November 27, 2011

Sunday’s Premier League matches – in pictures

Action from the Liberty Stadium and Anfield on a sombre day, when football was overshadowed by the death of Wales manager Gary Speed

Sunday football: Aston Villa's goalkeeper Shay Given ahead of the match against Swansea — Gary Speed's former Newcastle United team-mate Shay Given is visibly upset at the tragic news Photograph: Stu Forster/Getty Images

Sunday football: A minute's silence ahead of the Swansea City v Aston Villa match — The minute's silence at the Liberty Stadium in Swansea erupts into respectful applause and chants of 'There's only one Gary Speed' Photograph: Stu Forster/Getty Images

Sunday football: Gabriel Agbonlahor fires in a shot against Swansea — Swansea controlled possession for the first 45 minutes but failed to produce any decent chances. Indeed it was Villa, and Gabriel Agbonlahor in particular, who looked most likely to score. However neither team did and the game finished 0-0 Photograph: Stu Forster/Getty Images

Sunday football: Minutes silence at Anfield — Later at Anfield there was a minute's silence followed by applause. This remembrance was for Speed and for the Liverpool goalkeeper Brad Jones's son, Luca, who died from leukemia last week Photograph: Martin Rickett/PA

Sunday football: Luis Suarez is fouled by Vincent Kompany — Luis Suárez proved to be a bit of a problem for City in the early exchanges and was consequently clattered a few times. Eventually he gets a free-kick after nutmegging Vincent Kompany, with the Belgian dumping him to the floor. Kompany got a yellow card for his troubles Photograph: John Powell/Liverpool FC via Getty Images

Sunday football: Vincent Kompany — But Kompany is smiling just after the half-hour mark, when the visitors take the lead. The City defender rises highest at the near post to glance a corner into the far corner Photograph: Paul Ellis/AFP/Getty Images

Sunday football: Manchester City's Vincent Kompany celebrates scoring against Liverpool — The ball actually came off his shoulder rather than his head but he doesn't care … Photograph: Martin Rickett/PA

Sunday football: Liverpool's Charlie Adams shoots against Manchester City — Two minutes later, Liverpool are level when Charlie Adam, who's 30 yards out, fires a left foot shot towards the City goal … Photograph: Alex Livesey/Getty Images

Sunday football: Joleon Lescott apologises to Joe Hart after scoring an own goal — The ball is heading wide until Joleon Lescott sticks out a foot and diverts it past Joe Hart and into the corner. Liverpool are back in the game at 1-1 and Lescott can only hold up his hand in apology Photograph: Alex Livesey/Getty Images

Sunday football: Luis Suarez is challenged by Joleon Lescott — Suárez feels the full force of a Lescott challenge Photograph: John Powell/Liverpool FC via Getty Images

Sunday football: Mario Balotelli challenges Martin Skrtel — Mario Balotelli is brought on for Samir Nasri in the 65th minute and shortly after is booked for bringing down Glen Johnson. He then jumps up and into Martin Skrtel, his elbow brushing the Liverpool defender's face, who goes down like a sack of spuds … Photograph: Martin Rickett/PA

Sunday football: Referee Martin Atkinson sends off Mario Balotelli — The referee, Martin Atkinson, reaches into his pocket to produce a second yellow card, followed by a red. Replays seemed to suggest that the Liverpool defender made a bit of a meal of the challenge. Maybe Balotelli would have good reason to dig out his Why Always Me? T-shirt again Photograph: Alex Livesey/Getty Images

Sunday football: Roberto Mancini reacts after Mario Balotelli is sent off against Liverpool — Roberto Mancini is not best pleased with his errant compatriot Photograph: Carl Recine/Action Images

Sunday football: Manchester City's David Silva looks for a way past Pepe Reina of Liverpool — In the 89th minute Pepe Reina does enough to hold up a slaloming David Silva so when the Manchester City midfielder eventually gets his shot away there are plenty of Liverpool bodies on the line to clear the ball Photograph: Alex Livesey/Getty Images

Sunday football: Liverpool's Andy Carroll — Andy Carroll is brought on with six minutes to go and he almost wins it for Liverpool in stoppage time but his bullet header is well saved by a diving Hart Photograph: Martin Rickett/PA

Sunday football: An angry looking Roberto Mancinii — The Manchester City manager, Mancini, won't be too pleased with his side's costly shenanigans. Lescott's inexplicable intervention, which gifted Liverpool the equaliser, means they spurned the chance to extend their lead over United by two points; and Balotelli's clumsy challenge means that City will be missing his goalscoring exploits the next game Photograph: Carl Recine/Action Images

Leave a Comment Cancel comment