jones: 7.5

Excelled in his natural centre back position. Always came out as the winner in tackles and headers and showed great determination and spirit to get the ball. The future Vidic.

Chris Smalling: 7

Was up against the Fulham talisman Berbatov but had him in his pocket most of the time and forced him back. Won United the penalty as he rose high and forced a handball. Made some hasty clearances and almost gave away a penalty but did very well.

Anderson: 8

Started the game pretty badly, losing the ball and making wayward passes but quickly got into it with his driving runs and movement. Confident and made some really good passes and has been learning from Carrick and Giggs. One of his best games for United.

Ryan Giggs: 7.5

Hardly poot a foot wrong throughout the game with another evergreen performance by the veteran. Made some beautiful cross field balls and whipped the ball in many times. Took his penalty coolly. Came off in the 71^st minute.

Michael Carrick: 7.5

Virtuoso performance by the midfielder. Along with his vision and forward passing being exceptional, his defensive cover was brilliant. Was present everywhere, be it in the center, wings or the penalty box. Made the job of the defense so very easy. Was taken off in the 60^th minute to preserve United’s go to man.

Nani: 7

Although his performance was fairly decent, especially in the second half, he had so many opportunities to make so much more. He constantly took too long in possession and made bad decisions. Most of his crosses didn’t even beat the first man. Showed more confidence in the second half taking on his man and assisted Hernandez for his first.

Wayne Rooney: 7.5

Had an odd day. Started the game miserably and really frustrated the crowd but burst into life soon, combining with the front  4 well. Took his goal brilliantly as he cut across with his pace and blasted it home. Spread passes well and was the focal point of attack.

Javier Hernández: 8.5

The little Mexican was a livewire in attack as he always played off the last defender and caused all sorts of problem with his pace and positioning. Was in the right place at the right time as usual to slash home his first. Was a little fortunate to get a deflection for his second after some brilliant work to retain the ball.

 Subs

Antonio Valencia: 4.5

Came on in the 72^nd minute but provided absolutely nothing. Has to really pull up his socks having another shocking game, as he took too long to make his decisions and rarely crossed.

Paul Scholes: 6.5

Had a typical performance – great long balls, intricate and accurate passes and also his customary reckless tackles.

Shinji Kagawa: 6.5

Moved the ball well and ran off it with great pace. Combined with Nani and Rooney and almost scored a goal himself after a flowing move.

MANCHESTER, ENGLAND – JANUARY 26: John Arne Riise of Fulham tangles with Rafael of Manchester United during the FA Cup with Budweiser Fourth Round match between Manchester United and Fulham at Old Trafford on January 26, 2013 in Manchester, England. (Photo by Clive Mason/Getty Images)

Mark Schwarzer: 5.5

Made many good saves and kept them in the game but was really no match in the second half as United were rampant.

John Arne Riise: 4

Nani ran rings around him and was stopped by Rafael whenever he tried going forward. Very slow out of the blocks.

Brede Hangeland: 3

Was always second best against a fast Hernandez and his offside trap never really worked as the little Mexican kept getting past him. If it wasn’t Hernandez, it would be Rooney who outmuscled him.

Chris Baird: 3.5

Didn’t offer much confidence in the defensive side as the midfield easily bypassed him. Was replaced by Karagounis at half time.

Aaron Hughes: 4.5

Was at fault for conceding the penalty early on. Showed some really good movement to lose Rooney to score his header but was a lost cause. Tormented by Rooney most of the time.

Sascha Riether: 4.5

Coming up against a 39 year old shouldn’t have been a problem but Giggs just was having one of those days and easily got past him. His forward runs were nullified easily by Evra.

Steve Sidwell: 5

Caused Carrick some problems early on but faded away as Anderson and Carrick put their foot down on the game. Saw very little of the ball as the game progressed and also made some unruly shots.

Damien Duff: 5.5

Probably Fulham’s only positive influence. Fought for the ball all the time and ran his heart out chasing the ball around the midfield. Was lucky not to give another penalty as the ball clearly hit his arm.

Alexander Kacaniklic: 3.5

Couldn’t move a muscle as Rafael was all over him. Was always in doubt whether to run with the ball or simply pass it.

Dimitar Berbatov: 6

His return to Old Trafford wasn’t one to remember as he was surrounded by players who just wilted away under pressure. Made some clever flicks and dropped deep to help his team out but was always kept in check by Jones and Smalling.

Bryan Ruiz: 5

Should have combined with Berbatov who was in the mood but made really erratic passes and didn’t move around much. Very predictable and didn’t give the United defenders anything to worry about.

Subs

Giorgos Karagounis: 5.5

Came on at half time and was involved in the play initially but just couldn’t keep it up as United started pressing hard.

Ashkan Dejagah: 4

Came on with 20 minutes left but didn’t do anything apart for some shots off target

Hugo Rodallega: 4

Didn’t impress for the 25 minutes he was on. Was always second best against Jones.

