Highlights: Arsenal 1-0 Chelsea

Arsenal	Game Stats	Chelsea
12	Shots	12
5	Shots on Target	7
3	Corners	5
57%	Ball Possession	43%

Attendance: 60,139.

Arsenal retained top spot in the Premier League with a 1-0 win over Chelsea at Emirates Stadium on Sunday. The only goal of the game came in first-half injury-time when Petr Cech failed to collect a left-wing corner from Cesc Fabregas and William Gallas drove in a header against his old team.

Fabregas, Hleb and Flamini were initially injury doubts but all three started for the Gunners and surprisingly, Dutchman Robin van Persie was left on the bench.

In such London derbies, tension was always bound to get high, especially between this two sides. Manchester United’s win at Anfield a few hours had cranked the pressure in this match a notch or two higher. Arsene Wenger knew his side had to win in order to move back to the top.

Both teams started out brightly and carved out chances of their own. Chelsea tried to restrict the home side's free-flowing football with their strong physical play lead by their captain John Terry.

However, seven minutes before the break John Terry limped off to be replaced by Tal Ben-Haim. The England captain had been limping since a challenge from Eboue a few minutes earlier. Arsenal seized the opportunity and William Gallas capitalized on a rare Cech mistake to nod home the ball.

It was certainly a huge blow to Chelsea's first-half efforts but they continued to search for the equalizer after the break. However, the absence of Drogba was very evident as Shevchenko and Wright-Phillips were guilty of squandering chances. The Gunners also had plenty of chances of their own and Fabregas fluffed a simple shot just before referee Alan Wiley brought the game to an end.

Highlights: Liverpool 0-1 Manchester United

Liverpool	Game Stats	Man Utd
20	Shots	5
6	Shots on Target	3
3	Corners	3
61%	Ball Possession	39%

Attendance: 44,459.

Benitez's dismal record against the Red Devils continued as Carlos Tevez's goal at the stroke of half-time secured a 1-0 victory for Manchester United, as they seek to keep up the pressure on league leader Arsenal.

Just like in the corresponding fixture last season, Rafa's side dominated their much vaunted opponents, but they succumbed to a sucker punch from Tevez on the stroke of half time. Liverpool created most of the game's best chances and United twice cleared off the line after some nervy moments from Van der Sar, but the defending champions stole the 3 points in one of their few attacks.

The game looked for a goalless draw at half-time until Rooney's scuffed shot found its way to Tevez, who scored from close range. It was a very fortunate goal for United, considering the dominance of the team in Red and their countless chances.

Liverpool continued pounding the United backline after the break, but Rio Ferdinand and Co. defended resolutely to protect the visitor's lead. Benitez tried to inject more venom into Liverpool's attack by introducing Peter Crouch and Ryan Babel, but it was the home side who was almost caught out when Rooney missed the target from eight yards out during a typical United counterattack.

Luckily, Rooney did not have to pay for his costly miss as the Reds could not find the equalizer and Tevez's goal was just enough for United to steal the points again.

Highlights: Boca Juniors 2-4 AC Milan

Kaka was in devastating form once again as he spearheaded Milan to a superb 4-2 victory over South American giants Boca Juniors to win the FIFA Club World Cup. The Brazilian playmaker put in another man-of-the-match display by scoring a great goal and providing two assists for teammate Inzaghi.

Boca had a very good first half display. Despite going down to Inzaghi's 21 min strike, they answered quickly through a Palacio header a minute later. However, they had no answer to the attacking prowess of Milan.Nesta , Kaka and Inzaghi made it 4 - 1 for AC Milan within 20 minutes and the winner was now, known to everyone. Boca Juniors pulled one back in the dying moments after Ambrosini’s own goal. Nevertheless, the result was beyond doubt when Ledesma was sent off 2 minutes from time for Boca Juniors.

Here are the highlights:

0 - 1Inzaghi opens the scoring for AC Milan.

1 - 1 Palacio equalizes for Boca with a towering header.

1 - 2Nesta puts AC Milan back into the driving seat.

1 - 3 Kaka rounds off a good run with a well-taken goal.

1 - 4Inzaghi puts the result beyond doubt with Kaka's help.

Highlights: Valencia vs Barcelona

Valencia	Game Stats	Barcelona
11	Shots	15
4	Shots on Target	12
3	Corners	6
41%	Ball Possession	59%

Attendance: 50,000.

Samuel Eto'o netted a brace as he helped Barcelona notch an amazing 3-0 victory over a struggling Valencia side at the Mestalla. Frank Rijkard will be very happy with the clinical strikes by Eto'o during 13th and 27th minute before former Chelsea striker Eidur Gudjohnson added a third just after the hour mark. However, Barcelona received a big blow just before the break when Messi went off injured. The young playmaker is set to be out for a month and will definitely miss next week's crunch tie against Real Madrid.

