Blues register narrow 2-1 victory ; Liverpool slump to season’s fourth loss
Chelsea's Eden Hazard, left, celebrates scoring a goal during the English Premier League soccer match between Chelsea and Queens Park Rangers at Stamford Bridge Stadium in London
London: Eden Hazard’s penalty enabled Chelsea to preserve their four-point lead in the Premier League with a narrow 2-1 win at home to local rivals Queens Park Rangers on Saturday. Diego Costa returned for Chelsea after four games out with hamstring trouble and he saw his side take a 32nd-minute lead when Cesc Fabregas teed up Oscar to bend in an exquisite shot with the outside of his right foot.
Charlie Austin equalised for QPR just after the hour when he beat Thibaut Courtois with a clever back-heel from Leroy Fer’s cross-shot to claim his third goal in two games.But Hazard gave Chelsea victory in the 75th minute when he calmly beat Rob Green from 12 yards after he had gone down under a challenge by Eduardo Vargas. Arsenal climbed into the Champions League places after Alexis Sanchez scored twice in a 3-0 success at home to winless bottom club Burnley.
Earlier, Liverpool slumped to their fourth defeat of the season as Spanish substitute Ayoze Perez earned in-form Newcastle United a 1-0 victory at St James’ Park. Liverpool, for whom striker Mario Balotelli endured another frustrating afternoon, were beaten when Alberto Moreno failed to clear and Perez pounced to lash home in the 73rd minute.It was Newcastle’s fourth consecutive victory in all competitions, following their shock League Cup win over holders Manchester City in mid-week, and saw Alan Pardew’s side climb to 11th place in the table.
“We were punished for a mistake and that is what cost us the game,” Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers said. Balotelli ambled onto the pitch just as the second half kicked off, but Rodgers said “it had no bearing at all on the result”, adding: “It is not about Balotelli, it is about the team.”
( Source : AFP )
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