Arsenal go clear at top, relief at last for United

Reuters: Arsenal and Manchester City showed they have the stomach for a title fight on Saturday with the Premier League leaders sinking Newcastle United 1-0 and Manuel Pellegrini’s men launching a late comeback to beat Watford 2-1.

There was celebration at last for Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal as his team ended a dismal six-game league streak without a win by defeating Swansea City 2-1.

Arsenal’s victory was scrappy and nervy but Laurent Koscielny’s 72nd-minute winner was enough to move them two points clear at the summit after Leicester City’s surprise push faltered with a goalless draw at home to 10-man Bournemouth.

Manchester City underlined their credentials as Arsenal’s main challengers and although they looked forlorn for much of the game at Vicarage Road, they showed their mettle in the closing stages.

Koscielny volleyed home from a corner to help Arsenal forget their Boxing Day blip, when they slumped 4-0 at Southampton, as they notched a second straight victory and a fifth in six games.

Liverpool boss Juergen Klopp was fuming after a 2-0 defeat at West Ham United.

His side’s erratic form continued with Andy Carroll delivering the final blow to his former club with a trademark bullet header after Michail Antonio had put West Ham ahead early on.

If Klopp was planning to keep his powder dry in the January transfer window, he may be thinking again after witnessing an insipid attacking display that provoked a fiery response from the German.

“It’s not a day for being disappointed, it’s a day for being angry,” he said. “You cannot win a football match with 90%, you have to do everything ... I don’t like it.”

Jermain Defoe scored twice for Sunderland whose hopes of avoiding relegation were boosted with a 3-1 win over bottom club Aston Villa.

Alex Tettey scored the only goal of the game for Norwich City against Southampton who had Victor Wanyama sent off in the second half, while Jonny Evans snatched a stoppage-time winner for West Bromwich Albion as they beat Stoke City 2-1.

Premier League milestone as Rooney ends goal drought

Manchester United’s Wayne Rooney applauds the fans at the end of the match with Swansea City on Saturday - Reuters

Reuters: Manchester United striker Wayne Rooney rose to second place on the all-time Premier League scoring list with a clever winner against Swansea City on Saturday.

The England captain ended a run of 553 minutes without a goal for his club by deftly flicking in Anthony Martial’s cross 13 minutes from time to secure a 2-1 triumph that ended a run of six league games without a victory for Louis van Gaal’s side.

Rooney climbed above former United forward Andy Cole with 188 goals following his instinctive finish, behind only Alan Shearer who netted 260 times for Blackburn Rovers and Newcastle United.

He also eclipsed Denis Law’s record of 237 United goals to move within 11 of Bobby Charlton’s all-time mark for the Old Trafford club.

Rooney, 30, scored his 50th goal for England last year to surpass Charlton’s international record.