With this win, Barcelona move to within a point of La Liga leaders Real Madrid.

BPL Preview: Arsenal vs Chelsea

Another match-watering clash in tonight's Premier League fixtures will be between league leader Arsenal and their London arch-rvials Chelsea at the Emirates Stadium. When these two teams meet, it will be more than 3 points at stake as the Blues look to gun down the Gunners without their talismanic striker Didier Drogba.

This is the top flight's oldest London derby, dating from a 2-1 Chelsea win in 1907, and Arsenal have not beaten Chelsea in any game since February 2004. Wenger will be looking to end that record, especially when two of the Blues most consistent goalscorers against their north London neighbours will be absent on Sunday: Michael Essien, scorer of two fantastic goals against them in the league last season, serves the last of three suspensions; and Didier Drogba, with five in that unbeaten run, has recently been under the surgeon's knife.

However, the Frenchman also has problems of his own and may be forced to play without key players like Cesc Fabregas, Matthieu Flamini and Alexander Hleb.

Arsenal captain William Gallas will also be meeting his ex-colleagues, as he was part of the deal which took Cole to Stamford Bridge during August 2006, in which he moved in the opposite direction.

Wenger is in no doubt of the important role the 30-year-old plays within the emerging Arsenal squad.``Gallas is key for me,'' declared Wenger. ``He has taken his role as captain very seriously and is leading the team well on and off the field.''

Such games could prove to be very tight matches, and the determining factor in the final score could be players like Gallas, who helped the Gunners snatch a draw against Manchester United earlier in the season.

Arsenal's overlapping fullbacks- Bacary Sagna and Gael Clichy will be important in Arsenal's attacks but it does leave gaps at the back. Shevchenko will most probably start upfront and he will certainly look to exploit the weaknesses in Arsenal's backline. If he wants to justify his huge price tag, this match will be a good chance for him to prove his worth.

This feisty clash will start at 11.55pm tonight on Football Channel 27.

Official Match Preview

BPL Preview: Liverpool vs Manchester United

Statistics first: The Reds have not beaten their arch rivals in the last six meetings and lost last season's meeting at Anfield by a 1-0 scoreline despite dominating for long spells. That is why Rafa Benitez believes ace striker Fernando Torres is the key to reversing his appalling record against Sir Alex Ferguson's side.

"In the past against Manchester United we have played well and had plenty of the ball, controlling the game, but without winning them," said Benitez. "We know they have good defenders, but also we needed to be stronger in attack.

"Now, in Fernando Torres, we have someone with pace and ability. And this time, maybe if we have more control of the game, we will be a real threat to them.

"Torres knows all about the United players and will manage that, because he has a lot of experience and a very strong character.

"I think he could be that extra something which we have needed against United. We are a better squad this season and he is one of the key men in that - and we do have more ways of winning this year."

"It will be difficult, we know that, but I believe that now we have another option that we didn't before. United know he's a good player, they know his quality, and they will be worried about him, that's for sure."

The Reds have been in a rich vein of attacking form, especially during their 4-0 demolition of Marseille midweek, with Torres and Holland's Dirk Kuyt working fine together, and lead by their inspirational captain Steven Gerrard. Nevertheless, they will have to get past the partnership of Ferdinand and Vidic, not forgetting United's goalkeeper, Edwin Van der Sar. United's swift counter-attacks lead by Ronaldo, Rooney and Tevez could be a real problem for Jamie Carragher and the rather slow Sami Hyypia.

Benitez recognises the importance of this match as he prepares to meet co-owners George Gillett and Tom Hicks this weekend. The result could determine whether the manager gets his money for the January transfer window.

He said: "We are closer to the other top teams than before as we have eight more points than last season. We are also gaining in experience and that brings quality and character to your side. Maybe this game against United will be more important for confidence than anything else."

The match kicks-off at 9.25pm tonight on Football Channel 27.

Official Match Preview
Related Report

First Entry

Boredom is killing me. So instead of rotting away, i have decided to channel my energies into something I'm really passionate about- football. I may not have a future in kicking football alongside Wayne Rooney or Cesc Fabregas, but hopefully someday I'll be good enough to write for the New Paper. I've turned armyof11.blogspot.com into a blog solely dedicated to football and transferred my personal entries to secretoktober.blogspot.com. That's it for all this personal stuff, my journey will begin with a preview of tonight's Super Sunday BPL clashes, where Liverpool will host champions Manchester United while Chelsea will travel to the Emirates Stadium to meet Arsenal.