LIVE PREMIER LEAGUE FOOTBALL - LSTD

Arsenal 3 vs 1 Blackburn Rovers FT
Birmingham City 2 vs 2 Man City FT
Liverpool 2 vs 1 Newcastle Utd FT
Manchester Utd 2 vs 1 Sunderland FT
Portsmouth 1 vs 2 Chelsea FT
West Bromwich Albion 1 vs 1 QPR FT
West Ham Utd 1 vs 2 Hull City FT
Wolves 2 vs 1 Tottenham Hotspur FT

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Live Text, By Billy Boulder.
13.30: Welcome, to the Premier League football on this Spring Afternoon. We have a fine day of football in store for you today, with undoubtedly the headline match featuring Title contenders Birmingham City & Manchester City, in TSC's first real test as Birmingham manager. Before we go round the grounds for an update on the teams, I should inform you that earlier in the day, Aston Villa and their new manager, JET, recorded an easy victory over Swansea whilst Wigan similarly took all three points away to a timid Norwich. Now, let's hear all of the latest team news.

Team News from the Emirates:

Arsenal name a slightly changed line up today, playing Alves in an experimental RW position, against a Blackburn side in turmoil who following departures, look set for relegation - however they do hand Patrice Evra a debut.

Arsenal: Reina, Fabio, Vidic, Barzagli, Coentrao, De Rossi, Schweinsteiger, Sneijder, Alves, Young, Ronaldo
Blackburn: Patricio, Caceres, Heitinga, Godin, Evra, Ambrosini, Pepe, Aquillani, Fellani, Nene, Kerzakhov

Team News from St Andrews:

Undoubtedly the match of the day, early League Leaders Birmingham name a largely unchanged side from last week, whilst visitors Manchester City are without Lassana Diarra in the centre, and choose to play Antonio Valencia over Luis Nani.

Birmingham: Cech, Lahm, Hummels, Vermalen, Baines, Martinez, Modric, Reus, Gotze, Mata, Higuain
Man City: Casillas, Ramos, Pique, Puyol, Abidal, Hernanes, Cambiasso, Valencia, Ozil, Di Maria, Benzema

Team News from Anfield:

A game which LSTD must want his Liverpool side to win if they are to get European Football next year, sees him name an experimental formation with Doumbia in a free role whilst Robin has similarly gone 'weird' with his Newcastle side, seemingly naming 5 central players.

Liverpool: Mandanda, Ivanovic, Benatia, Luiz, Kolarov, Essien, Ramires, Isla, Jovetic, Doumbia, Cavani
Newcastle: Steklenburg, Pisczeck, Toure, Koscielny, Schennikov, Arteta, Song, Palacios, Kaka, Hazard, Llorente

Team News from Old Trafford:

Renegade hands a rare start to James Rodriguez for Manchester Utd, whilst TJ names a virtually first choice XI for Sunderland's trip to Old Trafford.

Man Utd: Buffon, Rafael, Albiol, Evans, Filipe, Lucas, Pirlo, Robinho, Gerrard, J.Rodriguez, Tevez
Sunderland: Ochoa, Zanetti, Jaun, Dawson, Pieters, Carrick, Mavuba, Lamela, Lodeiro, Elia, Sow

Team News from Fratton Park:

Playing for the third time in two weeks, and following Chelsea's victory in the Cup replay in the week, each side makes changes with Gomez featuring for Portsmouth over Lewandowski.

Portsmouth: Akinfeev, Wiel, Howedes, Rolando, Periera, Cabaye, Montolivo, Cazorla, Kroos, Ayew, Gomez
Chelsea: Neuer, Sagna, Kompany, Terry, Marcelo, Y Toure, De Jong, Robben, Fabregas, Bale, Aguero

Team News from The Hawthorns:

West Brom stick with their largely English back four, but also hand a start to goal poacher Yakubu, whilst QPR, who are still without Papis Cisse start Huntelaar up front.

WBA: Hart, G.Johnson, Jagielka, Lescott, Enrique, Matuidi, Adam, Navas, Honda, Turan, Yakubu
QPR: Howard, Otamendi, Skrtel, Samba, M’bengue, Tiote, Marquez, Pienaar, Fernandez, Drenthe, Huntelaar

Team News from Upton Park:

West Ham hand a debut to Diego Benaglio, sticking with Kallstrom - Ilicic in midfield whilst Fan lets Sahin start for Hull as well as giving opportunities to young players, Sakho and Jones.