Casper Ankergren: 6

Kept the score line respectable for Brighton. Couldn’t do anything for the first goal behind a crowded penalty box. Could have done better for the second but he should be really disappointed with his defense. Was extremely unlucky that the third took a deflection past him.

Gordon Greer: 5.5

Played well and held the line well. Was subbed off in the 37^th minute due to a pulled muscle and things went downhill hence.

Adam El-Abd: 4

Podolski and Giroud had a field day against him. Was very slow out of the blocks and didn’t challenge for the ball without giving away needless fouls.

Inigo Calderon: 5.5

Had to take over as centre half when Greer went off. Wasn’t very effective as Arsenal were rampant in the second half.

Wayne Bridge: 5.5

As most of the action was on the right side he had little to do and should have gone forward more.

Dean Hammond: 5

Constantly outmuscled by Diaby and later by Wilshere. Didn’t really find his feet or the ball.

David López: 5.5

Made an unnecessary tackle on Ramsey to earn a yellow card but curled in a beautiful corner for Barnes’ goal.

Liam Bridcutt: 6

Had a similar outing as Hammond and was bossed over in the midfield but still managed to be involved in most of the good attacking play. Made a few very vital interceptions.

William Buckley: 5.5

Was involved in the play and provided many crosses and did well but was taken off at half time after succumbing to injury.

Ashley Barnes: 6.5

Should have scored when he was clean through but did fantastically well to get past 3 markers as he arrived in front of Szczesny to power it home.

Jose Ulloa: 6.5

Even though he’s a center forward, he helped his team out in defense many times.  Was denied a debut goal as he was flagged offside initially but got past Mertesacker and scored it later. Was subbed off with 20 minutes to go.

SUBSTITUTES

Gary Dicker: 5

Came on for Greer in the 37^th minute. Didn’t contribute to the midfield much.

Kazenga LuaLua: 6.5

Tormented Jenkinson while on the ball and also really didn’t allow him much time on the ball as well.

Craig Mackail-Smith: N/A

Came on in the 75^th minute. Had a penalty shout denied.

Wojciech Szczesny: 5.5

Made a wonder save to deny Barnes. Did very poorly whilst defending the corner as he just allowed Barnes to get in front of him to score as he tried to punch it out. Couldn’ do anything about the second though.

Per Mertesacker: 4

Was caught horribly out of position for Brighton’s opener. Again was awry in his marking which allowed Ulloa to head past him.

Laurent Koscielny: 4.5

Poor display again and didn’t give any assurance at the back as he just allowed Brighton to play around him and win aerial balls.

André Santos: 3

Careless in possession and almost gave away a goal which was flagged offside. To be tormented by an attack by a Championship side shows how poor the player is and wasn’t much of a help in attack. Was replaced by Gibbs.

Carl Jenkinson: 6

Didn’t have to do much in the first half but was against a much more potent attack in the second but held on well. Was very impressive going forward and almost scored.

Abou Diaby: 6.5

Could have done better as he left Ulloa for his goal. Held the midfield well and assisted Giroud’s second with a brilliant chipped ball in.

Tomas Rosicky: 6.5

Attacked the Brighton defense well and came close to scoring twice. Was involved in launching several attacks. On his way back to full recovery as he was replaced by Wilshere.

Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain: 6

Floated in some dangerous crosses in the beginning but faded away in the second and was replaced by Walcott with 20 minutes to go.

Aaron Ramsey: 5.5

Kept possession well but didn’t offer much on either side of the pitch as he could have been better especially in the second have. Made a silly foul in the second half and earned  yellow card.

Lukas Podolski: 7

Combined with Giroud with a deft lay off for the opening goal. Had his free kick go off the bar. Was always available on the wing and attacked very well.

Olivier Giroud: 7.5

Had a brilliant game and is truly justifying what Wenger saw in him. Finished his first goal very well with a left footed curler and showed a striker’s instinct and bravery to get into a possible scrum with host of opponents to slide his shot for his second. Could have finished his hattrick on two occasions.

SUBSTITUTES

Kieran Gibbs: N/A

Came on for a maligned Santos and played well.

Jack Wilshere: 6

Came on for Rosicky and infused his energy and determination to force Arsenal forward. Provided the corner which ended up in the winner.

Theo Walcott: 6

Came on in the 72^nd minute and didn’t do much till he blasted the ball from the outside of the box which took a deflection and win the game for the Gunners.

Do check this video if you don’t know what happened:

And here is the guy https://twitter.com/CHARLIEM0RGAN ! look at his tweet on 23rd jan. He gained 1 lac followers in 3 days.

If you didn’t get it – refer this article.

A big thanks to Souvik Roychowdhury for the idea!

Hugo Lloris: 6

Not many shots actually reached the French shot stopper, and he couldn’t have done anything about Van Persie’s goal. His distribution in the earlier stages of the game was terrible, often sending the ball out of play. Made a few saves in the second half, but nothing to break a sweat really.

