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Premier League round-up

Reading produced an astonishing last-gasp comeback to draw with Chelsea, while Manchester United moved seven clear with victory over Southampton.

Chelsea rocked by Reading; United seven clear; Emirates classic

Reading produced another astonishing last-gasp comeback to climb out of the relegation zone with a home draw against Chelsea, while Manchester United moved seven points clear at the top of the Premier League with a narrow success at home to Southampton. Arsenal and Liverpool went toe-to-toe at Emirates Stadium and ended honours even after the Reds blew a 2-0 lead, allowing Everton to move further clear of the duo in the standings courtesy of their 2-1 victory against West Brom at Goodison Park. Tottenham now only have a one-point cushion over the Toffees in fourth place and were forced to come from behind to take a point at Norwich, who have still not won in the Premier League since December 15, while Fulham took the points in their London derby at home to West Ham. Super-sub Adam Le Fondre stepped off the bench to score twice in the final three minutes as Reading climbed out of the bottom three following a dramatic 2-2 draw with Chelsea the Madejski Stadium. The Blues looked to be cruising to victory with a 2-0 advantage and time running out after Fernando Torres set up Juan Mata for the opener in the first half before Frank Lampard headed home a corner midway through the second period. But Reading, who produced a similarly stunning comeback at home to West Brom earlier in the season, reduced the deficit when Hope Akpan found Le Fondre with three minutes to go, before the former Stockport, Rochdale and Rotherham man volleyed over Ross Turnbull in the fourth minute of added time. Wayne Rooney grabbed a first-half brace as Manchester United recovered from the shock of falling behind at home to Southampton to extend their advantage at the top of the table. The Saints stunned Old Trafford by taking the lead in the third minute after Michael Carrick's back-pass sold David de Gea short, although the goalkeeper then compounded the error by jumping over the ball, allowing Jay Rodriguez to roll into the empty net. But the Red Devils were swiftly back on terms as Shinji Kagawa lifted his pass over the static Southampton defence for Rooney to run onto and slot confidently beyond Artur Boruc, before they took the lead in the 27th minute when Robin van Persie's free-kick was headed back across goal by Patrice Evra for the England international to convert from point-blank range.

Enthralling

Arsenal hit back from 2-0 down at home to Liverpool as Theo Walcott and Olivier Giroud rescued a point for the Gunners in an enthralling Premier League encounter. Luis Suarez fired Liverpool ahead with just five minutes gone after defensive stumbles from Bacary Sagna and Thomas Vermaelen allowed Glen Johnson's cross to reach Daniel Sturridge, and although his shot was saved, Jordan Henderson picked out the Uruguay international to drill home. And it was 2-0 on the hour mark as the much-maligned Henderson burst into the Arsenal box, evading some weak challenges on the way, before riding his luck with a deflection off Andre Santos and then guiding the ball home. But the Gunners roared back and immediately halved the deficit as Giroud headed home Santi Cazorla's free-kick, before the same duo combined to set up Walcott to drill an unstoppable shot across a static Pepe Reina and into the far corner. Leighton Baines' first-half double helped Everton triumph 2-1 at home to West Brom and lifted David Moyes' men to within a point of Tottenham in the final UEFA Champions League berth. Baines broke the deadlock just before the half-hour mark, racing towards the West Brom box after being found by Leon Osman before unleashing a vicious strike which Ben Foster will feel he could have done better with as it flew home at the near post. And the left-back stepped up to double Everton's advantage from the penalty spot after Claudio Yacob, who had only been on the field a matter of moments after George Thorne was stretchered off with what looked to be a serious knee injury, tripped Victor Anichebe. The Baggies were handed a route back into the match when John Heitinga attempted to control Romelu Lukaku's shot after he had rounded Tim Howard, but only succeeded in lifting the ball into the area and allowing Shane Long to sneak in and nod home.
Stunning
Gareth Bale scored a stunning individual goal as Tottenham had to come from behind to take a point against out-of-form Norwich at Carrow Road. Wes Hoolahan fired the Canaries ahead in the 32nd minute, taking advantage of complete confusion in the Spurs defence as Robert Snodgrass' deep, hanging, cross was headed back into play by Anthony Pilkington and then into the danger area by Grant Holt. New Spurs signing Lewis Holtby came on for his debut in the second half, but the headlines were made by Bale 10 minutes from time as he picked up possession near the halfway line before driving towards the Norwich box and unleashing an unstoppable shot beyond Mark Bunn. Hugo Rodallega headed home in the second-half as Fulham moved above West Ham in the Premier League table following a 3-1 victory in their London derby at Craven Cottage. The Cottagers were gifted the opening goal in the 10th minute as Damien Duff's curling free-kick from the right was missed by all the big men in the middle, with the unmarked Dimitar Berbatov stealing in at the far post to head home from an acute angle. West Ham briefly levelled at the start of the second period as Mark Noble's clever free-kick allowed Kevin Noble to rifle home, but just over one minute later some sloppy defending saw Rodallega show more desire than three defenders and goalkeeper Jussi Jaaskelainen to convert Duff's cross. The result was put beyond doubt in the closing moments as Joey O'Brien could only turn the ball into his own net after Mladen Petric hit the post from an acute angle after Jaaskelainen could only parry Rodallega's low drive.

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