West Ham: Benaglio, Gallas, King, Chivu, Krasic, Kallstrom, Ilicic, Reyes, Yilmaz, Keane
Hull: Alves, Jones, Rami, Ruiz, Sakho, Vidal, Sahin, Milner, Prince-Boateng, Neymar, Soldado

Team News from Moleniux:

Wilshere has made it clear with his line up featuring Moutinho and Kagawa that Wolves need to beat Tottenham who will be hoping star player Diego Ribas shines today.

Wolves: Cesar, Maicon, Alex, Chiellini, Cissokho, Moutinho, Barry, Marin, Kagawa, Willian, Remy
Tottenham: Adler, Adriano, Naldo, Zapata, Santos, Rodwell, Farfan, Chamberlain, Diego, Crouch, Osvaldo

13.40: All of the matches kick off in 5 minutes.

13.45: The matches are underway all around the country, in what could prove to be a vital days football for the 2011/12 Premier League Season.

13.46: Chance straight away from the kick off for Manchester Utd! James Rodriguez picks the ball up on the left, and makes a run towards Javier Zanetti, who on the backfoot looks weak, and the ex-Porto player whips a low cross towards Carlos Tevez who can only divert his flick onto the crossbar, with the ball ultimately being cleared by England International Michael Dawson.

13.48: GOAL! Arsenal 1 - 0 Blackburn Rovers
Terrible start for the away side here, who I don't think have touched the ball from the kick off. Bastian Schweinsteiger has actually had most of it, and it was the German who made a jog forward largely unpressured on the ball and fed in Ashley Young into a space in the defence, as Caceres was seemingly asleep to the wingers run. Through 1 on 1 with no defender covering, the finish was simple and a bright start for the Gunners.

13.50: Newcastle have started brightly at Liverpool, with the number of players in Midfield largely crowding Ramires and Essien off of the ball. Infact, Llorente should do better when attempting a low drive from the edge of the 18 yard area. Elsewhere, Hull have come out playing at a high tempo, piling men forwards as we see the dynamics of the Sahin-Vidal partnership in action for the first time.

13.52: GOAL! Birmingham 0 - 1 Manchester City
Manchester City have come out all guns blazing at St Andrews, and Frenchman Karim Benzama gives them the lead, as hot-property Mesut Ozil finds some space in between the Birmingham midfield and defence and feeds in the striker who slots the ball past Petr Cech.

13.55: First chance for Liverpool. Jovetic is left in all sorts of space on the left, and he feeds in Cavani who should do better when dealing with the aging Kolo Toure, as he failed to get a proper shot away. Elsewhere, Chelsea are on top at Fratton Park, although Mario Gomez has just missed another sitter as he found space in between Terry and Kompany getting on the end of a Ayew cross. Idiot.

13.58:GOAL! West Ham 1 vs 0 Hull City
Hull are caught pouring too many men forwards, and without protection in front of the defence Josip Ilicic finds some space, and runs down the left, before cutting inside past Jones. He then whips a cross in towards Robbie Keane, who leaps even higher than a salmon to nod the ball past Alves. Underserved, but a warning. A true fight on Hull's hands now.

14.00: It's all quiet at the Hawthorns, as both teams are playing cautiously and not really putting too much into the attacks. Arsenal remain on top against Blackburn, however Evra is offering a threat down the left for Rovers, but should do better when trying to get a cross in to the box when coasting towards the byline.

14.02: What about Moleniux I hear you cry? Well, Wolves despite Wilshere's attacking line up arent creating that much. Partly due to the future Hull player Jack Rodwell who is running around like a raving lunatic and stopping Kagawa getting a foot on the ball. Saying that Remy, just fed in Willian who blasted over. At Old Trafford, Lamela wins a cross for Sunderland however Jonny Evans, the imperious Centre back that he is, heads clear to avert any danger from Sow at the set piece.

14.04: GOAL! Wolves 1 - 0 Tottenham Hotspur.
He would do that, wouldn't he. Kagawa loses Rodwell with a superb backheel drag, and feeds in Willian wide left who has been exploiting Adriano's extravagant runs forward. In a goal reminiscent of one he scored for Liverpool earlier in the season, the ball is dragged back to the edge of the area where Joao Moutinho drills the ball into the bottom left hand corner of the net.