Kyle Walker: 6

Should have destroyed Evra as Lennon spent a lot of time tormenting him. Spent most of the time defending, and didn’t move forward as he usually would. Was at fault for not marking Van Persie for the opening goal.

Michael Dawson: 6.5

Made many interceptions to cut out United’s fluid play in the first half, and also kept Van Persie and Welbeck under control. In reality, United’s attacks just happened to get tame, and he didn’t have to much to put in his good defensive shift.

Steven Caulker: 6.5

Was a presence at the back, especially in the air as he headed clear many of de Gea’s direct balls. Was lucky not to have conceded a penalty for bringing Rooney down – a decision which left the United team and manager predictably furious.

Kyle Naughton: 5.5

Was caught out of position many times as Kagawa and Welbeck, along with Rafael, managed to get past him many times. Did make some good crosses on the few occasions he went forward.

Scott Parker: 7

Stepped up to the plate to replace Sandro. Didn’t manage to control Kagawa, but battled to win possession against the fluid United play. Showed great courage to go into tackles and run with the ball. Was replaced with 10 minutes to go.

Mousa Demble: 7

Made some pinpoint passes to keep Spurs always on the move. Also stood strong in the final third to fend off attacks by United. Didn’t contribute much to the attack once he got it out of the danger zone though.

Aaron Lenon: 8

Gave Evra a day which will haunt him for days. Ran rings around him and raced past him as if he wasn’t even there. Created several chances with good passes and clever crossing and also contributed to the flick that gave the ball to Dempsey for the equalizer.

Gareth Bale: 6.5

Was kept quiet with a combination of Rafael and Jones, and failed to really latch onto many opportunities, save for a few wayward runs. Did manage to keep his passing tidy and put in crosses, though his finishing left much to be desired.

Jermain Defoe: 5.5

Didn’t have the most productive of evenings as he was off target most of the time, and didn’t take up the good positions he’s usually famous for. Tested De Gea a few times, but still wasn’t a very lethal performance.

Clint Dempsey: 6.5

Was actually pretty wasteful with the ball and constantly missing his team-mates. His decision making also left much to be desired, but in the end he found himself in the right place at the right time to steer the ball cleverly past De Gea in the closing moments of the game.

SUBSTITUTIONS

Benoit Assou-Ekotto – 6

Failed to make any significant attacking impact and that’s what he was sent on for.

Tom Huddleston – N/A

Came on for the last 10 minutes.

David De Gea: 7.5

Made several world class saves to keep United in the match. Made an fantastic last ditch save to deny Dempsey. May be at fault for not punching the ball far enough in the build up to the equalizer but the defense as such should be faulted for that.

Rafael: 7

Came out on top in handling Bale and matched him stride for stride, not allowing him a moment’s peace to break free. Ran the breadth of the pitch to attack and came charging back to make sure that Bale didn’t touch the ball.

Rio Ferdinand: 7.5

Was a classic performance by the Englishman. Read the game extremely well to make many vital clearances and tackles. Managed to stifle Defoe and Dempsey for most of the game. Will be sorely disappointed for letting the game slip in the last few seconds of time.

Nemanja Vidic: 7

Held the fort well and showed the resurgence of his fabled partnership with Ferdinand for the most part. Kept Defoe and Bale in his pocket and was a great presence in the back.

Patrice Evra: 4.5

His run of good form came crashing down as Lennon bolted past him as if he wasn’t even on the pitch. Just couldn’t keep up with the speedy winger’s pace and trickery, as he allowed him into the box and deliver crosses.

Phil Jones: 7

Kept hold of the ball well and contributed to defense on both sides, but was mainly working in tandem with Rafael to shut out Bale. Passed the ball well and made some very vital tackles.

Michael Carrick: 7.5

What more can be said about the midfielder this season. He actually started out a little frustrated and earned an early yellow card, but then he settled into his usual rhythm by maintaining possession even with pressure all around him (on one occasion, he was followed by 4 Tottenham players before he passed it). Was always available for a pass and broke up play with Jones well.

Tom Cleverley: 6.5

Was the more attacking of the three man midfield and exercised his usual pass and move tactic which worked wonderfully well with Welbeck and Kagawa in the early exchanges of the match. Played at a high tempo and showed his range of passing. Also provided the perfect cross for Van Persie’s goal.

Danny Welbeck: 7

He’s had his detractors for a long time but ran his socks off and put in a very good shift. Made some wayward passes at times, but pulled himself together to contribute to defense as well. Made clever runs and made some exquisite little flicks to get past his defenders. Although he had many positives in his game, his finishing wasn’t one among them.

Shinji Kagawa: 6.5

Interchanged positions with Welbeck and Cleverley and had some beautiful fluid play going through them (especially in the build to the opener). Kept his passing tidy and tracked back a lot. He needs to be deployed in the right manner for him to be totally effective, and was subbed off for Rooney.

