Game Week 19- Review

Chelsea preserved their incredible unbeaten Premier League record at Stamford Bridge with a riveting 4-4 draw against Aston Villa in a match which saw three players sent off. Villa took an early 2-0 lead with a Shaun Maloney double. Zat Knight was sent off in first-half injury-time for bringing down Michael Ballack and Andriy Shevchenko scored the resulting penalty, before levelling with a brilliant strike in the 50th minute.Chelsea went ahead through defender Alex but Martin Laursen equalised for Villa.Ricardo Carvalho was dismissed for a two-footed lunge at Gabriel Agbonlahor but Chelsea went ahead regardless through Michael Ballack's 88th-minute free-kick. However, Villa earned a penalty when Ashley Cole was sent off for handling on the line, and Gareth Barry scored the kick to secure a well-earned point.

Roque Santa Cruz headed home an 84th-minute equaliser to end Manchester City's 100 per cent Barclays Premier League home record. The Paraguayan had already leveled once for Blackburn Rovers after Darius Vassell nodded the Blues in front, only for his own captain Ryan Nelsen to gift City the lead once more.

Reading held West Ham United to a draw at Upton Park after battling for over an hour with 10 men. Brynjar Gunnarsson was shown a straight red card after 28 minutes for a dangerous two-footed lunge on Hayden Mullins. West Ham took advantage with a strike from Nolberto Solano just before half-time but Dave Kitson scored the equaliser after turning onto a neat through-ball from Nicky Shorey to beat Robert Green.

Ledley King made his long-awaited comeback from injury as Tottenham Hotspur defeated 10-man Fulham at White Hart Lane. Robbie Keane and Tom Huddlestone scored twice each for Spurs, with Jermain Defoe scoring the other. Clint Dempsey was on target for Fulham who had Moritz Volz sent-off.

Liverpool laboured to a late 2-1 win at Derby County and had captain Steven Gerrard to thank for the victory. Spain international Fernando Torres' excellent dribble and finish put Liverpool a goal up at Pride Park. Jay McEveley equalised on 67 minutes and chances came and went for both sides, before Gerrard - who moments earlier hit the bar - made a tireless burst forward to steam into the box and bundle the ball past Lewis Price in the 90th minute.

Manchester United strolled to a straightforward 4-0 win at Sunderland and moved one point clear at the top of the league. Wayne Rooney was put clear in the 20th minute and had no trouble beating Craig Gordon with a cool finish, and he turned provider when he broke forward and crossed to Louis Saha who guided the ball home after 30 minutes. A sublime Cristiano Ronaldo free-kick in first-half injury-time put the game beyond Sunderland and when Nani went down in the box, Saha converted the late penalty (86).

Wigan Athletic lifted themselves out of the relegation zone after a win over Newcastle United. For the second successive season a Ryan Taylor free-kick proved to be the undoing of the Toon Army.Taylor grabbed the winner in spectacular fashion just after the hour to continue Wigan's revival under new manager Steve Bruce as the Latics have taken eight points from his five matches in charge.

Birmingham City enjoyed a much-needed 3-0 win against Middlesbrough at St Andrews. Stewart Downing sliced Gary McSheffrey's driven free-kick into his own net in the 21st minute and Mikael Forssell stabbed home after Cameron Jerome flicked on from a corner. McSheffrey added a third in added time, converting a penalty after being fouled by Robert Huth in the box.

Everton beat Bolton Wanderers 2-0 after a goalless first half at Goodison Park. The home side edged ahead after 51 minutes when goalkeeper Jussi Jaaskelainen made a mess of clearing Phil Neville's deep cross, allowing the ball to pass him and hit the net. Tim Cahill made it 2-0 after a scrappy build-up when Rob Styles played a smart advantage and Joleon Lescott crossed accurately.

Portsmouth refused to allow Arsenal to climb back to the summit of the Barclays Premier League by holding them to a deserved draw at Fratton Park. Arsene Wenger's side spurned late chances to take the three points they required to go back top but were disappointing overall and a Pompey back line marshalled ably by ex-Gunner Sol Campbell refused to be breached.