Portuguese play starring roles in Premiership title race

Ronaldo, Nani and Carvalho on form in crucial wins

It proved a successful weekend for the Portuguese involved in the Premiership’s top of the table double-header this weekend, with Manchester United and Chelsea emerging victorious as the big four faced off on Sunday.

Cristiano Ronaldo and Nani both scored for champions United, who beat Liverpool 3-0 at Old Trafford to end the Merseysiders’ faint title hopes, while Ricardo Carvalho’s Chelsea came from behind at Stamford Bridge to edge out Arsenal 2-1 and leapfrog their city rivals into second place.

The day‘s first encounter took place at Old Trafford, with champions United facing arch rivals Liverpool. Ronaldo, who had never scored against Liverpool going into the game, was handed a start while Nani was selected on the bench as Ryan Giggs returned to Alex Ferguson’s line-up.

After a decent start from the visitors, United took control of the match early on and deservedly took the lead just over ten minutes before the break when Wes Brown beat Pepe Reina to Wayne Rooney’s cross. By that point Ronaldo had already struck the outside of the Liverpool post when connecting with a Ryan Giggs delivery.

Liverpool’s task became all the more complicated shortly before half time when Javier Mascherano, who was already on a yellow card, was given a second booking by referee Steve Bennett for challenging a decision. The furious Argentine had to be calmed down by manager Rafa Benitez on the sidelines after the dismissal, with the Liverpool boss also openly angry with the decision.

Nani supersub

United gained even greater control on the match following Mascherano’s departure and, aside from a brief threat from Liverpool midway through the second half, the champions looked comfortable. Anderson, Ronaldo and Tevez all wasted good chances to seal the three points, but the game became safe after Nani’s introduction.

The summer signing from Sporting again demonstrated his ability to provide critical contributions from the bench. His first was to deliver a corner which Ronaldo glanced past Reina for his 34th goal of the campaign, before Nani then got in on the act himself two minutes later, taking Rooney’s pass and smashing the ball past the Liverpool goalkeeper for 3-0.

The result in Manchester put extra pressure on London clubs Chelsea and Arsenal to stay in touch with the Red Devils, and it was the Blues who took all three points with a late Didier Drogba brace at Stamford Bridge.

In an even game, Arsenal took the lead on the hour through Bacary Sagna’s first goal for the club. However, having been derided by the home crowd when making a double substitution, Chelsea boss Avram Grant’s changes with twenty minutes left to play helped turn the game in the Blues’ favour.

Carvalho head injury

With Carvalho sporting a bandage after suffering a head wound, the home side showed great character to turn the game around, first through Drogba’s cool finish from ten metres, then when the Ivorian then flicked the ball past Almunia after a knockdown from substitute Nicolas Anelka.

The win preserved the Blues’ incredible four-year unbeaten league home record, and moved them into second place, five points behind United and now the premiere challengers to the champions’ crown.