Robin Van Persie: 7

Scored the opener after peeling off from his marker and headed precisely past the defenders and the keeper. Other than that he had a relatively quiet game, but always helped defend corners and rushed forward to attack.

SUBSTITUTIONS

Wayne Rooney: 6

Was harshly denied a penalty. Other than that, his influence on the game was negligible. Showed terrible work rate in defense towards the end, and given that he was a substitute, that is unacceptable.

Antonio Valencia: 6

Continued his poor run of form, as he just doesn’t take on defenders any more and spends too much time contemplating his next move by which the opportunity for a pass to match a clever run would have passed. Hard to believe that he was last year’s Player of the Season for United.

Petr Cech – 6.5

Had to make a few saves when Arsenal were in the ascendancy in the second half, especially one to deny Cazorla. Other than that he was untroubled as his defenders made his job easier. Could do nothing about Walcott’s goal.

Cesar Azpilicueta – 7

Combined fantastically with Hazard on the wing. Made a superb long pass to find Mata for the opening goal. Tormented Gibbs all the time. Had to retreat to the defense in the second half.

Branislav Ivanovic – 6

Didn’t have much to do in the first half but was called into action many times in the second half but he worked well with Cahill to nullify the attacking threat of Giroud.

Gary Cahill – 6

Had a real mix of a game wherein he was out of position which allowed Walcott’s goal but denied him superbly for what would have been a sureshot injury time equalizer.

Ashley Cole – 6

Assisted Oscar in possession on occasions but was mostly limited to his defensive duties and was constantly distressed by a pacey Walcott. Made many unnecessary fouls but held out till the end.

Ramires – 8

Contributed to the attack and the defense running all over the pitch. Broke up play and ran forward and initiated many attacks. Linked up well with Lampard and the attackers and cleverly won the penalty, although he might have made the most of it. His industry always troubled Wilshere and Diaby.

Frank Lampard – 7

The age shows nowadays when Lampard just doesn’t throttle forward as his other team-mates do, but he is still in complete control of the midfield, picking out players with his long balls and spreading play wisely. Coolly slotted home his penalty and it cannot be stressed enough how vital he is to the team.

Juan Mata – 7.5

Took his goal extremely well with an unbelievable first touch and blasted it home with his left foot. Made clever runs and played his attacking colleagues in. Made a superb pass to Ramires which won him the penalty.

Oscar – 6

Made a couple of early chances but his influence faded away later on. Contributed well in attack but Hazard and Mata were running things. His influence faded away in the second half as he was subbed off.

Eden Hazard – 7.5

Ran the show on the wing, constantly dribbling past the full back and helping out in defense. Made several chances in the first half but his effect waned down in the second and was replaced in the last few minutes as he was exhausted of energy.

Fernando Torres – 6.5

Tried to attack but was mostly let down by his touch and got over-eager on the occasion when Mata fed him through a brilliant pass. He contributed to the defense but that’s really not what Chelsea paid 50 million pounds for.

SUBSTITUTES

Ryan Bertrand – 6.5

Was bought on to give some much needed stability in the second half which he did well. Didn’t contribute to attack though.

Demba Ba – 6

Was denied by a vital interception by Vermaelen and did more attacking in 10 minutes than what Torres in 80. Looked really dangerous.

Marko Marin – N/A

Came on for Hazard in the 87^th minute.

Wojciech Szczesny – 5

Brought down Ramires to concede the penalty and almost repeated the same at the end against Ba. Could have closed down Mata’s attempt at goal. Did make a few saves in the first half though.

Bacary Sagna – 5

Mata and Oscar had a field day against him as they powered past him on many occasions. Continued his poor run of form by contributing little to the attack and providing some terrible crosses.

Per Mertesacker – 6

Caught out of position for Mata’s goal but kept a tame Torres quiet. Had a brilliant opportunity to score in the first half but his shot went straight to Cech.

Thomas Vermaelen – 5.5

Didn’t show that menacing presence of old as the Chelsea attack (apart from Torres) easily beat him on most occasions. Didn’t work well with Mertesacker and they really have to get their act together as they have great potential.

Kieran Gibbs – 5

Was bullied by Hazard as he ran rings around him. Didn’t attack in the first half at all as he tried valiantly to stop the onslaught. Got forward to very little effect in the second half though.

Francis Coquelin – 6.5

Had a relatively better game. Made some good passes forward, especially one for Walcott but he was offside. Looked better in the second half and was involved with Cazorla in many attacks but had to be subbed off seemingly because of injury.

Abou Diaby – 4

Another weak performance by the midfielder as he was too slow to intercept Chelsea’s fluid forward play and always came out second against a Ramires who was full on confidence. Made sloppy passes and those which were accurate were backwards or to the side.

Jack Wilshere – 7.5

Led the charge in the second half and also did his bit in the second half as he was surrounded by players not willing to put in the effort. Brave in the tackle and always hunted down the ball. Motivated his team to get forward at every opportunity. We’re witnessing the formation of Arsenal’s next captain.

