Premier League round up:A pair of penalties from Javier Hernandez and Dimitar Berbatov proved enough to give injury-ravaged Manchester Uniteda 2-0 victory over Stokeat Old Trafford and draw them level on points with Manchester City at the top of the table.
Without 11 senior players though injury, including both his goalkeepers, Alex Ferguson gave Premier League debuts to Ben Amos and substitute Paul Pogba.
However, they were never seriously threatened by a subdued Stoke outfit, who failed to respond after they were punished for fouls on Park Ji-sung and Antonio Valencia.
United broke through seven minutes before half-time when Dimitar Berbatov and Paul Scholes combined to release Park inside the area.
The Stoke players were convinced Jermaine Pennant took the ball as he lunged in to make the tackle. However, TV replays showed referee Mike Jones got the call spot-on when he awarded a spot-kick and Hernandez sent Thomas Sorensen the wrong way.
Eight minutes into the second half United were awarded a second penalty after Jonathan Walters hauled Antonio Valencia back inside the visitors’ box. There were not as many protests this time as Walters was shown the yellow card.
Despite Hernandez’s previous effort, this time Berbatov assumed the responsibility and beat Sorensen with a shot to the bottom corner as the goal keeper went the right way.
Gareth Bale scored twice as Tottenhamreturned to winning ways in the with a stylish 3-1 triumph over a hapless Wiganside at White Hart Lane.
Spurs followed up their defeat to Manchester City with poor displays against Wolves and Watford but they were at their splendid best tonight, playing their usual brand of free-flowing attacking football, and Bale put them ahead in the 29th minute.
Luka Modric dispatched a cool 18-yard strike to make it 2-0 five minutes later and Bale scored his second after 64 minutes before James McArthur grabbed a late consolation for the Latics.
The Welshman’s opener came when he took down Modric’s clever chip before hooking the ball into the Wigan goal on the volley with his left foot for his 10th of the season.
A big blow for Tottenham came on the half hour when Rafael Van der Vaart hobbled off with an injury and was replaced by Jake Livermore.
Five minutes later Spurs were 2-0 up after Wigan’s attempted clearance from a Benoit Assou-Ekotto cross ricocheted kindly into Modric’s path and he coolly turned and slotted past Ali Al Habsi from 18 yards.
Spurs always looked dangerous and Bale added his second in the 19th minute of the second half. The winger picked up a pass from Assou-Ekotto on the corner of the box, took one touch past Ben Watson, and fired a peach of a drive across Al Habsi in to the far corner of Wigan’s goal.
Wigan boss Roberto Martinez looked to McArthur for inspiration as he came on for Jordi Gomez with 20 minutes left.
The away side pulled a shock consolation back the following minute when McArthur’s shot deflected off Scott Parker and looped over Brad Friedel.
Bale was denied a hat-trick four minutes from time when he hammered in a low shot from 20 yards which was parried by Al Habsi.
A Neil Taylor own goal deep in injury time saw Chelseadeny Swanseaanother famous win as it finished 1-1 at the Liberty Stadium.
Former Blues winger Scott Sinclair had given Swansea a 39th-minute lead when his left-footed volley looped over Petr Cech and into the net, putting the hosts on course for a repeat of their stunning win over Arsenal.
Chelsea dominated the second half but they looked set to suffer a sixth defeat of the season when Ashley Cole picked up a second booking late on, but Jose Bosingwa’s driven ball across the box struck the unfortunate Taylor and beat Michel Vorm.
Andy Carroll marked his first anniversary as a Liverpoolplayer by netting the opening goal as Kenny Dalglish's side cruised to a 3-0 victory over relegation-threatened Wolvesat Molineux.
Carroll converted his first Premier League goal since October 29th early in the second half and then Craig Bellamy and Dirk Kuyt added to Wolves’ misery.
Only a fine display by Wolves goalkeeper Wayne Hennessey prevented the Reds from at least doubling their final tally.
It took 52 minutes for Liverpool to open their account as Carroll put the Reds in front with his fifth goal of the campaign - and third in the Premier League.
Bellamy’s throw found Charlie Adam in space and he had time to send over a cross from the left flank and Carroll timed his run perfectly to turn it past Hennessey.
Liverpool were now in total command and nine minutes later Bellamy doubled their lead with his ninth goal of the campaign.
He was allowed to run unopposed towards the Wolves box before shooting but Hennessey would have been disappointed not to get a firmer hand on his shot which ended up in the corner of the net.
After 78 minutes it came as no surprise when Kuyt made it 3-0 from a narrow angle with the impressive Adam the creator.
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