SERVICES

Tuesday December 31, 2008

Liverpool Enter The New Year Three Points Clear

Newcastle United 1 Liverpool 5

Steven Gerrard claimed a fine double as Liverpool tightened their grip at the top of the League with a superb display at St. James' Park.
The England midfielder got the ball rolling with a 31st-minute opener and then after Sami Hyypia and Ryan Babel had struck either side of David Edgar's header, he completed the job with a 66th-minute second.
There was still time for substitute Xabi Alonso to convert a 76th-minute penalty after fellow newcomer David Ngog had been tripped by Edgar to complete a miserable afternoon for Joe Kinnear's injury-ravaged side, for whom goalkeeper Shay Given made seven remarkable saves.
Rafael Benitez, sitting in the stands at St James' Park, was even able to leave striker Robbie Keane on the bench and withdraw Gerrard to warm applause from both sets of fans as a crowd of 52,114, the biggest of the season, gained an insight into the Reds' title credentials.
The win sent them four points clear at the top, for a few hours at least, and left the Magpies in some disarray on the day owner Mike Ashley announced he would not be selling the club after all and is ready to press ahead with his masterplan once again.

Bolton Wanderers 0 Wigan Athletic 1

Amr Zaki steered Wigan Athletic to their second successive victory as they shrugged off a couple of injury setbacks to claim a 1-0 win over Bolton Wanderers.
The on-loan Egypt striker took his tally for the season for 11 goals after scoring from the penalty spot a minute before half-time.
Wigan then saw the match out and the victory was a tribute to their resilience and good organisation.
They lost goalkeeper Chris Kirkland to a groin problem in the warm-up and Mike Pollitt took the jersey.
But then they were hit with another injury blow when Emile Heskey limped off in the first half.
Wigan were good value for their victory, although Danny Shittu came close to equalising in stoppage time.

Arsenal 1 Portsmouth 0

Former Arsenal captain William Gallas kept Arsenal's title challenge just about breathing with a late headed winner.
The Gunners dominated possession and Portsmouth manager Tony Adams was continually out on the touchline urging his side not to defend so deep.
But, without the injured Cesc Fabregas, in midfield Arsenal were light on invention, resorting to speculative long shots.

Everton 3 Sunderland 0

Everton made it four matches unbeaten as they consolidated their position in the League's top six with only their second home win of the season.
Stripped of their strike force for the last few weeks, it was midfielder Mikel Arteta who scored twice in the first period to set his side on the way to victory.
Youngster Dan Gosling added the third goal in the closing stages of his home debut - and new Sunderland manager Ricky Sbragia's day was ruined.

Fulham 2 Chelsea 2

Clint Dempsey's last-minute header dented Chelsea's title challenge as Fulham earned a battling 2-2 draw at Craven Cottage.
Chelsea, who have now taken just 10 points from their last 21, had been on course for a west London derby win after two second-half strikes from Frank Lampard. But Dempsey, who had given Fulham the lead after 10 minutes, popped up with seconds remaining to extend the Cottagers' unbeaten run to nine games.
Chelsea now head into the new year three points behind league pace-setters Liverpool, who had signed off 2008 earlier in the day with a 5-1 win at Newcastle United.
Fulham may not challenge for the title this season, but they are determined to have a major say in its eventual destination having now beaten Arsenal and taken points off Liverpool and Chelsea.
It is some turnaround in the space of 12 months under manager Roy Hodgson, who took charge a year ago when the club seemed bound for relegation.

West Bromwich Albion 2 Tottenham Hotspur 0

Late goals from Roman Bednar and Craig Beattie gave West Bromwich Albion a deserved 2-0 victory over a Tottenham Hotspur side who played 55 minutes with 10 men.
The hosts dominated with their numerical advantage, as they had done before left-back Benoit Assou-Ekotto's dismissal, but they struggled to force the breakthrough.
But seven minutes from time Bednar headed home a long punt into the box to give the Baggies only their fifth league victory of the season.
Substitute Beattie stabbed home a second in injury time.

West Ham United 2 Stoke City 1

Stoke City's miserable Christmas continued with a late 2-1 defeat at West Ham United.
Abdoulaye Faye scored an early header to put the visitors ahead at the Boleyn Ground.
But Carlton Cole scored his second goal in three days in the 51st minute to equalise, and then had a hand in the winner, his shot going in courtesy of a deflection off Diego Tristan.
It gave manager Gianfranco Zola his second win in three days and propels West Ham up the league table; in contrast Stoke City have not won in six matches and have slipped into the relegation zone.

Blackburn Rovers 2 Manchester City 2

Robinho's injury-time leveller spared Manchester City another set-back at Blackburn Rovers.
After losing to one basement dweller West Bromwich Albion a week ago, City looked to be heading for defeat against the team who replaced them at the bottom as Blackburn led by two goals just three minutes from the end.
But Daniel Sturridge gave City hope before Robinho gleefully beat Paul Robinson to earn the visitors an unlikely share of the spoils.