Santi Cazorla – 7

Worked extremely well with Wilshere and made a perfect pass for Walcott’s goal. Struggled slightly as Chelsea kept closing him down but still managed to attack at every opportunity making clever passes and always giving options.

Theo Walcott – 7

Threw in many poor passes but used his best weapon, pace, to great effect. Beat Cole on many occasions but disappointed with his crossing. Came to life in the second half and showed great composure to finish off his goal. Should take more care with the timing of his runs as he was found offside on quite a few occasions that could have benefited the Gunners greatly.

Olivier Giroud – 6

Wasn’t the threat that Wenger would have wanted to be lacking the finishing capability. In his defense, he did make some extremely good runs and take up good positions but all that seems to wilt away when he’s faced by the goal. Missed the target on 3 occasions but just couldn’t finish it off.

SUBSTITUTIONS

Aaron Ramsey – 6

Came on for Coquelin and linked well with the others in the Arsenal attack.

Andrey Arshavin – 5

Came on for an ineffective Diaby but failed to impose himself as a threat. Another disappointing effort by the Russian.

LONDON, ENGLAND – JANUARY 13: Aaron Ramsey of Arsenal is tackled by Edin Dzeko of Manchester City during the Barclays Premier League match between Arsenal and Manchester City at Emirates Stadium on January 13, 2013 in London, England. (Photo by Mike Hewitt/Getty Images)

Wojciech Szczesny: 6.5
Went the right way to parry Dzeko’s penalty and was lucky to see it hit the post and come back out. Couldn’t do much about the two goals but did some excellent work to pick out the ball from Tevez’s feet when he was one-on-one with him. Could have done with some better passing.

Bacary Sagna: 6.5
Had to make up for the absence of Oxlade-Chamberlain on the right wing. Found himself in many good attacking positions but found his crosses and final balls wanting. Ran his socks off to get back to defend as well.

Thomas Vermaelen: 6
Caught out of position in both the goals as he didn’t close down Milner for his goal and his assist for Dzeko. But he marshaled his troops and kept his side alive in the second half and even went well into the attack at times.

Laurent Koscielny: 3
Was sent off after 9 minutes for a hopeless challenge on Dzeko using his arms to bring him down and conceded the penalty. Thanks to his rashness, Arsenal had to make a defensive substitution and had a man down in the attack which set the tone for the rest of the game.

Kieran Gibbs: 5
Was unable to subdue Milner as he eased past him on many occasions. Should have done much better in attack as well as he was constantly forced off it and his influence diminished as Podolski came off.

Abou Diaby: 5.5
Came back after a long injury but perhaps this wasn’t the match to start. Constantly anonymous and found his touch lacking. Made very little impact and his passing was erratic. Was subbed off for Ramsey.

Lukas Podolski: 6
Showed his usual work rate in attack and defense but that was pretty much all there was to his performance. Gave away the free kick that lead to Milner’s goal. His crosses were wayward and didn’t register a shot on goal. Was replaced in the 57th minute.

Jack Wilshere: 7.5
Was Arsenal’s heart and soul in the game. Went strongly into the tackles and would sometimes just run the length of the pitch all on his own and bring other players in the game. Made up for a non-existent Diaby. After conceding when everyone around him were covering down, he pegged them forward and was the main influence in Arsenal’s resurgence in the second half. Made a goal line clearance as well.

Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain: N/A
Looked lively and could have provided a real threat but had to be sacrificed thanks to Koscielny’s sending off.

Theo Walcott: 4.5
Was absent for much of the proceedings and didn’t help in defense as well. Was always in check against Kompany and offered very few options in the attack. Wasn’t available for a pass or the receiving end of Podolski’s and Sagna’s crosses. Barely touched the ball in the first half and even when Arsenal were surging in attack in the second he added little very little.

Santi Cazorla: 5.5
Had to cover for Oxlade-Chamberlain’s absence on the left wing. Was sloppy in possession and hardly got time on the ball as he was forced to defend most of the time. Could have taken a few shots from outside the box as he is capable of doing but seemed to lack the confidence to do so. Looks like he really needs a bit of a rest.

SUBSTITUTIONS

Olivier Giroud: 7
Didn’t get the ball much but was always a thorn in the City defense. Made clever runs and opened up space for Arsenal. Should have scored of a free header from Wilshere’s free kick.

Per Mertesacker: 6
Came on to cover for Koscielny and was never an assured presence at the back making sloppy passes and not challenging for the ball despite his large frame. Was thrust into the attack in the second half as Arsenal hoped to put a ball onto his head but couldn’t stand up to the City defense.

Aaron Ramsey: 7
Kept his calm and joined Wilshere in most of the attacks in the second half. Tidy in possession and was determined to wreak havoc in the penalty box.