14.06: Fan is going beserk on the touchline at Upton Park, and Hull finally seem to be playing with a little more control as a consequence. Less gungho, and it is bringing rewards as Vidal finds space in the centre of the park and picks out Neymar with a superb pass, but the Brazillian tries to hog the limelight, and shoots when crossing was the better option.

14.08: Chelsea create another chance against languid Portsmouth side, as Fabregas takes up the LW position as Bale drifts inside which confuses Gregory Van Der Wiel, and the Spaniard is found in loads of space but he fails to really test Igor Akinfeev. Elsewhere, can someone rouse the crowd at the Hawthorns? They are asleep, and I'm not suprised. QPR & WBA have been dire so far.

14.11: GOAL! Liverpool 0 - 1 Newcastle Utd
Oh, that's good, that is very good. Llorente, picks the ball up on the edge of the area and drags soon to be departed Benatia with him. However, what Liverpool dont notice is the run from Arteta and following a round the corner ball, he is in. Cool as cucumber, Arteta nearly mucks up the shot - but even he cant miss when one on one in the 6 yard box, and Newcastle go one up.

14.13: Manchester City remain on top following that goal at Birmingham, whilst Blackburn are getting a foothold in the game against Arsenal as Jonny Heitinga is keeping CR7 quiet.

14.15: GOAL! Portsmouth 0 - 1 Chelsea
This could be a massive goal in terms of the title. Fabregas, once again the little wizard is in acres of space, and as Rolando tracks his run, Aguero breaks free from the sluggish Howedes, to make a dart for the chipped ball. It is duly played, and he hits the volley into the top of the net, leaving Akinfeev with no chance. Offside, but magic.

14.16: Sunderland are putting a very good shift in at Old Trafford, and Gerrard is being marked out of the game. In fact, Erik Lamela looks to be the most dangerous player on the pitch. The Argentine, cuts in from the left and tries to play a crossfield ball to Elia, however it just evades the winger however positive signs are there. Birmingham, are beginning to garner a foothold in there match but Cambiasso gets back for a last ditch tackle to stop Reus breaking free out wide.

14.19: GOAL! Arsenal 2 - 0 Blackburn Rovers
Is it game over after 34 minutes at the Emirates? For the first time in this match, Cristiano Ronaldo evades Jonny Heitinga and he picks up a cross from Daniel Alves, once again showing his aerial prowess, by jumping and chesting the ball down simulatenously before cooly finishing.

14.22: GOAL! West Ham 1 - 1 Hull City
The goals are flying in today, hey? 8 minutes before the break, Hull get rewarded for there dominance. Milner pokes a ball in towards the box, and whilst Soldado strikes the ball it is going well wide after a miscue before diverting off William Gallas for an own goal, as Benaglio was diving the opposite way.

14.24: Things are getting spicy and bad tempered at Anfield, as Essien is booked for a late tackle whilst a similar reaction is promoted as Schennikov is seen to have pulled Doumbia to the floor just outside of the box. Kolarov shot the resulting Free kick over. Finally a chance at the Hawthorns too, although a speculative one as Tiote shoots wide from 25 yards out. Okay, its not a chance.. but you know..

14.27: GOAL! Manchester Utd 0 vs 1 Sunderland
As I say, Lamela has been magic so far and he has linked up well with Sow time and time again. Following a one two with Carrick, Lamela was in loads of space and he drilled a cross in from by the corner flag, which Sow flicked in past Buffon, who wasn't quite able to make a spectacular save - palming it into the roof of the net. Manchester Utd may not deserve to be behind, but Sunderland have played well up until now.

14.29: RED CARD - MIKEL ARTETA (Newcastle)
Sorry, you can't do that. Ramires bundles Arteta to the floor, as he was once again in space, and rightly recieves a yellow card. However, the Spaniard goes from hero to zero, as he grabs Ramires round the back of the neck. Mike Dean has no choice but to send him off. To be fair, he was running off the pitch anyway - Essien looked like he was going to deck him.

14.31: Well, there are some incredible scores out there as the half time whistles go. But, the highlight point has to be the idiocy of Mikel Arteta. Anyway, I'm off to get a Sandwich. Well, I'm not going to make it... but.. see you in 15.

