Blackburn Back To Winning Ways

Blackburn 3-0 Stoke

Rovers reign got off to the perfect start with an impressive win against Stoke City.

Benni McCarthy's penalty, awarded after Ibrahima Sonko fouled Morten Gamst Pedersen, opened the scoring in the ninth minute.

Jason Roberts bundled home the second from close range and McCarthy turned in a third before half-time.

Roberts was denied by Stoke keeper Steve Simonsen after the break and McCarthy also shot against the post.

Allardyce will have been delighted by the endeavour and cutting edge displayed by his new team, while Stoke City's display was the perfect illustration of why they have not won away from home in the Premier League this season.

Stoke did manage a revival of sorts in the second half, but Blackburn were never in serious danger of seeing their lead clawed back.

New boss Allardyce was given a rousing reception when he was introduced to the Blackburn fans prior to kick-off - and they were rapturous again after a dream first 45 minutes for Paul Ince's successor.

Roque Santa Cruz was ruled out with a calf strain sustained in training on Friday, but McCarthy and Roberts hinted that life will go on at Blackburn if the striker, who is again being linked with a move to Manchester City, leaves Ewood Park in January.

Stoke lost keeper Thomas Sorensen with a finger injury in the warm-up, and deputy Simonsen soon found himself picking the ball out of the net.

Referee Peter Walton had a simple decision when Sonko's horribly mistimed tackle felled Pedersen, and McCarthy blasted home the spot-kick.

Blackburn doubled their lead after 18 minutes, Roberts scrambling home from close range after Brett Emerton's cross rebounded into his path off Ryan Shawcross.

Allardyce's new charges were out of sight nine minutes later when McCarthy slotted in from 12 yards after Simonsen had saved from the former Porto striker.

Stoke pressed to try and gain a foothold in the game after the break and almost succeeded, with Amdy Faye heading over from inside the six-yard area and Glenn Whelan curling a 20-yard free-kick just wide.

Roberts should have added his second and Blackburn's fourth with 15 minutes left, but Simonsen plunged at his feet to save as he raced clear.

McCarthy almost grabbed his hat-trick from the resulting corner but his powerful low drive bounced away off the outside of an upright.

Stoke had at least threatened after the interval, and Seyi Olifinjana's 20-yard shot brought a fine save from Blackburn keeper Paul Robinson, with Ricardo Fuller steering the rebound wide.

Richard Cresswell then saw his shot strike the woodwork but Blackburn were in control and Allardyce's mission to save them from the drop is up and running.

Arsenal 1-1 Liverpool

Robbie Keane struck a stunning equaliser as Liverpool remained top of the Premier League and maintained an eight-point advantage over Arsenal.

Robin van Persie put Arsenal ahead after collecting a long pass from Samir Nasri that he brilliantly controlled before smashing home.

Keane's equaliser was equally spectacular, drilling home a long punt upfield on the half-volley.

Emmanuel Adebayor saw red in the second half after picking up a second yellow.

Liverpool had been on top at the time of Adebayor's 62nd-minute dismissal but the home team competed manfully after losing their Togo striker and were good value for their point.

The visitors could now lose top spot in the league if Chelsea defeat Everton on Monday, while Arsenal remain fifth in the table.

Arsenal skipper Cesc Fabregas said in the week before the game that defeat for his team would have effectively spelled the end of their title challenge

Having drawn the fixture the Gunners remain in the hunt but an injury to Fabregas on the stroke of half-time does little to improve their prospects.

Rafael Benitez, whose team have already beaten Chelsea and Manchester United this season, missed the game as he recovers from surgery to remove kidney stones but the Liverpool boss did pick the team.

Keane, an unused substitute against Hull last weekend, returned as one of four changes from the team that drew with Hull last weekend.

Steven Gerrard played just behind the Irishman and the two combined after 10 minutes for the opening opportunity of the game. Keane looked to be yards offside as he collected a long ball but Gael Clichy had played him on and the striker laid the ball off to Gerrard, whose shot from 20 yards was saved by Manuel Almunia.

Arsenal took time to settle, struggling to play their fluent passing game. However, Adebayor forced a save from Pepe Reina with a header after he met Bacary Sagna's cross from the right.

And Van Persie put Arsenal ahead with a goal of individual brilliance.

Nasri, returning after injury, picked out the Dutch forward with a raking pass but Van Persie was closely marked by Jamie Carragher and Daniel Agger as he brought the ball down on his chest.

Van Persie created a yard of space with his second touch and smashed the ball into the corner with his third.

Clear-cut chances remained at a premium but it was another moment of brilliance that saw Keane equalise with his third Premier League goal of the season.

Arsenal had been troubled previously by long balls upfield and failed to deal with a long punt over the top from Agger that Keane smashed home spectacularly on the half-volley.

Liverpool might have led at the break but Gerrard could not quite find the target after sliding in the meet a low cross from Kuyt, who then went close himself with a low shot across goal that Almunia did well to save.

And the half ended on a sour note for Arsenal when skipper Fabregas sustained a knee injury challenging Xabi Alonso for the ball and was replaced by Vassiriki Diaby.

Leiva Lucas tested stand-in captain Almunia with a strike shortly after the resumption and the home team's travails worsened when Adebayor was dismissed.

The striker had his foot raised as he competed with Alvaro Arbeloa and caught the defender with his elbow as he spun, prompting referee Howard Webb to issue a second yellow card.

But Arsenal, who had struggled since the resumption, rallied after losing Adebayor and enjoyed a spell of pressure in and around the Liverpool box.

However, it was Liverpool who came close to a late winner, with a long-range strike from Agger narrowly missing the target and Nabil El Zhar heading wide.