Newcastle grab valuable draw at Liverpool; Chelsea win
Liverpool 2, Newcastle 2
Newcastle manager Rafael Benitez knows a thing or two about second-half comebacks and he duly effected another as his side came back from two goals down to draw 2-2 with former club Liverpool.
The Spaniard is still fondly remembered at Anfield for the 2005 Champions League final when the Reds recovered from 3-0 down to beat AC Milan, but the locals were less enamored with this effort.
Trailing to goals from Daniel Sturridge and Adam Lallana at the interval the Magpies salvaged a valuable point in their battle against relegation thanks to strikes from Papiss Cisse and Jack Colback.
They are still a point from safety, having played one match more than 17th-placed Norwich, but having looked out of the game after 45 minutes this result may turn out to have a galvanizing effect.
Bournemouth 1, Chelsea 4
Cesc Fabregas conjured all of Chelsea's goals in a commanding performance to mask the Blues' defensive frailties in a 4-1 Premier League win at Bournemouth.
The Spain playmaker's inch-perfect through-balls teed up strikes for Pedro and Willian, while his astute flick round the corner let fit-again Eden Hazard drill home from 20 yards.
At the death another sumptuous Fabregas flick let Nemanja Matic square into the box for Hazard to tap home his second goal and cement the visitors' victory.
John Obi Mikel endured an uncomfortable afternoon as a makeshift center-back, such was Chelsea boss Guus Hiddink's reluctance to start Matthew Miazga.
Gary Cahill's illness, coupled with John Terry's Achilles problem and Kurt Zouma's long-term knee issue, left Chelsea short in the heart of defense.
Aston Villa 2, Southampton 4
Southampton breezed to victory against wretched Aston Villa as supporters continued to turn on the relegated hosts.
The Saints clinched a 4-2 victory against the Barclays Premier League's bottom side to inflict further misery on the fallen club.
Awful defending gifted Shane Long and Dusan Tadic first-half goals before Tadic bagged his second after the break and Sadio Mane netted at the death.
Ashley Westwood's double spared Villa outright humiliation, although Southampton dominated for long spells with Long and Virgil van Dijk hitting the woodwork.
