Manchester: Henrikh Mkhitaryan's first Premier League goal earned Manchester United a much-needed 1-0 victory over high-flying Tottenham Hotspur at Old Trafford on Sunday.
The Armenian, who was carried off on a stretcher with 10 minutes remaining after a heavy tackle left him clutching his ankle, blasted home in the 29th minute after Ander Herrera intercepted a sloppy Harry Kane pass in midfield.
Herrera fed the ball through and Mkhitaryan, a £25 million ($31.43 million) close-season buy from Borussia Dortmund who was left out in the cold earlier in the campaign, did the rest with a pile-driver over 'keeper Hugo Lloris.
The unmarked Victor Wanyama missed a good chance to grab an equaliser for Spurs following a free-kick in the 56th minute - his header going inexplicably wide - while Paul Pogba struck the woodwork for United in the 64th.
The hosts remained sixth with 24 points, three behind fifth-placed Tottenham who might otherwise have overtaken Manchester City - beaten 4-2 by champions Leicester City on Saturday - on goal difference.
United remain one of the two current Premier League teams that Kane, last season's top marksman, is yet to score against. The victory was United's first at home in the league since September.
On the other hand, Diego Costa made the difference as Chelsea overcame a defensive West Bromwich Albion 1-0 to return to the top of the Premier League with their ninth victory in a row.
The Spaniard's second-half strike sent the Blues three points clear of Arsenal, who had taken the overall lead after seeing off Stoke City 3-1 at the Emirates.
With the game heading for a goalless stalemate at Stamford Bridge, Costa seized on a defensive error to break the deadlock with a superb shot into the top left corner in the 76th minute. It was the league top scorer's 12th goal of the campaign, as many as he scored in all of last season.
Chelsea, who have now won nine Premier League games in a row for the fifth time in their history, have 37 points to Arsenal's 34 after 15 games. Antonio Conte's men created very few chances in the first half against a stubborn side who had taken 10 points from their last four games, but the introduction of Cesc Fabregas as a 74th-minute substitute provided a breakthrough.
Fabregas played a long ball to the corner and a hesitant West Brom defender Gareth McAuley, with time to clear, was dispossessed by Costa who gave goalkeeper Ben Foster no chance.
"We knew it could be difficult to create chances. They played their game, had a plan and did it very well. But thanks to this man, Costa, once again we have three points," Fabregas said.
"Every pass I make, he makes it special. Probably it will count as an assist, but it was all him today. He fought for the ball... The game was asking for a change and it happened and I'm very glad for that." Chelsea had only one other shot on target, a long-range David Luiz free-kick, although the tireless N'Golo Kante had another effort deflected wide. (Reuters)