LONDON, ENGLAND – JANUARY 13: Edin Dzeko of Manchester City is fouled by Laurent Koscielny of Arsenal and is sent off with a penalty also awarded during the Barclays Premier League match between Arsenal and Manchester City at Emirates Stadium on January 13, 2013 in London, England. (Photo by Mike Hewitt/Getty Images)

Joe Hart: 6
Was a virtual spectator. Even though Arsenal attacked a lot in the second half, they never got a shot towards him.

Vincent Kompany: 7
Kept Walcott quiet for the entire game and always came out top in the air as the crosses flew in. Had his own header go wide. Seemed to have a good day till he had a moment of madness with a two-footed challenge on Wilshere and got sent off. Thankfully for him, his absence didn’t cause City much harm.

Pablo Zabaleta: 7.5
Was one of City’s best player as he had little to do in defense but always provided options in attack and created space. He set up the second goal with a brilliant low cross.

Gaël Clichy: 6.5
Should have done much better considering that Oxlade-Chamberlain wasn’t against him. But chose to remain back most of the time (where he did a good job). Went forward a few times but didn’t contribute much.

Matija Nastasic: 7.5
Rock at the back and was fearless in his challenge especially for the aerial balls. Was caught out of position against Walcott a few times but made up for it matching him stride for stride.

James Milner: 8 (Man of the Match)
Industrious as usual, he was all over the pitch. Was involved in most of City’s attacks and put away his goal brilliantly from a relatively tight angle. Pulled in many dangerous crosses and also defended well. Man of the Match performance.

Javi Garcia: 7.5
Slowly adapting to the English game, the midfielder stood his ground and robbed the ball off Wilshere a few times and distributed it to the flanks and up front well. Kept his passing tidy and broke up many of Arsenal’s attacks in the second half.

Gareth Barry: 7
Sat back to help Garcia in the middle of the pitch and did his job well as he made some vital interceptions in the second half. Linked up with Silva on the few occasions he moved forward.

David Silva: 7
Orchestrated City’s offense and made some incisive passes for Dzeko and Tevez. Has pretty much made up for his lacklustre start of the season with another brilliant performance.

Edin Dzeko: 6.5
Had his penalty saved and but still asserted his presence in the front. Missed a few excellent chances but managed to put one in the net in the end. Started becoming complacent in the second half with some cocky passing.

Carlos Tevez: 7
Came in and out of the game but his influence was important as he set up Milner for his goal and almost scored himself as he trickled the ball onto Dzeko for his goal. Could have scored after going one-on-one with the goalkeeper but had the ball plucked from his feet. Came off in 77th minute.

SUBSTITUTIONS

Aleksandar Kolarov: N/A
Came on in injury time for Silva.

Mario Balotelli: N/A
Came on with 2 minutes to go for Dzeko. (Sported a really weird new haircut).

Joleon Lescott: 6
Came on the replace Kompany and steadied up the defense. Made a vital goal line clearance to stop Walcott’s shot on goal.

David De Gea: 5.5

Was a spectator for most of the game and wasn’t tested at all. Again at fault for parrying Gerrard’s shot right into the path of Sturridge, the same way he did against Newcastle.

Rafael: 7

One of United’s most improved players. Was fully in control of his right wing in both attack and defense. Did unbelievably well as he managed to keep his footing and get away a brilliant pass for Van Persie’s backheel and would be disappointed that it wasn’t finished off.

Patrice Evra: 7.5

Picked out an incisive cross/pass for Van Persie’s goal. Rose brilliantly to head in Van Persie’s freekick onto Vidic as it went in to goal and was harshly denied of its plaudits but awarded with another assist. Was solid defensively.

Rio Ferdinand: 7

Kept Suarez in check and did not fall for his nutmegs and trickery. Had more trouble with Sturridge but pulled through, marshalling his defense.

Nemanja Vidic: 6.5

Got himself a goal after knowing nothing of it as Evra headed it onto him as it went in to goal. Worked well with Ferdinand, reviving their old partnership to keep Suarez at bay. Was replaced by Smalling with 10 minutes remaining.

Michael Carrick: 7.5

Was up against Gerrard and came out top most of the time. Put up a confident performance again with his increasingly impressive partnership with Cleverley. Distributed the ball well and was always available for a pass. Showed excellent vision as he thrust the ball in attack.

Ashley Young: 5.5

Showed his usual work rate as he helped out the defense. Was kept quiet on the attacking side. Took a hefty knock on the knee early in the first half but carried on till the end of the first half and was replaced by Valencia.

Danny Welbeck: 7

In a word – industrious. Ran all over the pitch and defended so very well. Has to work on his finishing as he had two good opportunities in the first half. Used his strength allied with his pace to keep Liverpool on their toes all the time.

Tom Cleverley: 6.5

Went close to scoring as tried a difficult shot on the half volley. Did the dirty work with his one touch pass and move and allowed Carrick to pull the strings. Did a lot more running in the second half as Liverpool were really threatening.

