Amazing comebacks and flying missiles

Shuffling down the High Road under the cover of darkness last week, Harry Redknapp crept into Tottenham’s stadium like a pastor administering the last rites to a sick patient. Yet in the space of seven short days, the former Portsmouth coach has morphed into a knight in shining armor after transforming the Premiership’s bottom team into a club to be reckoned with.

Bolton were sent packing in Redknapp’s first act as manager, but surely it was a bridge too far in midweek when Spurs visited Arsenal. Trailing late by a couple of goals, Redknapp’s side emerged from the ashes to net two goals and claim a famous draw at the home of their more celebrated neighbors.

And on Saturday there was comeback to equal the feats at Arsenal, as Tottenham shook off the shackles league leading Liverpool had placed on them to record a victory which will be talked about for many a year.

The Reds took the lead with just two minutes on the clock through a magnificent finish by Dirk Kuyt that saw goalkeeper Heurelho Gomes exposed badly. Robbie Keane had been booed ever since he emerged from the locker room, but the Republic of Ireland striker took a pass with his back to goal and tricked two defenders before setting up Kuyt to rifle into the roof of the net.

Jamie Carragher's own goal levelled the scores on 70 minutes, and, with injury-time approaching, former Zenit St Petersburg striker Roman Pavlyuchenko moved into position in front of goal and tucked home a superb winner from eight yards to inflict a first defeat of the season on the Reds.

The victory for the White Hart Lane club continued Spurs' excellent form since Redknapp took over – they have taken seven points from a possible nine and appear headed for much happier times.

With the Reds failing to take even a point, Chelsea are back on top as Nicolas Anelka grabbed to inspire a 5-0 win over Sunderland.

Deco had already hit the post when Alex pounced from close range for the opener after 27 minutes. Anelka then nipped in ahead of Alex to add a second moments later and the Frenchman tapped in to make it 3-0 at halftime.

Lampard's 100th league goal made it four before Anelka completed his hat-trick from close range.

Sunderland boss Roy Keane was banished to the stands after protesting about Anelka's first goal, for which the striker appeared offside.

Elsewhere, Arsenal failed to deal with Rory Delap's missile throws as they crashed to a 2-1 defeat at Stoke.

Delap's rocket deliveries caused problems for the ten-man Gunners at the Britannia Stadium and the visitors were punished as Ricardo Fuller and Seyi Olofinjana pounced.

Arsenal's misery was compounded when substitute Robin van Persie was sent off for barging into goalkeeper Thomas Sorensen, while Emmanuel Adebayor and Theo Walcott left the pitch in considerable pain - the latter with his left arm in a sling. Gael Clichy scored a late consolation for the Gunners.

Cristiano Ronaldo struck twice as Manchester United saw off plucky Hull in a seven goal thriller at Old Trafford.

The Portuguese international drilled home the opener after three minutes before Daniel Cousin glanced in an Andy Dawson free-kick to level. Michael Carrick finished off a sweeping move to restore United's lead and Ronaldo's deflected header gave them a third before the break.

Nemanja Vidic turned in a fourth from a corner after 57 minutes but Bernard Mendy pulled one back with a fine lob and a Geovanni penalty made the closing moments difficult for the hosts.
Irish midfielder Keith Andrews scored a late equaliser as 10-man Blackburn drew 2-2 at West Brom.

The Baggies had battled back to lead through Roman Bednar and Ishmael Miller in the second half after Benni McCarthy's penalty had put Rovers ahead. The South African struck in the 13th minute but was then sent off for handling the ball.

Everton left it late for the second time this week as Louis Saha opened his Toffees account with an 87th-minute winner against Fulham at Goodison Park.

Both sides hit the woodwork, Marouane Fellaini for the hosts and Bobby Zamora for Fulham, but there was little to excite until Saha came off the bench to bullet home a header from Leon Osman's cross.

Emile Heskey also struck late as Wigan claimed a dramatic 2-1 win at Tony Adams' Portsmouth.

The south coast side looked to have salvaged a deserved point when Niko Kranjcar rewarded them for their second-half dominance with an 82nd-minute equalizer.

Wigan had taken the lead with Amr Zaki's penalty but Pompey had the better of the chances with Peter Crouch, twice, and Sylvain Distin hitting the bar.

Mido's equaliser saw Middlesbrough claim a 1-1 draw at home to West Ham.

The Egyptian striker drilled in a low free-kick on 83 minutes to cancel out Hayden Mullins' 21st-minute strike. Mullins initially fluffed his shot but got lucky as the ball spun behind him and he made no mistake with a powerful drive into the roof of the net.

And on Sunday Ricardo Gardner eased the pressure on beleaguered Bolton manager Gary Megson with a goal and an assist at the Reebok Stadium to lift his side off the bottom of the table.

The Jamaican international entered the game against Manchester City shortly before half-time and applied the finishing touch to a wicked low cross from Gretar Steinsson in the 77th minute.

It was the Trotters' first goal for five hours and 50 minutes and Gardner then turned provider by centering for City skipper Richard Dunne to put through his own goal with two minutes remaining.

SPAIN

Barcelona went top of the pile in Spain on Saturday thanks to a pair of goals from Xavi and a 4-1 rout of Malaga. The victory extended Barca’s winning run to 11 games and moved them to the top of the Primera Liga for the first time this season.

Real Madrid missed a great chance to move level on points with Barcelona on Sunday after they were held to a 1-1 draw by a stubborn Almeria, the same club which was humbled at the Nou Camp just last weekend.

Raul's first-half header looked as if it would be enough for Bernd Schuster's side, but Pablo Piatti shocked the champions with a late equaliser to claim a deserved point for the Andalusians.

On Saturday, Mohamed Tchite inspired Racing Santander to a shock 4-2 victory at previous table toppers, Valencia, who had been unbeaten in the league to that point.

The striker opened the scoring in the 23rd minute but Valencia were level three minutes later when David Villa scored from the penalty spot.

Tchite restored Racing's lead four minutes into the second half but Valencia refused to give in and pulled level through Joaquin in the 70th minute. But, 10 minutes later, the Belgian-Burundian completed his hat-trick and a David Albelda own goal in the closing stages capped a miserable night.

ITALY

AC Milan returned to the top of Italy’s Serie A on Sunday courtesy of GG Denis’s 87th minute own goal at the San Siro. The Napoli midfielder broke his club’s fans’ hearts when he diverted the ball into his own net to give Milan the points from this tempestuous contest (five yellow cards were issued as well as a red to Napoli’s Maggio. which didn’t help matters for the visitors).

Udinese were on top on Saturday evening following a fine performance by goalkeeper Samir Handanovic in a 2-2 draw with Genoa.

Udinese, joint-leaders along with Napoli going into this weekend's fixtures, slipped off top spot when Inter Milan beat Reggina 3-2 on Saturday but a point against Genoa later in the day was enough for them to return to the summit.

Elsewhere in Italy Alessandro Del Piero inspired Juventus to a 2-0 victory over Roma, lifting the Bianconeri to fifth. The Italy striker scored a stunning free-kick in the 38th minute before providing the second goal for Marco Marchionni three minutes into the second half.