From the Back Pages, January 12: Eden Hazard inspires effective Chelsea to victory that takes them top

Hull City 0 Chelsea 2: Jose Mourinho had made clear his intent to keep hold of Eden Hazard in the build-up to this match and the Belgian provided further evidence of his value by scoring the opening goal that helped take Chelsea to the top of the Barclays Premier League, at least temporarily. (The Times)

For Manchester United, the relief was considerable bearing in mind the weight of history that would have come down on them if they had been unable to avenge last week’s FA Cup defeat. It is not since the autumn of 1961 that they last suffered the indignity of four successive defeats and, to put it into perspective, that was also the year Bill Nicholson’s Tottenham won the Double, the Berlin Wall went up and a new band going by the name of the Beatles played their first gig at the Cavern. David Moyes desperately needed some form of improvement to prevent another unwanted milestone. (The Guardian)

David Moyes heaped praise upon young playmaker Adnan Januzaj after seeing his side pick up a 2-0 win over Swansea at Old Trafford. (The Mirror)

To be a West Ham fan is to assent to a lifetime of high blood pressure, and here again they lurched back from the brink. Humiliation in the two cups was followed by redemption in the league, as Sam Allardyce pulled three points out of his sleeve and in all likelihood saved his job in the process. (The Telegraph)

CHRISTIAN ERIKSEN and Jermain Defoe spared Tottenham’s blushes as they edged out Crystal Palace at White Hart Lane this afternoon. (The Express)

There was nothing between them at the start of the game and there is still nothing between – Barcelona both made it to 50 points at the half way point of the season with a point a piece in the Calderon. (Daily Mail)

A turbulent period in English cricket – another turbulent period in English cricket, that is – was given one of its abiding images yesterday. “I would be wrong if I said I wasn’t lying in my bed in the last week or so, thinking about the stuff I’d like to do, how I would like to lead this side forward and the decisions that go with that,” said Alastair Cook. (The Independent)