Half Time Scores:

Arsenal 2 vs 0 Blackburn
Birmingham City 0 vs 1 Manchester City
Liverpool 0 vs 1 Newcastle Utd
Manchester Utd 0 vs 1 Sunderland
Portsmouth 0 vs 1 Chelsea
WBA 0 vs 0 QPR
West Ham 1 vs 1 Hull City
Wolves 1 vs 0 Tottenham Hotspur

14.45: Most of the games are up and running again. Perhaps a suprising move after the break, as Fan has chosen to bring Yann M'Vila on for Sahin. Suprising as a) Sahin was probably better than Vidal in that half and b) it had been much more balanced in midfield since the West Ham goal. In any case, what entails for us?

14.46: It seems, after that Red Card that Newcastle will be lining up with Song & Palacios in the centre, Kaka out right and Hazard on the left. Intresting, perhaps we can look forward to Inigo Martinez making an apperance if squeaky bum time approaches.

14.47: GOAL! Birmingham 0 - 2 Manchester City
Oh, he's done it again. Karim Benzama may just have delivered a fatal blow in the title race, having picked up the ball out wide, Angel Di Maria made a mockery of Phillip Lahm who is having an off day, cutting inside and playing in a cross at around hip height, making the finish difficult. Well, it would have been, had the diving header not been so good. Great finish.

14.48: Manchester Utd have come out all guns blazing at home to Sunderland, who are taken aback and it is Robinho this time who offers the threat. Having recieved the ball from Rafael, the Brazillian danced inside and drew a very good low save from Ochoa after a stinging shot. M'Vila could be proving me wrong at Upton Park, as Vidal is now spreading the ball around as if it were on a string.

14.51: GOAL! Liverpool 1 - 1 Newcastle
This goal is down to Winston Palacios. In all honesty, he is a class below his fellow Newcastle midfielders and he gave the ball away cheaply to Ramires who went on one of his surging runs. Doumbia, now in plenty of space against 10 man Newcastle pinched the ball from his feet, and took a snap shot which took Steklenburg by suprise. This goal was partly down to Liverpool's quality, and partly due to Newcastle having lost momentum.

14.52: Portsmouth have been very quiet today, as the soon to be departed Kroos has been kept quiet all afternoon by De Jong who is putting in a good shift. And in fact the Dutchman nearly slid Arjen Robben in there, but his legs just weren't quick enough. Wolves still on top at Tottenham, who are relying to heavily on Diego.

14.54: GOAL! WBA 1 - 0 QPR
Well, at least they have a goal. Charlie Adam puts in a free kick from the right, and Phil Jagielka climbs above Chris Samba to nod the ball into the back of the net.

14.55: Oh, he should score. Hazard breaks free down the left, with Isla not tracking back in his newly found RW position, and finds Kaka who has drifted in centrally. Schennikov, fills the space on the left and gets the ball on the edge of the area, but blasts his shot well over. Newcastle are still a threat here.

14.58: GOAL! Portsmouth 1 vs 1 Chelsea
Well, well, well. This wasnt on the cards, but it has happened. Booya. Cabaye acting as a playmaker, runs forward with the ball and knocks it to Cazorla, who cuts in on his favoured left foot and strikes the ball from 24 yards out. It flies into the top right hand corner of the goal, leaving Neuer flailing. No chance, superb yet underserved goal.

14.59: There are a couple of substitutions around the grounds, as Shaqiri comes on against Blackburn for the impressive Young, whilst Sissoko comes on to shore up the Sunderland midfield.

15.00: The clock strikes three, and now Man Utd really don't deserve to be behind. Robinho is a menace now down the right, turning in one of his better performances and he picks out Rodriguez who darts inside and strikes a superb shot which is only stopped by a last ditch block by Juan when looking set for the back of the net.

15.04: Arsenal 3 - 0 Blackburn
It is performances like this which make you wonder why Arsenal aren't top of the league. They have all the skills, and a superb squad as demonstrated here as Shaqiri darts inside having just come off the bench to lay off Ronaldo, who with his back to goal swivels and shoots to put the ball past Patricio.

15.06: QPR have been set aback by that West Brom goal, and Sunderland are also sitting deep against Man Utd. Elsewhere, Birmingham remain quiet and will have to pick up there game if they are to come from behind. Saying that, they have just brought on Jack Wilshere who has made an immediate impact, seeking to find Reus however, Puyol comes back for a last ditch clearance.

