Mikel Inspires Chelsea Again
New Year's Day always provides a complete programme of fixtures in the Barclays English Premier League (BPL) in England.
Nigerians usually have a say in matters decided on the pitch in the most exciting football league in the world and on Wednesday, history repeated itself.
John Obi Mikel, Victor Moses and Shola Ameobi were all in action for their respective clubs.
Mikel helped Chelsea record a very important victory at Southampton but the wheels appear to be coming off for Peter Odemwingie at Cardiff City as supersport.
com rounds up the best of the action from an action-packed day in the BPL.
Peter Odemwingie The situation of Nigerian striker, Odemwingie at Cardiff City at the moment is tricky at best.
Odemwingie who has made 14 league appearances this season was left out of the squad in the 0-2 loss to Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium.
He made the trip to London but not listed even on the bench as the Bluebirds lost to the leaders with their new manager, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer watching from the director's box.
'We (Cardiff City) just arrived in London.
The first person I'll see in the New Year will be my roommate and teammate! Shall we do the countdown or sleep,' Odemwingie tweeted via @OdemwingieP on the eve of the game.
Unfortunately, he was overlooked by the club's caretaker manager, David Kerslake who opted to start the game with the Korean Bo-Kyung Kim and former Manchester United striker, Frasier Campbell.
Odemwingie has scored only one league goal this season.
Victor Moses Moses is no longer first choice at Liverpool following the sterling displays of the English youngster, Raheem Sterling who was again handed a first team shirt by the Reds boss, Brendan Rodgers on Wednesday.
The Reds won 2-0 against high-flying Hull City at Anfield and Moses was only drafted in as a 76th minute substitute in place of Sterling.
He however failed to score as the Reds closed shop for a routine win against the Tigers to move back into the Champions League positions.
The 23-year-old has made 13 league appearances and scored once for the Reds this season.
John Obi Mikel Mikel is at present enjoying one of his best spells as a player of Chelsea.
The midfielder was again handed first-team duties by the cryptic Blues manager, Jose Mourinho in the club's hard-fought and hugely important 3-0 win over Southampton at St.
Mary's Stadium.
Mikel was on for all 90 minutes as the Blues amassed three points that saw them remain just two points adrift of the leaders Arsenal, in third place on the standings.
The 26-year-old has made 14 league appearances and scored once of the Stamford Bridge club this season.
Shola Ameobi Shola Ameobi started Newcastle United's game at The Hawthorns against West Bromwich Albion.
It was a bad day in the office for the lanky Nigerian forward as the Magpies lost 0-1 to the Baggies who finished the game with a numerical advantage after Mathieu Debuchy was sent off in the 62nd minute.
Ameobi, 32, has made 14 league appearances this season but is yet to score a league goal this term.
The injured duo Victor Anichebe and Omatsone Aluko are still out injured and were not in action on Wednesday for their respective clubs, West Bromwich Albion and Hull City.
SUPERSPORT