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In the "Premier League" in England, the 23rd round matches were played over the weekend, which were filled with interesting results, dramatic moments, and great debuts. In the central match, "Man Utd" won against "Liverpool" with a goal scored in the last minute and reduced the gap in points from the home team "Chelsea", who lost points at home for the first time this season.
In the eternal rivals' meeting at "Old Trafford" stadium, the visitors from "Liverpool" had the upper hand for a significant part of the match, dominating the midfield and creating several chances to score, but neither Djibrilo Cisse nor Peter Crouch managed to find the target.
However, it was "Man Utd" who successfully ended the match - first missing out on a goal from Wayne Rooney, whose shot narrowly missed the goal, and then in the 90th minute after a penalty shot by Ryan Giggs, Rio Ferdinand headed the ball into the net to secure the victory for the hosts.
After this win, the Manchester team maintained their second position and now trail the league leader, London's "Chelsea", by 14 points, who for the first time this season lost points at home - Jose Mourinho's team failed to defeat the "Charlton" team.
Another setback was experienced by another London club, "Arsenal", who had to acknowledge the superiority of Liverpool's "Everton" with a minimal advantage at home after a single goal by James Beattie. However, the opportunity to move away from the team below, occupying the fourth position, "Tottenham", was not used, as they ended with a goalless draw against Birmingham's "Aston Villa".
Newcomer "Wigan" leveled the points with "Arsenal" after winning in a close and dramatic match following a goal by debutant Neil Mellor against the crisis-stricken "Middlesbrough". In seventh place, "Bolton" maintained an impressive victory against "Man City", while "Blackburn" won away against the "Newcastle" team with a controversial goal.
The underdogs' duel was overwhelmingly won by "Birmingham", crushing "Portsmouth" team 5-0, while the bottom team of the table, "Sunderland", achieved only their second victory of the season away by defeating "West Brom" eleven.
23 round results
1 - 0
13` [1 - 0] James Beattie
90` Francesc Fabregas ("Arsenal") sent off
5 - 0
5` [1 - 0] Jiri Jarosik
37` [2 - 0] Jermaine Pennant
55` [3 - 0] Matthew Upson
90` [4 - 0] David Dunn
90` [5 - 0] Mikael Forssel (11m.)
2 - 0
37` [1 - 0] Jared Borgetti
41` [2 - 0] Kevin Nolan
2 - 3
2` [0 - 1] Jason Roberts
29` [0 - 2] David Thompson
56` [1 - 2] Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink
66` [2 - 2] Yakubu Ayegbeni
90` [2 - 3] Neil Mellor
0 - 1
75` [0 - 1] Morten Gamst Pedersen
0 - 0
84` Gareth Barry ("Villa") sent off
0 - 1
72` [0 - 1] Anthony Le Tallec
1 - 1
19` [1 - 0] Eidur Gudjohnsen
59` [1 - 1] Marcus Bent
81` Ricardo Carvalho ("Chelsea") sent off
1 - 0
90` [1 - 0] Rio Ferdinand
League Table
