Battling self doubts
Chelsea routed Swansea 5-0 for the leader’s biggest win of the Premier League season on Saturday, while Manchester United produced only their third away success of the campaign at Queens Park Rangers.
United laboured through the first half at QPR before a second-half turnaround saw substitutes Marouane Fellaini and James Wilson clinch a 2-0 victory. While United returned to third place, QPR remain in the relegation zone after a fifth straight league match without a win.
Fellaini found the breakthrough during an improved second-half performance by United, meeting Antonio Valencia’s pass and powering the ball into the net in the 58th minute. And the 19-year-old Wilson struck in stoppage time after QPR goalkeeper Robert Green parried his initial attempt.
Chelsea scored four goals in the opening 36 minutes. Oscar struck first within the first minute at the Liberty Stadium. Diego Costa added two more in the 20th and 34th, before Oscar grabbed a second for a 4-0 lead at halftime. Substitute Andre Schurrle made it 5-0 in the 79th, three minutes after replacing Willian. Leaders Chelsea have a provisional five-point lead over Manchester City who host Arsenal on Sunday. Swansea are ninth.
Fabio Borini and Rickie Lambert scored to give Liverpool a 2-0 victory at Aston Villa that kept the team in touch with the European places in the Premier League.
Jose Mourinho’s side inflicted the worst home defeat in 24 years on Swansea, who sold top goalscorer Wilfried Bony to City midweek. Gylfi Sigurdsson was dropped into a deeper role with Portuguese striker Nelson Oliveira handed his first start following his loan move from Benfica, but the formation did not seem to suit Sigurdsson as he had a poor game.