Robin Van Persie: 7

Was found in the right position with a brilliant run and coolly slotted it home. Could have doubled the lead but it was a rare occasion where his finishing was found wanting as he shot over. Had his backheel cleared off the line by Skrtel.  It was also from his free-kick that United scored their second.

Shinji Kagawa: 6

Was sloppy in possession on many occasions but ran all over and contributed all round. Couldn’t manage to finish the ricochet off Van Persie’s backheel. Was replaced by Jones with 15 minutes remaining.

SUBSTITUTIONS

Antonio Valencia: 6

Showed why he wasn’t starting with his performance. Lacked sharp decision making and made it tougher on him many a time.

Phil Jones: 6

Came on to add another defensive option on the pitch to see the game out.

Chris Smalling: N/A

Came on for about 10 minutes to bolster the defense.

Pepe Reina: 6

Did well to save Kagawa’s curled shot. Caught Van Persie’s second back flick that could have decided the game. Couldn’t do anything about the two that went past him.

Glen Johnson: 5.5

Allowed the shortest man, Evra, to head past him. Made a needless challenge on him to earn a yellow card as he was already going down. Lucky to be on the pitch after bringing Valencia down.

Daniel Agger: 7

Made a great block to deny an almost certain goal by Welbeck. Made many vital tackles and interceptions. Ran with the ball on many occasions, contributing to the attack. Was booked in the dying minutes of the game.

Martin Skrtel: 6.5

Cleared off Kagawa’s attempt as he clashed with Reina. Could have been sent off for bringing down Welbeck if it wasn’t for Reina. The foul led to United’s second. Was more assured in the second half.

Andre Wisdom: 5.5

Didn’t close Evra down fast enough as his cross caused the first goal. Should have scored after clever play by Suarez. Wasn’t very assured in defense.

Steven Gerrard: 6

Wasn’t afforded any space as he was constantly closed down by Carrick and Cleverley. Was unnaturally sloppy in the first half but was pivotal in the attack in the second. His shot caused De Gea to parry the ball straight to Sturridge.

Lucas: 5

Earned a yellow card after clipping Young. Didn’t work well with Gerrard and was substituted at half-time.

Joe Allen: 4.5

Was constantly caught out of possession and was outmuscled off the ball when he got it.  Came off for Henderson with 10 minutes remaining.

Luis Suárez: 6.5

Seemed to try too much in the first half as he tried his infamous nutmeg too often but just couldn’t pull it out as he was faced by a resilient Ferdinand and Vidic. Was more alive as Sturridge came on as he dropped deeper to link up with him.

Stewart Downing: 6

Was tidy in possession and whipped in a few crosses with no one at the end of it. Didn’t attack much but defended well.

Raheem Sterling: 5

Was starved of possession and was kept in check by United’s fullbacks. Didn’t affect the game much and was subbed off for Borini on the hour.

SUBSTITUTIONS

Daniel Sturridge: 7

Showed a predatory instinct to get past Evra and latch onto De Gea’s parry and slot it coolly. Could have equalized after some fantastic work by Suarez in the box. Kept the Old Trafford crowd on their toes till the end.

Fabio Borini: 6

Came on for an ineffective Sterling and almost scored. Gave away possession a little but was involved when Liverpool were in the ascendency.

Jordan Henderson: 6

Showed an energetic performance in midfield and defended well.

STOKE ON TRENT, ENGLAND – JANUARY 12: David Luiz of Chelsea competes with Charlie Adam of Stoke City during the Barclays Premier League match between Stoke City and Chelsea at the Britannia Stadium on January 12, 2013, in Stoke-on-Trent, England. (Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images)

Asmir Begovic – 7
Did an extremely good job in trying to keep his team in the game till the end. Made some fantastic saves with his foot, denying Lampard and Ba. Could really do nothing about the 4 goals that were put past him.

Geoff Cameron – 6.5
Did manage to do his job reasonably well. Ventured forward many times to help in attack but lacked the final ball. Wasn’t given the easiest of times defensively against a rampant Hazard. Made some excellent blocks against him and Bertrand.

Robert Huth – 6.5
Stuck to Demba Ba like a bad rash and was always in his face challenging for the ball and coming up top on most occasions. Was unfortunately penalized for giving away a penalty against Mata.

Ryan Shawcross – 6
Worked with Huth to keep out Ba. Showed a true leader’s grit even when most hope was gone. Rose in the air against a very physical Ba and won the battle many times. Started fading away towards the end as Chelsea’s speed of play increased, but still managed to hold them off.

Andy Wilkinson – 5
Didn’t show much attacking intent as he was constantly backpedaling to keep Hazard quiet. Was constantly beaten and Chelsea exploited his weaknesses many a time. He did make on hell of a challenge to deny Ramires an almost sure goal.

Glenn Whelan – 5
Wasn’t an assuring presence in the middle as he was constantly caught out of possession and didn’t contribute defensively, with the opposition flying past him, especially in the second half. Made some very untidy passes and came out second best against Lampard.