15.08: GOAL! Wolves 1 - 1 Tottenham
Yet another undeserved goal, this is literally kick and rush. Adler punts the ball long to Crouch, who jumps above Chiellini partly due to his height, partly due to the Italian's lack of effort. In any case, the ball falls to Diego who flicks it past Alex, before passing it past Cesar into the back of the net.

15.09: GOAL! Wolves 2 - 1 Tottenham
That was short lived! Straight from the kickoff, Kagawa once again creates something special for the team who are looking to secure 5th place in the league. The Japanese playmaker, quickly receieves the ball off of Willian, before playing a 1-2 with Remy and drilling the ball into the back of the net. Dare I say that is game over?

15.10: There are an abundance of changes going on all over the country, as Adrian, Salvio and Nene all appear for Blackburn, whilst Drogba, Lichtsteiner, Cardozo, Castaignos, Nani, Welbeck, Torres and Marchisio all make apperances for there respective clubs.

15.11:GOAL! Manchester Utd 1 - 1 Sunderland
Oh, and the big Ivorian makes an instant impact. Robinho whips the ball into Tevez, who drops the ball back to Didier Drogba to hammer the ball into the back of the net. This is no less than they deserve.

15.12: Elsewhere, Portsmouth are living on the ragged edge against Chelsea, as Aguero should give the league leaders the league when firing wide from 12 yards. Soldado nearly scores for Hull, but only a superb save by debutant Benaglio keeps him at bay.

15.12: GOAL! Birmingham 1 - 2 Man City
The come back looks to be on for the second week in a row, as Birmingham are piling the men forwards. They get the goal they want as there two most highly desired players, Gotze and Higuain link up, with the big Argentine giving Brum hope.

15.14: GOAL! Arsenal 3 - 1 Blackburn
This is a largely redundant goal however, as Adrian gives Blackburn what looks like a consolation goal, having got onto the end of a cross by Evra. To be fair, the Frenchman has been making surging runs all day, and he probably deserves this.

15.16: Chelsea are piling on the pressure at Fratton Park, and should go ahead as Bale is wasteful with yet another shot. Pah, I dont get this long shot merlakey. Elsewhere, Hull are still pressing forward although perhaps building up pressure slowly.

15.18: GOAL! Liverpool 2 - 1 Newcastle
Newcastle havent played badly in this second half, but the Liverpool subs have injected some real pace into the game. Balotelli breaks down the wings to give Liverpool some momentum going forwards, before feeding in Marchisio who although initially dithering with the ball, gets it to Nando Torres. The highly criticised striker, has scored a crucial goal for his side here, as it bounces off each post before going in.

15.19: Hull should probably have a Penalty there. Infact, they should definately have a Penalty. Gallas, already on a yellow, cynciallay shoves Soldado to the ground but the ref seemingly ignores it. Fan meanwhile is sent to the stands for going even more beserk. I know, I'm shocked it is possible.

15.20: GOAL! Portsmouth 1 - 2 Chelsea
Well, it turns out those long shots do work. Bale cuts in from the left, and leaves Wiel flailing, and has a pop towards Igor Akinfeev's goal. The Russian cant get close to it, and Chelsea have a crucial goal in the title race

15.22:GOAL! Manchester Utd 2 - 1 Sunderland
Super-Sub Drogba! He has another! Could this be yet another piece of transfer marvelry by Renegade? Drogba, plays the ball to Lucas, who having burst 10 yards, returns the favour. The big Ivorian outmuscles Dawson, and somewhat unglamorously bundles the ball into the net.

15.23: Just 7 minutes left in these games, what else now?

15.25: PENALTY - RED CARD - JOELON LESCOTT
West Brom 1 - 1 QPR
Joleon Lescott catches Luc Castaignos when he is through on goal, and although perhaps a bit harsh a a penalty is given. Klaas Jan Huntelaar steps up and puts it away.

15.27: GOAL! West Ham 1 - 2 Hull
The winning goal, and it is no less than they deserve. The balance of the side has been fantastic this half, they just havent been able to break through. However, now, Neymar broke free from his man, and whereas he was wasteful from a similar posistion earlier in the game, he finished the ball sweetly today having been laid up by Vidal.

15.30: GOAL! Birmingham 2 - 2 Man City
And it is another last minute goal for Birmingham! Two weeks in a row! This time, it is substitute Callejon who is the hero, having linked up with Higuain, before sweetly striking into the back of the net.

15.31: And that my friends, is that. Many thanks for joining me on this mega day of football.