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Yet another pivotal weekend has gone by in the Barclays Premier League where we saw Chelsea extend their lead at the top of the table to seven points courtesy of their 2-1 victory over Aston Villa and also because of Manchester City’s unexpected draw at home to Hull. Tottenham won the North London Derby against Arsenal while the Mersyside Derby ended in a stalemate. Manchester United also dropped points at West Ham United in a 1-1 draw.Here is a look at the top 7 goals this weekend:
#7 Jermain Defoe - Sunderland
Defoe is back and how! He has already scored twice since his return to England and is looking fitter and sharper than ever. Defoe received the ball on the half line, surged at the Swansea defenders at pace and drilled a shot into the bottom corner giving Sunderland an unexpected lead against the run of play. The match ended 1-1 with Defoe taking plaudits for this sensational strike.
FACT: With his goal against Swansea, Defoe has now scored against all the 20 teams playing in this season's Barclays Premier League throughout his career!
#6 Sadio Mane - Southampton
This goal makes the list just because of its sheer timing. A late, late strike from the impressive Sadio Mane condemened managerless Queens Park Rangers to yet another defeat. Mane showed great pace and turn to create space for himself before he shot the ball straight into the roof of the net. The 93rd minute goal separated both the sides.
FACT: Mane's fourth goal in five games means that Southampton have now won 4 consecutive away games for the first time.
#5 Peter Crouch - Stoke City
A goal which was reminiscent of Harry Kane's header against Arsenal. Peter Crouch had been brought on as a late sub to provide Stoke some hope of getting a point against Newcastle and boy did he deliver! Geoff Cameron delivered a long hopeful cross at the back post. Crouch leaped the highest to head the ball over Tim Krul's reach and despite Fabricio Coloccini's best efforts, the ball found its way to the back of the net.
FACT: Crouch is now third on the list for headed goals in the Premier League with 44 goals, just two behind Alan Shearer’s record of 46!
#4 Harry Kane - Tottenham Hotspur
It was the North London Derby where the stakes were high. A young man chose to put his stamp all over the tie. The game was level at 1-1 when Kane, who had scored the equaliser put all his neck muscles through a deep cross from Nabil Bentaleb. The ball looped into the net past David Ospina and the Spurs fans were sent into a delirium. The goal came late into the second half which ensured Arsenal did not have enough time to respond.
FACT: With that winner, Harry Kane has scored 22 goals in 34 games in all competitions this season!
#3 Cheikhou Kouyate - West Ham United
Kouyate playing as a centre-back, kept up West Ham’s impressive record of scoring from set-pieces with a wonderfully taken goal. He went up for a free kick and once the ball was delivered, he showed great skill to control the ball with his feet, took two touches, turned and volleyed it past David de Gea via a deflection, all this without letting the ball touch the ground even once. That goal got Upton Park up on its feet.
FACT: Manchester United have kept just three clean sheets in their last 11 Premier League games.
#2 Branislav Ivanovic - Chelsea
The big Serb comes to the rescue yet again scoring his second goal in two weeks after his extra time header against Liverpool. The game was locked at 1-1 when the ever-reliable right-back who is always a constant thorn in the opponent's flesh chose to make the game his own. Cesar Azpilicueta was allowed space to cross to Ivanovic and with a giant swing of his left foot, the ball flew past Guzan and into the net. The goal proved to be the match winner.
FACT: This is Ivanovic's fifth goal in his last six games against the Villans!
#1 James Milner- Manchester City
Undoubtedly the best goal of the weekend,James Milner saved Manchester City the blushes through his brilliant injury time free kick which prevented them from losing at home to relegation threatened Hull City. After Sergio Aguero was fouled 25 yards from goal, Milner, who was on as a late substitute for Edin Dzeko, stepped up and curled the ball beautifully around the Hull City wall and into the net past a hapless Alan Mcgregor.
FACT: Manchester City have gone four Premier League games without a win for the first time since November 2009, while they have picked up just seven points from their last six matches