Steven N’Zonzi – 6.5
Had a reasonably good game against a ravenous trio of Lampard, Hazard and Ramires. Chased them all day long and pressed them hard to deny them from getting the ball up front. Made a brilliant attempt at goal in the second half, which could have made the game very interesting, had it gone in.

Charlie Adam – 6
Actually managed to do Whelan’s job in midfield and was very effective going forward. Made some incisive passes and crosses but will be disappointed as none of them were finished. His presence reduced significantly in the second half as he was seen more in the defensive half. Was replaced by Whitehead with 20 minutes to go.

Jonathan Walters – 4.5
At the end of the game you’ve got to feel sorry for the poor fellow, who’s celebrating his record breaking 72^nd consecutive league start for an outfield player. Scored two own goals and even managed to miss a penalty toward the end. He managed to get past Bertrand on a few occasions actually and put in some dangerous crosses, but just had “one of those days”

Mathew Etherington – 5.5
Got past Azipilicueta a few times and did whip in some crosses but they didn’t have much of an effect. Tracked back to try to stifle Hazard but there really was no contest. Was replaced with 5 minutes to go.

Kenwyne Jones – 5
With so many crosses whipped in from bith flanks one would expect the tall striker to create something out of at least a few of them but he failed to do so. Was constantly beaten in the air and put a shot wide which could have given Stoke the lead. Had no impact in the second half as Chelsea’s attack was just too potent. Was replaced by Jerome in the 78^th minute.

SUBSTITUTIONS

Cameron Jerome : 5.5
Replaced Adam but had no better luck as he was constantly having to defend.

Dean Whitehead : N/A
Came on in place of Etherington for 5 minutes.

Micheal Kightly : N/A
Replaced Jones with 12 minutes left.

STOKE-ON-TRENT, ENGLAND – JANUARY 12: Eden Hazard of Chelsea celebrates scoring his team

Petr Cech – 6.5
Returned from his injury and performed for the team when called upon. Did well to keep Stoke at bay during the first 15 minutes and made a very good save to deny N’Zonzi. Other than these, he was largely a spectator throughout the game.

Branislav Ivanovic – 7
Had quite a job on his hand to keep Kenwyne Jones in check and did it very well. Recovered very well after his terrible show against Swansea. Didn’t move up much in attack but performed his defensive duties efficiently.

Ashley Cole – 6
Was going up against Walters but often came up top as the attacker was in the process of self-implosion. Allowed Walters to easily get past him on two occasions but the central defense mopped it up easily.

David Luiz – 7
Did his job admirably in the center of defense after returning from the more attacking role of the past few weeks. Handled Jones easily and worked well with Ivanovic to neutralize any threat.

Cesar Azpilicueta – 7
Had a relatively easy day against a maligned Etherington and kept him in check most of the time. Bombed forward on  a few occasions to assist Mata and Hazard and provided crosses. Came off with about 10 minutes remaining.

Ryan Bertrand – 6
Was more in a withdrawn role and stealing the ball of Watlers. Probably could have contributed to the attack more but with such a star studded attack it wasn’t a necessity in the game.

Ramires – 6
Showed a lot of energy to move around and assist Lampard but was too inconsistent on the ball. Was a bit shaky in the beginning as Chelsea where pressurized. But gradually came into the game and allowed Lampard to attack while he did the hard work.

Frank Lampard – 8
What more must the man do to inherit a contract extension? A stellar performance in midfield, calmly pulling the strings, and was always available for a pass. Didn’t make much of an impact in the first half but gradually came into it. Played a beautiful long pass that allowed Mata to win the penalty which he dispatched in emphatic fashion. It would be a crime not to sign a player of this class.

Eden Hazard – 8.5
A real livewire in Chelsea’s attack. Showed signs of his blistering form in the earlier part of the season. Used his speed to great effect and bamboozled the Stoke defense. Played an important role in the opening goal and blasted home a 25 yard screamer to cap of a true man of the match performance.

Juan Mata – 7
Wasn’t the usual performance from the Spaniard. Won a penalty which Lampard dispatched. Was involved in most of the play and kept it tidy. Was replaced by Terry with 12 minutes to go.

Demba Ba – 6.5
We can easily see Ba being the main striker with performances like the one he showed. Was a constant threat and brought the other players in whenever he could as he was constantly marked. Forced a save of Begovic and also created a chance for Cole. Subbed off with 20 minutes to go.

SUBSTITUTES

Paulo Ferreira : N/A
Came on with 8 minutes to play.

John Terry : 5
Returned after 2 months out with an injury. Didn’t have the most comfortable of times and gave away a penalty by tripping Walters. Probably not up to full fitness yet but should be able to get there with time.

Fernando Torres : 6
With 20 minutes of game time he was mostly getting in the way of an inspired attack led by Lampard and Hazard. Really didn’t do much else.

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